Boxoffice-November.01.1976

YOU'VE READ ABOUT IT. 

NOW SEE IT- 

STARRING EARL OWENSBY, MONIOUE PROULX, PHILLIP LANIER, RON HAMPKIN. HUSiC BY ARTHUR AND CLAY SMITH. 

WRITTEN BY HOWARD LEE. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY. JERRY CROWOER. PRODUCER EARL OWENSBY. DIRECTED BY 

P. 

JIMMY 

0. 

HUSTON. C TECHNICOLOR. BOX 184 

704-4B2-0611

. 

P^RIETY Tells It Like It Is! 

NORMAN ... Boston— Sockeroo.' 

NORMAN ... Seattle- Brawny! 

NORNAN ...Detroit- FatJ 

NORMAN ... Pittsburgh -Strong! 

MOMMAM...Philadelphia -Whopping! 

NOKIHAN...San Francisco-Boffo! 

NORIHAN... Minneapolis -Torrid! 

NORMAN ...New^ York -Rousing! 

NORMAN-.-LosAnge/es-Hotf 

NOBIHAN...Cfiicago-Wbw; 

NORMAN.. 

II mJkM YOU! 

Total boxoffice gross to date- 57 cities U.S. and Canada 

MGM 

Released thru 

United Artists 

A Transamerica Company

; ruce 

' 

Audit 

liTIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

I 

uUI-' In Nine Sectional Editions 

-^N SHLYEN 

;n-Chief and Publisher 

It LYEN Managinj Editor 

!Ri;:3CHL0ZMAN ...Business Mgr. 

IiBRICK 

Equipment Editor 

AMINSKY Western Editor 

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(ila

Paramounts Two-Day National Marketing Session 

In KC Focuses on Upcoming Blockbuster Releases 

KANSAS CITY—Paramount Pictures' motion picture division 

held a national marketing seminar for its regional advertising agencies 

and field staff at the Crown Center Hotel here October 26-27. 

spent on TV promos, in addition to full-color ads in various magazines 

and children's comics and a 1,242-foot-high display on the 

side of the Loews Building in New York City. Five hundred 10-ft.- 

tall lobby standees of "Kong" are available for the theatres where 

the epic is premiering, plus 40-inch stuffed "Kong" toys, to be used 

as giveaways for special radio promotions. 

'Kong' Featured in 

Magazines 

fMdrk^^^ 

David V. Picker Gordon Weaver Steve Rose 

The two-day session included screenings of "Islands in the 

Stream," "The Last Tycoon" and "Bugsy Malone," with details of 

their advertising campaigns, in addition to the presentation of the 

complete marketing strategy for "King Kong," the company's 

Christmas release. 

Top Executives Preside 

The opening seminar, which dealt with "King Kong" and revised 

ads on "Marathon Man," was presided over by a panel comprised 

of the division's top executives: David V. Picker, vice-chairman 

of the board; Gordon Weaver, vice-president/ marketing; Cathi 

Polich, executive director of publicity; Jeff Katzenberg, executive 

director of marketing for administration; Steve Rose, executive 

director of advertising; Dick Ingber, director of field advertising; 

Mildred Collins, director of special projects; and Julian Schlossberg, 

vice-president. Paramount Pictures Corp. 

Prior to showing the trailer and TV spots for "King Kong," 

new "Marathon Man" ads, stressing action, were displayed. A brief 

discussion took place about gearing ads to special interests and individual 

communities. The panel and field representatives also covered 

the relative merits of "review" ads, quoting national and/or local 

critics. The majority favored local writers, who were better known 

in their respective locales. 

Panel members quoted research and statistics which showed that 

60-68 per cent of those who attended films were influenced by 

newspaper ads, as opposed to 30-44 per cent who attended due to 

TV spots. 

The "Kong" network TV time schedule was furnished each representative, 

with the information that over $1 million was being 

Ms. Polich gave a brief outline of the numerous magazines and 

newspapers which have done special features on "King Kong," and 

cited several others which are in the works. Each member of the 

field staff was furnished with the October 25 issue of Time Magazine, 

which carried a cover story on the Dino De Laurentiis presentation, 

consisting of seven pages of text and full-color illustrations 

of scenes from the film. 

Katzenberg reminded seminar participants that National Screen 

Service was now carrying all Paramount publicity materials and 

that they should check with NSS well in advance of a film's opening 

in order to have trailers and one-sheets on hand. 

Picker emphasized an earlier point, that there were to be "no 

benefits, previews or premieres" for "Kong," or any other Paramount 

picture, without his express permission. He concluded that 

"This picture is for the people" and "it will be a race against time 

to make a thousand prints"for the December 17 openings. 

The Tuesday afternoon session was conducted by Ms. Collins, 

who introduced "King Kong" tie-in participants, which included 

representatives from Sedgefield Sportswear Corp., James Beam Distilling 

Corp., 7-11 Stores, Schrafft's Candy, Simon & Schuster Publications, 

GAP Corp. and Warner Records. Discussions also were 

held on licensing items. 

Promotion Activity 

Stressed 

Individual meetings followed, with Ms. Collins and Schlossberg 

discussing further tie-ins; Rose and Ingber handling advertising 

plans, and promotion activity stressed by Weaver and Katzenberg. 

Wednesday morning's discussion was devoted to marketing ideas 

on "Islands in the Stream," based on an Ernest Hemingway story 

and starring George C. Scott. A preluncheon screening of "The 

Last Tycoon" followed. 

The afternoon seminar covered marketing techniques for "Tycoon," 

with all of Paramount's key executives in attendance to discuss 

book tie-ins, McCall's Magazine promotion, advertising campaigns, 

publicity and possible celebrity tours. 

Over 80 Paramount representatives were on hand for the intensified 

two-day conclave. 

Picker, Eisner Named 

To Key Posts at Para. 

NEW YORK—Barry Diller, chairman 

and chief executive officer of Paramount 

Pictures Corp., announced 

October 25 

that David V. Picker 

had been named vicechairman 

of the corporation. 

Picker will 

continue to serve as 

president of the motion 

picture division. 

Diller further announced 

that Michael 

^ ^ D. Eisner had been 

Michael D. Eisner 

„^^^j president and 

chief operating officer of the corporation 

with all divisions, other than motion pictures, 

reporting directly to him. Within the 

motion picture division, Eisner will be responsible 

for all creative affairs. He will assume 

his new position Monday (15). 

Picker was an independent producer when 

he became president of the motion picture 

division of Paramount Pictures and executive 

vice-president of the corjwration Jan. 

26, 1976. Previously, he was associated 

with United Artists for 15 years and was 

president of UA from 1969-1973. 

Prior to joining Paramount, Michael D. 

Eisner was senior vice-president, prime time 

production and development, for ABC Entertainment. 

Paramount Appoints Mark 

To Marketing Liaison Post 

NEW YORK—Laurence Mark has been 

appointed marketing/ production liaison director 

of the motion picture division of 

Paramount, Gordon Weaver, vice-presidentmarketing, 

announced. 

Mark will 

be responsible for a variety of 

special projects on both coasts and will be 

working with producers, directors and casts 

of Paramount releases in developing marketing 

concepts. He will report directly to 

Weaver. 

He began his career as an executive 

trainee with United Artists. 

'The Companion' Scoring 

Is Completed in London 

HOLLYWOOD — Hugo Friedhofer's 

score for "The Companion," Ocean Associates' 

90-minute suspense drama, recently 

was completed in London, England, with 

members of the National Philharmonic. 

Friedhofer's score for "A Walk in the Forest" 

won the Oscar for "best musical score" 

in 1975. Director of photography for "The 

Companion" was Michael Lonzo, who was 

cinematographer for "A Walk in the 

Forest." 

BOXOFFICE November 1. 1976

^\j^JIJg^^^^ 

1ST 5 DAYS 

NEW YORK- Cinema 1 $29,500 

1ST 3 DAYS 

CHICAGO • Hillside 

$18,821 

1ST 3 DAYS 

LOS ANGELES • Fox Wilshire $24,311 

TORONTO • Varsity $15,162 

SAN FRANCISCO • Royal $12,000 

BOSTON • Cheri $14,704 

CHICAGO • Coral 

CHICAGO • McClurg 

CHICAGO • Edens 

DALLAS 

Northpark 

ATLANTA • Loew's 12 Oaks 

IN CONCERT AND BEYOND 

^1 

$20,041 

$16,630 

$14,294 

$11,062 

$ 9,621 

JOHN BONHAM JOHN PAUL JONES JIMMY PAGE- ROBERT PLANT 

CONCERT SEQUENCES FILMED AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 

SOUNDTRACK ALBUM AVAILABLE ON SWAN SONG RECORDS AND TAPES 

From Warner Bros5^3 I A Warner Communicalions Company 

DISTRIBUTED BY ATLANTIC RECORDS 

X3f\ 

irLrl, .„ 

PMENTAl PMENTAICU GUIDANCE SUCGESTH) SS- 

BOXOFHCE :: November 1, 1976

WCI Debenture Offer 

Announced in Circular 

NEW YORK—Warner Communications, 

Inc., announced it had mailed an offering 

circular in connection with its previously announced 

tender of shares of its common 

stock and Series D convertible preferred 

stock in exchange for a 20-year subordinated 

sinking fund detsenture. 

According to the terms of the tender 

offer, $27.75 principal amount of debentures, 

bearing at the rate of 9 1/8 per cent 

per annum, would be exchanged for each 

common share tendered, and $54.50 principal 

amount of debentures for each Series 

D share. WCI previously had stated that 

it would accept any and all shares tendered 

up to 2,000,000 common shares (including 

Series D shares as the equivalent of two 

common shares) and would reserve the right 

to accept shares tendered in excess of 2- 

000,000 shares. 

The initial expiration date, unless extended, 

was fixed at 5 p.m. (EST) October 15. 

WCI has filed an application under the trust 

indenture act with the Securities and Exchange 

Commission to qualify the indenture, 

under which the debentures are to be issued. 

No shares tendered will be accepted until 

after such application is effective and the 

offer will be extended, if necessary, until 

at least three business days after such effective 

date. 

$1 Million-Plus to Uris 

For Rights to 'Trinity' 

HOLLYWOOD—Author Leon Uris will 

be paid $1,000,000 and will receive a percentage 

of the profits from the film to be 

made of his book "Trinity" under a deal 

with producer Fred Brogger and the newly 

formed Trinity Film Distributers, a subsidiary 

of Video Program Services, based in 

Toronto. 

Uris said he decided to join in independent 

film production because it was the only way 

for a writer to maintain control over his 

work as a writer. Under the agreement with 

Brogger, Uris will write the screenplay and 

will retain much of the artistic control over 

the project. 

The picture will be budgeted in the area 

of $12,000,000 and is expected to result in 

the largest-ever distribution deal for a feature 

in Canada. 

Production is expected to get under way 

next fall in Ireland, Newfoundland and Nova 

Scotia. Release is set for the fall of 1978. 

"Trinity" spans Irish history from the 

great famine of the 1 840s to the Easter uprising 

in 1916. 

AIP's 'Squirm/ 'Food' Are 

Big Boxoffice in England 

BEVERLY HILLS— 'H. G. Wells' 'The 

Food of the Gods' and 'Squirm' are two 

of the highest grossing films American International 

has had in England in years," 

Jules Stein, vice-president in charge of international 

sales and distribution of American 

International Pictures Export Corp., has 

announced. 

" 'The Food of the Gods' opened in the 

Midlands to staggering figures, near the 

'Jaws' and 'The Omen' level. And there was 

a huge holdover for 'Squirm' in both the 

Yorkshire and Tyne-Tees areas," said Stein. 

Three other AIP features soon will go 

into release in England through Brent 

Walker Film Distributors, "The Great Scout 

and Cathouse Thursday," "Futureworld" 

and "A Small Town in Texas." 

Universal Developing 'FM' 

NEW YORK— "FM," an original 

screenplay 

by Ezra Sacks, is being developed for 

production by Universal, it has been announced 

by Ned Tanen, president of Universal 

theatrical motion pictures. Supervising 

the project is Verna Fields, Universal 

vice-president. 

'Shout at the Devil' Bows 

Across U.S. November 5 

BEVERLY HILLS—American International 

Pictures' "Shout at the Devil," starring 

Lee Marvin, Roger Moore and Barbara 

Parkins, is slated for nationwide openings 

Friday (5). The $10 million Michael Klinger 

production is the story of one very rowdy 

Irish-American ivory poacher, played by 

Marvin. 

Peter Hunt directed "Shout at 

the Devil," 

said to be the most expensive independent 

production ever made. It was filmed entirely 

on location in Africa and Malta and is based 

on the best-selling novel by Wilbur Smith, 

who adapted his story from a true incident. 

A Samuel Z. Arkoff presentation, "Shout 

at the Devil" was filmed in Panavision and 

Technicolor. The film's music was composed 

and conducted by Academy Award winner 

Maurice Jarre. 

Carl Foreman an Honoree 

At Festival of Americas 

ST. THOMAS, V.I.—Carl Foreman, 

screenwriter, producer and director, will be 

honored with a special tribute at this year's 

ninth annual Festival of the Americas, the 

international film festival in the Virgin 

Islands, Friday (12) through Sunday (21). 

In making the announcement, J. Hunter 

Todd, festival founder and president, said, 

"We are honored (that Foreman) has agreed 

His participation will 

to be with us . . . 

constitute a major contribution to the success 

of this year's festival." 

Four of Foreman's films will 

be screened 

at the festival: "High Noon," "The Guns of 

Navarone," "The Victors" and "Young 

Winston." The director will conduct a series 

of seminars in conjunction with the screenings. 

UA's 'Burnt Offerings' Has 

$1,568,920 in Two Weeks 

CULVER CITY—"Burnt Offerings," a 

Gothic tale of horror, has racked up a blazing 

gross of $1,568,920 in its initial engagements 

across the country. United Artists 

senior vice-president James R. Velde has 

reported. 

In the New York area alone, the Dan 

Curtis production starring Oliver Reed and 

Karen Black scored more than $458,000 in 

its first week at 58 theatres. 

A PEA Films, Inc., presentation, "Burnt 

Offerings" co-stars Burgess Meredith, Eileen 

Heckart, Lee Montgomery, Dub Taylor and 

Bette Davis. 

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL DECOR—The appropriately decorated 

Grand Ballroom at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif., caught the attention 

of delegates at the AlP-hosted NATO confab opening luncheon. The motif concentrated 

on upcoming film product from American International Pictures. 

Dimension Slates March 

Release for 'Zarkoff Film 

LOS ANGELES — Dimension Pictures 

president Lawrence H. Woolner has announced 

that the film "Zarkoff-Half Man, 

Half Beast," currently in production in the 

Philippines, will be released in March. The 

film is from the H.G. Wells book "Zarkoff." 

Cirio Santiago is producer-director. 

BOXOFFICE November 1, 1976

Equus' Filming Under Way 

On Toronto Studio Set 

TORONTO—Peter Shaffer's prize-winning 

stage hit "Equus," adapted by the playwright 

for the screen, is being filmed in 

Toronto under the direction of Sidney Lull 

et. 

Richard Burton stars in the United Artists 

tilm as Dr. Martin Dysart, recreating the 

role he portrayed on Broadway for 12 rec- 

,ird-breaking weeks. Peter Firth, who also 

appeared in the Broadway play as the disturbed 

young man Alan Strang, will rejoin 

Burton in the film. 

Others in the cast are Joan Plowright, 

Colin Blakely, Jenny Agutter, Eileen Atkins, 

Harry Adams and John Wyman. Director of 

photography is Oswald Morris and producers 

are Lester Persky and Elliott Kastner. 

"Equus" continues to be a stage attraction, 

playing for the fourth year in London, 

and still playing on Broadway where it 

opened in October 1974. There are three 

companies in the U.S. performing it, including 

the New York cast, a Los Angeles company 

and a touring one. 

Filming is under way at the Toronto International 

Filming Studios with various locations 

set for countryside scenes. 

Ten Are Prize Winners 

In Will Rogers Drawing 

ANAHEIM—Ten ticket holders won 

prizes in the annual Will Rogers Institute 

drawing, conducted during the recent National 

Ass'n of Theatre Owners' convention 

here. 

The ten winning raffle tickets were drawn 

during a luncheon hosted by Sunn Classic 

Pictures. The top prizes, two 1977 Ford 

Pintos. were selected by NATO president 

T.G. Solomon and Raylan Jensen, vice-president 

of Sunn Classic. 

Winning the Pintos were Helen Devoy, 

Calumet Park. III., and Vincent Dalessandro. 

Jersey City, N.J. Other prizes and winners. 

in order, are: Toshiba color TV, John H. 

Rowley, Rowley United Theatres, Dallas, 

Tex.; GE microwave oven, Albert Weis, 

Weis Theatres, Savannah, Ga.; Smith-Colona 

typewriter, David Silverstein, Jericho, 

N.Y.; Johnson CB radio, Sumner Redstone, 

Boston; Johnson CB radio, Marshall Naify, 

San Francisco; Summit refrigerator. Hurley 

Screen Co., Farmingdale, N.Y.; Sony portable 

radio-cassette-recorder, Margaret Kvortek, 

Ellsworth, Pa., and Toshiba b/w TV, 

Ed Janezich. Chicago. 

Col/s 'Murder' and 'Taxi' 

Setting Records Abroad 

NEW YORK—Both "Murder by Death" 

and "Taxi Driver," two Columbia domestic 

hits which have become around-the-world 

winners, have been having especially successful 

early weeks in two major markets. 

Italy and Japan, according to Patrick M. 

Williamson, Columbia executive vice-president. 

"Murder by Death," in its first 1 1 days in 

Tokyo, has rolled up $251,600. At the same 

time in Italy, the gross has passed the $360,- 

000 figure after three weeks in Milan, Rome 

and Bologna and two weeks in Naples, 

Genoa and Turin. 

"Taxi Driver," in its initial nine days in 

Italy—in Milan, Turin and Genoa—has 

passed the $85,000 mark. The opening weekend 

in each city was a record-setter for the 

theatre, while in the second weekend the 

combined gross figure was only $1,200 behind 

that of the first weekend. In Japan, 

after 16 days in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, 

Kawasaki, Kobe and Kyoto, the boxoffice 

has reached $450,000. 

Ilollywood on Trial' Bow 

Is Scheduled by Lumiere 

CAMBRIDGE. MASS.—Lumiere Films 

has announced the acquisition of the documentary 

feature "Hollywood on Trial," a 

Stephen R. Friedman-Irwin Meyer-Peter 

Crane presentation of a James C. Gutman/ 

David Helpern jr. production. 

Larry Jackson and Terry Corey of Lumiere 

have slated a Wednesday (3) world 

premiere for the picture, which deals with 

the "blacklist era." The inaugural unspooling 

will be held at the Orson Welles Cinema 

in Cambridge and the Charles Cinema in 

Boston. Other playdates are being set across 

the country. 

Well received at various festivals including 

Cannes, Mannheim, San Francisco and 

Toronto, "Hollywood on Trial" is narrated 

by John Huston. 

Richmond Is Ending Tour 

For 4 Embassy Releases 

NEW YORK—Mel Richmond, director 

of promotion and exploitation for Avco 

Embassy, has nearly completed the end of 

his extensive national tour for four major 

films of Associated General that Avco will 

release. 

Over the past two months, Richmond has 

visited the press in 50 key markets, planting 

advances on "Voyage of the Damned," "The 

Cassandra Crossing," "The Domino Principle," 

and "Cross of Iron," all ITC Entertainment 

films. A number of in-depth articles 

already have been published. 

Films Int'l Is Awarding 

Prizes in Promo Contest 

HOLLYWOOD — Films International 

staging a managers' "ballyhoo promotion 

award contest" through Jan. 15. 1977, to 

coincide with the national release of the 

World War II combo film program. "Sullivan's 

Marauders" and "The Liberators." 

In the competition, which began October 

15, Films International will award all managers 

a $25 U.S. Savings Bond each and 

every holdover week for the entire run of 

the action double bill. There also will be special 

grand merit awards for the best lobby 

d'splay and/ or innovative promotional angles 

by each theatre manager. 

Each field agent, in addition, will be entitled 

to bonus incentives based on rental 

figures in his exchange. 

is 

Warner Bros. Changes 

Ad-Publicily Operation 

NEW YORK—Warner Bros, publicityadvertising 

field organization has undergone 

a realignment to parallel 

the company's domestic 

sales organization and increase coordination. 

Arthur Manson, vice-president, worldwide 

advertising and publicity, announced 

the realignment. Three new regional supervisors 

will oversee publicity-advertising 

operations, reporting to Leo Wilder, national 

director of field activities whose headquarters 

are at the Burbank Studios. 

Promoted to the new regional publicityadvertising 

posts for the East, West and 

South, respectively, are Lige Brien, former 

New York field representative; Bob Frederick, 

who also will continue to handle the 

company's radio/TV publicity in Burbank, 

and Don Williamson, former Dallas field 

representative. Joining them in regional supervision 

are Al Dubin and Frank Casey, 

who continue as advertising-publicity directors 

for Canada and Chicago, respectively. 

The regional supervisors will coordinate 

their activities with those of the company's 

Eastern, Western and Southern sales managers, 

who head the company's regional sales 

organizations under Terry Semel, vice-president 

and general sales manager. 

Brien, based in New York, will coordinate 

with Eastern sales manager Ralph lannuzzi. 

Field representatives in Brien's region include 

Irving Blumberg, Philadelphia; Karl 

Fasick and Floyd Fitzsimmons, Boston; 

Chet Friedman, Cincinnati; Ernie Johnston, 

Washington. D.C.; Jacques Kahn and Carol 

Sloan, Pittsburgh; John Thompson, Baltimore, 

and Bruce Stern, Cleveland. 

Frederick, whose headquarters are at the 

Burbank Studios, will work with Western 

sales manager Milton Charnas. Field representatives 

in the Western region include 

Marty Weiser, Los Angeles; Bill Lanese, San 

Francisco; Jo Ann Sherman, Denver; Rodney 

Grubb, Minneapolis, and Woody 

Praught, Detroit. 

Williamson, whose office is in Dallas, will 

join with Southern sales manager Ed Williamson 

and will supervise field representatives 

Michael Parver, Atlanta; Max Wolkoff, 

Miami; Kit Murray, New Orleans; Dan 

Meyers, Kansas City, and Jerry Berger, St. 

Louis. 

Eastern regional representatives met in 

New York October 25-26 in the first of three 

regional conclaves to discuss forthcoming 

product. Manson presided at the two-day 

gathering and at subsequent meetings in 

Dallas and Burbank. 

Dimension Rereleases Are 

Triple-Feature Package 

HOLLYWOOD — Dimension 

Pictures 

president Lawrence H. Woolner has set the 

rerelease of three features under the title of 

"Stay Up All Night Triple Header." The 

films are "Single Girls." "Working Girls" 

and "Group Marriage." 

BOXOFHCE :: November 1, 1976

- 

' 

| 

Mark Mathews to Golden 

As Assistant to Joe Mass 

HOLLYWOOD — Mark Mathews has 

been named to the new position of adminis- 

^_-,..- 

'^*?niH 

trative assistant to Jo- 

seph R. Mass, mar- 

l^^^ll^lQJIII^^Î 

keting director for 

Golden Films, according 

to an announcement 

issued by the 

company. Mathews 

will be based at the 

home office in Los 

Angeles where he will 

handle national cooperative 

advertising and 

Mark Mathews 

^-^^^ disbursement of 

publicity and exploitation materials on 

Golden's product. 

Mathews most recently was affiliated 

with Pacific Theatres, where he served as 

regional ad director for two years. 

Describing Mathews as "an important and 

valuable addition to Golden's management 

team," Mass added that Mathews emphasized 

the "new" approach to film marketing 

and said his knowledge, experience and marketing 

expertise "would fit into the finely 

outlined marketing program which is now 

under way." 

Filming in Holland Ends 

For 'A Bridge Too Far' 

DEVENTER, NETHERLANDS — Joseph 

E. Levine's presentation of "A Bridge 

Too Far," based on the Cornelius Ryan 

best-seller, has completed filming on schedule 

here after 133 days of location shooting 

with an all-star international cast. United 

Artists will release the film. 

Directed by Richard Attenborough and 

produced by Joseph E. Levine and Richard 

P. Levine, from a screenplay by William 

Goldman, "A Bridge Too Far" is the story 

of Operation Market Garden, the historic 

Allied airborne strike against German-occupied 

Holland in September 1944. 

Planned and executed as the largest airborne 

attack in modern military history. 

Operation Market Garden was launched to 

shorten the war against Germany by providing 

direct Allied access to the heartland 

-i^ 

Andy Warhol, left, congratulates 

star Kristinc 

DeBell and producer 

Bill Osco at the premiere 

of Osco's "Alice 

in Wonderland" in New 

York City. In its opening 

week, "Alice in 

Wonderland" grossed 

over $220,000 in New 

York and was still registering 

strong at the 

boxoffice at the end of 

the seventh round. 

^ 

of Germany via Holland. The Allies had to 

seize a series of strategic bridges, especially 

by the bridge at Arnhem over the Rhine. 

Total losses in dead and wounded for this 

savagely fought campaign were double those 

of the June 1944 D-Day landings in Normandy. 

Since the start of production in April, 

many famous actors have flown to Holland 

to perform in the principal roles, portraying 

Allied, German, and Dutch officers and enlisted 

men and members of the Dutch civilian 

underground who risked their lives in the 

Allied cause. Such familiar World War II 

names as U.S. Gen. James M. Gavin, German 

Field Marshal Von Rundstedt and 

British General Browning along with their 

various aides and other staff officers are depicted. 

Altogether, there were more than 100 

speaking parts in the film, which stars the 

following in alphabetical order: Dirk Bogard, 

James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean 

Connery, Elliott Gould, Gene Hackman, 

Anthony Hopkins, Hardy Kruger, Laurence 

Olivier, Ryan O'Neal, Robert Redford, Maximilian 

Schell and Liv Ullmann. 

'America on Film' Is Now 

In Production in Calif. 

HOLLYWOOD — "America on 

Film," 

a ten-minute newsreel "featurette" for theatrical 

release with Art Linkletter as hostnarrator, 

is now in production in Beverly 

Hills. Specially selected Fox Movietone footage 

is being prepared with Linkletter introducing 

each segment. 

Designed to implement movie house single 

and double-feature programing, "America 

on Film" draws on over 50 years of history 

captured by Movietone Newsreel in 

more than 100,000,000 feet of film. 

The first "America on Film" sequence 

was acclaimed by members of the National 

Theatre Owners Ass'n at a special showing 

during the recent NATO convention in Anaheim. 

Ben Siegel, in charge of sales for 

Atkins/ Gilbert Productions, reports lively 

interest and orders by circuit operators. 

Irvin S. Atkins and Elliot Bennett are coproducers. 

Robert L. Sande is in charge of 

production and Art Lauring has been appointed 

narration supervisor. 

WCI Has Record Earnings. 

Income in Third Quarter 

NEW YORK—Warner Communications, 

Inc., set third-quarter records in net income 

and earnings per share in the three months 

ended Sept. 30, 1976. Net income of $15,- 

540,000 was 24 per cent above the $12,512,- 

000 earned in 1975. Fully diluted earnings 

per share rose to 93 cents, 27 per cent higher 

than the 73 cents earned a year ago. 

Revenues of $188,438,000 showed a 

substantial 

increase from $165,839,000 last 

year. Average fully diluted shares outstanding 

during the third quarter of 1976 were 

16.877,000, compared to 17,243,000 in 

1975. 

For the first nine months of 1976, revenues, 

net income and earnings per share all 

rose to record levels. Revenues were $565 

014,000 against $491,807,000 in 1975. Nci 

income was $47,159,000, up 18 per cent 

from $40,084,000. Nine-month fully diluted 

earnings per share advanced to $2.80 

from $2.24. 

Commenting on these results, Steven .1. 

Ross, chairman, said, "Our excellent thirdquarter 

performance was the result of higher 

profits in all four of our major operating 

divisions. The recorded music and music 

publishing division had the best third quarter 

in its history, with revenues and pretax 

income both showing gains in comparison to 

last year's very strong third quarter. Filmed 

entertainment showed a modest gain in 

profits, with gains in domestic theatrical 

income being offset by reduced results from 

TV and foreign theatrical. WCI's publishing 

companies continued to generate profits 

after last year's losses; revenues, now all 

domestic, were above those of a year ago 

after deducting subsequently discontinued 

foreign operations from 1975 results. Cable 

TV had its seventh successive quarter of 

strong revenue and profit gains." 

DDP Officials in Europe 

For Foreign Sales Huddle 

NORTH HOLLYWOOD—Lyman Dayton, 

president of Doty-Dayton Productions, 

and Bill Madden, senior vice-president and 

general sales manager of Doty-Dayton Distributing, 

were in London, Milan and Rome 

late last month for negotiations and acquisition 

of foreign product. 

Dayton and Madden also discussed the 

foreign sales market for DDD's forthcoming 

; 

releases, "Pony Express Rider" and "Baker's 

Hawk." 

"It is with great expectation that we approached 

this trip," Dayton said, "as it 

proves the continual expansion and growing 

, 

acceptance of our company and the proven 

i 

need for family films throughout the world." 

MGM's 'Norman' Captures 

$3,072,344 in Openings 

NEW 

YORK—Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr's 

"Norman ... Is That You?" has rolled up 

a huge gross of $3,072,344 in 57 key cities 

throughout the U.S. and Canada, United 

Artists senior vice-president James R. Velde 

has announced. 

BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976

I 

as 

' 

Prior 

Meyer Hutner Appointed 

20th-Fox Publicity Director 

Ji BEVERLY HILLS—Meyer M. Hutner 

•has joined 20th Century-Fox as national 

PJ 

aublicity director, to be based in New Yoric, 

lonas Rosenfield jr., vice-president, worldtvide 

publicity, advertising and promotion, 

mnounced. 

In his new position, Hutner will coordinate 

East Coast publicity projects as well 

work with New York-based national 

Itnedia for all 20th-Fox films. 

to joining 20th-Fox, Hutner was 

Eastern coordinator of advertising and publlicity 

for Columbia. Previously he was director 

of worldwide publicity for United 

Artists and a vice-president of Filmways, 

Inc. A former newspaperman, Hutner has 

held executive positions at other major film 

companies. 

Compcmella Is Appointed 

To Pcffomount Corp. Post 

NEW YORK—Tom Campanella, director 

of finance and business affairs-marketing 

for Paramount Pictures Corp., will assume 

that title for the corporate division of 

Paramount effective immediately, it was 

announced by Robert Tansor, corpjorate 

vice-president-finance. 

Reporting directly to Tansor, Campanella 

also will continue with his responsibilities 

in the marketing group for Paramount. 

Campanella was appointed director of 

finance and business affairs-marketing in 

April 1976. having previously served as director 

of administration-advertising and 

publicity for Paramount. He joined Paramount 

in 1968 as assistant business manager 

and since then has worked for Paramount 

as assistant manager-general accounting, 

staff financial analyst and assistant to 

the director of business administrationadvertising 

and publicity. In 1974, he became 

business manager, advertising and 

publicity. 

Samuel Berns Dead at 66; 

Longtime Film Executive 

NEW YORK—Samuel Berns. 66. a motion 

picture and TV executive for more 

than 40 years, died here Friday, October 22. 

In recent years, he had been an independent 

packager of film and TV properties and a 

consultant and adviser to 

producers. At the 

time of his death, he was associated with 

Athena Films here. 

Berns was on the staff of Film Daily as 

editor, publicist and advertising manager 

^tarting in 1945. Following that, he held 

key positions with the Hollywood Reporter, 

Daily Variety, Quigley Publications and 

1 Hollywood Spotlight News. He headed a 

theatrical agency and also was connected 

with Mutual TV Productions and SIR Productions, 

Berns helped organize USO shows 

with the Hollywood Overseas Committee 

and functioned as a campaign coordinator 

for Columbia Pictures. 

He leaves his wife Ruth, also a film industry 

veteran; daughter, Jane Murphy; sonin-law 

Jerry Murphy, and grandchildren 

Caitlin, 3, and Noah Sam, two months. 

BOXOrnCE :: November 1, 1976 

GRAM) MARSHALS—Roy Rogers 

and Dale Evans have been named grand 

marshals for the 88th Pasadena Tournament 

of Roses Parade to be held New 

Year's Day 1977. "The Good Life" 

is the theme for the 1977 pageant, 

which will be telecast live at 8:30 a.m. 

PST. It is anticipated that the "King 

of the Cowboys" and the "Queen of the 

West" will be seen by more than 125,- 

000,000 in-person and TV viewers. 

After a long absence, Roy recently returned 

to the screen with the hit "Macintosh 

& T.J.," his 91st film. 

Technicolor Planning New 

Processing Center in UK 

LONDON—A modern motion picture 

film processing center, aiming for 50 per 

cent of Britain's color TV market within 

three years, is to be built by Technicolor at 

its West Drayton, London, site. 

Alan Sapper, general secretary of the 

Ass'n of Cinematographic, Television and 

Allied Technicians, has welcomed the £3,- 

000.000 investment as a boost for an industry 

which has existed for many months on 

a diet of uncertainty and job insecurity. 

In a Financial Times of London article 

by Ian Hargreaves, Bill Ingram, managing 

director of the United Kingdom Technicolor 

subsidiary said the company, 53.4 per cent 

of whose work is for export, now had an 

opportunity to take advantage of the sterling 

situation and develop markets currently 

served by processors in Germany, France, 

Spain and Scandinavia. 

The Financial Times said when its new 

premises are completed and in service at the 

end of 1978, Technicolor also will be moving 

into the United Kingdom color TV market. 

The company claims that one part of 

the new facility will provide three times the 

present total capacity of all United Kingdom 

laboratories processing 16mm film for 

TV. 

The chief area for expansions, though will 

be in commercial and educational film, the 

Financial Times article said. 

Dimension Buys Tomcats' 

HOLLYWOOD—Dimension Pictures has 

acquired "Tomcats," produced by Wayne 

Crawford and directed by Harry Kerwin, 

for spring release. Chris Mulkey and Polly 

King star in the film. 

Bette Davis to Receive 

Life Achievement Award 

BEVERLY HILLS—Bette Davis has been 

selected by the American Film Institute 

board of trustees to receive the AFI Life 

Achievement Award, to be presented to 

Ms. Davis at a dinner in Beverly Hills 

March 1, 1977. CBS-TV will telecast the 

awards ceremony nationally. 

The recipient of the Life Achievement 

Award is determined by vote of the AFI 

board of trustees. The award is presented 

to an individual "whose talent has in a 

fimdamental way contributed to the filmmaking 

art; whose accomplishments have 

been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional 

peers, and the general public, and 

whose work has stood the test of time." 

The four previous recipients of the Life 

Achievement Award were John Ford, James 

Cagney, Orson Welles and William Wyler. 

Ms. Davis has appeared in more than 80 

motion pictures since her first screen role 

in 1931. She has starred in such films as 

"Of Human Bondage," "The Petrified Forest," 

"Jezebel," "Dark Victory," "The Letter," 

"Now Voyager," "All About Eve" and 

"Whatever Happened to Baby Jane." 

AFI director George Stevens jr., in announcing 

the award, said, "Bette Davis was 

chosen for her surpassing talent which has 

enlivened motion picture screens for four 

decades and for her professional courage 

and independence which have marked her 

career." 

Exhibit at Academy Honors 

Adolph Zukor's Career 

BEVERLY HILLS—Mementos of the life 

and achievements of movie pioneer Adolph 

Zukor are being exhibited in the lobby of 

the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and 

Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre through 

December. 

The exhibit, which is not open to the 

public except in organized groups through 

prior special arrangements with the academy, 

includes Zukor's special Oscar, awarded in 

1949 for his contribution to the motion picture 

industry. 

Zukor's son Eugene loaned the academy 

many of the items displayed, including the 

Oscar; a scroll presented by the city of Los 

Angeles on the elder Zukor's 100th birthday 

in 1973; the French Legion of Honor Zukor 

received in 1931; a merit award presented 

in 1931 by the government of his native 

Hungary, and a distinguished achievement 

award bestowed in 1973 by President Richard 

M. Nixon. 

The academy exhibit also contains stills 

and posters from films produced by Zukor, 

as well as a book of original stills from 

"Queen Elizabeth," starring Sarah Bernhardt. 

In 1912, the French four-reeler on 

the British Queen was imported by Zukor, 

helping to establish him in the industry. 

This film launched the Famous Players 

Film Co., forerunner of Famous Players- 

Lasky Corp. and ultimately Paramount Pictures. 

Zukor was chairman of the board 

emeritus of Paramount at the time of his 

death June 10, 1976. 

9

Cinecita of Bombay Wins 

Special Export Award 

BOMBAY—Cinecita Pvt. Ltd.. manufacturer 

of theatre projection and sound equipment 

here, has been 

awarded a "first-ever 

special export award" 

by the Engineering 

Export Promotion 

Council of India. 

S. N. Agarwal, director 

of Cinecita and 

a radio-sound engineer 

and director, recently 

stopped in Boston for 

„ . 

^ a few days to consult 

S. IM. Agarwal ^-^^ equipment firms 

there. In an exclusive interview with Boxof- 

FicE, Agarwal reported on his business' latest 

activities and new products. 

Cinecita services, installs and manufactures 

several projectors, including the Hindustan-built 

Cinefones 35mm mobile, which 

has now been exported to 30 countries. 

The "special award" given to Cinecita is 

for its motion picture equipment, a nontraditional 

item in India's export trade. It 

was presented by the commerce minister of 

the government and was reported in the 

Economic Times of Bombay, equivalent to 

the Wall Street Journal in the U.S. 

Cinecita also is credited with installing 

equipment for India's first drive-in, reputedly 

one of the world's largest with a 170-foot 

screen and 1 200 car capacity. 

Agarwal and his family control five different 

companies in India and have been 

manufacturing high-quality equipment for 

the past 20 years. The equipment is sold 

worldwide and is available in the U.S. Headquarters 

are in Bombay with branches at 

Calcutta, Delhi and Madras. 

Agarwal is managing director of Cinerama 

Private Ltd. and his father M.P. Agarwal 

and brothers S.B. and Shreeprakash 

Agarwal are directors. This firm offers 

sound and projection equipment, service 

agreements and distributorship rights for 

U.S., European and Japanese manufacturers 

in India. 

Cinecita Pvt. Ltd., one of the other four 

firms in Agarwal's control, has been granted 

an industrial license for the manufacture of 

cinematographic equipment by the Indian 

government. Production of 35mm and 16mm 

equipment is already under way. In 1974 a 

second factory unit was set up in Bangalore 

by a third Agarwal firm, Monee & Co. Pvt. 

Cinecita also has been approved by the 

government to manufacture audio-visual 

equipment, including 8mm sound projectors, 

filmstrip and slide projectors, automatic 

slide 

projectors and overhead projectors. 

MOTION PICTURES RATED 

BY THE CODE & RATING 

ADMINISTRATION 

The following feature-length motion pictures 

have been reviewed and rated by the 

Code and Rating Administration pursuant 

to the Motion Picture Code and Rating 

Program. 

