Boxoffice-September.23.1950

Seven Topics Listed All Aboard Royal Scott at Calgary
For Amherst Rally
AMHERST, N. S.—Seven topics for open
discussion have been listed for the convention
of the Maritime Motion Picture Exhibitors'
Ass'n here September 27. They are:
(1) Probability of new controls and taxes
being placed on the motion picture industry.
C2) Possibility of frozen admission prices.
(3) Effect of television on the motion picture
industry and its probable time of appearance
in the maritime provinces. (4) Type of product
now being presented to the exhibitors and
the possibility of improvement. (5) The exhibitors'
attitude to the request for information
from the committee recently appointed
to investigate and recommend
changes to the present federal combines act.
under the chairmanship of Judge J. H. Mac-
Quarrie of New Glasgow, N. S. (6i Tlie revised
schedule of fees and dues of the association
and its activities in the all-industry
council. (7) How will the present Korean
war, or a further development of aggression
in other parts of the world, effect the theatre
business in the maritime provinces?
The open discussion is scheduled for a private
session. There will be an open meeting
also for general and specific discussions by
members and special guests, including distributors,
fire marshals, censor board chairmen.
J. J. Pitzgibbons, president of Famous Players,
will speak on "The Future Welfare of
Exhibitors."
Two-Alarm Fire Destroys
Montreal Roxy Theatre
MONTREAL—A roaring two-alarm fire,
third serious outbreak in the Montreal area
within eight days, forced more than 100 patrons
to flee and caused heavy damage when
it swept the Roxy Theatre in a four-story
building on St. Lawrence boulevard north of
Dorchester street.
Only after a stubborn two-hour battle were
firemen from 15 stations able to bring the
fire under control, preventing the flames
from spreading to the rest of the business
block, which borders the city's Chinatown
district. Three firemen were injured when a
strong updraft blew them off ladders propped
against the front of the blazing building
which housed a combination film and vaudeville
house. The theatre recently reopened
following a shutdown by police.
The first alarm was turned in by Jeanne
Sylvain, an employe of Cardie's theatrical
sign display company on the third floor of
the building. The theatre's stage show does
not begin until 3 p. m., but film shows start
at 10 a. m.
The Roxy is flanked by a clothing store,
a hat shop and candy store, all of which
suffered smoke and water damage. Shortly
after the outbreak, four dancers from the
Roxy's vaudeville show went into the building
and rescued their costumes despite warnings.
H. Beaudry, owner of the building, reported
that the offices above the theatre
were vacant when the flames broke out. Occupants
were out to lunch. He said the theatre
was "a complete loss." Theatre owner
Paul Cardinal, vacationing in the U.S., was
not available to give an estimate of damage
to the theatre.
David Buttolph Is composing the music for
Warners' "The Enforcer."
CALGARY — Twelve iiunarea persons
watched Jacqueline Taylor. 10-year-old
girl from the Junior Red Cross Hospital
for Crippled Children, christen the Royal
Scott at the Chinook Drive-In recently.
The above picture shows Jacqueline breaking
a bottle of pop on the steam-operated
engine, beside which stands A. R. "Reg"
Fairfield, retired Canadian Pacific railroad
engineer who will handle the controls
of the 36-car miniature passenger train.
Merv Dutton, president of Western
Drive-In Theatres, owner of the Chinook,
and F. H. Kershaw, managing director, had
Mayor Don Mackay officiate at the opening
of the drive-in's new Playland and
christening of the train.
The train is a replica of the famous
Royal Scott in Great Britain. It can make
the half-mile run on one stoking at an
average of 15 mph.
The Chinook also boasts in-car heaters,
moonlight lighting and a Tidy Diddy Bar
situated in the woman's lounge and
equipped with baby powder, oil, safety pins,
etc. Business has been excellent.
Scarlet Pen' Started in Quebec
MONTREAL—Work has begun on production
of "The Scarlet Pen" by 20th-Pox in
an arrangement with Quebec Productions.
The film, an adaptation of the famous novel
by H. G. Glouzot, "Le Corbeau," will be
filmed in the St. Denis, St. Hilaire and St.
Hyacinthe districts. Rene Germain and Paul
L'Anglais of Quebec Productions, whose studios
will be used by 20th-Fox, invited newspapermen
to meet Otto Pi-eminger, film director.
They declared that the company's
own technicians will benefit greatly from
the experience of working with the American
crews. The cast of the new film comprises
many well-known names, including Francoise
Rosay, Charles Boyer, Michael Rennie, Constance
Smith, Linda Darnell, Judith Evelyn
and a number of local actors such as
Blanche Gauthier. Yvette Brind d'Amour,
Juiliette Huot, Eleanor Stuart, Shelia Coonon,
Jacques Auger, Paul Guevremont, Ovila
Legare, Leo Gagnon and Camille Ducharme.
The main scenes of the films will be shot
In locations around St. Hyacinthe and St.
Denis, while the rest of the film will be finished
at Hollywood. Among Preminger's
films best known in Canada are "Margin for
Error, " "Laura," "Forever Amber" and "Daisy
Kenyon."
Speaking of censorship for the "Forever
Amber" production, Preminger said he had
no complaints about censorship, especially
in the United States where children are admitted
in motion picture theatres. Comparing
United States films quality with British
and European productions, Preminger
said that of course U.S. films shown in Canada
comprise the best and the worst, while
those made in British and Europe are especially
chosen for export.
TV Set Prices Increase
MONTREAL—The prices of television sets
in Canada are going up. The increase of from
10 to 15 per cent in excise tax by Finance
Minister Douglas Abbott will affect television
sets as well as radios and phonographs.
BOXOFFICE September 23, 1950 101