Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 25, 1956)

Page, 4 21 YEARS AGO (Continued from Page 1) sion as educational and cultural factors in the Dominion of Canada and elsewhere.” Although the name Canadian Film Institute only dates back to June, 1950 the organization is actually 21 years old this year. While those years have more often than not. been ones of struggle for survival, the Institute’s present state of activity is an indication that the founding fathers were indeed foresighted in anticipating that far back the need for certain national film services. It was on April 2nd, 1935 that a dozen Ottawa persons prominent in public affairs and government met to consider the establishment of a film organization in Canada similar to the British Film Institute which had been set up the previous year. They recognized then that, in addition to providing service to film societies, the educational potentials of the film should be developed. Serving as a clearing house for film information and a Canadian outlet for the programs of the Museum of Modern Art in New York were among the functions named at that time. The preparation of a report on the educational and cultural aspects of film in Canada was also proposed, with the Carnegie Foundation being asked to underwrite its cost. The appointment of a permanent board of directors was left to a future date. Eric Brown was named temporary chairman and Donald Buchanan temporary secretary. Among those who attended the meeting were some whose support for the organization carried on down through the years—people like C. G. Cowan, H. O. McCurrie and the late E. W. Harold. A previously-prepared set of bylaws was considered and provision made for the affiliation of branches, which were then being proposed in several major centres across Canada. James A. Cowan of Toronto, the current president, took over a-couple of years ago from Charles G. Cowan of Ottawa, who had succeeded Sidney Smith, now president of the University of Toronto, the Institute’s first chief. Executive secretaries, in order of service, are Donald Buchanan, Naomi Slater, O. C. Wilson, Dave MacKenzie, Gordon Adamson and Charles Topshee, in office now. Since 1935 there have been many changes of emphasis in the Institute’s services, but always it has striven to implement its charter purpose in terms of current needs. Its ability to provide adequate service has too frequently been limited by insufficient financial means and now 21 years after its founding the day of its greatest usefulness CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY News Notes BRANTFORD MGRS.' VARIETY SHOW Over $700 was raised for the Toronto Variety Club’s Heart Fund by the Brantford Theatre Managers Association at their sixth annual variety show. Held on a recent Sunday, the theatre night featured a film supplied by Warner Bros. and a stage show in which all the performers donated their services. John Kurk, chairman of the out-of-town shows for the Variety Club, aided the local managers. Famous Players gave the use of the Capitol Theatre in Brantford gratis and Local 582, IATSE & MPMO, permitted its members to work the show free of charge. Ronald King and His Orchestra supplied the music under arrangement with the Brantford Musicians Union Local 467, for which Telfer Sharpe is the business agent. On the bill were Gerald Peters, who acted as emcee; Allen Crowfoot and his accompanist, Marjorie Massey; Denyse Angiers, the Bell City Quartette, Violet Murray and Dave Broadfoot. Committee handling the affair for the managers. included Joe Paul of the Paramount, chairman; Ted Burrows, of the Odeon; Bill Burke, Capitol; Ben Schacher, College; and Elsie Bradshaw, assistant at the Paramount. TWO TV APPLICATIONS BEFORE CBC Applications for two new stations, one deferred from the previous meeting, two requests for increases of power and permission to lease a station will be among the TV matters heard at the 99th meeting of the CBC Board of Governors on February 9 in Ottawa. Application of Twin Cities Television Limited for a licence to establish a TV transmitter on Channel 4 in Kamloops, BC, deferred for further study by the Board, will be considered, as will that of David N. Armstrong for a station on Channel 6 in Victoria, BC. Both CFCM-TV, owned by Television de Quebec (Canada) Limitee, on Channel 4 in Quebec City, in which Famous Players Canadian Corporation is a partner, and La Tribune Limitee’s CHLT-TV on Channel 7 in Sherbrooke, Quebec will ask for an increase in power. La Radio du Bas St. Laurent Inc., owner of CJBR-TV on Channel 3 in Rimouski, Quebec, will apply for authority to lease its station to The Central Public Service Corporation Limited. RETURNS ‘RELATIVELY UNHAMPERED' Film remittances from major foreign markets, among them Canada, “were relatively unhampered” during 1955, states a press release from the United States Department of Commerce. In spite of distribution obstacles 1955’s remittances should exceed $200,000000 and continue at that rate in 1956. UK and French agreements have been renewed for another year, a three-year pact was signed with Italy and one for two years with Germany. More than 40 per cent of USA film income comes from outside the country and 68 per cent of the screen time in the free world goes to American pictures. Latin America provides the most time. Increased theatre facilities throughout the world have helped boost USA foreign business for American production, which depends more on non-USA revenue than any other domestic industry. Foreign difficulties usually arise out of import or playingtime quotas, rental ceilings, taxation, censorship and import-licence restrictions. Foreign operations were never more complex, states a study by the Scientific, Motion Picture, and Photographic Products Division of the Department of Commerce’s Business and Defence Services Administration, which Nathan D. Golden heads. Stars Of ‘Return Of Custer’ Randolph Scott and Barbara Hale will star in the Scott-Brown production for Columbia, The Return of Custer. in AA’s King. CinemaScoper, Montgomery In ‘Cattle King' George Montgomery will star Cattle appears about to dawn. At a time when the film, both as an art and an industry, needs new ways of both spurring and recording its growth in our national life, the Institute faces an uncertain future because of financial troubles. Adult Entertainment Latest additions to the Adult Entertainment list of the Ontario Censor Board include The Deep Blue Sea, The Desperate Hours, Flame of the Islands, Guys and Dolls, Killer’s Kiss, Tarantula and The Trouble With Harry. January 25, 1956 CINEMASCOPE 55 (Continued from Page 1) first time in 20th-Fox history the complete booking and sales personnel from coast to coast will attend a single convention and they will join the representatives of press, radio, TV, engineering, music composition, women’s film selection groups and many others with a special interest in some phase of the motion picture at the 9.45 a.m. screening of excerpts from Carousel and The King and 1 It is estimated that some 300,000 persons from all fields of activity will see the screenings in 59 different North American cities. In Canada the Toronto demonstration, which will be addressed from the stage by W. C. Gehring of the 20th-Fox home office in NY, is the first of a series scheduled for each exchange centre. Gehring, assistant general sales manager, will be joined at the sales meeting and demonstration by Rodney Bush, exploitation manager. Sam Glasier, Canadian exploitation chief, is working under Myers orders in making the invitation list large enough to include all in a position to appreciate the accomplishment represented by the new 55 mm. medium — opinion makers, financiers, scientists, etc. They will hear Darryl Zanuck, 20th-Fox production chief, provide commentary for the one-hour subject from the screen, All CinemaScope 55 demonstration films are being projected with Bausch & Lomb optical systems. Photographed on 55 mm. film, the projection prints are standard 35 mm. film, resulting in crisper images. In setting up the demonstrations, Fox engineers will install B&L prime lenses and anamorphic attachments in those theatres not already so equipped. Fox engineers have borrowed the lenses from B&L to assure that maximum projection quality is obtained. In addition to the B&L Super Cinephor fl.8 prime lenses and CinemaScope attachments, the Fox engineers will also install an unique heat-reflecting filter in each projector to protect the film from the heat of the arc lamps. The filter transmits the light from the arc, but reflects a large portion of the heat back away from. the film, The new film process brings brighter, clearer pictures to the CinemaScope screen. The original photography in all CinemaScope pictures is also taken exclusively with Bausch & Lomb lenses. UA's 'Step Down To Terror’ Security Pictures has signed Anthony Quinn to star in Step Down to Terror, which United Artists will release.