Boxoffice-December.06.1976

• DECEMBER 6, 1976
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION
Includinj the Sectional News Panes of All Editions
I
REX REED inVogue napzine
Raves Abont
irOYAGE OF THE DAnNED*
^iVOYAGE OF THE DAMNEI is a colossus among
ordinary movies, a rare and exemplary film that challenges
the emotions, fires the spirit and seizes the heart...
It is the heartbreakingly true saga of the S.S. St. Louis,
a luxury liner that left the Hamburg harbor on
May 13, 1939 with 937 German Jewish refugees
aboard, on their way to political asylum in Cuba.
They thought they had purchased their freedom from
Nazi tyranny, but what they didn't know was that the
passenger list had been personally approved by
Goebbels, the voyage was a propaganda lesson in
Fascist strategy, and there was never any intention of
allowing them to land safely. That left a ship of lost
souls, floating in the Atlantic, searching for any
country to call home, while the power structures of
the world bartered for their lives like plastic symbols
on a chess board.
is the
engrossing and powerful story of those lives and the
chain of events that led them on their journey. It's not
one of those all-star misfortunes in which famous
faces serve tea and make sugary speeches about
survival. It's no SHIP OF FOOLS. There isn't one
wrong move or one corny line of dialogue. The film
has stretched itself to encompass a wide panorama of
endurance and experience. It has been made with
precision, care, and a myriad of cut-to-the-bone
details that enrich its fabric. The film itself is like a
ship's log of the voyage, with a liquid flow that
consumes the viewer. At the end of its 2Vt hours, I
was stunned to see it end. I fell like I had been a
passenger, that these people, with the dream of
freedom in their hearts, were personal friends. I
didn't want to say goodbye.
Here at last is a movie about people instead of sex
and violence. To weave such a tapestry of humanity,
a magnificent cast has been assembled: Lee Grant,
Faye Dunaway, Oskar Werner, Orson Welles, Julie
Harris, Maria Schell, Ben Gazzara, Wendy Hiller,
Luther Adler, Max von Sydow, Jose Ferrer, Malcol
McDowell, James Mason. The list goes on for days,
and every role is etched in genius. Katharine Ross, in
the small but pivotal role of a prostitute in Havana
with a hidden secret that affects the fate of the St.
Louis, is the film's major surprise. She is brilliant. So
are the others. Books burned, homes defiled, families
torn apart, these are people, not movie stars impersonating
them, and with their minds and their dreams
in fragments like splinters of broken glass, I do not
believe there will be one person in the audience who
will not be rooting for their survival.
is a great movie-movie, but it will also
raise important questions: Why did the U.S. refuse to
help these lost souls? Why wasn't their plight
publicized in the press? Where was Eleanor
Roosevelt? How, in the face of such disaster, did they
learn to accept an affirmation of life? It's a devastating
film that will be talked about for years to com
At last, a movie of greatness, in a cinema of despair.
FAYE DUNAWAY
MAXWDNSYDOW
OSKAR WERNER
MALcxxjts Mcdowell orsonwelles james mason
KATHARINE BOSS
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THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
BEN SHLYEN
Puhlishs:! In Nine Sectional Editions
Editor-in-Ch;ef ana Publisher
JESSE SHLYEN Manaointi Editor
MORRIS SCHLOZMAN ...Business Mor.
GARY KABRICK Equipment Editor
RALPH KAMINSKY Western Editor
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Hillside 6733.
Albany: T. L. Molsldes, 202 Homestead,
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8514, Station C 87108, Tele. 285-
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Baltimore: Kate Savage, 3607 Springdale.
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Bid-. Sn:inri, T.lc (515) 243-1724-
Dctrolf Vivi I'hl-;,., I'.l Elliot St
Harlli.i. \ Al iVi.lrm. 30 Pioneer
lin:. ^^ II I 232-3101.
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Paik. 411230 Tile (317) 253-1536.
Jack'ionville: Robert Cornwall, 3233 College
St-, 32205. Tele. (904) 389-
5144.
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53002 Tele- (414) 242-0643.
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Connecticut Ave.. N.W., 20008. Tele.
(202) 362-0892.
IN CANADA
Calgary: Maxlnc McBean, Suite 205, 349
14th Ave., S.W.. T2R 0M4.
Montreal: Tom Cleary, Association des
Proprletalres de Cinemas du Quebec.
3720 Van Home. Suite 4-5. H3S 1Z7.
Ottawa: Abby Hagyard, 235 Cooper St.,
Apt. 2. K2P 0G2. Tele. (613) 238-
3913.
Toronto: ,1. W. Agnew, 274 St. .lohn's
Rd. M6P IVB.
Vancouver: Jimmy Davie, 3245 W. 12.
V6K 2R8.
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Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Published weekly, except one Issue at
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National Executive Edition, $20.00, foreign,
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DECEMBER 6, 1976
Vol. UO No. 9
TO BOXOFFICE:
20th'Fc
*^ TuAe e^ i^ /i^&&&n. 7
anil' was
(iHcliaini
ebaiiiM"
length
ani
StarcarW
at a single college or university, with a screening
The every night.
Mi
This menace to exhibition is not a new one;
in fact, it was pointed out in the Boxoffice Bote
editorial
published May 19. 1928, which Bobl
follows:
Foi,
the Ragje
What is unfair competition—unfair competition
to exhibitors? That's a question that we
nanced pp
the
thought had long been decided, but evidently comedy F
is still unsettled. Not so long ago there was a topic M Bioad'
that appeared regularly on the convention prO'
grams of every state exhibitor association, Tha
Release
topic was "Nontheatrical Competition"—direc fa I
competition that is created by the distributor, Bu
four
there came a time when all distributors agreec
work by at
to discontinue serving schools and churches, ex
William
cept with films that were of an educational oi
poso, Emm
religious nature, or where it would be poor policj
former mil!
to incur the ill-will of a school or church bod]
MaxWii
that might have an unfavorable reaction on th(
authors,
industry. In this latter case it was agreed that thi
Osterman,
exhibitor would be given first choice of the film]
Geneen
offered and that only with his consent would the;|
serious effo
be offered to the church or school in his town.
ment to
This problem, thought to have been foreve
characters s
settled, is again showing itself in this region, Ani »hohaveii
in some parts of the country it is quite rife. It i
m
immeasurably unfair competition to create agains
exhibitors especially in the smaller towns wher
they have enough to contend with to keep thei
Arthur
theatres open and their heads above water.
Waine:
While it is not illegitimate competition, it i
highly unethical. The smaller theatres of the com Warner in
try are giving the producers their profits. The
are striving hard to make their investments
Nove
and they should be helped rather than hindere Mansoti
in their honest pursuits. It is hard to understan *anim, 1
why any distributor, who knows where his profi
come from, would deliberately cut off his nos mi then
to spite his face. Yet this condition does exist an «! adminis
there is a danger of its becoming more menacin u? depanm
than ever before.
Mansoti
end,
Here and there an exception may be
after
tolerate
i
fcrlsBon
—a certain local condition may make it unavoi(
»ell,,
able to book film to a church or school. But it
extremely unfair for any distributor, who sel
%m
»ii
to legitimately operated theatres, to directly ar
Maasoiis
openFy solicit business and create competitio
e:
from such institutions.
*. with d
Those who are tempted by the profits that seei
to lie in the nontheatrical field should be warne
that the field isn't as rosy as it looks. They shou!
stick by those who helped make this businesswho
have given it its profits year in and year oi
^erstin
— the small-town exhibitors.
NEWvc
Allots Co
'-ampaigj;

20th-Fox Acquires Rights
To ITT's 'Raggedy Ann'
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox
Film Corp. has acquired worldwide distribution
rights to "Raggedy Ann & Andy" from
International Telephone & Telegraph Corp.,
it was announced jointly by Dennis C. Stanfill,
chairman, president and chief executive
of 20th-Fox, and Harold S. Genecn, ITT's
chairman and chief executive. The fulllength
animated feature is based on the
characters created by the late Indianapolis
Star cartoonist John Gruelle.