Titla Distributor Rating 

Carrie (UA) 

\r\ 

Joe Panther (Artists Creation) {g] 

Nightmare in Blood (Xeromega) \r\ 

A Session With the Committee (Ellman) PG 

Agarwal's other companies are Cinefones, 

of Bombay, and Cinefones Pvt. Ltd., of 

Delhi. Both import motion picture sound 

and projection equipment. 

Cinecita recently installed a complete 70- 

35mm system in the Sydney Opera House, 

considered one of the finest and largest 

opera houses in the world, Agarwal said. 

For more information, contact Cinecita 

Ptv. Ltd.. 1076 Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli, 

Bombay 18, India, or cable Cinecita Bombay. 

WOMPI Int'l 

Committee 

Chairpersons Armounced 

KANSAS CITY—Gladys Melson, president 

of WOMPI International, has announced 

the following 1976-77 international 

committee chairpersons: 

Memberhip, Dorothy Reeves, New York; 

bylaws, Doris Payne, Chicago; finance, 

Louise Cathy, Atlanta; extension, Sylvia 

Todd, Charlotte; publicity, Judy Helton, 

Kansas City; bulletin. Hazel Le Noir, Kansas 

City; industry service, Evelyn Gordon, 

Hollywood/ Los Angeles; Will Rogers, Myrtle 

Parker, Charlotte; historian, Lee Wise, 

Dallas, and sharing-and-caring, Lee Nickolaus. 

New Orleans. 

Searching for American quality 

hard-core-films for Western Germany 

William Wellman Jr. Inked 

For Role in 'MacArthur' 

NEW YORK—William Wellman jr. has 

been signed by producer Frank McCarthy 

for a role in the Richard D. Zanuck/ David 

Brown production for Universal of "Mac- 

Arthur," starring Gregory Peck and directed 

by Joseph Sargent. 

The actor son of the famed film director 

is cast as commander of the P-T boat that 

pierces the Japanese blockade to effect the 

World War II general's flight from Corregidor. 

He most recently faced cameras in 

"Billy Jack Goes to Washington." 

We ore a well-known film distributor for 35mm hord-corc-films in Western Germany 

and Interested In buying the rights of American films. 

Mr. Ulll Rotermund will stay in New York In the time between Dec. 12 and Dec. 16, 

1976 in order to have a look at U.S. films. Please contact us to appoint a date. 

Firma Beate Uhse Filmverleih, Gutenbergstr, 12, 2390 

Flensburg 

Western Germany 

Wometco Has Record Sales 

And Earnings in 9 Months 

MIAMI, FLA.—Wometco Enterprises has 

announced that primary per-share earnings 

rose 31 per cent to a record $1.17 in the 

nine-month (36-week) period ended September 

1 1, up from 89 cents in the corresponding 

nine months of 1975. 

Net income climbed 32 per cent to $10,- 

093,000 from $7,658,000 last year, while 

sales were up 15 per cent to $140,177,000 

from $121,594,000. 

Results 

Announced 

Wometco also announced record results 

quarter (12 weeks) ended 

for the third fiscal 

September 11. 

Primary per-share earnings in the third 

quarter moved up 16 per cent to 38.7 per 

cent, compared to 33.5 cents last year, while 

net income climbed 16 per cent to $3,333.- 

000 from $2,876,000 last year. 

Sales in the quarter were $49,987,000, an 

1 1 per cent increase over the $45,049,000 

registered in the similar 1975 period. 

Wometco president Mitchell Wolfson 

noted that the increases for the third-quarter 

and nine-month periods come on top ol 

record-breaking highs last year and not 

from low recession-based levels. 

Better 

Fourth Expected 

Entertainment division profits fell 27 per 

cent on a sales decline of 3 per cent, reflecting 

an industry-wide lack of popular 

films. Wolfson said he expects the division 

to make a better showing in the fourth quarter, 

when distributors will be releasing higher 

quality films for Christmas. 

Wolfson concluded, "We fully expect new 

profit and sales records in the fourth quarter 

which will make 1976 the best year in 

Wometco's 51 -year history of meeting the 

public's leisure-time needs." 

Wometco Earnings Pattern 

Is Noted by E. F. Hutton 

NEW YORK—Wometco Enterprises 

reported 

continued earnings progress at a 

recent meeting of the New York Society 

of Security Analysts, in line with past performance: 

this diversified leisure-time company 

has reported only on earnings decline 

in the past decade, according to E. F. Hutton 

& Co. 

For the 32 weeks ended August 14, sales 

rose 16 per cent to $122.6 million. Margins 

widened and earnings per share increased 

34 per cent to a record $1.03 from 77 cents 

in 

the year-earlier period, E. F. Hutton said. 

It was noted the only earnings lag is occurring 

in the entertainment division, which 

is suffering from a dearth of popular theatrical 

motion pictures. The broadcasting division, 

E. F. Hutton noted, illustrated unusual 

prosperity. 

The investment company's analysis was 

that the only clouds on Wometco's horizon 

"are some proposed Canadian moves against 

American broadcasters that might penalize 

earnings by ten to 12 cents starting in 1978. 

This seems to be the maximum exposure 

and this fight appears to be far from over." 

10 BOXOFFICE November 1, 1976

I 

. . Producer 

\ 

J4c [uwooJR.epoi*t ^ 

Wurman-Foster Assigns Joan 

|)arling to Helm 'First Love' 

Lawrence Tiirman and David Foster will 

produce "First Love" for Paramount and 

ave signed Joan Darling, who has directed 

everal television shows, to debut as a feaure 

film director. The film, which tells of 

bittersweet love affair between two col- 

;ge students, is set to begin shooting in 

anuary. The drama will be distributed in 

le U.S. and Canada by Paramount and 

roughout the rest of the world by Cinema 

. . 

Marvin Worth 

jternational Corp. . 

'reductions will produce "Color War" for 

Columbia, with Bob Klane writing the script 

lor the contemporary comedy Charles 

. . . 

Ties Productions has signed a deal with 

/amer Bros, on its "Gene Bullard" project, 

story about a small-town Southern sheriff, 

vith a script to be written by James Dickey 

"Jocasta," Zev Braun Productions' 

eature that was postponed due to Sophia 

.oren's illness, began shooting last month in 

vlontreal, following assurances that Ms. 

,oren had recovered fully. Sidney Furie 

cplaced Benjamin Manaster as director and 

,icve Railsback is playing Ms. Loren's son 

. Production got under way October 18 

m Mojave Desert locations on "Blood Reations," 

with Peter Locke producing and 

,Ves Craven directing from his own script 

Hall Bartlett has set a January 

!4 shooting date for "The Children of San- 

:hez," to star Anthony Quinn and to be 

iiade in Mexico in association with the Nalonal 

Film Bank of Mexico and Conacine. 

:esare Zavattini will write the screenplay, 

xised on the Oscar Lewis book dealing with 

amily life in Mexico . . . "Nat Love—Betci 

Known in the West as Deadwood Dick" 

Aill be produced by Trans-Atlantic Enteririses 

with president Robert D. Kline as 

.'xecutive producer. The film is based on a 

reatment by Jim Byrnes, who also will write 

he screenplay about adventure in the Old 

vVest . . . Warner Bros, will join Cinema 77, 

nji German production company, to make 

'Croc," a film featuring a giant man-eating 

^rocodile that goes on a rampage of terror. 

Bradford Harris will produce the original 

screenplay by Robert Hopkins. Lensing is 

set to commence January 27 in Thailand. 

Asa Maynor Producing 

Para. 

?arker Bio for 

"You Might as Well Live," the story of 

the life and times of author Dorothy Parker, 

based on the book by John Keats, will be 

produced by Asa Maynor for Paramount as 

Maynor Enterprises' production ... Jay 

Weston will produce Patrick Cauvin's 

French novel, "Blind Love," for MGM. The 

story is about an American in Paris who 

falls in love with a beautiful, blind French 

girl. Michel Legrand will co-direct, with an 

associate still to be named, and also will 

compose the music . . . Producer Harold 

Xeventhal has acquired film rights to the late 

lOXOFHCE :: November 1, 1976 

Woody Guthrie's 1948 book, "Seeds of 

Man," an autobiographical story based on 

the folksinger-composer's travels at the age 

of 19. It tells of the time in 1931 when the 

young man went with his father and two 

other relatives to the Big Bend country of 

Texas in search of a silver mine. Leventhal 

is co-producer of the Guthrie film, "Bound 

for Glory," to be released by United Artists. 

Trufiaut Signs Caron, Fossey 

For 'Man Who Loved Women' 

Leslie Caron and Brigitte Fossey have 

joined the cast of Francois Truffaut's "The 

Man Who Loved Women," which began 

filming October 15 in France . . . 

Susan 

Strasberg is set for the female lead in Universal's 

"RoUercoaster." She appears as 

George Segal's girlfriend . . . New additions 

to Warner Bros.' "Outlaw Blues" include 

James Callahan and Michael Lerner. Callahan 

plays a country-western star who steals 

a song written by prison inmate Peter Fonda 

and Lerner is cast as a record company 

president who participates in the theft . . 

. 

Ian McShane will portray the sinister Fouquet 

in Sascha Wien and Ted Richmond's 

production of "Behind the Iron Mask," set 

to shoot in Vienna this month . . . 

Kris 

Kristofferson has signed for David Merrick's 

presentation of Michael Ritchie's "Semi- 

Tough" for United Artists . . . Susan Howard 

makes her film debut in "Sidewinder 

One," playing the role of an aristocratic 

woman who takes over a professional racing 

team after her brother's death. Marjoe 

Gortner and Michael Parks star in the Ibex 

Productions' action drama produced by 

Elmo Williams . . . William Wellman jr. 

will co-star in the Zanuck/ Brown production 

of "MacArthur" for Universal. 

Four New Cast Additions 

To Col.'s "The Greatest' 

James Earl Jones, Lloyd Haynes (former 

co-star of the TV series "Room 222"), 

Lonette McKee and Howard Bingham have 

joined the cast of "The Greatest," Columbia's 

screen biography of Muhammad Ah, 

in which the world heavyweight champ will 

portray himself. Jones will appear as Malcolm 

X, the late Black Muslim leader; 

Haynes is cast as Muslim leader Herbert 

Muhammad; Ms. McKee has the role of 

All's wife; and Bingham, the boxer's longtime 

friend and personal photographer, 

plays himself. Tom Gries is directing Ring 

Lardner jr.'s screenplay on location sites in 

Houston, Atlanta, Louisville and Las Vegas 

. . . French actor Bruno Brive will play the 

grandson of Emperor Tiberius in the Penthouse 

Films' production of "Gore Vidal's 

Caligula" . . . Bill Beutel, ABC-TV newscaster, 

has signed for the role of a TV news 

anchorman in "Audrey Rose," a Robert 

Wise production for United Artists . . . 

Ingeborg Kjeldsen and George Reynolds 

appear in the Universal-Rastar Films' feature, 

"Smokey and the Bandit," now in the 

final phases of photography in Georgia. 

Reynolds' role is that of an Arkansas sheriff 

. . . Robin Pearson Rose will make her film 

debut playing Steve McQueen's grown 

daughter in "An Enemy of the People," a 

First Artists presentation for Warner Bros. 

AIP's 'Island of Dr. Moreau' 

Will Co-Star Michael York 

Michael York will co-star with Burt Lancaster 

in American International's "The 

Island of Dr. Moreau," in 

which the latter 

plays Moreau . . . Joining the ever-growing 

roster of actors in "Gray Lady Down," a 

Walter Mirisch production for Universal, 

. . Charles Napier, 

are: Melendy Britt, as the wife of Stacy 

Keach; Charles Cioffi, Ted Gehring, William 

Bryant and Robert Symonds, portraying 

high-ranking Navy officers; Jeff Druce, 

cast as a member of a U.S. Navy rescue 

team; and Michael Cavanaugh, as a crewman 

aboard a sunken nuclear submarine 

. . Melanie Mayron will co-star in "The 

. 

Last of the Cowboys," now lensing in Oroville, 

Calif., for producers Ingo Preminger 

Ann 

and Allan Bodoh . 

Wedgeworth, Marcia Rodd, Roberts Blossom 

and Bruce McGill have signed for roles 

in Paramount's "Citizens Band" . . . Richard 

Kiel, the 7 ft. 2 in., 315-pound American 

actor, has been cast in the role of a giant 

killer named Jaws in "The Spy Who Loved 

Me," now being filmed by producer Albert 

R. Broccoli for United Artists' release. 

Scripting and Composing 

Assignments Announced 

George Barrie's Brut Productions has 

signed Jason Miller to write two original 

screenplays for the company and James 

Goldman to do another . . . Walter Doniger 

will author the screenplay for Wildwood 

Enterprises' "Madonna Red," the first of 

that company's two films to be made for 

Paramount next year . . . Jerry Fielding 

will compose the musical score for MGM's 

"Demon Seed," produced by Herb Jaffe, 

directed by Donald Cammell and starring 

Julie Christie . . . John Cacavas will create 

the background music for Universal's "Airport 

1977" and also will conduct the orchestra 

in scoring sessions . . . Alan Oldfield 

and John Caper will score "Acapulco Gold," 

Mar Vista Productions' feature starring Marjoe 

Gortner and produced by Allan F. 

Bodoh and Bruce Cohn . . . Donald Stewart 

will author the screenplay for "SWAP," 

based on the espionage novel by Walter 

Wager, for Barry Goldberg's Goldbar Productions. 

Casting and Technical Adds 

For Warners' 'Falling Star' 

Annette O'Toole 

and New York actress 

Gail Strickland will appear in Warner Bros.' 

"Catch a Falling Star," which toplines Robby 

Benson. Ms. O'Toole will co-star as a 

college coed who falls in love with a basketball 

hero and Ms. Strickland will have a 

major role as a sensuous college secretary 

who seduces athletes, including Benson. 

Donald Morgan has been named cinematographer 

on the college-oriented drama and 

Ron Windred will be the associate producer. 

11

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETEI 

This chart records the perforimince of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in 

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

are reported ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage In 

relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal " 

the figures show the gross ratings above or below that mark. (Asterisk * denotes combination bills) 

^w,A>Z 

yYfffif A^\f

') 

• ADLINES * EXPLOITIPS 

• ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

• FEATURE RELEASE CHART 

• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST 

• SHORTS RELEASE CHART 

• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS 

• REVIEWS OF FEATURES 

• SHOWMANDISING IDEAS. 

BOXOfFICf 

^wmm. 

THE GUIDE TO M BETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D I N G 

Campy Outfits Pitch 

Tunnelvision' Runs 

Keen promotional activity involving contests 

that called for bizarre costumes have 

enabled theatre publicists in San Francisco 

and Mobile, Ala., to generate appreciable 

awareness among film fans regarding "Tunnelvision" 

engagements. Integrated with the 

contests in both instances were special 

screenings of the satire and themed T-shirt 

giveaways. 

Held in Union Square during the noonhour, 

the San Francisco event, which had 

asked entrants to come dressed "in the worst 

possible taste," capped off a campaign conducted 

by the Jan Zones Agency. Publicists 

worked with KSAN-FM dee-jays to arrange 

to have members of the city's rock group 

and A&M recording artists the Tubes to 

host and judge the contest. The winning 

entry, a tacky Isis, received a Muntz Video 

Screen television set, while the second- and 

third-place winners received Yamaha electric 

guitars. 

Throughout the judging, members of the 

Tubes hurled "Tunnelvision" T-shirts, posters 

and records to the hundreds of spectators. 

Within a short time after the fun, 

T-shirts could be spotted in various parts of 

the city. 

The Tubes also had kicked off the promotion, 

handing out flyers about the film 

to the 8.000 fans attending the Star Trek 

convention a couple of weeks prior. 

Campy probably best describes the outlandish getups worn by entrants in two costume 

contests staged in San Francisco, above, and Mobile, Ala., below, to draw 

attention to "Tunnelvision" engagements. Integrated with the contests were special 

screenings of the film, set up through radio station tie-ins to create word-of-mouth. 

T-shirt and record giveaways also figured prominently. 

Both the 

Much Media Coverage 

print and electronic media gave 

full exposure to the campaign, from covering 

the contest to participating in special 

screenings of the film. KSAN-FM, KTIM 

and KOME sponsored midnight screenings 

for their audiences, while dee-jays from ten 

Bay Area radio stations attended a screening 

as part of a plan to create word-ofmouth. 

The dee-jays returned to their stations 

with posters, T-shirts and records to 

give away. KSAN-FM personnel even scheduled 

a follow-up T-shirt giveaway during 

the fourth week into the run. 

Another aspect of the campaign was a 

personal appearance tour by writer-producer-director 

Neil Israel to various radio and 

TV studios, including a stint on the popular 

"Creature Features" TV show. 

W. E. Williams, advertising director for 

Giddens & Rester Theatres in Mobile, super- 

vised a similar campaign for the film's engagement 

at the Bel Air Cinema there. 

Tieing in with radio WABB-FM, Williams 

arranged for a Let's Make a Deal contest 

scheduled for opening night. Contestants 

appeared in costumes ranging from clowns 

to bumblebees to getups bordering on camp. 

Tops prizes awarded included a portable 

TV set and a guitar. The station's program 

director acted as emcee. 

The station also sponsored a free midnight 

showing of the film 

a week ahead of 

the opening, giving away 350 pairs of 

tickets together with gift packages of T- 

shirts and records. Station dee-jays repeatedly 

mentioned the free screening along with 

word about the regular engagement and the 

contest. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Nov. 1, 1976 —sa- ls

Guessing Gumball Number in 37 Machines 

Creates Awareness of 'Rally' in Santa Fe 

Since Georgia (Butch) Young assumed 

her duties as city manager for Commonwealth 

Theatres in Santa Fe, promotional 

efforts in the north central New Mexico 

city have been creating all kinds of bustle 

for the circuit's Lensic, Coronado Twin and 

Pueblo Drive-In theatres. 

Previously, Ms. Young had been drumbeating 

engagements for the Kansas Citybased 

circuit's Centre Theatre in nearby 

Los Alamos. 

A notable example of her recent activity 

in Santa Fe involved more than three dozen 

Ms. Georgia Young is seen here in the 

midst of gumball machines used to 

tout "The Gumball Rally." 

gumball machines for the Coronado booking 

of "The Gumball Rally." Arranging the 

loan of 37 machines from Del-Rea Vending 

Co., Ms. Young placed them throughout the 

theatre—in the lobby, refreshment center, 

boxoffice and restrooms. Each had been 

filled with a specific number of gumballs 

and also made inoperable so that it would 

neither accept coins or dispense gum. 

The person coming closest to guessing the 

number of gumballs in all 37 machines received 

a first prize of dinner for two, theatre 

passes and record albums. The second 

prize—one enormously envied by 

youngsters—was a year's supply of 

gumballs. 

Ms. Young devised a radio spot 

promoting the contest, in which a 

voice was heard counting, "23,000 

and 4; 23,000 and 5; 23,000 ." 

. . 

As additional voices begin bugging 

him, he loses count and the spot 

ends with him starting over again. 

For her "Taxi Driver" engagement 

at the Coronado, Ms. Young 

had one of her employees dress as 

a Taxi Driver and drive around 

shopping centers in a yellow Volkswagen. 

In a tie-in with a radio station, 

dee-jays alerted the public to 

the Taxi Driver's whereabouts. Those who 

identified him received either a pass or dinner 

for two, passes to the film and transportation 

via a taxi. 

f-^romo 

I luaaets 

Shoppers at the Raceland Shopping 

Center in Louisville, Ky., tossed coins 

from the bridge in the mall into the 

water for free passes to "Ode to 

Billy Joe," booked at AMC's quad 

there. Raceland 4 theatres manager 

Cecil Speer found center management 

cooperative with the tie-in, especially 

when it learned the money would go 

to the local Jaycees fund for crippled 

children. Tossers had to hit a bowl in 

the water to win passes. 

Speeding 

'Special 

Delivery 

Wometco Theatres used this 1931 U. S. Mail 

truck, courtesy of the Post Office, to center its 

"Special Delivery" promotion. Working with 

radio WQAM, circuit publicists wrote teaser 

spots and arranged for remote broadcasts from 

the truck at shopping centers. Dee-jays hinted 

where appropriately attired circuit employees 

were handing out heralds, some of which had 

passes attached. Another radio tub-thumper offered 

a listener and guest tickets to a screening 

and transportation to the theatre via the truck. 

Inside theatre lobbies were mailbox displays 

where patrons could post "Special Delivery" letters. 

Opening-night drawings awarded winning 

"senders" with prizes promoted by managers. 

This homemade Mickey Mouse costume 

alerted patrons in Center, Tex., 

this past summer that the Rio Theatre 

would be screening Walt Disney product. 

Owner Mike Adkison noted that 

the special attraction was a genuine hit 

with youngsters, who got a chance to 

shake hands with "Mickey" as he stood 

at the door taking tickets. According to 

Adkison, the stunt was so successful 

in promoting family fare, consideration 

is being made to use it for all G-rated 

films. 

14 — 60 — BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Nov. 1, 1976

j 

I 

h. Fiveplex Okayed; 

.\MC Set to Operate 

MEDIA, PA.—Granite Run Mall, which 

i Ipened earlier this year near here and which 

' k located between Philadelphia and Willington. 

Del., will give the area its first fivelex. 

While there are a number of triplex 

j.le: 

perations and a quad in the Woodhaven 

Liall at Cornwall Heights, Pa., with another 

|uad planned for Northeast Philadelphia by 

jeneral Cinema Corp., this will be the first 

[uintet. The Goodman Co., owner and deeloper 

of the mall, announced it has been 

ranted a building permit for a motel and 

heatre complex. The five-screen theatre will 

)e the first phase of that complex. 

The quintet will be built on vacant land 

m the east side of the mall. Construction 

nay begin within 30 days and is scheduled 

or completion next spring. 

The Goodman Co. will own the theatres, 

vhich will be leased to American Multi 

inema for operation. 

rhessaloniki, Americas 

Festivals Announce Pact 

ST. THOMAS, V.I.—The Festival of 

:he Americas has reached a mutual assistmce 

agreement with the Thessaloniki International 

Film Festival, president J. Hunter 

Todd has announced. 

Todd made the pact with Thessaloniki 

'estival president Dr. Rigas Tzelepoglov. The 

Virgin Island festival will select Latin American 

films for the Greek event and Thessajoniki 

will choose from Eastern European 

offerings, including those from Albania, 

Bulgaria, Turkey and China, for the Virgin 

Island festival. 

Two Greek features have been requested 

for inclusion in the forthcoming Festival of 

tthe Americas, November 12-21. 

CPI Names Jean Vagnini 

Public Relations Chief 

NEW YORK—Jean Vagnini has been ap- 

Ipointed corporate public relations director of 

Columbia Pictures Industries, effective immediately, 

it was announced by Joseph A. 

Fischer, senior vice-president and chief financial 

officer. 

Her responsibilities will include corporate 

and financial public relations for parent 

company CPI and publicity, public relations 

activities and special events for various divisions 

and subsidiaries of the company. 

Kubrick's 'Space Odyssey' 

Screened on Showcases 

NEW YORK—Stanley Kubrick's futuristic 

classic, "2001: A Space Odyssey," opened 

at more than 40 Premiere Showcase 

I 

theatres in the Greater New York area 

October 20. The MGM presentation was 

playing at 51 Blue Ribbon theatres throughout 

the area, including the Embassy 49th 

Street and Quad 3 in Manhattan. 

A United Artists release, the film stars 

Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood. 

BOXOFHCE :: November 1, 1976 

Edinboro Village 

Cinemas Holding 

Third Successful Fall Festival 

EDINBORO, PA.—Judy Landau, manager 

of Cinemette Theatres' Village cinemas 

in Edinboro, is presenting a fall film festival 

for the third consecutive season, an event 

which has elicited such tremendous community 

and regional response that it literally 

has put this college town "on the map." Film 

buffs have been trekking to Edinboro from 

points as far as 100 miles away to savor the 

cinema menu which Judy and her collaborators 

organized with the enthusiastic cooperation 

of Cinemette vice-president Michael 

Cardone and the circuit's Pittsburgh 

booker, Marlene Tisack. 

Kicking off the festival September 8 was 

the Lina Wertmuller boxoffice hit, "Swept 

Away (by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue 

Sea of August)," which proved to be a commercial 

success at the Village cinemas. 

For the opening, Ms. Landau arranged 

a half-hour lobby celebration for staffers 

and volunteers, serving champagne, apples, 

crackers and cheese. Adding to the festive 

occasion were flowers used to decorate the 

candy counter. 

This informal gala marked the culmination 

of the summer-long efforts required for 

organizing a festival which spans a threemonth 

period. Aiding Ms. Landau in Edinboro 

were: Prof. David Weinkauf and Prof. 

Jim Goldsworthy, Edinboro State College; 

Village cinemas assistant manager Ted Leonard, 

who assisted in the selection of films, 

and Prof. Luciana Bohne of Allegheny College. 

All were involved in compiling a freeof-charge 

promotion pamphlet which listed 

the film presentations, schedules of showtimes, 

credits, critical comments and an 

appreciative commentary on several renowned 

directors. 

Prof. Goldsworthy, incidentally, is editor 

of the publication Film Criticism and Ms. 

Bohne is associate editor. Dealing principally 

in in-depth interviews with screen personalities 

and penetrating analyses of motion pictures 

of all genres, Film Criticism offers new 

insights for serious or casual students of 

cinema. Information concerning the publication 

may be obtained by writing P.O. Box 

825, Edinboro, Pa. 16412. 

The weeks of research and negotiations 

by Ms. Landau and volunteers resulted in 

the booking of 20 outstanding motion pictures 

for the festival, including two critically 

acclaimed films which rarely are available 

for screening. Ken Russell's "Mahler" and 

Luchino Visconti's "Death in Venice," based 

on Thomas Mann's classic novella. 

Festival showings to date, in addition to 

the premier offering, have included: "The 

Shop on Main Street," "Death in Venice" 

(which proved to be a boxoffice blockbuster), 

"Barry Lyndon," Ingmar Bergman's "The 

Magic Flute," "Mahler," "The Tenant," 

"Royal Flash," "Lies My Father Told Me," 

"Jungle Freaks," the Marcel Ophuls-directed 

"The Sorrow and the Pity" and "Closely 

Watched Trains." 

Showing at the Village cinemas through 

Tuesday night (2) is the Oscar-winning documentary, 

"The Man Who Skied Down 

Everest." 

The remainder of the schedule offers: 

"Face to Face," Wednesday (3) through 

Tuesday (9); "Nashville," directed by Robert 

Altman, Wednesday (10) through Saturday 

(13); "Walkabout," Sunday (14) through 

Tuesday (16); Lina Wertmuller's "Seven 

Beauties . . .," Wednesday (17) through Tuesday 

(23); "Mean Streets," December 1-4; 

"The Story of Adele H.," December 5-7, and 

the David Bowie starrer, "The Man Who 

Fell to Earth," December 8-14. 

Ms. Landau has left few, if any, stones 

unturned to enhance the Edinboro festival's 

already brilliant reputation. Her staff constructed 

a bench to place in the lobby for 

the comfort of patrons; the informational 

pamphlet was published both to "inform" 

and to "promote" ("People must start treating 

movies with the same respect they treat 

any other art form." Ms. Landau declares, 

"and they won't do it until they believe 

that movies are resf)ectable"), and the presentations 

are receiving wide public attention 

through the media in accordance with 

well-structured plans. 

A radio program devoted to the festival 

offerings is aired over public station WQLN. 

History Prof. Ron Reinig and Ms. Bohne, 

who is a professor of English, conduct the 

30-minute cinema segment which reportedly 

commands the attention of listeners over a 

wide geographical area. 

The media message is extended through 

the efforts of assistant manager Leonard 

who, in addition to his regular duties at the 

theatre, contributes film articles to the local 

Edinboro Independent, pointedly written 

without bias. 

Of extraordinary importance in the upbuilding 

of festival patronage is the response 

of the local college faculty. Since a funding 

cutback has obviated film teachers from ordering 

the motion pictures needed for their 

courses, instructors are circumventing the 

problem by recommending that students attend 

the Village cinemas' fall film festival. 

Cinemette Theatres and Ms. Landau also 

have hypoed regular attendance by pegging 

admission prices at a "livable level." While 

ducats regularly are sold for $1.75, Tuesday 

and Thursday nights' tickets are only $1. 

Further, the giveaway pamphlets describing 

Edinboro Fall '76 Film Festival, publicize 

the fact that afternoon showings are available 

for groups at special rates. 

The entire festival package and the hospitable 

atmosphere of the theatres, accented 

by the friendly, courteous staffers, were succinctly 

described by a patron recently. Said 

the moviegoer, "Judy's theatre is an exciting 

place to be. People always are chatting in 

the lobby—and they always have a look of 

expectation on their faces." 

E-1

BRO ADW Ay 

^HE NEXT MAN," Allied Artists' suspenser 

of international intrigue starring 

Sean Connery and Cornelia Sharpe, opens 

Wednesday (10) at 50 Flagship theatres 

throughout the metropolitan area. In Manhattan, 

the track includes the Rivoli, Loews' 

Cine and 34th Street East. 

An Emanuel L. Wolf presentation, the 

film closely parallels events now taking place 

in the Middle East. It was produced on 

location in eight countries (including spots 

around New York City) by Martin Bregman 

and directed by Richard C. Sarafian from 

a screenplay by Mort Fine, Alan Trustman, 

David M. Wolf and Sarafian. 

The film opens in most majors cities 

throughout the U.S. and Canada Wednesday 

(10). 

• 

Sid Bernstein, the producer who brought 

the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to America 

for the first time, has been signed by 

Radio City Music Hall to present concerts 

and other live entertainments at the theatre. 

Longtime associate Billy Fields will serve as 

Bernstein's co-producer. 

Bernstein will concentrate his efforts on 

the Hall's special presentation period, January 

13 through March 2, when the stage 

and screen format is suspended. The threepart 

Easter Show will return the Showplace 

of the Nation to its regular policy March 3, 

1977. 

Mu- 

The ninth season of Cineprobe, the 

seum of Modern Art's series devoted to the 

independent filmmaker, is now under way. 

Presented two or three Mondays each month, 

the series offers a forum for directors of 

experimental or more conventional films 

which do not receive commercial distribution. 

The filmmakers, who are from this 

country and abroad, always are present to 

discuss their work with the audience after 

the screening. 

Mel Asch, a former publicist with 20th 

Century-Fox here, has joined the staff of 

Sobers & Roskin, public relations firm. 

Correction: A recent item on Dina Merrill's 

being named to the Mayor's Commission 

for Distinguished Guests gave the impression 

that the wife of actor Cliff Robertson 

also was named to the committee, when 

actually Ms. Merrill and Mrs. Robertson 

are one and the same. 

"Carrie," horror shocker to be released 

by United Artists, was previewed in theatres 

around town Saturday night, October 30, 

as a special Halloween attraction. Described 

as a blend between "American Graffiti" 

and "Psycho," the film has been directed by 

Brian de Palma and produced by Paul 

Monash, with a cast headed by Piper 

Laurie and Sissie Spacek. The latter portrays 

the title role, a young girl with telekinetic 

powers. 

Chick Strand of Los Angeles kicked off 

the new season, which features the works 

of such established artists as Bruce Conner, 

Barry Gerson and Stan Brakhage, the latter 

being represented by all of his 16mm films 

made between 1971 and 1973. Programs 

have been selected by Larry Kardish and 

Adrienne Mancia of the department of film. 

Cineprobe is made possible by grants from 

the Jerome Foundation, the New York State 

Council on the Arts and the National Endowment 

for the Arts. 

The Dyker Theatre in Brooklyn's Bay 

Ridge area will be converted into five retail 

stores next June. Built in 1929, the 2.025- 

seat movie house was sold by the RKO- 

Stanley Warner circuit to Developers Realty 

of West Hartford, Conn. The new owners 

asked for double rent, a price which could 

not be met, and plans to tear down the theatre 

were formulated. The president of Developers 

Realty said that carpet, eyeglass 

and shoe retail dealers have been approached 

to occupy the stores. 

Another Bay Ridge house, the large Alpine, 

is being converted into a twin while 

business goes on as usual in the evening. 

The theatre which was known as the Bay 

Ridge long since has passed into history 

and bingo games occupy the premises every 

night. In downtown Brooklyn, the RKO 

Albee Theatre, an old vaudeville and movie 

palace, has been demolished. 

Independent-International's release of a 

Carlo Ponti production, "Loving Cousins," 

will open at the National and 40 Flagship 

theatres Wednesday (10). Susan Player, 

Hugh Griffith and Alfredo Pea head the 

cast of the Italian-made feature. 

Showcases October 27: "The Phantom of 

the Paradise," which has earned a reputation 

since its original opening; "Norman 

. . . Is That You?", or Redd Foxx on Red 

Carpet; "Massacre at Central High," "All 

the President's Men," "Bugsy Malone," 

"Burnt Offerings," "The Ritz," "Satan Was 

a Lady," "Mansion of the Doomed" (Gold 

Medal houses), "Champion of Death" and 

"Car Wash" (mini). 

• 

The Great Greta returns as Quad Cinema 

3 initiates its Garbo Film Festival, which 

will run Sunday (7) through Saturday (27). 

Buffs will note that none of the films, all 

originally distributed by MGM, are rare 

but any Garbo film is worth watching. The 

schedule: November 7-10, "Anna Christie" 

(1930), her first talkie, and "Flesh and the 

Devil" (a 1927 silent), also starring John 

Gilbert; November 11-13, "Conquest" 

(1937), with Charles Boyer as Napoleon, and 

"The Painted Veil" (1934), Herbert Marshall 

and George Brent; November 14-16, 

"Queen Christina" (1933), with Gilbert, and 

"Grand Hotel" (1932), all-star; November 

17-20, "Camille" (1936), Robert Taylor and 

— 

— 

— — 

Lionel Barrymore, and "Two-Faced Worn: 

(1941), her last film, co-starring Mcl\i 

Douglas; November 21-23, "Ninotchl 

(1939), Douglas, Ina Claire and Bela Lug 

i 

(in a bit), and "Susan Lennox—Her Fall tl 

Rise" (1931), with Clark Gable; Noveml'r 

24-27, "Anna Karenina" (1935), Frcdi 

March, Basil Rathbone and Maureen O'Slivan, 

and "Mata Hari" (1931), also stair; 

Ramon Novarro and Lionel Barrymore. 

French Import Charir; 

Way to Top NY Slot 

NEW YORK—Truffaut's "Small Chant 

was in the big money as its third Cinema I 

outing netted a 530 average, moving I; 

charming French import up one notch i 

top spot. Also up one place, to second. v>, 

that other French charmer, "Cousin Cc 

sine," an improved 490 in the 14th wl 

at the Paris. Led Zeppelin's "The Song I- 

mains the Same" captured third place in ; 

445 debut at Cinema I. 

"Through the Looking Glass" was ag;i 

fourth, earning a 355 in the fifth WoiJ 

week. "The Front" stayed in fifth plai. 

averaging 315 for the fourth round at t 

Coronet (335) and second time at the lit 

Carnegie (295). Sixth was the pre\ic. 

champ, "Marathon Man," a composite 3 I 

for its third lap at State I (400) and Tow 

East (220). 

Showcase items were headed by "Alice 

Wonderland," "The Ritz," "Bugsy Maloiii 

"Mansion of the Doomed" and Sonny Chi 

in the kung fu epic, "Champion of Death. 

(Average Is 100) 

Beekman Memory oi Tustice (Para), 2nd wk 

Cinema I The Song Remains the Same (WB) 

Cinema II Small Change (New World), 3rd wk. 

Cinerama 1— Blade Emanuelle (A. Stirling Gold), 

3rd wk 

_ 

Coronet—The Front (Col), 4th wk 

D. W. Griliith—Spirit ot the Beehive (Kino Int'l), 

5th wk 

East 59th Street 1—The Story ot Sin 

(Tine Productions), 2nd wk 

, 

Festival Edvard Munch (New Yorker), 6th wk. .. 

Fine Arts—Jonas—Who Will Be 25 in the Year 

2000 (New Yorker) 

Little Carnegie—The Front (Col), 2nd wk 

Pcrris Cousin Cousine (Libra Films), 14th wk 

Radio City Music Hall—A Matter of Time (AIP), 

3rd wk 

_ 

RKO 86th Street Twin II—Black Emanuelle 

(A. Stirling Gold), 3rd wk 

, 

State 1 Marathon Man (Para), 3rd wk 

_ 

Sutton—Alex and the Gypsy (20lh-Fox), 3rd wk. .. 

341h Streat East—Black Emanuelle 

(A. Stirling Gold) 

Tower East Marathon Man (Para), 3rd wk 

World Through the Looking Glass 

(Mature Pictures), 5th wk 

Ziegfeld Solaris (Magna Distributing), 3rd wk 

"Noon Till Three' and "Bamboo House' 

Almost Up to Baltimore Average 

BALTIMORE—Openers "From No( 

Till Three" and "Bamboo House of Doll 

nearly hit the average mark in this city whi 

the usually strong "Alex and the Gyps; 

only halved that score. "Car Wash," in i 

second week did well with a 160 while tl 

Paramount thriller "Marathon Man" climb( 

to 140. 

Cinema II—From Noon Till Three (UA) 

Three theatres Bamboo House oi Dolls (SR) 

Two Theatres—Alex and the Gypsy (20th-Fox) 

Westview 1—Car Wash (Univ), 2nd wk 1 

Westview II Marathon Man (Para), 2nd wk 1 

Warner Bros.' "Outlaw Blues" is a Fr« 

Weintraub-Paul Heller production. 

E-2 BOXOFFICE :: Novembeo- 1, 19'

Hi 

! Honorary 

Damned' World Debut 

)ec. 19, Aslor Plaza 

NEW YORK—One of the most prestigiis 

New York premieres in many years will 

ke place when "Voyage of the Damned" 

IS a gala unspooling Sunday, December 

;. at Loews' Astor Plaza for the benefit 

f Boys' Harbor. 

chairmen of the event will be 

jfUlresident and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford, the 

"fon. Hugh L. Carey, governor of New 

brk, and the city's mayor, Abraham D. 

eame, and Mrs. Beame. 

The premiere, followed by a supperance 

at the St. Regis Hotel, will highlight 

le 40th anniversary of the founding of 

oys' Harbor, an agency serving disadvaniged 

youths of this city. The organization, 

junded in 1936 by Anthony Drexel Duke, 

resident and chairman of the board, proides 

a wide range of educational and social 

for boys on a year-round basis. 

Voyage of the Damned." presented by 

ctivities 

ir Lew Grade for Associated General Films, 

an Avco Embassy release. The internaonal 

cast includes Faye Dunaway, Max 

on Sydow, Oskar Werner, Malcolm Mc- 

)owell, Orson Welles, James Mason, Lee 

Jrant, Katharine Ross, Maria Schell, Julie 

larris and Wendy Hiller. 

The story recreates the true incident of 

carrying refugees from Nazi 

n ocean liner 

jermany who were refused promised entry 

nto Cuba. The intervention of Belgium, the 

Netherlands. France and Great Britain preented 

their forced return to Germany. Apiropriately, 

the premiere's honorary diplonatic 

committee will be composed of Ambassador 

Andre Ernemann, Belgium, the 

ion. Jacques Lecompt, France; Ambassador 

ohan Kaufmann, the Netherlands; Ambasador 

James Murray, Great Britain, all pernanent 

representatives of their 

countries to 

he UN, and the Hon. Francis L. Kellog, 

J.S. mission to the UN. 

