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Sinrl<br />

If<br />

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />

Published In Nine Sectional Editions<br />

t,3.;cr-in-Cniei ana Publisher<br />

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THE MODERN THEATRE S«lii<br />

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Published weekly, except one issue at<br />

OF<br />

IN STEP WITH THE TIMES<br />

LATE, in so-called "Public Mind"<br />

columns in daily newspapers, there<br />

has been a noticeable increase in letters<br />

complaining of the rise in theatre admission<br />

prices. Principally, the objection is<br />

made on the grounds that this deters<br />

attendance by people with children and<br />

the children themselves—in other words,<br />

"family trade."<br />

The theory that the public will pay top<br />

prices for top attractions has been proving<br />

itself in the instance of the roadshows<br />

which are so-called "genuine specials"<br />

and attract people from a wide<br />

area. And, of course, patrons are paying<br />

the higher prices at neighborhood houses<br />

—but not without some resentment.<br />

How much this affects patronage overall<br />

is a moot question. But, from a strictly<br />

economic viewpoint, many families have<br />

to cut down on the frequency of their<br />

moviegoing when their budget limitations<br />

are pinched. And, contrary to some<br />

beliefs in the industry, the attendance<br />

for many a picture—even the big onesis<br />

affected.<br />

There is still another cause for public<br />

complaint and attendance loss, such as<br />

noted in the following letter:<br />

"This past Sunday, we decided to<br />

go to see a current feature unth our<br />

four children, two of whom hold<br />

student privilege cards. When we got<br />

to the boxoffice a sign stated that<br />

these cards were not accepted for<br />

this performance. Therefore, ice<br />

were required to buy fotir adult tickets,<br />

at $1.75 each and two children's<br />

tickets, at 75c each, which came to<br />

$8.50 for an afternoon's entertainment.<br />

"This, for the average family, is<br />

quite an expenditure and it loill be<br />

a long time before we attend again.<br />

"I do not understand ivhy these<br />

cards were issued, if they are not<br />

honored for movies that are especially<br />

good for young people. Suppose<br />

we had just dropped these children<br />

off at the movies, with a dollar each<br />

for the ticket and some refreshments.<br />

They wo7ild not have been<br />

able to get in to see the shoiv.<br />

ivonder why they find this policy<br />

necessary? The theatre was quite<br />

empty that afternoon. Wouldn't selling<br />

200 tickets at 75c each be more<br />

desirable than selling 50 at $1.75?"<br />

This policy is not general, of course, but<br />

there are a great many theatres that follow<br />

the practice of making no variation<br />

between night and matinee prices. However,<br />

some astute showmen have even<br />

introduced a daily low-scale (half-price)<br />

performance between 5:30 and 6 p.m.<br />

that attracts patrons on their way home<br />

from work, students and shoppers. The<br />

American Multi-Cinema, operating both<br />

downtown and neighborhood shopping<br />

center houses in Kansas City, are successfully<br />

following such a policy, which<br />

they term "Twi-Lite Hour."<br />

Some years ago, the RKO Theatres<br />

introduced a cut-price policy for patrons<br />

60 years of age or older, which they called<br />

the "Golden Age Movie Club" and for<br />

which they issued membership cards.<br />

This has been highly successful and<br />

adopted by other circuits and individual<br />

operators.<br />

And one 700-seat theatre in a business<br />

district of Kansas City, operated by the<br />

Mann Circuit, offers double-feature programs<br />

at 75c per ticket. The pictures are<br />

recent releases and attendance is at near<br />

capacity twice daily.<br />

Many theatres issue discount cards to<br />

students. This plan stimulates more frequent<br />

attendance among this age group<br />

and it merits wider adoption.<br />

Of course, higher admissions and concessions<br />

prices are justified by the rise in<br />

costs of theatre operation all along the<br />

line. But, judging by the complaints we<br />

read in the public prints and that we<br />

hear quite often from friends and casual<br />

acquaintances, we wonder if some of our<br />

prices and policies haven't been carried<br />

a bit too far, especially by neighborhood<br />

houses with a price of $1.75 or $2.50,<br />

where it used to be no more than 75c.<br />

As the lady ivho ivrote the letter quoted<br />

above says, "Wouldn't selling 200 tickets<br />

at 75c each be more desirable than selling<br />

50 at $1.75?"<br />

yearend. by Associated Publications, Inc ,<br />

825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri<br />

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Edition. 510.00 per year: foreion, $15.00.<br />

National Executive Edition, $15.00: for.<br />

eign. $20.00. Single Copy. 50c Second<br />

class postage paid at Kansas City. Mo.<br />

Vol. 106 No. 18<br />

FEBRUARY 10, 1975<br />

"If the theatres i7isist on this policy,<br />

then the least they can do is to<br />

publish this fact in their advertisements,<br />

stating clearly that the privilege<br />

cards are not to be used. But I<br />

\^&vw /OhJyu/i^yt^


"<br />

Ad Policies of Press<br />

Rapped by Rosenfield<br />

MIAMI—The movie industry is spending<br />

less and less of its advertising dollar<br />

in newspapers and more and more in television,<br />

according to 20th Century-Fox vicepresident<br />

of advertising and publicity Jonas<br />

Rosenfield<br />

jr.<br />

Speaking at the annual convention of International<br />

Newspaper Advertising Executives<br />

at Miami's Diplomat Hotel, Rosenfield<br />

challenged the advertising men to find<br />

new ways to attract a larger portion of<br />

motion picture advertising budgets. "We<br />

are in an aggressive marketing mood and<br />

we are breaking with precedent," he said<br />

in his role as West Coast chairman of the<br />

lion<br />

annually.<br />

While the movie business is enjoying its<br />

best year in history with ad budgets at<br />

record highs, the share of these budgets devoted<br />

to newspapers has shrunk from 5S<br />

per cent to 44 per cent in 1974, Rosenfield<br />

said. Television, on the other hand,<br />

has taken 42 per cent of the budgets in<br />

1974, compared to only 15 per cent in 1972.<br />

"If these trends continue," he observed,<br />

"newspapers are headed eventually for directory<br />

status in future film industry marketing<br />

plans."<br />

Rosenfield called for an immediate and<br />

broad ranging series of meetings between<br />

top executives of the two industries designed<br />

to find ways for updating the newspaper<br />

industry's understanding and servicing<br />

of the fast-changing marketing needs<br />

of the movie industry.<br />

Rosenfield enumerated common industry<br />

criticisms: Bad reproduction of film ads and<br />

"discriminatory rate practices"; movie ads<br />

"buried" in cluttered amusement sections:<br />

newspapers' policy of demanding ads five<br />

or six days in advance, a practice dating<br />

back to nickelodeon days (today opening<br />

dates may not be known that soon), and<br />

lack of editorial support in the form of separate<br />

sections for films, such as are accorded<br />

TV.<br />

Some newspapers still treat film advertisers<br />

as "slightly disreputable" and "kind<br />

of a Grade B customer." Rosenfield charged.<br />

He added. "We will strongly support any<br />

newspaper that spends the time and money<br />

to create a dynamic, provocative movie<br />

section."<br />

Not ruling out the effectiveness of print<br />

ads for films, if properly presented and<br />

backed-up editorially. Rosenfield promised<br />

the Newspaper Bureau film industry support<br />

for constructive film promotion.<br />

NATO Regional Presidents Probe<br />

Effective Management Methods<br />

DALLAS—Some 30 regional presidents<br />

and executive directors of the National<br />

Ass'n of Theatre Owners gathered here<br />

January 27 from all parts of the U.S. for<br />

a wide-ranging discussion of the elements<br />

involved in the effective management of<br />

local exhibitor units. Topics covered in<br />

the one-day series of working sessions ran<br />

the spectrum from an examination of trade<br />

practice issues to techniques for executing<br />

"action" programs producing optimum advantages<br />

for members.<br />

Earl Perry sr. of New Orleans, chairman<br />

of national NATO's membership committee,<br />

conducted the "managerial workshop<br />

advertising-publicity directors committee of<br />

the MPAA.<br />

in round-table discussion fashion, with experts<br />

in various areas making introductory<br />

In his address, made at the behest of<br />

the Newspaper Advertising Bureau and entitled<br />

"Movies Are Alive and Well and vice-president and executive director Joseph<br />

statements. NATO president Paul Roth and<br />

Living in Your Town," Rosenfield pointed G. Alterman. who cooperated with Perry<br />

out that films are the fourth largest newspaper<br />

advertiser, spending over $250 milticipated<br />

in the<br />

on planning for the symposium, also par-<br />

proceedings.<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975<br />

Consent Decree Discussed<br />

NATO counsel Peter Fishbein. Nev\<br />

York, led off the agenda with an analysis<br />

of the provisions of the Paramount case<br />

Consent Decree and general laws affecting<br />

theatres, mention of considerations relating<br />

to film licensing agreements and a description<br />

of key elements of the government's<br />

antitrust statutes. He also described NATO's<br />

continuing efforts to remedy various trade<br />

practice abuses.<br />

NATO of Texas executive director Kyle<br />

Rorex followed, reciting insurance savings<br />

accruing to his members through adoption<br />

of a plan proposed by an underwriting<br />

organization which his unit recently placed<br />

in effect. The overall structure' and financing<br />

of national NATO and programs in<br />

various areas of exhibitor concern were<br />

noted by NATO president Roth.<br />

Convention Techniques<br />

This was followed by in-depth exploration<br />

of the techniques involved in staging successful<br />

state and regional exhibitor conventions.<br />

Addressing themselves to varied<br />

aspects of the topic were NATO vicepresident<br />

and executive director Alterman.<br />

who counseled on pitfalls to avoid in making<br />

arrangements with hotels serving as<br />

convention sites; executive director Chuc<br />

Barnes of the United Motion Picture Ass'n,<br />

Kansas City, who dealt with convention<br />

tradeshow planning, and NATO of New<br />

York State president Sidney J. Cohen, who<br />

discussed registration procedures and social<br />

events for a convention agenda. NATO of<br />

Washington, D.C., president Wade Pearson<br />

described several imaginative ploys for<br />

stimulating maximum attendance and enhancing<br />

enjoyment of those present.<br />

The latest of the series of theatre management<br />

courses which NATO units have<br />

initiated at major universities was announced<br />

by NATO of Western Pennsylvania<br />

president George Tice. Slated to begin<br />

June 5 in conjunction with Pennsylvania<br />

State University, it will see regular<br />

imiversity instructors and prominent exhibitors<br />

teaching all<br />

aspects of theatre operation<br />

in a 16-week curriculum. The site<br />

of the classes will be a theatre in downtown<br />

Pittsburgh.<br />

Jerry Knight of Ohio reported on the<br />

recently concluded theatre management<br />

course the NATO of Ohio unit staged with<br />

notable success in conjunction with Ohio<br />

State University in Columbus.<br />

Legislative Approach<br />

Various techniques for cultivating<br />

amicable<br />

relationships with legislators on all levels<br />

were recounted by Carl Goldman, executive<br />

director of Theatre Owners of New<br />

England, and Eileen Ledford, NATO of<br />

West Virginia president. A portion of the<br />

discussion dealt with the distribution of<br />

season passes to lawmakers and their key<br />

aides.<br />

According to NATO of Iowa and Mid-<br />

Central States president Carl Schwanebeck,<br />

who discussed limited-market theatre problems,<br />

the United Artists flat-fee plan for<br />

low-grossing houses has proven its merit<br />

and warrants maximum use by eligible theatre<br />

operators. Those currently not availing<br />

themselves of the plan and wishing to do<br />

so were asked to communicate with their<br />

local NATO unit or the national office.<br />

Workshops Are Held<br />

Procedures for recruiting NATO members<br />

were described by Paul Kelly, president<br />

of the United Motion Picture Ass'n, Kansas<br />

City. He has appointed Kansas and<br />

Missouri co-chairmen who stage area workshops<br />

on theatre operations. Attendance is<br />

not restricted to NATO members. He also<br />

mails letters on a sustained basis to NATO<br />

members and nonmembers. They detail<br />

what national NATO and his own group<br />

are doing to foster exhibitor interests.<br />

Several speakers on the floor also offered<br />

recommendations to the regional officials.<br />

Among them were Nat D. Fellman. representing<br />

NATO of California. He advocated<br />

an intensive campaign to make distributors<br />

aware of the drastically increased overhead<br />

theatres face in conducting business<br />

and the consequent need to take this into<br />

account in licensing agreements.<br />

Leon Back, NATO of Maryland president,<br />

espoused phone contact with members<br />

on a regular basis to keep them<br />

abreast of national NATO and local unit<br />

developments. He noted that he makes 10<br />

to 20 calls of this nature each week.<br />

In summing up the day's deliberations,<br />

president Roth termed them "instructive<br />

and highly useful." The success of the oneday<br />

"managerial workshop" may lead to<br />

similar conclaves in the future.


Roth Cites Industry's Progress,<br />

Points Out Potential Pitfalls<br />

DALLAS— Paul Roth, president of the<br />

National Ass'n of Theatre Owners, addressing<br />

delegates at the NATO of Texas<br />

convention at a luncheon Wednesday, January<br />

29, at the Fairmont Hotel here, noted<br />

that U.S. motion picture theatre grosses<br />

were highly gratifying last year and that<br />

the outlook for 1975 appears equally<br />

favorable. He warned, however, that exhibitors<br />

should beware the pitfalls of complacency,<br />

the constriction of certain factors<br />

within the industry and acrimony within the<br />

business as well as that involving outside<br />

elements.<br />

The continued resurgence in the film industry.<br />

Roth said, stems from multiple<br />

factors. He cited: the construction of new<br />

theatres in carefully selected sites, the employment<br />

of astute and aggressive merchandising<br />

techniques, the availability of<br />

product with broad-spectrum public appeal<br />

and the country's energy crisis, which<br />

has induced many people to attend theatres<br />

instead of spending their disposable<br />

recreation dollars in pursuits entailing substantial<br />

travel from their homes.<br />

"The fact that the industry has evinced<br />

an upswing does not diminish the individual<br />

theatre operator's obligation to cater to<br />

the comfort of his patrons, to seek to<br />

reinforce the moviegoing habit and aim<br />

for optimum technical presentation of the<br />

films he plays," Roth added.<br />

Elaborating on complacency as an attitude<br />

for exhibitors to avoid. Roth pointed<br />

to the dangers inherent in the excessive<br />

construction of new theatres without regard<br />

Tunny Lady' Featurette<br />

Shown on NBC-TV Feb. 3<br />

NEW YORK—A behind-the-scenes featurette<br />

made during the production of<br />

Columbia's "Funny Lady" was shown on<br />

the NBC-TV network Monday night (3)<br />

following the presentation of the 1971 Columbia<br />

release, "Doctor's Wives." NBC<br />

planned an unusual advance promotion for<br />

the eight-and-a-half-minute short because of<br />

the importance of its stars, Barbra Streisand<br />

and James Caan.<br />

Also starring in "Funny Lady," a Rastar<br />

production which was produced by Ray<br />

Stark and directed by Herbert Ross, is<br />

Omar Sharif.<br />

Arthur Canton to BJE As<br />

Ad-Pub, Promotion Veep<br />

CULVER CITY—Arthur H. Canton has<br />

been named vice-president, with responsibilities<br />

in advertising, publicity and promotion,<br />

for Billy Jack Enterprises, effective<br />

Monday (10).<br />

Canton was with Columbia Pictures before<br />

moving over to BJE's Culver City<br />

offices.<br />

for the availability of quality product or<br />

the fiscal perils posed by inflated building<br />

costs, plus the spiraling expenses of conducting<br />

business in today's market. This<br />

latter factor deserves special consideration,<br />

he said, because it might necessitate higher<br />

ticket prices for the public. "If these rise<br />

to an unreasonable degree," Roth observed,<br />

"they inevitably would have a dampening<br />

effect on the increased attendance theatres<br />

have enjoyed in the past couple of years."<br />

Roth found disturbing the growing phenomenon<br />

of excessive concentration in<br />

various aspects of the industry. Along this<br />

line he cited such things as too few sources<br />

of dependable boxoffice product, too few<br />

playdates spread over too small a number<br />

of theatres and distributor neglect of suburban<br />

and limited-market outlets at film<br />

rental terms within their means.<br />

Calling for the elimination of acrimony<br />

between individual exhibitors and among<br />

theatres and distributors. Roth declared,<br />

"These disputes are counter-productive and<br />

should be replaced by a realistic understanding<br />

of advantages to be gained by reasonable<br />

people dealing in a reasonable and<br />

equitable manner with each other.<br />

"It also is vital," he continued, "for<br />

exhibitors and distributors to pool theii<br />

efforts in establishing ongoing, harmonious<br />

relationships with legislators, as well as<br />

maintaining constant vigil against the<br />

growth of situations which could encourage<br />

statutes detrimental to all segments of the<br />

industry."<br />

David Golding to Head UA<br />

Publicity on West Coast<br />

HOLLYWOOD— David Golding, London-based<br />

American film executive, has<br />

been appointed West<br />

Coast publicity coordinator<br />

for United<br />

Artists Corp., it was<br />

announced by Fred<br />

Cioldberg, UA senior<br />

vice-president. Golding,<br />

who succeeds<br />

Buddy Young, will<br />

assume his new post<br />

here Saturday (15).<br />

r. -J ^ .J. During his London<br />

DavidGolduig<br />

y^,di„g ,^.^^,^, h^.,j<br />

a number of key positions in the advertising,<br />

publicity and promotion fields and<br />

later set up an independent public relations<br />

office, handling a wide variety of accounts.<br />

Prior to leaving Hollywood for London,<br />

Golding was publicity director at Universal<br />

City Studios. When he returns to Hollywood<br />

for United Artists, Golding also will<br />

be returning to the Goldwyn Studios lot.<br />

where he at one time functioned as director<br />

of advertising and publicity for the late<br />

Samuel Goldwyn.<br />

Saxon Theatres Sets Up \0<br />

Own Distribution Unit<br />

BOSTON—Saxon Theatre Corp. (Sack<br />

Theatres) is setting up a new company,<br />

Apple Films of New England, to distribute<br />

i<br />

films in the six New England states, it was<br />

announced by A. Alan Friedberg, chief<br />

operating officer. States involved in the expansion<br />

are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,<br />

Massachusetts, Rhode Island and<br />

Connecticut.<br />

Harvey Appell, veteran film distributor,<br />

is exiting his post as district manager of<br />

American International Pictures to become<br />

chief operating officer of Apple Films.<br />

Milt Cohen, head film buyer for Sack Theatres,<br />

will be sales coordinator of the new<br />

company and will serve as liaison between<br />

Appell and Friedberg.<br />

"Apple Films of New England," said<br />

Friedberg, 'has been set up to serve the<br />

needs of producers who have no distributors<br />

in New England and wish distribution<br />

in this region, as well as those who may be<br />

dissatisfied with their present patterns of<br />

Apple Films will not distribute<br />

distribution.<br />

pornographic films but will consider distribution<br />

of X-rated films on a selective<br />

basis, provided they are meritorious."<br />

Sack Theatres division will handle advertising,<br />

merchandising and exploitation of<br />

films distributed by Apple in New England,<br />

with its new in-house ad-pub department,<br />

which Friedberg said "has been geared-up<br />

for merchandising films."<br />

"Apple Films of New England will operate<br />

independently of the exhibition company,"<br />

Friedberg pointed out. "In certain<br />

instances, one or another of the Sack Theatres<br />

will play films distributed by Apple,"<br />

he added.<br />

Apple Films of New England will be<br />

headquartered in the Savoy Theatre Building.<br />

Tom Parry Is Exec. Aide<br />

To UA's Mike Medavoy<br />

HOLLYWOOD — United Artists West<br />

Coast vice-president Mike Medavoy has announced<br />

the appointment of Tom Parry as<br />

his executive assistant.<br />

Prior to joining United Artists, Parry, a<br />

Harvard graduate, had experience as a<br />

theatrical producer, and was associated<br />

with the Santa Fe Opera.<br />

Parry is headquartered at UA's West<br />

Coast offices in the Goldwyn Studio. The<br />

appointment is effective immediately.<br />

Title Change Announced<br />

NEW YORK—The Joseph E. Levine<br />

presentation of Claude Leiouch's latest film,<br />

"Toute Une Vie" (All in a Lifetime), will<br />

be released by Avco Embassy Pictures as<br />

"And Now My Love." Starring Marthe<br />

Keller, Charles Denner, Andre Dussollier<br />

and famed singer Gilbert Becaud, the<br />

French film spans almost four generations<br />

as it tells the story of two people fated to<br />

meet and fall in love in the 20th century.<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975<br />

W


Melnick Honor Slated<br />

AtShow-A-RamalS<br />

KANSAS CITY—Daniel Melnick, senior<br />

vice-president and head of worldwide production<br />

for Metro-<br />

Goldwyn-Mayer, will<br />

be honored as "Producer<br />

of the Year"<br />

by showmen across<br />

the country attending<br />

Show-A-Rama 1 8. to<br />

be held at the CrowTi<br />

Center Hotel here<br />

March 17-20. Melnick<br />

is being saluted<br />

r. • 1 »« 1 • 1 for "his innovative<br />

Dauel Melnick ^., ,<br />

film<br />

production<br />

achievements and for his most recent success,<br />

'Thafs Entertainment!'," according to<br />

Norman Nielsen, chairman of Show-A-<br />

Rama 18, and Paul Kelly, president of<br />

the United Motion Picture Ass'n.<br />

Nielsen and Kelly noted that, due to the<br />

efforts of Melnick, "the lion roars again"<br />

and MGM continues to be a viable source<br />

of motion pictures despite its<br />

from the field of distribution.<br />

departure<br />

MGM productions<br />

to be released in the near future<br />

include "Mr. Ricco," "The Wind and the<br />

Lion," "The Passenger," "The Silent<br />

Stranger," "Hearts of the West" and "Future<br />

World."<br />

Melnick, a native of New York City,<br />

was the youngest staff producer (at age<br />

20) at CBS-TV and later was vice-president<br />

in charge of programing at ABC-TV.<br />

'Bridge Too Far' Rights<br />

Acquired by Joe Levine<br />

NEW YORK—In what is being called<br />

the most important film effort of his entire<br />

career, Joseph Levine has acquired motion<br />

picture rights to Cornelius Ryan's bestseller,<br />

"A Bridge Too Far," considered b><br />

many as the most powerful work of history<br />

to emerge from World War II.<br />

Dealing with the Battle of Arnhcm, one<br />

of the greatest airborne operations of the<br />

war (a battle plan that ended in defeat for<br />

the Allies), the book has been on the bestseller<br />

list 19 weeks. The late author, of<br />

course, wrote "The Longest Day," which<br />

was one of 20th-Fox's all-time hits.<br />

"More than 50 top stars will be signed<br />

for key roles in the film," Levine said,<br />

and such high-level military officials as<br />

Gen. Eisenhower and Field Marshal Montgomery<br />

will be portrayed.<br />

Levine, who plans to make "A Bridge<br />

Too Far" as "the total definitive motion<br />

picture of World War II," said, "If ever<br />

a movie had a cast of thousands, this film<br />

will have it. The book and the movie will<br />

tell with frightening reality how an original<br />

plan of operation to shorten the war<br />

turned into a total nightmare of misplanning,<br />

ego trips and complete hysteria resulting<br />

in the sacrifice of thousands of<br />

lives. Few people know that the Battle of<br />

Arnhem cost the Allies twice as many<br />

casualties as D-Day."<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975<br />

NSS Operations Pared to 9 Exchanges<br />

New York—A consolidation of National Screen Service exchange operations<br />

will be effective the week of March 3, it was announced by Norman Robbins. executive<br />

vice-president and chief operating officer of NSS. The spiraling cost of labor<br />

was cited as the main cause of this action.<br />

"We have searched for a way to maintain services without passing on greater<br />

costs to our exhibitor-customers," Robbins explained, "and we believe that this<br />

consolidation will enable us to increase the efficiency of our service."<br />

In a letter to exhibitors, Robbins stated, "Our plan, developed after extensive<br />

study of many alternatives, will enable us to maintain personal contact with our customers,<br />

while consolidating the physical servicing of theatres by reducing the number<br />

of our NSS exchanges."<br />

After March 3, all theatres will be serviced with trailers and accessories from<br />

one of nine regional exchange offices:<br />

Atlanta will service former Charlotte territory customers.<br />

Boston will service former Albany. Buffalo and New Haven territory customers.<br />

Chicago will service former Minneapolis territory customers.<br />

Cincinnati will service former Detroit territory customers.<br />

Dallas will service former New Orleans territory customers.<br />

Kansas City will service former Denver and St. Louis territory customers.<br />

Los Angeles will service former San Francisco territory customers.<br />

Philadelphia in Camden, N.J., will service former New York territory customers<br />

(all five boroughs. I-ong Island, northern New Jersey, Westchester, Rockland<br />

and Dutchess counties).<br />

Seattle will continue to ser\lce the same territory as in the past.<br />

"You will note," the NSS letter continues, "that many theatres will not be<br />

affected by this reorganization at all. However, to those theatres that now will<br />

be serviced from a different shipping point, we would Uke to establish the following:<br />

1) All shipping charges from the servicing exchange to the city of the closed exchange<br />

will be absorbed entirely by NSS. This applies to all normal shipments, not<br />

late bookings requiring direct-to-theatre shipments. 2) NSS will provide overnight<br />

service to a depot in the former exchange cities from which shipments will be made<br />

to the theatre by the theatre's regularly appointed carrier. 3) In order to make shipments<br />

as of March 3 from the nine servicing exchanges. NSS requests bookings for<br />

accessories no later than February 12 and for trailers no later than February 17."<br />

Robbins requested that theatres place their orders as early as possible with<br />

their new regional exchange office so that NSS could fulfill its pledge of "no disruption<br />

in our servicing timetable."<br />

Any theatre having questions was advised to contact their present NSS branch<br />

manager.<br />

MIPS Has New Brochure<br />

On Shorts for Theatres<br />

NEW YORK— Modern lalking Picture<br />

Service has just published "Screening<br />

Notes," a new brochure of free loan 35mm<br />

short subjects available to theatres. The<br />

brochure includes films on a wide variety<br />

of subjects: sports, travel, ecology, human<br />

relations and social affairs. All of the films<br />

are in color and range from 7 minutes to<br />

28V2 minutes in length.<br />

One of the films featured in "Screening<br />

Notes" is "Norman Rockwell ... A Tribute<br />

to Robert Frost" in which Rockwell pays<br />

special tribute to the great American poet<br />

on the 100th anniversary of Frost's birth.<br />

Other films described in the brochure<br />

include "A Beginning," showing successful<br />

environmental projects throughout the country;<br />

"Rather Be a Chicken." a whimsical<br />

look at a modern food producing business;<br />

and "Mr. Galen Comes to Town," dramatizing<br />

the scientific and medical advances<br />

made in recent history.<br />

Requests for a free copy of "Screening<br />

Notes" theatrical brochure should be sent<br />

to Modern Talking Picture Service, 2323<br />

New Hyde Park Road, New Hvde Park,<br />

N.Y., 11040.<br />

Sun's 'Grizzly Adams' May<br />

Set New Four-Wall Record<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Sun Classic Pictures'<br />

"The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,"<br />

in its first three weeks of major four-wall<br />

release, has grossed more than $6,000,000,<br />

42 per cent ahead of "Brother of the Wind,"<br />

previous highest grossing four-wall feature.<br />

"Grizzly Adams" is being shown in over<br />

150 markets and has made a profit in<br />

every location every time it has played.<br />

The picture was produced in Utah by<br />

Charles E. Sellier jr.<br />

"Grizzly Adams" is the first four-wall<br />

film to take full advantage of a new computerized<br />

system designed by Sun to lower<br />

the risk in four-wall distribution.<br />

'Sound of Music' Telecast<br />

Authorized by 20th-Fox<br />

HOLLYWOOD — Dennis C. Stanfill,<br />

chairman of the board, 20th Century-Fox,<br />

announced that its board of directors has approved<br />

the granting of a license to ABC<br />

for one network telecast of "Sound of<br />

Music" which will be made available to<br />

the network in the fall of 1975, and after<br />

the conclusion of its present second theatrical<br />

reissue.


AUCE HAI<br />

HQMFINJ<br />

Martin Scorsese has done it again! He's made a riveting, entertaining movie inrit<br />

that seems all the more original because it is so different from his last one. "Alice 1<br />

Doesn't Live Here Anymore" is essentially a comedy It's a clear-eyed, tough- J<br />

talking, often boisterously funny comedy dbout women and men. "Alice" has<br />

the<br />

m<br />

distinct advantage over most films by growing on you, by getting better u<br />

and better as it goes along until, at the end, you look back over it with some of<br />

the wonder and pleasure with which you might suddenly acknowledge an<br />

unexpected friendship" "Harvey Keitel, Diane Ladd and Valerie Curtin are i^\<br />

stunning and splendid. The entire film is beautifully cast and acted but the plum role IS that of Alice (Ellen Burstyn). It could well turn out to be the plum role of the Z<br />

entire year and Miss Burstyn never misses the eccentric beat that distinguishes 1<br />

It. Miss Burstyn is terrific."<br />

-VINCENT CANBY, N.Y. Times «<br />

I<br />

SUSSKIND PRODUCT<br />

FIRSTS DAYS AT THE SUTTON THEATRE<br />

(Jan.29-Feb.2) If


'A gritty, terribly appealing story. Ellen<br />

Burstyn in a role that fully realizes her<br />

potential as an actress. Scorsese deserves<br />

all the credit in the world."<br />

-KATHLEEN CARROLL, N.Y. Daily News<br />

wmi<br />

mi 1¥<br />

w-<br />

^<br />

"Alice is full of warm comedy and extraordinary<br />

acting. Real humor and real life.<br />

Ellen Burstyn is wonderfully funny, warm<br />

and lovable."<br />

-FRANCES TAYLOR, Long Island Press<br />

ELLEN BURSTYN<br />

KRIS KRISrOFFERSON,. ^UCE<br />

,<br />

DOESN'T UVE HERE<br />

/1NYMORE<br />

^^


AA, Kalvex Proposed<br />

Merger Is Announced<br />

NEW YORK.—Emanuel L. Wolf, chairman<br />

of the board and president of Allied<br />

Artists Pictures Corp. and Kalvex, Inc., announced<br />

that the board of directors of the<br />

two New York-based companies have approved<br />

in principle the merger of the firms,<br />

subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.<br />

Kalvex presently owns approximately<br />

52 per cent of the outstanding<br />

of the shareholders of AA and Kalvex following<br />

negotiation of a definitive agreement<br />

between the parties. Upon consummation<br />

of the proposed merger, shareholders<br />

of both companies would become shareholders<br />

of a new firm, proposed to be<br />

named Allied Artists Industries.<br />

Common shareholders would control the<br />

new company, which would be responsible<br />

for overall management and would operate<br />

the principal business of AA and Kalvex<br />

as<br />

subsidiaries.<br />

Allied Artists is engaged in the production<br />

and distribution of motion pictures for<br />

theatres and TV, while Kalvex is a consumer<br />

marketing company which is involved<br />

in the distribution of imports and<br />

pharmaceuticals, as well as the manufacture<br />

of motor homes and men's sportswear.<br />

Cinema Nat'l to Release<br />

'Le Secret/ French Film<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Fred Briskin,<br />

president<br />

of the Los Angeles-based Cinema National<br />

Corp., announced that his company had<br />

acquired U.S. distribution rights for "Le<br />

Secret," a French import from Jacques-<br />

Eric Strauss' President Films Co.<br />

"Le Secret" stars Jean-Louis Trintignant,<br />

Marlene Jobert and Phillipe Noiret. It was<br />

directed by Robert Enrico.<br />

Briskin indicated<br />

that the suspense thriller is being readied<br />

for release in the spring.<br />

This is the fifth picture CNC has scheduled<br />

for national release this year. Briskin<br />

states that the company is currently negotiating<br />

on several more projects and expects<br />

to have a release schedule of eight to ten<br />

films for 1975.<br />

Woolf, Foreman to Produce<br />

'Golden Ape' for Univ.<br />

UNIVERSAL CITY— Sir John Woolf<br />

and Carl Foreman will produce "The Year<br />

of the Golden Ape," based on the dramatic<br />

best-selling suspense novel by Colin Forbes,<br />

as a major motion picture for Universal<br />

Pictures, with filming to start next year<br />

with a large international cast, it was announced<br />

by Sid Sheinberg, president of<br />

MCA, Inc., parent company of Universal<br />

Pictures.<br />

Woolf, winner of six Academy Awards,<br />

will write the screenplay for "The Year<br />

of the Golden Ape."<br />

Friedman Unveils AFAA Regional<br />

Concept, National Ad Campaign<br />

NEW ORLEANS—David F. Friedman,<br />

president of the Adult Film Ass'n of America,<br />

told the over 200 persons attending<br />

the organization's seventh annual convention<br />

at the Royal Sonesta Hotel here January<br />

23-26 that legal problems continue to<br />

proliferate, offsetting somewhat the increasing<br />

grosses of adult films. Friedman said<br />

taining legislation helpful to the adult film<br />

industry, were unveiled by Friedman.<br />

Organizational restructuring to back the<br />

publicity effort also was disclosed by the<br />

AFAA president. Each of four regions will<br />

have presidents who are independent and<br />

have local autonomy to activate measures<br />

they feel necessary for their own areas,<br />

according to Friedman. Regional presidents<br />

then will select four board members from<br />

their area. Through this segmented organizational<br />

setup, it is believed that the AFAA<br />

can cope more effectively with localized<br />

issues which arise from time to time.<br />

In a session with the press during the<br />

confab, Friedman said, "We can't feel we're<br />

in an illegal business or quasi-legal business.<br />

Sex pictures today, in my opinion<br />

and in the opinion of the AFAA. whether<br />

for good or bad, whether people like it or<br />

don't like it, are an integral part of the<br />

American entertainment scene."<br />

Adult films, he pointed out, are "big business"<br />

in the U.S. today, since approximateh<br />

35,000,000 citizens patronize movie houses<br />

every week and an estimated 10 per cent<br />

of that number elects to view films that<br />

are commonly described as "sex movies,"<br />

resulting in adult theatre grosses of approximately<br />

a half-billion dollars a year.<br />

The AFAA's advertising campaign was<br />

kicked off with a Washington Post ad Janu-<br />

UA Acquires Nine Films<br />

By Int'l Moviemakers<br />

NEW YORK— United Artists has acquired<br />

nine new films which include the<br />

works of such famed international moviemakers<br />

as Bernardo Bertolucci, Costa<br />

Gavras and Francois Truffaut.<br />

Among the acquisitions are: Producer<br />

Alberto Grimaldi's "1900," which stars<br />

Burt Lancaster, Donald Sutherland and<br />

Robert DeNiro, among others, directed by<br />

Bertolucci. UA has the distribution rights<br />

for France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany,<br />

Austria. Australia, New Zealand,<br />

Holland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark<br />

and Portugal: "L'Affaire de la Section<br />

Speciale," directed by Costa Gavras<br />

and produced by Jacques Perrin and Giorgio<br />

Silvani, with rights including France<br />

and Belgium; "The Story of Adele," which<br />

Truffaut is producing and directing from<br />

his i)wn screenplay. UA rights are world<br />

ary 28 which asked members of Congress<br />

to reread the report of the Presidential<br />

Commission on obscenity and Pornography,<br />

which delivered an opinion that was favorable<br />

to adult filmmakers. This advertisement—<br />

or variations of it—will be repeated<br />

in newspapers across the U.S. in the hope<br />

that it will enlighten local officials, who<br />

provide the greatest amount of continued<br />

harassment for adult theatre operators.<br />

Friedman also said that the AFAA would<br />

take steps to publicize the huge sums of<br />

taxpayers' money that are expended in the<br />

prosecution of makers and exhibitors of<br />

adult motion pictures. "We have a lot of<br />

fights but we're winning a lot of cases,"<br />

Friedman noted. "Hopefully we can persuade<br />

legislators either to drop these (prosecutions)<br />

as unnecessary and expensive or<br />

modify them."<br />

The Rev. Malcolm Boyd of the Episcopal<br />

Church, film critic who addressed the<br />

AFAA convention, asked: "Haven't we<br />

called the wrong things dirty? We let war<br />

come into the living room and I find violence<br />

obscene. What is this preoccupation<br />

with sex as being obscene?"<br />

Other panel members called for less<br />

sexplicit film fare. Arthur Knight, professor<br />

of cinema at the University of Southern<br />

California, wondered if it "was necessary<br />

to be so boringly explicit?" Chicago<br />

Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert commented:<br />

"Sometimes I feel I have stumbled into an<br />

audio-visual class for gynecologists instead<br />

of a movie theatre."<br />

Friedman was re-elected president of the<br />

AFAA, with Alan Shackleton as national<br />

vice-president; Don Davis, national secretary,<br />

and Nancy Lindsey, national treasurer.<br />

Regional presidents were elected as follows:<br />

For the West, Vincent Miranda;<br />

South, Carl Carter: Central, John Holokan,<br />

and East, Chester Yamilkoski.<br />

wide except for the U.S., Great Britain<br />

and Canada: "Gun Moll," Sophia Loren-<br />

Marcello Mastroianni-Aldo Macccone starrer<br />

produced by Carlo Ponti and directed<br />

by Georgio Capitani. UA rights are worldwide<br />

except for the U.S. and Canada,<br />

and "The Old Gun," starring Romy Schneider<br />

and Philippe Noiret, produced by<br />

Pierre Caro and directed by Robert Enrico.<br />

UA will release the film in France, Switzerland,<br />

Belgium, Germany, Austria, Denmark,<br />

Finland, Sweden, Norway and Holland.<br />

Also, "Lucky Girl," starring Claudia<br />

Cardinale and Monica Vitta, directed by<br />

Carlo Di Palma, to be filmed as a Franco<br />

Cristaldi production for distribution in Germany<br />

and Italy; a Passolini picture with<br />

the working title "120 Days to Sodom,"<br />

to be made for worldwide distribution by<br />

Alberto Grimaldi, and "Son of an Unknown<br />

Mother," another Grimaldi picture also for<br />

worldwide distribution.<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


Premiere of 'Dancekings'<br />

Sets New Mark in Dixie<br />

NASHVILLE—In what turned out to be<br />

the biggest motion picture premiere in the<br />

South since "Gone With the Wind," 20th<br />

Century-Fox's "W. W. and the Dixie Dancekings"<br />

opened here Tuesday (4). Tickets<br />

for the charity benefit (for the Country<br />

Music Ass'n) were all gone three weeks<br />

prior to the screening and scalpers were<br />

asking—and getting—as much as $100 a<br />

pair.<br />

The draw, of course, was star Burt Reynolds.<br />

When it was announced that Reynolds<br />

would appear in person with virtually every<br />

country-western star who ever cut an album<br />

in Nashville, a line formed around the<br />

Crescent Theatre hours before the advance<br />

sale boxoffice opened.<br />

CLEARING HOUSE<br />

FILMS FOR SALE<br />

IGmm FAMOUS CLASSICS. Illustrated<br />

catalog 25c. Manbeck Pictures, 3621-B Wakcmda<br />

Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321.<br />

FILMS WANTED<br />

COLLECTOR wants 16r<br />

send list to George A. M.<br />

Jeffords Street, Cfearwale<br />

Q films. Pie<br />

ris, M. D., 1<br />

Ha. 33516.<br />

COLLECTOR 16mm FILMS, interested to<br />

buy approximately 100 films. Write Postbox<br />

155580. Beirut. Lebanon.<br />

INDEPENDENT EXHIBITOR in large city<br />

in western Canada witti a beautiful theatre<br />

looking for good movies. Will also be<br />

interested subdistributing in western Canada.<br />

Reply with list. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3380.<br />

DRIVE-IN THEATRE CONSTRUCTION<br />

SCREEN TOWERS INTERNATIONAL; Ten<br />

Day Screen Installation. (817) 642-3591.<br />

Drawer P, Rogers, Texas 75569.<br />

THEATRE CONSTRUCTION<br />

I'nd' & Projection;<br />

Seats, !! .-.-<br />

: j..t r.lt; Acoustical<br />

Drcrperies; Carpeting: Concessions; Accessories<br />

. . . call or write: SUMMIT ENTER-<br />

PRISES, 1 Albany Ave., Kingston, N.Y.<br />

(914) 338-5095 for area represeniative.<br />

THEATRE REMODELING<br />

CINEMA DESIGNERS. INC.. builders of<br />

contemporary theatres, can romodel your<br />

old theatre or build you a new one. Complete<br />

turnkey project. Write for free brochure,<br />

1245 Adam« St., Boston, Mass 02124,<br />

(617)<br />

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES<br />

VIDEO GAMES make $$$ wherever there<br />

are people. An investment that will pay<br />

for itself within months. Call (602) 955-<br />

2233 or write: MIBACLE GAMES, 6528 E.<br />

2nd St., Scottsdale, Arizona 85251, for more<br />

MARQUEES, SIGNS<br />

Designed, Engineered. Built. Erected.<br />

Maintained on Lease or purchase plan.<br />

Bux-Mont Electrical Advertising Systems.<br />

Pa. (215) 675-1040.<br />

More Classified Listing<br />

On Inside Back Cover<br />

BCP Begins Production<br />

On 'Walking Tall IF<br />

LOOK-A-LIKES—The striking resemblance<br />

between actor Bo Svenson<br />

(left) and the late Sheriff Buford Pusser<br />

(right) of McNairy County, Tenn., has<br />

led to the selection of the young star to<br />

play the lawman in BCP's "Walking<br />

Tall, Part II," to be distributed by<br />

American International Pictures. The<br />

film, a sequel to one of the all-time<br />

boxoffice successes, relates the continuation<br />

of Buford Pusser's own story of a<br />

one-man drive to rid crime from a<br />

smaU Tennessee town.<br />

HOLLYWOOD — "Walking Tall, Part<br />

II," a sequel to the motion picture "Walking<br />

Tall," story of the late Sheriff Buford<br />

Pusser, is in production by BCP in Jackson,<br />

Tenn. Shooting started Wednesday (5).<br />

Charles A. Pratt, BCP president and<br />

producer of the film, made the announcement<br />

at a press conference in Nashville,<br />

attended by Gov. Ray Blanton.<br />

The BCP feature from Cinerama to be<br />

distributed by American International Pictures,<br />

Inc., is based on events told by the<br />

late Sheriff Pusser to screenwriter Howard<br />

B. Kreitsek. Pusser originally was scheduled<br />

to portray himself in the film sequel, but<br />

his untimely death forced delay of the<br />

production.<br />

Bo Svenson, rising young star who recently<br />

completed a co-starring role with Robert<br />

Redford in "The Great Waldo Pepper,"<br />

has been selected to portray Pusser. He<br />

bears an uncanny resemblance to the late<br />

lawman who cleaned up crime and corruption<br />

in McNairy County, Tenn.<br />

Pratt recalled a conversation with Pusser<br />

where the former Sheriff stated there were<br />

a lot of people who would like to see him<br />

dead. "If anything ever happens to me,<br />

I want you to be sure and finish telling<br />

my story," Pusser said.<br />

"Walking Tall," one of the biggest boxoffice<br />

hits in the 1973-74 period, has<br />

grossed over $55 million. "Walking Tall,<br />

Part II," which will be budgeted at $2<br />

million, will be directed by Earl Bellamy.<br />

In addition to "Walking Tall," BCP also<br />

has produced the previous boxoffice success<br />

"Willard" and is now readying for<br />

release through American International Pictures<br />

"The Reincarnation of Peter Proud,"<br />

based on the best-selling novel by Max<br />

Ehrlich and starring Michael Sarrazin and<br />

Jennifer O'Neill.<br />

Motion Picture Pioneers<br />

Adds 53 Members in 74<br />

new members<br />

NEW YORK—Fifty-three<br />

joined the Motion Picture Pioneers prior to<br />

year's end, bringing the class of 1974 to a<br />

total of 306, according to national membership<br />

chairman B.V. Sturdivant and Salah M.<br />

Hassanein, president. Seven women were<br />

among the new members, bringing the year's<br />

total, during the first year of eligibility, to<br />

15.<br />

New York was out in front with 21 new<br />

members. Massachusetts came in second<br />

with four. Alabama, Michigan and Missouri<br />

had three each, California, Florida, Louisiana,<br />

New Jersey and North Carolina each<br />

had two and Alaska, Indiana, Maryland,<br />

Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico. Tennessee, Virginia<br />

and Washington, D.C., had one each.<br />

From New York the new Pioneers are: David Bass,<br />

Sere ina Burgo<br />

D. Desmond, Albert<br />

Fronkel,<br />

N. Friedlond, Herbert<br />

Hortense Grant, Robert en, Jerry Gruenberg,<br />

Blanche Livingston Levi, f Pologe Levinson, Chris<br />

D. Pope, Walter S, Prus.ev Joseph Sockotile, Louis<br />

Salkoff, John J. Serfustini, nord M. Serlin, George<br />

Sommo, Sol R. Sorkii Nori Weitmon. From<br />

Chorles, Herbert Hurwitz,<br />

Mohonev and James M. Stoneman. From<br />

Rufis Davis, Horry M. English and W. W.<br />

Hammonds. From Michigan: John D. Locks, Louis G.<br />

Stothos and Glenn G. Wallace. From Missouri: Robert<br />

L. Goldhammer, Robert B, Johns and Raymond K.<br />

McKitrick. From California: Eva Coil Johnson and Ido<br />

Schreiber. From Florida: George Byrd and Don R.<br />

Stevenson. From Louisiono: Herman David Gentry and<br />

Mock Jarrett. From New Jersey: Melvyn Berman and<br />

Kenneth C. Kurtzmon. From North Carolina: Robert<br />

Lon Baker jr. ond William A. McClure From Alosko:<br />

Richard L. Bollard. From Indiana: Albert R. Gloubinger.<br />

From Maryland: Note Shor. From Ohio: James<br />

O. Ryan. From Oregon: Lowell Spiess. From Puerto<br />

Rico: Alfredo Lopez de Pedro. From Tennessee: William<br />

E. Moddox. From Virginia: Borboro L. "Sunny"<br />

Greenwood. From Woshington, D.C.: Donold C. King.<br />

Eligibility for membership in this prestige<br />

organization is restricted to those who have<br />

spent a minimum of 25 years in the business<br />

and are sponsored for membership by a<br />

Pioneer. The one-time membership fee is<br />

$25. Industryites who qualify may obtain<br />

their nxembership applications from the<br />

Foundation of Motion Picture Pioneers,<br />

1251 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1179,<br />

New York, N.Y. 10020, or from one of the<br />

12 membership chairmen over the country.<br />

Levey, Adelman Acquire<br />

Rights to Two Films<br />

HOLLYWOOD—William A. Levey and<br />

Gary Adelman have acquired film rights<br />

for two upcoming motion picture productions,<br />

"Frankie, Wolfie and Rich," an<br />

original screenplay by Hubert R. Doyle,<br />

and "Mischief" from an original screenplay<br />

by Frank Farmer.<br />

Levey also has signed to direct "Killer,"<br />

an autobiography of a Mafia hit-man by<br />

Joey/Dave Fischer. Levey recently completed<br />

"The Prostitute." which he wrote,<br />

directed and produced, starring Sandra<br />

Dempsey. Cinemation Industries has acquired<br />

"The Prostitute" for national release<br />

in February.<br />

"Frankie, Wolfie and Rich" is a horrorspoof<br />

with a 1913 New York setting. The<br />

principals are adolescents on the way to<br />

becoming Dr. Frankenstein, the Wolfman<br />

and Count Dracula. "Mischief" is a retribution-thriller.<br />

Both features are planned for<br />

production under the Movie Machine, Inc.<br />

banner for this year.<br />

BOXOFTICE :: February 10, 1975


'Sunday in the Country' Is<br />

$1CIO,000-Grosser in South<br />

NEW ORLEANS — "Sunday in the<br />

Country" has grossed $106,544 in the first<br />

five days of its prerelease engagement in<br />

the New Orleans and Miami territories.<br />

The film from Cinerama Releasing is<br />

distributed through American International<br />

Pictures.<br />

Ernest Borgnine, Michael J. Pollard and<br />

new young star. Mollis McLaren, have<br />

a<br />

the leading roles. The Quadrant Film was<br />

directed by John Trent, produced by David<br />

M. Perlmutter, from a screenplay by Robert<br />

Maxwell and John Trent.<br />

"Sunday in the Country" is set to open<br />

in key city territories as one of Cinerama's<br />

and AIP"s major new attractions of 1975.<br />

More Career Films Wanted,<br />

MIPS Survey Shows<br />

NEW YORK—High schools need more<br />

career guidance films and those films should<br />

emphasize work attitudes, according to a<br />

survey of guidance counselors and teachers<br />

conducted by Modern Talking Picture Service,<br />

distributor specializing in sponsored<br />

films. The survey showed that educators<br />

welcome free-loan films from sponsoring<br />

sources like business and industry, with<br />

some write-ins expressing a preference for<br />

this type of film as being more relevant,<br />

factual and up-to-date than the films that<br />

schools must pay for.<br />

WOLK"<br />

26V2" REEL ARMS<br />

MOTO-MATIC<br />

REWINDS<br />

for the automated booth<br />

Another classic combo<br />

developed & manufactured<br />

by WOLK.<br />

HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN<br />

INSTALLED IN THE FINEST<br />

PROJECTION ROOMS<br />

Are you considering making<br />

a change? Then specify "Wolk"<br />

for a positively trouble-free quality<br />

product.<br />

Your local theatre supply dealer<br />

will be glad to serve you!<br />

^f^<br />

EDW. H. WOLK, Inc.<br />

1241 S. Wabash Ave.<br />

Chicago, 111. 60605, U.S.A.<br />

LETTERS<br />

Foresees Another "Golden Age'<br />

TO THE EDITOR:<br />

Having just read the editorial, "To Have<br />

and to Hold" in the January 13 issue, I have<br />

to say that I am in total agreement with<br />

everything that was said.<br />

Ifs a shame that an economic recession<br />

could be the impetus that gives the film industry<br />

another "Golden Age." but the facts<br />

are there—the Depression was one of the<br />

film industry's peak periods. And we also<br />

seem to be getting more of the escapist-type<br />

of movie that these periods seem to bring,<br />

especially comedies. Hopefully, it will also<br />

make the upsurge in family-oriented entertainment<br />

even greater, and we will again be<br />

able to see our individual theatres as regular<br />

gathering places for families.<br />

Having been around theatres all my life.<br />

Tve seen many of the cycles that we've gone<br />

through, and to me it looks as if we're in<br />

for another peak period. As economic problems<br />

mount, more and more people are going<br />

to want to get away from it all. So now.<br />

more than ever, is the time for the individual<br />

theatreman to emphasize something that he<br />

may not have paid much attention to lately<br />

—promotion and publicity.<br />

Attendance is up, and it's going to continue<br />

to go up. so get out and sell YOUR<br />

theatre— people need to know that YOUR<br />

theatre is their escape from everyday problems.<br />

It beats wondering. "Would they have<br />

come if I had tried."<br />

LEWIS WARD<br />

Assistant Manager<br />

Stanton Cinema<br />

11300 Beach Boulevard<br />

Stanton, California 90680<br />

(714) 894-1413<br />

Bregman-Lumet to Shoot<br />

'Devil Drives' for Col.<br />

HOLLYWOOD— Producer Martin Bregman<br />

and director Sidney Lumct will join<br />

forces for the third time to film the screen<br />

version of "The Devil Drives." based on<br />

the biographical novel about British writer<br />

and explorer Sir Richard Burton.<br />

To be made for Columbia Pictures, "The<br />

Devil Drives" is being adapted from the<br />

Fawn Brodie book by John Hopkins, who<br />

also is the author of last season's Broadway<br />

hit, "Find Your Wav Home."<br />

Executives of AIP Depart<br />

On Latin-American Tour<br />

BEVERLY HILLS—Jules Stein, vicepresident<br />

in charge of international sales<br />

and distribution for American International<br />

Pictures Export Corp., and Rocco Viglietta,<br />

director of nontheatrical, TV and foreign<br />

theatrical services, departed for Mexico.<br />

Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and Puerto<br />

Rico. They planned to set up distribution<br />

arrangements for "The Wild Party,"<br />

"Macon County Line" and "Murph the<br />

Surf."<br />

20th-Fox Promotes<br />

Ladd, Immerman<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Two key promotions<br />