The memorandum of agreement was entered
into by ITT's publishing subsidiary,
the Bobbs-Merrill Co., and 20th Century-
Fox. Bobbs-Merrill, which owns rights to
the Raggedy Ann & Andy characters, financed
production of the film, reportedly
the first feature-length animated musical
comedy produced in this country. It has a
full Broadway musical score and 12 songs
especially composed for the production.
Release of "Raggedy Ann & Andy" is
slated for next Easter by 20th-Fox. after at
least four years of planning and production
work by an all-star team including Richard
Williams, Oscar-winning director; Joe Raposo,
Emmy and Grammy award winner and
former musical director for "Sesame Street";
Max Wilk and Patricia Thackray, screenplay
authors, and Richard Horner and Lester
Osterman, Tony award-winning producers.
Geneen said he considered the project "a
cably, it was stated, although both parties
agreed there had been differences concerning
administration of the publicity-advertising
department.
Manson will remain at WB until month's
end, after the Christmas launchings of "A
Star Is Born" and "The Enforcer."
Wells, commenting on the termination,
stated that "the entire company regrets that
Manson will be leaving." He further cited
Manson's expertise as "an important contribution
to the company's very successful
year, with domestic billings expected to be
the second highest in the history of WB."
Kerstin Nordberg Has Won
Role in 'Adonis Campaign'
NEW YORK— Miss Kerstin
Nordberg. a
native of Sweden now living here, has won
the title of "Miss Undercover" and, thus,
a role in the forthcoming Trans World Attractions
Corp. production of "The Adonis
Campaign."
Vart 2, Sounder' Wins Gold Venus,
Top Festival of Americas Award
By GENEVIEVE CAMP
.ST. THOMAS. V. I.— "Part 2, Sounder,
a Robert Radnitz production released by
Gamma III, was awarded the Gold Venus,
designating it as the "best of show" at the
ninth annual Festival of the Americas, held
here November 12-21. The presentation was
made before an audience of 600 in the
Grand Ballroom of the Frenchman's Reef
Holiday Inn at the gala banquet which
marked the close of the ten-day event.
When J. Hunter Todd, director and
founder of the Virgin Islands International
Film Festival, announced the selection of
the judges, there was a roar of acclaim as
members of the audience arose from their
chairs to applaud and cheer. Radnitz, who
attended the festival, accepted the statuette.
Numerous awards preceded the climax of
the ceremonies. A Silver Venus went to
"Solar Barque," an experimental film, the
award accepted by Commissioner August
Rimpel. Also receiving the Silver Venus
were: "End of the Game," best documentary,
Robin Lehman director; "Dawn
Flight," best short subject. Pyramid Films.
Chris Wood accepting; best TV production,
Virginia Castle, producer/director, and
"This Old House," best TV commercial, J.
Walter Thompson.
serious effort to bring wholesome entertainment
to families around the world through Silver medals were awarded to "Adieu tures, the
characters such as Raggedy Ann
AFI chief said.
and Andy, Poulet," best foreign feature. Laurene Rubin "It
who have been
was shocking to find that many classic
a part of children's lives for
of Cofia accepting, and "Let the Balloon
films either had been lost or destroyed,"
several generations."
Go." James Henry of Films, Inc., Australia.
Stevens observed, "and perhaps more surprising
was the fact that we found a large
The John Peckham Award (best student
Arthur Manson Is Leaving award) went to "Sweet Talk." with David portion of the films we have recovered in
Gretenstein accepting, while the
Warners at Month's End
Golden the archives of foreign countries, which
Dove Award (best film dealing with world
BURBANK. —
seem to have a higher regard for the preservation
of motion pictures. We have been
Frank Wells, president of
peace) was presented to "Part 2. Sounder."
Warner Bros., and Arthur Manson. vicepresident,
worldwide
Gold medals were distributed in abimdance
and the recipients included: best di-
the days of early motion pictures and our
successful in recovering many films from
advertising and publicity,
November 30 jointly announced that
rector, Krishna Shah, for
Manson
"The River
is terminating
Niger";
best
AFI catalog lists more than 31.000 films."
his association with
Warners. The
new director, "Devil's Back-
Among VIPs attending the Festival of
decision was reached ami-
ground," Fred Schepist; best new actor.
Harold Sylvester, "Part 2. Sounder"; best
actress. Harriett Anderson in "White Wall";
best new actress. Kristine De Bell. "Alice in
Wonderland"; best actor, Helmut Griem,
"The Opinions of Clowns"; best foreign
film, "Jacob the Liar"; best musical score.
MGS Film's "Cancer Rising." Amsterdam,
and best documentary feature. "Off the
Edge," Michael Firth.
Special jury awards (gold medals) included:
"Communion," Richard Rosenberg producer;
"Infra-Man," Joseph Brenner producer;
"Gypsies Go to Heaven." Soviet Export
Film, Myron Bresnick; "Gentleman Tramp."
Bert Schneider; "In Search of Noah's Ark,"
Neil Weis, president of Sunn Classic Pictures;
"Run for Blue," Winner's Circle.
Arthur Annacharrico producer, and "The
Mysterious House of Dr. C," distributed by
Samuel Bronston.
Special awards: Silver Medal, documentary
feature, "Winter Equinox," Michael
O'Connor, and Americas Award, "Otalia de
Bahia." Stuart Shapiro of Orphee Productions.
Documentary films (Gold Medals),
"Miami River Drive" and "The Truth Will
Make You Free."
These were the principal winners in the
festival competition which, according to
president/ director Todd, scored as the best
year in the nine-year-old film event, which
was moved from Atlanta, Ga., two years
ago.
More than 2,000 entries were reviewed
from 38 countries before the festival got
under way. Todd said. Shown during the ten
days were the best of the foreign films from
other international competitions such as
Cannes, Berlin, San Sebastian, Thessaloniki
and Karlovy Vary. Although the festival
was streamlined for this outing, it was an
imqualified success from all standpoints, including
participation of the islanders, who
accounted for at least a dozen SRO screenings
in the Reef's Grand Ballroom, which
doubled as an 850-seat theatre, and Cinema
1, a conventional theatre with fewer seats.
George Stevens jr., head of the American
Film Institute, was the keynoter for the
festival. The film "America at the Movies,"
which was produced by Stevens and Charlton
Heston for the American Revolution
Bicentennial Commission, consisted of a
compilation of scenes from 83 motion pic-
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976
the Americas were William Wyler, Carl
Foreman. Joshua Logan and Samuel Bronston.
as well as Roger Corman, Robert Radnitz,
Burgess Meredith, Kevin McClory,
Susan George, Harold Sylvester, Kristine
Dc Bell and Telly Savalas.
Foreman and Wyler received special Gold
Medals from the festival in recognition of
their "outstanding and remarkable contributions
to the motion picture industry." Both
also were honored with major retrospectives
of their work.
Stanley Stern to Chair
1977 NATO Convention
NEW YORK—Stanley L. Stern, senior
vice-president of Miami-based Wometco Enterprises,
has been named chairman of the
National Ass'n of Theatre Owners 1977
convention, it was announced here by
NATO president Marvin Goldman.
The 1977 NATO convention will be held
the week of October 23 at the Fontainebleau
Hotel. Miami Beach. Fla., Goldman said.

BV Holds 2-Day Marketing Session,
Product Is Screened for Exhibitors
BURBANK—A special two-day marketing
session for Buena Vista's domestic sales
force was held at the Walt Disney Studios
here November 30 and Wednesday (1), immediately
preceding "Disney '11." Buena
Vista's Thursday and Friday (2,3) exhibitor
screenings.
Leading BV's home office sales team in a
series of production and marketing meetings
were Irving H. Ludwig, president of
the Disney distribution subsidiary; Chuck
Good, vice-president and domestic sales
manager; John Pilmaier, assistant domestic
sales manager, and Joe Laub, vice-president
and counsel.
