Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 20, 1945)

/ June 20, 1945 Films and Food While in Ottawa a while ago, I stopped in the Capitol Theatre, which has a modest entrance, and was struck with the main floor and mezzanine layout. It is an architect’s dream come true, and Ottawa citizens long ago learned to make the most of this combination of beauty and utility. Although Ray Tubman was elsewhere, it being shortly after nine a.m., the place was busy. A young French-Canadian artist of considerable distinction, Miss Raymonde Gravel, was preparing for an exhibition of her work and she and friends were busy hanging landscapes, still lifes and portraits for the eyes of patrons and visitors. I was told that an annual flower show is held at the Capitol, and it must present quite a treat when ready for the eyes and noses of stoppers-in and passers-by. The most interesting and beneficial non-theatrical connection with the Capitol is the tea room on the mezzanine operated by the Ottawa Women’s Canadian Club, which serves luncheon and four o’clock tea to 10,000 monthly, a helpful enterprise, considering housing and eating conditions in the capital city. ~ Last year, a hard-at-work lady informed us, it earned $20,000, that bringing its profits in three years to over $50,000, a neat sum for soldier comforts. ° Because of the arrangemert it is hard to stop tea room patrons from strolling in to see the film. Asked what method was used to prevent this, the lady in charge replied, ‘We use the honor system.” : The Capitol, it is obvious, has a high-class .clientelle. * ¥ * Basically Honest Freddy Fink, manager of the Broadview, ‘Toronto, discovered that someone had removed 2 brand new water tap from the men’s room. So at an interesting part of the feature he ordered the film stopped and the house lights up. Mounting the stage, he told the audience that the feature would not be continued until the tap was returned. After a few minutes of silence n, nine-year-old marched up Lo the stage and handed Fred the tap. The boy was carrying a monkey wrench and other tools. Then the show went on. Rita GI Favorite Rita Hayworth has been named the favorite glamor girl of American soldiers in @ "GI Oscar’ poll conducted in eight theatres of operations around the world. activity in Canadian FILM WEEKLY On The SQUARE Hanson's Hamburger Haunt HE sun came out of hiding — first time since Christ mas,” cracked Frank O’Byrne to Art Knowlton, both of whom harness it to their cameras — for the Hanson picnic at Charlie Mavety’s Circle M Ranch for pseudo-cowboys. Charlie welcomed everyone in his cowtending costume, which he used to wear in Saskatchewan while the rest of us were romping in our Little Lord Fontleroy getups, and looked just as interesting as the lovely dude headquarters he wrapped around himself years ago. Oscar Hanson went for cowboy costume too, he being additionally adorned with chef’s hat and apron, and lingered lovingly over ths outside fires on which he cooked food for the folks. No rango rider ever put on a more expert performance of bulldogging than Oscar as he seized the steers and pitched them on the fire. Fortunately Mrs. Hanson, who did the kitchen chores with will and skill, had seen to it that the bulls were in the form of hamburger. Nobody had more fun than Oscar. Nobody ever does, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Mavety got to feudin’ early. But neither tried to see how fast he was on the draw. The fire was also backward in its draw. That’s what caused the feud, which ended after some derogatory words bit into the dust at the feet of both feudists. “I am in dire need of dry kindlin’,” Oscar had drawled reflecting on Mavety’s hospitality. His face showing nothing but quiet determination and without a false move, Charlie made his return shot. “You are just a poor fire maker, that’s all,’ he said with a steely glint in his eye. There was no bloodshed, except from the hamburgers awaiting Hanson's handling, mainly because a smile followed Charlie’s return shot. O* special interest was Mavety’s beautiful prize Pinto, Kopo, which he rode. Charlie refused an offer to play centre on Kopo for Microfilm, which took a beating from Monogram through bad fielding, thus losing the trophy made of a film can, a beverage