within the feature film division of 20th<br />

Century-Fox Film Corp. have been announced<br />

by Dennis C. Stanfill, chairman<br />

of the board and chief executive officer.<br />

Alan Ladd jr. and William J. Immerman<br />

have been elevated to vice-president for<br />

worldwide production and vice-president for<br />

business affairs and administration, respectively.<br />

Ladd formerly was vice-president<br />

for production, while Immerman was vicepresident<br />

for business affairs.<br />

Alan Ladd jr.<br />

Wm. J. Ininierman<br />

Stanfill said the promotions are effective<br />

immediately and are subject to approval<br />

by the company's board of directors<br />

at its next meeting. Ladd is now the senior<br />

creative production executive and Immerman<br />

is the senior administrative executive<br />

within 20th-Fox"s feature film division.<br />

Ladd, 37, joined 20th-Fox in 1973 as<br />

vice-president for creative affairs and was<br />

promoted to vice-president for production<br />

in 1974. During his two years with the<br />

company, Ladd has been responsible for<br />

bringing to 20th-Fox a number of highly<br />

successful feature film projects, including<br />

Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," as<br />

well as the firm's top grosser of 1974,<br />

"Dirty Mary Crazy Larry." Other '74 releases<br />

on which Ladd was the supervising<br />

executive were Paul Mazursky's highly acclaimed<br />

"Harry & Tonto" and •S*P*Y*S,"<br />

which reteamed Elliott Gould and Donald<br />

Sutherland.<br />

Two of 20th-Fox's upcoming releases<br />

also are Ladd projects, "W. W. and the<br />

Dixie Dancekings" and "At Long Last<br />

Love."<br />

Immerman, 37, joined 20th-Fox in 1972<br />

as vice-president, business affairs. He previously<br />

was with American International Pictures<br />

for more than three years, where he<br />

was vice-president, business affairs, and<br />

also served as associate counsel.<br />

Miller to Helm Universal<br />

Independent Acquisitions<br />

NEW YORK—Jerry Miller, who joined<br />

Universal six months ago as an assistant<br />

to MCA vice-president Ned Tancn, has<br />

been named director of independent film<br />

acquisitions for the company, effective immediately.<br />

The position involves reviewing<br />

outside-produced films with an eye to acquiring<br />

worthwhile commercial properties<br />

and discovering new, talented filmmakers<br />

BOXOFTICE :: February 10, 1975<br />

I<br />

II


^T^ast show season we<br />

were the one 4-wall<br />

company that made<br />

money on every<br />

picture, every time,<br />

in every location/'<br />

Sun<br />

Classic pictures, Inc.<br />

We're Sun Classic Pictures.<br />

The biggest, most successful 4-\vall<br />

company in the business.<br />

But a lot of people have never<br />

even heard of us. Maybe<br />

because we haven't made a lot of<br />

noise. We've just quietly gone<br />

about our business of making<br />

pictures gross.<br />

During the last show season,<br />

every one of our pre-tested picture^<br />

made money — in every location.<br />

That's because we've de\eloped<br />

a new computerized testing system<br />

that reallv works.<br />

Quite simplv. we lower the<br />

risks b\ carefullv controlling each<br />

phase of the operation.<br />

We produce our own films.<br />

But only after thoroughly testing<br />

the concepts. That way. we control<br />

the quality and cost of each film.<br />

as well as the subject matter.<br />

Even then, we test the<br />

finished film.<br />

Then we test the ad campaign<br />

that sells the film.<br />

And we make our media buvs<br />

with computer precision.<br />

So that after all this testing<br />

every film we 4-wall works.<br />

Everv time!<br />

Until now. we ha\en"t dime<br />

much talking about our success.<br />

Except for what our grosses say.<br />

We think it's time to change<br />

that. So on the next five pages<br />

we're putting our mouth where our<br />

monev is.<br />

February 10, 1975


^We currently have more<br />

4-waIl features playing<br />

than everyone else put<br />

together. And all our<br />

pictures are successful/'<br />

Sun Classic Pictures curiciilK<br />

has the most 4-\vall features<br />

ever running at the same lime.<br />

All of these films have had<br />

crowds lined up at the boxofTice in<br />

every location they've plaved.<br />

And because they're all fully tested<br />

G-rated films that attract entire<br />

families, they've also had crowds<br />

lined up at the concessions.<br />

in the late ISdO's. Adams acluallv<br />

befriended and trained a grizzK<br />

bear. The film stars actor/animal<br />

trainer Dan Haggerty.<br />

•When I he \ovlh Wind Blows<br />

is an ad\enture stor\ based upon<br />

reported sightings oi" the Siberian<br />

tiger in the arctic regions of<br />

North America. This magnificent<br />

animal is usually tound onh<br />

in the northern-most regions ol'<br />

Asia. The lact that this largest of<br />

tigers is now on the endangered<br />

species list makes it a very<br />

compelling film subject.<br />

"The Life and Times of Grizzlv<br />

Adams" is on its way to becoming<br />

the highest grossing '4-wall film<br />

ever produced. It's the fictionalized<br />

account of a true character who<br />

roamed the western wilderness<br />

WhenThe<br />

North<br />

Blows<br />

"The Outer Space Connection"<br />

presents more e\idence to support<br />

the theory tirst postulated in<br />

Sun Pictures highly successful<br />

production of "Chariots of the<br />

Cjods". The theory is that the earth<br />

is under surveillance bv intelligent<br />

life from other planets. .And that<br />

the earth has alread) been visited<br />

by these beings in ancient times.<br />

It is a subject of great controversy<br />

and interest.<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


^We're the only company<br />

dealing exclusively with<br />

4-wall features who<br />

produces our own films.<br />

So we can guarantee<br />

a continual flow of<br />

proven products.''<br />

Sun Classic Picliires is unique<br />

in the 4-walling business.<br />

We don't deal in castofls from<br />

the majors. Nor are we dependent<br />

upi>n outside producers who ma\<br />

not be able to get financing for<br />

their projects in a tight money<br />

market.<br />

We produce our own tihiis.<br />

So we can insure theatre owners<br />

a continual f\o\\ of product.<br />

And we can deliver tilms<br />

speciticallv created and tested<br />

to be successful 4-wallers.<br />

Sun Pictures is now going<br />

into year ri)und distribution. To<br />

do this we currently have two<br />

films in production pre-tested for<br />

Mimmcr 4-\\allini;.<br />

BOXOFFICE ;: February 10, 1975


^ast year alone we<br />

spent over $5 million<br />

on advertising. So the<br />

films we offer for subruns<br />

and ffats are proven<br />

moneymakers with<br />

high awareness.''<br />

Sun Classic Pictures has five<br />

4-wall features available for<br />

suh-runs and flats. These are the<br />

same tilms that had crowds<br />

wrapped around the block as<br />

recently as the last show season.<br />

They're ideal for conventional<br />

showing because they haven't been<br />

WM<br />

played-out bv extended runs.<br />

And Sun Pictures has alreadv<br />

invested miiiit>ns of dollars in TV<br />

advertising building high audienc<br />

awareness levels that theatre<br />

owners can capitalize on.<br />

-^^i-ff..<br />

Run<br />

i<br />

to the High {<br />

Country<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10. 1975


2<br />

Los Angeles Branch<br />

I<br />

^To offer theatre<br />

owners better service,<br />

weVe doubled<br />

the number of<br />

r^onal offices.''<br />

Sun Classic Pictures has<br />

recentl V expanded the number of<br />

region; li offices from ti\e to ele\ei<br />

That means \se now ha\e more<br />

personnel responsible tor smalle<br />

aeographic areas. So we can<br />

ler taster. nu)re person;]<br />

Consult the man and 1<br />

service.<br />

itlice.<br />

tixeculive otlices<br />

11071 Ma^^achu^ctl^ Avenue<br />

Los Angeles. California 9(X)2<br />

(213) 478-4034<br />

Minneapolis Branch<br />

Stephen .lohnston. Branch Mgr.<br />

11)11 North 7lh .Street. Suite 607<br />

Minneapolis. Minnesota 554(13<br />

Mike Swingler. Branch Mgr.<br />

11753 Wilshire Boulevard "»<br />

Los Angeles. California 9(Ki:<br />

(213) 47V 1268<br />

Dale Smith.<br />

Bt.m.<br />

355(1 Broad Sire<br />

3<br />

.Sail Lake Cil\ Branch<br />

Jim Rogers. Branch Mgr,<br />

80 Last Clavbourne<br />

Sail Lake C'lU. Llah S41IS<br />

(SOI) 4X7-S225<br />

Seattle Branch<br />

Rich Richardson. Branch M,<br />

24645 Pacific Highwas ^<br />

Kent, Washington 48(131<br />

(206) 839-8300<br />

Washinsilon. D.C. Branch<br />

lohn Colloca. Branch Mgr.<br />

( Temporarv .Address)<br />

1914 Teall Avenue<br />

Svracuse. Nev^ ^ork 13206<br />

(315)437-7017<br />

Delioii Branch<br />

14Teall Avenue<br />

;c« >ork 13206<br />

(315) 437-7017<br />

Dallas Branch<br />

Mane Powers. Branch Mgr.<br />

11422 Harrv Mines Boulevard<br />

Dallas, Texas 75229<br />

(214) 243-2401<br />

Kansas Citv Branch<br />

.lim Armsirons^. Branch<br />

15 South (jallalin<br />

Liheru. Missouri 64(.)68<br />

(816) 781-76.36<br />

yuackenhush. Branch Mgr.<br />

(Temporarv .Address)<br />

1914 Teall Avenue<br />

Svracuse. New \'ork 13206<br />

(315)437-7017<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


^o us, 4-walIiiig<br />

isn't just a flash in the<br />

pan. Look at our<br />

record of success and<br />

you'll see why we're<br />

in it to stay."<br />

A lot 1)1' people K>i)kcd al<br />

4-walling as a L|uick \va\ lo niaki<br />

some easy moncv.<br />

Many failed.<br />

It's not llial 4-vvallini! was<br />

iried and fi)iind not to work. It's<br />

that It was tried and found to<br />

be dillieull.<br />

But oiH' sueeess reeord pro\es<br />

that if you do tilings rigiit, it can<br />

virtually guarantee a healthy<br />

protii e\er\ lime.<br />

1 hat's \\h\ we're eommilled<br />

o 4-wallmg as a long term way<br />

)f doing business. .And why<br />

^e"ve expanded our operations in<br />

ver\ way.<br />

\\'e'\e rceenlK<br />

begun year<br />

riHind distribution o\' films.<br />

.And we'\e iiearK doubled the<br />

number o\' regional ottiees.<br />

Because we're strictK a 4-wall<br />

company, we feel a real<br />

commitment to theatre owners<br />

and the theatre system.<br />

So the purpose of all this is<br />

o tell theatre owners and the<br />

ndustiA in general that although<br />

e'\e been \er\ successful so far.<br />

^du ain'i seen noihiui: vet!"<br />

li<br />

Sun<br />

Classic pictures. Inc.<br />

WOkll^ WIDE PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE,JOHN SPRINGER 8c ASSOC<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975


• 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 BUSINESS -BUILDING<br />

Staged Aerial Rescue<br />

Feeds 'Inferno' Interest<br />

"The Towering Inferno" came to the<br />

Holiday 2 in Cheektowaga, N.Y. amidst<br />

some blazing ballyhoo fed by manager<br />

Joseph Garvey. Fueling the hoopla were<br />

appearances by film stars Robert Vaughn<br />

and O. J. Simpson and demonstrations by<br />

the Buffalo fire department.<br />

The promotion began with television<br />

interviews with Vaughn on various programs,<br />

both news and entertainment. It<br />

continued with a noon hour rescue demonstration<br />

by the fire department at the Rand<br />

Building on the day the film opened.<br />

Crowds gathered as news cameras and<br />

reporters converged on the scene.<br />

Opening night, which was sponsored by<br />

International Fire Fighters organization, attracted<br />

attention with searchlights and<br />

sirens. An honor guard appeared at the<br />

theatre entrance as Buffalo Bills football<br />

star Simpson assisted firemen in ribboncutting<br />

ceremonies. A champagne and snack<br />

intermission put the finishing touches on<br />

the successful promotion.<br />

Karate Tie-ins Bally 'Trial of Billy Jack'<br />

Karate is an obvious tie-in exhibitors<br />

use in ballyhooing "The Trial<br />

of Billy Jack." Karate master Bong<br />

Soo Han is flanked by Jack Scan-<br />

Ion, left, of Jack Wodell & Associates<br />

and Roger Peyton, city manager<br />

of Century Theatres in Salt<br />

Lake City as they discuss karate<br />

displays that were to herald the<br />

film there. Han, holder of a seventh<br />

degree liapkido karate belt and advisor<br />

and co-star in the film, made<br />

personal appearances throughout<br />

the city, including extensive i7ieetings<br />

with the press media. Meanwhile<br />

in Albuquerque. N.M., Hiland<br />

Theatre manager Mark Avolio<br />

worked out a tie-in with a local<br />

karate school. Pictured are two<br />

karate experts, displaying the science<br />

as they did in front of the<br />

theatre for several days to bring<br />

attention to the film's run.<br />

Lobby Becomes Subway Station<br />

For 'Pelham Arrival /n<br />

Albuquerque<br />

Participating m a staged rescue demon-<br />

Utation dtirini; the hmy lunch houi<br />

on the day "The Towering Inferno"<br />

opened at the Holiday 2 in Cheektowaga,<br />

N.Y. are these members of the<br />

Buffalo, N.Y. fire department. Other<br />

tactics manager Joseph Garvey used in<br />

his bally included one sheets used<br />

as banners attached to sides of automobiles<br />

as they were driven throughout<br />

the area.<br />

BOXOFHCE Showmandiser :: Feb. 10. 1975 — 5 —<br />

Eastdale Theatie manaqer Geoigia ymiiw m tll'iu/iu uiiw prepared to receive<br />

"The Taking of Pelham One Two Ihitc by luDiuii; lui lobby into a subway<br />

station. In addition to neat little touches like departure schedules, graffiti and<br />

benches, Miss Young also outfitted her staff in typical conductor uniforms. As<br />

an added feature, paperback editions of the novel from which the picture was<br />

adapted were on sale at the refreshment center.


;;; Abby<br />

BOXOFFICE<br />

BAROMETER<br />

This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of rtietr first runs in<br />

five listed. the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than engagements are not As new runs<br />

are reported ratings are added and averages revised. Computation terms of percentage is in in<br />

relation to normal grosses as determined by the theotre managers With 100 per cent as "normal,"<br />

the figures show the gross ratings above or below that mark (Asterisk * denotes combination bills<br />

(AlP)


Philly Mayor Rizzo<br />

Promises Crackdown<br />

PHILADELPHIA Mayor Frank S.<br />

Rizzo, who is seeking re-election, promised<br />

to crack down on all forms of "obscenity"<br />

after a meeting with a delegation of residents<br />

from the northeast section of the<br />

city who have been battling an X-rated<br />

movie house in their neighborhood. He said<br />

his administration would use existing laws<br />

to close "adult motion picture theatres and<br />

adult bookstores" and would back legislation<br />

that would make it easier to padlock<br />

"those<br />

sties."<br />

'Bum Them EXown'<br />

"If I were not law-abiding, I'd burn<br />

them down myself," the mayor told representatives<br />

of the neighborhood-based Resistance<br />

Against Pornography (RAP). Administration<br />

officials said they already have<br />

begun a campaign against the Xstacy Theatre,<br />

since the department of licenses and<br />

inspections had closed the movie house<br />

January 23 for alleged violations of the<br />

building fire code. City Solicitor Sheldon<br />

Albert said the city wants to go to court<br />

to close the theatre permanently.<br />

The mayor also charged that George X.<br />

Schwartz, city council president, had "bottled<br />

up" a new obscenity bill introduced<br />

Dec. 12, 1974, by Councilman Natale F.<br />

Carabello jr. The measure, now before the<br />

council's rules committee, would regulate<br />

obscene movies, pictures, printed material<br />

and live performances. Instead of treating<br />

any alleged violations under the criminal<br />

code, the measure authorizes the city so<br />

licitor to act on complaints by going to<br />

the courts for an injunction.<br />

City Solicitor Albert explained that the<br />

injunction would have the effect of 'padlocking<br />

the premises." On the other hand,<br />

failure to obey a court order would onh<br />

subject the operator to a contempt charge<br />

with a penalty of $300 or 90 days in<br />

jail.<br />

8,000 Against Pornography<br />

Mayor Rizzo said he would do everything<br />

possible to see that the bill is reported out<br />

of committee. The Rev. C. Wayne Clapier,<br />

pastor of the Northeast Bible Presbyterian<br />

Church and a leader of RAP. said that the<br />

organization with about S,000 members<br />

will "go after couneilmen who do not<br />

support the bill."<br />

The mayor said the pending legislation<br />

falls under the U.S. Supreme Court rulin.q<br />

allowing communities to set their own obscenity<br />

standards but that the city had not<br />

done so formally as yet by adopting guidelines.<br />

While Councilman Schwartz had complained<br />

earlier that the measure, in his<br />

opinion, was unconstitutional and would<br />

not hold up in court. Mayor Rizzo countered:<br />

"Let the theatre and bookstore owners<br />

take us to the U.S. Supreme Court.<br />

The highest court in the land will have to<br />

come after us and tell us we acted improperly."<br />

In the proposed court action against the<br />

Xstacy Theatre, Police Commissioner<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975<br />

Joseph F. O'Neill revealed that there had<br />

been six arrests in the theatre in the past<br />

month, allegedly for sex acts or solicitation<br />

to commit sex acts. The Xstacy was the<br />

first neighborhood house in the city to<br />

Institute an X-rated film policy and over<br />

the years has been a major target of demonstrations<br />

against pornography.<br />

Mayor Rizzo also said that he is opposed<br />

to suggestions that have been made to consolidate<br />

all "adult" motion picture theatres<br />

and bookstores in one "porno district."<br />

Norman Weitman Elected<br />

CB of Variety Tent 35<br />

NEW YORK—Norman Weitman, senior<br />

vice-president of Paramoimt Pictures Corp.,<br />

was elected chief barker of the Variety<br />

Club of New York at a board meeting of<br />

Tent 35 held recently at the St. Moritz<br />

Hotel. Chosen as first assistant chief barker<br />

was James R. 'Velde, senior vice-president<br />

of United Artists Corp., while Jerry Gruenberg,<br />

vice-president of Allied Artists Pictures,<br />

will serve as second assistant chiel<br />

barker.<br />

Norman Robbins, exectilive vice-president<br />

of National Screen Service, was elected<br />

dough guy and Phil Isaacs, vice-president<br />

of Tomorrow Entertainment, was designated<br />

property master.<br />

According to a year-end financial report,<br />

New York Variety Club donated $320,-<br />

603.26 to children's charities in 1974. Il<br />

is part of Variety Clubs International, which<br />

raised more than $12 million for children's<br />

charities throughout the world this past<br />

year.<br />

Elected to the 1975 crew of Variety<br />

Club of New York Tent 35 were: Meyer<br />

Ackerman, Harvey Baren, Melvyn Berman,<br />

Jeffrey Deneroff, Bernard Diamond, Ralph<br />

Donnelly, Daniel Fellman, Marvin Fried<br />

lander, Fred Goldberg, Jerry Gruenberg.<br />

Phil Isaacs, Mort Hock, Saul Jeffce, Martin<br />

Levine, Harry Pimstein, Allen Pinsker.<br />

Norman Robbins, Ted Royal, Robert Salant,<br />

James R. Velde, George Waldman and<br />

Norman Weitman.<br />

Sam Rinzler Dead at 89;<br />

Veteran of Exhibition<br />

NEW YORK.— Veteran exhibitor Sam<br />

Rinzler, for many years president of Randforce<br />

Amusement Corp., Brooklyn-based<br />

circuit of approximately 50 theatres, died<br />

of pneumonia Tuesday, January 21, at<br />

Lenox Hill Hospital. He was 89.<br />

Dover House Acquired<br />

By Steinberg, Pozin<br />

DOVER. N.J.— RK,0-Stanlc\ Warner's<br />

Baker in Dover has been acquired by Murray<br />

Steinberg and Tom Pozin, it was disclosed<br />

recently. Steinberg has operated the<br />

Chancellor in Irvington for many years<br />

and Pozin is the head of a film booking<br />

agency.<br />

opened 1910 Henry<br />

Originally in by<br />

Baker, the Dover showhouse has been operated<br />

by Stanley Warner Theatres and RKO<br />

SW for nearly 40 years. The 1,500-seat<br />

Baker once was the leading house in a<br />

major vaudeville circuit. In its early years,<br />

the theatre featured numerous stageshows<br />

which included top-name entertainers. It<br />

was one of several North Jersey theatres<br />

known as "the next stop before New York<br />

City."<br />

Otto Schoepe had managed the Dover<br />

showplace for the past 20 years. He nov.<br />

has been appointed manager of RKO-SW's<br />

Warner in Ridgewood, succeeding Jack<br />

Billingham, who recently resigned. Billingham<br />

joined RKO-SW several years ago as<br />

an assistant manager in the Bergen County<br />

area and had been manager of the Warner<br />

for<br />

the past two years.<br />

Alberta Sprinkle, who had served as<br />

Schoepe's assistant at the Baker, has been<br />

named manager by the new owners, Mrs,<br />

Sprinkle began her career at the Baker<br />

nearly 20 years ago, first as a cashier and<br />

then as assistant manager.<br />

In taking over the Dover house, Steinberg<br />

and Pozin annoimced that a new price<br />

policy of $1 for adults will be in effect at<br />

all<br />

times.<br />

Bud Gillian to Helm AIP<br />

Pittsburgh Branch Office<br />

PITTSBURGH — American International<br />

Pictures product, long distributed from<br />

the Screen Guild Pictures Btiilding on Van<br />

Braam Street, has named Bud Gillian as<br />

branch manager under Allen Press, district<br />

manager at Philadelphia. AIP concurrently<br />

takes over distribution of its product.<br />

Gillian had been a Screen Guild booker<br />

for a number of years and is experienced<br />

in exhibition as well as in film sales and<br />

distribution—and he is thoroughly familiar<br />

with AIP product.<br />

Effective March I, AIP will have ol<br />

fices on the 11th floor of the Fulton Building.<br />

David C. Silverman, who had directed<br />

Screen Guild operations for many years, is<br />

continuing in film distribution with the<br />

product from many independent produciny<br />

companies and is remaining in the Screer<br />

Guild Building.<br />

Silverman will distribute the entire prod<br />

uct of <strong>Boxoffice</strong> International, Cambist.<br />

Hollywood International, Telefilm, William<br />

Mishkin, Entertainment Ventures, Screen<br />

Com, Fanfare and others.<br />

Rinzler represented unaffiliated subsequent<br />

runs on the advisory committee foi<br />

Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island for the<br />

New York Clearance and Zoning Board<br />

under the NRA and was chairman of the<br />

New York Activities Committee drives during<br />

World II. In addition, he also conducted<br />

various charity campaigns.<br />

A member of the Motion Picture Pioneers,<br />

Rinzler was director of the Metropolitan<br />

Motion Picture Ass'n, director of<br />

the Will Rogers Hospital and a member "Emmanuelle" is currently one of the top<br />

grossing motion pictures in Montreal and<br />

of Variety Club Tent 35 and Cinema<br />

Lodge, B'nai B'rith.<br />

London.


BROADWAY<br />

OTTO PREMINGER'S 'ROSEBUD" will<br />

have its world premiere Sunday,<br />

March 23, at the Plaza Theatre as a benefit<br />

for the Fund for the Walker Children.<br />

The announcement was made jointly bv<br />

Preminger, distributor United Artists and<br />

the Patrolmen's Benevolent Ass'n, which<br />

started the fund. Reserved-seat tickets at<br />

$20 each go on sale at the Plaza beginning<br />

Thursday (13).<br />

The Walker children are six youngsters<br />

aged four to 13 who were orphaned when<br />

their father Frank was killed by a gunman<br />

in a New York City hospital January 29.<br />

Walker, recovering from an auto accident<br />

in which his wife was killed, was fatally<br />

wounded when he went to the aid of a<br />

policeman who had been guarding a prisoner<br />

when the latter grabbed the patrolman's<br />

gun and shot him. Walker was given an<br />

irispector's funeral by the city in recognition<br />

of his heroism.<br />

Regular performances of "Rosebud" will<br />

begin at the Plaza and Paramount theatres<br />

Monday, March 24. The film stars Peter<br />

O'TooIe, Richard Attenboroiigh, Cliff<br />

Gorman, Claude Dauphin, Peter Lawford,<br />

Raf 'Vallone and former New York City<br />

Mayor John V. Lindsay.<br />

international production, ""'' ''"^<br />

was produced<br />

^"^^ Corporation.<br />

by<br />

February 13-19.<br />

Edgar J. Scherick and directed by Bryan<br />

^'"'^ Players and Guests will hold forth<br />

Forbes from William Goldr<br />

The recent Sly<br />

screenplay.<br />

and the Family Stone<br />

concerts at the Hall were not successful,<br />

due mainly to Sly's<br />

Paramount's reputation<br />

"Murder on<br />

for being<br />

the Orient E.xpress"<br />

He did.<br />

unpredictable.<br />

has grossed<br />

however,<br />

$544,221<br />

go through<br />

in the fifth with every<br />

week<br />

scheduled of its Flagship<br />

performance.<br />

engagement<br />

The An<br />

at 53 theatres<br />

in the Greater New which followed<br />

Deco Exposition<br />

York-New was<br />

Jersey<br />

much<br />

more<br />

area, of a hit.<br />

bringing<br />

Opening night<br />

the<br />

attraction<br />

total<br />

Fritz silent<br />

weeks on classic<br />

Flagship to $4.41<br />

"Metropolis"<br />

1,719.<br />

11926) was not<br />

•<br />

the full German print promised<br />

but the American release version<br />

for the first five of Lang's<br />

Teri Garr, young actress featured in Mel familiar to buffs.<br />

Brooks' horror spoof "Young Frankenstein,"<br />

•<br />

was in town for promotional Book review: "W. C. Fields" (Pvramid<br />

activities<br />

on the 20th Centurv-Fox release. paperback, $1.75) by Nicholas Yanni is<br />

Starring Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Cloris one of the latest in the Pyramid Illustrated<br />

Leachman, Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman,<br />

History of the Movies. The author, a former<br />

tradepress reporter, examines the<br />

the film is currently a showcase attraction.<br />

great<br />

mans films and coincidentally his life in<br />

"Movie Talk," a radio show hosted by<br />

Julian Schlossberg, film buyer for the Walter<br />

Reade Organization, celebrated its first<br />

anniversary on WMCA Sunday (2). Produced<br />

by Jon Doyle, the show is broadca.U<br />

Sunday evenings from 8 to 10 p.m.<br />

Such celebrities as Bob Hope, George<br />

C. Scott, Sophia Loren, Dustin Hoffman.<br />

Liv Ullmann, Peter Falk, Harold Robbins,<br />

Neil Simon, Rex Harrison and Peggy Lee<br />

have been interviewed in depth on the<br />

show.<br />

Joseph Brenner Films here has reported<br />

that its new release, "Torso," is doing excellent<br />

business. Opening week at the Fox<br />

Theatre, Philadelphia earned a hefty gross,<br />

while a four-theatre break in Baltimore<br />

earned $36,000 in the initial round. A sexhorror<br />

shocker, the film stars Siizv Kendall.<br />

Andy Warhol's "Dracula," a film by<br />

Paul Morrissey and a Bryanslon release,<br />

opened in New York at 40 specially selected<br />

theatres throughout the metropolitan area<br />

Wednesday (5). The picture was scripted<br />

and directed by Paul Morri.ssey with a cast<br />

headed by Udo Kier, Arno Juerging,<br />

Roman Polanski, Vittorio de Sica, Joe<br />

Dalle.iundro, Maxime McKendry, Stefanie<br />

Carsini. Dominique Darrell, Milene Vukotic<br />

and Silvia Dioniiio. It was produced in<br />

Rome by Carlo Ponli-Andrew Braunsberg-<br />

Jean Pierre Rassam.<br />

Columbia Pictures" "The Stepford Wives,"<br />

written by the author of "Rosemary's<br />

Baby," Ir Levin, will open throughout the<br />

metropolitan area at Columbia Showcase<br />

theatres Wednesday (12). The modern<br />

horror story stars Katharine Ross, Paula<br />

Prentiss, Peter Masterson, Nanette Newman<br />

and Patrick O'Neal as Dale Coba.<br />

"The Stepford Wives," a Palomar Pictu<br />

"Report to the Commissioner." a Frankovich<br />

Production for United Artists, opened<br />

Wednesday (5) at the Criterion. 86th Street<br />

East and UA Cinema East theatres, amidst<br />

an intensive publicity campaign. Michael<br />

Moriarty, Yaphel Kotto, Susan Blakelv.<br />

Hector Elizondo and Tony King star in the<br />

film, which is based on James Mills' bestselling<br />

novel and wa\ directed by Milton<br />

Katselas.<br />

UA has launched a national campaign to<br />

discover the most beautiful policewomen<br />

and the handsomest policemen in the country,<br />

with friends, colleagues and relatives of<br />

police officers being invited to submit<br />

photos of their candidates to the "Report<br />

to the Commissioner Committee" on the<br />

seventh floor of 62 West 45th St. here.<br />

WWRL Radio held a week-long contest,<br />

awarding 100 pairs of tickets to earlv<br />

callers, the winners to attend a special<br />

screening Friday (14).<br />

Critics and feature writers representing<br />

50 major newspapers and wire services in<br />

50 cities across the country arrived in the<br />

city Monday (3) for a pre.ss preview, next<br />

day meeting Moriarty and Miss Blakely,<br />

as well as producer M. J. Frankovich.<br />

Later in the week, the writers interviewed<br />

undercover narcotics team Helene Alfano<br />

and Steve Collura. who appear in the film.<br />

Following the interviews. Miss Blakely. Miss<br />

Alfano. Collura and Frankovich headed for<br />

Detroit, where the film opens Wednesday<br />

(19).<br />

criminal from a teenager to her early demise<br />

in the electric chair.<br />

•<br />

Radio City Music Hall is presenting live<br />

entertainment currently. Thursday (6) the<br />

Jackson Five and Family opened in their<br />

Las Vegas show. Until Wednesday (12) they<br />

will^ be accompanied onstage by Blue Magic<br />

Divine, the underground star, and director<br />

John Waters are in town from Monday<br />

(10) to Wednesday (12) to promote their<br />

latest film, "Female Trouble."" The New<br />

Line Cinema release opens Wednesday (12)<br />

at the RKO 59th Street Twin I. The same<br />

team previously did "Pink Flamingos,"" now<br />

an underground classic and highly touted<br />

as "an exercise in poor taste."" In the new<br />

film. Divine portrays a headline-seeking<br />

entertaining fashion—an easy reference<br />

book with a wealth of funny stills.<br />

•<br />

"Hangup," a Brut Productions release<br />

formerly handled by Warner Bros., opened<br />

recently at Cine 42, the new mini-theatre<br />

on 42nd Street's Filmrow. Star Bill Elliot<br />

appeared in person at the theatre to tout<br />

the black action film, which was directed<br />

h\ veteran Henry Hathaway.<br />

•<br />

-Showcases for Wednesday (5); "Freebie<br />

and the Bean," "Airport 1975," Xaviera<br />

Hollander in "My Pleasure Is My Business,'<br />

a Steve Reeves double bill—"Hercules"<br />

and "Hercules Unchained," "The Immoral<br />

Tales of Josefine M.." "Defiance." 'Young<br />

Frankenstein," "Mr. Ricco" and "White<br />

Lightning," "Black Hooker,"" "Claudine"<br />

and "Harry & Tonto," "The Godfather,<br />

Part 11"' and "The Towering Inferno."<br />

•<br />

"The Towering Inferno." Irwin Allen's<br />

all-star disaster epic, opened at 29 Flagship<br />

houses Wednesday (5) while continuing<br />

its first-run engagements at the National<br />

and Trans-Lux East theatres, Manhattan;<br />

Central Plaza 2, Yonkers; the Syosset<br />

in Syosset, L.I.. and the Totowa I and<br />

Blue Star theatres in New Jersey.<br />

Paying Patrons Rob Ass't<br />

Mgr. of Budco Goldman I<br />

PHILADELPHIA — Two bandits paid<br />

$2.50 each to get into the Budco Goldman<br />

I Theatre in center city Wednesday afternoon,<br />

January 29, and then robbed the<br />

assistant manager of the twin, Daniel<br />

Ronan, of $800 and his watch. He told<br />

pohce he was in the theatre's basement<br />

office when someone knocked at the door.<br />

Two men, one with a gun, forced him<br />

open the safe. Ronan handed over $800<br />

to<br />

and his wrist watch and the bandits fled.<br />

About 300 persons watching "Heavv<br />

Traffic" at the time were unaware of the<br />

robbery, police said.<br />

E-2<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975


The<br />

Earthquake<br />

Lenny<br />

The<br />

A<br />

Abby<br />

'Alice' Debut Takes<br />

NY Honors With 525<br />

NEW YORK— -Alice<br />

Doesn't Live Here<br />

Anymore" took top honors in its opening<br />

at the Sutton with a 525. Second-placed<br />

"The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann"<br />

was eased out of its previous No. I position.<br />

but did a handsome 495 for the si.xth World<br />

week. Again third, "Stavisky" was an even<br />

400 in the sixth week at Cinema II.<br />

"Emmanuelle" stayed in fourth position.<br />

down slightly to 390 in the seventh round<br />

at the Paris. Up one spot to fifth place came<br />

"Lenny." 355 in twelfth time at Cinema L<br />

Debuting at three houses. "The Street Fighter"<br />

averaged out at 307 for its first week<br />

at the Cinerama (320), East 59th Street 2<br />

(200) and RKO 86th Street Twin II (400),<br />

just edging out "Love at the Top," which<br />

opened at the 68th Street Playhouse with<br />

305.<br />

Cine—The Godfather, Port II (Para), 8th wk 285<br />

Cinema l-^Lenny (UA), 12th wk 355<br />

II Cinema Stavisky ;Cinemation), 6th wk 400<br />

Cineramo—The Street Fighter (New Line) 320<br />

Woman Under the Influence<br />

Columbia<br />

(Faces Int'l), 11 th wk 275<br />

II Columbia A Woman Under the Influence<br />

1 1 (Feces Infl), th wk 175<br />

Coronet The Front Page 175<br />

(Univ), 7th wk<br />

Criterion— Freebie ond the Beon (WB), 6th wk. 70<br />

East 59th Street 2—The Street Fighter (New Line) 200<br />

Eastside Cinema Steppenwolf (D/R Films),<br />

7th wk 95<br />

Festivol Paperback Hero (Rumson), 2nd wk 40<br />

Fine Arts Nothing By Chance (Creoture) 30<br />

55th Street Playhouse That Boy<br />

(Hand in Hand Films), 3rd wk 240<br />

Little Cornegie The Front Page 120<br />

(Univ), 7th wk.<br />

Paris Emmanuelle (Col), 7th wk 390<br />

Penthouse Abby (AlP), 6th wk 150<br />

Playboy La Rupture (New Line) 200<br />

Plaza Amarcord (New World), 20th 260<br />

wk<br />

Regency Les Violons du Bal (Levitt-Pickman),<br />

7th wk 200<br />

RKO 86th Street Twin (AlP), 6th wk, .120<br />

RKO 86th Street Twin II The Street Fighter<br />

(New Line) 400<br />

68th Street Ployhouse ^Love at the Top<br />

(Peppercorn-Wormser) 305<br />

Sutton Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (WB) .525<br />

Tower East The Godfather, Part II (Para),<br />

Stote Godfather, Port (Para), 8th wk. .200<br />

II<br />

State The Godfather, Part (Para), 3th wk. 210<br />

II II<br />

8th wk 260<br />

World ^The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann<br />

'(Hudson Valley Films), 6th wk 495<br />

NEW JERSEY<br />

J^ichael Levine has taken over operation<br />

of the former Capitol Cafe Theatre<br />

in Passaic and renamed it the Capitol Mini<br />

Theatre, featuring motion pictures. Previously,<br />

the 120-seat house had been used<br />

exclusively for stage productions. The theatre<br />

is adjacent to the much larger Capitol<br />

Theatre, owned and operated by John<br />

Scher, which seats over 2,000. At present,<br />

the Capitol Mini Theatre is open weekends<br />

only, presenting films which appeal<br />

primarily to the college/ youth-type audiences.<br />

Admission is $2.50 for all seats and<br />

late shows are presented every Friday and<br />

Saturday night. Recently the theatre presented<br />

a double bill of "Harold and Maude,"<br />

plus "The Life and Loves of Marilyn<br />

Monroe." Additionally, several Marx brothers<br />

films have been shown. The most recent<br />

attraction was "Pink Floyd," the film starring<br />

the rock group of the same name.<br />

Several of the group's albums were given<br />

to patrons during the weekend engagement.<br />

Since converting the theatre into a<br />

film house, Levine has interrupted this<br />

policy only once to present a stage attraction.<br />

This was on a recent Saturday<br />

night, when the off-Broadway production<br />

of "The World of Lenny Bruce" was presented<br />

on stage at the Capitol Mini.<br />

"A Woman Under the Influence" will<br />

open exclusive area engagements Wednesday<br />

(12) at UA's Bellevue in Upper Montclair<br />

and Moss' Mall in Paramus. "Freebie<br />

and the Bean" terminates a seven-week exclusive<br />

North Jersey showing at the Bellevue<br />

Tuesday night (II). Gerry Hazell,<br />

manager of the Upper Montclair showplace.<br />

WE VE NEVER MISSED<br />

reports that the Bellevue will follow "A<br />

Woman Under the Influence" with the<br />

exclusive area premiere showing of the<br />

new Robert Redford film, "The Great Waldo<br />

Pepper," March 13.<br />

"The Godfather, Part II," originally<br />

slated to open in the North Jersey area<br />

Wednesday (12) reportedly has been rescheduled<br />

for opening in mid-March.<br />

Among area houses selected to show the<br />

Paramount release are General Cinema's<br />

Totowa in Totowa and Essex Green Twin<br />

in West Orange, Nathan's Clifton in Clifton<br />

and UA's Linwood in Fort Lee.<br />

Negotiations over the past several months<br />

between Fernando Bravo, owner of the<br />

Liberty in Elizabeth, and the Elizabeth<br />

Town Theatre Group, for the group to<br />

purchase the Liberty, have been completely<br />

broken off, according to reliable sources.<br />

Reports are that the theatre group, which<br />

had intended to turn the 1 ,600-seat Liberty<br />

into a theatre for the presentation of legitimate<br />

stageshows, was unable to raise the<br />

funds necessary for the reported $180,000<br />

purchase price. The theatre now will continue<br />

to be operated by Bravo. According<br />

to Pat Cruz, manager of the Liberty, the<br />

present policy of the theatre is to present<br />

PG and G-rated films, with a popular<br />

price policy of $1.50 for adults at all times.<br />

"Brother of the Wind' in NYC<br />

NEW YORK—Sun Int'l booked its G-<br />

rated release, "Brother of the Wind," into<br />

some 50 situations in metropolitan New<br />

York.<br />

'Amarcord' Tops With 680;<br />

"Mr. Ricco' Opens With 360<br />

B.^lLTIMORE — Mr. Ricco" debuted<br />

here at three theatres with a strong 360.<br />

followed by "Murder on the Orient Express"<br />

which opened with 300 at Westview IV. Big<br />

grosses were reported by the Playhouse<br />

where "Amarcord" rated 680 and by Cinema<br />

I where "Lenny" pulled in 585.<br />

Cinema I (UA), 7th wk 585<br />

Liberty I (Univ), 7th wk 175<br />

Mini-Flick II ^The Life and Times . . . (SR),<br />

2nd '<br />

Playhouse Amarcord (SR), 2nd wk 680<br />

Three theatres Mr. Ricco (UA) 360<br />

Three theatres The Towering Inferno<br />

(WB/20th-Fox), 7th wk 540<br />

Towson, Glen Burnie Mall The Front Page (Univ),<br />

7th wk 205<br />

Westview<br />

wk (Para), 7th 75<br />

Westview Torso 125<br />

III (SR)<br />

Westview IV Murder on the Orient Express<br />

(Para) 300<br />

WE DELIVER.<br />

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• • 1151<br />

BOXOFFICE :: Febmary 10, 1975 E-3


• We at Allied feel service is most important. For this reason we have !<br />

PHILADELPHIA<br />

Larry Swindell, book editor of the Inquirer, $1.75. On successive Sundays, film features<br />

who grew up in Hollywood during the include "The Light in the Forest," "Mr.<br />

golden cinema days, has just received notice Magoo Storybook" and "Davy Crockett."<br />

of publication of his second big film star<br />

biography. His "The John Valerie<br />

Garfield Story"<br />

Perrine, who had been here earlier<br />

is scheduled for to<br />

publication promote this April.<br />

"Lenny," returned to town for<br />

A gala benefit theatre party for Graduate<br />

Hospital marked the opening night for Liv<br />

Ullmann's appearance on the stage of the<br />

Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Communications<br />

Center Saturday (1) in Ibsen's<br />

"A Doll House." Her two-week engagement<br />

has been a sell-out since the beginning of<br />

the year.<br />

Mrs. Adrienne Zecca Bell, whose father<br />

Anthony Zecca is deputy to the mayor, was<br />

installed as president of the Variety Club<br />

Women, adjunct to Variety Club Tent 1.^.<br />

The 26-year-old Mrs. Bell, who is public<br />

affairs coordinator for the Bell Telephone<br />

Co. of Pennsylvania, is the youngest woman<br />

ever to head the Variety Club Women. Outgoing<br />

president is Mrs. Irene Sley. Ben<br />

Greber, a member of Tent 13's board of<br />

directors, was master of ceremonies at the<br />

installation luncheon held at the Bellevue-<br />

Stratford Hotel.<br />

A Sunday afternoon<br />

Family Film Festival"<br />

is being staged at the YM & YWHA.<br />

with children ticketed at $1 and adults at<br />

a guest shot on the Mike Douglas syndicated<br />

TV show, appearing with Kitty Bruce, the<br />

late Lenny's daughter.<br />

Richard Chesnoff, film writer, was guest<br />

speaker for the kickoff dinner of the accountants<br />

division in behalf of the 1975<br />

Federation Allied Jewish Appeal-Israel<br />

Emergency Fund. A noted author and journalist,<br />

he is the author of "AWOL." movie<br />

scheduled for release later this year.<br />

Bandbox Theatre, joining with the Aquarian<br />

Research Foundation, staged a scientific<br />

and spiritual film festival, the films including<br />

"The Ultimate Mystery." "Inner Space"<br />

and "Sunseed."<br />

"Antonia: A Portrait of a Woman," one<br />

of Time Magazine's choices as the top ten<br />

pictures of the year, is scheduled to have its<br />

premiere here at the Chestnut Street YWCA<br />

March 15-16 as a benefit for the Y's Women's<br />

Cultural Center. After the benefit, it<br />

will move to the Academy Screening Room<br />

for a regular run. Jill Godmillow, one of<br />

the film's directors, is the daughter ^ of this<br />

city's Dr. Herbert Godmillow.<br />

! ;<br />

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. . The<br />

. . The<br />

. . ""Memories<br />

:•<br />

O. J. Simpson, who doesn't want to be<br />

cast in the movies as a "black superman"<br />

and who has a role in "The Towering Inferno,"<br />

now at Holiday 2 in Cheektowaga.<br />

staged his own muscleman show in a Florida<br />

town and dominated the final rounds in<br />

"The Superman Shows." O. J. is one of the<br />

star members of the Buffalo Bills football<br />

team.<br />

Debbie Vito, a graduate of Bryant &<br />

Stratton Business Institute, is the new secretary<br />

in the office of Sidney J. Cohen, president<br />

of NATO of New York State . . . Al<br />

Dahma of National Theatre Supply was in<br />

town the other day on one of his many<br />

trips from Pittsburgh to visit his customers<br />

in this city and in Rochester and Syracuse.<br />

If any exhibitor wants to communicate with<br />

Al, let the local office know and he will get<br />

in touch post haste ... All the equipment<br />

.<br />

used in the new Valu 5 theatres was purchased<br />

through the local office of National<br />

Screen Auditorium Theatre in<br />

Perry has purchased a new screen from<br />

National Theatre Service. Jake Stefanon.<br />

the managing director of the Auditorium,<br />

recently became a grandfather.<br />

James J. Hayes, former Buffalonian and<br />

now director of Tent 25 in Los Angeles,<br />

writes friends that he is very busy man.<br />

a<br />

Among other things, he's readying plans for<br />

a group of 70 going to the London convention<br />

in April. Never a dull moment, says<br />

Jim . fifth annual Kenan Center<br />

Snofest in Lockport recently attracted about<br />

15,000 . . . Jerry Weinstein and wife went<br />

to Toronto for a vacation of several days.<br />

Jerry is publicity chairman for the Tent 7<br />

telethon and is an account executive for<br />

WADV Radio.<br />

Sidney J. Cohen, president of New York<br />

State NATO, has returned from a meeting<br />

in Dallas, Tex., of NATO presidents and key<br />

staff members. The huddles were held in<br />

the Fairmont Hotel there and included a<br />

Actress Donates Oscar<br />

AMSTERDAM—Actress Shelly Winters,<br />

who is starring in a motion picture being<br />

shot in Belgium, traveled to the Netherlands<br />

recently to donate to the Anne Frank Museum<br />

here the Oscar she won for her role in<br />

the film based on the diary of the Jewis!<br />

girl who died in a Nazi concentration camp.<br />

Ms. Winters was awarded the Oscar by the<br />

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci<br />

ences for her portrayal in the movie 'Thc<br />

Diarv of Anne Frank."<br />

""The Odessa File" chalked up a total of<br />

$80,670 for its first two weeks in Sydney<br />

and Melbourne. Australia.<br />

'Be Alive in 75' Theme<br />

Of Variety Club Tent 7<br />

BUFFALO—Adolph "Cy" Marter, new<br />

chief barker of Variety Club Tent 7, in<br />

his first official message to members, said:<br />

"Our theme for the year is 'Be Alive in<br />

75.'"<br />

Marter's first business act was to preside<br />

at a general meeting Monday (3) at 7 p.m.<br />

for the purpose of selecting alternates to<br />

the 1975 convention in London, England,<br />

April 14-19.<br />

"The most important thing to do at the<br />

moment is to formulate plans and ideas to<br />

make the club a success this year and in<br />

the years to come," said Marter.<br />

HAPPY IMirS AT THE BOX OFnCE<br />

one-day seminar on how to run a local<br />

group with real effectiveness . . . "Airport<br />

1975" at Four Seasons I and "The Godfather,<br />

Part 11" at Four Seasons II, Niagara<br />

Falls, are attracting excellent crowds, according<br />

to manager Walter Leffler.<br />

The first offering of the American Film<br />

Theatre's second season. "Jacques Brel Is<br />

Alive and Well and Living in Paris," shown<br />

at the Como and Evans theatres January<br />

27-28, was not well received by the press.<br />

: The "CHANGE<br />

of the<br />

OF PACE" Movie<br />

HAPPY DAYS' v.<br />

for neighborhood<br />

audience %<br />

exhibitors who<br />

is couples under f.<br />

wont A BOOST AT<br />

THE BOX OFFICE<br />

Increased prices for popular amateur films<br />

for still cameras and also for pwpular movie<br />

film have been announced in Rochester by<br />

Eastman Kodak . of Underdevelopment,"<br />

the first feature-length film<br />

from post-revolutionary Cuba, was shown<br />

under the sponsorship of the Committee for<br />

Chilean Democracy in the Allentown Community<br />

Center and in Diefendorf Hall at the<br />

State University at<br />

Buffalo.<br />

Ernest D. Anderson, former advertising<br />

manager of the Evening News, is recuperating<br />

from a recent heart attack at his home.<br />

14 Lincoln Woods Lane. Visitors, phone<br />

calls and cards are welcomed.<br />

•"HAPPY DAYS' IS A HARD CORE, UNABASHED RIP- "A SEXUAL AMERICAN GRAFIHI', HAPPY DAYS<br />

OFF OF AMERICAN GRAFFITI'! IT'S ALL BOBBY CONTAINS MANY BELLY LAUGHS WITHOUT THE<br />

SOCKS, '53 BUICKS AND BACK SEAT REPARTEE." SEAMINESS OF MOST BLUE FILMS, THIS TRUE-LOVE<br />

MAKE OUT MOVIE PROVES THAT IF MS. SPELVIN<br />

"A CLEVER COMBO OF ALL-OUT SEX AND NIFTY<br />

NOSTALGIA. THE lOVlN', LAFFIN' AND SWINGIN' LIKE<br />

WAS IN THE FLIPPY FIFTIES."<br />

bob salmaggi<br />

"A CERTAIN PLAYFULNESS THAT ELIMINATES SEAMY<br />

OVERTONES ATTENDANT UPON SO MANY DOUR<br />

"<br />

HARDCORS OFFERINGS vabkiy<br />

CONTINUES, SHE COULD BECOME THE JULIE<br />

ANDREWS OF PORN."<br />

daphne davis gallehv<br />

"A FUN-LOVING HARDCORE MEMORIAL TO THE<br />

'SOS. GEORGINA SPELVIN, THE HELEN HAYES OF<br />

HARDCORE SEDUCES WITH ALL THE SINCERE GUSTO<br />

AND SENSUOUSNESS WE'VE ALL COME TO EXPECT<br />

OF HER."<br />

INOiPfNDSNI fllM JOUBNAl<br />

CONTACT; MYRNA HOLIDAY. A R T INC. 835 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY. 10003/212-674-5050<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


. . . Bea<br />

PITTSBURGH<br />

^Jax Shabason, manager of Perilman Films,<br />

attended the Crown International sales<br />

conference in Los Angeles, returning here<br />

Wednesday (5) Matinee attractions at<br />

. . .<br />

area theatres Saturday (1) and Sunday (2)<br />

were "Alice in a New Wonderland" and<br />

'White Mane."<br />

A nonprofit group, Pittsburgh Film-Makers,<br />

205 Oakland Ave., is presenting a number<br />

of screenings at $1 and $1.50 admission.<br />

Nazimova's "Salome" is dated for Friday<br />

(28) ... A local rock group appeared in<br />

the Gateway lobby, where "The Godfather,<br />

Part 11" is<br />

the screen attraction.<br />

Archibald MacLeish's "The Great American<br />

Fourth of July Parade" will be premiered<br />

here on stage in Carnegie Music<br />

Hall April 18-20, with direction by John<br />

Houseman. Academy Award winner, who<br />

will<br />

play one of the roles.<br />

The Fulton Mini has 250 new seats,<br />

f)eting, drap>eries, etc.. and a larger concession<br />

area is now featured in the lobby of<br />

the Fulton and Fulton Mini . . . Chatham<br />

Cinema opened "Young Frankenstein" after<br />

a successful run of "The Front Page" . . .<br />

The Stanley showed "Phantom of the Paradise"<br />

. . . The Fiesta offered "Murder on<br />

the Orient Express" . . . "Emmanuelle" is<br />

on screen at the Fulton Mini . . . "Lenny"<br />

came into the Squirrel Hill after a build-up<br />

via advertised commercial screenings at<br />

various<br />

theatres.<br />

This city's Milton Katselas has completed<br />

direction on Mike Frankovich's "Report to<br />

the Commissioner."<br />

David Wark Griffith's films of more than<br />

50 years ago were aired on network TV's<br />

"Camera Three" on recent Sundays . . . Pete<br />

Fleisher, former local 20th-Fox manager,<br />

after serving at the Detroit post, is now<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

