Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 10, 1945)

® October 10, 1945 Vancr Film Board Wont Be Bullied (Continued from Page 1) decided to write a letter to Attorney General R. L. Maitland, under whose jurisdiction censorship operates, to see that movies are “properly censored.” “My impression is that movie censorship is pretty uniform throughout Canada,” Maitland said in acknowledging the request of the Council. Responsibility for exposure of the child to unsuitable movies or radio crime stories rested with the parents, he stated. “In other words, the movies are shown here about the same as they are in other parts of the Dominion. “But if the council has any specific film in mind I would be glad to have it drawn to my attention and I will investigate personally.” “The Council blames all these things,” said Les Plottel of Empire-Universal, president of the Vancouver Film Board of Trade, veferring to movies, radio, press and comics, ‘‘but doesn’t mention parental control or home environment—that’s where the real root of the trouble lies. “Ours is the fourth largest industry in the world, and we don’t know another business that has more rigid control over itself — both from within and without,” said Plottel. “The Hays Office in Hollywood exercises control over film production, scripts requiring its approval before pictures can be made. And here in B.C. we have one of the most efficient systems of censorship in Canada.” The film men feel that the Council members “don’t know what they’re talking about,” claimed one representative. He pointed out that the same films that British Columbia saw were shown in thousands of towns and cities, yet the crime rates of those cities varied from almost nothing to percentages far above that of Vancouver. The Film Board of Trade discussed the possibility of more careful booking if necessary. “‘No children under 16 are allowed into movies in Quebec,” said Plottel, “but that’s not because of censorship. That’s because of a disastrous fire in the province.” Boudreaux Manager Anatole Boudreaux has been appointed manager of the Capitol, St. John’s, Quebec, an Odeon house. He succeeds Paul Grenier, who resigned. Boudreaux is a local boy who is well known and popular in St. John’s, Canadian FILM WEEKLY Canada for Doubles In 1944 Season (Continued from Page 1) and 24,666 than in 1942. Of the 1944 total 468,332 were double bills and 316,449 single features. According to Economic Divisions, 366 of Canada’s 1,298 theatres played all single bills before 33,176,664 paid admissions and took in $10,126,059; 387 theatres, 50% to 99% of whose programs were single bills, played to 47,549,471 paid admissions and $13,326,988 in receipts; 197 theatres, playing from 1% to 49% single bills drew 45,373,015 patrons and $11,140,204; and 348 theatres playing all double bilis counted $18,580,074 from 82,068,030 admissions. The Maritimes continued its strong preference for the single feature. All the programs shown in Prince Edward Island, 3,098, were single features, while in Nova Scotia there were 28,929 single bills to 15,435 double ones, and in New Brunswick 19,487 single bills were shown and 10,439 double features. Saskatchewan, with a total of 50,908 performances, saw 36,014 single hills and 14,455 double bills. Alberta also stayed in the single bill column, 29,385 of that province’s 52,801 performances being double bills and 23,416 being single programs. The proportion of single feature programs shown in Canadian motion pictures theatres continued to increase slightly from 39.6 percent in 1943 to 40.4 in 1944, according to the Don:inion Bureau of Statistics. The 1942 figure was 38.5. Single feature programs, few Nantel David Back Nantel David, who had been representing France Film and La Compangie Cinematographique Canadienne in France, is back in Montreal. He will assume charge of the distribution department of France Film. Garrick to Odeon, Whyte is Manager David Whyte has succeeded Pat J. Hanifen, 80-year old theatre veteran who retired recently, aS manager of the Garrick Theatre, Halifax. The theatre becomes an Odeon unit in accordance with the agreement made earlier this year between A. I. Garson and Paul Nathanson. T. J. Courtney of the Casino will have supervision of the three Odeon Halifax houses, the third being the Oxford. Garrick and Oxford were formerly Famous Players’ houses. er in Prince Edward Island for years, completely occupied the screens of that province during 1944. All other provinces showed both single and double feature programs, the _ proportion of single feature programs, as in previous years, was lowest in Quebec. Only 23.3 percent of the programs were single features ; while 76.7 were double features. The proportions of single feature to total programs in 1944 for the other provinces stand at 71.4 for Saskatchewan, 65.2 for Nova Scotia, 65.1 for New Brunswick, 55.7 for Alberta, 40.2 for British Columbia, 30.0 for Manitoba, and 35.3 for Ontario. PO Allied Annual The annual general meeting of Quebec Allied Theatrical Industries and of theatre owners of the province will take place at the Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal, on Wednesday, November 7th. Vic Beattie Back Vic Beattie, who was a booker in the Toronto branch of Warner Brothers when he enlisted in the RCAF in 1942, has returned there. He was a Flying Officer at the time of his discharge. Page 3 Painter New Head Of Associated (Continued from Page 1) Harry Law, connected for many years with the company, will continue to serve, as will George Law, its booker, and Harry Wells. The new general manager has announced the creation of new departments and the expansion of old ones to provide broader service in the fields of booking and buying, advertising and so on and to provide counsel in every aspect of theatre operation. In the film industry since he left school to join the old General Film Company, Harry Painter has long been a frontranking executive, having serveil with both Paramount and Warner Brothers prior to his joining Empire-Universal as a branch manager. He enjoys a high degree of personal popularity with his colleagues in the distribution field and with exhibitors generally and the best wishes of the trade will go with him to his newest venture. Vancouver House Don Sutherland, owner of the Kingsway and Circle, Vancouver, Odeon-leased houses, will build an 800-seat neighborhood theatre in that city at a cost from $75,000 to $10,000. . oo. ——e ~~ OKI Foote SAAS ANNONA ‘ AOU! , = Ti oe Anieh 6 TAN TS v Pe r attractions galore for There'll be counte the public's dollar. having your Sound Equi DOMINION SOUND is your Get your share by pment at its best. safeguard. Dominion Sound Equipments Limited Head Office: 1620 N roeonte oy manera A National Theatre Service, Sound Equipments Limited, 5R is { i | { ; \ j ch as maintained by Dominion pnaneas organization with a i Ito pro ially trained personne’ Y ecunial service, equipment a otre Dame Street West, Montreal a caveaet vwaucouwtes arom 4 vide regularand emergency nd supplies for theatres. >