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I -Telephone:<br />
• MARCH 25, 197'<br />
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITIOh<br />
Includini the Sectional Newt Pagn of All Uition<br />
<strong>PG^</strong><br />
(NTERNMlONMPiClURtS.<br />
IHTlRt SCHOOL'.<br />
COLOR ®^<br />
S CROWN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES*<br />
Home Office: 292 South La C^ienega lioulcvard. Beverly Hills. California 902 I<br />
2 1 3-657-6700<br />
NEWTON p. JACOBS MARK TENSER GEORGE M. JOSEPHS
Director Dick Richards and stars Alan Arkyn, Sally<br />
Kellerman and McKenzie Philips spent several weeks in<br />
Arizona in January and February on the new Warner<br />
Brothers' production 'Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins".<br />
The experienced people in Governor Jack Williams"<br />
motion picture development office were delighted to help<br />
and invite you to consider Arizona for your next shooting.<br />
I<br />
Governor's Arizona Film Commission<br />
B. V. Sturdivant (Choirman) • Tom Chauncey<br />
Dean Brown. Amanda Blake (Mrs, Frank Gilbert)<br />
Hugh Downs • Marvin D. Johnson<br />
Robert A. Macon • James Nederlander<br />
Dick Smith<br />
Arizona<br />
Call the Governor s office<br />
(602) 271-5011,<br />
write Film in Arizona, 1645 West Jefferson<br />
Phoenix, Arizona 85007<br />
Fred Graham<br />
Motion Picture Development Coordinator
,<br />
S2205.<br />
I<br />
Baumoel.<br />
^ T^cde oft^ l/lotian "Pwtme //idtO^<br />
FILM WEEKLY<br />
> Sectional Editions<br />
and Publisher<br />
:hlyen<br />
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F. ROUSE III ...Equipment<br />
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DDBBN THEATRE Section Is<br />
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No. 24<br />
25, 19 7 4<br />
THE<br />
IN OUR OWN BACK YARD<br />
PARABLE about the man who<br />
traveled all over the world in search<br />
when he returned<br />
of gold, only to find it<br />
home in his own back yard, has a parallel<br />
in this business. For years, exhibitors and<br />
distributors have been traversing much<br />
ground, seeking to uncover the solutions<br />
to some of their joint problems, when<br />
they might discover them in their own<br />
back yards. One of these problems is competitive<br />
bidding—not just "blind" bidding,<br />
but any kind. A way was shown how<br />
this might be resolved—right at home.<br />
But that direct approach was shunned,<br />
apparently.<br />
We refer to a decision handed down,<br />
away back in the spring of 1961, by the<br />
U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals of<br />
Massachusetts that gave approval to the<br />
splitting of product to "avoid suicidal<br />
competitive bidding." In our comment on<br />
this ruling, at that time, we said that it<br />
could be of far-reaching and beneficial<br />
effect to the industry—IF — greed doesn't<br />
stand in the way. But, if one party in a<br />
competitive situation refuses to enter<br />
into such an agreement, despite the<br />
court's ruling that it would not be illegal,<br />
even with distributors not being a party<br />
thereto, what looks like a solution to an<br />
aggravated problem will again be up in<br />
the air.<br />
And so it has been, becoming further<br />
aggravated by the extension of "blind"<br />
bidding beyond reason. Strangely, it is<br />
the exhibitors, not the distributors, who<br />
are at fault.<br />
While bidding has been beneficial for<br />
some theatres, it has its bad points.<br />
Aside from raising the sights on film<br />
rentals and making many deals unprofitable,<br />
as well as unsound, it probably has<br />
been the source of many another of the<br />
industry's ills. Among these "side-effects,"<br />
it has been injurious to exhibitordistributor<br />
relations; it has built up constant<br />
uncertainty over source of product<br />
supply; it has delayed release of films,<br />
often to the ultimate damage of all concerned;<br />
it has reduced the effectiveness<br />
of national advertising; it has adversely<br />
affected local promotional efforts by<br />
shortening and often eliminating sufficient<br />
opportunity to do a proper job of advance<br />
selling; it has taken the time of<br />
exhibitors in creating the need of a<br />
frenzied effort to obtain product—time<br />
that, otherwise, could be devoted to improving<br />
operational procedures, furthering<br />
public relations, doing better jobs of<br />
picture-selling and making more pictures<br />
prove more profitable for all concerned;<br />
it has created print shortages, another<br />
deterrent to business and attendance<br />
building.<br />
In short, bidding has not proved a panacea<br />
for producer-distributors or for exhibitors,<br />
even for those who always<br />
"won" the bids. Too often it has forced<br />
extended runs in order to "break-even"<br />
and shut out product that could have<br />
had profitable bookings. And there is reason<br />
to question whether the "gains"<br />
made on winning bids, really proved so,<br />
in the final analysis.<br />
Bidding came in the wake of the consent<br />
decrees and their outlawing of blockbooking.<br />
It may have offered some advantages<br />
to exhibitors in the intent to<br />
relieve stringent product conditions. But,<br />
like so many things in this business, it<br />
was carried too far, and was found wanting.<br />
It seems to this observer that effecting<br />
splits of product could go a long way, not<br />
only in easing the product problem in<br />
innumerable situations but in helping to<br />
eradicate other problems that resulted<br />
from the bidding practice. In situations<br />
where it has been put into practice, it has<br />
been working out well for the competitive<br />
exhibitors and also for the distributors.<br />
Last-minute guessing neces.sitating setting<br />
a picture two or three days before<br />
opening has thus been averted. The exhibitors<br />
know what pictures they will<br />
get, far enough in advance to plan and<br />
execute good campaigns for them, resulting<br />
in bigger grosses and a better net return<br />
for all concerned.<br />
Actually, there seems to be little sense<br />
in exhibitors vying to outbid one another<br />
or to be induced to do so, when, usually,<br />
an adjustment is called for to bring an<br />
excessive bid down to a rational rental<br />
figure. Every exhibitor must be as aware<br />
of his theatre's potential as are the distributors<br />
with whom he has had years of<br />
dealings. Taking this into proper account<br />
would conserve time, energy and<br />
effort that might better be directed toward<br />
business-building activity that<br />
could uncover new veins of "gold."<br />
\Jea>xj /OMu/t^n^^
Informative Show-A-Rama Session<br />
Limited Grossing Theatres Obtain<br />
Varied Ideas to<br />
KANSAS CITY—The closing session of<br />
Show-A-Rama 17. programed Thursday<br />
(14) as "Limited Grossing Theatres" might<br />
well have been labeled "Small Town Theatres."<br />
but under any appellation it proved<br />
to be one of the most interesting sessions<br />
of the convention at the Crown Center<br />
Hotel.<br />
There was a dual bill of moderators,<br />
Elmer Bills jr.. Salisbury, Mo., and Sterling<br />
Bagby, Stockton, Kas., being at the head<br />
table. The turn-out quickly over-flowed<br />
the room, originally set for about 75 persons,<br />
with well over 100 crowding in before<br />
the session got under way.<br />
UA, 20th-Fox, Columbia Plans<br />
A principal interest centered in the special<br />
selling plans for theatres in towns of<br />
less than 15,000 population, the specific<br />
plans of United Artists, 20th Century-Fox<br />
and Columbia being discussed. A point<br />
made by moderator Bills is that the plans<br />
are not automatic, but must be sought by<br />
the<br />
exhibitor.<br />
Those exhibitors present showed mixed<br />
reactions to the plans, some being highly<br />
in favor, some feeling the benefits were<br />
not sufficient to warrant taking on a greater<br />
number of releases.<br />
Key attention in the session was given<br />
to Carl Schwanebeck, Kerr Theatres,<br />
Knoxville, Iowa, population 6.000, who reported<br />
some revolutionary measures put<br />
into the operation, largely as a means of<br />
controlling unruly juveniles.<br />
The company recently discontinued a<br />
lower admission for children at the indoor<br />
theatre. The adult admission generally is<br />
$1, at times $1.50 for special releases, and<br />
has not proved a stopper to youngsters who<br />
really want to see the picture. It has stopped<br />
most trouble with the juveniles, Schwanebeck<br />
reported.<br />
As a gesture to the children, the theatre<br />
offers a special matinee Saturdays at 50<br />
cents, but this is drawing only light response.<br />
Per Car Price Boosts Busine,ss<br />
The drive-in theatre was having its problems<br />
with grosses dropping steadily with<br />
an admission policy based on a per-person<br />
rate. That was abandoned, and a per car<br />
price of $3 installed, limit six persons per<br />
car. This brought up the weekly gross and<br />
the concession income 30-40 per cent each,<br />
and apparently is the answer as far as<br />
Knoxville is concerned.<br />
The "limit of six persons per car" is<br />
emphasized, as this means only 50 cents<br />
per head on a full car. The policy has cut<br />
security problems to nearly nothing. There<br />
are no more youngsters piling out of car<br />
trunks as soon as the car reaches the<br />
viewing ramp, no more heads popping up<br />
from the floorboard as soon as the car<br />
Boost Business<br />
passes the cashier, no more climbing over<br />
the<br />
fence.<br />
.'\n unexpected dividend at the limited<br />
grossing session came in a report by David<br />
Lynnes, owner of the Studio West Movie<br />
House, Eau Claire, Wis.<br />
Early in 1972 he wanted to open an ice<br />
cream parlor there as a business venture,<br />
and also considered a motion picture theatre,<br />
since he is a fan of old movies. He<br />
found a suitable building across the street<br />
from the college, set up the ice cream parlor<br />
with 40 seats in the front, a mini-theatre<br />
with 81 seats in the back.<br />
The ice cream parlor has proved a sound<br />
business from the beginning, as he offers<br />
34 or 35 flavors of high quality ice cream<br />
made for him exclusively by a local dairy.<br />
It is particularly popular for parties for<br />
youngsters.<br />
Lynnes, however, has had to pioneer<br />
his way with the theatre, before reaching<br />
his<br />
present policy of showing X-rated films.<br />
In the beginning he played the old movies,<br />
all he could pick up. but he found it only<br />
moderately profitable.<br />
Then he turned to bring-backs of more<br />
recent releases, pictures such as "The Godfather"<br />
and "Love Story." This was partly<br />
at the urging of college students, but proved<br />
even worse than the oldies.<br />
It was then Lynnes turned to the X-<br />
rateds at $3 admissions, and that policy<br />
has stuck for more than a year. The authorities<br />
have given him moderate interference,<br />
but have not been a major threat.<br />
Police Check of Juveniles<br />
Some interesting sidelights have come out<br />
of this operation. The police often check<br />
the theatre against any juveniles being<br />
present. This always happens at the beginning<br />
of the run of a new picture, the<br />
officers coming at the begiiming of the<br />
feature and not leaving until it is completed.<br />
The public utilities also have taken an<br />
interest in the theatre. Formerly the gas,<br />
light and water meters were checked at the<br />
theatre-ice cream parlor in the morning.<br />
Now, with a daily matinee, the meter<br />
readers come at the beginning of the matinee<br />
and somehow contrive to stay through<br />
the feature.<br />
Show-A-Ramans at the session ask Lynnes<br />
if he could describe a typical patron, but<br />
he said there is no standard composite.<br />
"It includes everybody, 18 'til death, as<br />
many over 40 as under 40, several over 70<br />
and many over 65. They request all kinds of<br />
porno, some want 'men with men' some<br />
want 'women with women,' and there is<br />
no pattern of patronage or requests,"<br />
Lynnes said.<br />
It sometimes is especially funny to have<br />
a birthday party for five-year-old girls in<br />
the ice cream parlor, while the X-rated<br />
films, run in the theatre at the same time.<br />
Glenn, Weaver Promotions<br />
Announced by Paramount<br />
BEVHRl Y HILLS. CALIF. — Frank<br />
Yablans. president and chief operating officers<br />
of Paramount Pictures, at the company's<br />
recent international sales conven-<br />
Charles O. Glenn Gordon Weaver<br />
tion, announced the promotions of Charles<br />
O. Glenn and Gordon Weaver. Glenn was<br />
appointed vice-president of marketing for<br />
Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television,<br />
while Weaver was named vice-president<br />
in charge of publicity for Paramount<br />
Pictures and Paramount Television.<br />
Glenn less than three years ago was made<br />
vice-president of advertising, publicity and<br />
promotion for Paramount after having been<br />
director of advertising, a position he attained<br />
in May 1970. Before that, Glenn served<br />
as Paramount's advertising manager for<br />
nearly one year. He previously held advertising<br />
posts with W. H. Schneider Advertising<br />
and 20th Century-Fox.<br />
Weaver had been national director of<br />
publicity for Paramount since November<br />
1971. when he came to the company from<br />
National General Pictures. He began his<br />
film career with MGM in New York and<br />
subsequently handled production publicity<br />
for MGM in Europe. He later joined Cinema<br />
Center Films in New York as executive<br />
assistant to the vice-president in charge of<br />
worldwide publicity and was CCF's director<br />
of advertising and promotion before<br />
his NGP affiliation.<br />
Upstate Cinema Planning<br />
Expansion of Operations<br />
ONEONTA, N.Y.—Upstate Cinema Development,<br />
based in Oneonta, currently is<br />
completing plans for a twin cinema in Herkimer.<br />
N.Y. This upstate village has been<br />
without a movie house for several years<br />
since a former Schine theatre, later operated<br />
by Panther and Countrywide, closed and<br />
was converted to other use. Herkimer is<br />
located in the Mohawk Valley about 15<br />
miles from Utica. N.Y.<br />
Upstate Cinema Development is headed<br />
by Harold dcGraw of Oneonta and Stephen<br />
G. Minasian of Boston, a principal of Esquire<br />
Theatres of America, a large circuit<br />
operating theatres in several states.<br />
The corporation was formed by deGraw<br />
and Minasian in 1970 for the building and<br />
operation of the Showcase Cinema in Oneonta.<br />
Harold deGraw also is the owner of<br />
the Oneonta Theatre in<br />
that city.<br />
It also was announced that plans are under<br />
way to convert either the Oneonta Theatre<br />
or the Showcase Cinema into a twin.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
Cinemette Soon to Have<br />
More Than 200 Theatres<br />
PITTSBURGH — Cinemelte-Associated,<br />
a Cinemette subsidiary, now is among the<br />
ten largest theatre circuits in the country,<br />
according to executives of both organizations<br />
which recently merged here when<br />
Cinemette, with 106 theatres, purchased<br />
the 90 Associated theatres. Total number<br />
of houses under the Cinemette wing is 196<br />
and to be added soon are 15 theatres to<br />
be opened in Sharon, Greensburg, Scott<br />
Township, Beaver Valley and other sites<br />
in western Pennsylvania.<br />
Ernest Stern, who headed Associated<br />
and who made the sale -to John Harper jr.,<br />
Cinemette board chairman, joined Cinemette<br />
as a consultant. His cousin George<br />
Stern, Associated vice-president, now is an<br />
executive of Cinemette. Norman Mervis,<br />
long general theatre manager for Associated,<br />
joined the Cinemette group in
\<br />
Milt Goodman to Represent<br />
Independent Producers<br />
NEW "iORK— Milt Goodman, former<br />
vice-president and general sales manager<br />
of Columbia Pictures,<br />
has announced the<br />
formation of a new<br />
organization to provide<br />
representation<br />
and distribution consultation<br />
to independent<br />
producers and<br />
their companies.<br />
Prior to his resignation<br />
from Colum-<br />
.... ,, , bia, Goodman had<br />
Milton Goodman<br />
^^^^ ^^^ ^f j^^, ^^^^_<br />
pany's key home office distribution executives<br />
.since 1954. In 1959. he was named<br />
assistant general sales manager, and subsequently<br />
became general sales manager. He<br />
was named a vice-president in 1969.<br />
He is a graduate of the College of the<br />
City of New York where he received a<br />
BBA degree. He also served as a major<br />
in<br />
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.<br />
Miami, Tampa Firms Join<br />
Forces to Produce Films<br />
.\I1.\M1. FLA— .Sal.in's Children" has<br />
been announced as the first motion picture<br />
to be produced as a joint venture by Sterling<br />
Capital Investments. Inc., a Miami-based<br />
firm involved in real estate development<br />
and other financial interests, and Florida<br />
International Pictures. Inc.. a Tampa-based<br />
production company.<br />
Steven J. Green, chairman of the board<br />
of Sterling, and Jerome C. Berlin, Sterling<br />
president, said that a series of films will<br />
be produced under the name of Sterling<br />
International Pictures. Inc. Green added<br />
that several other scripts are under consideration<br />
and said that the early films will<br />
be produced in Florida. Out-of-state locations<br />
may be used for later pictures.<br />
Headquarters for Sterling International<br />
will be in SCI's executive office building at<br />
201 Southwest 13th St. in Miami.<br />
Florida International Pictures, Inc.. is<br />
headed by veteran TV producer Joe Wiezcvki<br />
and screenwriter Garv Garrett.<br />
Lancaster, Clark, Kibbee<br />
Tour for 'Midnight Man'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Academy Award winner<br />
Burt Lancaster. Susan Clark and producer-director<br />
Roland Kibbee have begun a<br />
.special promotional tour on behalf of Universal's<br />
"The Midnight Man," in which<br />
Lancaster and Miss Clark star with Cameron<br />
Mitchell. The film was co-authored.<br />
co-produced and co-dircctcd by Lancaster<br />
and Kibbee.<br />
Lancaster met with the press in Charlotte.<br />
S.C. Wednesday (13), and joined Miss<br />
Clark and Kibbee in Columbia, the state<br />
where Gov. John Carl West hosted<br />
capital,<br />
a special reception in their honor at the<br />
governor's mansion. Later on in the week.<br />
Miss Clark and Kibbee continued press and<br />
radio/TV activities for the film in Anderson<br />
and Clemson, S.C.<br />
MOTION PICTURES RATED<br />
BY THE CODE & RATING<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
The following feature-length motion pictures<br />
have been reviewed and rated by the<br />
Code and Rating Administration pursuant<br />
to the Motion Picture Code and Rating<br />
Program.<br />
Title Pistfibutof Roting<br />
The Beast Must Die (Cinerama) PG<br />
Caged Heat! (New World) \r\<br />
The Cat .\te the Parakeet<br />
(Hampton Infl)<br />
PG<br />
The Conqueror (reissue) (Paramount) [g]<br />
Dark Star (Jack H. Harris) \c\<br />
The Great Gatsby (Paramount)<br />
PG<br />
Hot Summer in Barefoot County<br />
(Variety Films) [r1<br />
Jet Pilot (reissue) (Paramount) [g]<br />
Peopletoys (Barrister) [r1<br />
Violated (AIP) [r]<br />
'Day for Night,' 'Class'<br />
Are Honored by IFIDA<br />
NEW YORK—"Day for Night." a Warner<br />
Bros, release, has been named the winner<br />
of the Joseph Burstyn Award for the<br />
best foreign-language film of the year by<br />
the International Film Importers & Distributors<br />
of America (IFIDA), it is announced<br />
by the IFIDA executive board<br />
of governors, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Milton<br />
Piatt and Sanford Weiner. Francois Truffaut<br />
was chosen as best director for his<br />
direction of "Day for Night."<br />
Avco Embassy's "A Touch of Class" was<br />
named best foreign film in the English<br />
language. .Also honored from the British<br />
comedy were Glenda Jackson and George<br />
Segal, who were named best actress and<br />
best actor for their work in the film.<br />
Only films produced outside the United<br />
States were eligible for the awards, which<br />
will he presented at a luncheon to be held<br />
in the spring.<br />
Salinger, Jones to Appear<br />
In 'Vortex Conspiracy'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Author<br />
James Jones<br />
("From Here to Eternity") and Pierre<br />
Salinger, former press secretary to Presidents<br />
Kennedy and Johnson, will make their<br />
motion picture debuts in American International<br />
Pictures' "The Vortex Conspiracy,"<br />
now shooting on location in southern France<br />
and in Paris. Both Salinger and Jones will<br />
appear in a poker game sequence of the<br />
adventure-thriller film which stars Michael<br />
Caine, .Anthony Quinn and James Mason.<br />
Producer Judd Bernard and director<br />
Robert ParrLsh said they chose the two<br />
because they "wanted two typical Americans"<br />
for the scene.<br />
"The Vortex Conspir.icy" is part of AlP's<br />
20th anniversary lineup and will he released<br />
this summer.<br />
New Minnetonka Building<br />
For K-Tel International<br />
MINNETONKA. MINN.—Operations of<br />
K-Tcl International. Inc.. now housed in<br />
four separate locations in Minneapolis, will<br />
be consolidated in a $1.3 million headquarters<br />
to be constructed in this city's Napco<br />
Industrial Park. Minnetonka (pop. 35,776)<br />
is a suburb on the western approach to<br />
Minneapolis.<br />
Philip Kieves. K-Tel president, and John<br />
O. Bailey, mayor of Minnetonka. who jointly<br />
announced the building project, said construction<br />
will start June 1. with completion<br />
of the 118,000 square-foot, two story structure<br />
scheduled for October 1.<br />
K-Tel merchandises personal, household<br />
and leisure-time products through intensive<br />
TV advertising in nine countries and its<br />
products are sold through more than 35.000<br />
independent drug, variety and department<br />
stores and supermarkets. Other interests<br />
include the distribution of commercial<br />
motion pictures, publishing and production<br />
and distribution of wines.<br />
.About 150 full-time employees, augmented<br />
by 75 part-time employees during<br />
seasonal peaks of the various K-Tel activities,<br />
will work in the new Minnetonka<br />
facilitv.<br />
All-American Press Honors<br />
Two Columbia Features<br />
NEW YORK— Columbia Pictures has<br />
announced that two of its films have been<br />
honored by the Ail-American Press Associates,<br />
in its 16th annual movie best awards.<br />
The organization is comprised of members<br />
of the staff of 37 foreign and domestic<br />
periodicals. The awards, in the form of<br />
engraved plaques, will be presented Wednesday<br />
(27) at a cocktail reception at New<br />
York's Rainbow Room.<br />
Sylvia Sidney was named Best Supporting<br />
Actress of 1973 for her performance<br />
in Columbia-Rastar Productions' "Summer<br />
Wishes,<br />
Winter Dreams." She was recently<br />
cited as Best Supporting Actress by the<br />
National Board of Review and has been<br />
nominated for an Academy .Award in the<br />
same category.<br />
John-Michael Tebelak. creator and co-<br />
.luthor of the screenplay of "Godspell."<br />
has been voted a Special Award by the<br />
members of the All-American Press Associates.<br />
A Lansbury-Duncan/Beruh production,<br />
"Godspell" is based on the international<br />
stage success, with an award-winning<br />
score by Stephen Schwartz.<br />
Herman Cohen to Produce<br />
Black Magic 'Headsman'<br />
LONDON -Robert C oiiw.iy h.is been<br />
signed by producer Herman Cohen to collaborate<br />
on Cohen's original screenplay.<br />
"The Headsman," which focuses on black<br />
magic, witchcraft and martial arts.<br />
Didier Chatelain. Cohen's executive<br />
assistant, is in Hong Kong to scout sites for<br />
location filming of the priHluclion. Iiilerii>rs<br />
are to be filmed here.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25. 1974
New York Super Cops Tour<br />
For United Artists' Film<br />
NEW YORK — David Grcenbcrg and<br />
Robert Hantz, the New York policemen<br />
whose exploits inspired the book and film,<br />
"The Super Cops." are making a multi-city<br />
tour in behalf of the United Artists' release,<br />
starting Wednesday (20). The film is an<br />
MGM presentation.<br />
Now detectives with the New York Police<br />
Department. Greenberg and Hantz were<br />
tagged Batman and Robin by their colleagues<br />
as a result of their incredible achievements<br />
in cracking drug cases and other<br />
major crimes in the Bedford Stuyvesant<br />
section of Brooklyn while they were still<br />
rookies. TTiey are portrayed in the motion<br />
picture by Ron Leibman (Greenberg) and<br />
David Selby (Hantz).<br />
Greenberg and Hantz left New York for<br />
Chicago Wednesday (20). Other stops on<br />
their itinerary were: Detroit. Thursday (21);<br />
Cleveland, Friday (22); back to New York;<br />
then St. Louis, Wednesday (27), and Los<br />
Angeles Thursday and Friday (28, 29). The<br />
San Francisco press will travel to Los Angeles<br />
to meet the two policemen, who also<br />
have small roles in "The Super Cops."<br />
Sheila Frazier, Pat Hingle and Dan Frazer<br />
are co-starred. Gordon Parks directed<br />
from a screenplay by Lorenzo Semple jr.<br />
based on the book by L. H. Whittemore.<br />
William Belasco was the producer.<br />
Sneak of 'Musketeers' Is<br />
Promoted on National TV<br />
HOLLYWOOD—^A<br />
simultaneous national<br />
400-theatre preview, heralded by a national<br />
TV buy, was set by 20th Century-<br />
Fox for Friday (22), one week before the<br />
national release in these same markets of<br />
the all-star version of "The Three Musketeers,"<br />
as part of a unique marketing plan<br />
developed jointly by Jonas Rosenfield jr.,<br />
vice-president of advertising, publicity and<br />
promotion, and Peter Myers, vice-president<br />
of domestic distribution.<br />
The national TV promotion, running<br />
Thursday (21) on the "Kojak" series, informed<br />
viewers of the nationwide 400-<br />
theatre sneak the following day and directed<br />
patrons to consult local newspapers for<br />
listings of specific theatres showing the<br />
film.<br />
FMPC Cancels '74 Confab<br />
CLEVELAND. OHIO—Due to the energy<br />
crunch and its effect on travel, the National<br />
Federation of Motion Picture Councils<br />
has canceled its annual conference<br />
which, this year, was to have been held in<br />
Santa Barbara, Calif.. May 12-16. United<br />
Artists' "Tom Sawyer" is the film selected<br />
by the FMPC as the "best family film of the<br />
vear."<br />
'Grammy Salutes Oscar'<br />
NEW YORK—"Grammy Salutes Oscar."<br />
an hour-long special featuring film music<br />
from the inception of the Academy Awards.<br />
will be presented on the CBS-TV Network<br />
Saturday evening (30). The Oscarcast<br />
will be seen over NBC-TV April 2.<br />
BOXOFHCE :: March 25, 1974<br />
itself<br />
SHOW-A-RAMA SIDELIGHTS<br />
JHE DICKINSON tlRCLII w.is well<br />
at represented Show-.\-Rama, as the<br />
organization held a meeting Monday (11)<br />
at the Glenwood Manor with most of the<br />
managers from the 40-theatre chain present.<br />
.Among other news from the meeting were<br />
the awards to Donald Carver, Glenwood<br />
Theatre, Overland Park, western district,<br />
and Patrick Rodgers, Forum Theatre, Columbia,<br />
Mo., eastern district, as managers<br />
of the year. Carver doubled in brass at<br />
Show-.A-Rama. working in the projection<br />
booth with Charles Tryon, Commonwealth<br />
veteran, and J. P. Kraft, veteran projectionist<br />
of Local 170. Tryon came into his own<br />
at the Thursday luncheon when Show-A-<br />
Rama presented him with a special appreciation<br />
award for his long service in<br />
handling the projection and spotlighting at<br />
the conventions. Charley pertly left the<br />
booth, walked across the convention floor<br />
and along the head table's length to receive<br />
the award, all the time throwing hand<br />
signals to Carver and Paul Kelly in<br />
the booth as to how to spotlight him.<br />
Dickinson Awards also went to the following<br />
as outstanding showmen: Bob<br />
Klinge. North Park Cinema, Joplin, Mo.,<br />
Leo Colvin and Alfred Lemuz. Dickinson<br />
Theatres. Topeka. Kas. Community relations<br />
awards were presented to Lawrence<br />
Barney, Owen Theatre. Branson. Mo., Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Randy (Peggy) Smith, Plaza Theatre,<br />
Burlington, Kas.<br />
* • •<br />
Independent exhibitors were plentiful at<br />
Show-A-Rama. a number making the convention<br />
for the first time. One of these<br />
was Clarence Davies, Winamac. Ind.. population<br />
4.000. who operates a single indoor<br />
theatre. The town has no drive-in. Davies<br />
said he was impressed by the extent of the<br />
industry coverage given by Show-A-Rama,<br />
and enjoyed the social highlights as well,<br />
k -k -k<br />
A veteran independent seen again at<br />
Show-A-Rama was Sidney Metcalf, operator<br />
of the indoor Pioneer and drive-in Trail<br />
theatres at Nebraska City, Neb. Sid couldn't<br />
count the exact number of Show-A-Ramas<br />
he has attended, but said he wouldn't miss<br />
them. "It's become a habit with me," he<br />
said.<br />
* • •<br />
Press, radio and television were impressed<br />
with Buford Pu.';ser. the real life "Walking<br />
Tall" sheriff from Adamsville, Tenn. He<br />
came on Monday ostensibly to thump for<br />
"Walking Tall." brought in by Bing Crosby<br />
Productions and Cinerama Releasing. He<br />
made big mileage on the print and hroadca.st<br />
media, and also impressed all who<br />
talked with him as being a down-to-earth,<br />
fine fellow. His presence helped greatly<br />
to boost the Show-A-Rama image among<br />
the general public.<br />
* * •<br />
Tim Beard, operating the Hattiesburg.<br />
Miss, affiliate of Gulf-States Theatres, was<br />
making his second trip to Show-A-Rama.<br />
Tim has a special phase of his operation<br />
with which he is particularly pleased, a midnight<br />
show every Saturday with a black<br />
film for black patrons. It is an established<br />
part of the operation and very popular,<br />
Tim reports . . . Gulf States was represented<br />
on the fern side by Irene Mexic,<br />
of Star Advertising, the advertising director<br />
for the circuit, in from New Orleans with<br />
a number of others of the circuit brass.<br />
* * *<br />
New Orleans also was represented by a<br />
number from the Ogden-Perry circuit,<br />
among them Clark Jackson, who took in<br />
the Show-A-Rama schedide and screenings,<br />
then stayed over to visit with friends and<br />
take in a couple of Kansas City's top<br />
restaurants on the weekend.<br />
• • •<br />
James R. Velde, United Artists senior<br />
vice-president in charge of domestic sales,<br />
in accepting a "doctor of distribution"<br />
award, along with the Motion Picture Company<br />
of the Year honor in behalf of UA.<br />
said the film industry needs no services of<br />
a doctor at this time. He drew a heavy applause<br />
when he said, "It is the healthiest in<br />
years." Joel Resnick, vice-president of<br />
American Multi Cinema, who made the<br />
presentation of the doctorate degree, formerly<br />
was special assistant to the general sales<br />
manager at UA.<br />
* * *<br />
K-Tel Int'l Motion Pictures hospitality<br />
suite during the convention was hosted by<br />
Karen Neuman, advertising coordinator,<br />
and Alan Boucher, regional sales manager<br />
for Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.<br />
A new K-Tel film. "Italian Graffiti," is<br />
completing production and .should be ready<br />
for exhibitors in late April.<br />
• • *<br />
Joseph Perera, who came from Wadduwa,<br />
Ceylon, is associated with Bob Saunders,<br />
president of the Theatre Equipment Co.,<br />
Matthews, N.C., who also manned a booth<br />
at the convention. Perera said that films<br />
are played in Ceylon sometimes earlier than<br />
in the U.S. He also mentioned that "Sound<br />
of Music" was presented in 70mm with<br />
the finest stereo equipment. Movies are<br />
very popular in Ceylon, he said, but equipment<br />
is expensive and must be imported<br />
by special permission from the government.<br />
George Segal Named M.C.<br />
For Oscar Av/ards Show<br />
HOLLYWOOD—George Segal will serve<br />
as a master of ceremonies for the 46th annual<br />
awards of the Academy of Motion Picture<br />
Arts and Sciences, it was announced by<br />
Jack Haley jr.. producer of the program.<br />
Segal is the third host selected for the program.<br />
Burt Reynolds and Diana Ross previously<br />
wore set by Haley.<br />
This will be Segal's second appearance<br />
on an Oscar show, but his first in the role<br />
of a master of ceremonies. He appeared as<br />
a presenter at the 1970 ceremonies. The<br />
presentation will be held Tuesday, April<br />
12, at the Los Angeles Music Center.
:,jSk^\j>^ x"= BOXOFFICE ;: March 25, 1974<br />
^<br />
PICTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF<br />
SHOW-A-RAMA 17 ^<br />
G. Clark Romsoy, vice-president of Universal<br />
Studios who headed o seminar on Universal's<br />
current and upcoming pictures, screenings of<br />
which were held at Show-A-Rama and of the<br />
Glcnwood Theotre.<br />
1^<br />
Joanne Woodward, accloimed Show-A- Romo's "Fcmolc Stor of the Year," for her perfo<br />
bia's "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams," and Poul Newman, voted "Mole Star of the<br />
Romo 17 for his role in Universol's "The Sting," received these honors at the event's c<br />
ice in Colum-<br />
"<br />
by Show-Axing<br />
banquet.<br />
^<br />
^<br />
ncs R. Veldc (center) senior vice-president of United Artists <<br />
cpts Show-A-Romo's citation os Motion Picture Company of the<br />
hard Durwood of American Multi Cinema mode the prescntotio<br />
ch was added o "Doctor of Distribution" degree. Looking on is<br />
;ryl Richards, Miss Show-A-Romo of 1974.<br />
Walter Mirisch was<br />
of the Year" for the many<br />
by the Mirisch Co. for i<br />
United Artists.<br />
as "Producer<br />
Films produced<br />
lease through
I<br />
proce ot the con»enfion'5<br />
BAC op?nin| se<br />
Theotrcs, Easf St. Louis- Mar<br />
durL»r"'""' Commonwoorf'h Thco't<br />
r<br />
movic-mcrchondising that took<br />
odvcrtising, Cincromo'^Rcleal'ing;<br />
vice-president, Bing Crosby Protr<br />
awords. ' *'* Morilyn, received similar<br />
Paul Roth, (r.i, president ot Notionol<br />
the keynote oddress at Show-A-Romo<br />
of Nossou, Bohomos. '<br />
Theotrc Owners, delivered<br />
) rneet.ng. Stonding beside<br />
of the Sunshine Theatres<br />
Th°ect';°r?n Tooeka" TT^" "* *''^ Dickinson 1^<br />
^mtsmsimB^i^i.<br />
BOXOmCE :: March 25, 1974<br />
Dove Woolery, Americon Mulf C —<br />
J>-RErM°rAc''H°rNV?-'°-" ^o"-'- wr-MO^'v.'^V: .^Ve S^re'aVA^^i^Sra-M'
. . . Recording<br />
. . Jeannette<br />
"^Mfcwwi defiant<br />
Shirley MacLaine Company Will<br />
Film Amelia Earhart's Story<br />
Shirley MacLaine will star later this \ear<br />
in a major film based on the adventurous<br />
life of Amelia Earhart. The film, "Amelia,"'<br />
will be produced by Shirley's own company,<br />
MacLaine Productions, and the script is<br />
being prepared by Pete Hamill, prize-winning<br />
New York Post columnist who wrote<br />
the widely acclaimed novel "The Gift" and<br />
screenplays for "Doc" (United Artists) and<br />
Paramount Pictures has<br />
other films . . .<br />
set for production "Framed," an original<br />
screenplay by Mort Briskin, and signed him<br />
to produce the filin. Phil Karlson will direct<br />
and Joe Don Baker will play the starring<br />
role. Briskin, Karlson and Joe Don Baker<br />
make up the trio responsible for the highly<br />
successful production of "Walking Tall."<br />
"Framed" will be filmed entirely in Nashville,<br />
Tenn.<br />
Universal's 'Rooster Cogburn'<br />
Continuing Wayne's Oscar Role<br />
Hal \\'alli^. committed this year to four<br />
priKluctions lor Universal, announced thai<br />
John Wayne will star in "Rooster Cogburn,"<br />
continuing the role of the grizzled gunfighter<br />
with the eyepatch which won him<br />
an Oscar in 1970 for "True Grit." Also<br />
on Wallis's slate are "To Die in California,"<br />
"The Raid on Villa Joyosa" and "Panic"<br />
Walter Shenson, who produced the<br />
. . .<br />
Beatle.s' films, has moved on to the MGM<br />
lot to prepare his first U.S. movie, "We<br />
Try Harder," for MGM. Shenson's most<br />
recent production, "Digby, the Biggest Dog<br />
in the World," will be released in the U.S.<br />
this summer by Cinerama Releasing Corp.<br />
... An original script by Robert Blees,<br />
"Scoring," will be produced by Arthur<br />
Productions, with the writer acting as producer<br />
and Arthur Marks, General Film<br />
Corp. president, as executive producer.<br />
in a joint venture with the USSR, was announced<br />
by author-producer Aramais<br />
Hovsepian, following his return from the<br />
USSR. "Your House and Mine" will be<br />
made at the Kino Studio.s, Erevan, Armenia,<br />
By SYD CASSYD<br />
the L .S. P.iul Kohner is the producer's<br />
agent, with Paul Ross handling public relations.<br />
Steve McQueen, Paul Newman<br />
Teaming in<br />
'Towering Inferno'<br />
Hollywood's two lop male superstars will<br />
be teamed for the first time with the signing<br />
of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman<br />
to head the cast of Irwin Allen's multimillion-dollar<br />
production of "The Towering<br />
Inferno" for 20th-Fox and Warner Bros.<br />
Newman will portray the architect of the<br />
tallest building in the world and McQueen<br />
will be seen as the fire chief who leads<br />
the battle against an awesome holocaust<br />
when the towering structure catches fire.<br />
According to producer Allen, the picture<br />
will be made in the same manner as "The<br />
Poseidon .Adventure" with John Guillermin<br />
signed as director and Allen personally directing<br />
the action sequences. This production<br />
marks the first time that two major<br />
studios have formed a joint venture to produce<br />
a motion picture. Stirling Silliphant<br />
adapted the screenplay for the screen from<br />
two similar novels, Richard Martin Stern's<br />
"The Tower" and "Glass Inferno'" by Frank<br />
Robinson and Tom Scortia. Production will<br />
begin at 20th-Fox in early May.<br />
Frank Perry Seeking Eight<br />
Major Actors for Same Film<br />
Frank Perry is in town seeking actors<br />
of major stature for the eight strong central<br />
roles called for in "Rancho Deluxe," which<br />
he will direct as a Frank Perry-Elliott<br />
Kastner co-production for United Artists.<br />
Perry hopes to have the film before the<br />
cameras before May 1 . . . Deborah Raffin<br />
has signed for the much discussed role of<br />
"January," nymphet daughter of a Hollywood<br />
film executive in Paramount's Howard<br />
W. Goch production Jacqueline Susann's<br />
"Once Is Not Enough." She joins a multi-<br />
Dallas Forty," Paramount's expose of pro<br />
football, will have Oscar winners Jerem\<br />
Earner as its writer and Hal Ashby as director<br />
. . . Frank Pierson will write the<br />
screenplay for Columbia's "Caves of Steel.'<br />
a science fiction picture based on a novel<br />
by award-winning author Isaac Asimov.<br />
The film will be producer Gerald Ayres'<br />
next Acrobat production to go before the<br />
cameras. His most recent film for Columbia<br />
was "The Last Detail."<br />
Weaving 'At Long Last Love'<br />
Around 23 Cole Porter Tunes<br />
Twentieth Centur>-Fox has entered into<br />
an agreement with Peter Bogdanovich to<br />
film "At Long Last Love," which will contain<br />
23 Cole Porter tunes of the 1920s<br />
and 1930s. These are to be integrated into<br />
the comedy-romance script by Bogdanovich<br />
and will be filmed on several Hollywood<br />
studio back lots. Jere Henshaw, 20th-<br />
Fox vice-president in charge of worldwide<br />
production, said that production is to begin<br />
in June for a possible December release.<br />
Arthur Butler will supervise the musical<br />
scoring and Frank Marshall is to be the<br />
associate producer . . . Executive producer<br />
Ron Miller has named Jerome Courtland<br />
producer and John Hough director of Walt<br />
Disney Productions" "Escape to Witch<br />
Mountain."' The story of two young orphans<br />
with supernatural powers, the Technicolor<br />
thriller rolls in April near Monterey, Calif.<br />
. . . "Shampoo," which went before the<br />
cameras this week with Warren Beatty.<br />
Julie Christie and Goldie Hawn starring.<br />
is being produced by Beatty for Columbia<br />
Pictures. Hal .Ashby directs from an original<br />
comedy screenplay by Robert Towns and<br />
'California Split' Character<br />
Role Assigned Bert Remsen<br />
Bert Remsen. an actor and casting director<br />
for Spelling-Goldberg Productions,<br />
has one of the character roles in Robert<br />
Altman's "California Split." starring George<br />
Segal and Elliott Gould . Clift.<br />
a discovery in Houston, Tex., will make<br />
her cinema debut in World Wide Pictures'<br />
"Hiding Place" as Corrie ten Boom, whose<br />
book, about her experiences as the organ-<br />
star cast headed by Kirk Douglas, Alexis<br />
USSR-U.S. Co-Production Pact<br />
Smith, Melinda Mercouri, David Janssen izer-leader of a Dutch underground operation<br />
a.ssisting Jews to escape invading<br />
Involves Two Motion Pictures and George Hamilton . . . Mexican actor<br />
\ major co-produclion agreement, m- Pedro Armendariz jr. will play the Chicano Nazis, became a best seller . . . Producer<br />
volving two pictures to be made in English policeman buddy of George Kennedy in Lester Welch is conducting a nationwide<br />
Universal's and the Filmakers Group's search for an unknown to play the title<br />
"Earthquake," contemporary drama about role in his "The Mario Lanza Story," to<br />
a massive tremor that destroys much of Los be filmed this fall . . . Hope Lange was<br />
Angeles. Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner. signed by co-producers Dino de Laurentiis<br />
Lome Greene and a large name-cast of and Michael Winner to star opposite Charles<br />
for distribution in the Soviet block, possibly performers already are signed for the film. Bronson in "Death Wish," which Winner is<br />
English to the rest of<br />
directing for Paramount release. Ms. Lange.<br />
manager and sound technician will be sent<br />
in the picture, which is being filmed on<br />
over from the U.S. "Family Revenge," the Oscar nominees Alan and .Marilyn Bergman<br />
have been pacted to write a song for<br />
star Roberta Flack has been<br />
location in Hawaii, Arizona and New York<br />
second picture in the agreement, will be<br />
filmed in Hollywood in the summer of the film "99-3/4% Dead,"' a 20th-Fox Picture<br />
starring Richard Harris . . . Jordan title role of famed blues singer Bessie Sitiith<br />
signed by producer Porter Bibb to play the<br />
1975, produced by international filmmaker<br />
Eugene Franks. Written by Hovsepian, the Cronenwelh has been a.ssigned as cinematographer<br />
for Universal's "The Front Page," based on Chris Albertson's book of the<br />
in Portable Productions feature. "Bessie."<br />
story involves a blood feud carried on<br />
through three generations in Armenia and being directed by Billy Wilder . . . "North simic title.<br />
in Russian, and in<br />
the world by the Hov.sepian group. The<br />
a two-time Emmy-winner and Oscar nominee,<br />
plays the pivotal role of Bronson's wife<br />
Alan, Marilyn Herman Writing<br />
Song for '99-3/4% Dead'<br />
director, two stars, the editor, production<br />
10<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER<br />
This chort records the performonce of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in<br />
the key cities 20 checked. Pictures with fewer five listed. than engagements are not As new runs<br />
are reported, ratings ore added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to as normal determined theatre manogers. With 100 per cent as "normal,"<br />
grosses by the<br />
the figures the gross ratings or ' show obove below that mork 'Asterisk denotes combination bills)<br />
z2u-^<br />
i-t3
. . . "The<br />
. . . Superb<br />
. . "The<br />
. . Dean<br />
^ IB^COMMENT ^<br />
M'O": (WB), January's Blue Ribbon Award<br />
winner, again proved that John Wayne<br />
has a big following among NSC members<br />
(especially exhibitors). Runnerup honors<br />
were evenly divided between "TTie Fantastic<br />
Planet" (New World) and •'Three Sisters"<br />
(AFT), with honorable mention going<br />
to "Mr. Superinvisible" (K-Tel Int'I).<br />
The month's balloting brought a plethora<br />
of complaints, primarily devoted to three<br />
areas: 1 . Few, if any. of the films listed had<br />
played in several regions. (This problem lies<br />
with distributors, who are prone to release<br />
their product in peculiar patterns—instead<br />
of nationwide.) 2. The noticeable lack of<br />
G- and PG-pictures. (Here the fault lies<br />
with the producers, who seem to be becoming<br />
less inclined toward making "family"<br />
films.) 3. Many theatres playing strong G-<br />
and PG Christmas releases (i.e.. "The<br />
Sting." "Papillon," "The Day of the Dolphin"<br />
and "Robin Hood") were retaining<br />
such sure-fire hits for eight weeks or more.<br />
These three problems probably will not<br />
be solved until producers and distributors<br />
realize that people will go to the movies at<br />
other than holiday times—// ihe product is<br />
there.<br />
The following is a sampling of NSC<br />
members' opinions— pro and con:<br />
"The Fantastic Planet"<br />
Imaginative and good general family entertainment.<br />
— Lois Baumocl. Cleveland<br />
Fantastic Planet" is really<br />
MPC .<br />
quite fine. Even the smaller children are<br />
kept entertained.—Charles A. Fisher. Central<br />
Cinema Co., Inc.. Overland Park, Kas.<br />
Fantastic Planet" is a very different<br />
kind of animation picture, this time in<br />
science-fiction. Well-done and most interesting.—M<br />
r s. Paul G e b h a r t. Cleveland<br />
WOMPI . . . Hardly fantastic, but still<br />
worth a look.—Alvin Easter. Cinema Magazine,<br />
Minneapolis.<br />
"Three Sisters"<br />
"Three Sisters" continues the excellence<br />
of the AFT series, and stands alojie as a fine,<br />
moving drama . . . assuming one can accept<br />
the heavy doses of Russian fatalism.—Fred<br />
W. Wright jr.. Evening Independent, St.<br />
Petersburg . . . "Three Sisters" is an intelligent<br />
transfer to the screen of a great play.<br />
—Bmce H. Petri, Fond du Lac Reporter<br />
drama; acting at its best.—Dana<br />
S. Davis, Columbia (Mo.) Tribune ... All<br />
the members of the family enjoyed this<br />
picture.—Mrs. Leslie T. Barco. Greater<br />
St. Louis BFC ... It is certainly not family<br />
fare, but the recent choices have often been<br />
quite far out.—Mrs. Julie Steiner, GFWC.<br />
N.Y.C.<br />
Although AFT can't take credit for producing<br />
"Three Sisters," it nonetheless deserves<br />
our hearty thanks for bringing this<br />
beautiful and touching Olivier version of<br />
Chekhov's play to America. I haven't seen<br />
such brilliant ensemble acting on screen in<br />
Jl^lthough AFT product is excellent,<br />
it's not generally suitable for children.<br />
With this in mind, I have chosen<br />
the t%vo ("Mr. Superinvisible" and "Instinct<br />
for Survival") I feel are suitable<br />
for family viewing.—Bruce W. Harmon,<br />
Cooper Theatres, Inc., Lincoln.<br />
"McQ" is the only possible film to<br />
vote for.—Barry Morrison, Denver<br />
"Mr. Superinvisible": Really, children<br />
should be as protected from this<br />
sort of thing as from "The Exorcist."<br />
The jiggling camera and frequent colortone<br />
changes—as if each day's shooting<br />
had been done on whatever film they<br />
had on sale at the discount store that<br />
day— pose a >ery real threat of eye<br />
damage. Film distributors and exhibitors<br />
have as much of an obligation to<br />
protect children from this as they do to<br />
shield them from excess sex, nudity and<br />
violence.—Doug Smith, Buffalo Courier-Express.<br />
"McQ": Wayne makes a vain attempt<br />
at a police action-drama. Action<br />
fans will find "McQ" unfulfilling, since<br />
there is too little gun play and fisticuffs<br />
to warrant more than mild excitement.<br />
"The Gospel Road": Cash has made a<br />
futile attempt at depicting the story of<br />
Christ. The film is too low-budget and<br />
amateurish to merit attention.—Tony<br />
E. Rutherford. WKLC Radio, Huntington,<br />
W. Va.<br />
cesses of AFT's ambitious first season.<br />
Jim Shertzer, Winston-Salem Journal.<br />
"Mr. Superinvisible"<br />
K-Tel has made a surprisingly, very good<br />
little film and we should encourage such<br />
efforts as "Mr. Superinvisible." The NSC<br />
should support such valiant efforts. They<br />
need us to survive.—Don Leigh McCulty.<br />
W. Va. Theatre Booking Service. Clarksburg<br />
Fun entertainment for the whole<br />
family.—Sandra Cook, Spartanburg (S.C.)<br />
. . . family really enjoyed this one.—Elavne<br />
Bybee, KID Radio, Idaho Falls . . . Exhibitors<br />
Journal . Jones was delightful. My<br />
should do their best to promote and<br />
encourage independent product and marketing<br />
that has the quality of "Mr. Superinvisible"<br />
and K-Tel.—Tim Warner, Theatre<br />
Operators. Inc.. Bozeman, Mont. . . .<br />
Best family picture.—Ralph W. Bradshaw.<br />
Ritz Motor Vu, Tooele, Utah . . . It's the<br />
only fun picture of the month.—Janice<br />
Hanson, Triangle Drive-In, Rockwell City.<br />
Iowa.<br />
Miscellaneous<br />
(Listed in order of votes received)<br />
object to some of the casting, but Johnn\<br />
Cash should be encouraged and receive far<br />
more support from moviegoers than he has<br />
for this contribution he has made to fine,<br />
family-film entertainment.—Dan Dunkelberger.<br />
Oral Roberts U., Tulsa.<br />
In "The Gospel Road." with Johnny<br />
Cash, the scenes are splendid, as well as the<br />
music. Everyone should enjoy this picture!<br />
—Charles A. Fisher, Central Cinema Co.,<br />
Inc.. Overland Park. Kas. . . . How can<br />
you vote on this mess? "TTie Gospel Road"<br />
is the only possibility.—Emery Wister,<br />
Charlotte News.<br />
Instinct for Survival hung just enough<br />
historic storyline onto admittedly stock nature<br />
