Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 1, 1944)

Page scan 0001 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Mar 1, 1944
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 1, 1944)
Leaf #:
0001
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Film Weekly

  • Editor: Hye Bossin (1942-64)
  • Renamed Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly (1965-69, editor: Stan Helleur)
  • Renamed Candian Film Weekly(1970, editor: Ed Hocura)

Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70) was edited by Hye Bossin and published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., wholly owned by leading exhibitor, Nat Taylor. In the late 1930s, Taylor was head of the Independent Theatre Association and his Toronto-based chain, Twinex-Century (Twentieth Century), was the largest independent circuit in the country. In 1941, however, he negotiated for chain affiliation with upstart Canadian Odeon before leveraging a better deal and greater booking control with nationally-dominant Famous Players Canada, Ltd. No longer independent, he took ownership of the Independent Theatre Association’s semi-monthly magazine, The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (1940-41), installed Hye Bossin as editor, and laid plans to relaunch in January 1942 under a new name, Canadian Film Weekly. This enduring key publication was no longer solely focused on independent exhibitors but instead covered the entire industry on a national scale–exhibition, distribution and production–with some attention given to studio news from New York and Hollywood.

Bossin was a vibrant writer with a canny way with words, admired in the industry in the United States as well as Canada. He was one of a large family who lived above their father’s secondhand shop in the Jewish “ward” downtown in Toronto. His older brother was a bookie with ties to the underground; his younger brother was a famous journalist, protégé of Walter Winchell, and Hollywood screenwriter. In contrast, Hye spent nearly two decades learning the publishing trade in a printers’ shop before trying a stint as a Hollywood publicist, then writing a column for the Toronto Star Weekly before taking Taylor’s offer to edit the Film Weekly. Bossin was central to the creation of the Canadian Film Archive, the Canadian Film Awards, and he wrote some of the first histories of early cinema in Canada, published in the first volumes of the annual Canadian Film Weekly Year Book (1951-70).

In 1957, the Film Weekly had incorporated the rival Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57), and began dating its start to that paper’s earlier start as the Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18). Subsequent variants of the Canadian Film Weekly and its yearbooks always claimed their roots all the way back to 1915 and the origins of the film industry trade press in Canada. After Bossin died in 1964, the Weekly’s new editor, Stan Helleur, renamed the magazine Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly, scaling back the pace of publishing but adding a purview for television and broadcasting. The annual was renamed similarly, its subtitle amended to “Year Book of the Canadian Entertainment Industry.” An attempted renewal to weekly format in 1970, edited by Ed Hocura, was short-lived and Nat Taylor decided instead to relaunch under an entirely new title, Canadian Film Digest (1971-77) and Canadian Film Digest Yearbook (1971-86).

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Bossin, Hye. “Canada and the Film: The Story of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” In Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, 21-41. Toronto: Film Publications of Canada, 1951.
  • Moore, Paul. “Chronicling a National History: Hye Bossin’s Canadian Film Weekly and Year Book.” In Eric Hoyt and Kelley Conway, eds., Global Movie Magazines. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024.