When you come to Waikiki<br />

don't<br />

BiB^A'<br />

miss the famous<br />

iHAWAUi Don Ho Show. . . at<br />

HOTELS Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAIKIKI Rttl REEF TOWERS EDGEWATF.R<br />

manager of the company's New York office<br />

Hart, at one time employed here<br />

at the Paramount branch and cashier for<br />

that company in recent years at Detroit, has<br />

been on temporary duty at the Chicago<br />

branch.<br />

In area release are such features as Hugh<br />

Downs' "Nothing by Chance." "Hammer of<br />

God," "Blood Fingers," "Midnight Plowboy,"<br />

"Macon County Line," "Swiss Family<br />

Robinson," "Young Frankenstein." "Baby<br />

Love" and "Birth of a Legend."<br />

West Virginia last week looked toward<br />

legal dog racing to be added to the longestablished<br />

horse racing at Wheeling Downs.<br />

Steve Gray, George Tice, Mcercy Wcincr, real fine and is full of jokes at 87. Vince's of a film booker, he chooses his own film<br />

Steve Rodnok and Paul Vogel make up the other good neighbor is Nick Lucas, seen He is not drawn to "four-wallers" and prefers<br />

to look for motion pictures with some<br />

committee planning the Tuesday, March 18,<br />

recently on TVs network "Burlesque" show.<br />

ten-hour affair combining, for pleasure and Kitty Brown, Vince writes, continues ill ai "substance.<br />

business, the Tri-State Drive-In Theatre a nursing home there. Vince's brother "Four-wallers tell me what to charge,"<br />

Ass'n with NATO of Western Pennsylvania. George "Bee" Josack. formerly in the film he says, "and I want to maintain the same<br />

The big day starts with cocktails and lunch industry here, died recently after a sevenweek<br />

illness.<br />

for children. When I first started out, I<br />

price at all times— $2 for adults and $1<br />

at the Variety Club at 12:30 p.m.. this being<br />

followed by a NATO meeting with election<br />

charged .$1.25 and then it went to $1.50,<br />

Film prints have turned up missing, so<br />

of officers. The drive-in group will then<br />

then to $1.75. But you know what? At $2<br />

now a responsible theatre representative<br />

meet and elect leaders for the new year. At<br />

I've done more business than 1 did at $1.25.<br />

must sign for acceptance of prints from the<br />

6 p.m., at the Holiday House, there will be<br />

People keep coming to the movies more and<br />

delivery and pickup agencies. Some theatres<br />

1.''<br />

a cocktail party, dinner and a show headlined<br />

by John Davidson. All paid-up mem-<br />

weeks and last week my business was better<br />

more. Lve had 'King of Hearts' for<br />

now want a receipt when prints are returned<br />

lo the delivery agencies.<br />

bers of the organizations will be guests.<br />

than the week before. Nothing ever played<br />

Phyllis Diller became the 1.604th enter-<br />

here longer than two weeks before this. I<br />

car-<br />

could have the theatre open seven nights<br />

tainment personality to be honored by the<br />

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce when<br />

her star and name was cemented into the<br />

Walk of Fame at 7001 Hollywood Blvd.,<br />

five stars west of Orange Avenue . . . The<br />

British publishers of Men Only have come<br />

up with another of the men's magazines.<br />

Club, theatrical personalities being featured<br />

—and a new Avant Garde biweekly tabloid<br />

had made an appearance domestically.<br />

John P. Hudak to Conduct<br />

Weekly Filmmaking Class<br />

HARRISBURG. PA. John P. Hudak,<br />

president of Metrovision, a motion picture<br />

and TV production firm based in nearby<br />

Hershey, will conduct a weekly class in<br />

filmmaking, to be offered by the .Art A,ss'n<br />

of Harrisburg. The course, held Wednesdays,<br />

started Wednesday (5) and continues<br />

through May 14. A modest tuition fee is<br />

charged. Hudak formerly was director of<br />

audio-visual program development for the<br />

National Geographic Society.<br />

The class will provide an explanation of<br />

motion pictures as a medium for communications<br />

and as an art form. The course also<br />

will provide study of the elements and techniques<br />

of the sound motion picture.<br />

Newtown Exhibitor Says<br />

Audiences Keep Growing<br />

NEWTOWN, PA.—While the days ol<br />

getting in to see a movie for 25 cents have<br />

long been over, exhibitor Amos Famiggio<br />

keeps the memory of the past very much<br />

alive in operating a little Early American<br />

film house building where business is really<br />

thriving. About two and a half years ago,<br />

Farruggio left his brother's trucking business<br />

to take over the Newtown Theatre that<br />

was located in a building 143 years old.<br />

The building had served as a town hall, j<br />

church, live theatre and a movie house<br />

in its lifetime.<br />

Although Farruggio operates the Newtown<br />

Theatre only Wednesday through<br />

Sunday nights, business is "good, very<br />

good." He says, "People have to be enter-<br />

Vince Josack, formerly in the<br />

tained.<br />

film industry<br />

here, writes from do—eat Hollywood that Jack<br />

There's two things people want to<br />

and be entertained and movies arc<br />

Mulhall, a<br />

star of hundreds of early Biograph<br />

cheap way to be entertained. We've had<br />

and First National films,<br />

a steady increase in business."<br />

the latter for pioneer<br />

local showman Dick Rowland, looks Operating independently, with the help<br />

"The Odessa File" racked up a smash<br />

opening two-week total of $20,411 in Helsinki,<br />

Finland.<br />

a week if I wanted to— but I want the time<br />

off."<br />

Buffalo City Judge Raps<br />

Blaxploitation Pictures<br />

BUFFALO — City Judge Samuel L.<br />

Green claims that promotion of "black<br />

ripoff films glorifying sordid aspects of<br />

city life" have contributed to the growth<br />

of teenage vice activity. He made the statement<br />

in a progress report on the work of<br />

a task force organized to study youth prostitution.<br />

Three committees have been working<br />

on recommendations, with a full ic<br />

port due in<br />

a few days.<br />

"This is not a problem of Buffalo alone,"<br />

Judge Green said. "It is a problem in cities<br />

throughout the country and one of the leading<br />

causes is black exploitation films . .<br />

with teenage males and females acting like<br />

the characters in the films."<br />

Judge Green is a black serving by masoral<br />

appointment. He said that the goal o'<br />

the task force is to "offer young girls .i<br />

real alternative to prostitution, enforce<br />

existing laws and change laws to prevcn!<br />

the pimps and customers from using our<br />

community and to develop prevention pro<br />

grams to assist girls before they are caughi<br />

up in the terror of prostitution."<br />

E-6 BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


Says<br />

. . "Murder<br />

BALTIMORE<br />

Justin Hoffman in "Lenny" is being held<br />

over for a seventh smash week at the<br />

Reisterstown Plaza and Cinema I (Yorkridge<br />

Shopping Center) . on the Orient<br />

Express" currently is being shown at the<br />

Hillendale. Pikes and Westview theatres.<br />

Martin Scorsese, who directed the film<br />

"Mean Streets," appeared Thursday. January<br />

30. at 8 p.m. in the Movie House.<br />

Stephens Hall. Towson State College. 7800<br />

York Rd., to show his films "Italian American"<br />

and "Mean Streets" and to talk with<br />

the audience. "Italian American" is a 20-<br />

minute documentary about Scorsese's mother<br />

and father. "Mean Streets" is an acclaimed<br />

biographical film about Scorsese's<br />

growing up in the Little Italy section of<br />

New York. Scorsese originally was to show<br />

his new film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"<br />

as part of the series but the distribu-<br />

Free," will be presenetd Saturday (15) at<br />

JF's Crest Theatre. Sponsored by the Salvation<br />

Army Boys Clubs, showings will be<br />

at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Proceeds<br />

from the film will support the club's<br />

Camp Puh'tok. Advance purchases can be<br />

made at the divisional headquarters of the<br />

Salvation Army, 2641 Maryland Ave., or<br />

the Highlandtown. Middle River or Franklin<br />

Square branches. Tickets are SI for children<br />

and $1.50 for adults.<br />

Israel Batista-Olivieri, administrator of<br />

operations for Grant Theatres for the past<br />

12 years, left the organization in mid-January.<br />

His successor is William Grant, son of<br />

Jerome Grant, one of the partners in the<br />

circuit, which now operates only the Hillendale,<br />

having turned over the Northwood.<br />

which it leased for some time from Schwaber<br />

World-Fare Theatres, to its original<br />

owners.<br />

John Nethen, secretary-treasurer. Claude<br />

Neon Signs, reports the firm has completed<br />

project at the Camelot Theatre in Winchester,<br />

Va., for Robert Goldhammer . . .<br />

By the third week of this month. Robert<br />

Nethen, president of Claude Neon Signs, is<br />

expected back at his desk after a bout with<br />

bis bad back. He underwent surgery at<br />

Arundel General Hospital. Annapolis, and<br />

currently is recuperating at home.<br />

The Damascus Twin theatres, owned by<br />

B&C Theatres, opened recently in Damascus.<br />

All equipment was purchased from<br />

Allied Theatre Supply Co. of Philadelphia<br />

and Maryland . . . George Kelly, Paramount<br />

branch manager in Washington, D.C.. visited<br />

industryites here January 31.<br />

A festival of Marx brothers films is being<br />

presented at JF's Rotunda Cinema and Rappaport's<br />

Timonium Cinema. "The Big Store"<br />

and "At the Circus" is the fare Wednesday<br />

(12).<br />

Lawrence Forbes, manager of Rome's<br />

Broadway Theatre. January 31 was host to<br />

One-Woman Porno Drive Is<br />

Proving 'Unsatisfying'<br />

WILRES-BARRE, PA.—A one-person<br />

crusade to rid local theatres and bookstores<br />

Federico Fellini's "Amarcord" premiered<br />

at the Playhouse January 22 . . . Two cashiers.<br />

Mrs. Shirley Brown and Mrs. Ruth<br />

Anderson, are, respectively, celebrating nine<br />

years and five years with Schwaber World-<br />

Fare Theatres. They have worked at the<br />

of "filth" in movies and books has provided<br />

satisfaction, a local housewife admits.<br />

circuit's 5 West Theatre and, after its closing,<br />

little<br />

at the Playhouse on West 25th Street. Mrs. Mary P. Jenick said she contacted<br />

various theatres, including Cinema 309,<br />

Blackman Plaza Theatre. Barre East Theatre<br />

and the Sunset Drive-ln Theatre in suburban<br />

Mountaintop, to stop the showing<br />

of what she called "filth and trash."<br />

She said that after speaking with the<br />

various theatre managers, she received "no<br />

satisfaction" and could not get any answer<br />

as to why such films are being shown to<br />

the public. Mrs. Janick would not say what<br />

the conversations entailed. She also reported<br />

calling on a center-city bookstore<br />

concerning the sale of "adult" books but<br />

the store would not guarantee that il would<br />

stop selling adult books.<br />

Sentence, Fine to Be Appealed<br />

tors decided at the last moment not to allow the Tom D'Antoni live show. "The End of PHILADELPHIA—In the first criminal<br />

the showing of the film, which is due later the World. Part 11," which began at 8 p.m. case of its kind to be tried in neighboring<br />

and lasted until midnight. D'Antoni produced<br />

Montgomery County. Judge Vincent A.<br />

at commercial theatres in the area, accord-<br />

the show.<br />

ing to Allen Thomas, an organizer of the<br />

Girille sentenced John Krasner of upstate<br />

event.<br />

Harvey's Lake to up to two years in prison<br />

"Seventh Heaven," the 1927 silent classic, for selling pornographic books, movies ard<br />

Six theatres have booked Walt Disney's was shown free of charge recently at other sexual materials in one of his stores<br />

.\nne Arundel Community College as the at the county line in suburban Horsham<br />

family film. "Swiss Family Robinson" . . .<br />

Famous stars Vivian Blaine, Celeste Holm.<br />

Township. Krasner also was assessed $4,000<br />

first in a series of famous film love stories<br />

Sam Levene and Kay Medford were in town sponsored by the college's public events committee.<br />

in fines. The minimum sentence under the<br />

as members of the cast of Moss Hart's comedy<br />

"Light Up the Sky" at the Mechanic<br />

Theatre . . . "Living Free," sequel to "Born<br />

The movie stars Janet Gaynor and<br />

Charles Farrell. A music and sound effects<br />

track has been added to the print.<br />

county antipornography law is six months.<br />

Bail was set at $5,000 pending appeal of the<br />

sentence.<br />

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Don Miller, business agent for lATSE<br />

Local 181. went on a busman's holiday with<br />

his wife recently. The two went to see "Lenny"<br />

at GCC's Yorkridge Cinema.<br />

BOXOFHCE :: February 10, 1975<br />

E-7


. . Margaret<br />

WASHINGTON<br />

pilm personalities enhanced the glittering<br />

White House staff dinner which President<br />

and Mrs. Ford gave in honor of British<br />

Prime Minister and Mrs. Harold Wilson<br />

January 30. Among the impressive contingency<br />

were Cary Grant. Kirk Douglas and<br />

his wife, Warren Beatty and comedian Danny<br />

Kaye. Author Peter Benchley, who wrote<br />

"Jaws." also was an invitee. His movie version<br />

about sharks is scheduled for release<br />

May 25.<br />

K-B Cerberus 2 is showing the Warner<br />

Bros, release "Hearts and Minds." the controversial<br />

film's first commercial engagement.<br />

However, it played a week in Los<br />

Angeles to qualify it for Academy of Motion<br />

Picture Arts and Sciences consideration.<br />

Called "a film scrapbook of sorrow," the<br />

picture was described by the Post's Gary<br />

Arnold as follows: "Essentially. Hearts and<br />

Minds' takes the long view of the Vietnam-<br />

American tragedy but it has opened in<br />

Washington at a time when it could become<br />

a tactical political weapon ... it remains<br />

to be seen if a documentary so critical of<br />

. . . The<br />

cherished national certitudes and so candid<br />

in its appraisal of a national folly can ever<br />

become a commercial success"<br />

Star-News' Frank Getlein wrote: "With<br />

'Hearts and Minds.' Peter Davis establishes<br />

himself as the finest documentary moviemaker<br />

in this country."<br />

Exhibitors Ted and Jim Pedas have Ka<br />

mouraska" scheduled to open at their Dupont<br />

Circle April 3. the film's first theatrical<br />

engagement in the U.S. The American Film<br />

Institute is planning an invitational premiere<br />

in Its theatre, to be hosted by the Canadian<br />

ambassador, prior to its commercial opening.<br />

Martin Scorsese was here promoting<br />

"Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." which<br />

is set to unspool at the Avalon Wednesday<br />

(12). He also appeared as guest speaker at<br />

the Smithsonian's series on "People Who<br />

Make Movies," organized by Joel F. Siegel,<br />

film critic for the Washingtonian Magazine.<br />

Robert Redford and his wife Lola are expected<br />

here March 13 for a special preview<br />

at the L'Enfant Theatre of his Universal release,<br />

"The Great Waldo Pepper." following<br />

dinner in the Smithsonian's Flight Hall of<br />

the Arts & Industries Building . . . Alex<br />

Schimel. Universal branch manager, sneaked<br />

"Waldo Pepper" at the K-B Apex Friday<br />

evening, January 31. .Schimel also tradescreened<br />

"The Other Side of the Mountain"<br />

Monday (3) at the MPAA.<br />

lP/."-13Vr-I4"<br />

16"-16'/j"d.am<br />

^' i^ lknof<br />

$41.00<br />

$67.00<br />

William Zoetis, 20th Century-Fox branch<br />

chief, screened "W.W. and the Dixie Dancckings"<br />

at the MPAA Tuesday (4) . . . Frank<br />

Petraglia, Buena Vista publicist, was here<br />

January 29 from the home office escorting<br />

actor Kurt Russell, who was en route to<br />

Cincinnati for promotion of "The Strongest<br />

Man in the World" . Parke of<br />

the BV office is at home recuperating from<br />

surgery.<br />

Don King, president of the Town Theatre<br />

group, returned from a business trip to New<br />

Orleans.<br />

NATO of Washington held its last meeting,<br />

arranged by Roth Theatres' Ned Glaser.<br />

January 7 in Silver Spring, Md. The next<br />

meeting will be in March in the Prince<br />

George, Va., area, with Joseph Sommers of<br />

the Redstone circuit and Lloyd Wineland<br />

of Wineland Theatres taking care of the<br />

details. Exhibitors of the District of Columbia,<br />

Maryland and northern Virginia comprise<br />

the NATO unit.<br />

International Amusement Corp. opened<br />

'Don't Turn the Other Cheek" in 14 area<br />

theatres Wednesday (5). Tom Cosgrovc is<br />

the company's newly named salesman.<br />

Patronage Excellent, Say<br />

Wilkes-Barre Managers<br />

WILKES-BARRL. PA.— While centercity<br />

restaurant owners are complaining<br />

about the lack of customers during recent<br />

months and with eating places cutting down<br />

night operation because "downtown Wilkes-<br />

Barre is dead," the movie houses are no!<br />

feeling that kind of a pinch!<br />

"We are not dead," said Frank Jones,<br />

manager of the Sportservice-operated Barre<br />

Theatre. "Since the Christmas season, when<br />

people had other matters on their mind<br />

besides movies, business has been good<br />

especially with the Disney film The Island<br />

at the Top of the World'—so good, in<br />

fact, we are using two auditoriums (the<br />

Barre contains three mini-theatres) for<br />

showings. Also, the other feature in the<br />

Loge is in its third week."<br />

Jones continued. "Business is holding up<br />

very, very well and it should be noted that<br />

we are the only downtown theatre with<br />

continuous showinijs from p.m. every<br />

1<br />

day."<br />

He agreed with other managers that people<br />

will go to see a good movie no matter<br />

where it is playing. It was pointed out that<br />

Cinema I and II, twin houses operated by<br />

General Cinema Corp. and located in the<br />

Wyoming Valley Mall, was turning people<br />

away with its features "Earthquake" and<br />

"The Towering Inferno."<br />

Les Coulter, division manager of Hallmark<br />

Releasing, which operates the Paramount<br />

Theatre, said business at the movie<br />

house has not been bad over the past<br />

several weeks. He stated he feels people<br />

will come to see good movie wherever<br />

a<br />

il is playing. At the same time, the Paranioimt<br />

offers a combination dinner-andmovie<br />

package with a meal at a restaurant<br />

nearby Kingston, Pa.<br />

Unique March 12 Benefit<br />

Bow for Waldo Pepper'<br />

NEW YORK— In keeping with the aims<br />

of Friends of (~AN- the nonprofit educational<br />

arm of Consimier Action Now which,<br />

in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution<br />

and Concern. Washington, D.C., is<br />

sponsoring the benefit premiere of Universal's<br />

"The Great Waldo Pepper." a George<br />

Roy Hill film starring Robert Redford,<br />

invitations for the gala March 12 opening<br />

of the film at the Rivoli Theatre have been<br />

printed on 100 per cent recycled paper. In<br />

lieu of limousines. New York City will provide<br />

special service buses for the people attending<br />

the premiere, both to conserve fuel<br />

and to cut down on pollution. Formal attire<br />

is out and guests have been asked to attend<br />

the premiere in country clothes.<br />

Proceeds from the benefit performance<br />

of the film, which was written by William<br />

Goldman, and the special 'citified country<br />

picnic" which will follow at New York<br />

famed Rainbow Room will go toward a<br />

Sun Fund to educate the public to the safe<br />

and nonpolluting alternatives to nuclear<br />

energy.<br />

Tickets for the special evening are $25<br />

for the film and $100 for the film ana<br />

picnic. Inquiries may be sent with a selfaddressed<br />

envelope to Friends of CAN, 30<br />

East 68th St., New York, N.Y. 10021.<br />

"The Great Waldo Pepper," a Jennings<br />

Lang presentation, is a drama about post-<br />

World War I barnstormers shot in Technicolor<br />

and Todd AO 35.<br />

A host of celebrities, including Dr. Noel<br />

Brown, Dick Cavett, Dr. Barry Commoner,<br />

Dave DeBusschere, John Denver, Betty<br />

Furness, William Goldman, Doug Henning,<br />

George Roy Hill, Dustin Hoffman, John<br />

Lindsay, Paul Newman, Robert Redford<br />

and Joanne Woodward, will be on hand.<br />

Wometco Uses Island-Wide<br />

Bally to Plug Bond Film<br />

SAN JUAN, PULklO RICO—Wometco<br />

mounted a vigorous promotion for the<br />

opening of United Artists' latest James<br />

Bond 007 film, 'The Man With the Golden<br />

Gun," starring Roger Moore.<br />

A big contest was run on Channel 7<br />

for four full weeks, with an AMC Hornet<br />

as the first prize (a two-door sedan, the<br />

kind of car Bond used in the film).<br />

Other prizes included 25 cases of Guinness<br />

Stout, eight Colibri electro-quart?<br />

lighters, one set of Dunlop Gold Seal tires,<br />

and dinner for two at the Hostal Casliila<br />

Restaurant.<br />

Mrs. Rowena Stevens Dies<br />

MOUNIAINHOME, PA.- Mrs. Rowena<br />

Stevens, producer-owner ot the Pocono<br />

Playhouse here that featured a resident<br />

company with stars of stage, screen and TV<br />

headlining, died January 24 at her home<br />

in Palm Beach, Fla. She was 69. After a<br />

career as an actress and as manager ol<br />

an overseas USO troupe during World War<br />

II. she opened the 500-seat summer playhouse<br />

here which became known as "Broadway<br />

in the Poconos." She is survived by her<br />

sister and two brothers.<br />

1<br />

BOXOFFICE :; February 10, 1975


Corwin Establishes<br />

3 Writing Awards<br />

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.—Three annual<br />

writing awards to promote interest in<br />

the dramatic arts at the University of California-Santa<br />

Barbara have been given by<br />

Los Angeles motion picture industry leader<br />

Sherrill C. Corwin. The awards, to be<br />

known as the Sherrill C. Corwin-Metropolitan<br />

Theatres Dramatic Arts Awards,<br />

provide $500 for the best stage play, $500<br />

for best screenplay and $250 for best TV<br />

play.<br />

The 1975 winners will be announced at<br />

the time of the university's commencement<br />

in June. Awards thereafter will be for the<br />

regular school year.<br />

All registered UCSB undergraduate<br />

students will be eligible to submit entries,<br />

according to Dr. William R. Reardon,<br />

chairman of the dramatic arts department.<br />

Deadline for the first competition will be<br />

AprU 15.<br />

Now chairman of the board of Los Angeles-based<br />

Metropolitan Theatres Corp.,<br />

Corwin long has been active in film industry<br />

affairs, with interests in both exhibition and<br />

production. He was one of the original<br />

trustees of the American Film Institute and<br />

has been a strong supporter of programs to<br />

develop student creativity.<br />

In establishing this group of awards, Corwin<br />

said, "It represents not only my personal<br />

desire to encourage talent development in a<br />

collegiate environment outside the Los Angeles<br />

area but also reflects the long-standing<br />

policy of Metropolitan Theatres to maintain<br />

a constructive interest in community affairs<br />

where we are part of that community's<br />

business life."<br />

Ten of the 42 theatres operated by MTC<br />

are in<br />

the Santa Barbara area.<br />

In addition to these newly established<br />

writing awards. Metropolitan Theatres for<br />

the past several years has been giving five<br />

annual $100 acting awards to Santa Barbara<br />

high school and community college<br />

students. Corwin's son Bruce C. Corwin,<br />

president of the corporation, annoimced<br />

that these prizes will be continued independent<br />

of the UCSB writing awards.<br />

Begin 'Stavisky' Premiere<br />

Showing in Beverly Hills<br />

BEVERLY HILLS—Cinemations "Stavisky"<br />

began its West Coast premiere engagement<br />

here Friday (7) at the Beverly<br />

Theatre. The Alain Resnais production<br />

stars Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Boyer<br />

and Anny Duperey.<br />

Council to Weigh 6-Screen Airer<br />

TORRANCE, CALIF.—The city council<br />

is slated to consider a proposed six-screen<br />

drive-in, to be located on a 24-acre site at<br />

Figueroa and Francisco streets at the junction<br />

of the Harbor and San Diego freeways.<br />

The city planning commission already<br />

has given a special use permit to the developers<br />

of the project.<br />

MAC Slates Tradeshow, Speakers<br />

For Sessions at ShoWesT '75<br />

LOS ANGELES—The initial list ot<br />

speakers who will participate at the forthcoming<br />

Western regional conference of the<br />

National Ass'n of Concessionaires during<br />

ShoWesT "75 was released January 28 bv<br />

NAC president AI Lapidus. ShoWesT '75<br />

will be held Monday (24) through Wednesday<br />

(26) at the Sheraton-Harbor Island<br />

Hotel, San Diego, Calif., and it is the first<br />

jointly-sponsored affair by Western States<br />

NAC and NATO.<br />

In addition to the business and social<br />

programs that have been planned for Sho-<br />

WesT "75, a tradeshow wiU be held consisting<br />

of companies representing all facets<br />

of the concession, theatre and automaticmerchandising<br />

industries.<br />

"The Dynamic New Face of Exhibition"<br />

is the slogan for ShoWesT '75 and the<br />

speakers and subjects which they will cover<br />

during the NAC sessions are:<br />

Al Lapidus, Lapidus Popcorn; Vernon B.<br />

Ryles jr.. Popper's Supply Co.; Sal Fasulo,<br />

Metropolitan Theatres Corp.; Jerry Ireland.<br />

Mann Theatres Corp., and Len Lowengrub,<br />

Theatre Refreshment Co., will be members<br />

panel dealing with "NAC-NATO Open<br />

of a<br />

Forum on Snack Bars."<br />

A. J. Anderson, deputy division, chief of<br />

Southern California Department of Alcoholic<br />

Beverage Control, Downey, Calif.,<br />

will<br />

President Ford Appoints<br />

David Wolper to Council<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Filmmaker David Wolper<br />

has been named by President Gerald<br />

Ford to sit on the<br />

Council for the<br />

American Revolution<br />

Bicentennial Adminis-<br />

^^<br />

David Wolper<br />

tration, which will<br />

meet Monday (24)<br />

'W Washington, D.C.<br />

in<br />

Wolper is well<br />

^^<br />

y'' ^^H known as one of the<br />

first<br />

^^^1 members of the<br />

^^^H film and TV industries<br />

to begin making<br />

product aimed at the<br />

bicentennial celebration and he is the only<br />

Hollywood personality among the 25 members<br />

on the council.<br />

Gunman in Ski Mask Takes<br />

$2,012 From Theatreman<br />

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.—The assistant<br />

manager of the Inland Cinema, who<br />

possibly an automatic, according to police.<br />

talk on "Licensing and Sales of Alcoholic<br />

Beverages."<br />

Irwin Groner, tax consultant, Beverly<br />

Hills, Calif., will discuss "Tax Planning for<br />

the Small Businessman."<br />

Roy A. Fassel, manager, Conti Commodity<br />

Services, Los Angeles, will explore<br />

"Commodity Price Outlook for 1975."<br />

William R. Vera, regional vice-president.<br />

National Economic Development Ass'n,<br />

Alhambra, Calif., will speak on "Government<br />

Agencies Available to Small Businesses."<br />

Bob Perry, economist. Security Pacific<br />

National Bank, Los Angeles, will deal with<br />

"Disposable Income for the Recreational<br />

Industry" and Joe Crowley, vice-president<br />

of marketing and sales, Lily Division of<br />

Owens-Illinois, Toledo, Ohio, will address<br />

the assemblage on "Challenge '75."<br />

Advance registration for NAC and<br />

NATO members is $50, with $35 for wives.<br />

This includes two luncheons, two dinners<br />

and a cocktail reception. Registration fee<br />

for nonmembers of NAC and NATO is<br />

$75 and $75 for wives. Mail reservations to<br />

George Aurelius, c/o ShoWesT '75, P.O.<br />

Box 28184, San Diego, Calif. 92128. With<br />

attendance limited to 600 delegates, including<br />

wives, early registration is being advised.<br />

Valuable Adventure Film<br />

Lost in Denver Burglary<br />

DENVER—Burglars recently broke into<br />

a home in the northwest section of Denver<br />

and stole approximately 1,800 feet of 16mm<br />

outdoor adventure film. Since little else<br />

was taken in the robbery, officials have<br />

assumed that the thieves knew the value<br />

of the footage.<br />

Of the film taken by the burglars 1,200<br />

feet was devoted to a study of the Alaskan<br />

brown bear and the Alaskan polar bear.<br />

Approximately 500 feet of film dealt with<br />

the tracking and hunting of the animals.<br />

Detective Reed of the burglary detail<br />

of the police department here is of the<br />

opinion that the stolen footage might be<br />

offered for sale to some theatre owner or<br />

to someone involved in production, either<br />

16mm or 35mm. He has asked, therefore,<br />

that industryites be on the alert for the<br />

film.<br />

Reed asks that he be contacted at Den<br />

ver's police headquarters by phoning (303)<br />

297-2021 should anyone be approached<br />

regarding the sale or exhibition of this<br />

stolen film.<br />

was preparing to deposit the theatre's receipts<br />

at the Security Pacific National Bank Anchorage Daily Plugs Films<br />

office, 794 Southeast St., was robbed of ANCHORAGE, AK.—Don Hill and his<br />

$2,012 by a gunman in a dark ski mask. "huskies" here got a great break in the<br />

Michael A. Gorian, 22, told officers the January 4 Anchorage Daily News' guide<br />

write-up<br />

man approached him, demanded the deposit for entertainment via a full-page<br />

bags and then fled.<br />

on new films coming in 1975. A coverpage<br />

armed with a handgun,<br />

The robber was plug also hypoed Wometco situation<br />

attractions.<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975 W-1


Hollywood<br />

gLAKE EDWARDS has been named<br />

"Man of the Year" by the British Society<br />

of Cinematographers and will be guest<br />

of honor at their annual dinner at the Savoy<br />

Hotel in London Saturday (15). Edwards<br />

will show excerpts from "The Return of the<br />

Pink Panther," yet to be released.<br />

•<br />

Warner Bros.' "Seven Men at Daybreak,"<br />

the Nazi Heydrich killer-thriller, has been<br />

locationing at the historical mountain resort<br />

of Karlovy Vary for parachute snow scenes.<br />

Lewis Gilbert is directing the Vista Co.<br />

production.<br />

•<br />

Oscar-winning film editor William H.<br />

Reynolds will edit Billy Jack Productions'<br />

"The Master Gunfighter," an epic western<br />

LOS ANGELES<br />

Qhinatown," winner of four Golden Globe<br />

awards, has begun a limited run at the<br />

UA Cinema Center Theatre in Westwood.<br />

Atlas Films, based in Beverly Hills, has<br />

acquired exclusive U.S. and Canadian film<br />

rights to "Touch Me Not," thriller starring<br />

Lee Remick, for spring release, according<br />

to president Wolf Schmidt . . . Following<br />

the resignation of Bryanston sales vice-president<br />

Ted Zephro, the company promoted<br />

his brother Richard Zephro to share West<br />

Coast division managerial duties with Fred<br />

Kunkel.<br />

Wamer Bros, had a screening room full<br />

of identical twins here recently for a twin<br />

preview of "Rafferty and the Gold Dust<br />

Twins," the new Dick Richards picture starring<br />

Alan Arkin, Sally Kellerman and Mac-<br />

Kenzie Phillips. Via newspaper ads, radio<br />

and TV, WB invited twins of the area, 17<br />

or over, to show up for the special screening.<br />

Richard B. Graff, American International<br />

Pictures' president and general sales manager,<br />

is back from exhibitor meetings in<br />

Happenings<br />

tale of greed and revenge set in mid>-19th<br />

century Spanish California. Reynolds won<br />

his Oscars for "The Sound of Music" and<br />

"Fanny."<br />

•<br />

"The Onion Seller" (WB) has moved to<br />

locations near Madrid. The comedy-western<br />

starring Franco Nero, Martin Balsam and<br />

Sterling Hayden is produced by Carlo Ponti<br />

and directed by Enzo Castellari.<br />

•<br />

John Winfield has been set to edit "Jessie's<br />

Girls," which was filmed in Utah and<br />

California for Manson Distributing Corp.<br />

Michael F. Goldman and Al Adamson coproduced<br />

and Adamson directed as well.<br />

•<br />

Edward Cooper has been named vicepresident<br />

of Filmways International, Filmways<br />

Syndication and Heatter-Quigley Distribution<br />

Corp. The three divisions are engaged<br />

in domestic and international TV<br />

syndication and theatrical and nontheatrical<br />

distribution of Filmways' product.<br />

•<br />

Lxjuis Phillips has been promoted to the<br />

post of assistant controller. West Coast<br />

operations, for Columbia Pictures and Columbia<br />

Pictures Television, with full responsibility<br />

for the West Coast accounting<br />

operation under the supervision of James<br />

T. Johnson, vice-president for West Coast<br />

studio administration and controller. West<br />

Coast operations. Also, Edna Veluz assumes<br />

the post of director of accounting. West<br />

Coast operations, for both Columbia Pictures<br />

and Columbia Pictures Television,<br />

with complete managerial responsibilities<br />

over general accounting, budgeting and management<br />

information under Phillips' supervision.<br />

New York regarding "The Wild Party" and<br />

"Hennessey" . . . AIP has purchased 36,400<br />

shares of its common stock at a price of 71<br />

from Mrs. Sylvia Nicholson and members<br />

of her family. She is the wife of the late<br />

James H. Nicholson, president of AIP until<br />

his resignation in June 1972. The stock will<br />

Jock Gaynor, president of Wargay Corp.<br />

World Wide<br />

be held in the treasury . . .<br />

in Hollywood, says his firm has reached an Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights<br />

agreement with Crescendo Cinema of Texas to the new David Janssen starrer, "Prisoner<br />

in the Middle," a Sabra Productions film<br />

for the joint production-distribution of two<br />

pictures in 1975 and four in 1976. The two about a nuclear scare.<br />

companies currently have three features in<br />

"The Deathbed Virgin," "Stepsisters"<br />

United Artists' "Brannigan," starring John<br />

distribution:<br />

and "Slick Silver & Co."<br />

Wayne, will get a second national TV plug<br />

March 24, when the "Maude" show in<br />

which Wayne apeared will be repeated on<br />

CBS. The date is timed to coincide with the<br />

general release of the film, in which Wayne<br />

plays a big-city detective.<br />

Rick Thiriot<br />

Texpo '75.<br />

represented Doty-Dayton at<br />

Jahn Motley, 25-year veteran of Warner<br />

Bros, distribution in Dallas, Tex., has been<br />

promoted to branch manager there, effective<br />

immediately. He succeeds H. C. "Cotton"<br />

Vogclpohl, who died January 15. Motley<br />

had been Vogelpohl's assistant for many<br />

years.<br />

World Wide Films has acquired U.S. and<br />

Canadian distribution rights to the new Jack<br />

Palance starrer, "It Can Be Done Amigo,"<br />

and plans a saturation break in February<br />

in Houston and Dallas. The comedy-action<br />

western co-starring Bud Spencer (of the<br />

Trinity series fame) has just completed a<br />

successful saturation break in<br />

the Carolinas.<br />

Two Sound Stages Under<br />

Way at Goldwyn Studios<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Construction has begun<br />

on two new sound stages and a dressing<br />

room complex at the Samuel Goldwyn<br />

Studios to replace those destroyed by fire<br />

last year. Described by general manager<br />

Jack Foreman as "the most innovative in<br />

the world." the two sound stages will be<br />

ready for use by mid-March.<br />

The two 14.000-square-foot stages will be<br />

separated by a removable plug wall, making<br />

it possible to create one large stage of<br />

28,000 square feet. Incorporated into the<br />

stages are stairway pits and a large tank.<br />

In addition, an attached complex with 12<br />

dressing rooms will provide immediate access<br />

to the stages, eliminating the need for<br />

portable dressing rooms which normally take<br />

up valuable space. There will be parking for<br />

155 cars adjacent to the stages.<br />

"Construction of these new sound stages,<br />

along with development of other facilities<br />

at Goldwyn Studios, reflects our confidence<br />

in the motion picture industry," Foreman<br />

said.<br />

Two additional stages are on the planning<br />

boards.<br />

TBS, CSU Are Cooperating<br />

For Course on Filmmaking<br />

HOLLYWOOD—In an unprecedented<br />

cooperative effort between the entertainment<br />

industry and the university community,<br />

the Burbank Studios has joined<br />

with California State University at Northridge<br />

for teaching a course in "Below-the-<br />

Line Production Realities." During the<br />

semester, 35 TBS section and department<br />

heads will talk to students, both at the<br />

campus and on the studio lot. Robert K.<br />

Hagel, president of the Studios, was the<br />

first guest lecturer.<br />

Topics for the courses will range from<br />

the realities of labor relations and management<br />

to those of production craftsmanship<br />

encompassing film, videotape and sound<br />

recording.<br />

David M. Dunchock, director of studio<br />

communications, is coordinator for the<br />

course.<br />

Mammoth Radio Promotion<br />

For Warner Bros. Films<br />

HOLLYWOOD—KIQQ, one of Los<br />

Angeles' leading FM radio stations, has<br />

joined with Warner Bros, in a mammoth<br />

promotion on two of the company's February<br />

releases, "Alice Doesn't Live Here<br />

Anymore" and "Rafferty and the Gold Dust<br />

Twins."<br />

For two weeks, KIQQ ran two separate<br />

promotions tied-in with station advertisers.<br />

On "Alice" the Corral Boutique offered its<br />

customers tickets to four advance screenings<br />

at the studio. A similar number of<br />

tickets were offered to patrons of Peaches<br />

& Pacific record stores on "Rafferty" for<br />

preview screenings at the studio. Each advertiser<br />

ran a special schedule of 60 spots<br />

to promote the showings.<br />

Both films open in Westwood Wednesday<br />

(12), "Alice" at the Regent and "Rafferty"<br />

at the Avco 2.<br />

I<br />

W-2<br />

BOXOFHCE :: February 10, 1975


j<br />

I<br />

vention<br />

I<br />

.<br />

LA Ad Execs Sei<br />

|ShoWesT'75Panel<br />

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles<br />

Times, which is the nation's leader in motion<br />

picture advertising volume, will send<br />

three of its top advertising executives to the<br />

forthcoming NATO-NAC ShoWest "75 conin<br />

San Diego late this month. All<br />

three will participate Wednesday (26) in<br />

what promises to be the liveliest panel discussion<br />

of the three-day ShoWesT agenda,<br />

under the general subject heading "Seeing<br />

Ourselves As Others See Us." Pacific Theatres<br />

executive Robert W. Selig, who is president<br />

of NATO of California, will serve as<br />

moderator.<br />

The Times participation will center on a<br />

30-minute slide presentation. Retail advertising<br />

manager Phil Magwood, retail sales<br />

manager Len Pomerantz and entertainment<br />

accounts executive Herb Marks will offer<br />

what Magwood describes as "a frank discussion<br />

of our own views on the best use<br />

of motion picture advertising." At the conclusion<br />

of the presentation, the Times executives<br />

will answer questions from the floor.<br />

"What we would like to emphasize," said<br />

Magwood, "is the constructive nature of<br />

our point-of-view. We'd like to show the<br />

motion picture industry how we think it can<br />

better use newspaper advertising columns<br />

to market its product. If we criticize a campaign<br />

because 'we don't like it,' that's because,<br />

in our opinion, it isn't reaching our<br />

readers and not for any other reason.<br />

"We are going to be forthright and outspoken.<br />

We are going to recommend special<br />

marketing techniques and special promotional<br />

efforts. This doesn't mean there has<br />

to be increased spending but we do think<br />

there is room for greater marketing creativity.<br />

"We sincererly believe that exhibitors are<br />

not content with an upturn in business that<br />

is still very heavily weighted with attendance<br />

from the 16 to 25 age group. We believe<br />

that marketing that will draw the 30 to 45<br />

and up 'adult' group back into the theatres<br />

will give the whole industry a healthier<br />

economic base.<br />

"At the Times, since we are located in<br />

the film capital itself, we also are sensitive<br />

to the real and desperate need for better<br />

communication between newspapers generally<br />

and the industry itself—at top levels.<br />

We are aware of existing shortcomings and<br />

trust that a way will be found to improve<br />

these<br />

relationships."<br />

Tom Parry Ncaned to Exec.<br />

Assistant Post at UA<br />

HOLLYWOOD — United Artists West<br />

Coast vice-president Mike Medavoy has announced<br />

the appointment of Tom Parry as<br />

his executive assistant.<br />

Prior to joining United Artists, Parry, a<br />

Harvard graduate, had experience as a<br />

theatrical producer and was associated with<br />

the Santa Fe Opera.<br />

Parry is headquartered at UA's West<br />

Coast offices in the Goldwyn Studio. The<br />

appointment is effective immediately.<br />

Misty Rowe, 19, Projects Innocence<br />

As 'Goodbye, Norma Jean Ingenue<br />

By JOAN ROBINS<br />

HOLLYWOOD—As filming of "Goodbye,<br />

Norma Jean" got under way January<br />

20 at the Studio Club in Hollywood, the<br />

old days of this city came alive again with<br />

Misty Rowe, a 19-year-old look-alike Marilyn<br />

Monroe, recreating the pubescent sex<br />

symbol.<br />

It seems that nothing has changed, as<br />

Misty described how she ran into some<br />

"real creeps" while trying for movie parts.<br />

"Goodbye, Norma Jean," an Austamerican<br />

production, deals with Marilyn Monroe's<br />

early years, as she was pushed from<br />

foster home to foster home and as she<br />

struggled from studio to studio, taking<br />

modeling jobs and bit parts and trying to<br />

deal with the producers and other men<br />

out to take advantage of her naivety.<br />

"It doesn't scare me to play Marilyn,<br />

because I feel very close to her, especially<br />

when she was young," Misty said.<br />

Ms. Rowe spent most of her youth in<br />

neighboring Glendora. She was poor and<br />

felt unwanted but people always commented<br />

on her resemblance to Marilyn. "It is<br />

probably because I have platinum hair and<br />

a high, soft voice," she said.<br />

"It's been hard for me to get a job,<br />

because I am different and my voice is<br />

high, but for this part it was finally just<br />

right," she added happily. While the<br />

cameras rolled and in between takes at the<br />

Studio Club, where Marilyn lived for seven<br />

year (and Misty also lived for two years).<br />

Misty projected Marilyn's innocence. Her<br />

co-star, Terry Locke, is a composite of<br />

many men who got modeling jobs for<br />

Marilyn.<br />

'Earthquake' Holds<br />

LA With 550 Grip<br />

LOS ANGELES—"Earthquake" in a<br />

twelfth jolting week at the Chinese commanded<br />

550 to tighten its grip on first in<br />

the standings. "The Towering Inferno" in<br />

seventh week pulled in 455 at two theatres,<br />

while Pussycat's "The Life and Times ."<br />

.<br />

and Cinerama Dome's "Report to the Commissioner"<br />

were tied with 380. "Murder on<br />

the Orient Express" rolled along at 310 followed<br />

by "The Godfather. Part 11" and "A<br />

Woman Under the Influence" at 300 each.<br />

(Average Is 100)<br />

Avco Cinema Center 1, Egyptian The Towering<br />

Inferno (WB/20th-Fox), 7th wk 435<br />

Avco Cinema Center 2, Vogue Young Frankenstein<br />

(20fh-Fox), 7th wk 285<br />

Avco Cinema Center 3 The Front Poge (Univj,<br />

7th wk 300<br />

Bruin, Pontages ^The Godfotlier, Port II (Para)<br />

7th wk '.<br />

300<br />

Chinese Eorthquake (Univ), 12th wk 550<br />

Cineramo Dome Report the Commissioner<br />

to<br />

^ (UA) 380<br />

Crest, Paramount Murder on the Orient Express<br />

(Para) 6th wk 3,0<br />

Fox Wilshire—A Womon Under the Influence<br />

ISR), 8th wk 300<br />

Los Feliz The Noda Gang (SR) no<br />

Mayan Sexual Ecstasy of Macumba (SR),<br />

'•t'l *k 100<br />

Music Hall Scenes From a Morrioge (SR),<br />

Pacific Beverly' Hilis—The Hideaways (SR) ^<br />

2nd wk an<br />

a<br />

Executive producer Amadeo C. Curcio<br />

was on the set for the first day of shooting.<br />

"This is a film, not of Marilyn Monroe,<br />

but of Norma Jean Baker," he noted,<br />

pointing out that this period of the sex<br />

symbol's life is the least known. Curcio<br />

has been in Hollywood 25 years, involved<br />

in many Italian co-productions, but this is<br />

his first picture in the U.S. on his own.<br />

It's budgeted at $1 million and, says Curcio,<br />

"I hope we can keep it at that."<br />

"Goodbye, Norma Jean" was written by<br />

Lynn Schubert and producer-director Larry<br />

Buchanan. An R rating is expected for<br />

strong language rather than specific sex<br />

scenes.<br />

Misty Rowe has been seen on several<br />

TV shows and she played in "The Hitchhikers,"<br />

Ferd and Beverly Sebastian's feature.<br />

An interesting point of the production is<br />

that all the sets are authentic, such as th--<br />

Studio Club, which housed Kim Novak,<br />

Janet Leigh and Linda Darnell before they<br />

became stars. The club is now run by<br />

the "VWCA, which donated the property<br />

in 1920. The building, "exclusively for girls<br />

heading for an arts (entertainment) career,"<br />

was funded by Mrs. Cecil B. DeMille, who<br />

was aware that young girls aspiring to be<br />

stars had no place to live or practice their<br />

acting. Unfortunately, the fire department<br />

is forcing closure of the residence and the<br />

YWCA plans to use the club for offices<br />

and classes only.<br />

So "Goodbye, Norma Jean" is really<br />

"Goodbye" to old Hollywood and a haven<br />

for women.<br />

Plaza—Lenny (UA), I2th wk 185<br />

Pussycat The Life ond Times . . . (SR)<br />

3rd wk 380<br />

Royal—Lcs Violons du Bol (SR) 235<br />

UA Cinema I—The Apple War (SR), 2nd wk . . 60<br />

UA Cinemo 2—Chinatown (Para) 180<br />

Villoge Freebie and the Bean (WB), 6th wk 185<br />

Wesfwood Steppenwolf 7th wk 125<br />

(SR),<br />

"Murder on Orient Express'<br />

Grabs Denver 1st With 300<br />

DENVER—"Murder on the Orient Express"<br />

grabbed first place with 300, snatching<br />

it in a second week from "Abby," which<br />

scored a strong 275. "The Towering Inferno"<br />

pulled in 290 and "Young Frankenstein"<br />

rated 275.<br />

Aladdin—Earthquake (Univ), 11th wk 250<br />

Center Freebie and the Boon (WB) 5th 135<br />

wk<br />

Century 21 Murder on the Orient Express (Para),<br />

2nd wk 300<br />

Colorado Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox)<br />

I<br />

6th wk 275<br />

Colorodo II The Savoge Is Loose (Campbell-<br />

Devon), 5th wk N"t a"oi'able<br />

Continental The (WB/20th-Fox)<br />

Towering Inferno<br />

6th wk 290<br />

Fooper The 150<br />

Front Page (Univ) 6th wk<br />

Denver Abby (AlP), 2nd wk 275<br />

Denver The Last Dovs of Man on Earth 'SR) ... 100<br />

Esquire—The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder<br />

(20th-Fox) 100<br />

University Hills— Horry & Tonto (20th-Fox),<br />

, I5th wk 200<br />

Six theotres Birth of a Legend (ANE) .Not Availab'e<br />

Three theatres Pardon My Blooper (K-Tel) 125<br />

Three theatres The Godfather, Port (Para),<br />

II<br />

6th wk<br />

,<br />

140<br />

ond Ten theatre' The Life Times of Grizzly<br />

Adams (SR)<br />

Not Availab'e<br />

Ten theotres— Do Bees Do Birds It, (Col) 100<br />

It<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975<br />

W-3


'<br />

SAN FRANCISCO<br />

Jerry and Dottie Collins, Syufy and United<br />

Artists, respectively, winged to San<br />

Diego for the Saturday (8) weekend. Featured:<br />

the graduation of son Stephen Angus<br />

from Chapman College.<br />

Word has it that Francis Ford Coppola<br />

is vacationing in Rio for Mardi Gras and<br />

then flying to Paris. Meanwhile, his "The<br />

Godfather, Part U" continues to pack in<br />

the fans at the Coronet.<br />

offers Hollywood revival repertoire on a<br />

weekly basis, as exemplified by current attractions<br />

"It Happened One Night" and the<br />

original "Lost Horizon." All films are projected<br />

in their true aspect ratios and, in undeviating<br />

nostalgic spirit, tapes from old<br />

radio shows are played at intermission! The<br />

Vitaphone is booked by none other than<br />

Mike Thomas, who has, incidentally, moved<br />

his office to Telegraph Hill, where the phone<br />

number is (415) 433-3147.<br />

Universal's "The Great Waldo Pepper"<br />

was previewed Friday evening, January 31,<br />

at the Cinema 21 and 20th Century-Fox's<br />

"At Lx)ng Last Love" was super-sneaked<br />

Saturday (1) at the Century 21. San Jose.<br />

Wednesday (5) openers numbered three:<br />

"Emmanuelle," from Columbia, at the<br />

Bridge and Cannery; "The Apple War,"<br />

from Film Group, at the Vogue, and "A<br />

Woman Under the Influence," from John<br />

Cassavetes, at the Larkin and Music Hall.<br />

The Surf Theatre currently is running a<br />

Bertolucci program, with "Last Tango in<br />

Paris" and "The Spider Stratagem" on the<br />

bill.<br />

PROJEaiON<br />

MAINTENANCE MANUAL &<br />

SPECIAL SERVICE BULLETINS<br />

A PRACTICAL GOTDE TO BETTER SOUND<br />

REPRODUCTION AND PERFECT PHOIEC-<br />

TION—Every exhibitor, manager, pro)«ctionist,<br />

repairman, theatre circuit, college,<br />

etc. should have this LOOSE-LEAF SER-<br />

VICE MANUAL AND MONTHLY BULLE-<br />

TINS. Eosy-to-understond instructions on<br />

servicing Motiogrophs, Old and new Sijnplexs,<br />

Brenkort, Century, new Ballantyne,<br />

Cinemeccanic and Norelco Projectors<br />

"Step-by-Stsp" Servicing Tube and Transistor<br />

sound equipment—Automation Devices—Speaker<br />

Systems—Screens—Lenses<br />

—Rectifiers—Xenon and Arc Lamps—Schemtrtics<br />

on sound systems. New developments<br />

in theatre equipment. Send TO-<br />

DAYll MONTHLY SERVICE Bin.LETINS<br />

NEW PAGES FOR YOUR LOOSE-LEAF<br />

The pnce? ONLY S10.50 in U.S.A., CANA-<br />

DA. $12.50. Data is Reliable and Authenlc.<br />

Edited by the writer with 35 years ot<br />

Experience; 20 years Technical Editor the<br />

MODERN THEATRE. (Remittance parable<br />

to: Wesley Trout, Cash, Check, or P.O.<br />

No. CODs.) WESLEY TROUT, EDITOR.<br />

Bttjs Bldg., Box 57S, Enid. Oklahoma<br />

737DI.<br />

The WOMPIs are holding a membership<br />

drive party which is open to all women<br />

working in fikn industry-related fields<br />

Wednesday (19) at the Variety Club, 191<br />

Golden Gate Ave. No-host cocktails begin<br />

at 5:30 p.m., followed by a cold buffet supper<br />

at 7 p.m. W. Conrad Hoskins. Esquire,<br />

wiU speak on women's rights. The cost is<br />

a mere $3. Contact Jenny Somerville at<br />

Buena Vista (441- 7114) or Tillie Spadaro<br />

at United Artists Theatre Circuit (776-3200)<br />

now!<br />

SEATTLE<br />

Pat Moore, projectionist at the Capitol<br />

drive-ins, San Jose, has leased the former<br />

Saratoga Theatre, Saratoga, from Mason<br />

Shaw and renamed it the Vitaphone. With<br />

the aid of his wife Vi and his son, Pat maintains<br />

a relaxed and hospitable atmosphere Qolumbia Pictures screened "The Stepford<br />

in his operation, featuring free coffee, homemade<br />

cookies and quantities of movie mem-<br />

room on Filmrow Thursday (6) Univer-<br />

. . .<br />

Wives" at the Jewel Box screening<br />

orabilia in the lobby. The 455-seat house sal sneaked "The Great Waldo Pepper" at<br />

the 5th Avenue with its "The Front Page"<br />

Friday, January 31 . . . Sterling Recreation<br />

Organization and United Artists Corp. had<br />

a special invitational screening of "Lenny"<br />

at the Music Box Tuesday (4). The film<br />

opens locally at the Music Box Wednesday<br />

(12).<br />

"Stardust," a Columbia Pictures release,<br />

opened at the Uptown Theatre, a Sterling<br />

Recreation Organization flagship, first run<br />

Wednesday (5).<br />

Today newspapers, along with Buena Vista,<br />

had a coloring contest on the latest Walt<br />

Disney production, "The Strongest Man in<br />

the World," and 50 individual winners will<br />

receive pairs of passes to see the film at a<br />

designated theatre. Ralph Osgood of General<br />

Cinema Corp. obtained from Shasta Bottling<br />

ten<br />

packs of Shasta f>op for the top ten winners.<br />

There are 12 cans in each pack. Also,<br />

Randy West at the Food Giant Store was<br />

giving away special breakfast food to tie in<br />

with the picture, which opens Friday (14) at<br />

the Aurora Cinema, Renton Village Cinema<br />

and Bellevue Crossroads Cinema and the<br />

Sno-King and Valley drive-ins . . "Mr,<br />

.<br />

Ricco" and "The Outfit," on the same program,<br />

opened first run in SRO's Seattle 7th<br />

Avenue theatre January 31.<br />

"Murder on the Orient Express" was set<br />

to open at the UA Cinema 70 Wednesday<br />

(12). "The Godfather, Part 11" will continue<br />

at<br />

the UA Cinema 150 next door.<br />

"Swiss Family Robinson" (BV) was going<br />

great guns in the Aurora, Renton Village,<br />

Bellevue Ovcrlake and Everett Mall cinemas,<br />

while "The Tamarind Seed" with "The<br />

Dove" was doing big business in a third<br />

week at the Aurora Cinema . . . Clint Wineholt<br />

held o> cr "Gone With the Wind" for<br />

a fourth weekend in his neighborhood Bay<br />

theatre . . . King Donovan and Imogene<br />

Coca are headlining "Send Me No Flowers"<br />

at Gene Keen's Cirque Dinner Theatre.<br />

One «.f the leaders in the entire area continued<br />

to be "The Towering Inferno" at<br />

the<br />

Coliseum, while "Airport 1975" was still<br />

going strong in the Bellevue Crossroads Cinema.<br />

"Phantom of the Paradise" was the firstrun<br />

film in Bud Saffle and Jim Kniest's Neptune<br />

Theatre and "Earthquake" was still<br />

baffling patrons at Renton Village Cinema,<br />

Tacoma Villa Plaza, and the downtown<br />

King.<br />

Yours truly, Stu Goldman, motion picture<br />

editor of the Today newspapers here, and his<br />

counterpart Chris Koruga, of the Phoenix<br />

Today newspapers (and <strong>Boxoffice</strong> correspondent<br />

in that area), have been authorized<br />

by publisher William T. Moore to attend the<br />

ShoWest "75 convention in San Diego Monday<br />

(24) through Wednesday (26).<br />

Tom Stanford, advertising director at<br />

Sterling Recreation Organization, reported<br />

a fantastic success with their "The Man<br />

With the Golden Gun" contest promoted on<br />

KOL Radio. SRO had vehicles from the<br />

film in front of their John Danz, South<br />

Center and Lewis and Clark theatres, where<br />

the United Artists release played, and they<br />

actually gave away the car that was used<br />

in the chase scene to a Mrs. Sarah Weaver<br />

of this city. The auto was on display in the<br />

Northgate Shopping Mall for two weeks.<br />

KOL Radio ran a mystery location contest<br />

in conjunction with SRO's promotion.<br />

United Artists and Sterling Recreation<br />

Organization had a special closed invit.itional<br />

screening of "Lenny" Tuesday evening<br />

(4) at the Music Box. The fihn opens<br />

at this theatre Wednesday (12) . . . Universal<br />

sneaked "The Great Waldo Pepper" at the<br />

5th Avenue last January 31.<br />

Donald F. Donohue Dies<br />

SAN FRANCISCO—Donald F. Donohue,<br />

owner of two Marin theatres, died<br />

here January 16 following a five-week illness.<br />

Donohue, 60, owned movie theatres<br />

in Tiburon and Ignacio and was former<br />

owner of the Novate Theatre. He was a<br />

longtime resident of Marin and lived in<br />

Novato from 1950 until he moved to<br />

Occidental 18 months ago. Donohue was a<br />

member of the National Ass'n of Theatre<br />

Owners. He is survived by his wife, three<br />

daughters, a stepdaughter, stepson and his<br />

mother.<br />

Theatre Purchase Considered<br />

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. — A special<br />

committee designed to investigate public<br />

purchase of the Del Mar Theatre on Pacific<br />

Avenue for use as a community center has<br />

been set up by the board of supervisors.<br />

1<br />

Dan Cady Plans to Shoot<br />

'Slasher' Movie in LA<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Proving he's right on<br />

