Boxoffice-August.11.1975

. . The
—
MINNEAPOLIS
Boothman Geo. Homer
Began Career in '13
MANKATO. MINN.—How many thea-
J^oger and Ruth Dietz of the Rapids and feels he has plenty to be excited about as h^views
the UA lineup. "Singin' in the Rain"
Rialto theatres. Grand Rapids, have
purchased a lakeshore home there and report has been set for the latter part of August tres can list an employee whose service began
in 1913 and who still is an active mem-
they're "extremely happy." Dietz. formerly at the Park Theatre here. "Last Tango in
Columbia branch chief here, and his wife Paris." now rerated R. will hit September ber of the staff? That surely small list includes
the Grand Theatre here, part of the
have done extensive theatrical remodeling, 19. "The Passenger" gets its citywide break
including draperies and a change in decor, September 26. "92 in the Shade." starring
Plitt North Central Theatres circuit. Projectionist
George Homer has been the subject
and they say that business has improved Peter Fonda, springs the first week in October.
"Hearts of the West." with Jeff
markedly.
of several newspaper articles in this southern
Bridges toplined. goes October 15. "Undercovers
Hero." starring Peter Sellers in five
Minnesota city which have taken note of his
Joe Carriere, Grand Theatre, Hallock.
unique period of service.
reported that floods in that northwestern
different roles, comes up October 29. And Homer began his lengthy tenure at the
Minnesota area have cost the region virtually
all of its crops. The
for Christmas, bubbles Doebel. there are Grand (then called the Unique Theatre) in
outlook for the
"Killer Elite," starring James Caan. and
economy
1913— at the age of 16—as a curtain man
in that part of the state is. for the
"The Sunshine Boys" toplining Walter Matthau
and George Burns.
after, he began working in the projection
for the house's vaudeville acts. Shortly there-
time being at least, decidedly downbeat.
Forrie Myers, Paramount branch manager,
and Jack Kelvie, Theatre Associates.
There's plenty of hustle and bustle at the booth and has been there since. He's been
Paramount branch, too. Forrie Myers, a memmber of lATSE Local 684 since it
were two top prize-winners at the second
branch head, points to the lusty launch of was organized in 1929. This Mankato local
annual Midwest Entertainment golf tourney
"Nashville" at the Cooper Theatre. "Nashville"
also bowed Friday (8) at five key out-
lATSE Local 416.
recently merged with Rochester, Minn.,
July 21 . . . Add to those previously attending
the NATO convention in Chicago
state situations. Set for an October 15 bow Homer easily recalls "the ancient times
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Vonderhaar. Tentilino
is "Three Days of the Condor." starring ... the silent days." Cameras then were
Enterprises. Alexandria, and Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. with hand-cranked for showing single ten-minute
Al Bergman. Bay Theatre. Ashland. Wis.
openings at the Mann Theatre here and the reels of westerns, high-society dramas and
The Lake Theatre, Heron Lake, closed Har-Mar I in St. Paul. "Mahogany," starring even early newsreels. Over the decades.
the past two years, reopened Friday (1). It Diana Ross, also opens in October. And Homer has seen motion pictures begin and
is being run. weekends only for the present, "Hustle," with Burt Reynolds, is the Christmias
treat. Meanwhile. "Bug" is due to hit was the western," he recalls. "Then the Al
abandon a series of "phases." "First, there
by Mary Hasara . Beacon Theatre,
Superior. Wis., closed for three years, has here Wednesday (20) on a multiple.
Capone gangster-type movies. Today, it's the
sex angle."
been taken over by Dave Pallas and will
reopen He takes it all in stride.
Friday
Often asked. "Do
(15).
Omaha's lATSE Local 343 you watch all the movies you project?", he
Birger Ronning, former AlP branch salesman,
has joined Midwest Entertainment,
Requests Clarification
replies: "I usually just check the window to
OMAHA—In connection with an item
see if the film is in focus and running right.
the Jim Payne operation . . . Meanwhile.
which appeared in the Lincoln column of
Otherwise. I just read detective stories."