District, branch and office managers attending
included:
Tony Lomonaco, manager. Eastern division; Virgil
Jones and Fred Bunkelman, Midwestern co-district
ella.
r, Pacific Coast dis-
dis
Phil Fortune, manager, Eastern district; William
Brower, manager, Southeastern district; Paul Ripps,
branch mcnager, and Dick Pilarst-i. oltice manager,
Los Angeles; Keith Vezensky, sales representative,
and Ray Losin-ki, office manager, Chicago; Bob Anderson,
branch manager, Detroit; Irving Marks,
Jerry branch manager, and Hammon, sales representative,
Minneapolis, and Jim Witcher, branch
manager, Kansas City.
Also, Pilmaier, Larry branch manager, San Francisco;
Jim Bisetti, branch manager, and Irene Robinson,
assistant branch manager, Denver; Homer
Schmitl, Seattle; branch manager, Ed Harris, branch
manager, and Alice Gentry, office manager, Dallas;
Florio Simi, branch manager, Boston; Harvey
Schwartz, branch manager, Philadelphia; Harry
Howar, branch manager, Washington; Vito Sperti,
branch manager. New York; Walter Walker, branch
manager, Atlanta; lack Kirby, branch manager,
Charlotte; Bob Pollard, branch manager, Jacksonville;
Jerry Pokorski, branch manager, Cincinnati;
S-A-R Honored Showmen
Competition Announced
KANSAS CITY—Kent Dickinson, cochairman
of the United Motion Picture
Ass'n Show-A-Rama committee, has announced
the annual Honored Showmen
competition. Each of the trio will receive
transportation, full registration and hotel expenses
during Show-A-Rama 20. to be held
March 14-17 at the Crown Center Hotel
here.
"Each year we select outstanding theatre
managers or owners and spotlight them for
their recent achievements as showmen."
Dickinson explained.
To be considered, candidates should submit
a detailed description of an outstanding
promotional campaign they have executed
conclave, which is
the world's second largest
film industry convention.
Winning entries in recent years have employed
elaborate presentations to show the
effectiveness of the promotion, Dickinson
noted.
All entries for the Honored Showmen
competition must be in the hands of the
judges at United Motion Picture Ass'n
Toronto;
Mike
Thursday afternoon (2) and Friday morning
(3) Walt Disney Productions and BV
hosted over 400 leading exhibitors at a special
"Disney '77" screening session at the
studios. Highlighting the '77 product slate
was Disney's newest animated feature, "The
Rescuers" (in incomplete form) and "Freaky
Friday," starring Barbara Harris and Jodie
Foster (in rough-cut form).
Sequences also were screened from
"Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" as well as
from BV's Christmas 1977 release, "Pete's
Dragon," a live action and animated musical
comedy starring Helen Reddy, Jim
Dale, Mickey Rooney. Red Buttons and
Shelley Winters.
Included in the two-day screening presentation
were several special events, highlighted
by "A Magical, Musical Supper
Show for Showmen" Thursday evening (2),
with Red Buttons as emcee of a gala starstudded
extravaganza on the studios' largest
sound stage.
The festivities concluded Friday afternoon
(3) with a clambake on the replica of
a New England fishing village where "Pete's
Dragon" was filmed.
offices, 3612 Karnes Blvd.. Kansas City.
Mo. 64111. by January 31. Entries accompanied
by return postage will be returned
following the judging. Any entrant chosen as
Honored Showman will receive a refund of
his S-A-R 20 registration if that fee has
been paid prior to conclusion of judging by
UMPA.
WB Names Julian Senior
Ad-Pub Director in UK
BURBANK — Julian Senior has been
named director of Warner Bros.' advertising
and publicity in the United Kingdom, Continental
Europe, the Middle East and Africa,
it was announced by Arthur Manson, WB
vice-president of worldwide advertising and
publicity.
within the last 12 months. In addition to a
Senior, who served as unit publicity director
written description of the campaign, samples
of radio and TV spots employed, tearsheets
with MGM British Studios for eight
of press breaks and photos of displays and years prior to joining Warner Bros, in 1970,
promotional events should be submitted. A was named deputy director of publicity and
presentation will toe made of each showman's
winning campaign during the four-day based at the company's London headquar-
advertising for Europe in 1974. He will be
ters.
Senior succeeds Michael Baumohl. who
recently became a consultant with the company.
South African born and a United Kingdom
resident since 1961, Senior holds a
B.A. in classics and sociology. He is married,
has three children and makes his home
in Herefordshire, England.
Melvin Frank, 20th-Fox
Sign Three-Film Pact
HOI I YWOOD — Writer-producer-director
Melvin Frank has signed a threepicture
it
deal with 20th Century-Fox was
announced by Jay Kanter, senior vice-president,
worldwide production, for the film
company.
The first project will be a high-budget
all-star remake of "Kind Hearts and Coronets,"
to be co-financed by 20th-Fox and
EMI, owners of the original film which
starred Alec Guinness in a septet of virtuosa
performances.
Frank, who intends to produce and direct,
also plans to co-author the script. He intends
to modernize and internationalize the
story, leading his principal players to locales
all over the world, where they will work
with leading comedians in each of the countries
they visit.
Second in the trio of pictures is an original
called "The Team," which Frank will coauthor
with Jack Rose, with whom he wrote
"A Touch of Class." This is an in-depth portrait,
over a four decade period, of a team
of Hollywood writers who eventually become
directors and independent producers.
While there will be inevitable parallels with
the team of (Norman) Panama and Frank,
which operated in Hollywood, New York
and London over a 28 year period, Frank
emphatically points out that the team in his
film will be based on no one particular team.
The third feature will be "A Little Bag
of Brown Sugar." another original, the
source material of which he prefers not to
publicize at this time.
"Lost and Found," another original on
which Frank is presently working with Jack
Rose, will reach completed screenplay form
in the next six weeks and may be added to
the production slate in the near future.
'Carrie' Reports Gross
Of Nearly $4 Million
NEW YORK— "Carrie." the widely acclaimed
Brian De Palma film starring Sissy
Spacek, John Travolta and Piper Laurie,
has set a high boxoffice pace with a gross
of $3,882,827 in 60 key markets across the
U.S. and Canada, it was announced by
James R. Velde, United Artists senior vicepresident.
The picture, which has been receiving
rave reviews, is showing uniform strength
in a wide varietv of situations. Velde noted.
Lalo Schifrin to Write
'Rollercoaster' Music
UNIVERSAL CITY—Lalo Schifrin has
been signed by producer Jennings Lang to
write the music for "Rollercoaster." Universal's
third theatrical motion picture in
Academy Award-winning Sensurround, currently
filming under James Goldstone's direction.
He also will conduct the orchestra in
scoring the suspense-adventure film which
stars George Segal, Richard Widmark, Timothy
Bottoms, Harry Guardino. Susan Strashi.'ii:
and Henry Fonda.
BOXOFFICE :: December 1976

. .
NITE Representatives
Meet in New England
all
BOSTON— Independent exhibitors from
over New England met Tuesday, November
16. at the Sheraton-Boston Hotel for
the first meeting in the area to be held by
the National Independent Theatre Exhibitors
(NITE).
Philip J. Scott, president of the Patriot
Cinemas. Inc.. an independent exhibitor with
eight screens in Massachusetts, organized the
meeting as a call for positive change within
the industry. "We have sat back long
enough." declared Scott. "The time has
come to take action."
The get-together was attended by 75 exhibitors
from Massachusetts. New Hampshire,
Vermont and Connecticut, representing
over 300 screens. Scott said, adding that
many theatremen who were unable to attend
pledged their support to the work of NITE,
a nationwide organization of independent
theatre operators formed over a year ago to
give the small exhibitor a voice in determining
national distribution policies.
Patterson Is Keynoter
Keynote speaker at the meeting was Tom
Patterson of Atlanta. Ga.. president of
NITE, who informed the assemblage of the
objectives of the national organization and
the current proposed legislative package
espoused by NITE.
