Modern

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TORONTO
TUTrs. James R. Nairn, wife of the advertising
manager of Famous Players Canadian,
spoke at the women's Press day luncheon
of the Canadian National exhibition. She
is national secretary of the Canadian Women's
Mrs. Robert Doyle has
Press club . . . resigned as manager of the Hollywood, top
Toronto unit of Allen's Premier Theatres
The motion picture department of the
Toronto Daily Star, edited by Jack Karr, was
missing for several days while he covered the
annual meeting of the Canadian Bar Ass'n in
Montreal.
Attending the opening of the Odeon here
September 9 were Manager Tom Pacey of the
Winnipeg Odeon and Carmen Gentile of the
Odeon, North Vancouver, both of whom won
trips to Toronto in the Canadian Odeon
showmanship contest last season . . . Former
manager of Toronto units for 20th Century
Theatres, Nat Bresver, proprietor of the Oak
at Brandon, Man., was a visitor on Filmrow
. . . R. C. D. Main, president of the Motion
Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario, has purchased
the Roxy at Grimsby from Sam Fingold
of National Theatre Services. This is
Mairis' third rural theatre.
More Than 200 Compete
In Film Golf Tourney
TORONTO—Dark horses ruled the links at
the Rouge Hills Golf and Country cuub in
the fifth annual motion picture championship
golf tournament. More than 200 enthusiasts
crowded the course.
Seeded golfing stars of the industry took
a rear seat as comparative newcomers walked
off with the principal trophies and, for some
reason there was restraint in the matter of
proclaiming the scores generally.
The new champion is Fred Gross, a projectionist
at the neighborhood Vogue in the
east end here, who shot a 73 to capture the
Famous Players trophy held by Dave Rom-
Manager Harry Rosenberg: of the Centre, berg of the Toronto Metro for the past year.
St. Catharines, was credited with preventing Tied for second place with one point higher
a panic among 500 children at a matinee were H. Wren, usher at the Bonita, another
when smoke was noticed in the theatre. He local neighborhood theatre, and J. Jacobs of
told the children it was a fire drill and the B&F Theatres, Ltd.
house was cleared quickly. Firemen could Al Bollington, the new English organist at
find no trace of flames and the kids, plus a the Odeon, Toronto, won the Canadian Film
number of extras, filed back into the Centre Weekly trophy for low net in a draw after
for a resumption of the show . . . Bill Stewart,
former local theatre manager, is booking
being tied with five other shotmakers. Tlie
vaudeville acts for old home weeks and fall
fairs around Ontario.
runnerup was A. E. Cauley, manager of the
Capitol at Peterborough.
For the third straight' year a Famous Players
foursome won the N. L. Nathanson trophy
for team play. The 1948 winning team was
captained by Jack Arthur, district manager,
and the members were George Georgas of
Owen Sound, Larry Bearg, western division
Paul Henreid is scheduled to star in a
screen version of "Jack Hammer Song" for
Canadian Screen Productions. The actor also
will be co-producer Simpson of
.
the Century, Hamilton, has been appointed manager, and Harold Wilson. In the runnerup
spot was the Premier Theatres four, com-
manager of the Downtown, shortly to be
opened by 20th Century Theatres in Toronto. prising Martin Bloom, Raymond Allen, Gurston
Allen and David Axler.
Mel Jolley of the Marks, Oshawa, goes to the
Hamilton Century and Bill WOliams of Sudbury
will go to Oshawa. Twentieth Century nual trophy offered by Toronto lATSE Local
In the B flight for low gross for the an-
Theatres, headed by Nat Taylor, also has 173, another draw was necessary because three
taken over the Rex in suburban Mimico. had tied for first place. F. H. Booth of Odeon
Vancouver Rentals Levy
Reduced to 9 Per Cent
VANCOUVER—The proposed 11 per cent
city tax on rentals, strongly opposed by business
interests here, has been reduced to 9
The reduction will mean a big sav-
per cent.
ing to the Odeon and Famous Players Canadian
circuits, which operate 32 theatres
here.
Hospital Tieup for Film
TORONTO—A special tieup was effected
with the Ontario Hospital Ass'n for the
showing of "The Case of Mrs. Conrad," a
March of Time release, at the Tivoli and
Eglinton, two local first run units of Famous
Players Canadian Corp. The fUm was publicly
endorsed by Dr. F. W. Routley, secretary
of the association, and J. H. W. Bower, chairman
of the board of the Blue Cross plan
for hospital care. Large cooperative newspaper
advertisements were used by Famous
Players.
called the toss for the cup against Harry
Lester and T. White. In the C flight the
winner was A. E. Robinette of Odeon, with
Sam Fine of Bloom & Fine a close second.