AIP's "Part 2 Walking Tall" bowed Friday
BoxoFFJCE July 28 concerning the withdrawal
of pickets from the Center Theatre.
While he feels that the movies of today
(8) with 13 Twin Cities dates . . . Filmrow
are much better both artistically and technically
than those of the past, he frequently
visitors: Paul Berg, State Theatre. Winona; lATSE Lyocal 343 has requested the publication
of a clarification of the matter which voices his regrets at the lack of comedians.
Jim Fraser, Red Wing, and Dan Peterson,
Peterson circuit, Brookings, S.D.
involves the Omaha Junior Theatre. Inc.
"In the old days, we had more comedies
Dick Maiek, Warner Bros, branch chief, A statement issued Friday (1) by Local
Chaplin. Lloyd and the Three Stooges;
grabbed a two-week vacation and tucked 343 follows: "The longtime
people
projectionist
used to laugh and laugh. You don't
at
himself away in a cabin in Minnesota's cool the
get
Center Theatre was dismissed
the comedians
July
today. But movies still
1.
northwoods country . . . Bill Diehl, entertainment
editor for the .St. Paul Dispatch fact that the projectionist's work is now good' movies. I don't see why they shouldn't
1975. We feel a lockout exists due to the
arc your best entertainment—or make that
and Pioneer Press and Boxoffice correspondent
here, and his wife Helen left Sunets
were established to advertise
being done by a (part-time moonlighter. Pick-
go on forever. I don't know what could replace
them."
this fact.
It
day (3) on a two-week trip to the West whereupon the Junior Theatre obtained would a
seem that Homer himself might
Coast which will include eight days in Hollywood
scanning the sound .sets.
343, after which pickets were removed takes the
temporary restraining order against Local go on forever but the shadow of the end
in
form of a wrecker's steelball. It's
in compliance with this order. However, upon the cards that the Grand must be demolished
eventually as part of an urban
A northern Minne.sota honeymoon was hearing in district court July 16, the judge
decided upon by Karen Pcrpich. Warner vacated the tempcirary restraining order and renewal program. When? "Who knows."
Bros, branch secretary, and Brian Swing, denied the theatre's request for an injunction.
Pickets are being in
Homer says, "maybe in six months, maybe
following their Saturday (9) nuptials. She
re-established at the
a couple of years."
will continue at the WB branch . . . "Jaws" theatre. A legal dispute exists with the theatre
and is being pursued accordingly."
at the same old stand." He works a seven-
Meanwhile. Homer is "still doing business
bowed at five outslate situations July 25
and several house records were shattered.
day. 38-hour week. Grins the veteran projectionist:
"It
Bill Doebel, United Artists branch boss. Airer Eliminates
cuts Speakers
deep into my family life
but I tell
WEST
my wife that's 'show biz
POINT, life.'
NEB.—Eugene Mueller,
owner of the Y-Not Drive-ln here, believes
his is the
CINERAMA IS IN
only underskyer in the state Buster Keaton Film Screened
equipped to transmit the film soundtrack
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAR IFORD — The Summer Cinema
through car radios, thereby eliminating Series at Trinity College, a
HAWAII
continuing program
of vintage attractions
TOO.
speakers and posts. As described by Mueller.
When you come to Waikiki,
screened in the
bjjjtfjujv^' don't miss the famous
[haWaVi] Show. .
. at
portedly can be received only on solid-state "Battling Butler," in which loading man
[ J Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
IN WAIKIKI: REEF . REEF TOWERS EOGEWATER radios (installed in autos made since 1962). Buster Keaton directed him.sclf. The showing
was accompanied by "live" piano music.
- which cause only minimal battery drain.
the signals are transmitted via a cable which Life Sciences Center with $1 admission for
runs under a theatre ramp. The sound re-
all patrons, .screened a 1926 silent release,
NC-2 BOXOFFICE August 1975