Patterson urged all present to join with
him to "give the independent a voice that
will be heard throughout the country—
country with laws to protect the small businessman,
who is entitled to fair trade practices
within an industry that has become
dangerously monopolized by a few large
circuits."
was made. Scott accepted the position of
chairman. Steering committee members were
appointed and will meet shortly to organize
the New England group.
Legal Counsel Urged
Patterson, who the week before had addressed
an Indianapolis convention, emphasized
the need for legal action within
New England. He urged all present, who
had not already done so. to retain legal
counsel who. in turn, could work with the
lawyers retained by NITE to meet the goals
of fair trade practices for the independent.
During the conference. Patterson disclosed
many instances of alleged unfair
trade practices. Also in attendance was Bob
Goodrich of Goodrich Theatres, Grand
BOXOFFICE :: December 6. 1976
Rapids, Mich., who, as a member of NITE,
has attended every maeting the organization
has held throughout the country. Goodrich
presented what he termed "first-hand facts
and figures from every part of the country
which intensifies the need for commitment
to action by the independent."
A second New England meeting will be
held in February, at which time officers will
be presented for nomination. The guest
speakers will include Patterson and NITE
attorney Stanley Sacks.
Independents in New England who are
interested in joining NITE or obtaining more
information were urged to contact Phil
Scott. Patriot Cinemas, 188 Whiting St..
Hingham. Mass. 02043.
Disney's Top Management
Restructuring Announced
BURBANK—E. Cardon Walker, president
of Walt Disney Productions, has been
elected to the additional position of chief
executive officer by the board of directors.
He succeeds Donn B. Tatum, who will continue
as chairman of the board. New term
contracts were approved for both executives.
The board at the same time elected Ron
Miller executive vice-president in charge of
production and creative affairs. A member
of the board and of the executive committee.
Miller has served as vice-president/ executive
producer of motion pictures and
TV since January 1968. In his new position.
Miller assumes broader responsibility for
all creative activities throughout the company.
Walker's contract commits him to fulltime
employment by the company and to
serve, if elected, as president, chief executive
officer and a member of the board of
directors for the next five years; and thereafter
for an additional five years as a consultant
Spencer Sets Mood
to the company, as a director and
Opening remarks by moderator T. Guy on such board committees to which he might
Spencer of Wellesley Community Playhouse
be assigned.
in Wellesley. Mass.. set the mood for
Tatum's contract will
"We
continue for six
the conclave. are here." he observed.
years, during which time he will be committed
"Because we hear a new wind blowing .
to full-time employment by the com-
I think it is altogether fitting that this meeting
pany as a general executive and. if elected,
as chairman of the board and member of
be held in Boston in the year of our
country's bicentennial, for what we really
the board of directors. Tatum will continue
are talking about is our right to participate
his duties in the executive, financial and
in the American dream."
administrative aspects of the company's business
As the meeting progressed, the decision
and he also will devote substantial
to organize a New England chapter of NITE time to working with the board and its committees
in this emerging period of substantial
additional board responsibility and involvement
in corporate affairs.
These actions are intended, the company
said, to strengthen the corporate management
structure, as well as to begin a transition
which will result in the development
of the top management group for the future.
The directors also declared a quarterly
cash dividend of 3 cents per share and a 3
per cent stock dividend, each payable Feb.
.*>. 1977. to shareholders of record Wednesday
(22). Additionally, it designated Wednesday
(22) as the record date for shareholders
to attend the annual stockholders' meeting,
to be held Feb. 9, 1977, at the Anaheim
Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif.
Para, and De Laurentiis
File Suit Against 'Ape'
New York—Paramount Pictures and
the Dino De Laurentiis Corp. November
26 filed a complaint in U.S. District
Court. Southern District of New
York asking for injunctive relief to
enjoin
the allegedly "unfair and deceptive
advertising" of the Korean-made motion
picture entitled "Ape."
Paramount and De Laurentiis contend
that the advertising campaign for
"Ape" is "deceiving moviegoers into
thinking they are going to see the contemporary
version of 'King Kong,' the
$22 million production which is one of
the most eagerly awaited films of the
year."
Defendants are Barry International
Properties, "Worldwide Entertainment
Corp., Norel Amusement Corp., Quad
Cinema Corp. and the Lee Ming Film
Co. The motion picture "Ape" currently
is playing in New York City.
Dino De Laurentiis' "King Kong"
will be opening in 1.000 theatres in the
U.S. and Canada Friday (17).
Brut Promotes Hcrim Eshel
To V-P for Int'l Sales
NEW YORK—Haim Eshel has been promoted
to executive vice-president in charge
of international sales, distribution and
marketing for Brut Productions, it was announced
by George Barrie, Brut president.
With Brut since May and headquartered
in Paris, Eshel has been involved in selling
its current releases in the international
market.
He also is negotiating sales of forthcoming
Brut productions.
Valenti Meeting Industry
Leaders in Great Britain
NEW YORK—Jack Valenti departed for
London Wednesday (1) to participate in a
gala film evening Friday (3) at the U.S.
Embassy and to meet with leaders in government
and in motion pictures.
The president of the Motion Picture
Ass'n of America has an appointment with
Sir Harold Wilson, former Prime Minister,
who is chairman of the new British Commission
on films.
Valenti also will meet with key British
parliamentary and newspaper leaders and
confer with British film principals, as well
as with MPAA company representatives in
London.
Marvin Goldman to Speak
At NATO Meeting in NC
NEW YORK—Marvin Goldman, president
of the National Ass'n of Theatre Owners,
will be the featured speaker at a Tuesday
(7) luncheon meeting of NATO of
North and South Carolina, it was announced
here.
The regional exhibitor organization is
scheduled to convene in Charlotte. N.C.

HAS THn
'CARPlE'HflSTHElEaS*
This staggering gross was achieve °*°p'
in from 3 to 26 days in 438 theatrqijg
across the country. And everywhere, 'Carri'^=»pss
is showing the same incredible staying pow^f*
A PAULM0NA8H Production
A
d3
JOHN TRAVOLTA, and PIPER LAURIE
IRI RESTRICTED^
Screenplay by
lawrence i
Directed by BR

'
li'OWER!
I EOS^ YORK! First 6 days of 2nd week on
ed Carpet is $545,858 against a smash
.
„g;500,086 opening full week!
7
\ ANGELES! First 5 days of 2nd week
[ne3tfcS268,349) overwhelms first week
ip.-.jj|iday gross of $192,970 in 20 theatres!
. jCAGO ! 4th week weekend exceeds
TpOWyfd week weekend!
PHILADELPHIA! 4th week (5 days)
$79,667 tops 3rd week (5 days) $65,854
in 14 theatres!
WASHINGTON ! 4th week (5 days)
$93,825 tops 3rd week (5 days) $86,659
in 11 theatres!
ST. LOUIS! 2nd week (3 days) $57,013
swamps 1st week (3 days) $45,242
in 6 theatres!
I
Fii;'CARRlE"slarnng SISSY 8PACEK
t Based on the novel by STEPHEN KING -Produced by PAULMON ASH
/\LMA
United Artists

Larry Cohen Unveils
Plans for FBI Film
By JOHN COCCHI
NEW YORK—Making a film about the
Federal Bureau of Investigation without its
approval is unheard of but producer-director
Larry Cohen is accomplishing that with
"The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover,"
which has been shooting in Washington,
D. C, and New York City before winding
up in Los Angeles. At a press reception
smacking of oldtime showmanship, Cohen
had a 1939 Cadillac deposit his star in front
of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel here.
Although the newspapers and tradepress
papers had already mentioned the name of
the Academy Award-winning actor who was
chosen to play Hoover, an effort was made
to keep his identity from those attending the
press conference. In his zeal, Cohen did give
away his star's name before Hoover— in the
person of Broderick Crawford—made an
entrance. Actor Michael Sacks and singeractress
Ronee Blakley were also there, as
was publicist Myrna Post and others connected
with the film, a more than $3 million
independent venture. Cohen wrote the original
screenplay for the Larco production,
with technical advice from John M. Crewdson
of the New York Times" Washington
Bureau.
