Canadian Film Weekly (May 4, 1949)

May 4, 1949 THREE SITUATIONS (Continued from Page 1) Cinema. Mrs. Taylor, who also operates the International Cinema in Toronto, will follow an art and foreign-film policy. J. E. Watier has opened his 499-seat Crown Theatre in Harriston, Ontario. The house is the second there, the other being National Theatre Services’ 324seat Roxy. The Capitol Theatre in Oxford, Nova Scotia, has been reopened by Bob Fulton after months of extensive alterations. Formerly a 16 mm. situation, the theatre is the only one in the town. British Properties Limited has announced plans for a $1,500,000 project in Vancouver, which will cover 11% acres and contain a threatre. Also included in the structure will be a supermarket, an arena, a restaurant, a fiveand-ten store and parking space for 700 cars. M. P. Dalseg, operator of the 318-seat Mayfair, the only theatre in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, has purchased a site for the construction of another theatre there. He has agreed to return the site to the town if construction is not started before the end of the year, H. Ochs, who has built several drive-in theatres in Ontario, has annotmced that the Ochs Management Company will build another one near Belleville, Ontario. British Star Cast In Para’'s ‘Dead Letter" Phyllis Calvert, one of England’s most popular screen actresses, has been assigned the feminine starring role opposite Alan Ladd in Paramount’s Dead Letter, romantic adventure story dealing with little known activities of the USA Post Office Department, which Lewis Allen will direct and Robert Fellows produce. Central Censorship Set Up By India A Central Board of -Censorship for Films has been established in India by the recent passing of an amendment to the Government of India Act, 1935, by the Constituent Assembly. Ostensibly designed in the interest of uniformity in film censorship, the provision setting up the Board is considered by informed observers to have great political significance. They believe that the film industry could be very easily converted into a medium for government propaganda since complete control of the subject matter and political content is in the hands of the Central Government. UA's "Gun Crazy’ will star in King Brothers’ Gun Crazy, which United Antists will release. Canadian FILM WEEKLY A Manager's Viewpoint Jack Welland, manager of the Capitol Theatre, Smiths Falls, Ontario, discusses the trade press and its uses in a letter to Canadian Film Weekly. In the course of it there is guidance for managerial personnel and a tip on the value of establishing the trade paper reading habit. He writes: : We would like to express*a theatre manager's viewpoint in supplement of your “Editorial Opinion” on the value of the Canadian and American Trade Press. We are very pleased to be working for the Premier Operating circuit, who give ‘their managers every consideration, help and thorough training. Through their subscription we receive weekly copies of the Film Weekly, Ray Lewis’ Digest, 'Boxoffice and the Motion Picture Herald. As a manager, we look upon the trade press as text books from which we obtain the necessary knowledge to improve our theatre operation and develop a broader understanding of the industry as a whole. The up-to-theminute and informative news which the Film Weekly and the Digest print, keeps us abreast of the latest happenings in our field and stokes the fires of interest which are likely to burn poorly when you are in a town separated from others in the same, business. From the pages of the Canadian and ‘American trade press, we have noted on a card filing system over 2000 exploitation, advertising and publicity ideas which in turn have been divided into sixteert different sections. Also, we have recorded on cards, hundreds of pieces of information, which may mean little alone, but when gathered systematically and filed with other items on the same phase of our business, represent a solid fund of practical knowledge. Then, we clip ‘out pictures and articles from the trade press, glue them in scrap books and synchronize the whole with our card system. As you can readily visualize, it is easy for us to draw up a profitable advertising campaign in a very short time. From the habit of collecting general information in the industry, we have acquired a considerable comprehension of the diverse phases of production, distribution and exhibition. The theatre owners have made a financial investment in us as managers. As a result of their diligent teaching and knowledge gathered from the trade press, we should be in a position to return that investment with appropriate interest, every day our theatres are open. There must be hundreds of managers across Canada who are increasing the flow of boxoffice dollars with ideas and public relations know-how, gained from the trade press. There must be distribution ‘branch managers, film salesmen, bookers and advertising men who are adding to the business volumes of their companies partly because of background information secured from trade papers. In return for the part you play in helping to educate their employees alone, distributors and exhibitors should contribute financial support to the Film Weekly and the Digest. Protective insurance that would guarantee your being able to carry on the excellent work you are doing in the finest industry in the world. Tim Holt Western John Dall and Peggy Cummins Renegade of the Rancho.. Vol. 14, No. 18 Wis Holi ; Y, ES. A™ Z --} 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, Ontarie, Canada, Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 conts each or $2.00 per year. Edward Norris and Movita have signed for the top romantic roles with Tim Holt in RKO’s May 4, 1949 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Page 3 NFB SWITCHES (Continued from Page 1) now abroad. Chatwin is a graduate of the University of British Columbia where he was for a time on the staff of the Extension Department. He joined NFB in 1943 as regional supervisor in British Columbia and came to the Ottawa headquarters of the Board in January, 1947, as co-ordinator of Canadian non-theatrical distribution. Another appointment of interest is that of Major C. W. Carter, director of adult and visual education of the Department of Education of Newfoundland, as NFB regional agent at St. John’s. Further appointments announced by NF'B include: Charles W. Marshall, former regional supervisor in British Columbia, to succeed Chatwin as co-ordinator of Canadian non-theatrical distribution; Maurice Custeau of the Montreal office as regional supervisor for Quebec; Joseph Beauregard as assistant to Custeau; R. E. Johnson of Moose Jaw as acting assistant regional supervisor in Regina, replacing W. W. Flynn who resigned to become secretary to the Saskatchewan Deputy Minister of Highways. NFB also announces the appointment of Norman Chamberlin to the post of director of theatrical distribution, replacing Tom Miller who goes to Vancouver as BC regional supervisor. Miller replaces Arnold Perry, who resigned. Chamberlin, prominent in Winnipeg radio and newspaper circles before joining the NFB in 1943, was on the Board’s liaison staff. CONTRACT SALES OFFICE