Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 13, 1946)

WM. JZ. SINGLETON Bias Dbeem promoted from the pest of sabes muamager te ren eral wmuamarer of Associated = “ < —— a Sere x ows r =? was Sereem News Limiied, i a ammramré recentir. AMreé Brown, projectionist at She Cepitel Theatre, Calgary, Alberte. for the lest 15 years, was ewerded & cold Me membership card ut | mpeetime of the Moving — © fee Tees DS Birteere Operstors, Iocal 322, re ———s -<cently. A cherter member of the Iocel, wich Brown retired recently ran -* ot @ bealth. hh wens formset in 1512 as formed im 3915, << —e— Plan Six Houses In Quebec City (Ceosttisne’? froma Page I liste of the former, has also applied for a permit to build in subin the spring. — that ae sea: thea in the city. At 2a cost of $309,000 Consolidzted will soon start on the 2,000seat Boulevard Theatre and a 1,5090-seat house to be called the Odeon Theatre. They also plan the Quebec Theatre as a 1,500-seat house at a cost of $200,090, while the OrJeans Theatre, also being constructed by the same company, will cost about $125,000. It will seat 1,200 people. Altogether six theatres will be built in Quebec City at a cost of well over a million dollars, $800,000 of which will be spent by Consolidated Amusements, which now has a chain of 11 houses in Quebec. The contracts will be given to Quebec firms and local labor will be employed. Canadian FILM WEEKLY SQUARE Picture Pioneer Pickups VERY annual session of the Canadian Picture Pioneers has been distinguished for its fun but this last meeting left all behind. The entertainment committee, headed by the evergreen Jack <Arthur and med «by Tom Daley and Archie Laurie, put on diversion from soup to nuts — even though the only thing not on the mouthwatering buffet menu was soup amd the nuts were human and made that way temporarily by the hilarious goadins of the iniGation committee. Have you a towel handy ? Put it under your chin, for yeu are about to drewn almost in your own Grocl There was venison, a gift from Jack Nelson of North Bay. There was lobster that was a production in itself. The salmon setup was strictly for the Technicolor cameras. The turkeys served did not live nor die in vain, for their remains got the most appreciative sendoff in the history of the fowl breed. After the supper came the fun and after the fum out came an extra turkey from Ray Lewis and a heavenly ham from Oscar Hanson. Through it all the old-time dispensary, created by Johnny Poole from an idea by Ben Cronk, remained open and served the spirited whoop-de-dew. Judging by the free flow the vintage visas and potion passports of all the members must have gone the containers. Yesterday's youths had their fun in the good old ways of the good old days. Nese spar into hehe candidates for membership were lined up on the stage, then seated on two long benches while Dean Tom Daley, adorned in cap and gown, put them through a whiz of a quiz. Charlie Mavety, the sergeant-at-arms, wandered casually among the aspirants beating the beejay out of them with a stuffed sock. After some introductory re marks that went from the sublime (for contrast) to the ridiculous (the goal), Dean Daley put Abe Polakoff through the oath for the oafs. He then called on Jim Foy of Oshawa. “Where do you hear the anvil chorus?” he was asked. “The blacksmith shop,” Jim answered. “Wrong,” ruled the dean. “Every noon at the long table in Child’s.”’ Len Bishop got the most precarious assignment, that of talking about the men to whom he is responsible but he was warned not to tell the truth. If you think that’s easy try it sometime. The Bish bobbed and weaved his way out of danger in admirable fashion. HE initiates, who wore butch er’s aprons adorned with their names and the Pioneer crest, looked like the packer’s union in conference as they sat on the platform. It was suggested to them that they ought to pay for the party in gratitude for being permitted to join and all who agreed were asked to stand. Two stood. Suddenly they all got to their feet at once, each in disorganized fashion and in an awful hurry. The benches on which they had been sitting had been wired and they had been given the hot seat! It was impossible to fight a rear action, even though Barney Fox tried to sit it out. Right now he could be served to cannibals as roast rump. west unusual assignment went to Al Easson, who was told to leave and not come back until he brought a pair of ladies’ panties. Al came back when the initiation was over and flaunted two! Unfertunately he was not asked to explain how he managed to charm either the wearers or shopkeepers out of them on a cold night. T the end of the initiation the candidates were lined up for what was announced as an athletic event. It turned out to be a yo-hoedown with chorines as partners. The lads and lasses hopped to it. Before being dismissed their shoes, which had been removed earlier, were returned to the boys —tied together and in a heap. It was a mad scramble to find the proper footgear. A GRAND part of the evening’s entertainment was the stage show provided by the Jackpot Company, an aggrega tion of entertainers who had been playing before army audiences. I February 13, understand Langley’s financed — their activities without ta advantage of advertising bene. fits. Sparked by Kay Kenny’s emceeing and piano playing, they did highly professional routines in a fashion that pleased the audience immensely and thrilled Jack Arthur and Walter Graydon, Walter spent years at the old Victoria and the Hippodrome and has never lost his love for live entertainment. I didn’t take long for the boys to reveal their era, for when Joanne Heywood, a _ promising musical comedy actress indeed, led the chorus through a George M. Cohan medley everyone joined with her in singing the old tunes. Another performer headed for the high spots is Mary Tofani, a soprano with style. Archie Knew He Had A Good BO Picture When Archie Laurie, EagleLion top man, screened ‘‘Madonna of the Seven Moons” upon the arrival of the print, he and I differed on the BO power of the picture. I didn’t think it would go more than two weeks so Archie wagered me his ration of imprisoned cheer that it would go three or more. Well, it has done three good weeks’ business at the Uptown, Toronto, by the time you read this. In the meantime an emissary of mine named Long John has atoned for my bad judgment in not recognizing Laurie’s good judgment. There is some comfort in the fact that I am not alone in adversity. Another gentleman made Archie the same wager and will be parched for the legal period also. Who? None other than Stan Gosnell, manager of the Uptown, Toronto! He Had Plenty “Have you any tickets?” a lady asked the boxoffice man at a flop show. ‘How do you want them, madame?” was the reply. “By the pound?” Good Short Had a look at the short Fred Revell brought to this country with him — “Letters From Britain.’”’ Made by the British Council, it is aimed at Canadians, being the experiences of three lads from our land in Britain. A darned good film tour of the British Isles’ most historic spots. Fred, who left here years ago, got a bit thin on the wartime diet but is having a wonderful time over here making up for it. He's doubling the enjoyment by doing his dining with old friends,