Boxoffice-February.26.1973

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'Sounder' Motor City
1st Week Yields 325
DETROIT — Business in general was
above average as "Sounder," new in a dual
theatre debut, carried off the week's top
honors with a 325 percentage. "Black
Mama, White Mama" also opened with a
display of boxoffice strength, scoring a
composite 250, and "Black Girl" started its
dual-theatre engagement with 200. "Man of
La Mancha" (275, Northland, seventh week)
and "Young Winston" (250, Towne I, seventh)
grossed best among the
holdovers.
(Average Is 100)
Americana— 776 (Col), 6th wk 1 80
Eight theatres The Getawoy (NGP), 6th wk 105
Five theatres Jeremioh Johnson (WB), 6th wk. ..110
Four theatres Up the Sandbox (NGP), 6th wk. . . 125
Fox—Gotlin Gun (SR) 1 00
Nine theatres Pete 'n' Tillle (Univ), 6th wk. ..150
Nine theatres Innocent Bystanders (Para) 90
Northland Man of La Mancha (UA), 7th wk. ..275
Palms Black Moma, White Mama (AIR) 250
Seven theatres The Poseidon Adventure
(20th-Fox), 6th wk 150
Six theatres Prison Girls (SR) 90
Towne I Young Winston (Col), 7th wk 250
Two theatres Across 110th Street (UA), 6th wk. 80
Two theatres Sounder (20th-Fox) 325
Two theatres Black Girl (CRC) 200
'Sounder' No. 1 Cleveland
Grosser With 400 Week
CLEVELAND—"Sounder," the Detroit
grossing leader with a first-week 325, also
was Cleveland's grossing leader. But here
the 20th Century-Fox picture put together
a big 400 in a third week at the Cedar-Lee.
Star opener here proved out to be "Black
Gunn," which gave the Hippodrome and
Shaker theatres a composite 310. Seventhweek
"The Poseidon Adventure" was close
behind with a 290 at five theatres.
Berea, Village Pete 'n' Tillie (Univ), 7th wk. ..120
Cedar-Lee Sounder (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 400
Colony Mon of Lo Mancha (UA), 8th wk 150
Five theatres The Poseidon Adventure
(20th-Fox), 7th wk 290
Four theotres Wilderness Journey (SR),
2nd wk
Not Available
Four theatres Dirty Little Billy (Col) 145
Fox Cedar Center Young Winston (Col) 8th wk. 175
Heights, Westwood The Discreet Charm of the
Bourgeoisie (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 90
Hippodrome, Shaker Black Gunn (Col) 310
Three theatres The Getawav (NGP), 7th wk. ..250
Three theatres Up the Sandbox (NGP), 2nd wk. 125
Willow— 1776 (Col), 7th wk 100
World West, World East Child's Play (Para),
2nd wk 110
'Across 110th Street' 700
First Week in Cincinnati
CINCINNATI—"Across 110th Street,"
opening at the Grand with a 700 gross, was
the headliner among first-run films in this
recording week. Three pictures, "The Poseidon
Adventure," seventh week. Ambassador;
"The Getaway," seventh. Times Towne
Cinema, and "Avanti!", second. Carousel 2
—grossed 500 each. "1776," in its seventh
frame at Carousel 1, pulled 400, while
"Man of La Mancha," eighth week at the
Valley, and "Jeremiah Johnson," seventh
week. Studio Cinemas, registered 375 each.
Ambassador The Poseidon Adventure {20th-Fox),
7th wk 500
Carousel 1 1776 (Col), 7th wk 400
Carousel 2 Avanti! (UA), 2nd wk 500
Grand Across 110th Street (UA) 700
Kenwood Child's Play (Paro) 75
Place Up the Sandbox (NGP), 7th wk 200
Studio Cinemas Jeremiah Johnson (WB),
7th wk 375
Times Towne Cinema The Getawoy (NGP),
7th wk 500
20th Century Sounder (20th-Fox), 7th wk 200
Valley Mon of La Moncha (UA), 8th wk 375
CORRECTION
NORWALK, OHIO—It was incorrectly
reported in Boxoffice February 12, in the
Cleveland exchange news, that the Norwalk
Theatre, Norwalk, owned by Leonard Jefferson,
would close this month.
