Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 27, 1961)

Page scan 00038 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Dec 27, 1961
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 27, 1961)
Leaf #:
00038
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Global Cinema, Canada, and Hollywood Studio System
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, 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:
August 08, 2024
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Christmas Number Saskatoon as president of the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Exhibitors Association at the annual meeting in Saskatoon. Hatton Taylor resigns as general manager of Empire-Universal Films Ltd. and its subsidiary, Sovereign Films Ltd., and is later succeeded by Mark Plottel, formerly general sales manager. Plottel names as his aide Herb Mathers, head of the playdate and contract division, who adds _his new responsibilities to his old ones. Canadian film directors take preliminary steps to form a division of the Screen Directors International Guild in Canada. Aiming for contact with the motion picture and TV producer in order to bring about films and programs with higher moral content and greater artistry, an organization, the National Centre for English Speaking Canada on Radio, Television and Films, is set up in Toronto. Headed by Rev. F. W. Store, director, and Paul Harris, executive director, the Centre has the approval of the bishops and the Catholic Women’s League and is to begin activities in January. Cinema and viewing clubs in each of Canada’s 40 dioceses will be established. Douglas A. Gow, BC supervisor of maintenance for Famous Players, is appointed district manager for the circuit’s Vancouver suburban and upcountry theatres following the resignation of B. J. (Jack) McCausland. Exhibitors from all over Ont. come to Toronto to spend “A Day With Universal” and see previews of the company’s two blockbusters, Flower Drum Song and Lover Come Back, divided by a cocktail party and luncheon. They meet Milton J. Rackmil, Henry H. (Hi) Martin and F. J. A. (Frank) McCarthy, three Universal toppers from NY, and mingle with the executives of Empire-Universal, distributor of Universal product in Canada. Occasion is the kickoff of the Golden Jubilee of Universal, which will start in Jan. of 1962 and mark the 50th year of the founding of the company, the first in the film industry to achieve that distinction. New Westminster, Coquitlam and Richmond are the first communities in BC to pass the hold Ing of a plebiscite on Sunday movies, Mexico’s Animas Trujano is Picked as the best film, Russia’s Grigori Tchoukray as the best dir€ctor, Greece’s Mano Katrakis as best actor and Japan’s Hideko Takamine as best actress in voting at the fifth annual San FranCisco International Film Festival. The Screen Directors Guild of Canada is formed in Toronto and an interim committee of five is set up to arrange for an end of the year meeting, at which time CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY News Roundup EMPIRE UNIVERSAL “i FILMS ENED fatty \ Aj ‘ay a a a — oa 5 ew Trade Attends 'A Day With Universal’ In Toronto Universal’s launching of its Golden Jubilee Anniversary was marked in Canada with A Day With Universal, staged in Toronto by its franchise holder, Empire-Universal Films. Top photo shows part of the head table and the luncheon scene at the Park Plaza. Bottom photo, clockwise — Bill Smith and Herb Mathers, Emp-U; Henry H. “Hi'’ Martin, vice-president and general sales manager, Universal; Jack Clarke, Marcus Loews Theatres; Milton Rackmil, president, Universal; and Mark Plottel, Emp-U. the election of the first officers will take place. An Independent body, the SDGC leaves a decision on whether it will affiliate with the Screen Directors International Guild in abeyance. December Bert H. Wiber of Edmonton is elected president of the Alberta Theatres Association. Dan Boyle, Fort McLeod, is Southern vicepresident and R. J. Norton, Grand Prairie, Northern vicepresident, with Douglas Shackleford, Lethbridge, secretary-treasurer. The Film Advertising Circle is formed in Toronto by the ad-pub directors of film companies and circuits. Arthur Chetwynd, Toronto, 1s. elected head of the recently-formed Motion Picture Production Council of Canada. Don A. Wilder is vice-president, Roy Krost_ Mulholland Sweeting secretary, George treasurer and Dennis director at large. National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Associations of Canada, at its annual meeting in Toronto, re-elects E. G. Forsyth chairman. First vice-president is F. Gordon Spencer, Saint John, NB, second v-p Gaston Theroux, Montreal; and third v-p Harry Prygrocki, Winnipeg, Annual meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada in Toronto sanctions economic survey of motion picture industry by recognized authority and covers many matters. Officers re-elected are Frank H. Fisher as chairman and Peter S. Myers of Toronto and Harry Prygrocki of Winnipeg as vice-chairmen. Zelman (Bob) Shuster, formerly with Prairie Allied, becomes Winnipeg branch manager for Astral Films Ltd., Jerry Solway, general manager, announces. Page 39 VARIVIEWS CONVENTION (Continued from Page 17) to follow in the Shelbourne Hotel will be sponsored by two film companies, Hammer and Columbia. That evening the delegates will be welcomed by Premier Sean Lemass, a Gold Card member of VCI, at a State reception. HE four days will see a round of social affairs and sightseeing activities, among them a trip to Belfast by train, with dinner aboard. Among the host companies are Lyons Maid, Shell BP, Smithwick’s Brewery, W. E. (Billy) Butlin, MBE, Dunne’s Stores and Willwood, Pepsi-Cola will sponsor one gala evening in the hall of the Royal Dublin Society and Coca-Cola the Heart Award banquet. Max Factor will provide a gift for every lady. Few Canadians will miss the chance to visit England, Scotland or Wales while they’re so near and no doubt most will go on to Rome, Paris and other places. Very reasonable rates have been worked out for overseas passage and a variety of European tours. George Altman is handling arrangements for those from Ont. LUNCHEON MEETINGS (Continued from Page 17) Barris were Ross Creelman, Murray Little, Len Bishop, Vic Polley, Ed DeRocher, Jack (Deacon) Allen, Frank Tunney, George Hendrie, Ed Fitkin, Frank Pollock, Ernie Lieberman, John Murray Anderson and Al Siegel. The 25th anniversary of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. was marked at the last meeting of the year. The last speaker was L. W. Brockington, QC, CMG, former president of The Rank Organization of Canada, who had been the first chairman of the CBC. Before him spoke J. Alphonse Quimet, the present head of the CBC. Both were in fine form and provided a rare experience for the listeners, who included many delegates to the film industry asSociations’ annual meetings. Also heard from were Lou Agase, coach of the Toronto Argonauts, who proved to be very amusing, and John Fraser, one of the leading players in El Cid. In the house were Barkers Wayne and Shuster, who came before the microphone. LL these people of local, provincial, national and international fame at the Variety Club’s head table since February of this year — and dozens of celebrities at the tables with the members and their guests! You have to be made of wood not to feel the glamor and excitement of their presence, as well as the pleasure of their personalities, as given off through the things they had to say and the way they said them. Only in America? Nay, only in Variety!