Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 30, 1948)

Page 4 | Newsy Notes Typodermic Injections There was a gay time and a gourmet’s holiday at the party of the Paramount lads, gathered in Toronto for their annual talks, with Tommy Dowbiggin’s war whoop riding the clatter and chatter. Oscar Morgan was on hand from New York and, as usual this time of year, he went on to the Gananoque area to open the family cottage, which has been thereabouts for 43 years. In the days when Canada was part of Paramount’s foreign department Oscar had charge of it. When it was placed in the domestic market George Weeks took over. He was pleased with the vigor and loyalty of Gordon Lightstone’s lads, who were just as glad to see him again as were guests from the trade. Johnny Kurk, Midtown manager, has a sharp eye. He noticed that one of the windows on the second floor, usually left open, was closed and that there was a shadow on the outside. The shadow belonged to a would-be thief, who was waiting on the ledge — the dope — until the show was over. So Johnny, who was locking up, had him locked up . . . Joe Palansky of Empire-Universal will be stepping out of the business in a couple . of weeks after 29 years. Joe will return to the West to enter another field in partnership and plenty of people will sure miss his friendly pan from around hens, for he is one of the nicest guys On the Square... Lou and Mrs. Rosefield of the Westdale, Hamilton, were honored by the Westdale United Church for allowing the theatre to be used gratis for Sunday services during the past ten months. Lou was the recipient of an illuminated address during one of the services and Mrs. Rosefield was presented with a pair of Dresden figurines. There was a great reunion at the home of Sam Lester recently, the four brothers and one sister that comprise the family being under one roof for the first time in their lives. The children originally numbered 11, ten of whom were boys, and there remain six, one in South Africa. The girl was born in Russia after the boys had left for England and America, and she and the parents joined one of the brothers in Britain, with whom she came to Canada for the reunion. The parents passed on years ago and since’ then Sam, who visited Britain recently, had been trying to bring about the reunion. Those present were Mrs. David Footman, 54; Harry, 45; Sam, 65; George, 70; and Harris, 74 .. .Al Sedgwick calls movie players “the flat actors.” Carillon may make the Canadian book, “Champlain Road,” into its first film ... Ex-Torontonian Harry Popkin, California circuit operator and Indie producer, will make “Impact” with a million dollar budget and UA will distribute . . . Scripter Art Arthur’s Rogell-directed ‘Song of India” will have a Columbia release .. . “Amateur Dramatics,” a booklet, is distributed by Ontario Department of Agriculture. I guess that’s where ham and corn belong . . . Seems to be some mystery about the Canadian Co-op Project. Asked about his promised report on movie foreign exchange problems, Trade and Commerce Minister Howe answered: “I am not in a position to announce it today; I wish I were.” Considerable managerial shifting at 20th Century Theatres, with Don Watts of the Park, Chatham, transferred to the Rideau, Ottawa, where he succeeded Isser Singerman, now in charge of the State, Toronto. Ernest Taylor, assistant manager of the Elgin, Ottawa, replaces Watts in Chatham and has himself been succeeded by Leslie Jefferies . . . They have fun in Parliament too. On a bill to increase the tracks’ pari-mutuel percentages Tommy Church said: “We passed a bill the other night about horses consumed for meat. Is there any necessity for this one now? Since they have eaten all the horses, there will be no further need for racetracks,” He was assured that there were some left, Canadian FILM WEEKLY ‘Pa wes = June 30, 1948 nthe QUARE Mt NE SOSSWN Baseball Variviews Only the threat of rain prevented the use of the standing room facilities at the stadium. They were already up and had to be removed. The uncertainty of the weather kept that extra number of fans away. But it was something to see Pete Campbell’s pride as he looked around and saw the ball park as he would like to see it oftener. For the Kids Biggest laugh of the evening was when Johnny Perkins of the radio team was allegedly hurt and a tow truck hauled him off the field. Johnny is that hefty piano-pounder and when he went down many in the crowd thought it was on the level until the truck showed up. Like every good act, the problem was to get an “off” and the lads figured out a pip. They got poor unsuspecting Johnny Fitzgerald of the Telegram to lie down and someone dumped a pail of water on him. Umpires Wayne & Schuster then quickly called the game because of rain. Mickey Lester did some prize taunting of his air-wave rivals, inviting them to use his microphone, assuring them that it was much funnier than their own. John Fitzgibbons, chief barker, was interviewed over “Kesten’s Corner’ by Bob Kesten. I drove to the game with Bob and Ernie Bushnell. Bob asked me to hand him his baseball shoes, which were in a bag. With them was a book, “My Greatest Day in Baseball.” I accused Bob of studying for the game but he claimed it was all a coincidence. The boys used bats and balls donated by Harry Sniderman of the Adelaide Hotel and a variety of gear from various sporting goods houses. Bunny Morganson of the Tely wore an old Leaf road uniform. Big Bunny was forced to use a kid’s bat, which looked like a pencil in his hands, and failing to hit with it, took his foot-long cigar out of his mouth and used that. Doug Rosen, head of the baseball committee, was a mighty happy lad, as was Jack Arthur, with whom he worked in association with Sam Hersenhorn to put over that radio-sports tussle. Of all the Variety baseball tickets sellers, Sam Wacker did the greatest job and he would have sold some to the statue of Sir John A. MacDonald in Queen’s Park if he hadn’t been stopped. He also promoted the roses sold at the park. But we mustn’t forget Bill Summerville and Ed DeRochere for their diplomatic handling of ticket allotment. Ed wouldn’t stop working and picked up loose tickets from barkers, which he resold. And then there was that crackerjack program whipped up by Jimmy Nairn, Burt Brown and Jim Cameron. It added thousands of dollars to the total take. The clubrooms were the after-game headquarters. Everyone headed for them and there was a great time, induced by a sense of accomplishment, Happy Chandler wasn’t kidding when he spoke so warmly of Canada. The former governor of Kentucky and United States senator played pro ball for Saskatoon years ago. It seems that the Leafs can’t win anything but money for Variety. They lost last year’s tilt also. The next great event will be the breaking of ground on the site of Variety Village. Visitors at the game were George Giroux of Technicolor and Charlie Boasberg of RKO. Some of the “names” who romped around during the comedy ball tiff were Gord Walker, Lorne Greene, Bing Whitteker, Jackie Rae, Phil Stone, Annis Stukus, Ed Fitkin, Red Burnett, Hap Watson and Nat Turofsky.