footage to provide a very sensitive and<br />
entertaining show. Commendably different<br />
in that it never glorified man's destruction<br />
of animals or permitted the animals to be<br />
made fools of. Loud cheers for the producer.<br />
Sun Infl.—Doug Smith. Buffalo Courier-Express.<br />
Never Look Back: The beauty of the<br />
mountain scenes is most engrossing. An interesting<br />
film.—Mrs. Wayne F. Shaw,<br />
NSUSD of 1812. Lawrence. Kas. . . . While<br />
an almost impossible story, it holds one's<br />
interest the entire time.—Mrs. Paul Gebhart.<br />
Cleveland WOMPI.<br />
Sticks, Stones & Whatever<br />
What a sad list this month. I can't even<br />
figure out your winner. If one is simply<br />
judging quality. "Three Sisters" was beautifully<br />
wrought. While several of the listed<br />
films have not yet opened in Richmond,<br />
those that have— like "McQ" and "The<br />
Serpent"—are certainly not for children,<br />
and I'd hate to subject anybody of any age<br />
to "Deaf Smith," Expect next month will<br />
be better.—Carole Kass, Richmond Times-<br />
Dispatch . . . For what I hope are obvious<br />
reasons, I pass.^—James R. Ruth, Sunday<br />
News. Lancaster.<br />
Billings is in the wilderness when it<br />
comes to new films. Haven't seen any of<br />
these, so will have to skip voting again this<br />
month. Theatre management in Billings is<br />
rather odd, to say the least. They keep giving<br />
us reruns of "M*A*S*H" and "The<br />
Godfather" instead of showing us new films.<br />
Real film buffs in Billings have to go to<br />
Denver to see new films, but that becomes<br />
rather expensive after a while.—Kim Larsen.<br />
Billings Gazette ... A lean month.<br />
Nothing on the list is worthwhile.—H.G.<br />
Lewis, Lewis-Andrews Theatres, Chicago.<br />
Happily, I have not seen ONE of the<br />
current selections, but I know the background<br />
of these films and not one is worth<br />
the time of filling out this card. Quick! Our<br />
movies need HELP.—Al Shea, West and<br />
East Bank Guides. New Orleans . . . Only<br />
"Black Moses," "Deaf Smith," "Kung Fu,"<br />
"McQ" and "Outside Man" have played in<br />
Miami. If I had to make a choice between<br />
these pictures, it would be the white space<br />
between the titles that I would select. I enjoyed<br />
that much better.—John Walker,<br />
WCKT-TV. Miami.<br />
The only one I've seen that is even close<br />
to deserving a vote is "McQ," but it is such<br />
a corny, hackneyed, trite epic that I can't<br />
bring myself to mark the box. No vote this<br />
month.—Larry Thomas, exhibitor, Fayetteville,<br />
W. Va. . . .<br />
The Gospel Road: Since the objective of<br />
the National Screen Council to try and<br />
More lemons than a<br />
is a long time. Olivier's direction turned the<br />
pick a film of the month for the whole grocery store this month. Haven't seen<br />
play into a work entirely satisfying as film,<br />
and Geoffrey Unsworth's photography and<br />
"Fantastic Planet" or "Three Sisters"<br />
family, I would select Johnny Cash's "The<br />
William Walton's score assisted greatly. Gospel Road." It abounds with a fresh<br />
"Three Sisters" and "The Homecoming" warmth and style that are rare with Bibletheme<br />
otherwise. I'd rather go to a fire than to<br />
one of this month's selections.—John Kane,<br />
seem likely to be the most dazzling suc-<br />
films. TTiere may be good reason to American Int'I Pictures,<br />
N.Y.C.<br />
12 BOXOFFICE :: March 25. 1974
• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS<br />
• ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />
• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
• FEATURE RELEASE CHART<br />
• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST<br />
• SHORTS RELEASE CHART<br />
• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS<br />
• REVIEWS OF FEATURES<br />
• SHOWMANDISING IDEAS<br />
THE GUIDE TO BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D I N G<br />
[CAMPAIGN FOR<br />
SINBAD' SWINGS INTO HIGH GEAR<br />
Broad-based publicity-exploitation effort set to coincide with major U.S. openings<br />
Columbia Pictures' broad-based publicity-<br />
Eploitation campaign for "The Golden<br />
Voyage of Sinbad" has moved into high<br />
to coincide with major openings this<br />
th and next throughout the country.<br />
of the most ambitious merchandising<br />
ajects in Columbia's recent history, the<br />
mpaign is keyed to the fantastic nature<br />
the spectacular film and is fully dead<br />
in a specially prepared campaign<br />
aual currently being distributed to Coabia<br />
fieldmen and exhibitors across the<br />
le recent Science Fiction and Horror<br />
Festival at the University of Arizona,<br />
ded by some 1,500 university and high<br />
3l students, attested to the powerful<br />
al of the major merchandising effort<br />
ide by Columbia in support of the re-<br />
The students sought the giveaway<br />
naterial available, bought what was not<br />
free," and enthusiastically attended the<br />
^narama film's screening, which served as<br />
festival's closing attraction.<br />
Manual Offers Tie-Up Suggestions<br />
he merchandising manual places strong<br />
»hasis on the film's science-fiction horror<br />
fantasy aspects and explores such other<br />
ling angles as fashion and other tie-ups.<br />
irspaper and radio support, book pro-<br />
Jmotions and a wide variety of audio-visual<br />
and "family" angles.<br />
Ray Harryhausen, the technical effects<br />
cpert who co-produced "The Golden<br />
Voyage of Sinbad" and served as its creator<br />
" special visual effects, last year published<br />
at he called "Film Fantasy Scrapbook,"<br />
ling the history of his work in film<br />
to the time when he first saw "King<br />
g" and realized this was the sort of<br />
er he wanted for himself. A.S. Barnes<br />
Company, the publishers, worked with<br />
alumbia on the preparation and distribtiof<br />
a new dust jacket for the profuseillustrated<br />
Harryhausen book, one call-<br />
» even greater attention to his current<br />
snplay, which uses Columbia advertising<br />
art for its front and back covers.<br />
The merchandising manual lists Warner<br />
Paperback distributors in the United States<br />
and Canada.<br />
The Marvel Comics Group, with a longstanding<br />
reputation as the Olympus of<br />
comic book publishing, has prepared a<br />
comic book version of "The Golden Voyage<br />
of Sinbad" and, in an unusual spin-off.<br />
Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee has<br />
written and narrated a 60 and a 30-second<br />
radio spot for the film.<br />
Also available on a single 45 rpm record<br />
are two other sets of 60 and 30-second spots.<br />
One set plugs the adventure aspects of<br />
the film; the other is narrated by Bruce<br />
Morrow and is aimed at disc jockey and<br />
"top 40" programs.<br />
Columbia has prepared multi-colored<br />
"Sinbad" Dynarama one-sheet zodiac posters<br />
which are especially attractive to young<br />
people and can also be used in theatre<br />
lobbies and store windows.<br />
A "Sinbad" T-shirt, with the film'<br />
vertising art and title treatment in full<br />
color, is available in various sizes. Also<br />
available are "Sinbad" Magic Eye decals.<br />
Caroline Munro's hand is marked by such<br />
a magic eye in the film, and at one point<br />
this helps save the life of John Phillip Law<br />
as the swashbuckling sailor of legend and<br />
literature.<br />
Magazines Offer Publicity Breaks<br />
Other appeals to the youth market and<br />
to film-fantasy fans can be found in breaks<br />
in such publications as Castle of Frankenstein,<br />
which devoted much of its January-<br />
February issue to the film and to Ray Harryhausen<br />
and also came up with front-andback<br />
cover art especially prepared around<br />
"The Golden Voyage of Sinbad." The Fall<br />
issue of the magazine Cinefantastique also<br />
turned its back cover to "The Golden<br />
Voyage of Sinbad."<br />
On a more restrained note, Columbia<br />
has made available a four-page Educational<br />
Continued on next page<br />
I.<br />
Harryhausen's out-sized "Film Fantasy<br />
ipbook" is available for book displays.<br />
veaways and contest prizes.<br />
Another book a showman can latch onto<br />
the Warner Paperback Library edition<br />
"The Golden Voyage of Sinbad."<br />
elized by Steve Hart from the film's<br />
AfcnilH-i\ of tin- iiiliine Univcisity cluiplci oj Pi Kap/xi Alplui iiaternity saluted<br />
John Wayne, star of WB's "McQ." with a paraJe ihiouah the streets of uptown<br />
New Orleans. The event was staged in answer to the recent reception IVayne<br />
received at Harvard University.<br />
JFFICE Showmondiser :: March 25. 1974 21
CITATIONS FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY<br />
.1 roN CouRViLLE. manager of the Charles Cinema in Lake Charles, La., George<br />
R. Brown, manager of the Norshor Theatre in Dtihith, Minn., Carter Boehm,<br />
manager of the Springfield Cinema in Springfield, Va.. and Wally R. Roshick.<br />
a.Ksistant manager of the Metropolitan Theatre in Winnipeg. Man., for their<br />
imaginative marquee display— plus<br />
effective use of lobby and window displays—and in the case of Boehm, an<br />
a variety of youth-oriented contests and<br />
related campaign gimmicks employed during successful engagements of Walt<br />
Disney s "Robin Hood."<br />
Mrs. Geraldine Randall, manager of the Chouteau Theatre in Irving, Texas, for<br />
arranging a series of merchant tie-ins involving such things as shopping bags,<br />
posters, buttons, key rings and mannequins dressed in fashions of the era from<br />
the late '30s through the '50s for the engagement of "The Way We Were."<br />
Spirited by Mrs. Randall's efforts, the picture established a new set of house<br />
records at the Chouteau Theatre.<br />
Jim Merck, manager of the Mountain Farms 4 theatres in Hadley, Mass., for his<br />
act of proclaiming "Greaser Days" during the opening days of "American<br />
Graffiti" and his subsequent publicity tie-in with radio station WAQY in<br />
Springfield, Mass.<br />
Allan Kaye. manager of the Broadacres Twin Cinema in Hattieshurg. Miss., for<br />
fostering community involvement with local law enforcement agencies during<br />
the playdate for Serpico by sponsoring a contest to select the outstanding law<br />
enforcement officer in the area.<br />
Portland Radio Stations<br />
Help Boost 'McQ' Sales<br />
KISN-AM, powerhouse top-40 .station<br />
letter-passes at the World Interior store.<br />
The picture al.so received publicity from<br />
KWJJ Radio, a country/western station.<br />
Listeners were told to call the station and<br />
give the title of Wayne's new detective<br />
thriller from Warner Bros. Thirty respondents<br />
won a copy of the paperback edition<br />
of "McQ" and a pair of passes to see the<br />
movie.<br />
man dressed as John Phillip Law and a<br />
girl attired as Caroline Munro in her<br />
slave girl role in "The Golden Voyage of<br />
Sinbad." They can distribute flyers and<br />
other material calling attention to the film.<br />
Miss Munro's costumes in the film permit<br />
in the Portland, Ore., area, launched an<br />
extensive promotion with teaser announcements<br />
for its special midnight preview of store tie-ups, using merchandise in stock,<br />
"McQ."<br />
on such things as clothing, jewelry and<br />
The campaign was tied in with World fabrics, and Columbia has prepared an<br />
suggestion for a furniture window or<br />
Interior Systems, a youth-oriented shop. artist's<br />
KISN announcers, broadcasting from their<br />
in-slore display designed for the Arabic<br />
display-window booth facing the street, flavor of the film.<br />
wore "McQ" T-shirts during the week-long The title permits other merchandising<br />
campaign and told listeners to pick up<br />
approaches. The word "Golden"<br />
"Golden Sales Day," "Golden Merchandise"<br />
and "Golden Values." The "Voyage" or<br />
"Golden Voyage" in the film's title permits<br />
a wide-scale promotion around such related<br />
items as luggage, cruise and resort<br />
wear, swim and sports paraphernalia.<br />
Displays might also be set up in hotel lobbies,<br />
travel bureaus and transportation terminals.<br />
In addition to the radio spots, Columbia<br />
has available such audio-visual selling aids<br />
as a six-minute featurette which was first<br />
seen by an estimated 20 million TV viewers<br />
on NBC-TV, an assortment of television<br />
trailers and a Super 8mm cartridge version<br />
of the regular theatre trailer.<br />
Regular theatre trailers are available at<br />
National Screen Service, along with one<br />
and three-sheets, ad mats, teaser trailers and<br />
sets of black and white and colored stills.<br />
'Mame' Fashion Show Set<br />
For Cancer Benefit in KC<br />
A gala "Mame" Fashion Show will be<br />
held April 4 at the Alameda Plaza Hotel<br />
in Kansas City, Mo., for the benefit of the<br />
cancer unit at Research Hospital. The show<br />
is being held in conjunction with the area<br />
engagement of "Mame" at the Glenwood<br />
Theatre.<br />
Tied in with nationwide promotions of<br />
Mame"-influenced fashions in the luxurious<br />
man-made fabric known as Trevira<br />
and with the Kansas City branch of Stix,<br />
Baer & Fuller, Inc., the fashion show will<br />
feature the "Mame" look and sound<br />
throughout.<br />
Leo Narducci, designer of the 40-piece<br />
Trevira collection, will be on hand for the<br />
show. Ten of the costumes designed by<br />
Theadora Van Runkle for Lucille" Ball in<br />
the Warner Bros, film adaptation of the<br />
big Broadway hit also will be presented.<br />
Campaign for Sinbad —<br />
Continued from preceding page<br />
Guide, prepared by Murray Braunstein of<br />
New York City's High School of the Performing<br />
Arts, to help theatremen reach<br />
high school and college teachers dealing<br />
with such subjects as literature, mythology.<br />
the black arts, the occult, filni studies .nul<br />
drama.<br />
A locally-prepared bookmark, distributed<br />
by the public library, is suggested in the<br />
Columbia manual. In addition to calling<br />
attention to the film and playdate, the bookmark<br />
can be used to list available volumes<br />
on a particular theme: magic, mythology,<br />
Arabian Nights, film, the occult.<br />
Columbia also suggests that managers<br />
consider using a street bally stunt with a<br />
.A iKnil-ciilriuue display consisting of two life-size anuizons standing on boulders<br />
made from chicken wire and paper was constructed by manager Don Bigelow and<br />
Ron Oliver of the Carolina Theatre in Elizabeth City, N.C.. to incite interest during<br />
the playdate for "Battle of the Amazons." The display took one week to build.<br />
22 BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 2.";. 1974
'Exorcist' in Philly<br />
Area Hits $1 Million<br />
PHILADELPHIA—In ten weeks The<br />
Exorcist" has grossed over $I,0()0,()()0 ;it<br />
the Stage Door Cinema Theatre in Phihidelphia<br />
and the Westmont Theatre in nearby<br />
Westmont, NJ. The film also opened<br />
four weeks ago at the Milgram Theatre in<br />
downtown Philadelphia to handle the overflow<br />
crowds.<br />
The last motion picture to generate this<br />
type of boxoffice excitement was "The<br />
Godfather" in 1972, which hit the $1,000.-<br />
000 mark (one theatre) after 14 weeks.<br />
Variety 19 Oyster Roast<br />
Nets $980 for Charity<br />
BALTIMORE—Approximately 225 members,<br />
friends and guests of Variety Club<br />
Tent 19 turned out Sunday (10) for the<br />
organization's annual oyster roast at Overlea<br />
Hall, 6809 Belair Rd., an event which<br />
began at 1 p.m. and continued until 6 p.m.<br />
The get-together netted $980 for the Teni<br />
19 fund which will be used for new— and<br />
more—Sunshine Coaches for handicapped<br />
children, ex-chief barker Phil Harris said.<br />
Highlights of the day included various<br />
games and the winning of a clear plastic<br />
umbrella, upon which was pinned $25, by<br />
Joe Pollack, board member of the tent.<br />
This activity cleared $74 for Variety charities,<br />
since there were spirited contributions<br />
and competition for the monetary prize.<br />
Aiding in the success of the day were<br />
committee chairman Philip Weinberg, board<br />
member, ably assisted by dedicated veteran<br />
members Phil Harris, Mrs. Charlotte Snyder<br />
(president of Women of Variety Tent<br />
19 and Joseph Townsley, chief barker of<br />
Tent 19.<br />
The desk near the entrance for collectafternoon's<br />
tickets was manned by<br />
Snyder and Mrs. Frank (Leslie)<br />
(daughter of Phil Harris), with<br />
Irizendine, past chief barker of TenI<br />
executive of Schwaber World-Fare<br />
Frank Cimino, and Mrs. Ellen<br />
ich-hitting when the occasion arose,<br />
reported: "We've gained 12 new<br />
since February 1. I think people<br />
ention in San Francisco."<br />
piece de resistance, as usual, was<br />
a gastronomical lure. The buffet<br />
[continuous basis was created by Lawyer<br />
and his able staff at Overlea<br />
lesy Epidemic Wanted<br />
YORK—A recent issue<br />
of "Loewmanagers'<br />
bulletin issued by Loews<br />
New York, was captioned:<br />
Is Contagious—Let's Have an<br />
at Loews!"<br />
ANNIVKR.SARN CKLKBRA I ION- \ arittv C hih lent 1. Pittsburgh, celebrated<br />
its 47th anniversarj with more than a dozen events at the club in the<br />
William Pcnn Hotel, plus an evening at the Meadows for the races. Conimissioners<br />
of Allegheny County extended best wishes to the club for its 47 years of charitable<br />
work in behalf of handicapped and underprivileged children and noted that<br />
the original Variety Club expanded and that there now are 39 clubs in eight<br />
countries which have dispersed more than $200 million to handicapped children in<br />
20 nations. Variety Week photo shows, left to right, Thomas J. Foep.ter, commissioner;<br />
Nate Kaufman, past chief barker; Nick Lazzaro, chairman of Variety<br />
Week; Leonard C. Stalsey, commissioner; James M. Ecker. chief barker; Bert<br />
Sokol, first assistant chief barker; George Tice. past chief barker and president of<br />
NATO of Western Pennsylvania, and (ieorge Werl, Camp Variety chairman. Not<br />
pictured is Allegheny County Commissioner William R. Hunt. M.D.<br />
Baltimore Trio Financing<br />
Feature Motion Picture<br />
BALTIMORE—Jack Fruchtman of JF<br />
Theatres, Frank Roberts and Howard Owen<br />
will finance a $1 million motion picture to<br />
be filmed here in May, it was disclosed by<br />
R. H. Gardner, movie critic for the Baltimore<br />
Sun. The same three businessmen<br />
took over the operation of the Mechanic<br />
Theatre this season.<br />
In his by-lined article, Gardner said that<br />
the film will be titled "Goldie" and "it<br />
will be a sequel to "The Mack," presenting<br />
actor Max Julien in the same role. Julien<br />
also will direct the movie from a script<br />
by Paul Mooney, a writer for the TV series<br />
"Sanford and Son.' Together with Harvey<br />
Bernhard, producer of the new film and<br />
'The Mack,' both men visited Baltimore<br />
for the purpose of scouting locations.<br />
"In the process of answering questions<br />
as to how he and his associates came to<br />
invest in the project, Fruchtman, operator<br />
of most of the downtown movie houses,<br />
reviewed a series of social developments<br />
dating from the middle '60s. It was then<br />
that attendance at the Hippodrome. May-<br />
ing to realize the work and the<br />
fair, New and Town fell to such an all-time<br />
Variety Clubs all over the world<br />
low, following the mass exodus of white<br />
; forth in helping handicapped<br />
residents to the suburbs, and Fruchtman<br />
with their Sunshine Coach prorealized<br />
he would have to develop a new<br />
Incidentally, the Baltimore Variety<br />
30 members (to date) who have<br />
audience<br />
survive.<br />
for those theatres in order to<br />
for the Variety Clubs Internation-<br />
" 'That was before the day of the socalled<br />
black exploitation film," said Fruchtman,<br />
who dislikes the term C'Kfter all. we<br />
had gangster films in the '30s and nobody<br />
ever called them white exploitation films').<br />
•Starting in August 1968 with a Clint Eastwood<br />
item called "Hang 'Em High," he<br />
began to make a special pitch to blacks<br />
through the media and it paid off.'<br />
"By the the time the exploitation films<br />
began to come along. Fruchtman had<br />
organized the black audience to such a<br />
degree that those films did better in Baltimore<br />
than they did in most of the other<br />
cities in the country. For the first time in<br />
years, distributors began to want to open<br />
their films here. Thus, when 'The Mack'<br />
was ready for release,<br />
Baltimore was chosen<br />
as a test city to see how it would fare . . .<br />
'It was mainly our confidence in Jack's<br />
ability to promote our film that made us<br />
decide upon Baltimore for a location,' said<br />
the producer. Also, it seems that Julien<br />
the people here, whom he describes as<br />
likes<br />
'warm, hospitable and fantastic' "<br />
The plot of "Goldie" was not disclosed.<br />
However, there will be parts in it for<br />
Baltimoreans and Fruchtman already has<br />
it in his contract that he's to appear in<br />
one of these roles. The rest will be filled<br />
through open auditions to be held in Mav.<br />
when shooting is slated to start.<br />
Tahsin Asset Is Director<br />
For UAT Special Events<br />
NEW YORK—Tahsin Assef has been<br />
appointed director of special events for<br />
United Artists Theatres, it was announced<br />
by executive vice-president Salah M. Hassanein.<br />
He will be in charge of non-theatrical<br />
events, such as closed-circuit telecasts,<br />
live stage presentations and special<br />
engagements.<br />
For the past five years, Assef was a film<br />
buyer and booker for United Artists Eastern<br />
Theatres. He will continue to make his<br />
headquarters at UAET offices in Great<br />
Neck, Long Island.<br />
Pa. Income Tax Cut<br />
HARRISBURG, PA.—After a 13-month<br />
battle. Republicans have won their fight<br />
to have the state's personal income tax<br />
cut from 2.3 per cent to 2 per cent. There<br />
are 3,473 bills in the two houses of the<br />
general assembly, dozens of them from the<br />
1973 session having to do with censorshipantipornography.<br />
theatre taxes, theatre<br />
licensing,<br />
etc.<br />
March 25, 1974 E-1
Tent 35 Installs<br />
Welcoming speech by M. J.<br />
"Mike" Fronkovich, president of<br />
Variety<br />
Internotional, at the onnual<br />
instollotion luncheon of<br />
Variety Club of New York, Tent<br />
35. (I. to r.) Preston Robert<br />
TiKh, president of Loews Corp.;<br />
Moyor Abraham Beame, honorory<br />
life member of Variety;<br />
Bernard Myerson, former chief<br />
barker of Variety ond president<br />
of Loews Theatres; Martin H.<br />
Newman, incoming chief barker<br />
and executive vice-president of<br />
Century<br />
cuit.<br />
BROADWAY<br />
J^AME" HAS RECORDED the biggest<br />
opening week for an Easter attraction<br />
in the 42-year history of Radio City Music<br />
Hall, where the Warner Bros, musical starring<br />
Lucille Ball is having its work! premiere<br />
engagement.<br />
The next record-breaker on Broadway<br />
expected to be Paramount"s "The Great<br />
is<br />
Gatsby," which begins a five-theatre run<br />
Wednesday (27).<br />
•<br />
Cinema Lodge 1366 of B'liai B'liili has<br />
become the first industry lodge to accept<br />
female membership, in recognition of the<br />
fact that women are becoming equal with<br />
men in position and compensation in manyareas.<br />
The first three new members accepted<br />
under the new development are Ruth<br />
Levinson, Eastern advertising head of<br />
American International Pictures; Ava Leighton,<br />
general sales manager of Audubon<br />
Films, and Gladys Robhins, personnel<br />
manager of Avco Embassy Pictures. The<br />
lodge's goal is 50 female members by<br />
April 17 and a general appeal to all eligibles<br />
currently is being made.<br />
•<br />
Universal's Goldie Hawn starrer, "The<br />
Sugarland Express," was promoted here by<br />
co-star Michael Sacks, who met with the<br />
local press in behalf of the film. The actor<br />
currently is appearing off-Broadway in the<br />
play "Moonchildren" and previously starred<br />
Football-star-turned-aotor O. J. Simpson<br />
received sports' Life Saver of the Year<br />
Award for 1973 and a Triumph TR6 sports<br />
car at a press luncheon Friday (22) at<br />
74-75 Officers<br />
Mamma Leone's Restaurant. He flew in<br />
from Oroville, Calif., where he has been<br />
on location for his first major motion picture.<br />
"The Klansman," which stars Richard<br />
Burton and Lee Marvin.<br />
•<br />
John Fioredda has been named Brooklyn<br />
and Staten Island division manager for<br />
United Artists Eastern Theatres, .succeeding<br />
.sons. Fioredda joined UAET four years<br />
ago us a.ssistant manager at Brooklyn's<br />
Walker Theatre, becoming its manager t\vo<br />
years<br />
ago.<br />
•<br />
Jerry Baker, who resigned for health rea-<br />
Filmmaker Jonas Middleton states, "Contrary<br />
to popular belief, the quality X-rated<br />
film is not a thing of the past." He points<br />
to the high grosses of his "Illusions of a<br />
Lady" at two theatres here and predicts<br />
that the success of this Andrea True starrer<br />
and of "The Devil in Miss Jones" will<br />
result in more high-quality erotic films.<br />
•<br />
Through April 15, ihe Museum of<br />
Modern Art is presenting the first of a<br />
three-part retrospective of the Soviet silent<br />
cinema. The cycle is being offered by special<br />
arrangement with Gosfilmofond, the<br />
Soviet State Film Archive, and the Pacific<br />
Film Archive of the Univer.sity Art Museum<br />
at Berkeley, Calif. Program notes and<br />
a synopsis accompany each film, since many<br />
are being shown with the original Russian<br />
titles and have not been translated into<br />
English. Among the films are "The Death<br />
Ray" (1925) by Kuleshov cmd Pudovkin;<br />
"Ar.sen, the Bandit" (1923), V. Barsky, and<br />
"Strike" (1925), Sergei Eisenstein.<br />
for Universal in "Slaughterhouse-Five."<br />
Also starring in "The Sugarland Express."<br />
a Zanuck/ Brown production, are Ben Johnson<br />
and William Atherton.<br />
Openings: "The Super Cops" arrived<br />
Wednesday (20) at the Criterion, 86th<br />
•<br />
David Merrick, producer of Parainount's Street East and 34th Street East theatres.<br />
"The Great Gatsby," is guest speaker Ron Leibman and David Selby star as the<br />
Thursday (28) at the National Academy real-life Brooklyn policemen nicknamed<br />
of Television Arts and Sciences' drop-in Batman and Robin in the MGM film, released<br />
luncheon at the Pub Theatrical Restaurant.<br />
by United Artists. Twentieth Century-<br />
He will address the gathering just one day<br />
after his film debuts at five theatres around<br />
Fox's<br />
at Trans-Lux<br />
"Conrack"<br />
East<br />
opens<br />
and Loews'<br />
Wednesday<br />
Cine.<br />
(27)<br />
AIP's<br />
town.<br />
"Foxy Brown," starring Pam drier as the<br />
•<br />
lady who busts up a vice ring, debuts April<br />
•<br />
5 at the Cinerama and RKO 86th Street<br />
Twin II. Wednesday, April 10, Warners'<br />
'Our Time," set in 1955 New England,<br />
hciiins at the Sutton and Columbia's black<br />
western "Thomasine & Bushrod," starring<br />
Max Julien and Vonetta McGee, has its<br />
world premiere at the Penthouse and the<br />
busy RK.O 86th Street. April 17, Israel's<br />
"The House on Chelouche Street" has its<br />
American premiere at the Columbia II.<br />
•<br />
Dennis Fine, former publicist with Columbia<br />
Pictures, is now operating in that<br />
capacity for the public relations firm of<br />
Solters/ Sabinson/ Roskin.<br />
•<br />
In the magazines: Time Magazine Monday<br />
(18) contained a cover story on "The<br />
Great Gatsby Supersell," including four<br />
full pages of color photos. The April issue<br />
of .Seventeen Magazine names 20th Century-<br />
Fox's "Conrack" as "Movie of the Month"<br />
and contains reviews of "Thieves Like Us."<br />
"Man on a Swing," "Digby—The Biggest<br />
Dog in the World," "Blazing Saddles" and<br />
"Vanishing Wilderness."<br />
•<br />
Showcases for Wednesday (20): "Crazy<br />
Joe"; "Don't Look Now"; "The Chinese<br />
Mechanic," a new kung fu film, and AIP's<br />
double bill "Sugar Hill" and "Little Cigars."<br />
Friday (22) "Catch My Soul" began at<br />
showca,se houses.<br />
Latin-American Festival<br />
Offered at AFI Theatre<br />
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Twenty-two new<br />
or recent releases from seven Latin-American<br />
countries comprise the first major<br />
Festival of Latin-American Cinemas, which<br />
started Sunday (17) at the American Film<br />
Institute Theatre, Kennedy Center, and<br />
continues through April 15. The festival was<br />
mounted in association with the Washington<br />
Performing Arts Society's "Tribute to<br />
the Arts of the Americas" and with the<br />
assistance of the OAS, Latin-American<br />
embassies and overseas producers.<br />
The films were selected by AFI film<br />
programing manager Michael Webb. Argentina,<br />
Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and<br />
Venezuela are represented by motion pictures<br />
that range in content from historical<br />
epics to lighthearted comedies and from<br />
docimientaries to social satires.<br />
Approximately half the films are new<br />
to the U.S. and nearly all are in the original<br />
Spanish or Portugese, with English subtitles.<br />
Eric Weissmann Exits WB<br />
To Resume Law Practice<br />
NEW YORK^Eric Weissmann has<br />
submitted<br />
his resignation, effective .April 15,<br />
as vice-president in charge of business affairs<br />
and secretary of Warner Bros, in order<br />
to resume partnership in the law firm of<br />
Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowitz<br />
& Selvin. He will continue to be associated<br />
primarily with the entertainment field.<br />
In accepting the resignation, chairman<br />
of the board Ted Ashley and president<br />
Frank Wells expressed their regrets at the<br />
loss to the company and voiced their wishes<br />
for success in his re-affiliation. Weissmann<br />
has gratefully acknowledged a<br />
happy association<br />
with Warner Bros., which he joined<br />
.Sept. 1, 1972.<br />
E-2<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
.<br />
iNl-<br />
.<br />
Roxy Theatre Presenting<br />
Stage Attractions, Films<br />
NORTHAMPTON, PA.—The Roxy Theatre,<br />
2004 Main St., in this city's downtown<br />
business district, is again offering live stage<br />
entertainment—on a stage that has been<br />
dark since vaudeville died here in the mid-<br />
1930s. At that time the stage flyloft was<br />
sealed off with a suspended ceiling to conserve<br />
heating costs, the basement dressing<br />
rooms were utilized as storage rooms and<br />
the orchestra pit was boarded over and the<br />
organ removed. A new CinemaScope screen<br />
with a heavy steel frame was installed in<br />
January 1954, several feet behind the main<br />
proscenium curtain, and the stage became<br />
virtually unusable for anything other than<br />
film presentations.<br />
Theatre Built in 1921<br />
The theatre was built in 1921 as the Lyric<br />
by the late Henry A. Miller of Northampton<br />
and offered the public good vaudeville and<br />
silent pictures. TTie house was obtained by<br />
James Clark and Jack Greenberg, both of<br />
Philadelphia, and was reopened in August<br />
1933 after being completely remodeled and<br />
renamed the Roxy. The policy then became<br />
mainly the exhibition of motion pictures,<br />
with occasional vaudeville acts.<br />
All that has changed now. Angstadt &<br />
Wolfe Theatres, operators of six eastern<br />
Pennsylvania theatres who have operated the<br />
Roxy since June 1970, have begun a policy<br />
of encouraging stage productions through<br />
local and national promoters. The first presentation<br />
was during June 1972, featuring<br />
the Big City Music Band, a popular Pennsylvania<br />
dance and concert band. Unfortunately,<br />
the concert was unsuccessful financially<br />
and caused other planned concerts to<br />
be postponed several months.<br />
In February 1973. Al Wexler. head of<br />
Brotherhood Talent Associates and Electric<br />
Theatre Concerts, tooth of Allentown, staged<br />
another concert to promote several local<br />
rock and folk groups, again proving unsuccessful<br />
and clouding hopes for the Roxy<br />
stage revival. In March 1973, Richard<br />
Wolfe, co-owner of A&W Theatres, and<br />
Jerry Dean, a prominent and successful local<br />
promoter and radio announcer, came to<br />
agreement whereby they would promote<br />
weekly concerts at the sponsored by WSAN<br />
Radio.<br />
Concerts Successful<br />
'Cheerleader Pushes Saddles Out<br />
Of No. 1 Spot in New York Lineup<br />
NEW YORK— Teenage Cheerleader." a<br />
new pornographic film at the World, topped<br />
all comers this week with a 595 average.<br />
Second was "Blazing Saddles." number one<br />
for five weeks previously, now a close 585<br />
in its sixth Sutton stanza. "Not Just Another<br />
Woman." another sexer, was third with 240<br />
in its eighth week at the Lincoln Art. "Three<br />
Tough Guys" took fourth place with a 220<br />
opening week at the DeMille. Fifth was<br />
Maximilian Schell's "The Pedestrian," constant<br />
from last week and earning an even<br />
200 at the Fine Arts. Holding the number<br />
six slot was "Africa Uncensorcd" (number<br />
two last time) averaging out at 195 for the<br />
second round at the Penthouse (150) and<br />
RKO 86th Street Twin I (240).<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Cinerama ^Busting (UA), 3rd wk 125<br />
Coronet The Last Detail (Col), 5th wk 190<br />
(Hand in Hand), 8th<br />
Fine Arts The Pedestrian ;CRC), 3rd wk. ...<br />
Lincoln Art Not Just Another Womon<br />
[Extravagant Films), 8th wk .<br />
Notional The Last Detail (Col), 5th wk<br />
Penthouse Atrieo Uncensored (AlP), 2nd wk.<br />
Rodio City Music Hall Mame (WB), 2nd wk.<br />
Rialto 1—1001 Danish Delights (Cambist),<br />
the promoters, concertgoers and entertainers,<br />
are the perfect acoustics.<br />
Of the 20 or so concerts sponsored by<br />
WSAN in 1973, all but two have been sellouts<br />
(the house has 558 seats). Each concert<br />
is scheduled for two shows per evening. The<br />
theatre does continue to feature motion pictures<br />
when concerts aren't being performed,<br />
since the Roxy is the only remaining showhouse<br />
in Northampton.<br />
Other plans include initiating community<br />
theatre playhouse projects, summer stock,<br />
making the theatre available for community<br />
organizations to promote various types of<br />
theatrical presentations and establishing the<br />
theatre as the home of a soon-to-be-created<br />
Lehigh Valley Vaudeville Society.<br />
If Richard Wolfe has his way—and it<br />
seems he will—the once dark Roxy stage<br />
will continue to glow from the light of the<br />
carbon arc spot and reverberate from the<br />
sound of a pit orchestra that will shake<br />
loose the ghosts that are embedded in the<br />
theatre's tapestried walls.<br />
.<br />
27th wk<br />
RKO 86th Street<br />
I—Africa Uncensored<br />
Twit<br />
(AlP), 2nd wk.<br />
RKO 86fh 'Arrrt Tv.ir<br />
68th Strer" t' ,1'. ',<br />
5th<br />
II State Man on o Swing Para), 3rd wk. ..<br />
Sutton— Blazing Saddles WB,, 6th wk<br />
Tower East Man on o Swing Para), 3rd wk.<br />
World Teenoge Cheerleader (Mature) ....<br />
Zegfeld— The Day of the Dolphin (Emb),<br />
12th<br />
Grosses Up in<br />
Baltimore;<br />
•Black Hand Side' No. 1<br />
BALTIMORE—Grosses were up, with<br />
only two films ("Breezy" and "Busting")<br />
grossing less than 100. "Breezy," in its first<br />
week at four theatres, could muster only 20.<br />
"Busting" fared better with 85 at Cinema<br />
II. "Five on the Black Hand Side" was<br />
No. 1 again with 260 in its seventh week<br />
at the Met.<br />
Cinema I, Mini Flick I Man on o Swing (UA),<br />
125<br />
Four theatres Breeiy (Univ) 20<br />
Four theatres—Zardoi (20th-Fox) 100<br />
Met- Five on the Block Hond Side (UA), 7th wk. 260<br />
Westview I— Chariots ot the Gods? (SR) 150<br />
Westview II—Serpico (Para), 6th wk 100<br />
Isaac Levy. 9L Succumbs;<br />
Pioneer Trenton Showman<br />
TRENTON. N.J. —Isaac Levy, one of<br />
Trenton's well-known early theatre owners,<br />
died Wednesday (13) in St. Francis Hospital<br />
here. He was 91 and had lived here<br />
87 years.<br />
A pioneer exhibitor. Levy was one of<br />
the men who built the original Lincoln<br />
Theatre in downtown Trenton. He also<br />
owned the Mayfair Theatre and over the<br />
years operated the Centre Street, Greenwood<br />
and Stacy theatres.<br />
Levy was an active worker for the Jewish<br />
Federation and was a former board member<br />
of the Greenwood House, among other<br />
communal activities.<br />
He leaves his wife Ann: three sons, one<br />
of whom is Edgar Levy, who also was a<br />
former theatre owner until he turned tennis<br />
professional: a daughter: two brothers; a<br />
sister: nine grandchildren, and 1 1 greatgrandchildren.<br />
These concerts proved so successful during<br />
the first several months Wolfe and Angstadt<br />
were convinced to make the necessary<br />
renovations to the stage to make it usable<br />
once again for theatrical purposes. The stage<br />
loft has been reopened and the 1,100-pound<br />
screen and frame counter-balanced and<br />
flown. Other plans to be completed in the<br />
near future include restoration of all the<br />
dressing rooms and reopening of the orchestra<br />
pit.<br />
The theatre still retains its 1930s art deco<br />
style and is an excellent example of that<br />
period's downtown movie palace, with beautiful<br />
tapestry panels and ornate hand-painted<br />
designs throughout. Probably the most cherished<br />
attribute of the house, in the minds of<br />
'Walking Tall' Continues<br />
To Score in Pittsburgh<br />
PITTSBURGH — "Walking Tall." the<br />
motion picture phenomenon that doesn't<br />
stop, is continuing to make boxoffice histor\'<br />
in Pittsburgh. Now in its 23rd week,<br />
the film already has amassed $350,000— in<br />
only five Pittsburgh theatres. And the end<br />
is not in sight.<br />
The Pittsburgh success is the latest in<br />
the series of amazing grosses throughout<br />
the U.S. and Canada where "Walking Tall"<br />
already has earned over $35,000,000 at<br />
the boxoffice. The BCP production is a<br />
Cinerama release.<br />
FINER PROJECTION-SUPER ECONOMY<br />
Hurley<br />
Screens<br />
Ask Your Supply Dealer or Write<br />
HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc<br />
BOXOFRCE :: March 25, 1974
. .<br />
BUFFALO<br />
garker Jem Edelstein of Variety Club Tent<br />
7, account executive with WADV Radio,<br />
and his wife Emily left for a one-week<br />
vacation in Acapuico, Mexico . . . Bill<br />
Hebert of Frontier Amusement Corp. represented<br />
that company at Show-A-Rama 17<br />
in Kansas City.<br />
Charlie Taylor, veteran showman and<br />
BoxoFFiCE representative here, has returned<br />
home after a long siege in the hospital and<br />
is well on the way to recovery at .^191 Main<br />
St., Buffalo 14214.<br />
Sidney Cohen, president of NATO of<br />
New York State, and his wife attended a<br />
committee meeting at Charlotte, N.C. .<br />
Telethon chairman Fran Maxwell presided<br />
at a "hype-and-gripe"' meeting of his committee<br />
chairmen Tuesday (12) in the Variety<br />
clubrooms. This is an annual mop-up discussion<br />
to compare notes and receive suggestions<br />
for the next telethon.<br />
Roberta Plutzak, Courier-Express reviewer,<br />
called "Three Sisters" one of the<br />
American Film Theatre's "best offerings<br />
and certainly one of the new year's most<br />
compelling films." The AFT series is shown<br />
of motion picture theatres, has been reappointed<br />
to the board of visitors of Roswell<br />
Park Memorial Institute by Gov. Malcolm<br />
Wilson. His new term ends Dec. 31. 1978.<br />
There is no salary.<br />
the plan, a new method of student evaluation<br />
worked out by the principal and four teachers.<br />
More than 40,000 pieces of mail will<br />
be processed and filed.<br />
Jabdor Cinema, operator of the Fine Art<br />
Theatre here, pleaded guilty to two counts<br />
of second-degree promotion of obscenity, a<br />
Class A misdemeanor, and manager Gerald<br />
\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!<br />
Motion Picture Service Co.<br />
125 HydeSt. San Francisco, Ca 94102<br />
(415) 673-9162 Gerald Karski. Pres<br />
Attenson pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted<br />
second-degree promotion of obscenity,<br />
which dropped the original charge<br />
against him to a Class B misdemeanor, before<br />
City Judge Sebastian J. Bellomo. The<br />
judge ordered a probational department investigation<br />
for sentencing April 1. The corporation<br />
and Attenson also had been<br />
charged with a felony in the showing of<br />
obscene films to a minor. Detective Joseph<br />
J. Scinta had charged that January 23 a 16-<br />
year-old boy was found in the audience. The<br />
state penal law makes it a Class E felony<br />
to show an indecent film to minors. Defense<br />
attorney Joseph D. Bermingham jr. obtained<br />
approval of Asst. Dist. Atty. Robert Bolm<br />
for dismissal of the felony charge on pleas<br />
of guilty by the corporation to two counts<br />
of the original misdemeanor charges and a<br />
plea to an attempted charge by Attenson.<br />
He said in plea application that Attenson<br />
and the corporation were acting in "good<br />
faith" in operation of the theatre, that<br />
changes in obscenity laws had been occurring<br />
swiftly and that higher-up company<br />
officers determined the choice of films.<br />
Philly Center City Minis<br />
Offering Different Fare<br />
PHILADELPHIA—In spite of all the<br />
fanfare and advance build-up for a 29-seat<br />
theatre in the center city, the Sackett Screening<br />
at the Holiday in Cheektowaga and the<br />
Four Seasons Cinema, Niagara Falls ... A<br />
Room, the initial offering of a 1933 mu-<br />
Patrick's Day telethon victory party was sical, "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum." failed to<br />
St.<br />
attract sizable audiences. As a result, instead<br />
held Saturday (23) in the Variety clubrooms.<br />
The dinner featured corned beef and cabbage<br />
of the planned artistic, classic and unusual<br />
and tap beer and was held from 6 to offerings, operator Barney Sackett once<br />
8:30 p.m. Dancing and entertainment followed.<br />
again is showing X-rated films— just as he<br />
Hosts and hostesses of the affair did when he operated (until recently) the<br />
were the Walter Cunninghams, Jack Coveys, Aarde directly across the street from his<br />
John McNamaras, Cy Martcrs and William mini-theatre.<br />
However, the Aarde reopened at the same<br />
Shields.<br />
time under the new management of Ralph<br />
Alfred H. Kirchhofer, retired editor of Moore and Barry Hampe, refurbished and<br />
the Evening News and longtime friend with a new name and matching new policy,<br />
a<br />
as the Academy Screening Room, offering<br />
"I. F. Stone's Weekly." Moore is film coordinator<br />
for the Walnut Street Theatre and.<br />
after getting off to a good start, Jacques<br />
Tati's "Playtime" is scheduled to follow.<br />
"Our policy," the operators said, "is that<br />
we're a movie house, run by people who<br />
Students of Kenmore West .Senior High,<br />
seeking extra credits for their efforts, have<br />
like films,<br />
volunteered to work on the mop-up committee<br />
of the recent Variety telethon. Ap-<br />
and we'll be running new features<br />
which are entertaining, artistic, or profound<br />
proximately 100 students will take part<br />
—or whatever it takes to make a film important."<br />
in<br />
After two $5 opening performances, the<br />
Academy settled down to a policy of $2.50<br />
Sundays through Thursdays and $3 Fridays<br />
and Saturdays, with a $1.50 ticket for children<br />
at all times. The Academy has 110<br />
seats and was totally renovated by William<br />
K. Becker, noted local architect. The building<br />
housing the Academy is owned by Max<br />
Raab, who produced "A Clockwork Orange"<br />
and "Walkabout."<br />
At the Sackett Screening Room across<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Yhe Great Gatsby" comes on the heels of<br />
the area premiere of "Mame" Thursday<br />
(28) at the City Line Center, key neighborhood<br />
house. Budco Theatres opwns<br />
"Gatsby" in center city April 3 at the Midtown<br />
Theatre, in northeast Philadelphia at<br />
the Orleans Theatre and at other area houses<br />
. . . Animation Arts Associates, local film,<br />
TV and sound-and-slide producers, have relocated<br />
their studio at 22nd and Spring Garden<br />
streets.<br />
In a series of interviews with the Pottstown<br />
Mercur in connection with the film's<br />
opening, Alan Green, assistant director for<br />
"The Exorcist," gave a fresh insight into the<br />
movie. He said he couldn't remember a motion<br />
picture receiving the amount of news<br />
coverage that "The Exorcist" has enjoyed.<br />
George and Jack Chartier, who are building<br />
an 88-room Sheraton Motor Inn in<br />
downtown Easton. announced plans for the<br />
building of a twin theatre as part of the motel<br />
project. The duo will seat a total of<br />
1,000. Sameric Theatres has entered into a<br />
contract with the Chartiers to operate the<br />
twin houses on a 25-year-lease.<br />
Industry veteran Meyer Adleman, who<br />
founded the New Jersey Messenger film delivery<br />
service, is serving as honorary chairman<br />
for a dinner-dance marketing the 15th<br />
anniversary of the Harry B. Kellman Academy,<br />
religious day school, at Congregation<br />
Beth El in Cherry Hill, N.J.<br />
Al Baker jr. has just obtained the Apollo<br />
Theatre in Atlantic City, N.J., and will bring<br />
back live burlesque to the resort's Boardwalk.<br />
He formerly presented burlesque<br />
shows at the Capitol, which plans to continue<br />
with the adult-film format on a yearround<br />
basis. In past years the films were<br />
replaced by live burlesque during the summer<br />
season.<br />
The Museum of Art opened its spring<br />
movie festival Saturday (23) in conjunction<br />
with the American Film Institute. First is<br />
a horror series, including such golden oldies<br />
as "The Mystery of the Wax Museum,"<br />
and later a femme fatale series with Rita<br />
Hayworth in "Gilda."<br />
Patron Prefers Petrol<br />
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—It had to<br />
happen! And Al Frank says it happened<br />
a! his Atlantic Drive-In when an excellent<br />
pairing of pictures resulted in a line of<br />
automobiles that reached into the side road<br />
past a marquee that boasts a huge "Atlantic"<br />
sign. When the line moved, one of the waiting<br />
"patrons" approached the cashier and<br />
asked, "Where's the gasoline pumps?"<br />
after ticketing only 60 patrons in<br />
the street,<br />
two weeks, Sackett reopened with "Mother,<br />
Brother and I" on a double bill with "Black<br />
Pines Drive-In Starts Season<br />
LOVELAND, COLO.—The Pines Drive-<br />
Madame."<br />
In, located three miles north of Loveland<br />
on Highway 287, planned to begin its 1974<br />
Martin Poll and Victor Stoloff have season in mid-February. "The Long Goodby,"<br />
ormcd Stoloff-Poll Productions to film<br />
Elliott Gould starrer, was advertised as<br />
rhe Two Worlds of Jim Yoshida."<br />
the premier attraction.<br />
E-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
1 W.<br />
I only<br />
I<br />
)ro's License Law<br />
Be Tested in Court<br />
JORO, N.J. — A new ordinance<br />
bich gives the town fathers the power<br />
movie theatres and close those<br />
"dirty" films is heading for a<br />
A spokesman for the Adult Thest<br />
of the new licensing measure,<br />
he will challenge the law in court<br />
3ugh tries to close the hou.se under<br />
Adult Theatre Building is owned by<br />
Hill of Woodbury, N.J., who said<br />
"[nothing to do with the movie house<br />
leased it to a Louis Trombetta.<br />
show films to the people who want<br />
them," said the theatre spokesman.<br />
ft hurt anybody. If I'm breaking the<br />
have to raid me. But I'll appeal<br />
all the way to the Supreme Court."<br />
the new ordinance, anyone who<br />
admission for movies must obtain<br />
within the ne.xt 30 days at the<br />
hall. The license fee was set at $50<br />
However, the law also provides that<br />
which displays obscene material,<br />
by borough council members in<br />
nance, shall forfeit its license.<br />
J measure was recommended by the<br />
Ministerium, a committee of local<br />
and the borough council adopted<br />
[a detailed definition of just what it<br />
obscene. The new ordinance de-<br />
Variety of sexual acts the council conaappropriate<br />
material for a theatre in<br />
unless the film "taken as a<br />
}ihas "serious" artistic,<br />
(Ad Film Festival<br />
17-22 in Cannes<br />
literary or sci-<br />
Edition<br />
-The organizers of the Inter-<br />
Advertising Film Festival have anthat<br />
the event will be held June<br />
Cannes, France. All interested<br />
production<br />
, houses, advertising<br />
and advertisers are to obtain regis-<br />
>rms for both delegates and films<br />
films, Ltd., 2221 Yonge St., Suite<br />
ato.<br />
Sine for film entries is April 8 and<br />
be received in Cannes by May 8.<br />
regisitrations must be completed by<br />
ir's Canadian juror is T. O'Malley<br />
& Benson, Toronto.<br />
Represent Four<br />
Film Companies<br />
ern Edition<br />
ORLEANS^Ron Pabst,<br />
branch<br />
of Blue Ribbon Pictures, announcacquired<br />
distribution of the prodir<br />
new companies. They are Lac.<br />
Globe Filins and Libert Films<br />
il.<br />
has also been setting up bookings<br />
board for summer playing time<br />
romen," "The Teacher," "Hor-<br />
"Naughty Stewardesses," "An-<br />
Women." "Women for Sale" and<br />
estler."<br />
NORTH JERSEY<br />
Jerry Nisivuecia, long time doorman ,it Iho<br />
Center in Bloomfield. is recovering very<br />
nicely from a recent heart ailment. Jerry<br />
was well known in his earlier years in Newark's<br />
First Ward as a very capable boxer<br />
whose ring name was Mickey Stone. He<br />
spent many years with the Passaic Valley<br />
Sewage Commission prior to his retirement<br />
and employment at the Center Theatre. Doctors<br />
say that Jerry will be able to return to<br />
his duties at the Center in a few weeks. His<br />
return there will be welcomed by Grace<br />
Cartisano, manager of the Center, who also<br />
happens to be his daughter. The Bloomfield<br />
house is owned by Paul Peterson.<br />
