Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 25, 1946)

Page scan 00038 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Dec 25, 1946
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 25, 1946)
Leaf #:
00038
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 07, 2025
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December 25, 1946 MURRAY KOMAR Succeeded Lew McKenzie as Saint John manager for Warner Brothers. Production starts on the bilingual film, “The Stronghold” in English and “La Fortresse” in French, at St. Hyacinthe, Quebec. A $600,000 production by Quebec Productions Incorporated, which is headed by Paul L’Anglais, it stars Helmut Dantine, Mary Anderson and Paul Lukas. The industry joins in helping put over the Canada Savings Bond drive. Distributors notify exhibitors of intention of revising Clause 18 of license agreement, which deals with percentage booking. Revision would allow distributors right to designate “any and all income” ‘as factor in deals where operating expenses bear cn their share. Move is vigorously opposed by all exhibitor associations, circuits and Independents and united front calls cn all to refuse to sign contracts with disputed clause. Prince Edward Island theatres closed for two weeks because of polio scare. H. J. Allen and N. A. Taylor acquire Canadian franchise for British National Films and organize Anglo-American Films (Canada) Limited. First picture is “Meet the Navy,” film version of stage show. Lionel Warren Payne of Listowel, Ont., veteran exhibitor and famed for his war effort, sells to Dick Main and retires. The year of 1945 was a record one for the industry, according ta the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Addition of 24 new houses brought the Canadian total to CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Roundup OF THE NEWS 1,328. Receipts were $55,430,711 exclusive of $14,055,021 in amusement taxes. Film _ rentals reached $17,490,264 and admissions, which totalled 215,573,267, an increase of four per cent over the previous year. The rentals for 16 mm. amounted to $1,198,016, with 49 additional exhibitors in the field, a record also, but 35 mm. Intinerant exhibition drops, being affected by the former. Fred Tabah, one of the founders of Confederated Amusements, passes in Montreal. Famous Players team wins N. L. Nathanson teamplay challenge trophy at Canadian motion picture golf championships, at which 130 golfers teed off and 300 were present for the fun. Dewey Davis won the Famous Players challenge trophy for the individual low gross, A flight; J. Jacobs took the IATSE trophy for B flight and A. Kent Craig the 20th Century trophy for C flight. The Canadian Film Weekly’s individual low net trophy was won by George Philps, who finished in a tie with Harold Costin but won the toss. Graydon Matthews appointed Toronto branch manager for Monogram. October Audic Films and Film Laboratories of Canada begin construc tion of $300,000 lab and studio near Toronto. Irving Sourkes operates checking agency in Quebec. Thomas J. Bragg, president of General ‘Theatres Investments and vice-president of Odeon Theatres of Canada, passes in Toronto. Mary Pickford and Lester Cowan establish partnership for production of films. Ontario theatre inspection branch has approved of plans for 59 new theatres and alteration of 24. It is estimated that Canada will have 150 new theatres in the next few years, if building conditions permit. Royal Ontario Museum plans film schedule in auditorium. J. Arthur Hirsch re-elected president of Quebec Allied Thetrical Industries at annual meeting in Montreal. George M. Davies succeeds J. R. Croft as WPTB administrator of services and controller of theatres and films. Leo M. Devaney, head of RKO in Canada, presents Downtown Toronto Kiwanis Club with part of proceeds from showing of “The House I Live In,” antiintolerance short, to be devoted to boys work. The Hon. J. Earl Lawson, KC, addressing luncheon following the annual meeting in Toronto of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, asks end of controls on film and theatre industry. BING CROSBY Again named Canada’s leading boxoffice star in the annual exhibitors’ poll conducted by the Canadian Film Weekly. Lord’s Day Alliance agrees that patrons may be admitted at 11.80 p.m. fer after-Sunday midnight shows, if tickets have been purchased during week off special and exclusive roll. Paramount plans to begin construction of new exchange building at Church and Gerrard Streets, Toronto, early in 1947. Toronto exhibitors opposed to intention of police commissioners to ban smoking in theatres, pointing out that a_ greater threat to safety exists in dancehalls and sporting arenas. November Edward L. Harris succeeds O. R. Hanson as general manager of Gaumont Kalee Limited. George W. Peters, secretary of Page 43 DOUGLAS H. PEACOCK Co-ordinator of distribution and promotion for National Film Board theatrical short subjects. Odeon Theatres and executive assistant to the president, elected to the board of directors and made a member of the executive committee. Ed Kuykendall, president emeritus of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, passes away in Columbus, Mississippi. Joe Garbarino, Toronto Independent, elected president of the Motion Picture Theatres Asso-~ ciation of Ontario, succeeding Morris Stein of Famous Players. . Clare Appel, Odeon eastern division chief, is vice-president. Royal command performance of films and stars in London raises $122,000 for the British Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund. Tent No. 28, Toronto Variety Club, re-elects same Officers headed by Chief Barker John J. Fitzgibbons. Joe McPherson resigns as manager of Toronto branch of RKO to join Monogram as Winnipeg branch manager. Capitol Theatre, FPCC unit in St. John’s, Newfoundland, stroyed by fire. Rank Canadian organization studying possibility of advertising reels in theatres. National Film Board signs deal with Mexican company for distribution in that country. Film Producers Association of Canada holds dinner and film evening to conclude annual convention in the Royal York, Toronto, of Association of Canadian Advertisers, Canadian Motion Picture Producers Association, through President Leo M. Devaney, ex