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NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION • MARCH 3, 1975<br />
Including the Sectional News Pages of All Editions<br />
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THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published In Nine Sectional Editions<br />
Editor-in-Chiei and Publisher<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
ESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
lORRIS SCHLOZMAN ... Business Mgr.<br />
ARY KABRICK Equipment Editor<br />
ublication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd.,<br />
Uuiins City. Mu. 64124. (81G) 241-7777<br />
astern Offices: 1270 Slilh Avenue. Suite<br />
i4U.!. Itookefiller Cenler, New York. N.V.<br />
0020. (212) 265-G370.<br />
Vestern Offices: G42S Hollyuood Blvd.<br />
Uilte 211. Hollyuood. Calif., 90028. Joan<br />
lobiiis. (2i:
Laughlin, Taylor Lauded<br />
At ShoWesT Convention<br />
By RALPH KAM1NSK.Y<br />
SAN DIEGO—Tom Liuighlin and Delores<br />
Taylor, whose three "Billy Jack" pictures<br />
are nearing a $200,000,000 boxoffice<br />
gross, were named male and female "Ticket<br />
Selling Stars of the Year" by ShoWesT '75<br />
at a special program Tuesday. February 25.<br />
The second day of the NATO-NAC Sho-<br />
WesT 75 convention also saw a keen exchange<br />
of distribution and sales ideas by<br />
the nearly 500 delegates attending the sessions<br />
and a panel consisting of key leaders<br />
in<br />
distribution and exhibition.<br />
John Rubel, chief executive officer of<br />
Taylor-Laughlin Productions, accepted the<br />
awards for the two<br />
stars and cited an<br />
John Rubel<br />
elaborate array of statistics<br />
showing Laughlin<br />
as one of the top<br />
boxoffice draws, exceeded<br />
only by Robert<br />
Redford. "And that<br />
was with the help<br />
of such {wwerhouse<br />
names as Barbra Streisand<br />
and Paul Newman,"<br />
he observed.<br />
Rubel was introduced by toast-master William<br />
Kartozian of San Francisco, presidentelect<br />
of NATO of California. The two citations<br />
for the stars were accepted by Michel<br />
Wilson, who performed as a singer in "Billy<br />
Jack," and actress Russell Lane, who was<br />
in the cast of both "Billy Jack" and "The<br />
Trial of Billy Jack."<br />
In an extensive analysis of top-grossing<br />
films over the past three years. Rubel developed<br />
the theme that "motion picture critics<br />
in the major cities don't know what the<br />
public likes."<br />
Emphasize Money-Makers<br />
Exhibitors were told by Rubel, "You need<br />
men like Tom Laughlin and organizations<br />
like his to produce that rarest thing of all:<br />
the top hit, the top star, top showmanship<br />
and the personal packaging that puts it all<br />
together so that you can make money."<br />
In his review of boxoffice grosses for<br />
1974, Rubel emphasized that in only seven<br />
weeks that year. "The Trial of Billy Jack"<br />
grossed $28 million, not far behind a year's<br />
gross of $32 million for "The Great Gatsby"<br />
and $33 million for "Butch Cassidy and the<br />
Sundance Kid."<br />
Using graphs and charts to develop his<br />
thesis that critics of the Los Angeles Times<br />
and the New York Times missed greatly<br />
in gauging public taste and preference in<br />
movies during a three-year period. Rubel declared.<br />
"If you want to make money exhibiting<br />
films, it would be suicide to rely<br />
on the judgment of the critics in deciding<br />
which films to exhibit." He urged theatremen<br />
to put their trust in "bo.xoffice power"<br />
exemplified by such stars and producers as<br />
Laughlin, who, he said, was the "surprise<br />
boxoffice grosser despite the glamor reputations<br />
of the Redfords, the Paul Newmans<br />
and other equally excellent boxoffice<br />
names."<br />
Rubel completed his presentation with the<br />
warning that exhibitors no longer can rely<br />
only upon the major studios for successful<br />
product. "You have to look for creative<br />
genius wherever you find it and welcome<br />
and encourage the independent producerdistributor,<br />
like Laughlin, when he demonstrates<br />
his ability to make films that become<br />
the boxoffice attractions which, in the end,<br />
are your lifeblood," he told the exhibitors.<br />
Concessions, Product Talks<br />
The first session of ShoWesT '75 Monday,<br />
February 24, was devoted mainly to a discussion<br />
of concessions and product problems<br />
in this area. Stanley Lefcourt of Los Angeles<br />
was the moderator of a panel dealing with<br />
this subject, with other members including<br />
Al Lapidus, Los Angeles; Vernon Ryles,<br />
Portland, Ore.; Len Lowengrub, Los Angeles;<br />
Jerry Ireland of Mann Theatres, Los<br />
Angeles, and Sal Fasulo of Metropolitan<br />
Theatres, Los Angeles.<br />
Theatre owners received small comfort<br />
from the prediction of Lapidus that popcorn<br />
prices, already rising, "will stay about the<br />
same through October or November" as a<br />
result of a low yield and frost damage to<br />
the past year's crop. Lapidus pointed out<br />
the damage also caused lower quality, adding<br />
to the problem by giving the concessionaire<br />
less salable popcorn per pound: however,<br />
he predicted that both the quantity<br />
and the quality should be better next year.<br />
Incentive programs for managers and<br />
employees to promote greater sales were<br />
urged for consideration by a number of<br />
panel members. Bruce Corwin of Metropolitan<br />
Theatres, Los Angeles, said that incentive<br />
contests can have a special effectiveness<br />
when the prizes are offered to the<br />
wives of the managers, who then get an<br />
added push at home to beat the competition.<br />
Drive-In Extra Profits Plan<br />
In other opening-day action, the board<br />
of directors of NATO asked a committee<br />
to study a proposal under which drive-ins<br />
would air sales pitches over speakers during<br />
intermission, utilizing that means to<br />
add to their income. Chairman Robert<br />
Selig reported on the proposal and the<br />
board ordered further study without indicating<br />
an opinion on the idea.<br />
NATO members also were guests of<br />
Crown International Pictures at a cocktail<br />
party in conjunction with the company's<br />
"Crownmanship '75" promotion campaign,<br />
the event in addition kicking off a preview<br />
of the ShoWesT '75 trade exhibit, "Make<br />
Way for Tomorrow."<br />
An advertising symposium moderated by<br />
Jules Landfield opened the Tuesday (February<br />
25) session of the convention. His panel<br />
was composed of Milton Moritz, vice-president<br />
of American International Pictures;<br />
Arthur Manson, vice-president of BCP;<br />
Robert Moore, advertising coordinator of<br />
Buena Vista Distribution and Walt Disney<br />
Studios; Ted Hatfield, advertising coordinator<br />
for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Nat<br />
Rudich, national director of marketing<br />
services for 20th Century-Fox; Marty Weiser,<br />
national cooperative advertising manager<br />
of Warner Bros.; H. Robert Honahan,<br />
director of operations for Roy Cooper Iheatres,<br />
San Francisco; M. N. "Bud<br />
'<br />
Saffle,<br />
president of Saffle Theatre Service, Seattle;<br />
Leonard Schwartz, advertising manager,<br />
Pacific Theatres, Los Angeles; Donna Howard<br />
of Young & Rubicam-Teawell Agency,<br />
San Diego, and Neil Myer, Century Cmema<br />
Circuit.<br />
Managerial Training Needed<br />
The session evolved into a mutual analysis<br />
of what studios, producers and distributors<br />
do or fail to do for an exhibitor, with<br />
the exhibitor also getting his share of criticism<br />
and advice on how he can develop his<br />
own promotional techniques. Myer pointea<br />
out that, in his opinion, some of the problems<br />
"lie in the lack of training of managers<br />
who need to learn techniques of planting<br />
newspaper publicity, running and conceiving<br />
advertismg and handling TV publicity.<br />
Robert Selig reported that one of the<br />
chief entertainment editors had told him<br />
that he seldom sees an exhibitor in his<br />
office, that most of his movie publicity<br />
copy comes from agents and that the material<br />
frequently ends up in the wastebasket.<br />
Promotion Cooperation Uiged<br />
Moritz reported that the biggest problem<br />
was to get communication in the field<br />
which could serve as a guide for producers<br />
to develop promotion campaigns. "Go to<br />
the promotion department, not just the sales<br />
department," he urged.<br />
The panel and participants from the<br />
audience also covered a broad field of topics<br />
including the use and availability of trailers;<br />
the need for and the lack of demand for<br />
24-sheets for front-of-theatre promotion;<br />
the techniques and timing of TV advertising<br />
and the desirability of tieing in with<br />
TV publicity through the increasing use<br />
of TV critics; the problems of small-town<br />
exhibitors who have little money for promotion<br />
and must rely on the distributor for<br />
help; the problem of getting pressbooks to<br />
the exhibitors in time for them to do promotion<br />
work before the picture opens,<br />
and the use of field men spread out over<br />
the country to help local exhibitors.<br />
BCP Promotes New Film<br />
The morning session was kicked off with<br />
a breakfast sponsored by Bing Crosby Productions,<br />
during which Arthur Manson commented<br />
on a trailer of the new BCP production,<br />
"The Reincarnation of Peter<br />
Proud," which will be pushed in a program<br />
developed after a test screening in a Southern<br />
city. TV promotion for the picture will<br />
be scheduled to run five consecutive weeks<br />
as a result of that study, he said.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
I NOMINATIONS FOR OSCARS ANNOUNCED<br />
HOLLYWOOD— The Godfather. Part<br />
11" and "Chinatown," both Paramount releases,<br />
received the highest number of nominations<br />
(11 each) for the 47th annua!<br />
Academy Awards, it was annoimced Monday,<br />
February 24 by Academy president<br />
Waiter Mirisch.<br />
"The Godfather, Part II' received five<br />
nominations for acting: Al Pacino for best<br />
actor, Taiia Shire for supporting actress,<br />
and Michael V. Ciazzo, Robert Dc Niro and<br />
Lee Strasberg, all for supporting actor.<br />
Other nominations include best picture and<br />
direction. Francis Ford Coppola, producerdirector<br />
of "The Godfather, Part 11" also<br />
received nominations for his production and<br />
original screenplay of "The Conversation."<br />
Other directors nominated were Valentina<br />
Cortesa for "Day for Night" and John<br />
Cassavetes for "A Woman LJnder the Influence."<br />
Jack Nicholson was nominated for the<br />
third time as best actor for his performance<br />
in "Chinatown" while Faye Dunaway received<br />
her second nomination as best actress<br />
for her starring role. Top screenwriter<br />
Robert Towne and director Roman Polanski<br />
also won nomination honors for original<br />
screenplay and direction, respectively.<br />
Warner Bros, and 20th Century-Fox's<br />
production, "The Towering Inferno," garnered<br />
eight nominations; among which were<br />
best picture and Fred Astaire as supporting<br />
actor, his first Oscar nomination.<br />
"Murder on the Orient Express" and<br />
"Lenny" recorded six nominations each.<br />
"Murder" star Albert Finney was tapp>ed<br />
for best actor and Ingrid Bergman, a twotime<br />
Oscar winner, received her first nomination<br />
as supporting actress. "Lenny," also<br />
one of the nominees for best picture, won<br />
Dustin Hoffman his third nomination as<br />
best actor and director Bob Fosse his second<br />
nomination. Fosse won the award in 1972<br />
for "Cabaret." Valerie Perrine received her<br />
first nomination.<br />
Paul Mazursky's poignant and funny look<br />
at old age, "Harry and Tonto," has won<br />
veteran TV and Broadway actor Art Carney<br />
his first Oscar nomination and an original<br />
screenplay nomination for Mazursky and<br />
Josh Greenfield.<br />
How the Companies Rated<br />
Companies with two or more nominations<br />
(Includes shorts and documentaries)<br />
Company Pictures Nominations<br />
Paramount
—<br />
About 70% of Films Distributed<br />
By Independents, Woolner Finds<br />
HOLLYWOOD—In contrast with the<br />
old days when major companies produced<br />
and/or distributed about 60 per cent of<br />
the motion pictures released in this country,<br />
independent producers and distributors<br />
now have taken over about 70 per cent of<br />
the action, according to a private study<br />
made for his personal guidance by Lawrence<br />
H. Woolner, president of Dimension<br />
Pictures.<br />
What's more, says Woolner, who has an<br />
extensive background and long experience<br />
ir, film distribution, the independents still<br />
are gaining ground, indicating a surging<br />
market for independent producers and distributors.<br />
Taking the 1974-75 fiscal year, starting<br />
in late summer of 1974, approximately 480<br />
features will be released, with the majors<br />
supplying about 145 or 30 per cent and<br />
the independents delivering at least 335 or<br />
70 per cent according to Woolner's checkup.<br />
Among factors boosting the independents'<br />
total is the steady increase in films being<br />
produced regionally, with several states aggressively<br />
wooing filmmakers and cooperating<br />
in erection of studio facilities in their<br />
areas. Many of these films made independently<br />
outside Hollywood also are distributed<br />
independently, usually by their<br />
producers on a region-by-region basis,<br />
rather than being offered to major distributors<br />
for handling, and some of the pictures<br />
are not included in the customary<br />
trade listings for some time, if at all.<br />
"The independents now have a golden<br />
opportunity to demonstrate their ability<br />
and dependability." says Woolner. "Television's<br />
onetime extensive film libraries, accumulated<br />
over a period of a quarter of a<br />
century or longer, have been, or are being<br />
telecast to death, while new theatrical features<br />
have imdergone a steady decline.<br />
"Whereas, at one time, some big distributors<br />
assured their exhibitor customers<br />
that pictures would not be released to<br />
television until three or five years after<br />
their theatrical release, a lot of these features<br />
are reaching the home screens only<br />
a year, or even less, after being shown<br />
in<br />
theatres.<br />
"So there's a big market waiting and<br />
depending on the independent producers<br />
and distributors."<br />
Lindsley Parsons Jr. Is<br />
Promoted at Paramount<br />
NEW YORK—Lindsley Parsons jr. has<br />
been named vice-president, executive producer<br />
manager for Paramount Pictures, it<br />
has been announced by chairman and chief<br />
executive officer Barry Diller. Parsons also<br />
will be responsible for Paramount's West<br />
Coast facility operations.<br />
Joining Paramount in October 1974.<br />
Parsons previously had been vice-president<br />
of operations at MGM.<br />
NATO Board Meeting<br />
Is Held in San Diego<br />
SAN DIEGO—The board of directors<br />
of the National Ass'n of Theatre Owners<br />
convened for its annual mid-winter meeting<br />
in San Diego at the Sheraton Harbor Island<br />
Hotel. A number of standing committees<br />
met Saturday, February 22. Board sessions<br />
were held Sunday and Monday, February<br />
23 and 24. Roy B. White, chairman of the<br />
board, Cincinnati, Ohio, presided at the<br />
board sessions. Paul Roth, president of<br />
NATO, Silver Spring, Md., reviewed the<br />
activities of NATO since the October convention<br />
held in<br />
Atlanta.<br />
Reports were received from the various<br />
standing and operating committees of<br />
NATO: Legal affairs—Peter Fishbein,<br />
counsel to NATO; trade practices—Frederick<br />
G. Storey. Atlanta; dues and criteria<br />
Charles B. Trexler, Charlotte, N.C.; exprodico—Thomas<br />
P. Moyer sr., Portland.<br />
Ore.; constitution and organization— Richard<br />
H. Orear, Kansas City; new screen advertising<br />
approach, Bicentennial participation<br />
and national total insurance program<br />
Robert W. Selig, Los Angeles; audience'<br />
awards—Marvin Goldman, Washington.<br />
D.C. and Henry G. Plitt. Chicago; membership<br />
and regional president's workshop<br />
Earl G. Perry sr., New Orleans; limited<br />
markets—Carl Schwanebeck, Knoxville,<br />
Iowa, and product development committee<br />
—Nat Fellman, Los Angeles.<br />
Reports also were received from the<br />
advertising committee, National Film Day<br />
committee, pay cable committee and code<br />
and rating committee. Wilton Holm, executive<br />
director of the Motion Picture and<br />
Television Research Center, presented an<br />
up-to-date report on NATO's drive-in containment<br />
screen.<br />
TALKING TALL—Tennessee Governor<br />
Ray Blanton, left, and Charles A.<br />
Pratt, BCP president and producer of<br />
"Walking Tall, Part II," discu.ss production<br />
of the film on location at Jack.son,<br />
Tenn. The new Cinerama film, to be<br />
distributed by American International<br />
Pictures, relates the story of the late<br />
Sheriff Buford Pusser's one-man drive<br />
to rid crime from McNairy County,<br />
Tenn.<br />
Universal Sales Heads<br />
Convene in Orlando<br />
ORLANDO. FLA.—A national sales conference<br />
involving the Universal sales cabinet,<br />
district managers, branch managers and sales<br />
representatives was held at the Sheraton<br />
Towers Hotel here, to set marketing campaigns<br />
and finalize plans for the 1975 release<br />
schedule. Universal general sales manager<br />
R. L. Carpenter is chairing the conference.<br />
Those attending included MCA<br />
president and chief operating officer Sidney<br />
J. Shcinberg who addressed the conference<br />
February 26; Universal president Henry H.<br />
"Hi" Martin; and G. Clark Ramsay, Universal<br />
advertising and publicity vice-president,<br />
who outlined ad/ pub campaigns for<br />
all upcoming product.<br />
Marketing techniques were discussed for<br />
"The Great Waldo Pepper," a George Roy<br />
Hill film starring Robert Redford, which<br />
premieres Wednesday (12). The film is a<br />
Jennings Lang presentation. The Malpaso<br />
Co. film, "The Eiger Sanction," starring<br />
Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy and<br />
directed by Eastwood, also was discussed.<br />
Executive producers are Richard D. Zanuck<br />
and David Brown. The film is scheduled for<br />
release in May.<br />
Other films talked about were: "Jaws,"<br />
a Zanuck/ Brown production based on Peter<br />
Benchley's Number 1 best selling novel.<br />
The film, which has a June release date,<br />
stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard<br />
Dreyfuss and Lorraine Gary and was directed<br />
by Steven Spielberg. Hal Wallis' production<br />
"Rooster Cogburn," sequel to his<br />
popular "True Grit," which teams, for the<br />
first time ever on the screen, the talents of<br />
John Wayne (who won an Oscar for "True<br />
Grit") and Katharine Hepburn.<br />
Also the following were discussed: Robert<br />
Wise's production "The Hindenberg," which<br />
depicts the dramatic events aboard the illfated<br />
German dirigible on its last flight. The<br />
film stars George C. Scott and Anne Bancroft.<br />
Wise produced and directed. "The<br />
Other Side of the Mountain," a Filmways/<br />
Larry Peerce production based on the life<br />
of former Olympic ski hopeful Jill Kinmont.<br />
The film stars Marilyn Hassett and<br />
Beau Bridges. "Sidecar Boys," an action<br />
drama about motorcycle racing in Australia,<br />
and, "Story of a Teenager," a drama about<br />
a teenage youth in conflict with his father.<br />
Also attending the meeting were assistant<br />
general sales manager R. N. Wilkinson,<br />
assistant to the general sales manager Norman<br />
Gluck and assistant to the general sales<br />
manager Amos Boyette. Regional sales managers<br />
included Phil Sherman from New<br />
York, Al Kolkmeyer from Chicago, Tom<br />
Dunn from Atlanta, Walter Armbruster<br />
from Dallas and Abe Swerdlow from Los<br />
Angeles.<br />
Globe Pictures Charts<br />
Release For March<br />
NEW YORK— Joseph Green, president<br />
of Globe Pictures. Inc.. has acquired a new<br />
sex comedy. ""Mad Memories of .i Lifeguard."<br />
for March release.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
U.S. Court Dismisses<br />
Pay TV Trust Suit<br />
LOS ANGELAS— Ronald Duvis, presiding<br />
justice of the Federal District Court in<br />
Fargo, N.D.. February IS upheld the right<br />
of exhibitors to campaign for legislation<br />
to outlaw pay TV, notwithstanding the<br />
financial losses incurred by those seeking<br />
to merchandise fee video in homes. The<br />
ruling, handed down more than I 1 years<br />
after a suit was filed (Dec. 17, 1963) on<br />
a complaint for equitable relief and treble<br />
damage under the<br />
Sherman and C'artwright<br />
antitrust acts, affirmed the rights of the<br />
defendants in the action.<br />
Subscription Television, Inc.. in a $94. ."S<br />
million antitrust suit, had charged that<br />
NATO of Southern California, NATO of<br />
Northern California, the National Ass'n of<br />
Theatre Owners and the Roy Cooper. Pacific<br />
Theatres, United Artists, RIs.O-.Stanley<br />
Warner and Sero Amusement Corp. circuits,<br />
in supporting the ban on home pay<br />
TV, had engaged in a "monopolistic act."<br />
It further contended that the defendants<br />
were responsible for "discouraging potential<br />
investors and for losses incurred as a consequence<br />
of the pay TV prohibition" and<br />
that the theatre companies had "conspired<br />
to put it (Subscription Television ) out of<br />
business."<br />
The defendants had opposed the plaintiffs<br />
plans for pay TV in the Los Angeles<br />
and San Francisco areas.<br />
In 1964 California voters approved<br />
Proposition 15, an initiative aimed at<br />
banning home pay TV, by a two-to-one<br />
margin. Two years later the California Supreme<br />
Court held that the initiative was unconstitutional.<br />
Subscription Television originally sought<br />
$117,541,500 as treble damages in its suit<br />
for $39,180,500. Visting Judge Davies.<br />
however, ruled that the theatre owners were<br />
exercising constitiUionally protected First<br />
Amendment rights in supporting the ban<br />
on home pay TV.<br />
Robert Selig, president of NATO of<br />
California, following the court's ruling,<br />
commented, "The eyes of the world were<br />
on this one."<br />
AFI Seminar Data Will Be<br />
Published for Educators<br />
WASHINGTON—The American Film<br />
Institute has entered into an agreement with<br />
the Microfilming Corp. of America, a subsidiaiy<br />
of the New York Times, to publish<br />
materials generated by oral histories and<br />
seminars at API's Center for Advanced Film<br />
Studies in Beverly Hills, it has been announced<br />
by Richard Carlton, AFI deputy<br />
director. The pact is part of API's continuing<br />
program to service the educational<br />
community including scholars, researchers.<br />
historians and teachers on matters related<br />
to film.<br />
The initial phases of the agreement cover<br />
some 225 seminars and 40 oral histories and<br />
research projects spanning the last five<br />
years as well as future discussions and<br />
seminars.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975<br />
Production Chiefs to Host Events,<br />
Paul Roth to Be SA-R Keynoter<br />
KANSAS CITY—Show-A-Rama's "College<br />
of Knowledge" has scheduled a varied<br />
number of activities for its ISth annual convention<br />
in Kansas City March 17-20. The<br />
program, listed below, is tentative and subject<br />
to change.<br />
Events begin at 1 p.m. Monday (17) with<br />
the tradeshow, followed by a sock hop<br />
hosted by Crown International Pictures.<br />
Iiiesday's program includes a breakfast cosponsored<br />
by Pacific International Pictures<br />
and Bing Crosby Productions, with seminars<br />
for each company afterwards. Filling out<br />
the morning activities are the introduction<br />
of Honored Showman Howard Bolton of<br />
John Locks Theatres, Grand Rapids, Mich.,<br />
and advertising and drivc-in seminars.<br />
Tuesday's Kickoff Luncheon is hosted<br />
by Taylor-Laughlin Prodiictions. John Rubel,<br />
chief executive officer of the company<br />
will be presented with an award. The keynote<br />
speaker will be Paul Roth, president<br />
of NATO. Tuesday evening is "Your Evening<br />
With Disney Productions." After a<br />
chuck wagon barbecue dinner, highlights<br />
of upcoming Disney releases will be shown.<br />
Award to Clint Eastwood<br />
Clint Eastwood will receive the Director-<br />
Actor of the Year Award Wednesday (19)<br />
morning at a seminar hosted by Universal<br />
Pictures for his new film, "The Eiger Sanction."<br />
Also on hand will be Clark Ramsey,<br />
vice-president of advertising for Universal.<br />
Wednesday morning's seminars include<br />
management training, "people pleasers,"<br />
and the introduction of Honored Showman<br />
Alfred Lemuz of Dickinson Theatres,<br />
Topeka, Kas. Twentieth Century-Fox will<br />
host the "Campus Get-together Luncheon,"<br />
followed by a "French Connection 11"<br />
seminar with director John Frankenhcimer<br />
and Peter Meyers and Jonas Rosenfield jr.<br />
of 20th Century-Pox.<br />
After the closing of the tradeshow, a<br />
screening of Universal's "The Other Side<br />
of the Mountain" will be held Wednesday<br />
evening. Co-stars Marilyn Hassett and Beau<br />
Bridges will receive the Star of Tomorrow<br />
awards. Afterwards a late night breakfast<br />
will be hosted by Sim Classic Pictures with<br />
a special appearance by veteran actor John<br />
Carroll.<br />
The final day of Show-A-Rama, Thursday<br />
(20) begins with a breakfast co-sponsored<br />
bv Tobv Halicki Films and Thomas-<br />
SHOWMANDISER CHANGE<br />
After tile Sliowmandlser section had<br />
gone to pre.ss. BOXOFFICE learned tlie<br />
cancellation of CBS' "Khan" had<br />
prompted 20th Century-Fox to change<br />
a scheduled spot for its "The Four<br />
Musketeers."<br />
Instead of the Friday (21) time, a<br />
spot for the film will be seen Thursday<br />
(20) during "The Waltons" on CBS.<br />
All other scheduled spots remain as<br />
announced in the lead story on page 11.<br />
Shipp Films. Toby Halicki, producer-director<br />
of "Gone in 60 Seconds." will be on<br />
hand for a message and showing of a product<br />
reel. Later in the morning, seminars<br />
sponsored by Sun Classic Pictures and those<br />
concerning concessions and theatre equipment<br />
will be held.<br />
Thursday's Baccalaureate Luncheon will<br />
be hosted by MCiM Daniel Melnick, senior<br />
vice-president and head of worldwide production<br />
for MGM, will be honored as<br />
Producer of the Year and Jeff Bridges will<br />
receive an award as Best Supporting Actor<br />
in MGM's "Hearts of the West," soon to<br />
be released. After the luncheon, a miscellaneous<br />
revue panel will introduce Honored<br />
Showman Larry Becker, Palace Theatre,<br />
Alberta, Canada, which will he followed by<br />
a limited market seminar.<br />
To Honor Universal and Stars<br />
The Ciraduation Banquet honors Universal<br />
Pictures as Company of the Year<br />
and is co-sponsored by Coca-Cola USA.<br />
Highlight of the banquet will be the appearance<br />
of James Caan and Ann-Margret<br />
as Best Actor and Actress of the Year.<br />
There will be entertainment afterwards.<br />
the past, Show-A-Rama has planned<br />
As in<br />
a Ladies' program including a tour of Hallmark<br />
Cards and a luncheon with Stars of<br />
Tomorrow Marilyn Hassett and Beau<br />
Bridges.<br />
Actor Gene Hackman, whose special appearance<br />
was announced last week, will be<br />
unable to attend due to other commitments.<br />
Drive-In Seminar Scheduled<br />
As First in S-A-R History<br />
KANSAS CITY—For the first time in<br />
Show-A-Rama's history a portion of the<br />
business building session has been set aside<br />
for incorporating discussions of new innovations<br />
in the drive-in operations.<br />
Panel members will include Phil Gibson<br />
of the Suburbia Drive-In Theatre. Gainesville,<br />
Fla., who with his partner, Pete<br />
Hudnall, have created a new concept in<br />
drive-in operations in the Florida area.<br />
Such features as a laundromat and a bakery<br />
are among many extra conveniences in<br />
their concept for the drive-in patron.<br />
Other panel members are moderator<br />
Dean McMillen of Commonwealth's Queen<br />
City Twin Drive-In Theatre, Springfield,<br />
Mo., and Grant Frazee of Chakeres Theatres,<br />
Springfield, Ohio and Jerry Erbe of<br />
the State Theatre Co., Pierre, S.D.<br />
Sidney Balkin Joins Brut<br />
As V-P of TV Division<br />
NEW YORK—George Barrie, president<br />
of Brut Productions, has announced the<br />
creation of a TV division of the highly<br />
successful independent motion picture company.<br />
He has appointed Sidney Balkin, former<br />
director of motion picture and TV development<br />
for Four Star Productions, as<br />
vice-president of Brut TV.
ABC Reports Us Top<br />
Earnings in 1974<br />
NEW YORK. — American Broadcasting<br />
Companies reported 1974 revenues and<br />
earnings from continuing operations that<br />
were the highest in the company's history,<br />
it was announced by Leonard H. Goidenson,<br />
chairman and Elton H. Rule, president.<br />
Earnings from continuing operations for<br />
1974 we're $49,945,000. \'ompared with<br />
$45,470,000 in the 1973 period, an increase<br />
of 10 per cent. Earnings per share<br />
from continuing operations rose to $2.92,<br />
compared with $2.69 in 1973, an increase<br />
of 9 per cent. Revenues from continuing<br />
operations were $986,040,000 in 1974,<br />
compared with $880,505,000 for the prior<br />
year, an increase of 12 per cent.<br />
Fourth quarter 1974 earnings from continuing<br />
operations were $11,091,000, compared<br />
with $12,094,000 in the 1973 period.<br />
Fourth quarter earnings per share from continuing<br />
operations were 61 cents, compared<br />
with 72 cents, in the 1973 quarter. Fourth<br />
quarter revenues from continuing operations<br />
rose to $298,453,000 from $253,767,000<br />
in the like period of 1973. an increase of<br />
18 per cent.<br />
Earnings from continuing operations<br />
for 1974 include a net loss of 1 cent per<br />
share in the fourth quarter and net gains of<br />
1 1 cents per share for the year arising principally<br />
from the sale of certain real estate<br />
and theatre properties and the company's<br />
Pittsburgh radio stations. Similar gains for<br />
the first nine months of 1973 were reflected<br />
as extraordinary items under the<br />
then existing<br />
accounting rules and amounted to 2<br />
cents per share. Net gains in the fourth<br />
quarter of 1973 amounting to 2 cents per<br />
share were included in continuing operations.<br />
The ABC Theatre Division showed increased<br />
revenues during the year. Severe<br />
cost pressures from higher film rentals affected<br />
the division's operations, but as a<br />
result of the gains on the sale of various<br />
properties, the division reported an overall<br />
profit improvement.<br />
Sandy Cobe Productions<br />
Moves to Beverly Hills<br />
BEVERLY HILLS—Sandy Cobe Productions<br />
closed its Atlanta offices and<br />
moved its entire operation to 211 South<br />
Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills, effective February<br />
17. it was announced by president<br />
Sandy Cobe.<br />
Cobe Productions has completed production<br />
on its latest feature. "She'll Follow you<br />
Anywhere." scheduled for a June release<br />
through Cobe's distribution company.<br />
Bryanston's 'Chainsaw' Is<br />
Lofty Grosser in Japan<br />
TOKYO—In its first overseas opening.<br />
Bryanston's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"<br />
scored a sensational two-day gross of<br />
$52,298, or 15.689.472 yen. at the Toei<br />
Palace and Shinjuko Tokyo theatres here.<br />
Nippon-Herald is releasing in Japan.<br />
Sack Names Margosian<br />
Real Estate Consultant<br />
BOSTON—As Sack Theatres continues<br />
its expansion program, a new post as con-<br />
sultant for real estate,<br />
^^^<br />
acquisitions<br />
^^^^^^^<br />
and spc-<br />
^^^^Hjj^^k cial projects has been<br />
^^^^^^^^L created. A. Alan<br />
^P _<br />
^^^B Friedberg, chief oper-<br />
V ^^ Wf^m<br />
ating officer of Sack.<br />
^ Jm^^ since the ousting of<br />
MH^Hl^^ Ben Sack, named<br />
ST^j^rl^B Frederick F. Mar-<br />
^•^r fl^H gosian. formerly of<br />
^k fHB General Cinema<br />
Frederick Margo^an Corp.<br />
Margosian, a graduate<br />
of Tufts University, with a bachelor<br />
of physics degree, and a graduate of Harvard<br />
Business School, with a master of<br />
business administration degree, served as a<br />
consultant for the Arthur D. Little Co. i.T<br />
Cambridge. He joined General Cinema<br />
Corp. as assistant to the president, where<br />
he was responsible for theatre real estate<br />
acquisition and disposition. Most recently.<br />
he was associated as a partner and vicepresident<br />
in<br />
the firm of Arthur M. Fischer.<br />
Inc., in New York, developing regional<br />
shopping centers around the country. Margosian<br />
resides in Needham. Mass., with his<br />
wife and two daughters.<br />
Police Arrest Participant<br />
In Film Piracy Network<br />
NEW YORK--Pohce have arrested a<br />
major participant in an expanding film<br />
piracy network which last year cost the<br />
industry almost $50 million in lost sales.<br />
Sol Winker of Pisconic Productions was<br />
apprehended with more than 500 illegal<br />
master copies including "Deep Throat."<br />
"The Godfather" and "Planet of the Apes."<br />
Police said Winker was the "chief operator"<br />
of the film piracy business, grossing an<br />
estimated $500,000 yearly selling cassette<br />
tapes made from 16mm prints stolen from<br />
such legal users as television stations and<br />
libraries.<br />
Undercover agents found Winker to bo<br />
buying the prints for $17 each and selling<br />
them for an average of $175 each. Winker<br />
averaged selling ten prints a day with prices<br />
ranging from $100 to more popular titles,<br />
such as "Deep Throat," selling for $225<br />
each.<br />
TEA to Hold Convention<br />
In Toronto April 27-30<br />
NEW YORK—The annual conference of<br />
the Theatre Equipment Ass'n will be held<br />
in Toronto. Canada. April 27-30, it was announced<br />
by TEA president Edward Nelson.<br />
Serving as chairman of the meeting will be<br />
Eraser Neal. vioe-president and general<br />
manager of General Sound & Equipment<br />
Corp.. Toronto.<br />
Programing plans for the four-day conference,<br />
to be held at the Four Seasons<br />
Sheraton Hotel, are now being finalized and<br />
will be announced shortly.<br />
Warner Income Nets<br />
$48.5 Million in '74<br />
NEW YORK—Warner Communications<br />
Inc. has reported a net income of $48,470,-<br />
000 and per share earnings of $2.40 for<br />
the year ended Dec. 31, 1974. This compares<br />
with $47,353,000 the previous year.<br />
Revenues of $720,076,000 resulted partly<br />
from an increase of 80 per cent in theatrical<br />
film rentals which set an industry record.<br />
Pretax profits from theatrical motion pictures<br />
were more than double 1973 figures.<br />
Pretax operating income was up 19 per<br />
cent although net income increased only two<br />
per cent as a result of a higher effective tax<br />
rate and increased expense due to borrowing<br />
for the purchase of Warner Communications'<br />
common shares. Fully diluted earnings<br />
per share gained 15 per cent from<br />
the 1973 figures.<br />
Fourth quarter net income for 1974 was<br />
down almost $3,000,000 to $7,078,000 in<br />
1973. Earnings per share equalled 12 cents.<br />
MPAA Scans Fewer Ads<br />
In 74 for Rating Tags<br />
NEW YORK—Improving its service to<br />
producers and distributors of rated films,<br />
the Advertising Code Administration in<br />
1974 designed new rating symbols and<br />
definitions to enhance their use and legibility<br />
in advertising layouts, Don Conte,<br />
director, said in his annual report released<br />
last week.<br />
The Administration, a department of the<br />
Motion Picture Ass'n of America, backed<br />
up this enterprise with an edited and expanded<br />
MPAA Advertising Handbook for<br />
1975-1976 particularly to assist motion picture<br />
companies in gearing their advertising<br />
toward media standards and public<br />
acceptance.<br />
Two factors during the year caused a<br />
drop in the amount of advertising units reviewed<br />
by the Administration from 92,620<br />
units in 1973 to 68,846 in 1974—a decrease<br />
of 25.67 per cent.<br />
The first factor was a reduction of 9<br />
per cent in the number of films rated by<br />
the rating board in Hollywood. The second<br />
was the slumping U.S. economy which resulted<br />
in less money expended on advertising<br />
and publicity. The code seal may not<br />
be used with X-rated films, it was emphasized.<br />
The Advertising Administration staff in<br />
addition to Conte, consists of Billie Mays<br />
and Tom Szalkiewicz in New York, Richard<br />
McKay and Richard Mathison in Hollywood.<br />
'My Sister, My Love' Set<br />
For Release by WWFC<br />
NORTH HOLLYWOOD—"My Sister,<br />
My Love," a highly erotic love story starring<br />
Susan Strasberg and Nathalie Delon,<br />
has been set for early 1975 release by World<br />
Wide Films Corp., which has acquired U.S.<br />
and Canadian theatrical rights. An extensive<br />
campaign is being developed for the extremely<br />
controversial feature.<br />
8 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
"<br />
Legality of Nude Movies<br />
At Drive-ins Argued<br />
WASHINCjION—The Supreme Court<br />
heurd arguments Wednesday. February 27,<br />
on the legality of showing films with nude<br />
scenes in drive-ins. Lee Allen, assistant eily<br />
counsel of Jacksonville, Fla., told the court<br />
"If we cannot prohibit this nudity in a<br />
drive-in movie, it can't be prohibited in<br />
the Hollywood Bowl.<br />
The case stems from the showing of<br />
"Class of "74" at the University Drive-ln in<br />
Jacksonville. Manager Richard Erzoznik<br />
appealed the decision to the U.S. Court<br />
of Appeals in Richmond, Va., who held<br />
that the ordinance is constitutional. Witnesses<br />
said the film could be seen from the<br />
street, a church and private homes.<br />
During his arguments, Allen was admonished<br />
by Justice Harry A. Blackmun to<br />
notice the nude figures near the ceiling<br />
of the courtroom, part of a set of scenes<br />
depicting aspects of the law. .Mien conceded<br />
that some of the figures in the frieze v\ould<br />
be banned under Jacksonville's ordinance,<br />
which prohibits nude scenes from drive-ins<br />
on the grounds that they are a public nuisance.<br />
The court took the matter under advisement<br />
and is expected to issue a ruling<br />
within four months.<br />
Two AIP Stars Interviewed<br />
On Merv Griffin Show<br />
BEVERLY HILLS. CALIF.—The Merv<br />
Griffin Show Monday. F'ebruary 24, featured<br />
interviews with Doug McClure, who<br />
stars in American International's Edgar Rice<br />
Burroughs' "The Land That Time Forgot,"<br />
and Robert Conrad, who stars in AIP's<br />
"Live a Little. Steal a Lot." Excerpts of the<br />
latter film showing Conrad and Don Stroud<br />
stealing the Star of India sapphire were<br />
shown.<br />
Most principal cities in the U.S. and<br />
all in Canada saw the program, and it<br />
will be televised Monday night (.1) for<br />
the rest of the nation.<br />
'Gone in 60 Seconds' Pulls<br />
$90,498 in Three Areas<br />
I,OS ANGELES — "Gone in 60 Seconds,"<br />
distributed personally by its producer/director/star<br />
H. B. Halicki, grossed a total<br />
of $90,498 in five days in three areas.<br />
Totals for the feature's first five days<br />
in four St. Louis sites hit $45,751 in spite<br />
of sub-zero temperatures there. In Denver<br />
and three other Colorado cities, "Seconds "<br />
pulled $35,917, in first five days while<br />
Memphis reported $8,830 for first five days<br />
of second week there, out-grossing "Murder<br />
on the Orient Express" in same frame and<br />
same four-plex.<br />
Legrand to<br />
Score 'Annushka'<br />
MOSCOW—The musical film "Annushka,"<br />
cooperative production of a Soviet and<br />
a French film company, will feature the<br />
music of French composer Michel Legrand.<br />
Jacques Demy will direct. The cast will be<br />
from both nations.<br />
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reel-to-reel operation, so you can<br />
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fast and easy. Changes can take<br />
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Because your film is always<br />
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Sword is the simplest of any<br />
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'Bruce Performance Film'<br />
Not Rated, CARA States<br />
NEW YORK—The Code and Rating Administration<br />
February 19 issued the following<br />
statement:<br />
"It has come to our attention that a motion<br />
picture entitled "Lenny Bruce Performance<br />
Film" has been exhibited in two cities<br />
with an advertised rating of R. This film<br />
has not been rated, nor have the advertisements<br />
therefor been approved under the<br />
Code for Advertising.<br />
"Under the terms of the Motion Picture<br />
Code and Rating Program, only the X rating<br />
may be self-applied. The G. PG and R ratings<br />
are registered with the U.S. Patent<br />
Office as certification marks of the Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of America and may be employed<br />
only in connection with films which<br />
have been submitted to and so rated by the<br />
Code and Rating Administration.<br />
"Accordingly, any use of an R rating in<br />
connection with the advertisement or exhibition<br />
of 'Lenny Bruce Performance Film" is<br />
wholly inpermissible and improper, as well<br />
as a violation of the Federal Trademark<br />
(Lanham) Act.""<br />
The MPAA observed that the '"Lenny<br />
Bruce Performance Film"" should not be<br />
confused with the motion picture "Lenny."<br />
which has been rated R, a United Artists<br />
release.<br />
Entertainment Hall of Fame<br />
Honors Ten Contributors<br />
LOS ANGELES — The Entertainment<br />
Hall of Fame honored Fred Astaire, actor;<br />
George Balanchine, choreographer; Bob<br />
Hope, comedian; and Richard Rodgers,<br />
composer, with 1975 awards.<br />
The awards, voted for an entertainer's<br />
life work by newspaper entertainment editors,<br />
were presented Saturday night. February<br />
22, on a nationwide television broadcast<br />
with Gene Kelly, actor, as host. George<br />
C. Scott, who boycotted his own Academy<br />
Award a few years ago, gave the keynote<br />
speech at the event.<br />
Posthumous awards were made to Jack<br />
Benny, comedian; Himiphrey Bogart, actor;<br />
Walt Disney, movie producer; Duke Ellington,<br />
jazz composer; Cole Porter, song writer;<br />
and Igor Stravinsky, composer.<br />
MOTION PICTURES RATED<br />
BY THE CODE & RATING<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
The following feature-length motion pictures<br />
have been reviewed and rated by the<br />
Code and Rating Administration pursuant<br />
to the Motion Picture Code and Rating<br />
Program.<br />
Tifle<br />
Mitiibutor<br />
Around the World With Fanny Hill<br />
(Seaberg)<br />
Blue Summer (Monarch)<br />
Counselor at Crime (Joseph Green)<br />
Force Four (Howard Mahler)<br />
The Naughtiest Show in Town<br />
(William Mishkin)<br />
Order to Kill (Joseph Green)<br />
Pick-Up (Crown Int'l)<br />
Poor Pretty Eddie (Westamerica)<br />
Smile (UA)<br />
This Time I'll Make You Rich<br />
(Avco Embassy)<br />
Whose Child Am I? (Brian)<br />
Rating<br />
m<br />
®<br />
m<br />
PG<br />
PG<br />
m<br />
Linda Lovelace Book Timed<br />
With Her Latest Film<br />
NEW YORK — "Linda Lovelace for<br />
President," a book by Jack Margolis upon<br />
which the forthcoming movie starring Linda<br />
Lovelace herself is based was published<br />
as an original paperback by Playboy Press<br />
February 14 ($1.75). The book opens with<br />
a third-party convention, attended by every<br />
far-out political faction imaginable. Deadlocked,<br />
it turns to the one person with the<br />
most universal appeal, Ms. Lovelace. The<br />
making of this president is most unconventional<br />
reading—and viewing.<br />
General Film Corp. will open the film<br />
"Linda Lovelace for President" in many<br />
cities between mid-February and mid-<br />
March. Featured are many comedians, to<br />
wit: Joey Forman, Joe E. Ross, Louis<br />
Quinn, Vaughn Meader of "The First<br />
Family" fame, e.\-Monkee Micky Dolenz,<br />
Marty Ingels, Chuck McCann (star of "The<br />
Projectionist"), Skip Burton and The Committee's<br />
Gary Goodrow and Morgan Upton.<br />
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CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SUPPLY DEALER<br />
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"<br />
—<br />
• ADLINLS & EXPLOITIPS<br />
• ALPHABETICAL<br />
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 />
The Four Musketeers' Campaign Ready<br />
To Continue Swashbuckling Success Story<br />
Riding on the heel;, ol the spectacular<br />
success of last summer's "1 he Three Musiceteers,"<br />
20th Century-Fox's "The Four<br />
Musketeers" will come galloping into theatres<br />
next month backed by a super-swashbuckling<br />
showmanship campaign.<br />
Not really a sequel to "The Three Musketeers"<br />
but actually a continuation of the<br />
story, "The Four Musketeers" was filmed<br />
at the same time as its predecessor with<br />
the colorful castles of Spain again serving<br />
as backdrop for the action and derringdo.<br />
The same elements of action, adventure<br />
and comedy; a galaxy of international<br />
super-stars and the all-ages popularity of<br />
the Dumas tale that made "The Three<br />
Musketeers" one of the highest grossing<br />
Gon films of last year combine to give "The<br />
Four Musketeers" enormous boxoffice potential<br />
for showmen.<br />
The advertising, publicity and promotion<br />
innovators at 20th Century-Fox, together<br />
with thousands of exhibitors, face<br />
the same intriguing challenge. How do you<br />
top one of last year's most successful<br />
campaigns on behalf of an equally epi:<br />
sequel? In short, what do you do for an<br />
encore?<br />
National Campaign<br />
Backing up showmanship efforts on the<br />
local level, 20th Centur\-Fox has scheduled<br />
a national campaign that will kick off<br />
this month with a network TV buy that<br />
will bring the news of the coming of "The<br />
Four Musketeers" to millions of viewers<br />
from coast to coast. This will be augmented<br />
with tours by the stars of the film in major<br />
markets, highlighted by guest appearances<br />
on local and national TV interview shows.<br />
The schedule of spots includes Friday (14).<br />
"Friday Night Movie," CBS; Wednesday<br />
(19), "The" Law," NBC; Friday (21).<br />
"Khan," CBS; Sunday (23), "Cher." CBS;<br />
Friday (28), "Sandford and Son." NBC;<br />
and Tuesday, April 1, "Police Story," NBC.<br />
In one sense, "The Four Musketeers<br />
has already received a mammoth promotional<br />
effort through the millions of moviegoers<br />
who saw "The Three Musketeers"<br />
and who now eagerly await the continuation<br />
of the story. In that context, there's<br />
a temptation to call "The Three Musketeers"<br />
the longest, most lucrative trailer in<br />
movie history.<br />
Oliver Reed is Athos. Richard Chaniberia<br />
and Flank Fiiilay is Porthos in "The<br />
last year's most swashhiicklini^ success<br />
Not unmindful of audience anticipation,<br />
20th-Fox's ad campaign inserts caricatures<br />
of the Stars in a giant number 4, with the<br />
copy line. "What could be better than 'The<br />
Three Musketeers?" " —a question the studio<br />
confidently expects to sec answered at the<br />
boxoffice.<br />
Ihe studio's exploitation plan blends<br />
n is Arainis. Michael York is D'Artagnan<br />
Four Musketeers." the continuation of<br />
siory.<br />
some of the most successful ideas which<br />
contributed to the gratifying grosses of<br />
"The Three Musketeers" with a skein of<br />
fresh promotional ploys. On these pages is<br />
a preview of 20th-Fox's creative thrust<br />
on a national level, and in terms of what<br />
exhibitors can do to make the most of the<br />
film's pre-sokl "want to see."<br />
Use Musketeers Motif in Theatre Displays<br />
"The Three Musketeers" enabled showmen<br />
to pull out all the creative stops in<br />
designing wall-to-wall displays which superbly<br />
sold the movie to the public. Twentieth-Fox<br />
was inundated with snapshots<br />
and descriptions of front-of-the-house and<br />
lobby displays in which posters, banners,<br />
pennants, cut-outs, stills, photobustas and<br />
original artwork combined to create a panorama<br />
of derring-do cxcitment.<br />
Now, just as "The Four Musketeers" goes<br />
a step further in providing moviegoers with<br />
high-blown action and comedy, 20th Century-Fox<br />
is anticipating that showmen will<br />
top themselves in depicting it graphically.<br />
Graphic Suggestions<br />
It is strongly urged to order all the elements<br />
needed as early as possible. A few<br />
further recommendations to exhibitors include:<br />
• Hammer home the point that what's<br />
playing is the all-new exploits of "The<br />
Four Musketeers." making the number<br />
"4" or the letters "Four'' as large and<br />
vivid as possible on marquees and signs.<br />
Paint the "four" in a different phosphorescent<br />
color than the other lettering<br />
used. Edge it in red or gold, or coat<br />
it with glitter, so it really stands out.<br />
• Create a cut-out. depicting the four<br />
swordsmen in action as a free-standing<br />
lobby display or to mount on an overhanging<br />
marquee.<br />
Heroes and Villains Display<br />
• Devote one lobby wall to the heroes of<br />
"The Four Musketeers" and the opposite<br />
wall to the villains. Thus, enormous<br />
blow-ups of Michael York. Oliver Reed.<br />
Frank Finlay. Richard Chamberlain.<br />
Raquel Welch and Nicole Calfan can<br />
literally confront equally huge blow-ups<br />
of Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee.<br />
Faye Dunaway and Simon Ward.<br />
• Costume your ushers and usherettes in<br />
the style of the Musketeers.<br />
• Have a graphic artist give your ticket<br />
booth a Musketeer motif with a replica<br />
of a 17th centurv castle or fortress.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 3, 1975 — 8<br />
II
—<br />
Eager College Audience Provides<br />
Mighty Potential for<br />
The huge college audience that found the<br />
distinctively humorous and literate treatment<br />
of "The Three Musketeers" perfect<br />
film fare is eagerly awaiting the continuation<br />
of the tale in "The Four Musketeers."<br />
Showmen can tap the enormous potential<br />
by generating excitement on campuses with<br />
an all-out campaign of screenings, posting<br />
of display material and a publicity effort<br />
aimed at college newspapers, magazines and<br />
radio stations.<br />
Assign a member of your staff or a college<br />
student as your "Musketeer" emissary<br />
on campus and let him make the rounds<br />
posting displays in book shops, record shops<br />
Dear Editor;<br />
'Musketeers<br />
and every other place where students gather<br />
in and around the campus. He can also personally<br />
invite college newspaper editors,<br />
radio announcers, leaders of student groups<br />
and faculty heads to screenings.<br />
Use the contest ideas on these pages as<br />
the basis for promotions in college newspapers<br />
and radio stations with free<br />
passes as<br />
prizes. Keep in mind that the college audience<br />
was instrumental in making "The Three<br />
Musketeers" the huge hit it was and start<br />
generating the same kind of boxoffice excitement<br />
for its equally fun-filled successor.<br />
Here is a sample letter of invitation to<br />
screenings.<br />
It is my pleasure to invite you and a guest to a special college editors and faculty<br />
screening of 20th Century-Fox's "The Four Musketeers," Alexandre Dumas' swashbuckling<br />
adventure directed by Richard Lester and starring Charlton Heston, Faye Dunaway, Oliver<br />
Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Christopher Lee,<br />
Cassel, Simon Ward and Frank Finlay.<br />
Michael York, Jean Pierre<br />
Not a sequel to "The Three Musketeers" but actually a continuation of the tale of<br />
derring-do, "The Four Musketeers' was filmed at the same time as its predecessor among<br />
the colorful castles in Spain.<br />
This time, the intrepid quartet of swordsmen are involved not only with the high level<br />
intrigue of the French court but also with an explosive civil war that brings scenes of 17lhcentury<br />
battles presented with true-tc-history details of cannon and swordplay maneuvers.<br />
If you were among the many who delighted in the humor and excitement of "The Three<br />
Four Musketeers<br />
Costume Party<br />
Allows<br />
Exposure<br />
Since everyone loves a costume party,<br />
what more perfect way is there to premiere<br />
or preview "The Four Musketeers'".' Exhibitors<br />
may simply announce through the<br />
media that anyone coming to the opening<br />
night adorned in 17th century French garb<br />
will be admitted free, or they may opt for<br />
a charity premiere which includes a costume<br />
ball.<br />
The charity will be responsible for seeking<br />
out a costume house, inviting VIP guests<br />
and arranging pwst-premiere festivities. As<br />
an extra attention-getter, guests of honor<br />
will arrive in horse-drawn carriages.<br />
Crowds of guardsmen, grandees and latterday<br />
miladies will not only stir comment,<br />
but will also provide a strong peg for television<br />
and newspaper coverage.<br />
of<br />
I<br />
Musketeers," I know you will find "The Four Musketeers" more than a worthy port two of<br />
the world's greatest adventure story.<br />
The screening will be held on at the Theatre.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Theatre Manager<br />
Ad-Based Merchandise Touts 'Musketeers<br />
ited<br />
By Keeping Film s Title Always in Public Eye<br />
The more merchandise bearing the title,<br />
"The Four Musketeers," the more opportunity<br />
exhibitors have to remind moviegoers<br />
of the year's big swashbuckling adventure.<br />
"The following suggestions should be considered<br />
as giveaways, self-liquidating premiums<br />
or prizes (depending on the cost).<br />
5:£<br />
^<br />
-:1<br />
W'liat. coiild be<br />
better thanThe<br />
3 Musketeers ?<br />
Gon<br />
Dumas Novel Lends<br />
Itself<br />
to Many Tie-Ins<br />
In filming the epic "I he Ihrec Musketeers,"<br />
followed by the eagerly-awaited "The<br />
Four Musketeers," 2()th-Fox discovered that<br />
the Dumas novel ranks among the five most<br />
widely published books of all time.<br />
Over 2.000 editions of the novel in 74<br />
languages, including such obscure tongues<br />
as Sanskrit and Swahili. have been printed.<br />
Comic books alone account for some .^01<br />
versions of the swashbuckling tale.<br />
No one expects any one bookstore to<br />
carry all two thousand plus editions. But<br />
having tasted the profit in promoting 20th-<br />
Fox's first installment of the swordpla\<br />
saga, book dealers are expected to cooperate<br />
with exhibitors—to the hilt.<br />
Paperback<br />
Movie Edition<br />
Primary focus will be on the New American<br />
Library's paperback edition of the<br />
Dumas masterpiece, and showmen are advised<br />
to contact the publisher's local representatives<br />
as soon as they set their engagements.<br />
Creative use of posters, stills, cutouts<br />
of the stars and other ad elements can<br />
result in lavish in-store displays, enhancing<br />
both ticket and book sales. Showmen are<br />
also advised to offer slicks or mats to booksellers,<br />
enabling them to spotlight the film<br />
in their own print advertising.<br />
Libraries are also expected to share in<br />
the escalating excitement. Exhibitors will<br />
find it worthwhile to provide libraries with<br />
one-sheets and stills for free-standing displays<br />
and bulletin boards, built around a<br />
"read the book . . . see the movie" theme.<br />
Study<br />
Guide for Schools<br />
Teachers of English—from grade school<br />
to university level—will also be delighted<br />
to learn that the resurgence of interest in<br />
Dumas, which began with the exploits of<br />
the three adventurers, is about to peak.<br />
Thousands of schools have already used<br />
the study guide, prepared by 20lh Century-<br />
Fox, to get across to their students that<br />
a so-called "classic" can also be great fun.<br />
Including teachers in screening programs<br />
can help keep that enthusiasm rolling.<br />
While on the subject of the novel's literary<br />
success, there's another little-known<br />
fact that's worth noting. There have been<br />
more movies made from the Dumas novel<br />
than any other book, with one exception:<br />
the<br />
Bible.<br />
Soundtrack Affords<br />
'Musketeers<br />
Tie-In<br />
Bell Records is distributing the sound<br />
track album from "The Four Musketeers"<br />
providing exhibitors with opportunities for<br />
tie-in promotions and cross-plugging displays<br />
in record stores and music outlets.<br />
The album is the perfect promotional<br />
tool as a giveaway in contests and for playing<br />
during intermission in theatres. Showmen<br />
should contact local Bell Records distributors<br />
for assistance in promotions ami<br />
setting displays in record stores.<br />
Place With Local Newspapers<br />
Galaxy of Superstars Highlighted<br />
With Four Musketeers Contest<br />
Raqiicl ll'flcli is Mine. Bonancieii.x and Michael YDik is the tlashiim D'Aiiatinan<br />
in 2l)tli Cenluiy-Fdx's "The hour Miiskeleers." /ollow-iip to last year's smash<br />
hit "The Three Musketeers."<br />
The galaxy of international superstars<br />
who form one of the most impressive cast<br />
lists in recent film history in "The Four<br />
.Musketeers" are highlighted in a special contest<br />
exhibitors can place with local newspapers.<br />
The contest should be announced by<br />
newspapers at least ten days in advance of<br />
engagements with prizes including free<br />
passes and merchandise from cooperating<br />
merchants.<br />
Below is a release for the contest, featuring<br />
"Musketeer" stars and the scrambled<br />
titles of films they have appeared in.<br />
THEATBE ANNOUNCES "MUSKETEERS CONTEST'<br />
In conjunction with its forthcoming engagement oi "The Four Musketeers," 20th<br />
Century-Fox's new star-studded film of Alexandre Dumas' swashbuckling adventure, the<br />
Theatre is inviting readers of this newspaper to enter a special contest with free<br />
passes as prizes.<br />
Playing the characters in the famed tale are a galaxy of international superstars<br />
including Charlton Heston, Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed, Michael York,<br />
Christopher Lee, Richard Chamberlain, Geraidine Chaplin, Simon Word and Frank Finlay.<br />
Below are the jumbled titles of films these stars have appeared in lust unscramble the<br />
titles and write the name of the star next to the proper film<br />
