Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 16, 1946)

Pr Ai et OU teva l Page 4 People are Wonderful, Says Dave Griesdorf Dave Griesdorf, who never lacked faith in folks, found his opinions verified recently. Dave’s wife Ruth, you may recall, was hurt in a train wreck while returning from the funeral of her father in Edmonton. She was returned to Toronto from Port Arthur between Christmas and New Year’s and is now at the Western Hospital. She's coming along nicely, considering how serious were her injuries, and will be in a cast from three to six months. About the time Ruth returned, her son Norman was injured in a toboggan accident, picking up three fractures of his cheekbone, but being a game youngster, he’s okay now. The only happiness Dave enjoyed during that time was the realization of how many friends he and Ruth have, for they showed their concern by wire, phone and letter. Those in Port Arthur, the theatre men and their wives, particularly Charlie Dilley and Mrs. Dilley, were wonderful, for nothing was left undone that could make things easier for Ruth, who is thankful. It has made a thorough sentimentalist of Dave, and I refer to it here because a news item in our column brought so many enquiries direct and to us. Bergman Plans To Leave Selznick Ingrid Bergman will leave David O. Selznick to join Rainbow Productions, reports declare. The actress has made an oral arrangement with Rainbow and will sign with them as soon as she is officially freed from Selznick, which Miss Bergman claims will be in February. Selznick maintains that she owes him one more picture. Thugs Rob Manager Take $170, Car Returning to his home in Forest Hill with the day’s receipts, Ben Freedman, manager of the Royal Theatre at Long Branch, Ontario, was held up by two armed thugs and robbed of $170, a diamond pin and his car. Freedman is president of the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors’ Association of Ontario. Police declare that one of the thugs secreted himself in Freedman's car and when the theatre manager had reached Oakwood Avenue, near his home, the accomplice, who had been following in a car, forced him to the curb at the point of a gun. When Freédman’ stopped, he was forced to the sidewalk, robbed and left standing when the thieves took his car. Take Note President Joe Garborino of the Incurable Bachelors’ Association announces that from now on the organization will hold a celebration for New Year’s Adam. The term “New Year’s Eve’ has limited application and is misused, he says, pointing out that a holiday for both sexes shouldn’t be described with a feminine name. Picture Pickups George Stroud of the Palace, Hamilton, is doing nicely after his recent illness and will be back in the theatre shortly. . . Sydney Gresham, former Toronto exhibitor who is Waling’s man in Australia, will be in Toronto for a visit soon. Joe Unger’s appointment as UA’s sales chief caused considerable excitement among the old-timers around here, for he was one of the boys on the square in distant days and was well liked. . Simon Meretsky and his men put on quite an annual show for charity in Windsor recently. Simon is always busy working and talking for worthy causes. I recall that when he spoke on the need for a Variety Club he caused so many tears they had to pump out the cellar of the King Edward Hotel, scene of his speech. He sure gets below your frost line. . . It was with deep regret that the industry learned of the passing of the wife of Major Harvey Doney, still overseas. He managed the Capitol houses in London and St. Thomas. Good Quote French proverb quoted by Preston Sturges during an interview with a PM reporter: “If you ever want anything done, always ask a busy person, because the others never have time.’ New World ‘A-comin’ “Canada’s Film Future Has Wealth and New Careers” is the heading of an article in the January 5th issue of Saturday Night. “A mew profession and a new million-dollar enterprise are in the making in Canada in the production of motion pictures,” «writes A. J. Arnold, formerly a member of the Canadian Film Weekly staff. “Young people, who have been choosing careers as doctors, lawyers, social workers or journalists, can now also become film producers or technicians.” I've ordered leggings and riding breeches. Who is this guy DeMille anyhow? Canadian FILM WEEKLY Votes Yea Ernie Hatfield of the Capitol, Yarmouth, NS, goes on record as favoring a Victory dinner of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee .in each province or jurisdiction. “This is one of the best ways of getting the men of the moving picture industry together,” he writes. The Hollywood affair was a little remote to be considered a Canadian industry affair, although Don Henshaw saw to it that we got honorable mention. Incidentally, what pleased most of the stars was that they were not asked to demonstrate their talents, as is often the case under similar conditions. Millions of dollars worth of entertainment o1 hand but not even a professional peep was heard. Wait For Baby! The forgotten man of the movies, the fan, got a break from Fred Allen’s Mr. Openshaw, who, on being asked about Academy Awards, referred to producers, directors, actors, pickets and all who are involved in movies, then voted for the ticketbuyer. Excitement If you see Dick Main and Sam Fingold lighting Ralph Dale’s cigarettes for him, it’s because the last-mentioned bit his nails off up to the elbows coaching the bantam hockey team, Kinsmen’s Terriers, into a 7-to-4 surprise win over the highly-regarced Leaside Lions the other night. Among the most tearing of the Terriers are Ralph’s boy, Bobby, and Alf Piggins’ lad, Billy. Dick Main, on hand with the Mrs., got so excited they say he actually slurred a couple of g’s. Latest business venture of Main, Fingold and Dale is the Toronto appearance at Massey Hall of Jascha Heifitz, the violinist. The boys seem to be into sO many enterprises now that I expect their future letterhead to state such varied services as window lettering and _ steeple painting. Tell-Off A gentleman, unresponsive to the brew-inspired amorous over tures of a lady, fixed a sharp eye on her. “Madam,” he said cooll m weakness is alcohol.” u / January 16, 1946 Fast-Fingered Miss Fera Is Sudbury Manager The busiest girl in Sudbury, I am told, is 20-year-old Rose Fera, daughter of Frank Fera of the Rio theatres in Sudbury and Levack. Rosie, it’s said, manages the Sudbury house, sells the tickets, runs a Foto-Nite, keeps the books, buys the films, supervises the advertising, helps with the housekeeping and is quite a hand at spaghetti. Not having enough to do, she just won honors at a commercial college for typing. Frank Fera is a fighting fellow himself, according to biographical details. After years with International Nickel, during which he rose from water boy to stope boss, he gambled his savings in 1937 to open the Levack house. Sudbury is fond of the Feras, who are quite a family in numper and vigor. Twentieth Century Staff Changes Some recently announced staff changes in Twentieth Century Theatres set-up transfer Tom Gallacher from the Geneva Theatre, Orillia, to the Community Theatre in Hamilton. Ed Hubbard will go from the Community to the Mountain Theatre, Hamilton, and Charles Greenwood goes to take over the managership of the Center Theatre, London. RKO Buys New Wilder Novel Robert Wilder’s unpublished novel, “‘Written on the Wind,” has been bought by RKO for 1946 filming. Putnam and Sons will run off a first printing of 100,000 copies. Greenwood Party Is Hamilton Hit Hamiltonians gathered last week at the home of Lloyd Gurr, Century Theatre manager, at a send-off party to Charlie Greenwood, who leaves Hamilton’s Mountain Theatre to take over managerial duties at the Center Theater in London, Ont. A. Kent Craig expressed the regrets of his colleagues at Greenwood’s departure, but wished him well in his new post. A brief case was presented to the guest of honor. Present at the affair were Harold Braden Jr. and A. Kent Craig, United Amusement Co.; Jim McDonough, Tivoli; Lloyd Taylor, Granada; Ed Hubbard, new Mountain manager; Will Dixon, Kenilworth; Arch Lang, supervisor of the Delta, Queens and Empire Theatres; Tom Gallacher, Community; Mrs. Jean Gregory of the Gregory Theatres, and Arch H. Jolley, secretary of MPTAO,