Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 25, 1945)

Page 10 B. M. Garfield, 75, Montreal, Passes For years manager of the Garfield theatres in Montreal, B. M. Garfield passed away in Frewberg, New York, on April 15th at the age of 75. Mr. Garfield, who had been honored several months ago on his 50th anniversary as a showman, was associated with the opening of the Gaiety System and Rialto theatres. He was former secretary-treasurer of the Montreal Theatre Managers Association, president of the North End _ Business Men’s Association and editor and manager of a weekly newspaper, “The North End.” The late Mr. Garfield was survived by his wife, the former Emma Mallette, and a daughter, Theresa. The funeral was held in Frewberg. Odeon Buys Stock In Mason House Abe Garson, Maritimes Odeon chief, has purchased the stock interest of Norman W. Mason in the Roseland Theatre, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Mason right to sell the theatre was denied in court after he had set a deal with B & L. He is 81. _ Canadian FILM WEEKLY FPCC Statement Shows P-W Plan Public service nationally and locally was the main theme of the preface to the 25th annual report of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, the Dominion’s largest motion picture theatre circuit. ; “Tt has been a guiding principle of your Company that all employees should be good citizens sharing in the civic responsibilities of the communities in which theatres are located,” stated President John J. Fitzgibbons. “Most gratifying to us is the knowledge that our theatre managers and other employees have played their part so well in the field of community service, particularly serving on Victory Loan Committees and assisting in the organization of various campaigns for worthy causes. The majority of our managers are identified with the work of Service Clubs all over Canada and many of them have been honoured by their fellow citizens by election to Civic, Provincial and Federal Office.” A study of the report, prepared for the company’s shoreholders, revealed improvement of theatre BiG DEAL PRINCIPALS ae ee Sn NRE RL Te OO PO ae er NI AOS The principals involved in the formal signing of contracts to assure the distribution of International Pictures by RKO Radio Pictures, Incorporated for another year are here shown in Hollywood. From left to right—Leo Spitz, chairman of the board, International, N. Peter Rathvon, chairman of RKO, Laurence Green, RKO board of directors and William Goetz, president of Inter national. The new deal is reported to be one of the biggest in RKO’s history. First among the pictures to be released under the latest arangement will be the recently completed Gary Cooper production of “Along Came Jones,” “Tomorrow is Forever,” starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles and George Brent and “Countess of Monte Christo,” Sonja Henie’s second Technicolor spectacle with Dennis O’Keefe. properties and preparation for post-war expansion. The rise in the values of property and buildings during 1944 reflects these aims, to which the president makes reference. The value of FPCC’s real estate holdings is $6.2 millions, an increase of more than $400,000 above that of 1943; and its building values rose by $561,000. “Every company is devoting some attention to post-war plans,” the report states. “Like many other Canadian businesses, your Company has formulated plans for extensive theatre construction and renovation when present Government controls are removed. During the War, these restrictions have permitted only limited repairs, with the result that there will, in the post-war period, be considerable repairs and renewals to existing equipment and properties, as well as new theatre building.” An early post-war project of the company is a three-storey general office building to be erected in the Yonge-Dundas area of Toronto, to be occupied by the Canadian head office, now in the Royal Bank Building. A 2,500 seat theatre, sharing the site and facing Yonge street, will be constructed at a cost of $500,000. The company earned a little more than $5 millions, which was reduced to $3.8 millions by interest, depreciation and amortization. After taxes amounting to $2.5, net profits to be issued as dividends came down to 1,371,625. The earned surplus increased during the year from $6.1 millions to $6.8 millions at Dec. 31, 1944, Working capital during the year fell from $2.3 millions to $2.2 millions. Current assets of $2.9 millions were down $113,000, with cash, call loans and bonds inventories and prepaid expenses down, while current liabilities fell $34,000 to $666,561. An increase in bonds and mortgages and purchase money obligations, likely resulted from the expansion mentioned earlier, but general funded indebtedness due after one year dropped $200,000 to $4.9 millions. Total assets increased $743,000 to $17.7 millions. Refundable portion of excess profits tax increased during the year from $618,500 to $1.1 millions. April 25, 1945 Walter Golding, St. John, Dead (Continued from Page 1) The late Mr. Golding, who had served in the municipal council for ‘many years and recently acted as deputy mayor, entered show business in 1907 as manager of the Keith & Albee theatre, the Nickel. He introduced a number of innovations in this house, then devoted to pictures, which attracted much attention. His was the first movie house on that circuit to employ a seven-piece orchestra and it was there that talking pictures first came to Saint John as the Humanova. Players, among them Owen Moore, spoke behind the screen. First known as the Imperial, the Capitol was opened by Keith & Albee on King’s Square at Golding’s inducement and was renamed when Famous Players acquired it in 1929. The theatre played a great part in Saint John’s effort during both World Wars, 19 of its staff having enlisted in the first one. Originally a newspaperman, he had been a reporter in Saint John and Worcester, Mass., before entering show business. Past president of the YMCA, he was a Freemason of the Scottish Rite, a Kiwanian, a Knight of Pythias, a trustee of the Baptist Church and an honorary life member of the Canadian Red Cross Society. He was a member of Canadian picture pioneers. Among those who survive him are his wife; his son, Eric, Regal booker in St. John; and another son, Walter, with the CASF. Reg March, Maritimes manager for 20th Century-Fox, is a nephew. Jerry Hoyt, a son-in-law, is Empire-Universal manager in Saint John. VOCALITE SCREENS Five times more sound permeability. One-third more light. Vocalite Sound Screen is the result of a series of intensive and costly experiments which have resulted in the production of the finest sound screen made. Flexible plastic coated, flameproof. a ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED 2027 BLEURY STRESY MONTREAL 77 VICTORIA STREET TORONTO