The first 100 contestants who submit correct answers will be eligible for a drawing<br />
for free passes to "The Four Musketeers" which opens at the Theatre.<br />
Entries should be sent to this newspaper in care of "The Four Musketeers" contest<br />
which closes on -<br />
THE SCRAMBLED FILMS<br />
The Little Hound<br />
The Music Day<br />
Lost Bomber<br />
Women in Kansas City<br />
Doctor Winston<br />
Lovers of the Baskervilles<br />
Big Man Zhivago<br />
Young Lovers<br />
Apes in Love<br />
Horizon of the Planet<br />
FOUR IHUSKETEERS ALL-STAR CONTEST<br />
THE STARS<br />
Charlton Heston<br />
Faye Dunaway<br />
Raquel Welch<br />
Oliver Reed<br />
Richard Chamberlain<br />
Simon Ward<br />
Geraidine Chaplin<br />
Frank Finlay<br />
Michael York<br />
Christopher Lee<br />
ANSWERS<br />
The Hound o! the Baskervilles—Christopher Lee<br />
The Music Lovers—Richard Chamberlain<br />
Doctor Zhivago—Geraidine Chaplin<br />
Young Winston—Simon Ward<br />
The Longest Day—Frank Finlay<br />
Little Big Man—Faye Dunaway<br />
Lost Horizon—Michael York<br />
Women in Love—Oliver Reed<br />
Planet of the Apes—Charlton Heston<br />
Kansas City Bomber—Raquel Welch<br />
Appeal to Younger Audience With Coloring Contest<br />
Coloring contest promotions which<br />
proved highly successful for drawing in<br />
the younger audience to "The Three Musketeers"'<br />
are being suggested again for "The<br />
Four Musketeers."<br />
The contest can be used in newspapers<br />
as a means of setting tie-ins with local<br />
merchants who offer prizes or as an intheatre<br />
promotion in advance of engagements.<br />
Most effective use of the contest<br />
is to divide entrants into age categories of<br />
6 to 1 1 and 12 to 18. Coloring contest<br />
mat is available in 4 column size from<br />
National Screen .Service. Mat-CC-Mus. 1.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 3, 1975 10 — 13
—<br />
Swordplay in<br />
'Musketeers'<br />
Points to Promotions Galore<br />
Welcome 'Musketeers'<br />
With Media Contests<br />
To pave the way for the all-new "Four<br />
Musketeers" feature, 20th-Fox has come up ,<br />
with a slew of all-new contests that cxhibi- .°<br />
tors can offer to newspapers, radio stations<br />
and television stations in their locales.<br />
Your Greatest<br />
Adventure<br />
The Alexandre Dumas novel on which<br />
"The Four Musketeers" is based has been<br />
called the greatest adventure story of all<br />
time. But while the average moviegoer has<br />
never rescued a lady fair from the clutches<br />
of a conniving villain, or clashed swords<br />
with the king's most deadly duelists, we've<br />
all had our own share of adventures.<br />
That's the peg for a disc jockey or television<br />
talk-show host to challenge listeners<br />
to recall the most exciting or dangerous<br />
moments in their own lives. The best letters<br />
are read on the air. with the writers receiving<br />
passes to "The Four Musketeers.""<br />
The Number, "Four'"<br />
How many times does the number "four"<br />
appear in a newspaper's ads— both classified<br />
and display—on any given day'? That's the<br />
tricky challenge a newspaper can hurl at<br />
its readers. Tho.se who come closest to the<br />
As the clashing D'Aitagiian.<br />
"The Four Musketeers."<br />
"The Three Musketeers" spurred a revival<br />
of interest in the fine art of fencing<br />
which hasn't been witnessed in years, not<br />
since the late Douglas Fairbanks was slashing<br />
away at villains and vandals, in fact.<br />
Colleges and universities reported a record<br />
enrollment in campus fencing classes and<br />
societies. Sporting goods stores were flooded<br />
with purchase orders for foils, masks, pads<br />
and other paraphernalia.<br />
But they ain't seen nuthin' yet. Anticipating<br />
the excitement of "The Four Musketeers,"<br />
showmen ought to set up tie-in promotions<br />
with sporting goods stores (and the<br />
sports departments of department stores)<br />
to generate publicity on all levels.<br />
Plans can include lavish displays, showing<br />
Dimias' fearless four at their swashbuckling<br />
best. Stills from the imaginative<br />
sequence at the Musketeers" school for<br />
swordsmanship, described by director Richard<br />
Lester as a "cinematic citadel of letha!<br />
gadgetry," should flank these displays.<br />
Fencing Tie-Ins<br />
Manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers<br />
of fencing equipment shoLild be advised to<br />
get in on the action, and stock up! Bookstores<br />
can feature "how to" books on fencing,<br />
including manuals on safety first i<br />
simulated swordsmanship.<br />
A fencing demonstration or tournament<br />
at the theatre on opening day—in the lobby,<br />
in front of the house or on stage<br />
should stimulate interest in "The Four<br />
Musketeers." This promotion can be arranged<br />
through a local fencing club, the<br />
YMCA (which offers such classes), or a<br />
nearby college. If a charity is involved, so<br />
much the better.<br />
14<br />
Michael York demonstrates stylish swordplay in<br />
Duel for<br />
Publicity<br />
A promotion-minded exhibitor should<br />
also seek out an expert duelist, who would<br />
like to participate in the build-up for the<br />
tilm. He can show patrons some deft tricks<br />
of his chivalrous trade, and also make appearances<br />
on television and at local stores.<br />
Finally, showmen are advised to include<br />
those with a keen interest in fencing in their<br />
screening plans. What they will see (and<br />
talk about afterward) is the most authentically<br />
spectacular saga of slashing swords<br />
and flashing foils ever filmed.<br />
'Musketeers' Study Guide<br />
Attracts Students' Attention<br />
The interest in Alexandre Dumas" novel<br />
by teachers led to huge excitement for "The<br />
Three Musketeers" film among public<br />
schools and junior high schools through the<br />
use of a special study guide prepared by<br />
a leading educator.<br />
Now "The Four Musketeers" can benefit<br />
equally with the study guide which is an<br />
informative tool to help teachers cover the<br />
novel, the author, the historical setting of<br />
the adventure and which also tells a lot<br />
about the film.<br />
The guide will be received with enthusiasm<br />
by teachers, and showmen should<br />
contact English and history department<br />
faculty heads as soon as possible.<br />
The stud\<br />
guides are available from Promotion Department.<br />
20th Century-Fo.x Film Corp..<br />
Box 900, Beverly Hills. California 90213.<br />
— 11 —<br />
correct number (and with all those addresses<br />
and phone numbers, it will be in the<br />
thousands) win free passes to "The Four<br />
Musketeers."<br />
Name the Characters Contest<br />
Announce a contest in your local news- ited<br />
paper about a tie-in with the characters in<br />
the Dumas novel and the stars who play<br />
them. Here's a sample announcement:<br />
Local Theatre Oifers Passes<br />
In "The Four Musketeers" Contest<br />
In conjunction with its engagement of "The<br />
Four Muske'.eers," Richard Lester's new starstudded<br />
film of Alexandre Dumas' classic<br />
swashbuckler, the Theatre<br />
is inviting the public to enter a special contest<br />
based on the characters in the famed story. The<br />
first 20 contestants who correctly match the<br />
following character descriptions and names will<br />
receive free tickets to the opening of the film<br />
°" Entries should be sent<br />
to this newspaper care of "The Four Musketeers"<br />
contest. A drawing will be held in the<br />
event of ties.<br />
1. A hero, the kind of young man boys hope<br />
to be and old men wish they had been.<br />
2. The weak king around whom plots revolve.<br />
3. The queen whose diamonds almost cause<br />
a dynasty's downfall.<br />
4. The slim, elegant musketeer, a lady's man.<br />
5. Plotting was his cardinal sin.<br />
6. She's as evil as she is beautiful.<br />
7. She's as loving as she is beautiful.<br />
8. The portly, boisterous musketeer.<br />
9. The duke who dallied with a queen.<br />
10 The drinking, cynical, moody musketeer.<br />
11. The musketeers' arch enemy.<br />
(a) Athos—played by Oliver Reed; (b) Mme<br />
Bonancieux—played by Raquel Welch; (c)<br />
Aramis—played by Richard Chamberlain; (d)<br />
D Artagnan—played by Michael York; (e) Porthos—played<br />
by Frank Finlay; (f) Miladyplayed<br />
by Faye Dunaway; (g) Cardinal Riche- has<br />
leu—played by Charlton Heston; (h) Rochefort—played<br />
by Christopher Lee; (i) Queen<br />
Anne—played by Geraldine Chaplin; (j) Buckingham—played<br />
by Simon 'Ward; (k) Louis<br />
XIII—played by Jean Pierre Cassel.<br />
ANSWERS: 1 (d); 2 (k): 3 (i); 4 (c); S (g); 6<br />
(I).- 7(b); 8 (e);9 (j); 10(a); II (h).<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 3 197.'><br />
I<br />
1
— I<br />
—<br />
—<br />
Use Outfitted Courier Shopping Centers Provide Targets<br />
To Hail Musketeers' For Showmen's Bold Musketeering<br />
f<br />
Here's one way to call attention to the<br />
oiitrayeous fun of "The Four Musketeers."<br />
A showman can send a courier on horsehack,<br />
garbed as a Musketeer, through the<br />
streets of his communit\. announcing: "The<br />
Musketeers are corning. The Musketeers<br />
are coming." On a silken blanket, hangini-.<br />
below the horse's flanks in medieval style,<br />
can be an enormous nimihcr }. a fleurde-lys.<br />
or a duplication of the basic a.<br />
art.<br />
Kven more elaborate wmild be an old-<br />
I a s h i o n e d. horse-drawn carriage—with<br />
"I'our Musketeers" posters on either side<br />
which would be parked in front of the<br />
theatre for the remainder of the run.<br />
Riders diessed as the Musketeers hHI herald the coniini; of "1 he Four Musketeer.':"<br />
in shoppinii centers.<br />
Gon<br />
1 uwii ciiii.', dic\scd as M iiskclcci s. a<br />
la Oliver Reed, will post display material<br />
in and away from theatres lor<br />
"The Four Musketeers."<br />
'Musketeers' Balloons<br />
Draw Attention, Kids<br />
One effective, inexpensive and very visible<br />
method of attracting youngsters in your<br />
community to see "The Four Musketeers"<br />
is by using theatre imprinted balloons in<br />
the following manner:<br />
( 1 ) Distribute them at shopping centers<br />
and youth-oriented restaurants where you<br />
can also set up displays using posters and<br />
stills.<br />
(2) Give a generous supply to children's<br />
stores and children's sections of large department<br />
stores.<br />
(3) Give them away as prizes on locally<br />
produced kids' TV shows.<br />
(4) Offer a balloon with every concession<br />
purchase in your theatre at least<br />
two weeks in advance of your playdate.<br />
Imprinted on two sides: "THE FOUR<br />
MUSKETEERS " IS COMING TO<br />
with the theatre<br />
on one side and pictures of the stars on<br />
the<br />
other.<br />
Can an entire shopping center be liuned<br />
into a mammoth display for a truly spectacular<br />
movie? It's been done before, and<br />
2()th Century-Fox believes it can be accomplished<br />
again, this time on behalf of<br />
"The Four Musketeers."<br />
Here's the plan for showmen to put into<br />
action. In a salute to "The Four Musketeers."<br />
a major shopping center announces<br />
(hat it is slashing prices, just the way the<br />
fearless four slash away at their enemies.<br />
During the run of the film, cooperating<br />
n'crchants place a red and gold tag<br />
emblazoned with the number four, precisely<br />
as it appears in ad art (i.e., with caricatures<br />
of the stars included)— on an array of<br />
sale-priced items. These items may remain<br />
the same throughout the campaign, or thc\<br />
may change from day to day.<br />
The center's merchants advertise this inflation-fighting<br />
effort in newspapers, on<br />
radio and television, through heralds and<br />
billboards. Handbills will be distributed b\<br />
employees dressed as Musketeers.<br />
Each store can design its own window<br />
display based on the cost-cutting, priceslashing<br />
effort, utilizing "Four Musketeers"<br />
posters, cut-outs, stills and other ad elements.<br />
These can be combined with advertising<br />
related to the merchandise on sale.<br />
Contests<br />
and Events<br />
Showmen, then, make passes available to<br />
participating merchants to use in sweepstakes<br />
(such as lucky receipt contests), or<br />
to be given away to customers who buy<br />
four of any given item at a certain time<br />
of<br />
day.<br />
Each day during the campaign, an event<br />
—directly related to "The Four Musketeers"—is<br />
staged. On one day. it may be<br />
a puppet show, with marionettes depicting<br />
Athos, Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan.<br />
On the next, it can be a fencing tournament<br />
featuring college students dressed in 1 7tii<br />
century French costumes. On still another,<br />
a prominent hair stylist (whose shop is in<br />
the center) can show how to duplicate the<br />
coiffures worn by Raquel Welch and Faye<br />
Dunawav in the film. On still another, a<br />
coloring contest for youngsters utilizing<br />
enormous blow-ups of line drawings of<br />
the Musketeers—can be arranged.<br />
Musketeers Marching Band<br />
I he event can be k'cked off with a parade<br />
through the center, featuring marching<br />
bands, drum majorettes and local<br />
celebrities. If some or all can be garbed<br />
as Musketeers, so much the better. It can<br />
wind up with a final day's sale in which<br />
prices on loss leader items are not merely<br />
slashed, but cut to ribbons.<br />
Every customer who visits the center<br />
during the promotion should receive a<br />
souvenir: a miniature fencing foil, emblazoned<br />
with "Four for ftm and fun for<br />
all" or "I slashed prices with 'The Four<br />
Musketeers' " would be perfect.<br />
With inflation uppermost in the public<br />
mind nowadays, shopping centers and merchants<br />
are continually searching for ways<br />
to dramatize their efforts to cut prices. This<br />
plan enables them to do so, by tie-ins with<br />
the biggest entertainment value of the year.<br />
Distinctive humor as portrayed by<br />
Raquel Welch and Frank Finlay marks<br />
"The Four Musketeers" as it did the<br />
hit "Three Musketeers."<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 3, 1975 — 12 — 15
What has 8 legs, feathers and is usually seen coming to the rescue?<br />
it's four for funT^ A and fun for aE!<br />
«#*H-<br />
*sc<br />
ALEXANDER SALKIND Presents OLIVER REED RAQUELWELCH<br />
•<br />
RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN and MICHAEL YORKas D'Artagnan FRANK FINLAY<br />
•<br />
CHRISTOPHER LEE-GERALDINE CHAPLIN- JEAN PIERRE CASSEL<br />
IN A RICHARD LESTER HLM "THE FOUR MUSKETEERS"<br />
with SIMON WARD and FAYE DUNAWAYas Milady<br />
CHARLTON HESTON as Caidinal Richeliea<br />
Music by LALO 5CH!FRIN' Screenplay In- GEORGE NUC DONALD ERASER Bjsed on ihr novel by ALEXANDRE DUMAS- Executive PrixJucer ILYA SALKIND<br />
Executive in thjrgcof Production PIERRE SPENCLER Directed by RICHARD LESTER An Alexander, Michael and llya Salkind Production for FilmTrust S A<br />
TECHNICOLOR ®<br />
-<br />
PRINTS BY DE LUXE -^<br />
PG<br />
MHENTki Guidance suggested<br />
16 — 13 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: March 3, 1975
i<br />
ss
—<br />
—<br />
'Murder on the Orient Express '<br />
(Para)<br />
Voted January's Blue Ribbon Winner<br />
By MARY JO GORMAN<br />
jyjURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS," an elegant whodunit featuring a casi<br />
of top-name American and European stars, was virtually the unanimous choice<br />
of National Screen Council members for the Blue Ribbon Award for January.<br />
The Paramount release— rated PG by the MPAA and A2 by the NCO—has grossed<br />
a dazzling 502 per cent of average business in its tirst-run engagements in key<br />
cities across the U.S.<br />
BoxoFFicE reviewed "Murder on the<br />
Orient Express" in its issue of Nov. 25,<br />
1974, stating in part: "They sure don't<br />
make pictures like this anymore, and it's<br />
a crying shame. This big, lavish production,<br />
lovingly photographed by Geoffrey<br />
Unsworth and directed in pure romantic<br />
style by Sidney Lumet ('Serpico') should<br />
pack 'em in for this journey backwards<br />
into filmmaking of the 1930s. From the<br />
opening credits on, Lumet achieves thai<br />
lush, dream-like fashion of Hollywood's<br />
heyday . . . The story, about a mysterious<br />
murder aboard the famous Orient Express<br />
train en route from Istanbul to Calais,<br />
becomes as much a whodunit for the audience<br />
as it does for supersleuth Albert Finney<br />
in a role which surely will win him<br />
an Oscar nomination. He is unrecognizable<br />
and perfect as the celebrated Belgian detective<br />
Hercule Poirot . . . the PG rating<br />
is okay, because smallfry would squirm<br />
through the guessing games their folks will<br />
find fascinating . .<br />
."<br />
On their ballots. NSC members made<br />
the following remarks about the film:<br />
Finney Is<br />
Phenomenal<br />
"Orient Express" is not only the best<br />
of the month, it's one of the most entertaining<br />
movies I've ever seen. Bravo to<br />
all concerned.—Edward L. Blank, Pittsburgh<br />
Press ... As in "Inferno," "Orient<br />
Express" features a bimch of stars quite<br />
successfully—thanks to S. Lumet and<br />
crew— as one of Agatha C.'s best is beautifully<br />
rewoven. Finney is phenomenal.—<br />
Walt Reno, RORK Radio, Las Vegas . . .<br />
What can I add to what the critics have<br />
already said? A terrific motion picture!<br />
Bruce W. Harmon, Cooper-Highland Theatres,<br />
Inc., Lincoln . . . Great entertainment;<br />
a well-done whodunit with flair.<br />
Mrs. Frank J. Baldus. GFWC. Independence.<br />
A galaxy of stars in a splendid whodunit!—<br />
George H. Bell, freelance writer,<br />
Salem, Ore. . . . Let's hear it for a good.<br />
old-fashioned murder mystery.—Guy H.<br />
. . Even<br />
Giampapa, WNAC-TV, Boston .<br />
though it's not for younger viewers, it's<br />
simply the best film I've seen in a long,<br />
long time.—Larry Thomas, exhibitor,<br />
Beckley, W. Va. . . . Agatha Christie is<br />
always tops and the performances of the<br />
cast of stars are remarkably interesting, i<br />
had read the book long ago and forgotten<br />
the solution. It was handled perfectly. A<br />
great whodunit.— Mrs. Julie B. Steiner,<br />
N.Y.C. Fed. of Women's Clubs.<br />
A good ride with Agatha Christie—ro<br />
better mystery company.—Wayne Allen.<br />
Journal-Register, Springfield. 111. . . . It's<br />
got some whodunit faults, but is still a<br />
. . . Best realization<br />
classic. Should produce lots of follow-up<br />
films.—Lynn Hinds. WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh<br />
. . . Wonderful casting; magnificent<br />
direction!—Fred C. Souttar, independent,<br />
Shawnee-Mission, Kas.<br />
of an Agatha Christie thriller<br />
on<br />
the screen yet!—Edward M. Connor, Nat'l<br />
Board of Review, N.Y.C.<br />
A ride to end all rides.— Bill Kitchen.<br />
Ottumwa Courier ... A lot of pros in an<br />
excellent film. Great change of pace for<br />
the season.—Justin Jacobsmeier, Orpheimi<br />
Theatre, Sioux City ... A marvelous<br />
mystery with a unique twist and a great<br />
cast.—Dr. James K. Loutzenhiser, Mo.<br />
Council on Arts, Kansas City . . . Good<br />
show! Finney's fine.— Bradford F. Swan.<br />
Providence Journal.<br />
A superior production that holds your<br />
interest. The cast of stars is something<br />
clse!~Harry M. Curl, NATO of Ala.,<br />
Birmingham ... A dazzling array of talent<br />
in an excellent and exciting movie.—R. J.<br />
Spatafore, teacher, San Francisco . . .<br />
Simply top-drawer! The most stylish and<br />
graceful murder mystery on the screen in<br />
ages.— Jim Shertzer, Winston-Salem Journal<br />
. . . One of the best. A sure hit!<br />
W. R. Kemp, Grand Theatre, Grand Island,<br />
Neb. ... A movie like they used<br />
to make.—Emerv Wister, Charlotte News.<br />
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiii<br />
BEFORE THE EXPRESS LEAVES. SEAN CONNERY AND<br />
VANESSA REDGRAVE HAVE AN INTIMATE CHAT<br />
POIROT (FINNEY) STANDS OVER THE MURDER VICTIM<br />
(WIDMARK) AND EXAMINES SOME STRANGE CLUES<br />
LAUREN BACALL AND SEAN CONNERY (c.) ARE AMONG<br />
POIROrS MURDER SUSPECTS ABOARD THE EXPRESS<br />
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll<br />
Hercule Poirot<br />
ALBERT Finney<br />
Mrs. Hubbard<br />
Lauren Bacall<br />
Bianchi<br />
Martin Balsam<br />
Creta OMsson<br />
Ingrid Bergman<br />
Countess Andrenyi . .Jacqueline Bisset<br />
Pierre Paul Michel . .Jean-Pierre Cassel<br />
Colonel Arbuthnot Sean Connery<br />
The Cast<br />
Beddoes John Gielgud<br />
Princess Dragomiroff . . . .Wendy Hiller<br />
Hector McQueen .... Anthony Perkin.s<br />
Mary Debenham . . . .Vanessa Redgrave<br />
Hildegarde Schmidt . . . .Rachel Roberts<br />
Ratchett Richard Widmark<br />
Count Andrenyi<br />
Michael York<br />
Production Staff<br />
Produced by John Brabourne. Based on the Novel by .. Agatha Christie<br />
Richard Goodwin Filmed in Panavision<br />
Directed by Sidney Lumet Screenplay by Paul Dehn<br />
Color bv Technicolok<br />
This award is given each month by the National<br />
Screen Council on the basis of outstanding<br />
merit and suitability for family entertainment.<br />
Council membership comprises motion<br />
picture editors, radio and TV film commentators,<br />
representatives of better films councils,<br />
civic, educational and exhibitor organizations.<br />
18 BOXOFFICE :; March 3, 1975
Il^<br />
Survey Vetoes Censorship<br />
And Okays Rating System<br />
PHII ADFI PHIA Reaclint; to h poll<br />
conilLictcd by JRP Surveys of suburhaii<br />
Drexcl Hill in behalf of the daily Evcniny<br />
Bulletin, local area residents seem to be<br />
evenly split on the subject of banning<br />
pornographic movies and other X-ratcd materials.<br />
Ihe results of the latest Bulletin<br />
Public Opinion Poll showed that 35 per<br />
cent of those interviewed favored banning<br />
all pornographic material completely. However,<br />
just as many—another 35 per centsaid<br />
they would want it openly available.<br />
While only 5 per cent had no opinion,<br />
the remaining 25 per cent said they would<br />
ban X-rated material from residential areas<br />
only.<br />
500 Sampled<br />
The poll is a random sampling of 25(1<br />
households<br />
men and 250 women residing in<br />
with listed residential telephones and is<br />
based on a representative sample of adults<br />
living in this eastern Pennsylvania-southern<br />
New Jersey area.<br />
Fifty-four per cent of the 500 residents<br />
were satisfied with the present system used<br />
to rate motion pictures as to audience acceptability.<br />
In this group, 20 per cent said<br />
the\ were "very" satisfied with the film<br />
ratings, while 34 per cent said they were<br />
"somewhat satisfied." Thirteen per cent said<br />
they were "somewhat dissatisfied" and 9<br />
per cent were "very dissatisfied." Almost<br />
a quarter of those interviewed— 24 per<br />
cent—said they had no opinion.<br />
The poll showed a significant diffcrencL<br />
of opinion as between men and women<br />
Among the men, 44 per cent said pornographic<br />
material should be openly available.<br />
Only 25 per cent of the women took this<br />
view. Conversely, 44 per cent want such<br />
material banned completely and only 2'<<br />
per cent of the men favor this restriction.<br />
Twenty-four per cent of the men and 2T<br />
per cent of the women would prevent sale<br />
of the material in residential areas.<br />
45' c Saw X-film<br />
Asked if they had ever seen an X-ratei.1<br />
movie, 55 per cent said "no." Some also<br />
saw too much violence in PG-rated films.<br />
.Some of the typical comments were:<br />
"All the movies I have seen were rated<br />
correctly," said a housewife in Maple Shade.<br />
N.J.<br />
"From the movies I've gone to," said ar<br />
executive in suburban Lower Merion, "X<br />
and R stand for exactly what they represent."<br />
"It's a guide for sending children to the<br />
homemaker from the north-<br />
movies," said a<br />
east section of Philadelphia, while a home<br />
maker in Gloucester, N.J., dissatisfied with<br />
the rating system, said: "I have teenage<br />
children and I can't go by these ratings<br />
Violent movies are often rated PG and<br />
should be R."<br />
"It's too general, needs to be more re<br />
fined," said a director of domestic affai;<br />
living in upstate Pottstown. A saleswoman<br />
from suburban Radnor said: "I don't he<br />
lieve in any censorship. It's up to the people<br />
to make up their minds."<br />
KJ(\(;<br />
AND QUEEN—One of the<br />
highlights of \ arietj Week in Buffalo<br />
was the party in the Keliabihtation Center<br />
of the Children's ilospitiil, when<br />
V ariety Club I cut 7 crowned its "king"<br />
and "queen." Shown, left to right, arc<br />
Sidney J. Cohen, Variety Week chairman;<br />
Queen Lynne Wyntjes; king<br />
Steve Bergeron, and Adolph "Cy" Marter,<br />
chief barker of Tent 7.<br />
Philly Film Festival Is<br />
bet to Open April 29<br />
PHILADELPHIA—The second Annual<br />
Philadelphia International Film Festival is<br />
scheduled to begin in the city's historic<br />
Walnut Street Theatre April 29. It will be<br />
part ot the Philadelphia Festival, a monthlong<br />
cultural extravaganza sponsored by the<br />
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.<br />
"We expect this year's festival to be even<br />
more exciting than last year's, with a greater<br />
diversity of films, style and material and a<br />
larger participation by foreign governments,"<br />
said Ralph Moore, film festival<br />
director. "So far, we have had official commitments<br />
from the governments of Czechoslovakia,<br />
Belgium, Mexico, Canada, Great<br />
Britain and France and verbal agreements<br />
from several others. We are looking for selections<br />
of short and feature length films of<br />
artistic value which help to exemplify the<br />
vitality of contemporary cinema worldwide.<br />
We are especially interested in selections<br />
from the so-called 'Third World'—^Near<br />
Eastern, Asian, Latin-American and African<br />
countries." he said.<br />
The festival is an integral part of the<br />
Philadelphia Festival, which promises to be<br />
one of the largest cultural celebrations in<br />
the U.S. Over 60 cultural organizations have<br />
already announced scheduled presentations<br />
throughout the entire month (April 25-May<br />
25.)<br />
Veteran Character Actor<br />
Robert Strauss Is Dead<br />
NEW YORK — Veteran character actor<br />
Robert Strauss, 61, died Thursday, February<br />
20. in New York University Hospital.<br />
He was a resident of New York.<br />
Strauss came to prominence in the stage<br />
and screen versions of "Stalag 17" and appeared<br />
in "Detective Story," "The Seven-<br />
Year Itch," "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" and<br />
several Martin and Lewis films, in addition<br />
to numerous TV shows.<br />
He is survived by his wife, three children<br />
by a former marriage and two sisters.<br />
Events for Exhibitors<br />
Scheduled March 18<br />
I* I'llTSBLRCiH — Paid-up members of<br />
''<br />
vAlO of Western Pennsylvania and of Tri-<br />
^ ,taie Drive-ln Theatres Ass'n will be guests<br />
^H the dinner show which will conclude a<br />
day's exhibitor activity here Tuesday (18).<br />
The schedule includes:<br />
12:30 p.m.—Variety Club. William Penn<br />
Hotel, cocktails.<br />
1:15 p.m.—Variety Club, lunch.<br />
2:30 p.m.— Variety Club, general membership<br />
meetings and elections of officers ol<br />
N.ATO of Western Pennsylvania and o! the<br />
Iri-State Drive-ln Theatres Ass'n.<br />
Report of NATO regional presidents'<br />
meeting.<br />
Report ol N.-XIO national board.<br />
Report on legislative and current industry<br />
problems.<br />
6 p.m.—Holiday House (Rose Room),<br />
cocktails hosted by Knute Boyle and Iheatre<br />
Candy and Equipment Service Co.<br />
7 p,ni.—Dinner, main dining room. Holiday<br />
House.<br />
S:30 p.m.—John Davidson show.<br />
Dinner show tickets will be issued only<br />
at the general membership meeting at the<br />
Variety Club (two per paid-up-inembership<br />
theatre). Members must be present at the<br />
afternoon meeting ui pick up tickets, which<br />
are not transferable. Additional tickets are<br />
$14 each.<br />
Reservations will be accepted no later<br />
than Tuesday (II) for the luncheon at Variety<br />
Club Tent 1 and the dinner and show<br />
at the Holiday Hou.se. There are only limited<br />
reservations at the Holiday House, so first<br />
come, first served, according to Paul Vogel,<br />
general chairman.<br />
George Tice and Steve Gray jr., respectively<br />
presidents of NATO Western Pennsylvania<br />
and Tri-State Drive-ln Theatres<br />
Ass'n, urge a large attendance, with early<br />
reservations.<br />
Meercy B. Weiner is receiving reservations<br />
at NATO, Room 1135, Fulton Building.<br />
107 Sixth Street. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222<br />
(or bv telephone, 281-6475).<br />
Sen. Geo. McGovern Hosts<br />
Screening of 'Hearts'<br />
WASHINGTON. D.C.—Members of the<br />
U.S. Senate and their staffs attended a special<br />
screening of "Hearts and Minds" here<br />
last week as the guests of Sen. George<br />
McGovern (D-South Dakota).<br />
McGovern described the film as a "sensitive<br />
and moving portrayal of the ineaning<br />
and consequences of our involvement in<br />
Vietnam".<br />
"Hearts and Minds" was directed by<br />
Peter Davis, who co-produced the film with<br />
Bert Schneider. Released by Warner Bros.<br />
for Rainbow Pictures, the movie is in its<br />
third week at the Cerberus Theatre here and<br />
soon will open in New York, San Francisco<br />
and other leading cities nationally.<br />
Katharine Ross stars in Columbia's "The<br />
Stepford Wives."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 E-I
BROADWAY<br />
LANA TURNER will be the subject of a<br />
live and film presentation at Town<br />
Hall Sunday. April 13. The beautiful blonde<br />
film star will be presented in a special<br />
evening of clips from her films and will<br />
make a personal appearance on stage. This<br />
will be similar to the "Legendary Ladies"<br />
evenings which have become so popular.<br />
Publicist John Springer will be presenting<br />
the event, produced by Town Hall. Working<br />
on the program will be Herb Graff and,<br />
undoubtedly, Lou Valentino, who currently<br />
is finishing a book on the Turner films and<br />
is considered the world's greatest authority<br />
on and fan of the glamorous Lana.<br />
•<br />
"The Prisoner of Second Avenue" will<br />
have a i>ala premiere at the Sutton Theatre<br />
Thursday (13). sponsored by the Dalian<br />
School Alumni Ass'n for the benefit of its<br />
scholarship fund. Jack Lemmon and Anne<br />
Bancroft co-star in the serio-comedy, based<br />
on Neil Simon's hit play. Regular performances<br />
begin the following day, the film<br />
replacing the Academy Award-nominated<br />
"Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." Following<br />
the benefit premiere will be a reception<br />
for Dr. Gardner Dunnan. Dalton<br />
School's new headmaster. The benefit committee<br />
is headed by Carol Siris Roaman and<br />
Judy Rudner Stiebel. "Prisoner." which<br />
focuses on a Manhattanite on the verge of<br />
a nervous breakdown, was produced and<br />
directed by Melvin Frank, from a screenplay<br />
by Simon. Also starred are Gene Saks.<br />
Elizabeth Wilson, Florence Stanley and<br />
Maxine Stuart.<br />
•<br />
Henry T. Weinstein, vice-president of<br />
creative affairs for the American Film Theatre,<br />
left town for a series of business<br />
meetings in Europe. He'll confer in Paris.<br />
Rome and London on upcoming film<br />
projects.<br />
AFT fare recently was "Jacques Brel Is<br />
Alive and Well and Living in Paris." Next<br />
attraction will be David Storey's "In Celebration,"<br />
directed by Lindsay Anderson and<br />
starring AFT veteran Alan Bates<br />
(previously<br />
seen in "Butley" and "The Three Sisters").<br />
Mrs.<br />
•<br />
Irving Palace was elected president<br />
Variety Club Women of New York Tent<br />
of<br />
35 for 1975-76. Vice-presidents elected<br />
were Mrs. Harry Cole, Mrs. Saul Jeffee<br />
and Mrs. Sidney Levin. Also. Mrs. Saul<br />
Susnow as recording secretaiy. Miss Kitty<br />
Flynn as social secretary and Mrs. Louis<br />
Bressler as treasurer.<br />
The board of directors will consist of<br />
the above ladies, as well as: Mrs. Jack<br />
Benanty. Mrs. Vincent Borrelli. Mrs. David<br />
Emanuel. Miss Ann LaFalce, Mrs. Philip<br />
Harling, Mrs. Roland Hassanein. Mrs. Na!<br />
Lefkowitz, Mrs. Raymond Popkin. Mrs.<br />
Abraham Prider, Mrs. Charles Richards.<br />
Mrs. Robert Salant, Mrs. Sol Smith and<br />
Mrs. Frank J. Walsh. Permanent hoard<br />
metnbers by service are Mrs. Robert Deitch<br />
and Mrs. Samuel Goldstein.<br />
The films of Francesco Rosi. all nine<br />
features made by the Italian filmmaker<br />
since his career began in 195S, will be<br />
shown through Tuesday (11) at the Museum<br />
of Modern Art. Rosi was at the museum<br />
to introduce the retrospective, which opened<br />
February 27 with a screening of "Le Mani<br />
Sula Citta" (Hands Over the City, 1963),<br />
starring Rod Steiger. Actor Steiger costars<br />
in "A Proposito di Lucky Luciano"<br />
(1973), last film in the series, which will<br />
be shown Tuesday (11) under the auspices<br />
of its American distributor, Avco Embassy.<br />
•<br />
Pierre-Henri Deleau will be in the city<br />
contacting producers and<br />
until Monday (3),<br />
directors to submit films for consideration<br />
in the seventh Directors' Fortnight which<br />
will take place during the Cannes Film<br />
Festival, to he held May 9-23.<br />
•<br />
"At Long Last Love, " Peter Bogdanovich's<br />
musical based on Cole Porter's works,<br />
opens Thursday (6) at Radio City Music<br />
Hall, with a cast headed by Burt Reynolds<br />
and Cybill Shepherd. Accompanying the<br />
20th Century-Fox release on stage will be<br />
the annual "Glory of Easter" pageant.<br />
•<br />
The Bleeker Street Cinema has inaugurated<br />
a policy of presenting three different<br />
fUms each night, with matinees on weekends,<br />
in repertory fashion. A typical evening<br />
is that of Friday (7): Ken Russell's<br />
Oscar-winning "Women in Love" (1970) at<br />
6 p.m.; Joseph Sirick's "Tropic of Cancer"<br />
(1970). with Rip Torn and Ellen Burstyn<br />
as Mr. and Mrs. Henry Miller, 8:30, and<br />
George Stevens' "Shane" (1935). starring<br />
Alan Ladd. 10 p.m., all three features to<br />
be repeated at least once on the weekend.<br />
1 here is separate admission for each film.<br />
Special series include the Filmmaker's<br />
Showcase, during the day, featuring international<br />
films with little commercial prospects;<br />
Independent Cinema Spotlight on<br />
Filmmakers, Monday evenings; a D. W.<br />
Griffith retrospective, on a regular basis<br />
through May 9; a special presentation of<br />
"Lenny Bruce Without Tears"; Friday midnight<br />
screenings of an all-Divine program<br />
("Multiple Maniacs" and "The Diane Linkletter<br />
Story"), and Saturday midnight showings<br />
of Russ Meyers' "Beyond the Valley<br />
of the Dolls" (1970).<br />
•<br />
Biidd Rogers, general sales manager for<br />
Continental Distributing, film division of<br />
the Walter Reade Organization, is celebrating<br />
his 51st year in the industry. He<br />
has held many executive positions over<br />
the years, with such companies as Republic<br />
Pictures, Realart Pictures, the Selznick Releasing<br />
Corp., Embassy Pictures and Pathe-<br />
American Distributing Co.<br />
•<br />
Showcases for Fehruaiy made the most<br />
of Oscar nominations for such films as<br />
'The Towering Inferno," "Murder on the<br />
Orient E.xpress." "Earthquake." "Lenny."<br />
"The Godfather. Part 11" and "A Wonuin<br />
Under the Influence." Also showing: "Jeremiah<br />
Johnson," "Boss Nigger," "Emmanuelle,"<br />
"The Girls Who Do" and "Teach<br />
Me." "Young Frankenstein," "The Front<br />
Page" and 'The Stepford Wives."<br />
•<br />
Maurice Zouary, producer and distributor,<br />
presented a special program February<br />
24 in Herb Graff's film course at NYU.<br />
A special reel of rare Lee De Forest Phonofilms<br />
was shown, these films being early<br />
sound movies. Such well-known vaudeville<br />
headliners as Eddie Cantor, Fannie Ward,<br />
Puck and White and DeWolf Hopper<br />
were seen, as well as Prof. Robertson, a<br />
De Forest aide, in a 1921 demonstration<br />
film which explained the process.<br />
Zouary is working on a book about the<br />
De Forest Phonofilms, to include many<br />
never-before published stills.<br />
Valerie 'Rhoda' Harper Gets<br />
Hasty Pudding Club Award<br />
NEW YORK—Valerie Harper, star of<br />
the CBS-TV series "Rhoda" and featured in<br />
the Warner Bros, film "Freebie and the<br />
Bean," was named Woman of the Year by<br />
the Hasty Pudding Club of Harvard University<br />
in Cambridge, Mass. The Hasty<br />
Pudding Cup was presented to the actress<br />
at the Hasty Pudding Theatre on Tuesday,<br />
February 18, following a parade in her<br />
honor through<br />
Harvard Square.<br />
Ms. Harper is the 25th recipient of the<br />
award, which is presented each year to a<br />
woman who combines "great artistic skill<br />
and feminine qualities." A three-time Emm\<br />
Award winner, she joins a select group<br />
which includes Katharine Hepburn, Shirley<br />
MacLaine, Rosalind Russell, Lauren Bacall.<br />
Angela Lansbury, Carol Burnett, Ruby<br />
Keeler, Liza Minnelli and last year's winner,<br />
Faye Dunaway. The first award, in 1951.<br />
was presented to the late Broadway star<br />
Gertrude Lawrence.<br />
Pinoteau's 'La Gifle' Given<br />
Delluc French Award<br />
NEW YORK — "La Gifle"<br />
(The Slap),<br />
Claude Pinoteau's second directorial effort,<br />
has been awarded the Prix Louis Delluc<br />
1974, it was announced by the French Film<br />
Office here. This award is given to the best<br />
French film of the year, in memory of Louis<br />
Delluc (1890-1924). considered to be the<br />
first cinema critic. The film stars Lino Ventura.<br />
.Annie Girardot and Isabelle .Adjani<br />
and is currently a boxoffice hit in Paris,<br />
having grossed over ,$3 million in 11 weeks.<br />
Previous winners of this award were such<br />
celebrated productions as "M. Hulot's Holiday,"<br />
"Frantic." "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg."<br />
"LaGuerre est Finie" and "Claire's<br />
Knee."<br />
'Harry & Tonto' Receives<br />
Belgium's Silver Laurel<br />
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM—Paul Mazursky's<br />
"Harry & Tonto" has received the<br />
Silver Laurel Prize—the highest accolade<br />
for a picture in release—from the Jur><br />
of the Prix Femina Beige du Cinema.<br />
E-2 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
From<br />
She<br />
wanted<br />
their<br />
iiifc.. awd<br />
llinoire!<br />
Kelly-Jordan<br />
Enterprises<br />
Inc.<br />
342 Madison Ave.<br />
New Yorl(, N.Y. 10017<br />
Phone:<br />
(212) 682-1720-3<br />
Woshington, P. C.<br />
Ross Wheeler<br />
Wheeler Film Company<br />
4701 42nd St. N. W.<br />
Washington, D. C<br />
(202) 244-1500<br />
Philodelphio<br />
herpossESSum<br />
...THE STORY OF A MA N AND WOMAN POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL!<br />
Irving<br />
Lomis<br />
Lomis Films, Inc.<br />
American Motel<br />
U S. Route 1<br />
Trevose, Pa. 19047<br />
(215) 639-4900<br />
• Starring DUANE JONES • MARLENE CLARK . featuring LEONARD JACKSON • with MABEL KING<br />
Executive Producers QUENTIN KELLY & JACK JORDAN<br />
• Released by Kelly-Jordan Enterprises inc.<br />
IN COLOR
—<br />
—<br />
— —<br />
I<br />
I<br />
—<br />
'<br />
'<br />
'<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
I<br />
'Shampoo Conquers NY With 600;<br />
'Alice Commands 385 in 4th Week<br />
NEW YORK—Shampoo" did it again,<br />
washing away all comers with a very heavy<br />
600 in its second Coronet week. Still second<br />
was "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore."<br />
down to 385 in the fourth time at the<br />
Sutton. "Stavisky" leaped from a sixth place<br />
tic to third position, earning 380 in the ninth<br />
Cinema II week.<br />
"The Private Afternoons of Pamela<br />
Mann" went down a notch to fourth place,<br />
with 350 for the ninth week at the World.<br />
De Sica's "A Brief Vacation"" made the list,<br />
coming in fifth with 340 in its second week<br />
at Little Carnegie. Si.xth was "Earthquake,"<br />
I<br />
,<br />
.<br />
15th week at the Ziegfeld with 325. previously<br />
not on the reports because its showing<br />
was considered a mini-showcase run, although<br />
its Manhattan exposure is confined<br />
to the Ziegfeld.<br />
"Emmanuelle." 320 in the 10th Paris<br />
week, was edged out of the golden circle<br />
in its last stanza before a big showcase<br />
opening.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Beekman Rofferty and the Gold Dust Twins<br />
(WB), 3rd wk 95<br />
Cine The Godfather, Part II (Para), llth wk. . . .340<br />
Cinema I Jonis (Untv), 2nd wk 250<br />
Cinema II Stavisky (Cinemation), 9th wk .380<br />
Cinerama The Street Fighter (S4ew Line),<br />
.'<br />
4th wk 70<br />
Columbia A Woman Under the Influence<br />
(Faces Int'l), 1 4th wk 205<br />
Columbia II A Woman Under the Influence<br />
'{faces Int'l), 14th wk<br />
Coronet Shampoo (Col), 2nd wk<br />
]85<br />
. . . ^600<br />
Criterion ^Report to the Commissioner (UA),<br />
'<br />
3rd wk<br />
East 59th Street -Female Trouble (New Line),<br />
2nd wk<br />
]9Q<br />
190<br />
East 59th Street 2 -The Street Fighter (New Line),<br />
4th wk<br />
40<br />
Eostside Cinema Report to the Commissioner<br />
(UA), 3rd wk<br />
.175<br />
86th Street East Report to the Commissioner<br />
(UA), 3rd wk<br />
.200<br />
Festival Artur Rubenstein: Love of Life<br />
(New Yorker), 2nd wk 200<br />
Fine Arts Andy Warhol's Dracula (Bryanston)<br />
2nd wk<br />
^75<br />
Juliet Sometime Sweet Susan (Variety Filrris) 325<br />
Little Carnegie— A Brief Vocation (AA), 2nd wk 340<br />
Pons Emmanuelle (Col), 10th wk 320<br />
Penthouse Bogord (L-T Films) 2nd wk 85<br />
Plaza Amarcord (New World), 23rd wk<br />
240<br />
Regency Les Violons du Bal (Levitt-Pickman)<br />
1 0th wk. '<br />
.<br />
180<br />
Rialto<br />
1<br />
Sometime Sweet Susan (Variety Filrris) 160<br />
RKO 86th Street Twin I Bogord (L-T Films)<br />
2nd wk<br />
'<br />
7-<br />
RKO 86th Street Twin il—The Street Fighter<br />
(New Line), 4th wk<br />
50<br />
68th street Plavhouse ^Love at the Top<br />
(Peppercorn-Wormser), 4th wk<br />
.180<br />
State The Godfother, Part II (Para), j i th wk. .220<br />
Sutton Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (WB)<br />
4th wk<br />
.385<br />
Trans-Lux West^ Andy Warhol's Dracula<br />
(Bryanston), 2nd wk<br />
220<br />
FINER PROJECTION -SUPER ECONOMY<br />
KREENS<br />
Ask Your Supply Dealer or<br />
Write<br />
HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc.<br />
26 Soroh Drive Formingdole, L. I, N. Y., 11735<br />
World The Private Afternoons of Pomelo Mann<br />
(Hudson Valley Films), 9th wk 350<br />
Ziegfeld Earthquake (Univ), 1 5th wk 325<br />
'Lenny' Tops at 350 in 10th;<br />
'Young Frankenstein' 345<br />
BALTIMORE— -Young Frankenstein" in<br />
a second week at three theatres scored a<br />
smart 345, down only 10 from its opening<br />
mark last week. Still tops was -"Lenny" with<br />
350 at Cinema L "".Amarcord" took third<br />
with 330 and ""The Life and Times<br />
."<br />
. .<br />
pulled in 175.<br />
Cinema<br />
Liberty 1—<br />
Lenny<br />
Earthquake<br />
;UA), 10th wk<br />
;Univ), 10th<br />
350<br />
75<br />
wk<br />
Liberty Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore<br />
II<br />
WB), 2nd wk 75<br />
Mini Flick 11 The Life and Times . . . (SR),<br />
5th wk 175<br />
Playhouse Amarcord (SR), 5th wk 330<br />
Three theatres The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB,'20th-Fox). 10th wk 95<br />
Three theatres Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox),<br />
2nd wk 345<br />
Westview I Murder on the Orient Express (Para),<br />
4th wk 130<br />
Westview IV The Godfather, Part II (Para),<br />
10th wk 70<br />
NEW JERSEY<br />
^he Oakland Twin Cinema in<br />
Oakland recently<br />
presented a "Monster Mash" for<br />
its Saturday and Sunday matinee program.<br />
The show consisted of three horror films and<br />
newspaper ads promised ""a monster lurking<br />
in the audience each day." The twin is operated<br />
by Robert Klaas and Howard Freidemann.<br />
Tom Adams' Paramount in Newark recently<br />
presented a one-week ""Kung Fu-A-<br />
Thon" which, according to theatre officials,<br />
produced solid results at the boxoffice. The<br />
show consisted of four films. The Dragons"<br />
Vengeance,"" ""Black Belt." ""Kung Fu: Punch<br />
of Death" and ""From China With Death."'<br />
Hecht's Central in Passaic, managed by<br />
Rudy Di Blazio, held a special one-day<br />
showing of Polish films several weeks ago<br />
on a Tuesday ... A live stageshow, entitled<br />
""Planet of the Apes," produced and directed<br />
by promoter Michael Levine, was held on<br />
stage at the Elmora Theatre in Elizabeth for<br />
a Saturday and Sunday kiddies matinee. Admission<br />
was $1.50 for all seats.<br />
Para, and 20th-Fox Films<br />
Win Honors in France<br />
HOLLYWOOD — Paramounts "The<br />
Parallax View" and 20th-Fox's "'Phantom<br />
of the Paradise" have been chosen as the<br />
winners at the third annual Festival de<br />
Film Fantastique in Avoriaz, France.<br />
"Phantom," the outrageous rock comedy<br />
starring Paul Williams, was named Grand<br />
Prix winner and "Parallax." the Alan J.<br />
Pakula production starring Warren Beatty.<br />
was awarded the Grand Prix De La Critique.<br />
Entries in the festival were selected by a<br />
panel of French journalists and presiding<br />
over the jury was film director Roman<br />
Polanski.<br />
Dick Brooks Charts Film<br />
On Life of Paula Murphy<br />
By JOHN COCCHI<br />
NEW YORK—Dubbed the world's fastest<br />
woman on wheels, professional racing<br />
car driver Paula Murphy will be the subject<br />
of a film, ""Bands of Velvet, Nerves of<br />
Steel," to be made independently this summer<br />
on a $1 million budget. The film is<br />
to be produced by the Dick Brooks Organization,<br />
New York-based public relations<br />
firm. Publicist Brooks has gone so far as<br />
to hire a publicist to do promotional work.<br />
An increasing rarity, the trade breakfast<br />
type of press conference was used to help<br />
launch the project. Ms. Murphy, 46. had a<br />
background as a social worker and an engineering<br />
aide at an aeroscope corporation<br />
when she became interested in racing. Al<br />
ready into her 30s when she began her<br />
career in 1959, she won the first ladies" race<br />
that she entered. She became an annual<br />
competitor in the Mobil Transcontinental<br />
Economy Run for eight consecutive years,<br />
after a record of consistent wins in both<br />
men's and women's events held at Southern<br />
California tracks.<br />
Her title as "the fastest woman on<br />
wheels," a term she doesn't particularly<br />
find endearing, was earned when Ms. Murphy<br />
set a record of 258 mph in a jet-powered<br />
dragster at the Bonneville Salt Flats in<br />
Utah. She holds numerous speed records.<br />
Ms. Murphy exhibited a winning personality<br />
at the press conference and, for<br />
the film, will recreate her own driving feats<br />
and act as technical adviser. A popular<br />
actress of boxoffice stature is being sought<br />
to play her. Larry Marcus, who wrote<br />
"Justine" and "Petulia," is writing the<br />
screenplay. As yet, no director has been set.<br />
A leading merchandiser, the Selwyn<br />
Rausch Co., has been engaged to handle all<br />
product tieups for the film. These will include<br />
Paula Murphy dolls, model racing<br />
cars, bubble gum cards and cereal premiums.<br />
Selwyn Rausch also handles merchandise<br />
for the ""Planet of the Af)es" series.<br />
Having driven successfully as part o'<br />
Andy Granatelli's racing team and earned<br />
the further title of "'Miss STP," Ms. Murph\<br />
has curtailed her activities since September<br />
1973. when she broke her neck in ;<br />
Documentary Series Set<br />
PHILADELPHIA—Documentary<br />
films<br />
dealing with subjects ranging from personal<br />
introspection to international war will be<br />
shown in a new series of films at the Annenberg<br />
School of Communications screening<br />
room at the University of Pennsylvania.<br />
Scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. showings on<br />
Wednesdays, admission is $2 and $1 for<br />
students.<br />
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E-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
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BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 E-5
Pa.<br />
. . There<br />
!<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
flmos Vogel, director of the Annenberg<br />
Cinematheque on the University of<br />
Pennsylvania campus, has been named by<br />
the Educational Film Library Ass'n to coordinate<br />
a 90-minute film, "Film As Art,"<br />
for the 1975 American Film Festival.<br />
Vogel's work will be shown during the June<br />
meeting of the festival . . . Localite Stephen<br />
Smart will premiere his film shorts, ranging<br />
from animated vignettes to live-action satirical<br />
interpretations of popular movies, at<br />
the Painted Bride, a local art gallery. His<br />
longest offering will be "Days of Future<br />
Past," a cinematic poem set to music.<br />
Interest in films is being promoted by two<br />
special-interest publications in this area.<br />
"The Drummer," a weekly with a large following<br />
among the college students, couples<br />
a 30-week subscription with two free<br />
passes<br />
to the TTA Cinema, also popular with students<br />
as the center-city tiome of repertory<br />
cinema. And in Trenton, N.J., .American<br />
Jewish Life offers a variety of valuable<br />
"Name the<br />
prizes to winning guessers for its<br />
Flick" contest. Readers are invited to name<br />
the stars shown in old-time movie stills.<br />
Sir Kennetli Clark's six-part series, "Civilization."<br />
dealing with pioneers in modern<br />
painting, will be shown to the public free of<br />
charge on successive Tuesday nights at the<br />
Albright College Campus Theatre in Reading,<br />
sponsored by the college in cooperation<br />
with the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Art<br />
... .At the York campus of Pennsylvania<br />
State University, the second annual film<br />
festival will offer a Friday night series of<br />
film classics ranging from the Mar.x brothers<br />
in "Horse Feathers" to Harold Lloyd's<br />
"High and Dizzy." The eight-week series<br />
has been coordinated by M. Ellis Grove,<br />
professor of theatre arts at the university<br />
and a one-time movie performer who appeared<br />
with Mae West, Buster Keaton,<br />
Marx brothers and later stars. Films will be<br />
shown Friday evenings with a modest admission<br />
charge.<br />
The Hamilton Township (N.J.) Library<br />
issued a descriptive catalog of over 700 film<br />
titles, all 16mm films, which established<br />
clubs in the township—and even registered<br />
adult library patrons are eligible to borrow.<br />
Linda Goldenberg, Budco Theatres publicity<br />
and promotion chief, staged a private<br />
screening at the Top of the Fox screening<br />
room for Ingmar Bergman's "Scenes From<br />
a Marriage" . . . Multi-media producer and<br />
film director Harvey Lloyd was at King's<br />
College in Wilkes-Barre, for a multi-media<br />
workshop, including special effects multicamera<br />
cinematography, which was open to<br />
the<br />
public.<br />
Gena Rowlands was a weekend visitor to<br />
this town, with her actor-director husband<br />
Not getting the service you deserve?<br />
CALL Allied Theatre Equipment Co.^ Inc.<br />
Service . , . the name of the game<br />
We at Allied fee! service is most important. For this reason we have<br />
our own service department, staffed with highly qualified technicians, and<br />
repair shops.<br />
Projection equipment, like any other machinery, needs maintenance,<br />
inspection, parts replaced from time to time.<br />
(WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL)<br />
TRY US, YOU'LL LIKE THE DIFFERENCE!<br />
John Cassavetes, to promote their new film,<br />
"A Woman Under the Influence," opening<br />
at the midtown Duchess Theatre. Another<br />
visitor to town was Paul Newman, making<br />
a rare TV appearance on the syndicated<br />
Mike Douglas show. Anny Duperey, who<br />
plays the wife of Jean Paul Belmondo in<br />
"Stavisky," came to town to promote the<br />
film.<br />
Henry Milgram, executive<br />
vice-president<br />
of Milgram Theatres, has been named chairman<br />
of the bi-annual telethon of the Variety<br />
Club Tent 13. The first assistant chief<br />
barker of the tent, he also chaired the last<br />
telethon, which was held in February 1973.<br />
Staged for the benefit of the Variety Club<br />
Camp for Handicapped Children here, the<br />
by WPVI-TV<br />
telethon will be broadcast live<br />
Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
Qidney J. Cohen, president of NATO of<br />
New York State, advises that a joint<br />
meeting of labor and management was held<br />
in the board room of Loews Theatres on<br />
Fifth Avenue, New York City, with the<br />
exhibitors discussing plans for mutual action<br />
in opposition to the proposed admissions<br />
tax. Cohen then left<br />
for the NATO board of<br />
directors meeting in San Diego, Calif.,<br />
where he visited ShoWc.sT '75, convention<br />
and tradeshow, as well as studio heads in<br />
Hollywood.<br />
Jerry Edelstein, an account executive with<br />
WADV and publicity chairman for the upcoming<br />
Variety telethon, was caught admiring<br />
the big posters on the city's streetcars<br />
plugging that event . were three<br />
special previews of "Lenny"—February 5<br />
in Como 6 theatres, February 7 in the<br />
Plaza North and February 7, in the Como<br />
6 . . . .Attractions look much better on the<br />
new screen bought by Jake Stefanon for his<br />
.Auditorium Theatre in Perry. It was purchased<br />
at National .Screen.<br />
Mannie A. Brown, president of Frontier<br />
Amusement Corp., and Ike Ehrlichman,<br />
treasurer, attended the Crown International<br />
Pictures meetings in the Beverly Hills Hotel<br />
in Southern California. They signed much<br />
of the product for the local and Albany<br />
areas.<br />
SOUND &<br />
PROJECTION<br />
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Mike Ellis and his wife Corinne celebrated<br />
their 55th anniversary recently and the<br />
chairman of the board of Ellis Advertising<br />
had these things to say the other day in the<br />
Evening News;<br />
After 55 years<br />
I still rejoice;<br />
I married my very<br />
First draft choice.<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
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(215) 567-2047<br />
BOSTON<br />
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BALTIMORE<br />
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E-8 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
. . Opening<br />
. . "Report<br />
. . . Roland<br />
—<br />
current<br />
Kodak Sales to New High,<br />
But Net Earnings Dip<br />
ROCHESTER— Eastman Kodak reports<br />
a now high in 1 974 sale; while earnings fell<br />
somewhat below the record level of 1973.<br />
Worldwide sales for 1974 were $4,583,-<br />
629.000 or 14 per cent above 1973 levels.<br />
Net earnings of $629,519,000 registered four<br />
per cent less than 1973 totals. Earnings<br />
equalled $3.90 per share as compared to<br />
$4.05 per share in 1973.<br />
Kodak attributes the lower earnings to a<br />
decline in consumer confidence, increased<br />
operating costs and higher prices for raw<br />
materials.<br />
Fourth quarter sales in 1974 were $1,-<br />
440.510. 12 f)er cent higher than the same<br />
period in 1973 due to the impact of yearlong<br />
selling price increases.<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Wariety Week features for Tent 1 include<br />
the premiere showing here of "Funny<br />
Lady" at the Warner Theatre Tuesday evening<br />
(II), this being a benefit with the Press<br />
Old Newsboys for Children's Hospital. VIP<br />
ticket holders ($10) will attend a champagne<br />
party at the club . . . Bob Finkel. probably<br />
the No. 1 TV producer-director, is preparing<br />
the 50th anniversary salute to Columbia Pictures<br />
for ABC-TV. Bob's mother resides in<br />
this city and his imcle Morris Finkel has<br />
been a leading exhibitor here for years.<br />
Dave Kiinnielman, former veteran Paramount<br />
branch manager here, continues very<br />
active with the Credit Bureau. He's looking<br />
in tip-top condition and keeps interested in<br />
the film business.<br />
Uelnier A. Fcsler, 54, former member and<br />
past secretary of lATSE Local 270 at<br />
Clarksburg, W. Va., died February 12 in<br />
the Veterans .Administration Hospital there.<br />
He started in projection with Charles and<br />
Dale Warner in their circuit operation in<br />
the Mountain .State's Harrison County. Surviving<br />
are his mother Mrs. Virginia Hathaway<br />
Fesler; his wife Mrs. Frances Whitehair<br />
Fesler; son Tom, in the Navy; three<br />
daughters; three sisters, including Mrs. Paul<br />
(Helen) Scranage, whose husband was a projectionist;<br />
three brothers, and five grandchildren.<br />
rhc Squirrel Hill is expected to bring in<br />
"Scenes From a Marriage" when "Lenny"<br />
goes off the screen there . to the<br />
Commissioner" is playing at the Stanley<br />
Theatre . Wednesday (5) is the<br />
exploitable "The Stepford Wives" at the<br />
Kings Court and "Sheila Levine Is Dead and<br />
Living in New 'Vork" at the Forum and<br />
Encore, also to show "The Reincarnation of<br />
Peter Proud" at an early date.<br />
BUX-MONT<br />
Marquees—Signs<br />
LEASING<br />
Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044<br />
Call (215) 676-4444 or 675-1040<br />
BALTIMORE<br />
^ale to remember: Sunday (16) Variety<br />
Club lent 19 will hold its annual Oyster<br />
Roast at Overlea Hall. 6.S()9 Belair Rd. The<br />
buffet will be handled by ihe Overlea<br />
Caterers.<br />
Robert Ncthen, president of Claude Neon<br />
Signs, returned to work February 17 after<br />
a six-month hiatus due to a back disability<br />
which had him hospitalized for awhile.<br />
Don Majborn, president of Cornco, left<br />
Saturday (1) with a group of golfing buffs<br />
to spend a week in Orlando, Fla.. at the<br />
Bay Hills Country Club.<br />
Arthur Hallock, manager of both the<br />
Paramount and Pulaski drive-ins (Schwaber<br />
World-Fare) will enter St. Joseph's Hospital<br />
Monday (4) to remain possibly ten days<br />
for a hernia operation, his second one in<br />
six years. He will be away during the month<br />
of March in order to recuperate. Taking his<br />
managerial post temporarily at the Paramount<br />
will be Martin Huebschman, his assistant<br />
manager, while Robert Goldsmith<br />
will handle the Pulaski Drive-In. The latter<br />
is<br />
assistant manager for the ozoner.<br />
The Baltimore Film Festival organization<br />
held a meeting. Sunday, February 23. Officers<br />
elected for the new year were: Tom<br />
Cripps. president; Lincoln Johnson, vicepresident;<br />
Stuart Rome, secretary; Helen<br />
Cyr, treasurer (of the Enoch Pratt Library<br />
staff), and Harvey Alexander, executive<br />
director.<br />