Ms. Blakley, who portrays young Hoover's
love interest in the film, read an amusing
piece on the FBI director by Art Buchwald.
A presentation was given by Paul Thomas
and Greg Abeles, after which Sacks read the
FBI's code of morals for its agents as a prelude
to the introduction of Crawford. The
latter actor said he was unused to press conferences
and then was swamped by photographers.
Attorney General Edward Levi gave
Cohen permission to film scenes at FBI
headquarters and at the Quantico training
grounds. Crawford will be seen at the desk
which Hoover actually used and in his office.
In the past six to eight years, it has become
permissible to criticize Hoover without fear
of reprisal, said Cohen, who emphasized that
he has met with no resistance in making the
film.
While the film will show the FBI's accomplishments
in its 48 years under Hoover's
leadership, it will also point up its illegal
activities. The man's total dedication to his
job will be another ingredient of the film,
said Cohen. The producer-director-writor
stated that "de-Hooverizing" imder FBI
Chief Clarence Kelley was a good idea and
revealed that former New York City Police
Commissioner Patrick Murphy would be the
new director of the bin-cau when Jimmy
Carter takes office.
The Hoover film has an all-star cast, with
James Wainwright portraying Hoover as a
young man and Jime Havoc as his mother.
Michael Parks is Attorney General Robert
F. Kennedy, Sacks plays G-man Melvin
Purvis, Raymond St. Jacques is cast as Rev.
Martin Luther King jr., Andrew Duggan is
President Johnson, Howard Da Silva por-
"film auction" early in the new year. He's
hoping for a charity premiere in Washington
of the Panavision and color feature. At
the end of the press conference, Ms. Blakley
recited a poem—soon to be a song—about
J. Edgar Hoover.
Stars Attend NYC Benefit
'Silver Streak' Premiere
NEW YORK—Gene Wilder and Richard
Pryor, stars of 20th Century-Fox's comedy
"Silver Streak," arrived in New York City
Sunday (5) to participate in the world-premiere
performance for the benefit of the
Council for a Beautiful Israel.
The special performance will be screened
Tuesday (7) at Loews' Tower East, with
regular performances to start the following
day.
The film, an adventure-romance-comedy,
also will begin its regular performances
Wednesday (8) at the National Theatre, at
the Twin South in Hicksville, and at the
RKO Twin, Paramus, and the Fox, Woodbridge,
N.J.
"Silver Streak" co-stars Jill Clayburgh
with Wilder and Pryor and also features
Ned Beatty, Clifton James and Patrick Mc-
Goohan. Others in the cast are Ray Walston,
Scatman Crothers and Lucille Benson.
Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson is honorary
chairperson and Mrs. Bernard Meyerson is
chairperson for the event.
"Silver Streak" is a Frank Yablans presentation
of a Martin Ransohoff-Frank Yablans
production. It was produced by Thomas
L. Miller and Edward Milkis. Music was
composed by Henry Mancini for the Arthur
Hiller film based on a screenplay by Colin
Higgins.
The Council for a Beautiful Israel is part
of an international nonpolitical effort to assist
Israel in planning for more beauty and
better ecology as it builds and develops its
new state. The council is a tax-exempt effort
to assist this program.
Cinema Shares Acquires
New 'Godzilla' Release
NEW YORK—Cinema Shares International
Distribution Corp. president David
Blake has announced the acquisition of a
new featine, "Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster,"
from its producers, Toho Eizo Co.,
Ltd., Japan. Based on the successful release
20th-Fox Promotes Bowen
To V-P, Finance and Adm.
HOLLYWOOD— Dennis C. Stanfill,
chairman of the board and chief executive
trays President Roosevelt, Lloyd Gough is
Walter Winchell and Brad Dexter is public
enemy Alvin Karpas. Others are Jose Ferrer,
Rip Torn, Celeste Holm, Dan Dailey, (as
longtime aide Clyde Tolson), John Marley,
Lloyd Nolan, Ellen Barber and Jennifer Lee. officer of 20th Century-Fox Film Corp.,
The film is to be released next April, although
a distributor has not as yet been set.
recently
tional realignments
announced several
the company's
key organiza-
corporate
in
Cohen announced that he has had two offers
by major companies, but prefers to have a staff.
E.A. Bowen, vice-president and treasurer,
has been promoted to vice-president, finance
and administration, with responsibility for
all corporate staff departments, except
corporate legal personnel. Bowen will continue
to have parent company responsibility
for the supervision of 20th-Fox's TV broadcasting
operation. United Television, Inc.
Lyie Marshall, assistant treasurer, has
been promoted to treasurer, and Richard
Bort, cash manager, has been advanced to
assistant treasurer.
The company's film processing division,
consisting of DeLuxe General, Inc., and
Keith Cole Photography, previously supervised
by Bowen, will become part of the
entertainment group under the responsibility
of Alan Livingston, vice-president, entertainment
group. Robert Kreiman, DeLuxe
president, will report to Livingston.
The appointments are effective immediately
and are subject to ratification by the
20th-Fox board of directors.
Coliseum Films Acquires
'Children of Rage'
NEW YORK— Coliseum Films, Ltd..
has
annoimccd the acquisition of "Children of
Rage," a contemporary love story set against
the Israeli-Palestinian guerrilla conflict.
Previously distributed by A. Stirling Gold,
the film will be released nationally by Coliseum
in December.
Opening to rave reviews in New York,
the controversial drama has generated impressive
receipts in foreign markets and
great interest from a wide potential audience
in the U. S. Filmed in Israel, it stars Helmut
Griem, Olga Georges-Picot, Simon Ward,
Cyril Cusack, Richard Alfieri and Simon
Andreu. It was directed by Arthur Allen
Seidelman and produced by George R. Nice.
"Children of Rage" is the only commercial
film to be screened at the United Nations
General Assembly, its showing at the
Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium having
been requested by member nations. It also
has been screened for members of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee and staff, at
their request. The film, its making and marketing
will be covered in a book by Mark
Bruzonsky, to be published soon.
Barbara Kalish Named
Assistant to Robert Evans
NEW YORK— Barbara Kalish has been
appointed executive assistant to Robert
Evans. Her new responsibilities will encom-
of "Godzilla vs. Megalon" earlier this year.
Cinema Shares is greeting the new film with
much enthusiasm and promise.
pass the seeking of talent, literary and original
material, as well as being involved in all
Mel Maron, vice-president in charge of
sales and distribution, said that "Godzilla facets of Robert Evans Productions.
vs. the Bionic Monster" presently is available Miss Kalish has been associated with
tor release dates in March and April 1977. Robert Evans for the last five years.
BOXOFFICE :: December 6. 1976

RHR Filmedia Hosts Press
And Customers at Showing
NEW YORK.—RHR Filmedia. which
distributes sponsored shorts free to theatres
and organizations, recently held a special
screening of scenes from some of its product
to acquaint the press and potential customers
with the company. President Dick Rogers
and vice-president in charge of the theatre
division Sy Perry hosted the cocktail
reception at the Magno Theatre here. Rogers
began his film-and-talk presentation by emphasizing
the need for good free shorts.
Rogers referred to the 15,000 to 16.000
hardtops and some 4,500 drive-ins now
operating in the U.S., all of which are potential
outlets. There are about 1,000 "super"
theatres in which large audiences can
be reached, he said. One of these is New
York's Radio City Music Hall, the 6.000-
seat house which has played a number of
RHR's releases. Theoretically, it would be
possible to use just one 35mm print to play
various theatres but this isn't very feasible,
said Rogers.
Four Shorts Screened
Footage from four shorts was screened,
each one on a specific subject which was not
necessarily related to the sponsor's product.
A low-key selling approach is advisable,
Rogers said, adding that using recognizable
personalities to introduce and/or narrate the
films should be accomplished with care.
While it would be a good idea to use celebrities,
sponsors should consider their public
image for the purpose of product identification.
TV is a much-cluttered area and your film
can easily be lost, Rogers said. Theatres must
be considered as the prime outlet for sponsored
films, he indicated. Ninety per cent of
all sponsored films made are shot in 16mm
and all of those screened at the presentation
had been blown up to 35mm.
