A ED Vol. 9, No. 45

AN? SRT Re

A a i VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

TORONTO, NOVEMBER 8, 1944 $2.00 Per Annum

Harder Fight Needed for Loan

Indies President Denies BO Story

In a letter addressed to Box-~ office, American trade publica- tion which also circulates in Can- ada, Archie J. Mason, president of the National Council of Inde- pendent Exhibitors of Canada, denied its report that after the recent discussions between his

(Continued on Page 17)

Canada-H wood Deal Suggested

A letter addressed to the editor of the Canadian Film Weekly by a Hollywood citizen signing him- self “Yonge Street” offers some interesting points about the pos- sibility of Canadian production.

The letter, in part, reads:

“Back 25 years ago, there was

(Continued on Page 19)

Ontario Ass'n Set For Big Year

Industry Really Pitches In é ‘ As Going Gets Tougher Title: Return of

. y Although reports indicate that Canadian film and Mr John Davis

theatre men are buying bonds on the same scale as during the last Victory Loan, it has become apparent that they Any Osy now John Davis, Tepe will have to extend themselves even further in their work "°S°m@tve of J. Arthur Rank,

behalf will be in Canada on his second on ena of t 1e current trip in several months. His re-

AXLER BACK drive. The first few days of turn, trumpeted in the American the Loan exceeded those ol trade press for several weeks, After two years of service with the previous campaign but has been taken to mean that he the RCAF Meyer Axler (right) the next few days suffered in will complete a partnership deal has been honor- comparison. It has been that (Continued on Page 2) ably discharged. way since. Intensified activity is ° He has returned required to recapture and main- Niagara Falls House to Twentieth tain the interest that seems to ' Century Theatres, have been lost because of op- To 20th Cent y Thtrs. where he will timism. Twentieth Century Theatres serve as assist- The news from the theatre has acquired the Hollywood ant to Raoul Au- buying front is gratifying. The Theatre, Niagara Falls, Ontario, erbach in charge entire group of Western The- from J. C. Biamonte, The house

of theatre opera- atres Limited, Winnipeg, won V has 835 seats and will get post- tions. He is here shown with (Continued on Page 8) war improvement. Syd Karlen, manager of the Victory Theatre. Meyer, son of Bond Buyers and Boosters

the late Isidore Axler, will receive a popular welcome back.

Sear

Nat A. Taylor became president and Haskell M. Mas- —

ters vice-president of the Motion Picture Theatres Associa- - tion of Ontario at the first meeting of the board of directors aed UTR SASL Let: a: SEE

elected for the next season at the recent annual gathering. Ee ions a pou _

Other officers elected were Joe Garbarino, treasurer;

and Floyd Rumford, Mount

Forest, secretary.

Syd B. Taube continues as exe- cutive secretary of the associa- tion.

The Ontario association, since its inception several years ago, has grown consistently and now has a membership of 300 thea- tres, 102 of which are Independ- ent. An all-embracing organiza- tion in the exhibition field, it is setting an example for other provinces to follow.

(Continued on Page 8)

—=—«Braczil

,) . eset? .

+e Pattee

Grimsby House Was Sold to Lionel Lester

In the last issue of Canadian Film Weekly, during a review of the activities of Sam Fingold, it was Stated that he had acquired Moore’s Theatre, Grimsby, Ont- ario, from Mrs, Bessie K. Moore.

The theatre, according to Mrs. Moore, was sold to Lionel Lester.

Fingold got operation rights from The staff of the Centre Theatre, Peterborough, Ontario, who have all bought Lester. Mrs. Moore, apparently 7th Victory Loan bonds, are shown before an effective Loan front From left to irked by the turn of events pro- right, Paddy Cooke, projectionist; C. Lloyd Newton, projectionist; Dorothy Whatley,

cashier; Margaret Howe, cashier; Edith Mcliihagga, assistant caretaker; Bill Fredenberg, caretaker; Bill Skene, head usher and Johnny W. Gibson, assistant manager, Manager Syd Goldstone didn’t get into the picture,

tested the report and asked that it be explained.

Sparkling with the romantic music of tropic nights, enhanced by such scintillating stars as Tito Guizar, Virginia Bruce, Edward Everett Horton, Robert Livingston, Veloz and Yolanda, and with Republic's - Cowboy King, Roy Rogers, as guest star, Available through EMPIRE-UNIVERSAL, Book it now!

November &, 1944

> ° . Page> ga Sas _s CCaanadian FILM WEEKLY x ly l, — A@ TITLE: vith a large Canadian circuit in holdings as outlets for his films ues 1” of ¥ nk. Devotees of the stems from the fact that the crag ae pris : h ut f ield from the British market t of deduction think that Davi 7 rf 2 : yiel , ‘ re = ck to Britain to lay a = TL gar re Tf alone isn’t enough to make them propose le before Ranh and ; < a pay. get a yes or no out of him. He e — How he will satisfy that de- must hi yes, they say, or War. solu Davis sire and what it will do to the he would coming back here. SEOTE Canadian theatre and film situa- Pres hat he did, which (Continued from Page 1) tion will be watched with great

Odeon of Britain and

Odeon of

by the announcement that Em-

interest.

Davis at Home

Canada affect the Canadian the- pire-Universal would distribute It seems, judging from the atre situation? Rank is anxious 20 films from Eagle-Lion, a Rank pryitish trade papers, that John for more outlets for the films company. Davis was thoroughly quizzed at roduced by his companies. Will The biggest difficulty in put- }ome and what ne said about

I he get them through Odeon in (

ting over British films is the lack

Canada led to a minor squabble.

