Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 21, 1948)

Page 10 HON. J. EARL LAWSON, KC CBC Set To Enter Television Field J. Alphonse Ouimet, assistant chief engineer of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, stated recently that the CBC was ready to enter the television field as soon as the higher authorities gave the signal. The CBC engineers have studied the problem and have the know-how and could overcome the technical difficulties involved. A.D. Dunton, chairman of the board of directors, confirmed Ouimet’s statement, adding that the whole matter is under study at present. Cost of establishing a single station would run about $250,000 exclusive of studios and cameras, of which each studio requires several, cost approximately $25,000 each. Brian Donlevy Cast Brian Donlevy has been set by MGM for a top role in “The Southern Yankee” as Red Skelton's rival in the new film about a Civil War Spy, which will be produced by Paul Jones, who made many of the Crosby-Hope “Road” stories. Anna Lee Gets Lead In "Best Man Wins' Anna Lee, English actress who recently completed a featured role in “War Party,” and was also seen in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” was given the feminine lead opposite Edgar Buchanan recently in Columbia’s ‘Best Man’ Wins.” Buchanan and Miss Lee play husband and wife in “Best Man Wins,’’ based on Mark Twain’s short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” John Sturges directs the Red Richmond production. Canadian FILM WEEKLY January 21, 1948 Equitable Distribut’n Three Situations Asked If Needed (Continued from Page 1) certain phases of that industry, stated the Honorable J. Earl Lawson, KC, managing director of Odeon Theatres of Canada, in his review of the Canadian motion picture industry during 1947. The statement may indicate a concern for the product situation as it may affect Canadian exhibitors in the next few seasons if production declines and the number of Dominion theatres increases. The most important single item in the United Kingdom’s postwar trade with Canada is the British motion picture, he said. The earnings of Britishmade films in Canada set an alltime record, as did also the number of motion pictures shown theatrically and non-theatrically; the average number of engagements played in Canada per film and the average earnings per film. In such lines as theatre projection machines, Canada has always imported all her requirements but had not, previous to 1947, bought from Britain. A closer relationship with the British film industry has followed J. Arthur Rank’s active entry into the Canadian field in 1945. British manufacturers of precision instruments last year also introduced superior equipment for theatre use. Britain can continue to increase her exports during 1948 and thereafter in both these fields. But for the immediate future, the rate of increase will depend in very large measure on the ability of the Rank Canadian theatre circuit and others to carry. through their programs. Public demands on the film industry in Canada increased greatly during the war. In 1946, motion picture theatre attendance, totalling 227,538,798 paid admissions, had risen to 20 times the national population. A market Survey recently completed in one urban area of Eastern Canada showed that 99 per cent of resi Consolidated Offers Large Share Block Consolidated Theatres Limited of Montreal is offering 73,500 A cumulative non-callable shares at $9.50 per share with a bonus of one quarter B share with each A. The A shares are entitled to fixed cumulative preferential dividends of 50 cents per annum payable quarterly. Stock is of no par value and is non-voting unless and until dividends are in arrears, dents attend motion pictures. The motion picture is one of the chief relaxations for the industrial community and_ the industrial worker. A major ‘program of new construction and modernization is needed across the Dominion. The film industry in Canada is already re-adjusting its plans to present necessities, including shortages both of materials and United States dollars. One result of the film industry’s research into building methods is that motion picture theatres may now be built in Canadian communities which were formerly considered too small to support such an undertaking. Until 1945, virtually all the entertainment which Canadian cinemas offer, came from the United States, and had therefore to he paid for with United States dollars. Now, the British film is already established in the Canadian market and can take an increasing share of theatre play ‘ing time. This applies not only to companies such as Odeon which have a direct British connection, but to all Canadian theatres. Based on the British ability to supply, the same situation applies also, from 1948 on, to theatre equipment. As the expansion of the film industry proceeds, the less specialized types of theatre equipment and furnishings can be provided from purely Canadian sources and the present situation may have the effect of stimulating Canadian production in a number of these lines. Late in 1947, one new development of less immediate but potentially high long-range importance, began to receive film industry attention. This was: television. Again, Britain appears to have taken a leading position Since cinema-television had been installed in some theatres just prior to the outbreak of war. Not only has the television industry in Britain advanced to the point at which introduction of largeScreen television in theatres is planned and manufacture of equipment begun, but the output of such equipment will shortly reach the point at which exports to Canada could be made if, as and when cinema-television became possible here. Lee Bowman Added Lee Bowman has been added to the cast of Columbia’s “Let’s Fall in Love.” Dorothy Lamour, Jeffrey Lynn and Janis Carter were named previously, ’ theatre under Open In Canada (Continued from Page 1) news in all the rest of Canada as construction slowed down due to inclement weather and the holidays at the end of the year. The first theatre in Tatamagouche, NS, the Rialto, opened recently. Owned by R. T. Hazel and P. R. Barkhouse, the house will seat 300 and is a long-anticipated addition to the commun ‘ity. Also open in Nova Scotia is the new Regent Theatre in Joggins Mines. Erected to replace the burnt-out Your Theatre by the owner, R. J. Melanson, it has approximately the same 200 seating capacity, but has all the latest improvements in projection and sound equipment. It is the only one there. A third theatre has been approved for Kentville, NS. Permit for a $100,000 pre-fab project has been granted by Town Council to Maurice A. Joseph. Contract for the structure has been awarded to National Theatre Sales Company, a Toronto firm, and construction is expected to start early in the Spring. Two F. G. Spencer-Famous Players houses are situated in Kentville, the 878-seat Capitol and the 864seat Empire. Biltmore Theatres Limited has opened its new Biltmore Theatre in New Toronto, Ontario. Seating 700, the new unit is the third in the Toronto suburb, the others being Theatre Holding’s 1,090seat Capitol and S. Applebaum’s 400-seat Palace. The company expects to open its de luxe 1400 seat project on Yonge Street in Toronto early next March. Principal Investments Limited will erect a theatre at Bayview and Greenwood Avenues in Toronto for Odeon Theatres of Canada. Joe Giaschi, operator of the 323-seat Strand, the only theatre in Bracebridge, Ontario, has announced his intention of building a second house there with some 500 seats. At present he has a construction in Huntsville, Ontario. Mrs. Jane C. Farrar, owner of a corner piece of property in the east end of Hamilton, Ontario, has filed an application with City Council to have two by-laws amended to permit erection of a theatre. Spokesman for Mrs. Farrar stated that plans are not definite, but that if no objection was raised by neighbors and the application was passed by Council, there was a possibility that a theatre would be built. Hillyer Directing Lambert Hillyer is directing Monogram’s ‘Melody Range.”