Played at Music Hall
The first excerpt was from SwissAir's
"Glissando," showing two skiers in balletlike
precision on level ground. It played for
nine weeks at the Music Hall with "The
Little Prince." Dave Bressen of the Aluminum
Ass'n introduced the next excerpt,
from "Metallic Tales." Seventy prints, in
distribution for nine months, have added
up to 17,000 shows to a total of 2,000.000
people, said Bressen, whose company was
"terribly pleased with the results." Made by
Equinox Films, the short was subtitled "The
Social Life of a Non-Ferrous Metal."
Next was "Spike, a Montana Horseman,"
presented by Mobil Oil Co. Shown in its
entirety (ten minutes), it focused on middleaged
Spike Van Cleve of Big Timber. Mont.,
a lifelong horse breeder who spoke of his
great fondness for the animal. Easily the
best short shown, it had played with "A
Matter of Time" at the Music Hall five
weeks and could be in contention for several
awards.
Last item was a clip from "The Road to
Energy, U.S.A.," by the Texaco Co., presenting
Bob Hope onscreen to introduce a
story of how energy is taken from its raw
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976
form—oil—to its use in the American home.
Speaking of a theatre boom, Rogers said
that a short can play with any feature, although
he tries to avoid such situations as
booking one about the Italian (ship) Line
with a film on the order of "The Poseidon
Adventure," about a sinking ship. Many of
the shorts, he said,
local NATO groups.
are made known through
UA Acquires Bergman's
'Serpent's Egg' for U.S.
NEW YORK — United Artists has acquired
American, Canadian and Puerto Rican
distribution rights to Ingmar Bergman's
"The Serpent's Egg, " a Dino De Laurentiis
film presentation starring David Carradine
and Liv Ullmann.
Based on an original screenplay by Bergman,
"The Serpent's Egg" is being lensed in
Germany as the first film ever directed by
Bergman outside of his native Sweden. De
Laurentiis is the producer. Horst Wendlandt
of Rialto Films of Berlin is the executive
producer and Harold Nebenzal is production
executive.
The setting is Berlin in 1923 when Germany
was reeling from an astronomical inflation
and Adolf Hitler was attempting his
ill-fated putsch in Munich. The principal
characters are a circus acrobat and his sister-in-law
who are stranded amid Berlin's
turmoil.
Carradine comes to "The Serpent's Egg"
from his acclaimed performance as Woody
Guthrie in "Bound for Glory," also released
by UA. He previously won an international
reputation as the star of the top-rated TV
series "Kung Fu."
"The Serpent's Egg" will be Liv Ullmann's
eighth film for Bergman. She is a
leading Oscar contender this year for her
acting in Bergman's "Face to Face," also
presented by De Laurentiis.
Alaska Wilderness Family." president
nis Friedland has announced.
The film, produced by Fred and Elaine
Meader, concerns their life in the Alaskan
wilderness during a ten-year period. The
Meaders lived 85 miles from the Arctic
Circle and 50 miles from the
nearest settlement.
Producer and director was Meader. Cannon
is planning an early spring release.
Photography Is Completed
On 20th-Fox's 'Fire Sale'
NEW YORK—"Fire Sale." a Marvin
Worth production for 20th Century-Fox.
completed filming November 15.
Directed by Alan Arkin, the comedy stars
Arkin, Rob Reiner, Vincent Gardenia, Anjanette
Comer, Kay Medford and Sid Caesar.
Barbara Dana and Alex Rocco co-star. The
screenplay was written by Robert Klane
from his novel.
Free Short Subject List
Is Available From MIPS
NEW HYDE PARK. N. Y.—Modern
Talking Picture Service's new brochure
"Free Shorts for Theatres" has just been
published. The free-loan 35mm films, all in
color, are sponsored by business firms,
trade associations, government units, professional
societies and other organizations.
A wide variety of subjects are covered and
consist of travel, sports, ecology, human
relations and social affairs. Lengths range
from seven to 28'/2 minutes.
Titles
include:
"Surprise Me." presented by Elanco
Products Co. in cooperation with the National
Pork Producers Council, showing
how the bigger choice of cuts available to
the consumer has made pork the meat of
many flavors. Produced by Vanguard Communications,
the seven-minute film combines
animation with tantalizing scenes of
people of all ages eating pork, which is
highly nutritional and leaner than ever.
"Rome—The Eternal City," the history
of Rome through an in-depth look at its art
treasures and architecture.
"The Great American Bike Tour," the
adventures of 12 young adults as they pedal
cross-country from New York to San Francisco.
"The Big Hitch," narrated by Orson
Welles and detailing how the magnificent
Clydesdale horses are trained to perf-.T-m in
the world-famed "Clydesdale 8-Horse
Hitch."
RKO Announces Its Return
To Distribution of Films
LOS ANGELES—As part of a drive to
utilize RKO Radio Pictures' substantial
archive of classics, RKO is resuming theatrical
distribution for the first time in many
years. After February 10 the firm, now
called RKO General Pictures, will distribute
'Wilderness' Distribution a package of films currently managed by
Set by the Cannon Group Ajay Film Co. These will be supplemented
by other films already in RKO's control.
NEW YORK—Cannon Group has acquired
worldwide distribution rights to "The
The RKO archive consists of 760 films and
400 unproduced properties.
Den-
RKO General Pictures, under vice-presidents
Robert L. Glaser and Al Korn, currently
is talking with ABC. 20th Century-
Fox and Thames TV about producing unfilmed
RKO properties and remake rights.
This month will see the release of Dino De
Laurentiis' remake of RKO's 1933 "King
Kong."
Distribution for RKO's library of classics
is being handled by John Hall. RKO General
Pictures, 129 North Vermont Ave., Los
Angeles.
AIP's 'Monkey Hustle' Set
For Dec. 24 Nat'l Debut
HOLLYWOOD—American International
Pictures' comedy, "Monkey Hustle," goes
into national release Christmas Eve (24).
"Monkey Hustle" was produced and directed
by Arthur Marks from a screenplay
by Charles Johnson, based on a story by
Odie Hawkins.

TNT Buys Film Rights
To Whitten's 'Alchemist'
WASHINGTON, D.C. — TNT Productions,
Inc., a film production company based
here, has acquired rights to journalist Les
Whitten"s best-selling novel "The Alchemist."
"The Alchemist" is described by Sheldon
Tromberg, TNT's president, as a chilling
tale of sorcery, sex and satanism, set in the
highest levels of government in the nation's
capital.
Tromberg was joined in his enthusiasm
for the acquisition by Stephen Trattner, general
counsel for TNT, who said it "carries
the fullest
possibilities of becoming the leading
commercial move ever made about our
nation's capital."
Previously, TNT produced a feature about
the thrills, fantasies and adventures of contemporary
teenagers, "Teenage Graffiti."
Directed on location in North Carolina by
Christopher Casler, it stars Michael Driscoll,
Jeanetta Arnette and Alden Sherry, all
Washington, D.C, actors. Allied Artists has
acquired distribution rights, Tromberg said,
and the film is slated for release in spring
1977.
TNT's feature "The Redeemer" dealt
with supernatural forces and was filmed on
location in Virginia. It was directed by Constantine
S. Gochis and stars T.G. Finkbinder,
Ms. Arnette and Nick Carter. In final stages
of editing and scoring, it is being prepared
for a 1 977 release.
Tromberg. co-producer with Trattner for
all three films, is a lecturer on cinema at
Georgetown University. Trattner, member
of Gajarsa, Liss & Sterenbuch, also lectures
at
the school.
WATS Line Service Is Now
Provided by Clark Film
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Clark Film
Releasing Co. announces that it has installed
a national WATS line, 1-800-874-7125, for
the convenience of independent theatre owners
and large circuits all over the country.
It is pointed out that Clark Film may be
dialed direct at this number from anywhere
in the U.S.. at no charge to the caller.