The Passion Play of Holy Family Roman<br />
Catholic Church, Union City, began its 60th<br />
consecutive season at the Park Theatre in<br />
Union City and will continue to be presented<br />
on stage each weekend until April 7.<br />
Throughout its lengthy history at the Park,<br />
the Passion Play has continually attracted<br />
large audiences. It is presented on a reserved-seat<br />
basis . . . Comment/ Media Today,<br />
a publication of the archdiocese of<br />
Newark, continues its campaign against the<br />
presentation of X-rated films in New Jersey.<br />
In its recent edition, an editorial sharply<br />
denounces the Strand in Keyport. Art and<br />
Castle. Irvington. and the Treat and Little.<br />
Newark, for their policies of continually<br />
showing X-rated film fare.<br />
Nathan's Clifton in Clifton, managed by<br />
Frank Venezia, began its fifth week of<br />
"Walking Tall" by announcing via newspaper<br />
ads that it was changing the rating<br />
of the film from R to PG because "the<br />
management of this theatre believes this<br />
picture should be seen by young people<br />
under the age of 18 . . . and we recommend<br />
families see it<br />
together." The ad went on to<br />
state that if parents had any doubt as to<br />
the suitability of the film for their children,<br />
they should see it "first for yourself, then<br />
come back and bring your children. We believe<br />
you will want to see it the second time<br />
anyway." The Clifton house continues to<br />
report good grosses with "Walking Tall." as<br />
do most other North Jersey locations where<br />
the film continues to show.<br />
A special sneak preview of the new Jon<br />
Voight film, "Conrack", was presented on<br />
a recent Friday night at UA's Cinema 46<br />
in Totowa, Grant's Cinema 3 in Red Bank.<br />
Mann's Fox in Union and five other North<br />
Jersey locations . . . The independent Rustic<br />
Mall Cinema in Manville recently presented<br />
a Woody Allen double-feature show for the<br />
week, with a .special midnight showing on<br />
Friday and Saturday of "Rosemary's Baby."<br />
which was billed as a "Special Horror Exorcism<br />
Show."<br />
"The Exorcist," which has \ct to be<br />
shown in North Jersey but is doing recordbreaking<br />
business in nearby New York City,<br />
has received much publicity in many North<br />
Jersey newspapers in the forms of "lettersto-the-editor,"<br />
both pro and con, as well as<br />
coverage of many church and social groups.<br />
which have arranged meetings to discuss the<br />
controversial film.<br />
"Papillon" has been held for a fourth<br />
week at more than 12 area indoor and outdoor<br />
locations and continues to turn in excellent<br />
grosses . . . Two popular rock groups,<br />
Quicksilver Messenger Service, and J.F.<br />
Murphy and Salt, will be presented on stage<br />
Friday (29) at Hecht's Central in Passaic.<br />
Two shows will be held, with tickets priced<br />
at $5.50 and S6.50 . . . The new Woody<br />
Allen hit, "Sleeper," opened its sixth week<br />
at 16 North Jersey hardtops and drive-ins<br />
and continues to attract large audiences.<br />
Robert Weiss, chief projectionist at UA's<br />
Bellevue in Upper Montclair. is recuperating<br />
from surgery at St. Barnabas Hospital in<br />
Livingston. A resident of nearby Verona,<br />
Weiss has been at the Upper Montclair<br />
showplace since 1959.<br />
Tough 'Porno' Law Wanted<br />
By Pennsylvania Bishops<br />
HARRISBURG. PA. — Pennsslvania's<br />
Roman Catholic bishops called for an antipornography<br />
bill and said they would support<br />
any efforts to get a tough law approved.<br />
In their statement issued here, the<br />
body of 20 bishops criticized Gov. Milton<br />
J. Shapp for his veto of an antipomography<br />
bill and said it was in "direct contradiction '<br />
to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling designed<br />
to give local communities more<br />
power to ban whatever books and movies<br />
they consider obscene.<br />
Gov. Shapp turned down the bill because<br />
he feared it would harm First Amendment<br />
rights of free speech. The bishops said in<br />
their statement, "Sexual pornography offends<br />
the ideals and values of men, not<br />
because it is sexual but because it is antisexual.<br />
It distorts authentic sexuality and<br />
reduces the human person to proportions<br />
of an exploitable object, an animal."<br />
Commonwealth Sets 2-Day<br />
Huddle in Albuquerque<br />
ALBUQUERQUE—Richard Orear of<br />
Kansas City, president of Commonwealth<br />
Theatres, is expected to lead a contingent of<br />
:ompany executives at a two-day meeting of<br />
New Mexico and Texas managers planned at<br />
the Airport Marina Hotel here Tuesday and<br />
Wednesday (19. 20).<br />
.-Approximately 70 persons from the Dallas<br />
division of Commonwealth are expected<br />
to<br />
attend the sessions.<br />
^^^^ FOR TMI BEST And QUICKEST<br />
q^^^SPECIAL A«A<br />
TRAILERS A ^^^&
. . Bizarre<br />
. .<br />
. . Monroeville<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Johnny O. Glaus is area distributor of Omni "The Three Mu.sketeers" . . . Chatham Cinema,<br />
downtown's only independent theatre.<br />
Pictures, now offering "Plaything of<br />
premieres "Mame" Wednesday evening (27).<br />
with Iron & Glass Bank sponsoring the event<br />
for the benefit of Children's Hospital. The<br />
the Devil" and later Omni releases to include<br />
"Black Starlet." "Thunder McCoy."<br />
"King of Spades" and "Teenage Mistress"<br />
. . . Holiday Inns at Ligonier. Johnstown<br />
and West Mifflin are featuring closed-circuit<br />
Inn-Room Movies . . . Perilman Films has<br />
three new Crown International features.<br />
"Horror High." "Policewoman" and "The<br />
Teacher," according to Max Shabason. manager.<br />
Virgil Jones of JMG Film Co..<br />
Chicago.<br />
locally is distributing Hampton International's<br />
"The Blonde Connection" and "Naked<br />
Evil" . . . Film Ventures International's<br />
"The Legend of Blood Castle" and "Rico"<br />
are being handled here and in Cleveland<br />
by Jack Kaufman.<br />
L'Amoure recently co^featured "The<br />
Young Married" and "Three Day Pass" .<br />
Theatre Equipment Service is the area dealer<br />
for the Ballantyne Pro 35 projectionsound<br />
products . Art's new marquee-front<br />
will be installed soon, this time<br />
with six large plastic panels instead of three<br />
giant<br />
panels. The old front recently was destroyed<br />
in a windstorm.<br />
"Madhouse" is the new AIP offering<br />
which Dave Silverman says will be popular<br />
in exhibition . . . Roly J. Noble, manager<br />
of the Avenue Theatre. DuBois, has been<br />
remodeling the auditorium and lobby and<br />
installing a new concession counter and softdrink<br />
machine. Up in the booth, veteran<br />
projectionist Jim Bojalad is back on the job<br />
following a two-month vacation in Florida.<br />
The Stearn-Hanna Co.. operators of DuBois'<br />
two downtown theatres, the Avenue and<br />
Playhouse, are preparing for the new outdoor<br />
season at the Hi-Way Drive-In.<br />
Jules and Gertrude Curley are the film<br />
industry's busiest couple—and best-liked.<br />
They service exhibitors daily with offset<br />
printing of programs, forms, special heralds,<br />
business letterheads, envelopes, tickets, etc..<br />
at their ADV Agency, 415 Van Braam St.<br />
Jules and Gertrude arc veterans in theatre<br />
service and operation, exploitations, theatre<br />
advertising,<br />
radio, etc.<br />
"Funny Car Summer" has been in wide<br />
circulation at area theatres . . . The EPRAD<br />
Cyclops film-handling systems are available<br />
here at Atlas Theatre Supply . . . Chuck<br />
Fleming, who withdrew from exhibition<br />
after many years at St. Marys, continues as<br />
a stale labor and industry inspector for<br />
Clearfield and Elk counties.<br />
The Easter offering at the Stanley will be<br />
^Bi^^BI^^<br />
bank gave two $5 premiere tickets free with<br />
each new $250 savings account, etc.<br />
The Cinemette takeover of the Associated<br />
Theatres found both groups listed under the<br />
Cinemette trademark in the city's newspaper<br />
Friday (15) . . . Shadyside. neighborhood<br />
theatre operation of the Chatham Cinema<br />
owners, the day after Oscar night will double-bill<br />
"The Way We Were" and "Summer<br />
Wishes. Winter Dreams."<br />
Milt Gibson and Ben Stahl of Atlas Theatre<br />
Supply didn't get off on a vacation last<br />
year due to the illness of Gordon Gibson<br />
but they expect to get goin' sometime this<br />
summer Drive-In's projection<br />
booth was illegally entered and lenses<br />
.<br />
were stolen ... In one day recently we greeted<br />
exhibitors Tom Hickes. Frank Oglietti<br />
and Tom and George Anas.<br />
Gov. Shapp Is Commended<br />
In Inquirer's Editorial<br />
PHILADELPHIA—The action of Gov.<br />
Milton J. Shapp in vetoing the amtipornography<br />
bill "took courage," said the Philadelphia<br />
Inquirer, morning newspaper, in<br />
commending the governor editorially.<br />
"Afier all," said the editorial, "this is an<br />
election year. Why make waves? Why<br />
offend anyone? Let the courts strike down<br />
the unnatural act, as they most assuredly<br />
would. Shapp chose, instead, to veto the<br />
bill, forthrightly and courageously, and we<br />
congratulate him for doing so."<br />
The newspaper called upon the state<br />
legislature to follow the governor's recommendation<br />
in his veto message to enact<br />
legislation specifically tailored for such purpose<br />
if it wants to control the display of<br />
explicit sexual material. The editorial<br />
pointed our 4hat the bill would have permitted<br />
allegedly obscene material to be<br />
seized without a hearing and destroyed in<br />
one county when it would be perfectly acceptable<br />
in another—creating "67 forms<br />
of liberty or censorship, one for every county<br />
in Pennsylvania."<br />
"To uphold our constitutional rights and<br />
liberries—freedom of speech and of the<br />
press, due process of law and trial by jury<br />
is not to favor hard-core pornography, the<br />
weakening of family life or the moral<br />
destruction of children," the Inquirer stated.<br />
"Whatever the legislature does, however.<br />
it has no business infringing upon ihe<br />
rights free citizens to see and re^id whai<br />
of<br />
thcv<br />
wish."<br />
Canton Theatre Is Closed<br />
Ki:OK.UK. IOWA—The Canton Theatre.<br />
ihc only movie house operating in Lewis<br />
( inmty. has closed. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin<br />
Irye. owners and operators of the Canton.<br />
said the theatre would remain dark for an<br />
indefinite<br />
period.<br />
Newspaper Says Proposed<br />
Law Was a 'Monstrosity'<br />
PirrSBURGH — The censorship-aniipornography<br />
bill vetoed by Gov. Milton<br />
Shapp. who seeks re-election, had allowed<br />
the absurd situation of grand juries in each<br />
of the commonwealth's 67 counties setting<br />
up iheir own standards for obscenity. Also,<br />
the bill popularly passed by the gener.il<br />
assembly included numerous provisions ol<br />
dubious constitutionality and five that the<br />
state attorney general found "certainly unconstitutional."<br />
The governor states that he supports<br />
legislation to ban obscene advertising and<br />
the display of sexually explicity material<br />
where children might come in contact with<br />
it. A Post-Gazette editorial reported: "This<br />
is a sensible and needed approach to the<br />
only pornography problem that the law<br />
has any business addressing and we join<br />
with the governor in seeking laws that will<br />
protect children from sexually explicit materials<br />
without infringing on the right ol<br />
adults to see and read what they choose.<br />
The editorial termed the bill a "monstrosity."<br />
In Harrisburg. a number of legislators<br />
desire to introduce new antismut bills to<br />
add to the many already on file and buried<br />
in various committees in the 159th regular<br />
session of the general assembly, held over<br />
from the 158th session of 197.3.<br />
Representatives Fred C. Noye. Peter E.<br />
Perry and Stanford I. Lehr got their heads<br />
together and introduced a proposed act prohibiting<br />
X-rated movies "to be shown only<br />
in outdoor theatres and providing penalties."<br />
This is HB-1939 and has just been handed<br />
to the House's law and justice committee.<br />
A year ago, another bill, HB-748, required<br />
X-rated movies to be shown only in indoor<br />
theatres, etc., and there has been no action<br />
on that proposal by the same law and justice<br />
committee since April 9, 1973.<br />
Giddens & Rester Moves<br />
To New Mobile Offices<br />
MOBILE, ALA.—New offices of Giddens<br />
& Rester Theatres are located at the<br />
Bel Air Cinema in the Bel Air Shopping<br />
Center, it was announced here by W, E.<br />
Limmroth, vice-president and general manager<br />
of the circuit. The zip code is 36606.<br />
"Giddens & Rester's new phone number<br />
is (205) 476-1970," said Limmroth. "Our<br />
mailing address will be PO Box 16524, Bel<br />
Air Station, Mobile. Ala. 36616. Special<br />
delivery letters should be sent to Bel Air<br />
Cinema Theatre, Bel Air Shopping Center,<br />
Mobile. Ala. 36606."<br />
Video Remodeling Ozoners<br />
AIBLIQUFRQLIL—Video I heatres currently<br />
is doing construction work at two<br />
circuit drive-ins in Albuquerque. City manager<br />
Paul West said a 14x1 7-foot annex is<br />
being added to the concession stand at the<br />
Tesuque. Also, 600 feet of curbing is being<br />
installed at the .Silver Dollar Drive-In<br />
to beautify the drive and to help with water<br />
control.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
. . but<br />
. . John<br />
. .<br />
Mass. May Reimpose<br />
Admissions Tax<br />
From New England Edition<br />
BOSTON—Possibility that Massachusetts<br />
may reimpose an admissions tax on theatres<br />
is regarded as serious by Carl Goldman,<br />
executive secretary of Theatre Owners of<br />
New England, who keeps close tab on legislative<br />
developments affecting motion picture<br />
exhibition in the New England area.<br />
The big grosses by professional sporting<br />
events really triggered renewed interest of<br />
Massachusetts legislators in putting a 10<br />
per cent entertainment tax on all forms of<br />
amusements—not just on theatres alone.<br />
Speaker David Bartley of Holyoke told<br />
David Farrell, Boston Globe political columnist,<br />
that imposition of such a 10 per<br />
cent levy would yield $10 million per year.<br />
Farrell agrees with Goldman that the<br />
Massachusetts House will turn to the amusement<br />
tax levy at once, should the state need<br />
to raise additional revenue in 1974. Since<br />
this is election year, however, Farrell, in his<br />
February 19 column, expressed doubt that<br />
legislators will try to push through an<br />
amusement tax before election time.<br />
"But there is no doubt—and leaders of<br />
both political parties concur on this point,"<br />
wrote Farrell, "that substantial new tax<br />
revenue will be needed in 1975."<br />
Farrell said that vigorous opposition of<br />
professional baseball, hockey, basketball and<br />
football teams to a 10 per cent amusement<br />
ticket<br />
tax "will be matched by that of theatre<br />
owners, who are having their attendance<br />
problems because of the energy crisis.<br />
"The movie entrepreneurs, anticipating<br />
possible implementation of an admissions<br />
tax by the state some years ago, have taken<br />
steps to protect their interests.<br />
"One large association of theatres annually<br />
sends each lawmaker on Beacon Hill<br />
a pass for two for free admission daily to<br />
any of the member movie houses. Largesse<br />
of this scale is likely to insure defeat of an<br />
admission levy when it is proposed."<br />
George Dusman, 72, Dies;<br />
Veteran Md. Boothman<br />
BALTIMORE— George Gladfelter Dusman,<br />
brother of Henry Dusman, former<br />
owner of the J. F. Dusman Co. which was<br />
sold to the Allied Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
of Philadelphia and Baltimore, died Saturday<br />
(16) at a hospital here. He was 72.<br />
Dusman was well-known in the theatre<br />
industry, having been a projectionist for<br />
several motion picture houses. He was<br />
president of MPMO Local 181 from 1957<br />
to 1961 and later was the local's business<br />
agent for eight years. He was working at<br />
the Town Theatre at the time of his retirement<br />
in 1969.<br />
He also leaves his wife Kathryn; one<br />
daughter, Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Wiggins;<br />
two sons, Richard H. and Donald L., the<br />
latter an operator at Schwaber World-Fare's<br />
Valley Drive-In; two other brothers, Morris<br />
and Stanley; two sisters. Miss Helen Dusman<br />
and Mrs. Laura Blaney, and ten grandchildren.<br />
BALTIMORE<br />
J*lie «orId premiere ol \Iy \\.i> ' will be<br />
held here May 1 at five theatres simultaneously.<br />
The houses are: Northpoint Plaza.<br />
Pikes, one of the Westview cinemas, Harford<br />
Mall and the Hillendale. The film was<br />
produced and directed by Joseph Brenner<br />
Associates and stars Joseph Sicwardson.<br />
Richard Loring and Marie Du Toit. "We<br />
expect to have a premiere attended by visiting<br />
dignitaries and with lots of hoopla, Ray<br />
Thompson & Associates is handling all advertising<br />
and publicity exclusively for "My<br />
Way,' " stated Randy Pfeiffer. account executive<br />
for Ray Thompson ... J. Cookman<br />
Boyd, lawyer for MPA.A, has been in Annapolis<br />
during the current legislative session<br />
representing the association. He is being especially<br />
watchful in regard to new laws presented<br />
pertaining to the production and distribution<br />
of films in Maryland.<br />
Performance Magazine, entertainment<br />
weekly published by Steven H. Cardin. has<br />
folded after about two years due to financial<br />
difficulties . . . Movie companies reportedly<br />
are interested in "Lethal Gas." Ron Kurz's<br />
first novel to be published this fall. Ron<br />
Walter Gettinger, Gettinger Amusement<br />
Co.. reports that the restaurant, coffee shop,<br />
recreation room and office of the Stowaway<br />
Motel. Ocean City, are being rebuilt at a<br />
cost of approximately $250,000. The recreation<br />
room, which holds 200, will be available<br />
for conventions. Gettinger added that<br />
his Shore Drive-In. Ocean City, plans to reopen<br />
for the season in April—around Easter.<br />
Israel Batista-Olivieri, administrator of<br />
operations. Grant Theatres, and his wife<br />
Shelma recently hosted the latter's youngest<br />
brother. Larry Archer, a full-blooded Cherokee<br />
Indian, and his wife Nadys, who live in<br />
Norfolk, Va. . . . Also attending the recent<br />
Paramount international sales seminar in<br />
Beverly Hills. Calif., were Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Irwin Cohen and Mr. and Mrs. .'Varon Seidler<br />
of R/C Theatres and Mr. and Mrs. Jack<br />
Fruchtman. JF Theatres.<br />
Senate Bill 65 was passed Friday (1). The<br />
measure would "prohibit obscene movies<br />
(in) outdoor theatres whose (screens) can be<br />
seen from public roads" . . . House Bill 1275<br />
would allow the Maryland Board of Censors<br />
to prohibit persons under a certain age from<br />
seeing certain movies. This bill was introduced<br />
by Del. Richard Rynd (D-Second<br />
District) and would provide stiff penalties<br />
for movie-house owners who permit minors<br />
to view X-rated films.<br />
Max Brecher of Hallmark Films told Seymour<br />
Kopf. News American columnist, that<br />
ihis city "has all the technical know-how<br />
and professional abilities to be the new Hollywood."<br />
According to Brecher, the first "international<br />
X movie was financed in Baltimore<br />
. its backers sold out too quickly<br />
to out-of-town interests, who made millions."<br />
Warner Bros.' "Blazing Saddles" had its<br />
Maryland premiere Friday (15) at Security<br />
Mall 11, Pikes and York Road Cinema .<br />
"Breezy," starring William Holden and Kay<br />
Ixnz, started Wednesday (1.^) at the Patterson.<br />
Westview III, Campus Hills Cinema<br />
2 and Senator.<br />
Caniclot Theatres I and II in the Delco<br />
Plaza Shopping Center, Winchester, Va.. is<br />
owned by Virginia Theatre Enterprises,<br />
based in Langley Park. Chief of the circuit<br />
is Bob Goldhammer, who headquarters here<br />
and who owns a number of other theatres<br />
in Maryland. Claude Neon Signs made the<br />
signs tor the Camelot duo . . . John Nethen,<br />
secretary -treasurer of Claude Neon Signs.<br />
reports his tirni put up all the attraction and<br />
identification signs for Rappaport Theatres'<br />
new Timonium cinemas I and II and the<br />
St. . . .<br />
manages Schwaber's Playhouse, 9 West 25th<br />
Ritchie cinemas I. II and III. Nethen also<br />
Roland Bruscup and Donald Miller,<br />
reported: "We're doing a lot of mobile crane<br />
president work for various contractors as a way of<br />
and business agent, respectively,<br />
of lATSE Local 181. spent day at the<br />
circumventing the energy crunch and diversifying<br />
a<br />
international headquarters of lATSE in New<br />
our business" Nethen's wife<br />
.<br />
York City . . . Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schmuff Lucille and ten-year-old son Gary left Saturday<br />
(F. H. Durkee Enterprises) returned from<br />
(16) for Fort Pierce, Fla.. to visit John's<br />
Beverly Hills, Calif., where they attended mother Mrs. John Hoskins. They aLso<br />
the Paramount international sales seminar. planned to see Disney World in Orlando.<br />
Fla.<br />
Phil Glazer, head of Associated Pictures.<br />
reports that the company's "Fugitive Girls"<br />
of)ened "very strong" in Richmond. Va.. Friday<br />
(15) at the Town and Booker T. Theatres.<br />
Glazer also announced that Boxoffice<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
THE MAIM EVENT<br />
This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17<br />
BOXOFTICE :: March 25, 1974 E-7
. . Tucnlieth<br />
. . New<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
^eorge Stevens jr., director of the American<br />
Film Institute, estimates that AFI<br />
.vii! make approximately S225.000 from the<br />
recording of the "AFI Salute to James Cagney."<br />
including foreign TV rights. AFI presented<br />
Cagney with a cassette tape machine<br />
and a recording of the banquet held Wednesday<br />
(13) at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los<br />
.Angeles. The festivities were aired by CBS-<br />
TV Monday evening (18).<br />
Jack Valenti. president of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America, told the Posfs Tom<br />
Shales at the AFI premiere of "Huckleberry<br />
Finn" that it may take as long as four<br />
months to name a successor to Dr. Aaron<br />
Stem, chairman of the nine-member rating<br />
board. He further stated: "The man gets<br />
to be in contact with the finest creative<br />
brains in the country. And he gets to see 500<br />
movies a year" . . . Kenneth Clark, executive<br />
vice-president of MPAA. was special<br />
assistant at the "Jack Valenti Salute" given<br />
by the Texas State Society in the Regency<br />
Room of the Shoreham Americana Hotel<br />
Sunday (24). Liz Carpenter, who was Mrs.<br />
Lyndon B. Johnson's press director when her<br />
late husband was in the White House, emceed<br />
the Valenti tribute-brunch.<br />
Alex Schimel, Universal branch manager.<br />
moved his exchange Saturday (16) to 6801<br />
Kenilworth Ave.. Riverdale. Md. 20840.<br />
The new phone number is (301) 699-3200,<br />
Schimel said that for the time being his<br />
shipping department will remain at the old<br />
East Park Triplex Is<br />
Announced by Stieler<br />
EVANSVILLE. IND.— Paul V. Stieler of<br />
Victory Theatres announced that construction<br />
of a triplex at 800 South Hebron, to be<br />
called East Park, would begin this month.<br />
Target date for completion of the triplescreen<br />
movie house is June.<br />
Stieler said his brother Rudy of Guthrie<br />
May & Co. would handle the general construction<br />
work, with the cost estimated at<br />
approximately $600,000.<br />
Victory Theatres operates the downtown<br />
Victory and a twin-theatre in North Park.<br />
Lotte Lenya Visits FSU,<br />
Makes Three Appearances<br />
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Lotte Lenya,<br />
the semi-retired singer and actress from<br />
New York who had a featured role in the<br />
motion picture "From Russia With Love,"<br />
was a visitor at Florida State University for<br />
appearances.<br />
The widow of the world-famous Kurt<br />
Weill, German-born composer, Lotte Lenya<br />
presented awards to young fencers competing<br />
at F.ST for the Junior Olympics, read<br />
selections by librettist-poet Bertold Brecht<br />
to a German-language class and sang selections,<br />
including parts of Weill's "The Threepenny<br />
Opera," for student groups.<br />
. Century-Fox had a<br />
.ldd^c^^<br />
screening of "Conrack" at the RKO-SW<br />
Uptown Theatre Saturday morning (16).<br />
The invited guests were teachers in nearby<br />
Maryland and Virginia elementary schools.<br />
Debbie Bemheinier, president of DB5 Associates,<br />
has named Marty Zeldman as her<br />
assistant. Zeldman formerly was with National<br />
General's Detroit office.<br />
George Kelly and Jack Howe. Paramount<br />
branch manager and office manager-chief<br />
booker, respectively, returned from their<br />
companies' global marketing convention in<br />
Beverly Hills. Also attending from this<br />
area were: Paul Roth, president of Roth<br />
Theatres and president of national NATO:<br />
Marvin Goldman, a senior partner of K-B<br />
Theatres; Al Allsbrook, general manager of<br />
Landover Mall 6 theatres, and. from Baltimore,<br />
Jack Fruchtman, president of JF Theatres,<br />
and the Durkee circuit's Fred<br />
Schmuff.<br />
Betty Kelly, Wheeler Films, president of<br />
the WOMPI Club, is back at her home recuperating<br />
after hospitalization . . . The<br />
annual WOMPI installation dinner will be<br />
held June 1 at the Sheridan Inn, Lanham.<br />
Md.. according to Doris Sims, Wheeler<br />
Films, a<br />
past WOMPI president.<br />
Paul Winfield, featured in "Conrack" and<br />
"Huckleberry Finn," said on a recent visit<br />
that he dates Cicely Tyson, his co-star in<br />
"Sounder."<br />
Folly Theatre Is Given<br />
Reprieve by KC Council<br />
KANSAS CITY — The shuttered Folly<br />
Theatre, 12th and Central, near the downtown<br />
convention center site, won a reprieve<br />
from the city council Friday (8) when that<br />
body voted to give interested persons 120<br />
days to raise money to acquire and restore<br />
the landmark building. The Folly was in<br />
danger of being demolished by its owner,<br />
.•\nnhar Associates of New York, but the<br />
council ordinance prohibits the owner from<br />
purchasing the necessary permit for razing.<br />
Councilman Arthur Asel said he had<br />
"a sense of history" in connection with the<br />
showhousc. He said years ago he was backstage<br />
while a stripper was working and the<br />
dresser she had been handing her clothes<br />
to left. "I didn't know what was happening<br />
and suddtinly somebody pushed me into the<br />
wings and the next thing I received was<br />
some of her underthings," Asel related.<br />
.'\ member of the group trying to restore<br />
the Folly, Mrs. Joan Dillon, said she was<br />
hopeful of raising the funds to acquire the<br />
building. The owner's sale price, she stated,<br />
was .$1 million.<br />
According to Sal Capra, Kansas City<br />
councilman, the city has condemnation powers<br />
and since the theatre is near the convent'on<br />
center site, he suggested the city should<br />
take some action. Charles B. Wheeler jr.,<br />
mayor of Kansas City, said the cost of convention<br />
center land would give some idea<br />
of a<br />
fair price.<br />
Basil Kazitoris Decides<br />
To Close Sunset Ozoner<br />
WASHINGTON. D.C. — The Sunset<br />
Drive-ln at Baileys Crossroads, Va.. has<br />
ceased to be a profitable operation, according<br />
to manager Basil Kazitoris, since<br />
X product was found to be objectionable<br />
by the community and was prohibited by<br />
the Fairfax Circuit Court. Slate law interdicts<br />
visibility of X-rated movies at an<br />
ozoner and the Sunset's wire mesh fence<br />
tends to expose the film to nonpatrons.<br />
So, Kazitoris. desiring to get any such<br />
legal matters against him dropped, went to<br />
circuit court Monday (11), with his attorney,<br />
and agreed to close the airer within<br />
40 days.<br />
The Sunset, therefore, will be torn down<br />
and a store will be built on the site.<br />
BALTIMORE<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
International's PG-rated "Taste of Hell" is<br />
set for May 22 in Waynesboro, Staunton<br />
and Harrisonburg. Va. The film will be<br />
heavily promoted via TV. radio and newspapers.<br />
Phil was in Washington. D.C. Friday<br />
(15) checking over the new facilities at<br />
his shipping room.<br />
Alan Nethen, vice^resident of Claude<br />
Neon Signs, and his wife Phonda are the<br />
proud parents of Allison, their second child<br />
and second daughter, born January 12 at<br />
Greater Baltimore Medical Center.<br />
News from General Cinema: Maryland<br />
district manager John Quinn. who also manages<br />
the York Road Cinema and Perring<br />
Plaza Cinema, was out of town for a weekend<br />
. . . Richard Fitzpatrick recently exited<br />
his post as manager of the York Road Cinema<br />
. assistant manager at the York<br />
Road is Bob Bates.<br />
Robert Vaughn, who appeared at the Mechanic<br />
Theatre in "The Real Inspector<br />
Hound." told the press he would "like to<br />
do more movies." Vaughn said he especially<br />
would like to do a film version of "Hamlet."<br />
The actor departed here for Beverly Hills.<br />
Calif.,<br />
to wed his fiancee Linda Staab.<br />
Entry applications for Baltimore Film<br />
Festival V are now being accepted. Applications<br />
are available by writing to Baltimore<br />
Film Festival V. P.O. Box 7186. Baltimore<br />
21218. .'Ml films to be entered must arrive<br />
by April 2.<br />
Actor Gets Emergency Sewing Kit<br />
From Southeastern<br />
Edition<br />
TEXARKAN.\— Donald O'Connor, actor-singer-dancer,<br />
recently was presented<br />
an emergency sewing kit by Mrs. Herman<br />
W. Belk. Mrs. Belk had seen O'Connor's<br />
nightclub act in Hot Springs. Ark., and during<br />
his dance routine he did the splits, also<br />
splitting his trousers. O'Connor asked if<br />
there was a seamstress in the house and<br />
Mrs. Belk volunteered and made emergency<br />
repairs backstage.<br />
BOXOFHCE :: March 25, 1974
Gordon Stulberg Is<br />
Honored by Tent 25<br />
BEVERLY HILLS. CALIF.—'For dedicated<br />
service to philanthropic endeavors on<br />
on behalf of underprivileged<br />
children."<br />
Gordon .Stulberg.<br />
president and chief<br />
aj-ak I w opcniting officer of<br />
20th C e n t u r y-Fox<br />
Film Corp., was honored<br />
Friday (15) by<br />
Variety Club of<br />
studio executive at a luncheon in the Beverly<br />
Wilshire's Grand Ballroom attended by<br />
over 500 persons from the show business<br />
world.<br />
Monty Hall of the "Let's Make a Deal'"<br />
show served as master of ceremonies.<br />
Luncheon co-chairmen were Peter S. Meyers,<br />
vice-president-domestic distribution for<br />
20th Century-Fox, and Murray Propper.<br />
merchandising executive for Pacific Theatres.<br />
Film and TV luminaries in attendance<br />
included Ernest Borgnine, Timothy Botloms,<br />
Henry Mancini, Cicely Tyson, Kym<br />
Karath, Maureen McGovern, Jesse White<br />
and Tippi Hedren.<br />
Many Dignitaries Attend<br />
Also attending were Los Angeles Mayor<br />
Tom Bradley; Mike J. Frankovich. international<br />
president of Variety Clubs; Robert R.<br />
Hall of Toronto, Ont., VCI vice-president:<br />
Ivor Rowe of London Variety Tent 36;<br />
Clarence Avant of Sussex Records, and theatre<br />
executives Mike Forman of Pacific<br />
Theatres, Ted Mann of Mann Theatres.<br />
Henry G. Plitt of Plitt Theatres, and Fred<br />
Stein<br />
of Century Cinema Circuit.<br />
In Variety Club business, three Sunshine<br />
Coaches were presented to provide transportation<br />
for children to hospitals, schools<br />
and recreational centers. The mini-buses,<br />
donated by the Ladies of Variety Tent 25,<br />
Monty Hall and Sherrill C. Corwin, board<br />
chairman of Metropolitan Theatres Corp.,<br />
went to the Variety Boys Club, 2530 Cincinnati<br />
St„ the Spastic Children's Foundation,<br />
1307 W. 105th St., and the Vista Del<br />
Mar Child Care Service. 3200 Motor Ave.<br />
Sinay also reported on plans for the Variety<br />
Telethon 74 to be held April 20-21<br />
over KTLA, with hundreds of filmland and<br />
TV personalities scheduled to participate in<br />
the organization's major fund-raising drive<br />
of the year. Bob Wynn of Burbank-headquartered<br />
Mellodan Productions will produce<br />
the telethon, of which Tom Fenno is<br />
general chairman. Monty Hall and actress<br />
Binnie Barnes Frankovich are honorary<br />
chairmen of the video marathon.<br />
Frankovich spoke about the VCI convention<br />
to be held May 28-31 in San Francisco<br />
and urged the sending of a large representation<br />
from Tent 25.<br />
Locally, Variety Club Tent 25 supports<br />
ihc Variety Boys Club, the James H. Nicholson<br />
Children's Heart Clinic at the UCLA<br />
Medical Center, an electronic limb bank at<br />
the Child Amputee Prosthetics Project (also<br />
at UCLA), the William H. Thedford Scholarship<br />
Fund, a pediatric research project at<br />
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a Sunshine<br />
Coach program which annually donates approximately<br />
12 to 16 coaches to hospitals,<br />
schools and organizations serving underprivileged<br />
youngsters.<br />
Utah NATO Releases<br />
Convention Agenda<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—NATO of<br />
Southern California<br />
Tent 25. Joseph Sinay.<br />
„ . „^ chief barker. present-<br />
,.<br />
Gordon Stulberg , , ,<br />
* ed an engraved plaque<br />
which will hold its<br />
10-11 at the Travelodgc<br />
Utah,<br />
1974 convention April<br />
Hotel here, has<br />
bearing the message to the motion picture announced the following schedule of events:<br />
TUESDAY. APRIL 9<br />
6-S p.m.— Hospitality: Get-acquainted<br />
social<br />
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 10<br />
9 a.m. -5 p.m.— Registration<br />
12 noon—Kickoff Luncheon<br />
2-4:30 p.m.—^Display of new products<br />
and product reels<br />
Evening—Free time, with choice of free<br />
passes to all movies and events<br />
around the city<br />
THURSDAY, APRIL II<br />
9-11 a.m.—Continental breakfast<br />
9:30 a.m. -I 2 noon—Seminar workshop:<br />
Concessions<br />
12 noon—Membership luncheon directly<br />
after screening for NATO<br />
members and a ladies' luncheon<br />
and fashion show at Makeoff's<br />
2-4 p.m.—Seminars for advertising, fourwalling,<br />
security, etc.. and<br />
panel discussions<br />
6:30-7:30 p.m.—President's Banquet, with<br />
Paul Roth, national<br />
NATO president, and<br />
George Roscoe, national<br />
NATO director of public<br />
relations, as guests<br />
The WOMPI Club of Salt<br />
Lake City will<br />
be in charge of registration for guests attendine<br />
the N.ATO of Utah convention.<br />
Pussycat Circuit Honored<br />
HOLL'V'WOOD—Pussycat Theatres received<br />
a plaque and letter of commendation<br />
from the prisoners of the Federal Correctional<br />
Institute at Lompoc, Calif. Citing the<br />
circuit for its continuing concern in providing<br />
film fare for prisoners, the plaque is "a<br />
small token of appreciation," according to<br />
E. C. Wolhan, supervisor of recreation.<br />
4-Plex Plans Approved<br />
CARLSBAD. CALIF. — The planning<br />
commision has approved the conversion of<br />
the Cinema Plaza Theatre from one 640-<br />
seat auditorium to a quadplex. The remodeling<br />
will create four theatres with a total of<br />
1.420 seats.<br />
Oscar Studio Complex<br />
Is Planned in Hawaii<br />
By SYD CA.SSYD<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A five-column feature<br />
spread by Carol Costa which appeared in<br />
Honolulu's Sun Press announced the development<br />
of Oscar Studio City on the island,<br />
with the projected $20,000,000 facility<br />
located in the K.uliou.sou Valley a short distance<br />
from this fast-growing city. Discussing<br />
the project here with Oscar Nichols, president,<br />
and Harry Hope, senior vice-president,<br />
ii was learned that the complex goes beyond<br />
just an ordinary rental facility for TV<br />
and feature production and will include a<br />
tourist and cultural aspect, planned to benefit<br />
the economy of the local merchants,<br />
"It has been Oscar Nichols' brainchild<br />
for the past eight years and it's now under<br />
way," said Hope, outlining the plans.<br />
Nine Acres Purchased<br />
Nichols purchased nine acres of feesimple<br />
land from Financial Consultants.<br />
The property is zoned as residential and<br />
will require a conditional use permit, which<br />
Oscar Studios presently is seeking.<br />
In the artist's projection of the studio,<br />
there will be a fully automated sound stage<br />
with a glass-enclosed visitor's gallery. In<br />
cooperation with local bus companies,<br />
which offer tours of the islands, the studio<br />
will<br />
charge a fee to observe in-progress production.<br />
Hope and Nichols estimate that<br />
there is a potential revenue from this source<br />
which could approximate that of rental<br />
facilities.<br />
William Pereira, architect, whose designs<br />
are famous, has been engaged for the<br />
project, with Frederick K. F. Lee from<br />
Pereira's firm meeting with city authorities<br />
to fit the development into the master<br />
plan for the Kuliousou Valley Park. According<br />
to Nichols, the studio will spend<br />
$700,000 to develop a ten-acre state park<br />
across from the studio. This will be dedicated<br />
to the city.<br />
Automated Sound Stages<br />
Hope disclosed that the sound stages will<br />
be fully automated, once the lighting positions<br />
have been fed into a computer bank,<br />
and are based on a major studio in Japan<br />
utilizing this system. Both executives visited<br />
many studios throughout the world to acquaint<br />
themselves with new technologies<br />
and decided that the Japanese models were<br />
the best, particularly those at the Ryudensha<br />
Studios. NKH of Japan is using these and<br />
may be one of the key rental firms for<br />
the Honolulu complex.<br />
A revolving production fund will be used<br />
for tho.se outside producers who work<br />
through the O.scar Studio to facilitate production.<br />
The company plans four major<br />
feature films per year, plus some TV shows.<br />
Because of the location of the Pacific<br />
island, now being serviced by communications<br />
satellites positioned above the<br />
equator and already serving the area, the<br />
studio could become one of the major<br />
(Continued on page W-4)<br />
BOXOFHCE :: March 25, 1974 W-1
^<br />
Hollywood<br />
SPECIAL SHOWING of -Walls of<br />
Fire." the Academy Award-nominated<br />
aocumentary by producers Gertrude Ross<br />
Marks and Edmund F. Penney, will be a<br />
icature of the Cinco de Mayo celebration at<br />
the Music Center, it was announced by<br />
William K. McClelland, manager of community<br />
affairs for the center. The documentary<br />
will be shown continuously all day<br />
in<br />
the Ahmanson Theatre free of charge.<br />
•<br />
Elevation of Burton I. Lippman to vicepresident<br />
of finance and administration<br />
for<br />
the Vidtronics Co. was announced by president<br />
Peck Prior.<br />
Paul Zastupnevich has been set to create<br />
the costumes for Irwin Allen's production<br />
of "The Towering laferno." which goes before<br />
the cameras in early May as a joint<br />
venture of 20th Century-Fox and Warner<br />
Bros.<br />
*<br />
Dell Publishing has bought the paperback<br />
rights to Sidney Sheldon's new novel. "The<br />
Other Side of Midnight." which is in its<br />
third printing by William Morrow. Sheldon<br />
will write the screenplay and produce the<br />
film version for Paramount Pictures.<br />
•<br />
Glen Glenn Sound Co. has been set by<br />
producer Fouad Said to handle post-production<br />
sound on "Bobby and Rose." feature<br />
written and directed by Floyd Mutrux. Paul<br />
LeMat and Dianne Hull star.<br />
•<br />
Recent publication of several books on<br />
the life of Richard Wright, first black<br />
author to win international acclaim, has<br />
prompted the reissue of the film version of<br />
his novel and play. "Native Son," which<br />
starred Wright and Jean Wallace. Distribution<br />
of the 30-year-old picture which was<br />
shot in Chicago's streets and ghettos of<br />
the period is being handled by Robert I.<br />
Kronenberg & Associates. Test runs have<br />
proved the feasibility of nationwide specialized<br />
booking. Kronenberg says.<br />
*<br />
Lucille Ball will be one of the guests of<br />
honor at the West Coast premiere of<br />
"Mame," a benefit performance for the<br />
Opera Guild of .Southern California, at<br />
Pacific's Cinerama Dome Tuesday (26).<br />
•<br />
Producer-director Hall Bartlett has received<br />
a Congressional Record tribute from<br />
Rep. Thomas M. Rees for bringing the book<br />
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull" to the screen.<br />
*<br />
California Sterling Theatres, formerly located<br />
at 2525 Hyperion, is now Sterling<br />
Recreation Organization and located at 5900<br />
Wilshire, West Pavilion, Los Angeles 90036.<br />
•<br />
Nominees for "Publicist of the Year"<br />
awards in six categories have been chosen<br />
by a membership vote of the Publicists<br />
Guild and winners will be announced Friday<br />
f29) in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly<br />
Wilshire. Independent publicists nominated<br />
W-2<br />
Happenings<br />
are Regina Gruss. Max Weinberg and Lou<br />
Dyer and with public relations agencies are<br />
Jerry Franken, Skip Heinecke and Dale<br />
Olson. Studio publicists nominated are Jet<br />
Fore. Martin Weiser and John Campbell.<br />
Guild members will be voting.<br />
•<br />
Diener/Hauser/Greenthal Co. named Eugene<br />
B. Cofsky senior vice-president.<br />
Tickets went on sale Monday (18) for the<br />
1974 Los Angeles International Film Exposition,<br />
to be held Thursday (28) through<br />
April 9 at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets<br />
are available at the theatre or through<br />
Ticketron.<br />
•<br />
Arthur Knight will present his personal<br />
choices for Academy Award winners<br />
Wednesday (27) at a dinner meeting of<br />
use's Westside Alumni Club in the Blossom<br />
Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.<br />
•<br />
Barbra Streisand's solo album, "The Way<br />
We Were," is currently the No. 1 album<br />
across the country, according to Billboard<br />
and Record World listings.<br />
•<br />
Eileen A. Leonard, a former administrative<br />
assistant at Ticor Mortgage Insurance<br />
Co.. has joined the staff of AMPTP as an<br />
assistant adminstrator. Billy H. Hunt announced.<br />
Producer-director Menahem Golan has set<br />
Ben Freedman. J. S. Hohnson, Simmy Bow,<br />
Lowell Pass. Mat Green and Jon Ian Jacobs<br />
for roles in "Lepke," AmeriEuro Pictures<br />
Corp.'s first feature film, shooting at Culver<br />
City Studios and in Los Angeles.<br />
Real earthquakes are unnerving the cast<br />
and crew of "Earthquake." Universal's and<br />
the Filmmakers Group's mammoth film.<br />
For the second time during shooting, a sizable<br />
tremor. 4.5 on the Richter scale, disrupted<br />
production Friday (8).<br />
•<br />
Martin Ritt was awarded "best director"<br />
the church in Burbank.<br />
award for "Sounder" by Yugoslavia's International<br />
Film Festival held in Belgrade.<br />
*<br />
•<br />
Ann Sothern returned Wednesday (13)<br />
from Hong Kong. Kowloon and the South<br />
China Sea. where she starred in AIP's<br />
"Golden Needles." a romantic action-adventure.<br />
She is completing the production in<br />
Southern California, along with co-stars<br />
Joe Don Baker. Elizabeth Ashley. Jim Kelly<br />
and Burgess Meredith.<br />
•<br />
Kenneth Cook has retired as treasurer of<br />
the Paramount Studio Employees Federal<br />
Credit Unit after 39 years. Mrs. Nona<br />
Smith succeeds him.<br />
•<br />
Sarah Vaughan. who marks her 50th<br />
birthday Wednesday (27). received a special<br />
birthday greeting from the Hon. Thomas<br />
M. Rees, U.S. Congressman from California.<br />
who paid tribute to "The Divine Sarah" in<br />
a speech before the House of Representatives.<br />
Rees noted that Sarah Vaughan "has<br />
consistently provided the world with the<br />
very best in entertainment."<br />
•<br />
Steven Spielberg will take time out of his<br />
preparation schedule for the Zanuck/ Brown<br />
production of "Jaws." for Universal release.<br />
to meet with the New York City press at<br />
month's end to promote "The Sugarland<br />
Express." which he also directed for the<br />
Zanuck/ Brown ^eam. Friday (29) he will<br />
make a special appearance at the Museum<br />
of Modern Art in conjunction with the<br />
museum's New Director's/New Film Series,<br />
which previews "The Sugarland Express"<br />
that night.<br />
•<br />
Harvey Berg has been named studio controller<br />
it<br />
of Warner Bros., was announced<br />
by Ralph Peterson, vice-president and<br />
treasurer the company. He succeeds<br />
of<br />
Kenneth I. Mancebo, who is leaving to<br />
enter the production phase of the industry.<br />
•<br />
Two international scholarships to the<br />
.\merican National .Academy of Performing<br />
Arts for persons on temporary U.S. residence<br />
have been established in a 1974 foundation<br />
set up by Francis Lederer. Applicants<br />
for the one-year scholarships should<br />
write to Lederer. American National Academy<br />
of Performing Arts, 10944 Ventura<br />
Blvd.. North Hollywood 91604.<br />
•<br />
Patricia Rainier, who made her teenage<br />
debut in "77 Sunset Strip." has returned to<br />
Hollywood from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. for<br />
agent conferences following five years of<br />
feature roles in Florida.<br />
•<br />
What happens to a child actor? He becomes<br />
a minister! At least that's what happened<br />
to the Rev. Bobs Watson of Magnolia<br />
Park United Methodist Church. Rev. Watson<br />
began acting at the age of six months<br />
and performed in over 1 50 movies and TV<br />
shows before taking his vows. He won an<br />
award for his appearance in "Boys Town"<br />
and played with Spencer Tracy in "Men of<br />
Boys Town." He won Boxoffice awards<br />
and is one of the first members of SAG.<br />
You can catch his act every Sunday now at<br />
Film composer George Duning. four-time<br />
Academy Award nominee for "Picnic."<br />
"From Here to Eternity." "The Eddy<br />
Duchin Story" and "No Sad Songs for Me."<br />
has donated his collection of scrapbooks.<br />
tapes and original motion picture and TV<br />
scores to USC to be housed in the special<br />
collections department of Doheny Library.<br />
*<br />
Dorothy J. Wootcn has been named<br />
executive vice-president of .Artisan Releasing<br />
Corp. by Lamont Johnson, president of<br />
ARC. Ms. Wooten formerly was with ABC<br />
as operations manager/distribution center<br />
and 20th-Fox as assistant production manager<br />
for "Room 222" and other TV shows.<br />
•<br />
"The Way We Were" has been named<br />
"picture of the month" by Elle Magazine,<br />
one of France's leading<br />
publications.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
: released<br />
I<br />
it's<br />
; Education<br />
m Challenges<br />
rigue Producer<br />
By SYD CASSYD<br />
:,YWOOD—A New York Times<br />
last fall described the problems of<br />
"The Education of Sonny Carson."<br />
lucer Irwin Yablans in a subway<br />
scene for his film "The Educatof<br />
Sonny Carson."<br />
her with Fred Hudson, a black writer.<br />
'worked out a treatment and got a<br />
for $1,000,000."<br />
blans explained the story at the Paralot<br />
in Hollywood, where it is being<br />
by Harry Howard, an editor from<br />
ifork. With Michael Campus as direcey<br />
used a crew, about .^0 per cent of<br />
was from the black community, and<br />
ed in achieving an authentic underig<br />
of the problem.<br />
s're trying to show what the black<br />
ce was like without resorting to the<br />
'Super Fly' crime and sex stuff."<br />
IS told the Times. "There are no<br />
no mayhem."<br />
I Yablans described it. the film depicts<br />
battle between parents and their kids<br />
tougher than even the early immifrom<br />
Italy, Russia and Ireland had<br />
beginning of the century.<br />
was indicted for murder in conwith<br />
the killing of a man who had<br />
a business in Brooklyn but was out<br />
and served as technical adviser on<br />
He shares in the profits with<br />
members of one of the toughest<br />
gangs worked in the film. That's<br />
of picture Yablans contended with<br />
irst time out. following being associiuceron<br />
"Badge 373."<br />
Clayton, who has the title role in<br />
of Sonny Carson," made<br />
ent that "they are trying to do the<br />
thing for the community" and that<br />
"ihcy are trying to overcome the many black<br />
rip-off"<br />
films."<br />
Campus found the experience a creative<br />
challenge, for "schedules don't count in the<br />
life these kids are leading." Following this<br />
production, he will be making some films<br />
for Dino de Laurcntiis.<br />
As for Yablans. he has a treatment on a<br />
film to be made in Israel, where he and<br />
Campus went to scout locations. Of interest<br />
is the fact that they took their lives in their<br />
hands and went into Egypt, following the<br />
example of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,<br />
also of Jewish extraction. The storyline<br />
of their film has Jesus in a new role as<br />
a<br />
Jewish revolutionary.<br />
It is most impressive that Yablans went<br />
through 1.5 years on the Paramount sales<br />
force before he moved to production. In<br />
his words, he "has an idea of what the audiences<br />
want and knows the values in an<br />
e.\hibitor plan which contain promotionin-depth."<br />
Sen. Robbins Proposes MP<br />
Commission in California<br />
HOLLYWOOD— California .Son. Alan<br />
Robbins (D-Van Nuys) has introduced a<br />
measure which would create the California<br />
Motion Picture Development Commission.<br />
amounts of their reasonable and necessary<br />
