Boxoffice-June.1995

EXHIBITION BRIEFINGS
HURLEY
popped in canola oil because it
"tastes better" and has a "more
buttery flavor." Sixty-one percent
of respondents said they are concerned
about eating healthy popcorn
at the movies, and 90
percent said popcorn is "very important"
to the overall moviegoing
experience. Sunflower oil
contains less cholesterol-raising
fatty acids than its alternatives,
coconut and partially hydrogenated
canola oils, though canola
oil contains slightly less saturated
fat (nine percent as compared
with sunflower oil's 10 percent).
Coconut oil is by far the worst,
with 92 percent saturated fat and
92 percent fatty acids.
COLUMBIA, MOVIEFONE
TEAM IN PROMOTION
Columbia Pictures and Columbia
Records Group have joined
with MovieFone to promote the
movie "Bad Boys" and its
soundtrack. Moviefone is the
nation's largest interactive telephone
movie guide. It provides
more than a million moviegoers
each week in 23
major cities with a
free directory of
movie showtimes
and theatre locations;
explanations
of movie ratings; and
the ability to purchase
movie tickets
in advance. In this
cross-promotion,
MovieFone callers
will hear a 20 second
advertising spot for
the movie "Bad
Boys," followed by a
prompt encouraging
them to "press nine"
to listen to selected
cuts from the
movie's soundtrack.
Callers who purchase
tickets for the
movie or enter their
telephone number into the interactive
system are automatically
entered into a sweepstakes for
free Sony CDs. The collaboration
marks a first for MovieFone.
"We're pleased that our studio
partners are realizing the wide
variety of marketing opportunities
that MovieFone provides
through its advanced technology
and targeted audience of avid
moviegoers," said Russ Leatherman,
president of MovieFone.
I.e., look for similar promotions
in the future.
ON A "WING"
AND A PRAYER
Thomas Church, star of
television's "Wings," emceed a
celebrity auction in Fillmore,
Calif., to raise money to restore
the city's historic Towne Theatre,
built in 1916. The theatre was
badly damaged during last year's
Northridge earthquake. Movie
props, artwork, autographed
scripts and clothing worn by film
cast members were auctioned.
OBITUARY
Raymond Syufy, owner of the
Century Theatre chain, died at
age 76 on Friday, March 31 of
complications from lymphoma.
Syufy, who grew up in
Berkeley,
Calif, opened his first theatre at
the age of 23 in Vallejo, Calif.
Century, which is still familyowned,
is among the 20 largest
chains in the United States, operating
425 screens. Syufy, who
lived in Sausalito, Calif., is survived
by his wife, Marcia, seven
children and seven grandchildren.
Raymond Syufy
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