Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 14, 1945)

@ November 14, 1945 14 New Owners Last Month (Continued from Page 1) cases the same house changing hands several times. Quite a number of these movie theatres, mainly in community halls, are being renovated by the new owners. Changes in ownership in Calgary territory were: Grand, Natal, British Columbia, from J.A. Altomare to P. Zoratti. Coliseum, Conquest, Saskatchewan, from M. Head to A. S. Cameron. Grand, Maple Creek, Saskatch ewan, from J. Redmond to D. Bowyer. Elk’s Hall, Alberta, to G. Brewerton. Winnipeg changes were: King’s, Winnipeg, to H. Prygrocki. Falkon, Tisdale, Saskatchewan, to F. W. Falkner. Park, Clear Lake, Manitoba, to H. Prygrocki. Cupar, Cupar, Saskatchewan, to J. L. King. Tweedsmuir Hall, Radisson, Saskatchewan, to J. W. Glen and P. Peterson. Rex, Roland, Manitoba, to William Gladys. Bijou, Kenora, Ontario, to J. Derry. Ilan, Erickson, Manitoba, to B. Anderson. Belmont Community, Belmont, Manitoba, to A. M. Reid. Columbia Pictures Marks 25th Year Columbia Pictures Corporation has announced that it will celebrate its Silver Anniversary beginning January ist, 1946. The company will then be starting its 25th year of motion picture production and distribution. S. E. Rost, Winnipeg Showman, Passes Veteran theatre man, Sim E. Rost, age 61, manager of the Garrick Theatre, Winnipeg, for the past 15 years, passed away recently after a heart attack. Widely known throughout the film industry in the Dominion, Rost was also Western Canada booker for Odeon Theatres, to which post he had been appointed a short while before his death. In association with H. A. Morton he was connected with the film industry for more than 20 years. He was an active member of the Mount Sinai lodge, AF and AM. A Masonic funeral service was held for Rost at the Shaarey Zedek synagogue, Winnipeg. Canadian FILM WEEKLY B & L Ask Deal OK Or 200 Gs Damages (Continued from Page 1) damages amounting to $200,000. After five witnesses were heard, the case was adjourned until November 13. The number of shares involved is 5,100, now held by A. I. Garson. Garson and Frank Sobey of Stellarton, N.S. are being sued for $100,000 each. The late Norman W. Mason, desiring to retire at the age of 80, sold his shares, which represented the controlling voting interest, for $75,000. Aquisition of the theatres would have brought the B &L Canada-USA circuit to 16 houses. The other stockholders objected to the deal on the grounds that they would not share it equally but Mason went through with the sale. The directors—D. Clarence Miller, Bertram Godden, H. B. McCulloch, Frank Sobey, Thomas Foster, George White and others—then took action. Lying in the treasury was an amount of voting stock not issued. This the directors sold to Sobey, with Mason dissenting, and control was removed from the latter. Mason then took action against the Roseland Theatre Company in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia but a decision of Mr. Justice Doull favored the company and upset his deal with B&L. An accord was reached between the disputants and control of the theatres was then sold to A. I. Garson, Odeon partner and chief in the Maritimes, who moved to place them in the Odeon circuit. B&L won an injunction, stopping the transfer until judgment is rendered in the present suit. The executors of the Mason estate in their defence state that Bernstein and Lieberman were interested in buying a controlling interest only in the Roseland Theatre Company Limited and this was rendered impossible by the decision of Mr. Justice Doull by which Mason lost control to Frank Sobey. Garson claims that what he bought was a minority interest after the decision of Mr. Justice Doull. CAPAC Fees For "46 Remain Unchanged Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada, formerly the Canadian Performing Right Society, has filed its schedule of fees for the ensuing year with the Copyright Appeals Board, Ottawa. There are no changes and the fees per seat per annum are as follows: 1,600 and over 15c; 801 to 1511 seats, 12c; 800 and under 10c; 800 and under operating three days per week or less, 5c; minimum fee $10. CAPAC represent Ascap in the Dominion. Junior Misses The members of Northway’s club for juniors are shown lining up to see “Junior Miss”, 20th-Fox feature, at the Imperial, Toronto. Page 9 Jules Levey at Toronto Party (Continued from Page 1) Eliot Paul. The latter film and still another will be made in 1946. RKO’s general sales manager at the time of his resignation in 1940 to undertake Independent production, Levey was welcomed to Toronto by about 80 guests from the exhibition side of the industry. The scene of the luncheon was the Royal York Hotel. Following a humorous introduction by J.J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, who praised Levey’s initiative and recalled their business experiences together, the latter discussed the difficulties of Independent production and its value to the exhibitor. The Independent producer, he said, had little financial leeway and could not afford mistakes. Unlike many large production companies, he did not have play dates guaranteed and there was uncertainty in revenue. But with the support of the Independent exhibitor, he could continue to make good films, adding to variety in product and reasonableness in price. Tom J. Bragg, representing Odeon Theatres in the absence of Paul Nathanson, also welcomed Levey. After visiting his folks in Toronto for several days, Levey will travel to most of the American exchange centres, unreeling “Abilene Town.”’ In December he expects to take a print to Europe for showing before General Hisenhower, who hails from Abilene, Kansas. He is also interested in the possibility of producing film in Britain and the use of actors from that country in his future productions. “Abilene Town” stars Randolph Scott and Ann Dvorak. Levey is reported to be interested in future theatre building in Canada with his brother-inlaw, Morris Weiss of Toronto. Rivoli, N. Sydney Destroyed by Fire Rivoli Theatre, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, was one of six establishments wiped out in a recent fire, worst in the town's history, which caused $500,000 damages. The blaze started in a drugstore and heaviest damage was caused at the theatre, recently acquired by Odeon, and the only one in the town. Believed to be under control after a stubborn fight, the fire in the drugstore broke out again with renewed intensity three hours later and spread rapidly to the adjoining buildings.