Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 15, 1948)

Page scan 00010 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Dec 15, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 15, 1948)
Leaf #:
00010
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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December 15, 1948 Claim USA Stall On UK Pix Dates USA parties to the AngloAmerican agreement of last march, which represented a compromise on the 75 per cent tax on rentals, had made “a very poor showing” in the exhibition of British films throughout their country, Harold Wilson, president of the London Board of Trade, said last week. One of the things understood by both parties was such showings “to the maximum possible extent.” Wilson was asking the House cf Commons for approval, which was granted, of a government loan of $20,000,000 to independent film producers. The money, which is to be repaid in five years, will help the producers toward normal financing again. Britain will produce 70 features this year, compared with 47 last year and 39 during both 1945 and 1946. “Our people would feel more confident about the future of Anglo-American co-operation in the film world if they could feel that the American people were working a little harder to give our films the showing they deserve,’’ Wilson declared. “We do not recognize any cold war in the film industry. These loans are not meant to be part of any campaign against American production. The bill was introduced as an assential element in the program of revival of the film industry.” New Columbia Title “Shockproof” has been selected as the release title for the Columbia film produced as ‘‘The Lovers.” Cornel Wilde stars with Patricia Knight. Douglas Sirk directed. . Crosby Signs Again With Paramount Bing Crosby has signed a new contract with Paramount calling for his exclusive motion-picture Services until he has completed cighteen films for the company. He will hold a participating interest in eight of the films, the first being “Top o’ the Morning.” “€ new contract supplants an existing non-exclusive agreement for fifteen pictures, signed ‘two years ago, under which Crosby already has made three films. The contemplated term of the new deal is seven years, since, Under California law, no personal Service contract is enforceable y an employer for a longer patiod, Thus, if Crosby does not °mplete the eighteen films with Seven years, any remaining films will be mad option, e only at his Canadian FILM WEEKLY Study Educational Films On cne subject at least, motion pictures for school use, the ten provinces of Canada, as the Dominion will shortly be constituted, are acting in concert. Visual education chiefs from the departments of education of the nine provinces and Newfoundland flew te Britain to confer with J. Arthur Rank. They are working out a combined program of educational films with Canadian and British themes. Photo shows one section of the group boarding a BOAC airliner at Dorval, Quebec, en route to London. Reading from top to bottom, back row: H. B. Chandler, Charlottetown; Isabel Oullahan, Toronto; and E. F. Holliday, Regina. Middle row, Douglas Pope, Montreal; E. T. Armstrong, Winnipeg; Major Grimmon, Toronto; M. L. Watts, Edmonton; and (on the ground) H. J. Hickey, Fredericton; O. R. Hanson, Toronto; J. Pollock, Vancouver; and J. DeLisle, Quebec City. Oscar R. Hanson, head of the J. Arthur Rank 16 Mm. Films in Canada and host to the Canadian group, said in a London interview that the purpose of the proposed films is to supplement text books and make class room work more interesting for children. In addition to conferences with producers, the Canadian educaticnists are touring British studios. They have visited Windsor Castie and were entertained at a luncheon in the House of Commons attended by members of the British Cabinet. Equipment Installed In New BC Houses New projectors and ‘Royal Soundmaster” sound systems have recently been installed by the Dominion Theatre Equipment Company of Vancouver in several new theatres in British Columbia. The theatres include the Star in Armstrong, the Capitol in Smithers, and the Bralorne in Bralorne. In addition, the same equipment will go into the Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach when it is ready to open shortly. P® Pioneer Passes Joseph Tanguagy, pioneer Quebec theatre man and inspector for the censor board, died recently in Montreal. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Former Governor May Join SIMPP_ Ellis Arnall, former governor of Georgia, may replace Donald Nelson as president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. Talks have been foinge on between Arnall and the SIMPP. executive committee. The Society is engaged in several anti-trust actions against the major distributor-exhibitorproducers, and Arnall has had “wide experience in antitrust prosecutions.” The recent conferences in Hollywood held by the SIMPP involved “the monopolistic practices in the motion picture industry.” Present at the negotiations with Arnall were Samuel Goldwyn, David O. Selznick, Edward Small, Roy Disney and George Bagnall. Page 11 Offer Instructions On Film Revision The Theatre Inspection branch of Ontario, through W. D. McPhee, chief inspector, has directed a letter on film. revision to all projectionists. His advice should be studied thoroughly in the interest of greater safety. He writes: “In order that annoying film breaks and attending hazard of fire be further minimized during the process of projection, it is necessary that all concerned be familiar with the following facts and observe the accompanying rules when revising motion picture film. “All film, black and white or colored, belongs in either one of two classes, namely, “Nitrate” (highly inflammable) or ‘“Acetate” (slow burning). The type is clearly indicated periodically on the outer margin of the film by the word “Nitrate” or “Safety.”” When splicing nitrate film, a good grade of “standard” film cement must be used, whereas, acetate or safety film must be spliced with a special “safety stock” cement. “All black and white and some colored films are coated with emulsion on but one side, of the film stock, while various specially Processed colored films will be found to be coated om both sides of the film stock. A proper weld cannot he effected when splicing unless the emulsion be removed from one surface of single emulsion film, in order that the film be lapped together raw stock to raw stock. ‘When splicing double emulsion film the emulsion must be removed from one surface of each member, in order that the film be lapped together raw stock to raw stock. “In reviewing the foregoing, it will be readily observed that, when splicing film all that is necessary is to note the class of film to be so treated, remove all emulsion in order that the film will lap together raw stock to raw stock and be sure to use the proper cement for the class of film being so treated,” ‘Sing Your Way Out' Tony Martin will star in Universal’s “Sing Your Way Out.” FOR SALE 10 k.w. Diesel Power unit. International Harvester Diesel, 25-cycle General Electric Generator, 550—120 Voltage, 3 phase, 4 wire. Only one left Apply M. P. SAUNDERS, Rio Theatre, Toronto.