,<br />

top of the news, producer Daniel B. Cady<br />

has announced he'll begin filming "The<br />

Slasher" in downtown Los Angeles March 1.<br />

"The Slasher," of course, is still very much<br />

in the news, having terrorized Los Angeles<br />

with nine murders of men.<br />

Cady, however, has a screenplay by<br />

Andrew C. Wendover based on an original<br />

story by Eric Mason, who will star as the<br />

police lieutenant.<br />

W-4<br />

BOXOmCE :: Februaiy 10. 1975


. . . helps<br />

Scotty Stokes Emphasizes<br />

Vital Role of Promotion<br />

By CHRIS KORUGA<br />

PHOENIX—Charles "Scotty" Stokes is<br />

marking his 44th year in the theatre business<br />

a i-areer that has taken him through<br />

Scotty Stokes, manager of the Bethany<br />

Theatre, Phoenix, poses in front of<br />

the marquee announcing his current attraction,<br />

"Earthqualfe" in Sensurround.<br />

Stokes placed several speakers in front<br />

of the building so prospective patrons<br />

outside might be enticed by the electroacoustical<br />

vibrations of Sensurround.<br />

four different countries and countless<br />

cities<br />

as an usher, concession worker, assistant<br />

manager and manager. Scotty, as he is affectionately<br />

called by friends in the industry,<br />

has been an active force in promoting motion<br />

pictures since he was a wee lad in Glasgow,<br />

Scotland, where his illustrious career<br />

began as an usher in the La Scala Theatre.<br />

Working his way up to manager of the<br />

New Star, another Glasgow movie house,<br />

Stokes got his first chance to try out his<br />

hand at promoting a picture and, by all accoimts,<br />

its originality and effectiveness will<br />

go down in the books.<br />

While playing a first-run showing of "The<br />

Egg and I," starring Fred MacMurray and<br />

Claudette Colbert, Stokes came up with the<br />

idea of going out to all the dairies in the<br />

Glasgow area and, after obtaining consent<br />

from the owners, stamping a little message<br />

on each and every egg which eventually<br />

would end up in Glasgow stores. The message:<br />

"See "ITie Egg and I,' now playing at<br />

the New Star Theatre."<br />

Leaving Scotland in 1947, Scotty made<br />

his way to Long Island, where his theatrical<br />

occupations took him successively to Brooklyn,<br />

the Bronx, Harlem and then suburban<br />

New York houses. At these locations, some<br />

of his more outstanding campaigns (often<br />

staged at the rate of one or more a month)<br />

are still recalled.<br />

Once while playing the reissued "Mary<br />

Poppins," Scotty aimed a promotional campaign<br />

at children. Designing a herald, he<br />

stapled a packet of sugar to it with the<br />

caption reading: "Just a spoonful of sugar<br />

the medicine go down." He also<br />

sponsored a contest asking children to make<br />

up as many words as they could from<br />

"supercalifragilistic." One youngster turned<br />

in a list of 855 words.<br />

Says Stokes of his passion for promotion,<br />

"It's a crying shame that the art of exploitation<br />

is being replaced. I love doing the promotions<br />

and without them a large part of<br />

the joy of my work would be gone."<br />

The exploitation game has changed quite<br />

a bit since Stokes' first days in Scotland<br />

but he still anxiously awaits any picture<br />

that might have the potential of promotion.<br />

After hundreds of campaigns and ten<br />

Showmandiser Citations from <strong>Boxoffice</strong>,<br />

Scotty's attitude is summed up by this remark:<br />

"T think all managers should promote<br />

as often as possible. There is no product for<br />

which you can't come up with an idea for<br />

promotion. As for me, I do my own thing<br />

and will carry on promoting until I can't do<br />

it anymore."<br />

TUCSON<br />

^<br />

promotion man's dream was realized at<br />

Plitt Intefmountain Theatres" "Lenny"<br />

screening at 9:30 p.m. January 27 at the<br />

Catalina Theatre, when 400 invitees out of<br />

500 invited attended, according to Ernest<br />

Hoffman, city manager for PIT. The showing<br />

of the movie elicited favorable comments<br />

from the audience about Dustin Hoffman's<br />

performance, which some said might<br />

portend nomination for an Oscar.<br />

A bit of realism was injected into the<br />

showing of "The Godfather, Part 11" Friday<br />

night, January 31, when two young gunmen<br />

pulled a small-caliber revolver on the<br />

manager of the El Dorado Theatre, Michael<br />

Thomas, and forced him into the office,<br />

where he was ordered to open the safe.<br />

Thomas said he did not know the safe's<br />

combination, whereupon the pair bound and<br />

gagged him and departed.<br />

The Tucson 4 Drive-In joins with the<br />

Midway Drive-In as a weekend location for<br />

the growing number of swap meets in this<br />

city.<br />

In a recent column, it was incorrectly<br />

stated that the closing of the Fox Theatre<br />

left only one movie house in the downtown<br />

area of this city. There are three theatres in<br />

La Placita Village—at La Placita 3.<br />

The El Dorado Theatre tied-in with Western<br />

Savings January 23 for a free showing<br />

of "Paint Your Wagon," starring Lee Marvin.<br />

Clint Eastwood and Jean Scberg. Western<br />

Savings gave free tickets at all its<br />

branches. Door prizes were awarded during<br />

intermission . . . "After-shakes" continue<br />

from "Earthquake" at Showcase cinemas 1<br />

and 2 . . . "Challenge to Be Free," accepted<br />

by Tucsonans, moved on to La Placita Cinema<br />

3 and Cineworld 3, where it was held<br />

over. The Apache Drive-In exhibited it for<br />

several more nights following an extensive<br />

stay.<br />

Columbia Pictures' "Shampoo" will have<br />

its world premiere at the Coronet Theatre<br />

in New York Tuesday (11).<br />

Easier Debut Planned<br />

For GWT Yuma 3-Plex<br />

YUMA, ARIZ.—Steve Lane, president<br />

of Los Angeles-based Great Western TTieatres,<br />

announced that construction has begun<br />

on the Plaza theatres complex here. The<br />

project, a triplex seating approximately 700,<br />

was designed by prominent Los Angeles<br />

architect George Kirkpatrick. General contractor<br />

is William Anderson of Yuma.<br />

Lane anticipates an Easter opening for<br />

the Plaza theatres. The new showhouses will<br />

have a policy of first-run quality films, including<br />

the prominent blockbusters now<br />

setting boxoffice records nationwide.<br />

Film Series Is Under Way<br />

On ASU Campus at Tempe<br />

TEMPE, ARIZ.—A screening of Luis<br />

Bunuel's "The Discreet Charm of the<br />

Bourgeoisie" January 18 kicked off the<br />

spring semester film series presented by the<br />

Arizona State University Cultural Affairs<br />

Board. The series represents films from<br />

foreign countries as well as unique American<br />

classics. Showings are on weekends on<br />

the campus (for the university community).<br />

Among the foreign films scheduled are:<br />

"My Universities" (USSR), "Oliver Twist"<br />

(England), "Ordet" (Denmark), "Joe Hill"<br />

(Sweden), "Le Boucher" (France), "Dodes<br />

'Ka-Den" (Japan) and "Masculine/ Feminine"<br />

(France).<br />

American films to be included in the<br />

series are "Buck Privates" (1941), "She<br />

Done Him Wrong" (1933), "Star Spangled<br />

Rhythm" (1942) and "Images" (1971).<br />

2 Soundtracks Available<br />

On Color Super 8 Prints<br />

HOLLYWOOD — Crest National Film<br />

Laboratories here now manufactures color<br />

Super 8 prints which allow a choice of<br />

two soundtracks merely by clicking a switch.<br />

The tracks are optical.<br />

The device is being used by a film lab<br />

in France and Transcom, a division of Sun<br />

Strand Data Control Corp. The prints come<br />

with 10mm and 20mm dual silver-applicated<br />

tracks.<br />

ASCAP WC Meeting Feb. 26<br />

LOS ANGELES—The .semi-annual West<br />

Coast membership meeting of the American<br />

Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers<br />

will be held at p.m. Wednesday<br />

5<br />

(26) at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los<br />

Angeles, ASCAP president Stanley Adams<br />

announced.<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

When you come to Waikiki,<br />

'-'°"'' ^^ ^^^ famous<br />

fillMUClJil<br />

f^j^^ Don Ho Show. . . at<br />

[ HdreLs j Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAIKIKI: REEF<br />

• REEF TOWERS • EDGEWATER<br />

BOXOFnCE :: February 10, 1975 W.5


. . The<br />

Movies in Denver Are a Bargain Today<br />

In Top Entertainment, Readers Told<br />

DENVER—Taking up almost a full tab-<br />

you are willing to go early or travel far or<br />

loid page, the Rocky Mountain News Sunday<br />

wait awhile to see that picture everyone is<br />

(2) published a story with no by-line talking about.<br />

telling of bargains that are available when "Take, for instance, the Oriental, north<br />

you go to the movies. Readers were urged<br />

or the Gothic, south side. These family<br />

side,<br />

to phone their favorite theatre for informa-<br />

theatres charge only 50 cents for tickets<br />

tion, particularly to see if bargain prices<br />

were available.<br />

The article, in part, follows: "Approximately<br />

40 years ago, when there wasn't<br />

much to do and lots of people were out of<br />

work, anyone who could scrape together a<br />

quarter headed straight for the moving picture<br />

show. There were soup lines and apple<br />

peddlers on the streets in those days—which<br />

people say are coming back—but at the<br />

Bijou you always had a good time.<br />

Giving Away Groceries<br />

"And you didn't go just to see a double<br />

bill of 'It Happened One Night' and the<br />

latest Will Rogers comedy—no sirree! You<br />

went to win, maybe, a free set of dishes, a<br />

side of beef, a bingo game or a live turkey<br />

to carry home under your arm for Thanksgiving.<br />

Right here in Denver, at the old<br />

Bluebird, manager Ralph Batschelet used<br />

to dress his ushers in tuxes for Saturday<br />

night's de luxe grocery giveaway. Those<br />

were the days!<br />

the last animals trying to make it into<br />

Noah's ark.<br />

"They say that people are going back to<br />

the movies to escape the economy and being<br />

behind in car payments and worrying<br />

about getting laid off. Even TV isn't keeping<br />

them at home.<br />

'Great on a Big Screen'<br />

"Rich Vincent, who works for Mann<br />

Theatres, said that a big crowd came to sec<br />

'Yellow Submarine' at the Ogden right after<br />

the movie played on TV. 'Customers told<br />

me they saw it on TV in black and white<br />

with commercials and they thought it won'<br />

Italia, also playing 'The Godfather, Part II.<br />

be just great in color on a big screen,' Vin-<br />

charges $1.25 for the 1 p.m. show, then $2<br />

for the 4:45 p.m. show on Mondays<br />

cent said.<br />

"The same thing happened to 'Rosemary's<br />

Baby.' People felt the commercials really<br />

interrupted the suspense and tore up th


. . . Herman<br />

. . Dave<br />

; Rockwell.<br />

'''<br />

""'<br />

I*.<br />

» iTivei'<br />

''« or f(<br />

Cooper Testing<br />

New Idea in Palo Alto<br />

PALO ALTO, CALIF.—Until recently<br />

there were seven movie theatres in downtown<br />

Palo Alto and five more hardtops<br />

within about a three-mile radius. With so<br />

many film houses clustered so tightly, one<br />

could rightfully ask: 'Who needs another?"<br />

In a Palo Alto Times article advising<br />

"New Film Theatre Formula Tested." written<br />

by Paul Emerson, that question was<br />

answered as follows: "Two enterprising<br />

young men, Larry Rockwell and Dave<br />

Cooper, not only think there's room for one<br />

more theatre—they've gone ahead and<br />

opened one. It's called Biograph Cinema,<br />

an intimate but comfortable 139-seat house<br />

in a 'hole-in-the-wair location at 418 Ramona<br />

St., part of the quarters which until<br />

recently housed the controversial Drug<br />

Collective.<br />

"The new theatre will concentrate on<br />

short runs of quality current films. Biograph's<br />

present offering, 'Birds Do It, Bees<br />

Do It,' a much-lauded entry at last fall's<br />

San Francisco Film Festival, is typical of<br />

the kind of fare Rockwell and Cooper intend<br />

to present. This had a brief run at the<br />

Menlo Theatre a couple of months ago but<br />

was yanked to make room for a bigger,<br />

sure-fire hit.<br />

"Olograph's owners have now brought the<br />

film back to the area in hopes of attracting<br />

many of those who wanted to see it the<br />

first time around but didn't. Next Biograph<br />

will bring in the Beatles' last film. 'Magical<br />

Mystery Tour,' which will be the movie's<br />

first Peninsula appearance. Appropriately<br />

billed with it will be the popular animated<br />

Beatles' film, 'Yellow Submarine.'<br />

"Biograph's two partners, although young,<br />

bring a great deal of movie experience to<br />

their operation. Rockwell, 28, manages and<br />

is co-owner of another downtown Palo Alto<br />

mini-theatre, the 108-seat Festival Cinema<br />

on Hamilton Avenue. There, he has developed<br />

a very successful format of showing<br />

old classics at a relatively low admission.<br />

Before becoming a theatre owner, Rockwell<br />

worked for many years with film distribution<br />

firms. He also is a dedicated movie buff<br />

and some of his friends call him a 'walking<br />

encyclopedia' of film history.<br />

Cooper. 32, manager and chief projectionist<br />

at a larger, nearby theatre, has been<br />

working in movie houses for 17 years, starting<br />

as a doorman at the Fox in Burlingame<br />

in 1957. He also helped develop American<br />

Airlines'<br />

in-flight movie system.<br />

"In addition to sjiecializing in 'second<br />

runs' of first-run pictures, Rockwell and<br />

Cooper plan a fast turnover of their films.<br />

Most of them will run one week only. They<br />

want to get their audience to get used to<br />

looking for a new show every week.<br />

"By keeping overhead low, especially<br />

DENVER<br />

Jn town recently were Mike Powers and<br />

Robert Lippert jr. of Transcontinental<br />

Theatres, headquartered in San Francisco<br />

Hallberg of Highland Theatres<br />

Lin-<br />

traveled here from his headquarters in<br />

coln, Neb., and Jim Sheehan of General<br />

Cinema Corp.'s offices in Los Angeles called<br />

on distributors . . . Jerry Hale. Western division<br />

manager for Paramount Pictures, was<br />

here from Los Angeles .<br />

Edwards.<br />

Salt Lake City, also was in town transacting<br />

business.<br />

John Dahl of J/D Film Distributors of<br />

Salt Lake City was in town calling on accounts<br />

. . . Dick Stafford of Cardinal Distributing,<br />

San Francisco, called on local<br />

accounts and renewed acquaintances with<br />

friends here . . . Bates Farley, branch manager<br />

for Favorite Films of California, went<br />

to the West Coast for sales meetings . . .<br />

Columbia salesman Bruce Marshall returned<br />

from New York City, where a new contract<br />

through automated projectors, low rent and<br />

few employees, they also figure to keep their<br />

admission prices on the average of 50 cents<br />

to $1.50 under most of their competitors.<br />

"They also are proud of the comfortable<br />

seating (all the seats are out of the old Fox<br />

in Oakland), plenty of leg room between<br />

rows and 'the brightest, sharpest picture<br />

available anywhere in the area' through use<br />

of a small screen, powerful projectors and<br />

having to throw the light only a quarter or<br />

fifth the distance of the average movie theatre.<br />

And they will be showing cartoons and<br />

shorts on most bills."<br />

use/Universal Cinema<br />

Course June 23-Aug. 1<br />

LOS ANGELES—This summer it won't<br />

be unusual to see Universal Studios buses<br />

cruising through the University of Southern<br />

California campus even though the school<br />

is not part of the Universal tour. Passengers<br />

aboard the buses will be students from all<br />

over the country who have come to Los Angeles<br />

to participate in the USC-Universal<br />

Studios Summer Cinema Program, spending<br />

six weeks on both the USC campus and<br />

across town in the sprawling Universal City<br />

Studios.<br />

The unique, eight-unit course, the only<br />

one of its kind, is going into its ninth year.<br />

This summer's program will run from June<br />

23 to August 1.<br />

Open to both undergraduate and graduate<br />

noncinema majors and a few selected high<br />

school students, the course of study will be<br />

divided into three parts: a seminar in motion<br />

picture business, conducted at Universal by<br />

for the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen<br />

was negotiated.<br />

Universal Pictures screened "The Great<br />

Waldo Pepper" at the Cooper Theatres and<br />

Columbia had a studio sneak preview of<br />

"Funny Lady" at the Center Theatre . . .<br />

Ralph Albi of Westamerica Film Distributors<br />

made a guest appearance on the Jim<br />

Shannon TV show. In addition to his duties<br />

with Westamerica, Albi also writes the "Trivia"<br />

column which is featured each Sunday<br />

in the "Empire" section of the Post. He is<br />

regarded as an expert on motion pictures.<br />

Jack Felix and Jack and Betty Micheletti<br />

of J&B Film Distributors have packed their<br />

desks and office supplies and moved into<br />

larger facilities. The firm will remain in the<br />

Lincoln Tower Building, next door to their<br />

old location. The larger office will enable<br />

them to handle their expanding business<br />

more conveniently.<br />

studio executives and specialists in various<br />

aspects of filmmaking; an 8mm film workshop<br />

where each student makes two films,<br />

and a course in the history and criticism of<br />

film conducted via lecture-discussions and<br />

special screenings.<br />

The studio seminars will be focused<br />

around the making of a major feature film,<br />

with the students meeting with people involved<br />

in the production of the movie. During<br />

one summer session, students spent time<br />

with the cast and crew of "The Sting."<br />

"It's a sampler for those interested in<br />

motion pictures," says Mrs. Mona Kantor,<br />

program director. "It whets a person's appetite<br />

and, after taking the course, many<br />

students give up their current careers to<br />

pursue a career in cinema."<br />

Enrollment in the program is limited to<br />

40 and registration is already under way.<br />

Cost is $851 for tuition and lab fees.<br />

Mark Counts Helms Fox Theatre<br />

RAWLINS, WYO.—Mark Counts of<br />

Denver, Colo., is the new manager of the<br />

Fox Theatre here. Counts, 23, attended the<br />

University of Northern Colorado, Western<br />

State and Denver Community College. Jeff<br />

Anderson, former manager of the Fox,<br />

plans to return to the University of Wyoming.<br />

THEATRE LIST<br />

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15,000 listings. Indoor, outdoor. Individual<br />

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. . . The<br />

SALT LAKE CITY<br />

John Dahl of JD Theatre Service Distributing<br />

announced New World Pictures' release,<br />

"Last Days of Man on Earth," will<br />

open at the Capitol Theatre and the Redwood<br />

Drive-In Tuesday (25) Federico<br />

. . .<br />

Fellini's award-winning "Amarcord" will be<br />

opening in this territory on or about March<br />

Nominating Committee Is<br />

Named by Ho/LA WOMPI<br />

HOLLYWOOD — The Hollywood/ Los<br />

Angeles WOMPIs have elected a nominating<br />

committee which will present a slate of<br />

officers to the membership for April balloting.<br />

Chairman of the nominating committee<br />

is Adelaide Guggenheim of Warner Bros.<br />

Other members of the committee are<br />

Marjorie Karl, 20th Century-Fox; Iris Ross,<br />

20th Century-Fox; Susan Gottlieb, Optical<br />

Print Services, and Gertrude Irwin, retired<br />

from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.<br />

Election of the committee was the first<br />

order of business at the January meeting,<br />

with president Evelyn Gordon presiding.<br />

Parliamentarian Elena Vassar conducted the<br />

election of the nominating committee, explaining<br />

to the new members their function<br />

and importance.<br />

At the meeting, program chairman<br />

Shirley Lutes also advised that the February<br />

program get-together would be a<br />

"surprise," with members busing from 20th<br />

Century-Fox to their restaurant destination.<br />

Romayne Hoffman, ways - and - means<br />

chairman, explained the next fund-raising<br />

project for the club, which hopefully will<br />

For Prompt Personal Attention i)<br />

Equipment, Supplies or Service<br />

PETERSON THEATRE SUPPLY<br />

19 E. 2nd South<br />

Salt Lake City, Utah 84<br />

saturation on "Moonrunners." This action<br />

feature stars Jim Mitchum and is a sequel<br />

to "Thunder Road."<br />

Dane S. Denick, national sales manager<br />

for Macbeth Sales, firm which handles<br />

xenon products, was in this city on business.<br />

bring a huge profit into the charity account.<br />

Ms. Betty Rose of 20th Century-Fox was<br />

named chairman for the June installationof-officers<br />

event and industry service chairman<br />

Gail Lindsey discussed the forthcoming<br />

projects for Filmex, the Center Films for<br />

Children and the club's other projects in<br />

this<br />

category.<br />

Community service chairman Lee Hanna<br />

asked for volunteers for the KTLA-TV<br />

"Help Thy Neighbor" program, KCEPs<br />

PBS pledge night and the donation of<br />

clothes, cosmetics, etc., for the YWCA<br />

rehabilitation program to assist women just<br />

being released from prisons.<br />

The response from the membership on<br />

all requests for assistance was outstanding<br />

and president Gordon thanked all WOMPIs<br />

for their generosity.<br />

USC/SMPTE Course Deals<br />

With Post-Production<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Post-production in motion<br />

pictures and TV will be the theme of a<br />

special noncredit course being offered at<br />

the University of Southern California.<br />

Each year the USC Division of Cinema<br />

and the Society of Motion Picture & Television<br />

Engineers' education committee sponsor<br />

a course for craftsmen in the moviemaking<br />

industry and this year special guests<br />

such as director Robert Wise and composer<br />

John Green will lecture each week on the<br />

various stages a picture goes through before<br />

it is "in the can."<br />

Appointments Announ' ed<br />

For Communion Breakiast<br />

BEVERLY HILLS—Al Simms, president<br />

of the Motion Picture, Television, Radio &<br />

Recording Industries Communion Breakfast<br />

committee, has announced the following<br />

appointments for the silver anniversary<br />

celebration of the event, to be held March<br />

9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel: M. J. E.<br />

McCarthy, honorary chairman; Betty Hope,<br />

vice-chairwoman; Duke Douglyn, vicechairman;<br />

Sammie Lanham, secretary; Dennis<br />

Winnie and Frances Musca, tickets; Jack<br />

26.<br />

August Nardoni of Sero Amusement just<br />

Sid Morely of Union Carbide, who headquarters<br />

returned from a trip to Los Angeles, where<br />

he baptized his new grandson Ralph Frank<br />

in San Francisco, was in town on<br />

business . . . Mike Powers of Lippert Theatres,<br />

Nardoni, named after his father, who also DeMave and Tony Caruso, dais guests, and<br />

also based in San Francisco,<br />

works for<br />

visited<br />

Sero .'Amusement in Los Angeles Matt Gilligan and Betty Hope, patrons.<br />

here on business.<br />

annual NATO convention will be Also, Karol Blaze and John Hurey, programs;<br />

Ann Hahn and Sam Agoila, flowers<br />

held March 4-5 at Gregson Springs, Mont.,<br />

Wayne Kullander, city manager for Interstate<br />

located approximately 14 miles from Butte, and decorations; Jim Lagano and Ann Col-<br />

Mont.<br />

Amusement Co., Twin Falls, Ida., and<br />

lins, hotel arrangements; Frank Cleary and<br />

his lovely wife spent Friday, January 24,<br />

Jim Whims, mass and ushers, and Roberta<br />

through Monday, January 27, vacationing A test screening for all women (by invitation)<br />

Murray and Julian F. Myers, publicity.<br />

DeMave announces the following have<br />

. . . and visiting friends in this city Richard<br />

Morris, owner of the Starlight Twin Cinema of "A Woman Under the Influence"<br />

was held Monday afternoon (3) at the Fox accepted invitations to be on the dais: Ed<br />

and Sunset Drive-In, Pocatello, Ida., was Cottonwood Mall Theatre. This picture is Asner, Jack Naars, Joseph Campanella, Jo<br />

town on business.<br />

on many of the "ten best of '74" lists. Ann Pflug, Claude Akins and Linda Kay<br />

in<br />

Henning.<br />

Bob Loftis of United Artists reports that Newell Drinkall, owner of the Pix Theatre,<br />

Nampa, Ida., was in town on<br />

playdates are being accepted for a June 1<br />

HONOLULU<br />

business.<br />

Qonsolidated Amusement Co. and United<br />

Artists scheduled three special previews<br />

for the Bob Fosse film starring Dustin Hoffman,<br />

"Lenny." The first, an invitational<br />

affair, was held at Waikiki 2 Tuesday, January<br />

28. This was followed by respective<br />

screenings at the Varsity Theatre and Waikiki<br />

1 for the general public the next two<br />

evenings. Of particular interest was the<br />

fact<br />

that Lenny Bruce had f>crformed locally in<br />

the old Orchid Room of the Waikiki Tavern<br />

some time during the '50s.<br />

The Advertiser's entertainment editor.<br />

Wayne Harada, is back at his desk after<br />

visiting New Orleans, an interview with<br />

"Lenny" star Valerie Perrine and huddles<br />

in San Francisco with Walt von Hauffc,<br />

United Artists' busy publicity man.<br />

Gerard Damiano's "Memories Within<br />

Miss Aggie" is racking up some kind of a<br />

long-run record in Cisco Yu's theatres.<br />

Moving from Waipahu I to the downtown<br />

Rex 1001, it then went into Penthouse. This<br />

run was followed by unspoolings at Waipahu<br />

II and Penthouse II—and another swing<br />

around like a daisy chain.<br />

Billed as "the theatrical event of the season,"<br />

Royal Shakespeare Company Productions'<br />

"The Hollow Crown" and "Pleasure<br />

of Repentance" will be staged at the HIC<br />

Concert Theatre this month. Sir Michael<br />

Redgrave will arrive in Honolulu soon to<br />

appear in the double attraction.<br />

Solt Lake • Boston • Dallas • New York<br />

NIVERSAL THEATRE SUPPLY<br />

- HOME OFFICE -<br />

264 East 1st South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111<br />

BOXOFnCE :: February 10, 1975


c^iast<br />

Harev,<br />

Illinois NATO to Be<br />

Regional Confab Host<br />

CHICAGO—Jack Clark, president, announced<br />

that the National Ass'n of Theatre<br />

Owners of IlHnois will act as hosts for<br />

the 1975 Mid-America NATO regional<br />

convention. Reservations for rooms and<br />

exposition space have been confirmed at<br />

the Arlington Hotel & Towers for the period<br />

of July 15, 16 and 17.<br />

This resort hotel is located in suburban<br />

Arlington Heights, a short distance northwest<br />

of the city of Chicago. It is modern<br />

facilities<br />

in every respect and the overall<br />

meet all the NATO requirements.<br />

For entertainment, attendees are only<br />

a stone's throw from the Arlington Race<br />

Track and the hotel itself offers theatrein-the-round,<br />

nightclub entertainment, golf<br />

course and other attractions.<br />

Clark said it is intended to reserve a<br />

day at the Arlington Hotel on or about<br />

April I for the purpose of inviting the<br />

principal officers of all units to join in<br />

establishing a proper format of business<br />

meetings and entertainment. At that time<br />

there will be a tour of the facilities.<br />

Co-chairmen Harold J. Klein and Jack<br />

Clark invite questions from those wishing<br />

additional information.<br />

Benefit Program Planned<br />

In Fort Wayne's Embassy<br />

FORT WAYNE, IND.—The Embassy<br />

Theatre Foundation plans to permit a benefit<br />

program in the darkened Embassy Theatre<br />

here Tuesday (25) as part of its<br />

drive to raise $250,000 to purchase the<br />

theatre and another $250,000 to restore ii<br />

minimally and begin operations. The theatre<br />

is now owned by Sportservice of Buffalo,<br />

N.Y.<br />

The Allen County Women's Club and<br />

some PTA groups plan to sponsor a program,<br />

"Alcoholism in the Schools," in the<br />

theatre and donate all proceeds to the<br />

foundation.<br />

5$ fVATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE ^^<br />

^ NEW TECHNIKOTE ^<br />

g SCREENS<br />

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. . Lcvitt-Pickman<br />

CHICAGO<br />

^he movie "Stardust," said to be London's<br />

biggest hit, opens at the Esquire Theatre<br />

here this month. It is the second in a<br />

series of pictures. The third deals with what<br />

happens to a big rock star after he is 35.<br />

According to further reports about moviemaking<br />

on the local scene, a new movie will<br />

be filmed in southern Illinois and two pic-<br />

ernor's office, said the IPS is budgeted for<br />

$25,000 through June of this year, with a<br />

requested annual budget of $80,000 to be<br />

used to mount an aggressive ad campaign in<br />

movie trade journals, etc.<br />

"Dodes' Ka-Den" opened at the K-B<br />

Adelphi Co.'s 400 Theatre on the far north<br />

side. This is four years after the film's premiere<br />

in Tokyo. It is the only movie directed<br />

by Akira Kurosawa in the last ten years.<br />

Rick Rice, Paramount Pictures branch<br />

manager, spent a week on the West Coast<br />

. . . Charles Cooper, head of Gratis Short<br />

Subjects, is setting up showings of a new<br />

short, "Challenge in the Earth," free to all<br />

theatres. This subject recently won the<br />

Grand Award in the 1974 International<br />

Film & TV Festival in New York. "Portrait<br />

of a Railroad," an award-winning featurette<br />

which has made a hit in a number of Plitt<br />

theatres, also is keeping the Gratis staff<br />

busy.<br />

For certain, "Emmanuelle," called the<br />

new "well-done se.x movie from France,"<br />

has been a top subject of comment. The<br />

invitational opening at the Michael Todd<br />

Theatre was a highly successful affair, with<br />

a capacity crowd of 450 guests in full dress<br />

making only favorable comments, even<br />

though some carefully groped for the proper<br />

descriptive words. Roger Ebert, who gave<br />

the film a three-star rating in the Sun-<br />

Times, said, in part: " "Emmanuelle' is a<br />

silly, classy, enjoyable erotic film that just<br />

became the all-time boxoffice success in<br />

France. It's not remotely significant enough<br />

to deserve that honor, but in terms of its<br />

genre (soft-core skin flick) it's very well<br />

done: lushly photographed on location in<br />

Thailand, filled with attractive and intrigu-<br />

tures will be filmed in our town. This is said<br />

ing people and scored with brittle, teasing<br />

to be the result of efforts by Illinois Film<br />

music. Now that hard-core porno has become<br />

more or less passe, it's a relief to see<br />

Services, recently created by Gov. Dan<br />

Walker. Richard M. Holtzman, 23, a campaign<br />

aide and staff member of the gov-<br />

a movie that drops the gynecology and returns<br />

to a certain amount of sexy sophistica-<br />

WE VE NEVER MISSED AN OPENING'<br />

John Roberts, who has been serving as<br />

Buena Vista branch manager here for the<br />

past few years, is transferring to Kansas<br />

City, where he will be serving Buena Vista<br />

in the same capacity. The move is a source<br />

of distress for industry members here. John<br />

has been highly respected in this area for<br />

his astuteness and accomplishments.<br />

Virgil Jones, division manager of JMG<br />

Film Co. based here, spent a few days in<br />

Cincinnati to discuss 1975 product for this<br />

city. Milwaukee. Pittsburgh and Minneapolis<br />

territories with JMG president Jay Goldberg.<br />

One of the upcoming movies is an<br />

outdoor action film entitled "Timber<br />

Tramps," from Alaska Pictures. The arrangements<br />

for the handling of this PG-rated<br />

movie in the Cincinnati. Indianapolis, Cleveland,<br />

Detroit, Chicago. Milwaukee, Pittsburgh<br />

and Minneapolis territories were<br />

completed when Charles Keen of Alaska<br />

Pictures met with Goldberg in Cincinnati.<br />

Select Film Co. is finding its new and<br />

larger quarters in Room 710, Civic Tower<br />

Bldg.. 32 West Randolph St., are right in<br />

line with the company's increased operations<br />

and Select Film<br />

chose the M&R Oriental Theatre for the<br />

Illinois premiere engagement of "Shoot It:<br />

WE DELIVER.<br />

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Black, Shoot It: Blue." The opening is scheduled<br />

for this month . . . Veteran film distributor<br />

Sidney Kaplan announced the formation<br />

of a new company, S-K Fikns. Independent<br />

product for the Illinois and Wisconsin<br />

territories will be handled by S-K<br />

Films and included will be the exclusive<br />

distribution in this territory of Ellman Film<br />

Enterprises product. Kaplan's new affiliation<br />

will not, however, in any way affect<br />

his relationship with Select Film Co., where<br />

he is local sales manager.<br />

Variety Tent 4 Announces<br />

Telethon Poster Children<br />

ST. LOUIS—Variety Club Tent 4 members<br />

introduced the poster boy and girl for<br />

its ninth annual Telethon Crusade fo;<br />

Forgotten Children at a reception for local<br />

print and broadcast media representatives<br />

held January 30 at the Chase-Park Plaza<br />

Hotel. Telethon chairman Ed Dorsey introduced<br />

the children to the press, remarking:<br />

"Were very happy to have these two<br />

special people representing all the children<br />

helped by the Variety Club. Their courage<br />

and generosity are an example to us all<br />

and 1 know they'll help our telethon cause<br />

tremendously."<br />

The poster children for the 1975 video<br />

marathon are Jimmie Roberts, 6, and Cindy<br />

Roth, 4. Jimmie born with spinabifeda,<br />

walks with the aid of crutches and attends<br />

first grade at the Ackerman Special School.<br />

Cindy, a victim of cerebral palsy, can walk<br />

with the aid of canes and says she wants<br />

to be a movie star when she grows up, "just<br />

like the telethon star, Maureen Arthur."<br />

Tent 4's telethon will take place Saturday<br />

(15) and Sunday (16) and will be<br />

teleca.st over KPLR-TV, Channel II, live<br />

and in color from the Khorassan Room<br />

of the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel.<br />

More than 70 children's agencies will receive<br />

support from the funds raised by<br />

the telethon, which stars Maureen Arthur.<br />

Blake Emmons, Smilin' Jack Smith and<br />

other national and local talent. The telethon<br />

opens Saturday night (15) with a<br />

gala $100-per-person "Dinner With the<br />

Stars," then at 10 p.m. the live broadcast<br />

will begin, to continue until 6 p.m. Sunday<br />

(16).<br />

Tickets for the dinner are available by<br />

calling 878-4222 or 367-5437.<br />

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MINNEAPOLIS /JACK KELVIE<br />

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i( Average<br />

800 in Kansas City 1st Signals 'Go<br />

For 'Murder on Orient Express<br />

KANSAS CITY— -Murder on the Orient<br />

Express" found the right track in its debut<br />

here at the GJenwood 1. Crowds waited in<br />

line in the freezing cold and were turned<br />

away at many showings because there were<br />

no seats left. The Agatha Christie thriller<br />

pulled 800 to top all first runs. "The Savage<br />

Is Loose" also packed them in with 270 in<br />

a first week. Staying power was matched by<br />

"Freebie and the Bean," "The Towering<br />

Inferno," "The Godfather, Part II." all in<br />

the 200 range. Also showing surprisingly<br />

good legs was action-chase feature "Gone<br />

In 60 Seconds." 1 10 in a fifth week at four<br />

theatres.<br />

Is 100)<br />

Blue Ridge 1, Prospect I ^The Island at the<br />

Top of the World (BV), 6th wk 125<br />

Brywood, I, Ranchmart 3 Freebie and the Bean<br />

(WB), 5th wk 290<br />

Cameo Block Eye (WB), Black Sampson (WB) . . 20<br />

Embassy 1, 2.—The Front Poge (Univ), 6th wk. . .160<br />

Empire I, Glenwood 2 The Godfather, Part II<br />

(Para), 6th wk 240<br />

Fine Arts—Child 1 50<br />

Under a Leaf (SR)<br />

Four Theatres Gone in 60 Seconds (SR),<br />

5th wk no<br />

Four Theatres The Life ond Times of Grizzly<br />

Adams (SR), 3rd wk 185<br />

Glenwood 1 ^Murder on the Orient Express<br />

(Para) 800<br />

I Midland Eorthquake (Univ), th wk 150<br />

Plaza The Towering Inferno (WB/20fh-Fox)<br />

6th wk 240<br />

Ranchmart 1 The Savage is Loose (Compbell-<br />

Devon) 270<br />

Three Theatres ^Nothing By Chance (SR) 55<br />

^Flcsh Watts Mill 4 Gordon (SR), 6th wk 135<br />

'LennY,' Towering Inferno'<br />

Tied at 300 in Chicago Grosses<br />

CHICAGO—Despite the brief closings of<br />

several theatres while fire code violations<br />

were corrected, grosses for the most part<br />

remained on the high side. Upper bracket<br />

business was reported by "Young Frankenstein"<br />

with 235 and "Freebie and the Bean"<br />

and "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams"<br />

at outlying theatres. "Lenny" and "The<br />

"Towering Inferno" both scored 300 in<br />

holdover weeks.<br />

Carnegie Young Fronkenstein (20th^Fox),<br />

7th wk 235<br />

Chicago The Towering Inferno (WB/20th-Fox),<br />

6th wk 300<br />

150<br />

300<br />

-Lenny (UA), 7th wk<br />

(AI


'Wonder of It All'<br />

350 in Memphis<br />

MEMPHIS— -Wonder of It AH" debuted<br />

here at three houses with a strong 350 at<br />

all situations. "The Towering Inferno." leading<br />

first runs for the sixth week, scored 900<br />

at Crosstown. "Earthquake" fell to 175 in a<br />

tie with "Freebie and the Bean."<br />

(Average Is 100)<br />

Crosstown—The Towering Inferno (WB/20th-Fox),<br />

6th wk 900<br />

Loews—The Chose for the Golden Needles (AlP);<br />

Sovoge Sisters ;AIP) 00<br />

]<br />

Memphion—The Groove Tube ;SR), 7th wk 100<br />

Paramount—The Front Page (Umv), 5th wk 100<br />

Park— Eorthquoke ,Univ), 1 1th wk 175<br />

Plaza<br />

1 The Godfather, Port II (Para), 6th wk, .125<br />

Plaza 2—Freebie and the Boon (WB), 6th wk. ... 1 75<br />

Village, Raleigh, Whitehaven Wonder of It All<br />

(SR) 350<br />

'Towering Iniemo' in Fourth<br />

Tops New Orleans With 900<br />

NEW ORLE.\NS — "The Towering Inferno"<br />

was still at the top of the list with<br />

900 in a fourth week at the Robert E. Lee.<br />

"Earthquake" rumbled at 500 in its fifth<br />

week and "Abby" posted a rating of 400.<br />

Robert E Le^Thc Towering Inferno<br />

(WB/20th-Fox), 4th wk 900<br />

Joy— Earthquake (Umv), 5th wk 500<br />

Orpheum—Abby (AlP), 4th wk 400<br />

Theatre Robbery Trial<br />

Begins in Durham, S.C.<br />

DURHAM. S.C—The trial of a man accused<br />

in the 1973 armed robbery and shooting<br />

at Yorktowne Theatre here began January<br />

15 in Durham Superior Court.<br />

Auburn Glenn Johnson is the third person<br />

to be tried on the charges in the Dec.<br />

15, 1973, incident which resulted in theatre<br />

manager James Beaulieu losing the use of<br />

his left arm as a result of injuries.<br />

Johnson is charged with taking $240 at<br />

gunpoint from Mrs. Muriel Lamberth. assistant<br />

manager of the theatre.<br />

Previously. Joe McGill pleaded guilty and<br />

testified for the state. Weldon Mason was<br />

convicted by a jury and received a total of<br />

50 years in sentences. McGill was given a<br />

suspended 10- to 15-year sentence, fined<br />

$1000 and placed on probation for five<br />

years. Mason was the one who shot manager<br />

Beaulieu.<br />

Dixie Entertainment Offers<br />

Special Film Distribution<br />

CHAMBLEE. GA.—Donald D. Shafer<br />

and Rick Luder announce the formation of<br />

a new distribution company, Dixie Entertainment<br />

Agency, Chamblee.<br />

The two combined a decade of experience<br />

in the film business to form the partnership<br />

with contracts expected on "several exciting<br />

properties, shortly." They plan to represent<br />

producers with films needing specialized<br />

marketing techniques.<br />

Dixie also announced agreement with<br />

Conrad Brooks, producer of the short "Mystery<br />

in the Shadows," to distribute worldwide.<br />

Several foreign market negotiations<br />

are pending.<br />

The firm's address is P.O. Box 80075,<br />

Chamblee, 30341 and telephone is (404)<br />

451-8520 and 874-6173.<br />

BOXOFPICE :: Febiiiary 10, 1975<br />

OPENING NIGHT — Gaston Bureau,<br />

of American International Pictures,<br />

and Tex Stevens, of the Louisiana<br />

Weekly News, greet Carol Speed,<br />

star of "Abby," opening night at New<br />

Orleans' Orpheum.<br />

Film Ventures Int'l Has<br />

'Beyond the Door' Rights<br />

.A.TL.ANTA—Edward L. Montoro. president<br />

of Film Ventures International, said<br />

Saturday (1) his firm had completed acquisition<br />

for "Beyond the Door."<br />

Negotiations had required four trips to<br />

Europe in as many weeks, Montoro announced.<br />

The film is expected to be the<br />

company's biggest grossing blockbuster to<br />

date. Made in San Francisco, the film stars<br />

Juliet Mills and Richard Johnson. A contemporary<br />

thriller directed in Technicolor<br />

by Oliver Hellman, "Beyond the Door" is a<br />

shocking story whose title theme of "Bargain<br />

With the Devil" is in release on the<br />

Cam label.<br />

Other recent releases have included<br />

"When Women Lost Their Tails." "When<br />

Women Had Tails" and "Boot Hill." Included<br />

in the 12 1975 FVI releases are "The<br />

Factory." "Mafia Confidential," "Go for<br />

Broke" and "The X-rated Girl."<br />

Steve Foglia Takes Reins<br />

DECATUR, ILL.—Steve Foglia has been<br />

named manager of Kerasotes' Lincoln Theatre,<br />

141 South Main St., succeeding Harold<br />

Williams, who managed the house when it<br />

was operated by Plitt Theatres. Williams is<br />

now employed at a Plitt circuit theatre in<br />

Pekin, 111. Foglia previously was assistant<br />

manager of Cinema I and II in Northgate<br />

Mall.<br />

'Macon' Filming Under Way<br />

FORSYTH. GA.—American International's<br />

"Return to Macon County" has started<br />

filming<br />

here with Richard Compton directing<br />

from his own screenplay for producer<br />

Elliot Schick. The picture is a follow-up to<br />

the highly successful "Macon County Line."<br />

and Nick Nolte has been set as one of the<br />

stars.<br />

Ellis Signs Pact<br />

Wilh Forum Owner<br />

ATLANTA—George Ellis and his son<br />

Michael have signed a written agreement<br />

with Film Forum Theatre owner Louis<br />

Osteen to share equally in the organization's<br />

profits for one year.<br />

The agreement came after five weeks of<br />

negotiations and re[>ercussions from the business<br />

decision Osteen made in November to<br />

relieve the Ellises of management responsibilities.<br />

Ellis and Michael had become fixtures at<br />

the 174-seat Film Forum, described as "an<br />

oasis in an area barren of real 'art' films."<br />

Ellis senior, after unfortunate experiences<br />

with other film ventures downtown, found<br />

the right formula at the Forum. He booked<br />

films no other operators would touch and<br />

offered a clientele of young film devotees<br />

prices they could afford.<br />

'Handshake' Only<br />

The Ellises described their previous arrangement<br />

with Osteen on the theatre's<br />

operation as one of those "handshake binders"<br />

with nothing down in black and white<br />

on paper. And in the absence of a written<br />

contract between Osteen and Ellis, there was<br />

no legal reason to dispute Osteen's decision.<br />

But the fans of the Forum intervened.<br />

.Attendance at the Forum dwindled to a<br />

trickle and a boycott committee was organized.<br />

Delores French, an officer of the committee,<br />

said film patrons marched in front<br />

of the theatre with picket signs and more<br />

than 1.000 signed petitions at the theatre<br />

itself.<br />

"George and Mike came to theatre when<br />

it was losing money and then, after two<br />

years,<br />

they built up the business and started<br />

getting good movies and showing them at<br />

$1 admission prices. We were really outraged<br />

that their business was taken away,"<br />

she said.<br />

'Things WiU Be Better'<br />

"1 think things will be better as a result.<br />

People will become more aware of the theatre<br />

now," Ellis said, adding that his loyal<br />

patrons had stayed away in sufficient numbers<br />

that the operation was shut down for<br />

nearly a month.<br />

Films booked for the Forum are mainly<br />

those that are passed up by larger commercial<br />

playhouses.<br />

Osteen heads Ansley Amusement Corp.,<br />

which a year ago bought the Forum from<br />

the defunct franchise operators. Modular<br />

Mini-Cinemas of America. Osteen was cofounder<br />

and president of that firm.<br />

Ellis has managed the 175-seat Forum<br />

since May 1971. Previously he had operated<br />

the Festival Cinema, a 9S-seat jewel box of<br />

a theatre in the downtown section. When<br />

business fell off and Ellis turned to adult<br />

film product, protests followed and the<br />

Ellises ended the venture. He is also widely<br />

known in the Atlanta area as an actor, with<br />

credits in the new United Artists release<br />

"Moonrunners" and as "Bestoink Dooley"<br />

on Atlanta TV.


