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NFB Commissioner<br />
MONTREAL—W. Arthur Irw.ii,<br />
newspaper<br />
and magazine editor, will be the new commissioner<br />
of the National Film Board. The<br />
51-year-old editor of MacLean's magazine<br />
will replace Ross McLean, 44. whose threeyear<br />
contract expires January 9.<br />
Reconstruction Minister Winters confirmed<br />
reports that McLean's contract as board commissioner<br />
was not being renewed. He declined<br />
to disclose the name of the new commissioner,<br />
but Irwin said in Toronto that he<br />
had been offered the job by Winters and<br />
that he had accepted.<br />
McLean confirmed his retirement but said<br />
he had no statement to make immediately.<br />
It was expected that an official government<br />
announcement would be issued after Winters<br />
had an opportmiity to discuss Irwin's appointment<br />
with other members of the cabinet.<br />
Winters said that as NTB chaimian he had<br />
decided there "should be a fresh approach"<br />
to the work being done by the board. As a<br />
result, a new commissioner would be appointed.<br />
He praised McLean for his service to the<br />
board in the 11 years he has been associated<br />
with it, the last four as commissioner.<br />
He emphasized that McLean was not being<br />
let out due to recent criticism in commons<br />
over film board employes being screened<br />
for loyalty. The board has been under criticism<br />
for almost a month, most of it directed<br />
at the screening of board employes.<br />
It was reported that Irwin will receive a free<br />
hand in NFB matters on the understanding<br />
he will clear up the situation in such a way<br />
that it will regain public confidence. Reports<br />
said he will receive a salary of $15,000 annually.<br />
McLean's salary has been $8,000 a year.<br />
Irwin joined McLean's editorial staff in 1925<br />
and eight years ago became its managing editor,<br />
graduating to editor about four years ago.<br />
Zero Chill in Edmonton<br />
Forces Drive-In to Close<br />
EDMONTON, ALTA.—In the face of zero<br />
readings on the thermometer, the Starlite<br />
Drive-In here has closed for the winter.<br />
Opened early this year, the airer just<br />
west of the city has been drawing big crowds<br />
nightly. Norman McDonald, manager, announced<br />
a few weeks ago he would be closing<br />
down "any time," but a prolonged spell<br />
of warm weather allowed operation into early<br />
December.<br />
Originally it was planned to have electric<br />
heaters available for patrons' cars, but a<br />
switch in exchange regulations barred their<br />
import from the U.S. Substitutes wUl be<br />
made in Canada but they will not be ready<br />
until spring.<br />
Joe Lieberman Elected<br />
ST. JOHN—At the annual meeting of the<br />
Shaarei Zedek synagogue here, Joshua "Joe"<br />
Lieberman was renamed to the presidency.<br />
He is a partner in B&L Theatres and a former<br />
Columbia exchange manager. Named to<br />
the directorate was Sam Babb, manager of<br />
the Mayfair Theatre. Other theatremen who<br />
are active members of the congregation include<br />
Abe Garson, maritime manager for<br />
Odeon; Mitchell Bernstein, partner in B&L<br />
Theatres, and Joe Franklin, head of Franklin<br />
& Herschorn.<br />
Alberta Blue Law Hinders<br />
New Year's Eve Shows<br />
EDMONTON— Alberta's Sunday blue law<br />
bounced hard on theatre operators here.<br />
Two weeks ago Attorney General Lucien<br />
Maynard, top provincial law official, and the<br />
provincial secretary, whose government department<br />
looks after theatre legislation, aniiounced<br />
that this year theatres would be<br />
allowed to run New Year's eve after-midnight<br />
previews, regardless of the fact that the shows<br />
would be held in the wee small hours Sunday.<br />
A number of operators began planning their<br />
programs, ordered special ticket and program<br />
printings, lined up an advertising campaign<br />
and so on.<br />
Then the government order allowing the<br />
early Sunday showings was rescinded. No<br />
reason for the sudden about-face was given.<br />
But an Edmonton newspaper blamed the<br />
move on pressiu-e by Calgary clergymen.<br />
Police officials in Calgary had revealed<br />
tiiat they planned to enforce regulations requiring<br />
all theatres, dance halls and public<br />
places of entertainment there to close at 12<br />
o'clock Saturday night. Theatre managers<br />
in that city were reported much relieved by<br />
the rescinding order and postponed their<br />
hoUday frolics to Sunday midnight.<br />
It is understood ministers in the southern<br />
center were outspoken in criticism of the<br />
move to ease the Sunday restriction. Churchmen<br />