Sanad which has under 100 of interest in their stars. If Bri- According to Onlooker in To- 1OUS¢ The Nathanson interests tish stars enjoyed the same pop- ggay’s Cinema, Davis went to

Canada for Manorfield, the Rank “organization organizing the or-

Is the Hour ait Hand? ganizations” rather than for Odeon. He told this writer that

he was in favor of owning a cir- cuit of key houses as well as set- ting up a distribution organiza- tion,

Deal or no deal, Rank intends moving into Canada, a market which he considers to be of the greatest importance.

Davis’ statements about his Canadian trip, which he said was exploratory, irked Sam Smith, well known in Canada as a vet- eran exporter of British film. Davis had implied that “Canada was practically virgin soil for 3ritish producers,” according to Tatler in the Daily Film Renter.

“I’ve been sending British films into the Dominion for thirty-five years,” Smith told Tatler. “I have toiled, sweated with blood and tears, and now

after a four ‘or five weeks’ trip

This photograph was taken at the Empire-Universal meeting in Montreal Davis comes back and almost during July. Left to right—AM W. Perry, general manager of Empire-Universal; infers «that bine’ ai John H, Davis, general manager of Odeon Theatres of Great Britain, rumored to infers a nothing as been

done to get British films on the screen,”

The lack of British product on Canadian screens is not for want of trying Tatler writes, and other British film men do not Share Davis’ views but his report is worth something because he was last to visit Canada.

Arthur

Canadian

be returning here to complete a partnership deal for J. Rank; Paul Nathan- Leonard W. Brockington, K.C., said to be of J. Arthur Rank: Tem J. Bragg, president of General Theatre Investment Co,, Limited; and the Honorable J. Earl Lawson, K.C., a director of Odeon Theatres of Canada and gencral counsel for the Nathanson companies,

son; representative

ularity as American Rank wouldn’t have to buy his way into playing time, Perhaps a par-

distribute MGM, Republic

ones, cal ’ — an WT)

There is a desire to increase

Sup = iversal.

the playing of British films in nership deal here will be fol- Onlooker in ‘Today’s Cinema Canada on the part of Rank and lowed by an exploitation and reported that Davis had a good his British competitors in pro- publicity campaign designed to time in Canada “because the duction, During the 1944-45 sea- make household names of British boys on the other side lived up

stars. to

Canadian exhibitors are satis- have always enjoyed of being fied with American film service. about the most hospitable people Something special is needed to jn the world.”

than 50 Canadian

son teere will be

British films offered

exhibitors. In May of

more the reputation which they

this year Empire-

Universal, the Nathanson dis- win their business. They have no tribution structure, transferred great inclination to experiment ; > 4 7 . ts Esquire unit to the Hanson with films for which no special More Production nterests, which also handle Mon- market exists, = ’ ogram. This v followed later Rank’s desires for Canadian For Pickford

Mary Pickford recently sign- ed as co-producer with Seymour . ———-_- Nebenzall for “Mayerling,”’ which HYE BOSSDN, Managing Editor is slated for early 1945 produc-

Noy. 8, 1944

Vol. 9, No, 45

’

Add all icati The } : Edi tion and United Artists release. f s 7 . se a 4 4 ALILO rr. . ‘ he ews tiers on T ve Managing « é r; This marks a second picture f ; aly, 2 +S ed bh , Canada. anadian rae, 71 OEY? 5 Dundas Square, Toronto, ahs _ venture for Mary Pickford be- Published by Film Publications of Canada Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Siac eee rye : Canada, Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. sides the recent purenase of

Entered as Second Class Matter Printed by Eveready Printers Limited, 74 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontarie —_—_——____ __ —.. .. eee eee

screen rights for the Broadway musical, “One Touch of Venus,”

i'm Ernie Mott... imake my own rules for life and lowe !//

A story that looks life str a

and blinks at nothing!

Here are conflict, violence, devotion in a picture that takes its place among the screen's finest triumphs . - - that intensifies the a emotional sweep of the novel that thrilled millions — by the author of ““HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY.” 4

sak ¥

aight in the CYC oo-

eige

| ih,

| a es > om ee . |

: _ P my z >

ss LTHEL-BARRYMORE

BARRY FITZGERALD JUNE OUPREZ - JANE WYATT ie

GEORGE COULOURIS - DAN DURYEA ROMAN BOHNEN - RORSTANTEN ene

PRODUCED BY DAVID HEMPSTEAD DIRECTED BY CLIFFORD ODETS Written

Neer eee a ~~ ae - - _ Neen eee A 2

RKO RADIO PICTURES “Prowdly PRESENTS

CARY GRANT. |

in an incomparable drama

from the novel by ‘Richard Slewellyn

with Miss ETHEL

BARRY. FITZGERALD JUNE DUPREZ « JANE WYATT

GEORGE COULOURIS - DAN DURYEA ROMAN BOHNEN - KONSTANTIN SHAYNE

PRODUCED BY DAVID HEMPSTEAD DIRECTED BY CLIFFORD ODETS Written for the Screen by Clifford Odets

Vol. 9, No. 45

The Hour Before The Dawn

with Franchot Tone, Veronica Lake Paramount 75 Mins.

STORY OF A PACIFIST WHO TURNS FIGHTER RATES AS GOOD DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT; ACT- ING IS TOPS.