Executive committee members for the 

;ormal event include Michael Burke, presilent 

of Madison Square Garden Center; 

Vathan Cummings, honorary chairman of 

;i;onsolidated Foods; Walter Hoving, board 

;hairman of Tiffany & Co.; H. Peter Krienller, 

"21" Club, and R. Sargent Shriver jr. 

)f Fried. Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobion. 

Mrs. George Abbott, Arlene Dahl, Mrs. 

v'^ladimir Horowitz, Mrs. William Langley, 

Mrs. Joshua Logan, Mrs. Sidney Lumet, 

Mrs. Jules Stein, Mrs. Preston R. Tisch and 

No; Mrs. Abe Mandell, wife of the ITC Enter- 

)A:ainment president, make up the women's 

lii}:ommittee. 

Ambassador and Mrs. Angier Biddle 

isilDuke, Mrs. Cordelia Biddle Robertson and 

e 

* 

il 

Fri 

mW#l 

flli MU 

Theatre 

Service 

The nation's finest for 40 years! 

RCA Service Company 

A Division of RCA Ph. (201) 451-2222 (NJ.) 

43 Edword J. Hort Rd. (212) 267-1550 (N.Y.) 

Liberty City, N.J. 07305 

PITTSBURGH 

jQaniel J. Sapcrnakis is 20th-Fox's new 

branch manager. He came here nine 

months ago as booker. Sapernakis succeeds 

Larry Pilmaier, who resigned to join Buena 

Vista on the West Coast . . . Among those 

from the area attending the national NATO 

convention were the Knute Boyles, John 

Gardners, George Sterns. Jack Vogels, Hank 

Vogels, Paul Vogels, George Tices, Ted 

Manoses, Joseph Bugalas, Madeline De- 

Bone, Mike Cardones and Dave Silvermans. 

. . . 

Mildred Hasley, widow of F. Elmer Hasley, 

and herself a half-century veteran of 

the theatre business, enjoyed a recent vacation 

in Switzerland. In her retirement, she 

makes two or more trips abroad annually 

Richard A. Waite, 34, manager of the 

Manor in Squirrel Hill, died October 22. 

With Cinemette for five years, he had 

served as manager at the Gateway, Fiesta 

and Fulton. 

Chatham Cinema's next offering will be 

"Bittersweet Love" with Lana Turner . . . 

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was a 

midnight presentation October 22-23 at the 

Northern Independent 

Kings Court . . . 

Theatre Exhibitors (NORITE) should now 

have mail addressed in care of Edgar J. 

Cooke, 617 Lincoln Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

15202. 

Hollywood Home Theatre is a joint venture 

of 20th-Fox and United Artists in 

which they provide cable operators throughout 

the country with feature film programing. 

HHT licenses major film product, exhibiting 

on the airwaves 15 different programs 

monthly. It promises to mail regular 

program guides and gives promotional announcements 

between air programs. Available 

at extra cost is a device which prevents 

the use of the channel without a special key. 

'Solution' Reports Lofty 

Opening at NYC's Plaza 

NEW YORK—"The Seven-Per-Cent 

Doris Duke, among others, comprise the 

family committee. 

"Voyage of the Damned" will begin its 

regular schedule of performances December 

22 at Loews' Astor Plaza, Loews' Cine and 

the 34th Street East in Manhattan; UA Cinema 

150, Syosset, L.I., and Menlo Park 

Cinema, Edison, and Totowa Cinema, Totowa, 

N.J. The film also will open in Los Angeles 

during December and go into general 

release next February. 

The movie was produced by Robert Fryer 

and directed by Stuart Rosenberg from a 

screenplay by Steve Shagan and David Butler. 

Solution," 

a Herbert Ross film for Universal 

release, opened with an excellent gross in 

New York City's 507-seat Plaza Theatre 

Sunday, October 24. The film, a mystery 

adventure drama in which Sherlock Holmes 

and Sigmund Freud join forces in solving 

Philip "Blackie" Bordonaro was re-elected 

lA District 4 secretary at the international 

lATSE convention—the old "original," having 

directed Local 444 for many, many 

years . . . Lou Hanna looks very well, and 

has started on his second 50 years in the 

business . . . Dave Silverman and his wife 

have returned from the NATO convention 

in 

California. 

Site of the new Cheswick North and South 

is well remembered as the A. W. Kennedy 

Ford Agency which he opened in June 1922. 

Kennedy said he hoped that the tens of 

thousands of purchasers of these cars from 

the property on Pittsburgh Street would be 

patrons of the beautiful expanded theatre 

complex . . . Registered by those at the 

theatre reception was the closing of Billy 

Wheat's Sewickley Theatre, an operation of 

his late father and himself for at least 55 

years. Also mentioned were the failures of 

the Roxian in McKees Rocks, the Leona in 

Homestead and the Carnegie in Carnegie, 

all independent houses. 

Ted Manos and Joe Bugala, longtime 

showmen, are in there pitching for better 

movies and more of them . . . Kay Grotto 

said she is happy with Ernie Sheppard assisting 

her at the Paramount office . . . 

George Pappas, as the years pass, looks 

more and more like his boss Morris Finkel 

. . . Mr. and Mrs. Harold Karp are enjoying 

both their concessions business and their 

good health. 

Police officers in Buckhannon, W. Va., 

are looking for a Cinema V patron who 

angrily smashed glass in the front doors 

when informed the second Monday night 

showing of "Tommy" would not go on due 

to technical difficulties. Cindy Chase, manager, 

regretted the damage and the fact that 

the show could not continue at that time. 

a baffling case, stars Alan Arkin, Vanessa 

Redgrave. Robert Duvall and Nicol Williamson 

as Sherlock Holmes. 

Produced and directed by Herbert Ross 

from a screenplay by Nicholas Meyer based 

on his No. 1 best selling novel, "The Seven- 

Per-Cent Solution" co-stars Laurence Olivier, 

Joel Gray, Samantha Eggar, Charles 

Gray, Georgia Brown, Regine and Jeremy 

Kemp. 

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BOXOFnCE :: November 1, 1976 E-3

U F F ALO 

gen Weiner, exploitation representative for 

a foreign film series to be shown at the 

Valu 5 cinemas, was in town several days. 

While here, he arranged for a sneak preview 

"The Clockmaker" under the sponsorship 

of WBEN Radio. 

'Tighling for Our Lives," a documentary 

about the 1973 United Farm Growers grape 

strike in California, was shown October 22- 

23 at the United Auto Workers Local 897 

in Woodlawn and October 24 at Buffalo 

State College Newman Center. 

A new comedy by the team of McChesney 

and Dink was performed at the Riviera Theatre 

in North Tonawanda October 19. The 

play, entitled "So Long, Moey," starred Don 

Carr in the title role. 

Mel Messenger is in town from Syracuse 

to mind the store at Loews' Teck during the 

vacation absence of manager Frank Arena. 

Frank Collura, a local man who rose to 

Joseph Fischer to Choir 

UJA-Federation Drive 

NEW YORK—Joseph A. Fischer, senior 

vice-president and chief financial officer of 

Columbia Pictures Industries, has been 

named chairman of the 1977 United Jewish 

Appeal-Federation Joint Campaign for the 

entertainment industry, it was announced 

by exiting chairman Seymour Malamed. 

Fischer headed the first meeting of the executive 

committee October 19 in the offices 

of Burton Robbins, president of National 

Screen Service, New York City. 

Members of the executive committee include 

Robbins, David Dash, W. Stewart 

Cahn, Irving Greenfield, Saul Jeffee, Leo 

Jaffe, Nat Lefkowitz, Carl M. Levine, Martin 

Levin, Charles Adolph Schimel, Hal Seeger, 

Ake Goodman, Walter Breeher, Howard 

G. Minsky, Leonard Spinrad and Leon 

Goldberg. 

The entertainment division of the UJA- 

Federation includes members of the motion 

picture, TV and theatre industries. 

UA Promotes James Spitz 

To WC Division Manager 

NEW YORK—James R. Spitz was appointed 

West Coast division manager for 

United Artists, effective October 24, it was 

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the post of assistant conductor of the Buffalo 

Philharmonic Orchestra, has left to become 

associate conductor of the Kansas 

City Philharmonic. He also leaves his position 

as associate professor of music at Buffalo 

State College. 

Variety Tent 7 will hold a general membership 

meeting in the Delaware Avenue 

club rooms Monday (1) at 7 p.m. to act on 

nominations for the 1977 crew. The nominating 

committee will present a slate of candidates 

and nominations for additional candidates 

will be accepted from the floor. 

Elections will be held Monday (15), with 

polls open from 12 noon to 10 p.m. 

Joseph P. Garvey, general manager, Holiday 

Theatres, is recuperating at home following 

open-heart surgery. Industryites send 

best wishes for a speedy recovery! 

Tlie annual exodus has started. Capturing 

the No. 1 position was Marvin Atlas' Broadway 

Drive-In, which announced: "Closed for 

the Season." The newspaper ad which carried 

that line added: "TTianks for your patronage." 

announced by James R. 

Velde, senior vicepresident. 

Spitz, who for the past four years has 

been Los Angeles branch manager for 

United Artists, will be responsible both for 

the Los Angeles and San Francisco territories 

in his new post. He succeeds Richard 

Carnegie, who has retired. 

Spitz joined UA in September 1972 after 

serving as branch manager for Warner Bros, 

in Los Angeles and Seattle during the preceding 

five years. 

Born in Milwaukee, Spitz graduated from 

the University of Wisconsin and now lives 

in the Los Angeles area with his wife Barbara 

and three children—Jason, 9; David, 

6Vi, and Susan 1. 

WSID-AM Stages Car Wash 

For 'Car Wash' Promotion 

BALTIMORE—WSID Radio tied in with 

Universal's national promotional tour of 

"Car Wash" by giving air time to the film's 

stars and staging its own car wash to celebrate 

the film's arrival in Baltimore. 

Program director Bob Greene interviewed 

stars Franklyn Ajaye, Tracy Reed, Henry 

Kingi, Repe Serna and Arthur French for 

the black AM station. 

In addition, WSID staged its own car 

wash by recruiting members of Bay College 

to wash cars at a nearby service station. 

Drivers received free passes to see the movie, 

records of the film's hit single, T-shirts and 

a clean car. Proceeds from the car wash 

were donated to Bay College music department 

for the purchase of choir robes. 

Popular female vocalist Fred Freyda 

Payne also was called at WSID Radio to 

plug her concert with the O'Jays at Painters 

Mill Music Fair. 

Tent 7 Gives $416,000 

To Local Charity Funds 

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Checks totaling $416,- 

000 were given to local charities Saturday 

night, October 16, by Variety Club Tent 7. 

The largest check, in the amount of $250,- 

000, went to the Children's Rehabilitation 

Center and was gratefully accepted by Dr. 

Robert Warner, director. 

Rita Inda Marc Lippman 

Other recipients of checks were the Children's 

Hospital Camping Program. Human 

Growth of Western New York, United Cerebral 

Palsy of Western New York and the 

Ellicott Eye Clinic of the Children's Hospital. 

The West Seneca Development Mental 

Center will receive a new Sunshine Bus, 

made possible through the weekly bingo 

games conducted by the club. 

Award presentations were given by Marc 

Lippman, chief barker, and Miss Rita Inda, 

president of Variety Club Women of Tent 7. 

Elmer Lux, the steering committee chairman 

for last year's telethon, was master of 

ceremonies. He introduced the new steering 

committee chairman, Al Petrella. Ed Pantane, 

the 1977 general chairman gave a brief 

rundown of the telethon plans for next 

spring. Live music was presented through 

the courtesy of Sol Ricupito. Variety women 

served as waitresses and hostesses. 

Cy Marter and Clint LaFlamme cochaired 

the event held at the Tent 7 clubroom 

on Delaware Avenue. 

AFI To Host Digest's Film 

'Incredible Sarah' in DC 

WASHINGTON—The American Film 

Institute (AFI) will host a screening of the 

Reader's Digest film "The Incredible Sarah" 

at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. 

December 1 for the membership of AFI and 

officials of the Washington diplomatic 

corps. 

The film, based on the life of Sarah Bernhardt, 

will open in New York and Los 

Angeles November 5, following a reception 

at the French consulate in New York attended 

by Glenda Jackson, who stars in the 

title 

role. 

CINERAMA IS IN 

SHOW BUSINESS IN 

HAWAII TOO. 

When you come to Waikiki, 

don't miss the famous 

[HOTEJaJ 

Don Ho Show. . . at 

Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel. 

IN WAIKIKI: REEF • REEF TOWERS • EDGEWATER 

E-4 

BOXOmCE :: November 1, 1976

! 

— 

pctober 21 was a resounding boxoffice suc- 

I 

f 

F Reports a Succesful 

'romotion on 'Fantasia' 

BALTIMORE—The management of JF 

heatres, locally based circuit, set up a 

romotion for '"Fantasia," Disney Producons 

reissue, which lured Baltimoreans of 

M ages, particularly youngsters, teenagers 

nd college students, to the showings. As 

result, the youthful patrons became richer 

11 experience musically and academically 

nd JF's presentation of "Fantasia" at the 

otunda Cinema II October 13 through 

fess! 

One major approach in the campaign was 

tie-in with eight area schools whereby 

achers and pupils attended a special early 

Hirning screening held 10 a.m. until noon. 

antasia T-shirts and posters were displayed 

1 the boxoffice and two midnight perforlances 

were offered Friday night and Satrday 

night. 

Rotunda manager Mrs. Sandy Bagley had 

heatre staffers wearing the promotional T- 

hirts at various times during the playdate 

nd donned one herself to add zing to the 

nthusiasm of the project. 

"Half the theatre was filled each time 

.ith some 150 people per night, most of 

hem of high school age," Mrs. Bagley said. 

Generally, the feature attracted children 

n 

t matinees, with the weekends bringing 

the college-age patrons." 

Prices at the Rotunda cinemas are $1 

it all times for children and $3 for adults 

luring the evening hours and $1.50 before 

!:30 p.m. Adult admission is $2 from 2:30 

5 p.m. weekdays and $3 after 2:30 p.m. 

Saturday and Sunday. 

Jtica's Stanley Theatre 

[s on National Register 

UTICA, N.Y.—The Stanley Theatre on 

jenesee Street, now owned by the Comnunity 

Arts Council, has been listed on the 

"^Jational Register of Historic Places. 

Constructed in 1928 at a cost of $1.5 

Tiillion, the de luxe motion picture theatre 

A-as designed by Scottish-born architect 

Thomas Lamb, who had like responsibility 

for some 300 cinemas throughout the U.S. 

and abroad. 

The new owners plan to use the building 

for both motion pictures and live performances. 

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PHILADELPHIA 

êntre County viewers in upstate Pennsylvania, 

through Centre Video cable TV, 

are now being offered Home Box Office 

service (movies and sports) at an additional 

$8 monthly fee. 

A week-long Mary Pickford Film Festival 

will be presented at Chestnut Hill College's 

Gruber Theatre here. In addition to the 

Pickford films shown each afternoon, an 

exhibition of books and other Pickford 

memorabilia will be on display in the college 

library. 

The city's public TV station, WHYY-TV, 

has programed a series of seven films for an 

Ingmar Bergman Festival Tuesday evenings, 

with repeat showings Sunday afternoons 

each week. The series gets under way with 

"Summer Interlude," with "The Seventh 

Seal" the seventh film. 

Joe Baltake, motion picture editor and 

film critic for the Daily News, and Allen 

Cylinder, a freelance film critic, have formed 

the National Society of Film Historians 

to champion films and directors who otherwise 

might be neglected. Each month they 

plan to push a film that got "lost" in the 

Hollywood shuffle. 

Liza Minnelli will make a rare personal 

appearance in this area, coming to the Latin 

Casino Theatre-Restaurant at Cherry Hill, 

N.J., for a January 17-27 engagement which 

will take a $10.50 admission charge in addition 

to the club's usual minimum charges. 

Sam Greenlee, author of "The Spook Who 

Sat by the Door," was in town to promote 

the movie using his book's title. He also 

made a personal appearance at Milgram's 

Fox Theatre on opening day. 

The premiere showing of "The Front" at 

the Arcadia Theatre in center city was a 

benefit for the local chapter of the American 

Civil Liberties Union. 

Ettore Stratta, who conducted the music 

for the "Godfather" soundtrack, came to the 

Trenton (N.J.) State College to conduct the 

99-piece Creative Arts Workshop Orchestra. 

He led the symphony for a trio of movie 

scores, including the "Godfather" theme. 

Henry Fonda came to town for his annual 

art pilgrimage to the suburban Barnes 

Art Foundation. 

NATO President Goldman 

Joins Variety Club Tent 1 

PITTSBURGH—Marvin Goldman of the 

K-B Theatres in Washington, D.C., and 

new president of NATO, is joining Tent 1 

in Pittsburgh. He joins through the recommendation 

of Ralph Price, Ogden Foods 

official, and George Tice, president of 

NATO of West Pennsylvania and officer 

of Tent 1. 

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BOXOmCE :: November 1, 1976 E-5

;; 

Cheswick Twin Bows 

With Gala Preview 

PITTSBURGH—A gala preview party 

for the debut of two new Mulone theatres 

filled the lobby of the twin complex October 

20 as Joseph and Molly Mulone and son 

Nick greeted about 500 friends and welcomed 

them to the Cheswick North and 

South. 

The modern new units, fully automated, 

are located directly across Pittsburgh Street 

from Cheswick East and West on Route 28. 

No corners were cut in the construction of 

the twins, giving Cheswick four excellent 

theatre auditoriums and the added bonus 

of increased parking spaces and a carport 

area. Wrap-around screens were installed 

in both new units via Mulone-manufactured 

screen frames. The larger of the two auditoriums 

includes special space reserved for 

patrons in wheelchairs. 

Among those attending the lobby reception 

and cocktail party were James W. Biggart, 

George Bali, Joe Bugala, Ted Manos, 

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Fleishman, Mr. and 

Mrs. Norman Fleishman, George Pappas, 

Philip Bordonaro, Kay Grotto, Mr. and Mrs. 

David Silverman, Mr. and Mrs. Max Shabason, 

Thelma Parry, Lou Hanna, Mr. and 

Mrs. Marvin Weiner, Elmer Dattola jr., Mrs. 

Gordon Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank 

Thomas, David Litto, Warren Wurdock, 

Pete Quiter, Daniel J. Sapernakis, Mr. and 

Mrs. Harold Karp, Mrs. Hyman Wheeler, 

Jackie Wheeler and her husband M. Stein 

and Kenneth Sprouse. 

Following the 7 p.m. affair both auditoriums 

were opened for screening of "The 

Omen" and "Scorchy," and the twins, operated 

by "the Mideast area's best-liked papa 

and mama couple," were open to the public 

the following day. 

At the opening of the original Cheswick 

Theatre 28 years ago, there were just a few 

guests compared to the many in attendance 

at the opening of the newest operation. 

The first was between Christmas and New 

Year's, 1948, and following the initial screening, 

Joe and Molly had a few people in for 

a spaghetti dinner in the kitchen of their 

home—where they still live behind Cheswick 

East and West. 

The spaghetti eaters that night included 

one of Molly's sisters and her husband; their 

small son Nick who has long assisted them 

in managing the theatres; Joe's mother, now 

deceased; and from the trade, Mr. and Mrs. 

Gordon Gibson, Milton Gibson, the Gibson 

brothers' niece Carolyn, Bernard Stahl and 

your BoxoFFiCE correspondent, who was 

pleased no end to be present at the most 

recent inaugural. 

Elmer Dattola jr., architect for the new 

Cheswick twins, has managed to combine 

modern functional conveniences with the 

glitter and glamor that a new theatre deserves. 

The comfortable seating accommodates 

250 in the South and more than 500 

in the North twin. The son of Elmer Dattola, 

in years past a veteran exhibitor in 

Springdale, the registered architect was 

born into exhibition via his father and 

uncles Bart Dattola, New Kensington, and 

Rudy and Sam Navari, Verona-Universal- 

Eastwood theatre owners, all now dead. 

Many remember Joe Mulone's humble 

entrance into exhibition. He built the original 

Cheswick Theatre with his own hands, 

a task that ran from January 1946 to late 

December 1948, when it opened. Joe had 

help from friends and neighbors in pulling 

roof materials to their positions, although 

Joe did all the roofing after the parts were 

on hand. Many admired Mulone's determination 

to continue construction of the building 

even though "everyone" tried to discourage 

him, including most of the film representatives. 

Exactly ten years ago the adjoining theatre 

was opened, at which time the complex 

was designated as Cheswick East and West, 

although they did not have connecting projection 

booths. Later the Mulones built and 

opened the Cinema 356 at Sarver, a part of 

Buffalo Township. Again trade members 

scoffed at the idea, this time of building an 

indoor theatre out in the "wilderness." But 

Cinema 356 proved popular and profitable. 

In the rear of Cheswick East and West, 

and surrounded by a large parking area, 

Mulone's shop stands. There he and his 

crew build to specifications theatre screen 

frames of all types for theatres in many 

places around the world. Joe got started in 

this when he built his own Cinemascope 

screen frame, and the self-help turned it 

into a business when his exhibitor friends 

turned to him for frames for their own 

theatres as a quicker way of filling their 

needs. Now governments as well as circuits 

and independents order Mulone screen 

frames. 

Cheswick Theatres, in addition to the 

quads in the Allegheny Valley, owns and 

operates the de luxe Cinema 356 in Buffalo 

Township north of Freeport. 

Title Song by John Oates 

Slated for 'Outlaw Blues' 

NEW YORK—John Oates has composed 

the title song for "Outlaw Blues," Warner 

Bros, film starring Peter Fonda and Susan 

Saint James. Half of the hot RCA recording 

duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates, he will 

also appear in a cameo role. Fonda will perform 

the song in the film, which concerns 

a fugitive who becomes a top country and 

western singer in Nashville. 

"Outlaw Blues" is currently shooting in 

Austin, Tex., with Richard Heffron as director. 

The producers are Paul Heller, Fred 

Weintraub and Steven Tisch. 

Hall and Oates are now performing the 

opening dates of a major fall-winter tour. 

Their latest single is "Do What You Want, 

Be What You Are" and it debuted on the 

Cash Box singles chart one week after its 

release. Their three-year-old record "She's 

Gone" is in the top ten singles charts of all 

three music trade publications, while their 

new RCA album, "Bigger Than Both of 

Us," is in the national 20. 

WRO Reports $2.8 Million 

Net Loss, Revenues Sag 

NEW YORK—The Walter Reade Orga- 

nization has announced that it sustained a 

' 

net loss, including continuing and discontinued 

operations, of $2,858,000, or 72 cents 

per share, 

for the calendar year ended Dec. 

31, 1975. This compares to a net profit after 

extraordinary items of $369,000, four centsper 

share, in the calendar year ended Dec. 

31, 1974. 

A portion of the 1975 loss, amounting to 

$2,018,000 or 48 cents per share, resulted 

from discontinued operations of the Bert-Co 

Graphic Arts division in contemplation of 

its sale. A further loss of $840,000, at 24 

cents per share, came from continuing operations. 

The figures arrived at represent a 

write-down to the estimated net realizable 

value of Bert-Co Graphic Arts assets. In 

1974 the company had income from operations 

of $140,000 which resulted in a loss 

of one cent per share after provisions for 

taxes and dividends on preferred stock, and 

income of $229,000, five cents per share, 

on extraordinary items, for net earnings of 

$369,000 or four cents per share. 

The company's gross revenues in 1975 

were $17,506,000 compared to $19,635,000 

in 1974. 

Further adding to the firm's loss were 

overstatements discovered in certain net 

! 

amounts receivable. These resulted principally 

from inadequate recording of variou.s 

transactions with film distributors, 

including 

the company's own film distribution division. 

Of the $1,507,000 involved, $600,000 

of the overstatements apply to operations in 

past years, and have been recorded as an 

adjustment. The remaining amount, $907,- 

000, has not been specifically identified due 

to a lack of sufficient records, so it has 

been included in the 1975 operations data. 

Reade expects shortly to conclude negotiations 

for the sale of Bert-Co to a group of 

investors, including Bert Couturier, former 

owner and current president of that division, 

for $2,350,000 in cash and notes. This 

will result in a book loss of approximately 

$1,982,000. Provision for this was made in 

the discontinued operations of 1975. 

The first six months of 1976, the company's 

unaudited figures showed gross revenues 

of $6,333,000, resulting in net losses 

before taxes from continuing operations 

($668,000) and discontinued operations 

($55,000), resulting in a loss of 20 cents 

per share. The company noted that as a 

result, a deficit of approximately $430,000 

in stockholder equity existed as of June 30. 

1976. 

Free Library Has 1,500 

Films for Borrower Use 

PHILADELPHIA—The Free Library of 

Philadelphia, at its center-city Logan Square 

Branch, announced that it has a lending libary 

of over 1,500 comedies, documentaries, 

cartoons, travel movies and nature films, 

including such classics as "King Kong," 

Walt Disney's "Ben and Me," "West Side 

Story," "Gold Rush," Laurel and Hardy's 

silents and Donald Duck and friends' films. 

E-6 BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976

1 

berg's 

1 

the 

I 

li 

kdull Establishments 

pmited in Bellmawr 

BELLMAWR, N.J.—The borough council, 

at a special meeting, took steps to reduce 

Ihe chances of an adult bookstore or an X- 

lated movie house locating in this borough 

)y adopting an ordinance that regulates and 

lontrols the location of such enterprises. 

rhe ordinance also restricts the operation 

)f poolrooms, billiard parlors and coin- 

(perated amusement centers. 

Mayor Joseph Petruzzi admitted the conroversy 

over an existing adult bookstore in 

leighboring Mount Ephraim and the negaive 

view expressed by local residents caused 

he ordinance to be drawn up and adopted. 

Jorough Solicitor Joseph Asbell carefully 

x>inted out that the ordinance does not 

srohibit a movie house or adult bookstore 

From trying to locate in Bellmawr. 

Mayor Petruzzi explained that the limitations, 

when applied to Bellmawr's commer- 

:ial' layout, would leave little room for such 

businesses to locate here. The ordinance requires 

that none of the adult businesses lo- 

;ate within 1,000 feet of each other, residential 

areas or other regulated-use businesses, 

such as tap rooms or liquor stores. 

Veteran Showman Collects 

Autographs as Movie Fan 

LOGAN, W. VA.—Alex DeFobio who, 

with John Gardner of Wheeling, is a vicepresident 

of NATO of West Virginia, also is 

a movie fan. Operating the Capitol Theatre 

here, he displays many photos of movie stars 

in the lobby, chosen from a collection he has 

of more than 1,000 autographed pictures. 

At 69, DeFobio is a 50-year veteran in the 

theatre business. 

The Logan showman started here as an 

usher in the old Midelberg Theatre in 1921. 

He also worked backstage as a prop boy 

and later was stage manager in the years of 

traveling shows. He put up bill posters and 

he was a silent screen projectionist. When 

sound came along he learned that operation. 

Reminiscing about all he has done—the dues 

he has paid—he was reminded of a tenminute 

film, "Blackwater," in 1927 as the 

first such movie seen and heard in Logan. 

An active independent exhibitor, Alex 

DeFobio and his wife Mac. together for 40 

years, reside in the Capitol Apartments. 

They have a son Tom in Los Angeles. 

There are a lot of good movies these days, 

he says, but they don't get the recognition 

films once did. He believes that the days of 

great screen personalities and motion 

pictures have passed. What he and Mac enjoy, 

DeFobio said, is giving their audiences 

a good time at the Capitol. 

Ferd Midelberg, who showed him the ins 

and outs of theatre management, was a responsible 

theatre owner-showman, and De- 

Fobio has no regrets that he followed Midelberg 

in devoting his life to the theatre business 

and the promotion of movies. Midelplaque 

containing autographs of 1939- 

era actors at MGM is one of the Logan 

exhibitor's cherished mementos. 

BOXOmCE :: November 1, 1976 

BALTIMORE 

Târvin Hamlisch will appear in concert at 

8 p.m. Sunday (7) at the Lyric Theatre. 

The performance entitled "For the Love 

of Music" is presented by the local Committee 

for Israel Bonds. Hamlisch is internationally 

known as 

a composer and entertainer 

and has been seen on TV and the 

concert stage. He has been the recipient of 

three Academy Awards for his work, as well 

as the Tony Award and a Pulitzer prize for 

the musical "A Chorus Line." The evening 

is made possible through the cooperation of 

Sol Levinson & Bros. Ticket information is 

available at 484-6670. 

Chester Towers, treasurer of lATSE local 

181, left here with his wife Doris in late 

September with friends for a tour of New 

England. Mr. and Mrs. Towers returned 

October 16 . . . Roland Bruscup, president 

of Local 181, went to Florida recently for 

some sea fishing. His 21 -year-old son Randy 

joined him in the boat but his wife Myrtle 

watched from the shore at Daytona Beach. 

Next on the itinerary was Orlando, where 

they visited Myrtle's sister. Their last stop 

was Fort Lauderdale. The trio returned 

home the first week in November. 

Al Sanders of TV-13 interviewed Leon 

Back, president of NATO of Maryland, 

concerning the closing of several theatres 

in New York City. The telecast was aired 

at 11 p.m. October 13 and at 12 noon 

October 14 . . . Gene Trapkin, owner of 

Sheridan Advertising Co. in Salisbury attended 

the National Electric Sign Ass'n's 

fall conference in Cincinnati recently. Trapkin's 

firm specializes in outdoor billboard 

advertising. 

There's been excitement in 

the household 

of Jack Nethen, secretary-treasurer of 

Claude Neon Signs, with the birth of new 

granddaughter Kelly Jan Hetrlck at Annapolis 

General Hospital. She is the daughter 

of Claire Nethen and her husband Newt. 

The Earle Theatre on Belair Road has 

abandoned its exploitation policy and returned 

to varied fare. First under the new 

policy was "Blazing Saddles," followed by 

"The Outlaw Josey Wales." The Earle Theatre 

is a JF house. 

The Eastern States Sign Council's fifth 

annual convention will be held at downtown 

Hilton Hotel Thursday (11) through Saturday 

(13). The group represents the sign 

industry for eight states as far north as 

New Hampshire. Industryites helping to 

launch the event are Bert Sommer, Acme 

Sign Co., general chairman of the convention; 

Alan Nethen, vice-president Claude 

Neon Signs, program chairman; Harry Connolly, 

owner of Litsinger Sign Co., exhibit 

chairman; Harry Belsinger of Belsinger Sign 

Works, registration chairman, and Mrs. 

Grace Connolly, who will chair the ladies 

program. Jack Nethen is president of the 

Eastern States Sign Council. 

The Northwood Theatre in the Northwood 

Shopping Center has reopened as a 

film house. Closed several months ago, the 

lobby has functioned as a plant shop . . . 

Police used illegal search warrants to make 

a seizure of books, newspapers, prints, magazines 

and films in an August raid on the 

Bon-Jay Sales, Inc., warehouse, lawyers told 

a criminal court judge Thursday, October 

14. 

Universal sent five people to this city for 

promotion of "Car Wash" which opened at 

area theatres Wednesday, October 13. In 

town were Tracy Reed, Richard Brestoff, 

DeWayne Jessie, Henry Kingi and Leon 

Pinkney. The members of the group said 

"Car Wash" originally was planned as a 

musical comedy for the stage. Now Universal 

plans to follow it with a series, if all 

goes well. It already is outgrossing "American 

Graffiti," another recent top-grossing 

youth-oriented film, says Lou Cedrone. 

Lynn Redgrave will appear here with 

Jerry Lewis in "Hellzapoppin," which opens 

at the Mechanic TTieatre Monday (22) in a 

"Broadway try-out." The play is produced 

by Alexander H. Cohen, who is managing 

the Mechanic season for the city. 

"The Front" opened Friday, October 22, 

at the Rotunda Cinema, Security Mall Cinema, 

Cinema Harundale and Perring Plaza 

Cinema . . . Fred Schmuff and Frank H. 

Durkee III, executives of F.H. Durkee Enterprises, 

returned from the NATO convention 

in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, October 

7. 

Berman Working at MMA; 

Eileen Bowser Promoted 

NEW YORK—Frank Berman, retired 

head of Movielab, is now acting as a volunteer 

consultant to the film department at 

the New York Museum of Modern Art, 

with plans to establish and maintain qualityevaluation 

procedures for prints being generated 

for the museum's archives. 

At the same time, Eileen Bowser has been 

promoted from associate curator to curator 

of the museum's film department. She has 

been on the staff since 1953. 

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WASHINGTON 

Jn cooperation with the embassy of the Polish 

People's Republic, the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America will be hosting a 

screening of the new Polish feature film 

"Nights and Days" Friday (12) at the MPAA 

headquarters. Invitees include the print media 

and guests will be given an opportunity 

to meet the director and stars of "Nights 

and Days." 

The 26th annual broadcast symposium of 

the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers' 

Broadcast Group highlighted new 

developments in cable TV, TV transmission 

and satellites at the Washington Hotel. Rep. 

Lionel Van Deerlin, chairman of the House 

Subcommittee on Communications, was 

among the speakers delivering addresses. 

J. Hunter Todd, founder and president of 

the Festival of the Americas, the Virgin 

Islands, announced that scriptwriter-producer-director 

Carl Foreman will be honored 

at this ninth annual festival, to be held Friday 

(12) through Sunday (21). Foreman will 

conduct seminars in conjunction with screenings 

of four of his features, including "High 

Noon." This international film festival, in 

past years, has paid tribute to Otto Preminger, 

Frank Capra, John Frankenheimer, Busby 

Berkeley and John Houseman, among 

others, according Todd. 

Elizabeth Taylor's summer romance here 

went the engagement route with John Warner, 

bicentennial administrator. Her fiance 

has returned from Vienna, Austria, where 

Taylor is finishing the film "A Little Night 

Music," but will rejoin her at month's end 

for an invitational trip to Israel in connection 

with the Bicentennial Forest, whereas 

Taylor's invitation from Golda Meir concerns 

a children's hospital. Warner lives on 

his Middleburg, Va., estate with his three 

teenage children. 

Nancy Hanks, chairman of the National 

Endowment for the Arts, announced the 

appointment of Henry Eckles Putsch as director 

of the federal-state partnership program 

for the NEA. Putsch, 43, served as 

director of the film/ media center for communications 

for the Philadelphia public 

school system and also as director of the 

national film study project at Fordham University. 

He comes to the NEA from the 

Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

Putsch co-authored the book "Film Delivers" 

(New York City, Citation Press, 1970) 

and has had articles published in national 

professional journals of film and education. 

Among media groups for which he has 

served are AFI, Walter Reade Organization 

and Public Broadcast Laboratory. In the new 

post, Putsch will head the NEA program 

responsible for strengthening and developing 

state and regional arts programs in all 

50 states and five special jurisdictions. 

EXHIBITOR SALUTE — George 

Stevens jr., director of the American 

Film Institute, holds the special award 

of merit presented to him by Paul Roth, 

outgoing chairman of the board, National 

Ass'n of Theatre Owners. The 

presentation was made at the recent 

national NATO convention held in the 

Disneyland Hotel at Anaheim, Calif. 

"The award of merit," Roth pointed 

out, "is a fitting tribute to AFI and 

George Stevens jr. for involvement with 

the interests of America's exhibition industry." 

The honor was bestowed by 

NATO for the API's and Stevens' "contributions 

to the art and industry of 

film in the U.S." 

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[tob'l W. Selig Named 

To Head ShoWesT 77 

LOS ANGELES—Robert W. Selig, prom- 

!K'nt 1 OS Angeles exhibition spokesman and 

chairman of NATO 

of California, has been 

named general chairman 

of ShoWesT '77, 

Robert W. Selig 

it was announced by 

Ross Campbell, Sheridan, 

Wyo., who is the 

newly elected chairman 

of the 13-state 

NATO-West division 

of the National Ass'n 

of Theatre Owners. 

The official dates 

or ShoWesT '77, the West Coast exhibitor 

.onvention and tradeshow that has grown 

o major proportions since its inception two 

êars ago. are Feb. 13-14-15, 1977. For the 

second consecutive year, the affair will be 

^taged at the Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, 

Calif., in the San Diego area. 

Once again the NATO-West co-sponsors 

will be the National Ass'n of Concessionaires 

and the national Theatre Equipment 

\ss'n. Campbell predicts an attendance of 

^00 or more, as compared to 600 for Sho- 

WesT '76 and 450 for ShoWesT '75. 

Convention chairman Selig has named an 

executive committee consisting of Campbell; 

northern California circuit head William 

F. Kartozian of Walnut Creek, Calif.. 

current president of NATO of California; 

Los Angeles area exhibition leaders Bruce 

C. Corwin, Nat D. Fellman, Jerry Ireland 

and Arthur Sanborn jr., the latter chairman 

of NATO's Southern California coordinating 

committee; San Francisco's influential Irving 

M. Levin; prominent Seattle exhibitor 

and national NATO vice-president Fredric 

A. Danz; Los Angeles "popcorn king" Al 

immediate past president of NAC, 

Lapidus, 

and Southern California equipment business 

topper Spero L. Kontos, who also is national 

convention chairman for TEA. 

A general committee of 125 prominent 

figures from all branches of exhibition, concessions 

and the equipment field is in the 

process of formation. In addition, a special 

state presidents' committee will be designated 

by Campbell to spur early registration. 

San Diego exhibitor William Russo once 

again will serve as host city chairman and 

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Hollywood 

Happenings 

jyjEL RICHMOND, director of promotion 

and exploitation for Avctf Embassy 

Pictures, is Hearing the end of an extensive 

national promotion tour for four films to be 

released by Avco for Sir Lew Grade's Associated 

General Films. He has spent two 

months touring and already has visited the 

press in 50 major markets with material 

about "Voyage of the Damned," "The Cassandra 

Crossing," "The Domino Principle" 

and "Cross of Iron." 

• 

Julie Andrews and Robert Redford were 

selected as the most popular actress and 

actor for 1976 by Family Weekly Magazine's 

celebrity poll. 

• 

James M. Roberts, executive director of 

the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and 

Sciences, was presented with a special commendation 

award by the Society of Motion 

Picture & Television Engineers Monday (18) 

at the organization's technical conference in 

New York City. 

• 

Mary Tyler Moore will be honored by the 

Hollywood chapter of the National Academy 

of Television Arts and Sciences at its 

annual ball November 7 at the Century 

Plaza Hotel. 

• 

Makoto Horii, assistant managing director 

for United Artists of Japan, has been promoted 

to managing director. He has filled 

key UA slots in Thailand, Iran, Colombia 

and Japan. 

• 

"Ding Dong," an erotic comedy from 

Germany, will be distributed in the U. S. by 

PRO-International beginning early in 1977. 

• 

Sheila O'Brien has been re-elected president 

of the Costume Designers Guild. Others 

named to office were Edith Head, vicepresident; 

Elois Jenssen, secretary, and Ret 

Turner, treasurer. 