News of boothmen: Steve Appel. operator.<br />
York Road Cinema (GCC), was married<br />
February 15 and spent his honeymoon in<br />
Gettysburg. Pa. Geographically, he found<br />
that area to be the best place to be alone<br />
at this time of year. He told Roland Bruscup.<br />
president. Local 181, "Nothing much<br />
is going on in Gettysburg, Pa., at this time"<br />
. . . Phil Gaynor, operator, Pulaski Drivein<br />
(Schwaber World Fare Theatres) is leaving<br />
Thursday (7) for a tour of Florida,<br />
where he intends to fish and go sightseeing<br />
Tankersley, for the past three<br />
years vice-president, lATSE Local 181, has<br />
resigned his office due to ill health and presently<br />
is in St. Joseph Hospital for tests and<br />
. . Three couples<br />
X-rays. Serving out his term, meanwhile, is<br />
Ronnie Broseker. projectionist at Schwabers'<br />
Mini-Flicks 1 & II. He was formerly sergeant-at-arms<br />
for the local. At the same<br />
time, taking Broseker's place is Francis<br />
Hackley, projectionist at the Metropolitan<br />
Theatre (also Schwaber) .<br />
are to visit Ocean City Saturday and Sunday<br />
(8, 9) to celebrate Roland Bruscup's birthday.<br />
He's president of LATSE Local 181.<br />
They are: Donald Miller (business agent for<br />
the Local) and his wife Jean; Roland and<br />
his wife Myrtle, and Chester Towers, financial<br />
secretary of the local and his spouse<br />
Doris.<br />
Phil Glazer,<br />
chief of Associated Pictures<br />
Co., commented: " The Life and Times . .<br />
is in an unprecedented sixth week at the<br />
Northway Theatre in this city and the Mini-<br />
.'<br />
Flick II in Pikesville, Md., with no end in<br />
sight" . . . Hemisphere Pictures' new R-rated<br />
combination of "Campus Pussycats" and<br />
"Swinging Models" is set for a Roanoke,<br />
Va.. saturation TV campaign April 4 and<br />
Phil Glazer announced that the combination<br />
will be playing day-and-date in Roanoke,<br />
Danville. Martinsville, Lynchburg, Radford<br />
and Bedford, all in Virginia . . . The latest<br />
boxoffice hit from Associated Pictures Co.,<br />
'Solomon King." is set to open in Washingion.<br />
D.C., April 2, followed by an opening<br />
at the Town Theatre. Baltimore. .April 9 . . .<br />
Joyce Durant, head booker. Associated Pictures,<br />
spent a long Washington's Birthday<br />
weekend visiting her family in Montreal,<br />
Canada. While there, her brother and his<br />
family were introduced to Joyce's son David,<br />
eight years old. for the first time.<br />
A local contingent made up of Fred<br />
Schmuff, executive. F.H. Durkee Enterprises;<br />
Irwin R. Cohen, head of R/C Theatres,<br />
and Mrs. Cohen, attended the national<br />
NATO Board Meeting at the Sheraton Harbor-Island<br />
Hotel in San Diego, Calif.. February<br />
22 through 24.<br />
'Pop Performer' Is Filming<br />
In London for Columbia<br />
LONDON— "Confessions of a Pop Performer,"<br />
contemporary comedy motion picture<br />
based on one of a series of books by<br />
British author Timothy Lea and starring<br />
Robin Askwith, has begun production here<br />
at the EMI Studios in Borehamwood.<br />
A forthcoming Colimibia Pictures release,<br />
the new comedy film, which details<br />
the amorous adventures of a pop music star,<br />
follows the highly successful "Confessions<br />
of a Window Cleaner, " Columbia<br />
release based on a Lea novel.<br />
Greg Smith, who produced the first<br />
"Confessions" film, also is producing "Confessions<br />
of a Pop Performer," with Michael<br />
Klinger again the executive producer. Norman<br />
Cohen, who was co-executive producer<br />
of the original film, is directing the new<br />
motion picture from a screenplay by Christopher<br />
Wood, who also wrote the first<br />
screenplay.<br />
Miss Mary I.<br />
Farley Dies<br />
PRINCETON, N.J.—Miss Mary L Farley,<br />
an independent professional motion<br />
picture producer, died February 18 in<br />
Princeton Medical Center here of cancer-<br />
She was 47 years of age. Surviving are her<br />
mother, two sisters and a brother.<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
r^^J^ Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
i"«^] Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI: REEP REEF TOWEHS • EOGEWATER<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 E-7
WASHINGTON<br />
y^arner Bros.' The Prisoner of Second<br />
Avenue"" will be previewed by area<br />
community leaders at the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America headquarters Wednesday<br />
(5). Irving Biumberg, WB's Philadelphiabased<br />
regional publicist, arranged the special<br />
screening, which will be hosted by local<br />
BoxoFFiCE representative Virginia R. Collier.<br />
Among the civic and cultural groups"<br />
executive boards which are eagerly anticipating<br />
the Melvin Frank production of the<br />
Neil Simon play are: Federation of Women"s<br />
Clubs, National League of American<br />
Pen Women. National Society of Arts and<br />
Letters. National Ass'n of American Composers<br />
and Conductors. Officers' Club of<br />
the United Daughters of the Confederacy<br />
and the Motion Picture Council of the District<br />
of Columbia.<br />
The new WB release, starring Jack Lemmon<br />
and Anne Bancroft, will have a wide<br />
multiple opening Monday (17) . . . WB<br />
salesman Marvin Willner returned from a<br />
swing down to Norfolk. Va.. in the interest<br />
of the new product.<br />
Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Carole<br />
Wells and Ben Vereen are among the celebrities<br />
expected for the world premiere<br />
of "Funny Lady" Sunday (9) at the Kennedy<br />
Center's Eisenhower Theatre, according to<br />
Sid Zins, who is back at Columbia's publicity<br />
department. The premiere is a benefit<br />
for the Special Olympics for Retarded Children,<br />
under the auspices of the Kennedy<br />
Foundation.<br />
William Zoetis,<br />
20th Century-Fox branch<br />
chief, tradescreened "The Terrorists"<br />
MPAA February 26 . . . District Theatres<br />
at<br />
set up a screening of A. S. Csaky's "Rooftop<br />
Odyssey"' and "The Ebony Affair" at<br />
the Capri Theatre February 20. Exhibitors'<br />
bookers attended the showing.<br />
Universal's "Earthquake," which continues<br />
in its exclusive Sensurround showing at<br />
the RKO-Stanley Warner Uptown, set a<br />
house record in its 14th week. It has been<br />
learned that "Earthquake" is shattering<br />
grosses worldwide . . . "The Ra Expeditions"<br />
has a saturation booking (over 75<br />
situations) starting at month's end.<br />
A Wednesday (26) opening has been set<br />
for American Mulli Cinema"s Academy 6,<br />
which has a total of 1.780 seats. The Kansas<br />
City-based sixplex is in the Beltway Plaza<br />
on Greenbelt Road. Three auditoriums each<br />
have 340 seats, two have 280 each and one<br />
has 200 seats. Jerry Esbin is booker-buyer<br />
for the AMC complex.<br />
Herbert Schwartz, formerly International<br />
Amusement Corp. Eastern division manager.<br />
effective Tuesday (4) will head his Herbert<br />
Schwartz Enterprises. As an independent<br />
distributor. Schwartz will continue to handle<br />
the Washington-Philadelphia territory for<br />
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GET THE BIG HITS<br />
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19 W. Mt. Royal Ave.<br />
Baltimore, Md. 21201<br />
lAC and distribute for Cinema 5. Trans-Vuc<br />
and HG Entertainment, as well as acquire<br />
new product<br />
Patty Fabrizio was named K-B Theatres<br />
director of special events to fill the vacancy<br />
caused by Charles Demma's retirement . . .<br />
Robert Folliard. Bob Folliard Films, is setting<br />
playdates for "Dragon Squad" and<br />
"The .Specialist" here, in Norfolk. Va.; in<br />
Richmond. Va.. and in Baltimore. "Ladies<br />
& Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones." which he<br />
likewise distributes, continues to receive<br />
favorable reaction from audiences and is<br />
enjoying good boxoffice.<br />
George Eastman Inducted<br />
In Business Hall of Fame<br />
CHICAGO—The contributions of George<br />
Eastman to the worlds of photography and<br />
business were honored here recently<br />
with his induction into the Hall of Fame<br />
for Business Leadership. Eastman was one<br />
of 15 American business pioneers and four<br />
living executives who were honored in<br />
ceremonies sponsored by Junior Achievement,<br />
Inc.<br />
Walter A. Fallon, Kodak president and<br />
chief executive officer, accepted the award<br />
"on behalf of the many thousands of<br />
individuals who have been a part of Kodak<br />
and the many millions who have benefitted<br />
from George Eastman's vision."<br />
Said Fallon, "As one who sees every day<br />
what wisdom and extraordinary insight he<br />
instilled in the Eastman Kodak Co., I<br />
know how honored and proud he would<br />
have been to be elected to the Hall of<br />
Fame for Business Leadership."<br />
Junior Achievement is the nation's oldest<br />
economic program for youth. In 250 organizations<br />
across the country, Junior Achieveers<br />
learn first-hand what business is all<br />
about by capitalizing, operating and, finall>.<br />
liquidating their own miniature companies.<br />
The awards banquet concluded a<br />
day-long national business leadership conference<br />
that recognized the vital role of<br />
business in the growth of our country and<br />
demonstrated the interest of business in<br />
the development of America's yoimg people.<br />
Philosophies that guided Eastman which<br />
are still inherent operating principles of<br />
Kodak were cited as reasons for his selection.<br />
They included his desire to make<br />
photography possible for every man, woman<br />
and child, both economically and technical-<br />
ly-<br />
Lee ARTOE WATER COOLED' CONTACTS<br />
1243W. BELMONT CHICAGO<br />
ASHCRAKT<br />
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George Fisher Feted<br />
At RMMPA Meeting<br />
DKNVER—Ucorgc hislicr. who retired<br />
as film buyer lor Highland Theatres, was<br />
honored at a recent meeting of the Rocky<br />
Vera C'ockrill, left, official of the<br />
Rocky Moiiiilain Motion Pichire Ass'n,<br />
presents a retirement gift to George<br />
Fisher and his wife Marj'. Fisher retired<br />
as film buyer for Highland I'heatres,<br />
Denver. The gift was an engraved<br />
silver wine cooler.<br />
Mountain Motion Picture Ass'n. In appreciation<br />
of his activities as a member, he and<br />
his wife Mary were presented with a lovely<br />
engraved silver wine cooler. Fisher had been<br />
with Highland Theatres since 1970.<br />
Prior to that. Fisher was with Metro-<br />
Goldvvyn-Mayer for 31 years. His jobs there<br />
included positions as assistant manager of<br />
the West Coast division. He later served as<br />
branch manager of MGM offices in Dallas<br />
and Oklahoma City before coming to Denver<br />
as branch chief in 1962, where he<br />
stayed five years.<br />
Born in Marshall, Mo., Fisher served in<br />
the Army's engineer corps in Europe during<br />
World War II.<br />
Al Camillo Is Installed<br />
As Tent 32 Chief Barker<br />
SAN FRANCI.SCO — Al Camillo of<br />
Westside-Valley was installed as chief barker<br />
of Variety Club Tent i2 in ceremonies<br />
at the Garden Lounge of Del Webb's<br />
Townehouse Wednesday, February 19. Over<br />
85 Filmrowites attended the luncheon and<br />
heard a rousing extemporaneous speech<br />
from Robert Lippert sr. urging an active<br />
commitment of all members in the new<br />
term, lippert is on the board of canvasmen,<br />
along with Mike Powers, first assistant<br />
barker, and Jim Barry, Ray Richmond,<br />
Bob Honahan. Jim Peirson, Pete Vigna,<br />
Ben Bonaparte, Homer Tegtmeier and Peter<br />
DeCenzie.<br />
Outgoing chief barker Richard Naify was<br />
presented a handsome scroll commemorating<br />
his two-year term in which both the<br />
Variety Clubs International convention was<br />
hosted and the moving of club headquarters<br />
was accomplished.<br />
A scroll also was presented to Al Grubstick<br />
for overseeing the 1974 theatre-audience<br />
collective drive, which raised over<br />
$21,000 for the Blind Babies Foundation.<br />
Selig Terms Inaccurate City Report<br />
That LA Theatres Unsafe in<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Robert Selig, president<br />
of NATO of California and executive assistant<br />
to the president of Pacific Theatres,<br />
protested a report by Robert Williams, Los<br />
Angeles building and safety chief, which<br />
said 70 to SO theatres in the city would have<br />
to be demolished because they are not earthquake<br />
proof. Selig said there were numerous<br />
inaccuracies in<br />
the report, such as the listing<br />
of a four-year-old Westwood theatre as a<br />
pre- 1 9.34 building.<br />
Said Selig, "What disturbed me was where<br />
he made a flat statement that half the theatres<br />
in Los Angeles would have to be torn<br />
down. That's pretty scary—it's pretty much<br />
headline material."<br />
Williams admitted there might be some<br />
inaccuracies in the preliminary report following<br />
a public hearing in Van Nuys Tuesday,<br />
February 18. At that meeting Selig was<br />
unsuccessful in getting a six-month delay<br />
on condemnation proceedings but he predicted<br />
the final list would be much smaller<br />
when carefully investigated.<br />
To charges by Williams that "these are<br />
still hazardous buildings ... in case of an<br />
earthquake, these unreinforced masonry<br />
buildings are the first ones to collapse," Selig<br />
Gratitude was extended to the Women<br />
of Variety and their $33,000 contribution<br />
from operation of the Blind Babies Bazaar<br />
and to the WOMPIs for their many service<br />
hours.<br />
Werner Chilberg, warehouse foreman at<br />
United Artists Theatre Circuit, was the<br />
lucky winner of the jade pendant necklace<br />
raffled by the Variety Club. The appraised<br />
value is over $2,000 but, according to<br />
Werner, it's not for sale!<br />
Jerome Forman to Chair<br />
Tent 25's Arkoff Fete<br />
BEVERLY HILLS—Jerome A.<br />
Forman,<br />
vice-president and general manager of<br />
Pacific Theatres, has been named general<br />
chairman of the Variety Club of Southern<br />
California Tent 25 testimonial luncheon<br />
for Samuel Z. Arkoff to be held Wednesday<br />
(5) in the Beverly Hilton's Grand Ballroom.<br />
Arkoff, board chairman and president of<br />
American International Pictures, will be<br />
honored for his 20 years of "dedicated<br />
support of Variety Clubs' continuous programs<br />
toward helping needy children."<br />
Gene Kelly Receives Award<br />
As "The Complete Artist"<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Gene Kelly was presented<br />
with the first annual La Sallian<br />
Ambassador Award at a dinner ceremony<br />
at the Huntington Sheraton Hotel in Pasadena<br />
February 28.<br />
The award, presented by the Christian<br />
Brothers educational organization, named<br />
Kelly "the complete artist" and cited him<br />
for his "great moral integrity in life and<br />
devotion to Catholic principles."<br />
Quake<br />
pointed out that not one movie house in<br />
Los Angeles or San Fernando (where the<br />
1971 quake was centered) reported any<br />
structural damage.<br />
"Those theatres in San Fernando didn't<br />
fall down. They didn't have a crack in<br />
them," Selig said. "As you know, the whole<br />
credo of the theatre business is public safety.<br />
Our desire is to cooperate to the fullest<br />
with the city. We don't want anything to<br />
happen but we want the list to be accurate<br />
before any public statements are made that<br />
half the theatres in Los Angeles probably<br />
will have to be torn down."<br />
The check of the theatres was ordered<br />
by Councilman Robert Wilkinson's building<br />
and safety committee to facilitate consideration<br />
of an ordinance submitted last October<br />
by Councilman Art Snyder which called<br />
for demolition of theatres failing to meet<br />
standards established after the 1933 Long<br />
Beach earthquake. Selig said in conversations<br />
with Wilkinson he had the councilman's<br />
assurance that when and if the ordinance<br />
comes to the floor it will not be<br />
discriminatory but will apply the same standards<br />
to city buildings, churches and other<br />
places of assembly.<br />
Testimony Has Begun<br />
In 'Bordello' Trial<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Pussycat Theatres president<br />
Vincent .Miranda and two of his employees<br />
have gone on trial in San Bernardino<br />
County for allegedly showing an obscene<br />
motion picture, the X-rated feature "Bordello."<br />
which played at the Pussycat Ritz in<br />
August 1974. The Hon. Donald E. Van-<br />
Luven is the presiding judge in the municipal<br />
court.<br />
Miranda, who was the defendant in the<br />
widely publicized Beverly Hills "Deep<br />
Throat" trial, has operated his adult motion<br />
picture circuit for the past 13 years.<br />
Recently Los Angeles City Atty. Burt<br />
Pines requested that the state legislature rewrite<br />
the current obscenity statutes to prevent<br />
the state of California from wasting<br />
the taxpayers' money in the "obscenity quagmire."<br />
"Deep Throat" cost taxpayers over<br />
$250,000, he noted.<br />
Attorney Robert Carter McDaniel of the<br />
law firm of Fleishman, McDaniel, Brown &<br />
Wciton said the San Bernadino trial is proceeding,<br />
even though a panel of three federal<br />
judges in Los Angeles recently handed down<br />
an opinion that there is no valid obscenity<br />
statute in the state. Miranda is scheduled<br />
to be present at a hearing on this issue in<br />
the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington,<br />
D.C.. in a few weeks.<br />
LAS VEGAS, N.M.—Frank Maloof,<br />
owner of the Kiva-Campus Theatre, 814<br />
7th St., announces that he has completely<br />
remodeled the house.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3. 1975 W-1
Hollywood<br />
\/^ALTER SCHARF has been signed by<br />
Charles A. Pratt, producer of "Walking<br />
Tall, Part II," to compose, conduct and<br />
arrange the music for the BCP production<br />
for AIP release domestically and Avco Embassy<br />
release overseas.<br />
•<br />
Michael Small has been signed to compose<br />
and conduct the score for "The<br />
Drowning Pool," the Coleytown production<br />
for Warner Bros, release.<br />
•<br />
Radnitz/ Mattel's "Where the Lilies<br />
Bloom" has been awarded the Christopher<br />
Award for motion pictures for 1974. Radnitz<br />
was guest of honor at the Catholic<br />
organization's award ceremonies in New<br />
York Thursday, February 27.<br />
*<br />
Francis Ford Coppola attended the Belgrade<br />
Film Festival in conjunction with the<br />
official-entry screening of his "The Conversation"<br />
and a retrospective of his previous<br />
films.<br />
•<br />
Writer-producer Steve Shagan has donated<br />
to the University of Southern California<br />
original manuscripts from his awardwinning<br />
"Save the Tiger" and his most recent<br />
project, "A City of Angels." "A City<br />
of Angels" recently has been completed<br />
and retitled "Hustle" for release.<br />
•<br />
"Norma Jean Wants to Be a Movie Star,"<br />
tune penned by Haven Records artist Johnny<br />
Cunningham, will be used as the title<br />
tune for Austamerican's "Goodbye, Norma<br />
Jean," according to director Larry Buchanan.<br />
*<br />
Modern Film Effects has been signed by<br />
producers Michael Goldman and Al Adamson<br />
to do the titles for "Jessie's Girls," feature<br />
film directed by Adamson.<br />
*<br />
To increase production activity, Larry<br />
Harmon Pictures Corp. has appointed veteran<br />
motion picture and TV executive Louis<br />
M. "Deke" Heyward executive vice-president<br />
in charge of international production.<br />
•<br />
Gordon Stulberg, who resigned at the end<br />
of 1974 as president of 20th Century-Fox,<br />
is returning to law with plans to join Mitchell,<br />
Silberberg & Kupp, a Los Angeles film<br />
industry-associated law firm.<br />
•<br />
The cast of the 1941 "Adventures of<br />
Captain Marvel" serial gathered together<br />
again Wednesday, February 26, for induction<br />
into the Motion Picture Hall of Fame.<br />
Ceremonies took place at the MPHF home<br />
in Anaheim, with film personalities Richard<br />
Arlen and William Wellman on hand. "Ca|>tain<br />
Marvel" cast members inducted were<br />
Frank Coghlan, Louise Currie and William<br />
Benedict; stuntmen Dave Sharpe and Tom<br />
Steele, and director William Witney. Tom<br />
Tyler, who played Captain Marvel, died in<br />
1954. He was honored posthumously. Veteran<br />
film director George Marshall, who<br />
Happenings<br />
died February 17, was inducted into the<br />
Motion Picture Hall of Fame just prior to<br />
his death.<br />
*<br />
Oscar winner Dorothy Jeakins has been<br />
set by producer George Barrie to design<br />
costumes for "I Will, I Will . . . For Now."<br />
•<br />
The Burbank Studios celebrated its third<br />
birthday Friday, February 21, with news<br />
from TBS president Robert K. Hagel that<br />
the fourth-year production schedule appears<br />
to be even stronger than that of the<br />
third year.<br />
•<br />
Universal's "Earthquake" has been selected<br />
as the term subject of Leon Roth's<br />
use Cinema Department class on "The<br />
Art and Industry of a Film."<br />
•<br />
John W. Findlater, MCA vice-president<br />
and president of MCA Disco-Vision, is participating<br />
in "Audio/Video Update— 1975,"<br />
being held through Thursday (6) in Tucson.<br />
•<br />
Angle Dickinson and Greg Morris have<br />
been signed by producer-director Philip<br />
Abbott to narrate two of Abbott's Nelson<br />
Co. "Under the Law" features.<br />
*<br />
"Six Tickets to Hell" is the new title for<br />
"Temple of the Ravens," General Film<br />
Corp. of Buenos Aires feature now Icnsing<br />
in Argentina.<br />
*<br />
George Barrie, president of Brut Productions,<br />
has promoted C. O. "Doc" Erickson<br />
to vice-president of production/ operations<br />
for the company.<br />
*<br />
Producer Jerry Bick has completed principal<br />
photography in Vancouver on "Kosygin<br />
Is Coming" and began post-production at<br />
Goldwyn Studios. Lou Lombardo is director<br />
of the Avco Embassy Pictures release.<br />
*<br />
Richard Williams, who is creating the<br />
animated titles for Blake Edwards' "The<br />
Return of the Pink Panther," also will design<br />
the cover for Henry Mancini's RCA<br />
soundtrack from the picture.<br />
•<br />
Principal photography has been completed<br />
on "Hustle," the RoBurt production<br />
for Paramount Pictures starring Burt<br />
Reynolds and Catherine Deneuve.<br />
•<br />
Mort Litwack, vice-president of International<br />
Cinemedia Center, Montreal-based<br />
production company, is meeting here with<br />
John Kemeny, president of the company, to<br />
discuss expansion of the organization's 1975-<br />
76 program.<br />
•<br />
Dubbing is under way on "Funny Lady"<br />
for Columbia and "Desert and Wilderness"<br />
for Ektran Associates at Samuel Goldwyn<br />
Studios.<br />
•<br />
Doubleday has commissioned Gordon<br />
and Mildred Gordon to pen two additional<br />
novels as a result of the success of "Catnapped,"<br />
sequel to<br />
"That Dam Cat."<br />
•<br />
Creative Artists Agency has named Bookman<br />
Management of New York as its East<br />
Coast representative.<br />
•<br />
Work toward finding the cause of myasthenia<br />
gravis will continue, thanks to a<br />
special emergency grant of $20,000 from<br />
the Permanent Charities Committee of the<br />
Entertainment Industries.<br />
•<br />
Elected to the board of directors of the<br />
Columbia-Warner Bros. Federal Credit<br />
Union were Seymour Yack, president; John<br />
Nownes, first vice-president; Joan Taylor,<br />
second vice-president; Tom Treloggen,<br />
treasurer; Harvey Berg, first assistant treasurer;<br />
Lillian Wilson, secretary, and Jay Ballance.<br />
Bill Hunt and Bill Schlosser, board<br />
members.<br />
•<br />
Robert Young will be honored by the<br />
Hollywood Radio & TV Society as its "Man<br />
of the Year" at its 15th annual International<br />
Broadcasting Awards presentation dinner at<br />
the Century Plaza Tuesday (11).<br />
*<br />
A celebrity tennis tournament and golf<br />
classic will highlight the second annual<br />
Black Athletes Hall of Fame convention<br />
and awards dinner Tuesday through Thursday<br />
(1 1-1.^) at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.<br />
•<br />
Jack Lemmon's 50th birthday was celebrated<br />
at 12 noon February 19 in the<br />
Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New<br />
York by the New York chapter of the<br />
National Academy of Television Arts and<br />
Sciences. Lemmon was in New York in connection<br />
with the forthcoming release of his<br />
new Warner Bros. film. "The Prisoner of<br />
Second Avenue."<br />
Ho/LA WOMPIs Schedule<br />
Installation Banquet<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The board of<br />
directors<br />
of the Hollywood/ Los Angeles WOMPI<br />
Club convened at the home of bulletin<br />
chairman Marjorie Karl and among projects<br />
discussed was a fund-raising party to<br />
be held Saturday (29). Proceeds will go to<br />
the Motion Picture Country House & Hospital.<br />
In other business, Betty Rose, chairman<br />
for the June installation, reported on various<br />
hotels that are available for the event.<br />
The board selected the Miramar Hotel in<br />
Santa Monica as the site for the June 28<br />
installation and awards banquet.<br />
Four members of the club have been<br />
asked to serve on WOMPI International<br />
committees. They are: Marjorie Karl (20th-<br />
Fox), Will Rogers Memorial Hospital committee;<br />
Elena Vassar (20th-Fox), bylaws<br />
committee; Shirley Hollingsworth (Abajian<br />
Associates), publicity committee, and June<br />
Rose Marlow (Scandia Publications) is the<br />
international industry service chairman.<br />
Club president Evelyn Gordon congratulated<br />
the four on behalf of the entire membership.<br />
W-2 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
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BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975<br />
W-3<br />
Al Goldstein<br />
SCREW
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
— ——<br />
—<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
J^obert Steuer,<br />
American International Pictures<br />
Southern division sales manager,<br />
returned from Dallas, New Orleans and<br />
Charlotte, where he set releases of "The<br />
Wild Party." "The McCullochs" and Edgar<br />
Rice Burroughs' "The Land That Time Forgot."<br />
Duke Crosby, 23-year-old City College<br />
theatre arts major, has been named director<br />
of distribution operations for the Mayfair<br />
Film Group by president Richard Chase.<br />
The Beverly Canon Theatre has been put<br />
up for sale by owner Lillian Rosener, wife<br />
of the late Herbert Rosener, who acquired<br />
the house in 1940.<br />
Mike Kelly, a graduate of business affairs<br />
from Indiana University and with five<br />
years' distribution experience with United<br />
Artists in Dallas and Atlanta, has joined<br />
New World Pictures. He will work with<br />
NWP sales manager Steve Caplan and will<br />
be based here.<br />
. . .<br />
The biggest midweek opening in the history<br />
of the Bruin Theatre took place February<br />
19 when Columbia Pictures' "Shampoo"<br />
was unspooled . . . The appointment of Ed<br />
Harris as Dallas branch manager for Buena<br />
Vista, effective immediately, was announced<br />
by Irving H. Ludwig, president<br />
Seaberg Film Distributing has acquired for<br />
distribution "Lucky Pierre," one of the topgrossing<br />
French films of the year.<br />
The Lee Van Cleef starrer, "Beyond the<br />
Law," has been acquired for U.S. and Canadian<br />
theatrical distribution by World Wide<br />
Films.<br />
Lenore Sherriff, wife of Jack Sherriff of<br />
Goldstone Films of Los Angeles, died<br />
Wednesday evening, February 19. Services<br />
were held February 23 at Mount Sinai<br />
Cemetery.<br />
A consultant service fimi for independent<br />
filmmakers has been formed by Herb Honis<br />
and Don Butler. Called Filmarketing Group,<br />
the company will specialize in ad campaigns,<br />
publicity, specialized marketing promotions<br />
and production packaging. They'll negotiate<br />
domestic and foreign distribution deals as<br />
well.<br />
An awards committee of 24 has been selected<br />
for the first annual Best Photographed<br />
College Film Awards of 1974, to be held<br />
May 19 by the American Society of Cinematographers.<br />
Stanley Cortez, ASC awards<br />
committee chairman, named cinematographers<br />
Lee Garmes and Winton C. Hoch as co-<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
don't miss the famous<br />
[jl[jg]H[jjt<br />
[hawah' Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
15?£: Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER<br />
chairmen of the awards dinner, which will<br />
be held at the ASC's headquarters building<br />
in Hollywood. Entries from more than 100<br />
colleges and universities across the<br />
U.S. will<br />
be screened by the ASC committee. The<br />
entry deadline for .Vimm and 16mm films<br />
is Monday (31).<br />
The flu bug has been hitting Los Angeles<br />
with a<br />
vengeance. Ho/LA WOMPI victims<br />
include Ellie Vassar, Vini White and Lili<br />
Beaudin, to whom industryites send best<br />
wishes for an early recovery . . . Ho/LA<br />
WOMPI community service chairman Lee<br />
Hanna celebrated a birthday Valentine's<br />
Day. Happy birthdav wishes from all the<br />
WOMPIs!<br />
"Lisztomania," written and directed by<br />
Ken Russell and starring former pop idol<br />
Roger Daltrey, Sara Kestelman, Paul Nicholas,<br />
Ringo Starr, John Justin and Fiona<br />
Lewis, will be distributed worldwide, excluding<br />
Italy, by Warner Bros. The film began<br />
lensing near London at the beginning of the<br />
month.<br />
Charles Powell, vice-president, worldwide<br />
advertising, publicity and exploitation, and<br />
Buddy Young, worldwide director of advertising,<br />
publicity and exploitation, appointed<br />
recently to the posts at Columbia Pictures<br />
by Andrew Fogelson. executive vice-president<br />
and assistant to the president, reported<br />
February 18 to the company's headquarters<br />
offices at the Burbank Studios to assume<br />
their new duties.<br />
Robert Cross has been appointed director<br />
of marketing and advertising for Mayfair<br />
Film Group, according to Richard Chase,<br />
president. He will be responsible for all promotional<br />
activities for "That'll Be the Day,"<br />
"Mahler" and "Swastika" and "Double<br />
Headed Eagle." two documentaries on Nazi<br />
Germany. Cross continues to own and operate<br />
Crossroads, a marketing consultant<br />
agency.<br />
"My Sister, My Love," starring Susan<br />
Strasberg and Natalie Delon, is set for early<br />
1975 release with U.S. and Canadian theatrical<br />
distribution through World Wide<br />
Films.<br />
Paramount's acclaimed "Chinatown" was<br />
re-introduced to Los Angeles movie audiences<br />
in a multiple-theatre release starting<br />
February 26 in neighborhood theatres<br />
throughout the Southland.<br />
BV Int'l Elects D. A. Escen<br />
V-P, Financial Adm.<br />
BURBANK. CALIF.—Donald A. Escen,<br />
assistant treasurer and assistant controller<br />
of Walt Disney Productions, has been<br />
elected to the additional title of vice-president—financial<br />
administration and treasurer<br />
of Buena Vista International, the<br />
company's foreign theatrical and TV distribution<br />
subsidiary.<br />
Escen will be responsible for all foreign<br />
financial affairs of the company.<br />
'Shampoo' Is Sudsy<br />
750 in LA Debut<br />
LOS ANGELES—-Shampoo," Warren<br />
Beatty's newest feature, sudsed its way to<br />
the top of the Hollywood offerings with a<br />
magic 750 at the Bruin. In second place was<br />
former winner "Earthquake" with 400 in a<br />
fifteenth week. Third place was a three-way<br />
tie: "Emmanuelle." "Alice Doesn't Live<br />
Here Anymore," and "Stardust" all 340 in<br />
holdover weeks. Fourth was claimed by<br />
"Stavisky" with 300 at the Beverly. "The<br />
Stepford Wives." which opened last week<br />
with 260. dropped to 145 at two theatres.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Avco Cmemo Center 1, Egyptian The Towering<br />
Inferno (WB '20th-Fox), 10th wk<br />
.235<br />
Avco Cinema Center 2 RoHerty and the Gold<br />
Dust Twins (WB), 2nd wk 65<br />
Beverly Stavisky (SR), 3rd wk 300<br />
Brum Shampoo [Col) 750<br />
Chinese Earthquake (Univ), 15th wk 400<br />
Cinerama Dome Report to the Commissioner<br />
(UA), 4th wk 120<br />
Crest, Hollywood Paramount Murder on the<br />
Orient Express (Para), 9th wk 175<br />
Fine Arts Emmanuelle 'Col), 2nd wk 340<br />
Fox Wilshire A Woman Under the Influence<br />
(SR), nth wk 175<br />
Los Feliz Love at the Top (SR), 2nd wk 100<br />
Music Hall Scenes From a Marriage (SR),<br />
16th wk 235<br />
Pantoges, National The Godfather, Part II<br />
fPara), 10th wk 140<br />
Plaza Lenny (UA), 15th wk 140<br />
Plitt Century 2 The Strongest Man in the World<br />
(BV), 2nd wk 65<br />
Pussycat The Life and Times . . . (SR),<br />
6th wk 160<br />
Regent Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (WB)<br />
2nd wk 340<br />
Royal Les Violons Du Bal (SR), 4th wk 155<br />
UA Cinema 4 Antonio: A Portrait of the Woman<br />
(SR), 4th wk 70<br />
Village, Hollywood Pacific The Stepford Wives<br />
(Col), 2nd wk 145<br />
Vine Rape Squad (AlP); They Call Her One-Eye<br />
(AlP) ....125<br />
Westwood Stardust (Col), 3rd wk 340<br />
"Young Frankenstein' Has 280;<br />
'Gone in 60 Seconds' 450 in Bow<br />
DENVER— "Young Frankenstein" was<br />
the top first run of the week with 280 in an<br />
eighth frame at the Colorado. "Gone in 60<br />
Seconds" was the top opener with a fantastic<br />
450 at four theatres here. The action-adventure<br />
film topped such hits as "Earthquake."<br />
"Freebie and the Bean," "Murder<br />
on the Orient Express" and "The Godfather,<br />
Part II." "The Towering Inferno" in an<br />
eighth week rated 240. "That'll Be the Day"<br />
pulled in 150 in its debut.<br />
Aladdin Earthquake (Univ), 13th wk 200<br />
Centre Freebie and the Bean (WB), 7th wk 115<br />
Century 21 Murder on the Orient Express (Para),<br />
4th wk<br />
, 200<br />
Colorado Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox),<br />
8th wk 280<br />
Colorado Thot'll Be the Day (SR) 90<br />
Continental The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB/20th-Fox), 8th wk 240<br />
Cooper ^The Front Page (Univ), 8th wk 120<br />
Four theatres Gone in 60 Seconds (SR) 450<br />
Three theatres The Godfather, Part II (Para),<br />
8th wk 80<br />
University Hills Harry & Tonto t20th-Fox),<br />
1 7th wk 1 50<br />
Jay Kanter Joins 20th-Fox<br />
As V-P for Production<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Jay Kanter has been<br />
named vice-president, production, at 20th<br />
Centur\-Fox, it was announced by Dennis<br />
C. Stanfill, chairman of the board and chief<br />
executive officer. The appointment is subject<br />
to approval by the company's board<br />
of directors at its next meeting.<br />
Prior to joining 20th-Fox, Kanter, 48,<br />
was a vice-president at MCA, Inc. He<br />
was with MCA more than 20 years.<br />
W-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
-<br />
1975 Editions—Ready Now<br />
MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC<br />
1975, 46th Edition<br />
The only annual source book that puts<br />
at your fingertips: all feature releases<br />
since 1955, an up-to-date Who's Who<br />
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circuits, Equipment and Services listings,<br />
history of Polls and Awards and<br />
World Market statistics. This edition<br />
gives full credit coverage of the year's<br />
releases through July 1974. Indispensable<br />
for executives and/or buffs. (If<br />
purchased separately $21.50)<br />
TELEVISION ALMANAC 1975<br />
20th Edition<br />
All the essential facts about Television.<br />
The Who's Who section of leading talent<br />
and Executive biographies has more<br />
than 350 new names. Detailed sections<br />
of major Producers/Distributors, Networks,<br />
TV Programs, a state by state<br />
listing of TV stations. Ad agencies.<br />
Services, World Market statistics and<br />
Poll and Award winners since 1949.<br />
Essential whether you work in television<br />
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MOTION PICTURE PRODUCT<br />
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reviews, the editor's often controversial<br />
column AT RANDOM, release date<br />
charts, ratings of current films box<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 W-5
Welcome<br />
!<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
Qolunibia's 'And Now for Something<br />
Completely Different" broke all house<br />
records at John Buckley's Cento Cedar<br />
Cinema in the first week of its local exclusive<br />
engagement. The outrageous comedy,<br />
based on the BBC "Monty Python" TV<br />
series, rolled in over $14,000 in the 300-<br />
scat house, outgrossing the previous record<br />
holder, "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,"<br />
by a full $3,000. Buckley attributes much<br />
of the attention to a rave review by Chronicle<br />
critic Bernard Weiner.<br />
Effective Tuesday (4) all theatres operated<br />
by General Theatrical Co. will be<br />
booked by Jerry Collins of Westland Theatres.<br />
Ben Levin cites the following theatres<br />
in this area as affected: In San Jose, the<br />
Garden and Jose; in Placerville, the Se<br />
Rancho Drive-In, and in Roseville, the<br />
Tower. Roseville and Citrus Heights Drive-<br />
In .. . to Barry London, Paramount's<br />
new branch manager. Barry arrived<br />
from Kansas City, where he was sales manager.<br />
He started with Paramount in Los<br />
Angeles only four years ago.<br />
Charles Maestri currently is spending a<br />
well-dcscrved vacation in the Hawaiian sunshine<br />
with his wife Siria.<br />
Marquee changes Wednesday (5): "The<br />
Nickel Ride" at the St. Francis, Mission<br />
Drive-In and Serramonte; "Breezy" at the<br />
Empire, Alhambra, Warfield, Four Star and<br />
Spruce Drive-In, and "Hearts and Minds"<br />
at the Surf.<br />
"The Man in the Glass Booth," second<br />
offering of the American Film Theatre's<br />
second season, was shown February 24-25<br />
at the Larkin, Castro and Balboa theatres.<br />
SEATTLE<br />
Tom Stanford, advertising director for<br />
Sterling Recreation Organization, was working<br />
on the campaign for the ski movie "The<br />
Ultimate Thrill," which opened February<br />
26 at the Lake City, Lewis and Clark,<br />
Lynn and Belvue theatres. A major promotion<br />
has been set up for the local run of<br />
"The Ultimate Thrill," the film's second engagement<br />
in the U.S. Stanford also reports<br />
that SRO is preparing its annual Academy<br />
Awards contest in conjunction with KJR<br />
Radio.<br />
Ralph Osgood, manager of GCC's Renton<br />
Village Cinema I and II, arranged a<br />
citywide coloring contest in the Today newspapers<br />
for the special matinees-only showings<br />
of "George!" at the five GCC theatres<br />
in the area Saturday and Sunday (1, 2).<br />
RCil<br />
Theatre<br />
Service<br />
The nation's finest for 40 years<br />
RCA Service Company<br />
A Division of RCA<br />
1501 Beach Street, Montebello, Calif. 90640<br />
Phone: (213) 685-3079<br />
Antonia Brico, one of the few women<br />
conductors in the world and subject of a<br />
new documentary film. "Antonia: A Portrait<br />
of the Woman." spoke February 1 1 at<br />
Richardson Hall. Dr. Brico grew up in Oakland<br />
and now conducts the Brico Symphony<br />
Orchestra in Denver. Her appearance marked<br />
the February 12 opening of the film<br />
at the Lumiere. Mel Novikoff's third link<br />
in his Surf-Clay circuit of specialized film<br />
houses . . . Other first-time releases in<br />
this city February 12 were: "The Stepford<br />
Wives." Alhambra, Coliseum, Tanforan<br />
Park and Serramonte; "Sheila Levine."<br />
Metro 1; "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,"<br />
Alhambra; "Bogard," St. Francis;<br />
"Mr. Ricco," Golden Gate, Royal and<br />
Metro 2; "The Strongest Man in the<br />
World," Stonestown, Tanforan Park and El<br />
Rancho Drive-In. and "Bruce Lee and 1."<br />
Warfield. Grand. Serramonte and El Rancho<br />
Drive-In.<br />
A tribute series honoring writer-director<br />
Preston Sturges is under way at Allen<br />
Michaan's Renaissance Rialto Twin theatres<br />
in Berkeley. Michaan's sampler provides<br />
a survey of Sturges' richest period, the late<br />
'30s and early '40s with Paramount: "The<br />
Lady Eve," "Sullivan's Travels," "The<br />
Great McGinty," "Palm Beach Story," "Hail<br />
the Conquering Hero" and "Easy Living."<br />
Vern Schwinn of the Portervillc Drive-ln<br />
cheered rainstruck Filmrow with oranges<br />
from his own sunny Southern California<br />
trees . . . State Theatre, owners Aldo Baccala<br />
and Peter Grauert, Auburn, have engaged<br />
Verne Zeesman of Motion Picture<br />
Counseling to act as their buying and booking<br />
agent.<br />
American International Pictures screened<br />
"The Land That Time Forgot" at the Jewel<br />
Box screening room on Filmrow February<br />
12 Opening to very favorable crowds<br />
. . .<br />
were "Murder on the Orient Express," UA<br />
Cinema 70; "Lenny." Music Box, and<br />
"Young Frankenstein." in four SRO houses.<br />
Dorothy Matin hosted the American Film<br />
Theatre screening of "The Man in the Glass<br />
Booth" at the Jewel Box February 14 . . .<br />
Ms. Matin has been appointed to the Committee<br />
for Motion Picture Production in<br />
the state of Washington by Gov. Dan Evans<br />
and Hank Pearson of the Office of Economic<br />
Development. She is involved with a<br />
presentation that the committee will offer in<br />
Los Angeles April 3 for the Directors Guild<br />
of America and the Producers Guild of<br />
America. A special cocktail party and luncheon<br />
is planned at the Century Plaza Hotel.<br />
This is the first time the state of Washington<br />
has attempted a presentation of this type.<br />
Disney Productions' "TTie<br />
Strongest Man<br />
in the World" is reporting excellent business<br />
at the Sno-King Drive-In, Aurora Cinema,<br />
Bellevue Crossroads Cinema, Renton Village<br />
Cinema and Valley Drivc-In. The G-ralcd<br />
lilni opened February 14.<br />
'EARTHQUAKE' VISIT—Manager<br />
Ralph Osgood, right, hosted (left to<br />
right) Joe McCann, Jamie MacDougall<br />
(Nanette Fabray's son), Daryl Johnson<br />
and Dean Petosa at his Cinema I complex<br />
where "Earthquake" is now in a<br />
14th week in Sen.surround. MacDougall<br />
was in Seattle for the first time to see<br />
his mother perform in "Plaza Suite" at<br />
the Cirque Dinner Theatre. The other<br />
three young men, junior staffers of Today<br />
newspapers, played host to their<br />
visitor during an entire weekend.<br />
More entries were received during the<br />
first three days of Walt Disney Productions'<br />
"The Strongest Man in the World" coloring<br />
contest in the Today newspapers than in<br />
any previous contest. It appeared as a fourcolumn,<br />
14-inch advertisement in the<br />
February 5 editions and 50 winners will<br />
receive a pair of passes to a designated<br />
theatre. The first ten winners also will receive<br />
a gift pack of 12 cans of Shasta pop.<br />
The latter was arranged for by Ralph Osgood<br />
of GCC's Renton Village twin complex.<br />
Ralph also has been named vice-president<br />
of the Renton Village Merchants<br />
Ass'n.<br />
George Pal Set for Sci-Fi<br />
Session of LA Film Expo<br />
NEW YORK—George Pal will participate<br />
in the Science Fiction Marathon, to<br />
be held Saturday (15) as part of the Los<br />
Angeles International Film Exposition. Hs<br />
will join a question-and-answer session following<br />
50 consecutive hours of sciencefiction<br />
feature screenings. Among the films<br />
scheduled are Pal's "The Time Machine"<br />
(1960) and excerpts from his productions<br />
of "The War of the Worlds" (1953) and<br />
"Destination Moon" (1950).<br />
Pal's latest feature is "DOC SAVAGE . . .<br />
The Man of Bronze." a Warner Bros, release<br />
starring Ron Ely.<br />
Jerry Bernstein Now V-P<br />
For EUE/Screen Gems<br />
BURBANK, CALIF.—Jerry Bernstein,<br />
production manager of EUE/Screen Gems,<br />
West Coast, has been named vice-president<br />
in charge of production, it was announced<br />
by Richard Kerns, president of the West<br />
Coast branch of the commercial films division<br />
of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.<br />
In his new capacity, Bernstein will be<br />
responsible for overall proihKlion ami re<br />
jiorl directly lo Kerns.<br />
W-6 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
'Funny Lady' Benefit Set<br />
For March 12 in Denver<br />
DENVER- -A bcnctil pcrlorinancc of Columbia<br />
Pictures' Barbra Streisand starrer,<br />
'h'linny Lady," will be held at the Cooper<br />
Ihcatre Wednesday (12). A cocktail party<br />
for patron ticket purchasers will precede<br />
the gala showing. Patron tickets are $25.<br />
with regular donations going for $10. Patron<br />
tickets entitle purchasers to a special seating<br />
in the "Celebrity Circle."<br />
According to Ralph Batschelet. president<br />
of the Rocky Moiuitain Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n, the proceeds will benefit RMMPA<br />
charities, which include the Will Rogers<br />
Hospital and a local police athletic league<br />
which helps deserving boys and girls. ,'\<br />
recent fire destroyed several thousand dollars<br />
worth of athletic equipment.<br />
"While the Denver public has responded<br />
generously to this cause," explained Batschelet,<br />
"we still have a ways to go."<br />
Teams of "Fimny I adics," who are selling<br />
the tickets, are headed by Maj. Joan Greerwalt<br />
and include these Filmrow and theatre<br />
lovelies: Barbara Marks, Elaine Horvath,<br />
Patty Marks. Bette Michclctti. Kay Rhodes<br />
and Dianne Thompson.<br />
General chairmen for the event include<br />
well-known Frank H. Ricketson jr.. Vera<br />
Cockrill and Dorothy Cohen. With these<br />
personalities in charge, you can rest assured<br />
that the drive will be an unqualified success!<br />
March 31 Entry Deadline<br />
For Governor's Award<br />
DENVER— Filmmakers will be one of<br />
the principal categories to be singled out<br />
for recognition at the 1975 Governor's<br />
Award for Excellence in the Arts and<br />
Humanities, event which will be held<br />
August 9. The deadline for entries is Monday'^<br />
(31).<br />
The Governor's Award, presented annually<br />
since 1969, is given to individuals,<br />
organizations or institutions which have<br />
made a substantial and beneficial contribution<br />
to the arts and/ or the humanities of<br />
Colorado or, in some cases, to a community<br />
within the state. In the past, businesses,<br />
orchestras, news media, arts patrons, filmmakers,<br />
civic leaders and others have been<br />
recognized.<br />
Forms are available from the Colorado<br />
Council on the Arts & Himianities, 1550<br />
Lincoln St., Denver, Colo. S020.^. The<br />
phone number is 892-2617,<br />
SAG, SEG Join to Change<br />
Employment Practices<br />
HOLLYWOOD — The Screen Actors<br />
GLiild and the Screen Extras Guild have<br />
banded together in an effort to stop "open<br />
shop" producers from hiring non-union<br />
actors and extras. Joining with them are<br />
the Hollywood Film Council, the Teamsters<br />
and other branches of organized labor.<br />
Now when SAG goes to call on and sign<br />
a producer who doesn't hire union members,<br />
SEG representatives will go along too.<br />
More than 80 per cent of the screen<br />
extras also are members of SAG.<br />
DENVER<br />
^furk Allen Young, son of Bruce and<br />
Helen Young, was married to Rhonda<br />
Weston in ceremonies held at the Temple<br />
Baptist Church in this city. Bruce is district<br />
manager for Commonwealth Theatres and<br />
Mark is a recent graduate of the University<br />
of Northern Colorado. After a skiing honeymoon<br />
on the western slope, the ncwlywcds<br />
will<br />
return to their new residence here.<br />
George W. Johnson, a native of Rivcrton,<br />
Wyo., is the first management trainee in the<br />
Rocky Mountain division of Commonwealth<br />
Theatres' new management training<br />
program. Johnson will be studying under<br />
the direction of Ed Beaman, city manager<br />
in Rapid City. S.D.. and will be assigned to<br />
the Elks Theatre. The newly developed program<br />
is based on a 250-pagc instruction<br />
manual and will cover all phases of exhibition.<br />
Ron Schaffer and John Hubert have<br />
leased the Fox and Bison theatres, McCook,<br />
Neb., to Douglas and Lana Owens. Prior to<br />
his taking over the operation, Owens was<br />
the manager of the Fox Theatre in North<br />
Platte. Neb. Buying and booking will continue<br />
under Bob Spahn of locally based<br />
United Enterprises.<br />
Oscar Galanfer, who retired from the industry<br />
recently, is still confined to General<br />
Rose Hospital following major surgery . . .<br />
Universal branch manager Jack Box traveled<br />
to Florida for sales meetings . . . Jack<br />
Micheletti of J&B<br />
Felix and Jack and Betty<br />
Film Distributors report that their release<br />
"Gone in 60 Seconds" would appear to be<br />
Veteran Theatre Operator<br />
James K. Powell Is Dead<br />
WR.AY, COLO.—Funeral services were<br />
held in the United Methodist Church here<br />
for James K. "Kenny" Powell, who died at<br />
age 75. Powell had been a patient in Presbyterian<br />
Medical Center in Denver.<br />
Powell was a pioneer exhibitor in the<br />
Rocky Mountain area, having started in the<br />
theatre business as an operator in Palisade,<br />
Neb., as a school boy. He operated the<br />
movie house in Palisade until 1933, at which<br />
time he, with partner Jim Hughes, opened<br />
the Wray Theatre in Wray. The Hughes-<br />
Powell partnership also operated the Yuma<br />
Theatre, Yuma, Colo., and the Midway<br />
I heatre. Burlington, Colo. They opened the<br />
500-seat Cliff Theatre in Wray in 1950 and<br />
sold this property to Sam Amandola in<br />
1969.<br />
Active in civic affairs. Powell served as<br />
mayor of Wray from 1941 to 1947 and then<br />
was a member of the city council from 1950<br />
through 1958. He was a past master of the<br />
Masonic Lodge and was chairman of the<br />
Local Housing Authority until the time of<br />
his death.<br />
He leaves his wife Ethel, who was active<br />
in the operation of the theatres, and numerous<br />
nieces and nephews.<br />
the highest grossing picture in the history of<br />
their company.<br />
Bryan Glenn Woods, Libby, Mont., has<br />
been appointed manager of the Sioux Drivein,<br />
Rapid City, S.D., which is operated by<br />
the Commonwealth circuit . , . Jim Kottman,<br />
booker for Commonwealth, is back at<br />
the desk following a brief hospitalization<br />
. . . Al Pesicka, manager of the Rialto<br />
Theatre, Casper, Wyo., provided the citizens<br />
of Casper with unexpected thrills during the<br />
opening of "The Towering Inferno" recently.<br />
Pesicka arranged for the Casper Fire<br />
Department to give a downtown demonstration<br />
of firefighting from the top of their<br />
extremely high ladders and 40-mile-an-hour<br />
wind gusts caused some very anxious<br />
moments for the firemen as well as the<br />
spectators.<br />
The regular monthly luncheon of the<br />
Rocky Moimtain V1oti
—<br />
. . "The<br />
ALBUQUERQUE<br />
^oninionvvealth Theatres here<br />
took advantage<br />
of the recent Washington's Birthday<br />
holiday (February 17)—and the fact<br />
that school would be out—by booking special<br />
matinees into two houses located in the<br />
populous northeast heights residential area<br />
of the city. "Wooden Soldiers" and "Flying<br />
Deuces," starring Laurel and Hardy, were<br />
the attractions at the Los Altos hardtop,<br />
while "Rodan vs. Gorgo" pleased youngsters<br />
at Commonwealth's Cinema East.<br />
Paul West, Video Theatre city manager<br />
here, had his faith in burglar alarms reinforced.<br />
West reported that some time Sunday<br />
night, February 16, a burglary was attempted<br />
at the circuit's Wyoming Drive-In.<br />
However, as soon as the alarm went off<br />
after burglars had broken a glass in the concession<br />
stand—the would-be robbers apparently<br />
fled. West said nothing was taken<br />
from the stand and nothing was disturbed.<br />
The Sunshine Theatre here presented<br />
"The Maids" February 24-25 as the second<br />
film in the American Film Theatre's second<br />
George Marshall, Veteran<br />
Director, Dead at 84<br />
LOS ANGELES—George E. Marshall,<br />
84, veteran film director, died February<br />
17 in a hospital<br />
following a two-week<br />
battle with pneumonia.<br />
Marshall had become<br />
the third director<br />
to be inducted into<br />
the Academy of Motion<br />
Picture Arts and<br />
Sciences Hall of<br />
Fame just three days<br />
George Marshall<br />
before his death. "He<br />
was one of Hollywood's<br />
greats," said a spokesman for Samuel<br />
Goldwyn Studios, where the director<br />
worked most of his career and where he<br />
was employed prior to his illness.<br />
Among Marshall's most popular films<br />
were: "In Old Kentucky," "Goldwyn Follies,"<br />
"Destry Rides Again," "Valley of the<br />
Sun," "The Mating Game," "Houdini,"<br />
"The Gazebo," "The Happy Thieves" and<br />
"How the West Was Won."<br />
He also directed 12 of the final segments<br />
of the Lucille Ball video series and worked<br />
often with Bob Hope. He was an occasional<br />
actor, appearing most recently in a segment<br />
of the "Police Woman" TV series.<br />
Stanley Kramer Announces<br />
Hackett Fete Committee<br />
LOS ANGELES—Members of the committee<br />
for the State of Israel Commendation<br />
Dinner honoring Buddy Hackett were<br />
announced by Stanley Kramer, chairman.<br />
The event, on behalf of Israel Bonds, is to<br />
be held Thursday (6), at the Beverly Hilton<br />
Hotel.<br />
The committee includes: Marty Allen,<br />
season .<br />
Towering Inferno" completed<br />
a successful ten-week run at the<br />
Fox-Winrock Theatre February 25. Disney's<br />
"The Strongest Man in the World"<br />
currently is on the screen for two weeks,<br />
to be followed by "Funny Lady."<br />
Carl Wayne Garner has returned to Video<br />
Theatres as assistant city manager of local<br />
operations, effective Saturday (1), it was<br />
reported by city manager Paul West. Garner,<br />
who has been out of the theatre business<br />
for the past two years, was with the circuit<br />
for ten years before leaving in 1973.<br />
Three drive-ins—the Wyoming, Tesuquc<br />
and the Silver Dollar—will resume full-time<br />
schedules, effective Wednesday (5). it was<br />
reported by Video Theatres city manager<br />
Paul West. The three underskyers have been<br />
on abbreviated weekend schedules for the<br />
past couple of months. The twin Terrace<br />
and the Duke City, both under the Video<br />
banner, maintain full-time schedules yearround.<br />
Morey Amsterdam, Lloyd Bochner. Steve<br />
Broidy, Red Buttons, Johnny Carson,<br />
George Chasin, Norm Crosby, Leonard<br />
Freedman, David Gerber, Edgar F. Gross,<br />
Monty Hall, S. Howard Hirsh, Sam Jaffe,<br />
Arte Johnson, Harris L. Katleman and<br />
Jack Lemmon.<br />
Also, Shari Lewis, Sy Marsh, Sue Mengers,<br />
Jan Murray, Jess Oppenheimer, Bernie<br />
Orenstein, Tony Randall, Don Rickles,<br />
Allen Rivkin, Meta Rosenberg, Sidney P.<br />
Solow, Jeremy Tarcher, Saul Turteltaub,<br />
Renee Valente, Mimi Weber, Robert M.<br />
Weitman and Bernard Weitzman.<br />
Euan Lloyd Making Global<br />
Tours for 'Paper Tiger'<br />
HOLLYWOOD — An independent producer<br />
may have to go far to get his product<br />
into the marketplace. For Euan Lloyd, who<br />
filmed his "Paper Tiger" in the jungles of<br />
Malaysia and the mountains of Bavaria, it<br />
was necessary to make a tour halfway<br />
around the world to arrange premieres for<br />
the David Niven-Toshiro Mifune starrer.<br />
Lloyd was in Singapore working with the<br />
Malaysian government and the Cathay Organization<br />
for upcoming premieres in Kuala<br />
Lumpur, Bangkok. Manila and Hong Kong,<br />
then left for Japan for sessions with the<br />
Towa Co. and Mifune concemmg the huge<br />
Tokyo ojjening.<br />
Back in Hollywood Tuesday, February<br />
18, for sneaks and release-plan talks with<br />
Douglas Netter, his American distributor,<br />
Lloyd took off again for London, where<br />
Niven was scheduled to make the British<br />
film awards (SETA) Wednesday. February<br />
26.<br />
Warner Bros.' "The Prisoner of Second<br />
Avenue" was given two benefit screenings<br />
at the Burbank Studios for the Universitv<br />
of Judaism.<br />
Premieres, Seminars<br />
Fill Filmex Slate<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A wide variety of international<br />
motion pictures will be shown at<br />
Filmex, to be held Thursday (13) through<br />
Wednesday (26) in Los Angeles. Events include<br />
films of women directors, documentaries,<br />
movies successfully adapted<br />
from novels, a retrospective of movies directed<br />
by James Whale and a motion picture<br />
marketing conference.<br />
Several movies will have their premieres<br />
at Filmex. Among them, "Monty Python<br />
and the Holy Grail," "General Idi An^ii<br />
Dada" (a documentary), "The Wedding<br />
Trough" (from Belgium), "The Law"<br />
(American theatrical premiere) and the U.S.<br />
West Coast premiere of "Funny Lady," a<br />
Rastar production from Columbia Pictures.<br />
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, John Steinbeck<br />
and Sinclair Lewis are among the 13 Nobel<br />
Prize-winning authors whose works will be<br />
shown in a free morning series of films.<br />
The pictures presented will be some of those<br />
which have most successfully made the<br />
transition from literature to film, including<br />
"One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich."<br />
"East of Eden," "Arrowsmith" and "Long<br />
Day's Journey Into Night."<br />
Eastman Kodak has underwritten a conference<br />
dealing with motion picture marketing,<br />
offered free to the public Saturday<br />
(22) through Wednesday (26). It is designed<br />
to discuss the entire range of ideas concerning<br />
the promotion, distribution, exhibition<br />
and advertising of motion pictures. The diverse<br />
attitudes of film marketing will be<br />
examined— ranging from traditional studio<br />
methods to the newer, more unconventional<br />
techniques developed by independent companies<br />
and filmmakers.<br />
The conference will have representatives<br />
from all segments of film marketing and<br />
promotion. Topics for discussion at these<br />
seminars will include the question of whether<br />
advertising/ sales people or filmmakers<br />
should have control over marketing decisions,<br />
the film critic's power and degree of<br />
influence and whether or not massive promotion<br />
actually sells tickets.<br />
Other seminars will examine ideas on<br />
designing an ad, the roles of audience and<br />
market research, discussions on the foreign<br />
film in America, nontheatrical distribution,<br />
the short film market and the effectiveness<br />
of various media used for advertising.<br />
Filmex Series Gets Boost<br />