Additionally, a Florida WATS line. 1-
800-342-9682, has been provided so that
customers in that state may call Clark Film
regarding bookings, advertising, free short
bookings or any other matter. This line will
provide 24-hour service (as does the national
WATS line) and, if no one is in the
office, messages can be electronically recorded.
New World Acquires Two
HOLLYWOOD — New World
Pictures
has announced the acquisition of distribution
rights to two films which it plans to
release in January. They are "Catastrophe,"
a Landsburg production, which features
scenes of great world disasters, and "Blonde
in Black 1-eather," a Franco Cristaldi production
starring Claudia Cardinalc and Monica
Villi.
ASC SALUTE—Stanley Cortez,
governor of the American Society of
Cinematographers, left, presents Walt
Disney posthumous honorary membership
plaque to E. Cardon Walker, president
of Walt Disney Productions.
Miss Show-A-Rama Search
Announced by Kieffer
KANSAS CITY — George Kieffer. cochairman
of the United Motion Picture
Ass'n Show-A-Rama committee, has
launched a search for Miss Show-A-Rama
20. "We have an exciting opportunity for
a young woman interested in the film industry,"
said Kieffer.
Miss Show-A-Rama will be the official
hostess at all functions, in addition to greeting
all celebrities as they arrive for the fourday
convention. She will spend the week
of Show-A-Rama (March 14-17) as a guest
of UMPA at the luxurious Crown Center
Hotel in Kansas City. Miss Show-A-Rama
also will receive a complete wardrobe to
wear as she hosts luncheons, dinners and
screen parties during the convention.
Candidates should submit a resume and
a black-and-white photo to Chuc Barnes,
United Motion Picture Ass'n, 3612 Karnes
Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64111 by Friday
(31). All entries accompanied by a return
postage-paid envelope will be returned after
the judging.
Show-A-Rama is the second largest convention
in the film industry and the one
convention that both major film companies
and independents attend. Show-A-Rama 20
will be held March 14-17 (inclusive) at the
Crown Center Hotel, Kansas City.
Filming Is Now Completed
On X-Rated Swashbuckler
NHW YORK—The first X-rated swashbuckler.
"Captain Lust," has completed
final photography on a tropical island off
the coast of southern Florida. Directed by
Beau Buchanan, the film began shooting
aboard the beautiful old brigantine, the
Black Swan, and other tall ships after the
Fourth of July celebration in New York
City.
"Captain Lust" is scheduled to be released
in January.
Actress Rosalind Russell
Dies of Cancer at Age 63
BEVERLY HILLS — Rosalind Russell,
who became identified with her portrayals
of witty, sophisticated, exuberant women,
died of cancer November 28 at her home
here. She was 63.
A family spokesman said that Miss Russell's
long illness had been complicated by
rheumatoid arthritis and that she had undergone
surgery three months ago to replace
her right hip joint. Her husband of 35 years,
producer Frederick Brisson, and their only
son. Lance, were with her when she died.
Miss Russell's Hollywood career began
in the early 30s with dramatic roles. In
1939 her comedic talent was unleashed in
"The Women."
Her other film credits included "His Girl
Friday," "No Time for Comedy," "Take a
Letter Darling," "My Sister Eileen,"
"Roughly Speaking," "Sister Kenny"
"Mourning Becomes Electra," "Velvet
Touch," "Tell It to the Judge," "Woman of
Distinction," "Girl Rush" "Picnic," "Auntie
Mame," "A Majority of One," "Five Finger
Exercise," "Gypsy," "Oh, Dad Poor Dad,"
"Trouble With Angels," "Rosie," "Where
Angels Go Trouble Follows," and "Mrs.
Polifax—Spy."
At the Academy Awards presentation in
1973 Miss Russell received the Jean Hersholt
Humanitarian Award.
She became a Broadway star comparatively
late in her career, 1953, with "Wonderful
Town," a musical version of "My Sister
Eileen." In 1956 she was a hit as the
eccentric free-spirited Mame in "Auntie
Mame."
Actor Godfrey Cambridge
Dies After Heart Attack
BURBANK — Godfrey Cambridge,
actor- comedian, died of a heart attack Monday,
November 29, on a studio set where a
Warner Bros, production was under way.
He was 43.
A native of British Guiana, Cambridge
made his home in Ridgefield. Conn. He first
gained national attention after numerous
appearances on TV's "The Jack Paar Show."
Cambridge appeared in several acclaimed
motion pictures, among them "The Biscuit
Eater," "The Last Angry Man," "Purlie Victorious."
"The Troublemaker," "Cotton
Comes to Harlem" and "The President's
Analyst." In addition to his theatrical career,
he had played many club dates and made
frequent cameo TV appearances.
Judith Lowry, 86. Dies
NEW YORK— Judith Lowry, veteran actress
of motion pictures, stage and TV, died
of a heart attack here Monday 29, at the
age of 86. Mrs. Lowry, who also maintained
a residence in Studio City, Calif.,
appeared in many feature films, including
"Valley of the Dolls," "Sweet Charity" and
"The Anderson Tapes," after launching her
acting career in 1913 with a Washington,
D.C. stock company. .She leaves nine children.
27 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
10 BOXOFFICE :: DcccmIxT 1976

. .
. . . Author
. .
. . . Lalo
M ^J^ottuwood f'^eport m
f
New World Allocates Major
Budget to 'Alaskan Pipeline'
New World has budgeted $3 million on
an original action-adventure project, "Alaskan
Pipeline," about a trucker fighting union
and political corruption on the oil pipeline
venture. Roger Corman, New World president,
reports that the budget is the highest
on any film produced by his company in its
seven-year history. Corman has set a February
14 shooting start in Alaska for the
Charles Griffith screenplay . . . Intercontinental
Productions, Ltd., will make "The
Hit Team," the story of a secret Israeli antiterrorist
unit, with the script to be written
by Robert Hopkins. Alex Massis and David
B. Tinnin will be the co-producers. Tinnin
wrote the book on which the script is to be
based. The multi-million-dollar film will be
shot next spring on locations in Europe,
Israel and Scandinavia . . . "W.A.R.", a film
about women avenging rape, is planned by
Burbank International. Brent Nimrod's script
deals with women acting as vigilantes and
using CB radios to fight rapists . . . The
Gemini Co. is aiming at a March release
date for "The Wormeaters," a comedyhorror
tale by Herb Robins, which is scheduled
to begin shooting Sunday (26) with
Ted V. Mikels as executive producer .
Producer Marty Hornstein completed shooting
on "Catch a Falling Star," the Warner
Bros, drama starring Robby Benson, two
days under schedule . . . United Artists will
release the first western by French filmmaker
Claude Lelouch. Titled "Another
Man, Another Woman," it will star James
Caan and Genevieve Bujold and is slated
to go before the cameras in Hollywood Monday
(13). Location shooting will begin several
weeks later in Tucson. The screenplay
wai written by Lelouch. who also will direct
the film, which is set in the 1880s. Alexandre
Mnouchkine and Lelouch will produce
under the banner of Films 13 and Films
Ariane.
Harvey Jason Negotiates
Rights to Orwell Story
George Orwell's "Keep the Aspidistra Flying"
has been acquired from Orwell's widow
by independent producer Harvey Jason . . .
Elaine Giftos' Kitty Hawk Productions has
purchased the film rights to Joan Barty
Paramount
Frissel's novel, "The Souvenir"
will film "Big Deal on Madonna
Street," a comedy about a group of unemployed
blue-collar workers who plan a
"crime of the century" which they figure
will net them as much as $500 or $600. The
script will be written by Charles Shyer and
Alan Mandel. Arlene Sellers and Fernando
Ghia will be co-producers and Alex Winitsky
will be executive producer . . . Richard
Dreyfuss will act in and co-produce, with
Carl Borack, "The Big Fix," based on the
novel by Roger L. Simon for Universal.
Simon will write the screenplay for the
Dreyfuss-Borack-Simon production. Shooting
is planned for early next summer .
