Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 11, 1945)

®@ April 11, 1945 UA Canada Lads Meet in Mont | (Continued from Page 1) office executive, presided at the meeting in the absence of A. J. Jeffery, Canadian general manager, who was away ill but will be back at his desk soon. Dominion branch managers and sales men attended the sessions. Schnitzer made known the sales policies and plans to be followed on each picture and Barry Buchanan, director of advertising and publicity for UA, outlined the merchandising campaigns. Forthcoming releases, which occupied the attention of those present, are: “Delightfully Dangerous,” a Charles R. Rogers production starring Jane Powell, Ralph Bellamy, Constance Moore and Morton Gould and his orchestra. “It’s In the Bag,” Jack H. Skirball production starring Fred Allen with Jack Benny, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Victor Moore, Rudy Vallee, Robert Benchley and Binnie Barnes. “Colonel Blimp,” the now-famed Archers Technicolor production which was written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and stars Anton Walbrook, Deborah Kerr and Roger Livesay. “Hold Autumn in Your Hand,” a Loew-Hakim production with Zachary Scott, Betty Field and Beaulah Bondi. “The Great John L.,” a Bing Crosby production starring Linda Darnell, Greg McClure and Barbara Britton. “Bedside Manner,’ an Andrew Stone production starring John Carroll, Ruth Hussey, Charles Ruggles, Ann Rutherford and Grant Mitchell. 44? Pix in Year Hays Office OKd Number of features approved by the Production Code Administration of the Hays Office increased last year, it is revealed by the annual report. Approved features totaled 442 in 1944, with 284 coming from Member companies, 146 from non-member companies and 12 imported from other countries. In 1943 the total was 417, 256 from members, 141 from non.members and 20 imports. Short subjects approved totaled 576 last year, with 514 produced by member companies and 51 by non-members. No appeals were taken last year from PCC decisions given by either the Hollywood or Eastern divisions. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Frank Meyers Dies; Was EBA Manager (Continued from Page 1) a time, he moved to Detroit and on his return to London worked for the late John Griffin, premier Ontario theatre operator of the period, as a manager. He joined the Toronto sales FRANK MEYERS Manager of Exhibitors Booking Association and veteran of the Canadian motion picture industry, who passed away in Toronto on April 2nd. staff of Vitagraph about 1914 under W. F. (Big Bill) Barrett, later becoming Montreal branch manager. After the merger of Vitagraph and Warner Bert Lyons, general manager, appointed him manager of the Toronto branch, a task he carried on for seven years. On leaving Warners he enjoyed a short period of association Barnes & Davidson In Stouffville Barnes & Davidson, growing Ontario circuit, have acquired the Stanley Theatre, Stouffville, Ontario, from S. G. Schmidt, who operated it for 21 years. The Stanley is a four-day house seating 284. Policy will be changed to six-day operation and alterations will be made. Retiring owner drew eulogy in the Stouffville Tribune, which said that “It is not without some regret that we see the name of Schmidt pass from the entertainment business in Stouffville where it has flourished now for 21 years.” The paper recalled that three other ‘would-be picture magnates” tried the town before Mr. Schmidt came along and made the movies stick. with Ray Lewis, which was followed by the handling of the St. John branch of Tiffany, then under the Dominion management of Oscar Hanson. He joined Leo Devaney's Canadian RKO organization in St. John in 1932, coming immediately to Toronto to take charge of that branch, and remained with the company until 1941, when he became chief executive of Exhibitors Booking Association, largest organization of that type in Canada. -He was also maintenance chief of Twinex Century Theatres, also a Taylor enterprise. He was a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. Killed In Action Waldorn Watson, formerly of the staff of the Capitol, Chatham, Ontario, has been presumed dead after his plane came down near Cologne. His brother, Rayden, was killed in action more than a year ago. A & C 'In Hollywood’ Abbott & Costello are at work on their MGM feature, “Abbott & Costello in Hollywood.” A sad and co happe : avoided _| services Of OU n to your theatre. if you engage the trained r technical staff. Page 7 Jolley Succeeds Syd B. Taube (Continued from Page 1) The new key man of the Ontario association has been connected with a number of outstanding Canadian business organizations in the past as a top executive and he brings to his work an outstanding knowledge of the field of public relations. Mr. Jolley is thoroughly acquainted wtih Ontario, being district manager of the greater part of the province for the George S. May Company, largest business engineering organization in the world, prior to accepting his present position. He had served the May company in a number of important posts during the past eight years. In the course of past activities he has had considerable experience in the organization and management of annual national commercial exhibitions, which endeavors require expert public relations. Though new to the motion picture industry, he brings to it a knowledge of booking and other business matters arising out of feature attractions of various kinds, as Well as experience as a public speaker and publicist. stly affliction that could It can be IMITeED Dominion Sound Equipments Head O MOLiene TORONTO Beescees «4 a A National Theatre Service, suc ay an ents Limited, ES rovide regular and emergency t and supplies for theatres. Sound Equipm {tice: 1620 Notre Dame Street West, 7 specially trained personnel to technical service, equipmen Montreal eagina cargacr vancouvee h as maintained by Dominion s—an organization with a