Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 12, 1947)

Page scan 00010 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Feb 12, 1947
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 12, 1947)
Leaf #:
00010
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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February 12, 1947 of the company’s 25 Year Club as he presented them with pins and informed them of the privileges now theirs. The occasion was the third annual meeting of the club and members, inductees and guests came from various points in Quebec and Ontario to be present. The Crystal Ballroom of the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, Where the affair took place, was a rare scene, the tables being candle-lit and flower-decked, and the dinner of several courses, each accompanied by a different wine, helped create an atmosphere reminiscent of pre-war splendor at its finest. At the conclusion of the dinner and after a sojourn in the private cocktail lounge, the diners moved to Vanity Fair for dancing. Morris Stein, who acted as toastmaster and introduced Fitzgibbons and the other spealkers, followed the toast to the King proposed by Sam Bloom with the comment that his trip to the west for_the meetings of other branches had given him a fuller realization of the national scope of Famous Players. The club was now in its third year and had 89 members, he said, “and I cannot help but think about their fine spirit and goodwill.” Referring to the award of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire which had been made to him through the ‘King’s Dominion Day list, Fitzgibbons said: “You made it possible for me to receive it, for I consider that I.was but a symbol.” Jack Arthur had also received an award, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and it too was a compliment to his fellowemployees. “Only a man with training and talent could do what he was asked and I would Ready To Build In Victoriaville, P@ Permits have been obtained and plans have been approved for the construction of an 800seat theatre in Victoriaville, Quebec, by a new company, Theatre Laurier Limitee. Cost is estimated at $100,000 with construction expected to start late in March and finish in August. Building will have foundation and walls of reinforced concrete and vitriolite front. Members of the new firm are the Hon. Hector Authier and Louis Brochu, Montreal financiers; Charles A. Magnan of Malartic; Camille Bolduc, Macamic; and J. L. Caron of Three Rivers. Canadian FILM WEEKLY FP 25 Year Clubmen Lauded Veterans From Eastern Canada Enjoy Excellent Session at King Edward, Toronto (Continued from Page 1) like to congratulate him publicly,” he said. Arthur had produced the famous Army Show. “JT. am very proud of this industry,” Fitzgibbons told the listeners, ‘‘and I should be, for it has provided a means of living for my family and I. I know that you are proud also. You and I have made a contribution to the high standard of living this country enjoys. Millions of people come to us for their entertainment and each of you helps to provide it. Every member of the 25 Year Club has reason to be proud of his part in it.” Reuben W. Bolstad, vice-president of Famous Players, speaking later, said that loyalty was not just the obligation of the employees but also that of the employer. “We have tried to meet that obligation,’ he declared, citing the various benefits inaugurated in other and in recent years. It was pride in their work which led Famous Players folk to helping the chain to grow from 18 to more than 300—Canada’s largest and one Ealing. Studios CATE went Michael Balcon © Eagle-Lion Films of Canada, Ltd. Laxes? No! Profits! They’re a problem!” of the largest in the world. lt was a dream come true “and without your help it would still be a dream.’ He praised the wives of theatre workers, who did not have the company of their husbands at the same time as other Canadians. Others who spoke were Jule Allen, head of Theatre Holding Corporation, introduced as “the dean of the industry in Canada;”’ Jack Arthur, proposer of the toast to the ladies, which was replied to by Mrs. Laura Wilson; James R. Nairn, head of advertising and public relations; Ben Geldsaler, chief booker and buyer and head of the committee which arranged the dinner; and Simon Meretsky, president of Paramount Windsor Theatres. Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures and Famous Players wired his congratulations, as did Ray Lewis, Larry Bearg, Charlie Querrie, Jacob Miles of Winnipeg, and the Vancouver members of the club. Famous Players’ statistical department wired congratulations to Al Troyer on his induction. Page 11 Those partners who had club members among their staffs were guests and among these were Ernie Moule of Brantford, Herbert Allen of Toronto, Sam ‘Fine of Toronto, Alex Adelman of Montreal and Harold Braden of Hamilton, who represented his father, absent because of illness. The others were mentioned earlier’ in this account. George Georgas of Owen Sound represented his father, Chris Georgas, away on a holiday, and Don McClelland was present in behalf of his father, Ron McClelland, who is ill. Both sons accepted their parents’ membership pins. The members inducted were Clarence Arliss, Loew’s, Montreal; George E. Crowe, Capitol, Peterborough; Chris Georgas, Classic, Owen Sound; Horace W. L. Maude, Capitol, Toronto; Angus MacCunn, home office, Toronto; Ronald McClelland, Capitol, Toronto; Charles D. McGregor, Capitol, Chatham; Clarence A. McMahon, Shea’s, Tor onto; James W. Reid, Strand, Hamilton; William J. Sinclair, Shea’s, Toronto; C. W. Small, Loew’s, Montreal; Walton D. Thomas, Home office, Toronto; Sidney Thomas, Hollywood, Toronto; and Joseph A. ‘Troyer, home office, Toronto. Mrs.’ Anne Barrick, Capitol, Montreal, who was not present, was unable to make the trip. Wij YZ