PETERSON 

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tors consists of Moss Mabry, Bill Hargate, 

Ann Lambert, Ray Aghayan and Paul 

Zastupnevich. 

• 

Director Robert Wise has moved his cast 

and crew on "Audrey Rose" to New York 

for location shooting throughout the city 

streets of Manhattan, in Central Park, the 

Criminal Courts Building, Lincoln Center 

and the Hotel des Artistes. Following the 

New York filming, the cast and crew will 

return to Hollywood for post-production. 

• 

Avco Embassy has schedule a series of 

radio interviews for Lee Grant, who stars 

in Sir Lew Grade's "Voyage of the Damned." 

The taped interviews will be supplied to 

radio stations all over the country. Benefit 

premieres are scheduled in New York December 

19 and Los Angeles December 22. 

• 

George Barrie, president of Brut Productions, 

has signed Allen Epstein to be director 

of development and production for the 

company. Epstein was director of primetime 

current dramatic programing for ABC- 

TV. 

• 

Frank G. Wells, president and co-chief 

executive officer of Warner Bros., has been 

elected to the board of trustees of Pomona 

College, from which he was graduated summa 

cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1953. 

• 

Paul Picard, vice-president in charge of 

production for American International, has 

returned from London, England, where he 

participated in meetings on "The People 

That Time Forgot," and from Rome, Italy, 

where he discussed "Tentacles." Also traveling 

for AIP, assistant general sales manager 

Robert Steuer has returned from setting release 

plans for "Monkey Hustle" in New 

Orleans and Memphis and from a location 

visit in Jackson, Tenn., where "Final Chapter—Walking 

Tall" is being shot. Exhibitors 

who have early dates for "Final Chapter" 

accompanied Steuer on the Tennessee trip. 

• 

"Manson," a Robert Hendrickson film, 

will be an official entry in the Festival of 

Americas in the Virgin Islands. "Let the 

Balloon Go," from Inter-Planetary Pictures, 

also will be an invited entry in the festival 

competition. 

• 

Rampart Releasing, newly formed film 

distribution company, has retained Noreen 

Jcnney Communicates for public relations 

and advertising representation. 

HONORED 

STARS — Tatuni 

O'Neal, who was honored as "Female 

Star of the Year" by the National Ass'ii 

of Theatre Owners, and Dustin Hoffman, 

saluted by NATO as "Male Star 

of the Year," admire the statuette received 

from the exhibitor organization. 

Presentations were made at the convention's 

finale Wednesday night, October 

13, at the Disneyland Hotel in 

Anaheim, Calif. 

PHOENIX 

^he Cine El Dorado is promoting a seric 

of special ranging from children's mati 

nees to matinees for senior citizens. Man! 

ager Richard Ravicchio says, "We want t/ 

offer senior citizens the chance to see goo. 

movies conveniently and safely. At 2 p.ni 

October 28 "The Tamarind Seed" wu 

shown. Thursday (4) "The Bible" will b 

shown, followed by "The Lion in Winter; 

Thursday (11). October 30, children's mati; 

nees began running for four weeks, startinj' 

at 10 a.m. Midnight shows were presentee 

October 22-23, with another scheduled Sat 

urday (6). Seats were $2. 

James Metcalf's documentary film of Eng 

land, as seen from canal boats, was the Oci 

tober 24 feature at Sunday Evening Forunat 

the University of Arizona main auditori' 

um. 

Pause for thought came from John L 

Schorsch, M.D., a psychiatrist who wrote 

the following to the editor of the Arizon; 

Daily Star: "I am at first amazed to fine 

(in one Star issue) not one single film beinj 

offered to the public carrying a rating fo) 

general audiences and of interest to younj 

children. The singularity of themes in tht 

films offered is a sad comment on the cic 

ativity of the movie industry and on the 

interest of the general public. I experienci. 

this as an insult to the variety of my interests 

and a serious limitation on the activities in 

which a family can participate." 

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Golden Wedding Emcee 

Is Batschelet Again 

— Ralph Batschelet, retired 

manager of the Aladdin Theatre, will act 

;as emcee for the annual Rocky Mountain 

jNews "Golden Wedding Celebration" Sun- 

*day (7) at the Denver Hilton Hotel. It will 

;be his 29th performance in the role. Bat- 

! 

schelct retired following 42 years as theatre 

In 1977 he and Mrs. Batschelet 

will be eligible to attend this affair as guests. 

JHe married Lillian Schneider, the girl next 

'door, in 1927. 

Requirements for invitations issued by the 

News to the golden wedding event are that 

the couple be married 50 years. Invitations 

free and entitle each couple to bring 

I 

a guest. On arrival each couple is given a 

corsage and annual prizes are awarded. 

Prizes are provided by the hotel, with 

for the evening being furnished by a 

sjrant from the recording industry trust fund 

through the cooperation of the local musician's 

union. 

The late Henry Friedel, who often attended 

these events, will be missed sorely. 

30 years he was branch manager for 

MGM in Denver. 

SEATTLE 

Trv Weinstein is the new manager at Walter 

Reade's downtown King Theatre. He 

hails from the East Coast and originally was 

with General Cinema Corp. 

General Cinema is having a series of special 

children's Saturday and Sunday matinees 

; in its Renton Village, Bellevue Overlake, 

Mall and Tacoma Villa Plaza cinemas. 

Some of the special films booked are: 

"War Between the Planets." "Digby—the 

Biggest Dog in the World," "Tarzan and 

the Valley of Gold," "Reluctant Astronaut," 

Huckleberry Finn," "Batman" and "Treasure 

Island." 

Dorotlsy Matin Agency handled the per- 

ôna! appearance of William Devane, from 

Marathon Man," during his visit here October 

21. In addition to attending a press 

PORTLAND 

Qharles Funk, Luxury Theatres general 

manager, reports that Paramount's 

"Marathon Man" is doing well at the Westgate. 

Approximately 500 attended the premiere 

showing of the film, a benefit for the 

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, 

hosted by Westgate manager Ed Hildum. 

Personnel changes at Luxury Theatres: 

Dale Pearce of Omaha, Neb., is the new ad- 

. . . Brian 

vertising manager, succeeding Gary Fine, 

who now works at the Joy and Aloha theatres 

in Tigard and Beaverton 

Deveny, promoted from assistant manager, 

now helms the Broadway Theatre . . . 

Charles Funk just returned from Anaheim, 

Calif.; where he attended the national NATO 

convention held at the Disneyland Hotel. 

He accompanied circuit head Tom Moyer 

and Marilyn Moyer, as well as circuit film 

buyer Bill Spencer. Funk reports that he 

considered the speech at the opening session 

of the NATO confab one of the most interesting 

events of the huddle. 

Roger Poulson, public relations man for 

luncheon held at Trader Vies, he also appeared 

on KING-TV'S "Seattle Tonight," 

which devoted its entire half-hour telecast 

to "Marathon Man" during the 7 p.m. time 

slot that evening. 

"Cousin Cousine" broke records dating 

back to the 1920s at the Guild 45th in its 

opening four days, October 7-10 . . . Al 

MacFarling, former director of advertising 

for United Theatres, was in town for a few 

days with his lovely wife Ann visiting family 

and friends. Al is city manager in Fresno for 

Pacific Drive-In Theatres. 

Mcckoto Horii Is Named UA 

Managing Director, Japan 

LOS ANGELES—Makoto Horii, 

assistant 

managing director for United Artists of 

Japan, was promoted to managing director, 

effective October 1, it was announced by 

Pedro Teitelbaum, senior vice-president and 

foreign manager. 

Over the past decade Horii has filled key 

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Favorite Theatres, left October 14 for San 

Francisco, where he planned to attend the 

San Francisco International Film Festival. 

Substituting for Poulson in his absence was 

Carol Wilson, who announced the opening 

of "The Front" October 22 at the Bagdad 

and "From Noon Till Three," which bowed 

October 19 at the Town Center Triplex and 

at the 82nd Avenue and Division Street 

drive-ins. Wilson also reported good audience 

reaction at an invitational media preview 

of "The Front" October 14 . . . Representing 

Favorite Theatres at the NATO convention 

in Anaheim, Calif., were Larry 

Moyer, Bill Christianson and Larry Levin. 

The Hollywood Theatre opened two additional 

screens Wednesday, October 13, with 

the inaugural features "Marathon Man" and 

"Alice in Wonderland" . . . Mann Theatres 

is featuring the Benson & Hedges 100 film 

series at midnight Fridays and Saturdays at 

the Music Box Theatre. "A Street Car 

Named Desire" was the frist offering in the 

program of 100 classic motion pictures. 

slots for UA in Thailand, Iran, Colombia 

and Japan. He has a wide background of 

experience in the motion picture field. 

Mafy Chase Has New Play 

DENVER—Mafy Chase, screenwriter of 

"Harvey" and "Mrs. McThing," has written 

a play produced at the Guild Theatre here. 

Her latest creation, "M*I*C*K*E*Y," 

opened the fifth season of the Original Scene 

of Catholic Youth Services. The play tells 

the story of a young girl and her fantastic 

castle friends. 

Robby Benson and Jerry Segal wrote the 

screenplay for "Catch a Falling Star." 

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ffll BOXOFnCE :: November 1, 1976 

W.3

RMMPA Honors Tom Robinson 

closed that a minimum wage law modification 

bill which was to have been introduced 

this year has been held up in committee 

and in all likelihood will be tabled. Arizona 

NATO spokesmen urged exhibitors in the 

state to contact his or her congressman, 

representatives and senators, to explain in 

DENVER—Tom Robinson, booker and 

office manager at the Columbia exchange 

here, was guest of honor at a recent monthly 

luncheon of the Rocky Mountain Motion 

Picture Ass'n. Ralph Batschelet, president 

of RMMPA, presented the Robinsons with 

a gift certificate and pinned a corsage on 

Mrs. Robinson. 

Robinson has retired after 42 years with 

Columbia. Starting as biller, he was made a 

booker a year later, in 1935. He also served 

as office manager. Without doubt, this is the 

Arizona NATO Holds 

First Tucson Meeting 

TUCSON—NATO of Arizona scored two 

"firsts" when it held its general membership 

meeting in this city September 23. The organization 

never before had convened anywhere 

except in Phoenix and the Tucson 

huddle marked the first time that Arizona 

NATO ever had invited all exhibitors in the 

state, both members and nonmembers, to 

participate in a general membership session. 

The decisions to change the site of the 

conclave and to extend an invitation to all 

motion picture theatre operators in Arizona 

had been arrived at when the executive 

board met in early September to outline 

policy for the coming year. Invitations to 

the general membership meeting, which was 

deemed a rousing success, went out to over 

50 NATO members and nonmembers. This 

resulted in an impressive turnout from all 

areas of Arizona, with representatives from 

independent situations as well as circuit exhibitors 

responding, when the group assembled 

September 23 in the Continental 

Room of Tucson's Ramada Inn for a luncheon-meeting. 

Ewart Edwards 

Ewart Edwards of the Cactus Corp., Tucson, 

presided at the business session due to 

the absence of Arizona NATO president 

John Lx)uis, who was on a European trip 

longest time anyone has served as booker 

for one of the film companies here and 

probably is a record for the country. 

The Robinsons have a son and daughter 

—and seven grandchildren. 

Maurice Mitchell, chancellor of the University 

of Denver, gave a short talk on 

movies. His comments were complimentary. 

Mitchell said he attended motion picture 

showings "whenever his children permitted 

him to do so." 

with Mrs. Louis celebrating their 25th wedding 

anniversary. Also absent was B. V. 

Sturdivant, chairman of the executive board, 

who could not attend because of prior commitments 

but who promised to reserve time 

for the next meeting of the exhibitor organization. 

Following the introduction of guests, 

reading and approval of minutes of the last 

meeting, reading (for the record) minutes 

of the executive board meeting and approval 

of the treasurer's report, film rentals for 

"marginal" theatres were discussed. The assemblage 

was told that NATO of Arizona, 

as well as national NATO, working with 

major film distributors on this matter and 

that several of the majors have agreed to 

set appropriate, workable rentals for those 

theatres grossing $50,000 or less per year. 

Exhibitors present who represented the 

marginal situations being discussed expressed 

pleasure upon learning that NATO of Arizona 

is attempting to arrange, through negotiation, 

to have the special rental terms 

also apply to theatres with a gross of $75,- 

000 (or less) per year. 

Minimum Wage Lavfs 

The latest information and developments 

concerning the minimum wage law were 

presented and discussed. All present were 

advised to remember that, under existing 

statutes, the minimum wage will be advanced 

to $2.30 effective Jan. 1, 1977. It was dis- 

detail the difficulties which could result if 

this newest bill eventually should become 

law. 

The association reluctantly accepted the 

resignation of Danny Rosenow of Plitt Theatres, 

who has left full-time employment 

with that circuit to return to academic pursuits. 

Elected as successor regional vicepresident 

No. 2 was Charles Laughlin, longtime 

theatreman who has been involved in 

all facets of exhibition during his extensive 

career. 

NATO Recruitment 

Organizational growth was noted as regional 

vice-presidents reported on their 

efforts to recruit new NATO members, with 

several new membership applications secured, 

and the meeting chairman urged I 

everyone to make an effort to attend the 

national NATO convention. 

Preceding open discussion, it was determined 

that the membership majority approved 

of the policy of rotating future meetings 

between Phoenix and Tucson, with occasional 

get-togethers to be held in Casa 

Grande, a major Arizona market and a halfway 

point, travel-wise, for most of the exhibitors 

involved. 

FAB Awards of Excellence 

Presented to 3 Pictures 

HOLLYWOOD—Members of the Film 

Advisory Board honored three G-rated 

; 

films with "Awards of Excellence" and presented 

a special citation to veteran showman 

Max Laemmie during the group's monthly 

luncheon held October 26 in the Holiday 

Inn. 

Laemmie was honored for his 

"contribution 

in bringing cultural films to this area." 

His theatres now are showing, in addition 

to leading foreign films, three movies delving 

into the lives and achievements of three 

great composers—^Beethoven, Bruckner and 

Mozart. 

Specializing in foreign films, Laemmie 

theatres currently have 

pointed out that his 

scheduled three "festivals," a program of 

Israeli films at the Royal Theatre in West 

Los Angeles, a German festival at his Santa 

Monica theatre and a French festival at the 

Los Feliz Theatre in Hollywood. 

An "Award of Excellence" went to Scott 

Dietrich for his "Freewheelin' " feature 

about skateboarding and other sports. Walt 

Dill, a rancher in the state of Nevada, was 

presented with an award for his "Elmer" 

feature. Dill explained that, as his first venture 

in filmmaking, he was offered a script 

for an X-rated feature but "I decided that I 

could just as easily make a G-rated picture." 

Winner Circle Films also was cited for 

its "Run for Blue" film and Chris Prentiss 

was honored for his feature "Going Home," 

a story about a youth who tours the nation 

in an effort to find himself. 

W-4 BOXOFFICE November 1, 1976

, 

SAN 

; 

services 

advertising 

\ and newspaper production de- 

in September. 

i 

partment 

' 

' 

years 

PRESENTING CHECK—A charity 

highlight of the fourth annual Variety 

Ch:b-Kup Open held recently at the 

Evanston Golf Club near Chicago was 

the presentation of a $25,000 check by 

general chairman Tom Tully, left, and 

president Bene Stein, center, to Alex 

Gianaras, president of Little City, for 

mentally handicapped children. The 

money was derived from the ninth annual 

Tent 26 event held in the Windy 

City. 

Plitt Circuit Presenting 

Children's Film Festival 

CHICAGO— Plitt Theatres and the Chicago 

Tribune have started sponsoring movies 

for children at noontime. The program extends 

through December 4. 

The Children's Film Festival feature a 

different movie each Saturday at Plitt theatres. 

Admission is free for adults and children 

who bring admission coupons (the Tribune 

prints two coupons each Friday). Without 

coupons, there is a 25-cent admission. 

"Snoopy Come Home" launched the 

series, followed by "No Dogs Allowed," "A 

Boy Named Charlie Brown," "Sunshine Alney," 

"The Little Ark," "Scrooge" (the musical 

based on Charles Dickens' holiday classic), 

"Robinson Crusoe and the Tiger" and 

"The Daydreamer." All the movies are rated 

G. 

Participating Plitt theatres are the Uptown, 

Nortown, Gateway and Will Rogers. 

In the suburbs, participating theatres are the 

River Oaks 1, Woodfield 1, Oakbrook, Berwyn, 

LaGrange, Mercury, Lyric, Paramount 

(in Hammond, Ind.), Varsity, Tivoli on Genessee 

Waukegan and Hillcrest in Joliet. 

Scott Calder Is Appointed 

To Camille Barnes Agency 

FRANCISCO—Camille Barnes Ad- 

' vertising & Publicity Agency acquired the 

of Scott Calder for its theatre co-op 

Calder began in the theatre business seven 

ago as an assistant manager. To join 

the new agency, he leaves his position with 

Syufy Enterprises where he directed advertising. 

Calder joins recently appointed Ivan Lofstrom 

and Richard Small in their duties with 

the Camille Barnes Advertising & Publicity 

Agency, based in San Francisco. 

Buscber Explains How Boxoffice 

Gross Affects Film Production 

lOLA, KAS.—Robert Buscher, wellknown 

Central region exhibitor who, with 

Lou Bartow, also operates B&B Booking 

Co., recently wrote "The Register Forum" 

of the lola Register to "tell it like it is." 

Buscher's letter follows in part: 

"I am now starting in my 19th month of 

business in lola as owner and operator of 

the local movie theatres, both the lola 

Theatre and the lola 54 Drive-In ... I am 

by no means apologizing for the way I 

operate my business for I am like any other 

merchant in this community—or any community—who 

has a product for sale and, 

like any other merchant, if the product on 

my shelf does not sell, I replace it with a 

product that does sell. This is what you call 

good business . . . Regarding the movies or 

the product I sell in Ida, I sell the very 

same movies that are shown in 'Any Theatre, 

U.S.A.' 

"Now to get down to facts. The thing that 

bothers me most is the few people who have 

written the forum criticizing my business. 

It bothers me extremely that these people 

are so much community-minded that they 

have never, ever, bothered calling me at my 

place of business to discuss what bothers 

them in person. I might add that I would 

be more than happy to sit down and explain 

my problems to them but it is apparent that 

these people who write to the forum criticizing 

my business enjoy seeing their names in 

print. 

"I have two children of my own and I try 

know how to raise them 

the very best way I 

to be good citizens. I personally select the 

movies that they see. I cannot help it if 

other parents don't do the same. Sometime 

back we played a picture titled 'The Hiding 

Place,' which was sponsored by the Billy 

Graham organization and the local churches. 

It seems awfully funny to me that the lola 

Theatre is good enough to show films of this 

nature, the lola Theatre is good enough to 

talk to personally about showing this film 

and yet the lola Theatre does not get the 

courtesy of discussing what displeases people 

with my operation. 

"It bothers me very much when people 

constantly criticize and do not look for the 

good or do not bring the good to the attention 

of the community. I have yet to see a 

letter from the clergy or anyone in the area 

complimenting us when we bring in a G- 

rated movie (or attending them much either) 

and when such pictures as 'The Sound of 

Music' 'That's Entertainment!', 'That's Entertainment, 

Part 2' and many Disney features 

have not been supported. 

"I feel at this time that I owe no apology 

for the way I am operating my business. I 

have tried to conduct myself in a businesslike 

manner and do not have time to worry 

about the constant reminder of our community's 

bad points. You see. through my eyes 

I see a wonderful future for it. I think it is 

about time that we compliment our young 

on the good things they are doing, compliment 

our merchants on the better stores they 

are running and compliment our industry 

for its belief in us. 

"No, this merchant will not apologize. 

The fact 

remains that the public determines 

what product to show and the quantity. I 

know this letter will offend some and for 

that I am sorry. I also know that the parents 

who are my customers and who send their 

children to my theatre every Saturday know 

that the lola Theatre is run with proper 

supervision and that their child is completely 

safe when attending our theatre. These are 

the things I am concerned with. 

"Some time back, a mother called me 

and asked if I showed a preview of the upcoming 

R-rated movies. I realized that the 

mother had a very good point and we discontinued 

previews altogether so that if a 

film is rated G, then the whole program is 

G, and if the film is rated R then the whole 

program is rated R. So, you see, all it takes 

is working together. 

I Noticed a Letter 

"I noticed yesterday's forum letter was 

signed 'As an lolan' and I state that 'As a 

New lolan' I want to be listed with those 

who help make a better community and 

please, if any of you out there can help me 

to improve my business, feel free to call 

upon me, I need all the help I can get. 

"At this time I ask you to reread the following 

article that Emerson Lynn wrote 

some months ago; Boxoffice magazine, the 

trade journal for the motion picture industry, 

lists the current titles available to theatres. 

Each is graded according to the code 

now used to guide viewers . . . The 

issue lists 

current 

19 movies available with G ratings 

out of 123 titles I surveyed for this article. 

There were 44 rated PG, which means some 

would find them offensive due to violent 

scenes, off-color language or sexual content. 

Fifty of the pictures were rated R, while the 

remaining ten drew an X. These statistics 

explain why theatre owners and managers in 

lola and elsewhere must run R-rated movies 

and PGs along with the general-audience 

shows they play if they are to keep their 

doors open. 

"The industry does not produce enough 

G movies to keep any theatre in business, 

nor can theatres in towns our size in which a 

limited audience makes it necessary to 

change the bill frequently run seven days a 

week unless it plays a substantial number 

of R titles. There just isn't enough product 

available in the PG and G categories. 

"The problem doesn't stop there. An R 

rating, for example, doesn't begin to tell a 

theatre manager or a moviegoer all he needs 

to know about a particular picture. Some Rs 

are given the rating because of an isolated 

scene in which a female actress is shown 

nude or semi-nude for an instant. The nudity 

may be dramatically appropriate and of- 

(Continued on page C-2) 

BOXOFTICE :: November 1. 1976 C-1

CHICAGO 

TJniversal's "Midway" returns Friday (5) 

for openings in suburban-area theatres. 

Even the most sophisticated distributors 

were very impressed with a first look at the 

new six-theatre complex constructed by 

American Multi Cinema in suburban Naperville. 

Guests were treated to a lunch at the 

nearby Flame Restaurant and then bused 

to the new site for an inspection tour. 

One of AIP's new films, "Shout at the 

Devil," is set for openings in this city and 

surrounding area theatres Friday (5). The 

PG-rated film stars Lee Marvin, Roger 

Moore and Barbara Parkins. October 22 

AIP's "The Great Scout and Cathouse 

Thursday" returned for another go-around 

in outlying theatres. 

A 21st birthday always is considered special 

but to Chris D' Arnica, Buena Vista's 

Milwaukee booker, it held added significance. 

She was feted by a group of her coworkers. 

Ed Janecek came from United Artists 

Theatre circuit's operations in Minnesota 

to serve as general manager of the company's 

Marina City theatres. 

Producer Freddie Fields and director 

Richard Brooks will start shooting "Looking 

for Mr. Goodbar" early this month. 

They say our town is a "most photographic 

city" . . . "In the Realm of the Senses," the 

Japanese film which reportedly was banned 

from the New York Film Festival as "too 

pornographic," will be presented in an American 

premiere Wednesday (17) at the Chicago 

International Film Festival. 

Congratulations and best wishes to Joyce 

Ewing of National Screen Service. She has 

served with the company as biller, accounting 

clerk and booker and now has been promoted 

to the post of office manager of the 

company's branch here. 

John Roberts, who made numerous friendly 

contacts when he was stationed here with 

Buena Vista, will be in town for a fast business 

trip in early November. Now headquartered 

in Kansas City as regional manager 

for BV, Roberts is responsible for 17 

states. 

Dick Graff, formerly of this city and now 

president of Cine Artists on the West Coast, 

is recuperating at home following surgery. 



HAWAII TOO. 


b||wijl^ 


rg^J]] Don Ho Show. . . at 

IhottmJ Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel. 

IN WAIKIKI: REEF REEF TOWERS . EDGEWATER 

Jack Clark, who was chairman of this 

year's theatre collection drive, 

reported that 

the final figure totaled $72,742.23. Of that 

amount, $44,132.90 came from Plitt Theatres' 

effort. 

"Idi Amin Dada" has its local premiere 

at the Chelex Theatre. The film is an authorized 

self-profile of the Ugandan dictator 

general. "Idi Amin Dada" was produced in 

1974 by Jean-Pierre Rassam and Charles 

Henri Favrod, with photography by Nestor 

Almendros. Barbet Schroeder directed the 

film. Channel 11, this city's educational station, 

is airing a two-hour tribute to the 1 2th 

Chicago International Film Festival. 

Barbra Streisand is due here Christmas 

Day for the opening of "A Star Is Born" at 

the near north Esquire Theatre. 

'Moviegoers Responsible 

For X-Rated Product' 

(Continued from page C-1) 

fensive only to hopeless prudes. Toss in a 

couple of common cuss words and you have 

enough to warrant the restricted label. Yet 

the code covers so broad a latitude that softcore 

pornography featuring vile language, 

exalting alley-cat morals and devoid of any 

plot or acting worth the name also may be 

rated R. 

"It is only at the top and the bottom of 

the scale that the viewer or film orderer is 

safe. All X-rated movies these days are 

either full of sickening violence or explicit 

sex. On the other hand, all G-rated pictures 

are guaranteed not to offend even the most 

fastidious. There is a small comfort in these 

certainties, however, because more than 

three-quarters of all the movies being made 

fall 

into the R and PG categories and neither 

of these ratings is a dependable guide to their 

artistic worth or moral content. 

"Moviegoers are responsible for this state 

of affairs, of course. Motion pictures are 

made by commercial studios for profit. 

Studios don't purposely produce films no 

one will pay to see. Sex and violence dominate 

today's motion pictures because these 

are the films that draw at the boxoffice. 

When moviegoers stop paying to see them, 

studios will produce what the change in 

taste dictates. The public, not the theatre 

owner, calls the tune." 

Buscher concluded his letter by saying: 

"In closing, I want to thank you for reading 

my thoughts. Of course I could go on and 

on. I want you to know all it takes is working 

together and finding the good points of 

not just the lola Theatre but all of our 

neighbors and perhaps when you see them 

all you will understand that you do live in 

a very nice community. 

"I know this letter has been awfully long 

but I also realize that this is my one letter 

compared to all the ones I didn't answer 

previously." 

In a postscript, Buscher added: "I don't 

like staying up every Friday and Saturday 

night from 12:30 to 2 or 3 a.m. showing 

X-rated films, so why don't you people who 

keep criticizing me start supporting G and 

PG films and I won't have to do this any 

more. Believe me, you will have a much 

healthier theatre manager!" 

ST. LOUIS 

^he BCP production "Special Delivery" begins 

a wide multiple Wednesday (3). 

Released by American International, the 

film stars Bo Svenson who pulls off a bank 

heist with three buddies, manages to escape 

when they are captured or killed and winds 

up with Cybill Shepherd. A fight scene in 

an adult theatre is a highlight of the actioncomedy-drama. 

"A Matter of Time," in which Vincente 

Minnelli fulfills a longtime wish to direct 

his daughter Liza, opened Friday, October 

29, at Northwest Plaza, Sunset, Jamestown, 

Stadium 2 and the BAG in Belleville. 111. 

Liza portrays a simple Italian village girl 

working as a chambermaid in a third-class 

Rome hotel. There she meets an old, 

impoverished 

countess (Ingrid Bergman), whose 

former husband (Charles Boyer) visits her 

from time to time. In listening to the old 

lady's reminiscences about her exciting past, 

the girl fantasizes that she had lived those 

colorful episodes and is transformed into a 

sophisticated young woman and becomes a 

movie star. The film is based on the novel 

"Film of Memory," by former French Minister 

of Qilture Maurice Druon, whom Ingrid 

Bergman had met. She made him promise 

that if the book ever was filmed, hewould 

recommend her for the part of the 

contessa. 

Films scheduled for local release later this 

month are "Carrie" and "Shout at the 

Devil." 

"AH the President's Men" is in sub-run 

. . 

in 1 1 theatres, including La Jade, Festus, 

and three houses in Belleville, Collinsvillc 

and Granite City, III. . . . Walt Disney's 

ever-popular "Fantasia" is back again at the 

Shady Oak . The Richard Boone starrer, 

"Against a Crooked Sky" is current at the 

Granada, Northwest Plaza II, Des Peres 4 

Cinema and Ellisville. 

Volunteers are needed for the 20th annual 

Old Newsboys Day campaign to be held 

the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday 

(24). Members of Variety Club Tent 4 Filmrowites 

have assisted for several years in 

selling a special edition of the Globe-Democrat 

for any size donation. Every cent collected 

is distributed to children's agencies 

in the area. Robert F. Hyland, vice-president 

of CBS and general manager of KOMX 

theWtre equipment 

"Everything for ihe Theatre" 

339 No. CAPITOL AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 

C.2 BOXOFHCE :: November 1, 1976

! 

as 

I 

I ping is done on board about 30 minutes into 

the movie, in an electric skillet or corn popt 

per 

I 

— 

Radio, is seeking 9,000 volunteers to serve 

It least an hour during the morning. To volinteer, 

call Mrs. Lee LeGaglio at 342-1433 

Detween 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Movies scheduled at the University City 

Library this month are "Since You Went 

'Vway" (1944), starring Claudette Colbert, 

foseph Cotten, Shirley Temple and Lionel 

Barrymore, Thursday (4); "The Wind"' 

1928), a silent film starring Lillian Gish, 

Thursday (11), and "The Palm Beach Story" 

1942), with Joel McCrea, Rudy Vallee, 

Vlary Astor and Claudette Colbert, Thursday 

(18). Showings are at 8 p.m. and free 

the 

public. 

Washington University and the St. Louis 

Film Art Society, in their series of foreign 

md American classics, will present "La 

Chienne" (1930), a Renoir production in 

Diack and white with English subtitles, Friday 

(12) and Sunday (14). "Peter Rabbit & 

Tales of Beatrix Potter" will be the Thanksgiving 

attraction, showing Friday (26) and 

Sunday (28). Friday screenings are at 8 p.m. 

ind Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. General ad- 

Tiission is $1.50, university students $1.00. 

Julie Piokarski, 12-year-old dancer who 

.vent to Hollywood in June to become a 

nember of the new Mouseketeers at Walt 

Disney Studios, has returned to her class 

it Sacred Heart Academy. Filming began 

fune 21 and the series will be syndicated, 

kilie attended school three or four hours 

1 day while on the West Coast. She and 

ler mother will return to the studios when 

:he next shooting begins in January 1977. 

"Billy Budd," both a popular novel and 

;Tiotion picture, is the current attraction at 

the Loretto-Hilton Theatre. Adapted from 

the Herman Melville book, the play will run 

through Friday (12), 

with ticket prices ranging 

from $3.50 to $7.50. 

Ron Smith notes in the Globe-Democrat 

that popcorn, that movie house standby, may 

well be "the Ail-American foodstuff," outselling 

the hot dog and apple pie. Americans 

will eat 400,000,000 pounds of the puffed 

Jelight this year, amounting to some two 

pounds per person—popped. National Airlines 

is now serving popcorn on its Miami 

to Los Angeles flights right along with its 

inflight motion pictures. Priscilla Schepis, a 

flight attendant who pops the corn as well 

serving it, says, "We get comments about 

how good our meals are—and the wines 

but the thing that really seems to turn people 

on is a little thing like popcorn." The pop- 

in the galley or in the midcabin section 

pf the plane. A gourmet-type of corn is used, 

with a low-cholesterol oil, and the passengers 

,get it still warm from the popper. 

ncii 

Theatre 

Service 

The nation's finest for 40 years ! 



7620 Gross Point Road. Skokie, III. 60076 

Phone: (312) 478-6591 

KANSAS CITY 

Tâybe it's not quite Christmas yet and maybe 

it's a little early to get into the spirit 

of giving, but a project of gigantic proportions 

has just concluded that has drawn a 

plethora of unselfish, hard-working volunteers 

from every facet of the Kansas City 

film industry. That project is the Haunted 

House attraction organized and sponsored 

by Variety Club Tent 8. Guided by chairman 

Norm Nielson. with direction and assistance 

from Paul Kelly and Gene Krull. 

a crew of hard-working volunteers converted 

an open office space into a 12-room 

"Haunted House." With remarkable precision 

and engineering, plans were drawn, 

designs were made, walls were built and 

illusions 

created. 

Friday. October 22, the volunteers took 

off their builders' hats and put on performers' 

hats. They became ghosts, spiders, 

witches and monsters of every design. The 

doors were opened and the crowds came, 

to the tune of a $1,300 gross opening night 

alone. By the end of the "run" Halloween 

night, chairman Neilson estimated that 

$15,000 would be collected for dispersal 

to various charities. 

For each of the ten days that the attraction 

played, nearly 40 volunteers donated 

their time in one capacity or another. Guiding 

or scaring shrieking viewers, tireless 

volunteers donated perhaps the most valuable 

commodity of all: their time and effort. 

"Walls are nothing," noted Nielson. "What 

the people are doing is everything." 

Make no mistake, however, the effort 

was not all drudgery. Where else can a 

secretary, a booker or a salesman have the 

opportunity to retreat behind a costume and 

false face and scare the sauce out of 1,000 

people every night? Perhaps Nielson put it 

in a nutshell when he said that "everyone's 

really working their tails off but they're 

having a lot of fun, too." 

The 12 rooms in the house include the 

Snake and Worm Room (sponsored by Mercury 

Film), Dracula's Coffin (Women of 

Variety), Mummy Room (Columbia), Frankenstein 

(Doty-Dayton), Graveyard Room 

(National Theatre Supply), Creature Room 

(Dickinson), Orang-utang Room (Dickinson), 

Skeleton Room (David Darr), Witches 

Roost (New World), Spider Room (Sunn 

Classic), Dungeon (Midwest Films) and 

Hunchback Room (L&L Supply). 

John King, Universal shipper, spent last 

week resting comfortably in St. Luke's Hospital 

after experiencing problems caused by 

hypertension. John will remain at home at 

least another week before returning to work. 

Mike Kelly, the assistant general sales 

manager for New World Pictures, visited 

. . . Richie 

the local branch two weeks ago assisting 

with, among other things, ideas for the Variety 

Club's Haunted House 

Antell, New World salesman, was in New 

York City last weekend to attend the wedding 

of his cousin. 

David Darr, chief of Key International's 

division office here, has been starring as 

"The Skeleton" in Variety Club Tent 8's 

Haunted House. Besides filling the title role, 

David provided his own props. Already into 

genealogy, the enthusiastic Filmrowite now 

appears to be on his way to becoming a 

paleontologist of some note. 

Accompanied by friend Sheri Tabor, 

David drove October 17 to Pioneer in the 

southwest part of the state. Sheri's parents 

live near the boom town (pop. 40) on an 

80-acre farm and, upon learning of an epidemic 

that proved to be fatal to many bovines 

a couple of years ago, David ventured 

into the forest and returned with an impressive 

assortment of ribs, pelvic bones and 

skulls, including the cranial structure of an 

accident-prone goat. 

The couple transported the cow spare 

parts across several county lines for the 

express purpose of using them to adorn the 

Haunted House, along with bittersweet, cattails, 

uninhabited turtle shells, etc., all picked 

up in the suburban areas of Pioneer. While 

David wowed the moppets as a skelton after 

the bones were covered with glow paint, 

Sheri and daughters Dina, Darlene and Melissa 

haunted the halls in ghost form, with 

Darlene even taking time out to occupy the 

inevitable coffin periodically. 

Word has it that David is available for 

other skeleton roles—or perhaps someone 

was just "ribbing" Boxoffice. 

Popular Shirley Temple, co-starred with 

Frank Morgan and Stepin' Fetchit, was appearing 

in "Dimples" at the Mainstreet Theatre 

40 years ago, according to the column 

by that name in the Kansas City Times 

October 18. "The Big Broadcast of 1937," 

with Bob Burns, Martha Raye, Jack Benny, 

George Burns and Gracie Allen, was the 

attraction at the Newman Theatre, while 

"East Meets West," with George Arliss, was 

on Uptown screen. Loew's Midland was 

playing "The Devil Is a Sissy," with Freddie 

Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper and Mickey 

Rooney . 

. . Back at the Tower Theatre at 

12th and McGee as emcee was Clarence 

Stroud. 

Screenings at Commonwealth: October 28, 

"Joe Panther" (Artists Creations) and 

"Death Weekend" (AIP) . . . Paramount 

Pictures hosted three screenings of its product 

at the Empire Theatre—October 26, 

"Islands in the Stream," and October 27, 

"The Last Tycoon" and "Bugsy Malone." 

lOXOmCE :: November 1, 1976 C-3

— 

— 

AMC Unveils 5-Plex 

In Kingsport, Tenn. 

KINGSPORT, TENN.—The newest 

addition 

to the American Multi Cinema circuit 

is the Fort Henry 5 theatres in Kingsport, 

the circuit's first entertainment center in 

Tennessee. 

Grand-opening activities centered around 

a special VIP invitational screening which 

was held for all media representatives and 

city officials. Vice-Mayor K. Gardner Hammond 

and City Manager Ernest Clark attended 

the screening and were part of the 

film-cutting ceremony which officially 

launched the fiveplex. 

Also attending the ceremony were AMC 

executives and Arlen Shopping Center representatives. 

Jay Jerry Barber, manager of 

arranged to have TV coverage 

the theatres, 

of the film-cutting ceremony by WJHL-TV, 

which aired the event on local newscasts. 

The opening of Fort Henry 5 expands the 

Northeast AMC division to 66 screens in 14 

locations. 

M&R Amusement Sets 

Suburban Expansion 

CHICAGO—M&R Amusement Co. 

has 

announced plans to enlarge two of its suburban 

theatres. The twin Evergreen theatres, 

in Evergreen Park, 111., will become a threescreen 

complex and the triplex Norridge 

theatres, in Norridge, 111., will be expanded 

to a fourplex. In both cases expansion will 

involve building new auditoriums and lobbies, 

although the new portions will be attached 

to the theatres already on the sites. 

Richard Rosenfield, vice-president of 

M&R Amusement, said today's booking patterns 

of long-running showcase films and 

the success of the present theatres makes 

the new projects "a logical expansion for 

our company." The new buildings will be the 

19th and 20th screens for the company, all 

in 

the Chicago area. The theatres, projected 

at 850 seats each, are scheduled to open in 

June 1977. 

Copyright Suit Is Filed 

By Mitchell Brothers 

SAN FRANCISCO—The Mitchell brothers 

have filed a copyright violation action 

against members of the Santa Ana City 

Council and Sun Valley Atty. James J. Clancy 

for taking photographs of X-rated films 

shown at the Santa Ana Theatre. Attorney 

Joseph Rhine of San Francisco filed suit 

October 12 in U.S. District Court, central 

district of California, Los Angeles. 

Statutory infringement damages, ranging 

SPARBERG 

HONORED—Trevor 

Chinn, right, vice-president of Variety 

Clubs International and head of the 

British-based Lex Hotel chain, hosted 

the Heart Award dinner in Chicago 

which honored Jack Sparberg (center, 

holding plaque), with Variety Club 

Tent 26 president Bene Stein, left, at 

the Whitehall. Sparberg was honored 

for his "outstanding collective efforts 

and contributions for community welfare 

in accordance with the aims and 

objectives of the Variety Club of Illinois." 

