Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 28, 1948)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Jul 28, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 28, 1948)
Leaf #:
0002
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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July 28, 1948 Big Premiere For ‘NW Stampede (Continued from Page 1) the Dominion by International Film Distributors Limited. It was directed and produced by Al Rogell and the premiere caused one of the biggest celebrations ever seen in Western Canada, rivalling in color, action and excitement the 1948 Stampede, which concluded a few days earlier. The day following the Calgary preem the picture opened in Edmonton and Great Falls, Montana, with the latter location combining with Calgary in a “hands across the border” goodwill salute. Hjalmer Johnson, mayor of Great Falls, presented an illuminated scroll to an officer of the RCMP as part of the ceremonies attending the opening of the feature in the Civic Center Theatre. An interchange of notables took place and greetings were carried to both sides of the border by representatives of the two cities. The advance publicity and preopening interest was so great in Calgary that one hour after the Grand opened its doors the SRO sign had been hung out and stayed there all day. First day’s business was far in excess of any past record receipts, with the initial three days assuring that all former records for a first week would be shattered. The staff of the theatre went to the aid of the local police in their efforts to control the huge crowds that thronged the street and tied up traffic for-blocks. A special noon-hour ceremony took place in which Fred Colborne, city alderman representing Mayor James C. Watson, and members of city council signed a huge postcard greeting to James Craig, who, with Joan Leslie and Jack Oakie, stars in the picture. A 15-minute dedication was carried over all three local radio stations and transcribed for re-broadcast several times later. Preview audiences cheered Stampede scenes and views of local citizens and roared lustily at comedy sequences in the picture. Reviews in the local papers were enthusiastic with special nods going to Chill Wills, Oakie and Flame, dog actor. Tremendous applause greeted the foreword, a tribute to the Dominion, everytime it appeared on the screen. Local tie-ins of the exploitation campaign included a three column co-op ad with the city’s gas company; a similar fourcolumn ad with a brewing company; and a full page ad using seven stills and credit lines on a similar basis with the garment company that originally outfitted the actors. These ads appeared Canadian FILM WEEKLY Film Golf Tourney Set For September Ist (Continued from Page 1) Last year the owners were still working to bring everything back to first-class condition, the club having been closed during the war years. Tickets are now available through Curly Posen of Allied Co-Operative Theatres, who is chairman of that committee. Archie Laurie of the J. Arthur Rank Organization heads the prize committee, Jack Arthur of Famous Players is chairman of the games and house committee, Tom Daley is treasurer and Arch Jolley secretary. As in the past, more nongolfers are expected than golfers, for it is the custom to take the afternoon off and spend it golfing or fraternizing with industry visitors from many points in Ontario. It is hoped that Montreal contestants will compete with those from Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catharines and other points. The challenge trophies are being polished up and there will be the usual large number of prizes for golfers and lucky winners of the draws. These will be presented at the dinner which will bring the day’s activities to a conclusion. This year the Famous Players team will try for its third successive win in the foursome event, which would bring them the N. L. Nathanson challenge trophy. Winner of the Famous Players trophy low gross in A flight last year was George Georgas of in Edmonton newspapers the following day. Window displays pluzging the picture and showing stills dotted the whole business section, with the Hudson’s Bay Company, the T. Eaton Company and McLeod Brothers going all out and even paying for the signs building up the opening. Sponsored radio broadcasts on all three stations plugged the film gratis all during Stampede week and after, with special broadcasts originating during the opening day ceremonies being carried as news events. Handling the Calgary and Edmonton ballyhoo for International Film Distributors was Irving Herman, director of publicity for that company. Owen Sound. Dave Romberg of the Metro Theatre won the individual low gross in B flight and holds the TOM DALEY IATSE trophy. The Twentieth Century Theatres trophy for individual low net, C flight, was won by Lorne Kirkwood. Myer Axler of Twentieth Century Theatres holds the Canadian Film Weekly trophy for individual low net, 18 holes. There were excellent prizes for dozens of events and these will be repeated this year. Remember the date, Septemver Ist, and set it aside. The golf tournament is the big film event of the summer. "Cloak Of Romance" Richard Widmark, currently Starring with Mark Stevens in “Street With No Name,” will play the male lead in “Cloak of Romance,” an original story by Ketti Frings, which Otto Preminger will direct and produce for 20th Century-Fox. FOR SALE 500 seat theatre in Ontaria town, Apply BOX 18 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 2S Dundas Square, Toronto Vol. 18, No. 30 July 28, 1948 -HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor i RES ARNE bi enti Lo ints Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Entered as Second Class Matter. Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontari Canada, Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year, * Page 3 Severe Reduction In H wood Staffs (Continued from Page 1) of persons and the industry awaits further news of his intentions with great interest. The first result of his policies was the cancellation of several productions and the consequent resignation of Dore Schary. It is known that RKO will take a number of pictures from Independents to bolster its releasing program, which was reduced by Hughes’ action. While the RKO economy program initiated by Hughes has not reached Canada, it has reduced Hollywood departments from 50 to 75 per cent. And this in spite of the assurances of continued employment by N. Peter Rathvon, president, at the time of the change of company control. These are gloomy days not only for RKO employees but for those of other companies. MGM and Universal-International have cut staffs heavily and those let go have few immediate prospects in the same field. No successor to Schary as head of production has been named as yet and one report has it that Rathvon may leave the company. Bogart And Robinson Team Again In Pic As a result of their successful teaming in Warner Brothers’ ‘Key Largo,”” Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson will again hook up in “Bureau of Missing Persons,” a bold action Screenplay being written by David Goodis for Warner Brothers. CONTRACT SALES OFFICE