expenses incurred in attending meetings and<br />
performing the duties of their office," Sen.<br />
Robbins said when he introduced the bill.<br />
He explained that the governor would<br />
select a commission chairman and vicechairman<br />
from among its members and that<br />
the vice-chairman would act as chairman<br />
in his absence. The bill also provides that<br />
the commission shall employ an executive<br />
director and hire necessary staff members<br />
to carry out the functions of the commission.<br />
"I envision the commission as serving in<br />
the promotion of motion pictures in California,<br />
to assist film companies in the<br />
securing of location sites and in facilitating<br />
cooperation from various state, county and<br />
municipal agencies of government which<br />
would encourage the production of motion<br />
pictures here," the senator explained.<br />
He added that the commission office, to<br />
be located in Southern California so as to<br />
be conveniently situated with respect to<br />
production companies, could serve as a onestop<br />
governmental liaison agency.<br />
An initial appropriation of $100,000 from<br />
the general fund would be furnished to the<br />
commission to defray its expenses.<br />
"In terms of promoting the motion picture<br />
industry payroll and the retention of<br />
picture-making in California, this is a very<br />
reasonable appropriation," .Sen. Robbins'<br />
statement concluded.<br />
Prince Charles Feted<br />
By VIPs at Universal<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Prince Charles, the<br />
Prince of Wales and heir to the British<br />
throne, was hosted by Universal executives<br />
and stars at a cocktail reception and luncheon<br />
during a studio tour visit Tuesday (19)<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Jules .Stein, honorary found<br />
er of MCA; Mrs. Lew R. Wasserman; Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Hal B. Wallis and MCA vicepresident<br />
Taft Schrciber hosted the recep<br />
tion and luncheon for the Prince, which was<br />
also attended by "Earthquake" stars Charlton<br />
Heston. Genevieve Bujold and Ava<br />
Gardner, and Telly Savalas, star of the<br />
ptipular "Kojak" TV series.<br />
Following the luncheon, the Prince and<br />
his party were escorted on a trip throughout<br />
the studio, which included visiting the Universal<br />
VIP Studio Tour and a visit<br />
to the set<br />
of "Kojak" with Telly Savalas on Stage 22,<br />
and viewing "the Parting of the Red Sea"<br />
on the tour.<br />
In the Prince's party were Cmdr. John<br />
Gunning, captain of Her Majesty's Ship<br />
by Paramount Pictures, and<br />
Jupiter, on which Prince Charles serves;<br />
Irwin Yablans' reactions to making<br />
in the neighborhood where he grew<br />
.Squadron Leader David Checketts, the<br />
Prince's aide; Inspector John MacLcan of<br />
.Scotland Yard: Capt. and Mrs. Keith Watson.<br />
3ut a year ago, he said he got to<br />
about a movie based on what<br />
.As proposed by the San Fernando Valley<br />
Ass't Attache, Naval Embassy,<br />
it<br />
3g British<br />
to grow up in the<br />
soion.<br />
ghetto in the<br />
the commission would consist of 21<br />
Washington. D.C.<br />
before the black movement," wrote members—seven appointed by the governor,<br />
seven by the Senate Rules Commit-<br />
Also. Cmdr. and Mrs. Anthony Lorimer.<br />
les reporter. "He met Sonny Carson,<br />
member Naval staff, Washington. D.C;<br />
Jrownsville strike elsewhere.<br />
sembly.<br />
Los Angeles; Mr. and Mrs. John Houlton of<br />
the most vocal of the militants in the<br />
and<br />
Consul Gen'l and Mrs. A.A.E. Franklin of<br />
tee and seven by the speaker of the as-<br />
interested in the book Carson had "The commissioners shall serve four-year<br />
the Los Angeles British Consul General's<br />
about his early life in Brooklyn. terms and will not receive any compensation<br />
office, and Lt. Peter Eberle. British Navy.<br />
other than reimbursement for the<br />
actual<br />
George Roy Hill Honored<br />
By DGA for 'The Sting'<br />
LOS ANGELES — Producer-director<br />
George Roy Hill has been selected by the<br />
Directors Guild of America for "Most<br />
Outstanding Directorial Achievement of<br />
1973" for "The Sting." a Richard D. Zanuck/<br />
David Brown presentation for Universal.<br />
The film stars Paul Newman. Robert<br />
Redford and Robert Shaw.<br />
The DGA accolade marks the second<br />
award for "The Sting" within one week.<br />
Film editor William Reynolds previously<br />
had won the Eddie Award from the American<br />
Cinema Editors for his editing of "The<br />
Sting." which was named "best picture of<br />
1973" by the National Board of Review<br />
and has been nominated for ten Academy<br />
Awards. David S. Ward, who wrote the<br />
script, also was a nominee for the annual<br />
Writers Guild award.<br />
MCA Quarterly Dividend<br />
UNIVERSAL CITY. CAL. — Lew R.<br />
Wasserman. chairman of the board of MCA.<br />
Inc., has announced that the board of directors<br />
declared Thursday (14) the regular<br />
quarterly common stock dividend of 20<br />
cents per share. This will be paid April 20<br />
to shareholders of record, April 5.<br />
Ava Gardner has been added to the cast<br />
of Universal's upcoming "Earthquake."<br />
:: March 25, 1974 W-3
itiaies/ 'Exorcist'<br />
ijps in LA Lineup<br />
LOS ANGELES—The two biggies in<br />
the<br />
L^os Angeles runs were still 'Blazing Sad-<br />
Jies." with 825 in its fifth week at Avco<br />
Cinema Center 3. and "'The Exorcist." with<br />
(,70 in its 11th week at the National and<br />
Fine Arts. No other film came close to the<br />
two big boxoffice hits but "Serpico," in its<br />
first week at the Plaza, managed a 285 for<br />
iriird place among the first runs.<br />
ABC City<br />
100)<br />
ABC City 2—Summer Wishes, Winter Dreoms<br />
Col), 3rd wk 65<br />
Avco Cinema Center —Zordoz 1 (20th-Fox),<br />
5th wk 210<br />
Avco Cinema Center 2—^The Doy of the Dolphin<br />
Chinese, Crest—The Lost Detail iCol), 5th wk. ..100<br />
Cine Cienego—The Devil in Miss Jones (SR),<br />
48th wk<br />
Cinerama Dome—The Sting Univl, 11th wk<br />
100<br />
100<br />
Los Feliz—The Toll Blond Mon With One Black<br />
Shoe (SR) 165<br />
Notional, Fine<br />
Pacific Hollywood—Crazy<br />
Paramount—<br />
Plaza—Serpico<br />
Villoge, Pocific<br />
670<br />
65<br />
80<br />
285<br />
Arts— The Exorcist WB), 11th wk.<br />
Joe iCol), 2nd wk. ...<br />
Panoroma Blue (SR), 3rd wk<br />
Pontages—Man on a Swing<br />
(Para)<br />
:Paro!, 2nd wk 80<br />
"Man on a Swing' Has Strong<br />
Start as Denver First Run<br />
DENVER— '".Man on a Swing" broke into<br />
the Denver first-run lineup with a strong<br />
275 at the Continental. "The Exorcist" was<br />
Sting" finished a strong .second with 300 at USCBr blUCiiO UOmplBX<br />
the Denham. Lakeside and Village Square.<br />
^x*-T^:n'ririv^,^^2Th wk ::::::::::i^<br />
_ —^. . , — - ,,<br />
Is Planned m hawaii<br />
Century 21—The Lost Detail (Col), 4th wk 175 ,^<br />
• j,- „, ,><br />
(Continued trom W-1)<br />
Cherry Creek, Villo Itolia, North Star—Serpico page<br />
(Para), 5th wk 100<br />
Colorado I, Brentwood, Buckingham— Breezy Origination pointS for TV shoWS in the<br />
(Un.v)<br />
Colorado II—American Grotfiti Univ), 31st<br />
n
lerican Film Institute<br />
rants to 8 Filmmakers<br />
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. — George<br />
pStevens jr., director of the American Fifm<br />
[institute, has announced that eight I'iini-<br />
Imakers have received grants totaling more<br />
$70,000 to make new films in the<br />
jtest cycle of independent filmmaker<br />
ints. A review committee composed of<br />
EJuIes Engel, Maurice Jarre, Roberto RosselpSni<br />
and Cicely Tyson made final selections<br />
firom among the 174 applicants. The recommittee<br />
met at API's Center for<br />
^Advanced Film Studies in Beverly Hills<br />
[February 19-22.<br />
The new awards range from $3,000 to<br />
110,000. Recipients are: Anne Belle, of<br />
emsenburg, N.Y., who will make a docu-<br />
BDtary film entitled "Baymen," on the bayand<br />
bays of eastern Long Island:<br />
rry Clark, Los Angeles, to direct a dranatic<br />
film, "Passing Through," about a<br />
ack jazz musician; Mark Griffiths, Los<br />
geles, to make "The Perpetual Motion<br />
lachine," dramatic film about a 1936<br />
a<br />
Fourth of July celebration in a small town:<br />
Hugo, New York, for "Heads and<br />
jyrinths," an experimental film; Jeff<br />
"<br />
son, Los Angeles, for a dramatic<br />
aptation of the Flannery O'Connor short<br />
I, "Good Country People"; Eliot Noyes<br />
New York to make an animated dranatic<br />
film, "The Boy and the Dot"; Rich-<br />
Protovin, Richmondville, New York.<br />
"Flamingo Boogy," an animated film:<br />
Gene Searchinger, New York, to make<br />
^Motel," based on the one-act play by<br />
lean Claude van Itallie.<br />
Grants totaling more than $810,000 have<br />
lOW gone to 116 filmmakers since the pro-<br />
\m began in 1968. The Independent<br />
riaker Program is funded by the Na-<br />
Three LA Deputies Must<br />
Pay for Destroying Films<br />
LOS ANGELES — A $60,000<br />
damage<br />
award against three Los Angeles County<br />
deputy sheriffs, charged with destroying<br />
4.143 reels of prints and negatives -at film<br />
laboratories of Pacific Film Industries, has<br />
been handed down here by Federal Judge<br />
David W. Williams.<br />
The defendants claimed before Judge<br />
Williams that destruction of the films had<br />
been authorized by Municipal Court Judge<br />
.Antonio E. Chavez. However, Judge Chavez<br />
testified at the federal trial that he had not<br />
ordered the sheriff's deputies to destroy the<br />
films.<br />
Judge Williams concluded that "the destruction<br />
of the film was without a court<br />
order of any kind when no legal proceeding<br />
was pending or contemplated and was a<br />
wrongful act on the part of those deputies<br />
/.OS ANGELES<br />
^arki Bey. star of Amcriv.-an Inlernationai<br />
Pictures' "Sugar Hill," and J. K. Mc-<br />
Kinncy. AIP publicist for "Foxy Brown,"<br />
were guest speakers for Career Week at<br />
Horace Mann Junior High in Los Angeles<br />
Thursday (21). They also answered questions<br />
from students regarding preparation and employment<br />
in their professions.<br />
WOMPI Club notes: Condolences to<br />
Helen Clinton on the death of her mother<br />
. . . Best wishes for speedy recovery from<br />
illness of both sisters of WOMPI Ruth<br />
Stephens . . . New member Dolores Klinger.<br />
secretary to Leonard Kroll at 20th-Fox, is in<br />
St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank. where she<br />
is undergoing tests for an undisclosed illness.<br />
Mrs. Frank (Elaine) Tuschinsky has been<br />
named chairman of the special events committee<br />
for Variety Telethon "74. to be sponsored<br />
April 20-21 over KTLA-TV by the<br />
Variety Club of Southern California Tent<br />
25. it was announced by general chairman<br />
Tom Fenno. Actress Cara Williams has been<br />
added to the advance gifts committee. Mrs.<br />
Tuschinsky, a former Miss California in the<br />
Miss Universe contest, has been active in a<br />
number of local charities including the electronic<br />
limb bank of the Child Amputee<br />
Prosthetics Project at the UCLA Medical<br />
Center. It is one of several groups siipp
. . Newly<br />
AT T L<br />
E<br />
the latest equipment and facilities, including<br />
push-back seats, giant screen, transistorized<br />
sound and an art gallery in the lobby. "Alice<br />
in Wonderland" (Disney) will be the opener<br />
for Aurora I, while "The Sting" (Univ) will<br />
be featured in Aurora II.<br />
Group Homes of Washington is sponsoring<br />
the benefit premiere of "Mame" at the<br />
Uptown Theatre Wednesday (27). The Dorothy<br />
.Matin Agency is handling group sales<br />
Overall, all theatres were doing well as<br />
the early spring rains continued interspersed<br />
with a day or two of sunshine<br />
and with all colleges on break the next<br />
week, it should make for good grosses in<br />
both hardtop and drive-in situations.<br />
in this new, enlarged format, as he did for<br />
the previous Outlook weekly which went<br />
into only 40,000-plus homes.<br />
Writers Guild Award<br />
For Paddy Chayefsky<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The Writers Guild pre-<br />
Michael J. Frankovich, president of Variety<br />
guns was The Sting" at the downtown<br />
the Everett Mall Cinema I, the Renton<br />
King,<br />
Clubs was guest of<br />
International,<br />
Village Cinema I and the Taconia Villa sented the Laurel Award for writing achieve-<br />
lonor at a luncheon in his behalf given by<br />
Variety Club Tent 46 Tuesday (19) in the Plaza Cinema 1. Also doing well were "Papillon."<br />
Coliseum; "Cinderella Liberty," Ray Bradbury and Phillip Dunne with the<br />
ment to Paddy Chayefsky and saluted both<br />
JslandRoom of the Edgewater Inn. In addi-<br />
.ion to all club members who could attend, Fifth Avenue; "Serpico," Seattle 7th; "The Valentine Davies .\ward. James R. Webb<br />
representatives of the entire news media Last Detail," UA Cinema 150; "American was honored with the Morgan Cox Award<br />
orcss. T\ and radio—were on hand.<br />
Graffiti," Renton Village Cinema II and for outstanding guild activity.<br />
Everett Mall Cinema III; "The Way We An award for best comedy written directly<br />
for the screen was given to Melvin Frank<br />
Nearing completion and set to open April<br />
Were" at the Everett Mall Cinema II. Bellevue<br />
National 2, a'nd Jack Rose for of Class."<br />
S is the<br />
Aurora Cinema I II. I<br />
45th. Admiral. Lynn and Magnolia, and An award for comedy adapted from another<br />
Cinema<br />
General "A Touch Cinema Corp. complex.<br />
and Cinema has a<br />
Cinema Crossroads Guild<br />
"Busting" at the Town .<br />
arrived medium went to Alvin Sargent for his<br />
seating capacity of 700 and II accommodates<br />
500. The dualer will feature<br />
on the scene: "Superdad," Lake City, Bellevue<br />
script of "Paper Moon" from the novel by<br />
Crossroads 1 and Lewis and Clark; Joe David Brown. Steve Shagan's "Save<br />
"Happy New Year," Uptown, and "Don't the Tiger" won in the division of drama<br />
Look Now," Uptown.<br />
Tracy Theatre Opening<br />
IRAC Y.<br />
CALIF.—The new Tracy Holiday<br />
Ihcatre, 1175 West 11th. was .scheduled<br />
to start operation Wednesday (6), with<br />
"A Touch of Class" set as the inaugural<br />
offering. Manager of the 298-scat theatre<br />
is Bob Evans, one-time manager of the<br />
Grand here.<br />
written directly for the screen. Waldo Salt<br />
and Norman Wexler, who scripted "Serpico"<br />
(book by Peter Maas), were winners<br />
for drama adapted from another medium.<br />
The 26th annual awards cocktail reception<br />
was held at the Beverly Hilton<br />
Hotel in Hollywood and a supper show<br />
was held in the Tower Suite in New York<br />
Thursday (21).<br />
for the production, which opens to the public<br />
Friday (29). A special group sales and<br />
The new Outlook section in the Today<br />
papers that now go into more than 210.000<br />
media invitational screening was held Thursday<br />
(14) at the Uptown . . . Sneaks have<br />
homes in the metropolitan area each 20th-Fox Affiliate to Buy<br />
Wednesday and Thursday had its initial<br />
included "Where the Lilies Bloom" at the<br />
Into French Theatre Chain<br />
Music Box Friday (15) and "The Three<br />
kickoff on the Academy Award contest, in<br />
HOLLYWOOD— .^n agreement in principle<br />
has been reached by which an affiliate<br />
Musketeers" at the UA Cinema 70 on<br />
which readers can pick whom they think<br />
the<br />
win "best picture." "best actor," "best<br />
Century-Fox acquire 50 per<br />
same date.<br />
will<br />
supporting actor and actress,"<br />
actress," "best<br />
of 20th will<br />
the (films) Meric<br />
cent of the shares of<br />
Ross McCullough, Pacific Northwest district<br />
manager for United Artists Theatre anyone gets all seven categories correct and<br />
"best director" and "best screenplay." If<br />
Group, a French theatre chain, which will<br />
be operated by a new company to be called<br />
Circuit in this city and Spokane, left for<br />
has the earliest postmark, he wins 52 pairs<br />
Foxmeric. The agreement, which requires<br />
San Francisco for a two-day meeting of his<br />
of passes to more than 60 participating<br />
certain French governmental approvals, was<br />
theatres. Ninety-nine<br />
announced by Dennis C. Stanfill, chairman<br />
on Filmrow included Cinerama's ing the closest also can win pairs of passes.<br />
of the board and chief executive officer<br />
"The<br />
other winners company . . . Screenings in the Jewel Box<br />
"Dark<br />
com-<br />
The first two days' mail brought 2,114<br />
of 20th-Fox, Gordon Stulberg, president<br />
Places" Tuesday (19), Columbia's<br />
Golden Voyage of Sinbad" Wednesday (20) entries! . . . Meanwhile, there were more<br />
and chief operating office of 20th-Fox and<br />
and Cinemation's "The Hunchback of the than 3,000 entries in the Walt Disney Productions'<br />
"Superdad" coloring contest spon-<br />
. . . the Meric group.<br />
Fernand and Felix Meric, the owners of<br />
Morgue" Thursday (21) The national<br />
sneak preview of "The Three Musketeers" sored by the Lake City and Lewis and Clark<br />
The agreement covers a total of 52<br />
was held at both the Fifth Avenue and the<br />
theatres, with 75 winners each receiving a<br />
screens in 12 theatre complexes located<br />
UA Cinema 70 theatres Friday (22).<br />
pair of passes to see the new film at either<br />
throughout France, including in Paris, the<br />
Sterling Recreation Organization has announced<br />
that its recently purchased AM sta-<br />
The Outlook section also has carried a<br />
of the two theatres.<br />
George V and Balzac Theatres on the<br />
Champs-elysees.<br />
K.TW. has become the city's only news "The Three Musketeers" coloring contest<br />
and again 75 winners have a chance at a<br />
radio station. The staff has been expanded<br />
This<br />
basis for<br />
new<br />
future<br />
joint venture<br />
expansion<br />
will<br />
of<br />
provide<br />
theatre<br />
a<br />
activities<br />
tion,<br />
talk<br />
to over 30. Meanwhile, the Federal pair of passes to see the film<br />
in France and other European countion,<br />
Communications Commission has granted opens Friday (29) at the UA Cinema 70.<br />
tries.<br />
new which<br />
KTW-FM the right to change its call letters It is felt all these various types of contests<br />
the film industry through<br />
to KZOK. according to general manager create interest in<br />
Dave Newton. The station will broadcast participation of the readers of all ages in Lloyd Nolan Joins Cast<br />
24 hours a day with a contemporary rock the entertainment-movie segment of the<br />
Of Univ.'s 'Earthquake'<br />
format.<br />
new weekly newspaper. Stu Goldman continues<br />
UNIVERSAL CHY— Lloyd Nolan has<br />
to handle both the advertisements<br />
"The Exorcist" was leading the entire<br />
and all writing, strictly of a positive nature,<br />
at still area the Cinerama but going great<br />
pertaining to the motion picture industry<br />
joined the all-star cast headed by Charlton<br />
Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy,<br />
Lome Greene, Genevieve Bujold, Richard<br />
Roundlree, Marjoe Gortner and Barry Sullivan<br />
in "Earthquake," large-scale motion<br />
picture being produced and directed by<br />
Mark Robson for Universal and the<br />
Filmakcrs Group, with Jennings Lang as<br />
executive producer.<br />
Nolan, who was the chief customs inspector<br />
in Universal's most successful picture,<br />
"Airport," will portray the role of a<br />
physician in the drama about a cataclysmic<br />
tremor that strikes Los Angeles and destroys<br />
much of the city.<br />
W-6<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
-<br />
by<br />
. Dunevitz<br />
,<br />
Whaley,<br />
. . Paramount<br />
E N V E R<br />
was shown at a special inviianal<br />
screening hosted by 20th Cen-<br />
BX at the Denhani Theatre on a Sunscreened<br />
"Paul<br />
iichelle" at the Century screening<br />
of Exhibitors Booking<br />
/is recuperating at home after hos-<br />
|tion . . . Columbia branch manager<br />
nith is recuperating at home followi<br />
recent surgery.<br />
exchanges to set spring datings<br />
Taos Plaza Theatre, Taos,<br />
Michael Barry, Village Theatre,<br />
Springs; Don Swales, Playhouse<br />
Aspen; Frank MacLaughlin, Gothic<br />
jntal theatres in this city, and Howipbell<br />
and Neal Lloyd, Westiand<br />
Colorado Springs.<br />
; of actor Charles Bronson, spent<br />
sundry items during one visit to a<br />
)re. The film company used most<br />
public facilities—the town jail.<br />
jstation, a packing house, the main<br />
a local melon farm. The film<br />
do with a melon farmer, fighting<br />
who wanted to get his melon<br />
near nothing.<br />
the extras were plenty of local<br />
lelon pickers, a local minister who<br />
extra at $2 an hour, an out-ofrofessor,<br />
two retired couples and a<br />
secretary, among others. The comented<br />
all the rental cars the local<br />
could find. An average of $1,500<br />
was spent for rooms and board at a<br />
motel and when the company saw<br />
tennis courts at the park they bought<br />
tennis rackets one store could<br />
And the music store sold plenty<br />
and crystalware.<br />
inuing, Siebert pointed out that La<br />
has seen its dreams come and go.<br />
one time the town thought it would<br />
a superport for supersonic jets,<br />
Washington canceled the SST. Now<br />
am is new industry—or more film<br />
S. Mayor Keith Webb commented:<br />
snomic impact has been delightful."<br />
inted out that movies have one<br />
over a million-dollar industry:<br />
you add a million-dollar industry, it<br />
ites a burden on schools and the sewer<br />
and water system. That uses up some of the<br />
income. The movie was like found money.<br />
Business people say the making of the<br />
film here was worth at least $1 million to<br />
local businesses and people. That was abou:<br />
half the film's budget. Producer Walter<br />
Mirisch spent over $120,000 for room rent.<br />
also, supplies and 50 local extras. Some residents<br />
called the film "an extra Christmas."<br />
Universal Filmways Will<br />
Start Ski Film in April<br />
UNIVERS.XL CITY — Universal and<br />
Filmways have concluded an agreement to<br />
film "The Other Side of the Mountain,"<br />
a love story based on the life of skier Jill<br />
Kinmont. The theatrical film will be produced<br />
by Edward S. Feldman and directed<br />
by Larry Peerce from a screenplay bv<br />
David Seltzer, it was announced by Ned<br />
Tanen, vice-president of MC.'V, Inc., parent<br />
company of Universal Pictures.<br />
"The Other Side of the Mountain" dramatizes<br />
the courageous story of the noted<br />
junta Citizens Turned Californian, seriously injured 18 years ago<br />
en route to the Winter Olympics. Miss Kinmont<br />
now teaches in the Beverly Hills<br />
'<br />
'Majestyk' Filming<br />
JUNTA, COLO—Tom Siebert, Asschool<br />
system and spends her summers<br />
Press reporter, visited La Junta<br />
teaching Indian children on the Paiute reservations<br />
in Bishop, Calif.<br />
months after the filming of "Mr.<br />
yk" and found that the city was ready The screenplay is based on personal<br />
ler "invasion" by filmmakers from remembrances of Miss Kinmont and the<br />
any time. One man, who biographical novel "A Long Way Up," by<br />
a western apparel shop, put it this<br />
E. G. Valens. Filming is scheduled to<br />
imagine practically everyone of begin in mid-April.<br />
|bought something— boots, hats, spurs,<br />
or shirts." His business for the<br />
involved was boosted by more<br />
Meeting<br />
than<br />
of Denver AAUW<br />
Devoted to Censorship<br />
company numbered only 85 bui DENVER—At a recent meeting of the<br />
snty for local business. Mrs. Bron- Denver branch of the American Ass'n of<br />
University Women, the topic for discussion<br />
was "Hear No Evil. See No Evil." The<br />
purpose of the program, held at Montview<br />
Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980<br />
Dahlia St., was to present an overview of<br />
censorship of mass media and to help clarify<br />
personal values, as well as to provide information<br />
regarding pornography.<br />
Judge Irving Ettenberg of Denver County<br />
Courts discussed the history of censorship,<br />
the June 1973 ruling of the U.S.<br />
Supreme Court and the situation in Denver.<br />
Speaking on the role and responsibility of<br />
individual attitudes was postal inspector<br />
Kyle Stall.<br />
Jacobie Joins Filmachine<br />
As V-P of Production<br />
SAN FRANCI.SCO—John "Jake" Jacobie<br />
has joined Filmachine, Inc., San<br />
Francisco film producers' service firm, as<br />
vice-president of production and as a member<br />
of the board, it was announced by Jack<br />
Burney, president.<br />
Jacobie formerly managed the sound department<br />
of Century Studios. Dallas, and<br />
handled production for the Texas firm. He<br />
was production manager of three feature<br />
films made for independent producers.<br />
Filmachine provides equipment, facilities<br />
and personnel for advertising agencies<br />
and independent film producers for all<br />
types of film.<br />
HONOLULU<br />
^orothj Muckiull, silent picture star, will<br />
be adding more glitter and glamor to<br />
the Hawaii Heart Ass'n benefit performance<br />
of Paramount's "The Great Gatsby." Miss<br />
.Mackaill. a longtime Waikiki resident, will<br />
ride to the New Royal Theatre on an antique<br />
Ford Wednesday night. April 3 . . .<br />
More "Gatsby" goings-on include the Ritz,<br />
fashion store, turning the place into an establishment<br />
depicting the F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />
era.<br />
Warner Bros.' "Blazing Saddles" riproared<br />
into the Waikiki 2 for a midnight<br />
performance Friday (15), a KGMB invitational<br />
""sneak preview."<br />
A .surprise rainstorm hit Hawaii. Undaunted,<br />
the streakers streaked on—but<br />
many theatres were crippled by the streaking<br />
downpour, at least temporarily.<br />
Narcisso "Vu of the rural Waipahu Theatre<br />
is planning to twin the house so that he<br />
can offer "more picture pleasure for more<br />
people and movie entertainment of all<br />
types."<br />
Jack Smight Will Direct<br />
'Airport 1975' for Univ.<br />
UNIVHR.S.AL CITY— Universal has set<br />
"Airport 1975," a major motion picture<br />
sequel to the original "Airport" (to date<br />
the company's most successful film), to<br />
start production this summer with Bill<br />
Frye producing and Jack Smight directing<br />
from a script by Don Ingalls based on the<br />
novel ""Airport" by Arthur Hailey, it was<br />
announced by Sid .Sheinberg, president of<br />
MCA, Inc., parent company of Universal<br />
Pictures.<br />
Robert Wise will produce '"The Old Man"<br />
for Universal in the spring of 1975.<br />
THE MAIM EVENT<br />
EVI . . . This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17<br />
March 25, 1974<br />
W-7
. . . The<br />
. .<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
The AJotor \u Drive-In has opened for the<br />
summer season after being closed all<br />
Winter, according to Joel Morris. ABC Incrmouniain<br />
Theatres . . . Tom Philibin.<br />
Cinerama Releasing Corp., attended the district<br />
managers" meeting in Los Angeles recently.<br />
United Artists is having a product seminar<br />
in Denver Wednesday (27) with screenings<br />
ol "Mr. Majestyk" and "Mixed Company."<br />
Al Fitter and Walter Mirisch will be in attendance.<br />
Exhibitors arc urged to attend this<br />
event, according to Bob Loftis of UA .<br />
Loftis' office recently was burglarized. The<br />
burglar took two typewriters, a Comptometer<br />
and a clock radio.<br />
WOMPIs of this area held their monthly<br />
meeting at Club 39 to discuss the upcoming<br />
NATO of Utah convention and their<br />
part in it. They will host a luncheon for the<br />
convention ladies at Makcoffs, which also<br />
will include a fashion show spon.sored by<br />
Makeoff's. The WOMPIs have been very<br />
busy addressing envelopes and mailing information<br />
on the NATO of Utah convention,<br />
to be held here April 10-11. They also<br />
are in charge of the convention registration<br />
WOMPI Club also has put in its<br />
Sondra Currie Promoting<br />
'Policewoman' Openings<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Sondra Currie, star of<br />
Crown InternationaKs "Policewoman," is<br />
traveling around town publicizing the film<br />
on TV and radio and says she is determined<br />
to do "every opening I can for it."' Declares<br />
Miss Currie, "I'm very pro-Crown and<br />
they"rc very pro-me now. It"s an incredible<br />
marriage."<br />
Sondra spoke in glowing terms of her<br />
association with the Crown team and especially<br />
Wes Bishop, producer and writer, and<br />
Lee Frost, director and writer. "Everyone"s<br />
bucking for the same end. I'm very excited<br />
about the picture and working with Crown<br />
again," she stated.<br />
"Policewoman" started out simply as an<br />
exploitation film but has evolved into a female<br />
"James Bond-type movie"" with the<br />
possibility of many sequels. Sondra plays<br />
Lacy Bond, a policewoman who gets all the<br />
boring jobs until a prison break occurs. She<br />
almost single-handedly stops the break and<br />
gives chase to two women prisoners who<br />
escape.<br />
To prepare for her role, Sondra studied<br />
karate six hours a day a month before the<br />
production started. She"s been acting four<br />
-^^^^^^' Voice -Over,<br />
\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
Motion Picture Service Co.<br />
bid for the WOMPI International convention<br />
to be held in this city at the Hilton<br />
Hotel in 1977.<br />
Ed Doty arrived in town Friday (15) to<br />
take over his new position as district manager<br />
for Mann Theatres. Doty succeeds John<br />
Telia, who recently was transferred by the<br />
circuit to Dallas. Telia returned here for a<br />
weekend with his family and to make arrangements<br />
for them to be moved to the<br />
Texas city.<br />
Mike Morrison, Buena Vista, Denver, recently<br />
was here on a business trip, according<br />
to Gary Steed of the local BV office . . .<br />
Dallas Farrimond of Farrimond Distributing<br />
Co. announced that he has set<br />
a saturation<br />
date on " "Gator Bait." opening May 8<br />
in the Utah-Idaho-Montana areas . . . Joe<br />
Baker, owner and operator of theatres in<br />
the Montana area was in town on business<br />
and setting dates for his new twin theatre<br />
in Havre. Mont., which will open sometime<br />
in<br />
April.<br />
Dick Frizby, manager of the Villa Theatre<br />
here, was admitted to the IDS Hospital<br />
for a hernia operation. He is doing well and<br />
soon will be back at work.<br />
years, first appearing in Howard Hawks"<br />
"Rio Lobo."" She also is the star of "Mama's<br />
Dirty Girls," recently released by Lassky/<br />
Carlin's Premiere Releasing Corp.,<br />
and she's got a Cosmopolitan and a Playgirl<br />
cover coming up.<br />
Some Filmrow regulars here may remember<br />
Sondra Currie. At 15 she worked for<br />
Art Gordon as bookkeeper for the Van Nuys<br />
district of Pacific Theatres. All are wishing<br />
her good luck on her way up in the acting<br />
profession.<br />
Cinema Int'l Announces<br />
Joel Hart Promotion<br />
AM.STERDAM — Cinema International<br />
Corp., has announced the appointment of<br />
Joel Hart as theatre controller for Latin<br />
America, from CIC's headquarters here.<br />
Former manager for Colombia, Hart will<br />
oversee the operations of the corporation's<br />
recently acquired cinemas in South and<br />
Central America and the Caribbean area<br />
from offices in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.<br />
.Succeeding Hart as CIC manager foi<br />
Colombia is Jaime Joseph, that market's<br />
former manager of MGM and 20th Century-Fox.<br />
CIC-TV, the corporation's TV distribution<br />
division, has appointed William Davis<br />
as its director of administration, to be based<br />
at headquarters here. He prevously was director<br />
of TV sales for MGM-TV. with<br />
offices in London.<br />
Francis Ford Coppola signed Italian<br />
film<br />
:tnr l.eopoldo Trieste for a key featured<br />
lie in Paramount's "The Godfather, Pari<br />
Honis Forms Independent<br />
Distribution Company<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Herb Honis has formed<br />
an independent distribution company and<br />
Its first release will be "Don't Leave Go My<br />
Hand.'" The feature premiered in San Antonio.<br />
Tex., Wednesday (13). Writer-director<br />
Arthur Roberson and Durey Mason,<br />
the star of the film, attended the benefit<br />
premiere.<br />
Honis most recently was associated with<br />
.Artisan Releasing Corp., where he held the<br />
position of vice-president in charge of marketing<br />
and sales. He began his film career<br />
with United Artists in 1963 and held various<br />
posts in the advertising and publicity departments,<br />
the last being that of roadshow<br />
coordinator for "Fiddler on the Roof.'"<br />
Prior to joining Artisan, Honis handled the<br />
national promotion of "The Getaway"' and<br />
"A Warm December" for National General<br />
Pictures.<br />
Honis currently is involved in negotiations<br />
for the distribution rights<br />
films.<br />
for two additional<br />
B. V. Sturdivant Presides<br />
At Judicial Conference<br />
YUMA. ARIZ.—Thcalrcman B.<br />
V. Sturdivant<br />
was requested by former U.S. Supreme<br />
Court Justice Tom C. Clark and officers<br />
of the American Judicature .Society to<br />
preside at the general meeting of the National<br />
Conference on Judicial Selection and<br />
Tenure at Denver Thursday (21). The first<br />
of its kind to be held, the conference was<br />
sponsored by the American Judicature Society<br />
and the University of Denver Law<br />
Center. Attendees were registered from all<br />
parts of the nation.<br />
Sturdivant is president of the Citizens'<br />
Ass'n on Arizona Courts, a life member of<br />
the Institute of Judicial Administration and<br />
a member of the Vanderbilt Associates.<br />
In film circles he is president of NATO<br />
of .Arizona, chairman of the Governor's<br />
.Arizona Film Commission, chairman of the<br />
NATO regional presidents' committee and<br />
a member of the NATO national board and<br />
executive committee.<br />
Alaska Is Planning Movie<br />
To Turn Away Job-Seekers<br />
JUNE.A.U, AK.—When a state is considering<br />
spending $150,000 to produce a motion<br />
picture, it usually is with the hope of<br />
drawing more people to the state. Alaska,<br />
however, is out to do the opposite.<br />
The House of Representatives has approved<br />
and sent to the state Senate a measure<br />
authorizing production of a documentary<br />
to discourage job-seekers from<br />
coming to .Alaska with hopes of getting<br />
jobs on the trans-Alaska oil<br />
pipeline project.<br />
For Prompt Personal Attention<br />
Equipment, Supplies or Service<br />
PETERSON THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
19 E. 2nd South<br />
Solt Lake Crty, Utoh 841 1<br />
Phone (801) 322-3685<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
I<br />
3ur<br />
wTxorcisl' Still Tops<br />
In Kansas Cily Lineup<br />
KANSAS CITY—The top three grossers<br />
in Kansas City remained unchanged as "The<br />
Exorcist" pulled another week of 750 at<br />
the Embassy 1 and 2. Second again was<br />
The Sting" with 300 at the Plaza and<br />
Truman Corners 1. "Serpico" was a close<br />
third with 250 at four theatres. The only<br />
new feature in town was "Man on a Swing,"<br />
which grossed 200 at four theatres.<br />
(Average is 100)<br />
Blue iRidge 3, iRonch Mart 4—Sleeper (UA),<br />
12th wk 200<br />
Brywood 1, Ranch Mart 3 ^The Day of the<br />
Dolphin (Emb), 4th wk 200<br />
Brywood 6, Indian Springs 1<br />
Cinderella Liberty<br />
:20th-Fox), 4th wk 225<br />
E:nbassy 2 ^The Exorcist 750<br />
1, (WB), 11th wk<br />
Fine Arts The Paper Chase (20+h-Fox), 7th 200 wk.<br />
our theotres ^Serpico (Para), 4th wk 250<br />
F<br />
F.iur theatres Superdad (BV), 3rd wk 225<br />
theatres Man on o Swing (Para) 200<br />
Ploza, Truman Corners The Sting (Univ),<br />
1<br />
10th wk 300<br />
Three Tough Guys' Has 300;<br />
World Premiere in Chicago<br />
CHICAGO—"Sugar Hill" proved to be<br />
one of the top attractions in its opening at<br />
the United Artists Theatre with 300. Also<br />
grossing 300 was "Three Tough Guys,"<br />
which had its world premiere at the Roosevelt.<br />
This nice business was especially inleresting<br />
and certainly gratifying since many<br />
of the segments were filmed in the Chicago<br />
area. Another big grosser was "Blazing Saddles."<br />
which also posted 300. It is in its second<br />
week at the Near North Esquire Thejtre.<br />
Chicago Serpico (Pora), 5th wk 200<br />
Cinema Mean Streets (WB), 2nd wk 150<br />
Eiquire Blazing Saddles l(WB), 2nd wk 300<br />
Loop The Sting (Univ), 1th wk 240<br />
.1<br />
Michael Todd Deranged (AiP), 5th wk 125<br />
Roosevelt ^Three Tough Guys (Para) 300<br />
State Lake The Exorcist (WB), 4th wk 325<br />
United Artists Sugor Hill (AIP) 300<br />
vVoods—Five on the Black Hand Side (UA),<br />
4th wk 225<br />
Alex Teitelman Is Dead;<br />
Veteran Chicago Writer<br />
CHICAGO—Alex Teitelman, 61. has<br />
died following an apparent heart attack.<br />
Known by his pen name Hal Tate, Teitelman<br />
for some years was correspondent for Boxoffice<br />
and Film Daily and one of his most<br />
active pursuits in past years was a column<br />
tor the North Loop News, "Roaming<br />
Around With Hal Tate." In this capacity he<br />
never missed an opportunity to publicize<br />
movies as they opened at various theatres.<br />
He also was a radio commentator about<br />
Tigers," will also direct and co-produce the<br />
film<br />
for Sun International.<br />
THEJPTRE EQUIPMENT<br />
"Everything jor the Theatre"<br />
339 No. CAPITOL AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, IND.<br />
Jack Dionne to Bryanston<br />
As Midwest Division Mgr.<br />
NEW >C)RK— J.I<br />
k Dionne has been apsion<br />
manager and lintcd Midwest di^<br />
will<br />
Jack Dionne<br />
be headquartered at<br />
Bryanston Pictures"<br />
Chicago office. 62.')<br />
North Michigan Ave..<br />
it was announced by<br />
red Zephro, vice-president<br />
and chief operating<br />
officer for the<br />
company. Dionne. for<br />
more than seven<br />
years, has been with<br />
Columbia Pictures,<br />
starting as manager of<br />
the Milwaukee branch and most recently as<br />
Columbia's Chicago branch manager.<br />
Prior to Columbia, Dionne was with<br />
United Artists in various publicity and promotion<br />
activities.<br />
K. C. Fashion Show<br />
Inspired by 'Mame'<br />
KANSAS CITY—The Women's<br />
Auxiliary<br />
of Research Hospital & Medical Center,<br />
in conjunction with Sti.\. Baer & Fuller, are<br />
co-sponsoring "Soiree '74," a special fashion<br />
show inspired by the Warner Bros, musical<br />
"Mame." starring Lucille Ball and Robert<br />
Preston. The event will be held Thursday,<br />
April 4, in the International Ballroom of the<br />
Alameda Plaza Hotel. Tickets are $10 each<br />
and all proceeds will go to the cardiovascular<br />
unit of Research Hospital & Medical<br />
Center. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m..<br />
with a cash bar at 6 p.m.<br />
Among those modeling the men's,<br />
women's and children's fashions designed<br />
by Anne Fogarty and Leo Narducci (and<br />
inspired by the "Mame" production) will be<br />
Kansas Citians prominent in society, the<br />
professions and sf)orts.<br />
"Mame" will have its exclusive Kansas<br />
City premiere at the Glenwood I Theatre in<br />
Overland Park, Kas.. Thursday (28). Dan<br />
Meyers of Galvin-Farris-Ross is handling<br />
promotions for the picture and also has been<br />
working closely with Mrs. Nat Denebeim<br />
and Mrs. Larry E. Pineau. co-chairmen of<br />
the Women's Auxiliary, on this fashion<br />
show. There will be wide TV and radio<br />
coverage of the event and all local papers<br />
also will cover it. In addition. Meyers has<br />
arranged for sketches of the costumes designed<br />
films.<br />
He leaves his wife Lucille, a son, Martin,<br />
for the picture by Theodora Van<br />
and two daughters, Anne and Mrs. Marilyn Runkle to be on prominent display at Liesveld<br />
Florists. 442 Ward Pkwy. Four of the<br />
V'elasco.<br />
actual costumes from the production will be<br />
Stewart Raffill. who wrote "The Snow worn at the fashion show.<br />
Carl Reardon a Director<br />
From New England Edition<br />
BOSTON—Carl Reardon. vice-president<br />
and general sales manager of G. G. Communication.s.<br />
Inc.. distributor of the "Pippi<br />
l.ongstocking" series of features, has been<br />
elected to the company's board i>f directors.<br />
it is announced by N. W. Russo, president<br />
and chairman.<br />
Mid-America Charts<br />
Chouteau Quad Bow<br />
KANSAS CITY — A before-Memorial<br />
Day completion date is anticipated for<br />
Mid-American Cinema's fourth indoor complex<br />
in the Greater Kansas City area. Located<br />
adjacent to the Antioch Shopping<br />
Center, north of the Missouri River where<br />
Chouteau Trafficway, Antioch and Vivion<br />
Road converge, the complex will house four<br />
auditoriums with total .seating capacity of<br />
1.400.<br />
Built as an adjunct to the K-Mart retail<br />
store. Chouteau Cinema will feature a total<br />
contemporary look, utilizing reds, burgundy.<br />
silver and golds. The restrooms will be<br />
finished in all-ceramic tile with the wall detail<br />
patterned in contemporary graphic design.<br />
The lobby will offer an intersecting arrangement<br />
of oak panels and mirrors offset<br />
by "floating" sections of silver Milarcovered<br />
frames.<br />
The snack bar will be carpet-covered<br />
and will feature a burgundy New-Mar<br />
counter. New expoxy parquet flooring will<br />
circle the entrance and surround the snack<br />
bar.<br />
Red theatre seats have been selected to<br />
blend with the red and gold Soundfold<br />
draperies. Completely automated equipment<br />
will be installed in the second-floor projection<br />
booth. All theatres, restrooms and<br />
services are located on the first floor.<br />
Mid-America Cinema is operated by Lu<br />
Vaughan. administrative offices, and Martin<br />
Stone, buying, booking and advertising.<br />
Begun less than ten years ago, the company<br />
now operates 13 drive-in screens.<br />
The Chouteau, with two 225-seat auditoriums<br />
and two 450-seat auditoriums,<br />
brings to 16 the number of Mid-America's<br />
indoor screens. Joining the Blue Ridge,<br />
Truman and recently opened Watts Mill.<br />
Prime contractor for the Chouteau project<br />
is Martin Salsbury Construction Co. Architect<br />
for the theatre was Allen B. Feingold<br />
ajid equipment was furnished by Bill Davis<br />
of Mid-Continent Theatre Supply. Interior<br />
coordination is by Sylvia Stone.<br />
John Wilson Takes Reins<br />
In Sikeston for Malco<br />
SIKESTON, MO.—The Malco Theatres<br />
circuit recently announced the appointment<br />
of John C. Wilson as manager of its movie<br />
houses here. Wilson, who has been with<br />
Malco one year, most recently was based at<br />
Fayetteville, Ark.<br />
^ Ak ^ row TMt BIST And OUICKKT ^j^<br />
1^^^^^ FOR ^^BUSi
. LOUIS<br />
phe Women's Varietj Club of Tent 4 recently<br />
sponsored a fashion show fea-<br />
•.ji'ing youngsters from the St. Mark's Learn-<br />
:::g Center for Preschool Children and fashions<br />
from Fischer's of Florissant. The<br />
youngsters, ages two through five, are retarded.<br />
Preceding the show, the club presented<br />
checks to various charities amounting<br />
to $5,500. Receiving the funds were: the<br />
.State School & Hospital Parents Ass'n. $3.-<br />
000; St. Mary's Special School. S 1.000:<br />
Judevinc Center. SI.000. and Camp Happy<br />
Day. $500. Earlier Tent 4 women had presented<br />
a check for 510.000. representing<br />
proceeds of their various fund-raising activities,<br />
to the Edgewood Home for Emotionally<br />
Disturbed Children. The gift was<br />
presented by Mrs. Thom Lewis. Women's<br />
Variety president, to Landsden McCandless<br />
jr.. chairman of the home's capital fund<br />
drive. The women's next project is to sell<br />
2.000 tickets to a fund-raising dinner to be<br />
held April 19 at Stouffer's Riverfront Inn.<br />
Included among the more than 100 •angels"<br />
who paid a premium $100 for tickets<br />
to attend the 40th annual Gridiron Dinner<br />
and Show presented Wednesday (27) in the<br />
Khorassan Room of the Chase-Park Plaza<br />
Hotel by the Advertising Women of St.<br />
Louis, which will benefit the cancer research<br />
program at Barnard Free Skin & Cancer<br />
Hospital, were: Better Films Council of<br />
Greater St. Louis past-presidents Mrs. Wm.<br />
E, (Lou) Moore and Mrs. Harold H. Feller:<br />
1973 Variety Tent 4 Telethon Crusade<br />
Sweetheart Mrs. Duncan Bauman, and 1974<br />
Sweetheart Mrs. Philip F. Lichtenstein.<br />
"Mortals" from the film industry who<br />
were among the 900 paying $30 for tickets,<br />
included regular supporters of the effort:<br />
Bess Schulter. Mrs. Emil (Mary) Karches,<br />
Mrs. Dimitrios (Georgia) James and her sisters<br />
Harriet. Angie and Mary Boudoures.<br />
Mrs. Herschel (Hazel McManus, Mrs. W-<br />
phonse B. (Vicki) Magarian and your Boxoffice<br />
reporter, who served as Gridiron assistant<br />
to Mary Utterback. president of the<br />
M Women's group. Gridiron proceeds for<br />
the past several years have supported cancer<br />
research, reaching a total of more than<br />
$350,000 in contributions.<br />
(^ono-ratulatlond to<br />
'9<br />
Mid-America<br />
Theatres<br />
on tne o,menina of tfli<br />
TWIN CITY<br />
CINEMA<br />
Crystal City. Missouri<br />
and ^kanh<br />
rom<br />
MAJOR SUPPLIER<br />
Ujt<br />
HARRY HOFF & JOHN MATTLER<br />
RINGOLD<br />
CINEMA EQUIPMENT CORP.<br />
8421 Gravols<br />
St. Louis, Missouri 63123<br />
Phone (314)352-2020<br />
Members of the Women's Guild of Cardinal<br />
Glennon Memorial Hospital for Children<br />
will spwnsor a premiere showing of the new<br />
musical movie "Mame" at 8 p.m. Wednesday<br />
(27) at the Esquire Theatre. Proceeds<br />
will be used for the benefit of the poison<br />
center located at the hospital. Tickets for<br />
the premiere are $25 each and may be obtained<br />
by writing or calling the public relations<br />
department. Cardinal Glennon Hospital<br />
for Children. 1465 South Grand.<br />
63104. or phoning 865-4000. extension 272.<br />
Charles Chartrand. brother of Wilson<br />
"Shorty" Chartrand. veteran manager of<br />
Arthur Enterprises St. Ann Theatre, died<br />
Monday (11). Services were held Friday<br />
(15), Survivors include Chartrand's wife<br />
Marian; son Charles: sisters Anabel Gilroy<br />
and Rose Kluge. and another brother.<br />
James Chartrand. Industry friends may<br />
make memorial contributions to Deaconess<br />
Hospital Cancer Research of St. Mary's<br />
Hospital,<br />
I ronton.<br />
Three Suspects Arraigned<br />
After Underskyer Holdup<br />
KANSAS CITY—Two men and a woman<br />
believed to be connected with a robbers'<br />
Friday night (15) at Mid-America Cinema<br />
Corp.'s 63rd Street Drive-In were arrested<br />
by Kansas City police officers at 63rd and<br />
Swope Parkway approximately 15 minutes<br />
after the holdup. All were reported to be<br />
armed.<br />
Weapons and money apparently taken in<br />
the ozoner robbery were recovered.<br />
The three were arraigned Saturday (16)<br />
before Louis J. Mazuch, Jackson Countv<br />
magistrate, on a first-degree robbery charge<br />
and held in the county jail. Preliminary<br />
hearings are set for Tuesday (26).<br />
'^^^y iiTT»J:W.U:)JJ~I J4i.I:i.l ^ -^<br />
"-13'//-14"0UMITER $33.00<br />
$54.00<br />
BOXOFFICE :; March 25, 1974
NSAS CITY<br />
Free, National Screen Service<br />
department, returned Friday (15)<br />
wintertime vacation in sunny Ha-<br />
; those who wished her well.<br />
various studios and Disneyland, returning<br />
Sunday (31).<br />
Ingmar Bergman was voted as the best<br />
vealth Theatres launched a scries director for 1973 in the recent poll conducted<br />
by the Kansas City Film Critics<br />
lanagers" meetings. The first was<br />
Albuquerque Tuesday (19) and Circle. In a story published in Boxoffice<br />
ly (20) for of the Dallas recently, George Lucas was reported as winner<br />
of the directorial honor but this was in-<br />
(Texas and New Mexico theatres).<br />
from the home office were on correct. Bergman was in the lead for "Cries<br />
members<br />
the gathering. A second meeting<br />
Wednesday and Thursday (27.<br />
and Whispers," New World release, which<br />
also was voted as best foreign film of the<br />
Kchita. Kas., for members of Darand<br />
year by the local critics. However, Uni-<br />
Bruce Young's districts. versal's "American Graffiti," which was di-<br />
meeting will be held in Kansas rected by Lucas, was chosen as the<br />
3-4 for Danny Smart's and Frank<br />
The<br />
best<br />
motion picture by the Kansas City group.<br />
iots. meetings are held in<br />
annual convention. Al Schrocder, Gwen Wolfrom, secretary at Boxoffice<br />
itre, Atchison, Kas.. who was for 28 years, was honored Friday afternoon<br />
]g of the Sun in Commonwealth's (15) on her birthday and retirement with a<br />
surprise champagne and cake parly. Her<br />
il contest, is speaking at all the<br />
desk was covered with bouquets of roses<br />
from her family and friends. She faithfully<br />
attended many Show-A-Rama conventions.<br />
starred in "Jimmy the Gent," with Bette<br />
Davis, at the Newman.<br />
Henry Plitt Honored<br />
As 'King of Hearts'<br />
CHIC .\ G O—Celebrities once again<br />
showed their great interest in the Variety<br />
Club of Illinois Celebrity Ball by attending<br />
the event which this year honored Henry<br />
G. Plitt as "King of Hearts."<br />
Among the personalities attending the<br />
Celebrity Ball were Lainie Kazan. Chuck<br />
Connors, Eli Wallach, Ann Jackson, James<br />
Farentino, Gwen Verdon. Ray Walston,<br />
Betsy Palmer and Don .Amechc.<br />
O'Brian Youth Seminar<br />
WASHINGTON, DC. — The Hugh<br />
O'Brian Youth Foundation leadership seminar<br />
on government was held here recently.<br />
The actor personally welcomed 73 high<br />
school students representing every state,<br />
plus four from overseas, who had been<br />
chosen by the U.S. Jaycees and the Nation-<br />
Fortj' years ago, according to the column<br />
by that name in the Kansas City Times al Ass'n of Secondary School Principals.<br />
Wameke, Buena Vista office<br />
