Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 27, 1943)

Vol. 8, No. 44 HYE BOSSIN, Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto 1, Canada. depres ALS eee Publications of Canada, Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Terento, Ont., hone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter An Untimely Ruling The new order of the Toronto Police Commissioners, which requires that the theatre provide a uniformed attendant when lineups reach the street, seems poorly timed. Theatres are short-staifed now and Selective Service won't provide help for this purpose. The street is under police jurisdiction at all times and it is doubtful if people will like being told what to do by anyone with private authority only. "There have been complaints from merchants with businesses adjacent to the theatre about lineups. Certainly these merchants won't accept the crowd arrangement from other than a policeman with expert judgment in such matters. He has the experience and the authority. It is ‘strange that no such amendment to the by-law dealing with lineups was passed in the days when men were available for any purpose. Coming now, it is a thoughtless order not based on present conditions. Well enough should have been left alone. It is necessary that theatre attendance be made as easy as possible in order that war messages reach as many as they can. It is agreed everywhere that the theatre provides inspiration, recreation and boosts morale. Would the Police Commissioners have the people dis‘perse when oan attendant can’t be spared? Canadian FILM WEEKLY iNew Queue Rule |Work Week Sliced October 27, 1948 Managing Editor "Stalingrad" Big Draw “The City That Stopped Hitler —Heroic Stalingrad,” which is being roadshown at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto’s legit headquarters, sold out each performance to date. Policy is a twoa-day with 75 cents top. Right At Home A Los Angeles war worker, Mrs. Mary Striker, can’t find a place to live so she sleeps at the movies every day. If it keeps up theatres will be advertising ‘‘I'wo Big Features—American Plan.” Victory Loan Start A scene outside the Midtown Theatre, Toronto, as the Fifth Victory Loan got under way with ceremonies. Phil Wisener, leader of Division B, is shown with a representative of various branches of the armed services. Behind the sign is Al Perly, manager, ‘The Midtown is the headquarters of Team Three, which won the Harper Trophy during the last drive, In Toronto (Continued from Page 1) licences. The theatre is expected to provide a member of its staff for this purpose, Selective Service refusing to allow any additions in personnel to meet the need. An alternative is to employ a city constable to maintain order, a common practice by large theatres. The constable is usually one who takes on the job during his off-hours to earn the extra money. The constable on the beat is forbidden to spend any time on theatre lineups unless something unusual occurs. The addition to the by-law came as a surprise, theatre managers being puzzled why the Police Commission should place an extra strain on the theatre’s limited manpower in such times as these. In the days when additions to the staff was a comparatively easy matter, nothing was done. The addition states that “Tivery licensee of a_ theatre which is located so as to cause the frequent forming of queues for the purpose of gaining entrance to such theatre shall have a uniformed attendant present whenever such queue is formed, for the purpose of regulating such queue and prohibiting undue obstructions or encumbering of the highway by such queue.’ Starkman, Wagman Buy Granada, Toronto Max Starkman and Charles Wagman, who between them operate the La Salle, Hudson and Allenby, all in Toronto, are reported to have purchased the building which holds the Granada, Danforth Avenue, now a B&F house. British Rentals Bring Threat of Boycott The Daily Mail of London said last week that United States motion pictures might be boycotted in Britain because of what the trade describes as ‘extortionate demands” by Hollywood. ‘The newspaper quoted an executive of the Exhibitors’ Association as saying that U.S. producers were asking London exhibitors to pay a percentage of receipts—sometimes as high as 50 per cent—for star films. The executive said that if the exhibitors agreed to this condition they then could get other films on a flat-rate basis. The Exhibitors’ Association has requested Hugh Dalton, President of the Board of Trade, to take action, the Daily Mail said. More than 75 per cent of the movies shown in Britain come from the United States, October 27, 1943 At Home Offices (Continued from Page 1) skeleton staffs only. The daily volume of work will be increased by the measure but will be handled by an extension of the working day, an extra halfhour or 45 minutes being added. Last winter the strain upon transportation because of the war was aggravated by unusually severe weather. Lateness was common and regular and most offices, being short-staffed as it was, had a hard time keeping going in good order. The reduction of the working week will cut the chances of lateness by one day, at the same time saving the worker transportation costs. Canadian general managers of the distribution companies certified the move at their last meeting and circuit head offices synchronized their activities with that of the exchanges. All who have business with the exchanges and circuit head offices will do well to remember the new work week, Bond Drive Moves Into High Gear (Continued from Page 1) managers have worked out programs with.special appeal, yet not directly aimed, and new methods of using the theatre to boost community sales are being tried in a number of places. In Tillsonburg, Ontario, J. C. Musclow, manager of the Strand, has had Industrial Theatre Parties. The program carries a newsreel, regular cartoon, a Victory Loan cartoon and a sing song, with a break for a speaker. Another idea is to have employers of various plants club together for a theatre night, to which tickets are free and the Payroll Savings Plan comes in for a boost. This contacting of employees under favorable conditions is proving beneficial. The personal subscriptions of theatre men and women are very promising at this stage and those of the business houses will be as ample as ever. We Wil Rent or Leade Your Theatre I} Price It Right WRITE TO BOX 17 Canadian Film Weekly a