Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 15, 1956)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Feb 15, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 15, 1956)
Leaf #:
0002
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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Oe mee nm ee (er ee = “he February 15, 1956 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Page 3 NFB REPORT (Continued from Page 1) tabled in the House of Commons by the Honorable John Pickersgill, stated an estimated 15,000,000 persons saw a single United States network TV broadcast of the NFB film, Corral. In 1953-54, operating under a different accounting system which lumped all revenues and expenditures together, the Board had a surplus of $149,343 after income of $4,009,036 and expenses of $3,859,693. The Board reported increased revenue from rentals and royalties at $196,195, a rise from $130,795 in 1953-54. Theatrical bookings for the Canada Carries On series went down from 11,447 in the previous year to 10,719, largely because wide-screen pictures were longer and left no time for them. Eye Witness bookings were up 348 to 3,716. Theatrical bookings abroad showed a big gain: from 21,505 to 29,355. Production costs rose to $1,502,024 from $1,283,359 and distribution costs, including maintenance of regional distributing staff and printing, increased to $1,402,355 from $1,213,685. The parliamentary vote for operations in 1954-55 was $3,211,060, up from $2,883,650 in 1953-54. The Board’s income from rentals and royalties was $127,783 in Canada, $51,947 in the United States, $5,459 in the United Kingdom and $11,006 in other countries. No comparable figures were given in the 1953-54 report. Administration costs, including research, totalled $477,068, compared with $431,350 in 1953-54. A. W. Trueman, Government Film Commissioner, wrote that it is too early to determine what effect TV will have on the Board’s program of producing films for theatres and other outlets. The Board, however, had supplied TV stations in Canada with ‘large portions of good Canadiana in the form of films.” NFB films had an estimated world-wide audience of more than 175,000,000. During the year 122 original films were produced, plus 113 film translations and adaptations to enable films to be shown through different distribution media. Total regular staff of the Board at March 31, 1955, was 567 as compared with 548 the previous year. Of the added 19, 12 were in the Technical Operations Branch. Applications for employment numbered 1,858 and appointments were under 100. The number of resignations according to craft was not given. Seven scholars from Burma, Denmark, Israel, Indonesia and Chile received training under the international assistance programs. Ylews Yotes JIMMY POWIS HONORED For over 30 years with Twentieth Century-Fox, Jim Powis, who was retired on pension recently, was honored by his fellowbookers and other colleagues of the Toronto film-theatre community with a testimonial dinner in the Cascade Room of Town & Country. About 80 were present when Archie Laurie, as toastmaster, called on Harry Wiseman, Fox booker, to present Jimmy with two travelling bags and a cheque. He had been preceded as a speaker by Peter Myers, Fox Canadian ‘manager, who said he was pleased that the company was able to provide retirement financing and suggested it would be a good thing for other industry firms to adopt. Harrison Patte, Famous Players, and Harold Pfaff, Independent Theatre Services, reminisced about the film business in Toronto when they and the guest of honor had been in it a few years. Jimmy, in thanking his friends, made serious Comment about what was required of a good booker. Jimmy, Jr. and Eddie, sons of the guest of honor, were present. Jimmy, Sr. will travel to Lebanon to visit his married daughter. CANADIAN C'SCOPE 55 SHOWINGS Following the successful demonstration of CinemaScope 55 in the Imperial, Toronto, 20th Century-Fox has set dates for showing the new process in six key cities across Canada, beginning with the Capitol in Vancouver on February 24. Peter Myers, 20th-Fox Canadian general manager, and Sam Glasier, head of publicity and advertising in Canada, accompanied by a company engineer from New York, will attend all the showings. As in Toronto, invitations will be extended to exhibitors, press, radio and TV in the city and surrounding area in which the screening will be held. Following the Vancouver demonstration showings will be held at the Capitol, Calgary on February 27; Capitol, Regina, February 29; Capitol, Winnipeg, March 2; Palace, Montreal, March ~ 5; and Paramount, Saint John, March 7. NEW TRADE ASSOCIATION Kenneth Fosberry, vice-president in charge of sales for Garlick Films Limited, Toronto, was elected president of the newlyorganized Canadian Photographic Trade Association, incorporated in Ottawa to treat with legislation, encourage ethical business practices, promote industry harmony and encourage active public interest in photography. O. T. Bright, v-p and general manager of Bell & Howell Canada Limited, is vice-president, and W. Robertson Carveth, sales manager of Walter A. Carveth Limited, treasurer. Directors will include representatives of General Photoeraphic Products, Regina; Mondo Photo Ltd., Gevaert (Canada) Ltd., Spencer & McMullen Ltd., and Canadian General Electric Co. Ltd., all of Toronto; and Precision Cameras of Canada, Montreal. MONTREAL TV FIRM SIGNS FLYNN A Montreal firm, Inter-TV Films Limited, has signed Errol Flynn and his wife, Patrice Wymore, to film 26 shows a year for three years in Britain, according to its press release. The half-hour shows will be marketed as the Errol Flynn Theatre. Flynn will act as host for all the subjects and, like Miss Wymore, appear in some. The company was formed early in 1955, absorbing Robjou Films Limited, Montreal, and International TV Films Services Limited, New York. Its head office is in Montreal and it is represented in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, London and Paris. It has a large library of French films and represents European and American companies, as well as producing in its own studios. Marcel Leduc is president and Robert Jouglet vice-president. The release, carrying the NY address also, gives Olga Lampard as press contact. Added To ‘Cattle King’ Cast Peter Graves and Marcia Henderson star with George Montgomery and Richard Eyer in Allied Artists’ Cattle King, now before the cameras on location. RKO's ‘The Old Maestro’ RKO has acquired screen rights to the life story of the late Ben Bernie and will film the biography under the title of The Old Maestro. $6,000,000 Howard Hughes put 2 years and into i 1 | Coming in early 1956 from RKO ix V