Canadian Film Weekly (May 19, 1943)

May 19, 1948 * Pay Tribute to Pot * Phili The passing of George Odlum “Pap” Philip, veteran Western Ontarlo showman, brought many expressions of regret. His funeral last week was one of the largest and most representative in the history of Kitchener, Ontario. Premier Mackenzie King, an old friend, wired his condolences. “Pop,” who was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, was 80 years old. Before retiring he was prominent in the exhibition of motion pictures. At one time he owned two movie house in Kitchener, one in Chatham and one in Stratford. He gave way to his love for the stage, on which he had spent his early years, and sold the movie houses, returning to the legitimate drama. The spoken drama, however, was fading from public interest and he got back into the movie field. After a while he sold out again, this time to promote carnivals. He was closely associated with the late Ambrose J. Small and at the time of the latter’s strange disappearance was under contract to him to take a picture known as “The Whip” across Canada. The Kitchener Daily Record, in an editorial called “‘ ‘Pop’ Will Be Missed,” paid the following tribute to the late showman: “The great drama of life in a world which he helped to brighten by his intense devotion to theatricals has come to an end for George O. ‘Pop’ Philip whose passing is mourned by a wide circle of friends. ‘Pop,’ as he was known about town, showman and actor. His heart and soul were wrapped up in things of the stage and in his declining years he liked nothing better than to reminisce on the days when travelling dramatic companies provided a chief source of entertainment. That was before the silver screen elbowed its way to the front. He was an ardent supporter of the legitimate drama and did much to make it pulsate with life. “Xindliness personified, ‘Pop’ Philip always radiated good cheer. A talk with him was like taking ‘POP’ PHILIP Veteran Canadian showman who pas sed away in Kitchener, Ont. familiarly was a born a tonic, faculty of making one troubles, full. Canadian FILM WEEKLY SS The domestic side of Hollywood life attracted more attention m the period just past than the technical side, movie making. Press agents may release reams of glorified guff about pictures in production and the players in them but babies steal the show, there as elsewhere. Alice Faye, after 10 years of movie action, is going to call it quits. Why? Oh, just to have more time to look after her yearold baby, Alice Faye Harris, Jr. As simple a reason as that—and there was never a better one. You can have the fame and fortunes, says Alice, give me the coos and gurgles. Mrs. Alan Ladd, the former Sue Carol, presented the popular star, now in the USA army, with a daughter weighing 8 Ib. 11 oz. Mrs. Ladd was a starlet who decided to become an agent. Ladd became her client, her sweetheart and her husband. To guard against any rifts between them she sold his contract to another agent for $10,000. It was her shrewd management that switched hubby from anonymity to stardom. Now she has another Ladd to manage. The hand that rocks the cradle still rules the Including Hollywood. zs * * In Missouri there’s a move to ban films in which any of the players have been divorced in real life. The unusual number of Hollywood divorces has many wondering why. A good reason is that the stars, while not too busy to fall in love, are too busy to develop the companionship that secures most marriages. ... Maurice Chevalier, the French actor who was such a hit in America for a while some years ago, is a quisling now. He entertains at the orders of the Germans. He was all set to do his act in a Belgian theatre when Allied sympathizers blew up the electrical system. . . . Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland, who are sisters, were born in Tokyo, daughters of an English professor who divorced their mother and married a Japanese woman. = & = Sunday shows for men and women in the armed services were a great success, the first one in Toronto being attended by 2,500. Admission is free and confined to service men and women on leave uway from their homes. Famous Players Corporation provided the theatre and staffs free and distributors donated the films. . . . You'll see plenty of musicals shortly. Thirty-nine are ready and 65 more in various stages of preparation. One studio will make “Ziegfeld Follies” in technicolor—and without a story of any kind. It will be an interesting experiment. ... Barbara Stanwyck made several stopoffs in Canada recently. . . . Desi Arnaz, Cuban screen star and husband of Lucille Ball, is In the USA army. world— = = * Stan Laurel’s ex-wife, Ileana, the Russian singer, will marry the brother of the late Huey Long. Laurel's exciting life with Ileana enlivened newspaper reading for quite some time. ... Van Heflin cycles to work every day in slacks and a sweatshirt. His wife has given up trying to make him dress and act like a movie star. . . . Joan Bennett, husband Walter Wanger and her two children were driven from their home by fire, which destroyed many valuable books and works of art. Joan’s two daughters, Diana, 14, and Melinda, 8, will have a baby brother or sister next month... Grand-daddy of the western film is ‘“‘The Great Train Robbery,” made in 1903. Westerns have been popular ever since. It would be interesting to see “‘The Great Train Robbery.” for he had the happy| tonne Theatrical Union He enjoyed life to the | Elects Officers At the age of 70 he said! Page 7 f Vancouver House To Odeon Circuit Odeon Theatres of Canada has acquired the Marpole Theatre, South Granville street, Vancouver, B.c. The circuit, second largest in Canada, is strong on the Pacific Coast. The Marpole Theatre is one of Vancouver’s theatrical landmarks, serving Granville South, Marpole and Lulu Island districts. It has been operated for some years by Calvin Winter and Les Toffey. It is just two years this spring since the Odeon Circuit entered the amusement field in British Columbia territory. The circuit now operates 23 theatres in the British Columbia territory, 18 of which are located in Greater Vancouver. The Marpole Theatre is under the supervision of Howard Boothe, district supervisor, who announces that Herb Wolfe has been appointed manager. Harold Postman Joins Rodgers as Assistant Harold Postman, of MGM’s home office Sales Department, has been promoted to the position of assistant to William F.. Rodgers, Vice-President and General Sales { Manager of Loew’s, the latter has announced. Postman has been with the organization since February, 1927, when he joined Loew’s in the Purchasing Department. He came to the sales department shortly thereafter and for several years past has been assistant to Eastern Division Sales Manager E. K. O'Shea. Mr. Rodgers, in advising MGM field forces of the promotion, stated: “His long experience and contacts with our field forces made him particularly qualified for this post.” that if he could go by the fun | R. H, Palmer was elected presihe had had, he would be 200 years | dent of the National Union of old. | Theatrical Employees, Local 11, “It seems as though a light was | Edmonton, Alberta, at a recent extinguished in our midst when/ meeting. ‘Pop’ Philip crossed the Great! Other union officers, elected for Divide.” | 1943, were: W. Geen, vice-presiAmong the pallbearers were} dent; M. L. Adamson, business. Howard Schedewitz, Charles Ste| agent; A. R. Taylor, secretary, and phenson and William Watt. iF, Cox, treasurer,