Abstract: A film dispenser having a housing with side and bottom walls, a film roll receptacle and a ledge located forwardly of the receptacle. A heating wire is mounted transverse to the direction of movement of film from the film roll when mounted in the film roll receptacle. A power supply is coupled to the output lines in series with said heating wire. A switch is mounted on the housing in series with the power supply and the heating wire and is operative upon closing to permit the passage of electrical current through the wire. An elongated channel piece is pivotally mounted such that the pivot point is movable to a limited extent and, in response to pulling up film from the film roll, the movement of the channel piece causes the switch to close and at the same time pinches the film against the housing. Upon being released, the channel piece causes the opening of the switch and removes substantially all of the pinching effect.