Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 25, 1948)

August 25, 1948 Skyway Drive-Ins Bought By FPCC (Continued from Page 1) ada, Hamilton, to join Skyway and he was succeeded by Paul Turnbull, formerly assistant manager of the Seneca, Niagara Falls. The theatre is now under the 20th Century Theatres’ banner. Skyway Theatres was formed with H. B. Housser of H. B. Housser & Co. as president, and Jack Kent Cooke, Liberty publisher and CKEY owner as vicepresident. Also on the board were Roy Thomson, Cooke’s partner, T. R. Harrison and Gordon K. Masters of Harrison & Co., R. H. Manley, managing director, of Ohio, and H. W. Long of New York City. Albert E. Silverwood of Silverwood Dairies Ltd. acquired control last September and by purchasing his stock and that of the other shareholders Famous Players now owns 90 per cent of the company. The price was not given. Skyway’s first venture, the 900-car drive-in at Stoney Creek, near Hamilton, opened in July of 1946. Two 700-car drive-ins were soon added, one each at London and Windsor. Several others are projected. There are 350 drive-ins in the USA. At the end of the war there was 100 and it is predicted that within a year there will be 500. Canadian drive-ins are limited to Ontario and British Columbia at present but it is expected that they will come to other provinces. Quebec has banned them. Next Mono Western “The Sheriff of Medicine Bow” will be the next Monogram Johnny Mack Brown western drama. WANTED Position as theatre manager. Five years’ experience in booking, buying, advertising and bookkeeping. 35 years of age and speak both English and French, Apply BOX 19 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 25 Dundas Square, Toronto WANTED Projectionist for small-town theatre in Western Ontario. Class A or B license sufficient. Apply BOX 20 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 25 Dundas Square, Toronto POSITION WANTED First Class Licensed’ Projectionist desires steady position starting Nov. Ist. Age 26, married. Send replies to BOX 21 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 25 Dundas Square, Toronto Canadian FILM WEEKLY French Dubs Still Big In Quebec Theatres year and one from France, will again provide a schedule, as will Alliance Films, United Artists and International Films. Paramount will join the field next season by offering 12 dubs. Empire-Universal, which sold 36 films from France this season, will continue on the same expansive scale during the next one. France Film, which for years had the Quebec market to itself, is the largest distributor of French films and will likely hold that place. Astral Films and Alliance Films both distributed Italian films last year and these, like some French pictures, were exhibited nationally. Among the places where such films were exhibited are the Royal Alexandra, Toronto, and His Majesty’s, Montreal, both legitimate houses. The International Cinema, Toronto, and the theatre of the same name in Vancouver operate on a foreign and art film policy. French and Italian films do strong business in downtown theatres in large American cities but in Canada they are limited to legitimate or art theatres. A recent article in La Cinematographie Francais, trade paper, indicates that French producers view the American market with the same idea as USA film makers approach foreign markets. Like the English, they now seek representation everywhere and feel that their films have general appeal and good profit potentialities. Says the article: “The figure of 66 feature French films imported in the United States of America in 1947 appears to us to mark the beginning of the evolution on the English speaking markets. “We know very well that it is still a question of showings in some specialized Cinemas, but we are certain that if oppositions are not made by the big circuits, this exploitation of European films will become part of the commercial habits in the United States of America and in Great Britain. “The development of national productions is a characteristic (Continued from Page 1) of the years 1940-47. It is particularly clearly defined in the Latin countries, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico. Great Britain has made enormous progress. Switzerland, Belgium, Egypt, Turkey and Morocco are today producing interesting big films. “One may therefore think that the moment has arrived when the big-film producing countries no longer pretend to supply alone their inside market, and find an interest in admitting the works produced by other countries, for the enrichment of their commerce and their culture. “It has been declared, for a long time, in official speeches that the Cinema is an International Art, a universal language, a prodigious means of intellectual exchanges. “Don’t let us limit ourselves any longer to proclaiming these principles, but let us apply them with sincerity. “It has always appeared just to us to make a place for foreign films which bear the mark of the genius of the nations which have produced them. “And since films are creations which cost a lot (which is not the case for a painting or a musical work) they shouldn’t merely be treated with politeness in the form of diplomatic galas, but a serious exploitation should be facilitated by having them figure in real commercial programs. “Wor this, the after-war situations are also favorable, because there is no longer any country where the film industry is not controlled, or at least subject to a central direction, and submitted to rules in accord with the state. “We think that this is one of the duties of our professional newspapers in each country, to make this fundamental idea, a part of the industrial habits. “The Exchange of Films throughout the World is the mark of an intelligent liberalism. “It is also a good commercial method, if we really want the Cinema to attain its full spectacular powers.” Vol. 18, No. 32 August 25, 1948 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor 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, Ontario, Canada, Phone ADelaide 4317. Price § cents each or $2.00 per year. Page 3 Cohen Made WB Internat | Prexy (Continued from Page 1) of Warner Bros, International Corporation. Cohen has been in the motion picture industry since 1918, a year after he came to Canada from Belfast, where he was born. He joined the old Allen organization, known then as Famous Players Film Service, and served in various capacities in Toronto, Saint John and Montreal. In 1922 he became a salesman with Regal, now MGM, in Saint John. When Warners opened nationally in Canada in 1925 Cohen took charge of the Saint John office. Later he was transferred to Winnipeg as branch manager, with supervision over Calgary. In 1936 Cohen became Canadian district manager. He was appointed vice-president of Vitagraph Ltd. in 1941 and in 1944 was transferred to the international department, with authority over Mexico, South America, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East. Cohen was very well liked in Canada and was tendered a banquet by the industry prior to his departure. Stars Assigned For Warner Bros. Film Janis Paige, Bruce Bennett and James Holden have been named for leading roles in ‘The House Across the Street,” Warner Bros. drama with a newspaper background. Story is by W. R. Burnett, screenplay by Russell Hughes. Richard Bare will direct and Saul Elkins will produce for Warners. Y FOR THEATRE REQUIRE: MENTS CONTRACT SALES OFFICE Qy,