Boxoffice-August.02.1976

It
CALGARY
Qwcii Hooper and his sl;ill at ihc Alberta
Censor Board in Edmonton spent a
busy month in June viewing a total of 35
feature films, although eight with running
times of 50 or 60 minutes were hardly epic
length. The family classification claimed
only three of the pictures; five were in the
adult grouping; six in
the adult not-suitablefor-children
category, and the balance (21
films) in the restricted adult division. For
the first time in a number of months there
were no warnings on any of the movies.
Marden Films submitted a total of six features,
with Danton Films sending in five.
Several film personalities took part Sunday.
July 11. in various religious services
with merchandise destined for a local department
store. Eight persons have been
arrested and most of the goods recovered.
No films were on the hijacked units.
Back at the grind after a short vacation
spent in Vancouver is Vern Haraldson,
branch manager of United Artists Corp.
Vern reports Vancouver as beautiful as
ever; however, the rains chased him home.
While the Stampede was in full swing
here. Edmonton was showing many films
with a western flavor at the Provincial
Museum. A matinee was presented each
afternoon of the week and included in the
movies were "Stampede Fever," "Calgary:
Your Invitation." "Hard Rider," "One Little
Indian," "Settlement of the Western
Plains," "Stampede," "Corral." "Stampede
Fever" and others, enough to keep any
western buff happy.
Cy Davies, branch manager for International
Film Distributors, is back from a
business trip to Winnipeg and reports several
hot days spent in that city. Temperatures
hovered around the high 80s. But in
spite of the heat. Cy reported a successful
jaunt.
in this city. Assisting in the morning service
at Immanuel Assembly of God Church was Another Calgarian who has been active
Redd Harper, who has acted in a number in films south of the border is Mrs. A.
of westerns and starred in Billy Graham's Clark. 1959 Stampede Princess Margaret
production of "Mr. Texas." Wilbur Plaugher Powell. While here to visit her mother and
helped with the First Church of the Nazarene
service. They presented "Hallelujah everyone up-to-date on her activities and
to take in the festivities. Marg brought
Heritage," with special guest star Dale family. Since settling down in San Francisco
four years ago, she has had roles in
Evans.
movies and TV as well as doing various
Gow's Theatre Express here has been victimized
twice in the past three months by
commercials. She has worked in the "Streets
of San Francisco" series and has had parts
thieves who each time stole a trailer filled
in "The Towering Inferno," "Killer Elite"
Production Upswing Noted
In Province of Ontario
TORONTO—The production
of Canadian
feature films is on the upswing again
after being in the doldrums for several
months. "Rituals," an all-male adventure
story which toplines Hal Holbrook, currently
is filming in northern Ontario. Also in
the cast are Robin Gammell, Ken James,
Gary Reineke, Chris Wiggins, Murray West-
S^ y^ATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE
^^
^ NEW TEICHNIKOTE
S SCREENS ^
^ ]|[|{L (LENTICULAR) ^^
^ JET
WHITE & PEARLESCENT §>
yrJj'V Availoble from your authorized
'^iSii^ Theatre Equipment Supply Dealer
Inc. InCHNIKOTE CORP. 43 S.obrlns St., 6-klvr, :3•^^l
and "Family Plot."
Had a cheery word with Sam Binder,
supervisor for Canadian Theatres in Edmonton,
July 12 . . . Warner
Bros.' feature
"Blazing Saddles" is garnering a lot of free
advertising locally while it plays in two indoor
theatres and one drive-in. A store advertised
"Blazing Savings" and a motor
hotel is featuring a drink called "Blazing
Saddle"—one and one-quarter ounces each
of tequila, orange juice and grenadine.
gate, Michael Zennon and Larry Dane.
Dane also is producer of the film, which
reunites him with director Peter Carter who
performed similar duties for Gordon Pinsent's
"The Rowdyman." The picture has a
budget of $500,000, with half of this
amount coming from the Canadian Film
Development Corp. Astral Films also is financing
the project.
