Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 29, 1954)

CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY September 29, 1954 September 29, 1954 Vol. 19, No. 37 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications— The Managing Editor, CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5, Canada Entered as Second Class Matter Published by Film Publications of Canada, Limited 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5, Ontario, Canada — Phone WAlInut 4-3707 Price $3.00 per year. ODEON WINNERS (Continued from Page 1) to the winners. This ceremony followed the performances of a tightrope walker and a juggler in a tented setting intended to reflect the circus theme of the drive, which had been called The Odeon Big Show. L. W. Brockington, CMG, president of the J. Arthur Rank Organization of Canada, opened proceedings with graceful wit, then expressed his regrets at the recent passing of Terry Ramsaye. He _ introduced Walter Brooks of Motion Picture Herald, New York, who made the trip expressly to be present. In the absence of David Griesdorf, general manager, Ky G: Forsyth, assistant general manager, made the presentations. He observed that showmanship was a 52-week job and that “we owe it to the public and the distributors to sell films aggressively.” He praised Steve McManus and Art Bahen, supervisors, and Wannie Tyers and Jim Hardiman, publicists, for their work. Nicky Langston of the Capitol, Hamilton, who led the parade of winners and received $300, an extra week’s vacation and the challenge trophy, said that he considered it “a terrific honor’ to win and praised such contests. Other winners on hand were Don Gauld, Odeon, Fort William; Ken Davies, Odeon Guelph; Vic Nowe, Odeon Toronto; Ralph Bartlett, Odeon, Sarnia; and Charles Mason, Roxy, Brampton. After the presentations Peter S. Myers, president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, congratulated Odeon and the winners. Commenting on increased competition, led by TV, for motion pictures, he said: “How we cope with it depends on the kind of showmen we are.” The Odeon regional meeting began right after the luncheon. UA's James Story Technicolor action thriller, Jesse James’ Woman, produced by a group of Mississippi exhib itors, had a fuss-and-feathers premiere in Jackson, Miss. A UA release, it stars Peggie Castle, Donald Barry, Jack Beutel and Lita Barron. Sask. Assn. Meeting (Continued from Page 1) Ludholme, Swift Current, is vicepresident and J. Heaps, Regina, secretary-treasurer. Directors are J. D. Watson, Regina; W. Winterton, Saskatoon; I. Reinhorn, Regina; W. Pyle, Rockglen; D. Hood, Hudson Bay; R. D. Armstrong, Whitewood; M. Crawford, Watrous; H. S. Humphries, Grenfell; C. V. Marshall, North Battleford; G. R. Miller, Wynyard; G. M. Miller, Kelvington; H. Durham, Shaunavon; H. Falconer, Tisdale; H. Gunn, Regina; and J. King, Yellowgrass. Apparently service clubs have been pressing theatres for exhibition of National Film Board subjects, for the delegates objected to this and expressed the opinion that the government film agency was encroaching on the rights of private enterprise. The association will press for plastic lightweight film containers to replace the present heavy metal type as a means of reducing expressage. It also passed a recommendation to provide passes for members of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Guest speakers at the banquet which closed the convention were Cc. C. Williams, Minister of Labor; Sylvester Gunn, Paramount Pictures, Winnipeg; Dave Geller, Film Board of Trade, Winnipeg; Mayor Leslie H. Hammond; R. J. Davidson, QC, solicitor for the association, and City Commissioner Glen M. Gillis. On the evening before the meeting the delegates joined about 200 people from the Regina area in viewing a demonstration of Paramount’s VistaVision film and they found much to praise verbally and in print. Wm. Winterton introduced Syl Gunn, Paramount branch chief, and after him Al Turnbull, who explained the technical background. Wentz To Alan Hale Jr. Third Mate Wentz in Warner Bros. The Sea Chase will be Alan Hale Jr. Maritimes’ Meeting Annual meeting of the Maritimes Motion Picture Exhibitors Association will take place in Saint John, NB on October 5-6. It will likely be preceded by a VistaVision demonstration. Buys Tushinsky Lens Twentieth Century Theatres has ordered a number of Tushinsky Superscope lenses from Theatre Poster Service Limited for wide-screen and CinemaScope use following a demonstration, M. L. Sweigman announces. NOW ASTROLITE screens with INVISIBLE SEAMS at NEW LOW PRICES from DOMINION SOUND EQUIPMENTS LIMITED HEAD OFFICE: 4040 St, Catherine Street West, Montreal. BRANCHES AT: Halifax; Saint John, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, London, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver Our Business bul A Taylor "THE RECENT release of so many fine boxoffice attractions and the promise of many, many more to come has fired everyone in our business with a new kind of optimism. The stock market has reacted perceptibly but more importantly the press has shown its awareness of what is happening. In the last few months, in many newspapers of the United States, editorials of an upbeat nature have been appearing about the motion picture business. A great deal of verbiage was used, from all of which one could deduce the following: the movies had made a remarkable recovery; the crepe hangers who had ruled motion pictures all but dead and ready to be buried were wrong; the business would go on to bigger and better things; motion pictures were considerably _ better and likely to improve even more; and that the new screen mediums were fine and they, too, are likely to get better. An apt one word summary might be spelled “Renaissance.” It now seems difficult to find articles derogatory to movies in general. A recent issue of Newsweek devotes considerable space to the improvement of motion pictures and motion picture grosses. A number of new films are named and the article suggests that while the industry had abandoned the slogan “Movies Are Better Than Ever” it was really a good one, although somewhat premature. This article also stresses the current rise of the independent producers and once and for all discounts television as a replacement for movies. This kind of writing is wonderful for our business. It makes many stayaways want to come back and occasional goers want to come more often. It helps start an upbeat cycle which must benefit everyone in our business. The benefits are manifold, but we should not be deluded. Let us not assume that all of this has started like spontaneous combustion. Some time ago, in the United States, an organization was formed known as the Council of Motion Picture Organizations — COMPO for short. Early this year it started a series of weekly paid ads in Editor and Publisher, an American trade paper for newspaper and magazine publishers. The series of 26 has now been completed. It is generally agreed that each of these was well written and had some particular point to sell. Apparently it did just that. The success of this series has been certified by the (Continued on Page 3) Cees “