Jefferson advises: "We have no intention
of closing. In fact, we have had to turn
people away from our last two pictures
played; namely, 'Dumbo' and, the following
week, 'Gone With the Wind.' "
The theatre, which is properly identified
as Norwalk Cinema, is located at 57 East
Main St., Norwalk.
Middletown Building
De Luxe Twin Houses
MIDDLETOWN, OHIO — Middletown
Theatres will build de lu.\e twin cinemas in
the eastern section of the city on the Cincinnati-Dayton
roads one-half mile from
two shopping centers, it was announced by
Earl Cox, owner, and W. H. Comn jr., general
manager. Construction will begin as
soon as weather permits.
The theatres will be completely automated
with all of the latest equipment
available. Special attention will be given
to the comfort of patrons.
The 348-seat houses will be situated on
a landscaped area adjacent to the Starglow
Drive-In, with abundant parking facilities.
The structure will occupy 10,000 square
feet of floor space.
Medina Theatre Operators
Receive Editorial Praise
MEDINA, OHIO—Mr. and Mrs. Steve
Petrigala, who have taken over the operation
of the Medina Theatre, were featured in a
recent editorial appearing in the Medina
Gazette.
Speaking for the appreciative community,
the newspaper commented: "It takes a lot
of nerve and hard work to go into
business
these days, especially if it is a small family
operation. Steve and Mrs. Petrigala have
recently staked their claim on the Medina
Theatre.
"Steve is an old fixture with the Medina
Theatre and with the Permold Co., too.
But with the contractual cancellation of
the Medina Theatre with a Cleveland firm,
Steve has stepped into the picture (no pun)
to fill the gap.
"Using his long experience and his own
money, he is continuing to provide the
community with seven-day entertainment
of the best pictures he can arrange with
his suppliers.
"Hometown, small theatres are a risky
business at best. Note the ones that have
given up in the past few years. Well, the
Petrigalas didn't want that to happen in
Medina and are making an effort to provide
the service.
"Only one thing will keep the Medina
Theatre alive and that is enough patronage
to make the theatre profitable. Medina
deserves a theatre."
Cincy's First 3-Plex
Opened by Mid States
CINCINNATI—Mid States'
new Northgate
cinemas 1, 2 and 3, this city's first
triplex, held its formal opening Tuesday
(6), playing "The World's Greatest Athlete."
Star Jan-Michael Vincent and Karin Cheatonan.
Miss Disney World, were here for
the occasion. Invited guests were from all
parts of the city and included coaches and
captains of football and track teams from
every local high school, along with members
of the professional Cincinnati Bengals
football team.
Young Vincent was impressed by the
bursting of bombs, fireworks and the playing
of the Roger Bacon Band, Ohio's finest.
He had never attended such an opening
before and was delighted. The young actor
remained for the next day and appeared on
Bob Braun's "50-50 Club" show telecast
over WLW-T. He also was interviewed live
on Rosemary Kelly's special evening show.
The fun film and Vincent were praised
highly by the press.
City Council Would Limit
East Drive-In Operations
TALLMADGE, OHIO—The city council
recently was warned by Nick Watral,
councilman, that local youngsters are "learning
naughty things over the back fence of
the East IDrive-In" on South Avenue. He
alleged that "kids of all ages and teenagers
in cars" are congregating just outside
the chain link fence, where they are
able to see and hear the films without
paying admission.
According to Watral, recent movie titles
have included "Love Factory," "Not My
Daughter" and "Wild, Free and Hungry."
"I believe the pictures and sound coming
out of that place should not go beyond
the back fence," said Watral. "In my opinion
these movies are just plain pornographic."
City Solicitor Frederick Lawrence was
directed by the council to determine if the
city could require the theatre to restrict
sights and sounds from going past the fence.
THIS SUMMER,irS BUMMER'
THE Drive in Picture For '73
A FAR OUT TRIP THRU
A HARD ROCK TUNNEL...
From Entertainment Ventures.lnc. COLOR
BOXOFHCE :: Febniary 26, 1973 ME-1