. . . Lou<br />

ATLANTA<br />

left UA to accept a position with New<br />

World Pictures on the West Coast.<br />

Qeorgia's efforts to lure moviemakers to shot here with budgets totaling close to $20<br />

million.<br />

the state via its Department of Community<br />

Development's Public Relations and<br />

Film Division continue to bear fruit. Three Mrs. Mary Spence, who died during<br />

such projects have been added to the list, January, was a well-known figure on Filmrow<br />

according to Ed Spivia, director of the<br />

here in years past. She was secretary<br />

Georgia project. Already shooting in Forsyth<br />

Monroe<br />

National Screen Service branch manager<br />

to<br />

Charlie Lester, worked for Kay Films and<br />

and counties is American In-<br />

ternational Pictures' sequel to "Macon other industry branches. She retired, lost her<br />

County Line," the year's big grosser for<br />

that company. Titled "Return to Macon<br />

County Line," the picture will cost<br />

$800,000. Lou Arkoff, son of AIP's president,<br />

Sam Arkoff, is in Forsyth as a member<br />

of the crew.<br />

Burt Reynolds, whose top-grossing prison<br />

football comedy, "The Longest Yard," was<br />

filmed in the Georgia State Prison at Reidsville,<br />

is making plans to start a picture entitled<br />

"Gator" in the Savannah coastal area<br />

shortly . . . Recently Sidney Poitier, Academy<br />

Award winner, scouted Atlanta for<br />

suitable locations for a film shooting schedule<br />

that will start in May with Bill Cosby<br />

in the lead. Georgia is an ideal state for<br />

location shooting because it has mountains,<br />

plains, rushing rivers ("Deliverance"), miles<br />

of coastline, bustling cities, thousands of<br />

lakes and the large pool of acting talent and<br />

technicians in Atlanta. Since the state went<br />

into the film-attracting business at the instigation<br />

of former Gov. Jimmy Carter,<br />

more than 25 full-length features have been<br />

FOR ALL YOUR THEATRE NEEDS<br />

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sight and lived with her sister, Mrs. Riith<br />

H. Vaughn. Elizabeth Wallace, of National<br />

Screen Service, and WOMPI Bernice Wasson<br />

represented the industry at her funeral<br />

Leonard, biller for many years at<br />

National Screen Service, died recently from<br />

cancer.<br />

Tradepress screenings at 20th Century-<br />

Fox's Filmrow Playhouse included "Alice<br />

Doesn't Live Here Anymore," Warner<br />

Brothers; "Best Friends," distributed by<br />

Clark Films; "Prelude to Happiness," distributed<br />

by Grimes Enterprises; "The Violent<br />

Professionals" and "If You Don't Stop<br />

It," distributed by General Film Distributors;<br />

"The Stepford Wives," Columbia;<br />

"Steppenwolf," distributed by Harnell Independent<br />

Productions; "The Ultimate Thrill,"<br />

distributed by L-T Films; and "The Devil's<br />

Garden," distributed by Bradley Films.<br />

Barron Godbee jr., general manager of<br />

Pal Amusement Co., Vidalia, and Ward<br />

Bennett of Abbeville were visiting Filmrow<br />

branches last week . . . Harry Purdy, 20th<br />

Century-Fox office manager, returned to his<br />

duties Monday (3) after enjoying a minivacation<br />

and Margaret Hilley, booker, is<br />

taking a respite from her duties with a<br />

winter holiday.<br />

Dewey Bentley has resigned his position<br />

with Clark Film Releasing Co. and joined<br />

the ranks of the United Artists Exchange as<br />

a salesman, replacing Michael Kelly, who<br />

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mare," Loew's Grand; "The Devil's Garden."<br />

Loew's Grand; "Airport 1975," South<br />

DeKalb, Westgate and Cobb Center I;<br />

"Murder on the Orient Express," Cobb<br />

Center II; "Harry & Tonto," Cinema 285:<br />

"Swiss Family Robinson," Belvedere, Miracle<br />

and Ben Hill I; "Cabaret," Peachtree<br />

Battle.<br />

Within 24 hours after tickets went on sale<br />

for an Elvis Presley concert May 1 at the<br />

Omni at $10 top, the ticket racks for the<br />

17,228-seat hall were clean. A second concert<br />

was quickly arranged and again all<br />

the<br />

ducats were gone before 24 more hours.<br />

Now a third concert, to precede the other<br />

two, has been set up for 8:30 p.m. April 30<br />

and there is no doubt that this one, too,<br />

will be a sellout. The third show was slated<br />

after Presley canceled a show in Asheville,<br />

N.C.<br />

A series of motion pictures by film director<br />

Fritz Lang, whose career began in the<br />

1920s, are being shown in February in the<br />

Walter Hill auditorium of the High Museum<br />

of Art. The first film shown was "Metropolis,"<br />

the 1927 silent film which is an expressionistic<br />

vision of a struggle between<br />

management and labor in a city of the<br />

future. Two films that followed later, "M"<br />

(1931) and "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse"<br />

(1931), were slated Thursday (6) and Friday<br />

(7). Two additional Lang films, "Ministry<br />

of Fear" (1944) and "1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse,"<br />

are scheduled for Thursday (13) and<br />

Friday (14). Donation for the features is<br />

$1.50 for students with I.D.s and $1 for<br />

museum members.<br />

Jim Salmon, manager of ABC Southeastem's<br />

Phipps Plaza and Phipps Penthouse<br />

Cinemas, revealed last week that the former<br />

locat'on will undergo twinning in the next<br />

60 days. Both theatres will seat 500 patrons.<br />

Mike Spirtos, manager of the 4.000-seat<br />

Fox Theatre shuttered January 1, has joined<br />

Salmon's staff. Currently enjoying long runs<br />

at the ABC locations are "The Towering Inferno"<br />

and "Young Frankenstein."<br />

Harry Clark of Jacksonville's Clark Film<br />

Releasing Co., which has branches in Charlotte<br />

and Atlanta, attended a meeting of distributors<br />

of Crown International in Beverly<br />

Hills . . . Kim Petre, Paramount Pictures<br />

booker in the Atlanta exchange, has resigned<br />

to accept a position as a booker/ salesman<br />

with the Clark firm, replacing Dewey Bentley.<br />

"Black Artist in America," a film focusing<br />

on major black artists such as Benny<br />

Andrews, Romare Bearden and Billy Taylor,<br />

was shown Sunday (2) at the High Museum<br />

of Art. The picture gave an indepth view of<br />

their status in this country. It was shown in<br />

conjunction with the exhibition, "Benny<br />

Andrews: The Bicentennial Series," on view<br />

there through Sunday (23).<br />

Ralph Bmring, 20th Century-Fox Southern<br />

advertising and promotion director, and<br />

his chief aide Dave Tribble were in Nashville<br />

last week to make arrangements for<br />

the world premiere of "W.W. and the Dixie<br />

Dancekings," starring Burt Reynolds.<br />

Tale of Diplomat and Soviet Daughter<br />

May Turn Into Script for Love Story<br />

By BOB CORNWALL<br />

JACKSONVILLE—A high-level story of<br />

international intrigue, romance, unrequited<br />

love and the clashing idealogies of the<br />

Soviet Union and the United States are the<br />

fruits of a whirlwind love affair between a<br />

beautiful Russian motion picture actress,<br />

Zoya Fyodorova, and an American diplomatic<br />

attache, Jackson R. Tate, in the<br />

somber wartime of Moscow in 1945.<br />

Bringing the story to light for Jacksonville<br />

readers were Florida Times-Union reporters<br />

James R. Ward and Gary Sease, who revealed<br />

that the American of 30 years ago is<br />

the well-known resident of this city's suburban<br />

Orange Park, retired Rear Admiral<br />

Tate of the U. S. Navy. Tate, 77, says he<br />

had signed a contract for his story with<br />

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after conferring with<br />

MGM official Jack Cummings, whom he<br />

described as an old friend.<br />

A Long Road Since War<br />

Ward and Sease provided readers with<br />

one of the most sensational social items of<br />

recent years by revealing that an illicit<br />

rendezvous between the American and<br />

Zoya in Moscow the night of VE Day in<br />

Europe, May 1945. resulted in the birth of<br />

a daughter, Victoria Fyodorova. Over the<br />

years she also became a beautiful Russian<br />

and a Soviet motion picture star, one of<br />

whose films was "The Ballad of Love"<br />

viewed by .American audiences in the 1960s.<br />

But the road was hard for the mother, as<br />

the illegal lover of an American official,<br />

and she was banished to a Siberian prison<br />

camp for eight years, then released in 1954<br />

after the death of tyrant Josef Stalin and<br />

told "it was all a mistake."<br />

Zoya has said, in self-abnegation, that<br />

she's just an old love of Tate's and that the<br />

daughter Victoria is whom he wants to see.<br />

Forces friendly to Tate are attempting to<br />

convince Soviet authorities that a meeting<br />

between the father and daughter should be<br />

arranged.<br />

'1 Would Come Back'<br />

The daughter, Victoria, stating that only<br />

a temporary meeting with her father is desired,<br />

remarked about Soviet leaders, "They<br />

know I would never leave my mother alone,<br />

and that I would come back to Russia. I<br />

have everything I need here, an apartment,<br />

a car, a dacha and jewels. But when my<br />

father said on the telephone 'I love you,' I<br />

knew I wouldn't rest until I had seen him."<br />

Of that last night together in Moscow<br />

with Zoya, Tate wrote, "I will never forget<br />

that wonderful night of VE Day when you<br />

lay in my arms and Victoria was conceived<br />

and we decided if it was a boy it would<br />

be Victor and if a girl Victoria for the great<br />

victory the world had achieved. I am old<br />

now and my life is far behind me. The<br />

road is very short."<br />

Also entering the scene in an attempt to<br />

effect a meeting between father and daughter<br />

is Dr. Irene Kirk, an associate professor<br />

of Russian and comparative literature at the<br />

University of Connecticut, who talked with<br />

Victoria, the 28-year-old Russian actress,<br />

said she could get a visa to visit her father,<br />

who is 77 and in an aftermath of open-heart<br />

surgery, within three months if proof of his<br />

medical condition is furnished them.<br />

Tate said Navy doctors are to prepare the<br />

medical reports the Soviets require, with the<br />

United Press International agreeing to transmit<br />

the material from its Jacksonville office<br />

to its Moscow office and then to deliver it<br />

to the Soviet visa office.<br />

Dr. Kirk said that her part in the romantic<br />

story began in 1959 when Zoya confided<br />

in her and asked for help, and she located<br />

Tate in Virginia in 1963. "He didn't know<br />

he was a father. He didn't know that Zoya<br />

had been in prison. He had written to her<br />

for two years and the letters had been returned<br />

from Russia stamped "no such person<br />

at this address."<br />

But word of his letter-writing efforts<br />

never got to his Russian wartime mistress<br />

and their daughter until 1973.<br />

Dr. Kirk, who hopes to write Victoria's<br />

story into a novel, said, "I think the real<br />

love story is Victoria's love for her father."<br />

As a highly successful career woman in<br />

Russia, she is risking her future by going<br />

counter to official political dictates. "It is<br />

the essence of the archetypal love, of a girl<br />

loving her father, needing a father she's<br />

never seen," explained interventionist Dr.<br />

Kirk.<br />

Rear Admiral Tate, retired, had a second<br />

romance and married his wife Hazel 11<br />

years ago. She stated that she loves the<br />

publicity that Tate's affair has received.<br />

Zoya, Victoria's mother, who still works<br />

in Soviet movies as a character actress befitting<br />

her middle age, said, "I count my<br />

birthdays from the day I left prison" and<br />

became reunited with Victoria who had been<br />

cared for by Zoya's sister.<br />

Whatever, the opportunity lies in the<br />

hands of MGM scriptwriters to spin a<br />

movie yarn with an intriguing believe-it-ornot<br />

ending in the best traditions of Hollywood's<br />

screen soap operas.<br />

Art Film Series Set<br />

ARLINGTON—An experimental art film<br />

series will be presented this spring at the<br />

University of Texas campus here. Co-sponsored<br />

by the UTA Art Department and the<br />

Student Activities Board, the series is titled.<br />

"The Art of the Film."<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

When you come to Waikiki,<br />

don't miss the famous<br />

glUgjl^<br />

rg^^ Don Ho Show. . . at<br />

[oms<br />

j Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAIKIKI: REEF . REEF TOWERS EOGEWATER SE-3<br />

BOXOFHCE :: February 10, 1975


CHARLOTTE<br />

John R. McClui-e and L.A. Ireland of Charlotte<br />

Booking attended the Adult Film<br />

Blue," Variety and "Vampyres," Variety.<br />

Ass'n of America's convention in New Orleans<br />

January 23-26. President David F. city on his regular trip from Atlanta and<br />

Jim Tribble of Columbia Sales was in the<br />

Friedman, an adult film producer and distributor,<br />

presided at the meetings.<br />

Kathleen Ferrell of Universal fell while at-<br />

called on booking agencies and circuits . . .<br />

tending the Shrine Bowl football game in<br />

Mrs. Bill Vanderhorsf, whose husband is<br />

December and fractured her shoulder. She<br />

associated with Stewart & Everett Theatres, has been recuperating at home and expects<br />

to return to work within the next two<br />

weeks.<br />

is now working for Charlie Mincey at Jaco<br />

Films . . . Frank Jones and Mack Grimes<br />

of Grimes Enterprises arrived from Atlanta<br />

to confer with branch manager Bill Simpson<br />

on screenings for two new pictures.<br />

Jerry Helms of<br />

Premier Pictures expects<br />

to set up a screening in the near future for<br />

"Linda Lovelace for President."<br />

Screenings at Eastern Federal: "Young<br />

Frankenstein," 20th-Fox; "Emmanuelle,"<br />

Columbia; "Confessions of a Window Cleaner,"<br />

Columbia; "Shoot It: Black, Shoot It:<br />

Okla. Judge Orders<br />

Theatre Reopened<br />

OKLAHOMA CITY—The county's chief<br />

district judge January 23 ordered the reopening<br />

of the padlocked Chieftain Theatre,<br />

3450 SW 29th, but refused to return a<br />

confiscated film.<br />

Judge Homer Smith ruled the theatre did<br />

not constitute a public nuisance because it<br />

had shown a sexually explicit film, "The<br />

Debauchers." The ruling came after a<br />

lengthy hearing in which Dist. Atty. Curtis<br />

P. Harris said he had received "many calls<br />

about the movies they were showing" at the<br />

adult theatre.<br />

Michael D. Conaughty, 26, of 4401 N.<br />

Wall, charged with a misdemeanor count of<br />

exhibiting an obscene movie, denied he was<br />

engaged in the operation of the theatre. He<br />

said one of the owners lived in Colorado<br />

and rarely appeared at the theatre.<br />

Harris had filed an injunction to prohibit<br />

operation of the theatre but Judge Smith<br />

said, "In my opinion, showing one obscene<br />

film, if in fact it is, is not sufficient to meet<br />

the test for a public nuisance." Smith said<br />

he would not return the film until after he<br />

viewed it and ruled on its content.<br />

The film seizure and arrest were made<br />

Wednesday, January 22, at the theatre.<br />

Conaughty at the time identified himself as<br />

the manager.<br />

"Pink Flamingos" will play special midnight<br />

showings on weekends only, beginning<br />

March 8 at United Artists Marina<br />

Theatre, Chicago.<br />

"Thaotr* Booking & Film<br />

lOOKINe SERVICES<br />

Dtitributlon'<br />

221 S. ChHKh St., Chorlotta, N.C.<br />

Frank Lowry . . . Tommy WhIU<br />

Phon.: (704) 377-9S41<br />

Janet Burr, secretary to Eddie Marks,<br />

Stewart & Everett Theatres, was married<br />

January 18 to Avis Honeycutt in Chesterfield,<br />

S.C.<br />

Thanks to Pam Sheline of Charlotte<br />

Booking for her participation and cooperation<br />

in selling many pounds of pecans for<br />

the WOMPIs. Pam is the daughter of<br />

WOMPI Gladys Smith. M & M Shipping.<br />

Wometco Declares 64th<br />

Quarterly Cash Dividend<br />

MIAMI—The Wometco Enterprises,<br />

Inc.<br />

board of directors has declared a regular<br />

quarterly cash dividend of I4c on Class "A"<br />

stock and 5.2c on Class "B" stock, payable<br />

March 14. 1975, to stockholders of record<br />

Feb. 28, 1975.<br />

The dividend declaration marks the 64th<br />

consecutive quarterly dividend paid since<br />

Wometco first became a public company in<br />

April 1959.<br />

Average number of shares outstanding as<br />

of Dec. 28, 1974, totaled 5,947,120.<br />

In other business, the board announced<br />

that the Wometco 1975 Annual Shareholders<br />

meeting will be April 28 at the company's<br />

Byron-Carlyle Theatre in Miami<br />

Beach. All stockholders of record as of<br />

March 10, 1975. are invited and will be entitled<br />

to vote at the meeting.<br />

Salisbury May Cut Tax<br />

On Theatre Admissions<br />

From Eastern Edition<br />

SALISBURY, MD.—At least three of<br />

the five members of the city council have<br />

advocated a reduction in admission taxes<br />

this year. TTiis reaction was registered after<br />

spokesmen for owners and operators of the<br />

Rio, Boulevard Mall and Bowl drive-ins<br />

recently said they would be forced to raise<br />

admission prices unless a reduction in the<br />

10 per cent levy was forthcoming.<br />

W. Paul Martin, council president, went<br />

so far as to describe the present situation<br />

as "the inequity of theatre taxes."<br />

Irwin R. Cohen of Baltimore, owner of<br />

the Boulevard and Bowl, acted as spokesman<br />

for his theatres and the Rio and Mall,<br />

owned by Mrs. Reba Schwartz and Miss<br />

Muriel Schwartz.<br />

United Artists is launching a comprehensive,<br />

multi-media advertising campaign<br />

for the New York engagement of "Report<br />

to the Commissioner."<br />

Clifton to Succeed<br />

Wilson at SC Houses<br />

ROANOKE RAPIDS, S.C. — Tommy<br />

Clifton jr. of Roanoke Rapids has been<br />

named city manager of the Roanoke Rapids<br />

Theatres. He is succeeding Lyle Wilson,<br />

who is retiring after serving with the circuit<br />

since 1931.<br />

Clifton has been associated with the firm<br />

for 10 years. He will schedule films and<br />

operate the Rocking Chair Cinema, Peoples<br />

Theatre and Gaston Drive-In.<br />

Clifton jr. was graduated from Roanoke<br />

Rapids High School in 1962 and attended<br />

Chowan College. He is married to the former<br />

Linda Carter and the couple has two<br />

daughters, Lisa, 8, and Lori, 4.<br />

Manager Since 1931<br />

Wilson, who became manager of the Peoples<br />

Theatre in 1931, recalls that the city<br />

population then was only 5,000. Today it's<br />

in excess of 16.000 and still growing. Wilson<br />

came here "for a few days" to stage a show<br />

for the Kiwanis Club in 1930. Unimpressed<br />

with the small town, he returned later, however,<br />

to stay for 44 years.<br />

Wilson said it was only natural for him<br />

to enter show business since he grew up one<br />

block from a movie house, one block from<br />

a big vaudeville house and one block from<br />

the opera. As a boy he started working in<br />

Clinton, Iowa, in the various theatres and<br />

became associated with many of the stars<br />

of the era.<br />

When he was 23. he started directing motion<br />

pictures with Wilding Studios, whose<br />

most famous stars were the Keystone Kops,<br />

led by Buster Keaton. After that it was a<br />

series of jobs as director, actor, producer<br />

and promoter until he started working for<br />

John Rogers Co., a firm that specialized in<br />

staging entertainment events.<br />

Decision Not Regretted<br />

While working for Rogers, he visited Roanoke<br />

Rapids and the town became his home.<br />

Lyle said he never regretted the decision despite<br />

the fact "it was quite a pay cut for<br />

me to leave what I had been doing to take<br />

over management of a small town theatre."<br />

Wilson built the Royal Theatre and later<br />

the Starlite Drive-In (both are now gone).<br />

When the Starlite was closed, principally by<br />

Hurricane Hazel, which tore down the<br />

screen, Gaston Drivc-In came into being.<br />

The Cinema was built only two years ago<br />

and Peoples Theatre has been remodeled<br />

four times.<br />

Professionally, Wilson has been president<br />

of the Theatre Owners of North and South<br />

Carolina and on the board of directors of<br />

the National Theatre Owners of America.<br />

NATO honored him in 1972 for "50 years<br />

of service to the motion picture industry."<br />

Wilson and his wife Evora reside in Roanoke<br />

Rapids. The couple's only daughter<br />

Kathryn teaches school in Tennessee. Wilson,<br />

who plans to remain active in the business<br />

as a consultant, is a long-time civic<br />

booster.<br />

1<br />

S£.4<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975


I<br />

J<br />

. .<br />

Art Film Orphans<br />

Find Home in Miami<br />

CORAL GABLES, FLA.—Art films, orphans<br />

in many film exhibition circles, have<br />

'found a home here in the Merry-Go-Round<br />

Cinematheque.<br />

Nat Chediak and Guy Aylward, founding<br />

fathers of the Cinematheque, have shown<br />

59 films from 11 countries during the last<br />

year, 40 of which were South Florida premieres.<br />

The non-profit theatre is an additional<br />

responsibility to their regular jobs at Channel<br />

6 where Aylward is chief announcer and<br />

Chediak is film director. Chediak, who had<br />

reinstated the bankrupt University of Miami<br />

Film Society in his senior year, wanted<br />

something else to do for the community. He<br />

hunted around for a theatre and found the<br />

Merry-Go-Round, which he booked for a<br />

one-nighter in the fall of 1973. By December<br />

3, the Cinematheque had been bom.<br />

Chediak spends his free hours paging<br />

through film periodicals at home and at the<br />

library, choosing films that would not otherwise<br />

play here because the circuits don't<br />

consider them commercial enough and films<br />

that have received upbeat reviews from<br />

critics.<br />

"Ninety-nine per cent of all the films<br />

made never get outside their own country,"<br />

says Chediak, "so you have to figure what<br />

does filter out has a damn good chance of<br />

being good.<br />

'"I program mostly foreign films because<br />

most miss Miami. Even if they didn't release<br />

any new foreign films this year, I'd still have<br />

a wide selection of foreign films released<br />

over the last twenty years that have never<br />

played Miami to choose from."<br />

His audiences are undefinable by category.<br />

They range from old to young, from<br />

the neighborhood at 235 Alcazar Ave. to<br />

the far reaches of Dade and Broward counties.<br />

While it has been a struggle financially<br />

to survive, the only real crisis was the sea<br />

of empty seats encountered during a multiweek<br />

retrospective of American films.<br />

A pet project for Chediak has been a<br />

retrospective on Jean Renoir. He is showing<br />

one Renoir film a month all year. The retrospective<br />

also celebrates Renoir's 80th<br />

birthday.<br />

Chediak recently met with many of his<br />

peers in Chicago to discuss strength in unity.<br />

The goals the 20 "art film" cinema operators<br />

adopted were more films with better<br />

prints and the trade of information on quality<br />

products. The program was administered<br />

by Michael Webb of the American Film Institute.<br />

"I sense people feel there is an air of<br />

snobbery about the Cinematheque," he added.<br />

"I've tried to bring it down to earth .<br />

We're interested in the quality of films, not<br />

the commercial aspects."<br />

Camelot Duo Unveiled<br />

WINCHESTER, VA. — Congressman J.<br />

Kenneth Robinson cut the ribbon at the formal<br />

ceremony marking the opening of the<br />

Camelot Twin cinemas at Deico Plaza.<br />

MIAMI<br />

yj^Jhere angels fear to tread, the Grove<br />

Cinema producers go: after area exhibitors<br />

declined to play "Antonia: A Portrait<br />

of the Woman" and "I.F. Stone's<br />

Weekly," the Grove Cinema booked both<br />

films on a double bill Wednesday (5). For<br />

those who wanted to see the two acclaimed<br />

films and support the new Women's Action<br />

Center group, there were two b>enefit showings<br />

for $3.50. At other times, admission<br />

is $1.75. "Antonia" is the story of America's<br />

first woman conductor, Antonia Brice. and<br />

"Stone's Weekly" deals with the journalist<br />

who titled the windmills of Washington politics.<br />

Wometco began a series of special midnight<br />

shows Saturday (8) at the Twin II in<br />

Dadeland. The films are "Badlands," Saturday<br />

(8); "The Last Detail." Saturday (15):<br />

"Slaughterhouse Five," Saturday (22);<br />

"Thieves Like Us," March 1; "Busting,"<br />

March 8. Others will be announced. Admission<br />

is $2 or $3 per couple.<br />

Requiem mass for Valencia Renee Poitier,<br />

16, niece of movie actor Sidney Poitier. was<br />

sung Saturday (1) in Holy Redeemer Catholic<br />

Church here. A student at Miami Edison<br />

Senior High School. Ms. Poitier died January<br />

23 in Jackson Memorial Hospital. She<br />

had been admitted to the hospital the day<br />

before and went into a coma. Survivors<br />

include her grandpwrents, Mr. and Mrs.<br />

Cyril Poitier sr.<br />

Wometco officials report that "The Man<br />

With the Golden Gun," "Lenny" and "The<br />

Towering Inferno" grossed well in the<br />

Miami area . . . Jim Symons of the 163rd<br />

Street Patio and his ushers passed out special<br />

contest heralds on "The Front Page,"<br />

using Miami Herald newsboy bags . . . John<br />

Reed at the Dadeland Twin also decorated<br />

his lobby and concession area for that film.<br />

Other managers winning praise from Wo-<br />

metco executives on their promotional ideas<br />

were J. B. Keenum III, assistant manager<br />

of the Crossroads in St. Petersburg; Larry<br />

Trowbridge, Park East and West. Orlando;<br />

and Jim "Promoter" Cody and assistant<br />

Albert Cervellera in Ocala.<br />

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wolfson of Wometco<br />

recently attended a board of directors'<br />

meeting in the Florida Keys. The directors<br />

met last year in Alaska. The Hood Bassetts<br />

and the Louis Wolfsons II (also a Wometco<br />

official) brought their yachts. Along with the<br />

usual business sessions, there were parties at<br />

the Pier House and the .'\udubon House<br />

which Col. Mitchell and Mrs. Wolfson restored<br />

as a historical shrine. The Wolfson<br />

clan comes from Key West.<br />

The big confection stand Christmas decoration<br />

contest sponsored by Wometco had<br />

a group of happy winners. They included<br />

Janice Shammo, Palm Springs, and Annette<br />

Symons, Hallandale, first place: Peter Gross,<br />

Gateway, second place; John Reed, Dadeland<br />

Twin, and Jim Symons, 163rd Street,<br />

third. In the drive-in category, winners were<br />

Jose Joaquin, 27th Avenue, and Ken Adams,<br />

Coral Way, first place; Joe Feeney, Davie<br />

Boulevard, second place; and Jim Cody,<br />

Ocala Twin, for Northern Florida.<br />

Promotions underway for new films in<br />

town included a tie-up with W.-XXY Radio<br />

for "Phantom of the Paradise." A special<br />

midnight premiere at the Plaza, Hollywood,<br />

was slated. T-shirt and album giveaways<br />

and record store windows highlighted the<br />

film's bow.<br />

Vintage Films Screened<br />

^MONTREAL—The Piccadilly brought<br />

back two Marx Bros, comedies, "Duck<br />

Soup" and "Coconuts," for a single program.<br />

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BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


. . Weldon<br />

. . Darnell<br />

I<br />

NEW ORLEANS<br />

^he American FUm Theatre, which began<br />

a year ago. has opened its second season.<br />

When it began a year ago, many experts<br />

predicted there would be little audience<br />

whose intellectual and cultural tastes<br />

would respond to such a venture but they<br />

were proved wrong. The American Film<br />

Theatre chalked up the largest advance sale<br />

ever for an entertainment event as it presented<br />

eight films in some 500 theatres<br />

throughout the United States and Canada.<br />

This season they are presenting five films<br />

of the best plays of the Broadway and<br />

London stage. Scheduled are "Galileo," director<br />

Joseph Losey, with Topol; "Jacques<br />

Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris";<br />

"In Celebration," director Lindsay Anderson;<br />

"The Man In the Glass Booth"; "The<br />

Maids," starring Glenda Jackson and<br />

Susannah York, directed by Christopher<br />

Miles.<br />

Visitors on Filmrow this week were<br />

Aubrey Lasseigne, Morgan City; Ed Jenner.<br />

Laurel. Miss.; and Ed Edwards, Ruston.<br />

T. J. Rester and Weldon Limmroth of<br />

Giddens and Rester. Mobile, Ala., on their<br />

recent trip to California during December<br />

attended screenings at the studios and visited<br />

several film companies.<br />

MEMPHIS<br />

Jl^rthur Groom, Loew's Memphis manager,<br />

is vacationing for two weeks in Dallas<br />

and Oklahoma. Charles O'Dell, former<br />

manager here, is taking his place.<br />

The Miss Variety Contest is under way<br />

by Memphis Tent 20, Variety, Entrants.<br />

14 through 17, are to be judges and a Miss<br />

Variety will<br />

reign over many club activities.<br />

Bing Crosby Productions has started<br />

shooting the film, "Buford," a sequel to<br />

"Walking Tall." around Jackson and Henderson.<br />

About 20 Memphis actors will have<br />

parts, paying $225 a day. Bo Svenson will<br />

play the role of Buford Pusser, the roughand-tumble<br />

West Tennessee sheriff, who<br />

was the subject of "Walking Tall." This<br />

film will take over where the first one<br />

ended. Pusser, who had planned to star in<br />

S5 yyATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE<br />

^^<br />

-with<br />

^^ ^^0<br />

S NEW TECHNIKOTE S<br />

5 SCREENS "" 2<br />

^^a<br />

^ XRL g<br />

erates theatres<br />

in Maryland and Virginia as well as in<br />

the District of Columbia.<br />

Special Student Price<br />

MONTREAL—Cinema 5, 5550 Sherbrooke,<br />

had a special $1.50 admission policy<br />

for students in effect for Claude Lanzmann's<br />

new release, "Israel."<br />

MERCHANT ADS-SPECIAL TRAILERS<br />

Trallerettes-Daters<br />

COl,OR—BLACK & WHITE<br />

PARROT FILMS, INC.<br />

P.O. BOX 541<br />

•<br />

DES MOINES, IOWA<br />

• 50302<br />

PHONE (515) 288-1122<br />

SE-6 BOXOFnCE :: February 10. 1975<br />

1


Hire the<br />

veteran<br />

and you hire<br />

experience<br />

. .<br />

. people with solid, practical experience in dozens of fields.<br />

And hundreds of specialties. From clerk-typists to truck<br />

drivers. Painters to programmers. Mechanics to machinists.<br />

Many have months of special training in addition to their<br />

education. Plus the self-discipline, determination and loyalty<br />

that make them assets to your company. And funds for additional<br />

on-the-job training are available under the G.I. Bill.<br />

For help in hiring veterans, contact your local office of<br />

the State Employment Service; for on-the-job training information,<br />

see your local Veterans Administration office.<br />

Don't forget. Hire the vet.<br />

BOXOFHCE :: February 10, 1975 SE-7


. . . The<br />

. . Two<br />

JACKSONVILLE<br />

Qarroll Ogburn, Warner Bros, manager,<br />

had a combination trade showing and<br />

sneak previewing of "Alice Doesn't Live<br />

Here Anymore" at two theatres, General<br />

Cinema Corp.'s Expressway Mall Cinema II<br />

and Eastern Federal Theatres" Northside II<br />

long-play champ of the year so<br />

far is "The Groove Tube" at ABC Florida<br />

State Theatres" little San Marco with 14<br />

weeks on the screen . weeks of<br />

summery weather have cut into theatre attendance<br />

with people mowing lawns, going<br />

to beaches and enjoying outdoor life generally.<br />

Three units of EFT attracted the smallfry<br />

trade with Saturday and Sunday showings<br />

of "Rumpelstiltskin"" and all seats going<br />

for $1 . . . EFT"s Capri had the exclusive<br />

first run—a rarity in Jacksonville<br />

these days—of a French import, "The Tall<br />

Blond Man With One Black Shoe," and<br />

Charles Brock, Florida Times-Union film<br />

reviewer, said it "goes down like one of<br />

their whipped cream desserts. Not filling<br />

but tasty."<br />

WOMPI members and their Filmrow<br />

friends stayed on the ball, enabling the<br />

industry women to win $42.50 while taking<br />

second place among 40 competing women's<br />

groups during the second Community Club<br />

Awards contest turn-in after winning first<br />

place in the first turn-in. Actually, WOMPI<br />

scored the most points both times but CCA<br />

rules forbid one club having first place<br />

twice in a row. Marsha Weaver, WOMPI<br />

president, said they"ll be back in the No. 1<br />

spot on the third turn-in.<br />

Love, Perhaps to Die" and "The Legend of<br />

Earl Durand," both for BOCA. All the<br />

preceding were the films of independent<br />

d stributors. From major distributors were<br />

New World's "Naughty Nymphs," "The<br />

Sinful Bed" and "Girls Who Do,"" the latter<br />

two being X-rated; Columbia, '"Stardust"";<br />

and "The Great Waldo Pepper,"' Universal.<br />

Al Rook of Neptune Beach and national<br />

distributor of "Cry of the Black Wolves,"<br />

a turn-of-the-century adventure yarn from<br />

the Alaskan Klondike based on a Jack London<br />

story, said most of his prints are currently<br />

booked in theatres of Omaha and<br />

Lincoln, Neb., and Des Moines, Ames,<br />

Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, la.<br />

Frances Conner of Universal, holder of<br />

two leadership spots with WOMPI, has relinquished<br />

office job and WOMPI honors<br />

prior to taking a maternity leave of absence.<br />

Taking over from Frances as chairman of<br />

community service is Martha Scott, ABC<br />

FST home office assistant to Oscar Cannington,<br />

and Sandy Easley, newcomer at 20th<br />

Century-Fox, as WOMPI recording secretary.<br />

Richard C. Levy Ncimed<br />

To Film Post by USIA<br />

WASHINGTON— Film producer Richard<br />

C. Levy has accepted an appointment<br />

with the Motion Picture and Television<br />

Service of the United States Information<br />

Agency as foreign affairs specialist in<br />

charge of program affairs for Latin America.<br />

He will be based in Washington, D.C.<br />

During the past four years. Levy, who<br />

Ed Landsbury Discusses<br />

MP's 'The Wild Party'<br />

HOLLYWOOD—Ed Landsbury, executive<br />

producer on "The Wild Party," a<br />

March release from American International<br />

Pictures, described the film as showing<br />

the "Babylonian aspects of the film<br />

dustry." Starring Raquel Welch, who sings<br />

and dances in the picture, and James Coco,<br />

"The Wild Party" is set in the Hollywoodd bif!<br />

I<br />

of 1929.<br />

AIP's "The Wild Party," says Lands-,<br />

bury, has no relationship to Doroth]<br />

Arzner"s original "Wild Party." The new'<br />

one is based on an epic poem by Joseph<br />

Montcure March, which related the story<br />

of a Greenwich Village party told from<br />

the point of view of the poet-writer. Walter<br />

Max changed the script to Hollywood 1929<br />

and made the central character a comedian<br />

of the silent movies. The film centers<br />

around a premiere party, the first premiere<br />

in five years for this comedian.<br />

Asked if the comedian was intended to<br />

depict Fatty Arbuckle and the book "Hollywood<br />

Babylon," Landsbury said "no."'<br />

Landsbury was one of the many producers<br />

at AIP's press luncheon held Thursday,<br />

January 23, at the Bistro in Beverly Hills.<br />

Cinema 356 Is Displaying<br />

Rare Mary Pickford Photo<br />

SARVER, PA.—The Mideast's new,<br />

beautiful movie palace. Cinema 356, now<br />

displays "America's Sweetheart" on a modern<br />

wall. The first and original moving<br />

picture star, Mary Pickford, smiles at<br />

patrons in a large one-sheet-size framed<br />

1910 photograph. Film performers were<br />

not identified at that time but nickelodeon<br />

patrons simply demanded to know the name<br />

of this particular charming actress. In time<br />

Anne Dillon, who has presided over both is fluent in six languages, has been an independent<br />

co-production specialist, stimulating<br />

the local and international WOMPI groups,<br />

they learned that she was Mary Pickford,<br />

declined the presidency of the local executive<br />

cooperative associations between international<br />

first queen of the screen. Born Gladys<br />

producers, foreign governments, and<br />

Smith in Canada, within a few years she<br />

secretaries but accepted the vice-presi-<br />

dential post. She is associated with NATO private business around the world. Prior to was acclaimed everywhere as "America's<br />

of Florida.<br />

Sweetheart."<br />

this he served as director of foreign advertising<br />

Vivian Ganas, ABC FST manager of the and publicity for Avco Embassy Long retired, Mrs. Charles "Buddy"<br />

Pictures, New York City, and director of Rogers is in her 80s and resides in Hollywood<br />

Preview Theatre, shuttled advance screening<br />

films in a hurry to keep up with the demand for Paramount Films of Panama, Panama<br />

Central American advertising and publicity<br />

with her husband, who at one time<br />

co-starred with her.<br />

on the facilities of the only spot in Florida City, R.P. He has also worked for the<br />

Originally the property of the late George<br />

where exhibitors can troop in all year to Paramount international sales operation in Callahan sr., founder of Exhibitors Service<br />

view their coming product. Currently, Vivian<br />

New York and Madrid, Spain.<br />

Co. at Pittsburgh 65 years ago, this photo<br />

gave dates to the Clark Film Releasing<br />

was willed to <strong>Boxoffice</strong> representative<br />

Co. for "Shoot It: Black, Shoot It: Blue,""<br />

Volenti Lecture on Media Bob Klingensmith many years ago and has<br />

"The Young Seducers," "Frankenstein,<br />

DALLAS—Jack Valenti addressed a won appreciation wherever exhibited.<br />

Prisoner of Dracula"" and "History in<br />

crowd at Eastfield College Monday, January<br />

Shadows," a short subject; Marvin Skinner's<br />

27, during Media and Society Week. Valenti,<br />

Horizon Films for "The Battle of Sinai,"<br />

Wolfson Voices Concern<br />

president of the Motion Picture Ass'n of<br />

"Dead End Dolls," "Solomon King,"<br />

America, chose the topic of "Developing Over U.S.-Ccinada Issue<br />

"Black Alley Cats'" and "Barely Proper";<br />

Media Guidelines for Society's Standards.'"<br />

Gordon Craddock's "Peter's Pets'" and "The<br />

MIAMI—Mitchell Wolfson, president of<br />

Under Valenti's direction, a new motion<br />

Love Factor"; an X-rated "Vampyres," Bob<br />

Wometco Enterprises, has announced that a<br />

picture code was 1966.<br />

Capps jr.'s Southeast Entertainment; "To<br />

instituted in significant impact on Wometco's film interests<br />

in Bcllingham. Wash., is expected from<br />

XENON LAMPS<br />

Civic Group Presents 'Seagull'<br />

planned Canadian government regulations.<br />

GRAND ISLAND, NEB.—A showing of Wolfson said that if the Canadian government<br />

decides to disallow income-tax deduc-<br />

Paramount Pictures' "Jonathan Livingston<br />

and<br />

Seagull" at the Grand Theatre January 14<br />

AUTOMATED PROJECTION was sponsored by the Grand Island Woman's<br />

ROY SMITH CO.<br />

Club. Showtime for the motion picture<br />

tions for Canadian advertisers on U.S.<br />

broadcast stations, the Wometco TV station<br />

in that area may be affected adversely in<br />

365 Park St. Jacksonville, Fla.<br />

based on the best-selling book of the same earnings. It is too son, he added, to predict<br />

title was 8 p.m.<br />

the extent of the impact.<br />

SE- BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975<br />

\


'holo<br />

Gulf States Gives<br />

Theatre to Hospital<br />

RUSK. TEX.— Gull State Theatres, a<br />

division of Fiiqua Industries of Atlanta,<br />

has donated the Cherokee Theatre here to<br />

the Volunteer Council of the Rusk State<br />

Hospital.<br />

In a ceremony on the grounds during<br />

December, the keys and deeds to the property<br />

were exchanged by representatives of<br />

!both groups.<br />

Gulf States had operated the Cherokee<br />

since 1968, when it was acquired through<br />

the purchase of East Texas Theatres. The<br />

firm also donated the adjoining Atlas furniture<br />

building and all personal property<br />

within the structures.<br />

"We deeply appreciate this substantial<br />

gift to our program and know that it will<br />

be of great help to our patients and the<br />

entire Rusk and Cherokee County area,"<br />

Joe Rozelle, coordinator of the Volunteer<br />

Council, said.<br />

Gulf States presently operates theatres in<br />

several East Texas cities, including Jacksonville,<br />

Nacogdoches, Longview, Lufkin and<br />

Marshall.<br />

Representing the company at the presentation<br />

were Marvin Brewton, vice-president<br />

of cooperations; Claude Stewart, head of<br />

real estate for Gulf States; Joe Gianforte,<br />

city manager and district supervisor of<br />

Shreveport; and Frank Gillespie, manager<br />

of Gulf States in Rusk and Jacksonville.<br />

The donation of the property was arranged<br />

through the efforts of Jim Perkins,<br />

member of the board of directors of the<br />

Volunteer Council and the gift was accepted<br />

by Joe Rozelle.<br />

'Nostalgia' Room, Tours<br />

Praised by TEXPO Women<br />

DALLAS—Women of Variety who sponsored<br />

the Hospitality Suite at the TEXPO<br />

'75 convention January 28-30 were commended<br />

by visitors on the charming "nostalgia"<br />

theme.<br />

The women enjoyed coffee and tea at<br />

old-fashioned ice cream parlor tables and<br />

leafed through old movie star magazines<br />

from members' collections. On the wall,<br />

posters with nostalgic movie themes added<br />

to the decor.<br />

More women than ever before (132)<br />

registered to visit the unique Gila Podrida,<br />

where various arts and crafts are created<br />

as customers watch. Later the women<br />

boarded buses for a tour of the Crystal<br />

Palace Dinner Theatre, buffet luncheon and<br />

revue featuring Donald O'Connor.<br />

Convention-goers praised Mrs. Rein<br />

Rabakkuk, chairperson for the women's<br />

activities, for her committee's accomplishments<br />

that made the event such a success.<br />

Commonwealth Changes<br />

PECOS, TEX. — Allen Littlejohn has<br />

transferred from Commonwealth's Fort<br />

Stockton theatre to the State here. Ray<br />

Bentzen, formerly manager in Hobbs for<br />

the Kansas City-based circuit, took over<br />

as manager of the Pecos in Fort Stockton.<br />

Improve Attitudes on Distribution,<br />

Billy Jack Official Asks TEXPO '75<br />

DALLAS—The relationships between exhibitors<br />

and distributors need changing, an<br />

official of Billy Jack Enterprises told<br />

TEXPO '75 exhibitors here at the Fairmont<br />

Hotel for the January 28-30 event.<br />

John Rubel. chief operating officer for<br />

Billy Jack Enterprises, was one of the headlined<br />

speakers during the convention. More<br />

than 600 exhibitors heard Rubel's luncheon<br />

speech Tuesday, as well as listening to a<br />

keynote speech by Paul Roth. National<br />

Ass'n of Theatre Owners president, business<br />

sessions, and presentation of awards to stars.<br />

Huge Crowd Attends<br />

The Show-In-the-Round activities drew<br />

750 to 1000 exhibitors according to estimates.<br />

Convention chairman Brandon Doak<br />

oversaw the sessions which covered a range<br />

of industry interests.<br />

"There is no question whatsoever in our<br />

minds that there is something radically<br />

wrong in the relationship between distributor<br />

and exhibitor," said Rubel. "Specifically,<br />

we regret an atmosphere in which contractual<br />

relationships are too often treated with<br />

a strange mi.xture of flippancy, disregard or<br />

even contempt. Some exhibitors seem to feel<br />

that they can figuratively tear up their film<br />

rental contract and renegotiate its terms,<br />

meanwhile holding the distributor's money."<br />

Rubel named no specific cases, taking the<br />

e.xhibitors to task as a whole. He expressed<br />

a belief that such practices hurt the exhibitors<br />

themselves. "We need the money," he<br />

pointed out, "so we can make motion pictures<br />

for you to exhibit so we can both<br />

make money."<br />

Exhibitors Thanked<br />

The Billy Jack officer also thanked the<br />

exhibitors for their support of "Billy Jack"<br />

and "The Trial of Billy Jack." Adding "Born<br />

Losers," which starred Tom Laughlin, the<br />

actor's last three pictures have grossed in<br />

the order of $200 milUon at the boxoffice,<br />

Rubel said.<br />

Tom Laughlin, who could not be present<br />

to accept his award as <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Champion<br />

of the Year because he was filming in California,<br />

sent five young actresses from<br />

Laughlin productions to accept the "Stars of<br />

Tomorrow" awards. The actresses were<br />

Michelle Wilson, Russell Lane, Patti Clifton,<br />

Geo Ann Sosa and Alison Benkle.<br />

Also speaking out on the methods of distribution<br />

made famous by Laughlin was Ed<br />

Vanston. producer of the Mulberry Square<br />

film "Benji." He addressed a convention<br />

meeting Wednesday morning.<br />

"If our approach to "Benji' represents any<br />

'new trend' I guess it is— along with Tom<br />

Laughlin—toward the producer being involved<br />

all the way through, making a picture,<br />

following it through the distribution<br />

process to the theatre, rather than turning it<br />

over to someone else to distribute and promote."<br />

Joe Camp said.<br />

Camp, as president of Mulberry Square<br />

Productions, joined Vanston in explaining<br />

the company's motives in selling the film.<br />

"We are not doing anything different in<br />

structure in selling "Benji.' We simply took<br />

a page out of Hollywood history and went<br />

back to working the picture very carefully,<br />

getting out on the road to promote the film,<br />

concentrating our effort on getting that one<br />

picture to the attention of the public, getting<br />

that first wave into the theatre."<br />

Decision on 'Benji'<br />

Vanston told the exhibitors that the decision<br />

to handle distribution of "Benji" came<br />

after last year's NATO of Texas convention.<br />

After listening to various distribution company<br />

proposals, the two men decided that<br />

"this wasn't the route we could go with our<br />

picture."<br />

'"We had spent two years with "Benji' and<br />

we just couldn't put it into the 'pipeline,' so<br />

at that time we called it "biting the bullet'<br />

and tried to do this ourselves," Vanston<br />

added.<br />

""The major distributors through seemingly<br />

no fault of their own have gotten<br />

themselves into the position, I believe, of<br />

looking for one blockbuster a year, three<br />

good ones, four mediocre ones and they<br />

know they are going to have five flops a<br />

year," Camp told the theatre owners. ""And<br />

whatever happens to each individual picture,<br />

if they set it out there and the first week it<br />

doesn't do good, they put it away, that is,<br />

as one of the flops and keep on trucking."<br />

Camp said he knew how good ""Benji"<br />

could be on the market and the thought "'of<br />

being dropped into that pipeline and being<br />

thrown out to see what will happen, just<br />

completely destroyed me." When the first<br />

weeks of "Benji" did not appear to jell on<br />

promotion, rather than have the ""pipeline"<br />

carr>' it away, Camp was able to save the<br />

film and tear the advertising apart, change<br />

it and then remarket the film. The second<br />

time around, it<br />

clicked.<br />

Not a New Trend<br />

"So it is not really a new trend," Camp<br />

emphasized again, ""it is going back to the<br />

days when people cared enough about pictures<br />

to put their heart and soul into making<br />

one that was good and that people wanted<br />

to see."<br />

Camp said he thought there were enough<br />

producers around like Laughlin and Mulberry<br />

Square to make product good enough<br />

that it won't be thrown down the "pipeline"<br />

and lost in the market, because they care<br />

enough to handle their own distribution.<br />

On the topics closest to exhibitors' hearts<br />

and pockets, Jim McKenna of Family Theatres<br />

outlined inflation's impact on the admission<br />

ticket. McKenna told a Wednesday<br />

morning session that only the hit motion<br />

pictures are the ones ""adding real 'black' to<br />

a P&L sheet. Admission price means<br />

nothing on a poorly attended movie since<br />

neither giving away or over-charging will<br />

(Continued on page SW-4)<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975<br />

SW-1


DALLAS<br />

JJATO of Texas convention time means<br />

different things to everyone in the industry,<br />

but for this correspondent it was a<br />

chance to hear some interesting speakers<br />

and to talk with old acquaintances. Having<br />

attended each of the business sessions for<br />

the past two years, 1 am amazed at the number<br />

who do take time to listen carefully and<br />

yet I am more amazed by those who don't<br />

go. With the industry in its present condition,<br />

there is not an exhibitor or theatre<br />

manager who could not have derived invaluable<br />

information from the convention.<br />

Frank Carbone, Paramount Division manager,<br />

was in Dallas attending to business<br />

in the office. He also stopped in at the convention<br />

at the Fairmont . . . Edna Schulman<br />

of Bryan was forced to leave the activities<br />

when she received a notice of her sister's<br />

death in New York. She attended services<br />

for Betty Lamonsoff Sunday (2).<br />

Guy 'V. Speck, formerly of San Marcos,<br />

and as of last week Lamesa, was the lucky<br />

man of the convention. Not only did he<br />

win a door prize of a camera, but he won<br />

the color TV raffled off by WOMPI. That<br />

would have been enough for most of us, but<br />

Guy had the pleasure of another big surprise<br />

January 30. His parents came in to attend<br />

the Thursday activities of the convention<br />

and hear Guy make his promotional campaign<br />

program for "W.W. and the Dixie<br />

Dancekings."<br />

Charlie Wolf and his wife were in from<br />

Abilene. Charlie asked to get back on the<br />

BoxoFFiCE subscription list with a National<br />

Executive issue . . . Al Zarzana and his wife<br />

also were present and Al asked to change<br />

his subscription from Southwest to a National<br />

issue. Winston Taylor of Ft. Worth<br />

and Dallas was at one time in the theatre<br />

business but now is in general construction<br />

and commercial painting. His heart, however,<br />

is still in the theatre industry and he<br />

too wants <strong>Boxoffice</strong> so he can keep up<br />

with his friends and with what is going on<br />

in<br />

the industry.<br />

WOMPI Karen Hill missed the convention<br />

this year. She had planned to help with<br />

the WOMPI checkstand booth Wednesday,<br />

January 29. but unfortunately the doctor<br />

changed her plans and put her in the hospital<br />

Saturday. January 25, for removal of<br />

her tonsils. She hoped to be feeling well<br />

enough to show WOMPI's movie at the<br />

Pilot Home for Girls Monday (3).<br />

It was nice seeing Murray Kaplan of<br />

General Films in Dallas this week. He and<br />

"Eric" deNeve were on hand for the product<br />

screening of "Linda Lovelace for President"<br />

and "Country Blue."<br />

The Spanish language film exhibitors anI<br />

distributors conducted a short meetinj<br />

Wednesday, January 29, following the<br />

luncheon. There were about 15 in attendance.<br />

The group will meet in San Antonio<br />

(Saturday) 15 at the Gunter Hotel following<br />

a screening of one of Azteca Films' latest<br />

releases. The meeting will be at 2 p.m.<br />

WOMPI would like everyone who has a<br />

listing in the new Filmrow directories to<br />

please check your listing. If there are any<br />

changes or corrections to be made, advise<br />

Mable Guinan, 5927 Winton, Dallas, 75206.<br />

A complete list of all changes will then be<br />

published. Some changes are being reported<br />

now that should have been noted last year,<br />

and WOMPI was not notified of the change<br />

until after it appeared in error this year.<br />

AMC 6-Plex Announced<br />

SCOTTSDALE. ARIZ.—Marvin Alterson,<br />

general manager of the Town and<br />

Country Shopping Center, and Stanley H.<br />

Durwood. president of Kansas City-based<br />

.American Multi Cinema, announced that a<br />

lease has been entered into for the construction<br />

of a multitheatre which will be operated<br />

by AMC. To be known as Town and<br />

Country 6 theatres, the entertainment complex<br />

will be located in the center's interior<br />

mall.<br />

Warner Brothers' "The Onion Seller"<br />

starring Franco Nero and Martin Balsam<br />

moves this week to locations near Madrid.<br />

^iniiiiimA<br />

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We wish to thank all you fine people of the motion<br />