in Edmonton didn't protest publicly, although<br />
some felt the relaxation order was<br />
the "thin edge of the wedge." But the capital<br />
city clergy loudly praised the rescinding<br />
order.<br />
Said the Rev. A. M. Ti-endell, Anglican<br />
church dean of Edmonton; "In view of the<br />
fact that the Lord's day act is constantly<br />
under pressure to loosen up restrictions placed<br />
on the observance of Sunday, I view with appreciation<br />
the action of the attorney general<br />
in prohibiting the use of theatres into Sunday,<br />
in spite of the fact that New Year's coincides<br />
with the Lord's day."<br />
Theatre managers, however, had other<br />
views. "Shocking, amazing," were the terms<br />
they used to describe the about-face order.<br />
Walter P. Wilson of the FPC Capitol said he<br />
personally had received permission to open<br />
for a Sunday morning preview. This oral<br />
permission had been followed up by a letter<br />
of confirmation. Only stipulation had been<br />
Electric Commission<br />
Turns Santa Claus<br />
Toronto—After a variety of threats<br />
about what the Ontario hydroelectric<br />
commission would do if the consumers<br />
failed to show more economy of electricity<br />
in the power shortage throughout Ontario,<br />
Chairman Robert H. Saunders decided<br />
to be a Santa Glaus. He announced<br />
that from December 15 to 24 the commission<br />
would ease the restrictions to permit<br />
the lighting of advertising displays and<br />
store ^vindows from 7 o'clock to midnight<br />
each evening. Such use of power prior to<br />
7 p. m. would continue to be banned, however,<br />
because of the peak load during the<br />
late afternoon.<br />
that all tickets be sold before midnight December<br />
31.<br />
Wilson said Edmonton police officials were<br />
in favor of the midnight preview plan. It<br />
helped materially by cutting down crowds on<br />
the streets as the New Year rolled in.<br />
"We've had these midnight shows on Sundays<br />
before," Wilson recalled.<br />
Capitol prices for the midnight show for<br />
some years have been $1.25 general admission<br />
and $1.50 loges. The house alw-ays was<br />
sold out three or four days before New Year's<br />
eve. Door prizes were a feature, with top<br />
award generally being a $250 Chesterfield<br />
suite.<br />
One theatre manager blamed the whole<br />
upset on the press. Said he; "The press can<br />
be blamed ... If the newspapers and radio<br />
stations had kept quiet about the whole thing<br />
we would have been able to go ahead with our<br />
New Year's shows."<br />
Some houses may run previews after midnight<br />
January 1. Under Canadian law, when<br />
a holiday such as Christmas and the New<br />
Year fall on a Sunday, the Monday automatically<br />
is a holiday. Early morning Boxing<br />
day, December 26, previews are planned by a<br />
nimiber of exhibitors.<br />
Bl-itish Columbia May Celebrate<br />
After Sundo'y Midnight<br />
VICTORIA, B. C—Deputy Attorney General<br />
Eric Pepler said here this week that if<br />
night clubs, theatres or other places of<br />
amusement stay open after midnight New<br />
Year's eve, they'll be breaking the law. But,<br />
he had no comment on what the department<br />
might do about it.<br />
"The Lord's day act says it is illegal to<br />
carry on entertainment on Sunday if a fee<br />
is charged directly or indirectly," Pepler said.<br />
He added that even if theatres and clubs do<br />
not sell tickets on Sunday, their operation<br />
would be illegal because it would be an<br />
"indirect Sunday charge."<br />
Chief Constable Mulligan is preparing a<br />
statement on what city police will do to enforce<br />
the Sunday closing law.<br />
Meanwhile, J. H. Boothe of Odeon Theatres<br />
said, "if the attorney-general's department<br />
doesn't want us to open, we won't open.<br />
"We'll have midnight shows on Simday.<br />
with proceedings starting at one minute past<br />
12 on Monday morning. That means w;e'll<br />
celebrate New Year's one day late. We had<br />
intended to stay open downtown on New<br />
Year's eve, but we don't intend to defy the<br />
law."<br />
New Ponoka, Alta., Theatre<br />
Will Open December 26<br />
PONOKA, ALTA.—The newly designed and<br />
equipped theatre here opens December 26.<br />
The 500-seat house forms a new landmark in<br />
this central farming community and will offer<br />
motion picture programs six days weekly.<br />
The house was built by H. Labrie, operator<br />
who also owns the Empress Theatre here. The<br />
older 380-seater wiU handle weekend crowds,<br />
opening only on Saturday.<br />
BOXOFTICE December 24, 1949 99
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