Canadian Film Weekly (May 9, 1945)

@ @ ® May 9, 1945 IODE Will Carry On Agitation (Continued from Page 1) tion. Ed Wells, executive secretary of the producers’ association, recently took part in discussions with a committee of the IODE. According to Mrs. McGibbon, “The film industry too has at long last decided that they should take action to clean up this Saturday matinee question” and that she had been given “verbal assurances” that the chains would instruct their bookers that “only .pictures which everyone in the family could see are to be booked for weekend release.” The report revealed that “The Hon. Mr. Frost, under whose jurisdiction the Censor Board functions, thinks that a committee of women might be a better answer to the problem than a psychologist.” One IODE branch had proposed that a child psychologist be attached to the Censor Board and this won some support in the house. f The IODE is apparently bent on theatre policing and continued agitation. Referring to the law which calls for matrons to be present at juvenile matinees, the report advises chapter convenors to check “and if the law is being evaded and no attempt made te have a matron present,” to notify their superiors who will complain to the Theatre Inspection branch. “As this work goes into another year,” the report states, “it should be apparent to all that there is neither a dearth of problems nor a@ lack of interest.” Pointing out that some years ago films in Ontario were graded as Adult or Universal, it said that this might be done again “if all else fails.” Placing the IODE in support of the NFB theatrical and nontheatrical program, it was claimed that “Leading men in the industry would like to see an evening’s program planned around a feature picture, a newsreel, a comedy or cartoon and a documentary or short subject” in preference to double bills and that growing popularity of film libraries will force theatres to plan such programs. 1200-Seat House For Toronto Announcement of plans for the opening of a new theatre in Toronto’s Pape and Danforth district comes from Lou Stancer, formerly of the Regal Theatre, Toronto. An engineer and an architect are collaborating on the project and many American innovations in theatre building will be introduced. The house will seat from 1,000 to 1,200. aS Canadian FILM WEEKLY PHD) ef! Typodermic Injections Archie Minarsky, brother of Bess and Marion of 20th Century Theatres head office staff, was heard from as safe. The Americans freed his prison camp but no word had been heard from him. The staff was so anxious that you’d think he was everyone’s brother. Another happy lass was Ida McCormack of the same office, whose brother-in-law was also freed ... The 20th Century Club, which holds its annual party at La Chaumiere next week, presented member Myer Axler with a gift on the occasion of his marriage... Syd Taube is looking well again, after an illness of several weeks... It is interesting to note that “Fame,” a Quigley publication, has become an “Annual Audit of Screen and Radio Personalities.” Actors, producers and directors are listed—but no writers. That's like going to a world of trouble to prepare to attend the theatre— then forgetting the tickets. + ~ % Rogert Ferri deserves the admiration of readers and fellowcraftsmen for his out-of-this-world Anniversary Edition of 20thFox's “Dynamo”... Over at PRC the switchboard gals are always having to put folks right who call up and ask if it’s the CPR... Which reminds me of Harland Rankin, who never puts our street address on any letters and writes any name he can think of but ours. But that’s in keeping, because in the envelope so badly addressed was a note by Harland about Harland pouring paint oil instead of machine oil into his lawnmower, jamming it ...There’s @® gag around about a manufacturer walking with his kid through a park. The kid kept asking what kind of a flower was this or that, till the pater became impatient and snapped, “How do I know —am I a milliner?” z * * * Reunion London was the scene of an unplanned Famous Players’ head office reunion recently. Bert Brown, there with the Navy Show, ran into Bud Barker. Pretty soon Jim Cameron, Army Show man, showed up as did Lou Karp, ex-booker, and Lockie Haight, now a photographer. There was a2 considerable supply of fluid drive on hand and the boys began toasting their former colleagues, starting with J. J. Fitzgibbons and ending with the office boys. It is presumed that stuff held out but since FPCC has a large staff it is likely that, by the time they got to the office boys, they were raising ’em from reclining positions. Fast Changeovers Glenn Ireton, Warners impress-agent, who recently shed the showy facial fringe he accumulated up north while scripting “Forest Commandos,” captured curious stares last week by hauling a bored bear cub around The Square. Accompanying the team of Ireton & Bruin, Jr. was that amply-beavered tamer of wolves, the legendary Joe Laflamme, who appeared in the film. Bruin, Jr., nicknamed “Commando” and designated Warners home office mascot, slid around on my glass-topped desk while Ireton and Laflamme looked on with fatherly pride. Then Bruin tried to digest a@ page of my copy and quit after a couple of heroic tries. A critic, eh? ... Saw a screening of J. B. Priestly’s “They Came to the City,” a film about the World of Tomorrow that is bound to start @ controversy. Priestly, who recently kicked Hollywood around for making “drivel,” appears in it. It’s a strange film, since it doesn’t tell or show just what form the World of Tomorrow should take. ¥ > * Associated Screen News privately previewed its “Pasturelands,” a three-reel color “Western” made for Quaker Oats. The folks ate it up—as well as the nice buffet supper that followed the 5.15 unreeling ... They are talking about a remake of “Mickey” and that should bring happy memories to Charlie Stephenson, who was responsible for putting it in the old Grand Opera House for a 16-week run, and Walter Kennedy, sweet-voiced singer of those other years, who warbled its hit song right through . . . “You are a genius,” Queen Victoria is said to have told Paderewski, the great pianist. “Quite so, Your Majesty,” he replied, “but before I was a genius I was a drudge.” Page 5 Seek Friendlier Film World (Continued from Page 1) question in his annual report to the MPPDA, declared that the motion picture industry has a great stake in the Bretton Woods Pact of which early approval by the American Congress would strengthen the San Francisco Conference. The Bretton Woods Plan includes proposals for the assurance of a high level of international trade through the removal of trade barriers and it also recommends wiping out of all restrictions on film earnings after the transitional period from war to peace. At present 58 countries have some form of controls which impede the free distribution of American films, the Hays report revealed, and new restrictions are cropping up daily. In addition to informing peoples all over the world of the purpose and progress of the world security organization, motion pictures will also be called upon to help create “the conditions that make for peace,” the report declared. NOW — ° > 7 os ee. oo eae as ee Cake