Sparberg has become the "grandfather" 

to hundreds of needy and handicapped 

children. He has donated in excess 

of $70,000 on both sides of the 

ocean. In Sparberg's honor, his family 

donated $5,000 to the Variety Club 

Prosthetic Electro-Limb Bank program, 

which was started by Sparberg's initial 

$5,000 contribution. 

from $250 to $5,000 per infringement, and 

punitive damages in a like amount were 

sought by Mitchell Bros., which operates 

the Santa Ana Theatre and produces many 

of the films shown there. 

"We are not looking for money," explained 

Jim Mitchell, 32, who operates a 

seven-theatre circuit in California with his 

brother Artie, 30. He added, "We feel we 

have to protect our property and to stop 

politicians who think they're beyond the 

law." 

The complaint charged that Clancy and 

the council conspired illegally in obtaining 

hundreds of photographs which, if determined 

to be lewd by the council, would 

brand the adult theatre a public nuisance 

and possibly lead to further action. 

Among the films shown at the Mitchell 

Bros, theatre since January include six of 

the company's own productions: "Behind the 

Green Door," "The Resurrection of Eve," 

"Sodom and Gomorrah," "Inside Marilyn 

Chambers," "CB Mamas" and "The Autobiography 

of a Flea." Three of the films 

have registered copyrights in Washington, 

D.C., while the remaining three have copyrights 

pending. 

MID-CONTINENT Theatre Supply Corp. 

1800 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo. 64108 

Phone (816) 221-0480 W. R. "Bill" Davis, Mgr. 

PROMPT • EFFICIENT 

• COURTEOUS 

'Marathon Man' Opens 

At Triple Average 

KANSAS CITY—The Sunn Classic 

nic 

tion picture "In Search of Noah's Ark" iJ 

its second week here is still getting one c 

the top scores. But opener "Marathon Man 

at three theatres is hard to beat with a 30 

scoring. "Immoral Tales," opening at th 

Brookside scored a 65 while "Manson 

brought in a 60 attendance rating in its fin 

week at eight theatres. "From Noon Ti 

Three" is another strong picture scoring 10 

in its third week. 


Boulevard, 1-70—The Bodyguard (SR) 

Brookside Immoral Tales (SR) 

Eight theatres Manson (AA) _. 

11 theatres In Search ol Noah's Aric 

(Sunn Classic), 2nd wk IJ 

Embassy 1—Silent Movie (20th-Fox), IBth wk 

Empire, Watts Mill 1—Alice in Wonderland (SR), 

4th virk -.- _ E 

Empire 3—The Omen (20th-Fox), 17th wk 

Fairyland 1, Watts Mill 2—69 Minutes (SR), 

2nd wk 

Four theatres Breaking Point (20th-Fox); 

Fighting Mad (20th-Fox) - 

Glenwood 2 The Bawdy Adventures of 

Tom Jones (Univ), 9th wk 7 

Midland 1 Midway (Univ), 18th wk 

10 theatres—Scorchy (AlP) 

Three theatres—From Noon Till Three (UA), 

3rd wk 1( 

Three theatres Marathon Man (Para) 3( 

Three theatres—A Matter of Time (AlP), 2nd wk 1( 

Enthusiastic in Chicago 

From 'Marathon' Grosses 

CHICAGO—Often exhibitors complai 

about a lack of new product as a reaso 

for soft boxoffice. But "Marathon Man," 

newcomer to Chicago theatres, could onl 

give rise to enthusiasm. A report of 50(' 

came in from three of the screens showin:| 

the Dustin Hoffman thriller. "The Rit/ 

again did well in its second week scorin 

better than double average. "A Matter

4iirruiJM>lii 

; 

; ; 

STARRING lEE VAN CIEEF • JACK KELLY 

A FILMS INTERNATIONAL RELEASE 

liXPIOSIVIi! 

I 

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SHOVC A GVN 

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TEACH 

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IN WIDESCOPE 

EASTMANCOLOR A FILMS INTERNATIONAL RELEASE 

An-Atomic-Erotica! © 

"THE HOTTEST SUMMER EVER!" 

SUMMER , 

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A VOUW MAirS DURY » MSSm MCESl Ml lUST >M^H 

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ATLANTA 

Qashier Sara Lowery, United Artists, got 

the jump on the rest of the film industry 

people by taking her vacation and heading 

for the Great Smoky Mountains around 

Gatlinburg. Tenn., to get an early view of 

Mother Nature's "leaf spectacular." Last 

week the North Georgia mountains began 

to attract motorists and by week's end the 

roads leading to places like Dahlonega and 

Clayton were seeing heavy traffic. The leaf 

display in Georgia is now at its height. 

Pat and Marjorie Roberson have returned 

from visiting kinsmen and friends in 

Jacksonville, where they both worked on 

Filmrow before moving here. Pat. booker 

for the Wayne Chappell Agency, participated 

in the film industry's annual charity 

golf tournament while Marjorie, 20th-Fox 

booker, visited her sisters, Linda Windham 

and Vivian Ganas. Linda, before her retirement, 

worked for the Floyd Theatre circuit 

in the Florida city, and Vivian is the ABC- 

Florida States Theatres' booker. 

Fredell Pogodin, assistant to Bob Oda, 

United Artists Southern director of promotion 

and advertising, said their department 

is working on future releases between now 

and Christmas, including "Carrie," "The 

Pink Panther Strikes Again," "Network," 

"Bound for Glory" and "The Return of a 

Man Called Horse." The latter is penciled 

in for early showing at Georgia Theatres' 

Lenox Square I which reopened October 15 

with "Sex With a Smile." The Lenox was 

shuttered while undergoing repairs made 

necessary by an electrical fire that caused 

water and fire damage to the theatre. 

Sale of the Lenox Square Mall to Corporate 

Property Investors, a New York-based 

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October 14 by stockholders of Lenox Square. 

The 1,100,000 square-foot mall is the oldest 

and largest regional shopping center in the 

Southeast and includes two Georgia Theatre 

houses, Lenox I, accommodating 850 people, 

and Lenox II with 350 seats. 

Preliminary agreement on an exchange 

ratio for a merger between the Atlanta-based 

Coca-Cola Co. and the Taylor Wine Co. has 

been announced by the two firms. Each 

Taylor shareholder would receive one share 

of common stock of Coca-Cola for each 3.75 

shares of Taylor common stock. This would 

require issuance of approximately 1,160,999 

shares of Coca-Cola's common stock. 

The American Theatre Organ Society's 

local chapter sponsored "A Halloween Happening 

at the Fabulous Fox," a party which 

will be highlighted by the showing of "The 

Phantom of the Opera" starring Lon 

Chaney, October 28 at the theatre. All proceeds 

went to the "Save the Fox" campaign. 

An added feature was Dennis James at the 

Moller organ, plus "goblins, ghouls, ghosts 

and surprises." Tickets went for $5, $4 and 

$3. 

Another event of interest at the Fox was 

the booking of Victor Herbert's "Naughty 

Marietta," starring Cyril Ritchard, October 

25, sponsored by the Atlanta* Music Club. 

The show was offered as a means of raising 

funds for the club's various music program 

activities and also as a bicentennial event. 

E. William Andrew jr., secretary/ treasurer 

of the Southeastern Independent Theatre 

Exhibitors, was the principal speaker at the 

Knoxville SITE chapter meeting, called by 

vice-president Juanita Force, Lakemont 

Drive-In, Maryville. Andrew brought the 

members up-to-date on what the National 

Independent Theatre Exhibitors and SITE 

plan for financing independent film productions. 

Officers were elected also. 

DeWitt Cade, 20th Century-Fox booker, 

took a week of his vacation to be with his 

wife Debbie and their baby daughter Rebecca 

Jean when they returned from the 

hospital. 

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E. E. Whitaker, retired Georgia Theair 

Co. official and his wife Vella were hosts ti 

two old friends, ex-GTC managers here 

Hudson Edwards, who managed theatres fo 

Whitaker and now is in the advertising busi 

ness in Charleston, S.C, and Moon Corker 

who was a district manager but entered thi 

real estate business in Athens, Ga. BotI 

were accompanied by their wives. 

When Mrs. E. William Andrew jr., wifi 

of the Southern Independent Theatres own 

er, and daughter Jone Ackerly, NITE': 

executive secretary, visited Lakewood fair 

grounds where Burt Reynolds and companj 

were shooting scenes for "Smokey and the 

Bandit," they did not anticipate that the) 

would be asked to be "extras" in two scenes 

To say they were surprised is putting it mild 

ly, and now they can hardly wait to sec 

themselves in the movie. 

Loews' Grand and 12 Oaks staged a ma 

jor studio sneak preview of "Norman . . 

Is That You?" starring Redd Foxx and Pear 

Bailey, 

a UA release. 

Beth Baddorf, Southeastern manager foi 

K-tel International Pictures, has returnee' 

from Charlotte, N.C, where she conferrec 

with circuit officials and exhibitors in behalf 

of "Don't Just Lie There, Say Some 

thing." She called on Alan Locke and Ale> 

Wright, Consolidated Theatres, ABC South 

eastern Theatres' Tony Rhead, one-time 

managing director of the Fox Theatre here; 

and Frank Jones, Fairlane/ Litchfield Theatres. 

On to Memphis, she talked to Dav( 

Groskind, Malco Theatres, and Charle; 

Arendall, booking agent. On a previous visii 

to Jacksonville, she touched base with GTC 

officials Jim Tharpe and Web Brainerd, who 

was in charge of the company's opening of 

the first triple in the Perimeter Mall. Baddorf 

also reported that a new kiddie matinee 

picture, "Robinson Crusoe," is turning in 

good boxoffice returns in Florida location? 

and that "Don't Just Lie There" opened in 

eight locations here October 18. 

"White Buffalo," in which Charles Bronson 

plays Wild Bill Hickok, is due for release 

in February. Will Sampson, who stole 

many of the scenes in "One Flew Over the 

Cuckoo's Nest" and "Buffalo Bill and the 

Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson," is 

cast as Chief Crazy Horse. Kim Novak has' 

the starring female role. 

Trade/press screenings at Century Cinc-I 

ma's Tullie Circle Screening Room last week 

included four separate showings of "The 

Front," a Columbia pictine arranged by Joe 

Poss Associates; "Bittersweet Love," Avcoi 

Embassy; two showings of Paramount's 

"Marathon Man" and 20th-Fox's "Alex and 

the Gypsy." 

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SE-2 BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976 «

, As 

teran Theatreman 

lerbert Walker Dies 

JACKSONVILLE—Herbert S. Walker, 

2. who earned a reputation as an entrecncur 

for the wide success of his many 

iterprises during the early years of Florida's 

lOtion picture industry, died here October 

7 shortly after the death of his wife Flora. 

Walker brought the first motion picture 

icatre to Jacksonville, and one of the first 

the South, at Broad and Adams streets, 

larging an admission of five cents per perjn, 

and also brought the first burlesque 

jiow to this city. In 1913, in recognition of 

need for entertainment to serve the black 

ppulation. Walker built the Strand Theatre 

rhich served the black community for more 

lan 60 years. 

During the 1930s depression. Walker 

acted the bill for nightly showings under 

n open sky of free films in Springfield Park 

)r thousands of black and white residents. 

a showman. Walker lived the life of 

ne during his era of showmanship. He 

wned two Rolls Royces. a Pierce-Arrow 

nd a Marmon. all of which he garaged near 

is home across from the Hippodrome Thea- 

•e, once this city's leading place for vaude- 

minstrel shows and early movies. 

ille, 

In addition to his career as an exhibitor, 

/alker traveled around the nation as a bookr 

for leading theatrical acts, including those 

3r the Great Houdini, George Burns and 

iracie Allen and Al Jolson. He was involvd 

also in the operation of skating rinks, 

musement parks, and window display and 

Im distributing companies, all of which, 

ccording to old-timer reports, made him 

ne of the city's wealthiest citizens at one 

ime. 

Many of the events of Walker's life were 

ecalled by his surviving sister-in-law, Ida 

"higpen, from memoirs written by Mrs. 

Valker, and from Bender A. "Dock" Cawhon, 

retired projectionist chief of ABC 

"lorida State Theatres, who started as a 

rojectionist at the age of 17 (he is now 72) 

t Walker's Hippodrome, taught by the oldr 

man while Cawthon was still 

Silent Screen Star Dies 

a student. 

MIAMI—Gladys Leslie Moore, a silent 

creen actress known as the "Girl With the 

dillion Dollar Smile" died October 2 in 

ler Boynton Beach, Fla., home. A native of 

Jew York, Mrs. Moore had starred in 

Iroadway productions and several silent 

novies including "If Winter Comes," "The 

'earl of Orr's Island" and "The Vicar of 

Vakefield." 



HAWAII TOO. 



Wi^ 


[ Horets j Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel. 

IN WAIKIKI: REEF • KEfS TOWERS EDGEWATER 

J A CKSONV I LLE 

^his city's WOMPI group initiated a new 

project by playing an active role in the 

annual party for thousands of underprivileged 

kids presided over by Judge Dorcas 

Drake at the Boys' Club in East Springfield. 

Several members set up booths for a carnival-type 

midway and worked some of the 

booths with WOMPI donations of candy 

and popcorn as basic prizes . . . WOMPI 

also participated in the annual Jacksonville 

Fair by servicing two booths Friday, October 

22, for the sale of cold drinks, popcorn, 

hot dogs and candy apples to the general 

public, with WOMPI receiving a percentage 

of the profits . . . Another big 

moneymaker for the enterprising members 

—money earmarked only for charitable 

purposes—was their continuation from past 

years of working concession booths at the 

annual Georgia-Florida football classic in 

the Gator Bowl, a clash that always attracts 

capacity partisan crowds of more than 

70,000 persons. Again WOMPI received a 

percentage of profits. 

Mike Clark, the Jacksonville Journal's 

good gift to motion picture reviewing, gave 

his typewriter's blessing to two new openings 

of the week, "Paper Tiger" and especially 

"Marathon Man." But for plebian "Car 

Wash" Mike dryly remarked, "It has the 

look of a TV show and the sound of top 

40 radio. The mystery is what is it doing 

in a movie theatre." Oh, well. Other reviews 

included two by Charles Brock, entertainment 

editor for the Florida Times-Union: 

"The Return of a Man Called Horse" and 

"The Tenant" with both good-and-bad-side 

views of the two films, all given with many 

specifics for screen fans. 

The Florida Times-Union's helpful 

"Movie Clock" Sunday column reappeared 

October 17 to give strategic advice on 

bookings in the city's leading indoor houses, 

but drive-in theatres excluded. 

John Clark, major domo of local General 

Cinema Theatres' indoor houses, cooperated 

with New World in the Friday night sneak 

previewing of "God Told Me To" 

Young Keith Miller, who is in there 

. . . 

struggling 

with success (one hopes) against the 

motion picture circuit giants at his wholly 

independent Village Cinema I and II theatres, 

brought back as his 99-cent special 

film of the week in the Cinema I the original 

"M*A*S*H," the PG-rated blockbuster 

on which the imitative TV series is 

based. 

Doris Humphreys, an industry veteran 

who has been in other salary pastures for 

the past few years, has joined the Columbia 

XENON LAMPS 

and 

AUTOMATED PROJECTION 

ROY SMITH CO. 

365 Park St. Jacksonville, Fla. 

hard at work as a WOMPI 

to the delight of her many WOMPI 

office and also is 

activist, 

associates . . . WOMPI member Ethyle 

Vorhis of the Kent Theatres home office 

staff went downstate for two weeks of vacation 

leave in the Gulf Coast area around 

Clearwater. 

Pat Pollock (Mrs. T. F.), second vice-regent 

and motion picture and public relations 

chairman of the local Daughters of 

the American Revolution (DAR), a former 

member of the Paramount staff for 20 years 

and a former WOMPI member, announced 

that the DAR members of its St. Johns 

River Chapter will honor veterans from 

World War I through the Vietnam War, 

and members of the Foreign Wars Veterans 

auxiliary. They will give a bicentennial Memorial 

Day theatre party Wednesday morning 

(10) in the ABC Florida State Theatres' 

Preview Theatre on the seventh floor of the 

Florida Theatre Bldg. 

City's Progress, Growth 

On Film for Posterity 

ATLANTA—Free public showings were 

offered October 1 3 at Peachtree Center and 

October 19 at the Historical Society of 

"Four Cheers for Atlanta." The film was 

sponsored by the local bicentennial commission 

with the cooperation of the Atlanta 

Historical Society. 

The film is both a preservation on camera 

of the original multimedia exhibition and 

a creative intermingling of new footage. The 

four cheers of the title span periods from 

1895 to the present time. 

The first "cheer" concerns the turn of 

the century period when Atlanta, a town 

of 75,000, "had the audacity" to invite the 

world to attend a fair, the Cotton States and 

International Exposition. The second is for 

the 1920s period when the "Forward Atlanta" 

campaign attracted new businesses and 

did battle against the slums and racial tensions 

which had exploded in the early part 

of the century. 

World War II, the slump and the recovery 

under Mayor William B. Hartsfield's Plan 

of Improvement program engendered the 

third "cheer." Seventy square miles and 

100,000 citizens were added to the city at 

that time. The film's fourth "cheer" has 

been reserved for the people of the community. 

Free showings were presented during the 

noon hour through October 29 on the Peachtree 

Mall level of Peachtree Center. 

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OXOFFICE ;: November 1, 1976 

SE-3

CHARLOTTE 

Joe Bishop sr., retired from AIP, is in 

Memorial Hospital for a checkup, and we 

do hope he has a good report. 

Howard Stephens, city manager for Fairlane/ 

Litchfield Theatres in Lumberton,and 

his wife celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary 

nightclubing in Fayetteville, N.C. 

Congratulations to them! 

Top grosses for the week were registered 

by "Super Dragon," "Murder by Death" and 

"The Omen," both in their 15th weeks, and 

"Freebie and the Bean," second week. 

New pictures on the marquees are "Manson 

Massacre," Regency and Viking 1 ; "The 

Rocky Horror Picture Show," Manor; "Special 

Delivery," Charlottetown and Freedom 

Malls; "Freewheelin'," Freedom Mall; 

"Mean Frank and Crazy Tony," Regency, 

Southpark and Queens Drive-In; "The 

Shootist," Tryon Mall, and "From Noon 

Till Three," Charlottetown Mall. Reruns include 

"Bambi" and "Escape to Witch Mountain," 

Capri and Village; "Race With the 

Devil," Dilworth, and "One Flew Over the 

Cuckoo's Nest," Park Terrace. 

Jack Kirby, Buena Vista branch manager, 

had a special invitational family gathering 

to a Pooh Party October 23 at the Capri 

Theatre, presenting the new Walt Disney 

Productions movies, "Winnie the Pooh" and 

"The Littlest Horse Thieves," before an 

enthusiastic group of kiddies. To top off the 

occasion, prizes and souvenirs were distributed. 

A. Foster McKissick and Fred Curdts, 

Fairlane/Litchfield Theatres executives, 

made a swing of their theatres and then 

conferred with Frank Jones, general sales 

manager here, discussing bookings, new 

product and new theatres in the blueprint 

stage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Panny Cobb, American 

Theatre Supply, spent the weekend in the 

mountains admiring the beautiful fall foliage, 

and then brought home some delicious 

Winesap apples. 

Clara Finlayson, Piedmont Theatres, entered 

Memorial Hospital Monday (1) for a 

checkup and hoped to be home in a week. 

CanolJina. 

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Screenings at Eastern Federal were "Alex 

and the Gypsy," 20th Century-Fox; at Car- 

Mel Screening Room, "Out of Season" and 

"Mansion of the Doomed," Tar Heel Films; 

and "The Confessional" and "Tiffany 

Jones." Variety. 

George Biset, popular projectionist at the 

Eastern Federal Screening Room, severely 

injured his hand when the hammer missed 

the nail, and as a result a relief operator 

had to be brought in. 

Bob Brand, manager of Stewart & Everett's 

Capri Theatre, reports that "Murder 

by Death" has entered its 16th week and is 

holding strong. 

Charlie Mincey, Jaco Films, took a business 

trip to Spartanburg and Greenville, and 

then went on to Atlanta, Ga., to confer 

with the home office. 

MIAMI 

Back-to-back productions are keeping 

Studio Center buzzing these days. President 

Steve Cuiffo reports that the "Joe Panther" 

company has completed post-production 

work, and the "African Queen" crew have 

set up headquarters in the North Miami 

motion picture complex. Filming of the pilot 

for the projected series for CBS-TV was expected 

to be completed by the middle of the 

month. Warren Oates will play the same 

boozy character developed by Humprey 

Bogart in the feature-length "African Queen" 

movie of the '50s. 

The Herald reported that along Lincoln 

Mall old movies are drawing even bigger 

crowds than live shows, which are trying to 

stage a comeback. The example was the 1973 

movie "Forty Carats" starring Liv Ullmann 

and Eddie Albert at the Carib Theatre, said 

to be pulling a larger audience than Jackie 

Mason at the Beach Theatre, "Follies '76" 

and "Paris Enchante," although it is conceded 

these live shows are doing well. 

After a full year of rumors, speeches, 

skepticism, false starts and political rhetoric, 

reports John Huddy in the Herald, a $6.5 

million, 3,816-seat theatre in the small Broward 

County city of Sunrise is half completed 

and due to open December 29. Pro- 

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ducer Ben Segal is working with the city i 

the project. Segal is an investor in theatis 

in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Yo: 

and Arizona. The new theatre here is larjthan 

either the Deauville Star, the D; 

lomat or the Fontainebleau. a local age 

said. 

Memphis Openers Lovi 

Holdovers Gross 125 

MEMPHIS—The three new issues he 

did rather poorly, topped by a rerun ("71 

Story of Adele H.") which drew 200 for i 

second appearance in this city. Three hoi 

overs made identical averages of 125— "S 

lent Movie," "The Great Scout and Ca 

house Thursday" and "The Omen." 


Maico Quartet 2—Silent Movie (20lh-rox), 

I3th wk 

I 

Paramount 2—The Omen {20th-Fox), 14th wk 1 

S-ûthbrook 3—Gone With the West (SR) 

Three theatres—Shoot (Emb) 

Three theatres—The Big Bus (Para) 

Two theatres—The Great Scout and Cathouse 

Thursday (AIP), 4th wk 

1 

Two theatres—Annie (AIP), 3rd wk. 

Two theatres—St. Ives (WB), 2nd wk 

'Marathon Man' Sweeps New Orlean 

With 900; 'Harem Keeper' Hits 500 

NEW ORLEANS—Paramount's "Mai^ 

thon Man" arrived in town at the Robe 

E. Lee and swept the field, grossing a far 

tastic 900. At the opposite end of the spci 

trum from the popular suspense thriller stai 

ring Dustin Hoffman is the runner-up hen 

the sexploitation movie "llsa. Harem Keepc 

of the Oil Sheiks," which checked in at th 

Orpheum at a happy boxoffice gross of 50C 

"A Matter of Time," another new film doin^ 

well around the country, registered 200 here 

After the record-breaking engagement o 

"Jaws" first time around, it's back again a 

a rerun at the Joy Theatre. 

Lakeside 1—A Matter of Time (AIP) 2C 

Lakeside 2—From Noon Till Three (UA), 2nd wk IS 

Lakeside 3~Bumt Offerings (UA), 2nd wk IS 

Lakeside 4—Face to Face (Para) 12 

Oroheum—llsa. Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks 

(SR) 

Robert E. Lee—Marathon Man (Para) 

Bob Sokol Receives Nat'l 

Honor from Loews' Circuit 

NASHVILLE—Robert Sokol, who serve: 

in the dual capacity of circuit city managei 

and manager of the Crescent Theatre tci 

Loews' Theatres, has been designated Augiis 

national "Manager of the Month" by iIk 

circuit. 

He won $250 for the national distinctimi 

and an additional $50 as representative frcir 

Rein Rabukukk's division. 

Sokol's economy measures, including di^ 

connecting the Crescent's gas meter for tliL 

summer months, were among prime reason^ 

for the national honors. 

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SE-4 BOXOFnCE :: November 1, 197(.

I Texas 

" 

Crime Prevention Documentary Made 

TEXPO 77 lo Initiate 

IN WAIKIKI; REEF . REEF TOWERS EDGEWATER • 

3-State Regional Meet 

DALLAS—TEXPO 77 has been designated 

By Local Residents for $3,500 

as a regional convention oy the MUSKOGEE, OKLA.—A lot of motiva- 

Wallace found Muskogee merchants and 

Texas board of directors and will meet here tion made up for a shoestring budget for the drama department more than willing to 

January 31, February 1-3 with NATO of residents here who wanted to make a crime cooperate. Drama instructor Charles Seat 

k 

as the host group. Exhibitors in the prevention movie. And they did, at a cost directed the movie from a script written by 

Southwestern states of Oklahoma, New of only $3,500. 

Seat and Lynn Musgrave, a NEOSU student 

Mexico and Texas are invited to attend. The documentary, "Full of Days, Riches now doing graduate work at the University 

Brandon Doak, president, said the obvious 

reason for conducting a regional con- 

45 minutes, and is a strong visual reenact- 

"A grocery store closed off two counters 

and Honor," is in full color and sound, lasts of Michigan. 

vention is to make available a bigger and ment of the crime problems and deceptive for us and let us shoot a scene where an 

more informative gathering in a given area schemes facing the elderly. About 15 senior 

elderly man cashes a check and a 'con man' 

for exhibitors who cannot afford to travel 

citizens, most of them local, 12 drama students 

from Northeastern Oklahoma State 

follows him to the street and pulls a 'pigeon 

long distances to attend the national NATO 

drop' swindle on him," Wallace said. 

meeting. 

University in Tahlequah and Muskogee 

In a recent NATO of Texas 

Another scene was bulletin photographed in a 

it 

merchants made up the movie's cast. 

was pointed out that theatre owner associations 

in more than 35 states have grouped 

a teller's advice to deposit her social security 

bank after hours in which a widow rejects 

Funding came from a $46,848 Law Enforcement 

Assistance Administration grant 

themselves for the purpose of conducting 

check by mail, walks out with a large 

to the Eastern Oklahoma Development 

sum 

District. 

Gene Wallace, Gibson, was money and becomes the victim 

regional conventions. These have included 

of 

the 

of a purse 

film's 

ShoWesT. with 13 Western states participating; 

the North Central NATO conven- 

project director and the idea man behind snatcher. 

it. 

"My initial thought on the thing was to The title of the film comes from a biblical 

tion that met recently in Minneapolis, combining 

eight states; the Mid-Atlantic NATO made the movie using senior citizens—using Completed except for minor editing, the 

have a kind of skit," Wallace said. "We passage in the First Book of Chronicles. 

convention with four states taking part; 

some people in it that other people would documentary will be shown to civic clubs 

Show-A-Rama, involving most of the know." 

and senior citizen organizations. 

Midwest states; Theatre Owners of New 

England (TONE) which takes in six states; 

and three Southern conventions involving 

time they can to build it and, well, 'hope it 

Star of 'Part 2, Sounder/ 

two and three states each. 

don't rain.' 

Annazette Likes Name Now "Taj Mahal, the singer who was in the 

HOUSTON—Eric Gerber, film writer for original 'Sounder' as Ike. well, he's the only 

Lawman Alleges Slander 

the Post, devoted a recent column to Annazette 

Chase. 

second one. And he does the music again, 

cast member of the first film who's in the 

By MGM, NBC-TV Network 

LAREDO. TEX.—Texas Ranger Ramiro If you're a collector of odd names, he too. Oh, and the dog Sounder is back, too." 

Martinez of Laredo has filed a $1,025,000 wrote, here's one for you: Annazette. Reminds 

you of anisette, that licorice-flavored date after a number of smaller parts. And 

This is Annazette's biggest screen role to 

lawsuit in federal court against Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

and the NBC-TV network. 

liqueur. 

she's done a lot of TV. 

The suit, which also includes Antonio It belongs to actress Annazette Chase. "I just did a Rockford Files. I played 

Calderon as a defendant, alleges slander in She was in town a few days ago to chat Isaac Hayes' daughter. That was kind of 

the filming of the TV movie, "The Deadly about the film "Part 2, Sounder" in which odd. Last year, I played his girlfriend in the 

Tower." 

she plays a schoolteacher. 

movie 'Truck Turner.' 

The film depicted the sniping incident on "That name was my great grandma's. I 

the University of Texas campus Aug. 1, really like it a lot now. It sounds like something 

a press agent would think up, doesn't 

1966, in which Charles Whitman gunned 

Mrs. Lois Scott, Veteran 

down and killed 16 persons and wounded it? But when I was a child, oh, it was a Distributor, Dies Oct. 9 

31 others. 

problem. You know how kids like to jump OKLAHOMA CITY—Funeral services 

In the movie, Martinez reportedly is on anybody or anything that's a little bit were held here for Mrs. Lois Scott, who 

identified as the Austin policeman who shot different. I used to call myself Ann or died October 9 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. 

A veteran of motion picture distribu- 

and killed Whitman. In the suit, Martinez Annie," she recalled. 

jl 

maintains that the portrayal of the Austin As is obvious from the title, "Part 2" is tion, she and her husband Carr Scott owned 

Police Department as "racist" and the inference 

the sequel to the very popular (and financial- 

and operated their independent exchange, 

that he "did not have a good workly 

successful) "Sounder." That original star- 

starting as Square Deal in the 1920s with 

ing relationship with the department" is red Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield. 

Film Classics, Monogram Pictures and 

false. 

"When my agent first called and told me Screen Guild. In 1956 Mrs. Scott and her 

Martinez and his wife seek $25,000 in I had an audition for the sequel to 'Sounder' partner, Harry E. McKenna, obtained an 

actual damages, $250,000 for alleged breach I said, 'Oh God, no, I can't follow Cicely American International Pictures franchise. 

of contract, $250,000 for alleged invasion Tyson's performance. That would be suicide.' 

Many of her friends in and out of the 

of privacy and $500,000 in exemplary damages. 

" 

industry paid their respects at the services. 

As it turned out, the part Annazette was Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Kate 

slotted for was that of the schoolteacher Harkins and Mrs. Frank Dwinnell, both of 

(played in the original by Janet McLachlan). 

this city. 


"The original title for 'Part 2, Sounder' 


was going to be 'Let's Hope It Don't Rain.' 

HAWAII TOO. 

You see, the story has the schoolteacher 


RCil Theatre 

Service 

from the first movie agreeing not to accept The nation's finest for 


40 years! 

gljjrfjUUUl 

a new job in Cleveland and to stay and RCA Service Company 

[^JiOrvfi Don Ho Show. . . at 

teach the country children if they can build A Division of RCA 


2711 Irving Blvd. 

a new schoolhouse in two weeks," she explained. 

"So all the farmers donate whatever 

Dallas, Texas 75207 

Phone: (214) 631-8770 

BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976 SW-1

HOUSTON 

John Raitt, who has played in several Hollywood 

musicals, will appear in the 1975 

Tony award musical "Shenandoah" at the 

Music Hall Wednesday (3) and Thursday 

(4) in one performance each night . . . Country-western 

songwriter and performer Hoyt 

Axton has been signed to play Peter Fonda's 

cellmate in Huntsville's maximum security 

prison in Warner Bros.' "Outlaw Blues." 

Susan Saint James co-stars. 

United Artists Releasing recently acquired 

distribution rights to the Warner Bros, 

film library through the 

1960s. One of their 

first moves was to put together a series 

called "A Salute to Warners." It is a tenshow 

program of the very best the studio had 

to offer in the '30s and '40s. The River Oaks 

will screen the "Salute" over the next three 

weeks. The schedule called for "Casablanca" 

and "Maltese Falcon" October 20 through 

26; "Captain Blood" and "They Died With 

Their Boots On" October 27-30; "Footlight 

Parade" and "Gold Diggers of 1933" October 

31 -Tuesday (2); "Dark Victory" and 

"Now Voyager" Wednesday (3) through 

Saturday (6) and "The Big Sleep" and "To 

Have and Have Not" Sunday (7) through 

Tuesday (9). 

Larry Cohen, writer, 

producer and director 

of "God Told Me To" was in the city 

on a promotional visit in behalf of the film 

which opened a multiple run here. In the 

cast of the R-rated film are Deborah Raffin, 

Tony Lo Bianco. Sandy Dennis, Sylvia 

Sidney and Sam Levine. The $1.2 million 

budget film includes scenes of the St. Patrick's 

Day parade in New York. 

"The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread," 

a unique sports film, is being brought to 

Houston by Texas International Airlines 

and Ski the Rockies Ass'n for a special 

showing at the Houston Post Travel Show 

. . . Tercar Theatre prices are $1.50 until 

2 p.m. where matinees prevail at their theatres; 

otherwise it is $1.50 till 6:30 p.m. 

except at the circuit's Bellaire where it is 

$1 at all times. 

Among the new titles are "God Told Me 

To" at the Allen Center, Almeda 9 East, 

Gaylynn, Memorial, Shamrock 6; "The 

Boob Tube," Allen Center, Park III, indoors, 

and Airline, Gulfway, King Center, 

McLendon Triple, Town & Country, Telephone 

Road, Thunderbird and Tidwell 

drive-ins; Woody Allen in "The Front," 

Almeda 9 East, Greenspoint, Loews' Town 

& Country Village 3, Loews' Sak Center 2 

and Westwood; "Alex and the Gypsy," Alabama, 

Clear Lake and Woodlake Cinema 3; 

a return of "All the President's Men," Clearlake, 

Greenway, Northshore, Parkview, 

Shamrock, Southmore, Southway, Town & 

Country and Woodlake; a return engagement 

of Walt Disney's "Fantasia," Galleria 

and Westwood; "Creeping Flesh," Shepherd; 

multiple opening for "Who Is Harry Kellerman 

and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible 

Things About Me?" as well as for "Little 

Girl, Big Tease" and "Walkabout." 

Films shown at the Museum of Fine Arts 

include "Day of Wrath" and "Night Moves," 

and at the Rice Media Center, "Blow for 

Blow," "History of the American Avant 

Garde," "White Heat," "Uns Finden Dereinst 

uns Wider," "A Bill of Divorcement" 

and "The Lavender Hill Mob." 

SAN ANTONIO 

^he first Ecumenical Film Festival here is 

featuring two movies, "The Two of 

Us," shown October 24 with a discussion 

following led by Rabbi Samuel Stahl, Temple 

Beth-El, and "Godspell," to be screened 

Sunday (7) with the discussion moderated by 

Bernard O'Halloran, Incarnate Word College. 

Mrs. Margie Overstreet, assistant manager 

of the Laurel Theatre, her sister, Mrs. 

Frances Mooney, and their mother Mrs. 

Margaret Schiwetz and granddaughter Vanessa 

Overstreet went to Houston to see a 

football game and to visit the other members 

of the family, Mr. and Mrs. Keith 

Overstreet and grandchildren. 

New titles appearing on local marquees 

are "Loving Cousins," Woodlawn I and II 

and Aztec 3; "Dark Star," Broadway; "Bittersweet 

Love," Northwest Six, UA The 

Movies 4 and UA Cine Cinco; "Julie," 

Colonies North; "The California Reich," 

Northwest Six; "Lions for Breakfast," 

Northwest Six and Century South Six; "Let's 

Talk About Men," Northwest Six, and 

"Alice in Wonderland," Universal, Fredericksburg 

Road Drive-In, Town Twin and 

Trail drive-ins. 

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Films screened at local colleges and universities 

include "Hour of the Wolf," Thiry 

Auditorium at Our Lady of the Lake University; 

at Trinity University in the Chapman 

Graduate Center, the San Antonio 

Film Society series, "Wild Strawberries" 

and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In 

the Multi-Purpose Room, "The Way We 

Were" and the double bill of "Abbott & 

Costello Meet Frankenstein" and "Night 

of the Living Dead," and in the Waxahachie 

Room, a double bill of "The Gifts" and 

"Choices." 

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sw-z BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976

TERROR flflDTREPIDPfriOn FROm 

THE HITCHCOCK OF SUJEDEni 

Boston, New Haven, 

Albany, Buffalo; 

JUD PARKER FILMS 

Jud Parker 

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Sam Oetinger 

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MARCUS DISTRIBUTING 

Ben Marcus 

(913)381-6222 

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Jerry Helms 

(704)333-3173 

East Coast (central); 

ASSOCIATED PICTURES 

Phil Glazer 

(301)385-0600 

Southeast; 

GRIMES ENTERPRISES 

Mack Grimes 

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Southwest; 

GRIMES FILM BOOKING 

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(214)744-3165 

Midwest: 

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SOmE TERRITORIES STIU flVRILRBLE 

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5XOFFICE :: November 1, 1976 SW-3

' 

DALLAS 

extra customers. Jim O'Donnel's Thcatr 

Booking Service is booking the show. 

2200 YOUNG STREET DALLAS, TEXAS, • 75201 TELEPHONE • 747-3191 628 West Grand Oklohoma City 

Here to call on the exchanges wer 

Qlenn Norman, Conroe, was in Dallas October 

Effective Monday (1), Commonwealth Charles Townsend, Allred Theatre and Prj 

21, having just recently com- 

Theatres will be in their new location at or Drive-In, Pryor; Jerry Marshall, Circi 

pleted an assignment in Seguin where he 6060 N. Central Expressway, Suite 638, Theatre, Waynoka; Maurice Ferris, Viil 

converted the Palace Theatre into a dual Dallas 75206, tel. AC/214 361-9786. 

Theatre, and Homayun Safi, Edmond Plaz 

operation. Removing a few seats on . 

the 

Theatre, both from Edmond. 

Pat O'Bryan, Livingston, became the owner 

of the Texas Theatre, Cleveland, Septem- 

lower floor for sufficient room for the projection 

booth and closing in the balcony and 

We visited with George K. Friedel, re 

converting it into a "piggy-back" theatre did 

ber 1. Eddy Erickson, Dallas, will do the cently retired from 20th Century-Fox, Jack 

buying and booking. Shipping instruction sonville, Fla., and 

the job. Norman 

Ed Ray, retired soni' 

and his partner Fridell are 

and boxoffice reports are to be sent to Pat time ago from Warner Bros., in their 

specialists in theatre construction, engineering 

and remodeling of theatres. They 

home 

O'Bryan, Fain Theatre, P. O. Box 1171, on Tenkiller Lake. 

recently 

completed twinning theatres for ABC 

Livingston, Tex. 77351. The theatre was 

Interstate 

in Clear Lake, Hurst and San Antonio. 

purchased from W. W. Blakey. 

New faces around the Video Theatre 

home office are Barbara Caskey, Pan 

We are glad to report Paul Rozenburg, Ross, Froma Pappan, Vicky Johnson, Shei 

Paramount salesman, is doing quite well following 

gall-bladder surgery. He is recuperat- 

Herman Graves. 

Akin, Marlene Guyer, Susan Buchanan am 

Wallace Jack, Central Shipping, was host 

October 21 at the LaCreperie for Genevieve 

ing at his home, 312 Home, Duncar.ville, 

Kock and Anell Patterson, United Artists, 

Tex. 75116. 