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of Texas Convention.<br />

We w^ere pleased to see our long time friends and<br />

customers and especially glad to meet the new<br />

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We look forward to seeing all of you often throughout<br />

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BOXOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


. . The<br />

. . The<br />

Adult Theatre Operator<br />

Given 24 Years for Drugs<br />

SAN ANTONIO—Ovidio O. Urdiales,<br />

an adult theatre operator charged with<br />

three counts of conspiring to possess heroin<br />

for distribution, has been sentenced to 24<br />

years in the penitentiary by Federal Judge<br />

John H. Wood jr.<br />

Urdiales was sentenced to 10 years on<br />

one count of a federal indictment and<br />

seven years on each of two other counts<br />

with the sentences to run consecutively.<br />

He was also fined $15,000 when he appeared<br />

for sentencing before Wood January<br />

20.<br />

HOUSTON<br />

Pric Gerber has selected three categories of<br />

film picks: The Good, The Bad and<br />

The Ho-Hum. His "good" list contained<br />

Chinatown," "Triple Echo," "Badlands,"<br />

The Three Musketeers," "Mean Streets,"<br />

The Apprenticeship of Duddy ICravitz,"<br />

"Zardoz," "Young Frankenstein," "Harry &<br />

Tonto" and a tie between "The Mad Adventures<br />

of 'Rabbi' Jacob" and Amarcord."<br />

Writing in Spotlight in the Houston Post,<br />

Gerber also reviewed three books on films<br />

and film personalities. Reviewed were "The<br />

Movie Book" by Steven Scheier, "Chaplin"<br />

by Roger Manvcll and "Holly-Would" by<br />

John Milton Hagen . X-rated controversial<br />

film "Deep Throat" is in its 50th<br />

week at the Academy Theatre.<br />

New films unreeling at local theatres include<br />

Andy Warhol's "Dracula" at the Cinema<br />

Galleria; "Memory of Us" at the Cinemas<br />

Northline, Gulfgate and Meycrland and<br />

Town & Country 6; "Murder On the Orient<br />

Express" at the Cinema Galleria, Lowe's<br />

Town & Country Twin; "Nickel Ride" at<br />

the Windsor. The midnight movies presented<br />

"Class of '74" at the Village; the Rice Media<br />

Center screened "Ramparts of Clay,"<br />

Bo Widerberg's "Adalen 31," Jan Trocll's<br />

"Here's Your Life," Eisenstein's "Alexander<br />

Nevsky" and "Que Viva Mexico"; "Four<br />

Days of Naples," Rene Clair's "It Happened<br />

Tomorrow" and "Then There Were None"<br />

and Ozu's "Early Spring."<br />

Rice Media Center is planning what it<br />

calls a "four-hour orgy of movies" April 19<br />

at Rice Media Center. Rice's James Blue and<br />

David MacDougal say they welcome films<br />

made by anyone in Super 8, 16 or 35. All<br />

films entered will be listed in a Texas Film<br />

Catalogue which Rice plans to publish at no<br />

charge. Filmmakers should apply to the Rice<br />

Media Center, Texas Film Makers Expo,<br />

Box 1892, Houston, 77001.<br />

SAN ANTONIO<br />

James Mitchum was a visitor in San Antonio<br />

to promote his latest film "Moonrunners"<br />

which will open in the city in March<br />

. . . Clifford Land and his mother Mrs. Sharlee<br />

Land welcomed as their house guest<br />

Clifford's brother. Marion. He planned to<br />

continue his vacation from San Antonio to<br />

Florida prior to returning to his home in<br />

Indiana. Clifford is manager of the ABC Interstate<br />

SOUTHWESTERN<br />

Theatres' Wonder Theatre.<br />

Films shown at the San Antonio Public<br />

Library recently included "Africa East and<br />

West," "Texas: The Lone Star State," "HemisFair<br />

'68," and "Point Pelee." Trinity University<br />

screened "Mr. Roberts" at Coates<br />

Center Sunday (2) and "Sounder" was<br />

booked Thursday (6) and Friday (7) . .<br />

.<br />

Thursday (6) in St. Mary's University "The<br />

Lion in Winter" was screened.<br />

Feature films from Great Britain will be<br />

the fare for patrons attending Hemisfilm '75<br />

sponsored by the International Fine Arts<br />

Center of the Southwest. These films will be<br />

divided into two categories and screened<br />

over a two-month period. This month's fare<br />

included "The Lion in Winter," Thursday<br />

(6), and will continue Thursday (13) with<br />

"Henry the Eighth and his Six Wives" and<br />

Thursday (20) with "Mary, Queen of Scots."<br />

Each session will be in Moody 101, St.<br />

Mary's University. "Monarchs and Mankind"<br />

is the theme of the first category. The<br />

second theme is "D. H. Lawrence on Film."<br />

Shown will be "Women in Love," March 6,<br />

"Rocking Horse Winner," March 13 and<br />

"The Virgin and the Gypsy," March 20. All<br />

lectures and commentaries will be given by<br />

Father Louis Reille. S.M., associate professor<br />

of English and director of the festival.<br />

"Young Frankenstein," the Mel Brooks<br />

spoof of monster movies, opens at the Century<br />

South 6 and the Colonies North . . ,<br />

Coming back after 10 years will be the Walt<br />

Disney movie "Swiss Family Robinson"<br />

which will play at the Mann Fox Central<br />

Park I and the Century South 6 ... At the<br />

Alameda, Isabel Sarii stars in "El Se.xo y el<br />

.'\mour" and also in "Lamujer del Zapatero"<br />

for adults only. (Monday is two for one day,<br />

two adults for the price of one) . . . "Sunday<br />

in the Country" is scheduled for the Universal<br />

Twin, .'Kztec 3, Century South 6 and<br />

FOR ALL YOUR THEATRE NEEDS & REPAIRS<br />

THE BEST PLACE TO BUY IS<br />

TEXAS THEATRE SUPPLY<br />

915 S. Alamo St.<br />

San Antonio, Texas 78205<br />

Your SUN BRITE XENON Dealer<br />

THEATRE<br />

EQUIP. CO.<br />

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Fast—Dependable Service III Full Line of Concessio- '^<br />

Your Complete Equip.<br />

Equipment<br />

& Supply House || Write for Prices and Infer<br />

Callaghan Twin . "Trinity" duo,<br />

"They Call Me Trinity" and "Trinity Is Still<br />

My Name" has been booked as a double<br />

bill at the McCreless Cinema ... a trio of<br />

Woody Allen films is being shown at the<br />

Bandera Road Drive-In. They are "Sleeper,"<br />

"Everything You've .Always Wanted To<br />

Know .About Sex" and "Bananas."<br />

St. Mary's U. Schedules<br />

Film Literature Course<br />

SAN ANTONIO—St. Mary's Unversity's<br />

English Department offers a film literature<br />

course, beginning in<br />

the school's spring<br />

semester. The course includes a study of<br />

the novels, short stories and dramas on<br />

which films were based.<br />

Offered for undergraduate and graduate<br />

credit, the course is taught by Father Louis<br />

Reille, director of St. Mary's Cinema-Arts<br />

Seminars.<br />

The films and fiction works covered will<br />

include "Billy Budd," "The Power and the<br />

Glory," "Elmer Gantry," "Miss Lonely<br />

Hearts," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Illustrated<br />

Man," "Heart Is a Lonely Hunter"<br />

and "Intruder in the Dust."<br />

The course is primarily a comparative<br />

literature course and not a filmmaking<br />

laboratory.<br />

BOXOFFICE :: Febniary 10, 1975


. . . Urban<br />

Higher Admissions a Reality in Face<br />

Of Inflation, McKenna Tells Session<br />

(Continued from page SW-1)<br />

salvage the house nut out of such a picture."<br />

In the first-run engagement of a goodgrossing<br />

picture in a metropolitan area,<br />

McKenna said, the attendance will be approximately<br />

5% of the area's population.<br />

Even a smash will climb only to 18% of<br />

the population. To establish a proper admission<br />

price, exhibitors must remember<br />

that the dollar in 1964, a record-breaking<br />

year, is not the same as the dollar of 1975.<br />

"The motion picture industry in 1964 received<br />

20% of the U.S. recreational dollar<br />

and will only have 47% of the spectator<br />

dollar spent for entertainment. This is the<br />

figure that the theatre must study when it<br />

is endeavoring to establish a proper admission,"<br />

he explained. Every year since 1964<br />

has shown a decline, not in dollars grossed,<br />

but in theatres" share of the market.<br />

McKenna warned exhibitors that if they<br />

are "playing in a major market" and have<br />

not doubled their admission prices in the last<br />

10 years, they are "on shaky ground." He<br />

said he recognized the brilliant job exhibitors<br />

were doing in the face of inflation but<br />

urged them to lower their percentile costs<br />

for labor, rent, utilities, et al.<br />

Show costs, McKenna pointed out in a<br />

graph, have risen from 40% in 1964 to<br />

55% of gross income in 1974. The theatre<br />

manager, if he is astute in management,<br />

should have lowered his house costs from<br />

24.5% to 15% and staff salaries from 26%<br />

to 21%. Advertising costs were pegged at<br />

6% in both years. That left a profit margin<br />

of 3.5% a decade ago and only 3% today.<br />

"In this day and age of the 90/ 10 floor<br />

vs. house costs, the long run holdovers arc<br />

not in your favor for getting back what you<br />

gave away in the opening weeks of the engagement,"<br />

McKenna said. "Therefore, for<br />

survival, higher admission is a reality for<br />

the motion picture theatres.<br />

"The problem is real and a price war<br />

between exhibitors, when these trends are<br />

studied, could lead to disaster for many. We<br />

exhibitors have brought the problems of<br />

film buying on ourselves to a great extent<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

When you come to Waikiki,<br />

^ftr"<br />

don't miss the famous<br />

glljg^HJjUi<br />

fHAWAir Don Ho Show. . . at<br />

HOTELS Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAIKIKI RKEF REtF TOWERS EOGEWATER<br />

USED EQUIPMENT<br />

:ARB0N CO. • 1243 Belnonl Ave. Chiugo.<br />

f<br />

with bidding and ridiculous guarantees. For<br />

God's sake, do not let us destroy one another<br />

by a price war which would guarantee<br />

no future for the majority."<br />

Two other sessions during the convention<br />

covered "major legal decisions affecting<br />

motion pictures" and "insurance planning."<br />

Barbara Scott, vice-president of Motion<br />

Pictures Ass'n of America, outlined the<br />

legal cases affecting films and stressed that<br />

many rulings on films didn't clarify issues,<br />

only confused exhibitors. The major problem<br />

affecting theatres now is the question<br />

of whether nudity or obscenity viewed on a<br />

drive-in screen from public places can be<br />

banned.<br />

The Supreme Court has accepted a case<br />

from a Jacksonville, Fla., drive-in and will<br />

hear arguments on it this month. The Motion<br />

Picture Ass'n has filed a brief, contending<br />

that the prof)osed regulation would<br />

be too broad. It is the first time the Supreme<br />

Court has heard a drive-in screen case, Ms.<br />

Scott said.<br />

"If they uphold this ordinance, then we<br />

had better get that containment screen<br />

working very quickly or we will be in great<br />

trouble and very limited as to what can be<br />

shown on a drive-in screen," she explained.<br />

A ruling is expected by June and according<br />

to Ass'n officials, the screen should be ready<br />

by then for use.<br />

Ted Ferguson, regional marketing manager<br />

for TIPS (Total Insurance Planning<br />

System) told exhibitors that NATO of Texas<br />

has formulated a plan for members. He<br />

asked them to stop by the booth in the<br />

Show-in-thc-Round area for personal consultation.<br />

Offices are located in Dallas,<br />

Houston, Austin and Lubbock, Ferguson<br />

said, and TIPS is handled through representatives,<br />

not the mail.<br />

Other awards presented at the convention<br />

included Company of the Year award to<br />

Universal for such boxoffice hits as "Airport<br />

1975," "Earthquake," "The Front<br />

Page," "The Sting" and "American Graffiti."<br />

Richard Chamberlain was named Male<br />

Star of the Year and Jennifer O'Neill Female<br />

Star of the Year.<br />

Chuck Hamilton, chief executive officer<br />

and chairman of the board of Worldwide<br />

Films, Los Angeles, conducted a special exploitation<br />

session on the firm's product.<br />

OKLAHOMA CITY<br />

pale and Anne Smith, Springs Cinema,<br />

Spot and Movie Park Drive-In, Siloam<br />

Springs, Ark., made one of their rare trips<br />

in to buy and book pictures as well as take<br />

c;irc of supplies.<br />

Mike Brewer informed <strong>Boxoffice</strong> that<br />

he has completely remodeled the Royal Theatre<br />

in Pauls Valley. He also has the Brewer's<br />

Drive-ln operation.<br />

Funeral services were conducted in<br />

Terral<br />

for Grady Highlowcr January 30 ut the<br />

Methodist Church. He had operated the<br />

Tower Theatre for many years there. His<br />

home was a meeting place for the film salesmen<br />

for many years who liked to go out<br />

and eat fish at their favorite place down by<br />

the river. Condolences to his son Tom,<br />

daughter Frances and other relatives.<br />

Coining soon to the Westwood is "Escape<br />

to Witch Mountain" from Buena Vista.<br />

"Lenny" opens at the Continental Theatres<br />

in Oklahoma City and Tulsa Wednesday<br />

(12) Sneaked at the North Park January<br />

3 1 was "Young Frankenstein" . . . From<br />

. . .<br />

the crowd's reaction to the sneak of "The<br />

Great Waldo Pepper" at the Shepherd Twin,<br />

the picture looks like it will have a long run.<br />

Creative Film Services, East Meadow,<br />

New York, is now doing the booking and<br />

buying for the Park Terrace Theatre here<br />

renewal has forced the closing of<br />

the Academy Theatre here.<br />

Variety Club International installed their<br />

officers Tuesday (4) at the Lincoln Plaza.<br />

From there many of them went to the hit<br />

play, "Marriage-Go-Round," with Bob Cummings<br />

at the Lincoln Playhouse.<br />

Granada in Dallas Is<br />

New Adult Film House<br />

DALLAS—The Granada Theatre,<br />

which<br />

had built up a policy of showing vintag'.^<br />

films, has changed this month into an adult<br />

film house.<br />

Rowley-United Artists, which operated<br />

the Greenville Avenue theatre, last week<br />

signed a lease<br />

with the owners of the Guild<br />

Art Theater. The contract is for two years,<br />

with an option for another two years.<br />

According to a United Artists spokesman,<br />

the Granada closed Tuesday (4) with<br />

the final showing of "King of Hearts." It<br />

reopened, showing X-rated, 35mm films,<br />

not under the UA banner.<br />

The Granada had often doubled its usual<br />

gross with its nostalgia policy, showing such<br />

films as "Grand Hotel," "Casablanca,"<br />

"Dinner at Eight," "The Philadelphia Story"<br />

and "Holiday."<br />

Ironically, the theatre was planning to<br />

show a series of MGM musicals during<br />

February. The musicals had been withdrawn<br />

from theatrical presentation during<br />

the first run of "That's Entertainment!" but<br />

were now available for reissue.<br />

"The change of policy really sels the<br />

town hack in terms of appreciating film.<br />

For a city to have a truly sophisticated<br />

outlook on the film art, there must be a<br />

regular diet of the best of our old films,"<br />

said a regular Ciranada filmgoer.<br />

OUR CUSTOMERS'<br />

oppreciate the same day delivery of<br />

orders. Only a tremendous stock can<br />

assure this<br />

service."<br />

"Your Complete Equipment House"<br />

OKLAHOMA THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />

628 West Grand Oklahoma City<br />

SW-4 February 10, 1975


. . houses<br />

The<br />

fast<br />

\<br />

Front Page' Lead<br />

285 in Minneapolis<br />

MINNEAPOLIS—Holdovers dominated<br />

:he screen both in numbers and in appeal.<br />

Theatres that had films that bowed lustily<br />

3ver the holidays continued to count noses<br />

with no such situation grabbed<br />

ior what was available. "The Front Page"<br />

in its first weeks at the Cooper was solid<br />

and steady with nice legs at 285. Also holding<br />

up were "The Towering Inferno" and<br />

Young Frankenstein," which drew 260<br />

each.<br />

(Average Is 100)<br />

^cademy, State The Godfother, Port II (Para),<br />

6th 130<br />

Cooper The Front Page (Univ), 6th wk. . 285<br />

Sopher— Abby AlP), 3rd wk 60<br />

Mann— Freebie and the bean (WB), 4th wk 155<br />

Drpheum The Beast Must Die ;AIP), Seizure<br />

(AlP) 45<br />

Skyway I<br />

Towering Inferno (WB/20th-Fox),<br />

6th wk 260<br />

Skyway II Eorthquoke (Univ), 1 1th wk 165<br />

World Young Frankenstein (20fh-Fox), 6th wk. .260<br />

yorktown—Happy New Year (Emb), 2nd wk. ... 45<br />

Nebraska Obscenity Bill<br />

Clears Initial Hurdle<br />

LINCOLN—LB77, apparently the only<br />

proposed legislation on obscenity in the<br />

1975 Unicameral thus far. cleared initial<br />

floor proceedings January 31 without any<br />

debate. Added before the 32-0 vote to move<br />

LB77 from general file was an emergency<br />

clause (in a 33-0 vote). This makes the bill<br />

law as soon as the governor signs it.<br />

Actually, according to the state NATO<br />

attorney, Charles Huff of Lincoln, and Irwin<br />

Dubinsky. veteran theatreman, the bill<br />

only makes all of the bill comply with the<br />

federal obscenity bill language.<br />

Last year's bill in the Nebraska Unicameral<br />

eliminated local community standards<br />

and established state standards, the men ex-<br />

It is good, both continued, that LB77 will<br />

make the state language conform with federal.<br />

In this way, there can be little or no<br />

misinterpretation of what is obscene, they<br />

said.<br />

Gary Bucchino, Omaha city attorney,<br />

who drew up the preliminary draft of LB77,'<br />

introduced by Omaha Sen. Glenn Goodrich!<br />

said the language being removed is unnecessary.<br />

It defines obscene material as that<br />

which goes beyond "customary limits of<br />

candor in description or representation of<br />

such material." In appearing before the<br />

judiciary committee hearings on LB77,<br />

Bucchino said he wants no possible misinterpretation<br />

of the state by defense attorneys.<br />

Bucchino has led an active campaign<br />

against several "art" and "X only" theatres<br />

operating in the Omaha area over the past<br />

several years.<br />

Marquee Added at Twin<br />

MINDEN. LA.—A recent addition to the<br />

West Plaza Twin Cinema is the new marquee<br />

which displays current attractions for<br />

interested patrons. Although the cinema has<br />

been operating for several months, a grand<br />

opening was slated January 23, 24 and 25<br />

at the theatre.<br />

Cinema-Radio Tie-in Aids<br />

Paramedic's Fund Drive<br />

JANESVILLE, WIS.—The UA Cinema 1<br />

in the Janesville Mall here had a tie-in with<br />

WCLO Radio for a benefit screening to aid<br />

Supervising Paraimdic Fund drive at<br />

UA Cinema 1 in the .lanesville Mall,<br />

Janesville, Wis., were, left to right,<br />

Merritt Brown, assistant to the fire<br />

chief; Edward Malone (in background),<br />

UA Cinema 1 doorman; Terry Barrington.<br />

WCLO news commentator; Robert<br />

Daily, manager of WCLO Radio, Janesville,<br />

and Bill Lalor, manager of UA<br />

cinemas 1-2-3.<br />

the Janesville, Wis., Paramedic Fund and<br />

netted close to $630. The movie "Fitzwilly"<br />

was attended by more than 1,600 youngsters<br />

during a four-day holiday season engagement.<br />

The youths were admitted free in exchange<br />

for a donation of at least 25 cents<br />

to the Paramedic Fund.<br />

Bill Lalor, theatre manager, reported the<br />

vending results were "fantastic."<br />

Adults also participated in the fund drive<br />

when they placed contributions into a fish<br />

bowl after viewing the paramedic's ambulance<br />

(for which the fund is to be used)<br />

that was parked at the theatre entrance.<br />

Guests of honor were Fire Chief George<br />

Dany; Bob Daily, manager of WCLO Radio,<br />

and Terry Barrington, WCLO news commentator.<br />

Both Dany and Daily agreed<br />

this kind of promotion "is a must for next<br />

year in order to purchase more equipment<br />

for paramedics and to brighten the holiday<br />

period for the youngsters in the area."<br />

Len Church, public relations man for the<br />

United Artists Theatre Circuit, pointed out<br />

that while the children were enjoying the<br />

movie, hundreds of fathers and mothers<br />

were enjoying shopping in the mall.<br />

Mr. and Mrs. Don Johnson<br />

Announce Acquisition of 2<br />

SCHUYLER, NEB.—Mr. and Mrs. Donald<br />

Johnson, owners of the Sky and Skyway<br />

drive-ins here and the West and Y-Knot<br />

Drive-In, West Point, Neb., have announced<br />

the purchase of the Starlite Drive-In at<br />

Neligh, Neb. from the Bradley family. They<br />

also have purchased the Lynn Theatre at<br />

Lynch, Neb.<br />

The Johnsons had built the Lynn Theatre<br />

in 1954 but sold it in 1965.<br />

An Easter opening for both theatres is<br />

planned by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.<br />

Film Fele Marks<br />

FOOFS'lOihYear<br />

By WALLY L. MEYER<br />

MILWAUKEE— Past and present members,<br />

as well as special guests, including<br />

Wally L. Meyer of <strong>Boxoffice</strong> and photographer<br />

John Robl, attended the tenth anniversary<br />

party of the Followers of Old Films<br />

(FOOFS) Sunday, January 19, at Hewitt's<br />

Gourmet House in South Milwaukee. Afternoon<br />

entertainment began with film clips<br />

from the extensive private collection of Dale<br />

E. Kuntz, president and only original member<br />

of the FOOFS. After a break for the<br />

buffet-style meal, the audience gave its enthralled<br />

attention to the screening of the<br />

1937 Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy film<br />

favorite, "Maytime."<br />

Over the past ten years the FOOFS have<br />

shown at least 120 motion pictures to its<br />

membership (which is limited to 30, because<br />

the meetings are held in the homes of<br />

members). It becomes the privilege of each<br />

host to select the films to be shown and the<br />

group divides the cost of the rental.<br />

'Remember Jeanette'<br />

It all started with a "Remember Jeanette<br />

MacDonald Party" that was held Sunday,<br />

Jan. 16, 1966, one year and two days after<br />

the death of the singing star. Each of the<br />

guests, numbering 16, had to bring along<br />

some memorabilia of Miss MacDonald that<br />

could be shared with the others attending<br />

the get-together. After watching a Jeanette<br />

MacDonald film, time was spent listening to<br />

the star's recordings and next participating<br />

in a 15-minute quiz prepared by Richard J.<br />

Hagen, at whose home the party was held.<br />

Dale Kuntz donated 8'/2xll prints of the<br />

actress for presentation to each member in<br />

attendance.<br />

The group decided to meet again a month<br />

later to watch another Jeanette MacDonald<br />

movie. Hagen and Kuntz were elected copresidents.<br />

Meetings were to be held once<br />

each month thereafter. For the first anniversary<br />

party, the FOOFs had a double-feature<br />

show: "Maytime" and "Naughty Marietta."<br />

By the second year the club no longer<br />

was dedicated solely to watching Jeanette<br />

MacDonald films, as others such as "A<br />

Night at the Opera." "Dark Victory," Chaplin's<br />

"The Great Dictator" and "Topper<br />

Takes a Trip" were being shown.<br />

National Recognition<br />

By 1972, the club's seventh year, it had<br />

gained recognition both locally and nationally.<br />

That year each member hosting a film<br />

meeting at his home stuck to the theme<br />

"Great Hollywood Love Teams." The<br />

FOOFS chose Katharine Hepburn-Spencer<br />

Tracy, Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney, Bette<br />

Davis-George Brent, Marie Dressier-Wallace<br />

Beery, Myrna Loy-William Powell, Claudette<br />

Colbert-Fred MacMurray and others.<br />

During a two-month period a few years<br />

ago, the group sponsored the showing of<br />

old films nightly at the Milwaukee Inn on<br />

the city's east side, with co-president Dick<br />

Hagen supplying the appropriate piano mu-<br />

(Continued on Page NC-3)<br />

|07;<br />

BOXOFnCE :: February 10, 1975<br />

NC-1


. . . The<br />

j<br />

MINNEAPOLIS<br />

JJoger Dietz, popular Filmrow figure and<br />

former Columbia Pictures branch manager,<br />

has purchased a half-interest in the<br />

Sim Heller circuit in Grand Rapids and will<br />

buy and book the three Minnesota situations<br />

involved. They are the Rialto, Rapids and<br />

Pine Tree Drive-In theatres. Heller resides<br />

in suburban St. Louis Park. Dietz also lives<br />

here but may take up residence in Grand<br />

Rapids.<br />

An open house was held at the K-Tel<br />

Productions offices Friday (7) and K-Tel<br />

general sales manager Dean Lutz emphasized<br />

that it was for "all in our industry."<br />

More than 200 were e.xpected to attend.<br />

Alan Cordover, national manager of K-Tel<br />

Productions, was host and refreshments and<br />

hors d'oeuvres were served. The offices are<br />

located at 11311 K-Tel Dr. in Minnetonka,<br />

on Shady Oak Road across from Shady Oak<br />

Lake.<br />

Carter Troyer, Boteno Theatre, Bottineau,<br />

N.D., tossed orchids at Chuck Lahti and<br />

Minneapolis Theatre Supply. Troyer says he<br />

needed two sets of vacuum brushes and contacted<br />

Lahti at 4:45 p.m. January 21. The<br />

next morning at 10:30 a.m. they arrived.<br />

"Five hundred miles out here on the prairie<br />

—and we had them within hours," a pleased<br />

Troyer reported.<br />

Alan Cordover of K-Tel Productions was<br />

in Texas January 28-30 for the theatre owners<br />

convention there . . . K-Tel's Dean Lutz<br />

winged off to Atlanta January 28 for meetings<br />

at the K-Tel regional office there . . .<br />

"Three Stooges Follies" was set by the Columbia<br />

branch here for a January 31 bow<br />

at the Varsity Theatre. A St. Paul opening<br />

still is pending. Meanwhile, Columbia's Twin<br />

Cities-wide break on a pairing of "Law and<br />

Disorder" (Carroll O'Connor, Ernest Borgnine)<br />

and "The Last Detail" (Jack Nicholson)<br />

is set for Friday (21), with ten prints<br />

working the metropolitan area.<br />

Roy Smith, Lange Distributing Co.<br />

branch chief, scurried South January 29 to<br />

SOLARC<br />

St. Petersburg, Fla., for a series of film<br />

meetings . . . Twin Cities dates will be announced<br />

shortly for "The Reincarnation of<br />

Peter Proud," starring Michael Sarrazin and<br />

Jennifer O'Neill, it was stated January 27<br />

by American International Pictures district<br />

manager Jim Ellis. Ellis added that the picture<br />

has been breaking house records in each<br />

opening to date, including Peoria, 111.;<br />

Charleston, W. Va.; Albuquerque, N.M.,<br />

and Providence, R.I. The picture opens here<br />

in early April.<br />

"The Great Waldo Pepper" was sneaked<br />

January 29 at the Cooper Theatre by Universal<br />

branch manager Frank Zanotti, who<br />

reported "very exciting audience reaction"<br />

latest addition to the Dan Peterson<br />

circuit will open Friday (21). It's the Cinema<br />

Unique, a 300-seat house located in a new<br />

shopping center in Brookings, S.D. The debut<br />

attraction will be a biggie, "The Towering<br />

Inferno."<br />

Ted Kostelecky, Belfield Theatre. Belfield,<br />

N.D., and his bride of two months,<br />

the former Marge Koffler of Dickinson,<br />

N.D., included a visit to Filmrow during a<br />

trip to this city. Kostelecky also operates the<br />

Lakeview Drive-In at Dickinson . . . Other<br />

Filmrow visitors: Mr. and Mrs. Bob Collins,<br />

Morris Theatre, Morris, and Gene Grengs.<br />

Hollywood, Eau Claire, Wis.<br />

"Posse," Peter Falk and John Cassavetes<br />

star in<br />

are in "Mikey and Nicky," Jeannie<br />

Berlin toplines "Sheila Levine Is Dead and<br />

Living in New York" and Kirk Douglas,<br />

Alexis Smith and David Janssen are in<br />

"Once Is Not Enough." based on the Jacqueline<br />

Susann best-seller. Also on tap is "Three<br />

Days of the Condor," starring top boxoffice<br />

draw Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway.<br />

"The phonc'll be ringing," says Myers.<br />

Jerry Siegel, division manager of United<br />

United Artists Theatres of Wisconsin, was<br />

here to check out product and visit Filmrow<br />

contacts . . . Carl T. Holcombe has taken<br />

over the Cinema Theatre in Farmington . . .<br />

Bixby Knight, formerly operator of the<br />

Staples Theatre. Staples, and now manager<br />

of the Mr. Steak Restaurant in Grand Forks,<br />

N.D., grabbed a wintertime break. He, Mrs.<br />

Knight and another couple headed south<br />

on an Arizona vacation.<br />

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Projection Serv. Co.<br />

3922 Nolen Ave., S. E.<br />

\<br />

h0<br />

Action by Mabelle McGraw<br />

Saves Ogden Movie House<br />

OGDEN, IOWA—A few hours before<br />

,, bi^<br />

members of the local American Legion post<br />

planned to start removing seats from the<br />

only movie house in town, Mrs. Mabelle<br />

McGraw, 86, wife of the late longtime<br />

operator of the theatre, produced a lease<br />

which she contends gives her control of<br />

the facihty and its operation through Dec.<br />

1, 1978. Mrs. McGraw told Tribune staff<br />

writer Michael Bryson, "They were told if<br />

they took out the seats they'd have the law<br />

after them. TTiey didn't take them out."<br />

Mrs. McGraw learned of the plans to<br />

convert the movie house into a combination<br />

meeting place and community hall after returning<br />

from an out-of-town trip. Although<br />

she admits that the American Legion owns<br />

the building, Mrs. McGraw contends that<br />

the lease gives her control "and if I wanted<br />

to 1 could bar them from holding meetings<br />

at the theatre."<br />

Complicating the situation, however,<br />

Mrs. McGraw disclosed that she had sold<br />

the projection equipment and screen—and<br />

possibly the seats—to the American Legion<br />

early in 1974. The deal was made, she said,<br />

with the assumption "that they were going<br />

Forrie Myers, Paramount branch manager,<br />

says that the "starred mountain-top Moviegoers of the community have ral-<br />

to continue with movies at the theatre."<br />

company" has a rich lineup for late spring lied to the support of Mrs. McGraw, who<br />

and summer. One of the prime offerings will lives in an apartment above the theatre.<br />

be "Day of the Locust," starring Burgess Gary Alban, who has been named spokesman<br />

for the save-the-theatre group, pre-<br />

Meredith. Karen Black. Donald Sutherland<br />

and Geraldine Page, a story of Hollywood sented two possible solutions. One calls for<br />

in the 1930s. Kirk Douglas and Bruce Dcrn his group to lease the theatre for $125 to<br />

National Disu<br />

SI 50 a month for a year, with option to<br />

purchase the facility. The other offer involves<br />

leasing half the seating in the theatre,<br />

allowing the Legion to level the floor in<br />

the front portion of the auditorium for use<br />

as meeting space.<br />

Mrs. McGraw stated. "The Legion can<br />

meet here all it wants as long as the theatre<br />

group also is allowed to show its movies."<br />

She said she was strongly encouraged by<br />

local support for the theatre, noting that<br />

many of the community's young people<br />

have been participating in petition drives<br />

to keep the showhouse open.<br />

"It's the first venture in which the young<br />

people have worked together. They are all<br />

interested in saving it," she said.<br />

Benefit 'Freebie' Showing<br />

MONTREAL—United Theatres' Palace<br />

Cinema recently hosted a CKGM holidayseason<br />

"Movie Party," screening Warner<br />

Bros.' "Freebie and the Bean." Each patron<br />

was asked to donate a toy for needy children<br />

in lieu of conventional admission<br />

charge.<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

When you come to Waikiki<br />

'^°'^'^ "^'ss *he famous<br />

BlCtKA<br />

HAWAII Don Ho Show. .<br />

.<br />

at<br />

HOTELS Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAIKIKI RtEF RtEF TOWIJIS HXiFttATER©<br />

ij? p<br />

NC-2 BOXOFHCE :: February 10, 1975


Marcus Circuit Green<br />

Bay Twin Under Way<br />

GREEN BAY. WIS.—Richard L. Kite,<br />

at least a dozen of the FOOFS donned costumes<br />

in order to appear in the theatre<br />

lobby as Rhett Butler, Ashley Wilkes. Southern<br />

Belles and Confederate soldiers. They<br />

served as hosts and hostesses for a benefit<br />

performance of the film, while both Channels<br />

6 and 12 gave the event news coverage.<br />

A similar dress-up event was arranged again<br />

this past year, 1974. when the FOOFS impersonated<br />

Ginger Rogers. Fred Astaire,<br />

Gaylord from "Show Boat." Carmen Miranda<br />

and other famed stars who appear in<br />

MGM's "That's Entertainment!" Again TV<br />

gave the club's activities news coverage on<br />

the two opening nights. There also was a<br />

story with photos in the Journal. Manager<br />

Joyce Lindberg followed the dress-up idea<br />

by appearing as Julie from "Show Boat."<br />

President Kuntz owns thousands of old<br />

movie posters and still pictures. He is a<br />

consultant to the Performing Arts Center<br />

for its Summer Film Festivals which have<br />

proved to be successful to date. He also is<br />

included in a list of speakers provided by<br />

the Milwaukee Art Center and gives lectures<br />

on old films. In addition to Kuntz, five<br />

other members of the FOOFS have their<br />

own private 16mm film collections.<br />

As the FOOFs begin their tenth year, the<br />

club has its full 30-member capacity and a<br />

waiting list of several persons wishing to<br />

join. Movies produced before 1950 are eligible<br />

to be shown at a meeting and, while<br />

MILWAUKEE<br />

Qarole Sutter, branch manager for Buena place films in each category will be entered<br />

Vista, was in Burbank, Calif., in mid- in the national competition.<br />

president of Marcus Theatres Corp., has December attending a sales meeting that<br />

Deejay Keith Moore of<br />

announced ground-breaking for a twin theatre<br />

in the Shopko East Shopping Center on Attending the confab were major exhibitors<br />

was WISN Radio here<br />

arranged by Buena Vista Distributing.<br />

finally had his oft-expressed wish come true<br />

— a telephone call (while on the air) frorri<br />

Main Street in Green Bay. A spring opening from all over the U.S. They viewed the<br />

screen star Doris Day.<br />

is anticipated.<br />

screening of two new<br />

On his daily show<br />

Disney films, including<br />

Keith interviews<br />

One auditorium will have 450 seats, while "The Strongest Man<br />

many of the big-time performers<br />

and entertainers who come here<br />

in the World." It is<br />

the other will accommodate 350, Kite told slated to open here Friday (21) at Northridge,<br />

Point and Westlane.<br />

and he has become a great favorite with<br />

BOXOFFICE.<br />

local listeners. However, for more than a<br />

Milwaukee-based Marcus Theatres Corp.<br />

presently operates the Vic Theatre in Green<br />

Ingmar Bergman's "Scenes From a Marriage"<br />

was given a special showing Monday<br />

year or so he had been bemoaning the hardship<br />

he was encountering while seeking a<br />

Bay.<br />

night, January 27, in the Centre screening telephone visit with Miss Day. Leaving no<br />

FOOFS Commemorate<br />

room. According to reports, a representative doubt in anyone's mind about the way he<br />

from Cinema 5 was in town as an advance adored the freckle-faced, sweet-singing<br />

publicity agent and extended invitations for actress, the tall deejay dropped hints to any<br />

Founding With Screening<br />

the showing to marriage counselors, divorce show business personality he suspected of<br />

(Continued from page NC-1)<br />

lawyers, psychiatrists and others. The mo-<br />

being a friend—or at least a neighbor—of<br />

Doris Day and whom he hoped might intervene<br />

for him. That assistance finally arrived<br />

through a cabaret performer appearing at<br />

sic for any silent attractions. This project, tion picture opened Wednesday, January 29,<br />

plus radio interviews and TV appearances at both the Esquire and Times theatres.<br />

by representatives of the FOOFS, also<br />

Patricia Morrison, who appeared in<br />

helped to establish the club<br />

27<br />

in this area. In<br />

movies during the late<br />

keeping with the theme of MGM's 1930s and '40s, was<br />

classic,<br />

in town to star in a one-night<br />

"Gone With the Wind," when it was<br />

performance<br />

reissued<br />

and booked<br />

of a musical titled "Oh Coward" at the<br />

for the Southgate Theatre,<br />

Performing Arts Center Thursday, January<br />

30. The singing actress was on an 1 1-week<br />

cross-country tour with the show, which<br />

contains all of Noel Coward's songs and<br />

wit.<br />

Filmmakers between the ages of eight and<br />

18 were invited to participate in Sturgeon<br />

Bay's Channel 18's second annual Young<br />

Filmmakers Festival, which ended January<br />

15. The festival is held each year in conjunction<br />

with the national Young Filmmakers<br />

Festival sponsored by the Center for Understanding<br />

Media, New York. There are<br />

three age categories: Primary (below ten),<br />

junior (11-14) and senior (15-18). Films<br />

could be Super 8, 8mm or 16mm, sound or<br />

silent and color or black and white. First-<br />

UW-Madison Series Offers<br />

Films Directed by Women<br />

MILWAUKEE—A series of 13 motion<br />

pictures, all directed by women, are being<br />

shown on the University of Wisconsin-<br />

Madison campus through arrangements<br />

made by two students, Nina Waldorf of<br />

Milwaukee and Susan Hering of Appleton.<br />

Films include: "Duet for Cannibals," 1966<br />

release directed by Susan Sontag; "The<br />

Girls." 1968, by Mai Zetterling; "Pit of<br />

Loneliness. " 1951, by Jacqueline Audry;<br />

"The Bigamist," 1953, by Ida Lupino, and<br />

"Maedchen in Uniform," 1931, by Leon-<br />

Jeanette MacDonald is still the favorite, the<br />

tine<br />

next<br />

Sagan.<br />

runner-up has become Bette Davis,<br />

with The dates of the<br />

seven<br />

films<br />

of her<br />

range<br />

past films having<br />

from two<br />

been<br />

screened. In addition to their own<br />

made in the 1920s to three produced in the<br />

meetings,<br />

the members 1970s.<br />

often attend the opening of a<br />

new film at some movie<br />

The stated<br />

house<br />

purpose of the series is "to<br />

as a group.<br />

bring a And says president Kuntz,<br />

body of films by women to celebrate<br />

them and to call attention has<br />

"There's no limit<br />

to where we can go ... !" . He to their<br />

collaborated<br />

on a book<br />

existence." Sunday and<br />

called "America's Monday night<br />

Singing<br />

screenings<br />

Sweethearts"<br />

were<br />

(MacDonald<br />

announced.<br />

and Eddy)<br />

which is to be published soon. Around 400<br />

stills from his own collection are contained John Motley has been promoted to Warner<br />

Bros.' branch manager in in it.<br />

Dallas.<br />

the Pfister's Crown Room.<br />

For a full week Keith was bubbling with<br />

expectancy as he confided that Doris Day<br />

would be calling the station on "DD Day."<br />

She did and the topics of conversation<br />

ranged from movies to dogs-as-pets to Doris'<br />

recordings and back to movies. The final<br />

upshot (and the deejay confessed this happened<br />

via the phone off the air) was that<br />

the actress-singer gave him her Beverly Hills<br />

address and an invitation when he's in town.<br />

The call occurred in mid-January and from<br />

time to time (and for any excuse at all) the<br />

radio personality plays back portions of the<br />

interview, which was taped in its entirety.<br />

The Oriental Landmark Theatre will dispense<br />

with film fare Saturday night (15)<br />

when the Than Jones-Mel Lewis jazz band<br />

makes its debut here in a concert in which<br />

several UA-Milwaukee student jazz ensembles<br />

also will take part.<br />

Regal Cinema Bow Slated<br />

KIMBERLEY. B.C.—Roy McNiven announced<br />

the scheduled first-of-the-year<br />

opening of his 300-seat Regal, new cinema<br />

which will be a seven-day-a-week operation.<br />

Buying and booking for the Regal will be<br />

handled by Syd Sniderman of Prairie Allied<br />

Booking Ass'n.<br />

FINER PROJECTION-SUPER ECONOMY<br />

Hurley<br />

Ask Your Supply Dealer or Write<br />

HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc.<br />

26 Soroh Drive Formingdole, L. I., N. Y., 11735<br />

BOXOFnCE :: February 10, 1975<br />

NC-3


LINCOLN<br />

J^ee Levorson, Douglas 3 manager, and his<br />

wife managed to miss this city's big<br />

January 9 snow storm and the others following<br />

it by taking their three-week vacation<br />

January 7. The couple drove out to San<br />

Diego, Calif., to visit for a week with their<br />

son-in-law and daughter, John and Diana<br />

Minor. They then went to Sacramento,<br />

where Levorson's brother-in-law and sister,<br />

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harris, reside. Lee<br />

says the two places provided quite a weather<br />

contrast—but no snow. It was warm, with<br />

beautiful sunshine in the San Diego area but<br />

damp, foggy and raining most of the week<br />

in Sacramento. I^e says he prefers Nebraska's<br />

snow to the drippy days experienced in<br />

Sacramento. The couple drove south again<br />

for a weekend with the Minors, then started<br />

home and apparently hit the very end of one<br />

of Nebraska's recent storms as they approached<br />

the Albuquerque, N.M., area. The<br />

Levorsons arrived home January 29, just in<br />

time to experience some of this winter's severe<br />

winter temperatures.<br />

John Slama, assistant manager of the<br />

Cooper/ Lincoln, repxjrts observing the<br />

fourth anniversary of his employment with<br />

Cooper Theatres (now Cooper-Highland)<br />

January 27. As far as John knows, he is<br />

among the company's employees with the<br />

longest, continuous service in this city. He<br />

recalls former Cooper manager Jay Maness,<br />

now with Dubinsky Theatres in Des Moines,<br />

Iowa, hired him and trained him as he rose<br />

through the ranks while attending the University<br />

of Nebraska. John now attends some<br />

daytime classes at Southeast Nebraska Community<br />

College here.<br />

Manager Al Schuller of the Stuart Theatre<br />

"slept in" Saturday (I)—and with good<br />

reason! He remained at the downtown theatre<br />

Friday night, January 31, for the Stuart's<br />

Friday night "Freak Flick," for which there<br />

THEY VANISHED...<br />

without a trace— over a 1 000 people and<br />

1 00 planes and ships in an area of the<br />

Atlantic Ocean known as . .<br />

$10,000.00 AWARD I<br />

to any viewer of this film who<br />

can solve the mystery of<br />

THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE!<br />

KING CRIMSON<br />

is a $1 admission policy. The fihn attraction<br />

January 31 was the three-hour-long "Woodstock"<br />

. . . Gail Stippich and Lynn Garner<br />

of the Cooper/ Lincoln Theatre staff were<br />

in Breckenridge, Colo., for several days of<br />

skiing.<br />

The showing of "The Life and Times of<br />

Grizzly Adams" at the suburban Cooper/<br />

Lincoln apparently produced the theatre's<br />

alltime-record in daily and weekly concession<br />

grosses and a daily second-place rating<br />

on boxoffice records January 25. Cooper/<br />

Lincoln opened in 1967. Assistant manager<br />

John Slama said the picture's appeal to<br />

family groups, including children (who are<br />

always hungry), apparently figured in the<br />

record concession business. Opening January<br />

24. "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams"<br />

went off the screen Tuesday (4) when<br />

"That's Entertainment!" took over. The latter<br />

film played downtown at the Stuart<br />

before the holidays.<br />

"The Towering Infemo," occupying two<br />

of the Douglas 3 auditoriums, still is a sellout<br />

on weekends, it is reported by assistant<br />

manager Mike McLaughlin, who has returned<br />

to work following a bout with the<br />

flu. "Inferno" opened December 20 and<br />

should be here for several more weeks.<br />

"Pardon My Blooper" was replaced in the<br />

Douglas triplex's other auditorium by "Mr.<br />

Ricco" Wednesday (5).<br />

Carl Olson of New York City, division<br />

manager for United Artists, was in town<br />

Monday (3) to visit with industry members<br />

Irwin Dubinsky of the Dubinsky circuit;<br />

Russell Brehm. head of Douglas Theatres,<br />

and Herman Hallberg, executive vice-president<br />

of Cooper-Highland Theatres. Hallberg<br />

was in Denver several days the preceding<br />

week conferring with Marshall Smith and<br />

other executives of the new Cooper-Highland<br />

Theatres (formerly Cooper Theatres).<br />

DES MOINES & OMAHA<br />

TERRITORIES<br />

BOOK A<br />

MONEYMAKER!<br />

Stan<br />

Call<br />

Smith<br />

KEMP<br />

Film Dist. Corp.<br />

(314) 535-5275<br />

BIdg., Suite 404<br />

539 N. Grand Blvd.<br />

St. Louis, Mo. 63103<br />

Omaha's new performing arts theatre, the<br />

Orpheum, postponed the Marcel Marceau<br />

performance from January 28 to March 21.<br />

The internationally famous mime had to<br />

return to France suddenly because his<br />

mother became critically ill.<br />

Jeff Lapin, son of Dubinsky Theatres<br />

executive Art Lapin and his wife Bonnie,<br />

had his first surgery at the age of four<br />

Thursday (6) at St. Elizabeth Community<br />

Health Center. Jeff had his adenoids removed<br />

after a throat specialist said this<br />

might eliminate most of his colds, high<br />

fevers and coughs . . . The James Rodenberg<br />

family is still waiting (impatiently) for<br />

the finishing carpenter to complete interior<br />

work in their new Wellington Greens home.<br />

The target date now is approximately<br />

month's end . . . The foreign film screened<br />

at the Sheldon Gallery Auditorium, University<br />

of Nebraska, for the Nebraska Union<br />

Foreign Society was "The Fire Within." The<br />

picture was offered January 29 through<br />

January 31 . . . KFOR Radio listeners<br />

heard the familiar voice of Nebraska native<br />

Henry Fonda frequently for a couple of<br />

weeks reminding, in behalf of the March of<br />

Dimes, that there are still "many Tiny Tims<br />

alive today and some Scrooges, too." Fonda<br />

asked for Nebraska support and requested<br />

that "any Scrooges discovered behind you<br />

be urged to help, too."<br />

Nebraska-bom Marlon Brando headed a<br />

group of donors who planned funds to buy<br />

the Catholic novitiate seized by the Menominee<br />

Indians at Gresham, Wis. UPI reported<br />

January 17 from Seattle that Dennis Banks<br />

made the announcement. Banks is co-founder<br />

of the American Indian Movement<br />

(AIM). Banks said the monastery owned by<br />

the Alexian Order of the Catholic Church<br />

would be converted into an Indian hospital.<br />

Brando has paid a $318,000 mortgage on<br />

a parcel of property in Agoura, Calif., which<br />

he gave to the Indians earlier. The Academy<br />

Award-winning actor has been active in<br />

helping Indians living in this city temporarily<br />

as federal court trials relating to the Wounded<br />

Knee, S.D., incident were carried out.<br />

The Indians received a blow January 17<br />

when Federal Court Judge Warren Urbom<br />

handed down a ruling that the Sioux might<br />

once have been a fully sovereign nation but<br />

"they are not now and have not been for a<br />

long time." Had he ruled in favor of the<br />

Sioux's cases, based on the Treaty of 1868,<br />

the Sioux and AIM hoped to have all<br />

charges stemming from the 1973 occupation<br />

of Wounded Knee dismissed. Under the<br />

treaty, the Sioux claimed, the Wounded<br />

Knee and adjacent land was theirs and governmental<br />

officials had no right being on it<br />

or interferring.<br />

SUfXfXe^ Theatre Supply, Inc.<br />

^A<br />

1502 Dovenport St.<br />

^^W Omaha, Nebraska 68102<br />

^ir « Area Code (402) 341-5715<br />

Where Your Business Is APPREaATED<br />

NC-4 February 10, 1975


^Lenny<br />

.<br />

'Quake' Jolts Cincy<br />

With 950 in Fifth<br />

CINCINNATI — -Earthquake"'<br />

grossed<br />

950 for its fifth week at Carousel 1 to continue<br />

its lead among all first runs for the<br />

recording week. "Freebie and the Bean"<br />

posted 600 at three theatres for its fourth<br />

stanza. "The Towering Inferno" scored 500<br />

for a fifth week at Showcase 1 and "The<br />

Man With the Golden Gun" drew 475 for<br />

a fifth frame at Times Towne Cinema.<br />

,<br />

!<br />

Dge<br />

— Amorcord fSR), 4th wk.<br />

Eorquoke Univ), 5fh wk.<br />

Carousel<br />

1<br />

Grond Sleeper Spook SR)<br />

International 70— Abby ;AIP), 4th wk<br />

Kenwood The Front Poge (Univ), 4th<br />

1— The Towering Inferno<br />

Showcase<br />

(WB/20th-Fox),<br />

Showcase 2- Godfather, Port II<br />

5th<br />

Showcose 3 Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox),<br />

5th wk 275<br />

Showco'e 5 The Longest Yard ;Para), 12th wk. 225<br />

Three theatres Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />

Three theatres The Island the Top of<br />

World (BV), 5th wk<br />

Times Towne Cinema The Man With the<br />

Golden Gun (UA), 5th wk<br />

Valley Airport 1975 (Univ), 14th wk<br />

the<br />

features tied for second with identical scores<br />

of 425: "Earthquake." "Young Frankenstein"<br />

and "The Godfather. Part II." Third<br />

place fell to "Lenny" in Towne 1 for the<br />

behind, with 320. was "Earthquake" in a<br />

tenth earth-shaking week at two theatres.<br />

"The Towering Inferno" pulled 255 and<br />

"Freebie and the Bean" fallowed with 250.<br />

Five theatres Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />

4th wk 250<br />

Four theatres The Island at the Top of the<br />

World (BV), 5th wk 90<br />

Four theatres The Godfather, Port II (Para),<br />

5th<br />

Four theatres The Front Poge (Univ), 5th wk. 125<br />

Four theatres Phantom of the Paradise<br />

(20th-Fox) 35<br />

HipDodrome, Shaker^Black Tramp (SR); Deep<br />

Thrust (SR) 115<br />

Six theatres Murder on the Orient Express<br />

(Para) 370<br />

theotres The Towering Inferno<br />

(WB/20th-Fc 5th wk .255<br />

New Line Cinema has donated a print<br />

of the 1926 Japanese film "Page of Madness"<br />

to<br />

the Museum of Modern Art.<br />

Vidor Making Documentary<br />

About His Film Career<br />

DETROIT—Veteran director King "Vidor.<br />

81. has been at "Wayne State University<br />

making another movie. In this film, the<br />

man who megged such epics as "Duel in<br />

the Sun," "Northwest Passage" and ""War<br />

and Peace" was, himself, in front of the<br />

camera. Nevertheless, at one point he called<br />

out. "Save your arcs!"<br />

The moviemaking project was described<br />

as follows by Free Press staff writer William<br />

S. Wells; "Three decades of bringing<br />

movies in on budget had so thoroughly<br />

conditioned the man that he could not<br />

resist voicing the traditional filmdom command<br />

as he paused to speak with a reporter<br />

(he was telling his assistant to turn off the<br />

blinding—and costly—arc lights).<br />

"Vidor, who has been semi-retired since<br />

he made 'Solomon and Sheba' in 1959, is<br />

producing a documentary about his career.<br />

He brought his small crew to Detroit to<br />

film a segment with his longtime friend<br />

Dr. John M. Dorsey, 74, a psychiatrist and<br />

professor emeritus at Wayne State. The<br />

friendship began 12 years ago when Vidor<br />

came to Detroit for a Directors Guild convention.<br />

He had read many of Dorsey's<br />

'Towering Inferno' Takes Detroit<br />

With 485 On Eight Screens<br />

DETROIT — "The Towering Inferno." books and had wanted to meet him.<br />

•'<br />

playing for three weeks in eight theatres. 'This is a film about my career and<br />

held on to a slight lead with 485. Three the things that have affected my work,"<br />