Monday (18), Paul Muni starred in "Hi<br />
Nellie," with Glenda<br />
Highlights of the seminar included a tour<br />
Farrell and Ned<br />
of the Senate, tour of the House of Representatives<br />
as the winner of the $50 prize<br />
President<br />
iwang conducted by the WOMPIs<br />
Francis, Ricardo at<br />
^-(Rama.<br />
Cortez, Lyic Talbot and<br />
paid<br />
Warner Oland was by<br />
at the<br />
the foundation.<br />
Mainstreet; Jimmie<br />
Sparks, at the Plaza. "Mandalay," with Kay<br />
and a visit with<br />
the White House. All expenses<br />
Nixon<br />
were<br />
! Tidwell, Universal general clerk,<br />
(Schnozzle) Durante in "Palooka" was<br />
the hospital following surgery. at the Loew's Midland and James Cagney<br />
to be back at work soon and<br />
THE MAIM EVENT!<br />
at Commonwealth: "The In-<br />
'<br />
•<br />
. .<br />
H I<br />
C A G O<br />
'j^dward Montoro, head of Film Ventures<br />
International, in town for a screening<br />
..; "Rico," said about the film's world premiere<br />
here: "Chicago holds an extremely<br />
important position regarding playoff in the<br />
rest of the country. If a film does well here,<br />
e.xhibitors from all over the nation give<br />
opportunity to play elsewhere. Chicago is<br />
leader in the film business!" Montoro said<br />
When Women Had Tails" also may open<br />
here, possibh in April. This film is compared<br />
to "One Million Years B.C." in that<br />
both are in the comedy vein. A sequel will<br />
be "When Women Lost Their Tails." Other<br />
a<br />
new movies in the FVI hopper are "Father<br />
Jackleg." with Jack Palance, and "Go for<br />
Broke." with John Ireland. These two features,<br />
also in the comedy category, were<br />
filmed in Italy. In mentioning still another<br />
movie. "The Legend of Blood Castle,"<br />
filmed in Spain, Montoro said he does not<br />
expect to follow trends. He added. "I prefer<br />
to look for vehicles that are commercial and<br />
salable in any given category. JMG Film<br />
Co.. distributing "Rico." is setting up openings<br />
now.<br />
Dave Greenberg and Bob Hantz. two<br />
FOR THE SPRING<br />
When you need some blooms at<br />
the boxoffice but you don't want<br />
to offend .<br />
New York crime fighters who inspired a<br />
book (and now a film), "The Super Cops,"<br />
were in town to talk about the movie. It<br />
opens April 12 at the Chicago Theatre.<br />
Gordon Parks directed the film for MGM.<br />
It is being released through United Artists<br />
and \}K publicist Wally Heim took Greenberg<br />
and Hantz on a series of press interviews.<br />
Per Larrj Woobier, president of Dimension<br />
Pictures, the following features are<br />
ready for release here through Gilbrcth<br />
Film Co. — "Love in 3-D." a picture on<br />
which Jack Gilbreth and Sidney Kaplan already<br />
are busy setting up May playdates:<br />
"Working Girls." which gives promise of<br />
being one of the biggest exploitation pictures<br />
of the spring season; "Secret Diary of a<br />
Woman Prisoner," which will be aimed at<br />
downtown audiences with a powerful campaign,<br />
and special engagements are being<br />
set up this spring for what is considered an<br />
unusual film, "Truckin"," a feature geared<br />
toward the youth market, which contributed<br />
so much to the success of "Easy Rider."<br />
Precise release plans for these features are<br />
going to be finalized when Woolner makes<br />
his next trip to this city, at which time he<br />
will sit down with major circuit and indepciuk-nt<br />
executives in<br />
this area.<br />
Bill Durante said he is set with brand<br />
new sound equipment for the opening of<br />
.MP's documentary, "Manson," at his Biograph<br />
Theatre, beginning Monday (25). Durante<br />
also has contracted for more extensive<br />
remodeling to completely modernize the<br />
Biograph.<br />
A touring character group in town .Xpril<br />
.? for Buena Vista's "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
will have some excellent exposure by appearing<br />
on such local TV programs as<br />
"Bozo the Clown" and the "Ray Ramer<br />
Show." The promotion will highlight the<br />
openings in area hardtops and drive-ins<br />
starting April 12.<br />
. . . isn't quite ... -^<br />
THE TROUBLE<br />
(X)<br />
lIFlEMiSS<br />
INNOCENCE®<br />
Ray Frankel, Indianapolis branch manager<br />
for BV, was here for branch sessions<br />
conducted by district manager John Pil-<br />
Charlie Vaden, office manager for Columbia<br />
Pictures, reported they had a very<br />
successful screening of "The Golden Voyage<br />
of<br />
Sinbad."<br />
A heavy campaign was held for "Mame,"<br />
which included many press rounds for a<br />
weary Lucille Ball. The film starts its first<br />
run in this area at Ford City, Oak Brook.<br />
River Oaks, Nortown and Deerbrook.<br />
Goldie Hawn is due here to help promote<br />
"The Sugarland Express." in which she costars<br />
with Ben Johnson.<br />
Ask BEV MIIJ.KK (9i;i) :{K.i-;i«»(), alMMil llu' firosses at<br />
Central States, Slarlifilil. \\ •sIIkmo. Io\wi. 2/27 t«» ;^/5.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :; Majch 25, 1974
'<br />
'<br />
SM'*'"u'?.f°!"'<br />
^f!S'?!?!!5!S.<br />
''^°'"^' ^^"^^'^ Premiere in Atlanta<br />
Raises $25WO tar LBJ Memorial<br />
ond outstanding week at the Paramount. ATLANTA— A hcnctit preview showin.- Mr I ,hn m, i- -i , . . ^<br />
EE?i~iir=i- ^i^ri—^-^-^ -BBiEB—<br />
^^.p^^i'^^t^^ ^^\^::l'S^zr^^,^ r;;s^rs;ir-^t^;r;^-""^^"''<br />
'^^''"7,^«^--<br />
w ^---' Grove to<br />
th?o7w.r-F.<br />
J built ' Fuqua siii^iat Ihe'<br />
n° fcr.""'' "'"'^"'"r<br />
iwi in ABC Sou.h-<br />
^-"y ^ar Summer at the "" "''^-'^^^ '-et.n Washington, D.C. eastern's elegant<br />
Mmphnn<br />
Phipps Plaza Theat^ in<br />
Gu?,d-Do7Qu"t'te'''(s'R'!''^^ "°*'-'°'"' 2^^ "^ ^°° .""' P'^^" "^ ^^"'^"'"^ "^'"^ f"*^^ F'^^'<br />
sen,. H hv M R x^T^'J''''!'<br />
Lady and Miss<br />
,<br />
''<br />
^t-Ze''ZV.^ L'^R HondSideiUA,-<br />
""'l'^, "-^ ^J'^^ ^f'l.^''- '°^"'^"- ^ ^""- "*= ^'^'^''^- ' ^'^'^ ^«'^ '^"P f '^e<br />
"^'^ ^'" ''" ''^^ ''"^^^<br />
'Been Thrnrrf Fvlni-Kiti^r,<br />
monument built ^*^^^,''""' "'^''^ in "Mame." Adding reality<br />
in<br />
i-zeep inroat tXnibltlOn Washington without ^° '^'^ "'*'"'^ '^''"* '<br />
federal "'^'"^ ^^^11 funds."<br />
in the riding<br />
Halted by Atlanta Police<br />
Recently the LBJ ^°^^^"^'^<br />
Memorial she<br />
Grove<br />
wore in that com-<br />
hunt sequence in<br />
ATLANTA-The Atlanta Police Depart- 7^^n^n^r3.^'} ^ "'"°"^' campaign to raise '^^ P."^'"5^:,<br />
, ^<br />
menfs vice squad ^-^^^1°^ '" Public<br />
raided<br />
donations<br />
the<br />
to<br />
showins of<br />
build the ^'^^ Ba" and Fryer were made available<br />
^<br />
"Deep Throat" at the Windjammer apart- J^ich Pf"^' will overlook the nation's capi- [o^ ^ round robin basis for media interviews<br />
'^' ^"'^ ment complex in nearby East Point and<br />
fo^'de the viewer with a panoramic ''y amusements editors, writers<br />
charged four persons with distributing ob- Vf"^ °^ !\t ^'"^'''" Memorial. Jefferson 'rom throughout the South,<br />
^^'emorial. Washington Monument, Asked why<br />
and critics<br />
scene materials.<br />
the Cap- she had decided to make<br />
Five officers from "o"se.<br />
the vice squad exe- u/h "''''^f- """L^^''*^<br />
Mame" as her first picture in seven years,<br />
cuted the B^"<br />
raid almost before the contro- p- , ,"^ P^^^^nted the former Miss Ball answered,<br />
u<br />
"Because ifs a family<br />
^^^ '^^^''^ Earner ''""^ Bros., picture versial film had time to warm up and start<br />
^ and we need more of this kind."<br />
rolling, confiscated the print, projector and<br />
screen. Although about 100 persons were<br />
' ' '<br />
^'^'^"^ Williams said, adding that investi-<br />
'P-„„_«l ' Tl<br />
ejected into the cold shortly after 8 p.m. S^'"" '^°"''^ ^^ checking the next day to UOniaCK FrBIIllBrB<br />
(and it had cost them $3<br />
'fathers<br />
to had<br />
get<br />
been<br />
into the<br />
involved in planning » •<br />
^f"-'<br />
J fi i in 1<br />
clubhouse), police confiscated only $39 in<br />
^\f^^-^ AlClS<br />
^^^^^<br />
bChOOl FUnd<br />
^^^^^ ^^^ _^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^<br />
Signs on the clubhouse<br />
^"''gation<br />
door<br />
squad in<br />
readthe<br />
vice<br />
-Open<br />
division, said ,, '^T'''^^JA<br />
~ "^^^nrack." starring Jon<br />
to residents onlv.<br />
^^^ officers Must present were<br />
club card on<br />
working<br />
^oight in<br />
with 0th<br />
a search<br />
Century-Fox's true life film<br />
request. No one under 18 admitted " warrant for obscene materials. ot ai: idealistic young white school teacher<br />
While the coppers hustled the four "'^^'-'P Throat" ''"'' '^'^ ='=*!,s already<br />
perhas<br />
been<br />
of<br />
ruled<br />
deprived black children on<br />
sons arrested<br />
obscene<br />
into unmarked by Fulton<br />
'' '^^""'^'^<br />
cars the<br />
(Atlanta)<br />
crowd<br />
County courts ^^" '^^^'^^' ^^ad its world<br />
taunted them with ^"''<br />
cries of "Forget<br />
'" •"" "^^^ '^^"^'^ ^f'
ATLANTA<br />
T^anny and Linda C raddock returned from<br />
a cruise that took them from Miami<br />
.ilong the Gulf Coast to Vera Cruz and<br />
back. Danny is a salesman and Linda is<br />
receptionist and general all-around aide at<br />
Craddock Films in the Atlanta Film Build-<br />
Pat and Marjorie Roberson and family<br />
motored to Jacksonville, where they had resided<br />
prior to their move to .-Vtlanta, to<br />
visit friends and relatives. A special passenger<br />
was the Roberson's Bassett puppy. Marjorie<br />
returned with other members of the<br />
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3^<br />
l.inla.<br />
uas the film council's principal speaker<br />
and he gave his listeners an in-dcpih<br />
study of current film industr> conditions.<br />
John Boornian, who directed "Deliverance"<br />
in the north Georgia hills around<br />
Clayton, was awed by Georgian Frank Rickman,<br />
who a writer referred to as a "Red<br />
Clay Michaelangclo." It was Rickman who<br />
built the church and bridges and other sets<br />
for the movie filmed in and around Clayton.<br />
In fact. Boorman also employed Rickman<br />
as a casting aide to persuade many of his<br />
mountain friends to appear in the film,<br />
which shot Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight<br />
to stardom heights. When Boorman returned<br />
Atlanta's contingent at Paramount's third<br />
international sales convention in Beverly<br />
H.lls. Calif., included Bob Hosse, Martin<br />
Theatres vice-president in charge of the circu't's<br />
Atlanta booking and buying office;<br />
John Huff, vice-president and general manager.<br />
ABC Southeastern Theatres; Kip<br />
SniMjy, Georgia Theatre Co. vice-president<br />
in charge of buying and booking; Terry<br />
Morrison, Southeastern Management and<br />
Film Buying and Booking Co.; Bruce Stern.<br />
who heads his own Atlanta buying and<br />
booking agency, and Mack McAfree. Paramount's<br />
Atlanta exchange manager. Other<br />
Georgians in attendance were Sol Abrams.<br />
owner and operator. Beechwood Twin cinemas,<br />
Athens; Frank Brady, president, Columbus-based<br />
Martin Theatres, and Ronnie<br />
Otwell, Martin vice-president in charge of<br />
advertising and promotion. Norm Levinson.<br />
vice-president of Birmingham-based Cobb<br />
Theatres, also attended the Paramount sales<br />
conference.<br />
Hosse, upon his return to Atlanta, made<br />
this report to a Boxoi i ice representative:<br />
'The weather was wet and cold (the natives<br />
termed it 'unusual') but the Paramount people<br />
put on a good show for us. They<br />
screened The Great Gatsby.' "The Little<br />
Prince" and 'The Parallax View." the latter<br />
starring Warren Beattie. and these pictures<br />
look like money in the bank, especially<br />
Gatsby." with Robert Redford at the peak<br />
of his popularity, co-starring with the talented<br />
.Vlia Farrow."" Stern echoed Hosse"s<br />
sentiments about the "biggies"' and added:<br />
"Frank Yablans. Paramount president and<br />
chief operations officer, and Bob Evans,<br />
executive vice-president in charge of worldwide'<br />
production, made excellent presentations<br />
during the three-day meetings, which<br />
pepped up the exhibitors and distributors.<br />
We were particularly impressed by the<br />
screening of the product reels, which featured<br />
a 20-minute segment of "Godfather.<br />
Part II." The meeting really was impressive<br />
and it became the topic of a great deal of<br />
comment, loaded with optimism about the<br />
family but Pat, film buyer and booker for<br />
Alliance National Enterprises, Inc., and<br />
salesman in the Florida territory, remained to California, he offered Rickman a job but<br />
in that area to call on accounts and mingle no offer would induce the latter to leave<br />
future of the industry."<br />
with former film industry associates.<br />
north Georgia, where he thinks Mother Nature<br />
has done her finest work.<br />
James VeWe, vice-president and general Al present, however. Rickman is awaiting<br />
sales manager of United Artists, paid one work on another film. "Hawkfish," which E. E. Whitaker Honored<br />
of his periodic visits to Atlanta for a conference<br />
with Robert Tarwater, manager of will be filmed in the Clayton area. Rickman ATLANTA—On the day Joseph Alter-<br />
will star Charlton Heston and which also Kiwanis Member 45 Years<br />
the Atlanta UA exchange, and members of has read the script and writers have commented<br />
on his "uncanny ability to recite<br />
man. NATO official, visited Atlanta to brief<br />
his staff.<br />
exhibitors and circuit officials from .'Mabama.<br />
Georgia and Tennessee on plans con-<br />
complete story lines without benefit of a<br />
One of the liveliest meetings of the year single note. Putting things on paper doesn't cerning the upcoming national convention<br />
of the Metropolitan Atlanta Better Films appeal to Frank; he puts them on land." October 7-11 in Atlanta, E. E. Whitaker.<br />
Council marked the February gathering at Rickman's specialties are the construction vice-president of operations of Georgia<br />
the Druid Hills Golf Club, which found of ski layouts, golf courses, clubhouses and Theatre Co.. was late in arriving.<br />
the membership steamed up over failure terrian. He scoffs at blueprints and the A casual query by a reporter elicited the<br />
Michaelangelo" tag. "I don't pay any attention<br />
to all that stuff," he says. "I am a ing of the Atlanta Kiwanis Club, who hon-<br />
was attending the regular meetment.<br />
President Mary Wall called on Helen things with a bulldozer. Mainly, though, him with a pin emblematic of 45 years of<br />
Shell, the group's political observer" (Mrs. the less you change nature the better off membership in that service club.<br />
.Shell said she had become known as "Mrs. you are. God did a pretty job when he laid<br />
In reminiscing Whitaker said he was accepted<br />
as a member of the Spartanburg.<br />
Pornography" around the capital) and she out this whole area." The 49-year-old genius<br />
went into detail about devious methods used looks like a bulldozer operator and his S.C, club in 1926. He started his motion<br />
by House lawmakers to keep the bill in limbo.<br />
It will have to be reintroduced ne.xt character. The Kingwood golf course and burg as an usher and doorman in the Im-<br />
friends say you won't meet a more unusual picture industry career in 1922 in Spartan-<br />
year. Stewart D. Harnell, president of Harnell<br />
Independent Productions, Inc., of At- Georgia monuments to Rickman's genius. location.<br />
the Sky Valley ski course are among the perial Theatre, a Famous Players-Lasky<br />
Southern Enterprises, a S.A. Lynch oper-<br />
of the state's General Assembly to bring<br />
reason: he<br />
out an anti-pornography bill that had been<br />
bottled up in committee prior to adjourn-<br />
bulldozer man. You can create a lot of ored him on that occasion by presenting<br />
ation, took over the Famous Players house<br />
and subsequently it was acquired by the<br />
Paramount Publix Corp.. at which tim.-<br />
Whitaker was moved to Asheville. N.C. In<br />
1926 he was awarded a six-month scholarship<br />
by Paramount Publix"s Managerial<br />
Training School in New York City. It was<br />
there that he received the industry knowhow<br />
that equipped him for success in his<br />
career. .'Kfter graduating from the school<br />
Whitaker took a job as manager of the<br />
Strand Theatre in Asheville at $50 a month.<br />
In 1927 he was promoted to manager of<br />
SE-2<br />
March 25. 1974
1 of<br />
,<br />
Bougainville,<br />
Stime and Liberty Theatres in Grcen-<br />
;.c.<br />
next move was to Charlotte, N.C..<br />
lager of the Imperial Theatre. One ol<br />
things Whitaker did upon his aras<br />
to transfer his Kiwanis mcmberthe<br />
Charlotte club. There followed<br />
to Spartanburg and Montgonicr\<br />
where he was city manager of the<br />
I Strand in 1928 and 1929,<br />
ne.xt two years he was Charlotte<br />
lanager in charge of the Carolina.<br />
and Alhambra theatres,<br />
sptember 1931 he was the only thealager<br />
in the Southeast with stage<br />
orchestra experience, and was<br />
by Paramount Publix to Atlanta<br />
the Paramount and Georgia<br />
later named the Roxy).<br />
Lucas and William Jenkins took<br />
operation from Paramount Publix<br />
: L & J banner in 1933 and Whitpromoted<br />
to district manager and<br />
apitol, which was next door to the<br />
ja, and the 4.600-seat Fox were added<br />
responsibilities. He was promoted to<br />
il manager of the circuit in 1940.<br />
Eanwhile. Whitaker had transferred<br />
his<br />
lis membership from Charlotte to the<br />
club and found the "big town" asn<br />
a wonderful asset to a young man<br />
learn and succeed.<br />
ta Kiwanians were kind and hclp-<br />
Whitaker recalls, "and their<br />
will never be forgotten."<br />
itaker was drafted as a private in the<br />
World War II, serving from 1943<br />
He was discharged as captain. He<br />
lissioned and appointed officer in<br />
motion picture operations in the<br />
Pacific, with headquarters in New<br />
Before the war was over he had<br />
and opened more than 500 theatres<br />
:s such as Guadalcanal, New<br />
Espirto Santa. Fiji.<br />
Congareve, Vella la Vella and<br />
locations.<br />
the death of Lucas in 1944. the<br />
were split and Jenkins formed the<br />
Theatre Co., which has grown to<br />
) theatres, and since the death of<br />
jnder has been headed by John H.<br />
er jr., as president, which brings us<br />
ite to Whitaker's 45-year Kiwanis<br />
his present title, executive viceand<br />
director of operations.<br />
New Tennessee Anti-Obscenity Law<br />
Redefines 'Obscenity' and Prurient'<br />
MEMPHIS— Tennessee, without an antiobscenity<br />
law since February 19 when the<br />
state Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional,<br />
moved with speed last week.<br />
A new law. drafted to meet the specifications<br />
of the Tennessee and U.S. Supreme<br />
courts, passed the Senate, 26 to 2, and the<br />
House, 87 to 0. on the same day. It was then<br />
rushed to Governor Dunn to be signed into<br />
law.<br />
The bill says a film is obscene if it 'describes<br />
or shows sexual conduct in a patently<br />
offensive way or if it, as a whole, lacks<br />
serious, literary, artistic, political or scientific<br />
value."<br />
Prurient interest is defined in the bill as<br />
a "shameful or morbid interest in sex,"<br />
Fines of from $250 to $1,000 and jail<br />
terms up to five years are provided in the<br />
new law for violations.<br />
With such pictures as "Deep Throat" and<br />
'The Devil in Miss Jones" doing a big business<br />
since the law was struck down, the<br />
Memphis board of review (movie censors)<br />
decided to establish a new set of guidelines<br />
in Memphis.<br />
Las Savell, chairman, named a five-member<br />
committee from the board of 13 to set<br />
up the guidelines for all members of the<br />
board. The board reviews films and defines<br />
what it thinks is obscene and not suitable for<br />
juveniles.<br />
Meanwhile, in Memphis, the board of<br />
review moved to bring about the arrest of a<br />
theatre manager for showing the film "Good<br />
Guys Always Win," which had a PG rating.<br />
Board members screened the film under<br />
the title "The Outfit." The title of the film<br />
was changed after the board decided the<br />
film would constitute a violation of the<br />
city's ordinance under a PG rating.<br />
The board swore out a warrant for Danny<br />
Hardin, manager of the Whitehaven<br />
Cinema, who changed the rating of the film<br />
from PG to R after the warrant was issued.<br />
Mayor Wycth Chandler and his wife went<br />
to see the film. They decided it was a good<br />
movie but Mrs. Chandler said she thought<br />
it should have an R rating "because the<br />
language was unnecessary and the film<br />
should not be shown to children."<br />
Mayor Chandler intervened in the dispute<br />
and the city dismissed the warrant less than<br />
24 hours after it had been issued.<br />
6 Theatres at New Mail<br />
M F M P H I S<br />
BOCA RATON. FLA.—The 390,000<br />
square-foot Boca Raton Mall is<br />
rapidly taking<br />
shape, with an opening predicted by mid-<br />
October according to leasing agent and project<br />
coordinator Charles Von Stein jr. The<br />
mall, just north of the city's main post<br />
office, will have Britt's and Jefferson's department<br />
stores, about 40 smaller stores and<br />
a complex of six movie theatres.<br />
Tampa Theatre Starts Family Rates<br />
TAMPA. FLA.—The Todd Theatre has<br />
a new policy of "family entertainment."<br />
with a one-dollar admission price in effect<br />
to 4 p.m. daily. The charge goes to $2 for<br />
remainder of the da\' and evenina.<br />
Tt was homecoming recently for Arthur<br />
Groom. Also for a host of Memphis<br />
friends who welcomed him back to Memphis.<br />
Groom has been with Ixiews Theatres<br />
for about 40 years, except during the five<br />
years he worked for Malco in Memphis. His<br />
latest job was in Nashville. He will be<br />
manager of Loews TTieatre. Memphis.<br />
Four March re-openings were recently<br />
announced. They are luka Drive-In, luka.<br />
Miss.: New Theatre, DeWitt, Ark.; Europa<br />
Drive-In, Europa, Miss., and Buffalo Theatre.<br />
Jasper. Ark. .All were back in business<br />
bv Friday (15).<br />
le of Madness' Will Be<br />
April 5 at Filmex<br />
YORK—The 1926 Japanese classic<br />
Madness," directed by Teinosuke<br />
I, has been selected for showing at<br />
_<br />
jrear's Los Angeles International Film<br />
^position at midnight Friday. .April 5. The<br />
announcement was made by Robert Shave.<br />
president of New Line Cinema Corp.<br />
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THEATRE<br />
STREET ADDRESS - _<br />
TOWN<br />
NAME<br />
POSITION<br />
BOXOFFICE-THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124<br />
BOXOFnCE :: March 25, 1974 SE-3
. .<br />
MIAMI<br />
Yes, indeed}-, it's Steve and Eydie!" is the .'Ml .\boui Eve." "Dark Victory." "The<br />
theme for the PROPS 'fete-a-staf Letter" and "Whatever Happened to Bab\<br />
iuncheon show this year, which is scheduled<br />
for Wednesday (27). Steve Lawrence and<br />
Jane?"<br />
Eydie Gorme will be the special targets of<br />
Miami Beach's super show gals who in past<br />
Miami<br />
attend<br />
Lakes<br />
the "Our<br />
ladies<br />
Fair<br />
have<br />
Ladies<br />
been invited<br />
Day" at<br />
to<br />
9:.^0 each Wednesday at the Palm Springs<br />
years have given their love and musical<br />
comedy treatment to such greats as Milton<br />
Berk, Martha Rave. Sammy Davis jr., Totie<br />
Fields. Myron Cohen, Eva Gabor. Don<br />
Rickles and Jimmy Durante. Written by<br />
Patsy Abbott and Evelyn Rose, directed<br />
by Patsy and produced by president and<br />
founder Jerry Krugcr Pollak, the show will<br />
celebrate the 15th anniversary of PROPS.<br />
PROPS members will recall their early day^<br />
when they launched the first "Jerri" award<br />
for "Entertainer of the Year." Among the<br />
recipients were Martha Raye, the late Belle<br />
Barth. Eleanor Powell and Eydie Gorme.<br />
The homecoming for Steve and Eydie, it is<br />
reported in the press, will sparkle with<br />
PROPS' well-known creed of "love, loyalty<br />
and laughter." Tickets are $35 per person.<br />
All proceeds will go to the PROPS cancer<br />
fund.<br />
The Southern premiere showing of "Kazablan,"<br />
a musical motion picture filmed<br />
in Israel, recently began at the Carib Theatre<br />
in Miami Beach, the Dadeland Twin 1<br />
to the music of Dov Seltser.<br />
As part of a coast-to-eoast lour, Bette<br />
Davis appeared in person and on film at<br />
the Miami Beach Auditorium Friday (22)<br />
in a program of film nostalgia. The evening<br />
began with film clips from 13 of her greatest<br />
movies, which were selected and narrated<br />
by John Springer. Her Academy Award<br />
winning performance as "Jezebel" and many<br />
of the films for which she received Oscar<br />
nominations were also shown. They were<br />
Lee ARTOE XENON RECTIFIERS<br />
SILICON<br />
Lee ARTOE XENON LAMPS<br />
(BULBS)<br />
Theatre in Miami. The Show, in its fifth<br />
year of operation, features live entertainment,<br />
prizes and a free feature-length movie.<br />
The seating capacity at the theatre is limited<br />
to 600, so early comers get the best seats.<br />
The doors open at 9 a.m.<br />
The Dixie Drive-In, 14601 South Di.xie<br />
Hwy., Miami, lends its grounds to the Palmetto<br />
Community Covenant Church every<br />
Sunday for "come as you are, stay in your<br />
car" worship services. The Rev. Walter A.<br />
Sheen, pastor, has said the drive-in services<br />
are not for lazy worshippers. "They have<br />
to get up a little earlier," Rev. Sheen said.<br />
He also pointed out that about 50 or 60<br />
people attend the 45-minute prayer session<br />
at 9 a.m. each Sunday. He said many drivein<br />
patrons are "perhaps a little shy about<br />
going to a new church. They find it more<br />
comfortable." He also said people confined<br />
to wheelchairs who can sit in a car but can't<br />
make it to church come to the services<br />
often. The drive-in church started five years<br />
ago for Easter Sunrise services and the congregation<br />
in Miami and the Hallandalc Theatre in<br />
Hallandalc. Miami was picked a.s the second<br />
city in the U.S. to see the picture. Los has grown. The article concluded<br />
by saying, "So. as the late morning sun<br />
Angeles was the first. "Kazablan" is a modern-day<br />
bakes on the drive-in asphalt, the car doors<br />
motion picture in the tradition of close, the motors roar and South Dade<br />
"West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the worshippers are on their Sunday way .<br />
Roof." Produced in Panavision and stereophonic<br />
with a little religion under their seat belts."<br />
sound, the picture, which is released<br />
by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, features more<br />
than LOOO singers and dancers performing<br />
> lee ARTOE Carbon Co<br />
ii^i'iftiffmiffifH^feiiaa<br />
; 1243 Belmont Chicago<br />
John Scott, the Miami child who has<br />
gulped 100 hamburgers for a television<br />
commercial, is now making a film here for<br />
Poincianna Productions. "Of Gentle Hearts"<br />
is the title. John Scott, now an 11 -year-old.<br />
plays a farm boy.<br />
James Brown has joined Wometco Enterprises<br />
as supervisor of internal audit for the<br />
Miami based firm.<br />
Filmmakers Request to Film<br />
In Miami Courts Denied<br />
MIAMI—John Huddy. Miami Herald<br />
cnlcrlainmcnt editor, has a column on<br />
"Lenny." beginning his story when this new<br />
hot film property starring Dustin Hoffman<br />
and Valerie Perrine was lured to South<br />
Florida "amidst the usual drum-beating<br />
about the charms of Greater Miami as a<br />
film center."<br />
Huddy said Bob Fosse, the Academy<br />
Award and Tony winner, arrived to begin<br />
work and that almost immediately "the welcome<br />
mat was yanked from underneath the<br />
filmmaker—and hard." The Lenny company<br />
was denied both county and federal courtrooms<br />
for the crucial Lenny Bruce trial<br />
scenes. Huddy said this was a wholly unexpected<br />
blow, since courtrooms routinely are<br />
provided in other film centers.<br />
Huddy said the filmmakers began to pack<br />
and that after shooting the nightclub sequences,<br />
the company would return to Los<br />
.'\ngeles for the trial scenes.<br />
jr.,<br />
In Miami, Chief Judge Thomas E. Lee<br />
who refused permission, was approached<br />
again and again refused to grant permission.<br />
In a letter to the "Lenny" company, Lee<br />
said he could not allow "Lenny" in the<br />
courtroom because it is too controversial<br />
and that "the acceptance by the public of<br />
R-rated films is a highly controversial subject<br />
open to much criticism from many<br />
areas."<br />
A "l^nny" spokesman said that although<br />
the film would be given an R-rating. there<br />
has never been an obscenity case made<br />
against an R-rated film in Dade County or<br />
in Florida.<br />
Huddy said that more recently Judge Lee<br />
has said the controversial nature of "Lenny"<br />
was actually a minor consideration, that<br />
even a Walt Disney film would be denied<br />
permission to shoot.<br />
"Film production would disrupt the court<br />
process and necessitate all sorts of problems,<br />
opening a Pandora's box," Judge Lee said.<br />
"We've had outsiders use our courts before<br />
and we come in the next morning and discover<br />
the courtrooms filthy."<br />
"I think the position of this court is that<br />
we are not in the business of encouraging<br />
filmmakers to come to Florida to make<br />
films. I don't think we want to set such a<br />
precedent. I don't think we're set up to<br />
handle that," Lee was quoted as saying.<br />
So "Lenny" went to neighboring Broward<br />
County, not to Los Angeles and for five days<br />
the filmmakers shot scenes in courtroom<br />
481 of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court.<br />
Huddy said he asked Chief Judge John<br />
G. Ferris what happened and the judge said,<br />
"everything went beautifully. As a matter of<br />
fact they left the courtrooms much better<br />
than when they first got it. So much so.<br />
we're seriously thinking of using it as an<br />
actual courtroom again instead of a jury<br />
assembly room. That's how nice they made<br />
it look—staining the wood and redecorating<br />
it. They didn't disrupt anything."<br />
As to why permission was granted in the<br />
first place. Judge Ferris said, "We in South<br />
Florida have been trying desperately to<br />
bring in an industry, other than tourism,<br />
that would be a non-pollutant industry. This<br />
is exactly what we need. It is a nationally<br />
recognized industry and these people are<br />
the best in their field. All of us. whether in<br />
the courts, city hall or police department,<br />
have to exercise leadership and help attract<br />
this kind of an industry to our community."<br />
UAET Promotes Schreiber<br />
From Eastern Edition<br />
NEW YORK— Sol Schreiber has been<br />
named assistant to Joseph Kelly, vice-president<br />
in charge of construction and maintenance<br />
for United Artists Eastern Theatres,<br />
it has been announced by president Salah<br />
M. Hassanein. Schreiber joined UAET<br />
three years ago as assistant to the company's<br />
general manager. He previously had been<br />
associated for many years with Loews Theatres<br />
and had been director of TV operations<br />
for MGM for 14 years.<br />
SE-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
Paste this inside your medicine cabinet.<br />
Cancer's seven<br />
warning signals<br />
1. Change in bowel or bladder habits.<br />
2. A sore that does not heal.<br />
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge.<br />
4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere.<br />
5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.<br />
6. Obvious change in wart or mole.<br />
7. Nagging cough or hoarseness.<br />
If you have a warning signal, see your doctor<br />
American Cancer Society<br />
March 25, 1974 SE-5
J AC K SON V ILLE<br />
jv^anin Skinner, head of locally<br />
based Horizon<br />
Films, stated that he has secured<br />
national distribution rights for a new fealure<br />
film "Goodnight Jackie." starring Lana<br />
Wood, sister of Natalie Wood. Skinner is<br />
-urrently distributing in this trade area<br />
Voodoo Black Exorcist," now having its<br />
north Florida premiere at two local theatres.<br />
ABC Florida State Theatres' downtown<br />
Florida and Harry Clark's suburban Lake<br />
Forest Drivc-In. Other new films being<br />
handled bv Skinner are 'Don't Hang Up."<br />
"Prison Babies" and "The Devil Made Me<br />
Do It."<br />
Charles Brock, indefatigable moviegoer<br />
who enjoys his work as entertainment editor<br />
of the Florida Times-Union, gave favored<br />
treatment to a quartet of new marquees<br />
titles. His highest praise went to "The Last<br />
Detail," which is opening at Sheldon M m-<br />
dell's Five Points. General Cinema's Expressway<br />
Cinema I and Eastern Federal's<br />
Northside 11 Theatre. Also in for some<br />
moderate reviewing puffs were "Busting" at<br />
three Kent Theatres' units, the Plaza Theatre<br />
and the Blanding and Main Street drive-ins;<br />
"Cinderella Liberty" at three Eastern Federal<br />
theatres, the Town & Country. Northside<br />
II and Neptune theatres, and "Mr.<br />
Superinvisible" at Emory Robinson's Murray<br />
Hill. Gene Fernandez's Arlington and<br />
Kent's Southside Drivc-In.<br />
Elaine Kent recently authored the first<br />
of a series of feature articles in the Florida<br />
Times-Union entitled "Work and Play Together."<br />
in which she informs working women<br />
of the mechanics of joining a club in the<br />
field of their employment. She noted in<br />
her introduction, "Much charitable work<br />
is done by the majority and one group has<br />
contributed so mudh service in one particular<br />
area of town that a street was named<br />
after it. This is WOMPI Drive, named for<br />
the Women of the Motion Picture Industry<br />
of Jacksonville." Her reference was to a park,<br />
playground and swimming pool for handicapped<br />
children which, as a project of the<br />
male Motion Picture Charity Club, received<br />
WOMPI assistance for years until the city<br />
of Jacksonville finally recognized the project's<br />
outstanding merits and community services<br />
by funding operation of the park.<br />
which is now named vSunny Acres, out of<br />
the city's budget. She also said "The 30<br />
active WOMPI members, headed by Mrs.<br />
Wendy Hendrickson. are secretaries, bookkeepers,<br />
bookers and billers— to join they<br />
must work in some branch of the film in-<br />
\^^^ Voice - Over,<br />
\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!<br />
Motion Picture Service Co.<br />
dustry. theatre exchanges, distribution or<br />
even in radio or television. They do not<br />
have to be invited to join but must be approved<br />
by the board. Mrs. Anne Dillon<br />
and Mrs. John Hart of Jacksonville have<br />
served as presidents on the local and national<br />
levels."<br />
.\ leading Filmrow social event was the<br />
Saturday (16) wedding of Julie Kathleen<br />
Dowell and Lawrence Edwin Williams jr.<br />
in the Epperson Memorial United Methodist<br />
Church. Julie, the youngest local WOMPI<br />
member, is employed at the Universal film<br />
exchange and is the daughter of Walter and<br />
Kitty Dowell. Mrs. Dowell is with American<br />
Mulli Cinema and has been a WOMPI<br />
member since 1960. The bridegroom is a<br />
student at the University of North Florida.<br />
The newlyweds took a honeymoon trip to<br />
Daytona Beach and other [xiints in Florida.<br />
The crew at the Plaza Theatre, a unit of<br />
Kent Theatres, had a busy week with a<br />
multiple program. In addition to holdover<br />
dates with the regular attraction "Busting."<br />
they had a Tuesday (12) morning free film<br />
festival for the merchants of the Phillips<br />
Mall, a Friday (15) night sneak preview of<br />
"Billy Two Hats" and presented a Saturdas<br />
(16) midnight flick program of "Brewster<br />
McCloud." Tickets were $1 in advance and<br />
$1.50 at the door.<br />
Filmrow was shocked by the sudden<br />
death of one of its favorite persons, Mrs.<br />
Doris Poston. United Artists office manager<br />
and head booker, who was stricken by<br />
a massive cerebral hemorrhage soon after<br />
arriving at her desk Friday (15). Widely<br />
known in the industry, Mrs. Poston was<br />
the senior local office worker on the United<br />
Artists staff. She was a charter member of<br />
the city's WOMPI group formed in 1955<br />
and had held many leadership positions in<br />
the organization. She is survived by her<br />
husband Bert Poston; a son John R. Poston:<br />
her mother Mrs. A. L. DeLoach. all of<br />
Jacksonville; and a sister Mrs. Lorene Forsyth<br />
of Palatka. On the day of her death<br />
Mrs. Poston had been scheduled to be a<br />
leading attendant in the wedding of Julie<br />
Dowell.<br />
In addition to the death of Mrs. Poston.<br />
the local film industry was saddened by a<br />
series of other misfortunes. Jack Healy, the<br />
husband of Betty Healy, American Multi<br />
Cinema staffer, suffered the amputation of<br />
one leg; John Hart, husband of Mary Hart<br />
of the ABC EST home office staff, was hospitalized<br />
for cardiovascular treatment; Harry<br />
Clark, head of the Clark Film Releasing<br />
Co.. had a double hernia operation, and<br />
Evelyn Halleck of the Kent Theatres home<br />
office staff received hospital care for a foot<br />
which she sprained while stepping froin her<br />
.lutomobile.<br />
.<br />
Ron Ely will play the title role in Warnc<br />
Bros.' action-adventure film. "Doc Savay<br />
. . the Man of Bronze."<br />
Wometco to Sponsor<br />
Manager's Contest<br />
MIAMI— Wometco Theatres will sponsor<br />
a "Managers in Action Contest" April 1<br />
through June 30.<br />
Prizes will be awarded in the north and<br />
south divisions of the circuit. First prize is<br />
a three-day cruise to Nassau for two. Four<br />
cruises will be awarded, one to the winning<br />
manager in each division and one each to<br />
their respective district managers. .Second<br />
prize is $100 and will be awarded to the<br />
runner-up manager in each division.<br />
The rules are: (I) Promotion and Exploitation—Executed<br />
by each manager at or<br />
around his theatre. A campaign book must<br />
be submitted to the district manager. This<br />
book will contain snapshots, clippings and<br />
a resume of the promotion or stunt. (2)<br />
Operations—-The theatre must be supervised<br />
for the following: cleaning, maintenance.<br />
comfort, courteous staff and all reports<br />
daily and otherwise submitted, neat and<br />
errors held to a minimum. (3) Confections<br />
—Equipment clean and maintained, reports<br />
neat and accurate, shortages minimized,<br />
staff neat and courteous, creative displays,<br />
merchandising and suggestive selling.<br />
Colorado Seeks to Limit<br />
DST to 4-Month Period<br />
DENVER—In an attempt to get Daylight<br />
Saving Time cut to four months, the<br />
Colorado Senate Game, Fishing and Parks<br />
Committee has approved 3-1 a resolution<br />
urging Congress to limit DST to the period<br />
from the last Sunday in May to the last<br />
Sunday in September. One of the "yes"<br />
votes was by Sen. Harold McCormick,<br />
theatre owner in Canon City, Colo.<br />
The measure already has received the<br />
approval of the House of Representatives.<br />
Ted Goldberg Joins AIP<br />
Exchange in Washington<br />
From Ea tern Edition<br />
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Ted Goldberg<br />
has joined the American International Pictures<br />
exchange as a salesman, it was announced<br />
by Leon P. Blender, AIP's executive<br />
vice-president in charge of sales and<br />
distribution. Goldberg formerly was with<br />
National General Pictures in Washington.<br />
Jerome Sandy is branch manager of the<br />
Washington AIP exchange.<br />
New Role Set for Theatre<br />
"fond Du''lAC° wis. — The former<br />
Campo Theatre in C-ampbellsport is being<br />
renovated for use as a community building<br />
and as a center for senior citizens.<br />
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Savings Bonds?<br />
During World War II, buying Bonds was<br />
le thing to do.<br />
Star-studded Bond Drives brought out<br />
the patnot in everyone.<br />
Today, Hitler's gone and Grable's a<br />
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Today, Savings Bonds sell quietly and<br />
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Yet today, a businessman offers his<br />
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Just look at what's happened to the<br />
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HEW ORLEANS<br />
Qiidcn-Perrv Theatres was the recipient of<br />
two awards. Earl G. P;rry. president<br />
•r Ogden-Perry Theatres and president of<br />
NATO of Louisiana, was appointed as the<br />
new chairman of the National N.ATO Membership<br />
Committee and Jules Courville.<br />
manager of the Center Cinema Theatre in<br />
Lafayette, was one of the winners of the<br />
National Film Day Contest. Jules and his<br />
wife attended the American Film Institute's<br />
Life Achievement .Award Dinner Tribute<br />
to James Cagncy Wednesday (13) at the<br />
Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.<br />
has been the go-between for FBI and the<br />
American Film Institute. He said New Orleans<br />
is one of the 12 highly active centers<br />
with AFI affiliation. Brother Alexis remains<br />
active on an international scale, having just<br />
returned from service as a juror at the second<br />
Brazilian Film Festival in the hamlet<br />
of Gramado. The ten films to be shown<br />
will come from the festival experience . . .<br />
Another ambitious undertaking will be the<br />
fourth French festival, ".Semaines Universitaires"<br />
to be held March 27-30 and to be<br />
divided between McAllster Auditorium, Tulane,<br />
and Nunemaker Hall, Loyola ... A<br />
touring Film Institute show, "Horror and<br />
THE MAIM EVENT!<br />
EVI . . . This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17<br />
Fantasy" was played March 7-9 and continued<br />
March 15-17 in the FBI screening<br />
room of the Loyola Science Complex. Features<br />
include "Phantom of the Opera." "The<br />
Bride of Frankenstein." "The Day the Earth<br />
Stood Still." "Isle of the Dead" and "Dead<br />
of Night" ... A Russian Film Festival is<br />
scheduled for April 17-21.<br />
ABC Interstate Theatres' local office, operating<br />
the Saenger and Saenger-Orlcans<br />
theatres, will depart the latter part of this<br />
month. Ben Bicknell, division manager, says<br />
because Interstate operates theatres in Louisiana,<br />
Mississippi. Texarkana. Hot Springs.<br />
Ron Pabst, Blue Ribbon Pictures, visited<br />
Ark., and Memphis, he is moving the Eastern<br />
exhibitors in Louisiana to set up bookings<br />
division to Shreveport to be more cen-<br />
on their new releases.<br />
trally located. Jerry Nance will continue<br />
Clarke Jackson, Ogden-Perry Theatres, as managing director of the Saenger and<br />
Saenger-Orleans theatres. Ben and his wife<br />
left Friday for Kansas City to attend the<br />
.Show-A-Rama convention.<br />
Mary will both be missed; Ben was an<br />
active member of the Variety Club and<br />
Noted in the column of Frank Gagnard,<br />
amusement of the paper,<br />
Mary headed Ladies of Variety<br />
success<br />
and<br />
of<br />
was<br />
the editor local very instrumental in the the recent<br />
were plans for a new round of film festivals<br />
Monte Carlo Night for the benefit of<br />
which are being scheduled for Loyola University,<br />
the Charity Hospital's Burn Center.<br />
strengthened by a $20,000 grant<br />
from the National Endowment for the Arts<br />
William Friedkin, director of "The<br />
orcist." currently playing at the<br />
Ex-<br />
Cine<br />
to Loyola's Film Buffs Institute. Brother<br />
Alexis Gonzales, FSC. of the Loyola<br />
Royalc and Robert E. Lee theatres, was in<br />
faculty,<br />
town recently to attend a seminar Direction<br />
74 at Tulane University. Friedkin also directed<br />
"The French Connection" and has<br />
been nominated for an Oscar as the best<br />
director.<br />
Minden Theatre to Close;<br />
In Business 37 Years<br />
MINDEN. LA.—After 37 years in business,<br />
the Rex Theatre will draw its final<br />
curtain when it closes for business Sunday<br />
(31), according to operators and owners of<br />
the facility.<br />
The "last picture show" will be seen on<br />
the Rex screen the final day of the month<br />
and demolition will begin immediately thereafter<br />
as part of site development for the<br />
new Minden Medical Center.<br />
Operators of the theatre have given the<br />
owners notice that they will terminate use<br />
of the building at the end of the month.<br />
In turn, the owners have announced they<br />
will not attempt to operate the theatre after<br />
ihal day but instead would begin immediate<br />
razing of the .structure as part of the new<br />
hospital complex job.<br />
Across town, Claude West, president of<br />
West Enterprises, said he is hopeful the new<br />
twin cinema being built in West Plaza will<br />
be ready for occupancy within 30 days<br />
thereafter. Officers of the Minden Medical<br />
Center said they hoped there would be no<br />
space lag between the closing date of the<br />
Rex and the opening of the new theatre but<br />
that steel shortages had delayed work on the<br />
West Plaza. Hospital officials said they<br />
could not postpone razing of the old Rex<br />
any longer, if they intended to keep their<br />
work schedule.<br />
The Rex Theatre was opened in 1937 and<br />
was operated until it was sold aKuit 1<br />
months ago by the late Edgar Hands,<br />
The building was originally a Baptist<br />
Church and was renovated to serve as a<br />
movie house shortly after th; depression.<br />
In its day. it housed a variety of businesses<br />
in both wings off the main lobby, featured<br />
both movies and stage events and ran single<br />
features as well as double features, midnight<br />
shows. 3-D specials, wide screen productions<br />
and all the other special features which<br />
characterized the history of the theatre during<br />
both its heyday of the '30s and '40s and<br />
its lean years when television came into beinu<br />
in the '50s and '60s.<br />
Selma Theatre-Restaurant<br />
Construction Underway<br />
SELM.A., ALA.—Construction began in<br />
February on a theatre-restaurant combination<br />
in the Valley Creek Shopping Center.<br />
It is the first of its kind in Alabama, according<br />
to company officials with National Theatres<br />
of America, owners of the new theatre.<br />
Mrs. Ruth Janet Zuck, president of the<br />
corporation, said construction of the Valley<br />
Creek Twin Cinema should be completed<br />
by May 1<br />
The new theatres will be fully automated<br />
and each will be equipped with 225 rockingchair<br />
seats.<br />
The restaurant will feature a simple menu<br />
"to keep prices at a minimum." Mrs. Zuck<br />
said. The restaurant area will be slightly<br />
elevated so that theatre customers may<br />
watch the movie and eat at the same time.<br />
The entire complex will be approximately<br />
8,100 square feet.<br />
Richard Darnell Zuck. vice-president in<br />
charge of promotions and sales, said the<br />
theatres will also be available for civic and<br />
church functions and said an off-duty officer<br />
will be present at all children's matinees.<br />
Mrs. Zuck also announced the promotion<br />
of W. S. Amnions jr. to general manager<br />
of aill National Theatres in the Southeast.<br />
Amnions is presently manager of the Jerry<br />
Lewis Twin Cinema here.<br />
Clinton Theatre for Sale<br />
CLINTON. CONN.—The 475-seat Clinton<br />
Theatre, owned by Shoreline Theatre<br />
Corp.. was reportedly up for sale last week.<br />
ALLENTOWN, PA.—Ward B. Kreag,<br />
formerly associated with Fabian Theatres,<br />
has been named realtor associate with R. F.<br />
Burrell Realty, Allentown.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 25. 1974
J. Hardy Reopens<br />
il Twins in OC<br />
IHOMA CITY—The Quail twins<br />
led Saturday (16) under the now manof<br />
Showtime, Inc., B. J. Hardy's<br />
ased cricuit.<br />
reopening was described by the local<br />
has the first step in the full opening of<br />
|1 theatres in the Speetro circuit.<br />
ly was due to come here in midweek,<br />
ig the Quail reopening, to complete<br />
Jtiations for all Speetro units, which<br />
dark three to four weeks. Hardy,<br />
circuit operates 33 theatres in Texas<br />
^Oklahoma, said that most Speetro<br />
would be relighted in two or three<br />
ly is acquiring the Speetro properties<br />
Maurice Ferris, who gave lack of<br />
pictures as his reason for closing<br />
atres. Hardy already owned five thelich<br />
had been operated by Speetro<br />
llcrest, Park Terrace, Tower, Quail<br />
and Winchester theatres. He also op-<br />
Gulf States Theatres units here,<br />
lining Speetro units Hardy was seekacquire<br />
were the Apollo twins, Ed-<br />
^Plaza, Hollywood in Norman, Centre.<br />
70 and Villa.<br />
ston Store Owner Fined<br />
[Showing Sex Films<br />
JSTON—Edward Lee McMenemy<br />
guilty to a misdemeanor charge of<br />
ting obscene material and was fined<br />
by County Criminal Court-at-law<br />
tJimmie Duncan.<br />
district attorney Tim Alexander<br />
charges came after police raided<br />
emy's business. The Adult Words &<br />
Store, Dec. 20. 1973. The raids.<br />
er said, were made possible by a<br />
County court restraining order<br />
Cine-Matics and Global Industries<br />
franchise tax question.<br />
ited in the raid were five coin<br />
machines containing explicit sex<br />
icase against McMenemy was the first<br />
case to be handled by the disjrney's<br />
office since their decision<br />
an obscenity charge against Joseph<br />
owner of the Cinema West Theere<br />
"Deep Throat" was shown.<br />
riot attorney Carl Vance said silent<br />
without plots—like those shown on<br />
fiscated machines—would continue<br />
:uted.<br />
DRIVE - INS<br />
Sebastian Int'l<br />
a Family Affair;<br />
Started in '60 With Less Than $100<br />
D.-\LI .A.S—Two remarkable Texans and<br />
their talented young sons are the brains<br />
and moving forces behind Sebastian International<br />
Pictures, whose third feature-length<br />
film,<br />
•<br />
Gator Bait," made its Dallas-Fort<br />
Worth debut Wednesday (20) in a multiple<br />
booking.<br />
