Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 21, 1945)

Page 10 Frank Davis to WB, Montreal (Continued from Page 1) Davis got into the industry in Winnipeg and via the Weiner circuit, went to United Artists in 1939 and remained with that company for three years. He then joined Warner Brothers, the branch being in charge of the late Lou Geller, who was succeeded by its current head, Graydon Mathews. He left there to enlist in the RCAF. After his discharge from the service Davis was sent to Toronto and worked in the territory until his appointment to Montreal. Kiely, made branch manager recently by Ralph Clark, Canadian general manager, succeeded Irvin “Babe” Coval. Coval joined Wolfe Cohen in the Foreign de partment of the company and was given Trinidad territory. The shift of Davis is one of the several moves that were caused by Wolfe Cohen’s promotion from Canadian general manager to the administrator of vast and valuable film territory. Davis enjoys an unusual degree of popularity among Toronto and Ontario exhibitors and in the trade generally. Quebec exhibitors will find him a straight-forward and very friendly fellow. Sam Marks Dead, Was Pioneer Sam Marks, member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and well known in the industry during the days of the silent film, died suddenly in Toronto on February 10 at the age of 54. A heart attack was responsible for his death. He was born in London, England and came to Toronto in 1901. The late Mr. Marks was mainly identified with the industry as a pianist and conductor, although he built the Palace Theatre, London, Ontario. First pianist at Loew’s downtown house, Toronto, during its vaudeville days, he conducted the orchestras which accompanied such silent roadshow epics as “The Four Horsemen” and “Ben Hur.” For some years he operated a number of schools which taught piano playing through the Marks-Winn method. Mr. Marks was interred in the cemetery of the Holy Blossom synagogue on February 12. The pallbearers were Syd Taube, Archie Laurie, Walter Kennedy, Jack Arthur, Frank O’Byrne and Jack Harper. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Clair Hague away in Toronto on Febru‘ary 8, knew those who came C= Hague, who passed into the Canadian motion pic ture industry the earliest and the latest. He was one of the earliest and there has never been a time since that his name hasn’t ‘ The Late Clair Hague shone brightly. At first it was his business prominence and latterly his work as a benefactor of the people in the industry. He was among the founders of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and has been its president every year but one. Although he had little to worry about financially, none knew better than he the economic and physical uncertainties of life. His chief interest in the past few years was to reduce the hurtful results of those uncertainties through the good offices of the Pioneers. He recognized that there would be less fear in the lives of those around him if they knew that there was a source of help at hand. Clair had not been well for a long time and there were times when he would have been better off at home. One of his great faults—if you can call it that— was that he loved his friends too much and missed them too soon. You would hear about Clair feeling poorly again and the next thing you know he would be drepping into your office on his way to his own, or phoning. And it was always to be helpful in one way or another. There are too few men who measure the things that turn up immediately in terms of benefit to others. He knew the problems of filling space with worthwhile things and he knew news and human interest material when he saw or heard of it. If he became your friend, your problems became his. Because of that he was of great help to the editor of this publication. This despite the fact that Ray Lewis, owner of the opposition paper, was one of his dearest friends. But that’s what Clair was like and Ray knew he was like that —and liked him for it.. It was last May that we printed the stories of Clair Hague and Ben Cronk, his lifelong chum and closest friend. Although Clair had always been ready to provide details of the lives of men who had marched along the same road for many years, when Flashbacks turned the camera eye on him he wouldn’t stay in focus. Not that he wouldn’t talk. He would and did—about Ben Cronk. Recognizing that Flashbacks were complimentary, he was naturally inclined to cause Ben to get the cheers. Fortunately Ben had the same February 21, 1945 attitude about Clair. The endeavors of each to make the other seem more interesting to the would-be biographer revealed that it was almost’ impossible to write a story of one in which the other was not prominent. The story was written in that way and attracted more attention than any Flashbacks story before or since. There is not a spare issue in these offices. Old-timers in the industry sent their copies to old friends either out of the industry or not on our circulation list, then sent for an extra copy. As Ben says, it was Clair’s part in the story that attracted such evidence of friendly interest. Illness had pinched his countenance and pain had given him an impatient look but he was as quick to smile as any man you ever saw. Nor did his own unhappy state cause him to lose interest in the welfare of others. In fact, it accentuated that interest—proof that Clair Hague lacked the bitterness so many in a similar situation develop. He substituted compassion for that bitterness. There were many who did not send flowers but sent money that would have bought them to the Pioneers Benevolent Fund. So that Clair Hague, in death as in life, helped those who would sometimes need help. That was-in keeping with his character. i” kel u VO TI ve moce come . This photo was one 8f Clair Hague’s prize possessions. He is shown with the late Carl Laemmle, his great and good friend. Laemmle, founder of Universal and one of the industry’s historic figures, had appointed Hague Universal chief for: Eastern Canada two years before the photo was made. Later Clair became Canadian general manager. Taken at the Grand Canyon, Arizona, on March 12, 1915, the photo shows (left to right) Clair Hague, George Magie; Carl Laemmle; Pat Powers, vicepresident; and Chester A. Clegg, manager for Western Canada. The group was on its way to the opening of Universal City, a seven-car trek from New York to Hollywood,