From Atlantic Richiield<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The Atlantic<br />
Richfield<br />
Co. has made a grant of $15,000 to the<br />
1975 Los Angeles International Film Exposition<br />
(Filmex) to underwrite a series of<br />
13 classic films from seven countries featuring<br />
the work of Nobel Prize-winning<br />
authors.<br />
The free film series will run daily each<br />
morning of the exposition, to be held this<br />
month at the ABC Entertainment Center<br />
in Century City. It is aimed at high school<br />
and junior high school students, the elderly<br />
and low income groups who otherwise<br />
would not be able to see films.<br />
W-8 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
"<br />
I<br />
'Deafula' World Debut<br />
Is Held in Portland<br />
PORTLAND—•Dcatuhi," Icaturc liini<br />
released by Signscopc Productions, was<br />
world-premiered recently at the local Broadway<br />
Theatre, Tom Moyer Ihcatres house<br />
helmed by Carl Koch. "Deafula" is a<br />
unique motion picture, the first commercial<br />
film to use sign language to communicate<br />
with the deaf and speech-impaired individuals.<br />
The feature also has a soundtrack<br />
with a voice-over for those patrons with<br />
normal hearing.<br />
The opening-night audience consisted of<br />
90 per cent deaf patrons and Koch said<br />
"it was stunning to hear the applause at<br />
the end of the film, a response which ha^<br />
been described as a standing ovation."<br />
"Deafula" was produced by Gary Holstrom<br />
and directed and written by Peter<br />
Wechsberg, who also starred in the black<br />
and white film. The Signscope release,<br />
incidentally, was made on a low budget.<br />
However. Caria .Starrett, reviewer for the<br />
Portland Journal, commented: "If Signscopc<br />
is given the attention it deserves, the film<br />
may be as significant a first' as 'The Jaz/<br />
Singer" was to the talkies."<br />
Said Koch, "I would like to make the<br />
bookers, owners, operators and hearing<br />
clinics aware that this new motion pictiue<br />
is available and that it will take word-of<br />
mouth to get the information to the necessary<br />
institutions and theatres in appropriate<br />
areas. The man to contact is Gary Holslrom<br />
of locally based Signscope Productions.<br />
Frederick Wiseman Films<br />
Are Presented at CSU<br />
FORT COLLINS, COLO.— Frederick<br />
Wiseman, documentary filnmiaker, scrcenea<br />
and discussed three of his feature pictures<br />
February 12-13 at Colorado State University.<br />
The first-day program offered "The<br />
Hospital," while "Law and Order" occupied<br />
the screen the following day. "High School,"<br />
which follows students through a sex education<br />
class and the labyrinth of school rules,<br />
was a special attraction at 8 p.m. February<br />
12.<br />
All of the films concerned Wiseman',<br />
favorite subject, tax-supported institutions.<br />
Commented Wiseman, who is a former<br />
law professor and urban planner, "One of<br />
the things that organizes my films is using<br />
the film technique to look at the relationship<br />
between the individual and state."<br />
Exclusive Pact Discussed<br />
By ChartoffWinkler, UA<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Negotiations are under<br />
way for Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff's<br />
independent firm to become affiliated<br />
with United Artists exclusively. In Chartoff-<br />
Winkler's eight year history, their product<br />
has been placed with almost every major<br />
film company.<br />
United Artists' West Coast production<br />
vice-president Mike Medavoy has been<br />
building a talent pool with varying degrees<br />
of exclusivity in the past nine months.<br />
PORTLAND<br />
Qrcgoii voters in November 1974 passed a<br />
pornography law which closed most<br />
massage parlors almost immediately, as the<br />
statute contained definitive guidelines on<br />
"subliminal advertising." Adult bookstores<br />
have closed left and right, with some electing<br />
to battle it out in court. At present,<br />
adult movie theatres are not being challenged.<br />
"Deep Throat" continues its secondyear<br />
run at the Aladdin Theatre, inasmuch<br />
as it was ruled "not obscene" prior to the<br />
effective date of the new law. Operators arc<br />
not completely sure as to where they stand<br />
on the pornography measure and it is widely<br />
believed that police action may result if for<br />
no other reason than to test the issue.<br />
United Artists publicists were here for advance<br />
promotion in behalf of "Lenny" . . .<br />
Carl Miller. Hollywood TTicatrc manager<br />
emeritus, currently in great physical condition,<br />
will be helping Martha Moll, who<br />
helms the Hollywood, with the presold benefit<br />
of "Funny Lady," Columbia release<br />
which will open sometime around Easter<br />
. . . Louise Todd, who was an executive secretary<br />
for many years under the late Rex<br />
Hopkins, has been filling in for Russ Duncan<br />
at the Orpheum theatres.<br />
Russ Duncan, division manager for Mann<br />
Theatres who married recently (congratulations!),<br />
reportedly has been ill for several<br />
days. Friends offer best wishes for a speedy<br />
recovery.<br />
The major circuits now operating in this<br />
region are the Tom Mover Theatres. Larry<br />
Moyer Theatres. Mann Theatres and Metropolitan<br />
Theatres. Several independent exhibitors<br />
complete the show business scene locally<br />
. . . Tom Moyer Theatres January 17<br />
opened a quadplex. the Lancaster, in Salem.<br />
The circuit also has acquired the Mayflower<br />
in Eugene and it is exoected that plans for<br />
further expansion will be announced shortly<br />
. . . Larry Mover Theatres operates the majority<br />
of drive-ins here and maintains the<br />
Bagdad triplex and the ."^th Avenue Twin.<br />
The circuit presently is putting the finishing<br />
touches or Eugene properties—three hardtops<br />
and two underskyers. all in the same<br />
complex. This will make a total of eight<br />
LMT facilities in Eugene. Construction also<br />
is under way on a shopping center threeplex<br />
here in<br />
the Rock Creek area.<br />
Gary Fine is managing the Fox Theatre<br />
and is setting the stage for the unspooling<br />
of "Young Frankenstein" at the downtown<br />
location . . . Carol Channing was in town<br />
showing diamonds. She was part of the<br />
Meier & Frank and Benjamin Franklin Savings<br />
& Loan promotion for a charity benefit<br />
fashion show held January 15 at the<br />
Sheraton Motor Hotel.<br />
Jack Nicholson has been in Salem filming<br />
sequences for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's<br />
Nest" and a lively press conference was held<br />
there with author Ken Kesey reportedly<br />
handing out some "zingers" ... Ed Daley<br />
February 15 became manager of the Division<br />
Street Drive-In (LM). single-screen situation.<br />
Bob Martin, who manages the Sandy<br />
Boulevard Drive-In (LM), will be assistant<br />
manager at the 5th Avenue shortly, so that<br />
he may attend sessions at Portland State<br />
University.<br />
Charles Funk heads general operations<br />
for Tom Moyer Theatres and Rick Copron,<br />
24. of Orange City, Calif., has been named<br />
district manager. Copron comes from the<br />
United Artists Theatre Circuit with fourplex<br />
experience. Copron also manages the Eastgate<br />
triplex.<br />
Mrs. Betty Howell is managing the Southgate<br />
quad (TM) and her husband Reese is<br />
helming the Lake Theatre for the same circuit<br />
. . . Andrew St. Claire has joined Carl<br />
Koch at the Broadway as assistant manager.<br />
.Andy hails from the Foster Road Drive-In.<br />
where Koch formerly was manager.<br />
TMT Broadway 3-Plex<br />
Adding Two Screens<br />
PORTLAND—The downtown Broadway<br />
Tom Moyer Theatres showcase, has<br />
triplex.<br />
announced plans for closing the downstairs<br />
auditorium and constructing an additional<br />
theatre in the backstage area. The 140-seat<br />
mini-theatre will have 140 scats with a .SW<br />
Main Street entrance. Films of interest to<br />
the downtown college community will be<br />
featured in this unit.<br />
Current plans also call for another auditorium,<br />
with seating for approximately 250<br />
viewers. This theatre will be built in one of<br />
the balcony areas, creating a five-theatre<br />
complex at the Broadway site.<br />
GCC Plans August Debut<br />
For Aurora Mall 3-Plex<br />
DENVER—General Cinema Corp. is<br />
aiming for an early August opening of its<br />
new Aurora Mall theatres, a triplex located<br />
in the Aurora Mall Shopping Center, being<br />
constructed in the Aurora section of the<br />
metropolitan area. Cinema I will have approximately<br />
650 seats. Cinema II 350 seats<br />
and Cinema III about 300 seats.<br />
Upon completion of the new Aurora<br />
Mall facility. GCC will have approximately<br />
12 screens in the Denver area.<br />
Jacque Clark Injured<br />
In Skiing Accident<br />
PORTLAND—Jacque Clark, promotion<br />
director for Tom Moyer Theatres, recently<br />
was involved in a skiing mishap. She suffered<br />
a fractured arm while competing in<br />
the downhill slalom races at the Mount<br />
Hood Meadows ski area.<br />
Ms. Clark, who has been with Tom Moyer<br />
Theatres for two and a half years, was hospitalized<br />
for one day following the injury.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975<br />
W-9
. . Stanford<br />
. . Greg<br />
M ^J^oiluwood r^eport ?pi m<br />
The Pirate' to Be Produced<br />
As Warner Bros. Release<br />
"The Pirate," Harold Robbins' Mideast<br />
novel, will be directed and co-produced by<br />
Michael Winner, according to an announcement<br />
by Warner Bros., which acquired motion<br />
picture rights to the book in a prepublication<br />
agreement. At the same time,<br />
it was announced that Wendell Mayes will<br />
take over the script-writing assignment while<br />
Robbins starts work on a new novel. "The<br />
. . . Warners' "The Onion<br />
Pirate" has been high on the national bestseller<br />
lists for the past few months. The<br />
Robbins' novel will be filmed on various international<br />
locations, including the Mideast<br />
and the Riviera. "The Pirate" will be made<br />
for Warners under the Harold Robbins International<br />
Co., Ltd. banner, with Robert R.<br />
Weston, president of that organization, serving<br />
as producer<br />
Seller," starring Franco Nero, Martin Balsam<br />
and Sterling Hayden, has completed<br />
shooting on location in Rome and editing<br />
and post production continues there under<br />
director Enzo Castellari. The film, produced<br />
by Carlo Ponti from an original screenplay<br />
by Luciano Vincenzoni and Sergio Donati,<br />
is a comedy western which details the heroic<br />
adventures of an eccentric gunslinger who<br />
arrives in a small western town bent on protecting<br />
the local farmers against landgrabbing<br />
agents of an oil company. Warners will<br />
release the Champion production outside<br />
the U.S. and Canada.<br />
The Show Starts at Sundown'<br />
On MP's Production Slate<br />
Rod Amateau and Harold Nebenzal have<br />
been set by American International vicepresident<br />
in charge of production Paul Picard<br />
to write, direct and produce "The Show<br />
Starts at Sundown," an original which will<br />
dramatize America of the future. Amateau<br />
and Nebenzal. separately or together, have<br />
been involved in the producing and/or directing<br />
and/or writing of the features "All<br />
The Loving Couples," "The Statue," "Where<br />
Does It Hurt?", "Cabaret," and most recently,<br />
"The Wilby Conspiracy"<br />
. . . Blake Edwards<br />
has acquired the motion picture rights<br />
through his Blake Edwards Productions to<br />
"Thirty Four East," the new novel by Alfred<br />
Coppel about the Middle East crisis which<br />
has been chosen a selection of the Book-ofthe-Month<br />
Club and of Reader's Digest<br />
condensed books. Edwards is currently<br />
doing post-production on "The Return of the<br />
Pink Panther" which United Artists will<br />
release . . . Spelling-Goldberg Productions<br />
has acquired "Baby Blue Marine," an original<br />
screenplay by Stanford Whitmore, for<br />
production as a major motion picture to be<br />
released by Columbia. A May production<br />
start is promised by producers Aaron Spelling<br />
and Leonard Goldberg . . . Robert<br />
Getchell has been signed to write the<br />
screenplay for United Artists' "Contract Co-<br />
Habitation," film version of the Edward<br />
Van Deusen book. Lawrence Turman will<br />
produce under his multi-picture deal for<br />
UA. Getchell's current on-screen credit is<br />
the screenplay for "Alice Doesn't Live Here<br />
Anymore."<br />
Tarewell. My Lovely' Facing<br />
Cameras for Avco Embassy<br />
"Farewell, My Lovely." an E.K. production<br />
starring Robert Mitchum, went before<br />
the cameras Tuesday (18) on location all<br />
over Los Angeles. Elliott Kastner is executive<br />
producer for the famed Chandler novel<br />
which Dick Richards will direct for producers<br />
George Pappas, Jerry Bruckheimer<br />
and Jerry Bick. "Farewell, My Lovely,"<br />
from David Goodman's screenplay, will be<br />
released in the U.S. and Canada by Avco-<br />
Embassy Pictures . . . Ralph Nelson has<br />
been signed to direct Sandy Howard's production<br />
of "Embryo," science-fact thriller<br />
which goes before the cameras in April for<br />
yearend release by Avco Embassy, it was announced<br />
by producers Arnold H. Orgolini<br />
and Anita Doohan. Doohan and Jack Thomas<br />
wrote the screenplay. Nelson has just<br />
completed "The Wilby Conspiracy," starring<br />
Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine for UA<br />
. . . Producer John Foreman named Bill<br />
Hill as associate producer and Ossie Morris<br />
as cameraman on the Allied Artists/ Columbia<br />
$8 million production of John Huston's<br />
"The Man Who Would Be King." The epic<br />
adventure tale based on Rudyard Kipling's<br />
classic story of India in the 1880s stars Sean<br />
Connery, Michael Caine and his wife Shakira<br />
Caine and Christopher Plummer and<br />
is being filmed in Moroccan locations with<br />
the cooperation of the government and the<br />
services of the Army transport and personnel.<br />
Jerry Schatzberg to Direct<br />
MGM's 'All-American Girl'<br />
At MGM, Jerry Schatzberg will direct<br />
the studio's feature film,<br />
"The All-American<br />
Girl," a contemporary story depicting life<br />
of a professional female car-thief existing by<br />
her wits in the underworld maze of Los<br />
Angeles<br />
. Sherman will script<br />
Stanley Kramer's "The Sheiks of Araby,"<br />
Kramer's new project which he'll produce<br />
and direct for Paramount, according to studio<br />
chief Robert Evans. Sherman's most recent<br />
credit is the original screenplay for<br />
Alan J. Pakula's "Sweeter Than Honey,"<br />
now in development at Universal. Kramer<br />
refers to "Sheiks" as a "tomorrow comedy."<br />
concerning the confusion in international<br />
oil bargaining and the present chaotic condition<br />
of world finances. He'll produce it in<br />
the style of his classic comedy "It's a Mad,<br />
Mad. Mad, Mad World," with a big budget<br />
and an all-star cast of comedy and drama<br />
names . Morris has been set by<br />
producer-director Philip Abbott to narrate<br />
"Three Days in the County Jail," segment<br />
of Abbott's Nelson Company educational<br />
film series, "Under the Law," funded by the<br />
. . .<br />
U.S. Department of Justice. The series is<br />
distributed by Walt Disney Educational<br />
Media Co. Don Elliot has been set by<br />
executive producer Dennis Friedland to<br />
compose the score for Cannon Films' recently<br />
completed "The Happy Hooker," starring<br />
Lynn Redgrave.<br />
James Caan Is Set to Star<br />
In 'Killer Elite' for UA<br />
James Caan has been signed to star in<br />
"The Killer Elite." it was announced by<br />
Mike Medavoy, United Artists West Coast<br />
vice-president. Sam Peckinpah will direct<br />
the film on location in San Francisco from<br />
a screenplay by Marc Norman based on the<br />
novel by Robert Rostand. Martin Baum and<br />
Arthur Lewis will produce the film, scheduled<br />
to start shooting March 24. Caan recently<br />
completed a starring role in Norman<br />
Jewison's "Rollerball," also for UA . . .<br />
George Bums will star with Walter Matthau<br />
in Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys."<br />
a Rastar-Herbert Ross production for MGM,<br />
it was announced by Daniel Melnick, MGM<br />
senior vice-president and worldwide head of<br />
production, and Ray Stark, head of Rastar<br />
Pictures. The announcement verifies that<br />
Burns will take over the role slated originally<br />
for the late Jack Benny. Burns' longtime<br />
friend. Herbert Ross will direct the<br />
film with Stark producing. Thus, Burns returns<br />
to the screen after an absence of 36<br />
years and to the same studio, MGM that<br />
made his last film, "Honolulu." in 1939.<br />
"The Sunshine Boys," is Simon's screen<br />
adaptation of his hit Broadway comedy<br />
about two feuding retired comedians<br />
. . . Robert De Niro has been signed for a<br />
leading role in "The Last Tycoon," it was<br />
announced by Sam Spiegel who will produce<br />
the screen version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's<br />
novel under his Horizon Productions banner.<br />
Elia Kazan is directing and Harold<br />
Pinter has written the screenplay. De Niro<br />
is the first actor cast in the incisive love<br />
story laid against Hollywood's flourishing<br />
1930"s film industry. Paramount will distribute<br />
Producer George Barrie has<br />
. . . signed Diane Keaton to star opposite Elliott<br />
Gould in Brut Productions' "I Will, I Will<br />
. . . For Now." rolling April 14 in Hollywood.<br />
Norman Panama will direct the<br />
comedy from his and Albert E. Lewin's<br />
screenplay, which marks the 10th Bnit production<br />
since the company began in 1972.<br />
Ms. Keaton starred as Al Pacino's wife in<br />
"Godfather" and "Godfather, Part II."<br />
Strong 'Defiance' Opening<br />
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jason Russell',<br />
X-rated picture "Defiance," which stars<br />
Jean Jennings, opened strong in the Playhouse<br />
Theatre here February 12, recording<br />
a better-than-average gross. In announcing<br />
the figures, distributor Michael<br />
Zaffarano noted that adverse weather conditions<br />
prevailed and that of all pictures<br />
bowing the same day in the area "Defiance"<br />
was the top grosser.<br />
W-10<br />
BOXOFHCE :: March 3, 1975
. . . "Challenge<br />
. . Man<br />
CCC. Metropolitan Merge<br />
Palm Springs Operations<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Century Cinema Circuit<br />
and Metropolitan Theatres Corp., announced<br />
February 12 that theatres in the<br />
Palm Springs area operated by both companies<br />
have been combined into a new management<br />
company as the first step in a contemplated<br />
theatre expansion program in the<br />
Greater Palm Springs area that will be a<br />
joint venture between the two circuits.<br />
Initially, plans for two new theatres in<br />
downtown Palm Springs arc being formulated,<br />
with a projected opening date of<br />
Thanksgiving Day 1975.<br />
Century Cinema within the past year acquired<br />
the Plaza and Village theatres in<br />
downtown Palm Springs. Metropolitan owns<br />
and operates the Camelot 1 and Camelot II<br />
theatres in the outlying Palm Springs Mall<br />
Shopping Center on Barristo Road, near the<br />
city's airport and new municipal center, and<br />
the Sunair Drive-In on Highway I 1 1 east<br />
of Palm Springs.<br />
A joint statement issued by Sherrill C.<br />
Corwin, chairman of the board of Metropolitan<br />
who for many years maintained a<br />
year-round residence in Palm Springs, and<br />
Fred Stein, board chairman of Century Cinema,<br />
who is a longtime Palm .Springs resident,<br />
follows:<br />
"Both of our companies—and we as<br />
individuals—believe<br />
in the continued prosperity<br />
and growth of Palm Springs and its many<br />
surrounding communities. We feel that additional<br />
theatres are needed to meet present<br />
and future needs and our joint company has<br />
several new locations under consideration.<br />
With respect to our present operation, it is<br />
obvious that by combining our booking resources<br />
we can give Palm Springs a more<br />
orderly flow of top motion pictures and a<br />
greater variety of films."<br />
It also was announced that theatre personnel<br />
of both companies in Palm Springs<br />
would be unaffected.<br />
TUCSON<br />
Jack Young has taken over the former Central<br />
Casting Agency, previously operated<br />
by Frank Kennedy, who has retired.<br />
New name of the office is Jack Young Film<br />
Casting Services. For several years following<br />
his retirement as a colonel in the Air<br />
Force, Kennedy was a familiar figure at the<br />
Desert Inn and on location wearing his<br />
treasured straw hat with fishing flies attached.<br />
Desert Con III, a five-day film symposium,<br />
was held at the University of Arizona<br />
Student Union in the exhibition hall and in<br />
Gallagher Theatre. Directors, writers, special<br />
effects men and artists on many of the<br />
best films were on hand to explain their<br />
part in productions through lectures, demonstrations,<br />
exhibits and screenings. A special<br />
children's showing of an old Flash<br />
Gordon serial was on the agenda. Selected<br />
films were .screened continuously in Gallagher<br />
Theatre, with a $2 Lidmission charged<br />
for individual motion pictures. A season<br />
pass was available from the theatre office.<br />
Pleasing audiences at La Placita Cinema<br />
and Miracle Drive-In starting February 19<br />
was "The Strongest Man in the World"<br />
to Be Free" reported great<br />
boxoffice at local undcrskyers . . . Another<br />
February 19 opener was "Report to the<br />
Commissioner" at the Cactus Drive-In,<br />
. . .<br />
along with "The Steel Edge of Revenge" at<br />
the Apache Drive-In "Gone With ihe<br />
Wind" breezed back into the Buena Vista<br />
2 Theatre.<br />
Sandra Shevey Describes<br />
Women's 'Roles' in Films<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Marilyn Monroe, mosl<br />
often associated with the term "sex symbol."<br />
belongs more properly with the "Cult of Ihe<br />
Virgin," says Sandra Shevey, the freelance<br />
V. riter and film critic who pioneered in the<br />
academic study of women's film roles.<br />
"That surprises some of my students,"<br />
explains Ms. Shevey, who will teach<br />
"Women in Film: Does Hollywood Mold<br />
Sex Roles?" at Loyola Marymount University.<br />
"But she was a typical child-woman,<br />
just dressed up to look the part of the<br />
seductress."<br />
Ms. Shevey has identifcd four filmic<br />
cliches into which actresses have most often<br />
been pigeon-holed: "The Cult of the Virgin"<br />
(or "Damsel"), "The Sex Symbol"<br />
(or "Siren"), "The Perfect Wife" and "The<br />
Career Girl."<br />
"The 'Career Girl' is always crazy, neurotic,<br />
hell-bent on success, and she always<br />
learns her lesson," she says, referring to<br />
roles portrayed by Bette Davis, Ginger<br />
Rogers and Jane Fonda. Movies about<br />
"Career Girls" often end with the heroine<br />
happily transformed into the "Perfect Wife."<br />
"The lesson learned is 'give up your<br />
position and get married.' Yoli will be<br />
alienated if you aren't preoccupied with<br />
frills, fads and men," states Ms. Shevey.<br />
Ms. Shevey currently writes special features<br />
for a film tradepaper, book reviews<br />
for the Los Angeles Times and freelances<br />
for Playgirl, New Times and Coronet.<br />
'Doc Savage' Is Screened<br />
At Conclave in Tucson<br />
TUCSON, .A.RIZ.—George Pal showed<br />
scenes from his forthcoming Warner Bros,<br />
film, "Doc Savage . of Bronze,"<br />
February 21 at Desert Con III, a "spectres<br />
and starships" convocation in Tucson. Pal<br />
addressed the group and screened his 1964<br />
picture. "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao."<br />
Other guests at Desert Con III included<br />
Jim Danforth. Douglas Trumbull. Paul Anderson,<br />
David Gerrold and Leigh Brackett.<br />
The film, starring Ron Ely in the title<br />
role, was directed by Michael Anderson. Pal<br />
and Joe Horhaim wrote the screenplay,<br />
which is based on the "Doc Savage" novels<br />
by Kenneth Robeson.<br />
"The Pirate," Harold Robbins' Middle<br />
East adventure novel, will be directed and<br />
co-produced by Michael Winner for Warner<br />
Bros.<br />
'Alice Doesn't Live Here'<br />
Brought Fame to Big Al's<br />
TUCSON— Big Als Pit Bar-B-Q at 1148<br />
North Main Ave. is one of those down-toglowing-mesqLiile.<br />
real three-down barbc-<br />
Actor Kris Kri.stoffcrson, left, chats<br />
with Alexander "Big Al" Fowler outside<br />
the restaurant where sequences of<br />
"Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"<br />
were shot.<br />
cued ribs, pork butts and beef briskets restaurants.<br />
But for a sequence of "Alice<br />
Doesn't Live Here Anymore," starring Ellen<br />
Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson, Big Al's<br />
became Mel & Ruby's Restaurant in which<br />
Miss Burstyn played a waitress and owner<br />
Alexander Fowler became an actor as a<br />
cook's helper and busboy. acting parts for<br />
which he received plaudits.<br />
Big Al, however, was not compleleh<br />
pleased with his brief acting career. "Sure<br />
it was fun while it lasted," he grinned, "but<br />
I'm not an actor. Me? I'm a barbecue man.<br />
1 run a restaurant. I'm doing what I've<br />
always wanted to do. I'm cooking and I<br />
wish they'd called the restaurant Big Al's<br />
in the film instead of Mel & Ruby's. The<br />
publicity wouldn't have hurt."<br />
Actually, Big Al really is happy about<br />
it all. "Those moving picture people were<br />
all nice. They didn't have their noses in the<br />
air as you'd expect," he declared. "Miss<br />
Burstyn was a particular favorite."<br />
The actress thought a lot of Big Al, too.<br />
Before she flew back to Hollywood, Big<br />
Al presented her with a big bouquet of<br />
flowers.<br />
Big Al's, which features a huge barbecue<br />
pit back of the kitchen, was discovered<br />
by a location man and for three weeks<br />
footage was shot in the circular shaped<br />
eatery. The recently released film has been<br />
well received in its playdates.<br />
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Warner<br />
Bros.' "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"<br />
opened February 26 at the Buena Vista<br />
1 Theatre.<br />
'Emmanuelle' Bows in LA<br />
LOS ANGELES — "Emmanuelle," X-<br />
rated French film released by Columbia, has<br />
begun an exclusive run at the Fine Arts Theatre.<br />
The picture has broken existing boxoffice<br />
records in Paris and London and at<br />
the Paris Theatre in New York City.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 W-11
—<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
piitt Theatres announced that the Utah<br />
Symphony Orchestra will host a benefit<br />
premiere of "The Great Waldo Pepper"<br />
at 8 p.m. Friday (14) at the de lii.xe Regency<br />
Theatre. The Universal release stars<br />
Robert Redford, who will be in attendance,<br />
along with Utah Gov. Calvin Rampton. A<br />
dinner at the Balsam Embers Restaurant<br />
will precede the screening . . . Plitt also<br />
announced that "Lenny." Dustin Hoffman<br />
starrer, premiered February 26 at the newly<br />
remodeled Uinta Theatre in Provo. where<br />
the films is playing an exclusive engagement.<br />
PHOENIX<br />
^<br />
special sneak preview of the American<br />
Film Theatre's second attraction of the<br />
season, "The Man in the Glass Booth," was<br />
held Friday night, February 21. at the<br />
Camelview theatres in Soottsdale. In view<br />
of the enthusiastic response, Dan Harkins<br />
of Harkins Theatres (which operates the<br />
Camelview) presented the film in two consecutive<br />
midnight showings.<br />
Stu Goldman, <strong>Boxoffice</strong> correspondent<br />
in Seattle, arrived here to visit several indiistryitcs.<br />
Your correspondent. Chris Koruga,<br />
then accompanied Goldman to San<br />
Diego to attend ShoWesT '75<br />
Longest Yard" finally left the<br />
. . . "The<br />
UA Cinema<br />
6 after seven record-breaking weeks and<br />
lofty grosses.<br />
A unique promotion is in the making for<br />
"The Creature in the Black Lagoon," returning<br />
to the Camelview Theatre. Prizes<br />
and awards will be made to contestants with<br />
the best "creature" costumes. The winning<br />
creation then will be donned by one of the<br />
theatre employees to promote the picture<br />
. . . "Night of the Living Dead" returned<br />
for the umpteenth time and sold out most<br />
of its performances at the Glenfair and Los<br />
Arcos.<br />
John Louis, general manager of the Harry<br />
Nace Co.. has announced the appointment<br />
of Harvey Simmons as advertising director<br />
for his theatre circuit. Simmons, well-<br />
For Prompt Personal Attention<br />
Equipment, Supplies or Service<br />
PETERSON THEATRE SUPPLY<br />
19 E. 2nd South<br />
Salt Lake City, Utoh 84111<br />
Phone (801) 322-3685<br />
Bates P'arley of Crown International Pictures.<br />
Denver, was in town the week of<br />
February 17 for a few days contacting<br />
bookers and buyers.<br />
Bob Loftis of United Artists and his wife<br />
vacationed in Bloomington's great climate<br />
. . . Jerry Clark has succeeded Ron Rogers<br />
as Western regional manager, Western division,<br />
for American National Enterprises.<br />
The Cedar Theatre in Cedar City, according<br />
to Jack Sawyers, owner and manager,<br />
recently was twinned. Reopening was<br />
set for February 16, with the dualer renamed<br />
Cedar Cinema I and II. The new<br />
side—Cinema II—has 200 seats.<br />
known personality in this area, got his start<br />
with Paramount-Nace back in 19.^4 as a<br />
poster artist. He eventually went into business<br />
for himself and has been involved directly<br />
with the motion picture industry for<br />
40 years.<br />
New arrivals on local screens include "A<br />
Woman Under the Influence" in a solo run<br />
at the ChrisTown 1; "Lenny." also exclusive,<br />
at the Kachina. Scottsdalc; "Murder on the<br />
Orient Express," playing at the UA Chris-<br />
Town 6 and University 1: "Stardust," going<br />
it alone at the UA ChrisTown 6, and "The<br />
Strongest Man in the World" at four locations,<br />
the Pioneer Drivc-ln, Indian, El<br />
Camino and Metro Center.<br />
"Young Frankenstein," now playing at<br />
the UA ChrisTown 6 and Hayden East, wa.s<br />
the subject of a movie trivia contest in the<br />
Today newspapers' movie section arranged<br />
by Marshall Stone of the Century Cinema<br />
Circuit and Hayden East. The contest asked<br />
for answers to questions about previous<br />
"Frankenstein" movies and the trivia tiebreaker<br />
required the names of eight actors<br />
who had played the monster between 1931<br />
and 1975. Apparently the question wasn't<br />
as difficult as planned, because the entries<br />
with all the correct answers—were turned<br />
in<br />
the day the paper hit the streets.<br />
Two martial arts thrillers, "Revolt of<br />
the Dragon" and "To China With Death."<br />
opened at the UA ChrisTown 6. much to<br />
the pleasure of manager Larry Weatherman,<br />
who himself is an accomplished master<br />
in the art of self-defense. Weatherman<br />
almost had an opportunity to display his<br />
expertise recently when two patrons with<br />
a little too much to drink under their belts<br />
started some unnecessary roughness in the<br />
audience. They were removed and escorted<br />
outside, with Larry's words of wisdom proving<br />
sufficient to get the point across, avoiding<br />
drastic measures a la Bruce Lee!<br />
Howard Rubin Named Chief<br />
Of NM Film Commission<br />
ALBUQUERQUE—The new director<br />
the New Mexico Motion Picture Industries<br />
Commission is Howard Rubin of Beverly<br />
Hills, Calif. Rubin succeeds Mrs. Ruth<br />
Armstrong, who successfully directed the<br />
operation the past two years.<br />
Rubin's appointment was annoimced by<br />
Gov. Jerry Apodaca, who said that Rubin<br />
"brings with him a good background in<br />
the movie business. He has association^<br />
which can be beneficial. We felt it (the<br />
commission) has done well but think it<br />
can do even better." Rubin is listed as<br />
president of Howard Rubin Productions of<br />
Beverly Hills, in which capacity he packages<br />
and produces films. He also owns a ranch<br />
at El Rito in northern New Mexico.<br />
Said Rubin, "I want to develop a flow<br />
of communications between New Mexico<br />
and the film communities in New York,<br />
Hollywood and Europe. I also want to work<br />
on the local follow-up. providing full service<br />
to the movie industry in the state."<br />
Fred Banker, the commission's Hollywood<br />
representative, is still under contract<br />
to the state and has been directed to continue<br />
his work, the governor said.<br />
Obscenity Review Panel<br />
Lures Many Applicants<br />
ALBUQUERQUE — The<br />
of<br />
nine-member<br />
review panel established by the recently<br />
enacted city ordinance to decide "what is<br />
obscene" and thus a "public nuisance" may<br />
prove to be the most popular board in<br />
Albuquerque. An aide to Mayor Harry<br />
Kinney, who will have the responsibility of<br />
naming the board, said the mayor's office<br />
has received "at least 50" applications for<br />
the nine slots.<br />
Kinney, himself, disputes that count. He<br />
said he thinks there were "about 30 applicants."<br />
The candidates on file for the anti-obscenity<br />
board are all volunteers or persons<br />
who have been recommended by others.<br />
Kinney said he will have a problem in<br />
choosing a group representative of the com<br />
munity at large but will appoint the board<br />
by Monday (10).<br />
The new ordinance becomes effective<br />
April 1.<br />
AIP Featurette on TV<br />
HOLLYWOOD—.\ special 12-minute<br />
featurette of AIP's forthcoming Edgar Rice<br />
Burroughs' "The Land That Time Forgot"<br />
was shown February 7 following the CBS<br />
"Friday Night Movie." The short revealed<br />
some of the secrets o>f achieving the effects<br />
in the multiple-jeopardy classic.<br />
Salt Loke • Boston • Dallas • New York<br />
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W-12 BOXOFHCE :: March 3, 1975
'Quake' 675 in KC;<br />
Xenny' Bow 390<br />
KANSAS CITY — -lianhqinkc" in a<br />
fourteenth week at the Midkind 2 was a<br />
smashing success with 675. Coming up fast,<br />
however, was "Murder on the Orient Express"<br />
with a strong 500 in a fourth week.<br />
"Lenny" debuted at two theatres with 390<br />
and 'The Strongest Man in the World" captured<br />
305 at seven theatres. Others opening<br />
with good grosses were "The Stepford<br />
Wives" at 230 and "Animals are Beaiitifiil<br />
People" at 195.<br />
[Average Is 100}<br />
Blue Ridge 2, Ronchmort 1 —Lenny (UA) 390<br />
Blue Ridge 4—Animals Arc Beoutiful People<br />
(WB) 195<br />
Brywood 3, Ronchmart 2—Frecbie ond the Bean<br />
(WB), 8th wk 160<br />
Eleven Theatres— Mr. Ricco (UA) 70<br />
Embassy 1, 2—The Front Page (Univ), 9th wk. . . 65<br />
Empire 1, Glenwood 2—The Godfather, Part II<br />
(Pora), 9th wk 85<br />
Festivol—Escape to Nowhere (SRI 90<br />
Fine Arts^—Sheila Lcvine is Dead and Living in<br />
New York (Pora) 95<br />
Four Theatres— Black Dragon SRI; From China<br />
With Death SR) 30<br />
Four Theatres—The Stcptord Wives ,Col) 230<br />
Glenwood — Murder on the Orient Express (Pare),<br />
1<br />
4fh wk 500<br />
Midland 2— Earthquake (Univ), Uth wk 675<br />
Plaza—^The Towering Inferno (WB/20th-Fox),<br />
9th wk 175<br />
Ronchmart 3—The Savage Is Loose SR), 4th wk. 85<br />
Seven Theatres—The Strongest Man in the World<br />
CBV) 305<br />
Watts Mill 4—Flesh Gordon (SR), 9th wk 80<br />
"Emmanuelle' 300 in Chicago;<br />
'Stardust' Debuts at 225<br />
CHICAGO — Emmanuelle" again proved<br />
to be tough grossing competition with a<br />
strong 300 in a third week at the Michael<br />
Todd. Three films debuted with "Stardust"<br />
scoring the high at 225 at the Esquire. "Lord<br />
Shango" pulled in 150 and "The Thunder<br />
Kick" drew a nice 200. Three holdovers tied<br />
at the 225 mark: "Young Frankenstein."<br />
"Murder on the Orient Express" and "The<br />
Towering Inferno." which also began a multiple<br />
run at neighborhood theatres.<br />
Carnegie—Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox),<br />
10th wk 225<br />
Chicago—The Towering Inferno (WB/20th-Fox),<br />
9th wk 225<br />
Esquire—Stardust (Col) 225<br />
McClurg Court— Lenny (UA), 10th wk 250<br />
Michael Todd—Emmanuelle (Col), 3rd wk 300<br />
Playboy—Murder on the Orient Express (Para),<br />
4th wk 225<br />
Roosevelt—^Lord Shango ;SR) 150<br />
State Lake—The Godfather, Part II (Pora),<br />
9th wk 125<br />
United Artists— Earthquake (Univ), 12th wk 125<br />
Woods—The Thunder Kick (SR) 200<br />
Fire at Will Rogers Theatre<br />
CHARLESTON, ILL.—An early afternoon<br />
fire recently caused approximately<br />
SI.500 damage at the Will Rogers Theatre.<br />
705 Monroe St.. according to W. L. Child<br />
ers, who manages the Frisina Enterprises<br />
house. Faulty wiring was believed to be<br />
responsible for the blaze, which caused a<br />
two-day closing of the theatre.<br />
Halicki's "Gone in 60 Seconds" grossed<br />
$33,215 during one weekend in five cities.<br />
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Porno Ordinance Can't Be<br />
Enforced in Indiana City<br />
INDIANAPOLIS— Ihe Second District<br />
Court of Appeals has ordered the city of<br />
Marion, Ind.. to stop enforcing a 1972 antipornography<br />
ordinance [x-nding the outcome<br />
of a suit challenging the constitutionality<br />
oi the law. It ordered the Grant County<br />
Circuit Court to hear the suit and reinstated<br />
a temporary injunction against enforcement<br />
of the ordinance.<br />
The restraining order, issued when the<br />
suit was filed, was lifted in September 1972<br />
when Special Judge Joseph F. Eichhorn dismissed<br />
the suit without a trial. He held that<br />
the ordinance applied only to retailers and<br />
the plaintiff, Jacob Weinberg News Agency.<br />
was not affected because it was a wholesale<br />
outlet.<br />
In his suit. Weinberg argued that his sales<br />
were cut drastically when retailers ordered<br />
him to remove the ten magazines he distributed,<br />
including Playboy and Penthouse,<br />
which Marion city officials said were pornographic<br />
under the ordinance.<br />
The appeals court, in a 3-0 decision, said<br />
the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution<br />
applies to distribution of materials as<br />
well as publication. The opinion said magazines<br />
distributed by Weinberg do convey<br />
thoughts by printed words and pictures and<br />
Weinberg therefore was entitled to challenge<br />
the city ordinance.<br />
Stag Movie Accidentally<br />
Shown to Seminary Class<br />
KANSAS CITY~Dr. Shrum Burton,<br />
assistant to the president for development<br />
at St. Paul School of Theology (Methodist)<br />
here, hosts a popular Sunday morning TV<br />
program on a Kansas City TV station,<br />
"Faces of Religion." He recently was asked<br />
by a seminary class to provide a videotape<br />
of a specific program; therefore. Dr. Burton<br />
picked up the necessary tape at a local<br />
electronic supply house.<br />
Later Dr. Burton received a call from<br />
a technician advising him that the videotape<br />
did not contain the desired subject<br />
matter. Rather, it was a tape of a stag film.<br />
An investigation at the store disclosed<br />
that it was one which had been loaned to<br />
the police department for copying of a<br />
confiscated pornographic film. The "triple<br />
X" movie apparently had not been erased<br />
as intended, giving seminary students a<br />
look<br />
at adult film fare instead of the "Faces of<br />
Religion" program.<br />
Updated RoUa House Will<br />
Offer Screen, Stage Fare<br />
ROLLA, MO.—Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Herron<br />
of St. James, Mo., who recently purchased<br />
the former Rowe Theatre here, have<br />
reopened the house after remodeling and<br />
renovation. Now named the Light House<br />
Theatre, the 450-seat showhouse bowed<br />
with "Herbie Rides Again."<br />
Live attractions are planned in addition<br />
lo screen fare, according to Herron, who<br />
said a 12x36-foot stage had been addeil at<br />
the I.iuht House Theatre.<br />
Tent 4 Telethon Sets<br />
Record With $332,962<br />
.ST. LOUIS- Variety Club Tent 4's annual<br />
Telethon Crusade for Forgotten Children,<br />
aired February 15-16 over KPLR-TV,<br />
Channel 11. resulted in the largest sum collected<br />
and or pledged in the nine years since<br />
the 20-hour show was inaugurated. Joe<br />
Simpkins, fund-raising chairman, announced<br />
as the telethon ended at 6 p.m. Sunday,<br />
February 16, that the final figure had<br />
reached $332,962, an all-time high.<br />
As usual. Variety Club's main charity<br />
project, the Child Care Center of Our Lady<br />
of Grace at Normandy, Mo., will receive a<br />
substantial share for its continuing help of<br />
the emotionally disturbed. More than 50<br />
other local children's charities serving the<br />
blind, crippled, mentally ill, spastic or handicapped<br />
shut-ins will benefit from the generosity<br />
of those people who attended the<br />
dinner preceding the telethon as well as<br />
those who called in their pledges to volunteers<br />
manning the telephones.<br />
Arthur Enterprises' Tony Peluso, who is<br />
managing director of the Fox Theatre, did<br />
yeoman work in assembling and coordinating<br />
local talent. .Attorney Morris Shenker<br />
did an outstanding job as Variety Club fundraiser<br />
and his wife Lillian was honored at<br />
the dinner as "Variety's Sweetheart." Last<br />
year's poster boy, 11 -year-old Sam Malek<br />
of Creve Coeur, who, since January, raised<br />
$122 as his contribution, said, "It feels good<br />
when you do something good for somebody."<br />
Jerry Jorgensen to Helm<br />
Universal Branch Office<br />
CHICAGO—Jerry Jorgensen, Universal<br />
branch manager in Detroit, has been named<br />
to helm the branch here, it was announced<br />
by Robert L. Carpenter. Universal Pictures<br />
general sales manager. Dave Gonda will<br />
succeed Jorgensen in Detroit.<br />
Prior to being named branch manager in<br />
Detroit in 1974, Jorgensen worked as a<br />
salesman for Universal in Philadelphia.<br />
Locals Set for Filming of<br />
'Great Chicago Robbery'<br />
CHICAGO—Shooting for "The Great<br />
Chicago Robbery" is due to begin here in<br />
May. Former Chicagoan Herb Rogers is<br />
producing the film at a cost of $1.2 million.<br />
Action takes place here for three weeks<br />
and then shooting moves to Grand Cayman<br />
Island in the Caribbean.<br />
The project is coordinated by Illinois<br />
Film Services director Rick Holtzman and<br />
it is planned to use Chicago technicians,<br />
camera crews and actors.<br />
THEWTRE EQUIPMENT<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 C-1
. .<br />
His<br />
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CHICAGO<br />
J^be publicity action for "Tommy" keeps<br />
growing. Friday (21). the date Ann-<br />
Margret appears on the State Lake stage,<br />
has been officially proclaimed by the mayor<br />
as a day honoring the homecoming visit of<br />
the "Tommy" star. Following a demonstration<br />
of quintophonic sound at a preview of<br />
"Tommy." Henry G. Plitt. president of Plitt<br />
Theatres, is having this system installed in<br />
the State Lake Theatre for the Friday (21)<br />
opening. "Quintophonic" is described as<br />
"superior to all other stereo systems and it<br />
differs in that surrounding speakers carry the<br />
music track with a center channel directly<br />
behind the screen carrying the voice track."<br />
It is said to insure the most perfect sound<br />
reproduction ever achieved for a movie<br />
house.<br />
AIP publicist Ed Russell is waiting for<br />
confirming word that Raquel Welch will be<br />
here in May in connection with the opening<br />
of her movie "Wild Party" . . . Vic Bernstein.<br />
AIP division manager, is planning a<br />
"wild" press party in Ms. Welch's honor .<br />
Meanwhile. Bernstein and Russell have begun<br />
campaign efforts in connection with<br />
"The Land That Time Forgot." The film is<br />
based on a story by Edgar Rice Burroughs,<br />
author of the "Tarzan" series. Danton Burroughs,<br />
the grandson, and Jim Pierce the<br />
oldest living Tarzan will be in town for<br />
press rounds this month. The film<br />
a multiple run in this area in June.<br />
will open<br />
Wednesday (26) is set as the opening date<br />
of "Black Lolita." the 3-D movie starring<br />
Yolanda Love (Miss Black Galaxy). It is<br />
reported that the technical problems involved<br />
in prior 3-D films have been overcome<br />
in filming "Black Lolita" in color.<br />
United Artists branch manager Louis<br />
.A-urelio and publicist Wally Heim hosted<br />
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C-2<br />
who attended a Mc-<br />
cocktails for e.xhibitors<br />
Clurg Court screening of footage from "The<br />
Lion and the Wind" . . . United .-Xrtists is<br />
having ""good luck" with ""The Man With<br />
the Golden Gun," which is playing in eight<br />
outlying movie houses following its initial<br />
showing at the Woods Theatre in the Loop.<br />
UA's '"Mr. Ricco" is set for initial openings<br />
in neighborhood theatres.<br />
Dave Ruxton, manager of the Des Plaines<br />
Theatre, is on leave of absence for some<br />
traveling in South America. During Ru\-<br />
ton's absence, Don Schaut serves as acting<br />
manager.<br />
Censorship by local radio stations of film<br />
commercials for ""Lenny" prompted United<br />
Artists publicist Wally Heim to ask for<br />
"'equal time."" The same censorship has been<br />
encountered by the State Theatre in South<br />
Bend, Ind., and the Times in Rockford,<br />
where "Lenny" opened. In both markets<br />
radio stations have rejected almost half of<br />
the ETs. Comment by Ed Seguin of Plitt<br />
Theatres: '"Many believe the late comedian<br />
was ahead of his time. Maybe this also is<br />
true of his film biography."<br />
There's comment that Warner Bros.'<br />
Tamara Dobson will tour in behalf of her<br />
next film. ""Cleopatra Jones Meets the<br />
Dragon Princess" ... It is said that WB<br />
may pair "Dirty Harry" and "Magnum<br />
Force" for a double Clint Eastwood re-release<br />
package . . . Meanwhile '"Freebie and<br />
the Bean" is big boxoffice news and the<br />
expectations are high for the run of ""Alice<br />
Doesn't Live Here Anymore" at the Berwyn.<br />
Hillside. Coronet. Deerbrook. Ford City<br />
and Lincoln "Village theatres. Ellen Burstyn's<br />
nomination as Best Actress is sure to<br />
make "Alice" a big draw.<br />
Prior to leaving for a national NATO<br />
board of directors meeting in San Diego.<br />
Jack Clark, president of NATO of Illinois,<br />
issued caution to all exhibitors about action<br />
being taken by the Chicago Fire Prevention<br />
Bureau. This city body has assigned fire<br />
inspectors for daily visits to all theatres and<br />
a $10 violation ticket will be issued managers<br />
whenever a patron is observed lighting<br />
or smoking a cigaret outside of the restrooms.<br />
Allied Artists' "The Dragon Dies Hard"<br />
is set for a multiple showing in the tcrritor><br />
starting April 4. It had a great first op.-ning<br />
at the Oriental Theatre in the Loop . . . AA<br />
Central division manager Nat Nathanson<br />
was in Milwaukee for openings of "The<br />
Dragon Dies Hard" in theatres there. Elliott<br />
Slutzky, branch manager, was in Indianapolis<br />
to work on "Cabaret" TV saturations in<br />
the entire territory and also for territorial<br />
theatre openings of "TTie Draaon Dies<br />
Hard."<br />
Richard Stem, owner and operator of the<br />
Wilmette Theatre, has gone to federal court<br />
in an attempt to get an injunction tor the<br />
"<br />
return of ""Panorama Blue action followed<br />
confiscation of the film by the village<br />
of Wilmette which brought in<br />
a judge from<br />
the Chicago Municipal Court for the seizure.<br />
Stern's case is based on the contention<br />
that ""Panorama Blue" has played in various<br />
Chicago and suburban theatres without encountering<br />
controversial action. Meanwhile,<br />
the Wilmette is presenting "Girls Are for<br />
Loving," an R-rated movie.<br />
Oscar Brotman has booked "Rock 'n Roll<br />
Eyes" for the Brotman & Sherman Howard<br />
Theatre. The film is a concert jjerformance<br />
of Emerson. Lake and Palmer.<br />
The applause was strong when it was announced<br />
that Mrs. Doris Payne was named<br />
branch manager in the 20th Ontury-Fox<br />
Midwest exchange. Mrs. Payne, who has<br />
served 20th-Fox as office manager and head<br />
booker, has been associated with the company<br />
for six years. Her prior background in<br />
the industry includes service with Columbia<br />
Pictures in Indianapolis, nine years with<br />
Universal Pictures and with MGM in the<br />
Indianapolis exchange. Doris succeeds Dan<br />
Marks, whose departure to a new affiliation<br />
was announced earlier. Doris recently completed<br />
two years as president of the local<br />
WOMPIs and she has been active in<br />
various<br />
related industry projects. Debbie Gilliland.<br />
who was branch manager's secretary, will<br />
continue in this position with Mrs. Payne.<br />
Paul .Million of Bennis Theatres in Lincoln<br />
and Freeport, reported that Heywood-<br />
Wakefield seats installed by Carroll Seating<br />
Co. assure patrons of greatly improved seating.<br />
The 507 chairs which replaced the 990<br />
seats in the Lincoln are wider and give more<br />
aisle space. In order to facilitate further<br />
renovation involving new carpeting, new<br />
refrigeration, air-conditioning, etc., the Lincoln<br />
will close Monday (31) for three weeks.<br />
One of the big events to be attended by<br />
members of the entertainment field and the<br />
press is a salute to Freddie Townsend.<br />
known as "King of the Media." The affair<br />
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BOXOFFICE :; March 3, 1975
will be hold at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Lincolnwood,<br />
Monday (3). Irv Kupcinet, syndicated<br />
columnist, is honorary chairman; Lou<br />
Malnati is chairman, and co-chairmen are<br />
Tony Romano, Bob Kolalik. Will Leonard,<br />
Vlort Edelstein and Andy N:ckols.<br />
Clark Service, headed here by Bill Saley.<br />
is now settled ai 222 North Lallin, Chicago.<br />
III. 60607, telephone 829-3700.<br />
John Bischof of the Kohlberg circuit,<br />
was<br />
in New York to check on new product for<br />
the company's various theatres.<br />
The Fihii Center at the Art Institute is<br />
starting its third season of noncommercial<br />
movies. .Admission has gone up from $1 to<br />
$L25. Currently the center is offering two<br />
series: Wednesdays "The German Cinema<br />
Between the Wars" and Fridays "The International<br />
Productions of Roman Polanski."<br />
One of the films is "Kuhle Wampe," a<br />
German Communist film of 1932.<br />
Peter Bogdanovich is due here in mid-<br />
March in behalf of "The Other Side of the<br />
Wind," the story of an aging director which<br />
stars Orson Welles, John Huston, Lilli Palmer,<br />
Susan Strasberg and Bogdanovich.<br />
.Staff news from Universal Pictures: Peg<br />
O'Brien, Milwaukee cashier, is recovering<br />
from surgery at Wesley Hospital; Hania<br />
Kuzmik. 16mm biioker, is back after attending<br />
an NEC convention in Washington,<br />
D.C.; Art Spencer, regional accountant, and<br />
his bride are living in the city's north-side<br />
. . .<br />
area; Dandi Strombowsky joined Universal<br />
as Milwaukee biller; Nancy Rohl is the new<br />
branch manager's secretary, and Janet Ejka<br />
has a diamond which means a wedding next<br />
August "The Great Waldo Pepper,"<br />
one of Universal Pictures' new movies starring<br />
Robert Redford, starts its first showing<br />
Friday (14) at the Golf Mill 2. Evanston 2.<br />
Bremen L Glenwood, LaGrange and Gateway.<br />
Seymour Borde, a former Chicagoan who<br />
now heads a distribution firm on the West<br />
Coast, told Charles Teitel that he is becoming<br />
a devout golfer . . . Dave Friedman,<br />
also a former Chicagoan, told Teitel he is<br />
diversifying his operations by expanding into<br />
R-rated product along with the X-rated<br />
films which in the past have represented the<br />
major segment of his operations.<br />
Ann-Margret to be Queen<br />
of Variety Club Gala<br />
CHICAGO — Ann-Margret has been<br />
named queen of the eighth celebrity ball<br />
of Variety Club Tent 26, scheduled for<br />
Friday (21). Her appearance coincides<br />
with the Chicago premier of "Tommy,"<br />
opening at the State Lake Theatre.<br />
ST .<br />
LOUIS<br />
Advertised as "two super sci-fiers," "Dark<br />
Star" and the Academy Award nominee<br />
"Slaughterhouse-Five," are current at<br />
Manchester 1, South City 1 and in outlying<br />
situations including Twin City, Crystal City,<br />
and Bonne Terre, Bonne Terre . . . I oews'<br />
State has the exclusive engagement of<br />
"TNT Jackson," with Jeanne Bell in the<br />
starring role as a "one mama massacre<br />
squad."<br />
The St. Louis Civic Ballet is sponsor-<br />
. . .<br />
ing a one-night performance of the film<br />
version of "Don Quixote," starring Rudolf<br />
Nureyev, Tuesday (4) at Mid-America',-<br />
Fine Arts Theatre "The Nickel Ride,"<br />
Jason Miller's first film since his success in<br />
"The Exorcist," begins a multiple run at<br />
ten theatres Wednesday (12) . . . "The Four<br />
Musketeers" opens Tuesday (19) with 12<br />
theatres<br />
participating.<br />
A local—and real— "Love Story" was<br />
featured in the suburban newspaper the<br />
Observer recently. Twelve coimty high<br />
school girls started as usherettes at the<br />
Shady Oak Theatre in Clayton Dec. 24,<br />
1970, with the opening of the long-run<br />
movie "Love Story." All of them now are<br />
college students and return during spring<br />
or semester breaks to visit with their former<br />
employer, Jim Irving, Shady Oak manager.<br />
DLiring the Christmas-New Year holidays,<br />
seven of the girls were in town and conned<br />
Irving into giving his present staff a night's<br />
holiday so they all could work together<br />
again "just for fun." One of the girls, Kathleen<br />
Stout, knew her boss when her dad<br />
was employed by him at the time Irving<br />
was manager of the Maplewood Theatre.<br />
Eddie Bracken, veteran comedian who<br />
starred in the film "Miracle of Morgan's<br />
Creek," among other Preston Sturges<br />
comedies, appears with Amy Froman in<br />
"The Sunshine Boys," which opens Tuesday<br />
(4) at the American Theatre. The<br />
late Jack Benny was signed to star with<br />
Walter Matthau in the motion picture<br />
version of the play concerning the reunion,<br />
after 12 years, of a pair of aging comics<br />
who never really liked each other. George<br />
Burns will do the Benny role in the film.<br />
John Auble, KSD-TV, Channel 5, newscaster,<br />
has the starring role of the villain<br />
in the 1920 melodrama "The Bad Man,"<br />
enjoying a three-week run at the Goldenrod<br />
Showboat.<br />
Mid-America Theatres and Mary Kay<br />
Cosmetics sponsored a Valentine's Day promotion<br />
with each woman attending a performance<br />
at any MAT theatre February 14<br />
receiving a Valentine pack of Mary Kay<br />
sachets. Mary Kay representatives were<br />
present at each theatre for the presentation<br />
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at a later date.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
KANSAS CITY<br />
producer Shelly Schermcr. president of Finest<br />
Film. North Miami. Fla.. was in<br />
town February 25-26 to meet with Steve<br />
Durbin of United National Films. The producer<br />
of the highly successful feature ''Santa<br />
and the Three Bears" was here to discuss<br />
bookings for "Loves of Liszt." "To Love.<br />
Perhaps to Die" and "Thunder County."<br />
Tom and Gaye Fleming, L&L Supply Co..<br />
left Wednesday. February 26, for a week's<br />
ski vacation on the snow-clad Colorado<br />
slopes.<br />
Out-of-town exhibitors seen on Filmrow:<br />
From Missouri—Walter West, Cameron.<br />
From Kansas—Bob Maddcx. Garnett.<br />
Bev Miller, head of Mercury Films, has<br />
been discnarged from St. Luke's Hospital<br />
and now is convalescing at home. Miller,<br />
who recently underwent open-heart surgery<br />
for triple arterial blockage of the heart muscle<br />
(which involved replacement with arteries<br />
taken from his legs), says doctors have<br />
L&M Creates Promotion<br />
For Warners' 'Freebie'<br />
CHICAGO— In<br />
addition to creating business-getting<br />
ideas which generate enthusiasm<br />
among L&M Management Co. employees.<br />
Sandy Berman, general manager, believes<br />
in sharing the company's productive campaigns<br />
with other industry members. Berman's<br />
most recent exploitation efforts relate<br />
to the presentation of "Freebie and the<br />
Bean."<br />
While theatre employees wore the red<br />
buttons provided by Warner Bros, reading<br />
"Have You Had Your Freebie Lately?".<br />
Berman passed them out in areas where<br />
young people congregate. With the button,<br />
each recipient was given a card which stated:<br />
"If our mystery secret agent sees you wearing<br />
this button on the street, you will receive<br />
a free pass to see 'Freebie and the<br />
Bean.' " This in itself turned out to be<br />
profitable promotion.<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
don't miss the famous<br />
^\^]^S^<br />
Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
iHOTQ^J<br />
Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER<br />
labeled the operation "a 100 per cent success."<br />
While he isn't permitted to drive as<br />
yet, Bev is receiving calls and visitors. He<br />
plans to spend approximately 30 days increasing<br />
circulatory capacity via daily walks<br />
— up to a mile or more, a feat which could<br />
encourage desk-bound industryites to attempt<br />
to emulate Bev's recuperative regimen!<br />
Weber Meredith, Commonwealth Theatres<br />
Wichita city manager, was on the Row<br />
Tuesday. February 25. on business.<br />
The WOMPIs held their monthly meeting<br />
at the home of Nancy Crandal Tuesday<br />
evening. February 25.<br />
Ruby Shultz, secretary to Commonwealth<br />
Theatres president Richard Orear and vicepresident<br />
and general manager Douglas<br />
Lightner, is vacationing in Florida with husband<br />
George and friends. They planned to<br />
take in all the sights, including Disney World<br />
and the Smoky Mountains.<br />
But. in addition to this aspect of the<br />
campaign, via the use of a special telephone<br />
answering service from those theatres playing<br />
the film, a special phone tape incorporating<br />
the voice of a girl identified as<br />
Freebie urged callers to look for her at the<br />
theatre playing the movie. A portion of<br />
radio ET was tied up with the special telephone<br />
tape for callers to hear.<br />
To back this effort, a group of young<br />
ladies circulated in shopping centers to distribute<br />
specially made-up cards reading:<br />