Vidor explained. 'Dr. Dorsey's philosophy,<br />

his thoughts about life, have a lot to do<br />

with the way I made movies, so he's being<br />

included. Later, I hope to do a documentary<br />

I<br />

.<br />

fourth week with a strong gross of 385.<br />

just about him.'<br />

Eioht theatres The Godfather, Port II (Para),<br />

"Vidor has been traveling around the<br />

DETROIT—Jerry Jorgensen. presently<br />

"3rd wk ;...425<br />

theatres The Towering<br />

country for the past month getting his past<br />

been<br />

Inferno<br />

Eight local Universal branch manager,<br />

down on celluloid. The 16mm color film named to a similar position in<br />

has<br />

Chicago,<br />

(WB,''20th-Fox), 3rd wk 385<br />

(Five theotres— Eorthquake (Univ), 8th wk 425<br />

will be distributed to universities as a lesson<br />

was announced by Robert L. Carpenter,<br />

five theatres The Little Prince (Para), 2nd wk. 90<br />

in filmmaking and it also may be sold<br />

it<br />

Universal Pictures general sales manager.<br />

Palms The Drogon Dies Hord SR), 2nd wk 285<br />

Six theatres Young Fronknestein ;20th-Fo<br />

Dave Gonda will succeed Jorgensen here.<br />

to TV. he said. The Detroit segment was<br />

.425<br />

-The Front Poge Univ), 3rd wk 175<br />

shot in Dorsey's office on the seventh floor<br />

Prior to being named branch manager<br />

theatres— Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />

Six<br />

2nd of Mackenzie Hall and it involved the two<br />

wk 225<br />

in Detroit last year, Jorgensen worked as a<br />

Studio IV Amarcord (SR), 8th wk 125<br />

men sitting side by side, talking about life. salesman for Universal in Philadelphia. He<br />

Studio North The Seduction of Mimi (SR),<br />

2nd<br />

"Born the son of a prosperous lumberman<br />

joined the company as a booker in Salt<br />

10 Island at the Top the World<br />

theatres The<br />

3rd wk<br />

in Galveston. Tex., Vidor is best Lake City in 1968.<br />

(BV),<br />

Towne (UA), 4th wk<br />

12 theatres—The Man With the Golden Gu<br />

known for his cinematic expressions of hope Gonda previously was with Universal in<br />

(UA), 3rd wk<br />

and faith in the individual. It is a theme<br />

Two theatres Abby (AlP), 2nd wk<br />

runs through Dorsey's prodigious<br />

Detroit as a salesman. He resigned a few<br />

Two theatres— Boss Nigger (SR), 2nd wk. that also<br />

years ago and in the interim held various<br />

writings on psychology and psychiatry.<br />

sales and managerial positions with United<br />

'Murder on Orient Express'<br />

and Buena Vista.<br />

" 'In his films, you can see that he has<br />

Artists<br />

Has 370 in 6-Theatre Debut<br />

an appreciation for the fact that each of us<br />

CLEVEL,'\ND—"Murder on the Orient<br />

Express" rolled along on the right track to<br />

Sillins to State Post<br />

is in our own world, that the individual is<br />

sovereign, that all you can do is live and<br />

keep becoming what you are becoming,'<br />

take Cleveland with 370 in its debut. Not far<br />

said Dorsey. Vidor nodded in agreement."<br />

Columbus Dispatch Begins<br />

Column on Show Business<br />

COLUMBUS—The Columbus Sunday<br />

Dispatch has initiated a new column on<br />

the world of show business. "Ask Helene,"<br />

conducted by Helene Goodfleisch. who also<br />

will have a column each Friday in the entertainment<br />

section. Ms. Goodfleisch has been<br />

with the Dispatch since 1971 and attributes<br />

her widespread knowledge of show business<br />

performers to her constant reading of<br />

books and newspapers.<br />

The "Ask Helene" column will answer<br />

raailed-in questions from readers.<br />

'Erotic Zone' Weighed<br />

By Dayton Officials<br />

DAYTON, OHIO—The Dayton Planning<br />

Board is considering the advisability<br />

of setting up "erotic" zoning districts which<br />

would confine the city's adult bookstores,<br />

film houses, body painting outlets and nude<br />

photography studios to specific areas. The<br />

plan would not apply to existing X-rated<br />

entertainment outlets, which would be permitted<br />

to stay in their present locations<br />

even if they are not in an "erotic zone."<br />

Ralph V. Brown, president-elect of the<br />

Belmont-Hearthstone-Eastman Community<br />

Council, sponsored the suggestion, saying he<br />

got the idea from a similar plan tried in<br />

Boston. The planning board instructed Anthony<br />

B. Char, director, to review the<br />

Boston ordinance.<br />

Brown said his interest in the plan was<br />

spurred by A Touch of Sweden, a health<br />

club and adult bookstore recently opened<br />

in the Belmont section of east Dayton. The<br />

studio has come under criticism from area<br />

residents and was denied an occupancy<br />

permit because of inadequate parking. It<br />

is being permitted to operate pending an<br />

appeal.<br />

Adult entertainment outlets now are permitted<br />

where zoning allows other bookstores,<br />

studios and film houses.<br />

Dave Gonda Is Appointed<br />

Universal Branch Chief<br />

COLUMBUS—Gov. James A. Rhodes<br />

has named five departmental deputy directors,<br />

including William Sillins, 54, president<br />

of the Ohio Alliance of Theatrical Stage<br />

Employees, AFL-CIO. as deputy director of<br />

industrial relations. Sillins of Upper Arlington,<br />

a suburb of Columbus, is a lawvr<br />

who served as legal adviser to three previous<br />

industrial relations directors.<br />

Lofty 'Coffy/ *Mack' Grosses<br />

DETROIT—A repeat engagement of<br />

American International Pictures' "Coffy,"<br />

co-billed with Cinerama Releasing's "The<br />

Mack" (distributed by AIP), is pulling excellent<br />

grosses here. A boxoffice total of<br />

$26,185 was recorded in the first two weeks<br />

of the playdate.<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975 NE-I


i<br />

DETROIT<br />

The Huron Theatre, Ubly, was reopened<br />

Friday (7) by owner William Raitz.<br />

Oak Park-based Clark Theatre Service will<br />

license and book films for the Huron.<br />

Many famous and important persons<br />

were slated to travel great distances to attend<br />

the Variety Club Tent 5 installation<br />

dinner Friday (7) at the Troy Hilton. Among<br />

a tax-deductible donation be made to Children's<br />

Hospital, prime charitable endeavor<br />

of the Variety Club here. Those wishing to<br />

aid this worthwhile cause should make<br />

checks payable to Variety Club Growth &<br />

held Saturday (8) at Studio 8, located in the<br />

Greenfield-8 Mile shopping area. Moderator<br />

was John M. Joannides, counselor at Lakeland<br />

and Milford High, as well as instructor<br />

of English, classical renaissance and modern<br />

tragedy. Joannides also teaches extension<br />

classes at Oakland Community College.<br />

division has been funded<br />

In neighboring<br />

through<br />

Windsor,<br />

June to<br />

Ont., movie<br />

the honored prepare a<br />

guests<br />

catalog<br />

tentatively<br />

of state<br />

scheduled for prices<br />

services<br />

have gone<br />

available<br />

up again. Adult tickets cost<br />

the affair<br />

to<br />

were<br />

filmmaking<br />

Variety Clubs<br />

companies.<br />

International $3, a 25-cent increase. General admission<br />

president Mike Richard<br />

Frankovich. M.<br />

worid-renowned<br />

motion new division,<br />

Holtzman, director<br />

in 1969 was of the<br />

$2, so this represents a 50 per<br />

picture<br />

said,<br />

producer: "The<br />

Chrysler board<br />

governor is<br />

cent increase<br />

seeking<br />

in five years. Ed Lamoureaux,<br />

chairman and<br />

many<br />

Mrs. Lynn<br />

ways to bring<br />

A.<br />

revenue into<br />

Townsend; senior<br />

the state<br />

manager for Famous Players, who<br />

Robert R.<br />

and this is<br />

Hall, one<br />

Q.C., of<br />

of them. If<br />

Toronto, we are<br />

Ont., runs all the<br />

successful<br />

English-language indoor and in<br />

Canada, and<br />

having<br />

Children's<br />

feature films<br />

Hospital president Twin made in Illinois,<br />

Drive-In theatres in town except the<br />

Dr. then<br />

Robert H. Gregg<br />

we expect to<br />

and<br />

have<br />

Mrs. Gregg. Following<br />

Odeon,<br />

our division set<br />

said, "All our<br />

up<br />

costs have gone across as a<br />

hot<br />

regular<br />

hors d'oeuvres and<br />

commission,<br />

cocktails at the<br />

possibly<br />

board, labor<br />

next<br />

especially. The payroll is<br />

7:30<br />

year."<br />

p.m., attendees were to be treated to fantastic." The Odeon also is raising admission,<br />

an<br />

In<br />

8:30 p.m.<br />

addition to bringing<br />

sirloin steak dinner, Hollywood<br />

with<br />

productions<br />

also citing rising expenses.<br />

baked potato.<br />

here,<br />

Caesar Holtzman<br />

salad<br />

advised<br />

and broccoli, The he also will<br />

admission fee hike comes despite a<br />

topped<br />

seek to<br />

off with<br />

work closely<br />

flaming baked<br />

with local<br />

Alaska dessert.<br />

Entertainment who want to<br />

dramatic<br />

filmmakers<br />

increase in movie business during<br />

and<br />

shoot in the state.<br />

dancing completed 1974. Famous Players calculates that Canadian<br />

the evening. With<br />

The city of Chicago<br />

the dinner<br />

currently<br />

and other features<br />

has an<br />

attendance went up 18 per cent last office that<br />

at no aids<br />

charge. Tent<br />

filmmakers in<br />

5 only<br />

the city.<br />

asked that year over<br />

Joan<br />

the previous year. Windsor's ad-<br />

Romanyak of the mayor's office serves as<br />

vance, however, was closer to 25 per cent.<br />

Commented Lamoureaux, "Detroit is coming<br />

to Windsor for a change."<br />

Illinois Taking Step<br />

To Lure Filmmakers<br />

From Central Edition<br />

CHICAGO—The Illinois Department of<br />

Business and Economic Development announced<br />

the formation of an Illinois Film<br />

Service Division to bring theatrical TV and<br />

industrial film production to the state. The<br />

Development Center, P.O. Box 263, South- ^WSnS lech IS Presenting<br />

field, Mich. 48075<br />

Series of 'Great Films'<br />

TOLEDO, OHIO—The winter<br />

Other important dates for Variety Tent 5:<br />

In celebration of Variety Week and in recognition<br />

of Valentine's Day, wives of members<br />

are invited to the Tuesday (11) luncheon<br />

at Mario's. The charming, vivacious<br />

Jane Powell, .scintillating .star of the musical<br />

production "Irene" at the Fisher Theatre,<br />

will be among the honored guests . . . Gene<br />

Graham and Sam Oshry announce that the<br />

annual golf outing will be held at the Hillcrest<br />

Country Club Tuesday, June 24. Marty<br />

Zide will head the ticket committee and Bill<br />

Marcus the prize committee.<br />

offerings<br />

at Owens Technical College in nearbv<br />

Perrysburg Township include a series of<br />

great films with free admission. The movies<br />

are shown each Wednesday at 8:15 and<br />

10 a.m. and 1, 5 and 7:15 p.m., with brief<br />

lectures and discussion at the 1 and 7:15<br />

p.m. screenings.<br />

First offering was Federico Fellini's 'T<br />

Vitelloni," January 22, followed by Roman<br />

Polanski's "Knife in the Water," shown<br />

January 29. and Noel Coward's "Brief<br />

Encounter" Wednesday (5).<br />

Scheduled films include Alain Resnais'<br />

New members of Variety Club Tent 5 are "Last Year at Marienbad," Wednesday<br />

Dale P. Frenkel, Laurence Wolf. .-, Robert _,. (12); Luis Bunuel's "Viridiana,"<br />

Hines, Douglas A. Potash, Alfred Deratany, day (19);<br />

Wedncs-<br />

Ingmar Bergman's "The Magi-<br />

Robert E. Rosen, Joseph S. Hoover, Tom ^ian," cian, Wednesday (26); an undetermined<br />

Hutchmson, Lewis Rowady and Tom Juza.<br />

film March 5, and Elia Kazan' 'On the<br />

The February Youth Film Forum<br />

Waterfront," March 12.<br />

was<br />

FINER PROJECTION -SUPER ECONOMY<br />

URLEY<br />

CREENS<br />

Ask Your Supply Dealer or Write<br />

HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc.<br />

26 Sarah Drr<br />

ME-2<br />

I., N. Y., 11735<br />

425-Seat Crown Cinema<br />

To Debut in Lancaster<br />

From Southeastern<br />

Edition<br />

LANCASTER, S.C—The Crown Theatre,<br />

a 425-seat cinema, will open here in<br />

early spring.<br />

The theatre, under construction in Westgate<br />

Shopping Center, will be one of the<br />

most modem in concept, Fairiane Litchfield<br />

Co. representatives said. The Easleybased<br />

circuit has installed automated projection<br />

equipment, lighting and screens for<br />

the first-rate movie house. No X-rated films<br />

are planned, representatives Fred Curdts<br />

and K.M. Williams added.<br />

The firm operates five other houses,<br />

twins at Lenoir and Hickory and a recent<br />

addition at Lumberton.<br />

the city's film coordinator.<br />

'Brother of the Wind' Hits<br />

Above $18 Million Mark<br />

LOS ANGELES—One of the first in a<br />

group of motion pictures produced exclusively<br />

for four-wall distribution has just<br />

completed a successful first-run engagement<br />

in 102 theatres in the New York City market<br />

area. "Brother of the Wind," a Sun<br />

Classic Pictures release produced by Dick<br />

Robinson and John Mahon, has now completed<br />

all of its first-run markets, as was<br />

announced in Los Angeles by Sun's vicepresident<br />

of operations, Clair Fariey. "We<br />

have plans to continue the sub-run bookings<br />

and from all indication, that will be<br />

for quite a while." Fariey stated.<br />

"Brother of the Wind" has pushed its<br />

total first-run gross to over $18 million<br />

with the New York market. The film has<br />

been sub-distributed throughout many of<br />

the markets it has played, and is generally<br />

regarded as one of the more successful<br />

of the four-wall wildlife films.<br />

Alex Stewart Is Elected<br />

Tent 28 Chief Barker<br />

TORONTO—Alex Stewart has been<br />

elected chief barker of Variety Club Tent<br />

28 for 1975. Other crew members are<br />

Harvey Dobbs, first assistant chief barker;<br />

Bob Lester, second assistant chief barker;<br />

Syd Koffman, dough guy, and Jack Sturman,<br />

property master.<br />

Benefit at Midtown Set<br />

NORWICH, CONN.—Independent Connecticut<br />

exhibitor Norman Chassc is turning<br />

over the Midtown Theatre evening of Sunday,<br />

March 2, for a benefit performance of<br />

Al Gentile's "A Sentimental Journey," a<br />

musical "salute" to the big band era of the<br />

1930s and 1940s. Proceeds will go to the<br />

Multiple Sclerosis campaign.<br />

BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975


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ir SALES ir SERVICE<br />

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BOXOFnCE :: February 10, 1975 ME-3


CINCINNATI<br />

gob Rehme, vice-president of Tri-State Theatre<br />

Service, and his wife Kay have<br />

returned from a delightful week's vacation<br />

at Dorado Beach. Puerto Rico.<br />

Virgil Jones, Chicago division manager<br />

for JMG Film Co., was here Saturday,<br />

January 25, to discuss 1975 product for the<br />

Chicago Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis<br />

territories with Jay M. Goldberg.<br />

Ohio exliibitors in town included Harry<br />

Wheeler, Galipolis, and Harley Bennett,<br />

Chillicothe. Also here were Kentuckians<br />

Howard Shelton, Vanceburg, and J. William<br />

Blincoe of Owensboro. Blinco was the<br />

first drive-in operator in Kentucky.<br />

JMG Film Co. has acquired a new outdoor<br />

action film titled "Timber Tramps"<br />

from Alaska Pictures. Chuck Keen came<br />

here from Alaska to confer with Jay Goldberg,<br />

head of JMG Film. "Timber Tramps,"<br />

a PG-rated special attraction, is to be handled<br />

by JMG in the local, Indianapolis.<br />

Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee,<br />

Pittsburgh and Minneapolis territories.<br />

Kathrine Baumann, a former Miss Ohio<br />

(1970) and a runner-up in a Miss America<br />

Leslie Schoonover is the new office secretary<br />

contest, was in town to promote "Sunburst."<br />

for Holiday Amusement Co. . . . Jeff<br />

Ruff of C. J. Ruff Film Distribution Co.<br />

Miss Baumann co-stars with Peter Hooten<br />

in the film about a college couple who seek<br />

was in Los Angeles to attend the Crown<br />

the perfect existence in the wilds only to<br />

International Pictures convention Monday<br />

discover that reality can intrude into a forest<br />

"Sunburst" currently playing<br />

(3) through Wednesday (5).<br />

paradise. is at<br />

Skywalk 2.<br />

EO Corp/s Studio<br />

Park Progresses<br />

From Southeastern Edition<br />

SHELBY, N.C.—Plans to establish this<br />

town as a serious production center in the<br />

entertainment industry are materializing.<br />

Earl Owensby has reported.<br />

Owensby has established through his<br />

corporation a park complete with a 5,200<br />

ft. chalet equipped with 16mm and 35mm<br />

viewing theatre, aircraft hangar adjoined by<br />

a paved air strip, and general operations<br />

offices. Designed to aid location workers, as<br />

Kurt Russell, star of Buena Vista's "The<br />

Strongest Man in the World," was well<br />

received at a preview and two TV shows<br />

while here on a promotion tour. The picture<br />

opens Wednesday (12) on a multiple-run<br />

basis.<br />

of the third production, "Him."<br />

Tours and information about the park are<br />

available upon request to P.O. Box 184,<br />

Shelby, 28 1 50 or phone (704) 482-561 1<br />

COLUMBUS<br />

^ab Hunter, screen and stage star, kicked<br />

off the central Ohio Heart Fund's 1975<br />

fund-raising campaign at the State House.<br />

Hunter has been starring in "Here Lies<br />

Jeremy Troy" at the Country Dinner Playhouse<br />

here.<br />

Ross Owens Jr. Is Named<br />

Mid States Controller<br />

CINCINNATI—Ross C. Owens jr. has<br />

been appointed controller for Mid States.<br />

Theatres. A former<br />

tvice-president and director<br />

of the Cincinnati<br />

chapter of Certified<br />

Public Accountants,<br />

Owens presently<br />

is treasurer of the<br />

Community Council<br />

of Religious Education<br />

of Kenton County<br />

and a member of<br />

„<br />

Ross<br />

„<br />

C.<br />

„<br />

Owens<br />

.the<br />

jr. ,<br />

" tucky<br />

Northern<br />

,, ,., „<br />

Health &<br />

Ken-<br />

.<br />

Social<br />

, o<br />

Welfare Planning Council.<br />

A native of Maysville, Ky., and a graduate<br />

of the University of Cincinnati, Owens<br />

also is a former officer and director of the<br />

Northern Kentucky Community Action<br />

Commission.<br />

Armstrong Circuit Owner<br />

Dorothy Armstrong Dies<br />

TOLEDO, OHIO — Mrs. Dorothy E.<br />

Armstrong, wife of the late John A. "Jack"<br />

Armstrong, who operated 32 motion picture<br />

theatres in Toledo and northwestern<br />

Ohio, died January 30 in Wood County<br />

Hospital, Bowling Green, Ohio. She was 57.<br />

After her husband's death last July, Mrs.<br />

Armstrong became owner and vice-president<br />

of the Armstrong Circuit, which operates<br />

20 hardtops and ozoners in Toledo,<br />

Bowling Green. Napoleon, Defiance. Fremont,<br />

Fostoria and Mansfield, Ohio. She<br />

always was active in the operation of the<br />

business.<br />

Mrs. Armstrong was a member of the<br />

National Ass'n of Theatre Owners, of which<br />

her husband once had served as president.<br />

She leaves her daughter Mrs. Carol<br />

Hatch; her parents Mr. and Mrs. Eniil<br />

Wilkens, and three brothers, Richard, Floyd<br />

and James Wilkens.<br />

ters. According to reports, five automated<br />

cinemas are planned at the new Sears Cen-<br />

the Orient Express" . . .<br />

Loews' Westerville and Cinema East are<br />

well as EO Corp. personnel, the center's<br />

construction continues to progress.<br />

showing the local first run of "Murder on<br />

Engineers and special technical advisors<br />

The Columbus<br />

Ass'n for the Performing Arts is presenting<br />

are completing the interior of the Phase I<br />

studio-sound stage. Using specially-treated at the Ohio Theatre a "Dollar Mystery<br />

acoustic material, this studio includes mobile<br />

sets designed with ovei'head accessibility,<br />

Movie Month" during February. The<br />

tures include "Laura," "The Thin Man,"<br />

fea-<br />

"Dial M for Murder," "After the Thin<br />

offering more efficiently, which, in turn,<br />

cuts production costs.<br />

Man," "The Spiral Staircase," "Charlie<br />

Of major significance, said Owensby, is Chan in Egypt," "Spellbound" and "Charlie<br />

the careful planning technology of the Chan at the Opera." Organist Dennis James<br />

studio which will result in expert motion is an added attraction.<br />

ter, Monroeville. All under a single roof,<br />

picture photography. Two productions of<br />

EO Corp. were filmed in the area: "Challenge"<br />

Jerry Knight booked a dual return of "A total seating capacity would be 3,500. An<br />

and "The Brass Ring," which was Streetcar Named Desire." with Marlon out-of-state firm would back the proposed<br />

filmed inside the studio.<br />

Brando and Vivien Leigh, and "The Misfits."<br />

project.<br />

Owensby said he is anxiously awaiting<br />

with Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe,<br />

Montour is to get a modem shopping center<br />

which may have an automated fourplex,<br />

to<br />

according to reports here. The new center<br />

at the Drexel.<br />

completion of the studio begin filming<br />

Eastland Mall had a free morning showing<br />

near White Swan Park.<br />

is<br />

of "Forty Carats,"<br />

We can handle all your<br />

iheatre equipment needs Southland Builds Twin CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

and repairs.<br />

NORTH MIAMI— Martin Wurtzburg,<br />

^^<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

president of Southland Cinemas, said construction<br />

is progressing on the latest cinemas<br />

When you come to Waikiki,<br />

MOORE THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.<br />

glUffrjijw don't miss the famous<br />

The known in the circuit. twin will be as<br />

p. O. Box 782 Ave.<br />

213 Delaware<br />

Charleston, W. Va. 25323<br />

"The Movies I and 11" of Kendall Shopping<br />

Telephone (304) 344-4413<br />

Center with a 1000-seat total. Completion is<br />

fHAWAiV Don Ho Show. .<br />

.<br />

at<br />

l^^as, Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAIKIKI: RE£f RE£f TOWERS EDGEWATER<br />

•<br />

expected by September,<br />

Nine New Screens May Be<br />

Set for Pittsburgh Area<br />

PITTSBURGH—Nine new screens may<br />

be in the offing at new area shopping cen-<br />

ME-4 BOXOmCE :: February 10, 1975


'>:


I<br />

BOSTON<br />

][|lizabeth Dunton, group sales director for<br />

Sack Theatres in Boston, reports there<br />

has been such an overwhelming demand on<br />

the part of elementary and junior high<br />

schools in the area to see "The Little Prince"<br />

that a special 10 a.m. showing has been<br />

added at the Gary. The showing is for<br />

groups of 200 or more. The film is based<br />

on the famous French tale by Antoine de<br />

Saint Exupery and features music by Lerner<br />

and Loewe.<br />

Paul Peterson, NFB Films, has set the<br />

February school vacation week for the saturation<br />

booking of "Marco Polo Jr." The<br />

film is recommended by Parents' Magazine<br />

for children and a $20,000 media advertising<br />

campaign has been scheduled to start<br />

five days in advance in all of New England.<br />

Jim Engle at Judd Parker Films says his<br />

booking department is excited over the distribution<br />

of two releases from L-T Films<br />

studio. "The Ultimate Thrill," a picture<br />

about skiing rated high by critics, and<br />

"Bogard" were both produced by former<br />

Hub resident Peter Traynor. William Madden,<br />

former general sales manager for MGM<br />

and a Bostonian, is now general sales manager<br />

for L-T Films.<br />

Columbia scheduled a screening of their<br />

new release, "The Stepford Wives," starring<br />

Katherine Ross. Thursday. January 29, at<br />

the Prc-Vue room . . . Justin Freed's Park<br />

Square Movie House in the Park Square<br />

Building lobby sent out .^000 colorful<br />

monthly programs with many of them<br />

picked up by visitors in the lobby<br />

_<br />

WE'VE NEVER MISSED AN OPENING'<br />

/<br />

Bostonians seem to be entertainment-minded<br />

with attendance approaching a record at<br />

the Colonial Theatre where "Gcodtimc<br />

Charlie" is playing. The musical, starring<br />

"Cabaret" singer Joel Grey, grossed $98,500<br />

in its opening week.<br />

Bill Kumniins, former Warner Bros, district<br />

manager, and now associated with Esquire<br />

Theatres, is happily showing snapshots<br />

of his new granddaughter Marianne. The<br />

child is the first born to Dr. and Mrs.<br />

Stephen Abramowitz.<br />

Sack Theatres' Beacon Hill Cinema will<br />

premiere the WB release "Alice Doesn't Live<br />

Here Anymore," starring Ellen Burstyn.<br />

Wednesday (12). The film opened in New<br />

York with heavy promotion last month.<br />

Edgar A. Knudson, director of publicity<br />

and advertising for the Redstone circuit, has<br />

moved his staff to larger quarters on the<br />

eleventh floor of the Park Square Building.<br />

The rooms adjoin the firm's current office<br />

space. Knudson's work force includes Bonnie<br />

Mitchell, his secretary; Carole Aaron,<br />

media director, and Lawrence P. Alterman.<br />

director of co-op advertising. Lawrence is<br />

the son of Joe Alterman, executive director<br />

of NATO.<br />

The innovatioi: of in-room movies at<br />

motels and bote's has hit the city. The<br />

system offers a selection of current movies<br />

to patrons in their rooms. The Hotel Soncsta<br />

in Cambridge is the first hostelry in the Hub<br />

area to offer closed-circuit movies, with<br />

"Last Tango in Paris" and "Death Wish"<br />

WE DELIVER.<br />

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among the first screenings. Several prominent<br />

hotels here are considering the service<br />

Richard Swartz, president of Boston<br />

Audio Visual Co., 38 Winchester St., and<br />

active in the field of theatre projection and<br />

booth equipment, hurried off to Mississippi<br />

after a call about some equipment. Swartz<br />

said he intended to drive non-stop, even at<br />

55 miles an hour, because time was such an<br />

important factor.<br />

RHODE ISLAND<br />

Qhallenge to be Free," states rights release,<br />

had one of the largest saturation premieres<br />

for an independent attraction in recent<br />

Rhode Island exhibition history. The<br />

Pacific Int'l Enterprises, Inc., G-rated release,<br />

starring Mike Mazurki, bowed at 4-<br />

Seasons Cinema, East Providence; Apple<br />

Valley Cinema, Smithfield; Center Twin<br />

Cinema, Fall River (just over the Mass. line);<br />

Garden City Cinema, Cranston; Greenwich<br />

Theatre, East Greenwich; and Oxford Cinema.<br />

Fair Haven. Large-scale advertising accompanied<br />

the openings.<br />

Bradford F. Swan, long-time Providence<br />

Journal-Bulletin Newspapers film critic, in<br />

a recent column openly wondered why New<br />

World Pictures' ".Amarcord," critically accoladed<br />

in many key cities for months, has<br />

never been booked into Providence. He<br />

noted, moreover, that Cinema 5"s "Scenes<br />

from a Marriage" had opened well after<br />

national, key-city bows.<br />

Brown University, Providence, hosted a<br />

film festival and seminar, January 24-26. as<br />

part of the "Continuing College" programs.<br />

The focus was on "Women in Film," with<br />

debate and discussion on the screen's modern-day<br />

female image. Nora Sayre, New<br />

York Times film critic, and Michael Silverman<br />

of the Brown faculty participated.<br />

Fire temporarily closed down the Meadowbrtwk<br />

Cinema, suburban Providence.<br />

Nazis Jeered by Crowd<br />

At German Film Showing<br />

BOSTON— Nazis got the boot at the midnight<br />

screening of Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph<br />

of the Will," the classic documentary<br />

used by the Nazi Party in 1935 propaganda<br />

in Germany, at Orson Welles Cinema in<br />

Cambridge.<br />

Seven members of the American Nazi<br />

Party tried to pass out the organization's<br />

paper, but were treated coldly by the sellout<br />

crowd. At the end of the screening, the<br />

seven stood up and gave the Nazi salute.<br />

The crowd jeered, mocked and laughed at<br />

them until they stomped out.<br />

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NE-2 February 10, 1975


Feed it.<br />

Nurture it.<br />

Keep it strong.<br />

What can you do to help?<br />

Give America a hand in<br />

managing the national debt.<br />

Install and promote a Payroll<br />

Savings Plan in your company.<br />

Then show your employees<br />

why buying U.S. Savings Bonds<br />

the systematic way— by easy<br />

payday allotments—makes<br />

sense to 10 million Payroll<br />

Savers.<br />

Savings Bonds are the least<br />

inflationary way for America<br />

to borrow money.<br />

In fact, they're a cornerstone<br />

of U.S. debt financing.<br />

They're also a proven, popular,<br />

patriotic way for your peo-<br />

Take stock in America.<br />

U.S. Savings Bonds<br />

pie to save a few bucks.<br />

Get in on the action.<br />

Write Director of Sales, Department<br />

of the Treasury, U.S.<br />

Savings Bonds Division, Washington,<br />

D.C. 20226.<br />

The American Eagle is a<br />

proud symbol of our nation.<br />

Help keep it flying.<br />

The U S<br />

Gouernn<br />

BOXOFFICE ;: February 10, 1975 NE-3


SPRINGFIELD<br />

Yl^cstem Massachusetts drive-in theatres are<br />

not balking at cold weather promotion.<br />

Those under-skyers operating through the<br />

winter, courtesy of in-car heater service,<br />

have been using a host of sound-selling<br />

ideas. A typical example has been West<br />

Springfield's Memorial Drive-In, using a reduced<br />

admission plan Sunday nights. A<br />

coupon accompanying newspaper ads that<br />

day offers $2 admission-per-car (regardless<br />

of passengers), with presentation of the<br />

coupon at the boxoffice. The logo caption<br />

enthuses: "Clip And Save! Save! Save!"<br />

Weekend kiddie shows are not new, of<br />

course, but double bills are still a rarity.<br />

The Bing, Springfield, featured Columbia's<br />

"Living Free" (1972) and Warners' "A Boy<br />

Named Charlie Brown" (1970) on a recent<br />

Saturday-Sunday, with ;i 75 cents admission<br />

in effect.<br />

Advance promotion normally is initiated<br />

a few weeks ahead of a major release. For<br />

HARTFORD<br />

J^ndy Ros.setli of UA Theatres reported an<br />

ads for reprise of 1952's "This Is Cinerama,"<br />

playing a reserved-seat engagement<br />

at the Cinerama Theatre, Hartford.<br />

Columbia's "Funny Lady," John P. Lowe,<br />

Western New England division manager,<br />

and Martin Malinowski, resident managing<br />

director, Redstone Theatres' Showcase Cinemas<br />

I-II-IIMV-V-VL started the drums two<br />

full months prior to playdate, using teaser<br />

advertising and pushing group sales. Both<br />

John and Martin feel the Barbra Streisand<br />

starrer will be one of the biggest-grossing<br />

attractions of the early spring.<br />

E. M. Loew's Palace Cinema, hosting<br />

Western Massachusetts premiere of Universal's<br />

"The Front Page," is offering a<br />

discount with presentation of college identification<br />

cards. In addition, the showplace<br />

has a "Bargain Matinee" for Wednesdays,<br />

Saturdays and Sundays, with a $1.25 charge<br />

in effect to<br />

2 p.m. on those afternoons.<br />

Reprise booking of MGM-UA's "Flipper "<br />

(1963 release) at Allen & Cooley Cinemas<br />

profound sense of confidence I<br />

an<br />

actor."<br />

nov<br />

'Maurie' Bow at SBC Unit<br />

Aids Scholarship Fund<br />

HARTFORD — -Maurie," a re-release,<br />

opened in Hartford SBC's Cinema City I.<br />

Proceeds from the film, originally a National<br />

General release and now a states rights<br />

I-II had $1 price for Saturday-Sunday mati-<br />

"excellent" response for a "Winnie the<br />

Pooh" competition staged in conjunction<br />

with the Buena Vista featurette accompanying<br />

"The Island at the Top of the World"<br />

at Westfarms Movies and UA Theatres East<br />

n and III. The contest was co-sponsored by<br />

the Sears Roebuck stores in metropolitan<br />

product, benefited "Man of the Month"<br />

Hartford, entry blanks available at both<br />

scholarship fund. Bernie Casey, the leading<br />

plexes.<br />

actor, participated in a marathon media promotion.<br />

Norman Chasse used extensive radio spot<br />

The product scored 200 on the barometer,<br />

according to exhibitors. It was first released<br />

in 1973 and was shown here during that<br />

Bicentennial Plans<br />

Mounting in Hub<br />

BOSTON—Bicentennial plans are mounting<br />

here with theatre celebrations among<br />

the offerings.<br />

As one of the major Bicentennial cities,<br />

Boston will be the site of many colorful<br />

events. Lexington and Concord, suburbs<br />

where the first shots of the Revolutionary<br />

War were fired, will be the focus of thousands<br />

of tourists in 1975 and 1976.<br />

Alexander H. Cohen, who is heading the<br />

U.S. Bicentennial World Theatre Festival,<br />

is planning on bringing companies from<br />

other lands to the U.S. with the tours opening<br />

in Boston.<br />

Motion picture houses will cooperate by<br />

featuring films with Boston, Lexington and<br />

Concord as background. The costume and<br />

novelty business is expected to zoom with<br />

the city issuing certificates to manufacturers<br />

for Bicentennial souvenirs.<br />

Overseas troupes scheduled for appearances<br />

here include the National Theatre of<br />

Great Britain, Abbey Theatre of Dublin, the<br />

Theatre Nationale Populaire of France<br />

and Habimah of Israel. Five participating<br />

American stage companies will stop in the<br />

Hub before going overseas, including the<br />

-Arena Stage of Washington. Guthrie Theatre<br />

of Minneapolis, American Conservatory<br />

Theatre of San Francisco, New Phoenix<br />

Repertory Co. of New York and the Negro<br />

Ensemble Co. of New York.<br />

NEW BRITAIN<br />

gperie P. Perakos, president of the family<br />

owned-and-opcrated Perakos Theatres<br />

.Associates circuit, was a New York business<br />

year.<br />

Dick Owens of E.M. Loew's<br />

Mrs. Steven<br />

Theatres.<br />

E. Perakos, wile of the secretary<br />

Boston home office, was a Haitford and general counsel, Perakos visitor.<br />

Theatres,<br />

Cinemette House Bows<br />

chaired the annual Junior Awards Night<br />

The Palomba-EIIiott Rockville Theatres From Eastern Edition<br />

program at New Britain General Hospital.<br />

I-II-lII, which have an adult film policy, BEAVER, PA. — Cinemette Theatres' She is president of the hospital auxiliary,<br />

came up with yet another innovative booking<br />

touch, slotting a program of 12 "adult ter, Route 18, Center Township, was opened of appreciation for 88 teenagers, each of<br />

Movie World in the GeeBee Shopping Cen-<br />

which sponsored the event as an expression<br />

short subjects" in Theatre 11. .Admission was recently with gala ribbon-cutting ceremonies.<br />

Among the dignitaries taking part in volunteer service.<br />

whom had given more hours than ever of<br />

$5.<br />

the unveiling were: County Commissioner<br />

Tom Tryon, the Wethersfield native who<br />

Eugene Atkinson: Robert Kathary, developer;<br />

Joe Giammaria, planning commissioner<br />

went from acting to marked success in recent<br />

years as a novelist, has been touring<br />

Actress Aids Heart Fund<br />

of Center Township;<br />

NEW HAVEN— Actress<br />

Paul<br />

Barbara Britton,<br />

Simendinger,<br />

the country ahead of his new book, "Lady."<br />

Monroeville, district manager<br />

who lives in Woodbury, has been<br />

for Cinemette,<br />

named<br />

"I have what the Greeks call 'hubris'—thai<br />

and Greg Sims of Center<br />

honorary state chairperson<br />

Township,<br />

of the 1975 Connecticut<br />

Heart Fund campaign. Her hus-<br />

theatre<br />

super-arrogance that means you thumb your<br />

manager.<br />

nose at the gods," he told a newspaper interviewer.<br />

"I suppose," Tryon continued,<br />

the<br />

band. Dr. Eugene H. Czukor, is on staff of<br />

Toomey Named American Foundation of Religion and<br />

to Civic Post<br />

"it's dangerous to tempt fate, but I feel a<br />

Psychiatry. She is broadcasting Heart Fund<br />

PROVIDENCE—Charles J. Toomey, 45,<br />

messages on both radio and television.<br />

general manager of the Boston Arena since<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

1969, and a former FBI agent, has been<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

named e.xecutive director of the Providence 'Flipper' at Matinees<br />

Civic Center.<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

Toomey was designated by MANCHESTER—Five New Hampshire<br />

the<br />

When Civic<br />

you come Center Authority to<br />

to<br />

succeed Harold<br />

C. Copeland. who<br />

cinemas playcnJ<br />

Waikiki,<br />

Saturday-Sunday reissue<br />

don't miss<br />

was convicted in showings of<br />

the famot<br />

MGM's "Flipper," 1963 release,<br />

gi(jf(jji|jH<br />

Providence Superior<br />

iHAWAit Don Court last October Ho on<br />

Show.<br />

now distributed via UA. The situations included<br />

. . at<br />

Lhotels,<br />

.1 charge of soliciting a $1,000 bribe. Copeland,<br />

who resigned his<br />

Cinerama's<br />

Cinema 93. Concord: Stateline, Plaistow;<br />

Civic and Jerrv lewis,<br />

Reef Towers Hotel<br />

IN WAIKIKI<br />

post, is<br />

REEF KEEP lOWERS<br />

appealing the<br />

EDGEWATEK<br />

Portsmouth: and<br />

conviction.<br />

Tri-Citv. .Salem.<br />

visitor.<br />

NE-4<br />

BOXOFHCE February 10, 1975


The<br />

The<br />

King Cinema Services<br />

Serving 3 Provinces<br />

ment. The organizers all were involved in<br />

some phase of the theatre industry and their<br />

aim was to create an organization that would<br />

handle quality products and charge a fair<br />

price.<br />

The growth of the company since its inception<br />

has proved that the idea of a firm<br />

based on service and integrity can be financially<br />

successful.<br />

Largest in the West<br />

King Cinema Services has grown to be<br />

the largest exclusive theatre supply business<br />

in western Canada and it now serves British<br />

Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The<br />

office and shop of the company are located<br />

in one of Edmonton's industrial areas. Carrying<br />

an inventory of over $50,000 in parts<br />

and supplies at all times, the company can<br />

assure customers of prompt delivery of<br />

orders. In the well-equipped shop, used<br />

equipment is rebuilt and repair work is carried<br />

out. Minor service jobs are done in<br />

theatres by experienced personnel.<br />

Major manufacturers represented are<br />

Altec, Ballantyne, Kneisley. Strong, Neumade,<br />

EPRAD, Drive-In Theatre Mfg. Co..<br />

Soundfold and Goldberg. King Cinema holds<br />

exclusive Canadian rights for the Marble<br />

Double Eagle projector carbons and the<br />

Kelmar solid state sound systems. A stock<br />

of parts also is maintained for most Simplex,<br />

Century, Brenkert, Ballantyne, Motiograph,<br />

Wenzel and RCA machines. Some of the<br />

most popular new items with exhibitors are<br />

xenon lamphouses, 6,000-foot reel systems<br />

and solid state sound systems. The company<br />

features several manufacturers' lines of each<br />

type of equipment and can meet every need<br />

of any exhibitor.<br />

Projectors Offered<br />

Other products handled by this versatile<br />

firm are professional-quality 16mm projectors<br />

and 35mm single-projector film transports<br />

and automation.<br />

of new products and more economical<br />

methods of operation.<br />

The present staff is comprised of two fulltime<br />

technicians and one who works on a<br />

part-time basis, as well as secretarial and<br />

other office personnel.<br />

'Excellent' Grosses<br />

Variety of Films in<br />

By MAXINE MC BEAN<br />

EDMONTON—All films rated in the<br />

EDMONTON, ALTA.—In early 1973, a<br />

•excellent" category to dazzle boxoffices<br />

group of Alberta businessmen organized<br />

with another week of successful grosses.<br />

King Cinema Services here to fill a need in<br />

There were no openings but holdovers ranging<br />

from "Emmanuelle" to "Where the Red<br />

western Canada for a theatre equipment<br />

dealer which also supplied a service depart-<br />

Fern Grows" to "Earthquake" were boom-<br />

.<br />

ing at the theatres.<br />

(Univ), Avenue Earthquake 3rd wk Excellent<br />

Garneau—The Little Prince (Para), 2nd wk. Excellent<br />

Jasper Red, Klondike Where the Red Fern Grows<br />

(Doty-Dayton), 3rd wk Excellent<br />

Londonderry Ar^The Island at the Top of the<br />

World (BV), 3rd wk Excellent<br />

Londonderry B Airport 1975 (Univ),<br />

2th wk Excellent<br />

Meadowlark The Savoge Is Loose (Astral),<br />

2nd wk Excellent<br />

1 (Astral), Odeon Emmonuelle 3rd wk Excellent<br />

Odeon 2 The Night Porter (Emb), 2nd .Excellent<br />

wk.<br />

Paromount—The Godfather, Port II (Para),<br />

3rd wk<br />

Excellent<br />

Excellent<br />

Rialto 1 The Man With the Golden Gun (UA),<br />

Plaza 1 Open Season (Astral), 2nd wk<br />

3rd wk Excellent<br />

Rialfo 2 .Excellent<br />

Flesh Gordon (Danton), 3rd wk.<br />

Towne Cinema Don't Lie There, Say Something<br />

(Astral), 2nd wk Excellent<br />

Varscona Phantom of the Paradise (BVFD),<br />

2nd wk<br />

Excellent<br />

Westmount A The Towering Inferno (WB/BVFD),<br />

2nd wk<br />

Excellent<br />

Westmount B Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />

2nd wk Excellent<br />

Despite Vancouver Snowstorm,<br />

Four Films Score 'Excellent'<br />

VANCOUVER A snowstorm which<br />

dumped six inches of slushy muck on city<br />

streets, accompanied by high winds, spelled<br />

finis to the post-holiday boom as some pictures<br />

folded. "The Godfather, Part 11" in a<br />

fourth week, 'Freebie and the Bean" at the<br />

Downtown, "The Towering Inferno" at the<br />

Stanley and "Earthquake" at the Park all<br />

continued to gross in the "excellent" range.<br />

Bay—The Front Page (Univ), 3rd wk Very Good<br />

Coronet Phantom of the Paradise (BVFD),<br />

4th wk Average<br />

Denmon Place The Rolling Stones (Astral),<br />

4th wk Average<br />

Dunbar The Seduction of Mimi (SR),<br />

4th wk Average<br />

Downtown— Freebie and the Beon (WB),<br />

4th w1


CALGARY<br />

fhe Roxy Theatre in Edmonton presented<br />

"A Street Car Named Desire" at a<br />

matinee Sunday, January 19, as part of its<br />

"Critics" Choice Film Festival." The adultrated<br />

motion picture stars Marlon Brando<br />

and Earl Maiden.<br />

Vic Phaneuf, theatre executive from Swift<br />

Current, Sask., was an exchange visitor<br />

Tuesday, January 21, arranging upcoming<br />

programs for the Cinema, Lyric and Drivein<br />

theatres ... Ski enthusiasts of Banff<br />

and district were treated to a program of<br />

vintage ski films Friday. January 17. Banff<br />

is in the middle of its ski season, with the<br />

Banff Springs Hotel staying open during<br />

the winter for the first time. This ensures a<br />

fairly large audience for the Peter Whyte<br />

Gallery, which hosted the presentation.<br />

Doug IMiller, veteran theatreman from<br />

Taber, is recovering from a heart attack<br />

suffered January 10 while attending a meeting<br />

in Milk River. Doug is the MLA for<br />

Taber-Warner and was unable to attend the<br />

opening session of the current provincial<br />

legislature. At present. Miller is planning<br />

his retirement after the next provincial election.<br />

The many people in the film industry<br />

who know Doug will be happy to hear that<br />

his doctor is pleased with his condition.<br />

The Edmonton Film Society January 1.^<br />

presented "The Best Years of Our Lives"<br />

in its "Classic Film Series." The screening,<br />

with admission by membership only, was<br />

on the University of Alberta campus.<br />

Brian DiLeandro, son of Judy DiLeandro<br />

of United Artists, has just returned from a<br />

ten-day hockey-playing jaunt to Montreal<br />

and points in the U.S. The major event of<br />

the tour was a bantam tournament in Montreal<br />

but unfortunately Brian's team did<br />

not bring home the silverware. Brian is a<br />

goal-tender for our city's Bantam A Sabres,<br />

The Penalta Theatre at Canadian Forces<br />

Base Penhold, Mynarski Park, has been<br />

closed for an indefinite period.<br />

Walter DuPerrier, Prairie Allied Booking<br />

Assn, presently is in the Foothills Hospital<br />

here recovering from a heart attack. His<br />

friends will be happy to know thai he slowly<br />

is regaining lost ground.<br />

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rEmmanuelle' Seized<br />

By Edmonton Police<br />

EDMONTON. ALTA.—The morality<br />

the attorney general's office when they appeared<br />

at the theatre. The charges were laid<br />

under the criminal code and a hearing was<br />

set for January 30.<br />

This case brings before the courts once<br />

again the question of obscenity: What is it?<br />

Paradoxically, "Emmanuelle" is still on<br />

the screen at Calgary's Uptown Two, also<br />

an Odeon Theatre, and at press time no<br />

move has been made to seize the print.<br />

According to Jim Moore, supervisor of<br />

Odeon Theatres in Calgary, the feature will<br />

run as long as it holds up at the boxoffice.<br />

No doubt news of the Edmonton seizure will<br />

give added impetus to Calgary moviegoers<br />

to find out what it is all about.<br />

TORONTO<br />

Qanada's culture is on the critical list, losing<br />

its battle with competition from the<br />

U.S., according to a report released recently<br />

by Ontario's Select Committee on Economic<br />

and Cultural Nationalism. Canada must<br />

support and develop its own creative talents<br />

"but it can't mollycoddle them, otherwise<br />

they'll never be able to compete internationally<br />

or be able to stand alone," a committee<br />

member said. "We are so swamped by their<br />

(U.S.) films and books and TV that our kids<br />

think in terms of the FBI instead of the<br />

RCMP," committee member Donald Deacon,<br />

the deputy Liberal Party leader said.<br />

Despite the fact that both the Odeon and<br />

Famous Players circuits introduced a 50-<br />

cent admission increase during the holiday<br />

season, theatre attendance is up 20 per cent<br />

all across this city—and, surprisingly<br />

enough, this margin of increase has been<br />

noted all across Canada and throughout the<br />

U.S. as well. "You would expect Tnferno' or<br />

'Godfather' to break records," Frank Mancuso,<br />

general manager of Paramount Pictures<br />

of Canada, told the press. "But we've<br />

broken records in suburban houses with<br />

'The Longest Yard' and the picture was<br />

only moved into them long after it had<br />

played downtown. House record for a picture<br />

that's been playing in this city since<br />

September is amazing. In times like these,<br />

motion pictures are still the least expensive<br />

form of public entertainment."<br />

The Canadian-made film featuring Xaviera<br />

Hollander. "My Pleasure Is My Busi-<br />

ning, the festival started with Lancaster's<br />

1946 starrer, "The Killers," and will conclude<br />

with the actor's 1971 release,<br />

"Scorpio." Cinema owner John Traveros<br />

plans a Tarzan festival in February.<br />

Chas. Templeton Writing<br />

Script Based on Novel<br />

TORONTO—Local writer and broadcaster<br />

Charles Templeton already is hard at<br />

work on the screenplay for his first and<br />

best-selling novel. "The Kidnapping of the<br />

President." although as yet he has no guarantee<br />

of a film deal. When Sid Adilman<br />

of the Star asked why, Templeton answered:<br />

"Three reasons. I want to. It's the best way<br />

to ensure that the intentions of the book<br />

are kept and I've never done it before. As<br />

you know, I'm always interested in a challenge<br />

like<br />

that."<br />

Templeton confirms that he has had<br />

"definite expressions of interest" from non-<br />

Canadian film producers, as well as from<br />

one Canadian. It has been conjectured that<br />

the latter is John Vidette, producer of the<br />

Canadian Film Award-winning picture<br />

"Wedding in White."<br />

While Templeton admits that he has had<br />

conversations with Vidette, he says, "I've<br />

made no deal. From the outset I've said I<br />

shall try for a joint American-Canadian<br />

project. As much as I would like it to be<br />

all-Canadian, it's going to be an expensive<br />

movie and it's going to need American<br />

financing."<br />

Vidette claims that his Toronto-based<br />

Derma Productions, which hasn't made a<br />

Famous Ready to Hypo<br />

Canadian Production<br />

TORONTO—The president of Famous<br />

!<br />

squad of the Edmonton city police seized<br />

the film "Emmanuelle" from the Odeon<br />

ness." reportedly a poor effort, nevertheless<br />

grossed $70,000 during its opening weekend<br />

Players<br />

nounced<br />

(Canada),<br />

in mid-January<br />

George<br />

that<br />

Destounis,<br />

the firm<br />

an-<br />

not<br />

One Theatre Monday night, January 20, here . Revue Cinema here is heralding<br />

only will audition independently made theatrical<br />

shorts but that it will make a flatrate<br />

after the last show. The exhibitor, Odeon<br />

the arrival of the latest Ingmar Bergman<br />

Mid-Western, Ltd.. has been charged with production. "Scenes From a Marriage," with<br />

deal with producers if the circuit finds<br />

"exposing obscene material to the public." a month-long program of 24 Bergman films. the product acceptable. Destounis said further<br />

that<br />

The police action was based on complaints<br />

FP would guarantee the screening<br />

The Variety Club Women are having a of shorts in order to help<br />

received from the public on<br />

budding filmmakers<br />

the<br />

gala Valentine party at the Markland Wood<br />

to find a distributor.<br />

nature of the film, even though it had been<br />

Country Club Friday (14) and a big turnout Participating in a panel discussion at Toronto's<br />

classified as "restricted adult" with a warning<br />

from members and friends in the industry<br />

by the Alberta Censor Board. The warn-<br />

York University, which had as its<br />

expected.<br />

theme "Business of Film." Destounis emphasized<br />

is<br />

ing, which is very explicit, was "Sexual<br />

that the circuit is ready to back<br />

Scenes May Be Objectionable to Some" and The Universal Cinema in the Parkdale district<br />

