Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 18, 1948)

Page scan 0000 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Aug 18, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 18, 1948)
Leaf #:
0000
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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Vol. 13, No. 31 VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE TORONTO, AUGUST 18, 1948 INDUSTRY $2.00 Per Annum Skouras And Aides Welcomed New 20th-Fox Pie Schedule Announced From Canada Great affection for Canada was expressed by Spyros P. Skouras, president of Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, during the Canadian convention of that company at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, recently. With Skouras, a Strong List From Peerless Films Exclusive Canadian distributor of the entire output of Masterpiece Productions Inc. is now Peerless Films Limited. Masterpiece, a reissue company, is headed by Juiles Weill, well known in the-film industries of Canada and the United States for more than (Continued on Page 3) Much Interest In Golf Tournament The intention of being present at the fifth annual Canadian motion picture golf championship has been made known by many to Tom Daley, tournament manager, and his committee. The tournament is. traditional for good fellowship, since most of (Continued on Page 8) Ontario Exhibs Get Tax % Ontario theatres are getting two and a half per cent of the amount of provincial amusement tax collected by each. The government has decided to reimburse the exhibitor for the trouble involved in collecting its 20 per cent tax on admission tickets. This is retroactive to May 19th. The treasury department has also agreed to a more simple report form and has asked the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario for suggestions. Exhibitors, however, are still opposed to the tax. Opposition Grows To Film Censorship The American Civil Liberties Union and the Motion Picture Association of America may test the legality of state and municipal film censorship in the courts if conferences being held lead to a mutual position. The Civil Liberties Union has long desired to challenge censorship as contrary to the First Amendment, A recent statement of the US Supreme Court said that motion pictures and radio are included as part of the press, freedom of which is guaranteed under the Constitution. While Canadian distributors, both independents and branches (Continued on Page 8) Robert Walker Cast Robert Walker will have the lead role in MGM’s “About Lyddy Thomas,” which Leon Gordon will produce. Lower Tax Rates On Manitoba Admissions A new and lower amusement tax schedule has been approved by the provincial government for Manitoba, replacing the straight 25 per cent tax which came into effect when Ottawa stepped out of this field. Acceptance came about through the efforts of a committee from the Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, which met with representatives of the government. Rates range from 2 cents on tickets over 25 cents and not over 28 to 16 cents for admissions from 80 to 84 cents. leading figure in the American business world and a leader in matters of public welfare, was his entire cabinet. The presence of Skouras, Andrew W. Smith, Jr., William E. Gehring and others of the company’s top roster. was a compliment to the Canadian division, which is headed by Arthur Sil verstone. (Continued on Page 3) —— Hanson, Exhibs Welcome Broidy “The industry has many problems, some of its own making. .There’s a critical period ahead,” Steve Broidy, president of Monogram and Allied Artists told a trade gathering in Toronto recently. He was introduced by O. R. Hanson, Monogram’s chief (Continued on Page 8) Montreai Switch Orpheum, Montreal, which played French and French-dubbed films, has changed to English language first runs. MYERS SUCCEEDS BAILEY AT FOX Arthur S. Silverstone, general manager of 20th Century-Fox in Canada, has announced the appointment of Peter Myers as Toronto branch manager. He succeeds Harry J. Bailey, who has resigned. Myers, 32, joined the Toronto branch of United Artists in ~ 1935 and left for the RCAF in 1942, returning in 1946. In that year he joined Warner Brothers, leaving in 1947 to manage the Toronto branch of Eagle-Lion Films of Canada. 3 “UNGER QUITS UNITED ARTISTS Joseph J. Unger has resigned as general sales manager for United Artists, a post he has held since January, 1946. He will not be replaced. At the same time Paul Lazarus, Jr., advertising and publicity chief of the company, was named executive assistant to Gradwell L. Sears, distribution head. The company will divide its sales activities into two divisions, with Edward M. Schnitzer as eastern g¢neral sales manager and Fred M. Jack as western general sales manager. Canada continues to be part of Schnitzer’s responsibilities. Lazarus will be responsible for overall policy and supervi sion of sales activities. —————_—) NEB's McLean At Unesco Talks Canada’s film commissioner, Ross McLean is in Europe attending Unesco conferences to discuss the technical needs in press, radio and film for countries devastated by the war. He was invited as Canadian authority on film requirement. FOUR BIG WEEKS, TORONTO ‘NIGHT BOAT TO DUBLIN’ with ROBERT NEWTON Clement E. Williams Joins Film Lab Comptroller and general office manager of Film Laboratories of Canada Limited, Audio Pictures Limited and their subsidiary companies will be Clement E. Williams, who assumed his duties on Aug. 15th. He was with the Bank of Commerce for 23 years, A PATHE (British) PICTURE from INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTORS Limited