Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 22, 1948)

September 22, 1948 Odeonotes Notes On the Odeon Opening It was good to see how accounts of the new Odeon acknowledged the work of the late Jay English in helping to create it. In designing it the changing character of theatre entertainment made scope and utility necessary. ‘Unfortunately the theatre architect of today is much too uncertain of the type of entertainment which will ultimately make use of his creations,” wrote Joseph Urban in the Ency. Brit. That was recognized by Jay when he planned the new Odeon. Cecil Wilson, here to represent the Overseas Mail of London, placed his shoes outside the door of his hotel ‘room before he went to sleep. You do that in Britain and they bring them back in the morning with a shine on them. Wilson’s shoes, the story goes, were stolen! Helen Allen, the Evening Telegram movie critic, wanted a picture of John Davies, the gentle little soul who plays Oliver Twist in the film at the Odeon. The Rank Organization sent her one but Oliver seemed to have matured somewhat and taken on a much more worldly air. It developed that Helen had been sent a photo of John Davis, chief aide to J. Arthur Rank. Wannie Tyers, the manager of the Odeon, was involved in an incident which brought humor to the stage at the first opening. He had been introduced by George Peters, executive assistant to President Lawson, and explained how he had been installed in a temporary office—‘‘and literally saw the building go up around me.” He then introduced the service staff en masse but the curtain did not part. “It always happens on opening night,” he cracked as he looked hopefully offstage at the lads pulling desperately at the electrically-controlled curtain. Then it parted and the audience gave a lively welcome to the boys and girls, the former wearing white jackets and the latter dressed in powder blue. George Peters did a handsome job of welcoming everyone and handing out the right praises, a stint made necessary by the late arrival of the Hon. J. Earl Lawson and the Earl of Winterton, whose plane was delayed. Jerry Dale of the USA J. Arthur Rank Organization flew in from New York with Sydney Wynne, global JARO chief. Jock Lawrence, USA JARO top man, was out of action temporarily. A modestly dressed stranger commented to me about the beauty of the theatre, then said: “The thing I like is them not putting the prices up to five dollars for the opening night. People appreciate that, you know.” While the guests were attending the reception in Eaton’s Round Room after the performance the staff was having its own party backstage. * It Looked Bad, Alright Charlie Stephenson, pinch-hitting for 20th Century Theatres at the Geneva, Orillia, while Les Vicary is sick, ran into quite a situation the other day. The cashier reported that one of the ushers, Jimmy Mugan, had changed into street clothes and was trying to get a refund on a ticket sold that evening. Charlie had been having trouble with old tickets so he confronted the young man and gave him a quick grilling. He denied everything, said that he had bought the ticket before he had realized that the picture was holding over. He was the twin brother of Jimmy, still in uniform inside. The boys, identical twins, have switched clothes on occasion when the usher wanted a night off and got his twin to sub. The non-usher, it is said, is welcomed into the company’s other theatre, the Opera House, as an employee. Charlie, who calls it a “twinplication,” decided that life could be much simpler without Jimmy, who is no longer a member of the staff. Canadian FILM WEEKLY 7 Os QU ARE Observanda Quick Playoffs Pete Meyers and Dianne Blackstock were married on Sep tember 9th and they’re honeymooning in Hollywood ... Leslie Bell Singers will appear on the Imperial stage the week the NFB short of them is shown .. . Portraits by Leonard Bishop were among those selected by Ansco for display at the CNE ... Overheard: “I don’t enjoy Technicolor when I feel dull or it’s hot in the theatre” ...I forgot to mention earlier that Al Altman, MGM eastern talent scout, was around here with Dewey Bloom. I liked Jack Karr’s gentle ribbing of Pat Roc’s Odeon opening speech. Why didn’t she and Trevor Howard have one of Jimmy Cowan’s boys script talks for them? ... Times are changing. The ads just used to say “Man Wanted.” Now they specify that he must have character and ability . . . Stealage note: One CNE high-class hamburger stand equipped its employees with white suits, which they soon discovered had the pockets openings sewn. “I resent not being trusted,” one of them told me. “Besides, how is a fellow going to make a few extra bucks?”’ Disquieting note from Sean Edwin’s Sound Track in the Montreal Gazette: ‘“What’s this about Ottawa getting fed up over Hollywood’s delay in producing pix here as part of the dollar saving program? FYI: There is no record of an US producer ever having committed himself to produce films in Canada.”’ I met Archie Newman, new liaison Officer between Ottawa and Hollywood, at the Variety Club with Charlie Chaplin of UA. Newman insists that the Canadian Co-operative Project is working out and statistics will be issued to prove it. Now that the “Mom ’n Dad” producers have gone into the music business with the theme song, ‘‘Where Shall We Dream Tonight?,’”’ we can expect Georgie Altman to haunt local bandstands for a chance to croon it. A wag suggested that the two VD films, ‘Mom 'n Dad” and Paul Maynard’s “Sins of the Fathers,” be combined under the title, “Sins of Mom ’n Dad.” A program article about the new CNE grandstand tells how its builders outwitted the pigeons by seeing to it that there were no ledges and other roosting places. Then it strikes this triumphant, sneering note: “Blue serge suits and the latest things in sun bonnets may therefore be worn with equanimity.” Somehow it reminds me of the burlesque manager in other days who came before the curtain at each performance and said: ‘Would the gentlemen in the gallery kindly refrain from spitting chewing * tobacco over the rail? After all, not everyone in the balcony and orchestra is wearing a brown suit.” Heard a new kind of radio credit: “Mixing and balancing by—”... A certain exec beats it home so early in the afternoon that the other day his boss looked in on him at 3 p.m. and cracked: ‘Working late today?” ... My bass-playing pal, Bozo Wiener, has an odd sense of humor. At the beach we were looking at four boys who were obviously from the same family. “At least three of them,” observed Bozo, “are twins” ...I asked a friend what he considered the most irksome task required of him by this civilization. “The constant buttoning and unbuttoning,” he answered. Harry Kaufman of Cardinal Films is in the Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, and will be sepa for some time, So if you don't hear from him, that’s why . ». Death of Flash Targa, the 12year-old greyhound champ racer of its day, made Mr. and Mrs. Lou Rosefield of Hamilton sad. The dog’s passing was a tragedy for Hamilton children and the Spectator treated it that way. in its stories and pictures ... An Aussie distrib told exhibs: ‘Don’t tell us what the picture did for you. Tell us what you did for the picture.” That's a good phrase with which to emphasize the need of showmanship. . Page 5