“The Hour Before the Dawn” is an excellently produced film that dispenses good dramatic en- tertainment. William Dozier, as- sociate producer on the film, has received swell co-operation from Frank Tuttle, the director; Michael Hogan, who authored the screenplay, and a cast head- ed by Franchot Tone and Vero- nica Lake. These combined talents have turned out a pro- duction that sustains the atten- tion from start to finish. Not to be overlooked for exploitation purposes is the fact that W. Somerset Maugham did the novel from which the Hogan screenplay is taken.

Often moving is this story of a pacifist and what happens to him when England is forced to declare war on Germany. Tone, a son of British aristocracy, de- clares himself a conscientious objector because he loathes kill- ing. The history of his obsession against blood-letting goes back to his childhood when he acci- dentally shot a pet dog to death. Assigned to farm labor, Tone does what he can for his country on the home front. To add to his difficulties, the fellow takes as his wife Miss Lake, a Nazi agent, who carries on her activities un- der the guise of an Austrian ref- ugee. The girl's identity doesn’t come to light until she sets @ beacon for the Luftwaffe, enabl- ing the Nazis to bomb a secret airfield near the home she shares with Tone.

Tone and Miss Lake perform commendably in the main roles. The former commendably in the main roles. The former makes the pacifist a most sympathetic character, while Miss Lake plays the Nazi agent with subtlety, managing a foreign accent con- vincingly. John Sutton, Binnie Barnes, Henry Stephenson, Philip Merivale, Nils Asther and Dayid Leland are others whose work helps the film a lot.

CAST: Franchot Tone, Veronica Lake, John Sutton, Binnie Barnes, Henry Ste- phenson, Philip Merivale, Nils Asther, Edmond Breon, David Leland, Aminta Dyne, Morton Lowry, Ivan Simpson, Donald Stuart, Harry Allen, Mary Gor- don, Ernest Severn, Raymond Severn.

DIRECTION, Fine, PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine.

REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK

Heavenly Days

with Fibber McGee and Molly RKO 72 Mins. RADIO TEAM APPEARS TO GOOD ADVANTAGE IN COMEDY THAT IS IDEAL FOR FAMILY PATRONAGE.

The popularity enjoyed by Fibber McGee (Jim Jordan) and Molly (Marian Jordan) on the radio will spell success for

“Heavenly Days.” The film is full of the amiable, simple humor that is characteristic of the comedy team on the air, stack- ing up as ideal family entertain- ment,

The makers of the film have been wise in keeping the radio stars from going beyond their depth in this film venture. The two have been made to remain their natural selves, with happy results. Their conduct never strays from the human, a fact which helps to explain the warmth of their work in “Hea- venly Days.”

The story isn’t intended to be taken too seriously. If one makes allowance for the lack of logic, one should have an easy time enjoying the content of the pro- duction, which was turned out by Robert Fellows in good style, though unpretentiously.

In “Heavenly Days” Fibber McGee goes to Washington to speak for the “average man,” who, he feels, is being sadly neg- lected. His campaign in behalf of what Henry A. Wallace loves to refer to as the “common man” is productive of no end of hilar- ious complications. His drive te have Mr. Average participate more actively in the activities of the nation bears fruit, and at the finale McGee, himself, is selec- ted as the average American in a poll conducted by Dr. Gallup.

McGee and Molly move easily through their roles. Eugene Pal- lette, Raymond Walburn, Gordon Oliver, Frieda Inescort, Irving Bacon, Charles Trowbridge, Bar- bara Hale and Don Douglas are good in the supporting parts The King’s Men help with seve- ral musical numbers.

The screenplay of Howard Es- tabrook and Don Quinn, based on a yarn by the former, has touch- es of satire inspired by the Washington scene. The film has lively direction by Estabrook.

CAST: Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan, Eugene Pallette, Gordon Oliver, Ray- mend Walburn, Barbara Hale, Don Douglas, Frieda Inescort, Irving Bacon, Charles T e, King's Men.

DIRECTION, Good, PHOTOGRAPHY, Good,

Mr. Skeffington

with Bette Davis, Claude Rains Warner 146 Mins.

BETTE DAVIS HITS NEW ACTING HEIGHTS IN DRAMATIC FILM DE- STINED FOR HEFTY GROSSES.

“Mr. Skeffington,” taken from the best-seller by “Elizabeth,” provides Bette Davis with a dra- matic yehicle that permits her to give full play to her acting skill. Her portrayal of a vain selfish woman obsessed by the fear of growing old adds immea- surably to her stature as an in- terpreter of unpleasant women. Unquestionably the film is hers, although the presence of Claude Rains as her husband helps no little in making the production the strong attraction that it is.

With Miss Davis performing as she never has before there is no doubt about the box office fate of “Mr. Skeffington.” There is every reason to justify the prediction that the film will turn out as the actress’ greatest success. Miss Davis, aided principally by Rains, makes of the offering a vivid and showy drama that is strikingly effective in exploring the mind and soul of Fanny Trellis, the central character, and explaining the motives that lie behind her behavior.

The story takes Miss Davis from 1914 to 1940. She lives an existence filled with suitors. Next to men her main interest is her looks, to preserve which she will Sacrifice everything. By the time she reaches the end of the film her struggle against the ravages of age has become pitiful and ridiculous. Her marriage to Skeffington (Rains), a wealthy broker, goes on the rocks as a result of her unwillingness to grow up. Rains goes to Germany where he is thrown into a con- centration camp, later to be re- leased. At the finale Rains, feeble and blind, returns to America to be taken care of by Miss Davis, who, her beauty now completely gone, becomes aware of her duty to her husband and the daughter born of their union.

