Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 28, 1946)

Page scan 0001 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Aug 28, 1946
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 28, 1946)
Leaf #:
0001
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Global Cinema, Canada, and Hollywood Studio System
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Film Weekly

  • Editor: Hye Bossin (1942-64)
  • Renamed Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly (1965-69, editor: Stan Helleur)
  • Renamed Candian Film Weekly(1970, editor: Ed Hocura)

Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70) was edited by Hye Bossin and published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., wholly owned by leading exhibitor, Nat Taylor. In the late 1930s, Taylor was head of the Independent Theatre Association and his Toronto-based chain, Twinex-Century (Twentieth Century), was the largest independent circuit in the country. In 1941, however, he negotiated for chain affiliation with upstart Canadian Odeon before leveraging a better deal and greater booking control with nationally-dominant Famous Players Canada, Ltd. No longer independent, he took ownership of the Independent Theatre Association’s semi-monthly magazine, The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (1940-41), installed Hye Bossin as editor, and laid plans to relaunch in January 1942 under a new name, Canadian Film Weekly. This enduring key publication was no longer solely focused on independent exhibitors but instead covered the entire industry on a national scale–exhibition, distribution and production–with some attention given to studio news from New York and Hollywood.

Bossin was a vibrant writer with a canny way with words, admired in the industry in the United States as well as Canada. He was one of a large family who lived above their father’s secondhand shop in the Jewish “ward” downtown in Toronto. His older brother was a bookie with ties to the underground; his younger brother was a famous journalist, protégé of Walter Winchell, and Hollywood screenwriter. In contrast, Hye spent nearly two decades learning the publishing trade in a printers’ shop before trying a stint as a Hollywood publicist, then writing a column for the Toronto Star Weekly before taking Taylor’s offer to edit the Film Weekly. Bossin was central to the creation of the Canadian Film Archive, the Canadian Film Awards, and he wrote some of the first histories of early cinema in Canada, published in the first volumes of the annual Canadian Film Weekly Year Book (1951-70).

In 1957, the Film Weekly had incorporated the rival Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57), and began dating its start to that paper’s earlier start as the Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18). Subsequent variants of the Canadian Film Weekly and its yearbooks always claimed their roots all the way back to 1915 and the origins of the film industry trade press in Canada. After Bossin died in 1964, the Weekly’s new editor, Stan Helleur, renamed the magazine Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly, scaling back the pace of publishing but adding a purview for television and broadcasting. The annual was renamed similarly, its subtitle amended to “Year Book of the Canadian Entertainment Industry.” An attempted renewal to weekly format in 1970, edited by Ed Hocura, was short-lived and Nat Taylor decided instead to relaunch under an entirely new title, Canadian Film Digest (1971-77) and Canadian Film Digest Yearbook (1971-86).

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Bossin, Hye. “Canada and the Film: The Story of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” In Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, 21-41. Toronto: Film Publications of Canada, 1951.
  • Moore, Paul. “Chronicling a National History: Hye Bossin’s Canadian Film Weekly and Year Book.” In Eric Hoyt and Kelley Conway, eds., Global Movie Magazines. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024.

Date Added:
August 14, 2025
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Page 2 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Proposed Renaissance Films Studios in Montreal nS AG ee SMPE Celebrate 30th Anniversary The Society of Motion Picture Engineers recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of their organization on July 24, 1916. Aims of the association at the time of birth was to solve technical problems in the production and exhibition of motion pictures. Don E. Hyndman, president, stated that development of television, international standardization and a broad instructional program are the major aims of the near future. Holloway Starred ‘Mr, Wright Goes Wrong,” first two-reeler of the series ta be made by Columbia with Sterling Holloway as the star, has gone into production. ‘New Sheridan Film Ann Sheridan, Kent Smith, Robert Alda and Bruce Bennett costar in Warners “Nora Prentiss.’ Former title was “The Sentence.” ‘Love and Learn’ Warners has assigned William Jacobs as producer and Frederick DeCordova as director for the new romantic musical, “Love and Learn.” . ~~ eae Oe BYCHITEGTE COnaEIL CU ete a dete BAN oa Te TEV Rte A DROID DES Above layout depicts the proposed Montreal motion picture studios to be built by Renaissance Films Distribution Incorporated starting in the spring of 1947. A large piece of land has been purchased from the City of Montreal adjacent to the old Dominion Park on Notre Dame Street East. Until such time as the structure will be ready for use the company, of which J. A. DeSeve, formerly general manager of France Film, is president, is using a temporary studio on Cote-des-Neiges Rd. Of concrete and stucco construction, it will include an administrative section; an editing and cutting building; a power house; painters’ and carpenters’ shops; an animated cartoon building; main studios, which can be divided into five sets or joined into one and which has an auditorium in the centre and dressing rooms on the sides; a hotel with a restaurant for use by the artists and technicians; a garage; storehouse for costumes, scenery and equipment; and a caretaker’s lodge. , Next Charlie Chan William Beaudine has been signed to direct the next Charlie Chan film at Monogram starring Sidney Toler, ‘The Trap.” "Feminine Class’ Latest Grantland Rice Sportlight produced by Jack Eaton for Paramount is ‘Feminine Class.” Peter Lorre Next Peter Lorre’s first film for Paramount will be the Bob HopeDorothy Lamour starrer, “My Favorite Brunette.” Columbia Serial Sam Katzman is producing for Columbia a 15-chapter serial, “Son of the Guardsman,” starring Daun Kennedy and Bob Shaw. Vol. 11, No. 35 August 28, 1946 /. HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor 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, ISTRIBUTION INC. | ~ PLAN-GENERAL DES STUDIOS. —/ “PAUL H.LAPOINTE © SON N RERAEMS a Hie, S WNERA “— a te aure PERRIER NERA eg EES Film Earnings Up Attendance Down Although motion picture attendance showed a slight drop in the second quarter this year over the first three months, boxoffice grosses were higher than in the corresponding period in 1945 and the outlook for the balance of the year is highly promising. Indications so far in 1946 are that the estimated 100 million attendance of last year will at least be equalled in spite of the usual summer slump, heightened this season by increased forms of diversion. Aussie Pic "Smithy' Said Best One Yet “Smithy,” the Australian-made film of the life of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, is rated as the best yet produced in that country with home talent. The film has been released and is at present being shown in Australia and New Zealand. Featured in the picture is the tri-motor monoplane, “Southern Cross,”’ in which Kingsford-Smith flew around the world for some seven years before he lost his life somewhere near the coast of Burma attempting to set a new speed record from England to Australia in a single-éngined plane.