Boxoffice-October.07.1968

. . The
. . The
VANCOUWER
gtudio Manager Sjd I- reednian reports lh;it
"The Gradiiale. now starting " its 29th
week, has broken all long run records for
the house and is doing equalK well throughout
western Canada. It went 17 weeks in the
Fox Victoria, has played to almost 100,000
people in 27 weeks at the Towne Cinema
Calgary and was still strong after 27 weeks
in the Garneau Edmonton.
MGM Manager Dave Gilfillan says "Gone
With the Wind" has plenty of "lion power"
at the Haida Victoria. Since opening on September
19, it has been at virtual capacity.
20th Century-Fox branch manager Dawson
Exiey returned from the sales convention
at Miami Beach via Toronto where he and
Mrs. ExIey visited relatives. Leaving Toronto
in bright sunshine, the weather steadily
deteriorated as they came west. When they
set down in Calgary in 36 inches of snow.
Dawson feared the worst, but the weather
was normal at the Vancouver airport—raining
"cats and dogs."
Sam Bondi has sold his Star at Squamish
to Dave Manzer who took over September
15. Sam and Mrs. Bondi will continue to
make their home in Squamish, at least until
Sam catches one of those 35 pound spring
salmon.
The Okanagan's first drive-in theatre, the
Pines, Penticton, which opened almost 20
years ago under the management of Frank
Soltice, is reported to be closing at the end
of the current season. A motel will be built
on the site . . . The independent Ladner Theatre,
Ladner, has also closed for an indefinite
period.
Bigge.st laugh in the "How Sweet It Is!"
program now entering its fourth week at the
Famous Players" Stanley, is not in the feature.
It's reserved for the Disney cartoon
"Canine Caddy," which has the adults rolling
in the aisles at the antics of Mickey
Mouse and Pluto.
Local hippie set leader Barry Cramer who
WRITE—
The Exhibitor Has His Say
TO:
BOXOFFICE. 825
TiU.
DoyB oi W*«k Plar«d..
Exhibitor
Van Brunt Blvd..
Eonaaa Citr. Mo. 64124
guiding u film series co-sponsored by Film
is
Canada and the underground newspaper
Georgia Straight, has moved the show from
the West Broadway Hollywood to the East
Hastings Olympia. While the first program
was a sellout in the Hollywood, some of the
types were a little much for conservative
owner-manager Dave Fairleigh, who was
concerned about the image created for his
middle class suburban regulars by the wayout
set. First program in the Olympia, which
features the award-winning "The Connection,"
opened September 24 for a three-day
evening engagement.
TORONTO
prime Minister Trudcau has been invited to
share top billing with actress Julie Andrews
on November 1 1 when the Toronto
Women's Liberal Ass'n holds its first annual
theatre night at the university with the Canadian
premiere of "Star!"
Actress Beth Lockerbie has passed away
here. Although best known for her radio and
TV work, Miss Lockerbie was also seen in
feature films produced by Spence Caldwell
and Walt Disney.
A delightful story — so typical of Len
Bishop, manager of the Hollywood—is retold
in the latest issue of the FP house publication,
"What's New?" One evening during
the sellout run of "Rosemary's Baby," Len
saw a man on crutches making his way totowards
the boxoffice to see if he could buy
tickets for the next showing without having
to wait in line for another hour. On explaining
this to Len, and despite an overflow
house, Len ushered him and his wife into
the house and managed to get them seated.
In appreciation, the gentleman wrote a letter
to the company president.
YOUR REPORT OF THE PICTURE YOU
HAVE JUST PLAYED FOR THE
GUIDANCE OF FEUOW EXHIBITORS,
Staff changes at the FP head office sees
Brian Whitney Jones joining the legal department
where he will be working very closely
Company
—flight Now
with Larry Pilon. Will Mathison moves to
the booking department after a stint as assistant
manager of the University.
With a football motif, the fall advertising
campaign for Famous Players kicked off
September 13. Material went out to all theatres,
including copy imprinted on Saran-
Wrap types of cellophane or plastic, which
will cling readily to glass, mirrors and other
smooth surfaces.
New bookings at local houses include
"Hang 'Em High" at the Carlton, "The
Legend of Lylah Clare" at the Imperial.
Runnymede. Yorkdale and others and "In
Enemy Country" with "Jigsaw" at the Alhambra,
Odeon (Parkdale) and three driveins.
Variety notes: Friars Tavern opened two
rooms at the bottom of its building at Yonge
and Dundas Square September 30. with the
total opening day receipts going to Tent 28
. . . Close to $1,000 was raised between April
1 and September 1 through the Women of
Variety collections made in the form of "get
well"" wishes, "congratulations"" tokens and
"in memoriam"' gifts. Mrs. F. Goldhar is
continuing to administer the plan . . .
Former Chief Barker Lionel Lester again
heads Tent 28s Christmas card committee,
and has announced that two new cards have
been designed for 1968 distribution and will
be available—25,000 of each design— by
next week . Women of Variety's annual
fall tea and fashion show attracted a
record attendance of close to 600. The exact
receipts will be announced shortly . . . Tent
28s chairman for the 1969 convention of
Variety Clubs International is to be Butch
Fremont.
Harvey Harnick, vice-president and general
manager for Columbia Pictures of Canada,
was named "Canadian Picture Pioneer
of the Year."" it has been announced by
Myer L. Axler, president of the Pioneers. He
had been elected by a committee composed
of former winners of the award. Harnick was
awarded the honor for his distinguished service
to the Picture Pioneers . committee
also recommended that special awards be
presented to May V. Chinn. Toronto: Hy
Swartz. Winnipeg: Harry Howard, Vancouver,
and James R. Nairn of Toronto. The
presentations will be made at the annual Canadian
Picture Pioneers award dinner at the
Seaway Towers here on Thursday (24).
NFB films at local houses this week include
"Magic Molecule" at the Don Mills,
"Neighbours" at Cinecity and "'Tax Is Not
a 4-Letter Word" at the Cinema.
Springfield Civic Center
To Cost Over $9 Million
FcMiii New England Edition
SPRINGFIELD—The city
of Springfield
has disclosed that cost of the projected downtown
civic center will be in excess of $9.3
million, including acquisition of a site from
the Springfield redevelopment authority.
The center, according to Springfield Central
Business District, will have an estimated
•lol.il economic impact" oi $4.2 million animalK
.Hul create upwards oi 300 new jobs.
K-4 BOXOFFICE :: October 7, 1968