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. . "The
I
N C O L N
:'.-.> downtown theatres have new assistant
managers. Doug Briggs is at the Plaza
-,:, Michael McLaughlin is at Douglas 3.
:-.ucc Harmon. Plaza manager, said Doug
Succeeds Dan Warlick. who resigned so he
j.'-.ild devote full time to producing some
iop grades at Nebraska Wesleyan as a medi^ril
school applicant. A University of Nehi.iska
student. Briggs has been chief of
-UiU at the Plaza Four. According to Bruce.
'•oiwc subsequent changes have promoted
Alan Shaw from doorman to chief of staff
and John Laun from usher to doorman.
Cindy Feiler also was promoted from concession
worker to cashier. McLaughlin has
been with Douglas 3 since last May doing
a little bit of everything" and is a University
of Nebraska journalism junior class
member. His promotion wa.s announced by
manager Lee Levorson.
Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Dubinsky plan to go
to Kansas City around April 1 to join in the
gala April 2 celebration of Max Hoffman's
80th birthday. A retired Kansas City businessman,
Hoffman is the husband of Irwin
Dubinsky's sister. Ho.sts for the dinner and
other festivities will be Hoffman's niece
and nephew. TTie Dubinskys plan to remain
in Kansas City several days, since it has
been some time since they were there . . .
Dubinsky and his son-in-law James Rodenberg.
the family circuit attorney, spent several
days in Des Moines and Sioux City on
theatre business, returning to this city Friday
(22).
Sooner or later everyone—or almost
everyone—may see "The E.vorcist." But not
retired industry veteran Walt Jancke. "I
get
sick just thinking about it. so I'm not going
to see it." Walt said the other day. Very
much aware that "The Exorcist" is a costly
film for any exhibitor showing it, Jancke is
hoping his involved industry friends will
have the long runs they need to come out
okay economically, however . . . Walt says
he thinks he figured out the other day at
home "what's wrong with the movies" and
is going to make it the subject of an industry
talk someday, if the inspiration comes.
He traces it back to the big studios losing
control of their actors and actresses when
they cut back on high-powered, efficient
publicity men and field
out to
representatives sent
the theatres. So, instead of the situation
being under some organized control,
actors and actresses today go their own way,
get together a few bucks and make a movie.
As those knowing Walt realize, the longtime
industryite is no prude but wants a
reason for nudity or obscenity before it's
used— if he has "his druthers."
"The Exorcist" is doing very well locally
at the State. Dennis Garrison, manager of
the theatre, said many of the young fans
here for the annual State Basketball Tournament
games during the Friday (15) weekend
caught the show. They were admitted
to the R-rated film as long as they were accompanied
by a coach or teacher (in lieu
of a parent), says Dennis . . . Circuit president
Irwni Dubinsky said "The Exorcist"
opened Wednesday (13) in Des Moines at
the Riviera with no great fanfare other than
a few patrons passing out during the show.
Crowds have been easy to handle thus far,
he reports.
Basketball tournament fans apparently
sitimulated business at the other downtown
movie hou.ses where other Academy Awardnominated
films crowd the marquees. Michael
McLaughlin, assistant Douglas 3 manager,
said "Cinderella Liberty" was a sellout
Saturday night (16). So was "American
Graffiti" at the Plaza, which hit the 67,000
patron mark Saturday (16).
Bruce Harmon, Plaza manager, had some
of the "MOVIES ... the Great American
Dream Machine" slogan posters in hand
soon after he returned Friday (15) from his
first Show-A-Rama convention in Kansas
City. Bruce says these are up at both the
downtown Plaza and the suburban Cooper/Lincoln.
The slogan was the winning
entry submitted in the United Motion Picture
Ass'n contest by Dave Woolery. who
oversees the Northtown 6 theatres in Dallas,
Tex., for Kansas City-based American Mulli
Cinema, according to Bruce.
Sarge Dubinsky, .Arthur Lapin and James
Rodenberg, who represented the Dubinsky
circuit at Show-A-Rama 17, arc pleased
with their route to and from the Crown
Center convention site. They tried 1-29 after
crossing the river at Nebraska City from
Highway 2 and say it's about a four-hour
drive despite the 55-mile-per-hour speed
limit. And a pleasant trip. too. they add.
Mark Robson will produce and dircc
•irthquakc" for Universal.
Bryonston Opens Atlanta
Branch for 3 SE Areas
From Eostern Edition
NEW YORK—Bryanston Pictures has
opened an Atlanta branch office and appointed
Kathy Sain as branch manager of
the Atlanta-Jacksonville-Charlotte area. The
announcement was made by Ted Zephro,
vice-president and chief operating officer,
as part of the company's continuing expansion
program.
OMAHA
j^ianna Sirck is engaged in a research project
on movie theatres that operated in
the state of Iowa in the late 1930s. She
would like a list of the names of the small
towns which had movie houses in 1939. If
anyone is in possession of this information
or knows how it can be obtained, it will be
greatly appreciated by Miss Sirck. She may
be contacted at 301 North Leaders, Sioux
Falls, S.D. 57102 ... The Remsen Chamber
of Commerce in Remsen, Iowa, plans to
reopen the Vogue Theatre there. Extensive
renovation, remodeling and reseating are
planned. A definite opening date will be
announced later.
Visitors on Filmrow: Evelyn Fosterman
and Irene Sperstad. who operate the Empress
at Verdigre: Pete Renzof of Columbia
Pictures, who called on local situations, and
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kugel of Holstein, Iowa,
who operate the State Theatre there. While
here. Mrs. Kugel consulted with physicians
and had her quarterly eye checkup.
The Little Arts Theatre here lost another
round in its efforts to stave off conviction
by the city for the showing of obscene material.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that
the conditions under which the film house
had been convicted compiled with its various
rulings for the determination of showing
obscene material. Sentencing has not
been handed down by the Nebraska Supreme
Court at this time.
New on the screens: "Blazing Saddles."
Six West and North Hampton 4; "The Last
Detail" and "Cinderella Liberty," Park 4
and Six West; "Man on a Swing," Cinema
4 and Maplewood; "Man of the East," Astro
and Cinema 4; "All the Young Wives,"
Cooper 70, and "Hit Man" and "Cool
Breeze," Omaha . Sting" and "Magnum
Force," both of which opened during
the Christmas season, are still strong at
Cinema 2.
Wanier Bros.' "Manie," with Lucille Ball,
will open Friday (29) at Coo[>L'r's Omaha
Indian Hills Theatre.
""^
CARBONS, INC. ^
Box K, Ccdor Knollj, N. J.
"'T^iu fet ma^c — ^^4 ^ tU Cone
In
Nebraska—Slipper Theotre Supply Co., Omaha,
(402) 341-5715
March 25, 1974