"Have you had your Freebie lately? If not,<br />
call (theatre answering service number)."<br />
This particular activity kept the answering<br />
service humming 24 hours a day for three<br />
weeks prior to the playdate and into the<br />
first two weeks of the showing.<br />
As for the usual newspaper campaign<br />
effort— a tie-in with the local papers was<br />
arranged so that for seven days the classified<br />
sections carried a special ad which offered<br />
free passes to the show. Cost of this advertising<br />
was absorbed by the newspapers.<br />
Over and above the foregoing. Berman<br />
set up periodical ads in the sport pages of<br />
area newspapers.<br />
Berman not only arranges his own promotion<br />
but he also lays out his own copy.<br />
Kas. Smoking Bill Passes Senate<br />
TOPEK.A, KAS.—The Senate Febniary<br />
1 X passed and sent to the House of Representatives<br />
a bill which would prohibit smoking<br />
in public places where "no smoking"<br />
signs are displayed. Violators could be<br />
fined $25. The measure, SB 121. would<br />
apply to theatres, arts and music buildings,<br />
retail businesses, hospitals, governmental<br />
meeting rooms and elevators.<br />
Teitel Film Lists<br />
Upcoming Product<br />
CHICAGO—Teitel Film Co., in embarking<br />
on a greatly diversified system of<br />
programing, has lined up a variety of product<br />
for the upcoming months. 'Black Lolita,"<br />
a new 3-D film which has been<br />
responding to encouraging grosses in its<br />
Washington, D.C., showing, will go into<br />
the Roosevelt Theatre in the Loop. Campaigns<br />
are launching three new Peppercorn-Wormser<br />
Corp. films: "The Sensuous<br />
Sicilian," an adult Italian comedy; "Love<br />
at the Top." a French movie, and "Daughters,<br />
Daughters," an international awardwinning<br />
comedy.<br />
Also set for future opening is "Child<br />
Under a Leaf," with Dyan Cannon, whose<br />
performance has received considerable<br />
favorable comment. It's a story about a<br />
woman's love affair and subsequent events<br />
following the death of her child under<br />
accidental circumstances.<br />
"Vampyres," a Cambist mystery thriller,<br />
also is being readied for early openings,<br />
as is "Dust of Mahler," a classical art film<br />
about a German composer.<br />
In reporting that his own poll is revealing<br />
that prestige-type films are gaining in<br />
patron choice, Teitel said he is relaunching<br />
the grand opera film "Aida," which cur<br />
rently is showing in Wisconsin territory<br />
theatres, and Hitchcock's classic mystery,<br />
"Rebecca," also is making the rounds again.<br />
A "short short" which currently is seen in<br />
many movie houses is "Footsies," a dance<br />
of two tennis shoes. It runs exactly one<br />
minute.<br />
"Scenes From a Marriage," one of the<br />
big boxoffice hits in its winter openings,<br />
begins first outlying runs Friday (21).<br />
Grant Approved for Film<br />
On Thomas Hart Benton<br />
WASHINGTON. D.C.—The National<br />
Endowment for the Arts has given approval<br />
for a grant of $21,129 to aid in the production<br />
of a film based on late Missouri artist<br />
Thomas Hart Benton. The grant will be<br />
matched with funds provided by Kansas<br />
City Life Insurance.<br />
Photography on the film produced by<br />
John S. Altman for Calvin Productions in<br />
Kansas City began last fall. The crew followed<br />
Benton as he executed a mural on the<br />
origins of country music. Benton died January<br />
19. only hours after completing the<br />
work.<br />
The film will be completed after the installation<br />
of the mural at the Country Music<br />
Foundation in Nashville this spring. No<br />
release date has been set on the film.<br />
«<br />
MID-CONTINENT Theatre Supply Corp.<br />
1800 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo. 64108<br />
Phone (816) 221-0480 W. R. "Bill" Davis, Mgr.<br />
PROMPT • EFFICIENT<br />
• COURTEOUS<br />
Cinema Service, Inc.<br />
SOUND, AUTOMATION, PROJECTION<br />
INSTALLATION<br />
\ Joe Brungordt<br />
(Kansas City (816) 842-6S80<br />
J<br />
Wichita (316) 262-3368<br />
& SERVICE<br />
P. O. Box 16245<br />
)<br />
Midland Station )<br />
Wichita, Ks. 67216<br />
C-4 BOXOFTICE :; March 3. 1975<br />
i
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
14th<br />
forthcoming<br />
—<br />
Inferno' Keeps 900<br />
In Memphis Ninth<br />
MLMPHIS —<br />
I<br />
he Knvcnng Inferno"<br />
completed a ninth week with 900 at the<br />
Crosstown, a staggering score that outdazzied<br />
the competition. Also bright on the<br />
scene were two holdovers. "Young Frankenstein."<br />
and "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings."<br />
with 500 each at Malco Quartet.<br />
Murder on the Orient Express" opened<br />
with 500 also at the Malco complex. "TNT<br />
Jackson" pulled in a strong 250 in a second<br />
week.<br />
,<br />
;Averoge Is 100]<br />
Crosstown The Towering Inferno [WB/20th-Fox),<br />
9th wk 900<br />
Loews The Dragon Dies Hard AA], 2nd wk 150<br />
Malco TNT Jackson SR), 2nd wk 250<br />
Molco Quarter 1 W.W. and the Dixie Doncekings<br />
(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 500<br />
Malco Quartet 2 Murder on the Orient Express<br />
(Para) 500<br />
Malco Quortet 3 The Longest Yard (Para),<br />
200<br />
3rd wk<br />
Molco Quartet 4 Young Frankenstein ;20th-FoxJ,<br />
3rd wk<br />
Memptiian Phantom of the Paradise (20th-Fox),<br />
500<br />
100<br />
— Front iUniv}, 8th 100<br />
2nd wk<br />
Paramounr The Page wk<br />
Park Earthquake Univ wk 150<br />
Plozo 1 The Godfather, Port<br />
Bean<br />
II (Paro), 9th wk, 100<br />
Plozo 2 Freebie and the (Para), 9th wk. . .100<br />
Lion's Unique Heroism Is<br />
Recalled by Libert Film<br />
From Western Edition<br />
HOl.l.YWOOD—A tew years ago actor<br />
.Steve Hawkes. the last of the Tarzans, was<br />
nearly killed during a scene in which Tarzan<br />
was being tortured by fire. He was securely<br />
staked to the ground and gasoline was<br />
poured in a circle around him. When<br />
ignited, the volatile fluid exploded out of<br />
CO .trol and Hawkes was unable to free<br />
himself.<br />
No human being would brave the flames<br />
but a young lion named Samson leaped into<br />
the fire and pulled one of Steve's arms free<br />
from the stake, thus allowing the actor<br />
to free his other hand and his feet. The<br />
nearly 100 per cent burns sLiffered by<br />
Hawkes ended his film career but he never<br />
forgot the debt he owed the lion.<br />
Hawkes turned producer a few months<br />
ago to film an unusual animal adventure<br />
story, that of a small boy, a lion and a<br />
tiger against a hostile world. The Januarv<br />
release titled "Stevie, Samson and Delilah"<br />
stars Steve's seven-year-old son Stevie, a<br />
tiger named Delilah and Hawkes' old friend<br />
Samson.<br />
The Libert Films International feature is<br />
narrated by actor William Windom. The<br />
St. Petersburgh, Fla. -based company shot<br />
the film on location in the Florida Everglades<br />
and in Nairobi, Africa.<br />
Big Campus Turnout for<br />
'Throat'<br />
From Eastern Edition<br />
PHILADELPHIA—The Student Union<br />
has been presenting a wide variety of motion<br />
pictures at the University of Pennsylvania<br />
this season, the features ranging from<br />
"Slaughterhouse-Five" to "The Treasure of<br />
Sierra Madre" to "Peter Pan." But only one<br />
film has attracted a land-office business.<br />
The movie was shown recently and attracted<br />
a record number of 6.000 students to three<br />
screenings at a packed Irvine .Auditorium<br />
on the campus. The film: "Deep Throat."<br />
Bing Crosby Productions<br />
President Talks to Club<br />
A1L.\N1.\—Charle, .A. Pratt, president<br />
of Bing Crosby Productions, a division of<br />
.Atlanta-based Cox Broadcasting Corp., was<br />
the speaker at the February I'.* meeting of<br />
the Harvard Business School Club of Atlanta.<br />
Pratt has an extensive background in<br />
advertising, broadcasting and motion picture<br />
production. He joined CBC in 1965<br />
and became president of BCP, based in<br />
Hollywood, when the companv was acquired<br />
in 1967.<br />
Subject of his talk to the Harvard Cliili<br />
was 'You Ought to Be in Pictures.' He<br />
explored the many facets— and headaches<br />
of running an independent production ci>nipany<br />
in Hollywood.<br />
Among the feature films produced by<br />
BCP was Walking Tall," a major boxoffice<br />
hit based on the lite story of Buford Pusser,<br />
a legendary Tennessee sheriff. A sequel<br />
"Walking I all: Part II" was planned with<br />
Pusser in the lead role until he lost his<br />
life in a tiagic automobile accident.<br />
Subsequently, BCP signed Bo Svenson,<br />
a young star with a remarkable resemblance<br />
to Pusser, to play the role. He had costarred<br />
with Robert Redford in "The Great<br />
"<br />
Waldo Pepper, release. Shooting<br />
started early this month on location in<br />
Jackson, Tenn., with Pratt as the producer.<br />
Meanwhile, the original "Walking Tall<br />
has grossed close to $55 million, i he sequel,<br />
directed b> Earl Bellamy, is budgeted at<br />
$2 million. It will be released by American<br />
International<br />
Pictures.<br />
Robber's Conviction Upheld<br />
In Durham Theatre Case<br />
DURHA.VI, N.C.—The conviction of<br />
Weldon Mason, 25, for shooting the manager<br />
of the Yorktowne Theatres and for robbery<br />
has been upheld by the North Carolina<br />
Court of Appeals.<br />
Mason is serving a term of .^0 years for<br />
shooting manager James Beaulieu, 10 years<br />
for robbing the theatre of $210 and 10<br />
years for conspiring with two other men to<br />
commit the robbery.<br />
The Court of Appeals found no error<br />
in his May 1974 trial in Durham Superior<br />
Court.<br />
The robbery and shooting occured Dec.<br />
15, 1973, as the three men were leaving the<br />
theatre.<br />
George Royster to Head<br />
AIP Branch in Charlotte<br />
CHARLOTTE — George Royster has<br />
been named branch manager of American<br />
International's Charlotte exchange, Leon P.<br />
Blender, AIP's executive vice-president in<br />
charge of sales and distribution, announced.<br />
Royster most recently has been in indc<br />
pendent distribution, and previously was<br />
with National General Pictures and Universal<br />
Pictures. His appointment is effective<br />
immediately.<br />
Doty-Dayton's family feature. "Seven<br />
Alone." was directed bv Earl Bellamv.<br />
Sequel Destroyed<br />
Mafia Image: Shire<br />
A 1 LAN I A—<br />
I<br />
alia Shire, sister of Francis<br />
Ford Coppola, who played Connie Corleone<br />
in "The Godfather" and " 1 he Godfather,<br />
Part II" says her distinguished<br />
brother deliberately set out to wipe out<br />
admiration for the Mafia, manifest after<br />
the first picture.<br />
"The Godfather" made the Mafioso, with<br />
their loyal concern for their families, look<br />
too good," Mrs. Shire said. "Francis felt<br />
that he had to knock this family off."<br />
Although " Ihe Godfather" delineated the<br />
Corleones as evil, many people didn't look<br />
al them that way. On the contrary Coppola<br />
felt that a national wave of admiration resulted.<br />
Her brother was determined to make<br />
a sequel to dispel that admiration.<br />
Coppola decided to have Don Michael<br />
Corleone order the execution of his brother<br />
Fredo to complete the dissolution of the<br />
myth that the Corleones put the love of<br />
family above anything else. "The most<br />
evil deed possible is for one family member<br />
to kill another," she said.<br />
This decision on the part of Coppola<br />
played havoc among his characters, according<br />
to Mrs. Shire. "We all looked very<br />
much alike, we were playing the members<br />
of the family for a second time and it was<br />
all very weird. We felt that we were a<br />
family." (She and John Casales who played<br />
her brother Fredo in both pictures "felt<br />
like brother and sister.")<br />
Al Pacino, who plays Don Michael Corleone,<br />
in the second film ordered the killing<br />
of Fredo. "Poor Al felt like a monster,<br />
she confided.<br />
She and Coppola are children of Carmine<br />
Coppola, who was solo flutist for the immortal<br />
Toscanini and the NBC Symphony<br />
Orchestra and a composer. They traveled<br />
a great deal with their show business family.<br />
Now she is married to another composer<br />
David Shire and lives in Los Angeles. Early<br />
during her five years of marriage, she said<br />
she "tried to pass for normal. I went to<br />
January white sales and squeezed fruit. 1<br />
didn't know what I was doing. 1 just tried<br />
to<br />
pass."<br />
"Now I am feeling very creatively fertile<br />
—no more January white sales." The<br />
change, she said, has put her relationship<br />
with her husband "in a delicate place."<br />
In developing her acting, she said, "1<br />
made a decision that I was a person who<br />
collects from other people. I get a great<br />
deal from other people, very little from<br />
myself. I'm a mirror."<br />
Bogalusa Twin Started<br />
BOGALUSA, LA.—Mayor Louis Rawls<br />
wielded the shovel to turn the first spade of<br />
earth at the site of the new Twin Cinema<br />
on Shopyard Square here. Present for the<br />
ground-breaking were G. L. Lovitt, superintendent<br />
for contractor Carter and Mullings;<br />
Lake Pennington, vice-president of Carter<br />
and Mullings: George Solomon, Twin Cinema<br />
owner; and Charles Cassidy, president<br />
of the First State Bank and Trust Co.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 SE-1
!<br />
ATLANTA<br />
n civic-minded physician, who obviously<br />
is a motion picture buff, has appealed<br />
to BoxoFFiCE to assist him in finding someone<br />
in the Southeast to open a theatre in his<br />
home town. West Point. Miss. R.B. Flowers,<br />
M.D., writes that his town has a population<br />
of 12,000 to 14.000 and "one dismal, dark<br />
and unattractive theatre, barely existing in<br />
showing movies unheard of and citizens are<br />
leaving town in appreciable numbers for<br />
cinema (fare) elsewhere." He adds: "Some<br />
time ago I hired a professional to survey this<br />
town to anticipate its economic needs. Today<br />
a new shopping center is under construction<br />
with firm leases with Kroger. Sainburg<br />
and Walmart."<br />
Dr. Flowers' best bet. it would seem,<br />
would be to interest the builders of the new<br />
shopping center in including a theatre in<br />
the project and lease it to an existing circuit<br />
that would be able to book films that would<br />
suit the needs of the community. Meanwhile,<br />
the good doctor would like to hear<br />
from anyone who can give him any leads<br />
that will bring to his city a respectable film<br />
theatre. His address is 219 West Broad St.,<br />
West Point, Miss.<br />
Sunday the clocks in the Southeast were<br />
moved forward 60 minutes and officially<br />
returned to Daylight Saving Time. The hour<br />
is lost under the "spring forward, fall back"<br />
formula, which comes two months earlier<br />
than usual because of the 1973 emergency<br />
year-round Daylight Saving Time Act. Not<br />
too many complaints have been heard this<br />
year about the "fast time."<br />
Belton Clark of the Jacksonville Clark<br />
Film Releasing headquarters has been in<br />
Charlotte where he screened "Pretty Poor<br />
Eddie." which was filmed in Athens, Ga.,<br />
and premiered at last year's Atlanta Film<br />
Festival. It subsequently returned to the<br />
FOR ALL<br />
YOUR THEATRE NEEDS<br />
Ciaemeccanica Projectors<br />
* Carbons<br />
Automation Equipment * ORC Equipment<br />
Christie Platters * Xenon Bulbs * Reels<br />
Sound Systems * Lenses * Draperies<br />
Parts * Service * Repairs<br />
West Coast for "doctoring." It was presented<br />
as a trade press screening in Atlanta by<br />
Clark and those who viewed it were amazed<br />
at the improvement in the film. Other pictures<br />
shown at the 20th-century Fox screening<br />
room were "Janis." Universal, and 20th-<br />
Fox's "The Terrorists."<br />
Georgia unemployment payments soared<br />
past the $7 million mark for the first time<br />
ever last week as the jobless rate in the<br />
state climbed to an estimated 12 per cent,<br />
according to the State Labor Department.<br />
The total amount of unemployment com-<br />
^pensation paid out so far this year stands at<br />
$36.5 million compared to only $7.6 million<br />
this time last year. Week before last marked<br />
the si.xth straight week Georgia unemployment<br />
payments have topped $5 million.<br />
There were no $1 million weeks in 1973.<br />
Jordan Christopher, who played one of<br />
the leading roles in the presentation of<br />
"Sleuth" in the Winter Play Series of the<br />
Theatre of the Stars at the Peachtree Playhouse,<br />
boasts an impressive list of film<br />
credits to go along with his stage and television<br />
roles. In 1967 he went to Spain to make<br />
his first film "The Return of the Seven"<br />
with Yul Brynner and his second film. "The<br />
Tree," with Eileen Heckart. "Angel, Angel<br />
Down We Go" with Jennifer Jones followed<br />
and recently released was "Pigeons" with<br />
Kate Reid.<br />
E. William Andrew jr., head of the Southern<br />
Independent Theatres Division of Alliance<br />
International Enterprises. Inc., returned<br />
to his duties last week after recuperating<br />
from a gallbladder operation. Associated<br />
with .Andrew are his son William<br />
III. who handles the buying and booking,<br />
and his daughter Joan .Ackerly. who handles<br />
the secretarial duties. Joan has leaked the<br />
secret she is expecting an addition to the<br />
family.<br />
J. Paul Astin, chief executive officer and<br />
chairman of the board of the Atlanta-based<br />
Coca-Cola Co. has been presented with the<br />
Pathfinder Award by the Opportunities Industrialization<br />
Centers of America, in sponsoring<br />
and raising funds lor OIC training.<br />
new classrooms, equipment, teachers and<br />
expansion.<br />
Heery & Heery, Atlanta architects, designed<br />
the $10 million shopping mall nearing<br />
completion at Walt Disney World. The<br />
mall, known as Lake Buena Vista Village,<br />
is scheduled to open in March with 35<br />
stores and four restaurants. The mall is the<br />
second Disney project for the Atlanta architects.<br />
They designed the Center building,<br />
headquarters for the Walt Disney World<br />
Co.<br />
This year's Atlanta Jaycees honorary life<br />
membership award was presented to A.B.<br />
Padgett, vice-president of the Trust Co. of<br />
Georgia and well remembered along Filmrow<br />
when he was a member of the film<br />
industry. Padgett was cited for his work on<br />
the Governors Council on Human Relations,<br />
Leadership Atlanta, with the Fulton County<br />
Department of Family and Children's Services<br />
and the Metropolitan Foundation of<br />
.Atlanta. At the time he left the film industry,<br />
he was connected with the Southeastern<br />
ABC Theatres film buying and booking department.<br />
Returning from a two-week vacation from<br />
the State Capitol, the Georgia General Assembly<br />
made short shrift of two controversial<br />
measures. First to fall, after a lengthy<br />
debate, was the Equal Rights Amendment,<br />
which was defeated by a vote of 33 to 22.<br />
Many women wept bitter tears. Then the<br />
House smothered the bill that would have<br />
legalized pari-mutuel betting (horse racing<br />
tracks) by a vote of 133 to 37 after a twohour<br />
debate. Proponents painted a rosy picture<br />
of new revenues that could be pumped<br />
into schools and other state coffers, but the<br />
opponents countered by saying it would attract<br />
organized crime to the city, breed sin<br />
and immorality and cause chaos in general.<br />
The bill is offered regularly by a group of<br />
Georgia sportsmen who have horse farms<br />
here but the anti-gambling churchgoing element<br />
refuses to buy the idea. Meanwhile.<br />
Georgians hop across the state border to see<br />
the horses and dogs run in Florida.<br />
For the second year in a row. Georgia<br />
seems scheduled to obtain more than $100<br />
million in U.S. Defense Department spending,<br />
which would give the state's sagging<br />
economy and depressed building industry a<br />
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SE-2 BOXOFFICE ;; March 3, 1975
. . . Robert<br />
. . Pat<br />
big boost. For the next fiscal year the<br />
Army's request for new construction in<br />
Georgia exceeds $94 million. .Air Force and<br />
other military programs will push that total<br />
past the SI 00 million mark.<br />
Ralph Biiring, 20th C'eniiiry-Fox's Southeastern<br />
ad and promotion director, spent<br />
last week in the Miami territory laying the<br />
groundwork for a heavy schedule of pictures<br />
to be seen at Easter.<br />
WOMPI NOTES— Esther Osley, Alliance<br />
International Enterprises. Inc., staffer, has<br />
been appointed to the International Bylaws<br />
Committee by International President .'Kmalie<br />
Gantt . . . Nomination ballots have been<br />
distributed to the members for the selection<br />
1975 Boss of the Year. Each member<br />
of the<br />
can nominate three candidates in 1-2-3 order<br />
with No. 1 as her first choice. The balloting<br />
will be secret and the new BOTY's identity<br />
will not be revealed until the election results<br />
are announced at the climax of the Bosses<br />
l.uncheon at the Atlanta Playboy Club<br />
Wednesday (13). Lynda Norris of United<br />
.Artists says reservations to date indicate<br />
that the affair is sure to be a sellout.<br />
Tom Jones, head of his film buying and<br />
booking agency in nearby Decatur, has been<br />
discharged from Crawford W. Long Hospital<br />
after suffering a relapse from the flu.<br />
He expects to be back at his desk next<br />
week . and Marjoric Roberson (he<br />
books for Chappcll Releasing Co. and she<br />
does the same for 20th Century-Fox) returned<br />
from spending the Washington's<br />
Birthday holiday in Jacksonville, Fla., and<br />
reported the weather was "just beautiful"<br />
Sedlak, National Screen Service<br />
branch manager, attended the opening of<br />
the Martin Southgate Twin theatres in Fort<br />
Oglethorpe.<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
T^ardi (iras Day brought many visitors to<br />
the City: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Blevins of<br />
Blevin's Popcorn: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Patrick<br />
of Fuqua Industries: Mr. and Mrs. Alvin<br />
Gvillo. cousins of Irene Mexic of Gulf Slates<br />
Theatres, who liked the city of New Orleans<br />
so well that they decided to make their home<br />
here: and Lou Dwyer of Gulf States Theatres<br />
who enjoyed the day with his daughter,<br />
husband and grandchildren who were in<br />
town for the holiday.<br />
Billy Gay of Gulf States Theatres went to<br />
Beaumont, Tex., to attend the cultural program<br />
at the Jefferson Theatre. Billy thinks<br />
of the Jefferson Theatre as his Alma Mater<br />
as he held his first position in the film business<br />
there.<br />
Congratulations to Irene Mexic, Gulf<br />
States Theatres publicity representative, and<br />
her husband Joe, who celebrated their third<br />
wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day.<br />
Attending the NATO convention in Dallas<br />
from Gulf States Theatres were Ted<br />
Solomon, president of NATO of Texas and<br />
two associates.<br />
Larry Gleason, formerly with Gulf States<br />
Theatres, has joined the Mann Theatres in<br />
San Francisco. Calif.<br />
Rene Brunet of the Clabon, Carver, and<br />
his family visited Disneyland during the Carnival<br />
holidays.<br />
Irene Mexic of Gulf States Theatres was<br />
busy setting up publicity campaigns for the<br />
opening of "Cabaret" in the Lake Forest<br />
theatres and "White Lightning" scheduled<br />
for a multiple run at the drive-ins.<br />
Start BOXOFFICE
—<br />
. . Brock<br />
JACKSONVILLE<br />
YintenJ Price, the sauve motion picture villain<br />
of classic horror films who is also Gras in New Orleans—fed itself this Feb-<br />
Gasparilla festival in Tampa and the Mardi<br />
a noted art collector and authority, was ruary of 1975 completely by gorging on the<br />
honored here at a champagne banquet and nostalgic glories of the movie capital of<br />
party following his appearance as a lecturer Hollywood in its heyday. Called "Saturday<br />
at the Civic Auditorium in the Celebrity Night at the Movies." the pageant had scores<br />
Series sponsored by the city's Junior League. of wealthy men and social beauties masquerading<br />
as famed motion picture<br />
Bob<br />
directors<br />
Jones, city manager for ABC Florida and stars in contrived replicas of<br />
State Theatres,<br />
motion<br />
sponsored a well-attended<br />
picture production studios<br />
morning<br />
and locales.<br />
showing of "Where the Lilies<br />
Bloom" at the Regency 1 Theatre on behalf Bender A. "Dock"<br />
of Women<br />
Cawthon, local<br />
of<br />
film<br />
the Jacksonville Art Museum<br />
projection engineer and film<br />
as a<br />
historian,<br />
benefit performance<br />
gave<br />
for the museum's<br />
a private showing recently<br />
educational<br />
of the<br />
fund.<br />
industry<br />
memorabilia he has been collecting since<br />
The public boyhood<br />
library and storing in his<br />
system—consisting of<br />
museum on West<br />
the main downtown<br />
Third<br />
library and Street.<br />
seven .'Kmong<br />
branch<br />
Dock's most prized<br />
libraries—<br />
and<br />
is publicizing<br />
valuable<br />
a new<br />
possessions<br />
slogan shown<br />
for<br />
to screened<br />
visitors is<br />
its free movies which a<br />
could priceless<br />
spill over and<br />
and completely operable<br />
benefit the commercial Kinetoscope<br />
theatres. The projection<br />
slogan<br />
machine patented<br />
by<br />
is directed at senior citizens who Thomas A.<br />
are admonished<br />
Edison in 1893 at Menlo<br />
Park.<br />
to "Take N.J.,<br />
Your Grandchildren<br />
where the great to the<br />
inventor accomplished<br />
Movies." especially since both<br />
most of his early<br />
oldsters and<br />
motion picture<br />
children are accorded<br />
achievements.<br />
discount movie rates.<br />
High on the list of Dock's sentimental<br />
J. Cleveland Kent, who recently became possessions is a dip he made into the phonographic<br />
field with the acquisition in his<br />
president of Kent Theatres upon the retirement<br />
of his father Fred H. Kent, announced<br />
the acquisition from Trans-Lu.x cylinder recording in the early days of re-<br />
youth of an original Thomas A. Edison wax<br />
Theatres of the Normandy Gold and Blue taining for posterity the human voice. Notable<br />
among Dock's wax discs—still in prime<br />
theatres and the Norwood Blue and Gold<br />
theatres. Cleveland pointed out in a newspaper<br />
story that Kent is "the largest inde-<br />
condition—are speeches in the early part of<br />
the 2()th Century by the late President Theodore<br />
Roosevelt concerning his "Rough<br />
pendently operated theatre circuit in Florida"<br />
with a total of 38 units, including 16 Rider" days in Cuba during the Spanishdrive-ins<br />
and 22 indoor houses.<br />
American War before the turn of the century,<br />
an account of his entertainment attractions<br />
by famed showman Phineas T. Bar-<br />
Bolivar Hyde, manager of Kent's Plaza<br />
Theatre, continued his close rapport with num, and a stirring description of the discovery<br />
of the North Pole by .'Admiral Robert<br />
merchants of the Phillips Mall by presenting<br />
a Tuesday morning showing of "Love Story" E. Peary.<br />
as the main drawing card for a special sale<br />
at stores in Phillips Mall which offered free Marsha Weaver, WOMPI president, announced<br />
a group social gathering March 25<br />
sweepstakes tickets.<br />
in the home of member Martha Scott honoring<br />
a group of new WOMPI members . . .<br />
ABC Florida State Theatres, which is well<br />
into its second half-century as Florida's largest<br />
motion picture theatre circuit, recently stallation banquet is scheduled for June 21<br />
Marsha also said the annual WOMPI in-<br />
announced an upsurge in its modernization at a location yet to be announced.<br />
program and geographic expansion by revealing<br />
a list in 20 of Florida's busiest communities<br />
where ABC FST has new de lu.xe tors, too. of course— were delighted to read<br />
Motion picture exhibitors—and distribu-<br />
theatres recently opened, now undergoing what Charles Brock, the Florida Timesconstruction<br />
or planned for early compfetion Union entertainment editor, had to say as<br />
in order to cope with the expanding demands the logjam of leading motion picture screens<br />
for more entertainment facilities in Florida's sent downstream the films that piled up<br />
rapidly burgeoning cities and to justify its before Christmas and prevented new attractions<br />
from coming down the river. "Bonan-<br />
slogan of presenting "Florida's finest entertainment.za!"<br />
he wrote. "Nearly two months after<br />
the mother lode of films,<br />
Jacksonville's<br />
fresh paydirt<br />
annual<br />
has<br />
pre-eminent white<br />
been hit with the opening<br />
socialite<br />
of five<br />
gathering interestins<br />
for the past 49 years<br />
known<br />
new shows." Charley then<br />
as Ye gave<br />
Mystic<br />
accolades<br />
Revellers Pageant and<br />
to "Murder<br />
Coronation<br />
on the Orient Express," "Alice<br />
Ball—a local rendition of the<br />
Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "The Stepford<br />
Wives," "Child Under a Leaf" and "The<br />
Strongest Man in the World" .<br />
also<br />
XENON LAMPS<br />
managed to juggle his time and get in a<br />
and<br />
quick trip to New York for reader-interest<br />
AUTOMATED PROJECTION<br />
interviews with Michael Moriarty and Susan<br />
ROY SMITH CO.<br />
Blakely. young stars of "Report to the Commissioner."<br />
Jacksonville, Flo.<br />
365 Park St. new cops-and-rohher spine tiiigler<br />
filmed around Times Square.<br />
Adult Films Are<br />
Improving: Friedman<br />
NEW ORLEANS— Adult films can't help<br />
getting better, the national president of the<br />
Adult Film Ass'n of America told convent<br />
oners here, because casts, stories and techniques<br />
are getting better.<br />
The president. David F. Friedman, said<br />
adult films have atttracted prominent writers<br />
to create screenplays, as well as attracting<br />
large audiences and developing moviemaking<br />
methods.<br />
One of Friedman's films, "The Erotic<br />
Adventures of Zorro," was playing in New<br />
Orleans at the time of the convention this<br />
winter. Public relations consultant of the<br />
Ass'n Judith Raskin was its author, although<br />
she admits she was hesitant at first.<br />
"It was my first sex film, and I didn't<br />
want to use my own name, so I chose a<br />
pseudonym—Mona Lott," she explained.<br />
"We wrote it in two days, non-stop. Now<br />
I wish I had used my own name on it."<br />
Friedman chimed in. "I'm really proud of<br />
it."<br />
.As one of the major distributors in the<br />
adult film market. Friedman's company. Entertainment<br />
Ventures, Inc., bills itself as the<br />
"Mighty Monarch of the Exploitation-Film<br />
World!" If the title seems self-imposed.<br />
Friedman is not bashful about the lure of<br />
adult entertainment these days.<br />
"As long as the fruit is forbidden, it is<br />
more attractive, and it is going to be a big<br />
business," he commented. "If you want to<br />
get rid of pornography in America, legitimatize<br />
it. It will die of its own ennui."<br />
For Friedman and others in the business,<br />
however, the product's main value is its<br />
monetary worth on the market. Since making<br />
the classic "The Erotic Adventures of<br />
Lucky Pierre." Friedman has proved to himself<br />
and others that there is big money to<br />
be made on sexual fantasies.<br />
Among the prominent film critics and<br />
writers attending the convention was Roger<br />
Ebcrt. Chicago Sun Times film critic. He<br />
wrote the script for "Beyond the Valley of<br />
the Dolls" and has finished a sequel to that<br />
entitled "Up the Valley of the Beyond."<br />
He told a convention audience, "It's fun<br />
to write these things. Sometimes I sit at<br />
my typewriter and laugh out loud."<br />
Theme of this year's meeting, "The Adult<br />
Film: The Critics' Choice." was analyzed in<br />
sessions with several critics and reviewers.<br />
They included the Rev. Malcolm Boyd,<br />
Molly Haskell, Arthur Knight, Kevin<br />
Thomas, Bruce Williamson and Ebert.<br />
AIP Releases in South<br />
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. — Robert<br />
Steuer, American International Southern division<br />
sales manager, is back from Charlotte,<br />
New Orleans and Dallas where he<br />
set release of "The Wild Party," "The Mc-<br />
Cullochs" and Edgar Rice Burroughs' "The<br />
Land That Time Forgot."<br />
Columbia Pictures' "Papillon" smashed a<br />
previous record by "The Exorcist" in Melbourne,<br />
Australia, b\' 14 per cent.<br />
{<br />
SE-4<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
Gulf States Gives<br />
Theatre to Hospital<br />
RUSK, TEX.—Gulf State Theatres, a<br />
division of Fuqua 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 prop<br />
erty 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 Ciianfortc,<br />
city manager and district supervisor of<br />
Shrcvcport; 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 />
Popularity of Featurettes<br />
Noted by Cinema Managers<br />
CHICAGO—Shorts fast arc becoming a<br />
part of a movie program and theatre managers<br />
report that no one yet has walked out<br />
on these added features. Currently, "Portrait<br />
of a Railroad," running 19 minutes, is<br />
one of the hit featurettes. Produced by<br />
Francis Thompson, it takes one along the<br />
rivers and through snow country, across<br />
prairies and into the high country. The film<br />
is a brief but illuminating story about modern<br />
railroading, shot on location from the<br />
Rockies to the Pacific Ocean.<br />
"Challenge in the Earth," all about mining<br />
of raw materials, also is emerging as a<br />
favorite among moviegoers. It runs 1 1 minutes<br />
and it merited the Grand Award at the<br />
1974 International Film Festival.<br />
Charles Cooper, who some time ago<br />
chose to feature short subjects in his distribution<br />
efforts, said he believes they have<br />
caught on because, in a matter of five to<br />
22 minutes, these featurettes present scenic<br />
beauty and educational facets, as well as<br />
entertainment.<br />
DENTON, TEX.—Hollywood<br />
screen<br />
stars Robert Alda and Arny Freeman will<br />
.star in Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys"<br />
when it appears as part of the North Texas<br />
State University Fine Arts Series.<br />
MIAMI<br />
\A7oinetco Knterprises has announced record<br />
earnings for 1974. The Miamibased<br />
leisure time firm had net income ot<br />
$9 million or $1.51 a share, compared with<br />
the prior record of $8.0.3 million, or $1.3.'5<br />
per share, in 1973. Sales rose to $160.8 million,<br />
up from $135.1 million. The firm's<br />
entertainment division had a 21.3 per cent<br />
hike in profits on sales growth of 15.9 p)er<br />
cent. The "continuing vitality" of movies<br />
was the main reason for the increase, Wometco<br />
president Mitchell Wolfson said.<br />
The casting director of a pornographic<br />
movie filmed on the boat of one Miami<br />
bayfront physician and at the home of another<br />
faces five years in prison and a $5,000<br />
fine after conviction on an obscenity charge.<br />
The 16.000 feet of 16mm color film shot<br />
last March was not seen by the Dade Circuit<br />
Court jury that February 6 convicted the<br />
casting director, Leonard Campagna, of conspiracy<br />
to commit wholesale promotion of<br />
obscene matter or performance. Film producer<br />
Leonard Kirtman of New York City<br />
and others also were charged in the case<br />
but the prosecution would not reveal if they<br />
would be tried. Campagna admitted he had<br />
Classic Theatre Declared<br />
A Nat'l Historic Place<br />
From Mideastern Edition<br />
DAYTON. OHIO—The old Classic Theatre,<br />
815 West Fifth St.. which was a mecca<br />
for black entertainers, has been placed on<br />
the National Register of Historic Places, it<br />
was announced by the Ohio Historical Society.<br />
Built in 1926. the showhousc has featured<br />
such performers as Ella Fitzgerald,<br />
Duke Ellington, Count Basic, Billy Eckstine<br />
and the Mills brothers.<br />
The Montgomery County Historical .Society<br />
applied for the designation, based on<br />
the theatre's being a monument of great<br />
importance to the history of minority<br />
cultural achievement in southwestern Ohio<br />
during the age of segregation.<br />
At present, a West Dayton group is trying<br />
to make the theatre into a cultural center<br />
and museum for the nation's bicentennial<br />
celebration.<br />
MEMPHIS<br />
pommy Brown, manager of<br />
Murray Drivein.<br />
has assumed operation of Cine<br />
Central Theatre at Murray, Ky., and is now<br />
open for fulltime operation.<br />
Arthur Groom, manager of Loew's, has<br />
returned from a vacation in Texas and<br />
Oklahoma. Charles Odell was acting manager<br />
while he was gone.<br />
Elvis Presley has sufficiently recovered<br />
from an illness in Baptist Hospital at Memphis<br />
that ticket sales began for his concert<br />
in Mississippi Coliseum at Jackson May 5<br />
for the benefit of tornado victims. Tickets<br />
are $15.$ 10. $7.50 and $5.<br />
been present when the film was shot on the<br />
72-fool motor vessel ".Sea Horse" owned at<br />
the time by a Miami neurosurgeon.<br />
"I had no knowledge it was to be a dirt)<br />
film," Campagna said. "I thought it was to<br />
be a simulated (sex) film. I was not part of<br />
the crew. I went along for the ride more or<br />
less." The neurosurgeon was named an unindictcd<br />
co-conspirator in the case as was<br />
the physician whose home was used for the<br />
film. Both men were given immunity for<br />
their testimony.<br />
The producer testified that the film was<br />
stolen from a Coconut Grove apartment<br />
shortly after it was made and before it could<br />
be edited into two movies. It was never introduced<br />
into evidence in the court case<br />
because the prosecutor "drew the charges<br />
carefully so we didn't need the film (to get<br />
a conviction)."<br />
Richard L. Lehman has been appointed<br />
director of public .iffairs for Wometco. He<br />
joined the firm in 1973 as assistant director<br />
of public affairs and holds an M.A. in communications<br />
from the University of Pennsylvania's<br />
Annenberg School of Communications.<br />
John Tabor Receives<br />
Phil Chakeres Award<br />
From Mideastern Edition<br />
CINCINNATI — John Tabor, central<br />
Ohio district manager for Chakeres Theatres,<br />
has been awarded the first annual Phil<br />
Chakeres .Showmanship Award, recently set<br />
up as an incentive for all personnel. Tabor's<br />
name has been engraved on the plaque in<br />
the Chakeres office in Springfield.<br />
In addition. Tabor received a gold desk<br />
set, a bonus and an expense-paid trip to<br />
Show-A-Rama 18 in Kansas City.<br />
Tabor began his career as an usher in<br />
Kentucky theatres and has been with<br />
Chakeres during the past 15 years.<br />
City Asked to Buy Theatre<br />
From Mideastern Edition<br />
NEW ALBANY, IND.—Harry Switlow,<br />
member of the Louisville family which established<br />
a major circuit in the Mideast, has<br />
asked the city of New Albany to acquire the<br />
Grand TTieatre property on East Market<br />
Street for parking purposes to prevent the<br />
cinema from becoming a showcase for X-<br />
rated movies. The matter is still under consideration<br />
by city officials.<br />
Film Ventures International's "The Female<br />
Butcher" is ready for national release.<br />
IN-PLANT PRODUCTION MEANS<br />
FAST SERVICE AT LOW COST<br />
COLOR MERCHANT ADS<br />
Brilliant Color • Professional Announcers<br />
^ MOTION PICTURE SERVICE CO.<br />
125<br />
"l Hyde St., San Francisco, Cd. 94102<br />
(415) 673-9162 - Gerald Kariki, Prat.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 SE-5
. . Whereas<br />
I<br />
Film Investors in<br />
Florida Seeking<br />
Tax Time Magic, Celluloid Glamour<br />
MIAMI—Wanted: A movie to invest in. that has resulted in the financing of such<br />
IN WAIKIKI: REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER • selves, or begin financing a lot of indepen-<br />
That is the way the want-ad could read for films as 'The Great Gatsby,' "Chinatown,'<br />
dozens of South Florida investors who are and "For Pete's Sake' began with Lyndon<br />
seeking lucrative tax loophole deferrals and Johnson's wish to grant the film community<br />
a taste of celluloid glamour.<br />
some relief in the mid-Sixties when Hollywood<br />
Hollywood had its best year in history in<br />
seemed to be dying. "Easy Rider' was<br />
1974, measured by gross and attendance the big hit film and everyone was worried<br />
records. But the pot of gold at the end of about "runaway productions' (American<br />
the cinema rainbow is the tax shelter financing<br />
films made on foreign locations such as<br />
which is so appealing in times of drop-<br />
westerns shot in Spain).<br />
ping stock prices and unsure commodities ""Since its passage the IRS and the Congress<br />
markets.<br />
have annually taken a hard look at the<br />
"For an investor above the 50 per cent "loophole' and grumbled about closing it.<br />
lax bracket there are big tax advantages," Several investors I spoke with refused to be<br />
says Harold Marks, whose investment group quoted because they feared publicity might<br />
owns all .American rights to Fellini's "Amarcord."<br />
begin the ball rolling toward closing the hole<br />
"If it's bad you get a tax loss, and if once again.<br />
it is good, you get a tax shelter . . . that<br />
after a number of years<br />
Useful Life in Perpetuity<br />
is really a tax deferral."<br />
"The only difference between a film and<br />
""<br />
Writing in the Miami News, Alex Ben a building as investments.' says attorney<br />
Block explains what Marks and his group Charles "Buddy" Coushan. who has gotten<br />
of about 40 investors have been able to investment groups together and is former<br />
accomplish in the past few years.<br />
head of the Greater Miami Film and Television<br />
"His group paid S6 million to Fellini for<br />
Council, "is a building stays in one place<br />
all North American rights to "Amarcord" on a piece of land and can only develop a<br />
before it got its first New York review. At certain amount of income . if<br />
the time. Marks felt they had a strong film, you take a film it has a useful life in perpetuity.<br />
but one with little expectations of giant<br />
It can be shown again and again, in<br />
profits. Now. after 'Amarcord' has won the theatres, on television, in cassettes. Motion<br />
New York Critics Award as Best Film and pictures are like a good book in that the<br />
seems headed for an Oscar as Best Foreign great ones last forever.'<br />
Film, his "Equity Leverage' investors stand ""Reminded only one in ten films shows a<br />
lo profit handsomely.<br />
real profit. Coushan adds cautiously. "Yes.<br />
"Marks' investors are limited partners, it is a high risk investment, but like anything<br />
meaning they are only liable for losses as<br />
else you have to use discretion , . . If<br />
large as their own investments, and not you make a picture for $20 million oriented<br />
subsequent drains or law suits. They purchased<br />
towards the Bible Belt you're going to lose<br />
"units" for from $40,000 to $50,000 your ass. There's no secret. Godfather II<br />
each: 'This circle reinvests over and over and Mary Poppins made money because<br />
again,' says Marks. Other films in their two they were aimed at a market, with ingredients<br />
years have included Bergman's 'Cries and<br />
that are known.'<br />
Whispers' and several soon to be released<br />
Wonietco Interested<br />
features including the late Vittorio de Sica's<br />
final work. "Brief Vacation.'<br />
""Not everyone thinks film investing is<br />
"Marks' criteria are<br />
quite<br />
strict, unlike some<br />
so simple. When Wometco, owners of<br />
investing groups. They won't buy an X or<br />
WTVJ and a chain of theaters, decided to<br />
an R rated film, 'because<br />
invest in<br />
films we buy must<br />
some films they went looking for<br />
be able to play on television for investment<br />
outside expert advice.<br />
purposes.'<br />
""Wometco's first film investment, less<br />
""<br />
"There are no such things as tax<br />
than two years ago, was for<br />
shelters,'<br />
a quarter of an<br />
says Marks, 'only deferments. Inflation has unknown exploitation film that turned out<br />
brought a<br />
to<br />
lot of people into this type of<br />
be "Walking Tall,' which already has<br />
investment.<br />
There's a great gamble involved. grossed around $30 million and is still doing<br />
but they're willing to take the risk because it<br />
well overseas.<br />
"<br />
gives them a vehicle to hold onto their cash 'We got involved in production like a<br />
for lot<br />
as long as they can in hopes of repaying of exhibitors.' says Wometco vice-president<br />
Jack Mitchell, 'to try and create more<br />
with depreciated dollars.'<br />
"The 'loophole' which began the flood<br />
product and generate more interest.'<br />
"Mitchell says Wometco has since invested<br />
in three more films, all with the same<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
producer, Bing Crosby Productions /Cox<br />
Broadcasting. Mitchell says when a script<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
arrives all the company's top executives including<br />
Mitchell Wolfson. film buyer Eddie<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
Stern and others look it over and discuss it.<br />
^°"'* "^'ss the famous<br />
BlCieW If it sounds like a good story, an entertaining<br />
film, we might try it. We're not going to<br />
[]J^^^^^<br />
Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
[ J Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
invest millions, or get into production our-<br />
SE-6<br />
dents . . . Mitchell Wolfson is very cautious<br />
about vvhLit he gets involved with.'<br />
"Wometco's other investments have been<br />
in 'Terror in the Wax Museum,' 'W' with<br />
Twiggy, and the soon to be produced, 'Walking<br />
Tall, Part II.'<br />
"Film investing, obviously, is not for the<br />
fellow who has to worry about living on a<br />
salary check, Harold Marks warns investors<br />
they had better be wary as well.<br />
"Films that<br />
are bought for investment but never distributed.'<br />
he says of a common phenomena<br />
in the film business, 'can take tax losses<br />
until the IRS catches up with them. There<br />
are strict criteria for these investments. You<br />
must attempt to make a profit. You must<br />
show it. Otherwise a couple years from now<br />
they will get a shock like cold bath water<br />
when the IRS comes along and makes them<br />
pay back taxes.<br />
"A lot of people.' he adds, 'got into this<br />
""<br />
business because real estate has been bad<br />
and they need investments; but they're going<br />
to get in trouble because they just don't<br />
know what they are doing.'<br />
"'Harold Marks knows what he's doing.<br />
He bet on Fellini, and it looks like he's<br />
headed for the winner's circle."<br />
Granada in Dallas Is<br />
New Adult Film House<br />
From Southwestern Edition<br />
DALLAS—The Granada Theatre,<br />
which<br />
had built up a policy of showing vintage<br />
films, has changed this month into an aduli<br />
film house.<br />
Rowley-United Artists, which operated<br />
the Greenville Avenue theatre, last month<br />
signed a lease 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 February 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 />
Di"ner 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 with<br />
drawn 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 sets the<br />
town back 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 Granada filmgoer.<br />
'Emmanuelle' Sets Record<br />
From Southwestern Edition<br />
DALLAS—Columbia Pictures'<br />
"Emmanuelle"<br />
set a new house record recently at<br />
the Delman Theatre here with a gross of<br />
$5,954. The total for five days was $18,575.<br />
""Emmanuelle." the first X-rated film to be<br />
released by Columbia Pictures, stars Sylvia<br />
Krisiel in the title role.<br />
BOXOFFICE :; March 3, 1975<br />
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iiior,<br />
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Woi<br />
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Yoy<br />
Dllil<br />
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'Hi!<br />
b<br />
the vet<br />
The ability to do a job well. To learn. To take orders.<br />
And to give them.<br />
The Armed Forces spend over $3 billion<br />
yearly on training servicemen. That means many veterans have<br />
skills you can use from the moment they're hired. And if they need<br />
further training, monthly allowances under the Gl Bill can<br />
supplement their wages while they are in<br />
approved training<br />
programs. Hire veterans. Put their ability to work. For help<br />
in hiring veterans, contact your local office of the State<br />
Employment Service; for on-the-job training information,<br />
see your local<br />
Veterans Administration office.<br />
Don't forget. Hire the vet.<br />
4- m' '» **<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March "?, 1975<br />
SE-7
. . Marvin<br />
. . Doc<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
fluvalene Magee, Galaxv<br />
Pictures, and husband<br />
Joe have returned from a visit to<br />
Marietta, Ga.. to see Frank Jones and Linda<br />
Breyare of Grimes Enterprises. The Magees<br />
were accompanied by Alien and Gale<br />
Rhoades of Trexler Travel Agency.<br />
Bill Hendrix, Reidsville Amusement Co.,<br />
spent the day with his booker and buyer<br />
.<br />
. . Phil Nance of Mission Valley<br />
R.T. Belcher of Twin .State Booking, lining<br />
up new product Schubert of<br />
International Amusement Co. has returned<br />
from a successful business trip to Kansas<br />
City, Mo. .<br />
I, Raleigh, N.C., was here recently, booking<br />
future product with U.S. Eddy jr. of E.xhibitors<br />
Service.<br />
Colleen Miller, Pyramid Pictures, has re-<br />
. . . Walter<br />
turned from buying new product from distributors<br />
in New York City<br />
Pinson of American International Pictures<br />
has resigned his post as branch manager and<br />
will be replaced by George Royster. formerly<br />
of National General and Variety Pictures.<br />
Bob Stuerer, Southern division manager, was<br />
in town making the transition. Monty<br />
Weiner. manager of branch operations, was<br />
here to visit the circuits. AIP will move into<br />
new headquarters April 1 at 624 Anderson<br />
St., former headquarters of National Screen<br />
Service.<br />
Ken Hall, AIP office manager, reports<br />
his mother-in-law Mrs. Janice Miller is recuperating<br />
at home after an emergency operation<br />
. . . Jerry Theimer, Premier Pictures,<br />
has returned from a trip to Miami, Fia. . . .<br />
Yates Pryor, Paramount office manager, has<br />
entered the hospital for tests.<br />
Screenings at Eastern Federal: "W.W. and<br />
the Dixie Dancekings." 20th-Fox: Thunder<br />
Count" and "Night of 1000 Cats," Premier<br />
Top grosses of the week were<br />
Pictures . . .<br />
"The Towering Inferno." Park Terrace:<br />
"Earthquake," Tryon Mall 1: "Freebie and<br />
the Bean," Tryon Mall 2, and winner "Murder<br />
on the Orient Express," Manor.<br />
Kathleen Ferrell,<br />
Universal, who received<br />
a shoulder fracture last December while attending<br />
a football game, has re-entered the<br />
hospital for further treatment.<br />
Ro.v Champion, Starlite Amusement Co.,<br />
Wilson, and his manager Marion Boykin<br />
were in town recently to book films . . Del<br />
.<br />
Carthy. of WR.\L-tv in Raleigh, was in<br />
Charlotte to set up TV saturations with<br />
Margie Thomas of Queen City.<br />
Frank Jones of Grimes Enterprises arrived<br />
from Atlanta to set up circuit plans with<br />
Bill Simpson . . . L.A. Ireland and Hap Bell<br />
"Theatre Booking t Film CMttribiitton*'<br />
221 S. Church St., Chorlott*, N.C.<br />
Frank Lowry . . . Tommy White<br />
Phone: (704) 377-9341<br />
formulated plans for the annual Easter Monday<br />
Golf Tournament whose proceeds go to<br />
the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in New<br />
York. .'Xs is the custom, WOMPIs will prepare<br />
and serve the luncheon . Theimer<br />
of Piedmont Theatres on his recent trip<br />
to Miami found his car damaged by vandals.<br />
Walter Powell and C.L. Autrey. .Atlanta,<br />
were visitors on Filmrow contacting exhibitors.<br />
More screenings: "Kitty Cat Can"t Help<br />
It," Variety: "The Land That Time Forgot."<br />
American International Pictures, and "Report<br />
to the Commissioner," United Artists.<br />
All were at Eastern Federal.<br />
Films Will Highlight 76<br />
Salute in Atlantic City<br />
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.— Motion<br />
p' •-<br />
tures are prominent in the weekly programs<br />
being planned for this resort's bicentennial<br />
celebration in 1976. Focusing attention ea.li<br />
week on one of the 13 original states, the<br />
local celebration will run from the Memorial<br />
Day weekend through the week of<br />
the Miss America Beauty Pageant.<br />
Charles Klein, chairman of the resorfs<br />
bicentennial celebration committee, said that<br />
each of the 13 states will be asked to send<br />
motion pictures which would be shown on<br />
a huge screen set up outdoors on the John<br />
F. Kennedy Plaza portion on the Boardwalk.<br />
"These films," said Klein, "can be of a<br />
bicentennial historic nature and will be in<br />
addition to films depicting the life, economy<br />
and geographical nature of each state."<br />
Losch and projectionist Steve Klick,<br />
Maryland Cinema Proud<br />
Of Student Employees<br />
HAGERSTOWN, MD.— M. L. Ruth,<br />
manager of the Interstate circuit's Long<br />
Meadow cinemas here, announced that two<br />
employees of the house, usher Dougla-<br />
recently<br />
were named to the Hagerstown Junior<br />
Colleges Dean's List. Doug is a freshman<br />
engineering student who plans to transfer<br />
to the University of Maryland, while Steve<br />
is a sophomore accounting major and a<br />
member of the college honor fraternity.<br />
He plans to attend Virginia Polytechnic<br />
Institute.<br />
Long Meadow cinemas also has two high<br />
school students who have received honor<br />
roll recognition, Richard Narron and Ka\<br />
Dozier.<br />
Meagher Theatres Expand<br />
IRVING. TEX.—Meagher Theatres of<br />
Irving has started construction on two additional<br />
screens for the Chateau Theater in<br />
Irving. In addition to the original 850-seat<br />
house, the new units each will have a capacity<br />
of 300 seats. The proposed opening date<br />
is May 30. 1975, and they are looking forward<br />
to the completion with great expectation.<br />
Anderson Theatres Join<br />
In Opposing CATV Movies<br />
ANDERSON. S.C—Theatre owner P.C.<br />
Osteen Jr. reiterated here January 27 his<br />
opposition to Cablevision offering a movie<br />
channel to its customers for an additional<br />
fee.<br />
Osteen, owner of Osteen Theatre, said he<br />
had received an opinion from National<br />
Theatre Owners Ass'n that the city can stop<br />
pay television. He was joined by Robert<br />
Scott, manager of Anderson Mall Theatre,<br />
in insisting that the city not permit pay television.<br />
"The ultimate goal of the cable people is<br />
to control sports and everything else so that<br />
they can charge you for everything you see<br />
for free now," Scott said.<br />
The council was considering on first<br />
reading a proposed ordinance to allow<br />
Cablevision to offer the movie service. The<br />
ordinance was required because the city's<br />
present franchise agreement with Cablevision<br />
prohibits pay television.<br />
The city council had been given a legal<br />
opinion in Washington. D.C.. that the city<br />
had no right to ban pay TV by ordinance.<br />
Theatres owners disagreed, however, and<br />
were planning to attend the meeting.<br />
The Cablevision request was one of three<br />
made last year. Two weeks earlier the council<br />
had granted the company the right to<br />
raise its monthly rates from $5.95 to $7.50.<br />
The council also denied a request to reduce<br />
the annual franchise fee from $10,000.<br />
Porno Star, Conn. Senator<br />
Debate Freedom in Films<br />
HARTFORD—^Marc Stevens, whose 400<br />
hard-core pornographic film acting credits<br />
include "The Devil in Miss Jones," told a<br />
University of Hartford Student Center audience<br />
that he does not approve of all films<br />
in the genre.<br />
"They add a lot of things to films which<br />
make them sick," Stevens conceded. "Nine<br />
out of 10 pornographic films I've seen are<br />
bad and dirty."<br />
At the same time, during a discussion on<br />
"Pornography and the Law," the actor asserted:<br />
"Seeing a pornographic film is your<br />
choice and should be left up to the individual,<br />
not state-run. This is 1975. There is<br />
a need for basic freedom."<br />
Taking an opposing view, former State<br />
Senator David O. Odegard, Manchester<br />
Republican, contended that it should be up<br />
to the community, not the individual, to<br />
determine what is offensive.<br />
Hard-core pornography. Odegard said,<br />
contributes to se.\-related crimes.<br />
"There must be censorship," he insisted,<br />
"to protect the future."<br />
"The law is a living thing." Odegard<br />
continued. "It is not engraved in stone.<br />
Society changes its attitudes when it feels<br />
ready to do so."<br />
VINELAND. N.J.—The Delsea Drive-In,<br />
2203 South Delsea Dr.. was robbed of $427<br />
recently by a lone gunman. Staffing the<br />
boxoffice (his first night on the job) was<br />
John Barile, 17.<br />
I<br />
I<br />
SE-8<br />
BOXOFFICE :; March 3, 1975
Dallas Weighs Ban<br />
On Adult Theatres<br />
DALLAS— Movio hiuiscs which oxclmlc<br />
minors, namely adiili film theatres, woiikl<br />
be banned from residential neighborhoods<br />
under a city ordinance Councilman Russell<br />
Smith hopes to push through the Dallas<br />
City Council.<br />
.Smith said the ordinance was introduced<br />
February 24. It would prevent theatres in<br />
the city, except those located in business<br />
districts such as downtown or shopping<br />
centers, from showing X-ratcd material.<br />
"The ordinance would prohibit showing<br />
harmful material by a theatre in a residential<br />
area if it is a theatre that excludes<br />
minors," said .Asst. City Atty. Analeslie<br />
Muncy who drafted the ordinance.<br />
The ordinance approaches the regulation<br />
of theatres on the basis of what is harmful<br />
to minors (legally persons under 17) instead<br />
of on the basis of state obscenity laws.<br />
The ordinance states: Theatres within<br />
1000 feet of a residential neighborhood and<br />
which exclude minors will not be permitted<br />
to exhibit X-rated movies. Under state law<br />
it is illegal to exhibit harmful material to a<br />
person under the age of 17. Atty. Muncy<br />
said.<br />
Both the Mcl.endon Corp. and United<br />