There were more than 70 golfing and luckynumber
prizes which were presented at the
big dinner by A. J. Laurie. T. S. Daley, manager
of the Imperial, was tournament manager
and he was highly praised for the success
of the outing.
Big Austrlaian Circulation
For Canadian-Made Films
MONTREAL—Besides extensive theatrical
circulation of Canadian motion pictures in
Australia, nearly a million and a quarter
Australians saw Canadian film during the
past fiscal year outside the theatres, according
to a National Film board report from that
country. In addition, there was a wide distribution
of displays, photomurals, photographs,
oil screens and similar visual media
on Canadian subjects.
The million and a quarter figure, representing
an increase of nearly 81 per cent over the
previous year, included more than 90 shows
in an NFB theatre at the Sydney Royal
Easter exhibition and Canadian film featured
at the Adelaide exhibition and similar events.
Capac Wins $102 Verdict
VANCOUVER — The Canadian Ass'n of
Publishers, Authors and Composers has won
a judgement for $102 against Sam Karby of
the Strand Theatre. Meadow Lake. Sask.
Capac sued Karby for copyright infringement
when he ignored letters from Capac warning
him to take out a license.
ST.
JOHN
fJumphrey Swingler, producer-director, left
for London after having completed filming
of "The Island Story." Shooting of the
film required three weeks longer than the
time estimated at the start. Three of the
technical crew, Paddy Carey. Peter Plaskitt
and George Still, remained to make a short
on local fisheries.
Double bills are being featured at the Regent.
Summerside, P. E. I., with matiness
Fridays and Saturdays, while single biUs are
being run at the Capitol there . . .
Hugh Parker.
Ottawa Stage Society producer, proposed
a revival of the legitimate theatre in Nova
Scotia next summer with outdoor houses for
Halifax and other cities in the province.
Henry Deveau who recently reopened the
Garrick Halifax for Odeon was vacationing at
St. Margaret's Bay "The Fourteenth Olympiad."
in Technicolor, has been booked for
the Casino, Halifax, andi will open about
September 15. It will be the maritime premiere
of the production . . . Although the
Paramount here may be opened about September
15, the Paramount in Halifax may not
be opened until November or December.
WUliam EUiott of Halifax has organized an
all-girl orchestra and will play at theatres
and dance halls in Nova Scotia. Besides playing
dance music, the leader and six girls wUl
present floor shows Cameo at Kensington.
P. E. I., now is changing its bills
.
three times weekly Katherine Bourque
was the winner of $240 in Foto-Nite at
.
the Capitol. Yarmouth, a record to date . . .
Manager Syd Wyman of the Community at
Yarmouth, used a novel ballyhoo for a double
bill showing on "Congorilla" and "Borneo."
A local youth in gorilla costume and makeup
was paraded through the city in a cage.
Paul Muni, film star, was vactioning at
Grand Bay, N. B. He was recognized by Mrs.
Phyllis Mclnnis, who succeeded in getting
his autograph . . . Father Murray of Codroy
Pond, Newfoundland, has been showing sound
films after regular Sunday services . . .
Doug
Borden, driving a soapbox automobile bearing
the name of the Dundas Theatre, Dartmouth,
won third place in a recent competition.
Ivan Haley, manager, and Avard Whitman,
assistant, handled the promotion.
FORT WILLIAM
'Business generally has been good because of
a greater number of tourists in the lakehead
region .
new Odeon Theatre here
probably will be opened about September 15.
according to Don Gauld. district supervisor,
while a date for the opening of the new house
at Port Arthur has not yet been announced.
A new marquee has been installed at the
Royal, operated by Famous Players, and a
new candy bar and boxoffice are nearing
G. Seabrook was temporary
completion . . .
. . .
assistant manager at the Capitol while
Bea
F.
Tickell, manager, was vacationing
Hucker of the Capitol staff was vacationing.
Acquires Rights to 'Uncle Wiggily'
Producer Samuel Goldwyn has acquired
the screen rights to "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut"
for RKO release.
102
BOXOFFICE
:: September 11, 1948