Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 21, 1943)

‘oo i = ——s July 21, 1948 Reopen Princess, Radville, Sask. (Continued from Page 1) was one of those burned by the fire, which took place on the first night of operation by the new owners. Dominion Sound Equipment, through its Winnipeg office, installed two new projection machines. The damaged machines were reconditioned but worked uncertainly and the owners ordered two new machines rather than take any chances. A new screen was added, the old one having been damaged by water and torn. The projection room, now metallined, has been enlarged and 4 special winding room added. Between the both rooms is a film cabinet with a metal door on each side. The upper storey of the theatre, which suffered the most damage, was removed and a new roof put on. The exit doors have been fitted with new style panic latches and can be opened from the inside with the lightest push. The front of the theatre has been repainted, the inr terior refinished and new electrical wiring installed. At the time of the fire there were few people in the theatre and it was emptied quickly with no accidents. Firefighters were hamr pered by snow. Big Launching for "Action in Atlantic’ Two-Ocean Launchings and seyeral key ceremonial curtsies will shortly be accorded Warner's “‘Action In the North Atlantic” throughout the Dominion of Canada. R. S. Roddick, district manager for Famous Players Cana~ dian Corporation in the Maritimes, has arranged an ambitious bow for this first motion picture about the merchant navy at the Capitol, Halifax, on July 15, while Larry Bearg, who holds the same position with Famous Players in British Columbia, has set a similar affair for the Orpheum, Vancouver, on the 16th. : It is planned that Dewar Ferguson, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Seamen’s Union, will attend the Halifax opening, launching there the first unit of the newly-formed “Torpedoed Men’s Club” and presenting to seamen, who have been torpedoed, medals to denote such hazardous exploits. The Royal Canadian Navy, the Navy League of Canada and the Sea Cadets will take part in various functions in -both Halifax and Vancouver, Canadian FILM WEEKLY Page 5 Owen Sound Likes ‘Foto-Night Wins Chris Georgas HRIS GEORGAS of Owen i Sound, anyone who knows him will tell you, is a nice fellow but don’t try to push him around. He knows what's right and he’s willing to fight for it. He came to Canada’s fair domain in 1899, resolved to make things better for himself and as many Georgas as possible. That was a laudable and ambitious undertaking on the part of a lad of 13. Enough time has gone by to take an estimate of the extent of Chris’ success. Today he is a successful business and family man who enjoys the regard of his fellow-citizens and coreligionists. The Owen Sound operator comes from a line of stalwarts who were nominated by history to defend modern civilization on their native soil, Greece. Greece can be considered the native soil of modern civilization, the demos or democratic parliament having been one of the glories that was Greece. The British shared the defence of Greece. Here was a union of both loyalties of Chris Georgas, Greece and the Empire, against a mutual enemy, You can bet a dime to a diamond that Chris wishes time would turn backward so that he could participate physically in a cause that blends all his loves and loyalties into one. Once before he had returned to Greece to help defeat its enemies. The year was 1912 and Chris was in his 20s. The Balkan War had begun and the Bulgarians, enemies then as now, were threatening the homeland. Chris Georgas said farewell to Canada and returned to help make short work of the enemy. 1S 1920 Chris got out of the restaurant business and built the Classic Theatre, Owen Sound, with the financing of C. C. Bebb of Collingwood, who still owns it. Chris has a long-term contract for its operation and also looks after the Savoy Theatre, which he acquired from John H. Moore in 1932. Both houses have a Famous Players hookup. Chris is the son of George Georgas, a clergyman of the Greek Orthodox Church, and he believes that his mother and father are still alive in Greece, having heard news to that effect in January. The religious background is still a great influence in his life. He was one of those chiefly responsible for the establishment some years ago of the Greek Orthodox Church on Bond street, Toronto, in the premises formerly occupied by the Holy Blossom Synagogue. During the Greek War Relief campaign he acted as chairman for Owen Sound and district. The first Canadian stop of Chris Georgas was Sault Ste. Marie, where he had been brought by his uncle, Peter Apostle, from AngeIlona, near Sparta. After a year CHRIS GEORGAS This Owen Sound citizen has been a theatre operator for 23 years. He came to Canada aft the age of 13 and today is successful and popular among his fellow-Canadians. and a half of working for his uncle, he opened a small fruit business. Successful, he moved to Owen Sound and established a confectionery store. In 1910 he left Collingwood for Owen Sound, where he has lived for more than 30 of his 44 Canadian years. Canada liked Chris and Chris likes Canada so he brought three of his brothers here. All are successful in different Ontario cities. HRIS was married in 1916 to Miss Sadie Scopis of Cobourg and -they have 10 children. Three of his sons are interested in theatre business. George assists his father in the management of the theatres, William is the projectionist at the Savoy and Louis is one of the projectionists at Camp Borden, where he is attached to the Ordnance Corps. A daughter, Georgia, is a member of the Women’s Division of the RCAF. The Owen Sound exhibitor is recognized as one of the keenest showmen in Ontario and one of the most prominent citizens of that community. He is a leader in civic drives and his theatres have always been at the service of any worthy cause. He came up the hard way, a Another Case (Continued from Page 1) are Famous Players theatres. It was ruled that the cheque issued to Mrs. Simon Sullivan by Famous Players was remitted not to acquit an obligation which would have been assented to by the accused on the occasion of a drawing, but in consideration of the sale of a photograph which could be used by the Capitol and Noranda or by any other concern for purposes of publicity. “By not having proved that the cheque of three hundred dollars was issued for purposes of lottery by Famous Players Canadian Corp. the accused cannot be charged with having participated in a lottery,” stated the judgment. The preliminary hearing was held at Rouyn, Quebec, about 2 month ago. Leo Bureau represented the crown and M. P. Cuddihy and Louis Davidson of Toronto the defendant. Judgment is still pending in an action against the manager of the Alexander Theatre, Rouyn, in connection with Stamp-Nite. Alexander's Win Harry Alexander of the Brock bought a raffle ticket at a benefit game—and won a jar of pickled herring. Hasn’t brought any around, the hoarder. Youths Must Register Under the new manpower edict from Ottawa youths of 16, 17 and 18 must register with National Selective Service by July 24th. There are quite a few in these age groups employed in exchanges and theatres. Big Negro Circuit In United States There are several hundred Negro | theatres in the United States which play all-Negro films. A new | feature, “We've Come a Long Way Together,” has just been completed by Negro Marches On, Inc., and will go into first run houses on this circuit. route admired by all Canadians. He has done well in Canada and is grateful to this country. “I love Greece, which is my native land,” he said, “but I consider Canada one of the finest countries in the world, I consider myself and my family as Canadians and hope to always reside here.” But he would like another look at Greece when the war is over, The Daily Sun-Times of Owen Sound recently devoted a long story to the life of Chris Georgas,