PG^

J. Hardy Reopens
il Twins in OC
IHOMA CITY—The Quail twins
led Saturday (16) under the now manof
Showtime, Inc., B. J. Hardy's
ased cricuit.
reopening was described by the local
has the first step in the full opening of
|1 theatres in the Speetro circuit.
ly was due to come here in midweek,
ig the Quail reopening, to complete
Jtiations for all Speetro units, which
dark three to four weeks. Hardy,
circuit operates 33 theatres in Texas
^Oklahoma, said that most Speetro
would be relighted in two or three
ly is acquiring the Speetro properties
Maurice Ferris, who gave lack of
pictures as his reason for closing
atres. Hardy already owned five thelich
had been operated by Speetro
llcrest, Park Terrace, Tower, Quail
and Winchester theatres. He also op-
Gulf States Theatres units here,
lining Speetro units Hardy was seekacquire
were the Apollo twins, Ed-
^Plaza, Hollywood in Norman, Centre.
70 and Villa.
ston Store Owner Fined
[Showing Sex Films
JSTON—Edward Lee McMenemy
guilty to a misdemeanor charge of
ting obscene material and was fined
by County Criminal Court-at-law
tJimmie Duncan.
district attorney Tim Alexander
charges came after police raided
emy's business. The Adult Words &
Store, Dec. 20. 1973. The raids.
er said, were made possible by a
County court restraining order
Cine-Matics and Global Industries
franchise tax question.
ited in the raid were five coin
machines containing explicit sex
icase against McMenemy was the first
case to be handled by the disjrney's
office since their decision
an obscenity charge against Joseph
owner of the Cinema West Theere
"Deep Throat" was shown.
riot attorney Carl Vance said silent
without plots—like those shown on
fiscated machines—would continue
:uted.
DRIVE - INS
Sebastian Int'l
a Family Affair;
Started in '60 With Less Than $100
D.-\LI .A.S—Two remarkable Texans and
their talented young sons are the brains
and moving forces behind Sebastian International
Pictures, whose third feature-length
film,
•
Gator Bait," made its Dallas-Fort
Worth debut Wednesday (20) in a multiple
booking.
The Sebastians arc Ferd and Beverly, a
husband-wife team that went into business
for itself in 1960 with less than $100 capital,
and their sons, Ben, 16, and Tracy, 12.
This quartet does everything connected with
creating a motion picture, including producing,
writing, directing, cinematography, editing,
composing the music, financing and
distributing. Ben even contributed some
stunt work to " 'Gator Bait," in which his
brother Tracy is cast as a mute, backwoods
Cajun boy.
Ferd, an Austin native, and Beverly Sebastian,
who had lived in Texas since she
was 17. cho.se commercial photography as
their means of independence when they decided
in Houston to start their own business.
By 1965— five years later—their business
was established successfully, with Beverly
working in the darkroom while Ferd
made the sales and took the pictures. After
pre-grossing as far as he could in still photography.
Ferd became enchanted with
films. The Sebastians thereupon expanded
to include TV commercials, educational and
commercial films.
In 1970, the Sebastians gave up their
Houston business and moved to California
to enter the highly competitive entertainment
business, their sights set on creating
features for commercial theatres.
"Starting at the bottom, we produced our
first film on a budget of $7,300." Beverly
recalled. "Four years later,
after the successful
release of 'The Hitchikers' and 'The
Single Girls," we were ready to produce our
biggest film."
This, of course, was " 'Gator Bait" and
to film it. the Sebastians headed for Caddo
she the most exgerous
pensive."
film
Lake in Louisiana.
"We spent three of the most rewarding
months of our lives filming this picture,"
Beverly recalled. "It's by far the most dan-
With his young brother Tracy co-starring
in the film. Ben performed many duties
connected with production work, playing a
minor role, performing all of the dangerous
stunt work in the swamp and taking part in
the boat chase sequences.
Today — just 14 years after courageously
setting out on their own with less than $100
to capitalize their venture—the Sebastians
are operating their own distribution company
in addition to their production firm
of Sebastian International Pictures. Their
general sales office is in Atlanta while their
national distribution office is in Westlake
Village, a suburb of Los Angeles. Calif.
"We've found our direction and we're on
our way to building a solid production-distribution
company for now and for the future,"
Beverly declared.
THE MAIM EVENT!
EVI . . . This Spring
40 THEATRES
Washington-Baltimore Saturation
April 17
Special $ale
DIAMOND CARBONS
50% Off
Pinkston's Universal Sales & Service Co.
«^^ER THEM ALL FROM
- - » MmJF ,327 s. WABASH
CHICAGO. ILL. 601
41T-119S
4207 Lawnview Dallas, Texas 75227
Phone (214) 388-1550
:: March 25, 1974
SW-1