Boxoffice-August.11.1975

. . ABC-TV
. . The
. . Public
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HARTFORD
Qarmen J. Meile. managing director of
Redstone Theatres" Showcase Cinemas
IV. East Hartford, and Beverly Allen, with
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Division. United
Technologies Corp. (formerly United Aircraft
Corp.). were married and left on a
honeymoon trip to Bermuda.
James Parker, assistant manager, same
Redstone complex, was on the job. showman-plus,
despite a neckbrace. the result of
a beach mishap . carried a July
22 repeat airing on "Let's Switch!" comedy
co-authored by Ruth Brooks Flippen. cashier
at E.M. Loew's Theatre. Hartford, many
years ago. Barbara Eden and Barbara
Feldon co-starred in the Universal-TV production,
initially seen last January . . . The
Mansfield Drive-In, Mansfield, had "Thumper
the Rabbit" at its boxoffice in conjunction
with repeat showings of Buena Vista's
"Bambi." on a double bill with same distributor's
"Superdad." The Thumper character
appears in the vintage animated cartoon.
The Mansfield underskyer has a flea
market Sundays.
Gil Gerard, star of NBC-TVs "The Doctors."
weekday soap opera, was in town,
recording TV commercials for the Southern
New England Telephone Co. He told newspaper
interviewers that he was also working
in "The Taxicab Driver." co-starring Cybill
Shepherd and Robert DeNiro. on New York
locations for director Martin Scorcese and
Columbia Pictures. "I hope this will prove
the turning point as far as motion pictures
are concerned for me." Gerard continued.
"I've done half a dozen, none of them
despite producer intentions—of any distinction."
The Roger's Comer Drive-In, Pleasant
Valley, joined the ever-increasing number of
underskyers charging 99 cents admission
Mondays and Tuesdays . access
cable TV will be available in Torrington by
.
October, according to a spokesman for
Laurel Cablevision Midtown, Norwich,
ran a four-feature Beatles vintage program
("Help!" "A Hard Day's Night." "Let
It Be" and "Yellow Submarine") on two
recent weekend evenings, beginning at midnight
and charging 99 cents for all patrons.
For good measure, the same cinema scheduled
reprise showings of Columbia's "Let
Ihe Good Times Roll." at weekend matinees,
w'th same admission tab in effect.
The UA Grolun Cinema, Groton. captioning
holdover ads for Univcrsal's "Jaws"
with the words "The Film That Is Making
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO. wj^'
When you come to Waikiki, ^^"^^
don't miss the famous
8lI3fE)i!^
Don JHAWAnl
Ho Show.
[HOTELS) Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
Lifeguards' Job A Breeze." offered patrons
their own "Jaws" plastic soda cup with a
choice of soft drinks. The theatre also put
on sale a limited quantity of "Jaws" T-
shirts. The words ""Going Swimming?" were
used adjacent to the cinema's logo in daily
newspaper ads.
Paul Newman (he and actress wife Joanne
Woodward maintain residence in downstate
Westport) placed second in the B-sedan race
at Lime Rock over a recent weekend.
The Ferguson-Paul Cinema, Kensington,
and Plaza, Windsor, are on a 99 cents policy
at all times, with advertising asserting,
"Every Big Picture Will Play Here For
Only 99 cents! Wait and Save!"'
NEW BRITAIN
^^r. and Mrs. John Jiles Pierce, son-in-law
and daughter of Capt. (ret) and Mrs.
Herman E. Miller left Houston, Tex., with
their family to live in their new home at
17022 Tibet St., Friendswood, Tex. Mrs.
Miller is a member of the Perakos family,
owners and operators of the Perakos exhibition
interests here.
The William Brown Centre Mall Cinemas
II. Bristol, out a new 99 cents admission
policy into effect for Mondays and Tuesdays.
The twin complex has a "'new look"
in daily newspaper ad logo, with greater
emrhasis on the identity. Cinema I & II,
and location, downtown Bristol.
Berlin's Peck IVIeniorial Library offered
a free film program, containing vintage footage
of "name" screen comedians, the other
afternoon at 3:30 p.m.. with the public invited.
Mrs. Urania Perakos of the Perakos exhibition
family is serving on the board of
directors of New Britain General Hospital:
she holds title of president, hospital auxiliary.
Rothman to New Post
.STAMFORD. CONN,—Steve
Rothman,
formerly director of public relations. Stage
West, the West Springfield, Mass.. professional
repertory theatre, has been named director
of audience development and communications
at the newly-established Hartman
Theatre Co.. professional theatre company
situated in the former Palace Theatre
here. Previously, Rothman was assistant
managing director, Asolo State Theatre Co.,
Sarasota, Fla.
'Aloha' Playdates in NH
MAN(Hi:SIHR. N.H. -Columbia booked
"Aloha, Bobby and Rose" day-and-date
into the Casino, Hampton Beach: I.atchis,
Newport: Tri-City Cinema, Salem: and
Norlhriclil Drive-In. Winchester, backed b\
New Britain Suburban Law
Requires Fenced Drive-Ins
NEW BRITAIN—The recent U.S. Supreme
Court ruling that it is unconstitutio'al
for a city to impose a blanket prohibition
against the showing of films with
nude scenes at drive-ins prompted an
analysis, on page one in the New Britain
Herald, recalling the suburban Berlin drivein
ordinance.
The latter required outdoor theatres to
fence screens if showing X or R-rated attractions
or films advertised "for adults
only."
Berlin Mayor Arthur B. Powers, it was
noted, spearheaded an extensive effort to
establish the ordinance, forcing the Berlin
Drive-In to fence its screen in compliance.
John Perakos, assistant general manager
of the New Britain-headquartered Perakos
Theatres Associates, one of Connecticut's
largest independent circuits, was quoted,
too, in the New Britain Herald following
the nation's high court action.
'The Perakos Theatres," he was quoted
as saying, "constructed the large fence surroimding
their Plainville Drive-ln (to the
west of New Britain and not too many miles
from Berlin) solely for the viewing enjoyment
of their patrons.
"Traffic and other road lights," John
Perakos continued, "are a distraction to
enjoyable viewing in an outdoor movie.
"It has always been the policy to showacceptable
family entertainment at the
Perakos drive-in theatres, as it is believed
that the very nature of a drive-in theatre
is for family viewing," he was quoted as
saying.
Hartford Ponders Renewal
Project to Contain Cinemas
HARTFORD—A projected $25-million
urban renewal development, to include film
theatres, came under close scrutiny at a
Hartford Redevelopment Agency public
hearing.
The development would be situated in the
Asylum-TrumbuU-Main Streets aiiea of
downtown Hartford: the tract at one time
contained the now-demoli.shed 1900-.seat
ABC Allyn, E.M. Loew's 1500-seat E.M.
Loew's and Harold Konover's 1300-seat
Strand.
The agency staff, under questioning from
merchants and property-owners, admitted
there was no specific projection for what
tax benefits the city would receive from the
proposed development.
But redevelopment planner David Mann
countered with the remark that a study of
the area under di.scussion over the past 10
years indicated property values bad stagnated,
then declined— pointing to the obvious
need for something to be done.
The tract is across the .street from the
$.30..S-million Hartford Civic Center, which
became operational January 9.
The development is subject to City Council
approval.
And what interests would operate the
cinemas—number as vet undisclosed
would h.ivc [o be dclcrn'iined b\ the llarliord
Kedevelopnieiil AuencN.
.\ugus 975