Canadian-produced features that already<br />

should have kept the faint of heart out<br />

this has launched a "Burt Lancaster Week."<br />

Featuring a double-bill program each eve-<br />

Development Corp.<br />

have been approved by the Canadian Film<br />

of the theatre. Apparently this was not the<br />

case.<br />

The police bad a search warrant from<br />

Famous Players, Destounis stated, "has a<br />

real interest in helping to develop new Canadian<br />

talent." The circuit president explained<br />

that the organization does not realize<br />

large profits from exhibition of American<br />

product in Canadian theatres. "The real<br />

profit." he added, "comes from selling popcorn<br />

at theatre concession stands."<br />

Also on the panel, which highlighted a<br />

two-day seminar at York University, were:<br />

George Desmond, manager of production<br />

contracting, CBC-TV; Larry Hertzog, director<br />

of programing, CTV network, and Bill<br />

Soady. vice-president of Universal Films<br />

(Canada).<br />

Gateway Records Toppled<br />

By Vintage Double Bill<br />

SAN FRANCISCO—The reissue package<br />

of "His Girl Friday" and "It Happened<br />

One Night" has broken all house records<br />

at the Gateway Theatre here with a firstweek<br />

gross which topped the previous<br />

record-holder double bill of "Robin Hood"<br />

and "Citizen Kane," it was announced by<br />

Columbia Pictures. The films in their second<br />

week also set a single-day house<br />

record at the Gateway on a Saturday night.<br />

The policy of the 349-seat house, which<br />

plays vintage films exclusively, is<br />

nightly, beginning at 6 p.m.<br />

two shows<br />

College Cinema to Offer<br />

Vintage Films, Festival<br />

TORONTO—Cinema Archives, a nonprofit<br />

theatre group headed by R. Hartt.<br />

film since "Wedding in White," has negotiated<br />

recently opened the College Cinema in midtown.<br />

a multi-film deal with Avco Embassy<br />

New The venture's aim is to provide vin-<br />

films well film The<br />

in York. So far. no projects have been tage as as festivals.<br />

confirmed under terms of this arrangement.<br />

Unwilling to wait for a solid deal from any<br />

source, Templeton says he is "having fun"<br />

theatre will be open seven days a week.<br />

For many years the College Cinema was<br />

known as the Melody. It later became the<br />

doing the screenplay.<br />

Wing Va, presenting Chinese films.<br />

"You can flesh out your characters so The movie house has operated for brief<br />

much more when they're projected for the periods in recent months.<br />

screen than you can do in a novel," Templeton<br />

explained.<br />

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Excellent business<br />

was reported for the start of second<br />

Columbia Pictures' "Emmanuelle" was described<br />

by Liz Smith in Cosmopolitan Magazine<br />

as "sex done with taste and beauty."<br />

month of reprise booking of Allied Artists'<br />

"Cabaret" by Cinema 93, Concord; Cine II,<br />

Manchester; and Nashua Mall, Nashua.<br />

BOXOFFICE :: February 10. 1975


VANCOUVER<br />

^^hen Vivieiuie and Ray Manzer of the<br />

Starlite. Squamish, discovered some ancient<br />

one-sheet boards in the basement of<br />

the theatre, they soon put them to work as<br />

part of the bally for "The Great Gatsby."<br />

They were spread around the lobby and in<br />

other spots in town. Among the titles were:<br />

'Huckleberry Finn" (with Mickey Rooney).<br />

"Smashing the Spy Ring" (Ralph Bellamy).<br />

"The Lady Vanishes." "King of the Underworld"<br />

(Humphrey Bogart). "If I Were<br />

King" (Ronald Colman), "The Citadel,"<br />

"Say It in French," "Love Affair" (Irene<br />

Dunne), "Wife, Husband. Friend," "Yes,<br />

My Darling Daughter," "St. Louis Blues,"<br />

"Idiot's Delight," "Smiling Along" (Gracie<br />

Fields), "Broadway Serenade," "Stand Up<br />

and Fight," "Cafe Society," "Too Hot to<br />

Handle," "Gunga Din," "Sudden Money,"<br />

"Out West With the Hardys," "Service De<br />

Luxe," "Return of the Cisco Kid," "Sergeant<br />

Maddox," "Clouds Over Europe" and "Let<br />

Freedom Ring." The Manzers feel that these<br />

could make a fine wall for someone's rumpus<br />

room and they are open to offers.<br />

Revivals of films starring the Marx brothers<br />

continue. Recently the Odeon 2, West<br />

Vancouver, played host to "Animal Crackers"<br />

and the Rembrandt to "Room Service."<br />

Cablevision was used to get nia.ximum exposure<br />

for TV trailers. While theatres in the<br />

northern half of Washington were playing<br />

"The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams"<br />

and plugging the picture over Seattle and<br />

Bellingham stations, a teaser on the end<br />

listed British Columbia dates, with January<br />

17 openings. Theatres in the metropolitan<br />

area participating in the saturation booking<br />

were the Hollywood, Vancouver: Fraser,<br />

Haida; Totem, North Vancouver, and Clova,<br />

Cloverdale, all of which set new house records,<br />

more than doubling the previous high.<br />

Famous Players wa bit luckier in<br />

CINERAMA IS IN<br />

SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />

HAWAII TOO.<br />

When you come to Waikiki<br />

'^°"'' "^'ss the<br />

BlMuM<br />

famous<br />

^iiiiM\ Don Ho Show.<br />

[ HOTELs j Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />

IN WAUUKI. REEF REEF TOWERS • EDGEWATERm<br />

its first 1975 drive-in opening than was the<br />

Odeon circuit. The Lougheed, Burnaby,<br />

commenced its 1975 season January 17 with<br />

the sexploitation combo of "Deadly Weapons"<br />

and "Up Your Toga." The skies were<br />

soggy but temperatures were mild.<br />

The last day's shooting on "Kosygin Is<br />

Coming" was marred when star George<br />

Segal injured his leg in fall during a mock<br />

a<br />

battle on the stoop of a house in the West<br />

Bay area. The picture, which garnered more<br />

front-page space than any other newsworthy<br />

endeavor in years, ran into a spot of bother<br />

one day when filming of a riot scene in the<br />

downtown hotel area drew hundreds of motorists<br />

and foot passengers into the camera<br />

lines, snarled Christmas shopping traffic<br />

for a couple of hours, resulted in pictures<br />

and a story on over half of the next day's<br />

front page and had police, city council and<br />

countless personalities in all the media protesting<br />

the invasion of the city streets by<br />

the filmmakers. Protests died down, however,<br />

when public relations men for the film<br />

company pointed out they were working on<br />

Chris Sullivan, Paramount a<br />

manager, city permit, which turned<br />

reports<br />

that "The Longest Yard," which had<br />

out to have been<br />

drawn up too loosely. A second-page article<br />

a very successful engagement at the Orphcum,<br />

was doing even better up-country where,<br />

itemizing the $1 million the company left<br />

in town and the jobs it created for local<br />

in towns such as Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon<br />

and Nelson, it either is topping<br />

thespians and technicians also helped to<br />

cool things<br />

the<br />

down.<br />

previous leader, "The Godfather," or is<br />

Ambassador's Canadian general manager<br />

very close to it at the boxoffice . . . When<br />

Morely Mogul was a visitor to our town<br />

your correspondent had to bow out of Hosford<br />

Theatres for health reasons, Theo Ross<br />

during a recent weekend, making calls of<br />

introduction to circuit heads and booking<br />

stepped in and currently is reliving the days<br />

and buying organizations before going on<br />

when he booked for the Famous Players<br />

to sunny, warm and delightful Hawaii for<br />

circuit locally. His appointment was a p


BOXOFFICE BOOKiNCUIDE<br />

Listings<br />

®" Technlramo; S' Other Anomorphic processes. Symbol W denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award; All<br />

films ore in color except those indicoted by (b&w) for block & white. Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) rotings:<br />

(g—<br />

gl General Audiences; PG—All ages odmitted (parental guidance suggested); Restricted, with<br />

persons under 17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent or odult guardian; Q^—Persons under 17 not<br />

admitted. Notional Cotholie Office for Motion Pictures (NCOMP) ratings: Al — Unobjectionable for General<br />

Patronage; A2— Unobjectionable for Adults or Adolescents; A3— Unobjectionoble for Adults; A4—Morai;.v<br />

Unobjectionable for Adults, with Reservations; B—Objectionoble in Part for All; C—Condemned. Broodcasting<br />

and Film Commission, National Council of Churches (BFC). For listings by company, see FEATURE<br />

CHART.<br />

/Review digest<br />

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />

•H- Very Good; + Good; - Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. is rated 2 plu<br />

11<br />

III El<br />

4746 Abby (92) H-D AlP 12-23-74<br />

4721 Abdicatiim, The (103) His . . . .WB 9-16-74<br />

4730 U Airport 1975 (107) 10-21-74<br />

4748 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore<br />

4733Alyin<br />

(113) C-D WB 1- 6-75<br />

Purnle<br />

(92) Sex C Sands/Bi-Jiy 11-11-74<br />

4726 Amarcorii (127) C-D (g<br />

. .New World 9-30-74<br />

4710 Amazino Grace (99) C UA 7-29-74<br />

Around the World With Fanny Hill<br />

(92) Sex C Stabcn 9-23-74<br />

4701 Bank Shot (88) Cr-C UA 7- 1-74 I<br />

4725 Bears and I, The (89) Ad BV 9-30-74<br />

|<br />

Beautiful People (92) Doc WB 12-23-74<br />

4720tJBenii (100) C-D .. .Mulberry Sq. 9- 9-74<br />

I<br />

4713 Big Bad Mama<br />

(87) Cr-Melo New World 8-19-74<br />

Birds Do It, Bees Do It<br />

(B9) Doc Col 1-20-75 I<br />

4713 Black Samson (90) Ac WB 8-19-74<br />

|<br />

4747 Black Thursday<br />

(92) D Levitt-Pickman 1- 6-75<br />

4701 Bootleggers. The (110) Ac ..Howu 7-1-74 1<br />

4711 Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia<br />

(112) Ac UA 8-12-74<br />

4707 Bunny Caper, The (90) Sex C ..GFC 7-22-74<br />

4715 California Split (111) C-D Col 8-26-74<br />

|<br />

4710 Castaway Cowboy, The<br />

(91) Ad-C BV 7-29-74<br />

|<br />

Charulata<br />

(112) D R.D. Bansal Prods. 8-26-74<br />

470S Chase for the Golden Needles, The<br />

(92) ® Ac D AlP 7-22-74 (<br />

4754 Child Under a Leaf<br />

(93) D Cinema NafI 2- 3-75<br />

4703 Chinatown (130) (g My P»r» 7- 8-74<br />

|<br />

4720 Chinese Godfather<br />

(90) ® Melo Clifk 9- 9-74<br />

|<br />

4727 Cold Sweat (94) Ac Ennm 10- 7-74 I<br />

Comedians<br />

(111) Melo ..Trans-World Films 2- 3-75<br />

4737 Confessions (f a Windaw CIcantr<br />

(90) Sex C Col U-25-74<br />

4749 Counselor at Crime<br />

(99) Ac-D Joseph Green 1-20-75<br />

4709 Craze (96) Ho WB 7-29-74<br />

4734 Crazy World of Julius Vrooder, Thi<br />

(89) tg> C 20th-Ftx<br />

4722 Cry of the Black Wolves, Tilt<br />

(90) Ad Rook<br />

m B<br />

PG A3<br />

PG A2<br />

IB<br />

IS<br />

ga<br />

C<br />

A4<br />

Al<br />

Al -H- -H +<br />

-f + =!: -<br />

-f -f -H- -f<br />

± n + + +<br />

7+1-<br />

++ + + + - 6+1-<br />

+ * ± + -<br />

++ tt ± # ±<br />

U-U.74 PG A3 -I-<br />

= ± -<br />

9-16-74 PG +<br />

4729 Dark Places (90) Ho CRC-AIP 10-21-74 PG A3<br />

4735 Deao of Night (87) Ho ....Europix U-18-74 PG<br />

4707 Death With (93) Ac-D Para 7-22-74 m C<br />

4709 Destructors, The (89)


REVIEW DIGEST<br />

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />

++ Very Good; + Good; ^ Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor.<br />

1^- S'£|<br />

oa<br />

> Xtr Q.E zQ CQ<br />

(110) D Levitt-Pickman 1-20-75 A3<br />

Lickity-Split (71) Sex C ....L.A.C. 11-25-74 ®<br />

Life and Music of Giuseppe Verdi, The<br />

(110) Bio ..Opera Presentations 12- 9-74 B) Al<br />

Life and Times, The<br />

(76) Sex C Mature 9-23-74<br />

1733 Little Prince, Tlie (88)<br />

4718 Longest Yard, The<br />

(121) Ac C-D ....<br />

4750 Love at the Top (105)<br />

F Para 11-11-74 S) Al<br />

9- 2-74 H A3 4+ ++<br />

Sex C Peppercorn-Wormser 1-20-75 H +<br />

4739 Lucky Luciano (110) Ac Avco 12- 2-74 A3 +<br />

4703 Mad Mad Movie Makers<br />

(90) C Bryanslon 7- S-74 PG<br />

Magical<br />

Mystery Tour<br />

(54) Mus C Carson 12- 9-74<br />

4718 Man of the East (117) d) W-C . . UA<br />

9- 2-74 PG<br />

Mangrove Nine (40) Doc ..Monument ll-lS-74<br />

4743 Man With the Golden Gun, The<br />

(125) p; Ac UA 12-16-74 PG A3<br />

4751 Marco Polo Jr. (85) An ... .Solo Cup 1-27-75 O<br />

Marketa Ljizarova<br />

(100) D Arnold Jacobs Films 10-14-74<br />

4753 Messiah of Evil<br />

Mixed Company (109) C UA 19-74 PG 4714 S- A3<br />

4751 Moonrunners (102) Ac-C UA 1-27-75 PG<br />

4736 Mr. Sycamore<br />

(100) ® C-F Capricorn ia-lK-74<br />

4737 Murder on the Orient Express<br />

+<br />

+<br />

+ ±<br />

-I-<br />

1+1-<br />

5+1-<br />

1+<br />

Saphead, The (6g) C tinted<br />

silent Raymond Rohauer Films 9-23-74 -f<br />

4735 Savage Is Loose, The<br />

(114) D Boasberg-Goldstein, Inc. 11-18-74 [gj C +<br />

4719 Savage Sisters (98) Ac C-D ....AlP 9- 9-74 H C ±<br />

AlP 10- 7-74 PG -f<br />

4725Shanks (93) Ho C-D Para 9-30-74 PG A3 ±<br />

4747 Shoot It: Black, Shoot It: Blue<br />

(91) D Levitt-Pickman 1-6-75 13 ±<br />

4710 Slasher, The (8S) Sex-Terror. Mishkin 7-29-74<br />

+<br />

Soft Shoulders Sharp Curves<br />

(SO) Sex C Globe Pictures 10-28-74 S) +<br />

4747 Sometime Sweet Susan<br />


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AMBASSADOR REtEASINS<br />

©Free as the Wind (84) D.. Oct 74<br />

©On the Line (90) ..Doc ..Nov 74<br />

AMERICAN FILMS LTD.<br />

©Moonchild (90) May 74<br />

Biione, John Carradine<br />

'©Shriel( of the Mutilated<br />

; (92) May 74<br />

1 Alan Brock<br />

,©How Come Nobody's on<br />

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;©The Maids (95)<br />

« Glenda Jackson. Susannah York<br />

©In Celebration (131)<br />

B.ites<br />

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©Pink Floyd (85) ..Mus..May74<br />

©Pictures at an Exhibition<br />

(95) Mus..0ct74<br />

< Emerson. Lake 4 Palmer<br />

. ©Fantastic Planet Jan 75<br />

- ATLAS nLMS<br />

©Crypt of the Living Dead<br />

(81) Ho..<br />

©Stamping Ground (83) 0..<br />

AUDUBON FILAiU<br />

BL'Image Sept 74<br />

©Blood Queen (95) Ac.<br />

©Night of the Executioners ..Ac.<br />

•<br />

©Let Me Love You Sex D.<br />

BIG HORN<br />

©Lure of the North<br />

JOSEPH BRENNER<br />

©Cry Rape (94) . . . . Melo. .July 74<br />

Belga Anders. Klaus Lowltseh.<br />

Arthur Kraus<br />

©Torso (90) D..N«y74<br />

SiKy Kendall<br />

©The Winners (95) D .<br />

[ Joe Stewardfon<br />

©Sex Life of a Private Eye<br />

(89) Ae<br />

: Gilbert Wynne, Gllly Grant<br />

CFA INVESTORS IV<br />

©He Is My Brother<br />

CAMBIST FILMS<br />

©Wide Open Marriage<br />

C. Nov 74<br />

Elisabeth Volkman<br />

.©Vampyres (S6) Sex-Ho D.. Jan 75<br />

Mor Is. Anulka<br />

, Probability Zero<br />

. CAMELOT ENTERTAINMENT<br />

• ©Catch the Black Sunshine<br />

CANNON<br />

MISCELLANEOUS<br />

(^)\n Ihe Beginning . . .<br />

(84)<br />

Young Playmates<br />

C ,<br />

74<br />

QCnmisElor at Crime<br />

(82) Sex C. Sept 74<br />

©The (99)<br />

No Mercy Man<br />

Ac-D..Jan75<br />

©Order to Kill<br />

(91)<br />

(94) . . Ac-D. .Jan 75<br />

Ac. Oct 74<br />

Stephen Sandor, Rnokne Tarktngton HARMS?!. INDEPENDENT<br />

CAPITAL PRODUCTIONS PRODUCTIONS<br />

©Blood Waters of Dr. Z<br />

PRiw» in a Pink Car<br />

(92) Ho. .June 74<br />

©The Scxorcists (90) Sex D. July 74<br />

Leigh Heine. SIna Taylor<br />

©The Gilt of the Forest<br />

(100) Sept 74<br />

CENTAUR RaEASING<br />

©Naughty Nymphs<br />

(90) Sex-C..June74<br />

Ei'c Garden. Clirlstiana Maybach,<br />

riark Tlnney<br />

©The Girls Who Do . .Sex C. .A»g74<br />

©The Sinful Bed ..Sex C. Sept 74<br />

CENTRO DISTRIBUTING<br />

©Slick Silver and Company<br />

CINEMA NATIONAL CORP.<br />

©Love Me Deadly<br />

(95) Sus..Juin 74<br />

Lyle Waggoner, Mary Wilcox<br />

©Child Under a Leaf<br />

(93) D.. Nov 74<br />

Dyan Cannon<br />

©Three f»r the Money<br />

(89) C. Nov 74<br />

Dean Stockwell, Bum Tamblyn.<br />

McLean Stevenoon, Alex Karras<br />

©Fourplay (86) C. .Jan 75<br />

Zero Mostel. Eetelle Parsons<br />

©Callan (93) Sue. Jan 75<br />

Edward Woo(!war


Opinions on Current Productions Feature reviews<br />

Symbol O daiwtes »l«r; © CinemoSGOpe; ® P«iMvisi«n; ® T«ehDirama; ® ather anamorphic procetses. FM (lory<br />

STARDUST 1] ""t=' ^""'<br />

Columbia (75012) 113 Minutes Rel. March '75<br />

This British film for Columbia release picks up where<br />

last year's "That'll Be the Day" left off, following the<br />

adventui-es of rebellious anti-hero Jim MacLaine (played<br />

by British teen idol David Essex). Now, as singer-guitarist<br />

for the Stray Cats, Essex skyrockets to fame in the<br />

manner of many a rock star in the late 1960s and eventually<br />

meets his death by di-ug overdose. Obviously the<br />

intended audience is young people, so it's cm-ious filmmakers<br />

included enough nudity to get an R. Essex is big<br />

in England though, and even without previous co-star<br />

Ringo Starr, he should prove a boxoffice draw. The Goodtimes<br />

Enterprises production has the same team as the<br />

earlier pictui'e—executive producer Roy Baird, producers<br />

David Puttnam and Sandy Lieberson, and screenwriter<br />

Ray ComioUy. Dii-ector Michael Apted certainly keeps it<br />

moving with the help of film editor Michael Bradsell.<br />

Essex does well in the lead, his manager is played by<br />

former singer Adam Faith, and Larry Hagman, best<br />

known to American TV audiences in "I Dream of Jeannie,"<br />

has a field day as the ruthless business manager<br />

who blueprints the road to success. Filming on location<br />

in England, Spain and the U.S. is a definite plus, as is<br />

the music by Dave Edmunds and producer Puttnam.<br />

David Essex, Adam Faith, Larry Hagman, Ines Des<br />

Longchamps, Rosalind Ayres, Edd Brynes.<br />

Warner Bros. (403) 93 Minutes Rel. Mar. '75<br />

Playwright Neil Simon has a remarkable knack of<br />

writing hilarious long-running plays which are tui-ned<br />

into equally successful movies. In adapting his "Prisoner"<br />

to the screen. Simon blended comedy and drama into<br />

another potential screen hit. Stars Jack Lemmon<br />

and Anne Bancroft have the name value which should<br />

make the difference. Lemmon, up against the city as he<br />

was in "The Out-of-Towners" (1970 1, is the "prisoner,"<br />

a 48-year-old man who faces a bleak futme without a<br />

job or any faith in himself. Miss Bancroft is so understanding<br />

and loving as his wife that Lemmon's attitude<br />

occasionally registers as self-pity, but few middle-aged<br />

men will fail to identify with him. Coping with life in icrai<br />

Manhattan and dealing with the very timely economic Sale<br />

crisis can drive anyone to the verge of insanity, particu- '^'^^<br />

larly a person as highly strung as Lemmon's character.<br />

"Prisoner" doesn't wrap everything up neatly, suggesting<br />

that self-confidence is the right road to recovery. Producer-director<br />

Melvin Frank filmed the Panavision-Technicolor<br />

release in New York and at The Burbank Studios.<br />

Marvin Hamlisch's score is interpreted in bittersweet<br />

fashion by Pete Candoli's trumpet solos. Miss Bancroft<br />

makes a very welcome retui-n in a starring role.<br />

Jack Lemmon, Anne Bancroft, Gene Saks, Elizabeth<br />

Wilson, Florence Stanley, Ed Peck, Maxine Stuart.<br />

A BRIEF VACATION<br />

PG<br />

J,",-,;,; H?,''-<br />

Allied Artists (7404) 106 Minutes Rel. Jan. '75<br />

Realism and romantic drama are blended in a very<br />

poignant way in one of the last films made by the late<br />

Vittorio de Sica. His direction embraces all the emotions<br />

essential for good drama, the Arthur Cohn-Marina Cicogna<br />

Production is sm-e to be well received by critics<br />

and deserving of large audience support. Florinda Bolkan<br />

sheds her image of the cold, worldly beauty for an extremely<br />

sensitive portrayal of a hard-working wife and<br />

mother who must contend with an tmfeeling family.<br />

When her health deteriorates, she is sent to a TB sanatoriiun<br />

where her worth as a person is finally appreciated.<br />

A love affair with a young worker is doomed to failui-e,<br />

but the affection felt by her more affluent sister patients<br />

gives her confidence. An Italo-Spanish co-production of<br />

Verona (Rome) and Azor Film (Madrid), the Emanuel<br />

L. Wolf presentation has many well-played supporting<br />

roles by a large cast of Italian and Spanish actors. Cesare<br />

Zavattini's screenplay never descends into maudlin sentiment,<br />

remaining consistently engrossing. Manuel de<br />

Sica composed a beautiful score, the theme song "Stay"<br />

by Gene Lees being sung by Christian de Sica. Ennio<br />

Guarnier's fine photography is credited as color by Technospecs.<br />

The Italian dialog is translated via English titles<br />

Florinda Bolkan, Renato Salvatori, Daniel Quenaud, Jose'^^^-''<br />

Maria Prada, Teresa Gimpera, Adriana Asti.<br />

The Strongest Man In The World<br />

Comedy<br />

[g]<br />

O<br />

Buena Vista (164) 92 Minutes<br />

Rel. Feb. '75<br />

Thud of the series which also includes "The Computer<br />

Wore Tennis Shoes" (1970) and "Now You See Him, Now<br />

You Don't" (1972), the latest Walt Disney production is<br />

a mild comedy but possessed of enough pleasant moments<br />

to please the family trade. Produced by Bill Anderson<br />

and directed by Vincent McEveety from an original<br />

screenplay by Joseph L. McEveety and Herman Groves,<br />

the film reunites Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero and the<br />

late Joe Flynn to repeat their roles as student, con man<br />

and harried dean. Flynn, who makes his final screen<br />

appearance here, recorded the voice for a character in<br />

the animated "The Rescuers." Billed as Hollywood's most<br />

competent incompetent, he participates in some of the<br />

strenuous slapstick. Veteran funsters Eve Ai'den and Phil<br />

Silvers are cast as rival cereal manufactm-ers and their<br />

limited footage will be savored by their fans. No one actually<br />

stars in the film, there being long stretches without<br />

one or more of the leading actors. As in any Disney<br />

film, there are numerous character actors on view—Fritz<br />

Feld, Mary Treen, Eddie Quillan, Kathleen Freeman,<br />

etc.—for a film buff's feast. Nmnerous exploitation angles<br />

can give this a strong b. o. draw. Technicolor.<br />

Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Cesar Romero, Eve Arden, Phil<br />

Silvers, Dick Van Patten, Dick Bakalyan.<br />

MR. RICCO<br />

PG<br />

United Artists (7501)<br />

18 Minutes Rel. Feb. '75<br />

Crime melodramas with a different slant are in vogue<br />

and Dean Martin reactivates his screen career as a criminal<br />

lawyer involved with black militants, cop killers and<br />

assorted mayhem. The lust production of<br />

former MGM<br />

V. p. Douglas Netter, the MGM fihn for United Ai'tists<br />

release combines elements of social comment, comedy<br />

and action, along with a few sexual innuendoes. Dii'ector<br />

Paul Bogart didn't over-emphasize the San Francisco<br />

setting, using some fresh locales. Screenplay by Robert<br />

Hooan, from a story by Ed Harvey and Francis Kiernan<br />

lEciwin Blum and Curtis Kenyon), generates a good<br />

iiiiiouiit 01 mystery sui-roundmg the identity of the killer<br />

ana comes up witii a neat sui-prise at the end. Martin's<br />

familiar unage allows for him to indulge in a comedy<br />

golf game to kid his own fondness for the sport; he's also<br />

given the opportm;ity to engage in some Italian dialog<br />

and participate in two lights (in which he hits below<br />

the belt), a gun battle and assorted attempts on his life.<br />

His performance is sound enough, but he has a very tired<br />

look which is disUacting. Thahnus Rasulala, Denise<br />

Nicholas and Philip Thomas have good roles in the black<br />

contingent. In Panavision and MetroColor, this is okay<br />

ior the action market.<br />

Dean Martin, Eugene Roche, Thalmus Rasulala, Geraldine<br />

Brooks, Denise Nicholas, Philip Thomas.<br />

THE BIG CON ®<br />

'^ g"""'<br />

808 Pictures 80 Minutes Rel. Jan. '75<br />

It was only a matter of time before the pornos got<br />

around to spoofing major films and one of the latest is<br />

"The Big Con," touted as "The Sting" with sex. Some<br />

very familiar faces—and bodies—are on view in an original<br />

screenplay by Pat O'Neil which gathers a fair share<br />

of laughs. Director Jerry Denby, releasing through his<br />

own 808 Pictm-es, saw to it that the sex ingredients didn't<br />

overwhelm the story and vice-versa. Most of the encounters<br />

are natm-al developments and not just inserts to<br />

stretch out the rmming time. Some enterprising producer<br />

may yet splice together a series of imused sex scenes<br />

under the title "Out Takes" for those who want nothing<br />

but hardcore footage. Ihose who prefer a story should<br />

enjoy "Con," which never takes anything seriously from<br />

the main titles to the last freeze frame. Two of the better<br />

actors in porn pix are cast; Eric Edwards, sporting a<br />

mustache and doing a reasonable imitation of Robert<br />

Redford, and all-puipose character man Kevin Andre<br />

(Carter Comtney) as a phony governor and police inspector.<br />

Leading lady Jennifer Jordan participates in both<br />

sex and story sequences, but is definitely secondary. Original<br />

jazz score by Tommy Charles and Michael Face includes<br />

a very nice song, "Rainy Day Blues." Color.<br />

Eric Edwards, Jennifer Jordan, Alan Mario, Hardy<br />

Harrison, Sonny Landham, Carter Courtney.<br />

The reviews on these poges may be fited for future reference in ony of the following ways (1)<br />

loose-leaf binder; (2) individually, by eompony. In any standard 3x5 card index file; or (3) in<br />

GUIDE three-ring, pocket-size binder. The lottcr, including a yeoKs supply of booking ond doily record sheets, moy<br />

obtained from Associated Publieotioni, 825 Von Brunt Blvd^ Konsas City, Mo. 64124 for $1.50.<br />

4756<br />

BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: Feb. 10, 1975 4755


. . . And<br />

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploifips; Adiines for Newspapers and Progrars<br />

THE STORY: "The Strongest Man in the World" (BV)<br />

Medfield College's Dean Joe Flynn faces dismissal unless<br />

he can cut down on expenses. In William Schallert's<br />

chemistry lab, students Michael McGreevey and Kurt<br />

Rus.sell develop formulas to improve a cow's vitamin intake.<br />

When the formulas are mixed and spilled into a<br />

cereal, Russell eats the concoction and becomes superstrong.<br />

Flynn contacts cereal manufacturer Eve Arden to<br />

demonstrate the remarkable strength derived from the<br />

combination. She challenges rival Phil Silvers to sponsor<br />

a weightlifting contest between Medfield and his alma<br />

mater. Working with Silvers is Arden 's top aide, Dick<br />

Van Patten, who hires crooks Cesar Romero and Dick<br />

Bakalyan fresh from jail. The pair are unable to steal<br />

the formula and enlist Benson Fong in obtaining information<br />

from McGreevey via acupuncture. On the day of<br />

the match, Russell finds the effects of the formula wearing<br />

off and manages to get just enough to win the contest.<br />

EXPLOITIPS:<br />

"Strongest Man" T-shirts are available, as well as flags,<br />

banners and balloons. Tie in with cereal manufacturers<br />

and any outlet for breakfast food. Sports stores and<br />

weightlifting contests can be used for promos.<br />

CATCHLINES:<br />

The Biggest Laff Lifter of the Year ... A Secret<br />

Formula Explodes—Poof!—Instant Muscle, Instant Fun<br />

the Secret Formula Got It Off the Ground.<br />

THE STORY: "Mr. Ricco" (MGM-UA)<br />

San Francisco lawyer Dean Martin successfully defends<br />

black militant Thalmus Rasulala, accused of knifing a<br />

white woman to death. When two policemen are killed<br />

by shotgun, Rasulala is suspected and traced to his Black<br />

Serpents headquarters. He escapes, while Philip Thomas<br />

is caught and the latter's brother Oliver Givins is murdered<br />

by racist Det. Michael Gregory. Museum worker<br />

Denise Nicholas has Martin defend her brother Thomas.<br />

Meanwhile, attempts are made on Martin's life and police<br />

Capt. Eugene Roche echoes the sentiments of the whole<br />

city in thinking that Martin has helped free a cop killer.<br />

After Gregory is charged with Givins' murder, he is himself<br />

killed. Martin battles Rasulala in an abandoned<br />

church, the latter being apprehended later. At an art reception<br />

held in the museum, the killer murders Martin's<br />

date Geraldine Brooks, police Lt. George Tyne and two<br />

policemen before being killed by Martin. He proves to be<br />

Robert Sampson, brother of the woman Rasulala has<br />

admitted kiUing.<br />

EXPLOITIPS:<br />

The Martin name is still one to reckon with. Contact<br />

any person named Ricco in your area for promotionals.<br />

CATCHLINES:<br />

The One Thing People Hate More Than a Cop Killer-<br />

Is the Lawyer Who Gets Him Off ... A Cop Isn't the<br />

Law, He Only Enforces It.<br />

THE STORY:<br />

"The Big Con" (808 Pictures)<br />

In the early Thirties, con man Alan Mario enjoys himself<br />

with farmer's wife Jennifer Mason and then borrows<br />

$50. He's selling radio casings, the vital parts to be sent<br />

later, he tells pickup Jennifer Jordan, who sees through<br />

him immediately, she being the daughter of Sam the Flim<br />

Flam Man. In Toledo, the two meet Mario's old partner<br />

Eric Edwards, in the process of fleecing banker Hardy<br />

Harrison in a stock deal. Jordan devises a bigger con game<br />

to fui-ther cheat Harrison: pretending that the three are<br />

involved in a moneymaking chain of houses of pleasui-e.<br />

Felicity Browning is set up as a singing madame as girls<br />

are auditioned by a weary Mario. Texan Sonny Landham<br />

can't believe he's been paid to indulge himself with the<br />

girls. Pretending that other houses are to be opened in<br />

Paris and Berlin, the thi-ee extract $250,000 from a morethan-willing<br />

Harrison. Accomplice Carter Com-tney<br />

(Kevin Andiej switches roles from governor of Arizona<br />

to police inspector to trap Harrison as the trio departs.<br />

EXPLOITIPS:<br />

Play this as the porno world's version of "The Sting."<br />

Mention the very good score, performed by The Downtown<br />

Blues Blowers and obtain Thirties jazz records for<br />

the p. a. system.<br />

CATCHLINES:<br />

You Don't Have to Rob Banks If You Can Con the<br />

President . . . Focusing on the Eroticism of the Prohibition<br />

Era.<br />

THE STORY:<br />

"Stardust" (Col)<br />

When Jim MacLaine (David Essex) opted out of suburban<br />

domestic marriage and fatherhood at the end of<br />

"That'll Be the Day," he was last seen buying a guitar.<br />

Now he is shown as a singer-guitarist with a not-so-successful<br />

group known as the Stray Cats in the late 1960s.<br />

Mike Menarry (Adam Faith) joins them as road manager,<br />

and with a wealthy bachelor's patronage, the big-time<br />

comes—hit records, international toui's, and superstar<br />

success for MacLaine, who is mobbed and idolized whereever<br />

he goes. He eventually leaves the group to become<br />

a solo act, retreats into seclusion in a castle in Spain,<br />

and dies of a drug overdose in the early 1970s.<br />

EXPLOITIPS:<br />

The real draw is the presence of British rock idol David<br />

Essex and The Who's Keith Moon, and both names should<br />

be played up, as well as the fact that this is a followup<br />

to the enormously successful "That'll Be the Day." Tieins<br />

with local radio stations and record shops can be arranged<br />

for Essex' records and the sound track album.<br />

Sponsor a contest with albums as prizes or hold a midnight<br />

screening for listeners of the local radio disc jockey.<br />

CATCHLINES:<br />

What Happens 'When You Get to the Top? . . . "Rock<br />

On" With David Essex . . . The Sequel to "That'll Be the<br />

Day."<br />

THE STORY: "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" (WB)<br />

Manhattanite Jack Lemmon and loving wife Anne Bancroft<br />

cope with daily living, he becoming agitated with<br />

the neighbors in particular and everything else in general.<br />

When he's fired from his job because of an economy<br />

cutback, Lemmon feels that a 48-year-old man has little<br />

in the way of prospects. After their- apartment is robbed,<br />

Bancroft returns to her job as production assistant to a<br />

TV producer while Lemmon drives himself to the edge<br />

of a nervous breakdown. Brother Gene Saks and sisters<br />

Elizabeth Wilson and Florence Stanley attempt to help,<br />

but can't decide on how much money is enough. Bancroft<br />

is fired when her company folds and reacts just as<br />

Lemmon did; he. meanwhile, regains his self-confidence<br />

and begins to take things in stride. He turns down Saks'<br />

check for $25,000 and makes plans to revenge himself on<br />

complaining neighbor Ed Peck, who twice doused him<br />

with water.<br />

EXPLOITIPS:<br />

Names of Lemmon, Bancroft and Neil Simon are the<br />

ones to exploit. Convey the thought that this is a serious<br />

comedy with something to say about how to cope with<br />

life.<br />

CATCHLINES:<br />

Academy Award Winners Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft<br />

in the Sad and Funny Movie Based on Neil Simon's<br />

Hit Play.<br />

THE STORY:<br />

"A Brief Vacation" (AA)<br />

Italian housewife Florinda Bolkan from Calabria, lives<br />

near Milan with her insensitive husband Renato Salvatori,<br />

injm'ed from an accident, her in-laws and three<br />

sons. Salvatori is upset to learn that she had drinks with<br />

Daniel Quenaud, a young machinist she met during a<br />

physical examination. Suffering from tuberculosis, Bolkan<br />

is sent to a clinic in the snow-capped mountains of Sondalo<br />

to recuperate. There, she befriends singer Adriana<br />

Asti, model Teresa Gimpera, radical Julia Pena and lovestruck<br />

Monica Guerritore. Dr. Jose Maria Prada, also<br />

from Calabria, takes more than a professional interest<br />

in her. Quenaud turns up, since he, too, is recovering<br />

from ill health and he tries to promote a romance with<br />

Bolkan. She's about to meet him when her family turns<br />

up unexpectedly, wanting her to return home. Later, she<br />

and Quenaud have a brief affair as she comforts the<br />

other female patients, particularly Asti, who wounds herself<br />

because her disease is fatal. Cured, Bolkan regretfully<br />

returns to her old life.<br />

EXPLOITIPS:<br />

Mention that this is one of the last films from the<br />

master of Italian neorealism, Vittorio de Sica. Play up<br />

Florinda Bolkan's acting and the beautiful scenery in the<br />

north of Italy.<br />

CATCHLINES:<br />

Vittorio de Sica's Final Mastei-piece . . . For All Women<br />

Who Have Had a Final Moment of Love. Or Wish for One.<br />

BOXOFnCE BooldnGuide :: Feb. 10, 1975


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$2395.00. Standard 3000' capacity, $1875.00.<br />

Pair of JAN projectors, 30 watt amplifier,<br />

changeovers, complete and reconditioned,<br />

$995.00. Kodak Pageant AV126tr, $349.00.<br />

B&H Model 1535 (new in carton), $495.00.<br />

B&H 140 arc lamphouse, rectifier, stand<br />

and amplifier, $675 00. Much more. Write,<br />

wire, phone ICECO (404) 262-3020, 2991<br />

North Fulton Dr. N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30305<br />

HOLMES GP professional booth, 1 KW<br />

Strong lamps, rectifiers, bases, magazines,<br />

y to earn a lot of money! Men having complete, $1750,00. Simplex Supers, $795.00<br />

cl-ent successful business relationship RCAA 9030's, SUJU $695.00. »tiMS.UU. Ashcraft Asncralt 135 IM lamps,<br />

1«T theatres given preference. Several $1195. 95.00. Century C's, $1350.00. Simplex<br />

sell. All rephes confidential XL' s, $2450.00. We take trades. Export ind.<br />

We ship anywh(<br />

acknowledged. Send complete infor-<br />

<strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3382.<br />

the world. Write, Wire, Phone—ICECO,<br />

2991 North Fulton Drive N.E., Atlanta, Ga.<br />

PERIENCED DRIVE-m theatre manfor<br />

large drive-in, Cleveland, Ohio.<br />

30305 (404) 262-3020.<br />

with excellent salary and NEW RCA lamp and rectifiers, 40 amp<br />

tc medical and hie insurance benefits. Holmes heads and stands, used 3 months<br />

Pise forward resume and references tc $1,500 complete. (501) 367-5862, 367-8172.<br />

Sscted Theatres Management, 451 Brain-<br />

Place, 29001 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst, INVENTORY SALE. Simplex and Ashcraft<br />

44124 or phone (216) 4fil-9770<br />

parts. Discounts from 2(3% to 60%. Sale<br />

ends March 1st, What do you need? INDE-<br />

PENDENT, 2750 East Houston, San Antonio,<br />

Texas 78202.<br />

POSITION WANTED<br />

MINI THEATRE SPECIAL: 16mm JAN with<br />

changeover, 30 watt amplifier. Douzer,<br />

used and new. Send for free list. Hecht,<br />

Box 443 BO, EllenvUle, N. Y. 12428. (914)<br />

647-6334.<br />

BARGAINS—ALMOST NEW<br />

2 Century Model SA 35mm projectors,<br />

complete with lens adapters, changeover<br />

plates, etc., $1,500.00 each.<br />

2 Century Model C pedestals, $300.00<br />

1 Sound system— 2 Century sound reproducers<br />

and 1 Model 70 Electrosound<br />

optical sound unit, $3,400.00.<br />

2 Optical Radiation Model 1000 Xenon<br />

lamphouses complete with power<br />

supply, etc., $1,200.00 each.<br />

3 Optical Radiation X-1000 Xenon<br />

bulbs, $350 00 each.<br />

2 Senkor 2 75' lenses, $100.00 each.<br />

2 Westrex magnetic soundheads with<br />

interlocks, switching units, $2,750.00<br />

package.<br />

2 Century upper and lower magazines,<br />

$500 00 package.<br />

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DENVER<br />

(303) 893-0170—Don Schulz<br />

EQUIPMENT WANTED<br />

USED EQUIPMENT bought and sold.<br />

Best prices, Texas Theatre Supply, 915<br />

So, Alamo, San Antonio, Texas 78205.<br />

TOP PRICES PAID — for soundheads,<br />

lamphouses, rectifiers, projectors, lenses<br />

and portable projectors. What have you?<br />

STAR CINEMA SUPPLY, 217 West 2Ist<br />

Street, New York, 1001 1. Phone (212) 675-<br />

3515.<br />

THEATRES FOR SALE<br />

WORLD'S LARGEST THEATRE BROK-<br />

ERS. Send for list. JOE JOSEPH, Box 31406,<br />

:is, 75231, (214) 363-2724 or (214) 239-<br />

OWNER LEAVING COUNTRY, MUST<br />

SELLII Reduced $75,000,00 to $65,000,00<br />

w reduced $55,0001 Less than value<br />

building). Adult theatre building in<br />

Moline, 111, Perfect condition. Rebuilt air<br />

conditioning, 700 seats. Midwest Theatres,<br />

"\6 Sunset Blvd., Las Angeles. Calif.<br />

059 for information.<br />

LAKE CITY, MINNESOTA Complete there<br />

operation: building, land, hxtures,<br />

1 choice corner in town, 6000 area pop-<br />

$32,500,00 (612)^345^3377^' '^' ^°"' "^°'<br />

TWIN SCREEN, INDOOR, fully autoated,<br />

must sell, other interests. 1/2 yr.<br />

1<br />

old. Located where Dallas and Garland,<br />

Texas city limits meet. $65,000, Call Ward,<br />

(214) 348-8534,<br />

GREENWOOD, TRENTON. N.J. Predominantly<br />

black area. 650 seats, ready to<br />

go. If you're familiar with black operation,<br />

ideal location. Can be first run in<br />

area for all black features. Large parking<br />

lot and manager's apartment included,<br />

Frank Theatre Management Co., Box 33.<br />

Pleasantville, N,J, 08232,<br />

TWO 4-PLEXES and one twin theatre lor<br />

sale in large midwest cities. Outstanding<br />

1 a<br />

3374.<br />

grosses, A-1 equipment, fully automated<br />

and beautiful decor. These are fine thea-<br />

CREST THEATRE— Indoor theatre, suburban<br />

Baltimore. Fully equipped, ready to<br />

operate. Ample parking area. Write 715<br />

St. Paul St., Baltimore 21202. Phone (301)<br />

837-8377.<br />

PHOENIX, ARIZONA. In<br />

of<br />

poiitan area, luz seats, grossing WU.OUU<br />

a year. $65,000—terms available. (602)<br />

955-2233. Harkins Theatres. 6528 E. 2nd St.,<br />

Scottsdale, Arizona 85251.<br />

DRIVE-IN THEATRE—seven acres, large<br />

oncession stand. Forced to sell—poor<br />

ealth. Box 271. Hollis, Okla. 73550. (405)<br />

808 SEAT TWIN in Colorado<br />

town of 5.000- Assume SBA h<br />

Keebler Co. (303) 756-4564.<br />

FREDERICK, OK., County Seat. Theatre<br />

and mini, no competition. $2,000.00 and<br />

take over payments Call (405) 335-3712<br />

after 6 P,M, Wed-Sun,<br />

THEATRES WANTED<br />

WE ARE INTERESTED in lea<br />

chasing ii„i : ;i;t..jtiMs Any<br />

ceptabli-, .;:,. J.:..^y.. aa.i Assc<br />

Broadway, NYC, "N Y, 10036.<br />

WANTED TO BUY OR LEASE theatres i<br />

sastem Pennsylvania, southern New Je<br />

!ey and Delaware. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3363.<br />

WANTED TO LEASE suburban Boston<br />

Theatre. Replies confidential. <strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />

3362.<br />

BUY OR LEASE Indoor or drive-in thea<br />

re. Contact Weeze Management, 2001 Bos.<br />

on Rd,, N Wilbraham, Mass. 01095.<br />

ADULT OR CONVERTIBLE commercial<br />

theatres wanted to lease in Californ<br />

and Illinois. Box 6847, San Francisco, Cal:<br />

94102.<br />

THEATRES FOR LEASE<br />

THEATRE FOR LEASE: Painesville, Ohio<br />

Excellent indoor theatre in A-1 condition<br />

30 miles from Cleveland. Telephone (202)<br />

244-1500.<br />

SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA indoor with balcony.<br />

Suburban, well built. Complete. Excellent<br />

opportunity for enthusiastic person<br />

with cooperation from landlord. P.O. Box<br />

776, Danville, Va. Phone (804) 792-2580.<br />

THEATRE SEATING<br />

Custom seat covers made to fit. CHICAGO<br />

USED CHAIR MART, 1320 S. Wabash, Chicago,<br />

60605. Phone: 939-4518.<br />

SPECIALISTS IN REBUILDING CHAIRS.<br />

New and rebuilt theatre 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., 11201.<br />

"<br />

charges).<br />

WANTED—Late model used theatre<br />

or call chairs. Write Hayes Seating Company,<br />

101 Pickard Drive, Syracuse, N.Y.<br />

13211. (315) 454-9346.<br />

240 USED upholstered theatre chairs for<br />

lie. For more information call (913) 472-<br />

9904 or 472-3366 or write The Theatre, 116<br />

East 1st, Ellsworth, Kansas 67439.<br />

10 to 1000 rebuilt Heywood-Wakefield<br />

self-rising, upholstered backs. These seats<br />

have been gone over completely including<br />

new paint. Buy, sell or trade. Mission<br />

Seating, Kansas City, Mo. 64114. (816)<br />

523-2904<br />

POPCORN MACHINES<br />

ALL MAKES OF POPPERS, caramel corn<br />

equipment, floss machines, sno-ball machines<br />

Krispy Korn, 120 So Hoisted, Chi-<br />

BOOKS<br />

THE MANUAL OF THEATRE MANAGE-<br />

MENT. Deluxe hardcover edition. Send<br />

your $20 check or money order to Ralph<br />

J. Erwin. Publisher, P O Box 1982, Laredo,<br />

Texas 78040<br />

MORE CLASSIFIED<br />

LISTINGS<br />

ON PAGE 9<br />

SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM<br />

BOXOFFICE<br />

825 Van Brunt Blvd.<br />

Konsfls City, Mo. 64124<br />

Please enter my subscription to BOX-<br />

OFFICE. Enclosed Is my check or money<br />

order for:<br />

D<br />

I<br />

YEAR $10<br />

n 2 YEARS $17<br />

Outside U.S., Conada and Pon<br />

American Union, $15.00 per yeor<br />

XOFFICE :: February 10, 1975


SENSATIONAL NEW YORK OPENING!<br />

CINERilMIl, RKO i6th ST. TWIN "2, RKO S9th ST. TWIN *2<br />

REGIONAL<br />

DISTRIBUTC<br />

WASHINGTON, D. C.<br />

Dave Leyy<br />

(202) 965-4401<br />

ALBANY, BUFFALO<br />

Morvin Friedlander<br />

(212) 354-5700<br />

KANS., MO., NEB., IC<br />

Gene Im'm<br />

(9U) 381-2058<br />

MINNEAPOLIS<br />

Irving Braverman<br />

(612) 332-3456<br />

DENVER, SALT LAKE<br />

Jules Needelman<br />

(213) 654-4414<br />

PENNSYLVANIA<br />

Manny Youngermon<br />

f2;5; 665-9052<br />

MICHIGAN<br />

Marty Zide<br />

Onj 968-7777<br />

}<br />

CINCINNATI, INDIAN*<br />

Wm. Blum<br />

(513) 627-2955<br />

CLEVELAND<br />

lock Kaufman<br />

(2;6i 78;-0622<br />

JACKSONVILLE<br />

Harry or Belton Clark<br />

1904) 721-2122. 3. 4<br />

ATLANTA<br />

Morvin Doris<br />

(404) 524-6588<br />

ILLINOIS & MILWAUK<br />

Moe Dudelson<br />

(312) 394 0570<br />

ARIZONA, S. CAL., NEN<br />

L. A.<br />

Alan EIrod<br />

(213) 659-5/6/<br />

PORTLAND, SEATTLE, I<br />

Michael Lamoureux<br />

(415) 775-4489<br />

DALLAS, OKLA., NEW j<br />

NEW ORLEANS<br />

frank Meyers<br />

(214) 748 7093<br />

N. & S. CAROLINA<br />

Jimmy James<br />

(704) 372-6747<br />

CONTACT: STANLEY E. DUDELSON at NEW LINE CINEMA<br />

853 Broadway, New York, NY. 10003 Tel. (212) 674-7460<br />

or your local distributor.<br />

PITTSBURGH<br />

John Glaus<br />

(412) 653 5493<br />

BOSTON, N. H., VT.,<br />

ME., CONN.<br />

Ellis Gordon<br />

f6/7) 426-5900

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