Vincent Sherman has directed superlatively.

CAST: Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Walter Abel, Richard Waring, George Couleuris, Marjorie Riordan, Robert Shayne, John Alexander, Jerome Cowan, Charles Drake, Dorothy Peterson, Peter Whitney, Bill Kennedy, Tom Stevenson, Halliwell Hobbes, Sylvia Arslan, Bunny Sunshine, Gigi Perreau, Dolores Gray, Walter Kingsford, Molly Lamont.

DIRECTION, Excellent. PHOTOGRA.- PHY, Excellent.

REVIEWS IMFORMATION RATINGS

$2.00 Per Annum

The Merry Monahans

with Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Jack Oakice, Ann Blyth Universal 91 Mins. LATEST O'CONNOR PICTURE DES- TINED FOR GREAT POPULARITY; WEALTH OF MUSIC A FACTOR.

Generously endowed with comedy, sentiment and romance, the latest of the Donald O'Connor

music, starring films should

have no trouble winning the

hearts of young and old. Dealing with show people in the golden days of vaudeville, the film, pro- duced spiritedly and on a reason- ably ample by Michael Fessier and Ernest Pagano, re- vives many of the famous tunes of another day and tells a fami-

scale

liar story in a most entertaining

manner, The great popularity in store for the production will be more than justly deserved.

Vivid, colorful and atmospher-

ically right, the picture relates the fortunes of a _ theatrical family consisting of O'Connor,

Peggy Ryan and Jack Oakie, the last-named playing pop. Two romances are offered for the de- lectation of the fans. One in- volves O'Connor and Ann Blyth;

the other, Oakie and Rosemary De Camp.

O'Connor adds further to his stock. He, Oakie, and the Misses Ryan and Blyth make a swell foursome under the able direc- tion of Charles Lamont.

CAST: Denald O'Conner, Peggy Ryan, Jack Oakie, Ann Blyth, Rosemary De Camp, John Miljan, Gavin Muir, Isabel Jewell, lan Wolfe, Robert Homans, Ma- rion Martin, Licyd Ingraham.

CREDITS: Preducers, Michacl Fessier,

Ernest Pagano; Director, Charles La- mont; Screenplay, Michael Fessier, Er- nest Pagano; Cameraman, Charles Van Enger; Art Directors, John B. Goodman, Martin Obzina; Sound Director. Bernard B. Brown; Set Decorators, Russel A. Gausman, Leigh Smith; Film Editor, Charles Maynard; Special Effects, John P. Fulton; Musical Director, Hana J. Salter; Dance Directors, Louis Da Pron, Carles Remero.

DIRECTION, Geod. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good.

Theatre Wanted

400 seats or over within radius of several hundred miles of Toronto, Will pay cash,

BOX 10

Canadian Film Weekly

Page 8

Biggest Year for Ontario Assocn

(Continued from Page 1)

The association played a major part in ironing out conciliation, sought after for many years and about to become a reality. Its opinions must be respected be- cause it is a representative asso- ciation and not only the war ef- fort but the cause of the indus- try has benefitted by the unity and direction it has provided for Ontario theatre men.

NAT A. TAYOR

Elected president oz the Mo- tion Picture Theatres Associa- tion of Ontario.

The officers and members of the association want a united front for the industry in Canada, believing that there will be many matters in the next few years that will require discussion, di- rection and authoritative opinion from within the industry. Repre- sentation of an official nature will be necessary in advising the government of the rights and needs of the trade, which will suffer if the unco-operative and divided conditions of the past continue. The question of who speaks for whom has always brought arguments and led to having these separate representa- tions discounted by government - officials.

The drive for national unity under the banner of one organ- ization or through a general un- derstanding of different bodies will continue.

The Membership Committee, headed by William Summerville, Jr. and staffed by Harry Alex- ander and Herb Allen, will accen~- tuate its activities. Morris Stein and Sam Fine are on the Budget and Assessment Committee, which Joe Garbarino heads.

Condolences

Mrs. Leah Glazer, mother of Sam Glazer of Columbia, passed away, recently in Toronto. She was 75 years of age.

Canadian FILM WEEKLY’

70n The Square

with Ave Bossin

e THEATRE (2t!41) PASSe PRESS —- CLERC

GRANTED TO

j.- “ADMIT ( 2).

CANADIAN :

PRESS @

DR. EARL A. JAMES, Ph.D., LL.D., M.A., DD

This “pass” was actually presented at the door of the Imperial Theatre, Toronto. The doorman was unimpressed and passed it on to Tom Daley, the manager, who refused to cither honor or return it without investigation. The pass was not presented by the lady whose name and picture it bears but by a man who said he had had no trouble using it until then.

The picture of the girl was cut out of a snap and pasted on and ths Famous Players crest was taken from 2 newspaper ad. On the reverse side it was stated that “‘this pass is acceptable at Toronto theatres and other Famous Players theatres elsewhere in America.”

Whoever created the “pass” as it appeared Jast could be prosecuted but Famous took no action. It would seem that only a stupid person could think of beating the gate with such an obviously phoncy document. But that person wasn’t so dumb, considering that the “‘pass’” was well worn.

a * a

I'll Say So

Izzy Allen of Esquire screened “The Bells,’ story of Fire- fighters versus Blitz, for leading Toronto smoke eaters. But I'll bet he forgot to invite Hugh Burns of Paramount to take a look at what has kept his son Kirby busy these past few years. Kirby has fought fires through both the plane and the robomb blitzes. . . Nathanson Employees have their own bowling league which goes into action every Monday night at 5.50 p.m. at Karry’s Terauley alleys. Each team is named after a popular brand of cigarettes— except Eva Steeper’s team from Associated, which is called “Marijuanas.”

a oe *

Fable?

