The Exhibitor (1953)

14 EXHIBITOR The International Scene . Survey Reveals Growing Canadian Sentimenf For Sunday Film Shows Toronto — A study conducted by the Canadian Institute of Public Opinion shows that a majority of city people would like Sunday movies, while those in the country areas are opposed. In only one Canadian province, Quebec, are theatres open on Sundays, and then only after lunch. In the rest of Canada, theatre openings are prevented by law, despite the fact that in some centers, such as Toronto, commercial sport is allowed on Sundays. The poll shows that only one-third of the men and women would favor Sunday movies. Across Canada, however, overall ap¬ proval has risen noticeably during the past 10 years. In June, 1943, when the last survey was taken, 44 per cent of the population in general approved, while today 50 per cent favor. A decade ago 50 per cent disapproved while 45 per cent disapprove today. Undecided are five per cent today, opposed to six per cent 10 years ago. In the various areas across Canada, there is 30 per cent approval in the maritimes and a high of 82 per cent in Quebec. In Ontario 39 per cent approve. On the prairies, it’s just about the same. In B. C., about half the people would like Sunday movies. The mayors of such major cities as Van¬ couver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Montreal would have a clear mandate should they put it to a vote, for 65 per cent of the popu¬ lation in the large centers approve of the idea. The farm areas show a different pic¬ ture. Just 38 per cent approve, while 56 per cent disapprove, and six per cent are undecided. The younger generation are more inclined to want the Sunday movies than the older generation. Of those in their 20’s, 59 per cent feel inclined, though of those 50 and over, only 35 per cent agree. Men are more likely to approve Recent visitors from the Orient at Allied Artists studio in Hollywood were Hideo Shiotsugu, sec¬ ond from left, president, Eiga Haikyu Company, Tokyo, the Allied Artists' distributor throughout Japan, and Masatoyo Takano, right, Tokyo branch manager and publicity manager for the distributing company. They are pictured here with Steve Broidy, second from right, Allied Art¬ ists president, and Harold Mirisch, vice-president. than women. Attitudes of the churches are vividly revealed in the study, with the Roman Catholics 73 per cent in favor, just 34 per cent in the United Church standing for the open Sunday movies, and 39 per cent of the Anglican adherents approv¬ ing. Just 22 per cent of the Roman Cath¬ olics disapprove, 61 per cent of the United Church, and 58 per cent of Anglicans. Canadian Notes Television is seen as the reason for the growth of revenues of domestic motion picture production by S. Dean Peterson, Peterson Productions, and president, As¬ sociation of Motion Picture Producers and Laboratories of Canada. Production of the pictures, backbone of which is the sponsored films, is expected to increase 10 Recently installed as the 1953 crew for Toronto Variety Club, Tent 28, were, front row, left to right, John J. Chisholm, past Chief Barker; Dan Krendal, Dough Guy; William Summerville, Jr., First Assistant Chief Barker; Rube Bolstad, Chief Barker; Ernest Rawley, Second Assistant Chief Barker; Clare Appel, Property Master, and Gordon Lightstone, canvasman. Standing, left to right, are: Jack Fitzgibbons, Jr., George Altman, Father George Cherrier, Rabbi Reuben Slonim, Rev. Ray McCleary and Paul Johnston! Harry S. Mandell, canvasman, was absent. The crew looks forward to increased activity this year. per cent, while revenues will rise 20 per cent. The fact that TV is in the home, bringing its effectiveness closer to the business executives, is the reason for this increase, believes Peterson. Executives are more receptive now to the value of films for use inside and outside their companies. The Toronto communion breakfast for the members of the entertainment indus¬ try attracted more than 300 representa¬ tives. Celebrant at the mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral was Rev. George J. Cherrier, O.B.E., also Roman Catholic chaplain to (he Toronto Variety Club. John J. Fitz¬ gibbons, Jr., was chairman of the program at the breakfast held in the Royal York Hotel following the services at the cathedral. Speakers included Elisabeth Cobb, daughter of the late Irvin S. Cobb; Rt. Rev. Joseph A. McDonagh, D.P., president, Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada, and Rev. John N. Donelon, C. S. P. Similar breakfasts were also held in London, Halifax, St. John, and Windsor, and a breakfast is planned for later this year in Vancouver. Father Don¬ elon, commenting on the fact that it was the second annual communion breakfast in Toronto, stated that such events were growing in popularity. The government of Canada is being urged by the Canadian Chamber of Com¬ merce to limit the activities of the National Film Board to its present operations. . . . A visitor to Toronto was Ross MacLean, former head, National Film Board. . . . Separate cheques for $1400 each were presented the Heart Fund, Variety Club of Toronto, by theatre managers from Chatham and Brantford. Another $1403 was added to the $4700 raised by George Altman through the collection of scrap metals. Morris Appleby, president, 20th Century Theatre Managers Club, and Lionel Axler, past president, presented one of the cheques to Chief Barker Rube W. Bolstad, while the other came from Ben Schachter for the Brantford Theatre Man¬ agers Association. Both organizations ran special shows. Among the Brantford men who made the trip to witness the pres¬ entation were Joe Paul and Bill Burke, while Ted Doney was on hand from Guelph. . . . Warners’ “I Confess”, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, in Quebec City, was preemed in that city at the Famous Players’ Capitol and United Amusements’ Cartier. ... A 10-page supplement with its regular edition was issued by The Niagara Falls Review one day in advance of the pi’emiere of “Niagara” at the Seneca in that city to top the exploitation efforts of Jack Ward, Seneca manager, with an assist from Sam Glasier, 20th-Fox. The premiere was the culmination of a day of activities participated in by officials and citizens of Niagara Falls, New York, and of its Canadian namesake. The film opened in both cities. At the centre of the Peace Bridge between the two cities, prints of the film were accepted by the mayors of the two cities, with the help of Dale Robertson. The Seneca block was roped off, and several thousand people gathered there were entertained by a kiltie band and a number of drum majorettes. Among the guests were head office executives from 20th-Fox, Toronto, as well as the three Toronto film reviewers. ( Continued on page 18) February 18, 1953