Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 14, 1954)

Page scan 0000 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Apr 14, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 14, 1954)
Leaf #:
0000
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Greig Dymond in memory of David Dymond, 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:
May 23, 2024
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Vol. 19, No. 15 A VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE TORONTO, APRIL 14, 1954 INDUSTRY $3.00 Per Annum UNITED ARTISTS’ 35th ANNIVERSARY ONCE AGAIN A GREAT SOURCE OF TOP-QUALITY PRODUCT Thirty-fifth anniversary of United Artists on April 17 brings to mind the remarkable comeback of the company— in the Twenties and Thirties one of strongest pillars of the industry — since early in 1951, when the group led by Param t Pageant Won Much Praise Paramount Pictures Pageant, held in 35 USA cities and in Toronto, was a success, judging from the attendance and the reaction of audiences. In Toronto representatives of the press and radio joined exhibition executives and bookers at the Village, To (Continued on Page 3) More Information About Changes As information continues to arrive for our next Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, changes of one kind and another missed in the course of our daily work become apparent. In our last edition we printed quite a number and we shall con (Continued on Page 10) POPCORN REGIONAL HERE ON MAY 28 The Canadian regional meeting of the International Popcorn Association, which will be the third annual session of its kind in this country, has been scheduled for May 28 in the King Edward Hotel, Toronto. Jack Fitzgibbons of Theatre Confections Ltd. Toronto is International president and he and Sydney Spiegel of Super Pufft Popcorn Limited, Toronto, a member of the International board, will act as co-chairmen. Tom Sullivan of Chicago, International officer, will join the 60or-so delegates. Fitzgibbons is the first Canadian to head the International Popcorn Association, having been elected in Chicago last October, at which time it changed its name from the National Association of Popcorn Manufacturers. Spiegel is one of the two international board members who represent the theatre industry. The membership is not confined to the theatrical field. Short Throws PARAMOUNT and MGM taxation experts were-here last week talking over tax problems with local film executives at a luncheon in the King Edward. British Columbia’s desire to apply its sales tax to movie money has them worried. ONTARIO theatres association’s appeal for an adjustment on the licence fee for 1953, which had a life of ten months instead of 12 when the Provincial Treasurer moved the issuance date from May 31 to March 31, was rejected. The MPTAO has retained Alexander Mackenzie, QC to work with its counsel, Joseph Singer, QC in establishing its right to consideration. APPROVAL of the township council for the issuance of provincial permits to projected drive PETER S. MYERS HEADS CANADIAN DISTRIBS ASSN. BRO en eoeaaligs (Canada) Ltd ins will be necessary when an amendment to The Theatres Act, 1953 is passed by the Ontario Parliament. Harry Nixon, a member of the Opposition, proposed this and Premier Frost saw merit in it. Under the Act permits for drive-ins were issued by the Theatres Branch of the Treasury and these superseded local authority. BANFF or Jasper will be the scene of the shooting of another motion picture by aHollywood company this year, said R. R. Moore, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs. The last film shot in Alberta, UI’s Saskatchewan, drew criticism in Parliament and from press and public as a distortion of Canadian history and the Western Ontario district executive council of the Canadian (Continued on Page 13) President of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Associa PAIR Arthur B. Krim = secured provisional management control and recaptured its leading place with the exhibitor and its prestige with the public. The celebration has special interest in Canada, the native land of Mary Pickford, who founded UA with Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith and who is participating in the birthday activities in South America right now. The company’s first picture was His Majesty, the American, with Douglas Fairbanks and its second, (Continued on Page 13) Silverstone Made Lichtman s Aide Canadian general manager for 20th Century-Fox from 1948 to 1951, Arthur Silverstone, Eastern sales manager, has beer promoted to assistant gy sales manager, Al Lichtm rector of distribution, anns in New York last week. He Vv (Continued on Page 7) WB's ‘Helen Of Troy’ Sir Cedric Hardwicke has been signed for the role of King Priam, father of Paris, in Warner Bros.’ Helen of Troy, which is being filmed in CinemaScope and WarnerColor. Robert Wise is directing. z* Canadians At the Dallas Variety Convention Some of the barkers of the Variety Club of Toronto and their ladies are shown in this photograph taken at the convention of the International at Dallas Texas. Left to right: Mrs. Frank Goldhar, Frank Goldhar, Mrs. Harry Smith, Chief Barker Wm. J. Summerville, Canvasman George Altman, Mrs. George Altman, Mrs. Ben Smith, Ben Smith and Harry Smith. The young lady at their mercy is a bit of Old Dallas. Next For Lana Turner At MGM Lana Turner will next star at MGM in Week-End at Las Vegas. Columbia's 'The Bandits’ Edward G. Robinson has joined the cast of Columbia’s The Bandits. manager of United Artists, atid Clare J. Appel remains execution is now Peter S. Myers, general manager of Twentieth tive secretary. Myers was formerly vice-president of the Century-Fox Corporation Ltd, of Canada, who succeeded Frank H. Fisher, general manager of J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors . The vice-president is Charles S. Chaplin, ge : Nts Paczta ae Association, with which the Film Boards of Trade in Canada’s’ six distribution territories are <onnected. All the leading Cananeral dian distribution o@. “izctions are members of the CMPDA. Lae Ek S ee Ee i Mn ae Satin ele Be ve titae s SEES BN eS