The world waited breathlessly for the return of Professor Kerricter. He and his rocket machine had started out for the moon days earlier and his safe arrival there had been made known to the world through the super-space broadcaster that had been invented for him by the world’s greatest scientists. He was due back any minute now.

What was the moon like? What was on it? Hundreds of questions that had bothered countless generations of Mankind were about to be answered for the first time.

At last, amid great fanfare, the radio announced that Profes- sor Kerricter had arrived back safely and was about to make Jmown to hundreds of millions of listeners the story of his ad- ventures. He was about to be interviewed.

“Professor Kerricter,’ the announcer asked, first thing you saw as you landed on the moon?”

“IT had observed from the air,” the Professor began, “that the area directly below me was hilly so I searched until I found a strip of flat land large enough to allow a landing, which I accom- plished successfully, It was dawn and still somewhat dark and as I emerged from my rocket machine I noticed what seemed to be a signboard.

“This signboard was the first thing that met my eyes when I Janded on the moon and I approached it. Painted on i it were the following words:

“A THEATRE WILL BE ERECTED ON THIS SITE BY FAMOUS PLAYERS.”

“what was the

November a

Fight Hard for Victory Loan

(Continued from Page 1) pennants, Jimmy Ste Manitoba Provincial

reports. There are 16 the group.

Staff of the Capitol, Ot went over its objective the firs morning of the Loan, according to Ray Tubman, manager. S were 140 per cent of the quota.

Capitol, Niagara Falls, man. aged by Wannie Tyers, won ¢ of the first three pennants — that city by hitting 135 per c of quota.

Capitol, St. Catharines, n ario, won the first penr awarded in that town by noc!

Walter Wilson, manager of t the | Capitol, Edmonton, sold three $1,000 bonds in his theatre. i

Calgary Strong

Pete Egan, chairman of a5 Calgary Motion Picture Indus- try War Finance Committee, presided over a rally of theatre and film folk in which a special — show was put on through the © AS co-operation of the projection-— ists and exchanges. The Strand Theatre was filled for this event and those present heard A. L. Smith, K.C., special speaker, and

Ken Leach, Edmonton Provincial’ chairman.

Egan announced that the

Grand Theatre, Twentieth Cen- — tury-Fox, Empire - Universal, — Regal Films and United A ; had already gone over their quotas.

Special Films sae Several films not generally dis- tributed have been used to in- spire salesmen and the ge although “Tomorrow Je Jones,” special Victory Lama short subject, has received ft maximum playing time. ci “Attack,” a 55-minute film _ from the USA. Office of War In formation, was shown to sales- men at the Capitol, New Tor- onto, which is managed by Mare: tin Bloom,

Strand, Tillsonburg, Ontario, A managed by J. C. Musclow, was the scene of a special show for industrial workers to help the Payroll Savings Committee. z

The committee showed con- siderable enterprise in having a special four-minute film made up by Associated Screen News. This is called * Yi Salutes Her Heroes” and vided special local interest. b 25 drew many fine comments. % 4

Theatre.men will have to go

all out in buying and inspiring others to buy to help the biti Loan reach its objective.

Paramount's ‘I Love a Soldier’ Has Tufts, Goddard, Fitzgerald

Pe Resour. S “I Love a Soldie

Page 10

HE motion picture indus- try, with emphasis on its Canadian division, ean — in the November ue Oo is Times, a magazine printed in Toronto “For ~All Management Men in Canadian Industry, Government and Fin- ance.”

The article is for the most part comprehensive but there are several incorrect conclusions. The subjects dealt with in these cases should have received greater study. A proper analysis in each case would have yielded conclusions more closely related to the facts.

Monetary Times didn’t get the Independent situation right, for instance. According to the writ- er, “Film producers are depen- dent on theatre outlets. The day of the independent theatre man- ager is pretty well past. Even if he owns his own building, he is dependent for his bookings on circuit chains, and the film fare he presents will be limited to cer tain companies, he cannot pick and choose as he pleases.

Independent Situation HARGES and implications of piracy are old stuff in the industry. What is the situation today? Are Independents being driven out of the theatre field and their holdings seized by the chains?

Let’s have a look at the figures provided by the Dominion Bu- reau of Statistics. They show that since 1930 ‘Independents who owned one theatre are fewer in number, of course. In that year Independents con- trolled 659 of Canada’s 918 the- atres—roughly two-thirds. By 1937 individual owners of the- atres controlled 569—more than half—of Canada’s 1,047 movie theatres. The proportion has re- mained about the same since.

The number of persons who owned one theatre has obviously decreased. Imcreaso of chain business operation has been no greater, however, in the motion picture industry than in any other. It might easily have been smaller. The reduction in the number of single-theatre owners does not .mean that Indepen- dents of that category have been driven out of the business by monopolistic interests and their holdings gobbled up.

Many of these owners of sin- gle theatres moved out of that category by adding one or more to their holdings, since they shared the growth of the motion picture in popularity; from 1930 until 1943 Canadian movie the- atres increased by 243. Nor does that figure give the complete picture of growth, for hundreds of theatres added more seats and the newer ones contained more.

