Boxoffice-May.31.1971

I he
Md. Censor Board Is
Overruled on 2 Films
BALTIMORE—Judge James A. Perrott
reversed the Maryland State Censor Board
in Circuit Court Tuesday (18) and ordered
the licensing of two films. •Freedom to
Love" and "Black Is Beautiful." The Ho. ml
of Motion Picture Censors March I 1 rejected
viewing them
the two films hut after
privately. Judge Perron ruled thai the
hoard had failed to prove the films were
"obscene under the constitutional standards
of
obscenity."
1 icensing of the films had been sought
In William Hewitt, trading as JF Theatres,
through Donald Rothman and Lawrence
D. Coppel. attorneys.
Judge Perrott directed the hoard to
be "patently offensive because it affronts
contemporary community standards relating
to the description or representation of
jexua] matter and because the material is
utterly without redeeming social value."
The board's action had been upheld during
the hearing before Judge Perrott by
Francis B. Burch, attorney general of Mary
land, and Thomas N. Biddison jr.. one of
his
assistants.
350-Seat Theatre Delayed
By Parking Facility Okay
BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y.—The planning
board, at a recent meeting, discussed parking
for a 350-seat theatre in Hunting Ridge
Mall, the A&P shopping complex planned
for the Route 22-172 intersection in Bedford.
But. whether to grant joint use of
parking spaces to meet the ordinance requirements
for theatre parking must be decided
by the zoning board, planning chairman
E. Harry Portsch told Edward Wren,
the attorney for the developers.
The motion picture house is now (but not
originally) planned for the shopping center
and planning board approval of the parking
provided by the developers was granted on
the basis of retail use only. What the planners
must determine is whether enough of
the stores in the mall will be closed at night
to provide the required number of parking
spaces for a 350-seat theatre.
Board member William Stelle pointed out,
"Uses can change. We shouldn't base our
requirements on the plans of the present
tenants."
After Wren expressed the urgent need for
an early decision, the planning board agreed
to review the site plans in the light of the
tequested new use and discuss its findings
with the zoning board promptly.
Tom Kefalas to Supervise
'Trojan' Special Projects
NEW YORK.—Tom Kefalas has been
appointed director of special projects for
the reserved-scat engagement ol
"
I rojan
Women," which opens September 2 at
the Fine Arts rheatre in New York, u was
announced by Arthur Manson. vice-president
of advertising and publicit) foi Cinerama
Releasing.
Kefalas also is handling the motion picture's
group sales, which were first announced
Sundaj (23) in the New York
Times. Starring Katharine Hepburn, Vanessa
Redgrave. Genevieve Bujold and Irene
Papas. "The Trojan Women" will be shown
14 times each week at the Fine Arts Theatre.
Prior to joining Cinerama Releasing for
Employees Protected
In Pending NY Bill
ALBANY—Legislation sponsored by the
late Sen. Edward J. Speno (R-Mineola)
and guided through the Assembly by Assemblyman
Milton Jones ( R-Hempstead)
has been approved by the Senate. The bill
provides that it is an "affirmative defense"
for persons charged with an obscenity to
plead innocent on the grounds that they
have no financial interest in the performance
or in the establishment where employed
and, therefore, are in no way responsible
for booking the film or attraction.
If the bill is approved by the Assembly and
signed into law by the governor, it will
become effective immediately.
The stipulations of this legislation would
protect film projectionists, stage employees,
spotlight operators, doormen, cashiers,
ushers, concession stand attendants, porters
or any employees in nonmanagerial or
nonsupcrvisory positions in a movie theatre
from prosecution on obscenity charges.
In explaining that one charged with the
offense of obscenity should have available
the defense that he in no way gains financially
or is in any sense responsible foi
bringing an attraction to a theatre. Assemblyman
Jones declared that a person
who is merely an innocent employee should
not be convicted on such a charge.
9th NY Film Festival
To Be Held Oct. 1-15
\|\\ MIRK.— Ihe ninth annual New
^ ork 1 ilm I estiva! will be held at 1 incoln
(
enter October 1-15, it was announced In
Martin 1 .
Segal, president of the Film Soviets
ot l incoln ( enter. An additional 533,-
000 is needed but pledges ot support have
been made bs various members of the Film
Societj Board and In filmmakers in this
country.
The 1\