Boxoffice-October.03.1966

. . . This
. . What
General Cinema Plans
100 More, Says Smith
MINMAI'Ol. IS— Richard A. Smilli.
president of General Cinema Corp., which
headquarters in Boston. Mass.. here for the
opening of the circuit's new twin Cinema 1
and Cinema II theatres, disclosed that within
the next three \ears the circuit plans to
huild at least 100 more new showcases.
Convinced of exhibition's bright outlook.
.Smith said the expansion will occur even
though the fast-growing circuit already comprises
117 theatres. Last week, it not onlyopened
its new twin theatre here, but also
launched one in Columbus. Ohio, and the
ueek before that another house premiered
in Norfolk, V'a.
Smith said shopping centers attract General
Cinema because of the great success
lis twin theatres have been enjoying in such
li'c.itions and the firm belief that an even
brighter future looms. He pointed out that
exhibition's comeback after the setback
caused by television has been steady and uninterrupted.
The advent of the shopping
center and the terrific suburban growth
have been factors, he said, but exhibition
generally is very much on the uptrentl.
Silverbach Quits 20th-Fox
To Join Screen Gems Int'l
From Eastern Editicn
NEW YORK— Alan Silverbach has resigned
as vice-president in charge of international
and domestic syndication for 20th-
Fox Television to become vice-president and
director of sales for the international division
of Screen Gems, Inc.. starting September 12.
Silverbach originally joined 20th Century-
Fox Film International as a sales executive
in 1946 in the feature film division and became
supervisor of foreign sales in 1958.
He entered the television area of the company
in 1960 as director of international
sales.
Errol Linderman has been promoted to
general sales manager of EUE/Screen Gems
to be in charge of all sales operations from
coast to coast, according to Alfred L. Mendelsohn,
vice-president and general manager
of the Screen Gems division. Linderman
joined HUE Screen Gems in 1960. Matt J.
Poulis has joined .Screen Gems as Eastern
sales representative and will report to
William Hart, director of sales for the
svndication division.
'Alley Cats' Ninth Week
At Scottsdale House
From Southwest Edition
SCOTTSDAI.i;. ARIZ. — "The Alley
Cats." an Audubon Films release, was
in its ninth week at the Portofino Theatre,
where it has grossed $19,000 to date, according
to Ava Leighton. Audubon director of
sales. The Portofino seats only 86 and services
a Scottsdale population of only l.S.OOO.
"The Alley Cats." an expose of Europe's
rich, young "swinging set." was directed by
Radley H. Metzger. head of Audubon, anil
stars Anne .Arthur. Karen Field and Chaz
Hickman.
Collegians Form POOIE to Protest
Long 'Music Run in Moorhead
A U
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Student nienibors of POOIF. arc shown in front of the Moorhead 1 heatrc in
their protest march against the Ion;; run of "The .Sound of Music."
MOORHEAD. MINN.—A protest
march
ol a soiiK'whal ditlcrcnt variety was staged
here uhen some 150 Moorhead State College
students, marching under the organizational
title of POOIF (Peoples Organization of Intelligent
Educatees) picketed the Moorhead
Theatre to protest the length of run of "The
Sound of Music." The picture was in its
49th week at the theatre, located near the
college campus.
The entire affair, all in a vein of fun.
came to the attention of Palmer Johnson,
manager of the theatre, when he learned
that "Revolt" slips were being passed out to
the students at the college. The slips read:
"48 weeks of Julie .Andrews is too much.
The Time Has Come. The Peoples" Organization
of Intelligent Educatees (POOIE) is
sponsoring a march on the Moorhead Theatre
to demand an end to 'The Sound of
Music." Rally 2:00 Wednesday in the Circle.
March Thursday. POOIE."
Johnson alerted newspaper, radio and T\'
representatives in Fargo. N.D., across the
river from Moorhead. and he photostated a
front page from the Wall Street Journal concerning
the business done worldwide by "The
SiHind of Music." This was to be handed
to every marcher.
True to their promise the young people
marched on the theatre, with a big ba.ss
drum booming and the marchers shouting
"Pooie on Julie.'" "Down with the Sound,"
"2-4-6-8 we didn't want to stagnate." They
c.irricd banners and signs reading: '"49 weeks
of schmaltz is enough." "We want the chance
to see other pictures. " ""Don't get caught in
the von Trapp,"" "'Turn off the .Sound." "Let
Julie Retire Gracefully."
A sophomore student leader. Robert
Schoen. mounted a soap box and proclaimed:
'"We"re being depri\ed of cow bos shows.
.And where are the gangsters m Moorhead''
is a nonviolent demonstration to
bring violence back to town . are we
doing to our children? They go to see Julie
.Andrews and then come home and compare
her to their mothers. Do we want our children
to think they have second-rate mothers?""
Another student leader admitted he"s
seen the film twice and liked it very much,
but ""many of our students would like to see
something new.'" He added: ".Although this
march basically is an intentional farce, it
does have a serious side because the Moorhead
is the only theatre near the campus
and it"s much further to walk to adjoining
Fargo where other pictures can be seen."'
Manager Johnson, meantime, said the
march might have just the opposite effect to
that desired, because ""we got a fortune"s
worth of publicity."" And it certainlv did.
TV, radio and newspaper representatives
were on hand in force to cover the protest
and the story hit the wire services and was
reported by both the Minneapiilis Tribune
and Minneapolis Star.
Two Twin City Chains
To Broadcasting Co.
MINNEAPOLIS- .Midcontinental Broadcasting
Co., headquartering here, has acquired
two of the territory"s theatre circuits,
the Welworth four-wall and the Starlite
outdoor interests, comprising a total of
21 situations. The broadcasting company
also has area television and radio stations,
including a radio station locally.
Parent companies for the theatres will
be three in number and will operate as the
Midcontinental Theatre Companies of Minnesota.
North Dakota and South Dakota.
Officers and stockholders of the broadcasting
company and the two theatre circuits
have been the same and will remain that way.
Officers are E. R. Ruben, Joseph Floyd.
Larry Bentson and Harry Greene.
Bernard Girard has been signed to a longterm
contract by Columbia Pictures.
BOXOFFICE :: October 3. 1966
NC-1