The Sebastians arc Ferd and Beverly, a<br />
husband-wife team that went into business<br />
for itself in 1960 with less than $100 capital,<br />
and their sons, Ben, 16, and Tracy, 12.<br />
This quartet does everything connected with<br />
creating a motion picture, including producing,<br />
writing, directing, cinematography, editing,<br />
composing the music, financing and<br />
distributing. Ben even contributed some<br />
stunt work to " 'Gator Bait," in which his<br />
brother Tracy is cast as a mute, backwoods<br />
Cajun boy.<br />
Ferd, an Austin native, and Beverly Sebastian,<br />
who had lived in Texas since she<br />
was 17. cho.se commercial photography as<br />
their means of independence when they decided<br />
in Houston to start their own business.<br />
By 1965— five years later—their business<br />
was established successfully, with Beverly<br />
working in the darkroom while Ferd<br />
made the sales and took the pictures. After<br />
pre-grossing as far as he could in still photography.<br />
Ferd became enchanted with<br />
films. The Sebastians thereupon expanded<br />
to include TV commercials, educational and<br />
commercial films.<br />
In 1970, the Sebastians gave up their<br />
Houston business and moved to California<br />
to enter the highly competitive entertainment<br />
business, their sights set on creating<br />
features for commercial theatres.<br />
"Starting at the bottom, we produced our<br />
first film on a budget of $7,300." Beverly<br />
recalled. "Four years later,<br />
after the successful<br />
release of 'The Hitchikers' and 'The<br />
Single Girls," we were ready to produce our<br />
biggest film."<br />
This, of course, was " 'Gator Bait" and<br />
to film it. the Sebastians headed for Caddo<br />
she the most exgerous<br />
pensive."<br />
film<br />
Lake in Louisiana.<br />
"We spent three of the most rewarding<br />
months of our lives filming this picture,"<br />
Beverly recalled. "It's by far the most dan-<br />
With his young brother Tracy co-starring<br />
in the film. Ben performed many duties<br />
connected with production work, playing a<br />
minor role, performing all of the dangerous<br />
stunt work in the swamp and taking part in<br />
the boat chase sequences.<br />
Today — just 14 years after courageously<br />
setting out on their own with less than $100<br />
to capitalize their venture—the Sebastians<br />
are operating their own distribution company<br />
in addition to their production firm<br />
of Sebastian International Pictures. Their<br />
general sales office is in Atlanta while their<br />
national distribution office is in Westlake<br />
Village, a suburb of Los Angeles. Calif.<br />
"We've found our direction and we're on<br />
our way to building a solid production-distribution<br />
company for now and for the future,"<br />
Beverly declared.<br />
THE MAIM EVENT!<br />
EVI . . . This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17<br />
Special $ale<br />
DIAMOND CARBONS<br />
50% Off<br />
Pinkston's Universal Sales & Service Co.<br />
«^^ER THEM ALL FROM<br />
- - » MmJF ,327 s. WABASH<br />
CHICAGO. ILL. 601<br />
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4207 Lawnview Dallas, Texas 75227<br />
Phone (214) 388-1550<br />
:: March 25, 1974<br />
SW-1
. . Dimension<br />
DALLAS<br />
By Mable Guinan<br />
.'^>>27 Winton, 75206; Telephone 821-9455)<br />
^bis area was well represented when eastern<br />
and western division managers of Commonwealth<br />
Theatres met Tuesday (19) and<br />
Wednesday in Albuquerque, N.M. Attending<br />
were Burt English, eastern division manager<br />
from Dallas; Phil Blakey. western division<br />
manager from Albuquerque; Dale<br />
Stewart. Dallas division manager, and others<br />
from these three local division headquarters.<br />
Also in attendance was Richard Orear. president<br />
of Commonwealth Theatres, which is<br />
based in Kansas City, Mo.<br />
Mrs. Dora Farquhar, mother of WOMPI<br />
president Glynna Farquhar. had surgery in<br />
Garland Memorial Hospital . . . Myrtle Kitts<br />
of the WOMPI Club is<br />
getting her strength<br />
back after a severe case of flu which aggravated<br />
her arthritic condition.<br />
Noret Theatres has taken over the Rose<br />
Theatre and Mustang Drive-In at Andrews<br />
COMPLETE PACKAGE DEAL<br />
NOW AVAILABLE<br />
Christie<br />
& Westrex Equipment<br />
Massey Seats - Technikote Screens<br />
(Con be financed by Litton Ind. Credit Corp.)<br />
All Types of Theotre Service & Instoilotion<br />
Consulting Theotrs Engineers<br />
PINKSTON'S<br />
Universal<br />
Theatre Supply<br />
4207 Lownvlev Ave.<br />
Dollos, Tnai 75227<br />
(214) 388-1550<br />
(214) 388-3237<br />
Voice -Over,<br />
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\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!<br />
. . . Vernon Watkins is back with B. J.<br />
Hardy at Showtime. Inc.. in the booking<br />
department . General Releasing<br />
Corp. has a new bookkeeper—Freddie<br />
Marshall of Piano. Welcome to the industry,<br />
Freddie!<br />
Forrest White of Ind-Ex Booking Service<br />
reported that the XIT Drive-In in Muleshoe<br />
is reopening April 5. Dr. C. L. Pummill will<br />
be the new owner, succeeding Gary Miller<br />
who had the airer last season. Ind-Ex will<br />
continue to handle buying and booking for<br />
the Muleshoe drive-in.<br />
Walter Arnibnister, Universal division<br />
manager, is finding it extremely difficult to<br />
"take it easy," as ordered by his doctor,<br />
while he's recujjerating at his home. 6008<br />
Ridgecrest Rd., Apt. 135, Dallas. Tex.<br />
75231. Cheer cards would help to make his<br />
days brighter . . . Maurice Baty, Universal<br />
booker, is also confined to home for recuperation.<br />
Randy Quaid, an Oscar nominee for best<br />
supporting actor, was a mid-month Dallas<br />
visitor, coming in to help sell "The Last<br />
Detail." playing at Preston II. That's the<br />
film that won the nomination for Randy,<br />
who made his film debut in "The Last Picture<br />
Show."<br />
Famous actress Bette Davis appeared here<br />
.Vlonday (18) at the Music Hall with film<br />
of her career and an interview session<br />
clips<br />
with the audience. John Springer, press<br />
agent for the first two USA Film Festivals<br />
at Southern Methodist University, was on<br />
stage with Miss Davis and fielded the audience<br />
questions to pass along to Miss<br />
Davis.<br />
Opening night (28) of "Mame," starring<br />
who came to Dallas to appear before the<br />
Woman's Club on her spring lecture circuit.<br />
She told Dallas reporters that she is working<br />
on the "first volume" of her autobiography<br />
and wants to get the events it covers on<br />
paper while "I can still remember and before<br />
more exciting recollections come." Miss<br />
de Havilland, who has created more than<br />
40 memorable characters on the screen, said<br />
she expects the second half of her life to<br />
be far more exciting than the first half,<br />
despite all the moviemaking that went into<br />
the first half.<br />
Blythe Donner in Dallas<br />
To Promote 'Lovin' Molly'<br />
DALLAS—Blythe Danner. star of Columbia<br />
Pictures' "Lovin' Molly." and producer-screenwriter<br />
Stephen Friedman were<br />
in Dallas Wednesday (13) for the beginning<br />
of an extensive statewide promotional tour<br />
timed to the film's initial U.S. openings.<br />
The Stephen Friedman production, which<br />
also stars Anthony Perkins and Beau<br />
Bridges, began simultaneous world premiere<br />
engagements Friday (15) in Dallas. Fort<br />
Worth, Houston and Austin. Additional<br />
openings followed Wednesday (20) throughout<br />
the Texas territory. Friedman and Blythe<br />
Danner patricipated in a full round of publicity<br />
activities and media interviews in<br />
each city.<br />
In addition to the Texas dates, "Lovin'<br />
Molly" also opened Wednesday (20) in<br />
Portland. Ore.; Friday (22) in St. Louis.<br />
Mo.; and will open Wednesday (27) in Char-<br />
S.C.<br />
lotte.<br />
Based on the novel "Leaving Cheyenne"<br />
by Larry McMurty. "Lovin' Molly" was<br />
directed by Sidney Lumet. The film spans<br />
a period of 40 years in the life of a spirited<br />
and beautiful woman, who with a code distinctly<br />
her own, maintains a warm and<br />
loving relationship with two men.<br />
Lucille Ball, at ABC Interstate's Medallion<br />
Theatre. Northwest Highway and Skillman.<br />
2200 YOUNG STREET DALLAS, TEXAS. 75201 TELEPHONE 747-3191 • • ductions of Dallas.<br />
has been sold out for the benefit of St.<br />
Monica's Church. ABC Interstate says that<br />
the Medallion is making sfwcial arrangements<br />
for the convenience of fund-raising<br />
clubs, organizations and student groups during<br />
filming for Holsum Bread. Director Jerry<br />
Motion Picture Service Co.<br />
the "Mame" engagement.<br />
Cox was assisted by FPS camerman Bob<br />
Jessup and FPS's location unit was used<br />
Another distinguished visitor from the for lighting and grip equipment.<br />
lilni world was actress Olivia de Havilland, Film Production Services also assisted director<br />
Don Coburn in the production of a<br />
series of spots for Sidral Mundet, a Mexican<br />
"Go Modem...For All Your Theatre Needs"<br />
soft drink. Production manager Nick Nicodemus,<br />
cameraman Bob Jessup and their<br />
''"^K^^^^^yi^loil&ut<br />
crew shot 12 spots at 11 different locations<br />
'<br />
SALES & SERVICE. INC. in six days, utilizing the FPS location unit<br />
"Co lAodtm . . . B^uipmtut, Supptin & Serrice" for lighting and grip equipment. The package<br />
was produced by David H. Orr Pro-<br />
Assists on Two Projects<br />
DALLAS — Film Production Services<br />
once again provided technical services to<br />
Tom and Jerry Productions on a recent<br />
CARBONS, INC. ^-— '<br />
BoM K, Cedor Knolls, N. i-^^<br />
ond Service<br />
Co<br />
SW-2 BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
1 and<br />
. . Rodney<br />
"<br />
Judge Refuses<br />
lop Film Showings<br />
)N—District Judge William N.<br />
has refused to stop several area<br />
managers from showing copies of<br />
»lly explicit films, "Deep Throat"<br />
Devil in Miss Jones."<br />
Blanton ruled the case belongs in<br />
court because it pertains to copy-<br />
M. Spiegel, owner of several local<br />
tres, who filed the suit, claims to<br />
Kclusive rights to the movies at his<br />
"The Devil in Miss Jones" is<br />
at his Art Cinema Theatre.<br />
Woody, Spiegel's lawyer, said he<br />
flake the suit to federal court.<br />
USTON<br />
snnelly . . . Peter Brown, who also<br />
the tournament, has three movies<br />
soon be released. They are "Vio-<br />
Roxy Brown" and "Memory of Us."<br />
film<br />
by Ross Martin, which is<br />
jring Room Only," is scheduled to<br />
iin Houston soon . . . Bette Davis,<br />
to open the Broadway series<br />
»vis in Person and on Film" gave<br />
performance instead of the two<br />
scheduled for Sunday (17). The<br />
ge was given as the reason for the<br />
The matinee was canceled and<br />
that more tickets had been sold<br />
inee performance than for the<br />
um of Fine Arts has opened the<br />
[•«eat Brown Auditorium and has<br />
a member of the American Film<br />
MFA has shown several AFI<br />
eluding one on fantasy, horror,<br />
the Femme Fatales. Coming up<br />
Festival of Nations, which conforeign<br />
films for mature audito<br />
be shown are "TTie Postiimmer<br />
Soldiers," "Le Viol."<br />
fia," "Hugs and Kisses" and<br />
the<br />
Pocket."<br />
s: "Lovin' Molly" at the Hayrk<br />
1. "Superdad" at Meyerland.<br />
iNorthshore and Oak Village, and<br />
Detail" at Loews' Twin 1 and<br />
. . Radio station KLOLited<br />
a special showing of "Amer-<br />
Friday (22) and Saturday at the<br />
River Oaks.<br />
ity Charge Dropped<br />
^LLE, PA.—Obscenity charges<br />
owner of the Capitol 1 heat re<br />
zing the motion picture "Deep<br />
ave been dropped.<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
{{erniuji Sollotk, manager ol ihc A^tcc i<br />
Theatre, and his wife have returned<br />
trom a trip to Las Vegas, which was sponsored<br />
by radio station KONO in conjunction<br />
with a radio promotion campaign . . .<br />
Kris Kristofferson. singer-actor, songwriter,<br />
who recently made a singing engagement<br />
here will star in another movie, this one to<br />
be titled "Alice Doesn't Love Here Anymore."<br />
Ellen Burstyn, who has been nominated<br />
for an Oscar for her role in rhc<br />
E.xorcist."<br />
will play Alice.<br />
Imogene Coca and King Donovan, who<br />
have appeared in a number of movies, appeared<br />
in a stage production of "The Prisoner<br />
of Second Avenue" Thursday (21) at<br />
the Laurie Auditorium . Allen<br />
Rippy, who was a recent visitor here on<br />
behalf of his sponsor. Jack-in-thc-Bo\. is<br />
Hollywood stars attended the<br />
scheduled to make a film soon. Rodney is<br />
I Campbell Celebrity Tennis Tournalso<br />
to return to the city April 26 to ride<br />
April Sound on Lake Conroe.<br />
in the annual Battle of Flowers parade.<br />
participants in the matches<br />
ey Jones, JoAnn Pflug. Anna The Rucnes-operated Loop 13 Drive-In<br />
llberghetti. Lloyd Bridges, Doug has a giant garage sale from 9 a.m. to<br />
Rudy Vallee, Chad Everett, Dan 5 p.m. each Sunday at the theatre grounds.<br />
Andy WiUiams, Ross Martin and There is a 50 cent charge for those selling<br />
merchandise as well as a similar charge for<br />
March 25, 1974<br />
those wanting to purchase any of the articles<br />
on display . . . The Mission Drive-In has a<br />
swap meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every<br />
Friday. Saturday and Sunday at the theatre.<br />
Actor Roger Torrey, who has appeared<br />
in more than 250 films and television shows,<br />
was in the city to visit the widow of Pattollo<br />
Higgins, who discovered the first Te.xas<br />
oil field 73 years ago. A movie about the<br />
oil field and the first oil well, entitled<br />
"Spindletop" is based on a 1952 book by<br />
Michael Halbouty and James A. Clark.<br />
Filming will begin this winter. The world<br />
premiere of the film will be in Beaumont<br />
Jan. 10, 1976. the 75th anniversary of the<br />
day the Spindletop well came in. Mrs. Higgins<br />
has been invited to attend the premiere<br />
showing.<br />
New films: "The Last Detail" at the Aztec<br />
3 and Century South 6; "Lovin' Molly" at<br />
the Wonder and McCreless Cinema; "The<br />
Naked General" at the Jo,sephine and Century<br />
.South 6, and "The Three Musketeers<br />
at the Century South 6 and Olmos.<br />
Bruce Craig Bennett has been named assistant<br />
manager of the Starlite Drive-In.<br />
Bennett is assigned to Randolph .'\ir Force<br />
Base, where he is a crew chief of a T-37.<br />
He lives in Universal City, but has lived<br />
most of his life in Hawaii. His ambition is<br />
to own a theatre. Bennett's hobbies are going<br />
to the movies and working on cars.<br />
Barrv Stanley Candy, son of vour Boxof-<br />
I ic h rcfwrler. is president of the Alvin Jaycees<br />
and was recently<br />
elected vice-president<br />
of the organization's Region 307 at the<br />
Jaycees' area convention in Victoria. The<br />
Jaycces Region 307 includes the Brazoria<br />
County Jaycee clubs. As regional vice-president<br />
Candy will work with all Jaycee clubs<br />
in the region and act as liaison between the<br />
clubs and state officers.<br />
'Don't Leave Go My Hand'<br />
Has San Antonio Premiere<br />
SAN ANTONIO—"Don't Leave Go My<br />
Hand" was given its world premiere<br />
Wednesday (13) at the Woodlawn Theatre.<br />
The benefit was for the Millie L. Tucker<br />
Shrine Club and was preceded by a cocktail<br />
party attended by the writer-director of the<br />
film Arthur Roberson and the show's star,<br />
Durey Mason.<br />
The movie is based on a play written by<br />
Roberson which was produced in California.<br />
Originally the film was to be produced by<br />
a studio but when that deal fell through,<br />
Roberson decided to produce it himself.<br />
Roberson and Mason raised some funds<br />
for making the film but at present they<br />
are about S240.000 in debt. They are distributing<br />
the film themselves and the premiere<br />
was held here because Roberson's<br />
mother is a San Antonio resident and San<br />
.'Kntonio is rated as a good moviegoing town<br />
and would serve as a gauge for the producers.<br />
Proceeds will go toward building a senior<br />
citizen residential complex and local poverty<br />
programs.<br />
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OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
The weather forecast tor the United Theatre<br />
Owners of Oklahoma convention was<br />
tor "a little rain." a welcome variation from<br />
the really bad weather which has greeted<br />
most UTOO conventions held in this city<br />
in recent years. Several times the convention<br />
coincided with such severe snow storms<br />
that many out-of-towners couldn't get here,<br />
not even from as near as 50 miles.<br />
"The Sting," Plaza Cinema, and "American<br />
Graffiti." North Park, are breaking<br />
many grossing records at both theatres. Both<br />
films, "at this writing, were in their 13th<br />
week in Oklahoma City.<br />
New films on OC screens: "Man on a<br />
Swing." the first picture under the new<br />
management's reopening of the Quail TwinM<br />
m<br />
REED SPEAKER<br />
Heavier front and<br />
grill.<br />
Heavier
I<br />
. . The<br />
le Sting' Grosses 465<br />
Minneapolis 11th<br />
WEAPOLIS—"The Sting" was coni-<br />
Wy out in front witii a thundering 465<br />
11th week at the Cooper Theatre.<br />
:;Exorcist," after shattering records on<br />
is trailing off fast, though it still<br />
I a 325 in its II th week at the Gopher.<br />
5r, that compares with a 440 the<br />
week. The granddaddy of them all<br />
"American Graffiti." In its 25th<br />
it notched a robust 220.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
ed (AlP), 3rd wk 60<br />
! Sting (Univ), llth wk 465<br />
! Exorcist ( WB), 11 th wk 325<br />
lion (AA), 1 2th wk 185<br />
s—A Reason to Live, o Reason to Die<br />
2nd wk 75<br />
»n—Superdad (BV), 3rd wk 1 50<br />
Serpico (Para), 4th wk 200<br />
Wishes, Winter Dreams (Col),<br />
80<br />
-The Lost Detoil (Col), 2nd wk 160<br />
m—American Gratfiti (Univ), 25th wk. . . . 220<br />
«cQ (WB), 2nd wk 95<br />
Cinderella Liberty (20th-Fox), 3rd wk. . . . 1 60<br />
)' Tradescreening Is<br />
sted by JMG Film Co.<br />
jWAUKEE—A screening of Film<br />
International's new 1974 release,<br />
," was held for nearly 40 exhibitors in<br />
»'s ABC screening room Tuesday<br />
(12). Hosting the special tradeng<br />
were Jay M. Goldberg, president of<br />
[Film Co., who flew in from the firm's<br />
:rs in Cincinnati, and Virgil Jones.<br />
manager in charge of the Chicagobranch<br />
office at 32 West Ranbriefly.<br />
a film of violence and in-<br />
that goes beyond "The Godfather" in<br />
s. Several Chicago showmen conthey<br />
were "still shaky" as they left<br />
ening room but the consensus of<br />
was that "it'll do lots of business."<br />
was high for the female lead, Barbara<br />
et, with comments such as "she's<br />
beautiful," and for the photogenic<br />
;r Mitchum, who plays Rico, deby<br />
one movie magnate as "better<br />
than his dad ever was." Veteran<br />
lur Kennedy also was pronounced<br />
the showmen accompanied<br />
luncheon at Angelo's Resiit<br />
sts for<br />
in the Oxford House, where<br />
Ed<br />
head of Film Ventures,<br />
discussed<br />
;rtising and promotional aspects of<br />
Montoro told Boxoffice that he<br />
yen films scheduled for production<br />
stribution during 1974. In addition<br />
I," these include "Legend of Blood<br />
a western comedy starring Jack<br />
titled "Father Jackleg," "When<br />
Lost Their Tails," "Go for Broke,"<br />
Hill" and "The Rebel." Five more<br />
for 1975.<br />
aro commented that in the past he<br />
:ted three "skin-type" films but now<br />
itrating on the<br />
pure merchandising<br />
the motion picture business—radio<br />
gimmicks, pop art posters and other<br />
jgonal ideas. Plans include a world<br />
in Chicago this spring.<br />
March 25, 1974<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
piith Maher, group sales director, hosted<br />
a special preview showing of "Manic."<br />
Warner Bros, film starrinp, Lucille Ball and<br />
Robert Preston, Saturday morning (16) at<br />
the UA Southgatc. 3333 South 27th St. She<br />
also invited educators, teachers, civic leaders,<br />
PTA officers and other club representatives<br />
to special showings of the movie<br />
Thursday night (14) and Saturday night<br />
(16) at the Centre screening room, 212 West<br />
Wisconsin Ave. "Mamc" opens at the Southgate<br />
Wednesday. April 3, for what promises<br />
to be a long run.<br />
Connie Gillespie, manager of the New<br />
Oasis Theatre. 27th and Center, had an<br />
operation and has now returned after being<br />
away for several weeks. He also has appointed<br />
a new assistant manager, Mark<br />
Thomas.<br />
Gary Merrill, movie and stage star, in<br />
town to play the lead in "Born Yesterday"<br />
at the J. Pellman Theatre, has been revealed<br />
to be the "voice of Old Milwaukee" in the<br />
Old Milwaukee beer commercials. Merrill<br />
said he was one of 50 baritones who originally<br />
auditioned for the assignment with<br />
the Schlitz Brewing Co. Merrill remarked<br />
that the anonymity of the job doesn't bother<br />
him, since he is free to accept assignments<br />
to narrate dramatic and industrial films for<br />
other firms as<br />
well.<br />
Marcus CATV Corp., a locally based<br />
subsidiary of Warner Cable Corp. and which<br />
is headed by Ben Marcus of the Marcus<br />
Theatres circuit, has withdrawn its bid for<br />
the local franchise ... It is reported that<br />
the Willow Playhouse in Highland Park. III..<br />
is doing so well the backers are surveying<br />
this city as the site for a second downtown<br />
dinner-theatre. Centre Stage Dinner Playhouse,<br />
624 North 2nd St.. has operated with<br />
growing success the past year.<br />
Judith Crist, who probably reaches more<br />
people with her opinions on movies than<br />
any other critic (she writes for New York<br />
Magazine and TV Guide), was in town to<br />
lecture during Marquette University's weeklong<br />
Fine Arts Festival, which ended Saturday<br />
(16). "Critics tend to get themselves a<br />
little bit confused with the voice of God,"<br />
she remarked. "Don't just sit<br />
there and wait<br />
for someone else's judgment. You have to<br />
start functioning on your own." she emphasized.<br />
No. she did not mean that critics<br />
should be ignored but that it actually is up<br />
to each person to find out why a particular<br />
film is liked or disliked, she explained. "You<br />
can love trashy movies but being willing to<br />
watch trash does not make it greater than it<br />
is." Miss Crist said, admitting meanwhile<br />
that she herself is not above watching horror<br />
films on the late, late show.<br />
"Movies are full of sex and violence because<br />
people pay to see sex and violence,<br />
which as yet they cannot view so shockingly<br />
on TV," she declared. "Push the good movie<br />
fare." Miss Crist added that, in her opinion,<br />
"everyone over 21 ought to see an X-rated<br />
movie, preferably hard-core, il only to know<br />
what it is he hates." She observed that film<br />
is viewed as an art form today but criticized<br />
this,<br />
likening film production to an industry<br />
or lo a Detroit assembly line. Here a popular<br />
car model is copied. If one year some car<br />
maker uses lots of chrome and his sales increase,<br />
the next year chrome is what comes<br />
off the assembly line, she declared. "So we<br />
have a hit in 'The Godfather"—and we get<br />
25 "Godfathers' coming off the assembly<br />
line." Arc movies a bad influence on society".'<br />
Miss Crist's retort to this is that<br />
movies which sometimes take two years to<br />
produce '"only reflect our society." She confessed<br />
she was a ""movie nut" and slated.<br />
"To be a movie critic, you have to be a<br />
movie nut!"<br />
The Better Films and TV Council of Milwaukee<br />
Area will have its next regular<br />
meeting April Fools' Day—April 1. A<br />
screening is on the agenda and the group<br />
will meet at the Tosa Theatre, 6823 West<br />
North Ave., at 9:30 a.m. . Better<br />
Films and TV Council of Sheboygan County<br />
meets Thursday. April 4, and will listen<br />
Ralph Schallow, city manager for the Marcus<br />
Sheboygan theatres. The time is 9:45<br />
a.m. and the place is the Security First<br />
National Bank Building.<br />
Ed Gavin, .American International Pictures'<br />
local branch manager, had a tradeshowing<br />
of the R-ratcd ""Truck Stop<br />
Women" Friday afternoon (8) in the Centre<br />
Screening Room . . . Carole Sutter, local<br />
Buena Vista office manager, told Boxoffice<br />
"everything is just super with 'Superdad.'<br />
" The film continues to do very well<br />
around the state. Meanwhile, that perennial<br />
Disney picture, "Fantasia,"" has returned for<br />
its<br />
sixth time around to the Downer Prestige<br />
Theatre, located on the city's east side.<br />
"Conrack," which opens April 3 at four<br />
local houses— Mill Road, Northridgc,<br />
'<br />
Centre and Southiown—had a special<br />
screening Wednesday evening (13). Hosting<br />
the showing at the Centre screening room,<br />
2 1 2 West Wisconsin Ave., were Larry J.<br />
Dieckhaus and Paula Jamrock from the<br />
Chicago 20th-Fox office. Marge Ondrejka,<br />
local branch office manager, also has arranged<br />
a number of preshowings to which<br />
she is inviting educators, club representatives<br />
and civic leaders.<br />
A Fellini film festival was planned for<br />
the Marquette University Fine Arts Week<br />
held Sunday (10) through Saturday (16),<br />
(Continued on page NC-4)<br />
^^"^yfi^^^ Voice-Over.<br />
\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!<br />
Motion Picture Service Co.<br />
JiiiiieliiHiiiiliiiia<br />
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I<br />
N C O L N<br />
:'.-.> downtown theatres have new assistant<br />
managers. Doug Briggs is at the Plaza<br />
-,:, Michael McLaughlin is at Douglas 3.<br />
:-.ucc Harmon. Plaza manager, said Doug<br />
Succeeds Dan Warlick. who resigned so he<br />
j.'-.ild devote full time to producing some<br />
iop grades at Nebraska Wesleyan as a medi^ril<br />
school applicant. A University of Nehi.iska<br />
student. Briggs has been chief of<br />
-UiU at the Plaza Four. According to Bruce.<br />
'•oiwc subsequent changes have promoted<br />
Alan Shaw from doorman to chief of staff<br />
and John Laun from usher to doorman.<br />
Cindy Feiler also was promoted from concession<br />
worker to cashier. McLaughlin has<br />
been with Douglas 3 since last May doing<br />
a little bit of everything" and is a University<br />
of Nebraska journalism junior class<br />
member. His promotion wa.s announced by<br />
manager Lee Levorson.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Dubinsky plan to go<br />
to Kansas City around April 1 to join in the<br />
gala April 2 celebration of Max Hoffman's<br />
80th birthday. A retired Kansas City businessman,<br />
Hoffman is the husband of Irwin<br />
Dubinsky's sister. Ho.sts for the dinner and<br />
other festivities will be Hoffman's niece<br />
and nephew. TTie Dubinskys plan to remain<br />
in Kansas City several days, since it has<br />
been some time since they were there . . .<br />
Dubinsky and his son-in-law James Rodenberg.<br />
the family circuit attorney, spent several<br />
days in Des Moines and Sioux City on<br />
theatre business, returning to this city Friday<br />
(22).<br />
Sooner or later everyone—or almost<br />
everyone—may see "The E.vorcist." But not<br />
retired industry veteran Walt Jancke. "I<br />
get<br />
sick just thinking about it. so I'm not going<br />
to see it." Walt said the other day. Very<br />
much aware that "The Exorcist" is a costly<br />
film for any exhibitor showing it, Jancke is<br />
hoping his involved industry friends will<br />
have the long runs they need to come out<br />
okay economically, however . . . Walt says<br />
he thinks he figured out the other day at<br />
home "what's wrong with the movies" and<br />
is going to make it the subject of an industry<br />
talk someday, if the inspiration comes.<br />
He traces it back to the big studios losing<br />
control of their actors and actresses when<br />
they cut back on high-powered, efficient<br />
publicity men and field<br />
out to<br />
representatives sent<br />
the theatres. So, instead of the situation<br />
being under some organized control,<br />
actors and actresses today go their own way,<br />
get together a few bucks and make a movie.<br />
As those knowing Walt realize, the longtime<br />
industryite is no prude but wants a<br />
reason for nudity or obscenity before it's<br />
used— if he has "his druthers."<br />
"The Exorcist" is doing very well locally<br />
at the State. Dennis Garrison, manager of<br />
the theatre, said many of the young fans<br />
here for the annual State Basketball Tournament<br />
games during the Friday (15) weekend<br />
caught the show. They were admitted<br />
to the R-rated film as long as they were accompanied<br />
by a coach or teacher (in lieu<br />
of a parent), says Dennis . . . Circuit president<br />
Irwni Dubinsky said "The Exorcist"<br />
opened Wednesday (13) in Des Moines at<br />
the Riviera with no great fanfare other than<br />
a few patrons passing out during the show.<br />
Crowds have been easy to handle thus far,<br />
he reports.<br />
Basketball tournament fans apparently<br />
sitimulated business at the other downtown<br />
movie hou.ses where other Academy Awardnominated<br />
films crowd the marquees. Michael<br />
McLaughlin, assistant Douglas 3 manager,<br />
said "Cinderella Liberty" was a sellout<br />
Saturday night (16). So was "American<br />
Graffiti" at the Plaza, which hit the 67,000<br />
patron mark Saturday (16).<br />
Bruce Harmon, Plaza manager, had some<br />
of the "MOVIES ... the Great American<br />
Dream Machine" slogan posters in hand<br />
soon after he returned Friday (15) from his<br />
first Show-A-Rama convention in Kansas<br />
City. Bruce says these are up at both the<br />
downtown Plaza and the suburban Cooper/Lincoln.<br />
The slogan was the winning<br />
entry submitted in the United Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n contest by Dave Woolery. who<br />
oversees the Northtown 6 theatres in Dallas,<br />
Tex., for Kansas City-based American Mulli<br />
Cinema, according to Bruce.<br />
Sarge Dubinsky, .Arthur Lapin and James<br />
Rodenberg, who represented the Dubinsky<br />
circuit at Show-A-Rama 17, arc pleased<br />
with their route to and from the Crown<br />
Center convention site. They tried 1-29 after<br />
crossing the river at Nebraska City from<br />
Highway 2 and say it's about a four-hour<br />
drive despite the 55-mile-per-hour speed<br />
limit. And a pleasant trip. too. they add.<br />
Mark Robson will produce and dircc<br />
•irthquakc" for Universal.<br />
Bryonston Opens Atlanta<br />
Branch for 3 SE Areas<br />
From Eostern Edition<br />
NEW YORK—Bryanston Pictures has<br />
opened an Atlanta branch office and appointed<br />
Kathy Sain as branch manager of<br />
the Atlanta-Jacksonville-Charlotte area. The<br />
announcement was made by Ted Zephro,<br />
vice-president and chief operating officer,<br />
as part of the company's continuing expansion<br />
program.<br />
OMAHA<br />
j^ianna Sirck is engaged in a research project<br />
on movie theatres that operated in<br />
the state of Iowa in the late 1930s. She<br />
would like a list of the names of the small<br />
towns which had movie houses in 1939. If<br />
anyone is in possession of this information<br />
or knows how it can be obtained, it will be<br />
greatly appreciated by Miss Sirck. She may<br />
be contacted at 301 North Leaders, Sioux<br />
Falls, S.D. 57102 ... The Remsen Chamber<br />
of Commerce in Remsen, Iowa, plans to<br />
reopen the Vogue Theatre there. Extensive<br />
renovation, remodeling and reseating are<br />
planned. A definite opening date will be<br />
announced later.<br />
Visitors on Filmrow: Evelyn Fosterman<br />
and Irene Sperstad. who operate the Empress<br />
at Verdigre: Pete Renzof of Columbia<br />
Pictures, who called on local situations, and<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kugel of Holstein, Iowa,<br />
who operate the State Theatre there. While<br />
here. Mrs. Kugel consulted with physicians<br />
and had her quarterly eye checkup.<br />
The Little Arts Theatre here lost another<br />
round in its efforts to stave off conviction<br />
by the city for the showing of obscene material.<br />
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that<br />
the conditions under which the film house<br />
had been convicted compiled with its various<br />
rulings for the determination of showing<br />
obscene material. Sentencing has not<br />
been handed down by the Nebraska Supreme<br />
Court at this time.<br />
New on the screens: "Blazing Saddles."<br />
Six West and North Hampton 4; "The Last<br />
Detail" and "Cinderella Liberty," Park 4<br />
and Six West; "Man on a Swing," Cinema<br />
4 and Maplewood; "Man of the East," Astro<br />
and Cinema 4; "All the Young Wives,"<br />
Cooper 70, and "Hit Man" and "Cool<br />
Breeze," Omaha . Sting" and "Magnum<br />
Force," both of which opened during<br />
the Christmas season, are still strong at<br />
Cinema 2.<br />
Wanier Bros.' "Manie," with Lucille Ball,<br />
will open Friday (29) at Coo[>L'r's Omaha<br />
Indian Hills Theatre.<br />
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CARBONS, INC. ^<br />
Box K, Ccdor Knollj, N. J.<br />
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(402) 341-5715<br />
March 25, 1974
NATO of Utah Confab<br />
AprillO-llinSLC<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—NATO of Utah will<br />
mark the opening of a new era in the state<br />
with its first convention, to be held April<br />
10-11 at the Tri Arc Travel Lodge in this<br />
city. "Better and More in '74" will be the<br />
theme of the two-day extravaganza, according<br />
to Marv Cox, convention chairman.<br />
The conclave will be packed with entertainment,<br />
symposiums, continental breakfasts,<br />
product reels, a major screening, lectures<br />
on advertising promotion, new product<br />
and new concepts, banquets and even time<br />
to<br />
relax.<br />
"It will add up to a great time to meet<br />
and share ideas with other exhibitors." Cox<br />
avers.<br />
Convention reservations must be received<br />
prior to Monday (25) and room reservations<br />
should be made directly with the Tri ^rc<br />
Travel Lodge. Convention activity reservations<br />
should be sent to Pat Wheat, WOMPI<br />
president and convention co-chairman.<br />
If necessary, further information may be<br />
obtained from the National Ass'n of Theatre<br />
Owners, 1243 East 2100 South, Suite<br />
100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84105.<br />
Schueth Boosts Patronage<br />
With Diverse Promoiions<br />
NEW ULM, MINN.—Walter Schueth.<br />
who last September took over management<br />
of Minneapolis-based Mid-Continent Theatres'<br />
New Ulm and Starlite theatres here,<br />
has introduced a number of attention-getting<br />
features to hypo business at the showhouses.<br />
One is the "The Uncle Wally Show,"<br />
a Saturday matinee designed especially for<br />
youngsters. According to Schueth, who plays<br />
the role of "Uncle Wally," the noise some<br />
Saturdays is so deafening he can "feel the<br />
sound reverberating against his eardrums."<br />
In addition, Schueth holds "Krazy Races"<br />
and devises other games to amuse the chilresulting<br />
in delighted audiences at the<br />
. matinees. He also hosted screen star<br />
j'Robinson, who played in "Romeo and<br />
at an in-person appearance at the<br />
Im Theatre when the film premiered.<br />
theatres have been updated for<br />
patron enjoyment. A stereophonic<br />
system has been added at the New<br />
while the Starlite Drive-in's appearbeen<br />
improved with a new fence.<br />
er screen also has been rebuilt and<br />
sions building currently is being<br />
D E S<br />
MOINES<br />
the arrival of Schueth and his wife<br />
New Ulm, they have become the<br />
of twin boys, Mark and Michael,<br />
children. Mrs. Schueth formerly<br />
Aberdeen, S.D.
. . . Screens<br />
. . lenses<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . UA<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
giil Doebel is the new United Artists<br />
branch manager here, succeeding Bob<br />
ucJarnette, who resigned to accept an asct-unannounced<br />
position. Doebel took over<br />
•lie post Monday (18)—and thus completed<br />
:i cycle. He started in the film business here<br />
at<br />
the 20th Century-Fox branch, then tranrferred<br />
to the Omaha 20th-Fo.x branch.<br />
where he was branch manager, his territory<br />
including Des Moines and Milwaukee. Subsequent<br />
to that Doebel became manager for<br />
National General Pictures, his territory this<br />
time encompassing this city. Des Moines<br />
and Omaha. Doebel is married and has four<br />
children . . . Bob DeJarnette was honored<br />
al a going-away party Friday (8) at the<br />
Hyatt Lodge here—and the turnout was<br />
hefty.<br />
North Central Theatres (formerly ABC of<br />
North Central States) has been having rousing<br />
results with a series of Friday-Saturday<br />
midnight shows at four of its area theatres:<br />
the Skyway I. the Brookdale. the Norstar<br />
and the Plaza. Dean Schaff, booker-buyer,<br />
has been slotting such repeats as "The Concert<br />
for Bangladesh"—and the grosses have<br />
been lofty.<br />
Dean Lutz and Forrie Myers, those arch<br />
rivals of the golf links, have taken to battling<br />
in the alleys. But wait. It's bowling<br />
alleys! Lutz. of K-Tel Productions here,<br />
says he might just as well have his paycheck<br />
signed right over to Myers. Paramount<br />
branch chief. For five consecutive Saturdays,<br />
Myers bowled between 590 and 620,<br />
with a better than 180 average per game.<br />
Mourns Lutz: "He's made enough to pay<br />
for his membership in the Minnesota Valley<br />
Bowling League."<br />
Jim Payne, Midwest Entertainment, returned<br />
from the Paramount product convention<br />
in California to report: "The advance<br />
product looked excellent—and the entire<br />
affair was handled beautifully. We saw<br />
'The Great Gatsby,' "The Parallax View'<br />
and "The Little Prince,' among others, and<br />
viewed production reels from 'The God-<br />
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father. Part IF and The Longest Yard.'<br />
starring Burt Reynolds. I do want to congratulate<br />
Paramount Pictures on the way<br />
the entire project was handled—first-class<br />
all the way." Forrie Myers, Paramount<br />
branch boss, also in attendance, returned<br />
brimming with optimism over forthcoming<br />
Paramount product.<br />
Louis Calaniari, circuit head of North<br />
Central Theatres, has moved here, along<br />
with his family, from Chicago. Calamari<br />
has located in the lovely suburban Minnetonka<br />
area . . . "The Exorcist," in its opening<br />
at the Riviera Theatre in downtown St.<br />
Paul, gave Warner Bros, its all-time biggest<br />
downtown St. Paul opening.<br />
Gail Falk, K-Tel Productions branch<br />
cashier, flew off to Hawaii for a two-week<br />
vacation .<br />
. . Alan Boucher, K-Tel's regional<br />
Were." "It's doing particularly well in<br />
sales manager, and Karen Ncuman, K-Tel's<br />
publicity chief, returned from Show-A-<br />
Rama 17 in Kansas City . . . Roger Dietz.<br />
Columbia branch manager, continues to<br />
marvel at the legs of "The Way We<br />
smaller<br />
outstate situations," Dietz says. "But it's<br />
showing those legs everywhere. For example,<br />
it's in an 18th week at the Douglas I Theatre<br />
in Lincoln, Neb."<br />
Denny Lutz of the 20th Century-Fox<br />
branch returned from a golfing vacation in<br />
Arizona—and ran into considerable ribbing.<br />
While Lutz was gone, temperatures here<br />
soared and the sun smiled daily. Lutz. meanwhile,<br />
was being drenched by rare Arizona<br />
rains . . . Jim Ellis, Cinerama Releasing<br />
Corp. branch boss, is all set now with an<br />
"Arnold" second-wave saturation and 50<br />
theatres are set for an .April 10 opening<br />
across the territory.<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
(Continued from page NC-1)<br />
with Judith Crist, film reviewer and critic<br />
for New York Magazine, featured as a<br />
lecturer<br />
during the weeklong event . . . Singer<br />
Tony Bennett, who has appeared in films,<br />
will perform here for the first time in 17<br />
years when he appears in a benefit concert<br />
at the Performing Arts Center May .31 -June<br />
1. Tony will be accompanied by a 32-piecc<br />
orchestra and will be singing under the sponsorship<br />
of the Pompeii Men's Club, a nonprofit<br />
Italian-American organization .<br />
When the snowmobile racing film "A Matter<br />
of Winning" was shown at the Rice Lake<br />
Theatre near Spooner. a new Colt 175 Polaris<br />
snowmobile was given away. The Iuck\<br />
winner was Lee Hacker, proprietor of the<br />
County House Motel.<br />
"The Great Gatsby," movie for which this<br />
t.nvn has been eagerly waiting ever since<br />
Frank Yablans. president of Paramount, was<br />
honored with an award last fall during the<br />
Gimbels Fashion Forum dinner and style<br />
show, premieres at three theatres here April<br />
3: Skyway, Capitol Court and Brookfield<br />
Square Cinema. The opening promises to be<br />
a bash at one of the three houses, at least;<br />
namely, the Skyway (located opposite Mitchell<br />
.Air Field) at which the owner of a downtown<br />
restaurant called Gatsby's has purchased<br />
550 tickets in advance. The restaurateur,<br />
Dave Baldwin, got together with the<br />
Jaycees here and out of the huddle came a<br />
plan for a S5 ticket which includes admission<br />
to see the film, two free drinks at<br />
Gatsby's. plus the satisfaction of knowing<br />
that $1 out of each ticket will go to the<br />
National Cystic Fibrosis Ass'n. In addition.<br />
15 antique cars are to be furnished by the<br />
Classic Car Club—but where or how these<br />
will be made available to transport folks to<br />
the movie house has not yet been determined.<br />
When the moviegoers do arrive at the<br />
Skyway, they will be rushed by autographseeking<br />
youngsters (all hired models). Once<br />
inside the theatre they'll see Arthur Murray<br />
dancers performing the dances of that era.<br />
such as the black bottom and the Charleston.<br />
Customers who purchase tickets at the<br />
restaurant are being encouraged to come in<br />
Roaring '20s garb. But Baldwin advises,<br />
"Hippers and machine guns . . they're<br />
.<br />
entirely optional, if you know what I mean."<br />
Following the movie presentation, another<br />
gathering will occur at the restaurant, 119<br />
East Wells St.. where pianist Irish O'Leary<br />
will lead community singing highlighting the<br />
songs of the '20s.<br />
Roger Ward, who formerly was associated<br />
with Walt Disney Productions in Anaheim.<br />
Calif., and Orlando, Fla.. has been named<br />
loss prevention specialist in the risk-management<br />
department of the Credit Union<br />
National .Ass'n in Madison . Mayfair<br />
Theatre, at which "The Exorcist" is in its<br />
ninth record-breaking week, was rented out<br />
for a lecture and church services Saturday<br />
morning (9)<br />
. . . The Miner Theatre in<br />
Ladysmith included a coupon in its newspaper<br />
ad which, when presented with one<br />
paid adult admission, admitted two persons<br />
to "Sweetheart Night" Thursday, February<br />
14. The feature attraction was Dean Jones<br />
in<br />
"Mister Superinvisible."<br />
BUFFALO—The public is invited to attend<br />
an English Film Festival to be presented<br />
April 5 by the Buffalo Cinema Club.<br />
The program, to consist of the best English<br />
amateur films of 1969, will be screened<br />
at 8 p.m. at the Amherst Community<br />
Church, 77 Washington Hwy.<br />
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NC-4 March 25. 1974
1 theatres—The<br />
! Black<br />
i<br />
Cinemos—Busting<br />
•<br />
West<br />
le Exorcist' Retains<br />
ip Cincinnati Slot<br />
MONNATI—The Exorcist" at Show-<br />
2 grossed 850 for its llth week, conto<br />
hold its No. 1 spot among first<br />
Two films—"Serpico" in its fifth week<br />
Bwcase 4 and "Where the LiUes Bloom"<br />
fourth frame at Carousel 2—drew 600<br />
Another duo— "American Graffiti"<br />
its 29th week at Skywalk 1 and<br />
srdad" at Showcase 3 for its fifth staned<br />
500 each. "The Sting" at two<br />
leveled at 450 in its llth week.<br />
i(Average Is 100)<br />
of the Double (SR); Moid in Sweden<br />
-Where the Lilies Bloom (UA) 4th wk 600<br />
2— Popillon (AA), 12th wk 225<br />
te on the Black Hand Side (UA) 400<br />
—The Woy We Were (Col), 17th wk. . .350<br />
2—The Exorcist (WB), llth wk. ... 850<br />
3 Superdad (BV), 4th wk 500<br />
4— Serpico (Para), 5th wk 600<br />
Ilk 1—American Graffiti (Univ), 29th wk .500<br />
Ilk 2—The Girl In Blue (CRC), 2nd wk 175<br />
:UA) 250<br />
•ttleatres—Mon on o Swing (Para) 100<br />
i TcKwne Cinemo Magnum Force (WB)<br />
K:** 325<br />
itres—^The Sting (Univ), I 1th wk 450<br />
lers of Hong Kong'<br />
Detroit Grosser<br />
lOIT—"The Godfathers of Hong<br />
conjured up a goodly 390 for its first<br />
g"<br />
at the Fo.x Theatre to lead business<br />
le week. "Sugar Hill," playing its first<br />
at the Palms, edged out "The Exorwhich<br />
was in its ninth week at two<br />
"Sugar Hill" grossed 320 while<br />
Exorcist" fell just behind with 310.<br />
cana IV—The Way We Were (Col), 18th wk. 95<br />
•theatres—Cinderello Liberty (20th-Fox) .150<br />
Sting (Univ), 9th wk 260<br />
(.theatres—Magnum Force (WB), 9th wk 70<br />
r-The Godfathers of Hong Kong (SR)<br />
[theatres—Serpico (Para), 3rd wk<br />
ftheotres—Superdad (BV), 3rd wk<br />
lland—^The Day of the Dolphin (Emb),<br />
390<br />
140<br />
150<br />
'<br />
95<br />
. . More<br />
^^<br />
. . Max<br />
LEVELAND<br />
'file first streaking in the Coventry area<br />
area occurred during the Heights The-<br />
••le's midnight showing of "Woodstock"<br />
S.'.lurday (9). The streaking was carried out<br />
L\v two well-endowed young women at apivroxiniately<br />
2 a.m. Sunday (10) to the<br />
r'leers of hundreds of well-wishers. A policeman,<br />
hired by the theatre for late duty, said<br />
ho was so surprised he "stood glued to his<br />
station" while the lovely streakers flew by.<br />
The name of the game is musical chairs<br />
and the site of the game is the Film Building.<br />
Fran Zryl is leaving her position at<br />
20th Century-Fox to work at American International<br />
Pictures. Succeeding Fran at<br />
20th-Fox will be Pat .Akram. formerly with<br />
Cinerama Releasing Corp. Succeeding Pat<br />
at CRC is Connie Ross, formerly on the<br />
Columbia Pictures staff.<br />
Jules Livingston, Columbia division<br />
manager,<br />
left Monday (18) to attend a week of<br />
division sales meetings in the home office<br />
in New York . celebrities were<br />
slated to appear with Anna Maria Alberghctti<br />
on the Variety Tent 4 annual 18-hour<br />
telethon at the Masonic Auditorium Saturday<br />
(23) and Sunday (24). seen on Channel<br />
43. These included actor Jim Backus (former<br />
local boy), Leonard Nimoy, Loretta<br />
Swit. Jack Smith. Blake Emmons and singers<br />
Betty Johnson. Gloria Loring, Laura<br />
Green and Cindy Ross. More than 1,000<br />
volunteers were enlisted to participate in<br />
this year's telethon for charity . The<br />
Women's Auxiliary of the Parents Volunteer<br />
Ass'n for Retarded Children are holding a<br />
premiere benefit at Loews' East Wednesday.<br />
April 3, with the showing of "The Great<br />
Gatsby."<br />
When Henry Fonda, 69. appeared at the<br />
Hanna Theatre this month in a one-man<br />
show as Clarence Darrow, he traveled with<br />
his fifth wife, the former Shirlec Adams.<br />
Fonda has many outside interests, including<br />
swimming, fishing, tennis, painting (he recently<br />
sold one of his paintings for $23,000)<br />
and gardening. While the actor loves to tour.<br />
he would like to be home during the planting<br />
season. Fonda told a local newsman that<br />
daughter Jane has been in Washington, D.C.,<br />
with a couple of historians concerning the<br />
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.American Revolution. It could involve Jane.<br />
Peter and himself. Fonda said. When the<br />
actor refers to Peter and Jane, he says,<br />
"They're my babies, my boy and girl.<br />
They're incredible and I'm real proud of<br />
them." Fonda presently is appearing in the<br />
movie "The Serpent." "My Name Is Nobody"<br />
and "The Last Days of Mussolini"<br />
are films he has completed and are yet to<br />
be released.<br />
Joe Varholick succeeded Michael Connely<br />
as Universal shipper. Connely terminated<br />
his employment at Universal to accept<br />
a position in Warren . Mink, former<br />
manager of the Palace Theatre, now with<br />
the Lyman Steel Co., is at Mount Sinai Hospital,<br />
where he will undergo major surgery.<br />
Noel Leslie, 85, former Play House actor,<br />
died Sunday (10) in the French & Polyclinic<br />
Medical Center in New York City.<br />
Actor David Connell, a native of this city<br />
and a talented product of Karamu, left here<br />
seven years ago to try his luck in New<br />
York City—and made good! He first was<br />
seen on Broadway in "The Great White<br />
Hope" and last season was a scene-stealer in<br />
Melvin Van Peeble's musical comedy "Don't<br />
Play Us Cheap." Connell has appeared in<br />
12 movies, among them "Gordon's War."<br />
"Shaft," "The Fortune Cookie," "Up the<br />
Down Staircase" and "The Cross and the<br />
Switchblade." The actor appeared in his<br />
first play at Karamu at age nine. Connell<br />
recently returned to the city to visit his<br />
mother Mrs. Sara Connell. who lives in the<br />
King-Kennedy complex on Woodland Avenue.<br />
Three Middletown juveniles were convicted<br />
Wednesday (13) of delinquency after admitting<br />
they enacted a confidence game<br />
described in the book "Addie Pray," on<br />
which the film "Paper Moon" was based.<br />
A girl, 17, and two boys. 16 and 9, were<br />
arrested by Middletown police after defrauding<br />
two merchants and attempting to work<br />
the same game on a supermarket clerk. The<br />
girl would make a purchase and give the<br />
clerk a $20 bill. Later the youngest boy<br />
would buy something with a $5 bill and<br />
complain to the clerk that he was shortchanged,<br />
as he had paid with a $20 bill.<br />
