Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 4, 1946)

Page scan 00014 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Dec 4, 1946
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 4, 1946)
Leaf #:
00014
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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December 4, 1946 Famous Players Windsor Session (Continued from Page 1) held in both the eastern and western divisions, followed the general pattern of such gatherings. Managers and partners sat in at a two-day round table talk during which individual operations were thoroughly discussed and matters of company policy for the coming year were determined. In addition there were talks on advertising, children’s shows and confections. The Windsor meeting was presided over. by Morris Stein, eastern division general manager and associated with him as co-chairmen were district managers Dan Krendéi and Jack Arthur. During the Thursday afternoon session James Stevenson and Neil Troy of Theatre Confections led a discussion on the sale of confections in theatres and demonstrated two of the newest popcorn machines. A forum on advertising was conducted by James R. Nairn and on book ticket sales and children’s shows by A. E. Brown. Entertainment was not overlooked, despite a crowded agenda, and the theatremen were the guests of the fabulous Simon Meretsky who, with his associates, played host in lavish fashion. The men entertained at dinner, following a cocktail party on Wednesday night, at the Elmwood Hotel where Earl Hudson, managing director of United Detroit Theatres, was an honored guest. On Thursday evening the theatremen were again the guests of Simon Meretsky at a dinner at the Edgewater Inn. Present at the conference were Morris Stein, Dan Krendel, Jack Arthur, James R. Nairn, Bert Brown, Jimmy Cameron, James Stevenson and Neil Troy from Head Office and Roy Miller, Lincoln theatre, St. Catharines; Harry Wilson, Capitol theatre, Chatham; Jack Ward, Seneca theatre, Niagara Falls; Lloyd S. Gurr, Century theatre, Hamilton; Sam Mantle, Royal theatre, Guelph; Jim McDonough, Tivoli theatre, Hamilton; Vern Hudson, Capitol theatre, St. Thomas; Joe Bolinsky, Imperial theatre, Sarnia; Eddie Landsborough, Capitol theatre, Galt; Ernie Moule, Capitol theatre, Brantford; Earl Scandrett, Royal theatre, Woodstock; Bill Trudell, Capitol theatre, London; Bill Burke, Brant theatre, Brant ford; George Fairley, Palace theatre, Guelph; Hammy Bowes, Capitol theatre, Sarnia; Lloyd Taylor, Granada theatre, Hamilton and Tom McKnight, Patricia theatre, London. The Windsor group included Simon Meretsky, managing di Canadian FILM WEEKLY Page 15 Famous Players Maritimers Enjoy Halifax Banquet Pictured above are the members of Famous Players Maritimes and their guests who gathered at a banquet in the Nova Scotian Hotel recently. From left to right are, front row: R. S. Reddick, Halifax; Hon. J. H. McQuarrie, KC, AttorneyGeneral; Morris Stein, Toronto; Hon. Angus L. Macdonald, Premier of Nova Scotia; F. G. Spencer, Saint John, NB; Hon. Harold Connolly, Minister of Industry and Publicity for Nova Scotia; M. S. Clarke, Halifax. Middle row: Ted Doney, Halifax; F. Skinner, Halifax; D P. MacDonald, Sydney; E. Guthro, New Waterford; J. Butler, Moncton; J. McEwen, Halifax; 8S. Doane, Halifax; A. J. Mason, Springhill; P. J. Hanifen, Halifax. Back row: G. A. Walters, Charlottetown; Gordon Spencer, Saint John; J. Mitchell, Moncton; E. Connor, Glace Bay; F. M. Gregor, New Waterford; F. Harrison, Saint John; F. M. Covert, Halifax. Morley Femme Lead In Next Jim Wakely Kay Morley has been signed for the feminine lead in the next Monogram musical western, tentatively tilted “Drifting Through,” starring Jimmy Wakely with Lee “Lasses” White. Other castings are Budd Osborne, Steve Clark and Jimmy Martin. rector of Windsor Paramount Theatres; Cem Merritt; Bob Knevels, Capitol theatre; Edsel Meretsky and S. Meretsky, Paiace theatre; Joe LeFave, Tivoli theatre; Ed Lamoreaux, Empire theatre and Art Ducharme, Park. Arrangements for entertaining the theatremen in the capable hands of Joe Lefave and nis committee, Jolley Guest Speaker At Lion's Dinner Arch. H. Jolley, executive-secretary of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, was the guest speaker at a recent dinner meeting of the Brockville, Ontario. Lion’s Club, which was held at the Manitonna Hotel. He was introduced to the 37 members by Lion Les Mitchell, manager of the Regent Theatre, and spoke on “Various Angles of the Motion Picture Industry.” Famous Players Pays 80c Annual Dividend Famous Players Canadian Corporation has again increased its dividend rate on the common stock to 80c per annum, with the declaration of 20c quarterly, payable Dec. 31, and an extra of 5c. After the common was subdivided three new shares for each old share in February, the new common stock was placed on a 60c annual basis as compared with the equivalent of 50c¢ per share on the new stock paid for 1944 and 1945. Giving effect to the latest declaration, total dividends for 1946 amount to 70c per share. 618 Oakwood Ave. KEnwood 060] TORONTO 10, ONT.