Canadian Film Weekly (May 31, 1944)

Page 6 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Oeieesin “> re : . 4 &,, c~-stec PRC DELIVERS Naw Avante BE SURE TO SCREEN THEM —_———— Harvest Melody Rosemary Lane Johnny Downs Radio Rogues Vigilantes Eddie LeBaron’s Orch. Career Girl Frances Langford Jive Junction Dickie Moore Tina Thayer Gerra eYoung Girl From Monterey Edgar Kennedy Jack LaRue Veda Ann Borg Men On Her Mind Mary Beth Hughes Ted North Eddie Norris Producers Releasing Corporation Executive Offices: 277 Victoria St., Toronto, 2, Ont. Mont Lanigan, Maritimes Movie Pioneer, Paid Tribute in Halifax Daily Star By Jack Regan, Staff Reporter OVING pictures in HaliM fax had an anniversary last Tuesday. It was the thirty-eighth year Haligonians had been watching moving characters on the screen. It also marked the beginning of the 28-year career of Mont Lanigan. The name Lanigan is almost synonymous with moving pictures in these parts. For if the average moviegoer had taken time out to sneak up into the projection room during the first 28 years of movies in the city, it’s more than likely he would have found small, affable, Mont Lanigan behind the projection machine. He’s the daddy of projectionists in the province. He was the man who ground the projector in showing the first movie ever presented to a Halifax audience. Scene of this first movie was at the Nickel theatre on Barrington Street where the Family theatre now stands. There were no electric-powered motors to grind out the film in those days. For a long time it was mostly Monty. He recalls that the name of the city’s initial movie was “Rajah’s Casket,” a Pathe company drama. Monty said it was a hand-coloured picture. The price of admission to this first moving show was as the name of the theatre implies, the trivial sum of five cents. And if Halifax citizens think that movie line-ups are only a wartime condition they are sadly mistaken. For the manbehindthescenes Says crowds lined the main thoroughfare of the port to witness that first movie and that hundreds were turned away. It started showing at 12 noon, Monty recalls, and he ground the hand-cranked projector until 11 at night. Work was work in those days. HERE was quite a bit of en tertainment for a nickel too. Not only did those who packed the house consistently through the first day’s showing see “Rajah’s Casket” but a four-act vaudeville show. Thrown in for good measure were illustrated songs. Some of the more popular songs of the times, Monty recalls, were “Are You Coming Out Tonight Maryanne” and “Barryjean’”’. The man responsible for the establishing of MHalifax’s first moving picture house was the late James Gowen, then president of St. Mary’s Dramatic Club. It was he who brought F. B. Keith’s theatrical company to the city. Back in the early days of movies in the city there was no Board of Censors, relates Nova MONT LANIGAN Scotia’s first projectionist. The sergeant of the police was the censor. He customarily attended the first showing of the picture and deleted anything questionable. Monty was the man behind the scenes all the while the Nickel theatre operated. When the Keith lease expired the late N. B. Gastonguay opened the Orpheus and Mr. Lanigan, projectionist extraordinary, moved with Mr. Gastonguay to operate the projection machine at the latter theatre. ‘“Dante’s Inferno” was the opener at the Orpheus. It was there that the first motor-driven projection machine was used in the city, according to Monty. Prox the Orpheus, Monty moved as chief projectionist to the Empire theatre on Jacob street. They opened with the picture “Land of Evangeline”. The Empire was shaken up by the explosion and Monty thence went to the Casino. There he operated with Tom Daley under the managership of R. J. MacAdam. The Majestic, where the Capitol theatre is today, was Monty’s next stop. There he worked with May 31, 1944 20th-Fox, Rank In Empire Deal — Details of the deal between Twentieth Century-Fox and J. Arthur Rank reveal an agreement on British Empire production and distribution. Twentieth Century-Fox will distribute Rank’s films in the USA, Australia and South Africa. In conjunction with Rank, Fox will produce films in England. They will be distributed alternately by Fox and BagleLion. Fox, Rank and General Cinema Finance Corporation will be equal partners in Fox-purchased Loew’s holdings in Metropolis & Bradford Trust. Spyros Skouras, head of Fox, will be placed on the British-Gaumont board of directors along with Larry Kent. Rank will ask the shareholders of British-Gaumont to remove the rule which restricts voting on ordinary shares to British subjects. J. Kane who is still operating at the Casino theatre. Monty, like Old Man River, kept rolling along. The Strand theatre on the site of the present day Garrick signed up the man with so many years experience. From there he went across the street to Ackers theatre. It was one Monty Lanigan who set up the first projection machine across the harbor in Dartmouth at the Royal theatre operated by Reg. Walker. Monty recalls that it was at the Community on Gottingen street where he first operated talkies. ST RANCHDY enough the man who for 28 years made movies his whole life, today only rarely attends the pictures. Monty agrees that the improvement in the motion picture industry is amazing. He thinks some of the pictures of the “old days” were better than some of the moderns. He is proud of the fact that during all his years in the projection room he has never had a fire. Monty is not very talkative, he’s modest but when you finally prevail upon him to tell you about the “old days” a glint comes in his eyes and a smile creases his countenance. Movies is his subject and he knows it well. The writer came across him at City Hall and a more popular fellow would be hard to find. It seems as though they all know Monty and Monty knows most of them. Fellows .who were young when he was in his prime still say to him “You know your face seems familiar.’’ Monty just smiles. a