Artists circuit operate houses that show X-<br />
rated films. Both refused to comment to Dallas<br />
newspaper reporters on the ordinance.<br />
The city expects to fight lawsuits once the<br />
ordinance is approved and enforced.<br />
Atty. Muncy said the city has had trouble<br />
enforcing the S'tate obscenity laws becau.se<br />
lengthy litigation is necessary before a movie<br />
is banned. In contrast, the ordinance distinguishes<br />
between what is defined as harmful<br />
and what is obscene.<br />
"Harmful material has a dominant theme<br />
taken as a whole that appeals to the prurient<br />
interest of a minor in sex, nudity or excretion.<br />
"Harmful also means material that is<br />
patently offensive to the prevailing standards<br />
in the adult community as a whole with respect<br />
to what is suitable for minors and is<br />
utterly without redeeming social value for<br />
minors," she said.<br />
'There is a fine line between what is<br />
considered obscene and that which is harmful."<br />
she added.<br />
/?. L Barton Fafally Struck by Car;<br />
Pioneer Oklahoma Circuit Founder<br />
OKLAHOMA CirY— R. Lewis Barton,<br />
civic leader and founder of the Barton,<br />
movie theatre circuit,<br />
died February 19 in<br />
Banos, Calif., after he<br />
was struck by a car.<br />
Barton. 80, was<br />
pronounced dead on<br />
arrival at a hospital<br />
after being run down<br />
on a California highwa\.<br />
He and his wife<br />
had been visiting their<br />
daughter in the small<br />
U. Lewis Kurtiiii Cal.lornia community<br />
,uid were returning to Oklahoma by car.<br />
Ihe\ had slopped for the night and Barton<br />
was crossing a street near their motel when<br />
he was struck by the hit-and-run driver.<br />
l-uneral services were conducted at 9 a.m.<br />
Saturday. February 22. at the Hahn-Cook.<br />
Street and Draper Funeral Home here.<br />
There were private graveside services at<br />
Resthaven Cemetery.<br />
Barton was born in Cleveland County east<br />
of Moore on a farm established by his parents<br />
in the Oklahoma land run of 1889.<br />
.A,fter graduating from one of the first consolidated<br />
high schools in the state at age 16,<br />
he served as teacher and coach in Norman<br />
and Stroud.<br />
Al Stroud, he was mayor from 1928 to<br />
1929 and again from 1933 to 1941, when<br />
he moved to Oklahoma City. He was a<br />
veteran of World War I,<br />
In 1921 Barton bought his first theatre<br />
and later built a circuit throughout the<br />
Southwest, including the Continental Theatre<br />
and others in Oklahoma City.<br />
The Oklahoma Journal in a 1966 profile<br />
called Barton "a most interesting person,<br />
sharp, astute with a vivid memory of a most<br />
colorful lifetime."<br />
His first theatre was the Cozy in Stroud,<br />
bought after he decided that teaching was<br />
not for him. TTie movie house made money<br />
but not enough to support a family. His<br />
wife ran the house and he continued to<br />
teach and coach. In 1925 Stroud landed in<br />
the middle of the oil boom and overnight<br />
the city became a bustling metropolis, flour-<br />
to Oklahoma City to live and built his first<br />
theatre, the present Redskin in Capital Hill.<br />
From the original theatre he expanded to 21<br />
ishing with an influx of oil workers.<br />
He and two others, one being R.C. Griffith,<br />
became partners and opwned a second<br />
theatre, which he later bought out and<br />
owned himself. In time he accumulated<br />
more property, quit teaching, and weathered<br />
the depression. In 1941 he decided to come<br />
in 1966. Barton also had theatres in Tulsa<br />
and Denver, offering the ultimate in luxury<br />
and comfort, with a design of beauty and<br />
simplicity.<br />
He was active in other phases of real<br />
estate including land development in Phoenix,<br />
shopping centers in Tulsa and buildings<br />
in<br />
the city here.<br />
Survivors include his wife Dollye of the<br />
home; two sons Robert L., Herington, Kan.,<br />
and Gerald of Oklahoma City; a daughter<br />
Mrs. Joanna Combs, Mill Valley, Calif.: a<br />
sister, Mrs. Bertha McClurc, Norman: a<br />
brother Wylie, Norman: nine grandchildren<br />
and one great-grandchild.<br />
Halicki, AMC Host<br />
Northcross 6 Bow<br />
AUSTIN—H. B. Halicki. writer, producer,<br />
director and star of "Gone in 60 Seconds"<br />
was host to a grand opening of the<br />
Northcross Six complex here last week.<br />
Media representatives and executives of<br />
American Multi Cinema were on hand<br />
while Halicki sold the first ticket and the<br />
first bag of popcorn for the luxurious new<br />
six-plex in Texas' most impressive new<br />
shopping center.<br />
"Gone in 60 Seconds," which has been<br />
breaking boxoffice records across the country,<br />
was screened in two of the Northcross<br />
six auditoriums. The action-adventure feature<br />
stars Halicki and is distributed by him.<br />
On hand for the opening were George<br />
Kieffer. advertising director for the Texas<br />
division of AMC: Billy Lyday, advertising<br />
coordinator for the division; Larry Hamilton,<br />
manager of operations, Texas division;<br />
and Dick King, manager of the Northcross<br />
Six.<br />
Pinkston Production: It's a GirF<br />
Dallas—The ticket read "It's a Girl" and the play by Nancy and Bob Pinkston<br />
was definitely a hit!<br />
For the wording on the ticket gave readers a real thrill. "A Pinkston Production<br />
conceived from an original play by Nancy and Bobby Pinkston" turned out to<br />
be little 7 lbs. 12 oz. Jennifer Leigh who debuted Feb. 10, 1975, at 4:38 p.m. at<br />
Presbyterian Hospital here.<br />
The 20' 2 -inch star of the Pinkstons supplied "the music and the lyrics" and<br />
the premiere performance took place at the Pinkston home, 2320 Warm Springs,<br />
Mesquite, Tex.<br />
Proud grandfather R.^^. Pinkston of Pinkston Sales and Service was understandably<br />
a little on the flighty side. And the name seems right for a "theatrical"<br />
family, with Jennifer (Jones) a possible Oscar winner and Leigh (Vivien) a past<br />
Academy Award winner.<br />
^^ JVATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE ^^<br />
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S NEW TECHNIKOTE<br />
S SCREENS S<br />
^^ XRL
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!<br />
DALLAS<br />
^wo major film<br />
releases, "Rancho Deluxe,<br />
and "Smile," have been named selections<br />
for the USA Film Festival Monday<br />
(17) through Sunday (23) at the Bob Hope<br />
Theatre on the SMU campus here. "Rancho<br />
Deluxe" is a choice of Judith Crist, one of<br />
the critics picking films for the annual<br />
festival. "Smile," starring Bruce Dern, is the<br />
choice of critic Mollis Alpert. Previously<br />
announced films include "Shampoo" with<br />
Warren Beatty and "Prisoner of Second<br />
Avenue," with Jack Lenimon and Anne Bancroft.<br />
Director Frank Perry will be at the<br />
festival for the showing of "Rancho Deluxe"<br />
Monday (17) at 1 and 6 p.m. and Bridges<br />
has tentatively agreed to appear. Director<br />
Michael Ritchie will accompany "Smile" to<br />
the festival Wednesday (19) for 1 and 6 p.m.<br />
showings.<br />
Funera] services were conducted in Floydada<br />
February 10 for Mrs. Evelyn Deakins.<br />
Burial was in the Floydada Cemetery. Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Jack Deakins owned and operated<br />
the Palace Theatre in Floydada for many<br />
years after their marriage in 1929. Mrs.<br />
Deakins, who had been handling the theatre<br />
since her husband's illness, died after an<br />
apparent heart attack February 8 at the<br />
theatre. She was a native of Fulbright. Survivors<br />
include her husband Jack; a daughter,<br />
Mrs. Louis Ready of McCoy, near Floydada;<br />
two brothers, Royce Maddox of Ven-<br />
^<br />
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Recognized<br />
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YOU CAN SEND YOUR EQUIPMENT THROUGH<br />
YOUR SUPPLY DEALER, BUT INSIST UPON<br />
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CHECK WITH US<br />
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4207 Lawnview Ave. (214) 388-3237<br />
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lura, Calif., and Clarence Maddox of<br />
Orange. Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Jack Lackey<br />
of Floydada. and three grandchildren.<br />
Eric Distributing Co. was forced to cancel<br />
its invitational screening of "Linda Lovelace<br />
for President," General Films Corp.<br />
release, slated for February 20. The screening<br />
was reset for February 27 with a luncheon<br />
at Vincent's Seafood House afterward.<br />
From the response to the original screening<br />
date, we're sure there was a crowd at the<br />
Wilshire Theatre last Thursday for the<br />
show.<br />
The Crystal Palace Dinner Theatre will<br />
open with Neil Simon's "Last of the Red<br />
Hot Lovers" with Sid Caesar in the starring<br />
role. The show will open March 18 after<br />
the present show with Donald O'Connor<br />
closes.<br />
"The Great Waldo Pepper"' arrives in<br />
Austin Thursday (1.^) for its world premiere.<br />
The film about barnstormers (Robert Redford<br />
stars) was filmed in Texas at several<br />
locations. There is still some question about<br />
Redford appearing for the premiere since his<br />
history has been that of vetoing such duties<br />
but he was quite fond of the area in which<br />
the film was shot.<br />
Director George Roy Hill<br />
will be there, for sure, to head Universal<br />
activities.<br />
The film version of the rock musical<br />
"Tommy" will premiere here in Dallas<br />
Thursday (13) also. .'\nd part of the reason<br />
is the U.S.A. Film Festival which takes<br />
places at SMU later in the month. The world<br />
premiere of the Ken Russell film actually is<br />
slated in New York Friday (14) but a<br />
spectacular Dallas premiere at the Inwood<br />
is also in the works. Ann-Margret will fly<br />
here to preside over the activities.<br />
Marlene Dietrich, one of the greatest film<br />
legends of all, will be at the Fairmont<br />
Venetian Room Wednesday (5) through Saturday<br />
(15). Although Ms. Dietrich is unlikely<br />
to "drop by" the film festival, her<br />
interest should be piqued by the retrospective<br />
of William Wyler's work. Both<br />
were at the legendary UFA Studios in Berlin<br />
during the 1930s but there is no record<br />
of them working together on a<br />
RCil<br />
^^^^^_ ^<br />
film.<br />
Theatre<br />
Service<br />
The nation's finest for 40 years<br />
RCA Service Company<br />
A Division of RCA<br />
2711 Irving Blvd.<br />
Dallas, Texas 75207<br />
Phone: (214) 631-8770<br />
WOMPI members are cooperating with<br />
the Variety Club Tent 17 by helping sell<br />
tickets for the 10,000 prizes to be awarded<br />
lucky ticket holders May 15. Funds from<br />
the sale of tickets will go toward the Variety<br />
Care-Van Center Fund campaign, the largest<br />
campaign staged by Tent 17. Bob O'Donnell.<br />
new director of the Tent, is chairman<br />
of the drive.<br />
'Go Modem...For All Your Theatre Needs"<br />
Other news from the WOMPls: Members<br />
are asked to bring a can of food or boxed<br />
product to each luncheon. The food is being<br />
shelved for emergency use for the many<br />
families less fortunate in the city. By keeping<br />
the food shelves supplied, there will be<br />
no need for a rush call when a shortage is<br />
reported . . . WOMPI also made a contribution<br />
of $100 to the family in Allen, a small<br />
community near here, whose home burned<br />
while the parents were seeking employment.<br />
The wife was killed in an automobile accident<br />
and the father was left with five children<br />
to raise, and no home, no job and no<br />
car. The $100 is being held in a trust fund<br />
for the educational needs of the children.<br />
Jackie Fugate left Paramount on a leave<br />
of absence Friday, February 14, to await the<br />
arrival of her first child. Little Jennifer Gail<br />
was born the next Thursday, February 20.<br />
Proud grandmother Marion Stogsdill is so<br />
happy over the child and knowing Marion<br />
as we do. it will be a test of her resistance<br />
to keep from buying every wee garment in<br />
sight. She has been waiting for a grandchild<br />
for many years and now the temptation to<br />
buy is all hers. Congratulations to both sets<br />
of grandparents.<br />
FORT WORTH<br />
falia Shire, who played Marion Brando's<br />
daughter, Connie, in "The Godfather."<br />
and continued with her role as Al Pacino's<br />
sister in the current "The Godfather, Part<br />
II," had lunch with movie writers in the<br />
Petroleum Club at Fort Worth. As many<br />
iTiovie buffs know, she is the sister of Francis<br />
Ford Coppola, producer-director-writer<br />
of the film. Her conversation was filled with<br />
phrases and anecdotes that all seemed to<br />
hinge on how Francis Ford Coppola would<br />
react to them. He didn't know she had<br />
auditioned for the part of Connie. She used<br />
her married name and showed up unannounced<br />
for the auditions. In fact, said<br />
Talia: "Francis uses his three children in<br />
the early scenes, music by his grandfather,<br />
music by their uncle, and some music by<br />
their father, and even their mother's mother<br />
is in a brief scene."<br />
Another visitor was Paul Burke, star of<br />
SALES & SERVICE. INC.<br />
"Go Modem . . . E^uipmml, Siipplia & Scrim"<br />
2200 YOUNG STREET • DALLAS, TEXAS, 75201 • TELEPHONE 747-3191<br />
i<br />
SW-2 BOXOFFICE :; March 3. 1975
. . The<br />
television and films. Among five movies he<br />
has done, Burke had feature roles in "Valley<br />
of the Dolls" and "The Thomas Crown Affair."<br />
In the latter he was the police lieutenant<br />
on the trail ol .Steve McQueen following<br />
a hank robbery engineered by McQueen.<br />
Burke has a new movie coming out soon.<br />
It is "The Psychic Force." in which he stars<br />
with Julie 1 ondon and Jim Hutton.<br />
.Sherry Boueher, former TCU actress and<br />
beauty queen, became the bride of George<br />
Peppard in a desert ceremony near Las<br />
VegiLs over the weekend the first of February.<br />
Sherry was an actress in TCU productions<br />
in the mid-l96()s. Her pageant titles<br />
included Sugar Bowl Queen, Holiday in<br />
Dixie Queen, and Miss National Physical<br />
Culture. Upon leaving TCU, she was signed<br />
to an immediate contract with Universal<br />
Pictures and has since appeared in countless<br />
TV dramas and a few movies.<br />
One of Hollywood's veteran<br />
producer-directors<br />
was in Fort Worth scouting locations<br />
for a picture he hopes to film here in April.<br />
William Rowland, whose credits go back to<br />
the 193()s in the film business, has directed<br />
Bob Hope in "Alias Jesse James" and<br />
Humphrey Bogarl in "Harvest of Hate,"<br />
among many others. Rowland calls himself<br />
a maker of "e.xploitation movies." They db<br />
not cost much, they ride in on a trend, and<br />
they make money even if they aren't memorable.<br />
The title of his picture is to be "The<br />
Love Doctor." and he says it will be his last<br />
film project. When it is done, he plans to<br />
retire from producing and directing and<br />
teach aspiring producer-directors at UCL.'X.<br />
".After 35 years in the business, I've worked<br />
at five major studios, as well as being an<br />
independent," he said. "I've learned. Now<br />
I'll<br />
teach."<br />
Gene Autry, well known film star, was in<br />
Fort Worth recently to attend the Annual<br />
Abe Lincoln Awards dinner in the Tarrant<br />
County Convention Center. Beginning in<br />
\^)^5. Autry made 64 western films for Hollywood's<br />
old Republic Studios. Then in 1946<br />
he founded his own f'lm production company.<br />
Gene .Autry Productions.<br />
Mrs. L. N. Crim Dies;<br />
Texas Exhibitor's Wife<br />
KILGORE—Funeral services for Mrs.<br />
L. N. (Tincy) Crim, widely known member<br />
of a pioneer East Te.xas theatre family,<br />
were conducted February 1 8 in First Presbyterian<br />
Church here.<br />
Mrs. Crim, who died February 14 in<br />
Good Shepherd Hospital. Longview, after<br />
a long illness, was a native of Kilgore.<br />
Survivors include her husband, a veteran<br />
theatre owner and business leader; a son<br />
Bro; two brothers, four grandchildren and<br />
one great-grandchild.<br />
FOR ALL YOUR THEATRE NEEDS & REPAIRS<br />
THE BEST PLACE TO BUY IS<br />
TEXAS THEATRE<br />
SUPPLY<br />
915 S. Alamo Sf.<br />
San Antonio, Texas 78205<br />
Your SUN BRITE XENON Dealer<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
Qavid Singlelary, general<br />
manager of Santikos<br />
Theatres Inc., is recuperating in<br />
area hospital after an illness . . . "Vacant<br />
an<br />
Lots," a film by Jack Landman, is being<br />
entered in the College Film of the Year<br />
competition sp
"<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
Registrations and reservations<br />
have started<br />
already for Soonerama '75. the convention<br />
of the United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma<br />
and Panhandle of Texas. Exhibitors<br />
are asked to make reservations as soon as<br />
possible. Check the ad in this week's issue<br />
of BoxoFFicE and in the next two issues for<br />
details.<br />
Marvin and Jo Pack, Mooreland Theatre.<br />
Mooreland, arc leaving soon for a vacation<br />
to the Hawaiian Islands. This is their first<br />
trip to the 50th stale and they arc very excited<br />
about the trip.<br />
Connie Carpou, former MGM salesman<br />
here, is now division manager for Avco<br />
Embassy on the West Coast . . Video Theatres<br />
have purchased the Satellite Twin, Stillwater.<br />
Funeral services were conducted in Hollywood<br />
February 10 for Henry M. "Son"<br />
Lx)ckhart, former Griffith Amusement Co.<br />
employee here. He was buyer and booker<br />
for Western Amusement Co., Hollywood,<br />
for the past 27 years.<br />
"Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," now<br />
playing at MacArthur Park, is doing an outstanding<br />
business. Judging by the roar of<br />
laughter from the crowds, the feature is in<br />
for a long run.<br />
Funeral services were conducted February<br />
21 for Faith Tritch. wife of the late<br />
Mack Tritch, former Universal salesman.<br />
They were charter members of Variety Club.<br />
Exhibitors in to book and buy: Charles<br />
Smith to buy for Corral Drive-In. Wynnewood,<br />
and Grand TTieatrc. Canton; Volney<br />
Hamm, Hankins and Mt. Scott drive-ins.<br />
Lawton; Dan Wolfenbarger, Waldron and<br />
Hillcrcst Drive-In, Lindsay.<br />
COMING ATTRACTION!<br />
SOONERAMA 75<br />
Tuesday and Wednesday<br />
March 25-26, 1975<br />
RAMADA INN DOWNTOWN<br />
CONVENTION CENTER<br />
Eastern Exit of 1-40 and 1-35<br />
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma<br />
UNITED THEATRE OWNERS<br />
OF OKLAHOMA<br />
And The Panhandle of Texas<br />
Marquee changes: "The Day of the Dolphin,"<br />
MacArthur Park and Quail Twin;<br />
"The Stepford Wives." North Park and<br />
Apollo Twin, and "Challenge to be Free,"<br />
Will Rogers. Apollo and Westwood.<br />
HOUSTON<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
Film star Tab Hunter will appear at the<br />
Windmill Dinner Theatre in the play "Here<br />
Lies Jeremy Troy." Hollywood star Eddie<br />
Bracken and Amy Freeman appeared in<br />
Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" at the<br />
Music Hall in three performances last week.<br />
. . . Fran Jeffries is appearing in the Crystal<br />
Forest at the Hyatt Regency Houston. "The<br />
Pink Panther" launched her film career and<br />
she has appeared in a number of films, including<br />
"Sex and the Single Girl," "Harum<br />
Scarum" and "Talent for Loving."<br />
Among the films opening on area screens<br />
are "Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in<br />
New York" at the Cinema Galleria and<br />
"The Strongest Man in the World" in a<br />
"Deep Throat" has<br />
multiple opening . . .<br />
gone into its second year at the Academy<br />
Midnight movies to be seen<br />
Theatre . . .<br />
include "Last Summer" at the River Oaks<br />
and "Pink Floyd" at the Village<br />
Sica's "Shoeshine" and Fritz<br />
. . .<br />
Lang's<br />
De<br />
"M"<br />
have been booked into the Museum of Fine<br />
Arts while De Sica's "Bicycle Thief,"<br />
"Heidi" and Alec Guinness in "Lavender<br />
Hill Mob" will be seen at the Rice Media<br />
Center.<br />
Burbank radio station KWST-FM sponsored<br />
a special midnight showing of Warner<br />
Bros.' "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore<br />
February 14.<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
don't miss the famous<br />
Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI: REEF . ElEEF TOWERS • EDGEWATER<br />
"WE OFFER YOU<br />
only the finest merchandise the market<br />
has to offer."<br />
"Your Complete Equipment House"<br />
OKLAHOMA THEATRE SUPPLY CO.<br />
628 West- Grand Oklohoma City<br />
CONVENTION SURPRISE—John<br />
Rowley, vice-president of United Artists<br />
Theatres, greets actor Pat O'Brien<br />
during the NATO of Texas TEXPO<br />
'75 convention in Dallas recently. In<br />
the center is Bob O'Donnell, vice-president<br />
of Theatre Service Corp., a convention<br />
participant. O'Brien, who with<br />
his wife had been appearing in a theatrical<br />
production in the city, stopped<br />
by the Fairmont to greet exhibitors and<br />
guests.<br />
Olney, Tex., Has<br />
Theatre to Lease<br />
OLNEY, TEX.—Mrs. Curtiss Richardson<br />
of Throckmorton has donated a theatre<br />
here to the city of Olney.<br />
The theatre has been closed for the past<br />
few years and presently has no equipment<br />
for screening films. Mrs. Richardson had<br />
decided that the theatre required too much<br />
of her time to operate and thus, she was<br />
willing to give it up.<br />
The City Council has distributed 1500<br />
questionnaires to the adults of the city and<br />
surveyed schools for opinions on what to do<br />
with the theatre. All involved agreed there<br />
was a need for a film theatre as a top priority<br />
in the community.<br />
According to Mayor Sherrill Burba, two<br />
new industries are building plants in the<br />
city and the community is progressive in<br />
regards to fiscal matters. It passed a water<br />
bond issue with 90 per cent for and only<br />
10 against. And within the last three years<br />
the city has spent appro.ximately $9 million<br />
on improvements, including a new $1 million<br />
high school.<br />
The town's population is 4.000. with 900<br />
youth enrolled in schools here and 1,400<br />
enrolled in towns nearby.<br />
All of which leads up to the fact that<br />
Olney is actively seeking some firm to lease<br />
the theatre at a reasonable fee. which would<br />
include insurance and a small per cent of<br />
the gross revenue. Those interested in the<br />
town's proposal should contact Mayor<br />
Burba at P.O. Bo.\ 487. Olney, 76.374, or<br />
call him at (817) 564-5541 or (817) 564-<br />
2646.<br />
In Oklohoma—Oklohomo Theotre Supply Co.^ Oklohoma City, f^m<br />
(405) 771-2950 Mi<br />
fA Cedar Knolls, N.J. 07927<br />
In Texos—Modern Soles and Service Co., Dollas, (214) 747-3191 jM<br />
I Brighter Light - Longer<br />
^"JjjJljJ^-,.<br />
SW-4 BOXOFFICE March 3, 1975
'. '. '.<br />
'95<br />
—<br />
'Orienl Express' Is<br />
Milwaukee's list Century Offers<br />
"v!ffs?f,j" MINNEAPOLIS—<br />
Wew Dimension<br />
I*!""-,<br />
for Cinema Buffs<br />
Murclcr on the oCJricnl<br />
Express" thundered through its opening By WALLY L. MEYER<br />
week at the Cooper Theatre with a huge MILWAUKEE—When the Italian-made<br />
600. the warmly received attraction handing movie, "The Life and Music of Giuseppe<br />
the show house its loftiest grosses since the Verdi" began its exclusive Milwaukee<br />
bow of 'The Sting" more than a year ago. showing at the Oriental Landmark Iheatre<br />
"Sting" played 14 weeks at the Cooper and February 5 it also marked the inaugural<br />
still was packing "em in when it had to pull etiort of a new entertainment corporation<br />
stakes due to other booking commitments. here called 21si Century, Inc. Its inception<br />
Thus, the Agatha Christie whodunit en- came about when two local men, Robert<br />
cored here the soaring successes it's been Marks and Tom Moore, discovered they had<br />
accorded elsewhere. Grosses all across the a mutual interest in higher-class theatrical<br />
board were aided by the extended weekend 'irts such as opera and the desire to bring<br />
[Tcriod created by the Presidents' Birthday more of it to the general public in film<br />
holiday and the fact that schools closed in form.<br />
this area. "The Stcpford Wives." boosted by Bob .Marks was associated for two years<br />
an enormous advertising outlay in all media. with Jack Ringe when the latter was mankicked<br />
off with a lusty 245 at the Mann. nger of the Centre Theatre. Marks also has<br />
"Journey Back to Oz" clicked with a 200 in worked in public relations at state fairs in<br />
a nine-theatre multiple, while "Sheila Levine Wisconsin and presently is an aide to John<br />
is Dead and Living in New York" perform- Lauer, who manages the Riverside Theatre,<br />
ed to a like degree at the Park. "Rafferty Tom Moore has been affiliated with the fuel<br />
and the Gold Dust Twins" was off to a business all his life and a few years ago<br />
lively start at the Skyway II. where it clock- became a boiler broker (his family owned<br />
ed a solid 190. It was the first time in many Phalen's Coal & Dock Co.).<br />
sessions that all newcomers scored on such One of Marks' favorite radio programs in<br />
lofty levels. the past was "Opera Gems," which served<br />
Meanwhile, the holdovers weren't laying to bring into prominence one Joseph<br />
down on the job: "Young Frankenstein" Schlang, better known in New York City as<br />
jumped to a 285 in a ninth frisky week at "Mr. Opera." When he first learned, a few<br />
the World; "Towering Inferno" was at<br />
2.''0 weeks ago, of the new Verdi motion picture<br />
in a ninth lap at the Sky^vay I, and "Scenes which Schlang had produced through his<br />
from a Marriage" did 210 in its third frame nonprofit company—Opera Presentations<br />
at the Academy. Marks discussed it with Moore and the two<br />
Average Is 100) decided to contact the New Yorker. The<br />
Acodemy-^scenes from a Marrioge (SR), 3rd wk. .210 Correspondence and<br />
Cooper—Murder<br />
phone calls ^"n^<br />
on the<br />
that inai follow- luiiuw<br />
Orient Express (Para) .. 600 .<br />
•<br />
i j -^ ,<br />
Gopher—Gone in 60 Seconds (SR), 3rd wk. 150 cu resulted in 21st Century gaining ex-<br />
:<br />
'^'"^'^^'<br />
NrnT^:o,%Vlt°:rJy7o\L^for (SR) :<br />
showing rights<br />
ioo<br />
for the state ot" Wis-<br />
Orpheum—-Torso (SR), 2nd wk 70 consin. By now two more local persons had<br />
Park—Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in ;,.„,) »u .r- .,<br />
New<br />
^<br />
York (Para) 200 jomcd the new Corporation: Miss Ila Trogel<br />
^^9Th'wl^^''^^°''"'"^'"*""^'^^.'^°'.*'."''°''' -^30 '''"S associated with the Marshall & Ilsley<br />
Skyway II— Rofferty and the Gold Dust Twins Bank, and Chuck Lanphier, a veteran in<br />
"'''° ^""^ newspaper Work.<br />
State^The' Godfather, Part l\ (Poraj'.^th vM.'<br />
World—Young Frankenstein (2oth-Fox), 9th wk. . .285 With offices in the Executive House, 3846<br />
West Wisconsin Ave., 21st Century arrang-<br />
V\}r^ r'«>^^«*;*;-^ Cl * J<br />
'^^ ^°'' '*" tradeshowings at the Centre<br />
rum competition blated screening room during January, after which<br />
By Uni'Versit'y ''^^<br />
of Iowa audience was treated to snacks and bevlOWA<br />
CITY,<br />
"''^''^ "' "'*' '^'''^"'-'<br />
IOWA—The<br />
"°"^'-<br />
University<br />
Attending<br />
of<br />
the<br />
^^''^^emngs<br />
Iowa were<br />
will hold Refocus '75<br />
orchestra and<br />
Friday<br />
band leaders,<br />
(28)<br />
through<br />
music department<br />
April<br />
of<br />
7. a nationwide competition<br />
Whitewater Colopen<br />
'^^^C members of both<br />
f^"^<br />
to all students<br />
the<br />
and independent,<br />
Florentine<br />
non-<br />
Opera<br />
commercial artists. Now in its 1 1th year, the<br />
11-day festival will spotlight films, videotape<br />
and still photography.<br />
Films will be judged by professional, independent<br />
and student filmmakers and cash<br />
prizes totaling several hundred dollars will<br />
be awarded to outstanding works. All student<br />
or independent noncommercially produced<br />
films are eligible. They may be silent<br />
or with sound (optical tracks in 16mm.<br />
magnetic tracks in 8mm and Super 8). No<br />
separate quarter-inch or cassette soundtracks<br />
can be accepted.<br />
An entry fee of $4 must be sent with the<br />
film in the form of check or money order<br />
payable to Refocus "75. A maximum of<br />
three separate films may be submitted—on<br />
standard reels in returnable mailing cartons<br />
with sufficient return postage. Entries must<br />
arrive in Iowa City no later than Friday<br />
(21).<br />
The film portion of the festival will be<br />
highlighted by retrospectives of four contemporary<br />
American directors: Francis Ford<br />
Coppola. Marty Scorsese, Arthur Penn and<br />
John Cassavetes. Each of the directors will<br />
be in attendance and will discuss their films<br />
as well as the current state of contemporary<br />
cinema.<br />
Providing a critical perspective will be<br />
Jay Cocks of Time Magazine and Roger<br />
Ebert. film critic for the Chicago Sun<br />
Times.<br />
and Milwaukee Opera companies, the<br />
Waukesha .Symphony Orchestra and, of<br />
course, the news media. On hand to greet<br />
the guests were the officers of the new company:<br />
Tom Moore, president; Ila Trogel,<br />
secretary-treasurer; Robert W. Marks, director,<br />
and Chuck Lanphier, director of<br />
public relations.<br />
The Verdi film was booked into the<br />
Oriental<br />
for a three-week run on a once-nightly<br />
basis starting at 8 p.m. However, Bob<br />
Mark told Boxofi-ice the response has<br />
been so favorable that matinees were added<br />
at 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays<br />
and Sundays. .And there is evidence the run<br />
ma> be extended as schools, churches, clubs<br />
and groups of all kinds take advantage of<br />
group rates for this G-ratcd musical film.<br />
.Senior citizens are admitted at Tuesday<br />
matinees for a reduced $2 admission.<br />
Writing in the Sentinel, film critic Jay<br />
Joslin said: "The film is filled with glorious<br />
Verdi music in opulent stagings by the<br />
Tcatro dell'Opera in Rome and sung by such<br />
giants as baritone Tito Gobbi, soprano<br />
Orieta Mosucci, mezzo Giuseppina Salvi and<br />
the outstanding and exciting tenor, Mario del<br />
Monaco ... It is an old-fashioned musical<br />
after the model of 'Song of Norway.' "<br />
Stuart E. Hoyt. writing in the Journal,<br />
stated: "The title describes it well . . The<br />
.<br />
music is enchanting and anyone who is only<br />
halfway fond of opera finds that the two<br />
hours pass all too quickly."<br />
Other towns and areas where the film will<br />
be opening shortly include Stevens Point.<br />
Wausau. and Baraboo. Wis. The University<br />
of Wisconsin branch located in Stevens<br />
Point has plans to show it in the campus<br />
theatre. And in Baraboo the film would<br />
seem to be made to order for presentation<br />
at the .Al Ringling Theatre, regarded by<br />
many as the most beautiful theatre and concert<br />
hall in the state.<br />
The new firm also has indicated an interest<br />
in<br />
the Dinner Theatre and has looked<br />
into the possibility of establishing a similar<br />
facility in Madison, state capital. Marks in<br />
the past has worked with the Hillside Community<br />
Players, a dinner theatre group in<br />
this city.<br />
Vandals Smash Window<br />
GRAND ISLAND, NEB.—V a n d a 1 s<br />
broke a window in the front of the Capital<br />
Theatre on a recent Wednesday evening.<br />
The amount of the damage was not listed in<br />
the police report.<br />
* • SINCE 1924 • *<br />
MERCHANT ADSSPECIAL TRAILERS<br />
Trailerettes-Daters<br />
COLOR—BLACK & WHITE<br />
P.O. BOX 541 • DES MOINES, IOWA • 50302<br />
PHONE (515) 288-1122<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975<br />
NC-1
; Cinerama's<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
Jerry Siege], division manager for United<br />
Artists Theatres of Wisconsin, mailed<br />
invitations for a special black-tie preview of<br />
the Columbia Pictures release "Emmanuelle"<br />
February 20 at the Mayfair Theatre.<br />
Commenting on "France's all-time blockbuster,"<br />
Jerry wrote: "Don your evening<br />
clothes and join us in watching 'Bmmanuelle'<br />
take hers off (elegantly)." Pat Kohnke,<br />
theatre manager, and Dorean Sherd, manager<br />
of the Ruby Isle in Brookfield, served<br />
as hosts, greeting ail theatregoers and the<br />
special preview guests, members of Variety<br />
Club Tent 14. Incidentally, Dorean was<br />
wearing, in addition to a gorgeous evening<br />
gown, of course, a pair of diamond earrings<br />
which had been given her by an admiring<br />
friend.<br />
Alice Faye, who appeared in the revival<br />
of "Good News" on Broadway, will open<br />
the 1975 summer season in that same musical<br />
production at the Milwaukee Melody<br />
Top (tent theatre) June 10-22. Top director<br />
Martin Wiviott has announced that Mimi<br />
Hines has been inked to star in "The Unsinkable<br />
Molly Brown" July 22-August 3:<br />
Margaret Whiting in "Gypsy." August 19-<br />
31, and Ed Ames in "Camelot." September<br />
2-14. Three remaining shows are to be announced<br />
when the contracts are signed. The<br />
tent theatre gets its share of movie stars and<br />
screen personalities every year and is perhaps<br />
the most successful facility of its kind<br />
in the U.S. Advance season ticket sales are<br />
ahead of sales at this time a year ago. a<br />
record-breaking year in total sales and attendance.<br />
Geneva-1 (Standard) in nearby Lake Geneva<br />
reopened February 19 after being<br />
shuttered awhile, during which time "the<br />
latest new improved sound and new projection,<br />
new giant screen and all-new decorations"<br />
were installed by Harry Melcher Enterprises<br />
of Milwaukee. "The Towering Inferno"<br />
was the film attraction. Geneva-II<br />
will be opening soon, according to the theatre<br />
ad in<br />
a local weekly.<br />
Office manager Karl Thiede. United Artists,<br />
hosted a tradeshowing of "Report to<br />
the Commissioner" Wednesday evening.<br />
February 19. TTie highly explosive and exploitable<br />
film drew a good house in the<br />
Centre screening room and was very well<br />
received. It has some nudity and strong language<br />
but is PG-rated. Local openings<br />
Wednesday (12) include Cinema 1. Mill<br />
Road, Southridge, Centre and Southtown<br />
and the 41 and Starlite drive-ins . . Branch<br />
.<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
'^°""* "^'55 the<br />
SlC^<br />
famous<br />
[hawai^ Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
hotels<br />
Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER<br />
manager .Marge Ondrejka, 20th-Fox, invited<br />
exhibitors and friends to a special tradeshowing<br />
of the newest 20th-Fox release,<br />
starring Burt Reynolds in "W. W. and the<br />
Dixie Dancekings," February 21 in the<br />
same facility located at 212 West Wisconsin<br />
Ave. The advance word of a happy, rolicking<br />
fun-and-music film must have gotten<br />
around, for the little theatre was filled to<br />
capacity. "This film will be around for a<br />
long time," was the prediction made by a<br />
few viewers. It's also PG-rated, has no nudity,<br />
no "language" and only two brief suggestive<br />
scenes which the tykes in the audience<br />
will not understand anyway.<br />
Also opening Wednesday (12) is "Funny<br />
Lady" (musical sequel to "Funny Girl"),<br />
with Barbra Streisand, at the Southgate . . .<br />
"Shampoo," the film concerning 48 hours<br />
in the life of a hairdresser (played by Warren<br />
Beatty), is slated to open Wednesday<br />
(19) at several local houses.<br />
"Marcus Tiieatres do not run 'hard-core'<br />
pornographic films," Richard Kite, president<br />
of Marcus Theatres Corp., said as a<br />
panelist appearing at a meeting of the<br />
Women's Court & Civic Conference at the<br />
downtown YWCA recently. Speaking as a<br />
substitute for Ben Marcus, president of the<br />
Marcus Corp.. Kite said; "Unfortunately<br />
there arc not enough G-rated pictures made<br />
today but the reason is that movies arc made<br />
by people who invest millions in each film<br />
on the basis that they are going to make a<br />
profit—and some of the most beautiful pictures<br />
which are G-rated have the worst<br />
attendance." Kite emphasized: "We as<br />
theatre<br />
owners do not make movies—we onl><br />
show in our theatres those which are<br />
made." He pointed out that only 250 pictures<br />
a year are released, barely enough to<br />
fill the 55 Marcus movie houses located<br />
around the state of Wisconsin.<br />
The meeting, featuring a panel board of<br />
speakers, was reported by Dorothy Austin<br />
in<br />
the Sentinel. The theme of the discussion<br />
which followed with the panelists and members<br />
of the audience seemed to be "pornography<br />
is here to stay?" The sipeakers<br />
could not see any way of banning pornography<br />
from movies which are shown in<br />
theatres or on TV. Yet, there did exist the<br />
promise of good news ahead, the reporter<br />
stated. Namely that: (a) There are ways of<br />
regulating or controling it (pornography) so<br />
that parents and informed communities<br />
could, if they would, get in there and cope,<br />
and (b) The numbers of X-rated movies are<br />
declining rapidly, apparently because the<br />
public is getting bored.<br />
Tactics they had used two years ago to<br />
disrupt the showing of a pornographic movie<br />
at the Parkway Theatre also were described<br />
by two women. Betty Voss and Barbara<br />
Benton of the Westside Action Coalition<br />
(WAC), who live in the immediate neighborhood<br />
in which the movie house is located.<br />
The two women organized community residents<br />
and they turned up at the theatre with<br />
picket signs and paper sacks full of pennies<br />
—or they tendered $100 bills be changed at<br />
the bo.xoffice. As a result of this experience,<br />
the women said they had learned how to<br />
organize and tackle a problem on a communitywide<br />
basis. But—and they blamed the<br />
media for this—the Parkway gained a reputation<br />
for hard-core pornographic films and<br />
it is still doing business today.<br />
Mrs. Benton said: "The Supreme Court<br />
ruling that communities can set their own<br />
standards regarding pornography is no solution."<br />
The Boston solution wherein two<br />
blocks of pornographic movie houses and<br />
bookstores was set off in the downtown district—a<br />
"combat zone" away from the residential<br />
areas—she said might be a local<br />
solution.<br />
UA Riverside Theatre takes a night out<br />
from movie fare Thursday (6) when George<br />
Carlin appears on stage in two shows. Carlin.<br />
billed as "The Funniest Man in the<br />
World." has with him special guest Kenny<br />
Rankin. Tickets range from $6 to $4.<br />
Jerry Siegel, division manager for United<br />
Artists Theatres of Wisconsin, has a new<br />
U.^ house in Minneapolis to look after these<br />
days . . . Southridge Triplex has a "Ladies<br />
Day Special" every Tuesday morning, a<br />
"free movie" beginning at 9:45 a.m. Free<br />
tickets are available at the UA Movies<br />
. . . "The Silent Strang-<br />
1-2-3 boxoffice or at the shopping center's<br />
information booth<br />
er" was tradescreened February 10 in the<br />
Centre screening room under auspices of<br />
Liberace is returning<br />
United Artists . . .<br />
to his native Milwaukee April 2 and 3 for<br />
performances in the Performing Arts Center.<br />
Tickets are now on sale, with prices ranging<br />
from $8.50 to $6.50.<br />
Film director Elia Kazan was a visitor<br />
here February 14 to plug his latest novel<br />
"The Understudy," the February selection<br />
for the Literary Guild. He made the round<br />
of local media and February 15 headed for<br />
Madison, where his daughter is teaching<br />
ceramics at the University of Wisconsin.<br />
The man who directed films like "A Streetcar<br />
Named Desire" and others confided here<br />
that he is planning to direct a motion picture<br />
this coming fall that is based on F.<br />
Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel "The<br />
Last Tycoon." Will there be a movie of<br />
"The Understudy." the author-director was<br />
asked? "Yes. I suppose there will be—but<br />
someone else will do the scenario." he replied.<br />
Tlie J. Pelmann Theatre (formerly Oakland<br />
Movie Theatre) has been closed for remodeling<br />
since last summer, during which<br />
time extensive improvements have been<br />
made both inside and outside. A number of<br />
screen actors have appeared in its stage productions<br />
in the past and plans are under way<br />
to produce a new series of performances<br />
soon, according to the theatre owner, John<br />
Pellmann.<br />
Theatre Closes for Updating<br />
JAMESTOWN. N.D.—The Star Theatre<br />
here, owned by Lake Road Theatre, Inc., of<br />
Wayzeata, Minn., has been closed for renovating<br />
and updating. The movie house is<br />
managed by Jack Fossum.<br />
NC-2 BOXOFFICE :; March 3, 1975
!<br />
Ratings Opposition<br />
Hinges on Churches<br />
MlLWALlKHli—A recent ;irliclc concerning<br />
self-regulation of the movie industry<br />
was published in the Milwaukee Sentinel.<br />
By-lined by Duane A. Dudek, the<br />
item said<br />
in part:<br />
"The demand for a movie rating system<br />
began in the 193()s when large segments of<br />
the public were offended by the antics of<br />
vamps, by corruption as portrayed in gangster<br />
films and the private lives of many<br />
stars. The Catholic Church . . . formed the<br />
Legion of Decency. Catholics pledged not to<br />
attend any film that the group had condemned'<br />
and exhibitors were pressured into<br />
not booking such films. If they did, boycotts<br />
against them were easily organized.<br />
"The Legion of Decency controlled for<br />
many years what the public saw in theatres,<br />
while the movie industry's Production Code<br />
Administration advised film companies on<br />
how to stay on the good side of the legion<br />
and avoid a 'condemned' rating.<br />
"The PCA warned again.st showing miscegenation<br />
and was quite strict in its demands<br />
that no sympathy be shown to an act<br />
of crime or to a criminal. All films were<br />
required to uphold the sanctity of love and<br />
marriage and, of course, none was allowed<br />
to titillate with passion.<br />
"The decline of this highly controlled<br />
situation began in 1948 when the Supreme<br />
Court ruled that the film industry had the<br />
same First Amendment rights as the rest of<br />
us, a theory that was upheld in 1952. These<br />
two opinions effectively disarmed local<br />
censors and ushered in an unprecedented era<br />
of freedom.<br />
"The 1950s and '60s saw a maturing<br />
movie audience and a growing movie industry.<br />
Film became the alternative to the saccharine,<br />
inoffensive entertainment offered<br />
by TV. The popularity of the avant-garde<br />
filin movement dared the film establishment<br />
to keep up with the times and the demands<br />
of its audience, TTie industry became engaged<br />
in a constant battle to outdo it,self.<br />
a duel that was tempered somewhat by two<br />
1968 Supreme Court decisions.<br />
"One held that material constitutionally<br />
suitable for adults could be obscene for children.<br />
The other struck down a Dallas censorship<br />
ordinance for being too vague but<br />
indicated that there was room for a classification<br />
system with defined guidelines. The<br />
court opened the way for film censorship<br />
and thus spurred the film industry, within<br />
six months, to come up with its own classification<br />
system, one that is still in use today.<br />
"In 1973 the court went one step further<br />
and handed to communities the right to de-<br />
(Continued on next page)<br />
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Wisconsin Duo: Council Leaders<br />
Who Take Time to Promote Films<br />
By WALLY L, MEYER<br />
.MILWAUKEE—A brief profile of the<br />
two women who chair the meetings and<br />
proceedings of the two Better Films and TV<br />
councils in our state would seem to be in<br />
order at this time. The older group of the<br />
two, the Better Films and TV Council of<br />
Milwaukee Area, was activated in 1931,<br />
while the Better Films and TV Council of<br />
Sheboygan County was organized in 1936.<br />
Mrs. Leonard (Fran) Schmidlknecht, in<br />
her second year as president of the Milwaukee<br />
council, has been a steady moviegoer<br />
ever since she was six years old. She and<br />
her friends were among the youngsters who<br />
regularly attended Sunday matinees at the<br />
Jackson Theatre to see such favorites as<br />
Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland<br />
and others.<br />
Movie Fan for Years<br />
By the time she was a teenager at Lincoln<br />
High School on the city's lower east<br />
side, she was extending her patronage t
, . Joe<br />
MINNEAPOLIS<br />
^urder on the Orient Express" was the<br />
talk of Filmrow with its sensational<br />
bow at the Cooper Theatre—and its equally<br />
startling strength at the Har-Mar I Theatre<br />
in St. Paul. It was the second giant opening<br />
for the Har-Mar twin-theatre complex, the<br />
Har-Mar II actually topping the local figure<br />
with "Earthquake" during an opening week.<br />
"Murder" found the Har-Mar right at the<br />
heals of the Cooper—and has made the St.<br />
Paul house one high on film companies'<br />
lists of choice situations.<br />
The significance of the Presidents" Day<br />
holiday doubtless is all but lost in the calendar<br />
juggling of dates—but in a time of a<br />
depressed economy, who's to knock the commercial<br />
aspect of it all? Certainly not local<br />
exhibitors, who saw grosses push upward<br />
with schools closed across most of the territory.<br />
Frank Zanolli, Universal brunch manager,<br />
mailed availability notices to local exhibitors<br />
for "The Eiger Sanction," starring Clint<br />
Eastwood, and "The Great Waldo Pepper."<br />
toplining Robert Redford. "Pepper" will<br />
break Sunday (2?).<br />
. . .<br />
Dan Peterson, Brookings, S.D., circuit<br />
owner, held the grand opening of his Unique<br />
Cinema Theatre February 28, the house located<br />
in a new Brookings shopping center<br />
Roy Smith, Lange Distributing Co.<br />
branch head, hailed the grosses posted by<br />
"Journey Back to Oz." With 41 prints<br />
working the area. Smith noted that the<br />
picture was tallying strong receipts at virtually<br />
all situations,<br />
the great bulk of the busi-<br />
. . .<br />
ness coming during matinee showings,<br />
though all houses were running it full time<br />
"W. W. and the Dixie Dancekings,"<br />
the forthcoming Burt Reynolds film, breaks<br />
here June 25 with a minimum of 125 prints<br />
working this territory. Avron Rosen. 20th<br />
Century-Fox branch manager, said that the<br />
picture is expected to repeat here the hefty<br />
business already done in Atlanta and<br />
Memphis.<br />
Said Rosen: ""We're looking forward to<br />
the greatest year in 20th-Fox history—and<br />
it's already well under way with "The Towering<br />
Inferno' and "Young Frankenstein.'<br />
SlififieJl<br />
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And just some of the exciting items on tap<br />
are 'The Terrorists,' with Sean Connery;<br />
"The Four Musketeers" for Easter; "The<br />
French Connection II," and At Long Last<br />
Love." The summer of "75 belongs to Fox!""<br />
Don Palmquist, 20th Century-Fox office<br />
manager and chief barker of Tent 12, Variety<br />
of the Northwest, and his wife depart<br />
April 1 1 for the Variety Clubs International<br />
convention in London . Rosen, Paramount<br />
branch salesman, was hospitalized<br />
February 17-19 for a series of tests.<br />
Harry Green, Midcontinent Theatres,<br />
Dean Lutz, general sales manager for<br />
K-Tel Productions here, and Forrie Myers,<br />
Paramount branch boss, golf together in the<br />
summer and bowl together in the winter.<br />
Somehow, things stay the same, regardless<br />
of the season. The other day. Myers reported.<br />
"My hand was deep in Lutz's wallet."<br />
locally<br />
based circuit, is building a twin-theatre<br />
installation to open in mid-March in<br />
Aberdeen, S.D. Similar structures are<br />
planned for Sioux Falls. S.D., and Owatonna.<br />
Filmrow visitors: Mr. an d Mrs. Richard<br />
Ebensteiner, the Stage thea tres in Hastings<br />
and St.<br />
Auditorium, St.<br />
State, Winona;<br />
Elk River, and<br />
Rochester . . ,<br />
Peter; Jane Pepper.<br />
Croix Falls. Wis.; Paul Berg<br />
Carl Brownfield. New Elk.<br />
Tom Doughty, Cinema 21.<br />
Don Dalrymple. who heads<br />
and booking operation, has<br />
booking of<br />
his own buying<br />
taken over the<br />
the Wing TTieat re. Wing. N.D.,<br />
which reopens in May.<br />
Religious Community Key<br />
To Film Ratings' Success<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
fine, according to local standards, what is<br />
obscene. Since then the situation hasn't<br />
changed much but things have become a bit<br />
more complicated. The film industry still<br />
uses its rating system, while at the same<br />
time continues to fear government control<br />
of the medium, even after last year's Supreme<br />
Court reversal of the conviction of<br />
an Albany, Ga., theatre owner who showed<br />
what the Georgia courts considered an obscene<br />
film. 'Carnal Knowledge.'<br />
'"It has long been maintained that the<br />
court's 1973 decision is a law that is almost<br />
impossible to uphold in any practical, consistent<br />
way. Obscenity is in the eye of the<br />
beholder. We, being individuals, all have<br />
different conceptions and interpretations of<br />
things like morality.<br />
"Given 12 people, one will come up with<br />
12 different definitions of obscenity. Hence<br />
court decisions on morality cannot be much<br />
more than the opmir-n. of the per-oni on<br />
the jury, hound to change with the composition<br />
of that jury. Compounding this unstable<br />
condition are the vote-hungry, issuehopping<br />
local politicians who, sensing a soft<br />
spot in the virgin underbelly of their community,<br />
pounce on it like sharks at the smell<br />
of blood.<br />
'"These variables have caused the highly<br />
erratic ball to be tossed into the hands of<br />
yet a third party, those who traditionally<br />
have been our moral leaders, the religious<br />
community. Two years ago both the National<br />
Council of Churches Broadcasting & Film<br />
Commission and the National Catholic<br />
Office of Motion Pictures withdrew their<br />
support of the rating system. They were<br />
concerned with its haphazard application<br />
and the fact that their support was being<br />
used as fodder for the industry"s public relations<br />
machines.<br />
"The church |>eople now find themselves<br />
in a pivotal role. They are being courted<br />
by the film industry. Their support will legitimatize<br />
the rating system and calm the<br />
mob cries for censorship. But they still are<br />
not entirely in favor of the system ... It is<br />
their fear of impending censorship that<br />
makes them lean towards accepting the code.<br />
"What is the answer? Well, that depends<br />
on the question being asked. If one wants<br />
to "clean up' the movie business, nothing<br />
will do that more effectively than the wholesale<br />
suspension of the First Amendment.<br />
But if one is looking for a set of guidelines<br />
by which filmgoers and parents can decide<br />
a film's suitability, then the rating system<br />
wins hands down,<br />
"With all its imperfections it is the only<br />
system to succeed at classifying films and<br />
warning viewers. It appears the only alternative<br />
to censorship and our religious leaders<br />
would be wise to support it.""<br />
Wisconsin's Film Council<br />
Presidents Aid Moviegoers<br />
(Continued from preceding page)<br />
Unimpeachable Madame President."'<br />
Wielding<br />
the president's gavel at meetings is oldhat<br />
for Laverne.<br />
How does she manage to become Sheboygan"s<br />
'"most involved"' organizational woman<br />
and still remain her usually serene self? "I<br />
don"t have problems running my home as<br />
well as doing club work because, you see,<br />
Tm an organizer," Mrs, Hoerig once related.<br />
"1 feel that if you have a system and stick<br />
to it, you won"t encounter too much trouble<br />
doing what is needed to be accomplished."<br />
Warner Bros.' "Lisztomania" went before<br />
the cameras at the Shepperton studio<br />
complex near London February 3.<br />
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1 Brighter Light- Longer Burning<br />
In Nebroiko—Slipper Theotre Supply Co., Omoho, (402) 341-S71S ¥M<br />
In Minnesota—Minneapolis Theotr* Supply, Minneapolis, («12) 335-1I46 WA<br />
CInenra Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, (612) 339-4055 WM<br />
NC-4 BOXOmCE :: March 3. 1975
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
7th<br />
—<br />
—<br />
'Quake' Huge 925<br />
In Sevenih Week<br />
CINCINNATI — -liarthquako" grossed<br />
925 for a seventh week at Carousel 1 to<br />
continue a long lead among first runs. "Murder<br />
on the Orient Express" pulled 650 in a<br />
smashing opening week at Showcase 3. Two<br />
films drew 500 each: "The Towering In-<br />
250<br />
. ,<br />
ferno" at Showcase 1 and "Freebie and the<br />
Bean" at three theatres.<br />
Average Is 100)<br />
Ambas'Odor— Amarcord SR), 6th wk 75<br />
Corouel 1<br />
— Eorthquake 'Univ), 7th wk 925<br />
Front (Univ), 5th wk<br />
Grond<br />
Kenwood<br />
Revolt of the<br />
The<br />
Dragon (SR)<br />
Poge<br />
125<br />
200<br />
Showcase 1 The Towering Inferno<br />
:WB/20th-Fov ,<br />
wk 500<br />
Showcase 2 The Godfofhcr, Port II Poro),<br />
7th wk.<br />
Showcose 3 Murder on the Oriental Express<br />
.<br />
(Para)<br />
Shrwcase 4— .Young Fronkenstein r(20th-Fox),<br />
650<br />
7fh wk 250<br />
Showcase 5 The Longest Yard Para), 14th wk.<br />
Skywalk 2— Sunburst iSR)<br />
Times Towne Cinema The Man With the<br />
.200<br />
250<br />
Golden Gun (UA), 7th wk 325<br />
Three theatres Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />
6th wk 500<br />
Valley Airport 1975 (Univ), t6th wk 250<br />
Towering Inferno' Is 405<br />
In Sixth Detroit Week<br />
DETROIT — "The Towering Inferno" in<br />
a si.xth week took over the competition with<br />
405 in eight theatres. "Murder on the Orient<br />
Express" debuted at nine houses with a<br />
strong 390. .Another opening feature "Dragon<br />
Squad" reported 385 at the Fox. "1 he<br />
Godfather. Part II" in a sixth week at eight<br />
. .<br />
situations reported 300.<br />
Adams Boss Nigger (SR), 5th wk 95<br />
Eight theatres The Godfather, Port II (Poro),<br />
6th wk 300<br />
Eight theatres The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB,''20th-Fox), 6th wk 405<br />
Eiaht theatres The Island at the Top of the<br />
World (BV), 6th wk 105<br />
Five theatres Earthquake (Univ), 1 1th wk 290<br />
Fox Dragon Squad (SR) 385<br />
Grand Circus—Abby (AlP), 5th wk 95<br />
Nine theatre3 ^Murder on the Orient Express<br />
fPoro) 390<br />
Six theatres' Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox),<br />
6th wk. 280<br />
Six<br />
The Front Page fUniv), 6th wk 130<br />
Six theatres— Freebie and the Bean (WB), 5th wk. 195<br />
Six theotres Airport 1975 (Univ), 6th wk 125<br />
Studio IV Amorcord (SR), 1 1 th wk 90<br />
Te'ex 1 Flesh Gordon (AlP), I 1th wk 75<br />
Towne I—Lenny (UA), 7th wk 205<br />
Towne II— Stovisky (SR), 2nd wk 110<br />
'Murder on the<br />
Orient Express'<br />
Grips Cleveland With 265<br />
CLEVELAND—"Murder on the Orient<br />
Express" developed a grip on the city with<br />
265 in a third week. Not far behind was<br />
"Earthquake" in a twelfth week at two theatres.<br />
"TNT Jackson" opened with 180 at<br />
two theatres and "Black Dragon" debuted<br />
with 120 at the Embassy.<br />
Embassy— Block Dragon (SR) 120<br />
Five theatres Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />
6th wk 180<br />
Four theatres The Front Poge (Univ), 7th wk. . . 85<br />
Four theotres The Godfother, Port II (Poro),<br />
7th wk 200<br />
Hippodrome TNT Jackson (SR) 180<br />
S.x theatres The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB/20th-Fox), 7th wk 210<br />
Six theatres Murder on the Orient Express<br />
(Poro), 3rd wk 265<br />
Two theatres Earthquake (Univ), 12th wk 230<br />
Commonwealth Changes<br />
From Southwestern Edition<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 />
Black-Owned Firms<br />
Blaxploitation Films:<br />
TOLEDO, OHIO—Sam Greenlee, author<br />
of the novel "The Spook Who Sat by the<br />
Door," which he also produced and scripted<br />
(for the 1973 United Artists release), said<br />
that black exploitation films will continue<br />
to be produced, giving inaccurate portrayals<br />
of blacks, until black people start<br />
making and owning their own films. He<br />
spoke to an audience at the University of<br />
Toledo as part of that university's observance<br />
of Black Culture Week.<br />
Greenlee said that the only way the<br />
content of films will reflect the true situation<br />
of black people is if blacks break<br />
away from the established movie industry<br />
and start their own firms. "We don't lack<br />
what it takes to make our own movies. We<br />
can't march and picket and pray to persuade<br />
Hollywood to use the kind of material of<br />
which we approve," he said, declaring that<br />
whites control the industry.<br />
He objected even to highly rated films<br />
such as "Sounder," "Uptown Saturday<br />
Night" and the TV film "The Biography of<br />
Miss Jane Pittman," because they are "ovraed"<br />
by whites and put blacks in situations<br />
Federal Judges Won't Halt<br />
Obscenity Prosecutions<br />
rOLEDO, OHIO—Prosecutions of two<br />
places which have presented nude dancing<br />
— the Ciayely Theatre in downtown Toledo<br />
and the Shamble Club on Monroe Street<br />
must he allowed to proceed, according to<br />
a three-judge U.S. District Court panel<br />
decision. The panel unanimously refused<br />
to block prosecution of the two spots on<br />
charges of presenting obscene performances.<br />
The panel also refused to rule on the<br />
constitutionality of Ohio's anti-obscenity<br />
law, particularly since, the judges said, the<br />
Ohio Supreme Court has not yet considered<br />
the constitutionality of the entire statute,<br />
aithoLigh it has upheld several sections of<br />
the law.<br />
The operating partners of the Shambles.<br />
John Shaughnessy and Debra Holman:<br />
Shambles dancer Diana Stewart; Gayety<br />
cashier Elsie Krego, and Gayety dancer<br />
Virginia Gardner all were charged by police<br />
last fall. Both the Shambles and Gayety<br />
had sought an injunction halting the criminal<br />
cases, challenging the Ohio obscenity<br />
law as a violation of the right of free expression.<br />
Christine Enterprises of Cleveland, which<br />
operates the downtown Esquire Theatre,<br />
had joined in the lawsuit on the basis that<br />
it feared prosecution for nude dancing. The<br />