Going before the cameras immediately at
the Kleinburg Studios near Toronto is "Welcome
to Blood City." This Canadian-Anglo
co-production was made possible by a recently
signed agreement between Canada
and the United Kingdom. The film is a
futuristic adventure and its budget is pegged
at $900,000.
Behind the project is Ambassador Films
of Toronto and England's EMI, as well as
Amicus Films. Investors also include Famous
Players, with 70 per cent of the financing
coming from Canada and the rest from
England.
The cast includes Jack Palance, Samantha
Eggars. Joseph Bottoms, Hollis McLaren,
Barry Morse, Henry Ramer, Chuck Shamata,
John Evans and Eric Clavering.
Seven Situations Rale
Edmonton 'Excellent'
EDMONTON—In a generally up-tempo
week, most exhibitors called in "fair" to
"good" scores with seven situations rating
"excellent." Among the upper crust were:
"Midway," an "excellent" draw for its third
showing at the Avenue; "Murder by Death,"
pacing its second round at the Meadowlark
and Rialto 1; "The Omen," the Westmount
A feature for the second week, and "Ode
to Billy Joe," selling tickets for a second
outing at Towne Cinema.
Avenue—Midway (Univ), 3rd wk Excellent
Capilano—The Duchess and the Dirtwaler Fox
(BVFD), 2nd wk -Fair
Capitol Square 1—The Big Bus (Parj), ^nd wk. Fair
Capitol Square 2—Logan's Run (UA),
2nd wk.
Capitol Square 3—The < Scout and Cathouse
Thursday (AFD), 2nd
Good
Garneau—One Flew O' the Cuckoo's Nest
(UA), 18th wk.
Meadowlark. Rialto 1—Murder by Death
(Astral), 2nd wk, .
Odeon 1—Mother, Jugs & Speed (BVFD),
Odeon 2—The Sailor Fell From Grace
With the Sea (Astral), 4th wk Very Good
Paramount—Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or
Sitting Bull's History Lesson (UA), 3rd wk Good
Plaza 1—End of the Game (BVFD) Poor
2, Plaza Rialto 2—Drive-In (Astral) Good
Towne Cmema-Ode to Billy Joe (WB),
2nd wk Excellent
Varscona—Hedda IIFD), 3rd wk Fair
Westmount A—The Omen (BVFD), 2nd wk Excellent
Westmount B—The Bad News Bears (Para),
13th wk Excellent
'The Omen,' 4 Others
'Excellent' in Winnipeg
WINNIPEG—Grosses improved this
week with five situations rated "excellent."
Included in the top handful were: "The
Omen," on the Capitol screen for its third
week; "The Outlaw Josey Wales," bowing
in at the Metropolitan; "Logan's Run,"
marking its third outing at Northstar I;
"Ode to Billy Joe," wrapping up its third
stanza at Northstar II; "Murder by Death,"
providing the chuckles for its third spin at
the Odeon, and "Mother, Jugs & Speed,"
premiering at Polo Park.
Capitol—The Omen (BVFD), 3rd wk Excellent
Colony—The Great Scout and Cathouse Thursday
(Astral) Very Good
Convention Ce.Tlre- Midway (Univ)
Dovi Hors The Hand of
Plea (PR) Average
Garrick 1—Baby Blue Marine (Astral), 2nd wk, „Fair
Garrick II—Silent Movie (BVFD), 2nd wk Very Good
Grant Park—The Ups and Downs of a Handyman
(PR)
Good
Kings—The Middle of the World (PR) Average
MelrODohlan—The Outlaw Josey Wales
(WB)
Excellent
Northstar 1— Logan's Run (UA), 3rd wk Excellent
Northstar 11—Ode to Billy Joe (WB)
3rd wk Excellent
Ode^n—Murder by Death (Astral)
Sidney Poitier will return to First Artists
for a sequel to "Let's Do It Again."
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come toWaikiki
"^""'^ "^'^^ '^^ famous
BlMlnClIll
^Awuil Don Ho Show. . at
.
["SreLs
l Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
IN WAIKIKI: REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER
August 2. 1976