Boxoffice-October.03.1966

They
bought the property it was with the intention
ol buiklinji a suninier cotliige, hut the
area grew so last he decided to build a permanent
home and hve there the year round.
His idea to till boxollice and concession
stand tills paid oil when he was named Concession
Idea Man of the Year. For this he
flew to New York for a four-day all expense
junket during the annual convention
of the National Ass'n of Concessionaires.
While there he received an engraved plaque
which will be added to the display of prior
awards which covers most of the wall space
in his office.
When the citizens of the Chcmainus, Cassidy
district, decided to hold up the Centennial
stagecoach which was en route to Victoria
from upper Island centers, it was natural
for them to choose Pete Double Thorpe
and his 1 4-\ ear-old son Tommy. As ownermanager
of the Cassidy Drive-In, Pete and
son had watched many screen holdups and
getaways in westerns and were well versed
in the technique of the ambush and fast
draw. To complete the traditional western
cast, they enlisted the services of "old-timer"
Charles La Fleur, 84. Thorpe's horse, which
had not seen the script, almost snafued the
caper when he stepped on Thorpe's foot
while he had the shotgun rider covered.
Thorpe led the coach to the Chemainus Inn
where they were met by local dignitaries.
United Artists booker Mike Gilbert has
resigned and is going lo Australia. Shipper
Lou Young moves up to booker and Victoria
Shipping is now handling the shipping.
Leaving on holidays were Baden Parsons
of Victoria Shipping. Hawaii bound, chaperoned
by a bevy of sisters. Ted Bielby,
Strand manager, was reported in the South,
and Warner Bros, steno Diane Overbo went
to the Prairies to visit her family. MGM
hooker James Patterson returned alter a
two-week vacation.
IJkc-futher, like-daughter are Calgary's
Saul Lisenstein and daughter Cheryl, who
is the manager-operator of the nickelodeon
at Heritage Park, running the whole operation
with the help of one usher.
Variety Tent 47 got into high gear at a
luncheon in the Georgia Hotel, when president
Harry Howard set the wheels in motion
for a giant telethon to be held Saturday
and Sunday (8 and 9) over CHAN-TV.
The object of the drive is to raise funds for
the Ladner Training Farm for Retarded
Children, the Headstart Program and Sunshine
Coaches. Details were outlined by
telethon promoter barker Jim Spence and
assistant Barbara James. Guests included
Harlan Fairbanks. Seattle, and localites Ray
Corbet! and A. Miller.
'Sparkenbroke' Considered
As Nielsen Vehicle
from Western Edition
HOLLYWOOD — Leslie Nielsen has
brought the late Charles Morgan novel,
"Sparkenbroke," to the attention of Universal
toppers as a possible \ehicle for himself.
Nielsen has an exclusive contract with
the studio.
OTTAWA
pur the .second time in a few weeks, the
film industry mourned the loss of a
prominent executive. Leonard W. Brockington,
former president and a director of
Odeon Theatres (Canada) Ltd., whose death
followed the passing on .August 31 of John
J. Fitzgibbons, president and later board
chairman of Famous Players Canadian
Corp. A convincing orator. Brockington,
born in Wales 78 years ago. was the first
chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting
Commission and served as rector of Queen's
University. Kingston, for a lengthy period
until he died September 15.
According to an official estimate, the recent
national railway strike resulted in a
loss of SZ."! million to workers for wages
and transportation disruption and now the
rail companies have announced a 10 per
cent hike in shipping rates which will affect
the film and other businesses. New
taxes also are in the making by the Canadian
government as an austerity measure, including
the prospect of a levy on cable-TV systems
and a higher impost on color TV sets.
Because postoffice employes have set
plans for a general strike acro.ss the country,
arrangements have been made for continued
maintenance of emergency film shows
so exhibitors will not miss a performance.
In eastern Ontario extra prints with accessories
are being held in readiness at Cornwall,
the Soper at Smiths Falls and Capitol
at
Kingston.
TORONTO
phe I rap," an English-Canadian experiment
in filmmaking, got mixed reception
at its world premiere in London. England.
Shot in color on the West Coast, the
film stars Rita Tushingham and Oliver Reed.
The rest of the cast was recruited in Toronto
and Montreal. Among them is Toronto actress
Barbara Chilcott. The film was jointly
financed by a group of Vancouver businessmen
and the J. Arthur Rank Organization.
Toronto actress Kate Reid finally had an
opporiunity to see the screen version of
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.'" at the
Hollywood here. She played the title role
on Broadway four years ago.
Lawrence "l.arrj" Pilon has been appointed
to the head office staff at Famous
Players. He is a lawyer, and during the past
few years has been associated with the company's
solicitors Robertson, Lane, Perrott,
Franklish & Easly. He will be working under
R. W. Bolstad and Angus MacCunn.
The latest listing of the board of censors
shows three features arc classified for "re-
"
stricted attendance. are "The Wild
Angels," "The Dirty Street" from Greece
and "Furopean Follies" from Italy.
Theatre ca-shiers have been warned to
watch for counterfeit S20 and SIO bills,
which are reported lo be in circulation, although
large quantities have been seized by
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Holdovers at local theatres include: Elmdale.
"The Blue Max." \Mh week. Nelson,
"Doctor Zhivago," lOth week, and at the two
Elgins, "Walk,'Don't Run, " 10th week, and
"The Russians Are Coming the Russians
Are Coming," sixth week. New features are
"One Spy Too Many" at the Capitol, "A
Fine Madness" at the Regent and "Modesty
Blaise" at the Somerset and Queensway. At
Kingston the Hyland got five weeks on
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
William Gladish, correspondent of BoxoiiicE,
reports increased activity in the
theatre field by family members. David
Gladish. a grandson, has made a start by becoming
an usher in Toronto's International
Cinema, while the oldest granddaughter
Janet is signed for a role in the stage play
"Three Sisters" by Chekhov, which opens
in October in Toronto. She was with the
Shaw Festival at Niagara during the summer
season.
For the second quarter of 1966, Famous
Players Canadian Corp. reported increases
of 14 per cent in total income and 40 per
cent in operating profit, along with a corresponding
advance in net earnings of 38
cents per share compared with 27 cents for
the same period in l'Ki5.
Besides the special film series provided
by the National Film Board and the Toronto
Film Society, three more series lor the winter
months were announced this week. The
Centre Film Society will have its fifth season
of Sunday evening screenings and the
York University also will have a series on
Sundays. The Repertory Cinema at the Elcctra
will fit in with the regular commercial
showings at this house Monday through
Thursday.
Only a few new bookings moved into Toronto
first-run houses. "Flame and the Fire"
and "I he 1 0th \ictim" opened September
21 at the Downtown, .\lidlown. State. Century
and three drive-ins. "The Wrong Box"
started September 22 at the Carlton. Two
Elizabeth Taylor films. "Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof and "Butterfield 8" opened September
23 at the Imperial. Runnymede. Golden
Mile and Yorkdale.
Italy Honors Lana Turner
From Western Edttion
HOLLYWOOD—Lana Turner has been
named "Best Foreign Actress" for her performance
in Universal's "Madame X." and
will be awarded La Peria Verde (the Green
Pearl) trophy, according to word received
from Guiseppc Mengozzi. president of the
Theatre Owners of Italy. La Perla Verde
trophy is one of several given as part of the
"Riccione Awards for the World of Entertainment."
Miss Turner also recently was
named recipient of the David Di Donatello
Award as ""Best Foreign Actress."
BOXOFFICE October 3, 1966 K-3