"Joe Panther" premiered at the Will Rog 

with Jo Ann Johnson representing central 

ers Theatre October 15. Ray Tracey. one o 

shipping for the firm. The following day The Darden family, Charlie, Mary and the film's stars, and Zachary Ball, writer o 

Leslie Williams represented them at the Debbie, have returned home following a the screenplay, were here to promote tb 

same location, this time having as guests 25-day trip to Europe as a graduation gift film. 

Mary Crump and JoEllen Greenlee, Crump 

to Debbie who finished school this year at 

Distributors. This was Wallace's way for Austin College, Sherman, Tex. 

Buying and booking film here were Nor 

the shipping room personnel to become acquainted 

man Terry, Rook Theatre and Watongj 

with the bookers they converse 

Drive-In, Watonga; Paul Goddard, Satellit 

with daily but never have an opportunity to 

Twin Theatre, Norman; Dean Wolfenbargei 

know on a more personal basis. OKLAHOMA CITY Waldron Theatre and Hillcrest Drive-Ir 

Lindsay, and "Andy" Anderson, Riversid 

Terry Graham, branch manager of AIP, John Williams, Universal salesman, and Bill Drive-In, Norman, and Skyview Drive-lDi 

was exuberant over the attendance at a sales Davis, United Artists salesman, were here Ardmore. 

seminar held by the firm in Jackson, Tenn. from Dallas to call on area accounts. 

The meeting was wrapping up the last-minute 

Everett Mahaney told us that he and hi 

details for their forthcoming "Final Gary Grant, film star and vice-president partner, Dick Jackson, Guymon and Perry- 

Chapter—Walking Tall" which will be released 

of Rayette-Faberge, was in this city recently ton, Tex., after attending the NATO con 

on a saturation run throughout Texas on business for the latter company. The vention in Ahaheim, made a forced landin; 

June 15, 1977. While he was away the office 

girls in the office were surprised and ex- 

in Las Vegas, Nev. He said that the con 

crew kept quite busy working in dates cited as they didn't know he was coming. vention was more enjoyable than the table 

for their release, "Shout at the Devil." 

in Vegas were. 

Marlowe and his show of 1,001 wonders 

Ed DeBerry, Film Distributors, left Friday 

is back in this trade territory, booking his 

The Cinema Vegas Theatre, raided mop 

afternoon on a dove hunt, taking ad- 

show into theatres. Past performances in than six times in recent weeks by vice squai 

vantage of the holiday weekend. 

this area have proven his show draws many 

officers, apparently is in need of even morii 

police attention. The theatre experienced i- 

double indecent exposure incident Octoi 

ber 21 when two customers apparently 

Pinkston Sales & Service^ Inc. 

were overcome by the activities on the screer 

and ran partially naked through the lobby 

Later, burglars broke in and stole nearl; 

$2,000 in cash. 

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RW. (Pinky) Pinkston 

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SW-4 BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 197i

Sell . , . and Sell 

Scores of busy little messages 

go out every week to a tremendous 

audience — and they get a tremendous 

response! 

Every exhibitor is 

busy—buying, 

selling, renting, hiring. All this is 

made easier and more profitable 

with the classified ads in Clearing 

House each week. 

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! 

MINNEAPOLIS 

J^s part of its nationwide pre-election push 

for "All the President's Men." Warner 

Bros, encored the film at seven houses here 

and at one St. Paul situation. Warners' 

branch manager Steve Felperin stressed that 

a "totally new campaign" was designed for 

the picture. 

Mark Rosen, son of 20th Century-Fox 

branch chief Avron Rosen, was here on a 

visit from Los Angeles where he's in TV 

production. 

Edward Strese, uncle of Gert O'Loughlin, 

second booker at the 20th Ceutury-Fox 

branch here, died October 1 8. 

Jack and Evie Kelvie (Kelvie is buyer and 

booker for Theatre Associates and distributor 

for Viking Films here) entertained Bee 

and Don Palmquist on their 35th wedding 

anniversary. Quipped Palmquist later: "A 

good time was had by all—especially when 

Jack picked up the check!" 

Tom Lutz, Warner Bros, branch salesman, 

and his brother Denny, 20th Century- 

Fox salesman, journeyed to Mobridge, S.D., 

Upcoming Season at Marc 

Duo Marked by Activity 

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Managed 

by Walt Blaney, the Marc 1 and 2 cinemas 

in this suburban Milwaukee community 

is fast becoming a community center 

beyond the usual scope of twin-screen theatres. 

Programs for senior citizens, children, 

students and adults are planned to keep the 

theatre seats warm this winter. 

The "Movies for Senior Citizens" program 

went into its 26th consecutive month 

Thursday, October 21. Sponsored by the 

Falls Kiwanis Club, these monthly film 

entertainments regularly draw more than 

400 persons from all around the Milwaukee 

suburban area. Complementing the movies 

are guest speakers who follow the season's 

chosen theme. For its 1976-77 major emphasis, 

the Kiwanis has chosen "the prevention 

of crime." Guest speakers will talk about 

crime as it relates to senior citizens. 

Meanwhile, the children are not being 

overlooked in the Marc twin schedule. The 

F&M Bank in Menomonee Falls has scheduled 

its third annual "Big-Timers Club 

Party" Friday (26). Youngsters under 12 

who belong to the club will have their choice 

of three showtimes on that date. Another 

party for the small fry will be hosted by 

the American Menomonee Falls Bank Saturday, 

December 4. 

as guests of Ron and Mr. and Mrs. Roy 

Maier to do some hunting. Both of the Lutz 

outdoorsmen reported it was a splendid trip, 

with their party bagging 46 grouse and 16 

pheasants. The Maiers own and operate the 

Mac Theatre in Mobridge and their son 

Ron owns and operates the Pheasant City 

Drive-In there. The ozoner would seem to 

be well-named. 

Frank Zanotti, Universal branch boss, set 

70 openings October 20 for "Forever 

Young, Forever Free." The total included 

dates in 

Minneapolis-St. Paul. 

John Swing made an appearance at the 

Warner Bros, branch here—and turned out 

to be such a magnetic personality that branch 

manager Steve Felperin observed: "He just 

may be a star . . . those blue eyes give him 

a Paul Newman potential." John had no 

comment on all the compliments. Understandable, 

in that he's just a month old, the 

son of Mrs. Brian (Karen) Swing. Karen 

was the secretary of former Warners' 

branch manager Dick Maiek—and will return 

in December as secretary to Felperin. 

Brookfield Square Offers 

Cartoons for Youngsters 

MILWAUKEE—Brookfield Square cinemas 

1 and 2, in cooperation with the Brookfield 

Square Shopping Center, presented a 

kiddies cartoon festival Saturday morning, 

October 30, admitting free of charge all 

youngsters who arrived at the theatres in 

costume. 

Mike Mullins, manager of the twin, reports 

a "fantastic" turnout for the special 

event for young moviegoers. 

Some Matinees Eliminated 

MILWAUKEE—The Capitol Court Theatre, 

located on this city's northwest side, 

recently was added to the growing Marcus 

circuit, and has eliminated matinee showings 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Matinees will be presented Wednesday, 

Saturday and Sunday as in the past. 

John Wayne at Ship Launching 

BATH, ME.—John Wayne attended 

the 

launching of the USS Oliver Hazard Perry, 

the U.S. Navy's newest guided missile frigate, 

at the Bath Iron Works Shipyard. 

Wayne was a guest of a firm which is a 

supplier to the shipyard. 



HAWAII TOO. 


W^ 


\i^^\ Don Ho Show. . . at 

i"°^) Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel. 

IN WAIKJKI: REEF REEF TOWERS - EDGEWATER 

'Marathon Man' Takes 

Lion's Share Opening 

MINNEAPOLIS—"Marathon 

Man" gol 

off to a running start in a dual-theatre debiii 

here, clocking a fast 350. Another newcomer, 

"A Matter of Time," checked in with a 

145 at the Cooper Theatre. The latest 

Charles Bronson offering, "From Noon Till 

Three," echoed the failure of his recent 

"Chino" in this area. In a five-screen spread, 

Bronson's attempt at western comedy did 

poorly with an over-all 45. 


Cooper A Matter ot Time (AIP) 

I45 

Five theatres—From Noon Till Three (UA) 45 

Park—The Clockroaker (SR), 3rd wk 3C 

Skyway I Norman ... Is That You? (UA), 

2nd wk 135 

Skyway II—Burnt Olferings (UA), 2nd wk IIC 

Skyway III—Face to Face (Para), 2nd wk 130 

Southtown Terrace Marathon Man (Para) 

35C 

World—Silent Movie (20th-rox), I6th wk 5; 

Westland Theatres Names 

Bergamine to Buyer Post 

SAN FRANCISCO—Carol Bergamine 

has been appointed film buyer for the 11- 

theatre Westland Theatres circuit extending 

from Winnemucca, Nev., to Stockton and 

Visalia, 

Calif. 

Ms. Bergamine, a charter member and 

current president of San Francisco WOMPI. 

has been with Westland as secretary and 

booker since 1966. She also will handle the 

buying for three Central Theatrical houses 

Theatre's 'Daily Tubble' 

Doubles Popcorn Sales 

SANTA FE, N.M. — Since Santa Fe 

Downs is a popular horse-racing complex in 

this area, Georgia Young set up a "Daily 

Tubble" at the Centre Theatre in nearby Los 

Alamos. 

Patrons buying a large tub of buttered 

popcorn got the chance to spin a wheel of 

fortune. If the pointer stopped in the area 

marked "Daily Tubble," they received a cold 

drink or a pass. Young reports that buttered 

popcorn tub sales increased over 100 per 

cent in the first week. 

Giant Prop Creates Stir 

At Fashion Valley 4 

SAN DIEGO—"The Big Bus," one of 

the largest props in motion picture history 

and subject of the 

film by the same name, 

created a stir when it visited Fashion Valley 

4 theatres in San Diego. 

Curious fans flocked around the behemoth 

Trailways bus before an extensive 

cross-country promotional tour was canceled 

due to 

a mechanical failure. 

Lloyd Haynes will star as Muslim leader 

Herbert Muhammad in "The Greatest." 

n MM MM 

mb#l 

Theatre 

Service 




7620 Gross Point Road, Skokie, III. 60076 

Phone: (312) 478-6591 

NC-2 BOXOFHCE :: November 1, I'r

I 

Now there was a great bunch of guys. 

With an unheard-of, revolutionary, class gift. 

The Declaration o{ Independence. A document 

so powerful, it stirred a colonial people to take stock 

in a new idea: America. 

And take stock they did. By purchasing U.S. 

Government securities. 

After all, we sure needed the money 

back then, and everyone knew it. But 

there were more than a few who 

wondered if this young, determined 

nation would pay it back. 

Well, we did. Every last penny. 

With interest. 

And it's the same today. 

. stock . 

Maybe that's why now millions of Americans 

take stock in their country every payday by buying 

U.S. Savings Bonds. 

You see, when you join the Payroll Savings Plan, 

a little is set aside from each paycheck to buy Bonds. 

There's just no easier way to save. And certainly no 

^« »^ safer way. 

So take a tip from the Class of 1776 and 

buy U.S. Savings Bonds. 

You'll be voted most likely to succeed. 

Now E Bonds pay 6 a 

of 5 years (4h% the f 

j interest when held to maturity 

; first year). Lost, stolen or destroyed 

Bonds can be replaced if records are provided. When 

needed. Bonds can be cashed at your bank. Interest is 

not subject to state or local income taxes, and federal 

tax may be deferred until redemption. 

A public service of this publication 

and The Advertising Council. 

200 years at the same location. 

JXOmCE :: November 1, 1976 NC-3

" 

MILWAUKEE 

Jîke Mullins, manager of Brookfield 

Square cinemas 1 and 2, managed to 

get away recently for a two-week vacation 

in the stale of New York. A sports fan, Mike 

included a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame 

at Cooperstown, N.Y.; the racetracks, Saratoga, 

N.Y.; some of the sights in Albany, 

capital city of the state of New York, and, 

on the way home to Wisconsin, he stopped 

at the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, 

Ohio. 

John Hilgert, projectionist at the Victory 

Drive-In on Lisbon Road, has been to Las 

Vegas before—and he evidently likes it! 

He again was there for a week in mid-October 

and we're waiting to hear how successful 

he was—or wasn't . . . Steve Wallach, 

manager of the Victory Drive-In, informs 

that the underskyer will operate year-round 

but probably will revert to weekends-only 

showings this winter. 

The Downer Theatre on the city's east 

side cooperated with WOKY Radio for the 

DES MOINES 

gob Hope recently was in 

town to participate 

in a benefit at the Veterans Memorial 

Auditorium to raise funds for the 

restoration of Mamie Eisenhower's home at 

Boone. Mrs. Eisenhower attended the performance. 

Actor Robert Redford was in Dubuque 

campaigning and drew a crowd in which the 

women outnumbered the men by more than 

ten to one. At least half the women present 

were below the voting age of 18! It was not 

a typical political crowd which jammed the 

ballroom of the Julien Motor Inn but then, 

after all, it wasn't a typical politician speaking 

either. Redford received a five-minute 

standing (and squealing) ovation when he 

arrived on the scene! 

Some of the girls present at the rally were 

high school students who had cut classes to 

attend the affair but many of the females 

were older women who seemed just as delighted 

with Redford as the younger set. 

One lady said, "He looks really handsome, 

FINER PROJECTION -SUPER ECONOMY 

Ask Your Supply Dealer or Write 

HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc. 

16 Sofoh Drive rorminfldole, L. I., N. Y., 11735 

special screening of "Skiing on My Mind" 

at 7 and 9 p.m. Monday night, October 18. 

Tickets for the Warren Miller ski film production 

were $3. A boxed-in warning contained 

in the theatre's display ad stated: 

"Warning—The Surgeon General Has Determined 

This Film Causes Ski Fever" . . . 

Mrs. Lewis Fedyn, publicity chairman for 

the Better Films & TV Council of Milwaukee 

Area, has mailed reminders concerning 

a special screening at the Spring Mall Triplex 

Monday morning (1), when the organization 

holds its regular monthly meeting at 

that 

theatre. 

Morgan Moore and 

Mary Kay Kammer 

of Jack Wodell Associates, Chicago, publicity 

firm for Avco Embassy, mailed a news 

release to the media in this city concerning 

"Bittersweet Love," PG-rated love story starring 

Lana Turner, Celeste Holm, Robert 

Lansing, Robert Alda and Richard Masur. 

It was scheduled to open Friday, October 

29, at the Southtown and at the Park Theatre, 

Waukesha. 

like Goulet, but he has a magnetism:' The 

younger girls merely declared that Redford 

was "very good looking." 

Oriental Landmark Leased 

By California-Based Firm 

MILWAUKEE—Kevin O'Neill, 

manager 

of the Oriental Landmark Theatre, informed 

BoxoFFicE of changes in the operation of 

that movie house, effective Friday, October 

29. Leasing the Oriental from the Pritchett 

Bros., current owners, is the Parallax Theatre 

System of Los Angeles, which has seven 

theatres in California. The Oriental now becomes 

the company's eighth screen. 

The big change under the new operators 

involves the advance booking of a ten-week 

program, with a calendar to be mailed to 

the theatre's clientele. Each such ten-week 

package will include a variety of good recent 

movies, along with foreign, art and 

underground films, O'Neill said. 

New assistant to O'Neill is Dante La 

Porte, who moves into his new position from 

the downtown Riverside Theatre. 

The presentation of Saturday midnight 

movies, a policy now starting its third year 

at the Oriental, continues to draw very well 

from the young adult population which prevails 

in this east side and UW-M campus 

area. 

Meanwhile, the theatre is being refurbished 

with many improvements in the concession 

facilities. Hot dogs and coffee are being 

added to the popular popcorn fare. More 

visible to the public is the marquee, currently 

being entirely repainted. 

Location sites 

for filming "The Greatest" 

will include Houston, Atlanta, Louisville 

and Las Vegas. 

Calif. NATO Has Won 

Reprieve on Wage Lav 

HOLLYWOOD — NATO of Californ 

has won a month's reprieve from new min 

mum wage and overtime provisions whic 

would boost minimum pay rates from $2.2 

to $2.50 an hour. Delay in applying tl 

new rates was granted by the Kings Counl 

Superior Court in Hanford, Calif., whei 

NATO filed for a temporary stay of execi 

tion of the wage order issued by the Cal 

fornia Industrial Welfare Commission. 

Exhibition will remain exempt from th 

new regulations until a hearing is held 

Hanford November 17. In addition to lii 

boost in minimum wages, the state agenc 

also had ordered overtime pay for houi 

worked in excess of eight per day or 50 pe 

week. 

The new law additionally would requii 

theatre owners to pay employees—many c 

them part-time workers and students— th 

same hourly rate as regular theatre empkn 

ees. Previously, students had been on a lovvc 

pay scale. 

NATO had objected to the increase i 

wage rates and the overtime provision o 

grounds that part-time employees and sii 

dents were in "entry" jobs and were gettiri 

their first experience in work situations. 

NATO also had pointed out that the in 

creased rates would force drastic reduction 

in jobs and that about 25 per cent in jo 

cutbacks could result. The brief stressc 

that the state agency had failed to take notic 

of the effect its rulings would have on em 

ployment. 

Commonwealth Adds Twir 

To Western Holdings 

ALBUQUERQUE—Commonwealth be 

came owners this past summer of the Ga 

leria duplex formerly owned by Movie, Inc. 

and operated as the Screening Room. 

Located downtown in the Galeria of Firs 

Plaza, the cinemas offer a combined tota 

of 500 seats with fully automated sound am 

projection equipment. Free undergrounc 

parking is provided in the adjacent Civii 

Plaza. 

Attending the formal opening were ths 

local news media, Richard Orear, Douj 

Lightner and O. H. Reesman, Kansas City 

and Dale Stewart, Dallas. Local participant; 

included Western district manager Phi 

Blakey and Lou Avolio, who oversees al 

circuit properties here. William Albrigh 

was named manager of the Galeria twins. 

^^ÔW PRICE 

.xxx^^^^fAST SERVICE 

MOTION PICTURE SERVICE COMPANY 

125 Hyde St . Siin Friincisco, CA 94102 

(415) 673 9162 Gerry Kiirski. Jiick Green 

NC-4 

BOXOFFICE :: November 1. 197f

— 

— 

— 

, 

' 

— 

la 

[or Decisive Isl Run Theatregoing No Longer Is Casual; 

forman' Posts 950 

CINCINNATI—"Norman ... Is That 

ou?" opening at Showcase 3 grossed a 

ecisive 950 to lead all first runs for the 

ecording period. "The Return of a Man 

Jailed Horse" posted 500 for its second 

êek at Times Towne Cinema. Two films 

uUed 400 each: "Fantastic Invasion of 

rtanet Earth" and "Silent Movie" playing 

;s 15th round at two theatres. "Burnt OfeJerings" 

drew 350 for its second week at 

our situations. 


T our theatres Burnt Olferings (UA), 2nd wk 350 

owcase cinemas 1 Midway (SR), 13th wk 200 

.:^wcase cinemas 2 Fantastic Invasion of 

Planet Earth (SR), 2nd wk 

.400 

lowcase cinemas 3 Norman ... Is That You? 

(UA) 950 

howcase cinemas 4 The Omen (20th-Fox) 

16th wk 200 

howcase cinemas 5 Alice In Wonderland (SR), 

4th wk 300 

'imes Towne Cinema The Return of a Man 

Called Horse (UA), 2nd wk 500 

ri-County—The Sailor Who Fell From Grace 

With the Sea (Emb), 12th wk 150 

wo theatres Obsession (Col), 7th wk 200 

'wo theatres ^Murder by Death (Col), 15th wk 300 

wo theatres—Silent Movie (20th-Fox), 15th wk 400 

n% 

Marathon Man' Runs Away 

jVith Cleveland Boxoffice 

CLEVELAND—"Marathon Man" stole 

he boxoffice in a five-screen opening in 

leveland running up a 400 gross while 

)ther films stayed around the average mark. 

'A Matter of Time," also opening at five 

heatres hovered slightly below average while 

Norman ... Is That You?" in its second 

veek did well with a 105. 

irookgate—Naughty School Girls (SR) 50 

Eight theatres Norman ... Is Thof You? 

(UA), 2nd wk 

105 

ive theatres A Matter of Time (AIP) 

85 

ive theatres Marathon Man (Para) 

400 

Loews Cedar Center Face to Face (Parcf), 

2nd wk 50 

even theatres Burnt Offerings (UA), 2nd wk 85 

|t)ix theatres—Sex With a Smile (SR) 90 

Two theatres—Silent Movie (20th-Fox), 12th wk 95 

jouisville Radio Contest 

Promotes Treewheelin' 

LOUISVILLE—Two weeks prior to the 

jpening of "Freewheelin' " at Showcase 

;inemas in Louisville, WQHI Radio aired 

Promotional spots for a "Giant Freewheelin' 

kateboard Contest." The spots ran every 

dour the first week, later accelerating to two 

spots per hour for the remainder of the 

contest. 

Listeners were asked to register at Showcase 

cinemas to win one of six skateboards, 

which were promoted at no extra cost via a 

tie-in with Thornberry Toys. 

Showcase cinemas also gave away 100 

one-sheets and 100 T-shirts to promote the 

film "Freewheelin.' " 

The contest attracted over 1,100 entries 

and prizes were awarded on the film's opening 

day during the skateboard demonstration 

by Russ Howell, star of the picture, who 

was on tour promoting "Freewheelin'." 

Free Film for Shoppers 

DENVER—Buckingham Square, shopping 

center located in suburban Aurora, is 

offering patrons a "Morning Movie Escape" 

every Tuesday through November 16. A 

feature film is screened free of charge. 

Seeing a Movie Now Is 

CLEVELAND — With the demise of 

"grind" theatres, moviegoers no longer drop 

into a showhouse in a casual manner. Too, 

although no one may have noticed, a onetime 

frequent comment has disappeared 

from the American vocabulary— "this is 

where I came in." Along with the phasingout 

of this phrase we also have dispensed 

with the irritation of stout persons sitting 

in the middle of seat rows clambering over 

ten or 12 pairs of knees during a key scene 

in a mystery film. We know one man who 

saw one version of "Murder in the Orient 

Express" three times in years past and each 

time was interrupted at a critical moment. 

As a result, he never knew who actually 

committed the murders until the most recent 

"Murder on the Orient Express" was released. 

Plain Dealer film critic Emerson Batdorff 

discussed the pros and cons of current programing 

practices in a recent column which 

was headlined "It Takes Planning to Go to 

a Movie." Batdorff's comments follow: 

There was a time when someone downtown 

for a dentist's appointment, hoping 

to forget the evil hour, could drop in on a 

movie. 

Those days are pretty well gone. You have 

to plan to go to movies now and few of them 

are shown at a time when dental appointments 

are prevalent. 

Now you don't just drop in. "What's 

playing?" you ask yourself, and react accordingly—and 

it is not often that you can find 

a pleasing matinee, either. 

Some theatres in shopping centers have 

matinees, hoping to cash in on store traffic 

and a very few free-standing theatres (not 

in a shopping center) find them profitable. 

Matinees downtown, however, do fairly 

well. The other day 40 people could be 

found in line to get into the Embassy's first 

show of the afternoon. 

It is unlikely that they just happened to 

be downtown and decided to take in a movie, 

which used to be a fairly popular way of 

operating when there were six 

theatres within 

walking distance, and the range of programing 

was wide. 

At the Embassy, the pictures that attracted 

the 40 line-standers were "Jaws of Death" 

("If you liked 'Jaws,' come and see 'Jaws of 

Death' ") and "Welcome Home, Brother 

Charles" ("They took everything—even his 

manhood"). 

Across the street was Fred Williamson in 

"No Way Back" and "Truck Turner." 

Fred didn't seem to be drawing as well as 

"Jaws of Death" but perhaps the theatre 

had opened earlier and the line had gone 

inside before I 

got there. 

Apart from dirty-old-man theatres that 

specialize in sex capers, there is one downtown 

theatre in addition to the Hipp and 

Embassy. 

an 'Evenf 

It is the Park Centre twin. It shows general 

movies, not action movies—although 

it is often hard to tell the difference these 

days. But except for weekends it has no 

matinees. 

In the old days when movies were for 

everyone, or nearly everyone, you often 

could find judges and lawyers relaxing their 

minds with a movie. Wednesday afternoon 

used to be a good time for this when activity 

slowed down at the law courts. 

During at least part of his tenure as Chief 

Justice of the Cuyahoga County Common 

Pleas Court, Judge Samuel Silbert used to 

take off Saturday afternoons (he was a workhorse), 

leaving a number where he could 

be reached in case any lawyer wanted to 

consult about an urgent ipso facto or bill of 

attainer. 

The number was that of the Embassy 

Theatre, which for many years profitably 

pursued a western {wlicy. 

Judge Silbert spent his weeks trying to 

tell the good guys from the bad guys. In 

western movies it was easy. 

"The good guys wear white hats," said 

the judge. 

Judge Silbert couldn't just drop in on a 

movie today downtown, not unless he likes 

to watch a lot of karate and bodily dismemberment. 

But it is still fairly easy to tell who 

the bad guys are. 

In downtown movies all of them are 

but some are worse than others. 

Civic Theatre Gets Boost 

In Beacon-Journal Letter 

AKRON—In a letter to the editor of the 

Akron Beacon-Journal, Stephen Kelleher, 

president of the Barberton Historical Society, 

expressed dismay at the poor attendance for 

the Akron Civic Theatre film presentations. 

Most Saturday evenings, the Civic Theatre 

presents first-run motion pictures for a $1 

admission price. 

"The cost of seeing a motion picture at 

a privately-owned Akron theatre is often exorbitant," 

Kelleher writes. "I see no reason 

to patronize one of these theatres when the 

same motion picture will probably be shown 

at the Civic only a short time after it has 

played the other Akron-area theatres. 

"Much lip service is given to preserving 

the Akron Civic Theatre, yet very little in 

donations seems to be coming in. Perhaps 

some people don't realize what an architectural 

delight this fantastic old theatre is. 

When a building like the Civic is torn down 

because not enough people care, it is like 

losing an old friend for those of us who do 

care. 

"If you would like to see the Civic preserved, 

why not start by patronizing the $1 

movie nights? For such a low admission 

price, you can afford to take the whole family. 

Not only can you see a fine motion picture 

but your dollar will go a long way toward 

helping to save this fine old theatre." 

BOXOFRCE :: November 1, 1976 

ME-1

DETROIT 

fôn Perkins, branch manager for Sunn 

Classic Pictures, and his wife Linda 

welcomed a new member of the household, 

David Alan Perkins. David bowed in at 

12:27 a.m. October 4 weighing seven pounds, 

ten ounces. Mother and son are reported 

as "excellent." 

Buena Visla hosted an invitational screening—a 

"Pooh Party"—at the Cinema Livonia 

Theatre Saturday, October 23, at 9:30 

Film attractions were "The Many Ad- 

a.m. 

ventures of Winnie the Pooh" and "The Littlest 

Horse Thieves." 

The Main Theatre, Royal Oak, made special 

arrangements to bring back the picture 

"In Search of Noah's Ark" for a one-week 

showing. Accordingly, the acclaimed film 

opened October 27 for an engagement which 

continues through Tuesday (2). "We have 

received many requests from church groups 

and individuals who want to see this semidocumentary 

and also from persons who 

would like to see it again—and bring friends 

and relatives," stated Bob Anthony, owner 

of the 800-seat Main Theatre. The special 

engagement was an exclusive in the metropolitan 

area for the Royal Oak showhouse 

and probably represents the film's last availability 

for six months, it was disclosed. There 

are nightly showings and a Wednesday matinee; 

however, due to a special Halloween 

children's show, Saturday and Sunday matinees 

were not scheduled. Anthony said the 

theatre is offering special reduced rates for 

groups of 25 or more for this unspooling 

of "In Search of Noah's Ark." 

Suburban Detroit Theatres took over the 

booking and buying for the Alger, Norwest 

and Gateway 1 and 2 effective Sunday, October 

10. 

Studio 8 Theatre in Oak Park has been 

leased for operation by Ritz Theatre Corp. 

Martin Halpem is president of the company, 

which has offices at 18311 West Ten Mile 

Rd., Southfield. Clark Theatre Service is 

representing the Studio 8 in the licensing 

and booking of films. 

In neighboring Windsor, Ont., Canada, 

vandals broke into the Vanity Theatre Octo- 

FINER 

PR( 

iAsk You 

HURLEY 

2« Sorah Drlv

t for so long—and she's renewed her subcription. 

Robbers forced open the exit door of the 

fork Plaza Cinema October 13 and broke 

nto the office. The estimated loss was in 

ixcess of $500 and extensive damage was 

lone to 

the office door and adjoining foyer 

iâlls. Police have no clues at this point, 

jiter the same evening, thieves attempted 

o hit the Studio 35 Cinema; however, a 

!uard dog. which was severely injured durng 

the robbery attempt, evidently frightened 

he thugs so badly that they left without 

inishing the job. The York is located in 

he far east section of the city, while the 

Several area hardtops booked Pacific 

>tudio 35 is in the north-end university disrict. 

Inemational's 

"The Adventures of the Wilderjess 

Family." The four-waller is set to open 

iVednesday (17) . . . Pro hockey has begun 

mother season in the capital city, with the 

)pening game attracting nearly 4,000, one 

)f the largest audiences in recent years. 

When talking to any Cincinnati branch 

jffice during the National League playoff 

james, one could expect to be put on "hold" 

ivhile bookers checked the score of the "Big 

Red Machine." Just who was running the 

itore during the World Series is anybody's 

buess! 

Steinhorn Named Manager 

. Of CPI Special Services 

) 

NEW YORK—Alan Steinhorn has been 

- promoted to manager of special services for 

Columbia Pictures International Corp., it 

was announced by Patrick M. Williamson, 

executive vice-president. 

In his new post, Steinhorn will be in 

charge of direct outside sales, supervision 

of sales to markets outside of Columbia International's 

regular distribution system, as 

well as complete responsibility for Columbia 

International's 16mm activities and other 

services to nontheatrical accounts. 

Steinhorn has been with Columbia Picitures 

since 1952 and with Columbia International 

since 1955. In 1969, he was named 

manager of the print department and in recent 

years has taken on added functions in 

the outside sales areas. 

Steinhorn, his wife Laura and their two 

'''fdaughters reside in Mamaroneck, N.Y. 

H8 

ihfi 

Bob Klane will write the screenplay for 

Columbia's "Color War." 

CLEVELAND 

Entertainer Bob Hope sent Mayor Perk's 

Task Force on Higher Education a 

check for $1,000 and his regrets that he was 

unable to attend a Monday night, October 

25, fund-raising dinner at the Sheraton- 

Cleveland. 

The Motion Picture Council of Greater 

Cleveland held its opening meeting of the 

season at Highbee's Thursday, October 21. 

The speaker was Ron St. Charles, WUAB- 

TV/ United Artists Broadcasting program 

director. His subject was "UA-43, the Theatre 

That Books Over a Thousand Movies 

a Year." St. Charles explained the buying 

of exclusive rights to a film in a six-year 

period, the usual cost of a film, the number 

of times a film is shown, the 2,000 to 3,000 

titles from which they may select, the 

amount of air time given to the showing of 

feature-length movies and how the selection 

of times to run films are decided. 

Comedian Mort Sahl canceled his 

scheduled 

appearance at Cleveland State University 

minutes after arriving here. Sahl arrived 

at Hopkins Airport at 7:30 p.m. October 

19, was met by a CSU faculty member, 

made some calls to the West Coast and informed 

his host that he had to return to 

Hollywood immediately. He took an 11:15 

p.m. flight to the West Coast. 

Pete Randall is the new general manager 

of operations of the theatre division of 

Sportservice. 

Singer Paul Anka finished an engagement 

October 14 in Detroit and flew here in his 

private jet. After checking in at the Marriott 

Inn, Anka dropped by Larry Morrow's 

show on WWWE Radio early Friday, October 

15. 

Raven de la 

Croix, star of Russ Meyer's 

"Up!", was in town October 18-19 with producer-director 

Russ Meyer promoting the 

release, slated to open at five area theatres 

Wednesday (3). Meyer, who has little love 

for film critics, said, "It is unusual for my 

films to receive good criticism." He explained 

the critics' "prissy attitude" with a 

smile: "They have no objections to a cathouse 

as long as it's on the wrong side of 

the tracks. They don't object to my pictures 

but they want them labeled hard-core. They 

simply cannot abide by their being compared 

with Grade A feature films." According to 

Meyer, "Up!" has opened in several areas 

and he said the grosses in Dallas, Tex., for 

the week of October 11 paralleled those of 

"Marathon Man." From here, Russ and 

Raven went on to Akron and Youngstown 

before heading east to New York City. 

Friends of Howard Metzebaum, Democratic 

senatorial candidate, gathered at the 

Front Row Theatre October 31 to attend 

a benefit performance of the Mitzi Gaynor 

show to aid his campaign. 

Bill Kohagen has been confined at Parma 

General Hospital with a back problem. 

Condolences to Norman Barr, General 

Theatres associate, whose mother died October 

17 in Sharon, Pa. 

Frank Hunt, 20th Century-Fox head 

booker, returned to the office following a 

pleasant and restful vacation. 

The Wooster Theatre, Wooster, recently 

lost its lease and may be forced to close. 

Marilyn Palmer is the new cashier at 

American International Pictures. 

Elvis Presley appeared at the Coliseum 

October 23 before a near-capacity house, 

his third show there in two years. Only a 

few single seats remained. 

Jim Riley, Local 160 business representative, 

just returned from Columbus, where 

he attended the lATSE Ohio state convention. 

Mary Welsh Hemingway will tell of life 

with her author-husband, the late Ernest 

Hemingway, as she discusses her book "How 

It Was" at the Women's City Club Meetthe-Author 

luncheon at noon in Higbee's 

downtown auditorium Monday (1). 

Ohio Bingo Law Loophole 

Demonstrated by Business 

TOLEDO. OHIO — Another 

apparent 

loophole in the new Ohio bingo-only-forcharity 

law has been uncovered and a Toledo 

bingo game is operating while its manager 

seeks a charity to sponsor it. According to 

Toledo police, there is nothing in the law 

to prevent Terry Reetz, from running an 

"amusement-only" game as long as the bingo 

proceeds are plowed back into the game 

as prizes. 

Reetz said that all money collected from 

the sale of bingo cards and from the 50-cent 

admission fee is given back to the players 

in the form of prizes. He said his motive 

for running the game is to demonstrate to a 

potential charity sponsor that he has a bingo 

"following." He has a three-year lease on a 

building to house the games. Reetz said the 

proceeds each Friday through Monday evening 

are approximately $3,000, with 200 

players nightly. The section of the law under 

which he operates stipulates that all such 

proceeds must be returned to the players, 

that all such proceeds must be returned to 

the players. Proceeds from a concession 

stand are kept separate and will be used to 

pay the $175 monthly rent. 

Reetz staffs the games with seven volunteers 

who work for tips. 

RCil Theatre 

Service 




20338 Progress Dr. 

Strongtville, Ohio 44134 

Phone: (216) 238-9SS5 

ME-3

CINCINNATI 

Ohakeres Thealres opened its new Cinema 

3 and Cinema 4 at the Dayton Mall 

Friday. October 22. The theatres arc located 

on the mall mezzanine opposite the existing 

cinemas 1 and 2. 

Ken Ryan is the new salesman at the 

Paramount exchange here, having been 

transferred from the Philadelphia branch 

... Ed Larson, Buena Vista Eastern division 

manager, was in town . . . Pamm and 

Douglas Sadalin of Holiday Amusement 

have returned from the Octoberfest celebration 

in Germany. 

Bob Meinderding of Tri-State is back at 

his desk after a vacation in Georgia . . . 

Edith Tieman. 20th Century-Fox secretary, 

also has returned after a short vacation 

. . . Exhibitors in town recently include 

Betty Schuler, Hamilton; Bill Powars, Danville, 

Ky., and John Lambert, Beattyville, 

Ky. 

Elaine Scherder, Paramount secretary, 

took one day off to attend the WLW-TV 

"Bob Braun Show." One daily segment in 

the show is when the live audience smiles 

'Catch Falling Star' Filming 

Gathers CSU Extra Crowd 

FORT COLLINS, COLO.—Within a 

few days, the Fort Collins Coloradoan ran 

more than a page of features about the 

production of "Catch a Falling Star" at 

Colorado State University. Seven thousand 

Coloradoans participated as extras during 

its filming. 

Following the Fort Collins filming of the 

basketball game that provides the highlight 

of the picture, producer Marty Hamilton 

and director Lament Johnson thanked the 

crowd of extras saying, "You people were 

absolutely fantastic." 

The basketball game featured an extra 

cast of 7,000, most of them in the stands 

and acting as enthusiastic as a crowd at a 

real college basketball game. Katherine 

Keniston, the Coloradoan's Focus editor, 

was one of the extras who sat in the press 

stand, where one of the reporters made the 

remark, "I'll bet this game is fixed!" Of 

course it was and hero Robby Benson made 

the winning basket. 

Following the screening, Keniston said 

that if an Academy Award was given for 

the best crowd performance, this film would 

be a likely contender. A California flag displayed 

in the Colorado State University 

fieldhouse set the stage for the game which 



HAWAII TOO. 


fe||W!

fflei 

i; 

w 

Q 

Hedevelopment Plan 

ncludes Mall Twin 

HARTFORD—SK, Inc., part of the Silon 

Konover interests, has revealed plans 

aaJ )r a 48,700-square-foot shopping center 

JllVfl jntaining a twin cinema in Hartford's uper 

Albany Avenue redevelopment area. 

lie proposal was presented to the city's 

ja^ Redevelopment Agency for approval by that 

it ( 

gency and the City Council. 

S 

The projected site, at Albany and Blue 

ie I 

[ills avenues, is a few blocks north of the 

lePi "act once containing the Lenox Theatre at 

^bany Avenue and Sterling Street. The lat- 

:r cinema, long part of the old Warner 

jvoJ 

Iros. Theatres, was demolished some years 

go. 

The shopping center is part of a $3.2 

billion city-financed redevelopment project 

jet on 20 acres. SK, already named tentative 

eveloper for the center with the Upper 

Albany Community organization, seeks 

lermanent developer status with a long-term 

jase of at least 50 years for the property, 

/hich the city itself will continue to own, 

nd a tax exemption for 20 years. 

Marc Levine, SK spokesman, said that 

he firm had offered the city either 1 1 per 

«nt of the rent to be collected in the shop- 

>ing center, or 40 cents per square foot of 

)ccupied space as rent for the land. 

What interest will operate the twin cinena 

is yet to be disclosed. Simon Konover's 

)rother, Harold, heads HK Theatre Corp. 

md HK Film, a distribution firm, both head- 

}uartered here. 

i Mozart to Manage Museum 

êatre Leased by Gate 

HARTFORD—Cate Enterprises, operator 

f a 40-screen circuit in New England and 

,5«idjacent New York, has leased the 300-seat 

;heatre at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hart- 

'ord museum, to offer motion pictures on a 

•egular basis, beginning Friday (29) with a 

egional bow of "The Clockmaker." 