The boy claimed the $20 bill was a gift from<br />
an uncle who had written "Happy Birthday"<br />
on it. The clerk then would check the cash<br />
register, find the bill, apologize and give<br />
the child change from the $20.<br />
City officials and clergymen of Warren,<br />
who last year fought for enactment of an<br />
anti-obscenity law, thus far arc pleased with<br />
what has happened: (1) A northwest-side<br />
Box K,<br />
E<br />
C«lor KnolU, N J<br />
theatre that catered to "adults only" audiences<br />
now shows family films; (2) A onetime<br />
adult bookstore on the southeast side<br />
has been turned into a game room frequented<br />
by youngsters; (3) A downtown business<br />
that once had adult mini-movies and X-<br />
rated books now is a shoe store, and (4)<br />
southeast-side adult movie club has closed<br />
its doors and reportedly has moved its operations<br />
outside the county. These changes<br />
all have taken place since last December<br />
when the city council unanimously approved<br />
an ordinance prohibiting the display or sale<br />
of pornography. The fine was $1,000 and/ or<br />
a six-month jail term. The crackdown has<br />
succeeded without one arrest, although some<br />
adult films were confiscated from a theatre.<br />
Warren's ordinance was the first of its kind<br />
enacted in Ohio under the revised state<br />
criminal code.<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
J^oy B. White, Mid States president, was in<br />
Los Angeles to attend the ceremonies<br />
when James Cagney received the American<br />
Film Institute Life Achievement Award.<br />
Cagney is the first actor to receive the<br />
award . . Marvin White, Mid States vicepresident;<br />
.<br />
Bob Tieman, division manager,<br />
and Bob Horton. division manager, attended<br />
Show-A-Rama 17 in Kansas City.<br />
Sharon Boglin is the new secretary at<br />
Tri-State Theatre Services.<br />
General Cinema, which owns the Western<br />
Woods Cinema, has a twin theatre under<br />
construction in the Pleasant Ridge area.<br />
Completion is scheduled for June.<br />
Lucille Ball, star of Warner Bros.<br />
"Mame," was widely received while here on<br />
a two-day stint for the film. She held an<br />
informal interview at a tea party for the<br />
Teenage Style Committee and high school<br />
reporters at Shillito's Department Store;<br />
held press interviews, and appeared on the<br />
national "Phil Donahue Show" and on Bob<br />
Braun's "50-50 Club" at WLW-T. "Mame"<br />
opens with two soldout premieres at the<br />
Valley, the first Tuesday (26) for the General<br />
Protestant Orphans Home and the<br />
second Wednesday (27) for the Springer<br />
Educational Institute.<br />
Roxy Manager Is Charged<br />
CLEVELAND—Thomas Flynn. 56. manager<br />
of the Roxy Theatre, was arrested Friday<br />
(15) and charged with "pandering obscenity"<br />
for showing the film "Behind the<br />
Green Door." Flynn. free on $200 bond,<br />
was to appear in court Saturday morning<br />
(16). He also is to appear Tuesday (26) on<br />
a similar charge for the recent showing of<br />
"It Happened in Hollywood."<br />
Kentucky—Stondord Vendon, Louisville, (502) 361-1155<br />
Michigan—Ringold Theotre Equipment Co., Grond Ropldf,<br />
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ME-2 BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
'[<br />
OLUMBUS<br />
Hayward, entertainment director of<br />
WNCI-FM, is expanding the station's<br />
in reporting live and screen enter-<br />
5nt. He has invited managers to send<br />
regular reports on current and coming<br />
:tions. The address is WNCl, 4900<br />
ilr Rd., Columbus 43229 . . . Screen<br />
ge star Joan Bennett is scheduled to<br />
in the Country Dinner Playhouse<br />
ction of "Butterflies Are Free" start-<br />
^ April 23.<br />
Baker, general manager of Acad-<br />
Showcase Theatres, sent a letter to the<br />
or of the Dispatch refuting a<br />
claim by a<br />
ious letter-writer that R and X films<br />
ijnate the local theatre scene. He said<br />
gross overstatement." Baker said<br />
Junted in one edition ten G-rated films,<br />
ited PG, 19 rated R and only four with<br />
]gs. "We in the industry try to proentertainment<br />
for all the public. This<br />
children, families, teenagers and<br />
-all ages. That is why we have a<br />
system. It is a guide to inform the<br />
lie which movies might be suitable for<br />
age group. We're not perfect but the<br />
ag system is working well as a guide to<br />
public."<br />
Knight at the Dre.xel held a series<br />
sviews of the Robert Radnitz feature,<br />
the Lilies Bloom," and Graceland<br />
[screenings of the Jon Voight feature.<br />
ack."<br />
city council unanimously endorsed a<br />
to renovate portions of the three-block<br />
itol Square South area in the heart of<br />
[downtown theatre and business district.<br />
month a task force recommended the<br />
iing of the area with theatres, resits<br />
and 60 to 70 small shops. The Ohio<br />
is within the boundaries of the area<br />
Towne Cinema faces the site. A private<br />
jpment corporation would get real esj'tax<br />
breaks of up to 20 years for renewitbe<br />
area.<br />
States Helps Launch<br />
lal Literacy Project<br />
"<br />
:)INNATI—Mid States Theatres and<br />
ledia Services Center at the University<br />
Cincinnati have combined forces to<br />
"The Pioneer E.xperience—A Festijf<br />
Film." The program is designed to<br />
and enrich the classroom experience<br />
jh intelligent use of the most vital of<br />
itemporary media, film.<br />
advisory board composed of rep-<br />
resentatives of area schools and the<br />
professional<br />
communications community has been<br />
established to recommend the selection of<br />
films appropriate for the program. Series<br />
coordinator is Dr. Roger Francesky, director.<br />
University Media Services Center, who<br />
says "the idea is to improve the visual<br />
literacy of students." "Visual literacy" is a<br />
scientific term that means "the ability to<br />
learn about things through seeing them instead<br />
of reading about them."<br />
The hope of Francesky and Mid States is<br />
that teachers will be able to incorporate the<br />
films within the curriculum of studies at<br />
various schools.<br />
"The experience," says Francesky, "can<br />
be looked upon as an extension of the classroom<br />
into the theatre."<br />
For the current season, the following<br />
films have been selected: "Where the Lilies<br />
Bloom." "The Emigrants." "The New Land"<br />
and "Sounder." "The Emigrants," the first<br />
of two films which tell the stirring story of<br />
Swedish immigration to America during the<br />
19th century, began the program Monday<br />
(18) at Beacon Hill.<br />
Teachers and chaperons are admitted free<br />
of charge. Student tickets are $1 and group<br />
rates are available.<br />
High Springs Theatre<br />
Closed on Wednesdays<br />
From Southeastern Edition<br />
HIGH SPRINGS. FLA.—The Priest Theatre<br />
began a Wednesday closing policy<br />
February 13.<br />
Gordon Cooper, manager of the theatre,<br />
said the closing was in keeping with the<br />
government's request to cut down on energy<br />
consumption during the current crisis.<br />
The theatre's playing policy during this<br />
time will be two changes each week. One<br />
program will play Sunday, Monday and<br />
Tuesday and another will run Thursday, Friday<br />
and Saturday.<br />
Mid States Adding 2<br />
Units at Northgate<br />
CINCINNATI— Mid .States Theatres'<br />
Northgate cinemas 3. located adjacent to<br />
the Northgate Shopping Center, will become<br />
a fivc-plcx. Negotiations have been concluded<br />
for space adjacent to the existing<br />
theatres.<br />
Marvin White, Mid States vice-president,<br />
stated. "Construction for the two additional<br />
theatres will start immediately when the<br />
plans are complete. The theatres will share<br />
the common lobby. This is the first fiveplex<br />
in the Cincinnati area."<br />
Mid States already has announced the<br />
following theatres under construction: a<br />
quadplex, Cassinelli Square cinemas 1-2-3^.<br />
located across from the firm's Princeton<br />
cinemas; a four-theatre complex in the Surrey<br />
Square Shopping Center. Norwood, and<br />
a sixplex in Erianger. Ky.<br />
Toledo Project Proposed<br />
TOLEDO. OHIO—Terry Gallagher, operator<br />
of the Renaissance Valentine Theatre<br />
and the adjoining Renaissance Hotel in<br />
downtown Toledo, is one of the principals<br />
in a firm which is propo.sing the construction<br />
of a $7.2 million office building and<br />
adjacent five-story parking garage on a site<br />
across from the theatre and hotel. The site<br />
is part of a downtown urban renewal tract<br />
and involves acquisition problems for the<br />
developers.<br />
'Gatsby' Benefit Slated<br />
DAYTON. OHIO— I he Resident Home<br />
Ass'n for the Mentally Retarded is sponsoring<br />
a benefit premiere of "The Great Gatsby"<br />
at the Dabel Theatre here April 2 at<br />
S p.m.. the opening night of the film.<br />
DRIVE-INS<br />
rToER THEM ALL FROM<br />
1327 S. WABASH AVE.l<br />
CHICAGO, III. 60605<br />
(1111 417-339S<br />
BOXOFnCE :: March 25, 1974<br />
ME-3
DETROIT<br />
^v^ilton H. London, chief barker of Club<br />
Tent 5, announced that community and<br />
-.icial leaders are working with Variety<br />
members on a gala premiere of Mame" for<br />
the benefit of Children's Hospital. The $50,-<br />
000 fund-raising event Tuesday (26) will<br />
feature an entire evening of festivities besinning<br />
with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres<br />
in the new Shiawassee Hotel at Northland<br />
Center and conclude with the reserved-seat,<br />
black-tie premiere at the Americana complex.<br />
At the prepremiere party. Jacobson's<br />
will present an informal evening of nostalgic<br />
fashions inspired by the movie "Mame." .Ml<br />
the expenses of the premiere are being paid<br />
by Tent 5. so that 100 per cent of all contributions<br />
will go directly to the benefit of<br />
Children's Hospital. Details of the event<br />
are being handled by William M. Wetsman,<br />
Jerome B. Levy and London. Information<br />
and tickets can be obtained by calling 354-<br />
6560 or 642-5100.<br />
Meridian Township's antipornography ordinance<br />
survived its first preliminary court<br />
test when a district judge refused to dismiss<br />
charges against the manager of the Crest<br />
Drive-In . . . Four persons charged with<br />
violating the Ecorse antipornography ordinance<br />
faced examination in Ecorse Municipal<br />
Court. All were employees of the Harbor<br />
Arts Theatre and were accused of exhibiting<br />
movies which violated moral standards<br />
set in the city's "smut control" law. A<br />
THE MAIM EVENT!<br />
COLOR<br />
E^<br />
EVI . . . This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17
y Hope & Inter-Associates<br />
1 Canyon Cove Hollywood, Ca. 90068 (213) 469-5596 Cable: HOPPCO<br />
1974 Production Schedule<br />
MAY YOU LIVE TEN THOUSAND YEARS<br />
An American/Australian co-production to be filmed in London, Hong Kong and<br />
China. Producers Harry Hope and David Brice. The story of the men and times of<br />
China's revolution. (1912-Sun Yat Sen).<br />
HE'S PART OF THE FREEWAY NOW"<br />
A totally different film about organized crime, written by a man who was a high<br />
ranking member of it. Produced by Harry Hope and David Brice.<br />
THE FLAMING MAN"<br />
Movie of the week. A TV pilot on the Milo March detective series by M. E. Chober.<br />
Producers Harry Hope and Oscar Nichols.<br />
Name the Next One After Me"<br />
A hilarious comedy about a U.N. scientist tampering with the customs of a stone<br />
age tribe of aborigines. Producer Oscar Nichols. Original screenplay by Horry<br />
Hope.<br />
IN<br />
DISTRIBUTION<br />
rBERRIES NEED RAIN<br />
A young girl facing death bargains for one more day<br />
to be able to know love.<br />
lEY TO THE CENTER OF TIME<br />
Science fiction at its best. A journey into the past. G<br />
INKGARTER<br />
GANG<br />
Billy Boy and his girl gang rob for kicks fortune and<br />
action. A 140 mph getaway and chase. PG<br />
R<br />
DOOMSDAY VOYAGE<br />
THUNDERFIST<br />
A deathship shrouded in a fog of mystery. R<br />
The martial arts executioner kidnaps lovely Jenny<br />
Jones. A jade pagoda is the ransom. PG<br />
WAR OF THE SECRET SOCIETIES<br />
Hong Kong's hoods fight for the spoils, the territory,<br />
the women.<br />
PG<br />
A boy and his dog in quest of buried treasure in<br />
temple ruins of Indonesia.<br />
G<br />
m RIDERS<br />
They rob banks and each other's women. Tough as<br />
leather, harder than steel.<br />
PG<br />
GORGA<br />
A 50-ton monster guarding a dead world.<br />
PORNOGRAPHY USA<br />
A semi-documentary look at the Hollywood sex scene<br />
from books to movies. Uncensored, unashamed. X<br />
DR. TERRORS GALLERY OF HORRORS<br />
As the name implies.<br />
PG<br />
Overseas distribution available from Harry Hope Inter-Associates, 5871 Canyon<br />
Cove, Hollywood, Ca. 90068. Telephone (213) 469-5596 Cable HOPPCO<br />
:: March 25, 1974 NE-1
.<br />
The<br />
The<br />
I Sleeper<br />
^Cinderella<br />
Crazy Joe Only Boston Opener; NEW HAMPSHIRE<br />
The Sfing Tops With 550<br />
BOSTON — -Crazy Joe." at the Astor,<br />
was the only opener in this student-oriented<br />
city where streaking at motion picture theatres<br />
by students has become an eye-opening<br />
fad. Coming up fast and surpassing the bevy<br />
of big pictures was "The Sting." with a<br />
550 in its llth week at the Cinema 57 Two.<br />
The Exorcist" continues strong in its llth<br />
week at Cinema 57 One. "Papillon" was<br />
holding well above average in its 12th week<br />
at the Beacon Hill. "The Last Detail" was<br />
high above average in two houses the<br />
Charles and Loew's Abbey One. "Serpico"<br />
was also above average at the Cheri Three.<br />
100)<br />
Astor—Crazy Joe (Col)<br />
Beacon Hill Papillon :AA), 1 2th wk<br />
Charles, Loew's Abbey One The Last Detail<br />
i(Col), 3rd wk<br />
Charles East Doy for Night (WB), 21st wk. .<br />
Charles West The Day of the Dolphin (Emb),<br />
•<br />
12th<br />
3rd 140<br />
Cheri Three Serpico (Para), 5th wk 375<br />
Cinema 57 One The Exorcist (WB), .400<br />
1th wk.<br />
Cinema 57 Two The Sting (Univ), llth wk 550<br />
(SR), Kenmore ^Fantastic Planet 6th wk 125<br />
Sovoy One McQ (WB), 4th wk 1 55<br />
Savoy Two Five on the Block Hand Side (UA),<br />
wtc 5th 190<br />
West End Cinema Love Times Three (SR);<br />
(SR), Love Under 17 3rd wk 130<br />
'Busting,' "Day lor Night' Big News<br />
In New Haven Arriving Bloc<br />
NEW H.-\VEN— "Busting" (225) and<br />
"Day for Night" (175) were the big news<br />
in an arriving bloc of four attractions.<br />
Universal's "Willie Dynamite" (150) and<br />
states rights' "Campus Girls" (135) were<br />
the other two. Redstone Theatres' Showcase<br />
Cinemas I-II-III-IV (auditorium four)<br />
sneak-previewed "McQ" with current attraction<br />
"American Graffiti." which was<br />
HARTFORD<br />
^est Hartford author-filmmaker Ellsworth<br />
Grant has been elected vice-president<br />
of the newly formed Friends of Connecticut<br />
Public Television, the regional network's<br />
volunteer organization. Grant, the past<br />
mayor of West Hartford, is the brother-inlaw<br />
of actress Katharine Hepburn.<br />
Twenty Windsor teenagers ended a brief<br />
experiment in sponsorship of midnight film<br />
performances at the Ferguson Plaza due to<br />
insufficient public respon.se to a projected<br />
scries of attractions planned for young<br />
shown before and after the preview. "The<br />
Exorcist" registered a 450 in its fifth week<br />
at Showcase Cinema II.<br />
Bowl, College Busting (UA) 225<br />
Cinemart, Milford Cinema II The Sting (Univ),<br />
-<br />
-Supcrdad (BV),<br />
Summer Wishes,<br />
2nd wk<br />
Con<br />
,R); I Wos a Mole<br />
Girl<br />
Cha Pig 135<br />
5hcri<br />
Roger /itiie Dynamite (I<br />
(UA),<br />
Showcose Cinema II The Exorcist<br />
wk 5th<br />
wk. Showcase Cinema III Serpico iPara), 4fh ... 90<br />
Showcase Cinema IV American Grattiti (Univ),<br />
12th wk 75<br />
York Square Cinema Doy for Night (WB) 175<br />
'Exorcist' Slips 200 Points;<br />
But Still Tops in Hartford<br />
HARTFORD— .An even halt-dozen in<br />
the<br />
newcomer bloc registered fair-to-middlin'.<br />
The stronger figures were accorded Columbia's<br />
"The Last Detail" (175). followed by<br />
Warners' "Mean Streets" and states rights'<br />
"Easy Virtue" (150), Universal's "Willie<br />
Dynamite" (135), Warners' "Black Belt<br />
Jones" (125) and states rights' "Blue Summer"<br />
(120). "The Exorcist" is still going<br />
strong with 600 in its fifth week at Showcase<br />
Cinema I.<br />
Art Cinema Easy Virtue (SR) 1 50<br />
Central, Cinema City Liberty<br />
(20th-Fox), 3rd wk 115<br />
Cmema Day of the Dolphin (Emb), 5th wk. 60<br />
Cinema II—Superdod (BV), 4th wk 50<br />
C nema City M Paris Cinema I, UA Theatres<br />
East Ml—The Lost Detail (Col) 175<br />
Cmerama Willie Dynamite (Univ) 135<br />
Cine Webb Doy for Night (WB), 3rd wk 125<br />
East Hartford Cmema I, Moll Cinema,<br />
Paris II Cinema Mean Streets (WB) 150<br />
Four theatres—The Sting (Univ), 3rd wk 160<br />
Rivoli— Blue Summer (SR); Vice Verso (SR) 120<br />
Showcase Cinema Exorcist (WB), 4th wk. .600<br />
Showcase Cinema II—Sleeper (UA), 2nd wk 225<br />
Showcase Cinema III Serpico (Para), 3rd wk. .150<br />
Showcase Cinema IV Americon Graffiti (Univ),<br />
nth wk 115<br />
Webster— Block Belt Jones (WB) 125<br />
adults. There was a minimal charge of $1.50<br />
for the Friday and Saturday night showings.<br />
The fihns shown were "200 Motels" (UnO)<br />
and "Yellow Submarine (1968),<br />
John P. Lowe, division manager, and<br />
Carmen Meile, resident managing director.<br />
Redstone Theatres' Showcase cinemas I-<br />
II-III-IV, have planned extensive area promotion<br />
for the April 3 and April 10 regional<br />
premieres of Paramount's "The Great Gatsby"<br />
and United Artists' "Huckleberry Finn."<br />
Jean Pearson, group sales director, recentwrote<br />
a guest article for the Sunday amusement<br />
section of the New York Times. Her<br />
story was "Diary of a (Theatre) Mad Housewife."<br />
Alexander and Sylvia Stiet>er brought<br />
back Gaumont-British's "The 30 Steps,"<br />
directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1935). for a<br />
recent Friday and Saturday late night showing<br />
at<br />
their Avon Twin I-II.<br />
A capacity turnout of 1.000 attended Ihc<br />
Wednesday (6) testimonial dinner at the<br />
Hartford Hilton honoring retiring Hartford<br />
Police Chief Thomas J. Vaughan. He began<br />
his career as a supernumerary police officer<br />
at<br />
the old Loew's Poll 35 years ago.<br />
playing the New Hampshire premiere of<br />
Buena Vista's "Superdad." Cine I of<br />
the Cine I-II complex. Manchester, brought<br />
back the distributor's "Son of Flubber." a<br />
1963 release, as the film's companion feature.<br />
"Walking Tall," which enjoyed only moderate<br />
boxoffice response during initial release<br />
several years ago. has been registering<br />
strong business throughout the state. In<br />
Manchester, for example, the film went into<br />
a record-breaking second month's stay in<br />
auditorium two of the Movie Center I-II<br />
complex.<br />
Allied Artists' "Papillon" concluded a<br />
record-shattering ten-week stay in auditorium<br />
one of the General Cinema Bedford<br />
Mall cinemas ITI, proving that a top attraction<br />
can gross astonishingly well in<br />
of the on-going energy crisis.<br />
spite<br />
Suburban Manchester's twin cinema. The<br />
Movie Center, recently screened a Saturday<br />
and Sunday showing of "Mad Monster<br />
Party," charging 50 cents for children<br />
and $1 for adults.<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
jyjann Theatres' Fox went into a recordshattering<br />
third month with Columbia's<br />
"The Way We Were." Admission is<br />
,$2.50 for adults and $1 for children.<br />
The Springfield Union gave top-of-the<br />
page prominence to a phone call from Cesar<br />
Romero, on his 67th birthday, to Mrs.<br />
Marjorie Todd, a resident of a Hampden<br />
nursing home. Romero called Mrs. Todd to<br />
thank her for an oil painting of Romero<br />
Mrs. Todd painted. She painted the picture<br />
from a snapshot taken by nursing home<br />
administrator James J. Brehnan during a<br />
recent visit to Romero's California home.<br />
Romero is the honorary national chairman<br />
of the American Nursing Ass'n and has<br />
recently completed a film on the history<br />
of nursing homes.<br />
MAINE<br />
jyfaine press critics rarely get home-town<br />
recognition. The E. M. Loew's Fine<br />
Arts Twin cinemas. Portland, was accorded<br />
superlatives for Universal's "The Sting." by<br />
the Portland Telegram's John Thornton,<br />
Cloris Leachman will co-star in the 20th-<br />
Fox production of "Young Frankenstein."<br />
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Our term for selecting equipment and decor to meet your highest standards and<br />
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BOXOmCE :: March 25, 1974
3 5 TON<br />
:,Ari. Saiidra Goldfarb. representing Norwood<br />
Films. Inc.. announced that the<br />
:;rm has leased Cinema 1 and Cinema II in<br />
Sorvvocd and plans to open the twins in<br />
iprii. Mrs. Goldtarb also announced that<br />
Norwood Films has authorized Daytz Theatres<br />
Buying and Booking Service to perform<br />
these chores for the twins.<br />
Redstone Theatres' Cleveland Circle Theatre<br />
in Brighton has scheduled the first<br />
showing of Paramount's "The Great Gatsby"<br />
for Wednesday evening. .April 3. A<br />
cocktail hour will precede the screening,<br />
with tickets priced at $12.50 and proceeds<br />
earmarked for the benefit of Friends of the<br />
Greater Boston Ass'n for Retarded Children.<br />
Spring has come around the corner and<br />
Julia Canty, National Screen Service, notes<br />
that her office tropical plants and flowers<br />
have perked up in response to the warmer<br />
sunshine, which is bringing out the beautiful<br />
colors of leaves and blossoms.<br />
Paul Kessler, Theatre Management executive,<br />
and his wife Babe arrived home from<br />
VERMONT<br />
Q,eorge Barrett, owner of the newly opened<br />
Essex Twin cinemas. Essex Junction,<br />
recently played Paramount's "Charlotte's<br />
Web," a 1973 release, at matinee showings,<br />
charging $1 admission for all seats.<br />
Pembroke Davenport Takes New Job<br />
EAST WINDSOR. CONN.—Pembroke<br />
Davenport, whose entertainment career<br />
dates back 40 years ago to ABC Interstate<br />
Theatres. Dallas, Tex., is now musical director<br />
at<br />
the Coachlight Dinner Theatre.<br />
THE MAIM EVENT!<br />
their vacation trip to Arizona and San<br />
Diego with plenty of "wondrous" stories to<br />
tell about what Paul says is an amazing part<br />
of the U.S. He noted that when they go to<br />
Florida on vacations, they are always happy<br />
when time comes to return to Boston. However.<br />
Paul said he and his wife found this<br />
wasn't true of their trip to Western regions;<br />
they both were reluctant to return to New<br />
England.<br />
Sol Simons, weil-liked and well-known in<br />
Boston's film district for the past 45 years<br />
as Columbia sales representative, visited<br />
Church Street industry offices to say hello<br />
to friends after two weeks on the beaches at<br />
Honolulu. Sol. now retired, had a wonderful<br />
tan to bear out the stories of his fun vacation<br />
in Hawaii.<br />
Dick Waite and Paul Peterson, after<br />
checking early gross returns on their NBG<br />
Film Distributors release. "Seven Wonders<br />
of the Western World." are discovering that<br />
they have another hit on their hands. The<br />
picture will have a saturation booking set up<br />
in Boston and nearby areas in May.<br />
Conn. Judge Delays<br />
'Deep Throat' Ruling<br />
MANCHESTER, CONN. — Connecticut<br />
Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Armentano,<br />
after hearing arguments for dismissal of<br />
obscenity charges involving the showing of<br />
"Deep Throat" at William Elliott's Rockville<br />
theatres I-II, said he will rule on the<br />
matter at an unspecified date.<br />
Vernon police and Connecticut Circuit<br />
Court officials, after executing a search-andseizure<br />
warrant, got a print of the film at<br />
the Elliott theatres. Elliott obtained a second<br />
print for continued showings.<br />
Attorney Alvin Pudlin. Elliott's legal<br />
counsel, has asked the case be dismis.sed<br />
because<br />
1973 U.S. Supreme Court guidelines<br />
make existing state statutes unconstitutional.<br />
Archdiocese Office Makes<br />
Comment on 'Exorcist'<br />
BOSTON—The chancery office of the<br />
archdiocese of Boston has issued a statement<br />
saying that the Church "does not encourage,<br />
support, or recommend" the controversial<br />
film. "The Exorcist." now playing<br />
in Boston and throughout the country.<br />
Instead, the statement said, it finds "The<br />
Exorcist" to be "totally unsuited for nonadults<br />
and for the adults who lack the special<br />
maturity required to view (the lilm)<br />
with rare objectivity."<br />
Producer Lew Horwitz<br />
Attends Belgrade Festival<br />
BOSTON— Producer Lew Horwitz has<br />
returned from Fest 74. the Belgrade International<br />
Film Festival, at which his new<br />
feature "The Prisoners" was shown.<br />
Although Fest 74 was non-competitive<br />
each of the scheduled showings of "The<br />
Prisoners" was sold out, with hundreds<br />
turned away. As a result, an additional<br />
screening was arranged at the Studentski<br />
Rultrual Centre in Belgrade.<br />
After that screening, the audience asked<br />
Horwitz to remain for questions. The conversation<br />
ranged from the making of "The<br />
Prisoners" to Watergate. The adroitness<br />
of the questions was such that Horwitz was<br />
moved to tell the audience. "I now understand<br />
why so many great chess players come<br />
from your country." This was greeted with<br />
a roar of approval, the volume of which<br />
was later exceeded at the 2:30 a.m. entrance<br />
of .Sam Peckinpah who was looking for<br />
Horwitz and some American cigarets.<br />
Horwitz invited Peckinpah to join the<br />
discussion. They were both intrigued to<br />
hear the audience's belief that their films<br />
fell far short of "honest violence."<br />
At 3:30 a.m. the translator's voice gave<br />
out: however, the 50 or so English-speaking<br />
members of the audience prevailed upon<br />
Horwitz and Peckinpah to remain until 5<br />
Before starting work on his next film<br />
A Thunder of Madness," an original<br />
screenplay by Ramzi Thomas. Horwitz will<br />
arrange distribution of "The Prisoners" and<br />
can be reached at his Boston headquarters.<br />
"The Prisoners" is the first feature for<br />
former Conservatory Theatre director William<br />
H. Bushnell jr. The screenplay was<br />
written by Bushnell and award-winning<br />
actor John Marlev.<br />
RHODE ISLAND<br />
gig-scalc plans have been set for the .\pril<br />
3 Rhode Island premiere of "The Great<br />
Gatsby," a Paramount release which was<br />
partially in this state, filmed at the Cinema<br />
I of General Cinema Corp.'s Warwick Mall<br />
cinemas I-JI and Cinema I of Esquire Theatres<br />
of America's Four Seasons Cinemas.<br />
East Providence. Tickets arc $15 and $20.<br />
The premiere is under the spon.sorship of the<br />
Providence Branch of the English Speaking<br />
Union, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra<br />
and the Trinity Square Repertory<br />
company. The premiere planners said that<br />
after the initial showing, the Rhode Island<br />
scenes would be re-run in slow motion at<br />
both cinemas.<br />
EVI . . . This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17<br />
NE-4<br />
R. I. Senate Passes Film Bill<br />
PROVIDENCE—The .Senate of the<br />
Rhode Island Legislature has passed and<br />
sent to the House Senate Bill 62. which<br />
would prohibit "the showing of X-rated or<br />
R-ratcd films along with films of different<br />
ratings and providing for fines of up to<br />
$250 or six months in jail for violators."<br />
\^Y^^^ Voice-Over,<br />
\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!<br />
Motion Picture Service Co.<br />
liiiiiiiBaseiiiiH<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25. 1974
.<br />
'<br />
"<br />
^"^r<br />
II Buf One Edmonton John Wright's Visitor' Has First<br />
lun Rated Excellenl iir^.^^iir.^ •<br />
EDMONTON-^niy one film failed to<br />
Unreeling iH<br />
i/ xl ^<br />
Voncouver Theatre<br />
into the "excellenf' status in Edmonlineup.<br />
"Magnum Force." which is in<br />
\ANCOU\LK - C.ui.idi.in lihnni.il^cr Nea^.n. Alicr thai, he expects to start his<br />
week at the Paramount, received J^^" Wrights first feature motion picture, next feature, again in Alberta That accordvery<br />
good" rating while all others, "'he Visitor,"<br />
in- was world-premiered Friday ing to Wright, is a movie that is 'so comig<br />
Tango m Paris' Top Newcomer<br />
'^'" 8° «" "ia*^'ng movies. 'I want to make turned him down, he borrowed money from<br />
Cfctlgary First-Run Features \',s any way I can make them,' he said, a bank and not $31,000 from a private<br />
^CALGARY — "Last Tango in Paris" ^ " ^''^'^ '^arve them on wood if neces- source. That was enough to shoot the movie<br />
into the Calgary first runs with an ^^^V' and get it into the can. Michael Spencer<br />
-^ ""^^ rad'o actor, with a B.A. of the CFDC 'kept being encouraging with-<br />
^''''8^<br />
>t Tango in Paris" '''''"i<br />
was the only new<br />
'he University of British Columbia out being able to give any encouragement<br />
in the "excellent" bracket. Still go-<br />
^"'' ^ master of fine arts degree from Stan- is how Wrieht put it.<br />
strong were "The Way We<br />
University,<br />
Were" Wright at used to be<br />
'^'i"'''<br />
artistic Eventually, the CFDC kicked throueh<br />
Odeon, "American Graffiti" at the<br />
''"'ec'or of the Playhouse Theatre Com- with $2,CJ00 and later, after seeing a rough<br />
le Cinema, "The Sting" at the Uptown P^"^ ^ ^'^S^ ~- "« ^as directing at the cut of the film. Spencer okayed another<br />
/heatre at the Gallery in Saskatoon about $48,000 for Wright to finish the 16mm low-<br />
^ "Serpico" at the Calgary Place II.<br />
new films were "Siddhartha," "Jesus<br />
Superstar" and "Busting."<br />
"''. >'^"" ^^o when he realized he was budget feature. All told the movie cost<br />
'"o^'"? 'o^ard film directing. 'You could $97,000. with the actors buying shares in<br />
'he Stage, he said.<br />
'pioce,rseroic„;p V,H<br />
^^;^ «-^<br />
A, ^ struggling filmmaker in .<br />
Canada,<br />
k-5u%,l/rBTFD^Yn°^w'^'"'^.v/;;'iilr^<br />
Script Rejected<br />
^"S*^' ^^^'^^ ^' '^ "^^ "'^ '° 8« hack to<br />
on'AbLdiA.trnirsth-. ?'°5 ..r ^ , '*'=*'°'''<br />
''' '^'"''^ '^°''e directing (he's 36),<br />
Day of the'^iphi;, '*" *^ '^"^<br />
'<br />
^ater. at Calgary University, where he although he believes there should be a center<br />
-kewo^'^we Were (Col) .6tiiwk-Exceiiem<br />
uperdod (BVFD), 2nd wk Fa"?<br />
""^^ 'eaching acting, he started shooting in Canada where filmmakers could train.<br />
scenes in a studio and then, committed to The CFDC. he feels, hasn't created an<br />
'''"'"^''^'"g-<br />
-Americon Graffiti (Univ),<br />
^^""'". .'"".'.'^.^.''<br />
Very Good<br />
he took a practice run at fea- industry and, if money is to be injected into<br />
'ures With a documentary on convicted the film of country, must life this it be in<br />
1—The sting (Un,v)/9thwk. ...;.Ixcli'iem<br />
'""'"dercrs. With teaching behind him, production. 'We need money so we can<br />
'^'" '"^''<br />
l-Bia?kTeii"jo°„« ^" °'^" ^''^ '^ompanv. Sent compete with the slick,<br />
(w'^B) 2nd slick'<br />
wk"'^'!:'.";<br />
stuff coming<br />
— ^ script along to the Canadian Film De- into our theatres from the U.S. and we must<br />
velopment<br />
ig Grossers Corp.<br />
in Vancouver<br />
and was rejected. be able to sell our films so we can survive,'<br />
The aged; Business Spotty<br />
"^^ wasn't his script. first writing of Wright thinks.<br />
^'''Sh' himself was the story and screen- "He has survived many jobs before filmno<br />
^^^<br />
houses reported bad<br />
albusiness<br />
^ "^ *°'' Visitor,' which is about a making. He used to drive a cab here but<br />
ere excellent while others were bare-<br />
?^''""^ student who suddenly finds herself quit after an expectant mother had her baby<br />
.'^'"?. ^^^^ '" 'he past and not know- in his arms her to<br />
while he was carrying The big grossers were<br />
'€ average. .<br />
iged. The five films<br />
'"^<br />
wifh "excellent"<br />
"^ ^^^^ ""^ '^ ^^^ '^ dreaming. 'I the taxi. He collected<br />
I^<br />
unemployment inwere<br />
"The Sting." ".Serpico" "Pa- ?,'; i,°"' ^'"'' '^'"'^ ' ^'"'^ writing.' broom.<br />
bright<br />
"The 'and I had definite actors in a truck with six Exorcist" and "American<br />
girls selling<br />
^''"^ explained,<br />
surance. He chased ostriches with a<br />
He toured<br />
in mind<br />
a set himself but<br />
all the time except for two parts.' encyclopedias: bought<br />
VANCOUVER—Business was spotty,<br />
isting (UA), 2nd wk Averoge "O"^ °^ 'hose parts is played by Van- could never bring himself to getting pros-<br />
'^^t;^r« "L''4)'.''3rh''vli''*'- •fxlllienJ<br />
'^°"''^'' '"'""' P'^ Shandel. in the title role pective customers to sign on the doited<br />
"^^w ^ '^^'' ^"^ *'"<br />
w "w"*<br />
^°°'^ °^ "^^^ Visitor.' Others in the film include Ime. And he even was a plumber's assistant<br />
..''^<br />
.V"^''.^°."'<br />
Very Good<br />
'^""' "ylands, a Vancouverite now doing carrying a lot of bathtubs. They're really<br />
c''SClstaMu:iv,-36thwk'''"GoTd<br />
"'°'' his<br />
^<br />
acting in the U.S. and Calgary heavy.' he remembers,<br />
Excellent<br />
e Exorcist (WB), loth wk '""^'or ^''"-' Peterson. "Much heavier than shooting scripts and<br />
'lasro^t'^iiT^o'iri^'d li"'. :*.^.<br />
.'':^.1i'oT'"ig «"' '^d flying back.' said Wright. Van Adult Motion Picture Film Club<br />
''"d 'wo children to Vancouver. He will be bership fee would be eligible to enter the<br />
rr^r n<br />
°' ?"'""'! directing two episodes of CBC-TV's 'The establishment. Members<br />
(Continued 'Jh'"'*'<br />
would<br />
on<br />
pay<br />
next page)<br />
"dues"<br />
Beachcombers' in June and July for next everytime they attended the club<br />
ICE :: March 25, 1974<br />
K-1
"<br />
'<br />
ANCOUV ER<br />
iiile the Academy Award-nominated<br />
films downtown, all first run, still were<br />
iP.o a land-office business, pictures playing<br />
revival dates in the suburbs also were<br />
doing okav. "Paper Moon" again was held<br />
over in the Ridge. "A Touch of Class" was<br />
in its fourth week in the Loughced Mall 2<br />
and Park Royal Twin and "Last Tango in<br />
Paris" was playing a multiple of the Odeon,<br />
New Westminster: Fraser: Dolphin, and<br />
Totem, North Vancouver. "Cries and Whispers"<br />
was brought into the Hyland and<br />
"Kamoura&ka," winner of four Canadian<br />
Film Awards, including best actress for<br />
Genevieve Bujold. again was held over at<br />
the Dunbar.<br />
The young fry were not forgotten, either,<br />
as the Guildford Towne Cinema featured<br />
a reissue, "That Darn Cat." and Prima's<br />
"Pippi Longstocking" played weekend matinees<br />
in the New Westminster Odcon. Haida.<br />
Fraser. Dunbar. Dolphin, Clova in Cloverdale<br />
and Totem. North Vancouver.<br />
Ralph Clarke, who had been waiting for<br />
moderating weather to open his Chilliwack<br />
Drive-In. lost all bets. His opening program.<br />
Thursday (7) through Sunday (10), was hit<br />
by snow, then torrential rains which flooded<br />
most of the lower mainland sideroads.<br />
so that most stayed home to watch the<br />
telly.<br />
Yet another documentary series was<br />
humched as Frederick Weisman, one-time<br />
professor of law at Boston University.<br />
opened a series of his works at the Old<br />
Auditorium of the University of British<br />
Columbia. He got into filmmaking through<br />
his classes in legal medicine and criminal<br />
law, on field trips, and made a scaring documentary<br />
film about Massachusetts State<br />
Prison for the criminally insane, titled "Titticut<br />
Follies." The picture created a furore<br />
F.-2<br />
THE MAIM EVENT!<br />
EVI . . . This Spring<br />
40 THEATRES<br />
Washington-Baltimore Saturation<br />
April 17<br />
wherever shown. One place it hasn't been<br />
e.\hibited is in Massachusetts, where it was<br />
banned by the censors.<br />
Having become an activist on the side<br />
of humanity, Weisman went on filming.<br />
The wide acceptance of the first offering,<br />
"Law and Order," bodes well for the success<br />
of the series. Open to the public, admission<br />
for the series is SI. 10 per film or $4.80 for<br />
the entire program. Tickets are available<br />
from the school of architecture at UBC or<br />
at Vancouver Ticket Center.<br />
Filmrow visitors included Tom Heatherington<br />
of the Nelson Drive-ln and Rob<br />
Trotter of the Lu.\ at Taylor .<br />
Veteran<br />
. .<br />
theatre owner Alec Gough of Oliver was in<br />
town to attend a seminar on school trusteeship<br />
and asked Odeon manager and Canadian<br />
Picture Pioneer secretary Johnny Bernard<br />
to pass along his greetings to all the<br />
local Pioneers—and especially to your correspondent,<br />
with whom he shares the same<br />
birth date and age.<br />
All But One Edmonton<br />
Run Rated Excellent<br />
(Continued ironi preceding page)<br />
(Danton); Behind the Locked Green Door<br />
(banton)<br />
^^°'[<br />
Four Seasons \<br />
—Busting (UA), 2nd wk tiood<br />
Hollywood (South) Serpico (Para), 3rd wk. Very Good<br />
Hyland 1—The Sting (Un.v), 9th wk Excellent<br />
Hylond 2 Breeiy (Univ), 2nd wk Fair<br />
Imperial 1—Crazy Joe (Col), 2nd Good<br />
wk<br />
Imperial 2— Serpico (Para), 3rd wk Very Good<br />
Imperiol 3—Magnum Force (WB), 9th wk Good<br />
Imperial 4—Papillon (AA), 9th wk Good<br />
Imperial 5— McQ (WB) Very Good<br />
International Cinema Lo Bonne Annie (Prima),<br />
3r(j wk Very Good<br />
Towne Cinema— Cinderella Liberty (BVFD),<br />
9th wk Very Good<br />
Exorcist University—The (WB), 9th wk Excellent<br />
Uptown 1 Sleeper (UA), 1 Ith wk Very Good<br />
Uptown 2 American Graffiti (Univ),<br />
22nd wk Excellent<br />
3 - Uptown Don't Look Now (Pora),<br />
Very Good<br />
10th wt<br />
Yonge— That Man Bolt Univ) Very Good<br />
York 1— The Lost Detail Col) Excellent<br />
York 2- The Woy We Were (Col), 18th wk. Excellent<br />
Holdovers Continue as Big Earners;<br />
'Exorcist' Still Pacer in Winnipeg<br />
WINNIPEG — Holdovers continued as<br />
the big earners last week with "The Exorcist"<br />
continuing to set the pace by a large<br />
margin. Also "excellent" were "The Sting,"<br />
"Serpico," "American Graffiti" and "Papillon."<br />
"The Way We Were" was still rated<br />
high and newcomers "Electra Glide in Blue"<br />
and "The Day of the Dolphin" made strong<br />
.<br />
impressions.<br />
Capitol- Exorcist The (WB), 3rd wk Excellent<br />
D wn' v.n Private Arrangement (Mardon);<br />
Little Sister Mardon) Very Good<br />
Eve The Secret Sex Lives of Love Starved<br />
(C-P); Housewives Cheating Husbands (C-P),<br />
Good<br />
2nd wk<br />
City Garden Serpico (Pora), 4th wk Good<br />
I—The Woy We Were (Col),<br />
Garrick<br />
^ ^<br />
Very Good<br />
10th wk<br />
Gorrick —<br />
II Electra Glide in Blue (UA) Very Good<br />
Kinqs— Lost Tango in Poris (UA), 17th wk. .Average<br />
Excellent<br />
Metropolitan— Papillon (AA), 2nd wk<br />
I—The Doy of the Dolphin<br />
North Stor<br />
(20th-Fox) Exce cnt<br />
Star Serpico (Pora), 4th wk Excellent<br />
North II<br />
Odcon—The Sting Univ), 10th wk Excellent<br />
Pork- Doy for Night (WB). 2nd wk<br />
Averogc<br />
Polo Park- American Graffiti (Univ),<br />
"Earthquake" from Univcrsii<br />
Mario Puzo story.<br />
Britain's NFT Honors<br />
Film Board oi Canada<br />
MONIRE.'XL—The National Film Theatre<br />
in London paid tribute to Canada's<br />
National Film Board through a two-week<br />
retrospective which opened Monday (11).<br />
Sydney Newman, government film commissioner<br />
and chairman of the NFB, represented<br />
the board during the program, which<br />
commenced with a reception hosted by the<br />
Canadian High Commissioner in London.<br />
NFB productions were presented daily at<br />
the NFT throughout the two-week event.<br />
Special programs covered such aspects ot<br />
the board as the animated film, the experimental<br />
film, the work of Norman Mc-<br />
Laren, the French-Canadian film, films for<br />
social change and the role of the NFB in<br />
the Canadian scene.<br />
Newman and two NFB filmmakers also<br />
participated in an open-panel discussion<br />
on the National Film Board and its aims<br />
during the second day of the festival.<br />
British TV took advantage of the tribute<br />
to feature the work of the NFB. The British<br />
Broadcasting Corp. telecast the NFB feature<br />
"Time of the Hunt (Le Temps D'Une<br />
Chasse) on its network, while Independent<br />
Television scheduled special programing to<br />
honor the NFB.<br />
Ontario Filmmakers Are<br />
Featured in NFT Series<br />
OTTAWA—The National<br />
Film Theatre,<br />
sponsored by the Canadian Film Institute,<br />
is presenting through March an unusual<br />
film series featuring seven Ontario filmmakers.<br />
Entitled "Ontario Filmmakers '74,"<br />
the series' opening film was "Montreal<br />
Main." directed by Frank Vitale, who was<br />
on hand to introduce his picture, plus two<br />
earlier short films, "Metropolis Organism"<br />
and "Country Music Montreal."<br />
Other films scheduled for the series:<br />
"Cowboy and Indian." directed by Don<br />
Owen; the acclaimed "Wedding in White."<br />
directed by William Fruef. "Homer." directed<br />
by John Trent, whose latest movie "Sunday<br />
in the Country" stars Ernest Borgnine;<br />
a series of short films by John Straiton:<br />
"Best Damn Fiddler From Calabogie to<br />
Kaladar." directed by Peter Pearson, whose<br />
latest film "Paperback Hero" just finished<br />
its first run in Ottawa; "Crimes of the Future."<br />
directed by David Cronenberg. and<br />
"More Than One." a documentary about<br />
the inner feelings and aspirations of retarded<br />
people, directed by Murray Markowitz,<br />
whose latest picture "August and July" is<br />
playing at the Elmdale Theatre. The directors<br />
of each film will be on hand to introduce<br />
their work.<br />
^^^^^ Voice -Over,<br />
\^ Color Screen Ads<br />
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!<br />
Motion Picture Service (<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
1<br />
more<br />
I<br />
: unattended<br />
! first in the series was shown at 7 p.m.<br />
(3), with the other films being pro-<br />
Thursday and Sunday evenings<br />
)ut the month. Admittance is remembers<br />
only but memberships<br />
ible at the door for $2 each.<br />
other section of this month's NFT<br />
as includes several pictures by Sergei<br />
among which are "The General<br />
"Battleship Potemkin" and "Strike,"<br />
film. These are being shown at 9:30<br />
"Thursday and Sunday evenings<br />
" Jut the month, offering first-rate<br />
unment for a very low price and com-<br />
Canadian and Russian film e.xcel-<br />
'<br />
Canadian Film Institute, located on<br />
Avenue in Ottawa, publishes inbooklets<br />
concerning the up-andfilms<br />
to be presented at the National<br />
eatre (National Library & Archives<br />
i^ellington Street) and these booklets<br />
obtained by dropping hy the CFI and<br />
up a copy.<br />
Canadian Film Institute also cooperthe<br />
Towne Art Cinema in the<br />
ition of Alexandro Jodorowsky's<br />
lopo" Friday (15) through Sunday (17)<br />
light. Jodorowsky both directed and<br />
in<br />
the film.<br />
TAWA<br />
ting item in a local paper pointed<br />
the problems facing theatre manhe<br />
try to add a little variety to their<br />
S. The St. Laurent Odeon Theatre<br />
a fashion show before the unreeling<br />
i of the Saturday performances of "The<br />
Apparently too many little details<br />
to, because the show<br />
some harsh comments, such as<br />
"timing was off." "music had<br />
"<br />
"the commentator couldn't handle the<br />
," "the models collided with patrons<br />
popcorn" and "the movie was de-<br />
Sat least 20 minutes." It seems that a<br />
Br, shorter fashion show, making use<br />
Jr areas of the theatre, would work<br />
Certainly it wasn't necessary to use<br />
lick to draw the crowds to a winning<br />
Redford and Newman and cer-<br />
;.a Saturday audience complete with<br />
^children, wisecracking teenagers and<br />
with one inner eye on the babysitnot<br />
the ideal group for a fash-<br />
V. These enclosed shopping malls<br />
one or two theatres are ideal sites<br />
ion shows and exhibitions and, with<br />
thought and possibly better adj,<br />
this kind of "added attraction" is<br />
work.<br />
Drive-In Being Revamped<br />
tern<br />
Edition<br />
TEX.—Work continues at<br />
iva Drive-In on the modernization<br />
which began last year. Workmen<br />
tore down the old concession stand.<br />
been replaced by a new one.<br />
Trout, manager, said new road<br />
jand improved projection equipment<br />
installed so far.<br />
CALGARY<br />
QeorKf lleiher, ( an.cdian geiKT.il nuuiager<br />
for United Artists Corp.. flew into<br />
town from Winnipeg for a whirlwind visit.<br />
Looking very cool and dapper. Heiber<br />
managed to run through a full-time schedule<br />
and. after lunching with local business<br />
executives, he flew on to Vancouver.<br />
"Not Now Darling," the English comedy,<br />
continues to break house records, not only<br />
in the Towne Cinema. Edmonton, but in<br />
other situations. It also is sweeping records<br />
aside in the Towne Theatre, Saskatoon,<br />
Sask. Playing in Edmonton in its 1 1th week,<br />
this comedy has set new daily and weekly<br />
house records and hopes are high that it<br />
will set a record for the lencth of run as<br />
well.<br />
The Westbrook triplex here is proudly<br />
showing three films that have a total of 1<br />
Academy Award nominations. In Westbrook<br />
One is 'A Touch of Class" (five nominations);<br />
Westbrook Two has "Summer<br />
Wishes, Winter Dreams" (two nominations),<br />
and Westbrook Three has "Cries and<br />
Whispers" (five nominations).<br />
Cy Davies, branch manager of International<br />
Film Distributors, reports a very successful<br />
jaunt out to Vancouver recently. He<br />
visited with former Calgarian Ken McBean,<br />
who is happily settled in the balmier climes<br />
. . . In its continuing Bergman Film<br />
Festival, the Roxy Theatre in Edmonton<br />
showed "Dreams." starring Eva Dahlbeck.<br />
at a matinee Sunday (3) . . . The Canadian<br />
Film Series offered "Journey" at the University<br />
of Calgary in MacEwan Hall Room<br />
322.<br />
Sex and more sex was the order of the<br />
day—or midnight—when Towne Cinema<br />
here ran a midnight double bill of "The<br />
Student Teachers" and "Private Duty<br />
Nurses." This was a "restricted adult" program<br />
and the free list was suspended.<br />
Bob Corless of Towne cinemas, Edmonton,<br />
was in town recently and spent some<br />
time in the exchange . . . Edmonton's Klondike<br />
Cinema screened Jacques Tati's wellknown<br />
comedy, "Traffic," Saturday (2) and<br />
Sunday afternoon (3). This version of the<br />
highly rated picture carried English subtitles.<br />
Saul Stone, Stone's Screening Service, is<br />
in General Hospital here undergoing a<br />
thorough checkup and tests. Everyone hopes<br />
to see Saul back on his feet before long.<br />
In the continuing series of Luis Bunuel<br />
films being shown at MacEwan Hall Ballroom<br />
on the University of Calgary campus.<br />
I he Lxlermuiating .\ngcl" was shown recently.<br />
This classic, filmed in 1962, focuses<br />
on the deterioration of social graces when<br />
a number of people are imprisoned in one<br />
room ... A special German-language film<br />
program was offered to Calgarians at a<br />
Sunday and Monday showing in Studio 82.<br />
The double bill, classified "family," was<br />
composed of 'Romona," followed by "Morgen<br />
Fallt die Schule Aus."<br />
The department of tourism of Alberta and<br />
various business enterprises connected with<br />
the sport of skiing should give the National<br />
Film Board of Canada a very warm vote of<br />
thanks. The NFB's English-language production<br />
of "Ski Albert," a 30-minutc featurette,<br />
has been dubbed into three languages<br />
French. German and Japanese. There arc<br />
now 300 prints in circulation, which adds<br />
up to an awful lot of free promotion for<br />
the ski establishments in this province. Alberta's<br />
world-famous mountains are used<br />
as the background for numerous skiing<br />
scenes. There arc "man-on-the-hill" interviews<br />
interspersed with some spectacular ski<br />
footage. This film recently was awarded<br />
"best sports film of 1973" at the Canadian<br />
Film Awards.<br />
The Edmonton Film Society had two<br />
presentations, one in its Classic Series and<br />
one in the French Series. Both programs<br />
were screened in the Tory Lecture Theatre<br />
The Calgarj<br />
.Series, showed<br />
Film Societj, in its Classic<br />
"Rashomon" Monday (4) in<br />
1 1 on the University of Alberta campus.<br />
the Allied Arts Centre Theatre. This film<br />
The classic feature was "Trouble in Paradise"<br />
was made in Japan in 1950 and directed by<br />
and the French film was "L'Amour,<br />
L'Apres-midi." Admission to both screenings<br />
Akira KLiros.iwa.<br />
mcnilxiship<br />
The admission was<br />
Tuesday<br />
restricted<br />
lo only . . .<br />
was by membership only.<br />
(5) the CI S Kcirospective Film .Series was<br />
ended with the showing of "The Kremlin<br />
Letter." U.S. picture made in 1969, in honor<br />
of John Huston. Based on a novel by<br />
Noel Behn, the movie starred Richard<br />
Boone, Max von Sydow. Orson Welles,<br />
Dean Jagger and George Sanders. The<br />
screening was in the National Film Board<br />
Theatre and tickets were prepurchased<br />
through the CFS.<br />
Universitj' of Calgary's division of continuing<br />
education and the Arusha Cross-<br />
Cultural Center are co-sponsoring a Third<br />
World Cinema Series on the university<br />
campus. The Arusha Centre is a resource<br />
and education group concerned with international<br />
development. The feature presentation<br />
Sunday (3) in Science Theatre 143<br />
was "When the People Awake." a fulllength<br />
documentary on Chile. The audience<br />
was invited to remain after the film show-<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
:: March 25, 1974 K-3
. . The<br />
O RO N T O<br />
iiie ACTTIA awards were presented here<br />
Saturday (2), principally for achievements<br />
