PG^

I
. . The
le Sting' Grosses 465
Minneapolis 11th
WEAPOLIS—"The Sting" was coni-
Wy out in front witii a thundering 465
11th week at the Cooper Theatre.
:;Exorcist," after shattering records on
is trailing off fast, though it still
I a 325 in its II th week at the Gopher.
5r, that compares with a 440 the
week. The granddaddy of them all
"American Graffiti." In its 25th
it notched a robust 220.
(Average Is 100)
ed (AlP), 3rd wk 60
! Sting (Univ), llth wk 465
! Exorcist ( WB), 11 th wk 325
lion (AA), 1 2th wk 185
s—A Reason to Live, o Reason to Die
2nd wk 75
»n—Superdad (BV), 3rd wk 1 50
Serpico (Para), 4th wk 200
Wishes, Winter Dreams (Col),
80
-The Lost Detoil (Col), 2nd wk 160
m—American Gratfiti (Univ), 25th wk. . . . 220
«cQ (WB), 2nd wk 95
Cinderella Liberty (20th-Fox), 3rd wk. . . . 1 60
)' Tradescreening Is
sted by JMG Film Co.
jWAUKEE—A screening of Film
International's new 1974 release,
," was held for nearly 40 exhibitors in
»'s ABC screening room Tuesday
(12). Hosting the special tradeng
were Jay M. Goldberg, president of
[Film Co., who flew in from the firm's
:rs in Cincinnati, and Virgil Jones.
manager in charge of the Chicagobranch
office at 32 West Ranbriefly.
a film of violence and in-
that goes beyond "The Godfather" in
s. Several Chicago showmen conthey
were "still shaky" as they left
ening room but the consensus of
was that "it'll do lots of business."
was high for the female lead, Barbara
et, with comments such as "she's
beautiful," and for the photogenic
;r Mitchum, who plays Rico, deby
one movie magnate as "better
than his dad ever was." Veteran
lur Kennedy also was pronounced
the showmen accompanied
luncheon at Angelo's Resiit
sts for
in the Oxford House, where
Ed
head of Film Ventures,
discussed
;rtising and promotional aspects of
Montoro told Boxoffice that he
yen films scheduled for production
stribution during 1974. In addition
I," these include "Legend of Blood
a western comedy starring Jack
titled "Father Jackleg," "When
Lost Their Tails," "Go for Broke,"
Hill" and "The Rebel." Five more
for 1975.
aro commented that in the past he
:ted three "skin-type" films but now
itrating on the
pure merchandising
the motion picture business—radio
gimmicks, pop art posters and other
jgonal ideas. Plans include a world
in Chicago this spring.
March 25, 1974
MILWAUKEE
piith Maher, group sales director, hosted
a special preview showing of "Manic."
Warner Bros, film starrinp, Lucille Ball and
Robert Preston, Saturday morning (16) at
the UA Southgatc. 3333 South 27th St. She
also invited educators, teachers, civic leaders,
PTA officers and other club representatives
to special showings of the movie
Thursday night (14) and Saturday night
(16) at the Centre screening room, 212 West
Wisconsin Ave. "Mamc" opens at the Southgate
Wednesday. April 3, for what promises
to be a long run.
Connie Gillespie, manager of the New
Oasis Theatre. 27th and Center, had an
operation and has now returned after being
away for several weeks. He also has appointed
a new assistant manager, Mark
Thomas.
Gary Merrill, movie and stage star, in
town to play the lead in "Born Yesterday"
at the J. Pellman Theatre, has been revealed
to be the "voice of Old Milwaukee" in the
Old Milwaukee beer commercials. Merrill
said he was one of 50 baritones who originally
auditioned for the assignment with
the Schlitz Brewing Co. Merrill remarked
that the anonymity of the job doesn't bother
him, since he is free to accept assignments
to narrate dramatic and industrial films for
other firms as
well.
Marcus CATV Corp., a locally based
subsidiary of Warner Cable Corp. and which
is headed by Ben Marcus of the Marcus
Theatres circuit, has withdrawn its bid for
the local franchise ... It is reported that
the Willow Playhouse in Highland Park. III..
is doing so well the backers are surveying
this city as the site for a second downtown
dinner-theatre. Centre Stage Dinner Playhouse,
624 North 2nd St.. has operated with
growing success the past year.
Judith Crist, who probably reaches more
people with her opinions on movies than
any other critic (she writes for New York
Magazine and TV Guide), was in town to
lecture during Marquette University's weeklong
Fine Arts Festival, which ended Saturday
(16). "Critics tend to get themselves a
little bit confused with the voice of God,"
she remarked. "Don't just sit
there and wait
for someone else's judgment. You have to
start functioning on your own." she emphasized.
No. she did not mean that critics
should be ignored but that it actually is up
to each person to find out why a particular
film is liked or disliked, she explained. "You
can love trashy movies but being willing to
watch trash does not make it greater than it
is." Miss Crist said, admitting meanwhile
that she herself is not above watching horror
films on the late, late show.
"Movies are full of sex and violence because
people pay to see sex and violence,
which as yet they cannot view so shockingly
on TV," she declared. "Push the good movie
fare." Miss Crist added that, in her opinion,
"everyone over 21 ought to see an X-rated
movie, preferably hard-core, il only to know
what it is he hates." She observed that film
is viewed as an art form today but criticized
this,
likening film production to an industry
or lo a Detroit assembly line. Here a popular
car model is copied. If one year some car
maker uses lots of chrome and his sales increase,
the next year chrome is what comes
off the assembly line, she declared. "So we
have a hit in 'The Godfather"—and we get
25 "Godfathers' coming off the assembly
line." Arc movies a bad influence on society".'
Miss Crist's retort to this is that
movies which sometimes take two years to
produce '"only reflect our society." She confessed
she was a ""movie nut" and slated.
"To be a movie critic, you have to be a
movie nut!"
The Better Films and TV Council of Milwaukee
Area will have its next regular
meeting April Fools' Day—April 1. A
screening is on the agenda and the group
will meet at the Tosa Theatre, 6823 West
North Ave., at 9:30 a.m. . Better
Films and TV Council of Sheboygan County
meets Thursday. April 4, and will listen
Ralph Schallow, city manager for the Marcus
Sheboygan theatres. The time is 9:45
a.m. and the place is the Security First
National Bank Building.
Ed Gavin, .American International Pictures'
local branch manager, had a tradeshowing
of the R-ratcd ""Truck Stop
Women" Friday afternoon (8) in the Centre
Screening Room . . . Carole Sutter, local
Buena Vista office manager, told Boxoffice
"everything is just super with 'Superdad.'
" The film continues to do very well
around the state. Meanwhile, that perennial
Disney picture, "Fantasia,"" has returned for
its
sixth time around to the Downer Prestige
Theatre, located on the city's east side.
"Conrack," which opens April 3 at four
local houses— Mill Road, Northridgc,
'
Centre and Southiown—had a special
screening Wednesday evening (13). Hosting
the showing at the Centre screening room,
2 1 2 West Wisconsin Ave., were Larry J.
Dieckhaus and Paula Jamrock from the
Chicago 20th-Fox office. Marge Ondrejka,
local branch office manager, also has arranged
a number of preshowings to which
she is inviting educators, club representatives
and civic leaders.
A Fellini film festival was planned for
the Marquette University Fine Arts Week
held Sunday (10) through Saturday (16),
(Continued on page NC-4)
^^"^yfi^^^ Voice-Over.
\^ Color Screen Ads
At The Lowest Prices Anywhere!
Motion Picture Service Co.
JiiiiieliiHiiiiliiiia
to