Date Added:
August 01, 2024
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Pago 2 OF CANADA LTD. 277 Victoria Street, Toronto. * Monogram HITS THE JACKPOT WITH THREE HITS Breaking records in every theatre shown to date and will do the same for you WHERE ARE YOUR CHILDREN? Jackie Cooper, Gale Storm, Patricia Collinge and an allstar cast * WOMEN IN BONDAGE Gail Patrick, Nancy Kelly, Bill Henry, Gertrude Michael, H. B. Warner Here is a picture every woman in Canada is waiting to see * Belita in LADY LET'S DANCE Belita is a revelation and a dance sensation James Ellison, Frick and Frack (world’s greatest com edy skating team), Walter Catlett, four top bands — Eddie LeBaron, Lou Bring, Henry Busse Variety—"Belita’s skating is sensational, and her solo number is a show stopper. LADY LET'S DANCE is a real escapist picture 100% entertainment for old and young. * The new “big name” company in the industry. MONOGRAM PICTURES Toronto, Montreal, St. John, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Plan Coneiliation On National Seale (Continued from Page 1) agreed to in staffing the committees. The Wartime Prices and Trade Board, pleased at the possibility of reducing irksome contention, is prepared to give its blessing. The plan is to set up a Regional Conciliation Board in each of the six distribution territories, to be topped by a central Board of Appeal located in Toronto. In order that equal representation shall prevail, clear-cut definitions of Independent, circuit and distributor will be reached. The Working Committee comprises: Independents — P. W. Mahon, A. J. Mason, Henry Falk and B. C. Salamis. Circuits — Morris Stein and Thomas Bragg. Distributors — Louis Rosenfeld and Alf. W. Perry. There were two conciliation bodies active in Canada up to 1941, one in Halifax and the other in Toronto, which quit activity after the WPTB was created. It was agreed that “The authority of the committee shall extend to a consideration of such matters as premiums, games, contests, children’s matinees, length of program, and all other matters pertaining to the industry, including the principles and ethics of clearance.” It is likely that the new conciliation setup, if created, will follow along the same lines except in those matters over which the WPTB will not surrender its ‘authority or control. Agreement on principles were declared at a meeting between Provincial chairmen of the National Council of Independents and representatives of the distributors and circuits. This fol Theatre Incorporat'n In British Columbia Two new theatre companies have been incorporated in British Columbia. They are: Haney Theatres, Ltd., Room 902, Royal Trust Bldg., 626 W. Pender St., Vancouver, B.C. — 10,000 shares, par value $1. Valley Theatres, Ltd., 902 Royal Trust Bldg., 626 W. Pender St., Vancouver, B.C.—10,000 shares, par value $1. lowed a luncheon of the day before, at which friendly opinions were exchanged. Chairman Henry Falk and President Archie Mason of the National Council called off a meeting in Ottawa with WPTB officials in favor of an inter-trade attempt at unity. Provincial chairmen headed for Ottawa were asked to switch to Toronto. If conciliation becomes a reality many difficult obstructions will be removed from the path of unity and an allembracing national exhibitors’ association may be more easily organized. Universal Skeds 55 for 44-45 (Continued from Page 1) 44 films which have been completed or which are nearing completion. Walter Wangers’ ‘Ladies Courageous”; a new Deanna Durbin film, “Christmas Holiday”; a Donald O'Connor, ‘‘Chip Off the Old Block”; a Technicolor film with Maria Montez, “Cobra Woman”; another Olsen and Johnson release, “The Mystery of the Old House’; and a pair of Abbot and Costello features. Hight Technicolor films have been set for next year, five more than were released this year. As was the practice this year, two of the new season’s product will be sold as specials. Scully revealed that Universal sales are as steady as they were last year and estimated that business will continue to be good. The annual Universal sales convention will be held some time in May, depending on existing conditions. “The future of the motion picture business, whether it’s postwar or any other time, will be based on those formulae that have been traditionally successful,” Scully told a press conference. “From my observation of completed pictures and from my knowledge of those pictures that are now in production, it’s my opinion that Universal has successfully adhered to these traditional formulae, and is prepared to give the public every type of proved entertainment,” Scully stated. Weekly Vol. 9, No. 9 Mar, 1, 1944 WYE BOSSEIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada, erg cat by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 25 Dundas re Teronto, Ont., ada, Phone ADelafide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $ Entered as Second Class Matter Printed by Eveready Printers Limited, 78 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontarlo per year. March 1, 1944 J. A. Ranks USA Distrib Structure (Continued from Page 1) Carr will head Eagle-Lion Distributors, Ltd., which will serve Europe and the British Empire. Both men left United Artists to join Rank. Temporary offices of the new company have been opened at 522 Fifth Avenue, New York. Dave “Skip” Weshner will direct publicity and advertising. A plan is being worked through which certain American producers will be allied with the company on a partnership basis. The company will release fifteen or sixteen pictures yearly, selecting only the best British productions. Seven titles have already been announced. Included in this initial line-up are, “The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp” and “Canterbury Tales” produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; “Caesar and Cleopatra” produced and directed by Gabriel Pascal, starring Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains; “Henry V” in Technicolor, “The Way Ahead,’ now in production, two Noel Coward plays “This Happy Breed” and “Blithe Spirit,” now in preparation, produced by Two Cities Films. Rank’s USA activities will be completely independent of his other production and distribution interests. Griesdorf in Hellyw'd To Book and Screen Dave Griesdorf, British Columbia manager for Odeon, is in Hollywood screening the newest releases scheduled for the circuit: and checking with vaudeville agencies on new acts for the Beacon, Vancouver. NOW AVAILABLE Stage Curtains, Drapes and Standee Rope in Crimson or Tangerine Velour Send in measurements for quotations and samples CANADIAN THEATRE CHAIR CO. 277 Victoria St., Toronto, Ont.