It must be remembered that

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

Monetary Times Story Draws Criticism

the person who owns one the- atre is not the only type of In- dependent. Others are also ranked as Independent who, as mentioned earlier, have acquired more theatres.

Quite a number of Indepen- dents of both classes have term operation, pool or partnership deals with the circuits, into which they have entered willing- ly. They have found that they can make more money and at the same time be relieved of worrisome problems by sharing the superior buying and opera- tion methods of a large com- pany.

Some Independents operate several of their own theatres while entering into a circuit deal for the rest. Other Independents with circuit deals still do their own booking, buying and manag- ing.

None were under compulsion to enter into such deals and all are free not to renew them when the date of expiry arrives. But most of them do.

One must try to discover where the Independents went who make up the difference be- tween the 19380 figure and that of 1943 before an implication of unfair business practices is made.

If there was a growth in mon- opolistic methods the Wartime Prices and Trade Board put a stop to it. Today there are many new theatres being planned for Canada after a war. A great percentage of the planners are Independents.

A Few Figures

i fa! 1943 the larger circuits lost ground—circuits which oper- ated 20 or more theatres. In 1943 this type of circuit, of which there are several in Canada, con- trolled 321 theatres — 39 fewer

than in 1942. Theatres controlled by circuits

which operated from four to 19:

theatres jumped from 143 in 1942 to 192 in 1943, a gain of 49 the- atres.

Theatres controlled by circuits which operated two or three the- atres handled 195 theatres in 1943 compared with 195 in 1942 —a decrease of four.

The number of theatres in 1943 which were each owned by an in- dividual was 561—12 more than in 1942.

Those theatres operated sing- ly, when added to the circuits of two and three houses, total 756. The rest, 518, were operated by the two classes of large circuits.

Every group except that of single ownership has many firms

in it which have deals with one or the other. Independent the- atre operators not in the single theatre category group are ac- tive and prosperous in associa- tion with one circuit or another.

There are of course disputes within the trade. Conciliation boards are being established in order to judge them on their merits. The Wartime Prices and Trade Board also rules over the conduct of the business. The picture of the Independent being bludgeoned and plundered chang- es when one realizes that the body hasn’t vanished but that the man can be found under a dif- ferent business roof. This isn’t to say that there are no exam- ples of injustice being main- tained. Mass persecution? No.

About Product

Beas to question also is the

conclusion that the Indepen- dent is “dependent for his book- ings on circuit chains, and the film fare he presents will be limited to certain companies, he cannot pick and choose as he pleases.”

What the reader isn’t told is that the Independent theatre— or any other—cannot use all the films made by the various stu- dios and arrangement are made for enough to serve. Once the product and runs have been divided, they must be protected. No forced changes are permit- ted by the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. Because of the system of film distribution, ac- cepted generally as being fair to all, the Independent operator or the chain booker “cannot pick and choose as he pleases” once arrangements are set nor can the circuits.

The Independent isn’t “‘depen- dent for his bookings on circuit chains” unless he wishes it to be so. He may book his own or pay a booking’ service to do it,

Hollywood and Britain ee part of the article

deals with the position of Canada in relation to Hollywood and Britain:

“Hollywood has a close grip on Canada and will battle any encroachment on its preroga- tives, any threat to its monopol- istic powers. And such a threat is developing from Britain. Many more films are released in Can- ada than in the U.S.A. at pre- sent. ‘There will be more in future, what with increased pro- duction in the Old Country. And Empire preference may operate in behalf of British films. In all likelihood Canada will haye but a, limited influence in deciding

November 8, 1944

what percentage of British and American films will have this power with which to contend.

“And Hollywood has the weapon to wield those powers! Last year the Famous Players Canadian Corporation alone spent more than one million dol- lars in newspaper advertising. It. is small wonder, therefore, if Canadian criticism lacks inde- pendence and vigor and in the main follows meekly along the lines of Hollywood comment.”

This idea of a British-Amer- ican film war with Canada as the battleground is distorted, even though British theatre and film interests may close a deal any day with a Canadian-owned cir- cuit-and-exchange structure.

True, Famous Players owes allogiance to Paramount, an American company. But many of the theatres under its control, as explained earlier, are owned by Canadians, as is much of its stock.

Odeon Theatres, the second: largest circuit in Canada, is part of the Nathanson interests which, until a few years ago, ran Famous Players in Canada. The Odeon circuit is owned in Can- ada but the Nathanson interests continue to distribute the films made by a number of Hollywood studios, as well as British pro- duct. It is also said that the Nathanson interests hold stock in an American theatre chain and possibly one studio.

Therefore both Famous Play- ers and Odeon Theatres are Can- adian-American structures.

Investment of British capital in the Canadian theatre field through one chain or the other means little more than increased competition of the usual nature, rather than a USA-British bat- tle.

Press and Movies

UNE FOR Hollywood using its power to defend its mon- opoly, that too is hard to imag- ine. Hollywood business men do not offer a united front but bat- tle each other in every field. British films will replace Holly- wood films on our screens when their makers are able to meet the tastes of the Canadian pub- lic, as well as establish their stars in public popularity by competing with Hollywood on the publicity front. In the the- atre business there are no sub- stitutes for good pictures and popular stars. The question of British films on Canadian screens can be settled as simply as that. The public has the final choice on what it will spend its money. Nor will Canadian newspapers or screen critics agree that their criticism “lacks independence and vigor and in the main follows meekly along the lines of Holly- wood comment.” The day after the Monetary Times arrived in (Continued on Page 17)

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In 48 State Capitals and Washington, D. C. M-G-M showmanship holds the spotlight. Dramatic FULL- PAGE ads in each city: vast billboard campaigns; American Express Truck posting; spotradio campaigns tied in directly with playdates. A great picture starts

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November &, 1944

Indies President Denies BO Story

(Continued from Page 1) organization and others inter- ested in establishing conciliation, “matters took a sensational turn

When officers and delegates of

the National Council of Inde- pendent Exhibitors of Canada

called in a body on J. R. Croft,

Administrator of Services, to seek government consideration of their grievances as a result of the failure of the October 4th meeting.”

