Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 9, 1944)

Page 14 Two of Kennedy Clan Lost in Action Walter Kennedy, manager of Sovereign Films, lost two nephews in military action recently. Captain Ted R. Licence of Freeport, New York, was lost recently when his plane went down in flames during his 48th mission with the USAAF. His brother Ralph was killed in action at St. Lo with the infantry. Another brother, Robert, is with the US Navy. St. Kitts Fire Drill Five theatre staffs of St. Catharines, Ontario, held a fire drill last week before local fire control officials and demonstrated how quickly panic could be overcome and the theatre emptied. The drill, sponsored by the St. Catharines Managers’ Association, was held after an evening performance at the Lincoln and was supervised by Manager Roy M. Miller. Royalties Booklet Available to Exhibs The Musical Protective 5Society of Canada has issued a booklet entitled “Facts About Musical Copyright,” which contains much information of value to exhibitors. It may be obtained gratis from the office of the organization at Four Dundas Street East, Toronto. New Aide for Republic Prexy Edward Walton, formerly Republic’s Midwestern district sales manager, was last week appointed executive assistant to president James R. Grainger. He was also named assistant general sales manager. Theatre Struck Lightning struck the roof of the Royal, North Bay, Ontario, recently, doing slight damage and suspending the showing for a little while. Woman Made PRC's NY Branch Manager Frances Kulick has been appointed branch manager of New York's PRC office, the first femme to boss an exchange. Brother Bert, now in navy, is NY franchise holder and Sid, another brother, is PRC eastern division sales manager. Radio Boost For "Thunder Rock,’ “Thunder Rock,” Esquire drama which held over at the Hollywood, Toronto, got a national boost with the presentation over CEC of excerpts. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Flashback on a Flashback A while ago our columns carried John C, Green’s own story of the coming of the first motion pictures to Canada. Jack, now 77 and still going strong with a magic show, was travelling with a medicine show when he heard about Edison’s invention. He wrote to the Canadian agents and got a crack at running the films for the Ottawa Street Railway Company. It was pointed out here that there is a letter from Edison to the Holland Brothers of Ottawa which indicates that films were shown in Canada in April, 1894, the year the Kinetoscope was perfected. Green says he exhibited Canada’s first film in July, 1896. Now Jack Green, anyone will tell you, is-a hard cookie. He is rough, tough and hasty and always ready with a Why Not and What For? On reading the editorial comment pointing out the discrepancy, Jack wrote back to say that he might have slipped up on a couple of years but that he had still exhibited the first reel in Canada. It is a matter of pride with Jack that despite his 77 years his mind and memory are as keen as of yore. It was implied otherwise here. Jack Green Was Right Jack was right and this periodical’s report was wrong. .The Kinetoscope was first demonstrated in Canada in 1894 but projection of films on a screen did not reach the public as entertainment until 1896. This was done through the Vitascope, also manufactured by Edison. The place was the New York vaudeville show of Koster & Bial and the date was April. Jack Green showed Canada’s first film in June. Green travels with eight trunks of magic paraphernalia and recently, at a display of magician’s bills, his was placed next to that of Dante. He tells one swell story of an adventure in Sudbury, Ontario, when that mining city had a population of 500. Jack had a trick in which he opened a stew pan and revealed a rabbit in it. He usually borrowed a ring from someone in the audience and placed it on his wand. The ring was removed by his wife, behind the curtain, who tied it to the neck of the rabbit with 2 ribbon. The cover of the pan was lifted again and the rabbit was shown with the ring. The audience was always mystified. But one day the rabbit died and his wife decided that Jack was to use a cat that had been hanging around backstage. He did and his wife attached the ring, a wedding symbol borrowed from a honeymoon bride in the audience. When Jack lifted tho cover to complete the trick, pussy, apparently frightened, ran for it, ring and all. Jack spent two days scouring the alleys but never did catch that cat. His wife got him out of the jam by buying the bride the best ring in town. It was in 1889 that this happened. In 1929 Jack Green played Sudbury again. A man, followed by a bunch of kids, spoke to him. They were his grandchildren. “Are you the man,” he asked, “who lost my wife’s wedding ring?” : = * Maybe He’s Too Honest Arthur L. Mayer, manager of the Rialto, New York, and a well-known figure in the industry, says some interesting things in “Premature Obituary—the Adventures of a Movie Theater Operator,” an article in the August issue of Harper’s. “The nearest approach as yet devised to make a living without working,” writes Mayer, “is the management of a first-run motion picture theatre.” The stool] pigeon. oe on It's a Living Gary Hogarth, Kingsville, Ontario exhibitor, is president of the loca] Lion’s Club. That organization is busy right now holding a building bee for a Boy Scouts’ clubhouse. That’s where Gary spends his spare time. That’s where you have to sell him films these days. On that scene wandered George Altman, peddling Warner products. He tracked Gary to his Jair. But he was too busy to listen. So George took his coat off and went to work beside Gary. Anyway, George, there’s nothing like learning a trade. August 9, 1944 CHARLES P. CASHMAN Charlie, P hoto-~Engravers representative to the trade, has just been made Commissioner of Oaths for Toronto, including York County, by the GovernorGeneral of Ontario. He is a Councillor of York Township. $30,000 Fixup Job For Rialto, Trail, B.C. Reconstruction of the Rialto Theatre, Trail, British Columbia, owned by Antonio Lauriente, is getting under way immediately following granting of a construction license from the Federal construction controller, Ottawa. The building recently was damaged by fire. Rebuilding operations will entail an expenditure of approximately $30,000 and are to be carried out by S. A. Lazareff. Alterations will include construction of a new projection room, exit stairs and lobby foyer. Some 630 seats will also be installed. Plan Sudbury House An unnamed buyer has acquired property in Sudbury, Ontario, for the building of a theatre. Sudbury, with a population of 33,000, has four theatres totalling 3,861 seats. Aussie ‘Movie Fans At least once weekly, half of the total number of 7,000,000 Australians attend the movies, according to Herb McIntyre, Universal’s Australian manager. Hicks Named Para International Prexy John W. Hicks, vice-president and member of the board of Paramount Pictures, was last week appointed president of Paramount International Films, Inc., the company’s new foreign distribution subsidiary. George Weltner was elected vice-president; Milton Kirschenberg, treasurer; and Norma Collyer, secretary.