Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 31, 1968)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Jan 31, 1968
Volume:
Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly (Jan 31, 1968)
Leaf #:
0002
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Media Magazines Project, 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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TOP ROW shows glimpses of Toronto’s Variety Club installation dinner. At left, Rev. Father Cherrier, Tent 28 chaplain; Arthur Robertson, Variety Village principal and Estelle Craig, president Variety women’s group. Next photo shows retiring Chief Barker Jack Bernstein’ delivering _ final speech, with incoming Chief Barker Frank Strean at left. In middle photo, International VP Bob Hall and Mrs. Hall. A floorshow highlight was chanteuse Danielle Dorice. At right, N. A. Taylor and Mrs. Taylor, former Claire Drainie, who were married recently. PHOTO AT RIGHT shows new Vancouver Chief Barker Archie Hanna making acceptance speech, flanked by Bob Hall, representing Variety International. New Earnings Records Established By MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. established a new quarterly earnings record for the first 12 weeks of fiscal 1968. Earnings for this period ending Nov. 23, 1967, were 50 per cent higher than the first quarter of fiscal 1967, and 130 per cent higher than the same quarter of fiscal 1966. Robert H. O’Brien; MGM _ president, also announced that profits amounted to $4,793,000 — an increase from $3,152,000 in the same period of last year. Gross revenues rose 18 per cent to $56,365,000 from $47,696,000 last year. According to Mr. O‘Brien, these earnings are equivalent to 81 cents per share on the 5,756,351 shares outstanding since the two 5 per cent dividends declared in the last year. Charlie Brennan Victim Of Brain Tumor at 37 Charlie Brennan, manager of Famous Players’ Capitol Theatre in Ottawa, died recently at 37 from what doctors described as a “massive brain tumor.” Native of Ottawa, Brennan had returned to the Capitol less than two months ago after spending a year with the Centennial Caravan. Previously, he had managed the Regent in Ottawa, in addition to the Capitol. January 31, 1968 Toronto And Vancouver Elect Variety Crews ey ea ies ee eee ie was born in theatres |) SN > — Don’t let it die there! Install up-to-date General Sound equipment to match the superior quality of today’s sound tracks. ‘Fast service . . . night or day! Canada’s Theatre Supply House General Sound AND THEATRE .EQUIPMENT LIMITED Branches across Canada. CANADIAN FILM-TV BI-WEEKLY PICTURES | FRANK STREAN (Continued from Page 1) Weinstein, Jerry Solway, John Kurk, Alex Stewart’ and Stan Helleur. Master of ceremonies for the investiture was Bob Hall, a vicepresident of Variety International who had served as Tent 28’s Chief Barker for a two-year term preceding Bernstein’s tenure. In turning over his office to Strean, Bernstein paid tribute to crew members who had_ helped make his 1966-67 term of office eminently rewarding insofar as raising money for Variety Village was concerned. He particularly cited Win Barron, his 1st Assistant in 1966; Myer Axler, 2nd Assistant in 1966; Syd Koffman, Dough Guy for 1966-67; Barry Nesbitt, Property Master, 1966-67, and Jack Fitzbiggons, Jr., for his outstanding contribution as chairman of the Prince Philip Dinner which raised more than $100,000 in 1966. Strean drew a standing ovation for a brief but eloquent acceptance speech in which he stressed the varied character of Tent 28 (second largest in Variety International after the London, Eng. Tent) as compared to its original motion picture industry nucleus. The more than 600 members now represented — the: ~broad = crosssection of the entire entertainment industry, he said, supported by a corps of “associate” business and professional men. “In all of this membership,” Strean said, ‘I see not just tough, practical businessmen but individuals with compassion and a willingness to help others, in this case our young physically-handicapped boys who, through no fault of their own, are less fortunate than most of us.” The term “gala affair” is not a cliche in describing the installation. The official proceedings were brief, allowing for a full social evening which began with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a floorshow featuring Montreal chanteuse Danielle Dorice and New York comedian Dick Lord, both of whom contributed their talents as a donation to Variety Village. Music was provided by Paul Grosney’s orchestra. Catering for the reception and dinner was arranged by Barker Mickey Firestone. FILM EDITORS — (Continued from Page 1) to’s Film House, was attended by more than 30 film editors. Detailed information on _ the proposed guild can be obtained by writing either to Kirk Jones, Syne Sound Ltd., 207 Strathearn Road, Toronto, or George Appleby, Haverand Productions, 66 Homewood Avenue, Toronto 5, Ont. Page 3