Mason wrote that ‘to state, or suggest, that the October 4th

conference had collapsed; that the conference ended in a verit- able deadlock: or that the Inde-

pendent Exhibitors called in a body on J. R. Croft... as a re- sult of the failure to reach an

agreement upon he general prin-

ciples of conciliation is utterly false, in fact there is not a par- ticle of truth in such a report. To the contrary, the terms and

conditions of the proposed draft of Rules and Regulations govern- ing the Conciliation Board setup were discussed item by item and

agreements reached on _ each

separate item.”

He, with two other Indepen- dent exhibitors, had called on Croft to discuss individual cases of complaint for certain exhi- bitors who had asked for such

representation. This had no bear- ing, he said, on the conciliation discussion and to imply that the WPTB meeting was one of ‘veiled secrecy” simply nonsense.

“The National Council of In- dependent Exhibitors of Can- ada,” stated Mason, “of which I have the honor to represent as its president, has no secrets with distributors, major chain theatre operators or Wartime Prices and Trade Board administrators; nei- ther will we hold any secret meetings with the above named associations or their affiliates.”

The

was

report appeared in film trade pub-

same other American lications and at first led those shared the discussions to believe that Mason and “his group had not kept faith.

MONETARY TIMES

(Continued from Page 10)

the Toronto mail the Globe and Mail let go an editorial blast at a moving picture that treated the German character too softly. Canadian newspapers and their screen critics are not frightened by advertising budgets one bit. Ask any exhibitor.

Just the same the article sents an interesting he motion picture non-Industry reacer

who

pr e- picture of field to the

Killed Overseas

SGT. J. D. SHYKOFF

Sergeant Shykoff was killed on September 24 and is buried in the RAF Regional Cemetery, Norbrook, Surrey, England. He left Regal Films, where he was extremely popular, to go on active service with the RCAF in March, 1943, and received his navigator’s wings at Win- nipeg, arriving overseas in June, 1944. He had been sworn into the RCAF in October, 1942, at the age of seventeen. Sergeant Shykoff had been employed in the Contract De- partment of Regal Films.

Goldstein Joins DOS

Jack Goldstein, formerly pub- licity chief at Twentieth Century- Fox under Hal Horne, last week joined David O. Selznick Pro- ductions as eastern publicity and exploitation director.

Deseronto Now Open A 350-seat theatre was opened in Deseronto, Ontario by Barnes and Davidson and a contest is being run to deter- mine its name. Operating six days weekly, it’s the first house for the town

Canadians at SMPE Annual Meeting

Among the tended the n of the Sa iety of

Engineer S were

| ‘ * L- last week

movie

Canadian who at- ting in New York Motion Picture Charley Dentel- Players; Mike Cuthbert ind Theatre Walker and

Sound

beck, Famous

Reedy, George Tommy Holt Genera! Hy Goldin, Harold

Lioyd Perason, Dominion

three representatives from the National Film Board, Ottawa: and two from United Amuse- ments, Montreal

They heard Raymond Spot-

National Film “Tech- of the Na-

Board of Canada

tiswoode of the Board read a paper < alled nical

tional

Devel pments

Film

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

Famous Troopers Get Xmas Packs

Famous Players head office employees last week completed and mailed 330 Christmas par cels, the largest number sinc: the start of the war, to the com- pany’s employees in the services on battlefronts overseas

Parcels went to Canadian and USA ships at sea, Holland, Bel- guin France India Burma England Newfoundland South

Frances Fowler and Kay Pugh check addresses on the 330 Christmas packages sent overseas by Famous Players to its boys and girls in the armed forces.

Pacifi and ther theatres of wal

Each package < ntau ‘ n ned chicken or tongue dinne! knitted goods mace in cont!

buted by many Famous Players

girls cw pocket books run I butter candy ribbage board playing irds razor blades chewing gu life savers, chox olate bal peanuts ind ha

A personal letter from J. J Fitzgibbons was enclosed

All package vere prepared and packed by head office hun- teers who worked f two nights te completes the b

First Rank Films Ready For USA

First f the Arthur Rank British films to be distribute in tl USA nae! ea th United Artists Mr. I amu S ready for release ir ;

rtionwice ules be hancls by Edwa Sechnit I Office sales execut ner is handling

Rank proqauced

, Releesing &, ~< Re,

leu ."

EXCITEMENT HITS A NEW HIGH IN ENTERTAINMENT IN "WATERFRONT"

NOW AVAILABLE GRIPPING ADVENTURE

Dire Deeds on San Francisco’s Waterfront!

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It's Excitingly

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“Delinquent Daughters"

Producers Releasing Corporation

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Executive Offices

Victoria St

277 Toronto, 2, Ont

Branche MONTREAL VANCOUVER CALGARY ST. JOHN WINNIPEG

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‘Carolina Blues’ Offers Stars, Fun, Music

Full of fresh fun and bright enter-

tainment, Columbia’s “Carolina Blues”

brings Kay Kyser and his famous radio band back before the cameras for a tuneful, star-studded musical.