Cate, headquartered at the Orson Welles 

"inemas, Cambridge, has named Wayne 

[)ozart as house manager. He was previously 

in that capacity at Cate's Campus Theatre, 

Hadley, and earlier worked at the D.W. 

Griffith Carnegie Hall and Bleecker St. 

;inemas, all in New York. 

Old Films to be Screened 

GROTON, CONN.—The University of 

Connecticut's Avery Point branch will host 

three free film screenings this month, the 

schedule including "The Road to Rio" and 

and "The Road to Bali" on one program, 

Wednesday (3); "Hollywood's Golden Age: 

The Silent Era," Tuesday (9); and "The 

Candidate" Monday (15). The showings begin 

at 7:30 p.m., and are open to the public. 

Marx Bros.' 

'Duck Soup' Screened 

BANGOR, ME.—The Marx Bros, comedy 

classic, "Duck Soup," was screened in 

the Student Union Lounge of the Bangor 

Community College. 

Sacks Adds Twin to Its 

NE Circuit 

Glass walls and lighted columns are a dramatic invitation to patrons of the 

new Sack Theatres' Palace Cinema. Above is an architect's rendition of the twin 

which had its grand opening October 22. 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—Newly renovated 

Sack Palace Cinema 1-2 had its grand 

opening October 22 with the premiere showing 

in western New England of AIP's "A 

Matter of Time" and Warner Bros.' "The 

Ritz." 

With the addition of the Palace Cinema 

to its circuit. Sack Theatres, the largest 

group of motion picture theatres in New 

England, operates a total of 25 screens. 

These include 1 2 screens in Boston, five in 

Danvers, two in Natick and four in Leominster. 

Under construction is a twin theatre 

in Brockton. 

Built in 1968 at a cost of $850,000, the 

Palace twin has two 600-seat auditoriums 

and lives up to its name with its palatial 

appointments. These include plush rockingchair 

seats with perfect visual exposure from 

each seat, crimson carpets, spacious lobby 

areas and a magnificent facade of glass and 

brightly lighted columns. Overhead in the 

projection booth, the most technically advanced 

equipment available in its 35mm and 

70mm projection system, magnetic stereo 

sound, and moving curtains ensure natrons 

of comfort and pleasure for their enteitînment 

dollars. 

Decors Reflect Glamorous Vaudeville Days 

Decors which depict the glamorous days 

of vaudeville and early stage shows combine 

with modern structures and automated and 

technically excellent equipment in the Sack 

Theatres. Oldest in the group is the Gary, 

formerly the Plymouth, a legitimate theatre 

showing only plays, which opened its doors 

in 1917. 

The Sack Savoy Complex, one of Boston's 

palatial theatres, was built in the 1920s as a 

memorial to B.F. Keith, the "father of 

vaudeville." Its ornate lobby is laden with 

bronze and Italian marble. During the vaudeville 

era the Savoy had lavish dressing rooms 

and a fully equipped gym for its performers 

as well as children's playrooms. A sub-basement 

accommodated tigers, elephants and 

lions for the popular animal acts. Today 

the executive offices of Sack Theatres are 

located in the Savoy. 

Another palatial member of the circuit 

is the Music Hall, known as the Metropolitan 

Theatre when it opened in 1925 with 

seating for 5,000. The largest film house 

in New England, with the highest proscenium 

in the world, the orchestra platform was 

moveable in five sections and could be 

raised and lowered. The Music Hall now 

operates as a concert hall and movie theatre. 

A more recent addition to Sack Theatres 

is the Cheri Complex, which opened two 

theatres in 1966 and a third screen in '67. 

The triplex, decorated in a red, white and 

blue color scheme, shares a marquee 200 

feet long and is the first three-theatre unit 

with its own on-premises drive-up garage 

facility. Originally inspired by the theatre 

aboard the S.S. France, the architects aimed 

at providing off-screen visual pleasure in its 

wood-paneled lobby, high pile French red 

carpeting and rows of red lounge chairs 

staggered for optimum sight 

lines. 

Pied Type Gave Theatre Its Name 

The Pi Alley Theatre, a modern 750-seat 

facility completed in 1969, is situated on the 

Hub's former "Newspaper Row," and takes 

its name from a 100-year-old alley into 

which was tossed pied type from the abutting 

newspaper plants. Its black and white color 

scheme is dramatized by the red screen 

curtain, seats and carpeting. The rows of 

seats are staggered behind each other to 

achieve unobstructed sight lines. 

The Cinema 57 Complex, constructed in 

1971, is one of Sack's and Boston's most 

luxurious theatres. It also has a garage on 

the premises accommodating 1,500 cars, 

and its site includes a modern motel and a 

restaurant, incorporating a convenience of 

entertainment facilities under one roof. 

Sack began acquiring theatres outside the 

Boston area in 1969, with the Palace its 

most recent acquisition. 

Professional Management An Attribute 

The entry of Sack Theatres into the 

Springfield market brings with it a reservoir 

of professional theatre management personnel. 

President of the Boston-based circuit is 

A. Alan Freidberg, prior to last January the 

executive vice-president and chief operating 

officer of the company. He has been with 

the theatre group for 19 years in various 

managerial capacities, and is a summa cum 

laude graduate of Columbia College after 

attending Harvard Law School. He is a director 

of NATO, a member of the organization's 

president's advisory cabinet and a 

vice-president of Theatre Owners of New 

England. 

"Catch a Falling Star" is being filmed on 

location in Ft. Collins, Colo. 

BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976 

NE-1

— 

— 

— 

. 

BOSTON 

gonny & Eddy's Exeter Street Cinema, currently 

"The Transformation" and "Diary of a 

02940; directors, Primo DePetrillo, Anthony 

CINERAMA 

DeLuca, 

IS 

Stephen 

IN 

Minasian, Sumner Meyerson; 

2,000 shares, 

SHOW 

no par 

BUSINESS IN 

common; purpose, 

to conduct a motion picture business. 

HAWAII TOO. 


Leisure International Concepts, Inc., 

don't miss 

ft||w>ll|>]iy 

the famous 

Providence 02940; directors, David Friedman, 

Kenneth A. Adier, Eustace T. Piliakas; 

Thî^ Don Ho Show. . . at 

i"«^l Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel. 

IN WAIKIKI: REEF REEF TOWERS 8,000 EOGEWATER shares, $1 par common; purpose, to 

. - 

deal in recreational equipment. 

showing "Cousin Cousine" in its Nympho." 

New England premiere engagement, is a 

Lumiere Films announced that their new 

boxoffice hit, according to Doug Cohen, 

release, "Hollywood Trial," was screened 

resident manager. The holiday weekend 

for the press October 13-15 and October 24 

business (October 9-11) was nmning at capacity, 

Doug said, including an extra mati- 

at the Orson Welles Cinema, Cambridge, 

with critics and exhibitors from the greater 

nee Saturday and an added showing at midnight 

Sunday. In its sixth week (October 

Boston area invited. 

30), the run is expected to continue up to Nick Russo, G&G Communications, have 

the holidays. 

been named New England distributors for 

the Libra Films release, "Cousin Cousine." 

John Markle, Columbia publicity director, 

Phil Scott, 

arranged 

Patriot 

an advance showing of their Woody 

Cinemas president, 

Allen 

happily reported that his 

release, "The theatres 

Front," 

collected 

as a benefit 

show a total 

sponsored 

of 

by 

$6,600 for Bill Koster's 

the Massachusetts 

Variety 

Civil 

Liberties Union 

Club Jimmy 

Foundation 

Fund during the final 

October 

1976 

21. 

The movie opened 

Jimmy Fund drive. 

the next day at the Sack 

Cheri, Boston, and at shopping center theatres 

Universal's new release, "Car Wash," was 

in Burlington, Braintree, Framingham, sneak previewed October 15 at Sack Cine- 

Danvers and Chestnut Hill. 

mas' Pi Alley, Savoy, and shopping center 

theatres in Burlington, 

Hope 

Dedham, Natick and 

Rosen, publicity chief for Sack Theatres, 

promoted "A Matter of Time" by 

Peabody ... A trade screening was scheduled 

by Paramount at the Parker Screening 

creating a large window display in Gilchrist's 

Room October 18 for their 

Department 

new release, 

Store which is located at the 

"Bugsy Malone." 

busiest corner for pedestrian traffic in downtown 

Boston. The display included blown-up Down Memory Lane— 1946, Maurice 

photos from the film, and two passes for the Safner took over the operation of the Rialto 

picture at Cinema 57 were given to customers 

Theatre, Woonsocket, R.I., with son Mel as 

making a purchase of $50 or more. manager. The program consisted mainly of 

French and Polish films, catering to the 

"How Funny Can Sex Be?" will be distributed 

in the New England states by 1921, Harry Wasserman, Eagle Theatre, 

large foreign element in the mill city . . . 

Harvey Appell and Paul Peterson, NFB Roxbury, did a complete renovating job, preparing 

for the busy fall and winter season 

Films. The flyer they issued included a listing 

of other films for the holiday season 

. . . 1926, Herbie Higgins and Ernie Warren, 

Pathe Exchange, were among the win- 

coming up: "Swinging Coeds," "Summer 

Heat," "Mean Frank and Crazy Tony," ners in a sales and collections drive. 

Plans Fade for Theatre 

Aetna Life and Casualty and Travelers 

hold a joint mortgage on the property. 

In Downtown 

The 

Hartford 

court action said that the 8.5 per cent mortgage 

was now in default, with an undisclosed 

HARTFORD—Plans for a twin cinema 

developed by Jack Modin and Paul Burchman, 

operators of the Hartford Hilton Hotel Earlier, Modlin and Burchman had talked 

amount owed on the mortgage. 

seemed remote with disclosure of a foreclosure 

action in Hartford County Superior Street from the hotel. The project would 

about building a twin theatre across Asylum 

Court against the two men. 

have marked the first motion picture theatre 

construction downtown in decades. Sig- 

Hartford-based Aetna Life & Casualty 

and Travelers Insurance joined in the action nificantly, through urban renewal, attrition 

after Modlin and Burchman failed to meet and the gradual drift of cinema interests to 

their new mortgage payment on the property. 

The insurance companies asked the court bia, downtown Hartford presently does not 

outlying reaches of the city and into subur- 

to appoint a receiver to oversee the hotel's contain an operational showhouse. The number 

of theatres in outlying areas and in ad- 

operations on a daily basis. 

The foreclosure action was brought jacent towns, however, is at an all-time high. 

against the Har-Hill Corp., which acquired 

the hotel for $2.8 million from the Hilton 

INCORPORATIONS 

Hotel Corp. about a year ago. Hilton had 

been losing money on the operation. 

— Rhode Island— 

Fall River Cinema Corp., Providence 

'Marathon' Leads Pace 

With 300 in Hartford 

HARTFORD—No fewer than eight new 

attractions—one of the largest opening blocs 

in weeks—sparked brisk boxoffice response. 

The biggest figure, 300, was accorded Paramount's 

"Marathon Man," auditorium one, 

Redstone Showcase IV. Six cinemas had a 

day-and-date bow for Columbia's "Shadow 

of the Hawk," which registered 200. Universal's 

"Car Wash," in auditorium two. 

Showcase IV, chalked up 175. States rights 

product, all well above the 100 average, 

comprised the remainder of the openers. 

Art Cinema Surf Girls (SR) 150 

Cinema City I Supervixens (SR) 140 

Cinema City II—Duel in the Tiger Den (SR) 130 

Colonial—The Body Guard (SR) 125 

Showcase I—Marathon Man (Para) 300 

Showcase II—Car Wash (Univ) _ 

175 

Showcase III Burnt OHerings (UA), 2nd wk llS 

Six theatres Shadow of the Hawk (Col) . 

200 

Webster—Femmes de Bade (SR) 130 

Three Openers in New Haven Draw 

Healthy Grosses; 'Marathon' at 275 

NEW HAVEN—Paramount's "Marathon 

Man" took the trophy this week here with 

a 275 gross, and another opener, "Car 

Wash," was not too far behind with 200. 

"Face to Face," in its second week, moved 

upward, garnering 175, and "A Matter of 

Time," also a second week holdover, did 

well at 165. "Shadow of the Hawk," on a 

double bill, came up with 135. 


Bowl—Shadow of the Hawk (Col) 135 

Milford II, Whitney—A Matter of Time (AIP), 

2nd wk 165 

Showcase I ^Marathon Man (Para) 275 

Showcase II—Car Wash (Univ) 200 

Showcase III Alice in Wonderland (SR), 

4th wk 135 

Showcase IV—Burnt Offerings (UA), 2nd wk 115 

Showcase V Norman ... Is That You? 

(MGM-UA), 3rd wk 120 

York Square Cinema Face to Face (Para), 

2nd wk 175 

Wally Beach loins Staff 

Of Oaks Dinner Theatre 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—Wally Beach, 

former operator of the downtown Paramount 

Theatre, has joined Broadway theatre 

publicist Fred Weterick and Wall Street 

analyst Robert Golon in management of the 

Oaks Inn Dinner Theatre which opens 

Thursday (18) in the Kimball Towers, 140 

Chestnut St., with the touring company 

of the musical "Godspell." 

Beach is continuing the development 

planned for the Springfield riverfront of an 

$18 million performing arts center for western 

New England. The center would contain 

at least one theatre under present plans. 

Founder and former managing director of 

the Storrowton Music Fair, a summer music 

tent theatre in West Springfield, Beach at 

one time was with Trans-Lux Theatres in 

New York. 

/^V^t3t^('©9

. cstfarms. 

. advertising 

JARTFORD 

inion Konover of the Konover exhibition 

family has been elected vice-president 

the Hartford Jewish Federation. 

The UA-Taubman Movies III at the $100 

illion Westfarms Mail, largest shopping 

implex in Connecticut, participated in the 

all's second anniversary sales promotion 

$1.25 admission for all three 

iditoriums all day on the anniversary date. 

ith WPOP-Radio and Avis Rent-a-Car 

jrvice they sponsored a contest offering an 

1-expense trip for two to Fort Lauderdale, 

la., aboard Delta Airlines, plus $500 spendig 

money, or top prize. Contestants were 

,ked 

to estimate how many people paid to 

:e the movie "Jaws" at The Movies at 

In addition, the triplex donated 

,)pcorn to West Hartford's Bugbee Elelentary 

School for a special sale, proceeds 

roviding funds for purchase of hand-calcutors 

to be used as instructional tools in an 

itcrmediate mini-math program. The pop- 

,irn was sold for 20 cents-per-box at the 

;hool. 

BACK IN TOWN—Actor-director Charles Nelson Reilly returned to his 

native city to open the "Musical Wednesdays" discussion series at the University 

of Hartford. He is seen with Marcia Alcom, left, and Ruth McDonough, cochairpersons 

of the series. Reilly started his entertainment industry ties in Connecticut's 

capital series, ushering at the Bushnell Memorial during high school 

undergraduate days. 

Comic Joey Russell emceed an Israeli 

onds sale sponsored by State of Israel 

onds at Tumblebrook Country Club rejntly. 

Pledges totaled $12,500. 

[j The UA Theatres East in Manchester adrtise 

$1.25 admission to 2:30 p.m., on 

iturdays and Sundays. 

yiAINE 

Excellent grosses were reported across the 

Pine Tree state for newly-premiered 

Marathon Man" and "A Matter of Time." 

ontinuing attractions included "The Man 

\ ho Skied Down Everest," "Silent Movie," 

Murder by Death" and "The Return of a 

Ian Called Horse." 

Something unique got under way in audiorium 

two of the University II, Old Town, 

vith a month-long "Love Festival," comirised 

of a number of major rerun and 

intage releases all focusing on romantic 

hemes; titles include Paramount's "Love 

itory," for example. 

E.M. Loew's Theatres dropped Mondayhroiigh-Thursday 

showings for the colder 

nonths at its Brewer Drive-In, Brewer . . . 

:Juena Vista's "The Gnome-Mobile" had a 

izable roster of key reissue playdates 

jhroughout Maine. 

Gail Strickland has been signed for a 

inajor role in "Catch a Falling Star." 

MM MM 

mljP#l 

Theatre 

Service 



A Division of RCA Ph. (201) 451-2222 (NJ.) 

43 Edward J. Hart Rd. (212) 267-1550 (N.Y.) 

Liberty City, N.J. 07305 

Theatre Construction Based 

On Area Economic Studies 

HARTFORD—What may seem, initially, 

to be "overbuilding" of theatres in certain 

geographical locales can be likened, in some 

instances, to long-range planning. Such construction 

is predicated on population and 

economic expansion, Allen M. Widem, Boxoffice 

New England regional correspondent, 

told the Men's Club of Beth El Temple, 

West Hartford, at a recent Sunday morning 

minyan breakfast. 

"Exhibition," Widem said, "may not claim 

as much in-depth market research as, say, 

food supermarkets, but in the main, when 

an exhibitor puts money-on-the-line, he is 

betting on a broadening of the immediate 

area's population and economic base. Whatever 

research he has done for a particular 

project has been bound up in a study of 

real estate developments, especially housing 

units, 

both in-work and planned." 

Domino Theory of Construction Works 

The domino theory of supermarket construction, 

he continued, has proved the retail 

food trade progressive-minded; where 

customers once had to drive miles for a wide 

array of food stuffs, emergence of supermarket 

chain branches in their "back yard" 

has meant convenience. Likewise, when theatre 

circuits or independents build in small 

towns, they too are banking on "building" 

immediate and future trade. 

"Not too many years ago," Widem said, 

"the exhibition field was astonished to hear 

of multiple-auditorium cinemas—two and 

three and even more. Today? An exhibitor 

proceeding with even a five and six-auditorium 

complex takes such announcements 

in stride; he, too, is banking on future population 

and economic growth. In effect, he 

'writes off certain areas for growth. 

"Sometimes, unfortunately, even the best 

of intentions falls by the wayside. An exhibitor, 

in effect, has not done his homework, 

has not fully determined what the immediate 

future in area population trends will be, and 

is left with a theatre or twin theatre not 

doing enough business for profitability." 

The speaker was introduced by his brother, 

Hartford attorney I. Milton Widem, immediate 

past president of Beth El Temple, 

and presently serving as a member of the 

temple's board of trustees. 

Popular Reruns Booked 

To Fill Product Vacuum 

HAMDEN, CONN.—The dearth of firstrun 

product in New England since mid- 

October has been a problem for exhibitors, 

but one theatre solved it in a logical, and 

perhaps unique, way, booking reruns that 

made it at the boxoffice the first time 

around. 

RKO-Stanley Warner Cinemart in this 

city ran a newspaper ad giving a two-week 

schedule of movies to be shown between 

October 14 and Monday (1), and called them 

"Popular Film Classics." People who had 

not seen these movies before, or wanted to 

see them again, had a golden opportunity. 

Some of the films were "Cabaret," "Three 

Days of the Condor," "Five Easy Pieces," 

"The Producers," "Midnight Cowboy," 

"Lenny," "Blazing Saddles" and two Marx 

brothers 

films. 

80XOFTICE :: November 1, 1976 NE-3

I 

S 

• 

SPRINGFIELD 

\A7estern Massachusetts premieres included 

Warners' "The Ritz," AIP's "A Matter 

of Time," Paramount's "Marathon Man," 

plus reprise of Buena Vista's "Fantasia." 

Among continuing attractions were Columbia's 

"Obsession," UA's "Burnt Offerings," 

Monarch's "Fantastic Invasion of Planet 

Earth," and a rerun of Buena Vista's "The 

Gnome-Mobile." 

The 1969 release, 

"Z," was shown at the 

Springfield Museum of Fine Arts over a 

recent weekend. Admission was $1 for the 

public and 50 cents for members of the 

Friends of the Quadrangle. 

The Memorial Drive-In, West Springfield, 

dropped Monday through Thursday showings 

for the colder months. It triple-billed 

"Billy Jack," "Soldier Blue" and "Breaking 

Point" over a recent weekend, charging $2 

admission. 

The Mountain Farms Four, in the Mountain 

Farms Mall, Hadley, brought back 

MGM-UA's "The Phantom Toll Booth" 

for I and 3 p.m. showings on a recent 

weekend, charging $1 admission. 

Veteran actor-comic Stubby Kaye starred 

in the musical, "1776," at the University of 

Massachusetts Fine Arts Center, Amherst 

campus. There were five performances. 

Mid-autumn finds the New England 

drive-in theatre field's spirits still brisk, as 

evidenced by an ad for a six-feature program, 

for the Harry Schwab-of)erated Air 

Line Drive-In, Chicopee. 

RHODE ISLAND 

Qpenings included a distinctive upgrading 

of bookings for the Ocean State Theatre 

(formerly Loews' State), downtown Providence, 

with the Rhode Island premiere of 

Paramount's "Marathon Man." The theatre 

recently had been playing reruns and reissues. 

Also premiering was "Sex With a 

Smile." The holdover bloc was sizable, attractions 

including AIP's "A Matter of 

Time" and "Futureworld," New World's 

"Jackson County Jail," UA's "Burnt Offerings," 

AA's "Let's Talk About Men," reprise 

of Buena Vista's "The Gnome-Mobile," 

Turtle Releasing's "Freewheelin' " and Columbia's 

"Obsession," the latter, incidentally, 

going into a record-shattering third 

month's stay at GCC's Warwick Mall Cinema. 

The E.M. Loew's Providenoe-Pawtuckct 

Drive-In triple-billed "Night of Bloody 

lm artoe reflectors 

lI'/."-137/-I4"ouMET« $45.50 

16" - l6'/j" DUMETIR 

CTA t R 

AMERICAN MADE*'**.AJ 

X-Rated Film Exploitation of Women 

Debated by Russ Meyer, Feminist 

SAN ANTONIO—The battle of the 

sexes became an X-rated affair as Russ 

Meyer, Hollywood's most successful X-rated 

filmmaker, and feminist legislator Elaine 

Noble (D-Mass.), U.S. representative who 

won her seat on a feminist and sexual equality 

platform, debated the question of 

whether X-rated movies exploit women at 

Trinity University here Monday (11). 

Meyer's response to accusations that his 

films are designed for males only said, 

"They're extensions of my own fantasies 

which is sex as a football scrimmage. They're 

my child, my life." 

Noble replied that they were male adolescent 

fantasies, a remark that earned her 

a round of applause. 

"If this is the type of film American 

males respond to," she said, "I think it is 

an indication that American males don't 

develop sexually." 

The debate was held in the Chapman 

Graduate Center Auditorium. The two were 

asked questions by a panel consisting of 

Gerald Goldstein, an attorney who has defended 

the film "Deep Throat"; Dr. Joyce 

Williams, a sociology professor who has 

researched the effects of pornography on 

society; Ron White, film critic for the Express 

and Anita Anderson of KENS-TV. 

Dr. George Grice of the Trinity speech department 

was moderator. 

Meyer has specialized in films featuring 

nude and full-bosomed women. "Vixen" and 

"The Immoral Mr. Teas," both moneymakers, 

are his movies. His newest film, "Up!", 

which opened at the Santikos circuit's Olmos 

Theatre and inspired the debate arranged by 

Trinity's Student Activities Board and Santikos 

Theatres, was defended by Meyer as 

Horror," "Women in Bloody Terror" and 

"Vampire's Night Orgy" with a $4-per-carload 

policy in effect. Another underskyer, 

the Seekonk Twin, triple-billed "Last House 

on the Left," "The House That Vanished" 

and "Don't Look in the Basement." 

General Cinema started advance teaser 

advertising for scheduling of Universal's 

"Two-Minute Warning," slated for a Thursday 

(11) bow. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

pjoldovers again outpaced openings across 

the state, with brisk trade reported for 

such titles as 20th-Fox's "Silent Movie," 

AIP's "A Matter of Time," UA's "Burnt 

Offerings," and reissue of Buena Vista's 

"The Gnome-Mobile." 

The 88 Dinner Theatre, 

Nashua, opened 

its 1976-77 season advertising, "Pay for 

Four Dinner Shows—Get Fifth for Half 

Price!" 

"a humorous film that has something for 

the ladies." 

Noble, who viewed the movie prior to 

the debate, disagreed that there was anything 

in the film to arouse women sexually. 

In response to a question from the debate 

panel, however, she admitted that it would 

be possible to make a sexually explicit film 

which would not exploit either men or 

women. 

"But I don't know of any feminist with 

any brain cells who would want to put 

energy into it," she said. 

Meyer, who seemed somewhat bored with 

the debate, insisted, "My films are put-ons. 

Sometimes I get laughs when I don't intend 

to, but they are just designed to be humorous." 

He defended the violence in his films as 

being "so outrageous it can't be taken seriously." 

Noble did note that X-rated films are not 

necessarily any more exploitative of women 

• 

than Doris Day romances or TV commercials. 

"The ring-around-the-collar profile is ' 

more insidious, more pornographic, than 

'Up!'," she said. Noble added that she believes 

pornographic movies are protected 

: 

under the First Amendment and that femi- i 

nists do not favor "repressive legislation" to ' 

halt X-rated movies. 

"What these movies show is part of the 

; 

fabric of society's sexist attitudes. It is so- . 

ciety that has to be changed," she said. 

, 

Meyer was in San Antonio through Tuesday 

(12) to promote the film starring Raven i 

i 

de la Croix, who held a press conference 

along with Meyer Tuesday at the Sheraton ] 

San Antonio Inn. 

Yale Screens Welles Film 

NEW HAVEN—The Yale Repertory 

Theatre Film Series opened Sunday (24) with 

Orson Welles' "Chimes at Midnight." Admission 

to the 7:30 p.m. screening, on the 

Yale University campus, was $2.50, with 

no charge for Yale Repertory subscribers. 

Weit-Caserta, Sound Concepts Merge 

WOODBRIDGE, CONN.—Weit/Caserta 

Productions has been merged into Sound 

Concepts, Inc., with the addition of Hank 

Weit and Tedd Caserta, the move expanding 

Sound Concepts capabilities into television 

commercial, film, audio-visual and music 

production. 

Wm. Cahn, 64, Biographer. Dies 

NEW HAVEN—William Cahn, 64, lifelong 

writer, whose published biographies 

included those of Jimmy Durante and Harold 

Lloyd, died October 13 at Yale-New 

Haven Hospital after a long illness. 

Peter Grant serves as executive producer 

of "The Song Remains the Same." 

NE-4 BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 1976

t 

VANCOUVER—No 

:

' 

i 

' 

" 

TORONTO 

Under the chairmanship of barker Frank 

Strean, 

the allotment committee of the 

Variety Club of Ontario Tent 28 recently 

approved seven special projects which will 

assist crippled children's work in this area. 

The total expenditure of these projects will 

be $107,540. However, this is just part of 

the total $450,540 which the tent has committed 

for worthy projects so far this year. 

The seven "special" projects include provision 

of two Sunshine Coaches, funds for a 

dental clinic and a research project, among 

others. All local 

barkers may well share the 

gratitude which comes to Tent 28 and the 

certainty that the funds have been used wisely 

and well in the channels where they have 

been directed. 

Despite adverse reviews, producer Ivan 

Reitman has had above-average success with 

two of his recent feature films—"Shivers" 

and "Death Weekend." The latter film, in 

fact, grossed $400,000 in its four-week run 

here and Reitman claims that "Shivers" is 

now paying back its investors, including the 

Canadian Film Development Corp. Reitman 

now has his operations based in Montreal 

and October 12 he signed a contract 

with Universal to co-produce a $2.5 to $3 

million comedy in association with the National 

Lampoon, the publication whose stage 

revue he produced throughout North America. 

As well, working with Cinepix in Montreal, 

Reitman will have two feature films 

ready for production shortly. These will be 

"Convoy," a $1.4 million futuristic thriller 

to be directed by Bill Fruet (who did "Death 

Weekend"), and this will be co-financed by 

the Canadian Film Development Corp., Famous 

Players and Cinepix. "Rabid" will be 

a $550,000 film directed by David Cronenberg 

(who did "Shivers") and this will be 

financed by the CFDC and Famous Players. 

"The press outside Canada, particularly 

in Britain and France, has been generally 

good to 'Shivers'," Reitman stated here. "I 

make films for an international market, not 

just for Canada. On top of that, 'Shivers' 

did well financially and that's why the 

CFDC has gone along with us on 

'Rabid.' 

'Shivers' is disgusting—but in the manner 

in which a horror film should be disgusting. 

And 'Death Weekend'—well, even some of 

the Toronto critics who hated it said it was 

nicely done." 

Actress Sophia Loren now is in Montreal 

to appear in a $3 million Canadian-financed 

film titled "Angela." Playing opposite her 

will be Canadian actor John Vernon and 



HAWAII TOO. 





IN WAIKIKI: REEF REEF TOWERS EOGEWATER 

other co-stars will include John Huston, 

Taryn Power (daughter of the late Tyrone 

Power) and Steve Railsback. The director 

is Canadian-born Sidney Furie and the producer 

is Hollywood veteran Zev Braun. 

Almost on the eve of its opening, the Festival 

of Festivals has had a serious setback. 

Its gala opener, French director Francois 

Truffaut's "Small Change," was withdrawn 

by the distributor, who felt that its screening 

at the festival would affect its Christmas 

run here. 

Hollywood's veteran songwriter Harry 

Warren was in town to attend the opening 

of the stage musical "Harry's Back in Town." 

'Empire of Senses' Delay 

Due to U.S. Publicity 

MONTREAL — Although approved 

the Quebec Cinema Supervisory Board for 

viewing by adults, the Cannes Film Festival 

favorite "Empire of the Senses" will not 

be released immediately in Canada due to 

publicity surrounding the film's seizure by 

U.S. customs officials in Manhattan. 

Orginally, Astral Films had scheduled an 

October 15 opening for the film about a 

geisha who literally "loved her boss to 

death." Astral spokesman Maurice Attias 

told the Globe and Mail, "We could have 

opened the film as planned. But after consulting 

with Andre Guerin, we decided to 

wait for a quieter date." 

Guerin said, "Given the agitation that 

has accompanied the film in recent days, 

especially since the U.S. customs affair, we 

suggested to the distributor and exhibitor 

of the film that a postponement of its release 

might be advisable and would avoid 

the creation of a false censorship incident. 

Debate on the issue at this time following 

classification would be artificial and inappropriate." 

Prior to its seizure at the dock, "Empire 

of the Senses" was scheduled to be shown 

at the New York Film Festival. 

Martin Malina in the Montreal Star wrote 

that Nagisa Oshima, director of the Franco- 

Japanese production, is a "thoroughly serious 

artist and his film is as free of sexual 

exploitation and prurience as a Noh drama." 

"The film is unlikely to open here before 

the expected provincial election. November 

and pre-Christmas December are considered 

poor filmgoing periods and "Empire" is 

scarcely holiday fare. The bet right now is 

for January," Malina said. 

Films Shown Free at Museum 

EDMONTON — This city's Provincial 

Museum recently presented free weekend 

showings of a series of Walt Disney films, 

including "Rascal," as well as the diverse 

offerings of "Shudders and Screams," "The 

Wolf Man" and "Giant." The movie menu 

did, indeed, include something for everyone! 

by 

Cabinet Paper Cites Need 

For NFB Film Production 

(Continued from page K-1) 

consultants. That report was strongly critical 

of the National Film Board. 

"But the document prepared for the Cabinet 

says: 'There will continue to be a need 

for the NFB to produce, as in the past, films 

of outstanding artistic merit and cultural 

value, experimental or innovative films, 

films of national interest or significance, 

films designed to illustrate and interpret 

aspects of Canada and the life and activities 

of the Canadian people.' 

"The sentiment was echoed in an interview 

given by Roberts to the Star five days after 

being appointed to his Cabinet post. However, 

the document recommends that starting 

in 1978 'not less than one-half of any increase 

in the NFB's annual production budget, 

exclusive of sponsored films (that it 

makes for government departments), be earmarked 

for contracting out to private producers. 

"Regarding the feature movie field, the' 

document says: 'The option of winding up 

the CFDC has received serious consideration 

and has been rejected ... It would invite the 

conclusion that the government is no longer 

\ 

concerned about seeing a viable film industry I 

established and is prepared to accept as irj 

reversible ^ 

the influence of a growing volume 

of foreign film products on our cultural 

] 

environment. Culturally, ' 

it would be a major 

' 

setback.' 

"Instead, it wants the CFDC's role to 

expand and authority for it to start making 

loans to certain producers via guaranteed 

credit. 'Some way must be found through 

moral persuasion or by fiscal measure to 

persuade the foreign distributors who are 

drawing off $60 million annually in film 

rental revenues to assist the distribution and 

promotion of Canadian films in the U.S. 

and other foreign markets.' 

"The CFDC, it 

says, sustained an average 

of 86 per cent losses in its investments since 

it started in 1968. Losses in the last three 

years have been somewhat less than that. 

'However, this is too slow a progress and 

the corporation (CFDC) should be aiming at 

losses lower than 50 per cent over the 

medium term, say five years, and self-sustenance 

eventually.' 

Joint System for Pay-TV 

Proposed to Cut Costs 

OTTAWA—To avoid a piecemeal network 

and keep costs down by using one 

satellite 

system, pay TV companies are laving 

the groundwork for a one-agency signal 

transporter. 

The Gazette reports that, "Agara Indus 

tries and CN-CP Telecommunications recently 

proposed a national signal transportation 

system for a proposed pay TV network. 

"In a brief submitted to the Canadian 

Radio-TV Telecommunications Commission, 

the companies said they would provide the 

signal transportation system through Anik 

satellite facilities in English and French." 

E-2 

BOXOFFICE :: November 1, 197(

I 

]at'l Film Board Hosts 

I Mexican Filmmakers 

MONTREAL — Twelve 

Mexican filmj 

ikers recently were the guests of the Naimal 

Film Board for a week-long exchange 

, ideas. The visit was part of a proposed 

ogram of co-production between the NFB 

\d the secretary of public education of 

exico. 

The program has resulted from a series 

social documentaries from the two coun- 

[es in which similar issues and problems 

apparent, such as the preservation of 

Ere 

culture of each country's native peoples 

the face of "the American way of life." 

For joint filming projects, the crews will 

made up of both Mexican and Canadian 

f 

jmmakers and the program will continue 

'er a period of two years at a shared cost 

$1.2 million. 

While in Montreal, the Mexicans screened 

number of Canadian films, including such 

|)table productions as: "Mon Oncle Ane," 

"Duplessis et Apres," "Pour la Suite 

Monde," "Rejeanne Padovani," etc. Foling 

each presentation, the filmmakers 

both countries exchanged opinions con- 

:rning the films. 

The guests also presented notable Mexican 

s to their Canadian colleagues. 

October 7, there was a public presenta- 

.)n of the film "Reed, Mexico Insurgente" 

Mexican filmmaker Paul Leduc at the 

nematheque Quebecoise. 

Canadian filmmakers now involved in this 

ogram and in the co-production project 

e: Maurice Bulbulian, Georges Dufaux, 

illes Groulx, Arthur Lamothe, Yves Dion 

id Jacques Leduc. 

llien Encounter' Slated 

'or Filming in Toronto 

TORONTO — A science-fiction thriller 

led "Alien Encounter," with a $1.5 million 

idget, is scheduled for production here, 

he cast will be headed by Robert Vaughan 

id Christopher Lee, who are expected to 

rive in Toronto the first week of Novem- 

;r. 

Other cast members will include local 

itors Jonathan Welsh, Kurt Shiegl, Tiu 

eek, Ted Turner and Quebec's Daniel 

ilon. 

Ed Hunt is the producer-director-writer 

f "Alien Encounter" and Earl Glick is the 

cecutive producer. 

)isenchanted Patrons Are 

Courted by MMT Circuit 

PRINCETON, N.J.—With local movieaers 

complaining for some time about the 

mg runs at the two houses operated by 

imeric Theatres, a partial solution to the 

ical problem has been offered by the Muc 

Makers Theatres circuit. In a series of 

ewspaper ads by Music Makers Theatres, 

eadlined "You Asked For It!" attention 

as called to the fact that the circuit's East 

/indsor Cinema I and II nearby offer them 

new movie every week at an admission of 

aly $1.50. 

iDXOFnCE :: November 1, 1976 

VANCOUVER 

âwson Exiey, Bellevue manager, returned 

from a sales meeting in Toronto after 

putting in several hectic days at the home 

office. 

Danton's "Wackiest Wagon Train in the 

West" opened in 13 lower mainland and 

Vancouver Island situations during the 

Thanksgiving holidays to above-average business. 

The picture then moved into five situations 

in the lower Fraser Valley playing 

Haney, Langley, Port Coquitlan, Abbotsford 

and Mission, playing day-and-date. The 

promotion for the film ran into a snag on 

Vancouver Island when the wagon train 

(Volkswagen) used as moving ballyhoo was 

impounded by the RCMP for some alleged 

infraction and was not released until opening 

day. 

The retired Orpheum 

New TV station CKVU saluted Ivan Ackery 

Friday, October 8. 

manager was interviewed at length on his 

long tenure as a manager for Famous Players 

and, in particular, about his quartercentury 

with the Orpheum, with stills being 

flashed on the screen of highlight promotions. 

Dawson Exley appeared in one flanked 

by Ivan and Pat Boone. He also presented 

Mayor Art Phillips with his two citations 

for leadership in year-long worldwide promotion 

competitions. Over a four-year period, 

Ivan won two, as did Charles Doctor of 

the Capitol, after which they were barred 

from further competition. The plaques will 

be hung in the foyer when the house reopens 

as a center for the performing arts. 

Among interested spectators were Theo 

and Nora Ross. Theo has just finished a 

biography on Ivan which currently is in the 

hands of the publisher. We are informed 

that it is lavishly illustrated with a centerfold 

of pictures (no nudes). 

Victoria Film Services has a budding publicist 

in its midst. Assistant shipper and horror 

movie buff Marcus Wheeler has a new 

use for toothpicks. "You use them as stakes 

to drive through the hearts of small vampires," 

he vows. 

The staff of Hosford Theatres scattered 

for the holiday. Vi Hosford planed to Edmonton 

for a wedding, then flew down to 

an industry convention at Anaheim, Calif. 

. . . Booker Camelia Gauthier jetted to San 

Francisco for a breath of fresh air and a 

seafood special at Fisherman's Wharf (she 

could have saved the air fare—we have it 

all up here) . . . Margaret Davie took a 

run up to Doroche in the Fraser Valley 

where the finest wild mushrooms in British 

Columbia are available for the plucking. 

Locally born Bruno Genissi was the honored 

guest at the annual Italian-Canadian 

Brotherhood dinner at the Commodore Saturday, 

October 9. Almost all the 40,000-plus 

Italians of this city are members of the Contrafradencia. 

Gerussi was presented with a 

suitable memento by Justice Angelo Branca 

as the Italian-Canadian of the year. The 

irony of the situation is that Bruno, an actor 

all his life who has done Shakespeare at 

Stratford, read the bard over CBC Radio, 

done "The Glass Menagerie," etc., should 

gain national fame and acclaim playing a 

Greek-Canadian with idiomatic English in 

"The Beachcombers" on TV. 

With the season ending, drive-ins offered 

dusk-to-dawn shows, with the exception of 

the Cascades, Burnaby. The longer night resulted 

in many five-feature shows and, as a 

consequence, along with all the other openings, 

Victoria Film Services again rang up 

a record week for shipments. 