panel held that Christine had no standing,<br />
since no charges had been filed against<br />
Esquire performers.<br />
"The judges' refusal to intervene in the<br />
prosecution was based, they said, on a U.S.<br />
Supreme Court decision which says that<br />
federal courts should abstain in most instances<br />
from interfering with state court<br />
criminal prosecutions.<br />
Can Eliminate<br />
Greenlee<br />
approved of by whites. As a result, the<br />
films often given an inaccurate impression<br />
of black culture. Greenlee said the black<br />
exploitation films are such that the tickets<br />
are bought by blacks, give an inaccurate<br />
impression of what appeals to blacks and<br />
the profits go back to whites.<br />
His film, distributed by United Artists,<br />
has been shown in<br />
approximately 110 cities<br />
but the distributor was not happy with the<br />
boxoffice returns, Greenlee said. It is about<br />
a black Central Intelligence Agency agent<br />
who becomes bitter when he, as the first<br />
of his race to hold such a position, is<br />
displayed for visitors but employed at a<br />
menial task. He quits the CIA and takes the<br />
espionage and guerilla tactics he learned<br />
in training back to the ghetto, where he<br />
organizes a guerilla army of blacks to overthrow<br />
the white power structure. Greenlee<br />
said the subject matter is too startling for<br />
most white people to feel comfortable with.<br />
"The Spook Who Sat by the Door" was<br />
shown at the University of Toledo Student<br />
Union before Greenlee's remarks.<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
JJow anxious can you be to see Disney<br />
World? Just ask Darrel Thomas Sherman.<br />
He won't be able to answer you, because<br />
he was just born February 7. Tom<br />
Sherman, his dad and owner of Auto-O-<br />
Rama Twin Drive-In. was vacationing with<br />
his wife Debbie and daughter Pamela in<br />
Florida when, just outside Disney World.<br />
Darrel decided that Disney World is no<br />
place to see from inside. Although he was<br />
not due to make the scene until early March,<br />
he arrived. His mother Debbie was rushed<br />
to a hospital in nearby Clermont, where<br />
Darrel was born—but not before sister<br />
Pamela had a few rides in Fantasy Land in<br />
Disney World.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Sweeney of Fremont<br />
Saturday (1) assumed the operation of the<br />
Cinema Theatre; Fremont Drive-In, Fremont,<br />
and the Springmill Drive-In, Mansfield.<br />
The facilities formeriy were under the<br />
Armstrong circuit banner.<br />
Nadine Walker, Co-Operative Theatres<br />
secretary, recently returned from a vacation<br />
in Washington, D.C. . . . Bob Kaplowitz,<br />
United Artists booker, returned to the cold<br />
weather here following a warm holiday in<br />
West Palm Beach, Fla.<br />
RC/I<br />
Theatre<br />
Service<br />
fhenation^ finest for 40 years !<br />
RCA Service Company<br />
A Division ol RCA<br />
20338 Progresi Dr.<br />
Stronasville, Ohio 44136<br />
Phone: (216) 238-9555<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: Match 3, 1975 ME-1
. . Nancy<br />
DETROIT<br />
^ J.<br />
Fraokovich, producer, and star Susan<br />
Blakely were in town for a series of<br />
interviews and a press preview of "Report<br />
to the Commissioner." The activities were<br />
keyed to the op>ening of the new film in the<br />
Motor City February 19. Frankovich. Ms.<br />
Blakely and star Michael Moriarty recentb<br />
completed a round of personal appearances<br />
and interviews in New York, where "Report<br />
to the Commissioner" currently is playing<br />
to top grosses at the Criterion. 86th Street<br />
East and UA Cinema East. The Frankovich<br />
production, which also stars Yaphet Kotto.<br />
Hector Elizondo and Tony King, was directed<br />
by Milton Katselas from a screenplay<br />
by Abby Mann and Ernest Tidyman. The<br />
film is a United Artists release.<br />
Laura DeMenf, secretary to Universal<br />
branch manager Jim Ryan, and Marge<br />
(Macey) Svegel will spend two weeks in<br />
Hawaii. Blast-off date is set for Monday<br />
(10) . . Jim Ryan, Universal branch man-<br />
.<br />
ager, and Jim Ley, Pittsburgh sales representative,<br />
attended the Universal national<br />
sales meeting in Orlando, Fla.. February<br />
24-28.<br />
Jerry Lipow, 58, formerly of this city,<br />
died in Chicago following a heart attack<br />
January 29. Lipow worked here several<br />
years as salesman for RKO-Stanley Warner.<br />
Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr and Paramount. He<br />
has not worked in the industry since moving<br />
to Chicago several years ago.<br />
Harry Buxbaum, president of Stanley<br />
Warner, and Tom Crehan, RKO-Stanley<br />
Warner executive vice-president, were in<br />
this city Friday, February 21 . . Gordon<br />
.<br />
Bugie, Cinerama division manager, and his<br />
wife Mitzy leave Friday (7) for a vacation<br />
in the Canary Islands.<br />
Don Niebaum now is managing Loews'<br />
East and writing city advertising for Loews<br />
Theatres here. He succeeds Ray Serraglio,<br />
who, effective Thursday (6), becomes buyer<br />
for Academy Advertising . Winter<br />
is the attractive new secretary at Motion<br />
Picture Sound.<br />
General Theatres soon will move from its<br />
present quarters in the Film Building. Of-<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
^M^ '^°"'^ "^'^s ^^^ famous<br />
[HAWAn' Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
im^ Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATEK<br />
fico space currently is being prepared at<br />
. . . Leonard<br />
Brainard Place, where General Theatres will<br />
make its new headquarters<br />
Mishkind. General Theatres president, left<br />
for a holiday in Freeport and Florida February<br />
14. He plans to return to his office<br />
Monday (3).<br />
Rick Meyerson, Columbia branch manager,<br />
attended the national sales meeting on<br />
the West Coast early last month. Also<br />
catching some of the West Coast Columbia<br />
screenings were Pete Rosian, Personal Film<br />
Research and Bert Lefkowich, Community<br />
circuit, and his wife Alice.<br />
Sympathy is extended to Mickey Kaufman,<br />
wife of Jack Kaufman. Cinepix head,<br />
whose mother recently died.<br />
Once again, during Variety Week, the<br />
WOMPIs lent a hand by passing out candy<br />
to handicapped children at a morning<br />
screening February 15 at the Hippodrome<br />
Theatre.<br />
General Cinema Corp., which plans an<br />
Easter opening for a triplex at Mentor Mall.<br />
is excavating at Rolling Acres in Akron,<br />
where more GCC screens are on the drawing<br />
boards.<br />
The Parents Volunteer Ass'n Women's<br />
Auxiliary will hold a benefit premiere showing<br />
of Columbia's "Funny Lady" Tuesday<br />
(11) at 8 p.m. at Loews' East. A reception<br />
will<br />
follow.<br />
Jesse L. Lasky jr., 65, recently visited this<br />
city to promote his book "Whatever Happened<br />
to Hollywood." Lasky, who was one<br />
of Cecil B. DeMille's most experienced<br />
scriptwriters, grew up in the Hollywood<br />
atmosphere. His father Jesse Lasky sr., a<br />
founder of Paramount Pictures, also produced<br />
the first feature-length motion picture.<br />
Lasky expressed the opinion that these<br />
are times when people want "escape into<br />
good times, fantasy and swashbuckling adventure."<br />
He sees the craft to which he has<br />
devoted his life as dead— "screenwriters take<br />
a dull book and make it into a bearable<br />
movie."<br />
Marcus Ground Breaking<br />
GREEN BAY, WIS,—Participating in<br />
ground-breaking ceremonies for a Marcus<br />
circuit twin to be located in the Sure Way-<br />
ShopKo Shopping Center on the east side<br />
were Hayden "Bud" Owen, Green Bay<br />
manager for Marcus Theatres: Max Johnson,<br />
Sure Way Stores, and Elmer Barrette,<br />
Green Bay administrative officer. A June<br />
opening is tentative scheduled for the duo.<br />
Ohio Man Charges Ladies'<br />
Night Violates Rights<br />
DAYTON, OHIO — "Ladies' Night" at<br />
the Salem Mall Theatre in the Salem Mall<br />
Shopping Center, suburban Trotwood. violates<br />
the Ohio Civil Rights laws, according<br />
to Paul C. Shaw, who filed a charge of unlawful<br />
discriminatory action in public accommodations<br />
in the Dayton office of the<br />
Ohio Civil Rights Commission. The commission<br />
recently ruled that there was "probable<br />
cause."<br />
Shaw tried twice last fall to buy a ladies'<br />
night movie ticket at the $1.50 price for<br />
women instead of paying the regular $2.75<br />
price. Both times, he said, he was refused.<br />
After the first alleged refusal in October.<br />
Shaw complained to the city of Trotwood.<br />
which has an ordinance against sex discrimination.<br />
He also received an opinion in his<br />
favor from the Ohio attorney general's office<br />
in Columbus.<br />
He took the opinion with him when he<br />
returned for his second attempt to buy a<br />
ladies' admission ticket but the theatre manager<br />
didn't change his mind. Shaw said. "He<br />
seemed more strong-willed and resistant than<br />
before." according to Shaw, who is a teacher<br />
at Wright State University here.<br />
Shaw filed the unlawful discriminatory<br />
action late last year and the recent ruling<br />
by the Dayton office of the Ohio Civil<br />
Rights Commission that there was "probable<br />
cause" for charges of unlawful discrimination<br />
means that it will meet with the theatre<br />
management to attempt to work out a solution.<br />
The manager could not be reached for<br />
comment.<br />
Ohio law bans discrimination in employment,<br />
housing and public accommodations<br />
on the basis of race, color, creed, religion,<br />
national origin, ancestry or sex. Shaw said<br />
he filed the charge for "idealistic" reasons<br />
and also because he is concerned about discrimination<br />
against women. In his case, the<br />
most sympathetic people have been women.<br />
'If You Don't Stop It' Is<br />
Screened for OSU Class<br />
COLUMBUS—Bob Levy, director and<br />
co-producer of the R-rated motion picture<br />
•If You Don't Stop It, You'll Go Blind,"<br />
made a personal appearance and discussed<br />
filmmaking at a private screening of the<br />
picture for the Ohio State University Cinema<br />
Arts Class in Columbus Thursday,<br />
February 20. The screening was held at<br />
the World Theatre here, where the picture<br />
opened February 28.<br />
"If You Don't Stop It, You'll Go Blind"<br />
is distributed bv Topar Films of Beverly<br />
Hills, Calif.<br />
Levy is the son of Parke Levy, creator<br />
of the radio shows "My Friend Irma" and<br />
"December Bride."<br />
I<br />
fA<br />
^<br />
r.aristr Cedar Knnlls. Knolls, N.J. 07927<br />
In Kentucky—Standard Vendors, Louisville, (502) 361-1155<br />
n Michigan—Ringold Theotre Equipment Co., Grond Rapids, (616) 454-8852<br />
Ringold Theatre Equipment Co., Garden City, (313) 522-4651<br />
M ...<br />
In in Ohio—Ohio v/nio<br />
*« __:_._<br />
vnio Theatre neaire Supply supply Co., t.o., Cleveland, (216) 771-6545<br />
W^<br />
m Brighter Light ' Longer Burning National Theatre supply, Cincinnati, (Sl 3) 621-8903 w<br />
^^2 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
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Nonmoviegoers Are Flayed<br />
By Blade's Film Critic<br />
TOLEDO, OHIO— Blade movie critic<br />
Norman Dresser is turned off by people<br />
who state, with apparent pride, that they do<br />
not go to the movies. A recent column was<br />
directed toward this segment of the public,<br />
with the renowned entertainment editor of<br />
the Toledo Blade delivering the following<br />
"verbal spanking" to nonmoviegoers:<br />
A remark I hear disturbingly often is to<br />
the effect that so-andso enjoyed reading my<br />
review of such-and-such a movie, then adding<br />
with what seems a note of pride that "I<br />
haven't been to a movie in<br />
years." This indicates<br />
to me, if the review was favorable,<br />
either that I'm doing a poor job of salesmanship<br />
for an excellent movie or that the<br />
speaker has a closed mind and rejects all<br />
movies because he had seen a couple of<br />
bad ones in .the past.<br />
It's a bit like refusing to read any books<br />
because Harold Robbins turns out trashy<br />
sex novels or avoiding the theatre because<br />
there hasn't been a good playwright since<br />
William Shakespeare. Or even (I jest here)<br />
disconnecting the TV set after Ed Sullivan<br />
went off the air.<br />
For example, I received a letter the other<br />
day from a lady recalling with fondness the<br />
musicals of the 1930s and such screen personalities<br />
as Franchot Tone, Lionel Barrymore<br />
and Ann Harding. Then she added a<br />
P.S.— "'Vou can be sure that I don't go to<br />
movies today."<br />
Now. I'm not detracting from the glory<br />
of that golden era of Hollywood and many<br />
fine movies were produced then. However, I<br />
suspect one's memory plays tricks. One remembers<br />
the good films and forgets how<br />
many shoddy, worthless movies were turned<br />
out on the Hollywood assembly line. Republic<br />
used to grind out westerns on a weekly<br />
basis, all eminently forgettable.<br />
One forgets, too, the absurdity of the<br />
puritanical code which ruled (on the screen,<br />
at least) in Hollywood back in those days.<br />
Married couples always slept in twin beds;<br />
a kiss (closed lips, please) could run only<br />
a few seconds: crime never paid. In other<br />
words, movies did not reflect reality, even<br />
in what is now remembered as an innocent<br />
era. (Actually, the 1930s weren't all that<br />
innocent, as I recall the period; it's just that<br />
our trangressions were not as much in the<br />
open as they are today.)<br />
It's true that there is much more sex and<br />
^^ fVATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE<br />
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—<br />
Ernie Warren Is<br />
MPC 'Sweetheart'<br />
By BARBARA WARREN<br />
BOSTON— Ernie<br />
Warren, BoxoFFiCE<br />
correspondent, was named 'sweetheart of<br />
the month" during the Valentine luncheon<br />
of the New England Motion Picture Club<br />
here.<br />
Chaired by Paul Peterson. NFB Films,<br />
and David Titleman, Allied Artists Films,<br />
the February 14th fete at Nick's Restaurant<br />
honored Warren for his career in exhibition.<br />
Warren was presented an award by Peterson<br />
who gave a brief but humorous account<br />
of Ernie's career, which began in 1900 as<br />
film shuttle boy to and from North and<br />
South Stations here. He continued his service<br />
in distribution with Warners. Pathe and<br />
Universal, and presently is <strong>Boxoffice</strong> correspKjndent<br />
and theatre consultant.<br />
Ken Mayer, well known newspaper columnist<br />
and former Filnirow staffer, was<br />
guest speaker. He reminisced about Warren's<br />
days in distribution and many remarked<br />
on Ken's phenomenal memory for names<br />
and places. His speech brought back pangs<br />
of nostalgia to many who were present and<br />
gave younger members of the club a glimpse<br />
of "the way it was."<br />
Present to witness the occasion were Warren's<br />
wife Irene; daughter Barbara Warren.<br />
General Cinema, and granddaughter Lynne<br />
Nelson of Allied Artists, comprising the<br />
third generation in<br />
films.<br />
Among the 200 attending were I.eo Ajamian.<br />
Charles Cinema: Doc Romano. B &<br />
Theatres; S\' Evans. Nick Lavidor. Chuck<br />
Mason and Jim Collins. General Cinema:<br />
Richard and Sumner Myerson. Loews Theatres;<br />
Alan Friedberg. Sack Theatres: Wyn<br />
Know, Granada Theatre: Fran Lynch. SBC<br />
Management: Max Magovsky and Joe Rossi.<br />
National Screen Service: Jack Keegan. Rita<br />
Sullivan and Bob Anderson. Paramount:<br />
Harvey .Appcll. Apple Distribution: Florio<br />
Simi and Bruce Hambro. Buena Vista: Carl<br />
Goldman. TONE executive director: Seth<br />
Field. George Roberts and Mai Green.<br />
Redstone's Tohn Lowe Sees<br />
Lonaer Runs. Better Films<br />
WORCE,STER—Exhibition business, better<br />
in 1974 than in 197.^, can be expected<br />
to expand even more, John P. Lowe, western<br />
New England division manager. Redstone<br />
Theatres, remarked in a recent newspaper<br />
interview.<br />
"The movies," Lowe continued, "did a<br />
roller-coaster business in 1974, with newhighs<br />
and new lows. But the big-success,<br />
big-failure pattern probably won't cause<br />
exhibitors to change their methods very<br />
much—except to look for ways to protect<br />
themselves."<br />
Lowe told the press that he expects production<br />
and distribution to come up with<br />
fewer movies "and to make them better<br />
that is, to reduce the number of quicklymade,<br />
low-budgeted films."<br />
The trend towards holding films for longruns<br />
has grown, Lowe went on.<br />
'Earthquake hOOO in Hub Opening;<br />
'A Woman Registers Terrific 575<br />
BOSTON—Averages are on the upswing<br />
here despite recent snowstorms, and "Earthquake"<br />
in its city debut at the Gary rocked<br />
the Hub with 1000. higher than its opening<br />
at suburban Framingham Cinema weeks<br />
1.'^<br />
ago. "Earthquake" is proving that downtown<br />
Boston is the biggest grossing situation<br />
in New England. "A Woman Under the<br />
Influence" scored a terrific 575 at Cheri<br />
Three and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"<br />
hit a smash 475 at the Beacon Hill.<br />
Also in the top bracket was previous winner<br />
"Murder on the Orient Express" with 575<br />
in a fifth week.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor Bogord (SR) 175<br />
Beacon Hill Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore<br />
;WB) 475<br />
Charles Emmonuelle (Col), 4th wk 365<br />
Charles East Locombe, Lucien (20th-Fox),<br />
nth wk 125<br />
Chen One Lenny UA), 10th wk 235<br />
Cheri Two Amorcord (SR), 9th wk 245<br />
Cheri Three A Womon Under the Influence<br />
(SR) 575<br />
Circle Cinema ^The Front Poge (Univ), 9th wk, . 180<br />
Cinema 57 One The Towering Inferno<br />
;WB/20th-Fox), 9th wk 300<br />
Cinema 57 Two Murder on the Orient Express<br />
(Para), 5th wk 575<br />
Exeter Scenes From a Marriage (SR), 1 7th wk. . 175<br />
Framingham Cinemo One Earthquoke (Univ),<br />
Mth wk 215<br />
Gary Earthquake (Univ) 1000<br />
Loews' Abbey One Sheila Levine Is Dead<br />
and Living in New York (Para) 200<br />
Pi Alley Young Frankenstein (20th-Fox),<br />
9th wk 310<br />
Pans Cinema— llsa (SR), 4th wk 125<br />
Savoy One The Godfather, Part II (Paro),<br />
9th wk 400<br />
'Front Page' Scores 250 in Bow;<br />
"Angel Number 9" 225 in Hartford<br />
HARIFORD—The winter's first eightinch<br />
snowfall failed to dampen moviegoers'<br />
enthusiasm as a flock of first runs registered<br />
some of the best "takes" since the Christmas<br />
season. Universal's "The Front Page" in<br />
three situations hit 250. "Angel Number 9"<br />
on a double bill at Ernest A. Grecula's .^rt<br />
Cinema, chalked up 225. Columbia's "The<br />
Stepford Wives" in four cinemas barreled<br />
along with 200. And in an innovative pitch,<br />
tied<br />
to reopening of the Webster. "Phantom<br />
of the Paradise," a musical spoof of the<br />
Universal silent "Phantom of the Opera,"<br />
was accompanied by the showing of the<br />
silent classic. The Ferguson-Diletesso house<br />
also presented a "live" vaudeville revue, the<br />
first in many years for a metropolitan firstrun<br />
showcase. All the effort paid off with<br />
boxoffice gross of 175.<br />
Art Cinema Angel Number 9 (SR);<br />
Bedroom Bedlam (SR) 225<br />
Burnside, Cinema I The Godfather, Part II<br />
(Para), 9th wk 200<br />
Cinema City Challenge to be Free (SR),<br />
3rd wk 125<br />
East Hartford Cinema I ^Teenoge Stepmother<br />
(SR); Dynamite (SR) 150<br />
Four theatres ^The Night Porter (Emb), 2nd wk. .150<br />
Four theatres ^The Stepford Wives (Col) 200<br />
Rivoli The Private Afternoons of Pomelo Mann<br />
(SR); He ond She (SR), 2nd wk 175<br />
Showcase Cinema I Earthquake (Univ), 9th wk. .175<br />
Showcase Cinema II The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB/20th-Fox), 9th wk 160<br />
Showcase Cinema III ^Freebie and the Bean<br />
(Vi^B), 8th wk 130<br />
Showcase Cinema IV Abby (AlP), 3rd wk 150<br />
Three theatres The Front Page (Univ) 250<br />
Webster Phantom of the Paradise (20th-Fox) ... 175<br />
'Strongest Man' Grosses 175;<br />
'Stepford Wives' 150 in Bow<br />
NEW HAVEN—Four new programs, all<br />
a<br />
registering brisk boxoffice response, joined<br />
continuing features for a surprisingly strong<br />
grossing week. Buena Vista's "The Strongest<br />
Man in the World." given a sneak-preview<br />
the week previous, zippwd to a nifty 175.<br />
Columbia's modern-day chiller "The Stepford<br />
Wives" rated 150, L-T's "Bogard"<br />
pulled 135 and "French Blue" on a double<br />
bill scored 130. Still the high mark in town<br />
was "The Godfather, Part^Il" with 200 in<br />
a ninth week at Showcase Cinema I.<br />
Cinemort, Milford Cinema<br />
1 ^The Strongest Man<br />
in the World (BV) 175<br />
Crown French Blue (SR); Not Just Another<br />
Woman (SR) 1 30<br />
Whitney ^The Stepford Wives<br />
. .200<br />
Milford Cinema II,<br />
(Col) 150<br />
Roger Sherman^ Bogard (L-T) 135<br />
Showcase Cinema I The Godfather, Port II<br />
(Para), 9th wk<br />
Showcase Cinemo II The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB/20th-.Fox), 9th wk 185<br />
Showcase Cinema III Murder on the Orient<br />
Express (Para), 4th wk 160<br />
Showcase Cinema IV Eorthquakc (Univ),<br />
9th wk 165<br />
Showcase Cinema V Airport 1975 (Univ),<br />
9th wk 150<br />
York Square Cinema Scenes From a Marriage<br />
(SR), 9th wk 75<br />
Strand in Lowell<br />
Sold to<br />
Developer<br />
LOWELL—The Strand Theatre on<br />
Central<br />
Street has been sold to developer Raymond<br />
A. Carye, who is reportedly considering<br />
rehabilitating the structure for office use.<br />
Christos Katsikos, a spokesman for<br />
Carye's Altid Enterprises in Cambridge, said<br />
there were no definite plans for the structure.<br />
The single-floor, three-story building<br />
was sold to Carye by the First Federal Savings<br />
and Loan Ass'n for a reported ,$50,000.<br />
Carye has considered using the old theatre,<br />
after rehabilitating it, as a new cinemarestaurant-cultural<br />
center. The Strand overlooks<br />
the Pawtucket Canal and abuts land<br />
that will be included in the Rex Lot development<br />
in the Lowell Heritage State Park plan.<br />
What happens to the Strand and the extent<br />
of rehabilitation, will depend on "which<br />
way the economic market" goes, said Katsikos.<br />
Henry Cohan, 75, Dead;<br />
Bridgeport Exhibitor<br />
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.—Henry Cohan,<br />
75, in the entertainment industry all his<br />
life, died recently.<br />
He had managed the Perakos first-run<br />
Beverly Theatre here since 1957, and.<br />
earlier was manager of the Dixwell Theatre,<br />
New Haven (1934-1957). Previously,<br />
he was a vaudeville booker.<br />
Cohan leaves three sons. Dr. Sidney<br />
Cohan, Jack Cohan and Charles Cohan:<br />
three sisters, and several nephews and<br />
nieces. He was a widower.<br />
Burial was in Congregation Adas B'nai<br />
Yeshurim Cemetery, Allingtown, West<br />
Haven.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 NE-1
BOSTON<br />
Joe Testa, sound engineer for Allied Theatres<br />
Equipment Co.. was at Tom Duffy's<br />
Littleton Cinemas doing check-up and maintenance<br />
work on the sound system and Cinenieccanica<br />
projection equipment. Chief projectionist<br />
Dave Fedorchek assisted.<br />
!<br />
Qarl Goldman, executive director of the<br />
Theatre Owners of New England, is<br />
continuing his policy of checking all bills<br />
and petitions submitted at the State House<br />
that might be against the best interests of<br />
exhibition. A petition recently presented by<br />
a Bay State legislator called for the closing<br />
on Sunday of all Beano (bingo) games, bowling<br />
alleys, liquor stores and movie theatres.<br />
Yes. that's right, movie theatres were included<br />
in the "blue" law provision. Goldman<br />
said that opposition is being organized.<br />
Carl Fasick promoted a press luncheon at<br />
the Ritz Carlton for Warner Bros, presentation<br />
"Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins."<br />
Star Mackenzie Phillips appeared prior to<br />
the film's debut at Sack Theatres Savoy<br />
Cinema February 12.<br />
Ed Lider's Central Square Cinema, Cambridge,<br />
is continuing its sensational run of<br />
"King of Hearts" for the fifth year, which<br />
began February 12 . . . The National Theatre<br />
on Tremont Street, originally in the<br />
E.M. Loew's theatre chain, is now operated<br />
by the Boston Center for the Arts. It is<br />
being readied for a $1.5 million remodeling<br />
job made possible by a grant from the<br />
George Robert White Fund here.<br />
Miss Mary E. Connors, former cashier<br />
and assistant manager at Paramount's Portland,<br />
Me., office, died last week at her<br />
home. She was well known to exhibitors,<br />
having worked for RKO-Pathe, M & P<br />
Theatres and America Theatres in earlier<br />
years.<br />
Hatton Taylor, after exiting Jud Parker<br />
Films, is scheduling a short vacation up in<br />
Canada visiting old friends. He will decide<br />
future plans after his return, he confided.<br />
Edward J. Dineen, new director of operations<br />
for Sack Theatres, announces several<br />
new appointments. In keeping with company<br />
policy of promotions from within the<br />
ranks. Douglas A. Kelly has been appointed<br />
manager at the Cheri complex which has<br />
three auditoriums. Kelly, who began his<br />
career with Sack as assistant manager of<br />
the Beacon Hill Theatre in 1973, was then<br />
promoted to assistant manager of the Cheri<br />
and later manager of the Gary. His most<br />
recent position was that of manager at<br />
Music Hall. Sack Theatre staffer Tadeo J.<br />
Goyuk. previously assistant manager at the<br />
Savoy complex, has been named manager at<br />
the Saxon. Goyuk has been with Sack since<br />
1967 at the Cheri complex and the Pi Alley.<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
don't<br />
BlQMlt<br />
miss the famous<br />
fHAWAri] Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
hotels [ j Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI RtEF REEF TOWLHS EDGFWATLK<br />
John J. Rafferty, formerly manager of the<br />
suburban Sack Cinema City in Danvers, has<br />
been named manager of the Gary Theatre.<br />
Hugo A. Ugolini, former assistant manager<br />
at the Beacon Hill, manager of the Gary<br />
and the Cheri. has been named manager of<br />
the Sack Cinema City in Danvers. The theatre<br />
is located in the attractive Liberty Tree<br />
Mall on the North Shore. Ugolini has been<br />
a member of the Sack crew since 1967.<br />
Eugene Tunick was welcomed to Redstone<br />
Theatres with a cocktail party at<br />
Nick's Restaurant. Sumner Redstone invited<br />
the entire office staff as well as branch<br />
managers and district managers from Filmrow.<br />
Among those attending were A. Alan<br />
Friedberg. Sack Theatres; Joe Milaccio.<br />
Warner Bros.; Tom O'Brien, Columbia; Joe<br />
Griffin, United Artists; John Pekos and Bob<br />
Cherin, 20th Century-Fox; Joe Lahey, AIP<br />
and Jack Keegan. Paramount.<br />
The New England premiere of "Funny<br />
Lady." starring Barbra Streisand and Omar<br />
Shariff. will be a charity event on behalf of<br />
the Philoptochos Women for Hellenic College<br />
Tuesday (11) at the Cheri complex.<br />
.Alan Friedberg, head of Sack Theatres; Mrs.<br />
John Pappas, national president of the<br />
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society,<br />
and Mrs. Peter Contas, co-chairman<br />
for the event, made the announcement jointly.<br />
Proceeds from the gala event will aid the<br />
Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek<br />
Orthodox School of Theology. Brookline.<br />
Regular performances for the public start<br />
Wednesday (12).<br />
Don McNally, one of Filmrow's most<br />
popular personalities, reports that his Derby<br />
Port Drive-In in Vermont is ready for the<br />
1975 open-air season. Don said this year is<br />
his 25th anniversary and he is planning<br />
many events and promotions for his patrons<br />
during the season. Derby, Vt., is situated<br />
near the Canadian border.<br />
Ray Anderson, new booking manager at<br />
Cinema Film Buying, Inc., in the Park<br />
Square Building, announces his forthcoming<br />
marriage to Mary Noreen McGonagle of<br />
Roslindale. Mary is a former employee of<br />
the Rialto in Roslindale. The ceremony will<br />
take place at Sacred Heart Church and after<br />
a week's wedding trip in Bermuda, the<br />
couple will make their home in Walpole.<br />
Anderson previously was head booker at<br />
Warner Bros, and at MGM, plus serving as<br />
assistant manager at the Rialto. A native of<br />
Pennsylvania, he was a student at Central<br />
Catholic High and Northeastern University.<br />
After his schooling Ray joined the Air<br />
Force, was named ".'Mrman of the Month"<br />
and managed the base's motion picture theatre<br />
for more than two years. He also worked<br />
for the Army and Air Force Motion Picture<br />
.Service.<br />
Sack's Gary Cinema opened the Boston<br />
run of "Earthquake" February 14. The<br />
Savoy is being equipped with rumbling,<br />
quivering vibrations of the "Sensurround"<br />
system for what is expected to be a long<br />
run of the film in downtown Boston.<br />
Boston moviegoers are in for a real treat<br />
with the coming this month of several films:<br />
"Report to the Commissioner." Wednesday<br />
(5) at the Saxon; "Funny Lady," Wednesday<br />
(12) at the Cheri complex; "Shampoo,"<br />
Wednesday (19) at the Cheri complex; "The<br />
Prisoner of Second .'\venue," Wednesday<br />
(19) at the 57 Cinema; "Tommy," Wednesday<br />
(26) at Beacon Hill Cinema. Continuing<br />
through March are "A Woman Under the<br />
Influence," at the Cheri complex; "Alice<br />
Doesn't Live Here Anymore" at the Beacon<br />
Hill; "Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins"<br />
at the Savoy complex and "Young Frankenstein"<br />
at the Pi Alley Cinema.<br />
Solly Simons, former sales representative<br />
at Columbia, is now retired (and tired of it).<br />
He still appears regularly in and around<br />
Piedmont Street and took off recently for<br />
a week's vacation in Hawaii. This is his third<br />
trip to the islands. Solly confided, and he is<br />
looking forward to seeing friends met on<br />
previous visits.<br />
A. Alan Friedberg, chief operations officer<br />
of Sack Theatres, reported that Harvey Appell<br />
has joined the new distribution company.<br />
Apple Films, as its head executive.<br />
.^ppell said his experience has equipped him<br />
with the knowledge of special handling for<br />
films that call for special promotions, multiple<br />
saturations via television, exploitation<br />
and advertising campaigns, and for youthorient<br />
films. Appell added that the new distribution<br />
company, established by Sack<br />
Theatres, will seek films for the "basic age<br />
group" of 18 to 35. Both Appcll and Millon<br />
Cohen, head film buyer for Sack Theatres,<br />
were off to Hollywood and New York to<br />
confer on new product for the six-state distribution<br />
network. Apple Films will maintain<br />
headquarters in the Park Square Building on<br />
Saint James Avenue here.<br />
MPAA Ratings Not Fair<br />
To Film Content, Says Star<br />
HARTFORD — Bernie Casey, here for<br />
premiere of states rights' "Maurie," does<br />
not feel that the rating code, administered<br />
by the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, is<br />
"realistically reflective of a movie's content."<br />
At a press luncheon, the actor said:<br />
"There's got to be a better method of interpretation<br />
when something like 'Harry &<br />
Tonto.' in which Art Carney travels across<br />
the country with a pet cat, is rated 'R' for<br />
the presence of two words.<br />
"If movies are to contain substance, quality,"<br />
Casey continued, "they must be allowed<br />
a greater rein. Vulgarism, violence, are part<br />
of life it,self, and we can't daintily sidestep<br />
them for the sake of a rating alone. It's not<br />
fair— to the actor and to the audience."<br />
NE-2 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
ai<br />
GROSSED OVER A MILLION<br />
^<br />
TO DATE<br />
HYPE UP YOUR BOXOFFICE!<br />
ANEW<br />
IfAVE IN<br />
rOLISHED<br />
IROTICA."-v./,,y<br />
'A VOYEUR'S<br />
FANTASY<br />
«OME<br />
TRUE...<br />
TARK SEXUALITY OF<br />
VIPRESSIVE QUALITY...<br />
.ND YES, QUANTITY...<br />
ERHAPS THE MOST SEN-<br />
UOUS TREATMENT OF<br />
•N-SCREEN SEX TO DATE...<br />
ALERIEMARRONGETS<br />
r ON, TOGETHER, AND<br />
>LLWAYS...A SEX KIT-<br />
EN WITH CLAWS, WHO<br />
lOESATHERWORKOR<br />
LEASUREWITHADE-<br />
ERMINATION SO FIERCE<br />
lND EFFECTIVE THAT<br />
HE BOYS IN THE FRONT<br />
tow WILL SIT UP AND<br />
lOLLER B/A/GO'If<br />
Bob SalmaggilWINS<br />
"THE FIRST<br />
SEX FILM<br />
ABOUT LOVE."<br />
—Gay Talese<br />
"EUREKA!<br />
THE BEST<br />
AND MOST<br />
IMPORTANT<br />
EROTIC FILM<br />
rVE EVER<br />
SEEN!<br />
IF IT DOESN'T TURN YOU ON,<br />
YOU'VE BEEN EMBALMED<br />
AND DON'T KNOW IT.<br />
IT'S A FILM FOR WIVES,<br />
MISTRESSES AND<br />
FEMINISTS-EVEN<br />
GLORIA STEINEM COULD<br />
GET OFF ON THIS ONE.<br />
THIS IS DEFINITELY THE<br />
FIRST FILM THAT I'D TAKE<br />
MY WIFE TO SEE. IN FACT<br />
IT'S THE SEX FILM I'VE<br />
BEEN WAITING TO SEE! if<br />
AI Goldstein<br />
SCREW<br />
The Husband... The Wife And The EROTIC OBSESSION...<br />
Starring GEORGINA SPELVIN, HARRY REEMS and introducing VALERIE MARRON<br />
Call<br />
EAST COAST<br />
P. O. Box 542<br />
Old Bridge, New Jersey<br />
(201) 679-4141<br />
Tony Aibonese<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3. 1975<br />
PLYMOUTH DISTRIBUTORS<br />
WEST COAST<br />
1800 N. Highland Ave.<br />
Hollywood, California<br />
(213) 461-2868<br />
Carl or Arnie<br />
NE-3
!<br />
1<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
Sckernian-Tolchin Theatres, which recently<br />
took over the Maurice Bailey "W<br />
Theatres, started an ambitious remodeling<br />
program at the first-run Whalley and Whitney.<br />
Initial work encompasses the installation<br />
of new lounge furniture, repainting of<br />
lobbies and interiors and recarpeting.<br />
Area Jchn Ahearn cinemas are pitching<br />
the ad-phrase. "Inflation Busting Admission!'"<br />
Harry Karpman. 67, former<br />
. . .<br />
music librarian for Radio City Music Hall,<br />
New York, and the NBC Symphony Orchestra,<br />
died January 28 at Yale-New<br />
Haven Medical Center. In recent years, he<br />
owned and operated Karpman Realty Co..<br />
Hartford.<br />
The KaU Corp. of South Norwalk.<br />
Conn., has postponed indefinitely plans for<br />
a $l2-million shopping center in East Haven,<br />
New Haven suburb, which was to contain<br />
a twin cinema. The Katz organization<br />
was selected as "preferred developer" of a<br />
20-acre redevelopment parcel in 1972. One<br />
news source said last week that the Katz<br />
company had found it impossible to obtain<br />
sufficient financing or the major retail<br />
tenant vital as the focal point in the shopping<br />
center.<br />
Meanwhile, a K-Mart discount department<br />
store is nearing completion, as focal<br />
point in a $3-miilion shopping center, developed<br />
by other interests, on the site of the<br />
former Post Drive-In Theatre.<br />
Franklin E. Ferguson, the independent<br />
exhibitor, notes an encouraging response lo<br />
an on-going experiment, in which a 99 cents<br />
admission policy is in effect until 7:30 on a<br />
nightly basis, at the Strand, Hamden, and<br />
Strand. Seymour. Playing a reprise of United<br />
Artist's "Mixed Company" in both cinemas,<br />
incidentally, Fergie advertised: "Best Comedy<br />
Since 'Yours. Mine and Ours'!"<br />
The Capitol, Milford. is alert to suburban<br />
drive-time. Scheduling 20th-Fox reissue.<br />
"The Sound of Music" for recent Saturday-<br />
Sunday matinees, the cinema emphasized in<br />
ads: "Ends at 4:20."<br />
Joseph Gelmis, who is film critic for<br />
Newsday, the largest daily newspaper on<br />
Long Island, remarked in an issue of Connecticut<br />
Magazine, published in Stratford:<br />
"Television has the fastest reaction time to<br />
popular success because it can imitate success<br />
more quickly and cheaply than the<br />
movie companies can."<br />
Metropolitan New Haven's traditional<br />
identity as a manufacturing center is changing.<br />
The Greater New Haven Chamber of<br />
nc/i<br />
Theatre<br />
Service<br />
The nation's finest for 40 years<br />
RCA Service Company<br />
A Division of RCA<br />
43 Edword J. Hart Rd.<br />
Liberfy Industrial Pork<br />
Jersey City, N.J. 07305 Phone: (201) 434-2318<br />
Commerce, in a newly-released report, found<br />
that while total manufacturing employment<br />
has dropped (from 47,930 in 1967 to 41.810<br />
in 1974), non-manufacturing jobs have increased<br />
from 98,000 to<br />
121.860. Big gainers<br />
are government and service and non-profit<br />
agencies. Area-wide, the labor force is comprised<br />
of some 365,000 persons, 189,928 of<br />
whom are female.<br />
Cines II, New Haven, brought back UA's<br />
"Tom Sawyer," the late Arthur Jacobs production,<br />
for Saturday-Sunday matinees. .'\dmission<br />
was 99 cents for all seats for all<br />
patrons.<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
John P. Lowe, division manager, and Martin<br />
Malinowski, resident managing director,<br />
Redstone Theatres' Showcase Cinemas<br />
VI, West Springfield, had a strong preopening<br />
ad campaign for AIP's "Abby" . . .<br />
The Allen & Cooley Cinemas II. Springfield,<br />
playing an all-Paramount program on both<br />
screens, came up with a brisk-paced ad-caption:<br />
"A Real Bonanza! Two Movies for the<br />
Price of One in Each Cinema!" On screen<br />
one: "The Apprenticeship of Duddy<br />
Kravitz" and "The Parallax View." On<br />
screen two: "Death Wish" and "Serpico."<br />
Stage/ West, the West Springfield professional<br />
repertory theatre, reports excellent<br />
audience response for a continuing series of<br />
Monday night showings (the theatre is<br />
normally closed Mondays) of vintage Hollywood<br />
classics. .Admission is $1.50 for all<br />
patrons for all seats. A typical booking:<br />
UA's "The African Queen" (1951).<br />
The Redstone Cinemas VI, West Springfield,<br />
are seeking additional artists to display<br />
their works in the lobby. Newspaper<br />
ads include a reference to the lobby availability,<br />
through management arrangement.<br />
Pacific Inl'l booked "Challenge to be<br />
Free," a G-rated release, day-and-date, for<br />
Western Massachusetts premiere into the<br />
Allen & Cooley complex, Springfield, and<br />
Cinemas II, both .Agawam and Springfield.<br />
The film played in Cinema II of all three<br />
situations. The pass list was dropped.<br />
Civic boosters are continuing sporadic efforts<br />
for revitalization of downtown Springfield.<br />
A spokesman noted that while the<br />
area has only one per cent of the city's total<br />
land, that one per cent furnishes 12 per<br />
cent of the total property tax. "It's important<br />
that that tax base be preserved," asserted<br />
Paul J. Greeley, executive vice-president of<br />
the Chamber of Commerce. Redevelopment<br />
and the latter-day trend towards suburban<br />
cinema complex construction have seen<br />
downtown cinemas operational reduced to<br />
one (the Bijou).<br />
Projectionist<br />
Cote Dies<br />
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME.— Edouard<br />
H. Cote, 82, retired Central Theatre<br />
projectionist, died recently.<br />
Conn. Suggests Restriction<br />
On Glass-Walled Buildings<br />
HARTFORD—The State Building Code<br />
Standards Committee has proposed an end<br />
of glass-walled construction, its recommended<br />
changes ruling out the use of glass for<br />
more than half of the wall surface of any<br />
building.<br />
The limitation, a committee spokesman<br />
added, would be applicable only to new<br />
buildings, or to structures targeted for largescale<br />
remodeling.<br />
MAINE<br />
The continuing erratic economy is affecting<br />
business for cinema owners as well as<br />
other components of the Maine commerce.<br />
State Manpower Affairs Commissioner Emi-<br />
Ten Levesque said last week that the unemployment<br />
rate jumped to an alarming 1<br />
per cent for January. Agriculture, which is<br />
a key element in the Pine Tree state, is having<br />
its troubles; potato prices have tumbled<br />
from record highs of last spring, and some<br />
northern Maine farmers complain that they<br />
do not expect to recoup production costs,<br />
much less turn a profit, during 1975. Potato<br />
farming in Maine has been traditionally<br />
called a boom-or-bust enterprise.<br />
Allied Artists booked Maine bow of "The<br />
Dragon Dies Hard." day-and-date, into the<br />
Maine Coast, Ellsworth; State, Farmington;<br />
Cinema, Waterville; and Portland Drive-In.<br />
Scarboro. Free Bruce Lee "lucky coins"<br />
were distributed to all patrons.<br />
Avco Embassy's "The Night Porter"<br />
premiered in Portland at Cinema City<br />
after a large amount of publicity . . . Maine<br />
exhibition continued to report boxoffice response<br />
"well beyond" fondest expectations<br />
for continuing engagements of Paramount's<br />
"The Godfather. Part 11" across the state.<br />
'Texas Massacre' at<br />
Midnight<br />
HARTFORD—Murry Levine, president<br />
of Mini Theatres of Connecticut, booked<br />
Bryanston Pictures' "The Texas Chainsaw<br />
Massacre" for recent Friday and Saturday<br />
midnight showings at his Jerry Lewis Cinema.<br />
Suffield. and Queen Plaza Cinema.<br />
Southington. .'\dmission was 99 cents for<br />
all seats, with advance advertising geared<br />
to the theme, "Bring Along a Friend to<br />
Hold Your Hand!"<br />
'Directors' Classics' Offered<br />
BURLINGTON, VT.—Merrill Jarvis,<br />
president of the Merrill Theatre Corp., in a<br />
unique change-of-pace booking, slotted past<br />
Fellini-Ingmar Bergman directed films into<br />
a "Director's Classics . . . The Best of Fellini<br />
& Bergman." for the Merrill Century<br />
Plaza I-II cinemas.<br />
Xanadu New Trade Name<br />
NEW HAVEN— Xanadu. Inc., 258 College<br />
St., New Haven 06510, filed a trade<br />
name with the Town Clerk's office for<br />
College Street Cinema, the same College<br />
Street<br />
address.<br />
NE-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
.Very<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
—<br />
.Very<br />
.Very<br />
Abe Goss Feels Violence.<br />
Sox Movies Are Sagging<br />
SAIN I lOlIN— IIk lImhiimii nl iItj<br />
New Urunsuick lilni ( I.ismIiciIioi Board,<br />
Abe Goss, feels major motion picture companies<br />
"are swinging away from portraying<br />
excessive violence and sex and are trying<br />
to produce motion pictures which might<br />
be more acceptable." Goss expressed this<br />
belief while addressing a meeting of the<br />
Saint John Kiwanis Club at the Admiral<br />
Beatly Hotel.<br />
Comparing the films classified during the<br />
last two years, Goss said in 1^*73 there<br />
were 108 movies classified as "adult" and<br />
140 as "restricted," whereas in 1974 there<br />
were 113 "adult" and only 112 "restricted."<br />
No one, Goss commented, objects to<br />
'a little bit of spice" but there are some<br />
companies who make movies wholly based<br />
on sex and violence. On the other hand,<br />
he said, there won"t be very many more<br />
general-entertainment feature films because<br />
such films are on TV all the time and<br />
as a result not many people go to theatres<br />
to watch this type fare.<br />
"Film companies are there to make the<br />
buck and they can't do it that way," he<br />
said.<br />
Goss stated that film classification is<br />
"the best method that can be employed.<br />
It's an attempt to help people make their<br />
own decisions, it's the only means we<br />
have. There's nothing else that we can do<br />
about it."<br />
lie said the three classifications— general<br />
ailiili and restricted—are practically the<br />
same all over Canada, although each province<br />
has its own board except for Prince<br />
Edward Island and Newfoundland. These<br />
two provinces accept the certifications by<br />
the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia boards.<br />
Goss, in explaining the three classifications,<br />
said "general" is suitable for all adult<br />
viewing. The "adult" classification suggests<br />
operators arc not required to keep out underage<br />
persons. It's up to the parents to<br />
decide whether they want their children to<br />
see them. "Restricted" films are for persons<br />
over 1 S. Anyone below that age must<br />
be accompanied by a parent or a guardian.<br />
He agreed a lot of people have expressed<br />
iinhappiness with the current trend in films<br />
and also are dissatisfied with the Film<br />
Classification Board. Goss didn't agree with<br />
a questioner that to rate a film as "restricted"<br />
is just a good advertisement for it.<br />
Answering another question, he said it<br />
is a violation to show portions of restricted<br />
films in previews with general<br />
entertainment films.<br />
'Pinocchio' Feature Good<br />
At Matinees, Says K-Tel<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—K.-Tel Motion Pictures<br />
vice-president and general manager, Alan<br />
Cordover, announced the continuing success<br />
of the kiddies matinee feature, "Pinocchio's<br />
Birthday Party." in its latest playoff during<br />
the January 18-19 weekend. A $35,000<br />
gross was generated in the Greater Detroit<br />
area, plus outstate situations in Michigan.<br />
K-Tel has 100 "Pinocchio's Birthday<br />
Party" prints available.<br />
'Dragon Dies Hard,<br />
Draw Excellent'<br />
C.M.G.ARY — February opened with<br />
host of bright spots for exhibitors, including<br />
two new first runs on the scene. "The Trial<br />
.<br />
of Billy Jack" commanded an "excellent"<br />
rating at the North Hill and "The Dragon<br />
Dies Hartl" pulled the same at the Westbrook<br />
3. .Six other films in holdover weeks<br />
were rated "excellent" at the boxoffices.<br />
Calgary Place I The Rolling Stones (Astral),<br />
2nd wk<br />
Fair<br />
Calgary Place 2 Airport 1975 (Univ),<br />
5th wk Excellent<br />
1<br />
Grond 1 ^The Mon With the Golden Gun (UA),<br />
6th wk Good<br />
North Hill— The Trial of Billy Jack jWB) ..Excellent<br />
Odeon Earthquake :Univ), 6th wk<br />
Polace— The bodtather. Port II (Para),<br />
Excellent<br />
6th wk.<br />
Excellent<br />
Palliser Square 1 The Towering Inferno<br />
(WB/BVFD), 5th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Palliser Square 2 Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />
5th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Towne Blue Don't Lie There, Say Something<br />
(Astral), 5th wk Good<br />
Phantom of the Paradise (BVFD),<br />
Uptown 1<br />
5th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Westbrook 3 The Drogon Dies Hord (IFD) . .Excellent<br />
Three Features in Toronto<br />
Gross "Very Good' in Holdovers<br />
TORONTO—Three films were reported<br />
"very good" in holdover weeks here. The<br />
trio included "The Towering Inferno" in a<br />
seventh week, "Amarcord" in a sixth week<br />
and "Young Frankenstein" in a seventh<br />
week. Seven other features ranging from<br />
"Janis" to "The Little Prince" pulled in<br />
"good" grosses according to exhibitors.<br />
Capitol Fine Art Amarcord (IFD), 6th wk. Very Good<br />
Coronet Devil's Female (C-P); The Crazies (F-P) Fair<br />
Eglinton The Little Prince (Para), 7th wk Good<br />
Four theatres The Front Page (Untv), 7th wk. . .Good<br />
Hyland 1 The Front Page (Univ), 7th wk Good<br />
Imperial 6, Hollywood The Godfather, Part II<br />
(Para), 6th wk. Good<br />
Imperial 6, Hollywood The Towering Inferno<br />
(BVFD/WB), 7th wk<br />
Good<br />
International Cinema 'Lacombe, Lucien (BVFD),<br />
3rd wk<br />
Fair<br />
Towne Cinema ^Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />
6th wk<br />
Fair<br />
University The Man With the Golden Gun (UA),<br />
6th wk<br />
Good<br />
Uptown 1 Phantom of the Paradise (BVFD),<br />
7th wk<br />
Good<br />
Uptown 2 Janis (PR), 7th wk Good<br />
Yonge, Donlands llso (C-P); Mon Slavers of the<br />
Amozon (C-P), 2nd wk Good<br />
Yorkl ^Lenny (UA), 7th wk Good<br />
York 2 Emmanuelle (Col), 7th wk Poor<br />
Trial of Billy Jack' Opens<br />
In Edmonton With 'Excellent'<br />
EDMONTON—Nine films, including one<br />
bright opener. "The Trial of Billy Jack,"<br />
scored "excellent" grosses at the cinemas.<br />
Phantom of the Paradise" in a fifth week<br />
pulled the high mark as did "Where the<br />
Red Fern Grows" at Jasper Red and "Airport<br />
1975" in its 15th week at Londonderry<br />
B. The rest were holdovers from the holiday<br />
season still drawing well.<br />
Avenue Eorthquoke (Univ), 6th wk Excellent<br />
Jasper Red Where the Red Fern Grows<br />
(Doty-Dayton), 6th wk Excellent<br />
Londonderry A The Island at the Top of the<br />
World (BV), 6th wk Very Good<br />
Londonderry B Airport 1975 (Univ],<br />
5th wk Excellent<br />
1<br />
Meadowlark Low and Disorder [Astral) Good<br />
Paramount The Godfather, Port II (Para),<br />
6th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Plaza The 1<br />
Rolling Stones (Frontier), 2nd wk. Good<br />
Rialto The Man With 1<br />
the Golden Gun (UA),<br />
6th wk Excellent<br />
Rialto 2 Flesh Gordon (Donton), 6th wk. . .Very Good<br />
Towne Cinema The Triol of Billy Jack (WB) Excellent<br />
Varscono Phantom of the Paradise (BVFD),<br />
5th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Westmount A— The Towering Inferno (WB/BVFD),<br />
5th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Westmount B^ Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />
5th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Trial of Bf<br />
Calgary Grosses<br />
a<br />
3 in Winnipeg Rated 'Excellent';<br />
'Trial' Debut Scores "Very Good'<br />
WINNIPEG—Grosses were mixed with<br />
only holdovers "Freebie and the Bean." "The<br />
Godfather. Part II" and "The Towering Inferno"<br />
showing any real strength. "The<br />
Dove" and "The Odessa File" drew steady<br />
audiences to rate "very good" and "The<br />
Trial of Billy Jack" opened at the Capitol<br />
with a "very good." "Child Under a Leaf"<br />
debuted with a "good" gross at the Northstar<br />
I.<br />
Copitol The Trial of Billy Jock (WB)<br />
Downtown Lusty Tales of Erotomania<br />
. . . .Very Good<br />
(Danton);<br />
The Lay-Out (Danton)<br />
Averoge<br />
Eve Danish Blue (F-P); Red Light Hotel<br />
(C-P)<br />
Average<br />
Garden City Earthquake (Univ), 7th wk. Good<br />
.Average<br />
The Front Page (Univ),<br />
.<br />
7th wk. Garrick<br />
1<br />
Garrick Phontom of the Paradise<br />
.<br />
(BVFD),<br />
6th<br />
II<br />
wk Very Good<br />
Kings ^The Odessa File (Col), 6th wk Very Good<br />
Metropolitan The Godfather, Port II (Para),<br />
7th wk Excellent<br />
NorthStar I Child Under a Leof (AFD) Good<br />
NorthStar II The Dove (Para), 2nd wk, . Good<br />
Odeon The Towering Inferno (WB/BVFD),<br />
6th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Park Carry On Girls (Astral), 2nd wk. ..Very Good<br />
Polo Park ^Freebie ond the Beon (WB),<br />
6th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
'Grizzly Adams' Pulls ''Very Good';<br />
Five Features Rated 'Excellent'<br />
VANCOUVER—"The Life and Times of<br />
Grizzly Adams," Sun International release,<br />
scored an unusual record in a four-house<br />
multiple, including the Eraser, by pulling<br />
"very good" through the third week. The<br />
four-wall production was held over for a<br />
fourth week. "The Trial of Billy Jack" was<br />
excellent in a second week as was "Scenes<br />
From a Marriage." Three others were rated<br />
"excellent" in holdover weeks: "The Towering<br />
Inferno," "The Godfather, Part 11" and<br />
"Earthquake."<br />
Bay ^The Front Page (Univ), 6th wk. Above Average<br />
Denman Place Janis (PR), 3rd wk Good<br />
Downtown ^Freebie and the Bean (WB),<br />
7th wk Very Good<br />
Duntxir Scenes From a Marriage (PR),<br />
2nd wk Excellent<br />
Fine Arts The Trial of Billy Jock [WB),<br />
2nd wk Excellent<br />
Fraser The Life and Times of Grizzly Adorns<br />
(PR), 3rd wk Very Good<br />
Odeon Emmonuelle (Col), 7th wk Average<br />
Orpheum The Godfather, Port II (Para),<br />
7th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Park ^Eorthquoke (Univ), I 7th wk Excellent<br />
Stanley ^The Towering Inferno (WB/BVFD),<br />
7th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Varsity ^Amarcord (PR), 8th wk Very Good<br />
Vogue Holiday on Buses (Astral) Fair<br />
Canadian Hall of Fame Is<br />
To Open in New Brunswick<br />
MONCTON, N.B.—Entertainment personalities<br />
who were born in Canada or<br />
later made the country their home will be<br />
honored in a Canadian Show Business Hall<br />
of Fame, to be established in this region<br />
early in June. A spokesman said that the<br />
project is to be patterned along the lines<br />
of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville,<br />
and the Film Hall of Fame, Hollywood,<br />
the exhibits hopefully including<br />
actual Oscars and Emmys won by Canadians.<br />
It is noted that Canadians who went on<br />
to considerable attention included the late<br />
Louis B. Mayer, who headed the MGM<br />
Studios in Culver City, Calif.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975 K-1
CALGARY<br />
Qy<br />
Davis, International Film Distributors<br />
branch manager, and Don Menzies,<br />
district manager for Famous Players, took<br />
time off from their regular duties to attend<br />
the annual exhibitors" convention in<br />
Vancouver February 8-10. They report a<br />
very successful gathering. A bout with the<br />
flu prevented Randy Archibald of Cranbrook,<br />
B.C., from attending the conclave.<br />
The Canadian premiere of "Don't Turn<br />
the Other Cheek" was held at the Grand<br />
2 here Thursday, February 6. This comedy,<br />
rated "adult," starred Eli Wallach and Lynn<br />
Redgrave ... In its "All-Time Classic<br />
Series," which offers Charlie Chaplin<br />
movies, the Roxy in Edmonton presented<br />
two screenings of "The Gold Rush" Sunday,<br />
February 9.<br />
Walter DuPerrier's friends will be pleased<br />
to know that he has returned to work, currently<br />
on a half-day schediile . . Sponsored<br />
.<br />
by the Lethbridge Public Library and the<br />
Women's Place, the film "Your Move" was<br />
shown February 5 in the library theatre<br />
gallery. The picture, dealing with women's<br />
involvement in sports, was open to the general<br />
public at no admission charge.<br />
National Film Board offices here were<br />
accepting submissions on women's films to<br />
be used as TV fillers. The project, supported<br />
by the NFB, had as its objective the<br />
production of a collection of women-oriented<br />
fillers that involve skilled professionals<br />
with trainees. The films are to be produced<br />
locally and it is hoped they will show<br />
the humor and sensibilities of Canadian<br />
womanhood. Scripts or outlines of the proposed<br />
filler, a list of crew members, a list<br />
of resources (both available and required),<br />
as well as a list of potential outlets, were<br />
to be submitted. Should there be sufficient<br />
local response to this project, a workshop<br />
will be conducted to assist in the production<br />
of the local and district films.<br />
The Calgary Film Society, in its "Classic<br />
Film Series," February 10 offered a<br />
film that was made in Japan in 1961 —<br />
"Yojimbo." The picture was directed by<br />
Akira Kurosawa and starred Toshiro Mifune.<br />
The story involves two warring factions<br />
in a village and runs the gamut of<br />
murder, mayhem and treachery. Admission<br />
was by season membership.<br />
A free course on Indian films is being offered<br />
by the University of Calgary at Educational<br />
Building 384 on the campus. The<br />
Indian Film Forum is held on intermitteni<br />
Wednesday nights. Already shown in the<br />
series are "The Indian Speaks," "Pikangikum"<br />
and "The People at Dipper." Ihc<br />
course continues until month's end . .<br />
.<br />
The Edmonton Film Society showed a romantic<br />
drama February 10 in the Tory<br />
Theatre on the University of Alberta campus.<br />
"Kings Row" starred Robert Cimiming><br />
and Ann Sheridan. February 12, in the<br />
science-fiction series, the society screened<br />
the H. G. Wells classic "Things to Come."<br />
This film, made in 1936, starred Raymond<br />
Massey and tells of the end of civilization<br />
through a world war and then the regeneration<br />
of mankind through science. The<br />
film was presented in the Tory Lecture Theatre<br />
and the showing was open to members<br />
only.<br />
The Alberta Censor Board had a very<br />
busy time in January—40 features were<br />
viewed and classified. Eight were rated<br />
"family." Of these, two were Germanlanguage<br />
motion pictures, one South Afri<br />
can and one French-Italian. Only two of the<br />
40 pictures required warnings: Warner<br />
Bros.' "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"<br />
must carry the advertising caption "coarse<br />
language" and "The Nickel Ride" (Bellevuc<br />
Films) must advise of "violence and coarse<br />
language."<br />
Films were used, with some slides, by<br />
representatives of the federal department<br />
of consumer and corp)oratc affairs, technical<br />
advisory services, in presenting a lecture at<br />
the Lethbridge Community College. Included<br />
in the short course was registration<br />
with the department, terms, fees, marking<br />
requirements, infringement of copyright,<br />
industrial design, trademarks and patents.<br />
This proved to be a valuable program for<br />
aspiring inventors in the district.<br />
Ed McMullan Is Investing<br />
In Films for U.S. Firm<br />
VANCOUVER—Edmund G.<br />
McMullan,<br />
Vancouver accountant, has just signed a<br />
long-term agreement with a U.S. company<br />
that will distribute films in which he invests.<br />
The firm also will select properties for his<br />
investment.<br />
"I'm dealing with the U.S., which you<br />
have to do because the object is to see the<br />
pictures on the screen," said McMullan.<br />
"If you're going to build a motion picture<br />
industry in Canada, Ireland or whatever,<br />
certain basic elements are necessary. One<br />
of them is distribution. If you don't have<br />
distribution in the U.S., you're dead in<br />
the water."<br />
McMullan charges that Canadian filmmakers<br />
"are crazy to stick their heads in<br />
the sand and talk about making movies that<br />
don't get shown or are just seen on Canadian<br />
theatre screens."<br />
The Vancouver Sun's Les Wedman interviewed<br />
McMullan, ^8, president of PG<br />
Professional Group Services, a management<br />
consulting firm based in West Vancouver<br />
and which also has offices in Los Angeles.<br />
Said Wedman in a recent article: "He's<br />
not star-struck. In fact, he's almost shy,<br />
with a slight stammer that takes him a<br />
little longer in explaining the well-thoughtout<br />
role he is playing in movies. 'I'm not a<br />
motion picture man— just a money man. I<br />
stay away from the artificial world connected<br />
with movies,' he said. With him,<br />
movies are strictly dollars and cents.<br />
"Of course he doesn't invest his own<br />
