Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 5, 1945)

JOE MEYERS He has resigned from Odeon Theatres booking staff to become chief booker of Allied Co-Operative Theatres and assistant to William Weiss. Drive-In Shows For Ontario © (Continued from Page 1) and one each in Ottawa and Montreal. Toronto sites are on the Kingston Road, North Yonge Street, and Lakeshore districts. It is understood that USA interests are involved in the deal and construction will begin when permits are issued. Each theatre will seat 800 persons. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Allied Co-Operative Into All Phases (Continued from Page 1) Allied Co-Operative Theatres intends, as soon as possible, to: Operate an advertising and exploitation service, Form a buying service for theatre supplies, securing the benefit of discounts now afforded circuits, Establish a theatre maintenance and repair service, Retain a theatre consultant in connection with projection and sound equipment, heating and cooling units; -theatre remodelling, new and improved artistic and mechanical innovations, Form a central theatre employment service for managers, cashiers, doormen, ushers and cleaners, Form an insurance and real estate department, Form a legal advisory department, ° Book vaudeville units, stage attractions and name bands, Form a radio advertising service, Establish a for exhibitors, Establish a permanent public relations committee. Freedman Prexy Although: Allied Co-Op intends to operate on a Dominion scale, the 25 theatres forming its nucleus are located in Ontario and most of them are operated by members of the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors of Ontario, an affiliate Of the National Council of Independent Exhibitors of Canada. Ben Freedman, president of the first-mentioned association and operator of the Royal Theatre, Long Branch, occupies the same post in the new setup. Other officers are Bruce McLeod, vice-president, Kitchener; Garson Soloway, secretary, Toronto; and Herman Bennett, treasurer, Toronto. Besides those mentioned directors are Ben Okun, Biltmore Theatres, which operates in Oshawa and Kingston; Max Starkman, Toronto; Harry Romberg, Toronto; and Harry Lester, Toronto, Operation was begun in offices at 112 Bond Street, Toronto, but it is understood that new and larger quarters are being sought. Benefits of Co-Op Allied Co-Operative Theatres was formed, according to a statement, “for buying film as group; screening room for the Independent exhibitor to meet fairly the needs and requirements of each theatre in respect of its peculiar position in its zone and community; also in respect and support of the needs of all Independent exhibitors.” In a statement Ben Freedman, president, said: “We have formed Allied CoOperative because there is a need for individual theatre ownership. We expect that all Independent Ontario theatres will band together and_ establish unity amongst themselves as protection against their absorption into the chain field. “We expect to establish strength through trading of values that each individual theatre has, and support ideas of each one that will benefit the individual and enhance his value to the producer and distributor. “This strength and unity will enable us to retain our independence, and will afford us the opportunity we have never had before as individuals to formulate policy in respect to labor, legislation, conciliation, public education and general communal wel ‘fare. “It will afford us the opporunity to rectify and improve peculiar conditions in our indstry. “We insist that Allied CoOperative shall not only apply to the individual theatre owners but shall be co-operative in its relationship to all branches of the industry.” PRC's Eastern Sales. Meeting in Toronto PRC sales staff in Eastern Canada recently held a conference in Toronto on the 1945-46 product. Harry Allen and Dave Griesdorf, who earlier returned from the PRC sales meeting in Chicago, were hosts. Those who attended the Toronto meeting were: Johnny March of the Saint John, N.B. office; Gerry Chernoff and Sydney Singer from the Montreal branch; and the following members of the Toronto staff: Lloyd Mills, manager; Aaron Wolfe, salesman; Dave Brandston, booker, and Jack Gertzbein, assistant booker. 3 —Ss« Sept. 5, 1945 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Vol. 10, No. 36 Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter. Printed by Eveready Printers Limited, 78 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario. / September 5, 1945 meena BEN FREEDMAN Long Branch, Ontario, exhibitor who is president of Allied Co-Operative Theatres. Hoffman Leaves Perkins Coy (Continued from Page 1) ness for himself, though not necessarily within the industry. He has been succeeded by R. V. Shale, who started with the Toronto branch 23 years ago. Len is a veteran, having entered the motion picture industry in 1906 as a projectionist. He became a road operator and installer for Edison Talking Pictures and Kinemacolor. It was during this period that he was one of the organizers of what is now the New York Local of the IATSE. Hoffman came to Montreal from New York, where he was born, in 1916 to enlist with Canadian Expeditionary Force and went overseas with the 38th Battalion. On his return to civil life in 1919 he joined Perkins Electric and was made Toronto manager in 1924. An ardent golfer and baseball fan, Len Hoffman enjoys the friendship of everyone in the Toronto area and it is hoped that he will stay in the industry. Movie Biz Thesis Wins College Prize A 50,000 word thesis on “The Motion Picture Industry,” submitted by George J. Forhan, Jr., son of George Forhan, manager of the Belle Theatre, Belleville, Ontario, was the winner of the Dr. Connell prize at the graduation exercises at Albert College, Belleville. The thesis, suitably illustrated, is to be retained in the library of the college,