bottle, and a ‘one handled loving cup. This beribboned bit of metallic beauty was presented to Florence Yetman, captain, by Oscar Hanson. Kopo is a smart animal, clopping out his age and other statistics, throwing kisses and even delivering them in person, Dorothy Hector, secretary to Foto Nite’s Lou Davidson, getting an oversize one direct. HE three Johnston Sisters of London, Ontario, a cowgirl singing trio, entertained all over the place, leading several singsongs. This sort of thing has a moth-to-the-flame effect on the old-timers, many of whom served terms in the early days as illustrated slide accompaniers and musical comedy choristers. Hanson, unable to resist the siren song, abandoned the hamburger crematory long enough to go all out on “The Colse of an Aching Heart.” Then there was Earl Armstrong, who let go with opera and operetta numbers with such vigor that he cracked all the moonshine jugs in all the stills in all the hills for miles around. He was as enraptured in his own renditions as a spear-carrying super who wanted to sing a lead just once in his life and only got a chance at a time like this. It can be said of both Oscar and Earl that the vocal chords are willing but the diaphram is weak. OMMY TEMPLETON of Mav ety’s service was on hand, getting around with the aid of a cane. Just back from overseas, his jeep straddled a land mine and Tommy considers himself lucky . . . George Oullahan emceed the presentation of prizes during the dance and did his prize trick of pulling a shirt right off a man’s body with coat and vest on. He did it okay with George Downard but failed with Ted Jones. He yanked Ted so hard from the back of the neck in his attempt that everyone expected to see him sitting there just in his bones. Looked like a doublecross . . . Harry Kaufman romped all day in double-breasted executive dress, his only concession to the spirit of the occasion being trousers rolled up a couple of inches . . . Harold Kaye and others will sit uncertainly for a while, they having bounced backs with some of Circle M’s most active equine inhabitants. ‘folks to make room Page 5 Observanda Jack (Scotty) Johnston, formerly of Filmart and now of Vancouver, was around saying hello. Scotty left here to enter _the restaurant business and now owns Purdy’s, an ace eatery with a staff of more than 60. . . Ben Cronk has been a busy citizen of late, between serving on juries and doing election duties. . Arthur Hirsch is getting over his recent illness and it is hoped that he will be able to accept Jack Arthur's invitation to take part in the golf tournament. . . Mayor Saunders of Toronto decided that the film wasn’t the way to get in their homes for those who are houseless. ‘I guess I’m not photogenic,” he said. ‘Too true,” volunteered Con. McCallum. “You looked like Louie the Lug.”’. .. Murray Pearl has left Regal to work for Confederation Life. . . Bill Covert, IATSE Canadian organizer, was one of the five assigned by his _international to work on the set tlement of the Hollywood strike. .. Wolfe Cohen was in town telling about Australia and Dave Coplan is home too. . . Ron McClelland’s Circus Sweep, an outsider, came second to Hemfox for the $5,000 handicap at the Long Branch meet, paying $28.30. The only show business lad who had Circus Sweep that I know about was Johnny Rolston, 20th Century messenger, who bet the horse where it landed—second. . . Speaking of hurrying hides, Alec Christie, new operator of Montgomery’s Hermant Building restaurant, is the owner of Tinted Chick. 2 od x It Isn't True Someone tried to tell me that during a recent game of golf Raoul Auerbach, ready to tee off on a 150-yard hole, said: “I really shouldn’t use a driver for this. It’s too easy. A mashie is good enough.” He swung and the ball dribbled off the tee amid a cloud of dirt and grass. “Now,” cracked the caddie, “for a helluva long putt.” Miss Tyers Manages Hume, Burlington Management of the Hume Theatre, Burlington, Ontario, has been taken over by Miss Tyers, who was formerly connected with the Savoy Theatre, Hamilton. “Dunc” Campbell, who was in charge of the Hume for the past few weeks, left to assume management of the Elmhurst Theatre at London, Ontario. Both houses are units of Theatre Amusement Company, formerly known as the Fingold aircuit.