Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 6, 1970)

Page 6 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY MARCH 6, 1970 Variety Club of Toronto Tent 28 Weekly Newsletter The Friday, Feb. 27, monthly luncheon at the Park Plaza was a decidedly fun and games, quips and smart one-liner affairs. It was well attended and why not! Guests of honour were Tony Sandler and Ralph Young, who were just completing a sell-out two weeks at the Royal York Hotel’s Imperial Room and John Raitt, who was doing the same as Zorba at the O’Keefe Centre. Not present, due to “gland trouble” was Tiny Tim. Biggest laugh of the meeting was Ralph Young’s remark — “Don’t ask what gland!” A new custom was inaugurated by Chief Barker Sam Shopsowitz. As usual, one of the kids from the Variety Village was guest of honour at the head table. But this time, Shopsy introduced him and asked him to tell his story in his own words. When you hear one of these handicapped kids tell you of their background, trials, problems and the enormous amount of he'p they’re received from Variety Village, it makes every member want to run out and raise a few more dollars for that addition the school needs so badly. The message goes right to the heart when you hear it first from one of the boys. Luncheon chairman Harvey Dobbs was in top form as usual, but couldn’t beat the Sandler and Young combination. These two have to be the most relaxed act in show-biz, with Tony egging Ralph on to tell some of his famous stories. Someone should write a story called “Happiness is a thing called Ralph”. His infectuous grin makes everyone feel that life isn’t that bad after all. Moxie Whitney, seated at the head table, was congratulated on his 20th anniversary with the Royal York’s Imperial Room. John Raitt, who claimed that he was playing an older man in Zorba, made most of the members feel ancient. He looks younger and handsomer than ever. It is now confirmed that Carol Channing will be guest of honour at the Mar. 26th luncheon meeting to be held at the Town & Country. She will be introduced by another guest of honour, Lotta Dempsey of the Toronto Star. We owe a special note of thanks to Lotta. Carol is attending as a personal favour to Lotta, who will also be doing one of her “Be My Guest” stories at that same luncheon. Knowing Lotta, the whole town will know of Variety Club-Tent No. 28 charitable works for handicapped kids at Variety Village. VARIETY CLUB LUNCHEON HOSTS STARS — It was a time for meeting inter national stars at a recent luncheon held by Variety Club of Toronto, Tent 28. Left to right, singer Ralph Young, Variety Club canvassman Harvey Dobbs, Chief Barker Sam Shopsowitz, actress Sibylla Kay, actor-singer John Raitt and singer Tony Sandler. And of course, this will be the first luncheon where members will be able to invite their wives, lady friends. Should be a must on every member’s calendar. Mar. 26 at The Town & Country. Film rental fees suspended by NFB It was announced last week that the proposed rental fees on National Film Board motion pictures will be suspended indefinitely. State Secretary Gerard Pelletier stated that the repeal was in keeping with the federal government’s newly formulated anti inflation policy which allowed for no increase or imposition charges for government services. Pelletier said that the govern. ment had agreed to reimburse the film board for any loss of revenue The luncheon guests were presented with Variety Club cuff links. —(Photo by Len Bishop) it had hoped to gain as a result of the charges. He estimated the cost will be well in excess of $300,000. The rental charges were originally introduced in response to the government’s austerity program, which froze the board’s annual grant at 10 million dollars. The state secretary denied that the austerity program had resulted in the resignations of many of the NFB’s best film-makers. He was sure that they had resigned because they wished to work on their own. men in the news Ronald L. Kuehn, Jr., vice president, operations, for Allied Artists Pictures Corp. has been elected to the post of executive vice president of the company. Kuehn joined Allied Artists in 1968, as resident counsel and was appointed secretary on April 15. ‘ADVENTURERS’ STAR VISITS TORONTO — Actor-singer Charles Aznavour, left, was in Toronto recently for a one-night singing engagement. Paramount Pictures decided it was a good idea to capitalize on his visit to publicize The Adventurers, their major spring release in which Aznavour has a starring role. Shown talking to Aznavour is Canadian Film Weekly staff writer Gary Topp, centre. —(Photo by Len Bishop) ‘Adventurers star likes low budget films Charles Aznavour, one of today’s most popular international singers, appeared in Toronto recently for a concert at Massey Hall. Playing his first Englishspeaking starring role in Paramount’s film adaptation of Harold Robbins’ best selling novel, The Adventurers, that company took advantage of his arrival in the city and arranged a press conference for the star in conjunction — with the concert promoters who were staging his singing engagement. Although the majority of the talk directed at Aznavour concerned his musical compositions, he did however describe his characterization in The Adventurers as a “dirty old man, making only money”. Even though Paramount’s motion picture is a big budget/multi star venture, the singer tended to prefer working in less costly films. He was definitely under the opinion that the days of the tremendously expensive motion picture spectacle were over, and that the one-time big stars were no longer great boxoffice drawing cards. Around 15 years ago, already one of France’s leading singing stars, Aznavour was given his first film role, as a singer, in Paris Music Hall. He has since appeared in over 20 movies, some being Taxi For Tobrouk, Candy, the not yet released The Games (also starring Michael Crawford), and Francois Truffaut’s now classic Shoot The Piano Player. He regards the controversial director, Jean-Luc Godard, as a brilliant film-maker but does not agree with the imposition of one’s political discontentment on an audience. When asked whether he enjoyed working as a French Olympic runner in Twentieth Century-Fox’s The Games, Aznavour nervously muttered, “Oh yes, it was great fun. But so exhausting . . . I’m so little. Ill never do that again!” 26 miles ... great fun?? Vol. 35, No. 8 March 6, 1970 Editor: ED HOCURA CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5, Ont. Second class privileges applied for Published by Motion Picture Institute of Canada, 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5, Ontario Canada ¢ Phone 924-1757 Price $7.50 per year