The story concerns Kyser’s efforts to raise money for the building of a battle cruiser named after his home town. Everything comes out right in the end with the talented aid of Victor Moore who plays no less than six different hilarious comedy characters. Twinkle- toed Ann Miller provides the dancing and heart-interest.

Loaded with enough music and ro- mance to make for well-balanced film fare, the film lists a cast of well-known performers headed by Ann Miller, Victor Moore, Kay Kyser and vocalist Georgia Carroll, who helps put across a few of the six featured tunes,

“ae

(Mize

November 8, 1944

Canada-H wood Deal Suggested

(Continued from Page 1) the same drumbeating for Can-

adian-made pictures and many

investors participated in the launching of a film studio in Trenton; and I believe, with most unprofitable results.

“Having been in Toronto for enough years to know and appre- ciate the Canadian viewpoint on home film product; I must still

point out that there is more to making pictures than whipping up a script, engaging a cast, and rushing out to start shooting against wonderful scenic back- grounds.”

The writer then points out that everything in connection with the making of motion pic- tures is concentrated and cen- tralized in Hollywood and such facilities would be impossible to duplicate here.

“T believe that the best man- ner for Canada to get attention for its national life, the scenic beauties of the Dominion, and other favorable factors,” says the writer, “is to attempt to outline a permanent program aiming to co-operation with the studios and producers.” When travel restric- tions lift, he feels, a number of big productions can be attracted to Canada for extensive locations.

John Grierson made the same argument in the June issue of National Affairs, suggesting that New York or Hollywood might possibly be used as scenes for Canadian production

Ford to Cagney

Bill Cagney has signed Wal- lace Ford for a spot in the Jim Cagney starrer, “Blood on the Sun.”

Montreal Appeals for November Hearing

Two appeals by United Amuse- ment Corporation and one by Vitagraph Limited, all question- ing the validity of an injunction against these companies by Kent Theatres Limited, will be heard during the November term of the Appellate Division of the King’s Court Bench, Montreal Parties to the dispute agreed on that point.

It is contended by United Amusement and Vitagraph that the “restraint of trade” case be- tween them and Kent Theatres instituted by the last and due for trial soon, comes under the juris diction of the Theatre and Film section of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board for the duration of the war, not the superior court,

issued

Canadian FILM WEEKLY Good Lobby Idea

This interesting lobby display is the ingenious work of Harry Plexman, chief projectionist at the Regent, Sudbury, Ontario.

The stage features reguiar-type curtains in miniature, cpening and closing con- tinually. The entire movement is automatic and is motivated by a 40-inch re-

versible screw worm of half-inch diemeter nut embodies a pawl set in ball-bearing.

and a quarter-inch pitch, the travelling The entire assembly is powered by a

one-sixteenth horsepower motor driven directly through V pulleys and a rubber belt. This cuts down the noise to a great extent.

The panel for displaying coming attractions was made like an actual screen by using black marking as a border all around, and by playing a spotlight on it.

United Artists Cartoon Series

Motion pictures acquired a new cartoon technique recently when Artists “The Cross-Eyed Bull,” first in a Tech- “Daffy

Larry

United previewed

nicolor cartoon series Dittys,”’

Morey and John Sutherland.

produced by

Unique in its field, “The Cross- Eyed Bull” features a new pro- cess called “dimensional anima- tion.”” Regular cartoons, with the exception of Paramount’s Pup- filmed from draw- ings on flat surfaces while this short is filmed in three dimen- sions through the use of plastic figures twisted into desired shapes after they are taken from a mold

petoons, are

The model figures perform on miniature sets and as many as one thousand different may be used to carry one char- acter through tion that is so smooth and

ible it approaches animal motion

a4 one-reel anima-

The Morey-Sutherland

has 80 advanced that a second short subject is now nearing completion with a third in p

duction. They expect to turn

one filn i nonth in the nea future to be eleas throug! United Artists

nest

foo BUY VICTORY BONDS fp

Doddridge, Calgary Film Board Head

R. Doddridge, RKO, is chair- man -.of the Calgary Fim Board of Trade, succeeding J. H. Reid of United Artists. William Guss of Regal is vice-president and J Lynch, Monogram, fire marshall

Winnipeg will have to elect a new chairman, since Douglas V Rosen has been transferrred to Toronto by United Artists

McElwaine Heads PRC Publicity

Don McElwaine last joined PRC as head of the pub- hicity and advertising department, after 13 years as Howard Strickling, head of pub licity for MGM. Martin Mooney who has been handling PRC pub- licity, will act as associate pr

week

assistant

ducer on films personally super- vised by president Leon Fron

: Kess

Regent, Brockville Celebrates 5th Anni

The Regent Theatre, Broc} ville, Ontario, is fifth anniversary front and lobby displays boos! ing the 7th Victory Loan Driv:

Harry Wilson estimate

celebrating its

with spe

Manage!

the house has played 1,554 fea tures to 1,265,000 admissions in its five years of operation

Page 19

OF CANADA LTD.

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The private life of Dr. Goebbels

A WAVE A WAC

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with MARJORIE WOODWORTH RAMSAY AMES ELYSE KNOX

WHEN STRANGERS MARRY

(Variety says “‘superb’’!) with AIM HUNTER DEAN JAGGER

. Oh, What a Night!

with JEAN PARKER EDMUND LOWE

These 1944-45 hits are now ready for dating

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