Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 30, 1955)

Page scan 0006 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Nov 30, 1955
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 30, 1955)
Leaf #:
0006
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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November 30, 1955 SINGLETON CO. DEAL (Continued from Page 1) ciated Screen News, Wm, J. Singleton. The announcement was made by Andre Prefontaine, managing director of the firstnamed company. Trans-World is a lab company while Singleton’s firm acts as film counsellors for advertising agencies, business organizations and others using films. Singleton, with ASN for 30 years until his recent resignation, is an authority on every phase of nontheatrical motion pictures and will, if asked, supervise production. The personal popularity and connections of long standing that are Singleton’s should be of value to his enterprise. He will place all films in his care with TransVorld and be its major representative in the general printing field, where he has been a leading figure for many years. Trans-World Laboratories has been growing at the rate of a million feet of film handled each year since it was formed some years ago. At present it handles mostly 16 mm. but will expand its 85 mm. facilities. It opened in 1952 with Prefontaine as general manager, offering a variety of services, including removal of scratches from film. The association of Singleton with Trans-World in such an important capacity must be of mutual benefit, Prefontaine said. A young company needs the help of a person of Singleton’s stature in the industry if it is to progress quickly. It is not unlikeJy that the former ASN chief, who is a past president of the Quebec Picture Pioneers and present head of the Shriners in Montreal, will become a member of Trans-World’s board. Jaguar's ‘Cry In The Night' Natalie Wood and Brian Donlevy have been added to the cast of Jaguar’s A Cry in the Night, which Warners will release. CBC Vice-Chairman Adrien Pouliot, head of the faculty of science of Laval University in Quebec City and a member since 1939 of the CBC Board of Governors, has been appointed vice-chairman of the CBC Board. He succeeds the late Rene Morin, who died last July. Lizabeth Scott Cast A key role in Hal Wallis’ forthcoming A Stone for Danny Fisher is indicated for blonde star Lizabeth Scott, who absented herself from picture-making during the past year to study voice in preparation for nightclub, stage and film musical assignments. Miss Scott would have a singing role in the Paramount release. CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY GORDON LIGHTSTONE, JR. C. DAWSON EXLEY Appointed Twentieth Century-Fox branch manager in Saint John following the retirement of R. G. March. Recently named Vancouver branch manager for 20th-Fox by Peter Myers, Canadian general manager. CRITIC CHIDES MOVIE KNOCKER Douglas Campbell, an English actor with The Canadian Players, touring in a boney version of Macbeth, made some critical remarks about movies to an Associated Press reporter in Washington, where the company performed in the Library of Congress. “} resent calling movie houses theatres,” he said. “They should call them cinemas. You don’t see theatre at the movies. Television is the same thing, except that it’s more limited. Movies do a good job, but only in a limited manner. You have a great visual image, but you can’t have great dialogue. It always falls flat.’’ Walter O’Hearn, drama editor of The Montreal Star, chided Campbell in a column headed: “Why Slam the Movies?” He recalled great screen actors and their triumphs. “IT love the live, round theatre as much as the next man, and more than some of my fellows who stay away from it, but I don’t believe the theatre is best defended by jejune, ill-considered attacks on another art form,’ he wrote. “The movies can be an art form. It is an art form that deserves the name of theatre. Don’t forget it, Douglas Campbell. Meanwhile, good luck to you on tour. Keep away from those reporters.” UK IMPORT RESTRICTIONS EASED Importers in the United Kingdom have been notified that all widths of news film will be admitted into that country from all sources without the requirement of separate import licences. From November 2, World Open General Licence treatment has been extended to “Cinematograph film consisting wholly of photographs (with or without sound track) which at the time of importation are means of communicating news.” Prior to November 2, only news film of a width of 14, inches could be imported on World Open General Licence. There has been an increasing demand for the 16 mm. width for television purposes, which will benefit from the removal of the formality of separate licences. BOCHNER WINS TOP ACRTA AWARD Some 450 stage, TV and radio people saw Lloyd Bochner, Toronto star of several of the top plays of the 1954-55 season, presented with the S. W. Caldwell Award, the top honor of the annual awards of the Association of Canadian Radio and TV Artists at the recent banquet and ball in the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. Winners were selected through the votes of 2,400 members of the Canadian Council of Authors and Artists. Among those receiving awards were Denys Angers, most outstanding newcomer; Rupert Caplan, the gold medal for outstanding achievement; Neil LeRoy, the Benrus Citation for the outstanding contribution to the welfare of Canadian artists; John Drainie, a silver award, and Kate Reid and Kay Ambrose, bronze awards, all for outstanding achievement; Paul Guevremont and Madame Hector Perrier, for outstanding achievement in the field of artistic endeavor; and Tom Patterson, originator of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, the President’s Award for giving assistance to the CCAA. Page 7 Fine Funeral For Beloved Theatre Old and dark, theatres scheduled for destruction, their glories dimmed and happier days forgotten, usually disappear with no more than a nostalgic summary of the past in the local papers——-and perhaps an editorial of regret. But in Port Arthur, Ontario recently the Lyceum, a Famous Players’ theatre that for 46 years has been part of the lives of the people, was closed and a special ceremony marked its departure. The Rotary Club of that city, together with James Cameron, Famous Players’ Lakehead supervisor, saw to it that the old house did not leave the scene unwept, unhonored and unsung-—-as did the Orpheum recently in Port Arthur’s sister city, Fort William. Cameron, a Rotarian, acted as master of ceremonies. The patrons, whose admission fees went for Rotary community projects, were shown a blend of old and new films. Warner Bros. gave permission for a preview of Dam Busters. But it was the front show that got them. The crowd was tickled pink with an old Our Gang comedy, shown with a trailer for Birth of a Nation, a Screen Snapshots of the flashback type and some 1919 newsreel shots of the Prince of Wales’ visit to Canada. Editor-in-Chief of the Port Arthur Chronicle was the guest speaker and Cameron interviewed Frank Tonge and F. Hatley, the original projectionist and maintenance man_ respectively, bringing back memories _ for many present. Others spoke of the coming of the theatre and its place in the hearts of the citizens. Appreciation to Famave Players was expressed by Charles LeCocq of the Rotary Club. The Rotarians were so pleased with the evening that they will run a series throughout the winter at the Colonial, another closed house, paying a rental. Aussie Film For Fox Before Cameras Camera work has started on Smiley, a London Films producetion in CinemaScope and color being made in Australia for 20th Century-Fox release by Anthony Kimmins, who is both producer and director. Heading the cast of the picture are Sir Ralph Richardson and Chips Rafferty, Australian star. Sir Ralph, who was on tour in New Zealand, rearranged his schedule to take the role of Reverend Lambeth, a_ small town parson. Colin Peterson, a nine-year-old resident of Brisbane, Queensland plays the title role.