According to its own website, "Canada’s Walk of Fame is the most prestigious recognition of achievement in Canada."
http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com
Okay. Let's take a look at how well Ottawa-born big screen talents are represented:
The first Canadian movie to win Film of the Year from the Canadian Film Awards - eventually renamed the Genie Awards - was the 1948 short The Loon's Necklace (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250512/), produced for the National Film Board by Ottawa's Crawley Films (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawley_Films).
Crawley Films would win it again in 1952 for Newfoundland Scene, and its Ottawa-born helmer F.R. "Budge" Crawley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0187008/) would win a 1986 Genie Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Canadian Film Industry. Beyond Canada, Crawley Films' 1975 feature The Man Who Skied Down Everest (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073340/) won the Oscar® for Best Feature Length Documentary.
http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1291010870444
An Academy Award, two "Film of the Year" Awards, plus additional recognition from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Impressive. No star for Budge or for Crawley Films, though.
Next...
Ottawa-born Suzanne Cloutier (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0167235/) starred as Desdemona in Orson Welles' 1952 big screen adaptation of The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice, and in actor/director/husband Peter Ustinov's comedy Romanoff and Juliet (1961).
An Academy Award, two "Film of the Year" Awards, plus additional recognition from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Impressive. No star for Budge or for Crawley Films, though.
Next...
Ottawa-born Suzanne Cloutier (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0167235/) starred as Desdemona in Orson Welles' 1952 big screen adaptation of The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice, and in actor/director/husband Peter Ustinov's comedy Romanoff and Juliet (1961).
http://www.life.com/image/50510244
She was also featured on the cover of Life magazine (inset cover image found on ebay). Very cool. No star for Suzanne Cloutier, either.
What about Rockliffe Fellowes (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0271503/), featured in the Joan Crawford silent The Taxi Dancer (1927) and The Marx Brothers' Monkey Business (1931)? How about Andrew and George Holland, the Ottawa brothers - mentioned in this blog before - who opened North America's first movie house in New York City? Perhaps Lucie Mitchell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593549/)? Born in Ottawa, she starred in what some consider to be one of the important early films made in Québec: Little Aurore's Tragedy (1952).
She was also featured on the cover of Life magazine (inset cover image found on ebay). Very cool. No star for Suzanne Cloutier, either.
What about Rockliffe Fellowes (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0271503/), featured in the Joan Crawford silent The Taxi Dancer (1927) and The Marx Brothers' Monkey Business (1931)? How about Andrew and George Holland, the Ottawa brothers - mentioned in this blog before - who opened North America's first movie house in New York City? Perhaps Lucie Mitchell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593549/)? Born in Ottawa, she starred in what some consider to be one of the important early films made in Québec: Little Aurore's Tragedy (1952).
Nope. No star on Canada's Walk of Fame for Rockliffe. Or for the Holland Brothers. Or for Lucie.
So, has anyone from Ottawa been awarded a star on the shiny sidewalks around Roy Thomson Hall after-all?
So, has anyone from Ottawa been awarded a star on the shiny sidewalks around Roy Thomson Hall after-all?
Yes.
Any movie stars?
Yes. And, maybe.
Famed impressionist and TV/movie actor Rich Little (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0514648/) was one of the first Canadian-born celebrities to be awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, back when it began in 1998. Dan Aykroyd (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/) was awarded a star in 2002. Alanis Morissette (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001551/) has done some film work but her 2005 star was awarded for her music. Same goes for longtime Las Vegas headliner and sporadic big screen personality Paul Anka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001912/), inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame that same year.
A few books by 2001 CWF inductee and renowned Ottawa-born author Margaret Atwood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041194/) have been adapted for film. Daniel Lanois (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0487011/) was born in Gatineau (formerly Hull), has produced several movie soundtracks and was awarded his CWF star in 2005.
Famed impressionist and TV/movie actor Rich Little (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0514648/) was one of the first Canadian-born celebrities to be awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, back when it began in 1998. Dan Aykroyd (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/) was awarded a star in 2002. Alanis Morissette (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001551/) has done some film work but her 2005 star was awarded for her music. Same goes for longtime Las Vegas headliner and sporadic big screen personality Paul Anka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001912/), inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame that same year.
A few books by 2001 CWF inductee and renowned Ottawa-born author Margaret Atwood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041194/) have been adapted for film. Daniel Lanois (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0487011/) was born in Gatineau (formerly Hull), has produced several movie soundtracks and was awarded his CWF star in 2005.
Nice.
There's now some indication that Lorne Greene (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001296/) was posthumously nominated this year for induction, for his legacy in Canadian broadcasting. Greene actually worked for Crawley Films way back when, incidentally.
Another interesting tidbit is, if awarded a Toronto star, Greene will become only the third Ottawan - after Little and Anka - celebrated by both Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CAPITAL REEL ROUND-UP:
Old Ottawa South Community Association: Christmas screenings at the Mayfair Theatre - Dec. 12, 1 and 7 pm
Join OSCA in a celebration of the holiday season with your friends and neighbours on Sunday, December 12th for two great Christmas movies.
http://www.oldottawasouth.ca/index.php/oos-news/1199-christmas-movies-at-the-mayfair
Rainbow Cinemas Ottawa: Free screening - Dec. 11 & 18, 11 am
http://www.rainbowcinemas.ca/A/?theatre=Ottawa
Ottawa Folklore Centre: Ukulele Day at the Mayfair Theatre - Dec. 5, 1 pm
http://www.ottawafolklore.com/2010/11/dec-5th-is-ukulele-day/
Breathless Ottawa: BDSM Movie Screening - Dec. 2, 7 pm
Breathless is a community centre and private club that caters to alternative lifestyles such as BDSM, swinging, GLBTQ, goth, pagan, and many more.
http://www.breathlessottawa.com/events.html
Thanks for checking in.
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