in<br />
the radio and TV fields.<br />
£ioris Anderson, editor of Chatelaine Magazine,<br />
has joined the board of the Cana-<br />
;i.,in Film Development Corp. She succeeds<br />
Royce Frith, whose term has expired . . .<br />
Hildegard Koblich. who is a member of<br />
the local WOMPl Club, will be going back<br />
io her home in Germany at month's end.<br />
She worked many years for Universal Films<br />
in Germany and was employed by United<br />
Artists for four and a half years and at Universal<br />
for approximately ten and a half<br />
years. All told. "Hilly" has been a member<br />
of WOMPI for about 14 years and has<br />
spent seven years on the executive board.<br />
The club here held a dinner in her honor<br />
Wednesday (13) at the Rathskellar Restaurant<br />
in the Walker House Hotel. Hilly certainly<br />
will be missed by her friends at Universal,<br />
WOMPI and. indeed, the entire film<br />
industry here. Fortunately, however, she<br />
vows to attend the upcoming WOMPI International<br />
convention in September, which<br />
will be held in Charlotte, N.C. Best wishes,<br />
Hilly!<br />
Star film critic Clyde Gilmour made a<br />
particularly savage attack on "Don't Look<br />
in the Basement." describing it as "appallingly<br />
bad in every way." Gilmour closed his<br />
column this way: "Personally. I have never<br />
been a militant Canadian nationalist in the<br />
matter of film distribution. But if I were a<br />
Canadian filmmaker whose latest opus—and<br />
the one before that—had been turned down<br />
by Canadian exhibitors on the grounds that<br />
they just weren't good enough, I'd be hopping<br />
mad at the thought that a piece of<br />
sloppy American trash as lousy as 'Don't<br />
Look in the Basement' can routinely get a<br />
CALGARY<br />
(Continued Irom preceding page)<br />
ing for a discussion session led by Dr.<br />
Graham Knox of the department of history.<br />
University of Calgary. Dr. Knox is a specialist<br />
in Latin-American studies. Admission<br />
to this series is<br />
free.<br />
A Lenten series of films is being offered<br />
members of the Mount Calvary Lutheran<br />
Church in Sunnybrook. Special Lenten worship<br />
services long have been a part of the<br />
church and this year will be centered around<br />
the film presentations, involving children of<br />
the congregation as well as adults. The picture<br />
screened was "Amazing Grace." The<br />
series also includes "Like a Mighty Army."<br />
cosrl<br />
booking in one of the six cinemas in Canada's<br />
biggest multitheatre complex. Canadians<br />
can make bad movies as easily as Americans<br />
can (they can and do sometimes make<br />
very good ones. too). Why shouldn't the<br />
regular work get the same chance with the<br />
public that automatically is given to any<br />
hunk of junk that drifts across the international<br />
border?"<br />
The Mustang circuit of drive-ins in eastern<br />
Ontario has been sold. Details of the<br />
transaction have not been released as<br />
yet.<br />
The WOMPI Club February 25 held its<br />
regular general meeting in the screening<br />
room of the new Paramount head office<br />
here. During the evening many matters were<br />
discussed. Among these were plans for the<br />
upcoming installation dinner in June, as well<br />
as plans to assist the Variety Club of Ontario<br />
Tent 28 and the Ass'n for the Mentally<br />
Retarded with their endeavors. Through the<br />
special kindness of Frank Mancuso,<br />
WOMPIs were treated to a screening of<br />
Paramount's "Ash Wednesday." The next<br />
general meeting will be held in the Variety<br />
clubrooms Monday (25).<br />
Actress Charlotte Rampllng was a visitor<br />
here to promote "Zardoz." which opened<br />
locally Friday (15) at the Imperial and the<br />
Glendale. "Zardoz" is a futuristic fantasy<br />
written and directed by John Boorman.<br />
Thanks to the Toronto Theatre Organ Society<br />
and the West Toronto Kiwanis Club,<br />
the magnificent Wurlitzer formerly in the<br />
Shea's Theatre now has been completely rebuilt<br />
and installed in this city's famous Casa<br />
Loma. Shea's was torn down several years<br />
ago to make room for the new city hall,<br />
reputed to be one of the world's most beautiful<br />
buildings, fronting on the Civic Square.<br />
The Bobby Richardson Story" and<br />
Through Gates of Splendor."<br />
The local newspaper in Medicine Hat is<br />
again publicizing its free "Birthday Club."<br />
The Medicine Hat News' "Birthday Club"<br />
is open to all youngsters from six to ten<br />
years of age and includes a free Saturday<br />
matinee pass to the Towne Theatre on the<br />
child's birthday as well as an invitation to a<br />
special Christmas theatre party.<br />
It is nice to have Walter DuPerrier back<br />
at work after a session of tests in the<br />
hospital. Although taking it a bit easy,<br />
Walter says he is feeling better every day.<br />
The censor board passed two much-discussed<br />
films for exhibition in Alberta theatres,<br />
"The Exorcist" and "Last Tango in<br />
Paris." UA will open "Last Tango in Paris"<br />
in the Uptown here and Warner Bros, will<br />
u^e the 1.800-seat Palace for the initial<br />
engagement of "The Exorcist." "Last<br />
Tango" was approved uncut, although with<br />
ihc warning: "Extremely coarse language<br />
ami frank treatment of adult sexuality may<br />
he objectionable." The warning on "The<br />
Exorcist" is: "Frightening tale of demonic<br />
possession. Extremely coarse language and<br />
repulsive sequences may be disturbing."<br />
Sex was the theme of a Saturday midnight<br />
show at the Towne Cinema, when the double<br />
bill offered was "Hot Pants Holiday" and<br />
"Batman and Robin"<br />
"Baby Love" . . .<br />
(chapters 7 anu 8) were shown at the<br />
Odeon's weekend midnight show. Supporting<br />
the serial was the feature "Concert for<br />
Bangladesh." ,'Kt a Sunday matinee, the<br />
Odeon showed "Othello." starring Sir Laurence<br />
Olivier . NFB Theatre was<br />
the place of presentation of the third in a<br />
series. "John Huston Retrospective," as<br />
shown by the Calgary Film Society. The<br />
film The Roots of Heaven" was produced<br />
in the U.S. in 1958 and stars Trevor Howard,<br />
Errol FIvnn. Eddie Albert and Orson<br />
Welles.<br />
A rural movie group in southeast British<br />
Columbia, the Moyie Community Club, is<br />
hoping to build a new clubhouse to serve<br />
the residents of the area. Situated some 22<br />
miles south of Cranbrook, Moyie and district<br />
has a year-round population of some<br />
200, with double that number in summer.<br />
Community activities presently are held in<br />
the one-room school and it is proposed that<br />
the new center would contain dressing<br />
rooms, gymnasium, storerooms and kitchen.<br />
The gym would be available for use by the<br />
school children and the entire community<br />
would reciprocate by using the schoolgrounds<br />
during summer vacations. The<br />
proposed project is a real community endeavor,<br />
with many residents donating time<br />
and services. Architect Gerry Browing has<br />
drawn up and donated the blueprints for<br />
the new center. Ron Brown has donated his<br />
services as surveyor. Many other residents<br />
have volunteered their labor when construction<br />
gets under way. Funds for the center,<br />
which is estimated will cost $150,000, will<br />
come from various sources. The provincial<br />
department of human resources already has<br />
donated $500 to the project. Heather Browning,<br />
secretary-treasurer, says that by .April<br />
members should know whether or not they<br />
will be able to go ahead with the building.<br />
If the word is "go," then construction very<br />
likely<br />
will start this spring.<br />
January was a very busy month for the<br />
Alberta Censor Board. It viewed and classified<br />
a total of 41 feature-length pictures in<br />
addition to trailers and short subjects. Of<br />
the films rated, six were 16mm. In the overall<br />
total, six were "family." nine "adult,"<br />
eight "adult—not suitable for children" and<br />
IS were "restricted adult."<br />
Bricks Fall From Theatre<br />
From Central Edition<br />
WEST FRANKFORT. ILL.—The Strand<br />
Theatre, shuttered since October 1973. had<br />
to be repaired by its owners recently when<br />
bricks started falling from the west side of<br />
the building. Fred Harkins. fire chief, said<br />
he inspected the structure and found that<br />
water apparently had seeped between the<br />
bricks, loosening them when it froze. The<br />
Strand was West Frankfort's only movie<br />
house.<br />
TJ-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 25, 1974
. New<br />
Mirage<br />
Reviewed<br />
Issue<br />
MPAA<br />
BOXOFFECE B OOKiNCUiDE<br />
li in parentheses. The plus and minus<br />
An lnt«rrr*tiv« onolyeli of lay ond trodeproii loviawi. Running tim*<br />
•igni Indicoto degroo of morit. Listings cover current reviewg rogulorly<br />
® Techniromo; ® Other Anomorphic procesies. Symbol u denotai<br />
fllmi ore in color except those indicoted by (b&w) for block & white.<br />
SI—General Audiences; PG— All ages odmitted iporentol guidar<br />
persons under 17 not odmitted unless accompanied by porent or odul<br />
admitted. Notionol CathoUc Office for Motion Picture] (NCOMP) rati<br />
Patronage; A2—Unobjectionable for Adults or Adolescents; A3—Un(<br />
Unobjectionable for Adults, with Reservotions; B—Objectionable in<br />
casting and Film Commission, Notional Council of Churches (BFC). F<br />
(g Is for Cinemascope; £ Ponovision;<br />
BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Aword; All<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n MPAA) rotingl:<br />
ec suggested); ft — Restricted, with<br />
t guardian; X— Persons under 17 not<br />
ngs: Al — Unobjectionoble for General<br />
>bjectionoble tor<br />
for All; C-<br />
listings by cor FEATURE<br />
12E VIEW DIGEST<br />
AND ALPHABETICAL<br />
INDEX<br />
++ Very Good; + Good; * Foir; - Poor; = Very Poor. (he summery n Is rated 2 pluses, - oi 2 minuses.<br />
In<br />
4652 Alfredo, Alfredo (100) C Para<br />
4640 All-American Boy, The<br />
aiS) ® D WB<br />
4665 All the Young Wives<br />
(92) Mclo UFO<br />
Andrei Rublev (146) ® Hi b&w . .Col<br />
4637 Arnold (94) Ho-0 CRC<br />
4654 Arnold's Wreckinu Co.<br />
(75) C Cine Globe<br />
4646 Ash Wednesday (99) (§ D . . . . Para<br />
(95) ® WB<br />
Bamboo Gods and Iron Men<br />
(S7) Ac AlP<br />
Battle of the Amazons<br />
(92) ® Ac AlP<br />
Battle o<<br />
Okinawa<br />
(149) Doc b&w HIn-On<br />
Bed Bunnies (90) Sex C . . . . Harnell<br />
Billy Two Hats (99) W UA<br />
Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant.<br />
The (119) Melo b&w . .Tango Film<br />
Blacl( Belt Jones (87) D WB<br />
Black Six,<br />
The<br />
(94) D Cincmation<br />
Blade (90) Melo Jos. Green<br />
Blazing Saddles (94) ® C-W ..WB<br />
Blood of the<br />
Dragon<br />
(90) Ac Harnell<br />
Blood Spattered Bride, The<br />
(S3) Ho Europix<br />
Blue Summer (80) Sex C . . Monarch<br />
Bordello (90) Sex C Cambist<br />
Breakup, The (La Rupture)<br />
(125) b&w D Euro Int'l<br />
Breezy (108) C-D Uni«<br />
Busting (92) (g Ac-D UA<br />
(94) D ...Gunl 10- 1-73 B<br />
Carriage Trade<br />
(60) Doc b&w ..Warren Sonbert 11-26-73<br />
Case of the Full Moon Murders, The<br />
(74) Sex C Sean Cunningham 11-12-73 (Xi<br />
Ceremony, The (122) D Yorker 3- 4-74<br />
.<br />
Chaperone, The (90) Melo 11-12-73<br />
.<br />
®<br />
Chariots of the Gods?<br />
(98) Doc Sun Int'l 3-18-74 m<br />
4629 Charley Varrick (111)
.Para<br />
m<br />
DIGEST<br />
iBETlCAL INDEX - very Good,- -^ Good; - Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor.<br />
^ . I II 5 1 f |||il"5,o<br />
t .-- IT t- a a — S z > xoc<br />
, £s zo: m<br />
I<br />
863 Jurt assort Nightfall (107) . . Col 10-15-73<br />
f«33Juil I'le T«ni of Us<br />
(52) D Boxoffiu Inn 10-22-73 IB<br />
—K—<br />
Rcckin'<br />
--; Doc Pennebaker 1-2S-7J PG<br />
iibb Mug in New York, A<br />
(105) b&w C Classic Enl. 1-14-74 a<br />
—L—<br />
i631 Lady Kuaj Fu (99) ® Ac-Melo NGP 10-15-73 m<br />
Lake o( Dracula (82) .S- Ho . . Toho 9-24-73<br />
Land of Silence and Darkness<br />
(90) b&w Doc .... Herzog Films 12-17-73<br />
I65S Ust Detail. The (105) D Col 1-21-74 g] A4<br />
6+1-<br />
Late Autumn<br />
(127) b&w Melo .... New Yorker 12-17-73<br />
1+1-<br />
1645 Laughlno Policeman, The<br />
(112) Ac 20th-Fox 12- 3-73 Bl B -I- -I- =t :t -f<br />
Ualeh (75) Sex M ..Kenneth Elliot 1-28-74 ®<br />
1672 Lightnino Swords of Death<br />
(83) (Sj Ac Col 3-1S-74 H<br />
Lion Has Seven Heads, The<br />
(103) Polifilm 3-18-74<br />
1+1-<br />
Long Darkness, The (120) D ..Toho 9-24-73<br />
1+1-<br />
^3 Luther (112) (p Hi-D AFT 2-1S-74 PG<br />
4+1-<br />
—«—<br />
1667 Madhouse (89) Ho AlP 3- 4-74 PG<br />
1650 Magngm Force (124) Ac WB 12-17-73 IB C<br />
662 Malizia (98) C-D Para 2- 4-74 IB<br />
630 Han Called Noon, The<br />
(98) ® W NGP 10- 8-7) (Q<br />
1655 Man from Clover Grove, The<br />
(95) C American Cinema 1-14-74 El<br />
643 Man from Deep River<br />
(90) il; Ac Jos. Brenner 11-26-73 B)<br />
668 Man on a Smug (109) p, My . 3- 4-74 PG A3<br />
4+1-<br />
652 Marco (109) M CRC 12-24-73 Bl<br />
2+<br />
639 Massacre in Rome (103) ...NGP 11-12-73 PG A3<br />
5+3-<br />
659 Matter of Winning, A<br />
(84) Ac-D American Cinema 1-28-74 gj)<br />
1+<br />
662 .„-McQ (116) P Cr WB 2- 4-74 PG A3<br />
5+1-<br />
632 Mean Slreels (IIC) Melo WB 10-15-73 E| A4<br />
6+1-<br />
Merchant of Four Seasons, The<br />
(88) biw Melo New Yorker 2- 4-74<br />
1+<br />
667 Minor's Wile, The<br />
(87) Sex C Cambist 3- 4-74<br />
1+1-<br />
623Mitttr Supcrinrlslbli<br />
(91) ® C K-Tel 9-17-73 g|<br />
2+<br />
668 Mistress Pamela (91) Ad-C ..Fanfare 3- 4-74 H<br />
1+<br />
Mother and the Whore, The<br />
(215) Melo b&w Elite 12-10-73<br />
1+1-<br />
623 Huddy Mimi (90) Sue C . . Horlzo* 10- 1-73 IB<br />
1+<br />
Muzzert (53) F ..Open End Theatre 9-10-73<br />
1+1-<br />
My Fair Baby (82) Sex D ... .Arrow 12-10-73 (S<br />
1+1-<br />
665 My Way (92) D Jos. Brenner 2-25-74 PG<br />
1+<br />
646 Naked Ape, The (85) D-F . . . . Univ 12- 3-73 PG A3<br />
671 Naughty Stewardesses, The<br />
(102) Sex D Independent Infl 3-18-74 [§<br />
658 Neither the Sea Nor the Sand<br />
(92) F-D Infl Amusement 1-21-74 (H<br />
660 Never Look Back<br />
(88) 'Si Ac American Cinema 1-28-74 Bj<br />
628 New Und, The (161) D WB 10- 1-73 PG A2<br />
+ tt H 8+<br />
Not Just Another Woman<br />
is<br />
i
I 8| S<br />
» «<br />
'§ :'<br />
•1=^<br />
'I<br />
II II
. Nov<br />
. Nov<br />
Nov<br />
. Jun<br />
.<br />
. .<br />
. lEarthquake<br />
OSupfrManCIiu f.) .Ac. Dec 73<br />
CENTAUR RELEASING<br />
©Inrajion of the Bee Girls<br />
(W) Ad. June 73<br />
©Teach Me (80) D Nov. 73<br />
©Swlnoinij Cheerleaders, The<br />
(••) Feb 74<br />
CINE GLOBE<br />
©The French Conspiracy<br />
(125) Ac No»73<br />
Jean-I/iNls Trlntlgnanl. Jean Sehere<br />
©Some Call Loving (90) 73<br />
It<br />
Tbs Farrotr, Rlrhard Prynr<br />
©Eaoles Over London<br />
(100) Ad. No»73<br />
FVedfTli-k Stafforrt. Van Jnhnmn<br />
little Funltlve (90) b&w . 73<br />
Richie .Anrlnivn<br />
©England Made Me (90) Nov 73<br />
Peter Finch. Mlrtiael Turk<br />
CINEMA S<br />
©1 Could Never Have Sex. Etc.<br />
'89) C Aug 73<br />
Oarmlnf Tarlfl. rynlhia Harris<br />
©Visions of Eight<br />
n05) Doe. Aug 73<br />
©Fnim the Mixed-Uo<br />
Files/Mrs. Frankweller<br />
flOS) C Sep 73<br />
Inerld Prater<br />
RerEman, Rally<br />
CINEPIX<br />
©The Awakening<br />
< • > Bo .<br />
I/ratie Marleaii. rianlpl Ptlnn<br />
ELLMAN ENTERPRISES<br />
73<br />
BFearles! Flohlers (83) Ac July 73<br />
(Jiam; (lilne. Tee Tiianc<br />
3Hot Connections (if7) Sex May 73<br />
Billy Riisy. Talle Cochrane<br />
BMoonfire (96) Ad Jul 73<br />
Richard Fgan. I,l.itnn<br />
Sonny<br />
ENTERTAINMENT PYRAMID<br />
ITTle Black Alley Cats<br />
(80) Sex.Ac. Aug 73<br />
I5i-c rrnufrir^ S.n^htne Wnnds<br />
')House of 1000 Dellnhts<br />
'82) Sex C Sent 73<br />
RvTnn \ni|cr=nn MlkH Himuvk<br />
^Pornooraphy and Prostitution In<br />
the Orient (80) Sex Doc Feb 74<br />
Mai I^c. .\nthonv naro«-ka<br />
SSnedalty House<br />
OS) Sex-Ac. Mar 74<br />
Rhannnn Kwhcll. Michelle Rtmon<br />
gthe Vouno Erotics<br />
(80) Sex-D .Anr74<br />
Royal Render*!, Ava O.irrlcW<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
©Love Factor (85)<br />
Anna Gael<br />
©Rebel (84)<br />
Mark Damon<br />
©Legend of Blood Castle<br />
(85)<br />
Au<br />
Ron Casteel<br />
JOSEPH GREEN PICTURES<br />
©WIfs End (88) Aug 73<br />
Tom Keera, VIckl Raclrao<br />
©Blade (90) Nov 73<br />
John Marley. Jon Typher<br />
HALLMARK RELEASING<br />
©Don't Look In the Basement<br />
(95) Ho Sep 73<br />
HAMPTON INT-L<br />
©Island of Lost Girls<br />
(85) Ac Mar 73<br />
©The Gorilla Gang (89) May 73<br />
©Naked Evil (80) Ho May 73<br />
Antlwny AInley. Suzanne Neve<br />
©The Halfbreed (90) W. Jim 73<br />
I,ex Barter, Pierre Brlce<br />
©Kipling Code (107) Mar 74<br />
Alain Noury. Doris Kunstmann<br />
©Blonde Connection<br />
'85) Jan 74<br />
.ludy Winter. Werner Peters<br />
©Sins of Rachel (90) Sept 73<br />
(Tia.ie ftirdell, Ann Noble<br />
tlThe Cat Ate the Parakeet<br />
'85) Dec 73<br />
Phil Pine. Madelyn Keen<br />
HARNELL INDEPENDENT<br />
PRODUCTIONS<br />
©Brother on the Run<br />
(90) Ac. July 73<br />
(hven \ntchell, Terry Tarter<br />
©Wrestling Queen (. ) Ac. July 73<br />
Vltlan Vachnn. Towbny Bill Watts<br />
©Blood of the Dragon<br />
(90) Ac . Oct 73<br />
IBed Bunnies<br />
(92) Sex C. Jan 74<br />
^Swlnoing Coeds<br />
(89) Sex C. Feb 74<br />
©Runaway Girls<br />
'94) Sex C. Mar 74<br />
JACK H. HARRIS<br />
©SMeen (90) D Oct 73<br />
Mercedes Mcf^mbrldie<br />
©Housewife (formerly "Bon«")<br />
(96) Ac.<br />
Jeannle Berlin. Taohet Kottn<br />
©The Legend of Hillbilly John<br />
(86) Sm<br />
Severn Harden. Barrli Tidln<br />
HEMISPHERE PICTURES<br />
©Sabtna (90) Sex D May 73<br />
©Bed Career (86) Sex D May 73<br />
(90) Doc Jun 73<br />
Rel. Date<br />
LEVITT-PICKMAN<br />
©Henry VIII and His Six Wives<br />
LIMA PRODUCTIONS<br />
©Wet Lips (80) Sex. Jun 73<br />
ilO) b&w C. July 73 ORico (88) Cr..Mar74<br />
Oirlstopher Barbara<br />
. 7/72)<br />
FILMS<br />
Mltchom, L.T.<br />
Bmichet<br />
CINEMA<br />
©Truck Stop Woman (..)... Aug 73<br />
3 Father Jacklej (97) . .C. .Apr 74<br />
^<br />
MEDIA CINEJiAA<br />
Wlnnlno<br />
Jack Palance<br />
OWhen Women Lost Their Tails<br />
IM',<br />
**f..,Jun73<br />
©The Killing Kind<br />
ATLAS FILMS<br />
(95) C May 74<br />
Rerta Rerger<br />
©C-ypf ot ihf Lhing Dead<br />
MIRAGE FILM DISTRIBUTORS<br />
(Zl)<br />
Ho..<br />
eStiracJnil Ground (83) D ©There Was ©Chapcrone. The (87) Sus. .Sep 73<br />
CAMBIST FILMS<br />
Sandy Dempsey, Paula Lane<br />
(86) D J<br />
John Alderman, Lyllah Torpna ©I Love You, Love You Not<br />
I<br />
©Athlr. T»e (91) C<br />
B«y Ukie.<br />
(84) D.... Alio 73<br />
JniJIth Btrrtner<br />
Lynn Harrte, Marsha Jordan<br />
C.<br />
OBordrilo (90)<br />
Uml« rwMmon. nn« Bge<br />
©Maids. The (86) C. May 73<br />
UscW IMeart<br />
eMImr-s Wife. Tlie (86) ... C<br />
MWiH Jioot.<br />
GENERAL FILM<br />
WLLIAM MISHKIN<br />
Anns Oraf<br />
OlOOl Danish<br />
^Detroit 9000 (92) .July 73<br />
Dellolits<br />
(90) C. July 73<br />
©Fleshpot on 42nd St.<br />
.Mpt liocoo. ITarl Rhodes<br />
(81) Sex D May 73<br />
n^rHr Jimr. nirche Pussor<br />
CAPITAL PRODUCTIONS<br />
GIANT 4 ENTERPRISES NEW LINE<br />
©Seven Wonders of the West<br />
©JIml Plays Berkeley<br />
OLirana (91) Ad.. Dec 73<br />
CSrm (97) Doc. Jan 74 (..) Doe. Sep 73<br />
SsTion, F>.| M«ra()l<br />
©Ground Zero (90) . Ac- D. Feb 74<br />
NEW YORKER FILMS<br />
Melvtn Belli.<br />
SoIeil-0 (104) O.Aug 73<br />
Hapniness<br />
(70) biw (silent) ... C. Jun 73<br />
OMNI PICTURES<br />
©Black Starlet (. ) Sex D May 74<br />
©Thunder McCoy<br />
(• .) Sex D. June 74<br />
©Plaything of the Devil<br />
(90) Sex-Ho..Mar74<br />
Mario Porra, Vadla Henkoiva<br />
©King of Spades (.. ) ..Ac July 74<br />
©Teenage MIstros ( . . ) . . D Sep 74<br />
Starlet! or Harlots ( ) D Oct 74<br />
PARAGON PICTURES<br />
©Love Me Baby^ Lovi Me<br />
(KB) D. Sep 73<br />
Ajma Moffo. Oluml Maodili<br />
©The Horrible Sexy Vampire<br />
(91) M Ho. Oct 73<br />
PHOENIX INrL<br />
©Poor Cecily (86) . .Sex D Aug 73<br />
Ancela Field. Wm. Quinn<br />
©Impersonator. The<br />
(94) Sui.Oct 73<br />
PREMIERE RELEASING<br />
©The Manhandlers ( .) Ac Jun 73<br />
©Bikini Bandits (..) Sep 73<br />
©Death Squad ( . . ) Oct 73<br />
RE-MART INT'L<br />
jRoad of Death (80) ..Ac. Feb 74<br />
Carol Connors. Joe Banana<br />
SCOPE III<br />
©The Folks at Red Wolf Inn<br />
) Sus. Jan 73<br />
SCOTIA INTT.<br />
©Death Wheelers (89) Ad..<br />
Oeorge Sander*<br />
JPancho Villa (90) W. .<br />
Telly Bavalas. (Hint Walker<br />
SUN INT'L<br />
©Instinct for Survival<br />
( ) Doc. Nov 73<br />
SUNSET INTERNATIONAL<br />
©Terror on Half Moon Street<br />
(90) Sin. Nov 73<br />
lorst TaDpert. Karin Huhner<br />
How to Play the<br />
Seduction Game ( .) C. Nov 73<br />
©Bloody Friday (93) ..Ad. Nov 73<br />
niintl Ilarmstorf<br />
©Kill Me Gently ( ) Ad. Nov 73<br />
Tony Kendall. Brad Harris<br />
©School of Fear (..) Sus Dee 73<br />
©The Making of a Lady<br />
EMTERTAINMENT VENTURES INDEPENDENT INT'L<br />
SHesh and Blood Show. The<br />
QAnoels' Wild Women<br />
(<br />
(95) Ac-Ho..Jun73 (86) .)<br />
Sex D. Apr 73<br />
HI..Dec7S<br />
llo^s IlaEen, Kent<br />
Richard Johnson.<br />
Taylor<br />
John Mills<br />
FANFARE<br />
©Mean Mother (88) ..Ac.<br />
©The Yin and Yang of Mr.<br />
Sept 73<br />
Go<br />
TiThls l! a Hllsck<br />
on Bro. I/icI.nna PaluzzI<br />
() Spy..DK73<br />
(90) Melo May73 ©Blood<br />
ames Mason.<br />
of Ghastly Horror<br />
Bufecss Meredltb<br />
^Mistress Pamela (91) ..C. Jan 74<br />
(87) Ho.. Dec 73<br />
JulUn Barnes, Ann<br />
ohn Carr^idlne.<br />
Michelle<br />
Tommy Kirk<br />
JPenecutlon (..) Sin .Jun74 ©Women For Sale<br />
I«na Turner. Trevor Howard<br />
(86) Sex D.. Dec 73<br />
.Ho.<br />
Robert Woods, Veronlque VendcII<br />
Roliln<br />
Beat<br />
FILM-MAKERS INTT.<br />
©The Naughty Stewardesses<br />
UNITED<br />
BTlii Clones (95) ...SF Sw 73 (102) Sex D.. Apr 74 MARKrriNG—<br />
Michael Oreene. Oregory Sierra Bob Uilncslnn. Omnle<br />
KKI FILMS<br />
Hoffman<br />
?^*om>n in the Rain (90) . 73<br />
©The Gardiner (97) Sus Jul 73<br />
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS<br />
::irl«ra Liina, Alei Nlcol<br />
Katfaerlne Houehton. Rita Gam.<br />
©The Hanging Woman<br />
Joe Dallesaadro<br />
•<br />
M VINTURCS INTL<br />
(90) Sus..Mar74<br />
w Wowen Had Ttlii<br />
Stanley Cooper. Vlckl NosMU WALTER RCADI<br />
--')<br />
C..J«74 ©Fifty Foot Woman<br />
©GIrli Art for Loving<br />
'..) Suj. Jun74 (94) At-S«..lliy73<br />
COMING RELEASES<br />
ALLIED ARTISTS<br />
©Three the Hard Way (. .)<br />
Jim Bninn. Krcd Williamson<br />
©Such Men arc Dangerous (. .<br />
©The Betsy ( . . )<br />
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL<br />
©Foxy Brown ( . .) Ac<br />
©Golden Needles ( . . ) Ac<br />
Joe Don Baker. Elizabeth Ashley<br />
©Truck Turner (. .) Ac<br />
©Ebony, ivory, and Jade ( .<br />
. ) Ad<br />
nioria Hcntlry, Cheri Caffaro<br />
©The Land that Time Forgot<br />
' )<br />
Ad<br />
©The Nine Lives of<br />
Fritz the Cat (..) An-C<br />
©The Vortex Conspiracy<br />
() Spy D<br />
Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn<br />
BOXOFFICE INT'L<br />
©Black Mall Sus<br />
©Inch of Love Melo<br />
©Lunatics, The Ac Sus<br />
©Miss Banana Split<br />
©Sir Harry's Coffin D<br />
©Sore Throat<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
©The Island at the Top of the<br />
World<br />
David Hartman<br />
C<br />
C<br />
SF<br />
©Herble Rldei Again C<br />
Ken Berry, Stephanie Powers<br />
©Panioio—The Hawaiian<br />
Cowboy ( . .) C<br />
.lames (lamer<br />
CINERAMA<br />
©••W" (..) Sus..June74<br />
TwISKy. Michael Witney<br />
©Digby (88) F-C..June74<br />
Jim Dale. Spike Mllligan<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
©Funny Lady (. .)<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
©The Parallax View<br />
Warren Beatty<br />
©Daisy Miller (..) .<br />
Cybill Shepherd<br />
©Chinatown ( . . ) .<br />
Jack Nicholson<br />
©The Longest Yard (<br />
Burt Itci-nolds<br />
©The Gambler (. .) .<br />
iThe Little Prince ( .<br />
. )<br />
Itiilnnl Kil.y. Steven Warner<br />
:3The Godfather, Part II (. .) .<br />
Al Pacino. lilane Kcatnn<br />
©Once Is Not Enough (..) ..<br />
©The Klansman (. .)<br />
Iticliard Burton, l^ee Margin<br />
20TH-FOX<br />
?:Mad Adventures of<br />
Rabbi" Jacob (. .) .<br />
C.<br />
©Eleven Harrow House<br />
(..) Sus.. July 74<br />
Charles Orodin<br />
©99 44/100% Dead ( . . ) . . .Ac .<br />
©The Three Musketeers<br />
(..) Ad..Ju1y74<br />
Charlton Heston, Raquel Welch<br />
(General Release)<br />
©Nickel Ride (..) Sept 74<br />
O Harry and Tonto (..) ...Oct 74<br />
OVrooder's Hooch (. .) Oct 74<br />
©Young Frankenstein (..) . . Nov 74<br />
©The French Connection II<br />
(..) Cr..Dec74<br />
©The Towering Inferno<br />
(..) Ad. .Dec 74<br />
I'anI Xewman. Steve McQueen<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
^Thc Bank Shot<br />
Ceorge C. Scott<br />
©Huckleberry Finn<br />
©The Man With the Golden<br />
Gun<br />
::)The Spikes Gang<br />
©Thunderbolt and Linhtfont<br />
nint Flastwnnd<br />
©Lenny (. .)<br />
Dtistln Hoffman<br />
©Mixed Company<br />
©Mr, Maleslyk (,.)<br />
Charles Bronson<br />
©The Voyage (. .)<br />
3Wheels (..)<br />
©The Wilby Conspiracy (..)<br />
©Juggernaut (. .)<br />
UNIVERSAL<br />
ODrabble ( .) At.<br />
Mlcb.'iel Calne, Janet Suzman<br />
(. .) Ad.<br />
(Iiatlton Ilestnn, George Kennedy<br />
©My Name Is Nobody (..) ..W.<br />
Tinme Hill. Henry Fonda<br />
©The Sidecar Boys (..) ....Ac<br />
©The Girl from Petrovka (. .) D.<br />
(iolilic Haiui. Hal Ilolbrooli<br />
©The Great Waldo Pepper<br />
(..) Ad.<br />
Robert Uedford. Susan Sarandon<br />
©The Front Page (..) ...C-D<br />
Jack I.cmmon. Walter Matthau<br />
©The Hindenburg {..) Ad.<br />
©The Eiger Sanction (..) .Ac<br />
©Radioland Murders {..) .C-D.<br />
©Mayberly's Kill (..) W<br />
Itohert<br />
Rcdford<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
©The Abdication 0.<br />
Peter l'"Inch. LIv Hllmann<br />
©Barry Lyndon D.<br />
Ryan O'Neal<br />
©The Dark Tower Cr.<br />
Gene Hackman<br />
©Freebie and the Bean C.<br />
Alan ArkiD. James Caan<br />
©Prisoner of Second Avenue . C-D.<br />
Jack lyemmon, Anne Bancroft<br />
Beyond<br />
The Grave<br />
Peter (^ishlne, Darld Warner,<br />
Donald Pleasence<br />
©The Terminal Man ....D..Ji<br />
"enrge Segal. Joan Hackett<br />
©Zandy's Bride (. .) Ji<br />
BOXOFFICE BooldnGuide :: March 25, 1974
T'V<br />
Opinions on Current Productions Feature reviews<br />
color; © Cinemascope; ® Ponovision; CD Techniramo; ® story fynopiii<br />
® ©<br />
Bros. (304) 133 Minutes Rel. Mar. '74<br />
Musicals are few and far between on the screen and<br />
I;,<br />
as lavish as Warners' presentation, in association '-<br />
American Broadcasting Companies, of the Broadway '.i^oiJ<br />
are even rarer. Producers Robert Pi-yer and James<br />
an and director Gene Saks have spared little expense<br />
bringing the musical adventures of the female Pied<br />
to the screen. Lucille Ball and Beatrice Arthur,<br />
arred with Robert Preston, can count upon their<br />
ions of TV fans to help support the film, which is<br />
rently breaking records at Radio City Music Hall. Miss<br />
in particular has been plugging "Mame" very heavily<br />
deserves an award for endm-ance and character. Her<br />
that her singing and dancing aren't necessarily<br />
best should help endear the comedienne to audiences<br />
vhere. Screenplay by Paul Zindel, from the Jerome<br />
jnce-Robert E. Lee-Jerry Herman musical, was based<br />
illy on Patrick Dennis' novel and has previously<br />
seen as a straight play and a 1958 "Warners' film<br />
Rosalind Russell. Herman wrote the songs, numbers<br />
choreogi-aphed by Onna White. Definitely not a<br />
s' film, this is solely an old-fashioned audiencemovie.<br />
Panavision and Technicolor.<br />
Ball, Robert Preston, Beatrice Arthur, Bruce<br />
Davison, Joyce Van Patten, Kirby Furlong.<br />
WIN' MOLLY m "^^<br />
ibia (012) 92 Minutes Rel. Mar. '74<br />
ifriter Larry McMurtry certainly knows Texas and<br />
novels from which "Hud" and "The Last Pictui-e<br />
'<br />
were made were stamped with artistic and comil<br />
success. McMui'try's 1963 novel "Leaving Cheywas<br />
the basis for Stephen Friedman's screenplay<br />
"liOVin' Molly," produced by Friedman and directed by<br />
ey Lumet on location in Bastrop, Texas. The new<br />
may be considered an artistic success—at least in<br />
quarters—but commercially, it won't rival the pretwo<br />
productions. Stars Elythe Danner, Anthony<br />
and Beau Bridges age some 40 years as a freeited<br />
gii'l and the men who love her and yet remain<br />
friends. There are fine performances and outstandscenes—the<br />
birth of a calf, Edward Biiuis' fatherly ^.^)<br />
with Perkins—^but with a feeling that something<br />
ing. It was decided not to use three sets of actors<br />
three eras depicted— each narrated from the viewit<br />
of one of the leads—and makeup suggests the aging<br />
1 effectively. Miss Danner, an actress who will probreceive<br />
a lot of good notices from this, gets the<br />
from the part of a woman who lives for love and<br />
two nude bits. The film is the kind that can build a<br />
imderground following.<br />
thony Perkins, Blythe Danner, Beau Bridges, Edward<br />
Binns, Susan Sarandon, Conard Fowkes.<br />
IAT MAN IS PREGNANT!<br />
Mishldn<br />
85 Minutes<br />
pr; Modern Sex Satire<br />
©<br />
Rel. May '74<br />
I^Gold Medal winner at the Atlanta International Film<br />
il, this August Films production, listing Lewis<br />
tin (son of Mishkin Films president William Mishi,<br />
Richard Messina and Jerome Tiuk as executive<br />
cers, is bound to create considerable response, parrly<br />
among the young adult crowd across the couniThe<br />
shooting script, credited to leading man William<br />
eilly and Simon Nuchtern (the latter was dii-ector<br />
"<br />
o co-produced with Jean Luc BotboD , is sharply<br />
1, spinning out the misadventm'es of a harried<br />
York detective turned down on marriage proposals<br />
rl friend Anita Morris, long a Women's Lib advocate,<br />
to find himself suddenly subjected to laboratory<br />
lentation by scientist Lilly Lessing and eventually<br />
birth to a baby, much to the consternation of the<br />
en's Lib faction. This is the kind of high comedy<br />
ading on-their-toes delineations and, to a manwoman—the<br />
cast is credible. Significantly, there is<br />
"ity or real sex (hence, the PG rating i. and the<br />
Jtion possibilities seem limitless. Percy Simon has<br />
moving moments as a notorious bathroom graffiti<br />
Mishkin has something strong, strong indeed!<br />
C. Reilly, Anita Morris, Lilly Lessing. Sloane<br />
Shelton, Matthew Lewis, Percy Simon.<br />
TiiEsiri:Rcoi's m<br />
c^"'-<br />
United Artists—MOM (7415) 94 Minutes Rel. Mar. '74<br />
Cops and robbers thrillers have achieved a high degree<br />
of realism in recent releases, making Gordon Parks'<br />
comic approach to the subject something out of the ordinary.<br />
The real life exploits of Brooklyn detectives Dave<br />
Greenberg and Bob Hantz earned them the nicknames<br />
Batman and Robin. They play detectives in the film,<br />
while Ron Leibman and David Selby assume their roles.<br />
Based on the book by L. H. Whittemore, the screenplay<br />
was written by Lorenzo Semple jr.—who, not so coincidentally,<br />
wrote scripts for the "Batman series. In<br />
"<br />
line with the daring duo's derring-do, director Parks has<br />
seen to it that the violence isn't overdone and the action<br />
is presented with a comic edge. R rating is mostly for<br />
language. Most of the cast play for laughs, Leibman<br />
giving a very energetic performance. There is top support<br />
from black actress-model Sheila Frazier iwho does a<br />
semi-strip I, Dan F'l-azcr and Pat Hingle. Tamu, the black<br />
girl from "Maude," has a bit and there are many familiar<br />
New York actors on hand. Produced by William Belasco<br />
on location in New York, film has a score by Jerry Fielding.<br />
Metro Color. With "The Super Cops" being so different<br />
from the rest, there is little doubt that it can be one<br />
of the biggest hits of the year.<br />
Ron Leibman, David Selby, Sheila E. Frazier, Pat Hingle,<br />
Dan Frazer, Joseph Sirola, Al Fann.<br />
CHINESE HERCULES<br />
iBl<br />
'^''"«,/"^«"°"<br />
Bryanston Pictures 90 Minutes Rel. Feb. '74<br />
When National General Pictures ceased its operations<br />
recently, the newly formed Bryanston Pictui'es acquired<br />
this kung fu thi-iller. Secm-ed from the Hong Kong Kai<br />
Fa Film Co., "Chinese Hercules" shifts emphasis—at least<br />
in the selling—to villain Yang Sze. He is a massive and<br />
masterful exponent of the art of kung fu and was pitted<br />
against the late Bruce Lee in Warners' "Enter the<br />
Dragon." Star of the film is actually Chen Wei Min, cast<br />
as a hero afraid to fight because he believes that his<br />
sweetheart's brother died at his hands. Yang appears<br />
about half way through, being the strong-arm man for<br />
Pang Yeh. Latter, an instructor in the martial arts, will<br />
be familiar to kung fu devotees as the villain in several<br />
recent films. Producer Peter Poon and director Choy<br />
Tak put together an actioner with an acceptable plot,<br />
dock workers vs. a crime ring which is stopping trade.<br />
Screenplay by Ngai Hong is good, being stronger than<br />
usual. In widescreen and color, the new effort has been<br />
dubbed in typical fashion. The music score has a tendency<br />
to drown out the dialog, which may be an effective way<br />
of overcrowding this particular a.spect of kmig fu films.<br />
Good for its market.<br />
Chen Wei Min, Chiang Fan, Fang Yeh, Yang Sze,<br />
SWEET SLZY<br />
Li Tien Ying, Yuan Feng, Chin Ti.<br />
Signal 166, Inc. 82 Minutes Rel. July '73<br />
Russ Meyer has been well known for producing and<br />
directing films about sex for several years. He has been<br />
the trend-setter for displaying female anatomy in action.<br />
He is noted for "The 'Vixen." "Beyond the Valley of the<br />
Dolls" and "The Seven Minutes." This current film<br />
already has been shown in some areas under its original<br />
title of "Blacksnake." Tlie story, written by Meyer and<br />
Len Nebauer, may have been based on the legend of<br />
Annee Palmer, the witch of Jamaica. Excessiveness has<br />
been a trademark of Meyer films, and this is no exception.<br />
This film gets so overdone and overblown that it might<br />
best be considered a parody. In this respect it is more<br />
akin to his "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls." There is<br />
much recun-ing montage throughout the film, and a selfconscious<br />
moralizing ending. The setting is 150 years ago<br />
in the Caribbean. It was lensed in Panavision and Color<br />
by Movielab. Anouska Hempel plays the title role of<br />
the island queen. There is not enough graphic sex or<br />
nudity in this film to please the skin trade, but the story<br />
may be adequate for the general soft-core market. This<br />
is a Trident Films, Ltd. production.<br />
Anouska Hempel. David Warbeck, Percy Herbert, Thomas<br />
BaptLste, .'\lilton .McCollin, Vicki Richards.<br />
The reviews on these poges may be filed for future reference ii any of the following ways (1) in any standard three-ring<br />
loose-leaf binder; (2) individually, by compony. In any standard )xS cord index file; or (3) in the BOXOFFICE PICTURE<br />
GUIDE three-ring, pocket-size binder. The lo*ter. Including 1 year's supply of booking ond daily record shoets,<br />
may be obtained from Associated Publicotioris, 825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124 for $1.S0.<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 25. 1974
'LIRE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Programs<br />
'i: STORY: "The Super Cops" (I A)<br />
Detectives David Greenberg and Robert Hantz are seen<br />
before the titles, being interviewed and then receiving<br />
commendations from Police Comm. Patrick Murphy. In<br />
the film, Ron Leibman as Greenberg and David Selby<br />
as Hantz graduate from the police academy together and •'""<br />
team up as they are assigned to a traffic unit. On their<br />
• '^^^<br />
ovvii. they begin making drug arrests. Ti-ansfen-ed to<br />
Brooklyn's black Bedford-Stuyvesant district, they encounter<br />
hostility at the 21st Precinct. Fellow officers<br />
don't approve of their methods and Capt. Dan Frazer,<br />
while honest, cant condone their exploits. Leibman befriends<br />
black hooker Sheila Frazier, who warns him of a<br />
muider attempt. Al Fann and his brothers control the<br />
drug market locally, so Leibman and Selby make them<br />
prime targets. The two kill Fann's brothers Ralph Wilcox<br />
and Charies Turner. Internal Affairs Lt. Pat Hingle attempts<br />
to frame Leibman and Selby on bribery charges,<br />
but winds up decorating them.<br />
EXPLOITIPS:<br />
Tie in with the L. H. Whittemore book, published by<br />
Stein and Day. Bantam holds paperback rights. Use the<br />
Batman and Robin angle.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Impossible? Not for the Super Cops. The Tiue Story<br />
of the Two Cops Called Batman and Robin.
,<br />
Florida<br />
I<br />
grossing<br />
•:<br />
:, ,<br />
;<br />
; . ;<br />
; : : drawing<br />
: : ng,<br />
: ?|7<br />
|<br />
per wora. mmimum S3. SO CASH WITH COPY. Four consecutive insertions lor price<br />
using a Boxoffice No., figure 2 additional words and include 7Sc additional, to<br />
handling replies. Display Classified, S30.00 per Column Inch. No commission<br />
[CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copv and answers<br />
to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. S4 124,<br />
CLteRinG<br />
HOUSt<br />
HELP WANTED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE THEATRES FOR SALE THEATRES WANTED<br />
35mm PROIECTION hOOTHS FOR THE JOE JOSEPH: The Worlds largest iheaeconl-:.';<br />
.:i:3!tor. com- 9 Broiers. Box 31406, Dallas 75231.<br />
PLETE_j. ... ... -<br />
:840<br />
hones (214) 353-2724 or leave message<br />
manager trainee<br />
1<br />
REBUILT Simcl=x XL, Century iooins.<br />
(214) 239-2934,<br />
Used, rebuilt seals. Boxoffice, 3051 OWNER LEAVING COUNTRY, MUST<br />
USED 40- X 80- steel screen for sale SELL!! Reduced $75,000.00 to $55,000,001<br />
4A AREA. Looking for an aggres- Completely dismantled, ready to be hauled (Now reduced to $55,000! Less than value<br />
oi<br />
3tre manager or couple for comconcession<br />
and theatrical opera-<br />
V. (419) 573-0904.<br />
building). Adult ineaire building in<br />
Molino, 111. Perfect condition. Rebuilt air<br />
conditioning. 700 seats. Midwest Theatres,<br />
ouidror theatre. Advertising exdes.red<br />
but v^iU train. Not alraid<br />
8816 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Colli.<br />
90069 lor infi<br />
woric, long hours. Someone to<br />
swmcmship. City retirees v^relcome. pair; 34-<br />
nal sports corporation. Send phoresume<br />
to Boxollice, 3125.<br />
36" rffi<br />
Nenmad.<br />
PLY, Wp<br />
MUST SELL TO SETTLE ESTATE. Royal<br />
»G THEATHE CIHCUIT has manlition<br />
open for experienced 16MM HORTSON FLOOR MODEL v.ith<br />
J Neiil, Nebraska, Near 5,000<br />
person.<br />
territory. A-1<br />
available in Western New York<br />
plete with Xetron<br />
plies confidential.<br />
solid state rectifier<br />
Apply<br />
and<br />
ndition. Contact W. G.<br />
with comsume<br />
to Boxolfice,<br />
. : -:!<br />
5,000 ft. reels. Sacrifice $3,000.00. Call<br />
ska 688 23.<br />
3149. Equal Op-<br />
(305) 865-9869.<br />
Employer,<br />
MUST SELL BY APRIL 1. 300 seat theatre<br />
nnfl-<br />
LOST LEASE—AVAILABLE NOW. Two<br />
$7,000 down,<br />
)NAL OPERATOR for 8-screen complete RCA—Brenkert Booths 9030 Reproducers,<br />
BX-50 EnOTO Lamps, Enclosed<br />
lov/a 52151<br />
;:':: husband-wiie<br />
Lauderdale, Position requires:<br />
"lility, supervision of assislipment<br />
maintenance (Century plete. Ready to Install. CONTACT ATSCO INDOOR AND DRIVEIN THEATRErCoo'd<br />
Bases, Magazines A-1 condition. Com-<br />
lowind). Resume to T. Products, 443 North Pearl Street, Albany, :ondi:ion and no competition. Located in<br />
1251 N.E. 26th Terr. Pompano N.Y. (518) 465-8894.<br />
growing community. Contact J, M. Hansen,<br />
33062. (305) 972-3248,<br />
4 Reconditioned General Register Autolalicket<br />
4-Unit Ticket Machines $795.00<br />
Alpine Theatre, 112 N. Main, Colville,<br />
ach FOB Vanco,iv,= r B C Dominion The-<br />
Itre Equi::::.r' ;•<br />
fa<br />
Four theatre circuit—St. Petersburg,<br />
vie St.<br />
:iearwater. Lake Worth, Key West Cursntly<br />
showing adult films. Suitable for<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
35MM PORTABLE SIMPLEX ACME Incandescent<br />
S ,:. .•;:h 2M Ft. Upper onventional, adult or black product. Con-<br />
6 Lowe: !.l:;-j :• :dio Amplifier-Lens 3ct lack King. (305) 972-3244.<br />
$750.00. Dominion Theatre Equipment Co., For Sale: Adult X-ioted theatre. Profitable<br />
location, close to military base in<br />
970 Davie St., Vancouver, B. C.<br />
California. Sensible reason for selling, and<br />
employed, 20 years experibooking/buying,<br />
all phases<br />
nd promotions. Operated<br />
situations. Prefer<br />
ii. Boxoffice, 3143.<br />
r ADVERTISING MANAGER and<br />
or presently employed<br />
Twenty-five years expert'<br />
liege, family. Boxolfice<br />
General Manager<br />
(60) presently employed<br />
rienced to operate cny numbe<br />
drive-in<br />
ffice, 3171<br />
i sound installer-service<br />
Wishes to relocate with righ:<br />
years experience. Presentloxoffice,<br />
3170.<br />
JSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
CARDS. $S.75M. 1-75. Othe:<br />
Off-On screen. Novelt)<br />
uymard Turnpike, Box 87, Mid<br />
• " 10940. (914) 386-4067<br />
CARDS DIE CUT. 1-75,<br />
, Different color, 500 in<br />
>.75 per<br />
UION, INSTRUCTION<br />
ACADEMY: Motion Picture<br />
Sunset Blvd., HoUvwood<br />
(213) 274-1937, 467-7765.<br />
MARQUEES, SIGNS<br />
Engineered, Built, Erected,<br />
>n Lease or purchase plan.<br />
Electrical Advertising Systems.<br />
" (215) 675-1040.<br />
\TRE FRANCHISES<br />
ATIOffAL PATENT HOLDERS.<br />
TRAD Corporation. Call PP.<br />
, (417) 865-3283. NCC.<br />
THEATRE CONSTRUCTION<br />
TOWERS INTERNATIONAL: Ten<br />
Installation. (817) 642-3591<br />
Rogers, Texas 76569. In Canlocal<br />
General Sound & Thea-<br />
(506) 657-6220.<br />
March 25. 1974<br />
per-<br />
Glass Song Slides from 1920's plus orhestra<br />
scores from the Orpheum Theatre.<br />
00 complete sets, boxed, $250.00. Boxffice,<br />
3157.<br />
For Sale: Reasonable, 8 Slide Projectors,<br />
practically new, for use in two or four<br />
theatre complexes. Also miscellaneous projector<br />
lens, sizes 3.50, 5.25, 5.75. Also 3<br />
doorman ticket stub stands, round, gold<br />
color. Contact Paul Townsend, North Park<br />
Cinema 4, P. O. Box 902, Oklahoma City,<br />
Okla. 73102,<br />
Sign Product blaCk plastic 10" letters.<br />
Complete alphabet and numbers. 560<br />
pieces, $280.00. LA Sports Arena, 3939 S.<br />
Figueroa, Los Angeles, Calif. 90037. (213)<br />
748-6131.<br />
Have turned theatre into store. Must sell<br />
equipment in booth. Pair of Super Simplej<br />
with Strong utility lamps, lenses. Screen<br />
popcorn machine. $1,400.00. Zuzul's Custom<br />
Interiors, 1415 Main, Joplin, Missour<br />
64801.<br />
Reconditioned Eprad OS-2 Duol Channel<br />
Theatre Amplifier (new price $1,365.00!<br />
First check for $375.00 buys. One pa;<br />
135 re<br />
Strong lamps with good metal<br />
from theatre. Specic-1, $550,00 the i:air<br />
including cratina. Oklahoma Theatre Supply<br />
Company, 628 West Sheridan Ave.<br />
Oklahoma City, Okla. (405) 236-8691.<br />
EQUIPMENT WANTED<br />
USED EQUIPMENT b:iught and sold<br />
Best prices Texas Theatre Supply. 915<br />
So. Alamo, Son Antonio, Texas 78205.<br />
MOVIE ADS.<br />
(Like formerly supplied by Metropolitan<br />
Mat Service) Glossy 81/j x 11 slicks of<br />
released. A great service lor circuits<br />
and multi-screen situations. For information<br />
and free samples, write: Boxoffice,<br />
3089,<br />
it's not bad business. Reply Boxoffice,<br />
3172.<br />
candy and popcorn, prepaid film rentals<br />
and deposits. Operated as family theatre<br />
since October 1, 1973. Average gross<br />
$105.00 per showing 5,000 population<br />
shopping area. Eastern Oregon. $50,0r0.<br />
Will exchange for commercial properly<br />
or land. Grigg Realty and Tax Service,<br />
P O Box D, Vale, Oregon 97918. Phone<br />
(503) 473-2993, ask for Dick Grigg. Eveenings<br />
(503) 473-3434.<br />
For sale or lease: 600 seats. Southside<br />
Virginia. Operating, attractive theatre with<br />
baicony, lighted parking lot. For further<br />
information write P.O. Box 776, Danville,<br />
Virginia 24541<br />
THEATRE REMODELING<br />
CINEMA DESIGNERS, INC., builders of<br />
contemporary theatres, can remodel your<br />
old theatre or build you a new one. Comolete<br />
turnkey project. Write for free brochure:<br />
1245 Adams St., Boston, Mass.<br />
02124. (617) 298-5900<br />
COMPLETE<br />
and installed—wall<br />
AUDITORIUMS:<br />
fabric, chairs,<br />
Furnished<br />
stage<br />
curtains, screens and carpeting. Hayes<br />
Seating Co., Inc. 19 Eastern Ave., Syracuse,<br />
N. Y. 13211, Phone (315) 437-1347.<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
SPECIALISTS IN REBUILDING CHAIRS<br />
New and rebuilt theoire chairs for sale<br />
We buy and sell old chairs. Travel anywhere.<br />
Seating Corporation of New York.<br />
247 Water Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1 1201<br />
Tel. (212) 875-5433. (Reverse charges).<br />
hur Judge,<br />
ukee, Wiso<br />
5,000 CHAIRS IN STOCK. New, used, rebuilt,<br />
Hayes Seating, Co., Inc., 19 Eastern<br />
Ave., Syracuse, NY. 13211. Phone (315)<br />
437-1347.<br />
THEATRE CHAIR UPHOLSTERINGI ANY-<br />
WHERE. Finest materials, LOW prices.<br />
Custom seat covers made to fit. CHICAGO<br />
USED CHAIR MART, 1320 S. Wabash,<br />
Chicago. 60605. Phone: 939-4518.<br />
600 USED SEATS FOR SALE (American<br />
Seating) Need reconditioning. Bargain<br />
price. Will sell all or any number. Call<br />
(213) 28M8:0<br />
THEATRE CHAIRS INSTALLED old or<br />
,-. .-.. , 3tres- Shampoo-<br />
-.:i H- • : T.c, gum. Kustom<br />
:-a:' :-. : L--, "-:am, N. Y. 11727<br />
Heywood-Wokeiield theatre seats, 500<br />
all metal padded backs and bottoms just<br />
rebuilt— like new. $7.50 each on floor, vicinity<br />
Wichita, Kansas. Boxoffice, 3169, I<br />
WANTED TO BUY OR LEASE: Indoor ot<br />
outdoor. Contact Mike Kuiler, 2108 Payne<br />
Avenue. Room 212, Cleveland, Ohio 44114<br />
(2]S) 696-4110<br />
WANTED TO BUY: : : and outdoor<br />
Ih. : :! :ce, 3144,<br />
^WANT TO BUY rated theatre<br />
THEATRES FOR LEASE<br />
For Lease: 350 seat »i,^pp.iia cei.lci li.e-<br />
Ire built new :n last two years. Now<br />
perating. Automated equipment. Southern<br />
linois area Boxoffice. 3173<br />
WE REPAIR ALL Cinemascope and prime<br />
lenses. Low prices on request. Cine-Optics,<br />
322 S. Douglas, Lee's Summit, Mo,<br />
54053. (816) 524-6150.<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
FILMS FOR SALE<br />
16mm FAMOUS CLASSICS. Illustrated<br />
catalog 25c. Manbeck Pictures, 3621-B Wakonda<br />
Drive. Des Moines, Iowa 50321.<br />
FILMS WANTED<br />
PRIVATE COLLECTOR wis!<br />
16mm and 35mm films. All<br />
be answerec? Boxolfice, 3023<br />
35mm CARTOONS WANTED. Stooae comedys,<br />
old serials and features Kenneth<br />
Sanders, Marshall, Ark. 72650<br />
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
325 Von Brunt Bl.d<br />
Konsos City, Mo 64124<br />
Please enter my subscription to BOX<br />
OFFICE, Enclosed is my check or money<br />
order<br />
n 1<br />
for:<br />
n<br />
YEAR SIC<br />
2 YEARS $17<br />
Outside U, S, Conodo ond Ron<br />
Americon Union, S1500 per year
Rights<br />
FROM BELL & HOWELL. A 16MM<br />
PROJECTOR THAT'LL DO 35MM JOBS.<br />
Presenting our Bell & Howell model 567<br />
High-Intensity Autoload" 16mm projector.<br />
The projector, using an<br />
anamorphic lens, is<br />
capable of delivering<br />
a sharp, bright,<br />
uniform image up<br />
to 35 feet wide in<br />
large-screen<br />
theatres.<br />
The lamp's one<br />
reason.<br />
It's brighter and h.<br />
a longer life span. The lamp<br />
is a GE Marc 350/16T metal arc<br />
that gives 50% more illumination<br />
than any comparable compact<br />
discharge-type lamp. Colors are<br />
more vivid, black and white<br />
images have that crisp desired<br />
contrast. And because the 567<br />
uses a specially designed powei<br />
supply for the lamp, the lamp's<br />
life has been extended to an average<br />
of 50 hours.<br />
Another reason is lens.<br />
The 567 comes equipped with a computer<br />
formulated 2" f/1.2 Super F Proval lens. It provides<br />
a very bright, clear image by virtue of its<br />
excellent transmission and image sharpness.<br />
What's more, the 567 is complemented with<br />
a wide choice of accessory lenses. These range<br />
from a high-quality wide-angle for short-throw<br />
situations to a fine-quality anamorphic for wide<br />
screen films. This selection of lenses provides<br />
versatility, in order to fill a variety of screen<br />
sizes with a bright, sharp motion picture.<br />
Other special advantages.<br />
Ease of operation. The 567 retains the<br />
proven self-threading Bell & Howell Autoload<br />
system. Thousands of audio-visual personnel<br />
already know how to operate the Bell &. Howell<br />
Filmosound" projector. Then there's the pushbutton<br />
changeover system that allows for dualprojector<br />
operation; no<br />
nterruption of multi-reel<br />
features. No need for<br />
special film printing<br />
for special color balance,<br />
either. And the<br />
total unit is portable;<br />
both power supply and<br />
projector can be easily<br />
moved and set up quickly<br />
for use of one projector<br />
in several locations.<br />
Fineilly, cost and<br />
installation.<br />
First, there is no installation<br />
cost. No special<br />
electrical set-up needed.<br />
This fact alone is a cost<br />
savings. Second, the<br />
initial investment for this<br />
projector is low when<br />
considering the larger<br />
picture it can project. And<br />
if that isn't enough, if you<br />
require any servicing,<br />
your local A-V dealer<br />
can handle it. You'll<br />
be proud of the large-screen bright<br />
pictures you can provide using 16mm films.<br />
AUDIO VISUAL PRODUCTS DIVISIOR<br />
ifl<br />
BellbHoluell<br />
Mail in this coupon ior descriptive literature<br />
ind name of your nearest Bell & Howell dealer.<br />
Mr. lim Tnielsen, Dcpt. BO-54<br />
Bell & Howell, 2201 VV. Howard, Evanston, Illin<br />
Name<br />
Title<br />
Organization<br />
Street<br />
City<br />
Telepho<br />
.Code<br />
State<br />
. & HOWELL COMPANY. I<br />
Reserved