Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 31, 1948)

Page scan 00010 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Mar 31, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 31, 1948)
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 21, 2025
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March $1, 1948 Canada Cased By Yank Producers Although talks between film industry representatives and government officials about dollar conservation are still on, it would ‘seem that Canadian production is being studied by USA picture makers aS a means of leaving some of their earnings here. No ‘statement has-been -issued by -any of the parties involved but notes about Canadian shooting keep cropping up in the ‘hack: press. . One of the ten pictures to be made for United Artists by five independent produicerswill be lensed here, said a recent statement of the company’s board of ‘directors. The film, to be produc ed by Leopold Schlossberg, is an° “A Man Scans. adaptation of His Past” and will be made in ‘English and French. versions. ' Meanwhile Canadian companies with: production facilities have been answering: enquiries from — American producers or showing’: ‘their representatives around. It is presumed they are motivated ‘by an intention to shootin this country when and if Ottawa and _the film industry ‘agree on the means of keeping Canadian earnings in this country. But it’s all a big agate -some of which was dispelled by -Tradeand Commerce Minister C, D. Howe -in the House of Commons recently. Answering questions from members, he revealed that the government was aiming at a quid pro quo agreement — that is, . spending here of moneys remitted to the USA. Hollywood companies have al‘ways made some shorts in. Cana.da every year and the first indications are that more will be shot on this side of the line. Companies other than UA have not stated their intention of producing films in Canada but there has been considerable shooting in Quebec, Banff and other scenic locations during the past few years as a matter of course. During the past couple of years Fox, Paramount, Eagle Lion (Hollywood) and MGM did Jocation shooting in various parts of Canada. All future work of this kind will probably be related to the government-industry talks. Al Rogell, Hollywood indie who was talking a deal with Canadian interests, will shoot a ski-star film called “Shadow of Time,” probably in the West, where he worked on “Northwest Stampede” last summer. There is talk of a mountie film being made by Fox, which worked on “13 Rue Madeleine” in Quebec and “The Iron Curtain” in Ottawa. It is also likely that Mike” will be made here. “Mrs. an equiivalent Canadian FILM WEEKLY New Modern POPCORN MACHINES For Sale e 1 Lb. Popping Pan (Creetors) ® Floor or Counter Model e Simplo Maintenance e Stainless Steel e 25 and 60 Cycles © Pays For Itself Quickly © Pops 1 Lb. of Corn Every 90 Seconds © Moderately Priced Counter Model $825, Floor Model $875 Popcorn Machines Are Now on the Embargo List and We Advise You to PURCHASE NOW WHILE THEY LAST. From THEATRE CONFECTIONS LTD. 284 KING STREET EAST TORONTO ELgin 0141 ELgin 0141 ° Stars For "Sunburst’ Hal Wallis Purchase Dane Clark and . Geraldine Hal Wallis has purchased Brooks will star in Warners’ Gertrude Schweitzer’s “Obses“Sunburst.” ; sion.” : Page I1 New Liberty Poll Picks Jolson New Liberty’s movie awards, based on films shown in Canada during 1947, were made public in .its April issue. Exhibitors participated in the poll, which will be conducted annually. Columbia’s “The Jolson Story” was the choice of the best film and also led in the biggest moneymaker category. It was also chosen as the best musical and as the 1947 film with the best ‘musical score. Larry Parks, hbe cause of his performance in “The Jolson Story,” was picked as the best new male star, while Alfred KE. Green won the directorial honors for his work on the film. Bing Crosby was chosen the best male performer and Ingrid Bergman the best female performer. Best new female star was Deborah Kerr. “The Ege and I,” from EmpireUniversal, got the award as the best comedy, “The Yearling,” MGM, had the best photography, and ‘‘Great Expectations,” EagleLion, the best dialogue. Best cartoon was MGM's ‘‘The Cat Concerto.” Winner in the best short subject category was .Paramount Canadian Newsreel’s “The Royal Wedding.” Canadian Premiere Canadian premiere of Allied Artists’ Tchaikovsky film, “Song of My Heart,” recently took place at the International Cinema, Toronto. PLASTIC DINNERWARE? NOT US! WE'VE GOT THE REAL THING... YES ... We're finally coming out with one of our old-time “crowd-packing” Dinnerware Deals ....No — IT'S NOT PLASTIC — IT’S REAL CERAMIC DINNERWARE — the kind women really want and will come in droves fo get... NOW — good-bye to sagging Box Office receipts — lineups will again start! Johnny Cohn, the Exhibitor's friend, is in action again... We'll have samples and complete details for you in a couple of weeks... Our old and fair policy will prevail ... FIRST COME — FIRST SERVED! CANADIAN PREMIUM DISTRIBUTORS Management — John W. Cohn 277 VICTORIA ‘ST. TORONTO WA. 3116