Boxoffice-September.1997

1W Rnvnnnrxr
—
EXHIBITION
BRIEFINGS
A STAR IS BORN IN SOUTHFIELD
Star Theatres has opened the 20-screen, all
stadium seating, all-THX approved Star
SouthfieidEntertainmentCentreinSouthfield,
Mich., and it's already setting records. On its
opening weekend, June 20-22, the Star
Southfield had the highest attendance in the
country, with nearly 45,000 patrons coming
through the theatre's doors. It was the second
highest grossing theatre for the opening weekend
of "Batman & Robin," and the highest
grossing theatre for the July 4 opening weekend
of"Men In Black," with 55,000 attendees.
The Star Southfield's two largest auditoriums
have 700 seats each; total seating capacity
is 6,000. The 1 85,000-square-foot
complex has three themed areas: the "Historic
Detroit Lobby," "Hollywood Boulevard" and
"Hollywood Soundstage." The centerpiece of
the central concession stand is a 20-foot-tall
bucket of popcorn with basketball-sized popcorn
kernels that actually pop into the air. The
theatre's unique design even features sky ceilings
with cloud machines.
Star Theatres, based in Grand Rapids,
Mich., is run by Loews co-chairs Jim and
Barrie Loeks, and is a partnership between
Loeks Michigan Theatres and Sony Retail Entertainment.
It operates 82 screens in eight
locations throughout Michigan.
SIGNATURE STYLE
Signature Theatres has opened its flagship
Hawaiian movie theatre, the Signature Pearl
Highlands 1 2. The 1 2-screen, 2,500-seat theatre
offers all three digital sound systems
DTS, Dolby Digital and SDDS—as well as
stadium-style seating and plush high-back
chairs with cupholders. Founded in 1996,
Signature already owns and operates more than
1 00 screens in Northern California and Hawaii.
CROWN'S SCREEN COUNT
REACHES NEW APEX
Connecticut-based Crown Theatres is purchasing
Apex Cinemas, a 24-screen circuit
based in Annapolis, Md. This will bring the
total number of screens Crown owns and
operates to 67. A new 1 6-screen megaplex in
Annapolis, a 14-plex in Brooklyn, N.Y., and
a six-screen expansion of the Crown Marquis
10 in Trumbull, Conn., are also in the works.
The circuit also has sites in development in
Queens, N.Y.; Elizabeth, N.J.; Cherry Hill,
N.J.; Exton, Penn.; and Miami, Fla.
CHRISTIE ACQUIRES WESTREX
Christie Inc., a manufacturer and distributor
of motion picture theatre projection equipment,
has purchased the Wesfrex Electronic
Film Projector product line. Westrex manufactures
35mm and 70mm projectors for special
venue applications, including large
format theatres, motion simulator rides, and
3-D and multiple projector theatres. This
SHOWMANDISER PROMOTION OF THE MONTH
Mich., created a hilarious
Bill McDanlel, promotions
manager for the Star Gratiot
Theatre in Clinton Township,
mock-tabloid
to promote his theatre's screenings
of the sci-fi blockbuster "Men In
Black." The cover features a headline
proclaiming an alien invasion,
illustrated with a photo of a spaceship
flying over the Star Gratiot. Spoofs of
alien abduction stories and other
sensationalistically humorous articles
ran in the four-page tlyer, including the
Pop and Popcorn diet "guaranteed to
work wonders!" (with a typical tabloid-type
disclaimer noting that the
claim is, of course, "NOT A GUAR-
ANTEE"). A coupon for a free soda
during "MIB's" opening weekend was
also included. The publication was
distributed for free at the theatre's
boxoffice and area businesses for two
weeks prior to the film's release.
move is part of Christie's strategy to expand
into the special venue market. "We are extremely
happy about the acquisition as special
venues are an expanding market that we
have been interested in pursuing for some
time," says Christie's executive VP and COO
Jack Kline. "Westrex is a known leader in the
industry...The marriage ofthe two companies
will allow us to work as a cohesive unit to
extend our leadership position." Westrex's
manufacturing operations have moved from
Simi Valley, Calif., to Christie's headquarters
in Cypress, Calif.
DOLBY RECEIVES BAFTA AWARD
On the heels of announcing the sale of
more than 2,500 digital processors over the
first six months of 1997, Dolby Laboratories
was recently selected by the British Academy
of Film and Television Arts to receive a Special
Technical Award to mark the company's
"outstanding technical achievements in film
and sound." Dr. Ray Dolby, founder and
chairman of Dolby Laboratories, accepted the
award at a ceremony in London on July 9.
EXPANDING UPON HERITAGE
Cecil L. George, president of Altus, Okla.-
based Heritage Park Theatres, announced
plans to add three screens to their existing
five-plex in Altus, Okla. Heritage Park will
also add two screens to its four-plex in Elk
City, Okla., and in early 1998, the company
will build a six-plex in Pampa, Texas.
WB INTL. PACTS WITH PEPSI
Warner Bros. International Theatres and
Pepsico Inc. have entered into a multi-year
deal under which Pepsi products will be
served exclusively in all Warner Bros. International
cinemas. That entails 358 screens in
43 theatres in six countries: the United Kingdom,
Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy and
japan. Promotional tie-ins and lobby merchandising
campaigns are also in the works
to cross-promote both companies.
The Widij's Bcsl Hun Ncvksp.ijvT'
Aliens Invade on July 2!!!!
Mysteriem "Men in Black" spotted in area.
»l!JJ^I»l''.'. i
Shocldng Confession!!
I spent 10 years in an
aHen prison on Mars!!!
'CMS ana BgtatA war* ntf ttUmtnrf
ON THE MOVE
United Cinemas International (UCI), an
overseas multiplex co-venture between Paramount
and Universal, has appointed David
Poveda as operations and business development
director of UCI Brasil. UCI Brasil's first
theatre is scheduled to open this month...
Hoyts Cinemas Corp. has named Jud Parker
senior executive vice president of film. ..Lynn
Shubert, a past president of the ITEA and
former VP of the theatre division of Christie
Electric Corp., has been retained as principal
consultant to spearhead Miller & Kreisel
Sound Corp. (M&K)'s launch of their new
THX-approved Multichannel Pro Solutions
line of monitors and powered subwoofers
into the exhibition market. ..Mari Barnum,
head of Exhibitor Relations for Fox, is leaving
her position after 16 years with the studio.
Barnum said she would spend some time with
her family and then explore a new career path.
OBITUARIES
Jesse Shiyen, a member of Boxoffice's founding
staff and our managing editor for decades
until his retirement in 1976, passed away May
1 2 at the age of 87. Please see page 1 07 for
Boxoffice's tribute to Jesse...Mary Jane
"Janey" Higginbotham, wife of System &
Products Engineering Co. (SPECO) president
George Higginbotham, passed away July 14
at age 66. Mary Jane was born in Horton,
Kan., on Nov. 8, 1930, and lived in Olathe,
Kan., for the past 1 8 years. She is survived by
her husband, a son, a stepson, three daughters,
a stepdaughter, 13 grandchildren and
one great-granddaughter.
SHOWMINDER
Remember to save the following dates:
ShowEast, Oct. 20-23, Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic
City, N.). Call 21 2-246-6460...CineAsia,
December 3-5, Singapore International Convention
and Exhibition Centre. Call 2 1 2-246-
6460...ShoWest, March 9-12, 1998, Bally's
Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. Call 310-657-7724.