Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 7, 1943)

REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS Vol. 8, No. 28 July 7, 1943 Fun A-Plenty at Paramount Dinner (Continued from Page 1) With the need of fancy phrases and well-chosen words removed, there was many a noticeable sigh of relief. After that the boys needed no warming up, it being hot enough to make an Arab rip off his undergarments. The local Jads and their guests took turns at raising howls with their pet stories. One of the hits of the evening was Tommy’ Dowbiggen of Montreal. Tommy, renowned as 2 speak-right-up guy, told no wellfashioned tales but got off an impromptu recitation of the quirks of his friends and fellow-workers, with no regard for position which drew a succession of honest uproars. Tommy has the knack of being frank and funny without being mean. The lads love him for it. Jack Arthur, who produced the Army Show, proved himself no mean performer in delivering a pantomime routine of various types of men performing an important part of their daily habits. Ben Geldsaler watched Arthur enjoyably and carefully and it’s likely that Jack, who has filled a few FPC jobs in his time, may find himself doing a turn wherever pictures can’t keep a house going. Sam Fine had a big time of it, throwing gags with the best of them. Nat Taylor, Raoul Aurbach, Dave Brickman, John Casey and plenty more kept the fun rolling, even Neil Agnew, Paramount distribution chief, taking his turn at bat. Ever since Bob Hope the Paramount pushers have the finest sense of humor and the finest appreciation of the value of laughs in the industry. Famous Players provided quite a few of the guests: Morris Stein, Jim Nairn, Syl Gunn, Bob Myers, Mort Margolius, Dan Krendal, and Harrison Patte. Sam Bloom of B&F was on hand and played the ivory horseteeth in such a way as to give rise to the opinion that he got started in the theatre business working in the pit. Billy Summerville, Jr., wisely let the bosses be the heroes, taking it all in. Bill O'Neil of the Canadian head office proved himself Elsa Maxwell's only rival when it comes to arranging a party. It was a worthwhile evening that will be well-remembered. —— —— — one An Open Letter Dear Hye: I’ve always wanted to write an open letter to some one—but alas that some one just didn’t exist—and then you pick up and go away to enjoy yourself—leaving me to take over; and your hat! hanging in the office is a none too gentle reminder that there can be no substitute for Hye Bossin. Well, one usually has a beef about something or other to bring on these outbursts in the form of open letters, and to think that after all these years my opportunity has arrived and through you. That hat for instance, I want your permission to take it down. 1 just don’t go with it, I tried it on and it doesn’t fit, it hangs there and I swear it glares at me, it defies me to carry on in the good old masculine tradition—well I simply can’t, I’m not built that way; in fact I see no reason why I shouldn’t replace it with mine. Yours looks too drab anyway and mine is such a pretty shade of green. Thanks so much I knew you wouldn’t mind. It’s awfully quiet around here. However, I was actually startled this morning. I was busy reading about M-G-M presenting President Roosevelt with a cheque for $100,000,000 for the March of Dimes collection, and being a woman my mind started sentimentalizing about the president overcoming such a terrific handicap, when I suffered a mirage or thought I had. There stood the president in the doorway. Imagine! Only it wasn’t the president, it was Captain Jack Young, famous impersonator of President Roosevelt. We had a nice little chat. I showed him some copy about himself to read. He asked if he could be overheard. We assured him it was all right, so he proceeded to read said copy to us in the president’s voice. The Ulusion was perfect and it was thrilling almost having the president call on the Film Weekly.—Incidentally, I told him I wasn’t Hye Bossin,, I thought that would be okay with you, so then he had some swell things to say about your column. He actually reads the stuff! I really don’t know what you get paid for around here. All I do is sit and powder my nose and every once in a while some one brings some copy to me for an okay and not wanting to be a sourpuss, I say “sure, it’s okay” so if you have any libel suits on your hands when you return, remember that you are having a beautiful vacation while I help earn your living by the sweat of my brow and don't blame me. Outside of that Hye, you haven't a thing to worry about, unless of course, it will keep you from getting too fat. Regards from the staff and Yvonne Taylor. * * * Wit and Without There’s a rumor that Ottawa will ban moustaches te save coffee. ... Overheard: “You can tell the calibre of a man by the size of the thing that gets his goat.” ... Smart crack about girdles: “It isn’t the initial cost—it’s the upcreep.” .. . Good story is about a fellow who approached the leader of a draftwrecked orchestra and asked for a job. ‘I’m a fine musician,” he said, “and I’d like to work for you.” The leader asked about his draft status. “Oh,” was the answer, “I’m an E. The army rejected me a couple of times.” What instrument did he play— “This,” was the answer—and the ap“That's not a musical instrument,” said The would-be musician looked at the “Why do you trombone, piano, drum? plicant showed a comb. the leader. “Your nuts!” leader with a strange look in his eye and sald: think I was rejected!” Raw Stock Study By Ottawa Men (Continued from Page 1) Canada’s use of raw stock has not yet invited restrictive action designed especially for Dominion users. So far Canada has been treated by Washington, which controls the export, as just another territory and reductions have been automatic and on the same basis as those suffered by any other region on the continent. Now that the USA may raise raw stock quotas because of a more optimistic condition in that section of the industry, official steps by Ottawa may never develop. Fewer productions will have some effect on the matter. Harold Hopper, Washington WPB motion picture chief, has stated that the raw stock alloca. tion rate will remain unchanged at least through the month of July. Canada’s domestic needs have been estimated at 45,000,000 feet per year. The Eastman Kodak plant, which serves Canada and much of the Empire, was established on a guarantee of 25,000,000 feet per year. In recent years the plant has been turning out 200,000,000 feet annually. Consultations are being held with R. C. McMullen and others with a view to establishing a committee. Sunday Soldier Shows Extended (Continued from Page 1) In order to help projectionists and other members of theatre staffs who contribute to troop entertainment, the shows will be alternately rotated in Toronto at Shea's, Uptown, Imperial and Loew's. In this fashion theatre workers will have to put in only one extra day per month. In the case of holdovers, the theatre running a holdover will be skipped, to ensure servicemen and women of diversified entertainment. Camp canteens, which distribute show tickets, will inform the soldiers of what's playing and where. Managers will arrange bookings between themselves Juleg Bernstein, Loew's representative in Toronto, helped ar| range the new agreement. eT