Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 18, 1945)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Apr 18, 1945
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 18, 1945)
Leaf #:
0002
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Global Cinema, Canada, and Hollywood Studio System
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 15, 2024
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sp SED ee, a Vol. 10, No. 16 A VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE TORONTO, APRIL 18, 1945 FT INDUSTRY $2.00 Per Annum Pix ‘Major Element’ of Appeal Emp-U Offers 15 British Films Policy for the sale of 15 British pictures originating from the production interests of J. Arthur Rank and bearing the stamp of Eagle-Lion, Two Cities and Gainsborough was announced by Empire-Universal Films, following approval of J. R. Croft, adminis (Continued on Page 13) Canadas Thanks Relayed By Fitz Tokens to express the appreciation of Canada were presented in Hollywood recently to those who had given of their talents and time to make “Tomorrow, John Jones.” The presentations. were made by J. J. Fitzgibbons, national chairman of the Canadian (Continued on Page 13) Hon. J. L. Ilsley Praises Trade’s Help in Past as War Services Pitches in for Eighth Loan Members of the Canadian motion picture industry, with a war effort record that has won many expressions of appreciation in the past, are awaiting the official opening of the Eighth Victory Loan to once again pitch into an all Stein and Appel On Ass'n Board Morris Stein of Famous Players was appointed vicepresident and Clare Appel, Odeon Theatres, became a director of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario at the executive board meeting last weelx. Posts were left vacant when Haskell Masters, who held them both, resigned from Odeon Theatres several months ago. Announcement of the appointments was made by N. A. Taylor, president. Griesdorf Joins PRC As Sales Manager David Griesdorf, who recently resigned as British Columbia district manager for Odeon Theatres, has acquired an interest in Producers Releasing Corporation Limited and on April 16th assumed the position of general sales manager, it has been announced by H. J. Allen, president and general manager. The company distributes PRC product in Canada. In announcing the appointment Mr. Allen made the following statement: ‘In view of the increasing value and importance of PRC pictures, the company has great expansion plans. Producers Releasing Corporation Limited also has exclusive distribution for the Film Classics Goldwyn reissues for Canada. These pictures are now playing in leading theatres (Continued on Page 13) See My Lawyer Court Dismisses Odeon Motion At Osgoode Hall, Toronto, last week Justice Chevrier dismissed with costs a motion by Odeon Theatres of Canada, defendants, for an order striking out certain paragraphs of the statement of claim by Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The suit involves the future possession of a number of theatres now held by Odeon and claims against certain persons for breach of contract. Date of trial has not been set. important campaign in which the personal motivation of each is concern with the future of the Dominion as a place where those in the armed services may find the realization of their hopes and enjoy the fruits of victory. The slogan of the Highth Loan, “Invest in the Best,” is based on peace, freedom and security for all and Canada will only be a happy land (Continued on Page 2) Bishop Now FPCC Manitoba Chief District manager to supervise Famous Players’ Manitoba theatres, including Winnipeg, Brandon and Portage la Prairie is Harold A. Bishop, manager of the Capitol Theatre, Winnipeg, at the time of his promotion. Bishop, born in London, Eng (Continued on Page 14) : Still Busy Hauling. In Scrap Paper Trent Theatre, Trenton, under G. W. Martin, collected nine tons of scrap paper at a recent show. Galt, Ontario, managers collected a total of 37 tons. We Did It Before ... There’s nothing new under the theatre sun—maybe. Right after the successful conclusion of the last war a Peace Parade was held on Danforth avenue, Toronto, and the entry of the Allen Theatres (now Premier Operating) is shown above. It was designed by Ben Cronk, now Empire-Universal ad chief, then general manager of the circuit. Theatre men will brighten their tradition of wartime service by boosting the Eighth Victory Loan. Broadway’s smash show hit . . . grand slams the screen! Whirling with laughs! Spinning with songs! Starring Olsen and Johnson, with Grace McDonald, Alan Curtis, Noah Beery, Jr. AND the show world’s song and dance stars — Yvette, Carmen Amaya and her company, The Christianis, King Cole Trio. Distributed by EMPIRE-UNIVERSAL FILMS LIMITED,