The balmy weather during the Thanksgiving 

weekend (October 9-11) and many 

counter-attractions helped to cut into theatre 

attendance in many spots. Traffic across 

the border created up to two-hour lineups 

at the Douglas crossing and much longerthan-normal 

delays at Aldergrove and Huntingdon 

. . . The racing season went out in 

a blaze of glory as the 103-day meet at Exhibition 

Park wound up with three consecutive 

$1 million days as the mutuels sang a 

merry tune. 

In the works is a change in the classification 

code which will bring the 8mm stagtype 

movies shown in beer parlors and pubs 

under the jurisdiction of Ray MacDonald 

and his board. 

Thanksgiving Day—October 1 1—also saw 

the end of one of the longest local careers 

in sports and show business for one 

of western Canada's best-loved personalities. 

Jack Short, "The Voice of the Races," 

wound up 44 years of calling the bangtails 

for a total of over 40,000 heats. During that 

time, he also was active in radio, in nightclubs 

and in movie promotion, having 

worked with the Granville Rowgues many 

times over the years. 

NFB Screens 3 Films 

CALGARY—The National Film Board 

October 6 held a free screening in the NFB 

Library Theatre here with the program including 

"The Owl and the Raven," a short 

with animated puppets; "The Owl Who Married 

the Goose," animated film which won 

an award at the recent International Film 

Festival in Ottawa, and "Living Arctic." 

"The Sing Remains the Same" was produced 

by Swan Song, Inc. 

mM SCRE^ 

EXTRA 

REVENUE 

M NO EXTRA 

ADFILMS 

:iVl lUiniJ LIMITED 

)SV.I 

FRED 

STINSON 

PRESIDENT 

2221 Yoiige St. • Teronto M4S 2B4 • (416) 483-35S1 

K-3

CALGARY 

^he national "day of protest" against the 

federal government's policy concerning 

wage and price controls has come and gone 

and those of us living in this city were 

scarcely aware of the "happening." A few 

pickets appeared in various parts of the city 

and the huge workers' march planned by 

labor organizers did take place—but it attracted 

only a few hundred participants. 

The weather was clear, quite cold and very 

windy and that may have had some bearing 

on the turnout, although there was little support 

evidenced at any time. In spite of accusations 

of Albertans being "fat cats," it 

would seem that the political motivation 

simply was not there. This is rather strange 

in a province that is solidly conservative in 

politics of a federal nature. In the majority 

of businesses, there was no disruption of 

work or services. It was just another working 

day. 

"The Three Stooges Fun Festival" that 

played in 

the Klondike moved into the Jasper 

Cinema for a three-day matinee stint 

October 9-11. 

Headed for a five-week vacation in England 

is Freda Koplowicz of Filmwest, Edmonton. 

Most of her holiday will be spent 

in Bristol and the surrounding countryside; 

Cinematheque Quebecoise 

Has Uncertain Future 

QUEBEC—Due to confusion surrounding 

budgets, the 11 -year-old Cinematheque 

Quebecoise closed its archives pending policy 

decisions which are threatening its very 

existence. Director Robert Daudelin says the 

cinematheque has been waiting for a decision 

on its 1976-77 budget for more than 

six months. 

In the Gazette, Woftek Gwiazda chronicled 

speculation as to the future of the 

theatre and archive which has presented 

over 2,900 films to some 150,000 spectators 

including film retrospectives of Quebec, 

European, American and Canadian filmmakers. 

Daudelin and the 150 members of the 

Cinematheque Quebecoise fear that another 

agency, the Cinematheque Nationale, created 

under the one-and-one-half-year-old 

Quebec Film Act gradually will phase out 

the older organization. 

What leads credence to their fears, according 

to Daudelin, is the fact that the 

provincial government is not willing to give 

a global subsidy to the Cinematheque Quebecoise 

but will only give subsidies for specific 

services. 

"For example," Gwiazda wrote, "the film 

archives (the only archives of its kind in 

Canada) and public showings will be subsidized 

for as long as they are needed. Previously 

they were funded by the global subsidies 

the cinematheque had been receiving 

since 1964." 

however, a jaunt to the continent is planned. 

While Freda is away, brother Sam will hold 

the fort. Sam is well known for his awardwinning 

productions, as well as his venture 

in exhibition, the Cinematheque 16. 

The censor board of Alberta screened and 

classified a total of 33 features during the 

month of September. These fell into the 

following categories: three, family; seven, 

adult; eight, adult-not suitable for children, 

and 15, restricted adult. Cinepix submitted 

eight of the pictures, the largest number 

ever sent by one company to 

the provincial 

board. An oddity, in that a family-rated picture 

was given a warning, took place with 

"Trail of the Hunter" (Dueka Films) garnering 

this tag: "Killing of animals and trophy 

hunting may be objectionable to some." 

Two features were given the same advertising 

warning, Paramount's "Marathon Man" 

(rated as adult—not suitable for children) 

and Cinepix's "East End Hustle" (classified 

as restricted adult). The tagline consisted 

of: "Violence and coarse language." "The 

River Niger" (Astral), which was classified 

adult—not suitable for children, was tagged: 

"Extremely coarse language throughout." 

Another Cinepix film, "Death Weekend," 

in the restricted adult group, was given the 

warning: "Violence and coarse language 

throughout." 

Meanwhile, the newly created Cinematheque 

Nationale is looking for a location for 

its film archives but director Romuald Miville 

des Chenes denies the two cinematheques 

are going to be redundant. 

In 1975, the Quebecoise inaugurated the 

first film archives of its type in Canada. 

Built at a cost of $200,000, the archives 

hold 3,000 films. 

Miville des Chenes told the Gazette that 

"everything was possible" concerning a possible 

inclusion of the Cinematheque Quebecoise 

in the Cinematheque Nationale's program. 

He added that this would be improbable 

within the next few years. 

'Skiing on My Mind' Seen 

By Calgary Enthusiasts 

CALGARY—Ski enthusiasts in this city 

were treated to an exceptional film October 

6 when the Warren Miller production "Skiing 

on My Mind" was screened at the Jubilee 

Auditorium. This motion picture encompasses 

the art of skiing from schussing 

powder in the Austrian Alps and Oregon's 

volcanos to roller skiing on grass in Southern 

California. 

Miller is well known for his sports movies 

(he has made over 300) but ski films are 

his paramount interest—and have been over 

a span of two decades. Besides theatrical 

productions, he also has completed three 

TV series concerned with skiing. 

Included in "Skiing on My Mind" are 

the freestyle competition in New Hampshire 

and Utah, with triple-flipper Manfred Kastner, 

world ballet champion Marion Pos 

mogul-masher Wayne Wond, the chimp sta 

Shana (of the "Swiss Family Robinson" T^ 

series) on her first day of skiing, handi 

capped racers at California's Alpine Mead 

ows, racing at Copper Mountain in Colora 

do, the 'Frisco Gold Rush cross-coiintr 

marathon involving more than 800 partici 

pants on skis and 450-pound John Trudei 

showing his artistry on the polished boards 

Calgary is so close to the finest skiin; 

country in the world that the metropoli 

has a large proportion of aficionados wh( 

could truly appreciate a film such as "Ski 

ing on My Mind." 

Federal Grant Underwrites 

Film Study of City River 

SAN ANTONIO — A $99,846 federa 

grant will be used to produce a one houi 

television show depicting the evolution ol 

the San Antonio River into an importan: 

city asset. The show will be produced b\ 

the Southwest Educational Developmen 

Laboratory, an Austin-based, non-profii 

corporation, according to film officials. 

Titled "Cityscape: A City and Its River,' 

the show's production funds will come from 

the Office of Environmental Education of 

the Department of Health, Education and 

Welfare. Production activities began in 

August, and the project is due for completion 

next April. 

A seven-person national advisory board, 

composed of architects, planners and citizens 

with environmental concerns have been 

formed to help in the project. Board members 

are hoping the San Antonio River film 

will lead to funding for a series of shows, 

studying successful human settlements in; 

relation to surrounding environments. 

i 

The production will be directed by War-| 

ren Skaaren, president of the Skaaren Corp. 

Ellen Salyers serves as production assistant. 

Pay-Cable TV by Satellite 

DANBURY, CONN. — TelePrompTer 

Corp. of New York has inaugurateed paycable 

TV service to 

Danbury, using a satellite 

signal that travels 52,000 miles in threetenths 

of a second through space to cover 

the 50-mile distance between the two cities. 

Cost of transmitting the signal by microwave 

would have been "prohibitive," according 

to William J. Bresnan, president of 

TelePrompTer's cable TV division. 

Health Films Slated 

OTTAWA—Marc Lalonde, minister of 

national health and welfare, has approved 

grants of more than $1 million for a joint 

Red Cross-St John Ambulance multimedia 

health education program. The joint 36- 

month project will include the production 

of 26 films, 13 English and 13 French. 

Festival Double Bill 

EDMONTON—The Roxy Theatre 

here 

presented "Carry On Cleo" and "Carry On 

Again Doctor" as part of its "Carry On 

Gang Film Festival " Sunday afternnon October 

10. Both films were classified "adult." 

K-4 BOXOmCE :: November 1, 1976

BOOKIWeUIDE 

An interpretive analyiii of loy and trodepreo reviews. Running time Is In parentheiei. The plui end minui 

li figni Indicate degree of merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. © Is for CInemaScope; (g) Panovision; 

I' ® Techniramo; S Other Anamorphic processes. Symbol U denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award; All 

ll films ore in color except those indicated by (b&w) for block & white. Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings: 

gl —General Audiences; PG—All ages admitted (parental guidance suggested); [g]— Restricted, with 

persons under 17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian; (^— Persons under 17 not 

admitted. National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures (NCOMP) ratings: A1— Unobjectionable for General 

Patronage; A2— Unobjectionable for Adults or Adolescents; A3— Unobjectionable for Adults; A4—Morally 

|l Unobjectionable for Adults, with Reservations; B—Objectionable In Part for AJI; C—Condemned. Brood- 

Icastlng and Film Commission, National Council of Churches (BFC). For listings by company, see FEATURE 

iCHART. 

I2eview digest 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

T^ Very Gocd; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. In the summary ff is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses. 

11

REVIEW DIGEST 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX ++ very Good, + Good; ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary +f is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. 

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. June 

May 

. 

.C-D. 

.May 

June 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

Rel. 

Date 

AMBASSADOR RELEASING 

Hinh Crime (98) Feb 76 

Your Turn to Die (100) Mar 76 

Stunts That Made the Movies 

Famous Apr 75 

ATLANTIC RELEASING 

My. .Feb 76 

Something to Hide . . . . 

Memory of Us Feb 76 

Crazy Jack and the Boy .... Mar 76 

Those Dirty Dogs W.. Mar 76 

The President's Women ..C. Apr 76 

He Is My Brother . .Ac-Ad. .June 76 

Sunburst D . 76 

In Search of Bigfoot .. Doc. June 76 

BEEHIVE PRODUCTIONS 

Hi School Monies 

(70) Sex C. Sept 76 

Diana St. Cl.nir. William Margold 

The Raw Report 

(70) Sex C. Jan 77 

Sinners Seven Sex D. .Apr 77 

It Tal(es Two to 

Tow Sex C . . July 77 

JOSEPH BRENNER 

Infra-Man (90) SF..May76 

Lola Sent 76 

Mannequin (90) .Sex D.. Oct 76 

. . . 

Rape Killer Oct 76 

The Cheaters Oct 76 

Autopsy Nov 76 

Cry of a Prostitute Nov 76 

The Winners D . 

Evil Eyes Sus-D. 

It's Not the Size That 

Counts Sex C . 

inite Sommer. Vincent Price 

Lady J Ac-Ad.. 

Waked Sacrifice Ad-D . . 

BURBANK INT'L PICTURES 

The Amorous Adventures of Don 

Quixote and Sancho Panza 

(118) Sex Ac-C..Hay76 

Death of a Stranger (90) ..June 76 

The Hot Wench With the Sweet 

Bottom July 76 

Between the Covers (86) Aug 76 

Secrets of Sweet Sixteen Aug 76 

The Down-in-the-HoIe Gang ..Sept 76 

CAMBIST FILMS 

llsa. Harem Keeper of the 

Oil Sheiks (90) Ac-Sus Sex D . . . 

Swedish Minx (90) C. 

CANNON GROUP 

Little Girl, Big Tease Apr 76 

Love Pill Apr 76 

Slumber Party '57 ..Sex C. July 76 

Naughty Girls on the Loose ..Aug 76 

The Jaws of Death . .Ac-Sus. .Sept 76 

Richard Jacckel. Harold Sakata 

Happy Housewives Sept 76 

Barry Stokes, Gail Snper 

CINE ARTISTS PICTURES 

tJEchoes of a Summer ..D.. Mar 76 

The River Niger (105) ..D..Aor76 

Embryo (104) SF-Sus. . 76 

Rock Hudfôn, Rnrbnra Carrera 

To the Devil ... a Daughter .Aug 76 

Richard WIdmark, Chrl.rtopher I.ee 

CINEMA 5 

America at the Movies (116) 

© and b&w Doc . . Sept 76 

CINEMA NATIONAL 

Oh, Alfie! Mar 76 

Pace Mar 76 

.lose Ferrer, Allen Garfield 

Last Train to Berlin Apr 76 

The Last Guerilla Apr 76 

Rod Triylor 

CINEMA SHARES 

INT'L 

Diagnosis for a Murder Mar 76 

Christopher Lee, Judy Geeson 

Godzilla vs. Megalon . . Ac-F. .May 76 

Summer of '64 Aug 76 

Brotherhood of Death Sept 76 

Mad Doa (102) W.Oct 76 

fjennls Hopper 

American Soap Sex.. Nov 76 

Don't Call Me Boy Dec 76 

Ken Nnrton 

Teenage Passion Jan 77 

Charge of the Model T's Mar 77 

Louts Nye. Arte Johnson 

Godzilla n. Bionic Monster ..Apr 77 

. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Rel. 

Date 

CINEMA-VU 

Edge of the Devil . . . Ac-D. .June 76 

After the Sun Goes Down ...Aug 76 

Comeback Through Hell ..D.. Oct 76 

CINE-III DISTRIBUTORS 

ATHENA FILMS, LTD. 

Sammy Somebody (93) D.. 

Susan Strasherg. Zalman King 

Conspiracy (87) Ho. 

Between Heaven and Hell (S7) ..D.. 

Virility (87) C. 

Turt Ferro. Agostlna Betll 

Mission Stardust (90) SF. 

Hercules in the Haunted World COLISEUM FILMS, LTD. 

Christopher Iê. Reg Park 

Justice, Italian Style Cr-D..Dec75 

White Fans & the Goldijoers ..Ac. Vittorio De Sloa 

Impossible Love (90) D.. 

Luscious Linda . . . . Ho-Sex. .Jan 76 

Behind the Shutters ..My.. Mar 76 

Beyond Fear (92) Sus..Mar76 

Le Magnifipue (95) C. Apr 76 

No Problem (94) C. May 76 

Alpha Beta (70) D.. June 76 

The Belstone Fox (87) ..D.. Sept 76 

MANUEL S. CONDE 

Love Games D.. Feb 76 

The All- American Woman D.. Feb 76 

Deep Jaws C. Apr 76 

The Dicktator C-D..May76 

DOTY-DAYTON 

The Great American Cowboy 

(90) Doc. Apr 76 

Larry M,ih;in. Phi! Lyne 

The Great American Indian 

(90) Doc. Oct 76 

Pony Express Rider 

(100) Hi-D . . Nov 76 

Stewart Petersen. Henry Wlleoxon 

Baker's Hawk (105) ..W-D..Dec76 

nint Walker, Diane Baker 

GAMMA III 

Hedda (104) D. Jan 76 

Glenda Jncksnn. Peter EjTe 

Birch Interval (105) ...D.. May 76 

Susan HeClnng. Eddie Albert 

Cat Murkil and the Silks ...June 76 

Dirty Knight's Work .Ac-C..Aug76 

D.ivid Rirnev. Barbara Hershey 

Part 2, Sounder (90) ..C-D..0ct76 

GOLDSTONE FILMS 

Kung Fu Master Apr 76 

Journey (87) D.. Sept 76 

Genevieye Biijeld, John Vernon 

Snow White (74) 

Hansel and Gretel (52) 

Brementown Musicians (66) 

Snow White and Rose Red (55) .... 

Big Bad Wolf (53) 

JOSEPH GREEN 

Vincent, Francois, Paul and the 

Others (113) D . 

Kung Fu-ry! (90) 

. 76 

. .Ac-D . 76 

The Martyr (90) D.. May 76 

A Piece of Pleasure (100) D. .May 76 

Hold-Up (90) Ac-D.. June 76 

Killer Cop (90) ... .Ac-D. .June 76 

Male of the Century . . 76 

Claude Berrl. Juliet Rerto 

The Clockmaker (105) ..D.. July 76 

Philippe N'oiret. Jenn Rochefort 

Emilienne and Nicole Sex D.. Aug 76 

Two Against the Law 

(100) Cr-D..Auo76 

By the Blood of 

Sept 76 

Others Ac-Sus . . 

Marlangel,? Melato 

The Slap (104) D. .Sept 76 

Lino Ventura. Isabelle Adi.inl 

My Husband. His Mistress and 

I C. Sept 76 

Something Creeping in the 

Dark Sus. .Sept 76 

Belmondo Is the Swashbuckler 

(100) Hi-C-D..Sent 76 

Jean-Paul Relmnndo. Marlene Jnbert 

The Prophet (90) .... C-D .. Oct 76 

Ann-Mareret. Vittorio G.issnwn 

Sicilian Connection 

(100) Cr-D..0ct76 

HEMISPHERE PICTURES, INC. 

Terror From Under the 

House Sus. Apr 76 

Humdinger Sex. .Apr 76 

Reflections From a 

Brass Bed Sex. 

Naughty Roommates Sex. 

Intimate Playmates Sex. 

Naughty Co-eds Sex. 

Smartie Pants Sex. 

HOLLYWOOD INrL 

Carnal Haven 

(85) Sex D.. Feb 76 

One of a Kind 

(84) Sex D.. May 76 

Swinging Senators 

(100) Sex C. June 76 

Nina Faiise. William Margold 

Her Last Fling 

(75) Sex D. Dec 76 

Fantastic Orgy Sex D. .Mar 77 

HOWCO INTERNATIONAL 

The Winds of Autumn ...D. Apr 76 

Creature From Black 

Lake Ho-D . . June 76 

Rel. 

Date 

K-TEL INTERNATIONAL 

Robinson Crusoe (86) ..An.. Feb 76 

Not Now Darling ..Sex ..C. Feb 76 

Don't Just Lie There, Say 

Something (95) Apr 76 

LIBERT FILMS INT'L 

Messiah of Evil 

ILirianna 

Hill 

Billion for a Blonde 

Stephen Boyd 

The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go 

Rurgess Meredith, James Mason. 

Jeff Bridge.'!, Broderick Crawford 

Play Now—Pay Later 

Jean-Paul Belmondo, Mia Farrow 

Sisters of Satan 

Anne Heywood 

The Devil Has 7 Faces 

Carroll Raker. Stephen Boyd 

The Hassled Hooker 

Martin Balsam, Terence Hill 

Cult of the Damned 

Mimsy Farnrer 

Swi:iging Monster 

LIMA PRODUCTIONS 

The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio 

(75) Sex C. Sept 76 

WILLIAM MISHKIN 

Girls of 42nd St. (88) 

Hot Times (82) 

The Filthiest Show In Town (74) . 

MULBERRY SQUARE 

'OHawmpsl/Benji's Life Story 

(126/16) ....W-C/Doc.May76 

NEW LINE 

Merry-Go-Round (90) Sex C. Apr 76 

Sister Street Fighter (86) ..Apr 76 

A Maniac Is Loose (90) ....Apr 76 

Captain Karate (86) ...Ac. May 76 

Black Street Fighter May 76 

Sextoons (90) May 76 

Death Play (88) D. .Aug 76 

The Marquise of 

(102) Hi-D. Oct 76 

NMD FILM 

DISTRIBUTING 

Naughty School Girls (86) .July 76 

Teenage Tramp (80) : Teenage 

Hitchhikers (74); Stateline 

Motel (86) July 76 

Invasion of the Blood Farmers 

(80): She Beast (74); The 

Emhalmer (83) July 76 

OMNI PICTURES 

The Secretary (84) ..Sex C. Jan 76 

Bed Bunnies (80) ..Sex C. Mar 76 

Is There Sex After Death? C. .Mar 76 

Kiss of the Tarantula Ho-D.. May 76 

Erie Mason, Siraanne Ling 

Swinging Co-eds (85) Sex C July 76 

PENELOPE RELEASING 

Playhouse for a Pervert .Sex. .July 76 

Sylria Krisfel. PhDIppe Nolret 

Shriek Out (82) Ho. .July 76 

Jlldd HIrsch 

Dinah East July 76 

Three For a Party 

Eroticon 

Grimm's Fairy Tales for Adults .... 

Young Widow Brown 

Claudia Jennings 

PEPPERCORN-WORMSER 

The Seventh Voyage of Tanai (93) . 

The Killer Wore Gloves (91) 

The Scarlet Lady (89) 

The Queen of Diamonds 

PICTURES 

PRESTIGE 

Night of the Assassins (95) . . . 

One Second From Eternity (92) 

Smash-Up Alley (83) 

SURROGATE RELEASING CORP. 

The Student Body (84) Mar 76 

The Old Gun (104) June 76 

Death Collector (85) June 76 

Sex With a Smile 

(100) Sex C. Aug 76 

Marty Feldman 

TAYLOR-LAUGHLIN 

Billy Jack Goes to 

Washington Dec 76 

Train Ride to Hollywood C. 

UNITED NATIONAL FILMS 

Diary of Forbidden Dreams 

(93) C. Sept 76 

MarecIIn Mastrolanni, Hugh Griffith 

WADE WILLIAMS 

Helter Skelter Murders Sept 76 

Charles Manson, Debbie Duff 

Invaders From Mars Nov 76 

Aithur Franz,. Helena Carter 

Rocketship X-M Jan 77 

Lloyd Bridges, Hiigl) O'Brlan, 

Osa Massen 

The Man From the Stars .... Mar 77 

Patricia Neal, Helmet M:mtlne 

COMING RELEASES 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

Twilight's Last Gleaming ....Feb 77 

Richard WIdmark, 

Burt Lancaster, 

Paul Wlnfield. Oiarles Diirning 

Such Men are Dangeraus 

The Betsy 

Jerusalem 

AMERICAN 

INTERNATIONAL 

Blazing Magnums Jan 77 

Stciart Whitman, John Saxon, 

Martin Landau, Gayle Hunnlcutt 

The Way to Dusty Death ..Ac-Sus.. 

Dead Man 

The Island of Dr. Moreau ...C-Ad.. 

Burt Lancaster, Michael York 

Mr. Chicago 

ATLAS FILMS 

Ann of St. Tropez 

AVCO EMBASSY 

The Domino Principle 

Sus. 

Gene Hackman, Candlcc Bergen 

Cross of Iron War. 

James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, 

James Mason 

Yockowald 

Tom Jones, Harry Giiardino, 

Strother Martin, Arthur Hill 

The Cassandra Crossing ...Ac-Sus.. 

Sophia Loren, Bnrt Lancaster, 

Richard Harris, Ava Gardner 

Bessie D. 

Aretha Franklin 

BUENA VISTA 

Freaky Friday C . . Feb 77 

Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris 

The Rescuers An . . July 77 

Herbie Goes to Monte 

Carlo July 77 

Dean Jones, Don Knotts, 

Julie Sommars 

Pete's Dragon An M-F..Dec77 

Helen Reddy. Mickey Rnnney, 

Red Rtittons, Shelley Winters 

Candleshoe 

Mclo. 

Jodie Foster, David NIven, 

Helen Hayes 

Escape From the Dark D . 

Alastalr Sim, Geraldlne McBwan 

COLUMBIA 

Sinbad and the Eye of the 

Tiger F. .Mar 77 

Patrick Wnyne. Taryn Power 

Close Encounters of the Third 

Kind SF. .May 77 

Richard Dreyfuss, Terl Garr 

The Deep June77 

Robert Shaw, Jacqueline BIsset 

Eyes 

Rarbrn Streisand 

Wounded Knee 

Marlon Brando 

Fun With Dick and Jane C. 

.Jane Fonda, George Segal 

The Greatest 

Muhammad AH, Roger E. Mosley 

Casey's Shadow 

Walter Matthau. Alexis Smith 

Watch the Skies 

Richard Dreyftiss 

CROWN INTERNATIONAL 

The Crater Lake Monster .... Mar 77 

The Van 

The Pom Pom Girls, Part II 

DIMENSION 

Zarkoff— Half Man, Half 

Beast Apr 77 

Johnny Walker, Black Ac. 

Eggplants From Mars Ac. 

Never on Friday (90) Sex D 

Lawrence Casey. Dan Harrison 

FILM VENTURES 

The Day of the Animals 

Christopher George, Leslie Nielsen, 

Lynda Day George, Richard Jaeckel 

GROUP 1 

Alligator Mar 77 

The Deadly Menace Sus 

INTERCONTINENTAL 

Condominium C. 

Cîrlstl.an Chevreuse. P. Doris 

The Circle Bed 

S.indra Jiilllen, Virginia Vlgnon 

Fighter Pilot Ac-Ad. 

Will Roberts. John Hardy 

Situations 

Ac-Melo. 

Rita Tushlngham 

The Keys C. 

Heidi Hansen. H. Tappert 

The Gatekeeper's Daughter C. 

Michael Dnssart. Mona Mour 

Dick Deadeye (90) An-M 

Bachelor Pad Sex C. 

MONARCH 

The Secret Garden 

(81) Sex-Helo..Jan77 

Rebecca Rrnnke, Jamie Glllls 

NEW WORLD 

Grand Theft Auto Ac-C. 

Ron Howard 

The Personal Touch Ac-0. 

Cherl Caffero 

. 

Death Sport 2020 SF-Ac. 

David t'arradlne 

I Never Promised You a 

Rose Garden 

PARAMOUNT 

Seven Nights in Japan 

Michael York 

1900 

Rurt Lancaster, Robert De Nlro 

Thieves C-D. . 

Mario Thomas, Charles Grodin 

Joseph Andrews C-Ad. 

Ann-Margret, Peter Flrlh 

Scramble 

Valerie Perrlne, Terence Hill 

Orca Ac-Ad. . 

Charlotte Rampling. Richard Harris 

Looking for Mr. Goodbar 

Diane Keatoo, Richard Klley 

Islands in the Stream 

George C. Scott, Claire Bloom 

Sorcerer 

. 

liny Schelder 

California Suite C . 

Black Sunday Ac-D . 

Robert Shaw, Bruce Dern, 

Marthe Keller 

A. STIRLING GOLD 

Winter Kills D.. 

Anthony Perkins. John Huston, 

Jeff Bridges, Richard Boone 

20TH-FOX 

Three Women Apr 77 

Sissy Spacek, Shelley Duvall, 

Janice Rule 

Damnation Alley Sus-D. 

The Other Side of 

Midnight 

D.. 

Star Wars SF-War. 

Alec Guinness. CSrrle Fisher 

Gusher C. 

Goldle Hawn 

Turning Point D . 

Shirley MacLalne, Anne Bancroft 

Julia 0,. 

Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, 

Jason Robards, Maximilian Schell 

War Wizards 

F.. 

Fire Sale 

.Man Arkin, Rob Reiner 

Kenny & Company Ad-C. 

Dan MeCann, Mike Baldwin 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Audrey Rose D.. Apr 77 

Anthony Hopkins. Marsha Mason 

Demon Seed (MGM) ..Sus.. Apr 77 

Jnlle Christie, Fritz Weaver 

New York, New York Apr 77 

Liza Jllnnelll, Robert De Nlro 

Dandy, the All-Amcrican Girl 

(MGM) 

C-Melo..July77 

Stockard Channlng, Sam Waterston 

Valentino July 77 

Rudolph Nureyev, Michelle Phillips, 

Leslie Caron 

The White Buffalo July 77 

Charles Bronson. Jack Warden 

Apocalypse Now War.. Aug 77 

JIarlon Brando, liohort Diivall 

Moontrap 

Jack Nicholson 

Welcome to L.A 0.. 

Keith Carradlne, Sally Kcllerman 

UNIVERSAL 

Slap Shot 

Paul Newm,an. Jennifer Warren 

Smokey and the Bandit C-Ad. 

Burt Reynolds. Sally Field. 

Jackie Gleason. Jerry Reed 

Nick the Greek 

Telly Savala-s 

Forever Young. Forever Free 

Jose Ferrer. Karen Valentine 

Silence of the North 

Ellen Burstyn 

Airport 1977 

Jack Lemmon. James Stewart. 

Darren McGavIn, I/ce Grant 

The Last Remake of Beau 

Geste C. 

Marty Feldman. Ann-Margret. 

Michael York, James Earl Jones 

WARNER BROS. 

The Late Show 

Art Carney. Lily Tomlln 

Outlaw Blues 

Peter Fonda. Susan St. James 

Operation Daybreak Ac. 

Timothy Bottoms. Anthony Andrews 

First Blood 

AI Pacino 

The Heretic: Exorcist II D. 

Richard Burton. Linda Blair. 

Max von Sydow, Louise Fletcher 

The Swiss Conspiracy 

David Janssen. Senia Berger. 

EIke Sommrr, John Sa.^nn 

An Enemy of the People 

Steve McQueen. Nii'ol Williamson 

The Day the World Ended .Ad-Sus.. 

Yul Brynner. Henry Fonda. 

(Carlton Heston. Jennifer Jones 

. 

6 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Nov. 1, 1976

i 

. 

Opinions on Current Productions ÊATUkE R£VI£WS 

Symbol 9 denotei color; ® ClnemoScopa;

' 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adimes for Newspapers and Prograi 

THE STORY: 

"Shout at the Devil" (AIP) 

World War I has its ramifications in South Africa in 

1913. A camouflaged German battleship is temporarily 

disabled and hiding out on a river. Irish-American Lee 

Marvin lives there with his daughter, Barbara Parkins. 

He is asked to aid the British. When Roger Moore is injui-ed, 

Parkins nurses him back to health, and they fall (" 

in love. After a rowdy fight sequence between Mai-vin \ of 

and Moore, the latter marries Parkins. There are skirmishes 

with the Germans. In one, Parkins' baby is mercilessly 

thrown into a fire and killed. Later, Marvin and 

Moore plant explosives on the German ship. 

When they 

get back to shore, they find Parkins has been abducted 

by the Germans. They swim back and rescue Parkins, 

arriving on shore in the nick of time before the ship 

explodes. The German commander, their nemesis thi-oughout 

the story, suspects an explosion, so he swims to shore 

just in time, too, but is shot by Moore. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Tie in with history classes and with book stores dis- 

volumes. Stress the action and the 

playing World War I 

plot's historical basis. Play up the names of the stars. 

CATCHLINES: 

Epics Are Back! ... A True Taste of Little-Known History! 

. . . Spectacular Action! Hazardous Explosions! Dangerous 

Battles! 

THE STORY: 

"Network" (MGM-UA) 

United Broadcasting System in New York is about to 

fire newscaster Peter Finch, a veteran whose ratings are 

slipping. When Finch declares he'll commit suicide on 

his program, old friend William Holden—head of the news 

department—allows him to stay on the air. Ratings suddenly 

jump and tough Robert Duvall, liaison with the 

parent company, builds Finch's show into a variety- type 

offering with Finch as a mad messiah. Holden is fued 

and begins an affair with Faye Dunaway, am.bitious vicepresident 

in charge of programing. When Pinch reveals 

that the network is about to be sold to Saudi Arabian interests, 

he tells his listeners to protest to the White House. 

Finch becomes network owner Ned Beatty's pet interest. 

Holden leaves Dunaway, who admits she isn't able to 

love him even though she needs him. Her series on revolutionaries, 

coordinated by Marlene Warfield, is in danger 

because of Finch's now-slipping ratings on his leadin 

show. Duvall, Dunaway and others have Finch assassinated 

on the air. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Obtain some of the "I'm Mad As Hell" posters as good 

come-ons. Word-of-mouth will be the best seller on this 

film. 

CATCHLINES: 

Prepare Yourself for a Perfectly Outrageous Motion 

Picture . . . Television Will Never Be the Same. 

THE HIGHLIGHTS: "Song Remains the Same" (WB) 

Before the credits, the British rock group Led Zeppelin 

participates in a spoof of gangster movies by leaving a 

castle and then mowing down a rival gang in bizarre 

fashion. The members receive word of their concert date 

at New York's Madison Square Garden, where a screaming 

mob of youngsters greets the ensemble. The four original 

members of the group perform: vocalist Robert 

Plant, drummer John Bonham, lead guitarist Jimmy 

Page and keyboards-bass player John Paul Jones. Interspersed 

are fantasy sequences featuring Plant as a knight 

saving a beautiful maiden in distress and in a takeoff on 

horror movies, plus Bonham pursuing his interest in auto 

racing. Backstage material shows their manager Peter 

Grant at odds with the Garden staff and dealing with 

the $203,000 theft suffered by the group. Numbers performed 

are: "Black Dog," "Rock & Roll," "Since I've 

Been Loving You," "No Quarter," "The Song Remains 

the Same," "Rain Song," "Dazed and Confused," "Stairway 

to Heaven" (a big hit), "Moby Dick," "Heart Breaker," 

"Whole Lotta Love" (another hit), "Bron-Yr-Aur" 

and "Autumn Lake." 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Soundtrack album is available on Swan Song Records 

and Tapes, distributed by Atlantic Records. 

CATCHLINES: 

Led Zeppelin—In Concert and Beyond. 

"(84) 

- 

THE STORY: 

"Car Wash" (Univ) 

Sully Boyar's Dee Luxe Car Wash in downtown Los 

Angeles has a full crew of zanies: cool Pranklyn Ajaye, 

who calls himself "The Fly"; singers Darrow Igus and 

DeWayne Jessie; tough ex-con Ivan Dixon; efficient 

Leonard Jackson; fat James Spinks; revolutionary Bill 

Dixon; transvestite Antonio Fargas; Chicano Pepe Serna; 

Indian Ray Vitte; Henry Kingi, who wears pig ears; 

Garrett Morris, a scofflaw; would-be student Leon Pinkney; 

bemused Arthur Fi-ench; cowboy Jack Kehoe, a 

more or less token white. Also figui'ing are Richard Brestoff, 

Boyar's Maoist son; cashier Melanie Mayron, with 

whom Boyar is having an affair; elderly shoeshine man 

Clarence Muse; waitress Ti-acy Reed; and skateboarder 

Michael Fennell. Visitors include black hooker Lauren 

Jones, who monopolizes the ladies' room; cabby George 

Carlin, who searches for Jones; and hysterical matron 

" Loi-raine Gary. Highlighting the day are Prof. Irwin 

Corey, thought to be a mad bomber, and black minister 

Richard Pryor with his entourage including singers The 

Pointer Sisters. About half of their stories end happily. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Original soundtrack is available on MCA Records and 

Tapes. Tie-ins with local car washes are natural, but 

considering the film's potential, virtually unnecessai-y. 

CATCHLINES: 

'Car Wash'—Where, Between the Hom-s of 9 and 5, 

Anything Can Happen—and Usually Does. 

THE STORY: "Dersu Uzala" (New World) 

In 1910, Juri Solomine thinks back to 1902 when, as a 

Russian Army captain, he was surveying the Eastern 

Siberian forests with a small group of soldiers. They meet 

Maxim Munzuk, an aging Golti (Mongolian) hunter who 

quickly becomes an ally in combating the elements. The 

group encounters an elderly Chinese man, who has lived 

alone for 40 years. Exploring frozen Lake Khanka, Solomine 

and Munzuk have to huddle under a makeshift hut 

when a storm hits. In 1907, Solomine holds a joyous reunion 

with Munzuk after the former explored the Ussurii 

region with another group of men. Chinese bandits 

lurk in the woods. Munzuk has to be rescued when his 

raft is swept towards rapids. Later, failing eyesight and 

a fear of the spirit of a tiger he has shot cause Munzuk 

to live with Solomine in the city. Solomine, wife S. Danilchenko 

and son Dima Kortishev are kind, but Munzuk 

can't adjust to city ways. He returns to the forests and 

Solomine is forced later to identify his body after the 

hunter is killed for his rifle. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Kurosawa's first feature in six 

years has been awarded 

the Grand Prize at the 1975 Moscow Film Festival, as well 

as the 1975 Academy Award as Best Foreign Film. 

CATCHLINES: 

A Romantic Hymn to Nature and the Human Spirit '^1; 

" 

... An Academy Award Winner. Mar 

Muru 

THE STORY: "In Search of Noah's Ark" (Sunn Classic) 

The story features a dramatic re-telling of the Genesis 

account of Noah and the Universal Deluge ; the construction 

of the Ark; the gathering of and caring for the animals; 

a revealing survey of the Bible as history; the geography 

of Mt. Ararat; and geological evidence of the flood 

as proved by sedimentary deposits. Salt clusters have 

been found on Mt. Ararat. Five thousand years ago the 

flood even covered Mt. Everest. Theorists suggest various 

causes: a shift in the earth's orbital axis, possibly caused 

by a comet or asteroid hitting the earth; or a canopy of 

clouds around the earth brought on the deluge; or the 

oceans moved over the continents. Pilgrims found the 

Ark in 700 B.C. An Armenian historian and Marco Polo 

reported it in the 1200's. A Gei-man physician, Di'. Parrot, 

climbed the Ark in 1829. Prince Nouri climbed it in 1887. 

Russian aviators sighted the remains of the Ark in 1916. 

The Navarra explorations of 1955 and 1969 are covered. 

World politics has prohibited more recent investigation. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Tie in with church groups and teachers of histoiT, 

geology and archaeology. Promote the educational and 

entertainment aspects of this unique documentary. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Greatest Discovery of Cm- Time! . . . High Atop 

.Sept a Mountain In Eastern Turkey is a Giant 5,000-Year Old 

•f „ Wooden Ship Containing Hundreds of Stalls and Cages. 

""' 

IS n NOAH'S ARK? 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :; Nov. 1, 1976

I 

. Travel 

IS: 45c pet word, minimum $4.50. CASH WITH COPY. Four consecutive insertions for price 

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led. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers 

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HELP WANTED 

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jeneiits including car. Prefer EE de- 

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lOIIOH PIGIOBB fOBB 

THE FIDELITY BUILDING • 9th AND MAIN STREETS 

P. O. BOX 3J • RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23206 

October 22, 1976 

Mr. Ben Shiyen, Editor-in-Chief 

BOXOFFICE Magazine 

Associated Publications, Inc. 

825 Van Brunt Boulevard 

Kansas City, Missouri 64124 

Dear Mr. 

Shiyen: 

Just a line to compliment you on the editorial, "In The Mutuality 

of Interest". I thought it was very much to the point and well worth due consideration 

of producers, distributors, and exhibitors. 

My congratulations to you for the continued growth and upgrading 

of the BOXOFFICE Magazine which I have always found stimulating and well worthwhile 

reading. 

Best wishes for the future continued success of your magazine. 

Sincerely,

Boxoffice-November.01.1976

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