money in films, although about $2 million<br />
has come through McMullan to produce<br />
four films, two of them right here.<br />
These were Jack Darcus' Wolfpen Principle'<br />
and Bob Elliott's 'The Inbreaker.' The<br />
others were done in Ireland— 'Horowitz in<br />
Dublin,' a comedy about a New York<br />
Jewish cop visiting Dublin, and 'Once Upon<br />
a Time,' a love story done with John Derek.<br />
"In the case of Darcus and Elliott, neither<br />
one has made any money from their productions.<br />
But McMullan claims his investors<br />
have made money on them and his major<br />
but so far anonymous distributor in the<br />
U.S. has agreed to move the films 'although<br />
they realh didn't want to.'<br />
"McMullan's interest in the motion picture<br />
industry, he said, 'was brought to my<br />
door by clients.' His clients mostly are<br />
doctors and dentists and top-earning people—including<br />
Canadian athletes—looking<br />
to defer some of their taxes and make investment<br />
that will produce earnings for<br />
them. McMullan declares that he doesn't<br />
invest in films 'as a tax dodge' and he siays<br />
away from gimmicks and schemes that<br />
benefit the people who develop them rather<br />
than those who become involved.<br />
"Everybody has to pay their taxes eventually,<br />
he said. His job is to spread the tax<br />
load and make sure his clients make more<br />
money than they pay out.<br />
"Even when Ottawa was offering only a<br />
60 per cent write-off on capital costs for<br />
those investing in films, McMullan wasn'.<br />
hard-pressed to find money to put into<br />
movies. Now that it's 100 per cent, he<br />
figures it will be an even greater incentive.<br />
"What he does is to 'cost a project' and<br />
investors can put up all they wish to invest<br />
or 25 per cent with monthly payments<br />
to complete the balance. Meanwhile, PG<br />
Group Services carries the rest of the debt<br />
at the going interest rate. The idea is,<br />
though, that investors will be gettting back<br />
more money than they are paying into the<br />
company."<br />
North Hill Cinerama Hit<br />
By 'Brown Bag' Bandit<br />
CALGARY—The North Hill Cinerama<br />
in Calgary was held up and robbed of approximately<br />
$600 Friday, February 7. by a<br />
lone bandit. The man, who appeared to be<br />
35 to 40 years old, approached the cashier<br />
with a brown paper bag over his hand and<br />
demanded the money on hand.<br />
One report had a gun barrel pointed out<br />
of the end of the bag but another report<br />
said that the man "claimed" to have a gun.<br />
The theft took place about 9:30 p.m. and<br />
city police were notified immediately. To<br />
date no arrests have been made.<br />
K-2 BOXOFFICE :: March 3, 1975
TCosygin' Filming in B.C.<br />
Spawns Some Disharmony<br />
VANCOUVER— •Kosygin Is Cominghas<br />
gone—but the bickering which stiirteu<br />
here the wcei< before Christmas is still going<br />
on! According to press reports, Jerry Bick.<br />
the producer of the film, took time off<br />
from the last throes of "manufacturing"<br />
the George Segal starrer to make some<br />
observations on the local scene.<br />
Said Bick: "Although some people realK<br />
were nice and went far out of their wa\.<br />
generally speaking, we found a complete<br />
lack of cooperation at every level."<br />
On Bick's say-so, commented one newspaper,<br />
two major film companies that might<br />
have come here will stay away.<br />
"There won't be a regular film industrv<br />
here until the province hires a film commissioner<br />
to go out and hustle on behalf<br />
of British Columbia," Bick added. He observed<br />
that one of the "most difficult<br />
things<br />
the moviemakers had to swallow was the<br />
reluctance of MOT inspectors to allow the<br />
film company to make full use of a helicopter<br />
in all the ways they wanted," even<br />
though Bulldog has $21) million in insurance<br />
and the chopper outfit has established a<br />
legitimate record for derring-do, including<br />
the feat of flying in a massive air-conditioning<br />
unit and installing it on the roof of<br />
a west end apartment.<br />
Two of the grubbiest rips, according to<br />
Bick, included the move by the West Vancouver<br />
municipality to collect a business<br />
license fee and the Kits district fun-andgames<br />
with a landlord who charged the<br />
company $1,500 for the use of a suite.<br />
The crimch came when the crew arrived on<br />
the scene and the landlord demanded an<br />
other $1,200 so they could go through the<br />
lobby to get to their $1,500 suite.<br />
George Segal hosted a cast-and-crew<br />
party at Paddys to celebrate the fact that<br />
he was able to "limp out of town," the newspapers<br />
reported.<br />
Cinema Is Hit by Looters<br />
With 'Quake' Under Way<br />
From Mideastern Edition<br />
COLUMBUS—While patrons at the University<br />
City Cinema were trembling from<br />
the Sensurround effects of "Earthquake,"<br />
bandits were giving the<br />
theatre's employees<br />
a shakedown. Three men armed with pistols<br />
tied up three staffers and fled with a reportedly<br />
large but undetermined amount of<br />
loot at 11:15 p.m. just as the 17-year-old<br />
ticket-seller, Debbie Szulewski, was walking<br />
out of the office.<br />
The robbers shoved Ms. Szulewski back<br />
inside and confronted assistant manager<br />
James Cotter, 26, and Paul Farabee, 19, a<br />
theatre employee. The men were tied to<br />
chairs with belts and ties, while the girl<br />
was tied and left on the floor.<br />
TTie bandits rifled<br />
the open safe and then<br />
fled with the cash.<br />
Detectives said the house was crowded<br />
with people who were "trembling from the<br />
vibrations of the soundtrack."<br />
Sim's "The Outer Space Connection"<br />
has opened in the Phoenix area.<br />
Ontario Censor Donald Sims Says<br />
Today's Films Are Too Violent<br />
By J.<br />
W. AGNEW<br />
TORONTO—F'ilm sex and violence always<br />
have received criticism from many<br />
quarters and only recently<br />
stricter regulations<br />
against these elements<br />
have been introduced<br />
by the NBC-<br />
TV net work. The significance<br />
of this move<br />
was discussed during<br />
a recent interview<br />
which this Boxofficf.<br />
reporter had with<br />
Donald Sims, newly<br />
Doii^ild Sims<br />
appointed chief film<br />
censor for the province of Ontario, and with<br />
W, A. Watt, chief inspector of theatres for<br />
the province.<br />
Radio-TV Career<br />
Donald Lang Sims certainly is best recognized<br />
across Canada as Don Sims, because<br />
of his long career as a radio and TV personality.<br />
He began as a radio singer in the<br />
early 1930s. Four years later he was an announcer<br />
responsible for "air copy" at<br />
CK.LW in Windsor. Ont. From there he<br />
went to WMSL in Decatur, Ala., and in<br />
1942 he joined the CBC staff in this city<br />
where, except for a brief 18-month period<br />
that began nine years later, he was employed<br />
until the censor appoininicnt late in 1974.<br />
Oddly enough. Sims became most closely<br />
associated in this area through "What's My<br />
Beef?", a 15-minute "on-the street" radio<br />
show which ran for more than four years<br />
in the late '40s. Earlier he traveled with the<br />
Coca-Cola Victory Parade across Canada,<br />
entertaining members of the armed services<br />
and war-plant workers. Sims covered four<br />
royal tours, was involved with three shows<br />
concerning the St. Lawrence Seaway opening<br />
and in 1960 he completely organized and<br />
hosted a late-night radio shows which is<br />
still on the air. His one daughter works<br />
with the film industry in the U.S.<br />
'Happy With Job'<br />
The quostion-and-answer session<br />
follows:<br />
Q. How do you like your new appointment?<br />
A. I am very happy with the job. For<br />
the first time in 40 years, I am not conscious<br />
of the clock. You see, every day for 40<br />
years in broadcasting, every effort was directed<br />
toward being in a studio at a certain<br />
time, starting a program at a specific time<br />
and watching a clock for the total duration<br />
of that program to the matter of seconds<br />
and one does not realize it until one leaves<br />
that kind of pressure. You see, if I am five<br />
minutes early here or five minutes late,<br />
there really is not too much of a problem,<br />
so that pressure is off. There are other pressures,<br />
of course, on a day-to-day basis which,<br />
with the help of a competent staff, I am<br />
able to cope with. It is a real challenge and<br />
I am enjoying it.<br />
Q. Is there going to be more censorship?<br />
A. I wish I could answer that but at this<br />
point 1 am trying again to get the tenor of<br />
public opinion and to read from many<br />
things that are happening what course society<br />
is taking. I certainly believe we have<br />
gone as far as we can go on the question<br />
of violence and sex. Violence is of great<br />
concern to me. I think there is much too<br />
much violence and I would hope that the<br />
industry realizes it and will make my job<br />
easier. I do see that one major American<br />
network already has taken steps to deal with<br />
violence and sex and. ot course, that is one<br />
indicator we will be watching very closely.<br />
More Respon.se<br />
Cited<br />
Q. What about "Hmmanuelle?"<br />
A. 1 think the board's action on "Emmanuellc"<br />
has brought more response than<br />
any other picture for some time and I thinkit<br />
is fair to say that 75 to 80 per cent supported<br />
the board's decision. I think the last<br />
film that brought any significant mail was<br />
"Blazing Saddles." which perhaps should<br />
have been classified "restricted" rather than<br />
"adult." I think this is another indication<br />
that society is perhaps changing its attitudes<br />
and wants to go the other way. Maybe the<br />
pendulum has begun to swing. The danger,<br />
of course, is that we overreact and go loo<br />
far in<br />
the other direction.<br />
J. Do you think there are going to be<br />
more family-type pictures?<br />
Improving Product<br />
A. 1 don't think we will go back entirely<br />
to family pictures but the industry certainly<br />
could, as a whole, improve the product to<br />
the point of less need for classification. It<br />
seems to me that there is much in terms of<br />
production that presents sex in a sleazy, perverted<br />
and vulgar manner. Of course there<br />
is a way of presenting it with quality but I<br />
haven't seen too much of that yet. Coming<br />
back to violence again, I guess this is a violent<br />
and permissive society and the screen is<br />
a reflection of that. But, as I mentioned<br />
earlier, I think society has had enough.<br />
Q. What, really, is the function of the<br />
theatres branch?<br />
A. First, to approve building plans for<br />
theatres and any alterations, plus a rigid<br />
program of inspection of the theatres showing<br />
standard films to ensure the safety of<br />
the public. Secondly, to censor or classify<br />
films and advertising related to them. It is<br />
my opinion that the first one is the most<br />
important and there are many stories down<br />
through the years which, while not receiving<br />
press coverage to the extent that censorship<br />
problems did. nevertheless commanded<br />
changes to the action which now makes<br />
Ontario perhaps one of the safest places as<br />
far as theatre attendance is concerned.<br />
There is a scene in "The Towering Inferno"<br />
at the top of a building where an<br />
emergency exit was cemented by accident<br />
(Continued on page K-4)<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3. 1975 K-3
. . The<br />
—<br />
y ANCOUy ER<br />
^ogue manager Johniiv Bernard is oft on<br />
his regular midw'ntcr holiday—a week<br />
in sunny Reno. And speaking of Reno, a<br />
printer's typo really made the lead feature<br />
on the Rembrandt's nostalgia program<br />
"Flying Down to Reno." starring Fred<br />
Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The companion<br />
feature was W. C. Fields in "You Can't<br />
Cheat an Honest Man." Rounding out the<br />
weekend was a special midnight program<br />
of W. C. Fields classics, "Poppy" and "Tilly<br />
& Gus." (Editor's Note: <strong>Boxoffice</strong> hastens<br />
to point out that the "Reno" blooper was in<br />
an ad appearing in a British Columbia newspaper—<br />
just so readers won't give credit<br />
where credit shouldn't be extended.)<br />
Famous Players theatres had a weekend<br />
matinee blitz featuring Paramount's "Black<br />
Beauty" in no less than 14 movie houses<br />
throughout the province, including the Park<br />
Royal, West Vancouver; Paramount, New<br />
Westminster, and Lougheed Mall, Bumaby<br />
. . . Famous also opened its third drive-in<br />
for the 1975 season—the Delta Richmond<br />
which featured the restricted bill of "Loving<br />
and Laughing" and "Clockwork Banana."<br />
Elsewhere in the neighborhoods, the<br />
Richmond Square and the Lougheed Drivein<br />
featured a double bill of the locally made<br />
"Shanks" and "Phase IV" . Dolphin<br />
had a first-run program of "The Death<br />
Makers" and "Nearest and Dearest" . . .<br />
The Hollywood broke into regular film fare<br />
on a Sunday with a special German program<br />
of "Jonathan, Oh Jonathan" and "Der<br />
Vogelhaendler."<br />
Max Kandel, president of Consolidated<br />
Theatre Services, spent a couple of days at<br />
Victoria Shipping organizing the shipment<br />
of most companies' trailers to the Calgary<br />
branch, which is shipping trailers for the<br />
British Columbia territory from that city.<br />
Companies moving to Calgary include Ambassador,<br />
United Artists, Columbia, Universal,<br />
Frontier, Paramount and Warner<br />
Bros. Starting February 10, trailers were<br />
mailed from Calgary to theatres here along<br />
with the advertising.<br />
Your correspondent has been lining up a<br />
list of industry pioneers in British Columbia<br />
for Ms. Ro.xanne Glasberg of La Cinematheque<br />
Quebecoise in Montreal. In response<br />
to a query concerning early movies<br />
in the Yukon, we received this reply: "During<br />
the gold rush of 1898, Dawson City,<br />
Yukon Territory, had motion pictures operating<br />
at a time when the projected movie<br />
was only three years old. There was evi-<br />
CINERAMA IS IN<br />
SHOW BUSINESS IN<br />
HAWAII TOO.<br />
When you come to Waikiki,<br />
Bll®glA'<br />
'^°""* "^'^5 ^^^ famous<br />
iHAWAMi Don Ho Show. . . at<br />
^:n^ Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.<br />
IN WAIKIKI REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER<br />
djnce that the films were brought into Dawson<br />
regularly by an itinerant film salesman<br />
but. although his initials were H.W., we<br />
cannot be sure whether or not his name<br />
was Harry Woolfe."<br />
Harry, who wound up his career in the<br />
film industry after almost a half-century of<br />
continuous service as manager of the local<br />
branch of United Artists, is still active,<br />
working with Dave Fairleigh and Dominion<br />
Sound. Also retired but still active are J.<br />
Howard Fletcher, the Dalgleishes (Earle<br />
and Gordon), Maynard Joiner, Wally Hamilton,<br />
Marvin Thoreau and Ivan Ackery.<br />
Still punching the time clock are silent-day<br />
veterans such as George Hislop, Bill Gillespie,<br />
your correspondent and Myron Mc-<br />
Leod. Second generation veterans who are<br />
Canadian Picture Pioneers are Gerry Sutherland,<br />
Ed Bickle and Harold Warren.<br />
Mid-February brought some of the worst<br />
snow conditions in local history. Over 50<br />
inches fell on the Eraser Canyon and Hope-<br />
Princeton highways in two days. The Canyon<br />
Highway was closed February 1 1 (and<br />
still closed three days later), with trucks<br />
carrying film back to this city stuck at<br />
Boston Bar or held up at other interior<br />
points. Loomis Carriers, which trucks film<br />
to the interior, had so many trucks either<br />
immobilized by snow or broken down that<br />
it had to cancel trips February 13. Victoria<br />
Shipping had to resort to the buses, which<br />
were still operating over the Hope-Princeton,<br />
even though the road was one-way in<br />
many places.<br />
Over two feet of snow fell in Squamish<br />
in 12 hours but Ray Manzer, who was delayed<br />
a day in getting to town for his next<br />
week's programs, said the news wasn't all<br />
bad. They're a hardy lot in Squamish and<br />
so many people waded through the drifts<br />
for a beer and/ or a movie that he played<br />
"The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" to<br />
three full houses February 12. after a<br />
smashing opening for the picture in the<br />
middle of the snow storm, bearing out Jack<br />
Wasserman's line that "nothing, but nothing,<br />
will keep the public away from something<br />
it wants to see."<br />
Film Officials in Ontario<br />
Act as Theatre Safeguard<br />
and left<br />
(Continued from page K-3)<br />
because of hurry for an opening or<br />
whatever. Would you believe me if I told<br />
you that just before Christmas one of our<br />
inspectors tried an exit door, couldn't open<br />
it. checked the outside and indeed found<br />
that just within the 24-hour period before<br />
his visit it had been cemented along the<br />
bottom by a well-meaning repairman who<br />
had been hired to fill cracks in the wall. etc.<br />
Theatres in some other provinces. I believe,<br />
come under the fire marshal but theatres<br />
in the province of Ontario are under the<br />
supervision and inspection of this branch<br />
and, of course, that is a continual operation.<br />
Constant vigilance on the part of our inspection<br />
staff goes on seven days a week.<br />
365 days a >ear. to ensure that accidents of<br />
•hi<br />
h'pe do not >?':'.ur.<br />
(^. (To Watt) And you have a story?<br />
A. The reluctance of a minority to comply<br />
readily to simple regulations as to public<br />
safety has increased the workload of the<br />
theatre manager. We often hear of the<br />
younger work force not taking their responsibilities<br />
seriously. On visiting theatres one<br />
is prompted to disagree with this opinion.<br />
Young f>eople working weekends and odd<br />
hours, in most cases, offer the theatre patron<br />
excellent service. Whole-hearted cooperation<br />
of all theatre f>ersonnel has made it possible<br />
for this branch to maintain an enviable record<br />
in public safety.<br />
Q. (To Sims) What do you think about<br />
censorship on TV?<br />
A. I am sorry to see some of the things<br />
that are happening on TV which go into the<br />
home without parental supervision. Some<br />
stations do indeed have a good warning<br />
system about the films being shown but I<br />
am afraid that there are others who. in<br />
prime time, run programs which all too often<br />
do not have sufficient information as to violence,<br />
as one example. Contrast that with<br />
the Theatres Act of this province, which<br />
demands that all theatres show the classification<br />
of "restricted" or "adult" and in<br />
some cases warnings as to language or<br />
scenes which may be offensive to some<br />
people.<br />
I have said this before but I will say this<br />
again. Bill, NBC has made a move already<br />
to deal with violence. You have a story in<br />
front of you from the January 7 edition of<br />
the Globe and Mail which focuses on that<br />
and it is my opinion that not only will the<br />
other networks follow but indeed we in<br />
Canada will benefit from these moves.<br />
I have had a very good relationship with<br />
the industry and they have been most understanding<br />
as I have assumed this new role.<br />
For the most part the major producers, I<br />
believe, are doing their best to upgrade the<br />
quality of the product. I believe they have<br />
had their best year in terms of boxoffice<br />
since the late '40s or '50s and that will mean,<br />
perhaps, more money for better pictures.<br />
I have been intrigued with the three major<br />
disaster pictures which opened the fall<br />
and Christmas seasons and I enjoyed every<br />
one of them because of the ingenuity required<br />
to produce them. But I could not<br />
help thinking that we have emptied the<br />
747Bs with "Airport 1975," with "Earthquake"<br />
we started to drive the people out of<br />
Los Angeles and California and with "The<br />
Towering Inferno" we are emptying the<br />
high-rise buildings. I hasten to tell you that<br />
I will fly 747Bs, I still visit Los Angeles (I<br />
have a daughter there) and I live in a highrise<br />
building on the 17th floor.<br />
Recycling Former Movie House<br />
From Mideastern Edition<br />
WYANDOTTE, MICH. — The Trenton<br />
Theatre, built in the early 1930s, will become<br />
a showcase for a local little-theatre<br />
group, according to a civic official. Reopening<br />
of the shuttered film house is slated for<br />
late spring.<br />
K-4 BOXOFFICE :: March 3. 1975
BOXOFFMCE BOOKMN€UiDE<br />
An Interpretive analyili of lay and trodepreii revlewi. Running time i.« In porenttieiei Th» plu! and minui<br />
signs indicote degree of merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly, (gj is tor CinemoScope; E> Ponavislon;<br />
T Techniroma; 8 Other Anomorphic processes. Symbol VJ denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award; All<br />
films ore in color except ttiosc indicated bv (b&w) for block & wliite. Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings:<br />
£ — Generol Audiences; P&^AII ages admitted (parental guidance suggested); Rj — Restricted, with<br />
persons under 17 not odmitted unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian; X—Persons under 17 not<br />
admitted. National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures (NCOMP) rotings: A1 — Unobjectionable for General<br />
Patronage; A2— Unobjectionable for Adults or Adolescents; A3—Unobjectionable for Adults; A4— Morol'.v<br />
Unobjcctionoble for Adults, with Reservotions; B—Objectionable in Part for AJI; C—Condemned. Broadcasting<br />
ond Film Commission, Nationo' Council of Churches (BFC). For listings by compony, see FEATURE<br />
CHART.<br />
12eview digest<br />
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />
Very Good; — Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. in the summary - is rated 2 pluses, — os 2 minuses<br />
E<br />
«S • c s — -S—<br />
aS<br />
<
REVIEW DIGEST<br />
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX Good; ^ Good; — Fair; - Poor; — Very Poor. In the suminarv +' is rated 2 pluses, = os 2 minuses
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MISCELLANEOUS<br />
Rel. Date<br />
Rel. Date<br />
Rel. Date<br />
AMBASSADOR RELEASING STUART DUNCAN<br />
LIBERT FILMS, INT'L<br />
©Funny Car Summer (SS) . Sept 74 ©Let's Go for Broke<br />
©My Brother Has Bad Dreams<br />
©Free as the Wind (84) D . . Oct 74<br />
(90) Sus.. Jan 75<br />
©On the Line (90) Doc . 74 ELLMAN FILM ENT.<br />
Marli.'na Liistic, Paul Vincent<br />
©Threshold: A Blue Angel's<br />
©Bizarre Devices (SO) ..C. Aug 74 ©Satan's Children (87) Ac. Jan 75<br />
Experience (93) June 75 ©Throw Out the Anchor<br />
©Willie & Scratch (89) W.. Jan 75<br />
AMERICAN FILMS LTD.<br />
(85) C. Sept 74 Claudia Jennings<br />
©How Come<br />
©Yessongs<br />
Nobody's on<br />
©The AC/DC Caper<br />
©Captive<br />
Our<br />
Female<br />
Side? (84) Sept 74<br />
(93) D .<br />
(88) C-D..Feb75<br />
Adam Roarke<br />
Kaye Stevens. Gav Perkins<br />
©No ENTERTAINMENT VENTURES<br />
Place to Hide (84) Dec 74<br />
©Stcvie, Samson & Delilah<br />
©Johnny Firecloud<br />
Sylvester Stallone, Antony Page<br />
D . .<br />
(88) OD. .Feb75<br />
©The Prisoners (88) Apr 75<br />
Steve Hawkes<br />
FACES I NTT.<br />
©Stranger at Home (95)<br />
©Treasure of the Emerald Cave<br />
©A Woman Under ti>e Influence<br />
(92) 0D..Feb75<br />
AMERICAN FILM THEATRE<br />
(160) D.. Nov 74 ©A Gentle Rape (92) (?1 D.. Feb 75<br />
©Galileo (145) (g Hi.. Jan 75 Oena Rowlands, Peter Falk<br />
Stephen Boyd, Fernando Rey<br />
©Jacques Brel is Alive and Well<br />
and Living in Paris<br />
FANFARE<br />
LIMA PRODUCTIONS<br />
©Mother Courage<br />
SViolated<br />
©Incest on Father's Night<br />
(90) Sus.. Sep 74<br />
©The Man in the Glass Booth ©Sheha (90) Sus. Oct 74 L-T<br />
©The<br />
FILMS<br />
Maids (95)<br />
(Formerly "Persecution")<br />
©God Damn Dr. Shagetz<br />
Glenda Jackson. Susannah York<br />
....Ho.<br />
Lana Turner. Trevor Howard<br />
James Reach. Mlchele<br />
©In Celebration<br />
Marsh<br />
(131)<br />
©Run, Angel, Run<br />
©Bogard<br />
Alan Bales<br />
SE' Lollipop<br />
FILM-MAKERS INT'L<br />
HOWARD MAHLER<br />
APRIL FOOLS FILMS<br />
©A Country Mile Nov 74 ©The Black Dragon<br />
©Pictures at an Exhibition<br />
TED<br />
(95) Mus..0ct74 FILM VENTURES MANN<br />
IMTT.<br />
©Lifeguard<br />
Emerson. Lake & Palmer<br />
©Father Jackleg (97) ..C. Aug 74<br />
©Fantastic Planet Jan 75 Jack Palance<br />
MANSON DISTRIBUTING<br />
©Go For Broke (93) . Sept 74 ©Cycles South (91)<br />
ATLAS FILMS<br />
Ad-Ac . Nov 74<br />
Mark Damon. John Ireland<br />
Don Marshall, Vaughn Brerly<br />
©Crypt of the Living Dead<br />
©Rebel (84) Ac Oct 74 ©Jessie's Girls W. Feb 75<br />
(81) H».. Mark Damon<br />
Sondra Ciirrle. Rod Cameron<br />
©Stamping Ground (83) D .<br />
AUDUBON FILMS<br />
FREEWAY FILMS<br />
MAYFAIR FILM GROUP<br />
©That'll<br />
BL'Image Sept 74 ©High Be the Day<br />
School Fantasies<br />
©Blood (90)<br />
Qunn (95) Ac. (70) Sex C. .Jan 75<br />
C-O..Nov74<br />
David Fs^e^.<br />
©Night of the Executioners ..Ac. Larry Bamhonse,<br />
Ringo Starr<br />
Rene Bond<br />
©Let<br />
©Mahler<br />
Me Love You D.. Feb 75<br />
Sex D .<br />
Robert<br />
BIG HORN<br />
GENERAL FILM Powell.<br />
CORP.<br />
Georglna Hale<br />
©The Centerfold Girls<br />
©Lure of the North<br />
MOONSTONE PRODUCTIONS<br />
(92) Sus. Aug 74 "^Gemini Affair .<br />
JOSEPH BRENNER<br />
Andrew Prlne. Tiffany Boiling ©Candy Tangerine Man<br />
©Torso (90) D.. Nov 74 ©Tlie Bmny Caper (90) C . 74 ©Mean<br />
Suzy Kendall<br />
Christina Hart, Jane Anthony<br />
©The Winners (95) D . ©The Zebra Killer (90) D. Aug 74 MONUMENT FILMS<br />
(Hevleived as "My Way")<br />
Austin Stoker<br />
©Hindered (96) 0.. Jan 75<br />
Joe Stewardson<br />
©Cactus In the Snow<br />
©Sex NAT'L<br />
Life of a<br />
GENERAL<br />
Private Eye<br />
(90) D..SeBt74 ©The Killer Inside<br />
(89) Ac. ©Showgirl Me<br />
D . . Oct 74<br />
(iilbert Wynne. Gllly Grant<br />
©Friday Foster D .<br />
74 NEW DAY FILMS<br />
CFA INVESTORS IV<br />
©A Woman ... For All Men ©Nana. Mom And Me<br />
©He Is My Brother<br />
(93) Sus.. Jan 75<br />
Keenan Wynn<br />
NEW YORKER FILMS<br />
CAMBIST FILMS<br />
©Linda Lovelace<br />
Black Holiday (110) His..<br />
©Wide Open Marriage<br />
for President C . . Feb 75<br />
©Arthur Ruhenstein<br />
(87) C. Nov 74 Linda Lovelace<br />
Love of Life Feb 75<br />
Elizabetli Volkman, Rinaldo<br />
©Buck Town<br />
Talimontl<br />
OMNI PICTURES<br />
©Country Blue<br />
©Vampyres (87) Ho ..<br />
©Savage Riders Jan 75<br />
(90) ..Ac .Aug 74<br />
Marianne Jlorrls. Anulka<br />
©Black Starlet (97)<br />
STEPHEN GIBSON<br />
...D. Sept 74<br />
©Probability Zero (89)<br />
©Thunder McCoy<br />
..Ac-Sus. ©Black<br />
Ac. Dee 74<br />
Lolita<br />
Cathy Christina. Henry ©God's Bloody<br />
Silva<br />
Acre<br />
©Anita, Swedish Nymphet<br />
(86) Ac. Dec 74<br />
(S7)<br />
PACIFIC INT'L<br />
©Challenge to Be Free .-. .<br />
D..<br />
Christina Llndberg, Stellan Skarsgard<br />
©Code Name Trixie (103) Sus D<br />
©1001 Danish Delights (90) C<br />
©Bordello (89) C<br />
©The Minor's Wife (89) C '<br />
©The Affair (91) C<br />
©Cry Uncle (91) C<br />
©Relations (91) D<br />
©The Minx (89) d!!<br />
©Sappho Darling (86) ..D.<br />
Aroused (89) b&w 0,<br />
CAMELOT ENTERTAINMENT<br />
©Catch the Black Sunshine<br />
CANNON<br />
©The Young Playmates<br />
(82)<br />
©The No Mercy Man<br />
Sex C. Sept 74<br />
(91) Ac. Oct 74<br />
Stephen Sandor. Rockne TarHneton<br />
CAPITAL PRODUCTIONS<br />
©The Gift of the Forest<br />
(100) Sept 74<br />
CENTAUR RELEASING<br />
©The Sinful Bed ..Sex C ..Sept 74<br />
CENTRO DISTRIBUTING<br />
©Slick Silver and Company<br />
CINEMA NATIONAL CORP.<br />
©Child Under a Leaf<br />
(93)<br />
Dyan Cannon<br />
D..Noy74<br />
©Three for the Money<br />
(89) C..N0V74<br />
Dean Stockwell, Russ Tamblyn<br />
McLean Stevenson, Alex Karras<br />
©Foreplay (86) C. Jan 75<br />
Zero Mostel, Bstelle Parsons<br />
©Callan (93) Sus.. Jan 75<br />
Edward Woodward, Eric Porter<br />
CINEMA-VU<br />
©Kiss of the Tarantula Apr 75<br />
CONCORD FILMS<br />
©Pacific Challenge (93) Doc.<br />
DRAGON AIRE LTD.<br />
©Ladles and Gentlemen. The<br />
Rolling Stones (92) Mu«..July74<br />
Mick Jigger. The Rolling Stones<br />
JOSEPH GREEN<br />
©In the Beginning . . .<br />
(84) C. Dec 74<br />
©Counselor at<br />
Crime<br />
(99) Ac-D..Jan75<br />
©Order to Kill (94)<br />
©Mad Memories of a<br />
. .Ac-D. .Jan 75<br />
Lifeguard Mar 75<br />
HEAD FILMS<br />
©Pot! Parents! Police!<br />
(89) D.. Aug 74<br />
Phil Pine, Madeb-n Keen<br />
©X Rated Super Market<br />
(68) Doc. Aug 74<br />
©In Love Again (SO) ,..D..Dec74<br />
Ohiick Roy. Tommy Kirk<br />
©Last Cucaracha In Tijuana<br />
(90) Ho.. Dec 74<br />
Ray Molina. Forrest Duke<br />
. . .Sex. .<br />
HEMISPHERE PICTURES<br />
OBad Companions Sept 74<br />
Feb 75<br />
OCamuus Pussycats . . . .Sex. .<br />
©Swingin' Swappers 75<br />
INDEPENDENT INrL<br />
3Girls For Rent<br />
(85) Stx-Ac.Aug74<br />
Georglna Spelvln, Kent Taylor<br />
INDEPIX RELEASING<br />
©The Sexpert (85) ..Sec C. Jan 75<br />
©White House Madness<br />
(78) C. Feb 75<br />
INDOCHINA PEACE CAMPAIGN<br />
Introduction to the Enemy<br />
(60) b&w Doc. Jan 75<br />
INT'L CINE FILMS<br />
©Messiah of Evil<br />
(91) Ho. Mar 75<br />
PRODUCERS<br />
INT'L<br />
©I, A Demon Ho.. Aug 74<br />
©Sensuous Wives ... Sex C. .Aug 74<br />
©Death of a Stranger<br />
LEVITT-PICKAAAN<br />
©Super Spook (103) Sept 74<br />
CILes Violons du Bal<br />
(110) D.. Dec 74<br />
—<br />
PEPPERCORN-WORMSER<br />
©Love at the Top (105) Jan 75<br />
R.C. RIDDELL<br />
©Nothing By Chance<br />
(93) Doc. Jan 75<br />
SCHEUER PRODUCTIONS<br />
©Gosh (83) Sex C, .Oct 74<br />
.Sharon Kelly<br />
SEABERG FILMS<br />
©The Earth is a Sinful<br />
Song Jan 75<br />
.<br />
©Around the World with Fanny<br />
©The Case of the Smiling Stiffs . .<br />
Hill<br />
©The Folks at Red Wolf hin<br />
SEBASTIAN INTT<br />
©Voyage of the Sandy<br />
(105) Ad. Sept 74<br />
Barry QiUen<br />
SIERRA ASSOCIATES<br />
©Challenge to White Fang<br />
SOHO CINEMA<br />
©Treaty at Battle Mountain .<br />
—<br />
. Doc .<br />
SUN INT'L<br />
©The Life and Times of<br />
Grizzly Adams (93) Jan 75<br />
©The Outer Space Connection<br />
SUNSET INT'L<br />
©Love Me Strangely (96) D.. Mar 75<br />
©The Making of a Lady<br />
(93) ^ C-D..Mar75<br />
©Sex and the Lonely Woman<br />
Part<br />
II<br />
SUNSHINE UNLIMITED<br />
©Guitar Picks and Roach Clips ....<br />
TRANS-WORLD FILMS<br />
©Comedians (111) Jan 75<br />
UFO<br />
©The Devil's Triangle<br />
(52) Doc. Jan 75<br />
WORLD WIDE FILMS<br />
'::lt Can Be Done,<br />
Amigo C-W. .Nov 74<br />
.l.ii:k Palance. Bud Spencer<br />
COMING RELEASES<br />
ALLIED ARTISTS<br />
©Such Men are Dangerous (..) ...<br />
©The Betsy ( . ) Ad . .<br />
.<br />
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL<br />
©Trophy June 75<br />
©Dead Man July 75<br />
©Progeny of the Adder July 75<br />
©Dirty School Girls<br />
©Computer Killers<br />
©Scream and Die<br />
t©Coolcy High<br />
©Macau<br />
©When the Dogs Ran<br />
©Rolling Thunder<br />
©The McCullochs<br />
©Escort Girls<br />
©Return to Macon County<br />
AVCO EMBASSY<br />
©King, Queen. Knave . . . .<br />
©Busy Bodies<br />
©The Driver's Seat<br />
©Hollywood Horror House<br />
©Secrets<br />
©Kosygin Is Coming<br />
©Man Friday<br />
©Farewell My Lovely . . . .<br />
BRYANSTON<br />
©The Human Factor<br />
©The Devil's Rain . .<br />
©Tombs<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
©Apple Dumpling Gang<br />
©One of Our Dinosaurs Is<br />
Missing<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
©The Last of the Mohicans ..Feb 76<br />
©Bite the Bullet (..)<br />
©The First Deadly Sin<br />
W.<br />
.D.<br />
(. ,) . .<br />
©The Onion Field<br />
©A Tough One to<br />
(..)<br />
Lose<br />
....Cr-D..<br />
. . . . .<br />
(<br />
©Caves of Steel (..) Ad..<br />
©The Fan Club Sus. .<br />
©The Wind and the Lion<br />
(With United Artists)<br />
©Get the Police (..) Ac .<br />
©Niagara Falls (..) D..<br />
©Smile (..) C.<br />
©That Championship Season . . . .D.<br />
©The Black Bird C.<br />
©The Fortune<br />
©Breakout<br />
©Black Mass<br />
©Cassandra Crossing<br />
©Close Encounter of the<br />
Third Kind<br />
©Forfeit<br />
©The Front<br />
©It's Our World Too<br />
©Jane<br />
©Karate Is a Thing of the Spirit ..<br />
©Mimi<br />
©Snowbound<br />
Jail Break<br />
©Taxi Driver<br />
©The 10-Second<br />
,<br />
©White Hunter, Black Heart I<br />
©Agent No. 1 f<br />
©Forti. Anzi Debolissimi<br />
©Le Protecteur<br />
[<br />
©The Virgin Goddess ...<br />
©Watch Out. We're Mad<br />
©Hard Times Ac-Ad. .<br />
©Fair Game Sus. .<br />
©The Magic Man<br />
©Suptiose They Met C.<br />
©Colette: The Difficulty Loving .<br />
of<br />
©Chu Chu and the Philly Flash<br />
(with Monroe Sachson)<br />
©White Line Fever<br />
(with Infl Clnemedla Center, Ltd.)<br />
CROWN INT'L<br />
©The Specialist .<br />
.D. .June 75<br />
DIMENSION<br />
©Kinfolk (. .)<br />
.Ac<br />
—<br />
Opinion:^ on Current Productions Feature reviews<br />
Symbol O denotes color; (g> CinemoScope; ^ Panavisjon; ® Techniromo; (§ other anomorphic processes. For story synopsis on each p4ctur«, se« r«v«ff»« fid*.<br />
JACQUES BREL<br />
Musical Revue<br />
PG<br />
O<br />
Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris<br />
American Film Theatre 98 Minutes Rel. Feb. '75<br />
Belgian-born Jacques Brel is considered a modern counterpart<br />
of the balladeers who roamed Europe in medieval<br />
times, singing of social comment and protest. His songs<br />
have a bittersweet quality which might be called typically<br />
French, as he ponders life, love, death and war. The 1968<br />
revue upon which the AFT presentation is based was<br />
first performed at New York City's Village Gate, as a<br />
collaboration between Eric Blau and Mort Shuman. Blau<br />
conceived and wrote the screenplay, while Shuman is one<br />
of the thi'ee featured singers. Elly Stone, the female lead,<br />
fii'st introduced Brel's songs to America in the musical<br />
revue "O, Oysters!," which Blau wrote and wliich was<br />
also preseuied at the Village Gate. Only Joe Masiell has<br />
not been previously connected with Brel's songs, yet he<br />
delivers them on-screen with as much feeling and fervor<br />
as his two fellow artists. Denis Heroux directed the<br />
Franco-Canadian co-production of Paul Marshall and<br />
Cinevideo, Inc. at the Victorine Studios, Nice and on<br />
location. There are no spoken words, only Brel's music<br />
sometimes sad, other times happy, bawdy, but always<br />
meaningful. Brel appears several times and does one number,<br />
the haunting "Ne Me Quittes Pas" (Don't Leave Me).<br />
The film has some nudity, miusual for the AFT.<br />
Elly Stone, Joe Masiell, Mort Shuman, Jacques Brel.<br />
HEARTS A\D Ml^DS<br />
[p] Documentary on Vietnam<br />
t2J War and b&w<br />
Warner Bros.-Columbia 112 Minutes Rel. March '75<br />
Reviewing the United States' involvement in the Vietnamese<br />
conflict can be dull, irritating or stii'ring, depending<br />
on the familiarity of the material. Producers<br />
Bert Schneider and Peter Davis have filmed and assembled<br />
a highly controversial and extremely moving<br />
account of the war under the deceptively simple title<br />
"Hearts and Minds." These words are taken from a<br />
speech by President Lyndon B. John.son, who stated that<br />
the outcome of the war depended upon "the hearts and<br />
minds of the people living in Vietnam." Specially shot<br />
interviews with prominent military and political personalities<br />
and with participants in the fighting serve to<br />
stir up a sense of deep sorrow on the part of the viewer.<br />
Reaction to the film should include enthusiastic support<br />
from critics, denouncement from some officials and praise<br />
from others and a large response from the paying public.<br />
The attitude of many is reflected via Gen. William 'Westmoreland's<br />
contention that Orientals have no high value<br />
of life and in that of former national security advisor<br />
"Walt Rostow, who attempted to have his segment deleted<br />
because it was damaging to his reputation. Real emotions<br />
are shown: Daniel Ell^erg recalling his association with<br />
Sen. Robert Kennedy and ex-pilot Randy Floyd's breakup.<br />
Davis directed the Howard Zuker/ Henry Jaglom Rainbow<br />
Pictures presentation. Color and black and white.<br />
GOSH!<br />
Tom Scheuer Productions<br />
[pi<br />
Sex Comedy<br />
83 Minutes Rel. F«i>. '75<br />
The casting couch route to stardom is the basis for this<br />
R-rated independent feature by producer-diiector-writer<br />
Tom Scheuer. Heroine Alice Goodbody is "discovered" for<br />
the movies while slinging hash in a hambm-ger joint on<br />
Hollywood Blvd. aiid her rise from an extra to starlet is<br />
paved with one bed after another. Actually the joke wears<br />
pretty thin after about 45 minutes and isn't strong<br />
enough to stand on its own as a comedy feature.<br />
It's not even softcore, so it may have rough going in the<br />
drive-in and neighborhood houses it's aimed at. Curiosity<br />
is that it wasn't made as an X-rated hardcore feature<br />
since the story was ideal to make it big in that market.<br />
Still, with the right ad campaign cand Scheuer has good<br />
promo material) and a less-demanding audience to spread<br />
word-of-mouth, the pictm-e just might make it. Sharon<br />
Kelly is very good as the heroine and Arem Fisher has a<br />
good cameo as the movie tycoon. Technical credits are<br />
okay and most of the film was shot on location in Hollywood.<br />
In EastmanColor.<br />
Sharon Kelly, Daniel Kauffman, Keith McConnell,<br />
Arem Fisher.<br />
Ask<br />
810C,<br />
j.n,<br />
and<br />
h 35<br />
SHAMPOO<br />
Comedy<br />
® ©<br />
Columbia (75015)<br />
112 Minutes Bel. Mar. '75<br />
As an actor, producer and writer, Warren Beatty is<br />
definitely nonconformist and he demonstrates his talents<br />
in all three areas in "Shampoo," which he wi'ote with<br />
•^Ei) Robert Towne. The idea of a Beverly Hills hairdresser<br />
AHE<br />
who is absolutely a ladies' man attempting to finance his<br />
own salon during the 1968 Presidential elections is offbeat,<br />
to say the least. A Rubeeker Production for Columbia<br />
release, the film may not be the funniest comedy<br />
about sex so far in '75, but it certainly is a good bet for<br />
top grosses. Two former leading ladies, Julie ("McCabe &<br />
Mrs. Miller") Chi'istie and Goldie ("$") Hawn, are reunited<br />
with Beatty and the supporting cast has such<br />
notables as Jack Warden, Lee Grant, actor-writer George<br />
Furth, Jay Robinson, Debbie Reynolds' 18-year-old<br />
daughter Carrie Fisher in her film debut, and three<br />
actors turned producers: Tony Bill, Brad Dexter and<br />
horror master William Castle. Beatty, who was involved<br />
with Miss Christie off-screen, has a simple philosophy<br />
regarding women: "They all know we're out to nail "em,"<br />
but his great lover image is shattered by the refusal of<br />
his ladies to tolerate him any longer. As an actor, he isn't<br />
afraid to arouse sympathy or disgust. In Technicolor and<br />
Panavision, the Hal Ashby-dii-ected farce can make good.<br />
Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, Lee Grant,<br />
Jack Warden, Tony Bill,<br />
Jay Robinson.<br />
AOT ISOff DARUISG m<br />
Sex<br />
Comedy<br />
©<br />
Dimension Pictures 93 Minutes Rel. Feb. 75<br />
Audiences in the mood for light comedy and simple plot<br />
wiU go for this fast-packed, whacky sex-comedy with a<br />
familiar theme, produced by Peter J. Thompson. The<br />
action revolves aromid the difficulties a London furrier<br />
named Bodley (played by Leslie Phillips) encounters<br />
when he agrees to buy a mink coat for a woman (Julie<br />
Ege) so she will have an affair with him. Trying to keep<br />
his pui'chase and his affair secret brings on problems<br />
Bodiey never anticipated. As each complication arises, he<br />
tries desperately to overcome it, resulting only in more<br />
aifliculties bred from his "white lies." Whenever explanations<br />
are called for, Bodley turns to his scatterbrained<br />
assistant Crouch, well-played by Ray Cooney, who also<br />
directed this film with David Croft. The fast pace of the<br />
movie is static from begimiing to end, which might cause<br />
a delayed audience response until it begins to run smoothly<br />
in accord with the impending climax. The audience<br />
will then be easily caught up in the hilarity of Bodley's<br />
situation. There is some nudity and a continual stream<br />
of double-meaning word play. Sex is a joke in this film.<br />
Leslie Phillips, Julie Ege, Ray Cooney, Moira Lister,<br />
Jackie Polio, Trudi Van Doren.<br />
FEMALE TROUBLE<br />
(x)<br />
Comedy<br />
©<br />
New Line Cinema 95 Minutes Rel. Feb. '75<br />
Underground films take a step forward (or backward,<br />
depending on one's taste) with the release of John<br />
Waters' follow-up to his hugely successful "Pink Flamingos,"<br />
again starring Divine. While the fii'st film is still<br />
playing in specialized situations, mainly midnight shows,<br />
"Female Trouble" is being laiuiched by New Line as a<br />
regular release. Those who loved/ hated Divine in the first<br />
film are sure to tmii out to see this milder, yet completely<br />
outrageous assault on the sensibilities. Divine, a transvestite<br />
who also plays the part of the man who first rapes<br />
her, may not have mass appeal but she/he manages to<br />
convey a certain kind of reverse charm which is strangely<br />
effective. Waters produced, directed and wrote the colorwidescreen<br />
epic, originally shot in 16mm in less suspecting<br />
parts of Baltimore for a mere $25,000. Considering<br />
the lack of production values and the performances of<br />
most of the cast, the results are rather impressive. Matching<br />
Divine in being grotesque, Edith Massey lacks the<br />
star's charm but little else. A Dreamland production for<br />
Saliva Films, a New Line division, the film will have to<br />
prove itself in general markets. Waters had other chores:<br />
co-editing and co-authoring the title song (with Bob<br />
Harvey), which Divine sings at the opening and end.<br />
Divine, Mink Stole, David Lochary, Edith Massey, Mary<br />
Vivian Pearce, Susan Walsh, Michael Potter.<br />
The reviews on these poges moy be filed for future reference in ony of the foHowing woys (1) in any standard three-ring<br />
*""*"'• (2) individually, by company, l?.'!!l'i^°u<br />
in any standard 3x5 cord index file; or (3) in the BOXOFFICE PICTURE<br />
GUIDE three-ring, pocket-size binder. The latter, including a year's supply of booking and daily record sheets, may be<br />
obtoined from Associated Publications, 825 Von Brunt Bird, Kansas City, Mo. 64.124 for $1.50.<br />
4760<br />
BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: March 3, 1975 4759
I<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Programs<br />
THE STORY:<br />
"Shampoo" (Col)<br />
During the 1968 elections, Beverly Hills hairdresser<br />
Warren Beatty accommodates his customers with extracurricular<br />
services. The other males in Jay Robinson's<br />
establishment may be gay, but Beatty is definitely a<br />
ladies' man. Current flame Goldie Hawn is the best friend<br />
of Julie Christie, Beatty's ex-love, who is the mistress of<br />
wealthy Jack Warden. Warden's wife, Lee Grant, is having<br />
an affair with Warren, and her teenage daughter Carrie<br />
Fisher also has a session with the busy Beatty. When<br />
Warden has to appear at a political party on the night of<br />
Nixon's victory, he asks Beatty to escort Christie; Hawn is<br />
escorted by film director Tony Bill, who loves her and<br />
wants Goldie to go with him to Egypt. Although Warden<br />
is unsure of Beatty's real sexual leanings, he indicates<br />
that he'll back Beatty in his own beauty salon. Grant<br />
becomes angry when the drunken Christie gets out of<br />
hand. Later at a discotheque, Hawn, Bill and Warden<br />
discover Christie and Beatty making love. Beatty tells<br />
Christie he loves her, but she decides to marry Warden.<br />
EXPLOITIPS:<br />
Tie-ins with beauty salons are natural, but with Beatty,<br />
Christie and Hawn as the stars—^probably unnecessary.<br />
Some mileage may be gotten out of the TV clips of Nixon<br />
and Agnew and Huntley and Brinkley.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Your Hairdresser Does It Better . . . The Funniest<br />
Comedy About 1968, in 1975 Style.<br />
Gav<br />
&<br />
I<br />
ACCOUNTANT<br />
I Amusement<br />
—<br />
RATES: 40c per word, minimum S4.00 CrtaH WITH COPY. Four consecutive insertions for price<br />
ol three. When using a Boxoliice No. figure 2 additional words and include 75c additional, to<br />
cover cost of handling replies. Display Classified, S34.00 per Column Lnch. No commission<br />
allowed. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication dale. Send copy and answers<br />
lo Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124.<br />
CUflRiOe<br />
HOUSE<br />
HELP<br />
WANTED<br />
THEATHE MANAGERS AND DIVISION<br />
r:ianagers lor northeast-midwest chain<br />
Send resume to Weeze Management, 2001<br />
1'^ Boston Rd,, N. Wilbraham, Mass. 01095,<br />
to take complete charge<br />
of accounting department lor small theatre<br />
circuit. Send resume/apply Western<br />
Company, Inc. 9100 Sunset<br />
Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90069.<br />
EXPERIENCED DHIVE-IN theatre manager<br />
for large drive-in, Cleveland, Ohio.<br />
Circuit operation with excellent salary and<br />
top medical and life insurance benefits.<br />
Please forward resume and references to<br />
Selected Theatres Management, 451 Brainard<br />
Place, 29001 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst,<br />
Ohio 1'1124 or phone (21 6) 461-9770.<br />
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY for projectionist-managers,<br />
managers, projectionists<br />
and other help for drive-in and indoor<br />
theatres in Virginia. Progressive small<br />
circuit with wonderful opportunity for future.<br />
Only responsible and aggressive<br />
§eople with valued experience need apply,<br />
end resume, photo and phone to <strong>Boxoffice</strong>,<br />
3386.<br />
IMMEDIATE openings for experienced<br />
managers cmd manager trainees in Northwestern<br />
Ohio. Good starling salary and<br />
many benefits, including vacation, Blue<br />
Cross and Blue Shield. Please send full<br />
resume in first letter. All replies held in<br />
strict confidence. Armstrong Theatres, Inc<br />
P O. Box 769, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402.<br />
POSITION WANTED<br />
Am interested in MOTION PICTURE DIS-<br />
TRIBUTION as a career and would be will-<br />
^ ing to invest modest sum in such enterprise.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3385.<br />
PROJECTIONIST, 13 years experience,<br />
good worlter. Willing to relocate within<br />
reason. Write Milton J. Stringlield, Post<br />
Office Two rifty-four, Kentwood, Louisiana<br />
70444.<br />
WORKING GENERAL MANAGEH, complete<br />
operation, available April 15 for conventional<br />
and drive-in. Family age 49<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3393<br />
DIVISION MANAGER — now employed<br />
Indoor and drive-ins, twin and multiple<br />
theatres; advertising (newspaper, radio<br />
and television); purchasing; concessions;<br />
auditing; new theatre construction. Resume<br />
upon request. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3391.<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
ALL MAKES OF POPPERS, caramel corn<br />
equipment, floss machines, sno-ball machines<br />
Knspy Korn, 120 So. Hoisted, Chicago.<br />
Ill 60606<br />
BOOKS<br />
THE MANUAL OF THEATRE MANAGE-<br />
MENT. Deluxe hardcover edition. Send<br />
your $20 check or money order to Ralph<br />
I. Erwin, Publisher, P O. Box 1982, Laredo<br />
Texas 78040<br />
THE MANUAL OF THEATRE MANAGE-<br />
MENT. The publisher is grateful for your<br />
many orders, coming in from coast to coast<br />
in the USA, plus those from Guyana,<br />
Panama, Rhodesia, Canada, Hawaii and<br />
Alaska. For your own deluxe hardcover<br />
copy of the manual, send $20 check or<br />
money order to Ralph J-<br />
Erwin, Publisher,<br />
P. O. Box 1982, Laredo, Texas 78040.<br />
BUSINESS<br />
STIMULATORS<br />
THEATRE GAMES, BINGO, BANKO<br />
$6.00 weekly including 400 cards. Novelty<br />
Games, R.D. 1, Middletown, N.Y. 10940<br />
(914) 386-4067.<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
FOR SALE<br />
35mm PROJECTION BOOTHS FOR THE<br />
ECONOMY MINDED EXHIBITOR. COM-<br />
PLETE. $1,500.00, <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 2840.<br />
PHILLIPS Arc lamp carbon savors. Ask<br />
your theatre supply dealer.<br />
CENTURY, rebuilt. CC heads, complete<br />
booth <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3345.<br />
B4H I6mm Filmo arc projector, 1 KW<br />
lamp, amplifier, lense, power supply, etc.,<br />
$550.00. Brand new B&H 1535 solid state<br />
sound, $450.00. B&H JAN projectors, $475.00.<br />
pair—$895.00. Free list. Write, wire,<br />
phone ICECO, (404) 262-3020. 2991 North<br />
Fulton Dr. N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30305.<br />
REBUILT, REASONABLE Century C projectors,<br />
Brenkert BX 60 projectors. Simplex<br />
LL3 bases, Simplex XL soundheads. Brand<br />
new parts cabinet with extra shelving, in<br />
carton, $35 00 each. Boston Audio Visual,<br />
(617) 426-1393.<br />
BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! Simplex XL's,<br />
$2 450.00 pair. Simplex Supers, $695.00 pair.<br />
Century C's, $1,450 00. Strong Trouper spotlight,<br />
$1,495.00. RCA 9030 soundheads,<br />
$695 00 pair. Simplex SH lOOO's, $795.00.<br />
DeVry portables, $995.00. Ashcraft 135<br />
Corelite lamps and rectifiers, $1,450.00<br />
pair. Free list. Export inquiries welcomed.<br />
Write, wire, phone—ICECO, (404) 262-<br />
3020. 2991 North Fulton Dr. N.E., Atlanta,<br />
Ga. 30305.<br />
34" ALUMINUM REELS. $24.50; Neumade<br />
motorized rewind table, arms up to 36<br />
reels, $195.00; Single Strong X-16 Xenon<br />
lamp and power supply, $595.00. Thousands<br />
bargains! What do you need? STAR<br />
CINEMA SUPPLY, 217 West 21st St., New<br />
York 10011.<br />
AMPEX FACTORY PARTS and theatre<br />
equipment. Capstan drive motors for Model<br />
300 3200 duplicators and penthouses<br />
1800/3600 RPM $140. Exchange. 80 watt<br />
solid state theatre amplifiers reduced 50%<br />
$179.50. 35min and 70mm Ampex heads.<br />
Exciter DC power supplies RM $169.50.<br />
Tellet Communications, 8831 Sunset Blvd.,<br />
W. Hollywood, Calif. 90069. (213) 652-8100.<br />
EQUIPMENT WANTED<br />
USED EQUIPMENT bought and soli<br />
Best prices. Texas Theatre Supply, 915<br />
So. Alamo, San Antonio, Texas 78205.<br />
USED THEATRE EQUIPMENT. Projectors,<br />
soundheads, seats, etc. Harry Melcher Enterprises,<br />
3238 W. Fond du Lac Avenue,<br />
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 53210. (414) 442-<br />
5020.<br />
PAYING $7.00 to JI3.00 per set, burned<br />
silver positive contacts. Snip insured, or<br />
write for more information, to Contact Salvaging,<br />
2136 Jewell, Redding, Calif. 96001.<br />
SOUND PROJECTION<br />
MAINTENANCE MANUAL &<br />
SPECIAL SERVICE BULLETINS<br />
EXHIBITORS, MANAGERS AND PROJEC-<br />
TIONISTS—YOU NEED MY LOOSE-LEAF<br />
equipment—Automation<br />
Devices—Speaker<br />
Systems — Screens — Lenses—Rectifiers<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
WORLD'S LARGEST THEATRE BROK-<br />
ERS. Send lor list. lOE lOSEPH. Box 31406,<br />
Dallas, 75231. (2M) 363-2724 or (214) 239-<br />
2934<br />
OWNER LEAVING COUNTRY. MUST<br />
SELLII Reduced $75,000.00 to $65,000 00<br />
(Now reduced $55,0()0! Less than value<br />
of building). Adult theatre building in<br />
Moline, 111. Perfect condition. Rebuilt air<br />
conditioning. 700 seats. Midwest Theatres.<br />
8816 Sunset Blvd., Las Angeles, Calif.<br />
90069 for information.<br />
808 SEAT TWIN in Colorado mountain<br />
town of 5,000. Assume SBA loans. W.<br />
Keebler Co. (303) 756-4564.<br />
240 CAR DRIVE-IN in south Alabama<br />
Year 'round operation. $40,000. Troy Drive-<br />
In Theatres, Inc., P.O. Box 385, Troy, Alabama<br />
36081.<br />
500 SEAT THEATHE southeast location,<br />
built late '30s. 1,500 population, 6 miles<br />
from 3,000 population. Only competition<br />
25 miles north and 40 miles south, nothing<br />
east or west. Centrally located, no other<br />
theatre in two counties. Will sell real<br />
estate or business only to right party. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>,<br />
3387.<br />
THEATRE FOR SALE. Pasadena, Calif.<br />
92 seat adult house with parking lot. Good<br />
lease, excellent location, clean. Asking<br />
$40,000.00, terms. (213) 352-1183.<br />
300 CAR DHIVE-IN, Central Ohio, 30 mi.<br />
from Columbus, O. Will finance. O. F.<br />
Martin. (419) 562-5145.<br />
OPERATING motion picture theatre for<br />
sale—excellent location in thriving retail<br />
business district of progressive college<br />
town. Consists of established market, modem<br />
building and equipment. Richard Ramseyer.<br />
President of the Community Progress<br />
Corporation, P. O. Box 128, Bluflton,<br />
Ohio 45817.<br />
INDOOR AND DRIVE-IN—thriving community<br />
in the great southwest. Approximately<br />
10,000 population <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3392<br />
THEATRES WANTED<br />
WE ARE INTERESTED in leasing or purchasing<br />
indoor theatres. Any location acceptable.<br />
Stu Segall and Associates, 1600<br />
Broadway, NYC, NY. 10036.<br />
BUY OR LEASE Indoor or drive-in theatre.<br />
Contact Weeze Management, 2001 Boston<br />
Rd., N. Wilbraham, Mass, 01095.<br />
WANT TO BUY 70nun indoor theatre.<br />
Give details. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3383.<br />
WOULD LIKE TO LEASE drive-in or indoor<br />
theatre in southern Florida, open or<br />
closed. 1 have 35mm equipment and will<br />
install; 15 years in show business. Phone<br />
(304) 484-7442.<br />
THEATRES FOR LEASE<br />
400 CAR DRIVE-IN for lease or sale.<br />
Money maker. Retiring. Westfield Drivein,<br />
Box 85, Westfield, N.Y. J. T. Catonea,<br />
(716) 326-2161.<br />
FOR SALE OR LEASE: Anawall, W. Vo.,<br />
300 seats. Would consider partner with<br />
projection and booking experience. Reply<br />
immediately. Wilburn Christian, Drawer<br />
V, Keystone, W. Va. 24852. (304) 862-3356.<br />
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, main street,<br />
solid town, resort area. Ideal for couple<br />
or second income. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 3388.<br />
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Indoor theatre,<br />
Son Pedro area, good running condition.<br />
Xenon lamps, large screen, 1400 seats, low<br />
rent, ideal family operation. 478 W. 6th<br />
St., San Pedro, Cahf. (213) 822-4070.<br />
THEATRE REMODELING<br />
SERVICE MANUAL on sound and projection.<br />
It will save you money in repair bills.<br />
The only practical service Manual published.<br />
(Kepi up-to-date for you.) Easy-tounderstand<br />
instructions on servicing Motiographs.<br />
Old and new Simplexs. Brenkert,<br />
Century, new Ballantyne, — Cinemeccanica<br />
and Norelco Projectors "Step-by-<br />
Step" Servicing Tube and Transistor sound<br />
Xenon and Arc Lamps—Schematics on<br />
sound systems. New developments in theatre<br />
equipment. Send TODAYl! SERVICE contemporary theatres, can remodel your<br />
CINEMA DESIGNERS, INC., builders ol<br />
BULLETINS . . . NEW PAGES FOB YOUR old theatre or build you a new one. Complete<br />
turnkey project. Write for free bro-<br />
Build attendance with real Hawaiian LOOSE-LEAF MANUAL for one year. Over<br />
orchids. Few cents each. Write Flowers 200 pages<br />
ot<br />
8I/2 x II" Loose-Leaf Practical chure, 1245 Adams St., Boston, Mass 02124<br />
Hawaii, 670 S. Lafayette Place, Los An Manual—The price? ONLY $10.50 in U.S.A., (617) 298-5900.<br />
geles, Calif. 90005.<br />
CANADA, SI2.50. Data is Reliable and<br />
Authentic. Edited by the writer wi'h 35<br />
BINGO CARDS DIE CUT: 1—75, 1500 years of Experience: 27 years Technical DRIVE-IN THEATRE CONSTRUCTION<br />
combination.<br />
Editor the MODERN THEATRE. (Remittance<br />
WANTED: OLD MOVIE MATERIALS. Premium<br />
Products, 339 West 44lh St., New or P.O. No CODs.) WESLEY TROUT, EDI- Day Screen Installation. (817) 642-3591.<br />
payable to: Wesley Trout, Cash, Check, SCREEN TOWERS INTERNATIONAL: Ten<br />
York, NY. 10036 (212) 246-4972.<br />
TOR. Box 575, Enid, Oklahoma 73701. Drawer P, Rogers, Texas 76569.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: March 3. 1975<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
THEATRE CHAIR UPHOLSTERINGl ANY-<br />
WHERE. Finest materials, LOW prices.<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., II20I.<br />
Tel. (212) 875-5433. (Reverse charges).<br />
WANTED—Late model used theotr*<br />
chairs. Write or call Hayes Sealing Company,<br />
101 Pickard Drive, Syracuse. N.Y.<br />
13211. (315) 454-9346.<br />
10 to 1000 rebuilt Heywood-Wakelield<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 />
FILMS<br />
FOR SALE<br />
16mm FILMS. Postcard brings bargain<br />
list. Ingo Films, P.O. Box 143, Scianlon,<br />
Pa. 18504.<br />
16mm FAMOUS CLASSICS. Illustraled<br />
catalog 25c. Manbeck Pictures, 3621-B Wakonda<br />
Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321.<br />
BUSINESS<br />
OPPORTUNITIES<br />
INVESTORS WANTED for low budget<br />
feature iilms Wolf Lore Cinema, P.O. Box<br />
717, Adrian, Ml 49221<br />
THEATRE CONSTRUCTION<br />
THEATRE DESIGN S planning; Construction;<br />
Turnkey packages; Sound & Projection;<br />
Seats, new or rebuilt; 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 representative<br />
SUBSCRIPTION<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
825 Van Brunt Blvd<br />
ORDER FORM<br />
Konsas City, Mo. 64124<br />
Please enter my subscription to BOX-<br />
OFFICE. Enclosed is my check or money<br />
order for:<br />
D<br />
1<br />
YEAR $10<br />
n 2 YEARS $17<br />
Outside U.S., Canodo ond Pan<br />
Amcricon Union, $15.00 per year<br />
Street<br />
Town<br />
Zip Cod*<br />
Nome<br />
.Stote
WHERE 'WARE THE<br />
^CENTER OF OUR TEAM!<br />
/<br />
REGISTER NOW^<br />
OUR CROWN<br />
CENTER HOTEL<br />
CAMPUS<br />
1<br />
* * * "id<br />
— • i-<br />
1-.<br />
I<br />
^^^^^•^•» •" ^^ ^ ^ * MAIL REGISTRATION TO: UNITEO MOTION PICTURE ASSOC. 3612 KARNES BLVD., KANSAS CIH. MO. 64111<br />
REGISTRATION FORM<br />
Enclosed registration for<br />
Theatre, Firm Name<br />
MR<br />
MISS/MRS<br />
ADDRESS<br />
CITY-STATE_<br />
_2iP_<br />
THEATRE D FILM D TRADE SHOW D<br />
sponsored by united motion picture association N<br />
HOTEL RESERVATION<br />
Arrival Date<br />
Time-<br />
Departure Date-<br />
Time<br />
SINGLE D<br />
TWIN n<br />
SEND DETAILS D<br />
DOUBLE n<br />
SUITE D<br />
REGISTRATION $60.00<br />
YOUR REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES TICKETS<br />
FOR ALL SCHEDULED CONVENTION EVENTS<br />
INCLUDING BREAKFAST, LUNCHEON AND DIN-<br />
NER MEETINGS, COCKTAIL PARTIES, DINNER<br />
DANCE, EXHIBITS, SEMINARS, ETC.<br />
Check or Money Order Must Be Enclosed<br />
Refunds made on cancellations prior to Mar. 1.1975<br />
ill