Shooting began November 29 on "The
Return to Boggy Creek," a Bayou Productions
film produced by Tommy Clark and
Tom Moore, with Moore also directing the
script by Davy Woody. Dawn Wells stars.
Bette Midler's Film Company
Developing Two Properties
Divine Pictures, formea by singer Bette
Midler and Aaron Russo. has signed Arnold
Schulman to develop "Autographs," a nonmusical
contemporary film in which Ms.
Midler will play a zealous female autograph
hound in New York. The project is the
second under Ms. Midler's contract with
Columbia. The first is "The Tour," now
being written by George Furth and Joan
Rivers . . . Twentieth Century-Fox will join
with Lewis-Lobell Films to develop an original
screen story about the epic struggles,
risks and conflicts faced by wheat growers
in their battles against time and nature's
unpredictable forces. The contemporary drama,
tentatively titled "Harvest," will be
produced by Michael Lobell and Roger
Lewis. Theodore Fox will write the screenplay
from his own original story.
New Signings Announced
For Independent Films
Beverly Garland has been set for "Sixth
and Main," Chris Cain's independently produced
feature now shooting in Los Angeles
with Leslie Nielsen, Roddy McDowall and
Leo Penn heading the cast . . . David Broadnax
has the lead roll in "Sharpies," playing
a black James Bond type in the Raymond
R. Homer production, to be directed by
Michael Moore early next year . . . "The
Hazing," a Miraleste Productions feature
about a college hazing incident, has in its
cast Betty Hager, Constance Cawlfield, Hal
J. Smith, Gordon Metcalfe, Edgar Justice,
Michael Blakley, Joe Petrullo, Paul Napier,
Dick Merrifield. Patrick Skelton. Dean Dittmann
and Sparky Watt . . . Edward Albert
has joined the cast of "The Purple Ta.xi
Cab," now shooting in Dublin and Paris as
a Sofracina/Rizzoli production, directed by
Yves Boisset . . . Melanie Griffith has a role
in "Joyride." a Bruce Cohn Curtis production
shooting in Seattle and Alaska.
Gotten, Madison, Benchley
Are Recent Cast Adds
Joseph Cotten will play an English nobleman
involved in a criminal plot in "The Perfect
Crime," being directed by Nino Ricci
for David Films on locations in England
and Italy . . . Guy Madison will appear as
role as the first mate in the shipwreck sequence
of "The Deep," the Columbia adventure-mystery
based on his novel . . .
Sparks, a rock group headed by Ronald and
Russell Mael, will appear in a Fourth of July
scene to be shot at Magic Mountain for
Universal's "Rollercoaster." For this climactic
sequence, 900 extras will be utilized over
a five-day period . . . Cast additions to Paramount's
"The Duelists," now lensing in
France, include Cristina Raines as a young
noblewoman, Tom Conti, Alan Webb, Gay
Hamilton, Maurice Colbourne, Jenny Runacre,
Alun Armstrong and Meg Wynn
Owen. Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine
have the lead roles under Ridley Scott's direction
. . . John David Carson and Jacqueline
Scott have been cast in "The Empire
of the Ants," which was slated to begin
shooting November 22 with Bert I. Gordon
producing and directing for American International.
Schaffner Slated to Helm
The Boys From Brazil'
The Producers Group has signed Franklin
J. Schaffner to direct "The Boys From
Brazil," a Sir Lew Grade/Associated General
Films project . . . Al Ramrus and John
Herman Shancr have been set by producer
Harvey Bemhard to write the script for
"Omen II" for 20th Century-Fox . . . Mike
Medoff will write the screenplay from his
Broadway play. "When Ya Comin' Back,
Red Ryder?", to be produced by Marjoe
Gortner and his own independent production
company, with Gortner starring. Brad
Dourif will repeat his stage role as Red
Ryder in the story about a night of terror in
a roadside diner. Filming is planned for next
spring on locations in New Mexico . . .
Composer Johnny Mandel will score
"Freaky Friday," the Walt Disney Productions
farce starring Barbara Harris, Jodie
Foster and John Astin. Incorporated into
the score will be a song, "You for a Day,"
written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn
Schifrin will compose the musical
score for "Day of the Animals," a sciencefiction
thriller being lensed by Artists Producing
Corp.
Broderick Crawford Has
Title Role in Hoover Bio
Producer Larry Cohen has signed Jack
Cassidy for a special guest-star appearance
in "The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover,"
in which Broderick Crawford plays the former
FBI chief . . . Vera Miles has been set
for Irwin Allen's "Fire," to be shot in Oregon
with Earl Bellamy directing . . . Tuesday
Weld and Richard Gere have key roles in
Paramount's "Looking for Mr. Goodbar,"
which is being directed by Richard Brooks
with Diane Keaton starring . . . Cast additions
to "The Other Side of Midnight," a
20th Century-Fox feature, are Garrie Kelly,
Christian Marquand. Anthony Ponzini and
Roger Etienne.
March Release for 'Devil'
HOLLYWOOD—Lawrence H.
a Texas Ranger and Kate Woodville has
the feminine lead in "Willie," the comedydrama
Woolner,
now shooting in Texas with William
White producing and John Florea directing
president of Dimension Pictures, has moved
up the domestic release date on "Devil in
Peter Benchley will play a cameo the Flesh" to March 15, 1977. Filming of
the horror movie, which stars Annik Borel,
recently was completed in Italy.
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976 11

. . . Hope
. .
. . The
. . The
. . Good
NATIONA
^ SCREEN
COUNCI^Comment ^
Qoniedian Redd Foxx's first starring film.
"Norman ... Is That You?", an MGM
presentation, was the victor in a tightly contested
race for September's Blue Ribbon
Award. Immediately following "Norman" in
the vote tally were runnersup "The Return
of a Man Called Horse" and "Burnt Offerings,"
all three of which are United Artists'
releases. Honorable mention went to "Mustang
Country" (Univ). which marked veteran
Joel McCrea's first major role since 1962.
The lack of first-nm September product,
due in part to the new TV season's debut,
was responsible for a smaller-than-usual
number of entries on the ballot.
A large segment of National Screen
Council members were disgruntled by
September's offerings, as some of the following
comments indicate.
"Norman ... Is That You?"
Redd Foxx doesn't slouch around in baggy
pants as he does as Fred Sanford on television's
"Sanford and Son." He plays it
straight as the father of the not-so-straight
son Norman. But Redd Foxx is always entertaining
and this is a rare treat to see him
on film." Norman is played by attractive
newcomer Michael 'Warren. Norman's better
half, who wants to make a good impression
on Foxx, is played by Dennis Dugan.
Jayne Meadows is flamboyant as Dugan's
mother. The two girls who try to convert
Norman's sexual preference are Vernee
Watson and Tamara Dobson. One of television's
"Laugh-In" stars, perky Barbara
Sharma, and" George Furth are cute as the
bookstore clerks in the store where father
buys books on his son's problem.—Faith
Christopher, Hollywood Citizen News.
"Norman" is the least offensive, though
hardly suitable for younger children.—Bob
Keaton, Fort Lauderd;;le News . . . It's the
September blues. Nothing here except maybe
"Norman ... Is That You?"—Emery
Wister, Charlotte News.
"The Return of a Man Called Horse"
Excellent film, imappreciated by the critics.—Edward
Connor, National Board of
Review, N.Y.C. . . . Has a passion, pathos
and poignancy seldom found in modern-day
films, be they western or otherwise. It is
graced with visually impressive photography
by the same man who so stunningly painted
the tale of a little girl possessed by a demon.
—Tony E. Rutherford, WCMI Radio-The
Entertainer, Huntington, W. Va. . . . Enjoyed
"The Return of a Man Called Horse,"
but it's not up to the first one. I have not
been able to view the rest of the list.—W.E.
Fletcher, Fletcher Theatres-KRXA Radio,
Seward, Alaska.
I believe it will exceed "A Man Called
Horse" in boxoffice grosses.—W.R. Kemp.
Commonwealth Theatres, Grand Island,
Neb. . . . Well made; good players.—Harry
M. Qirl, NATO of Ala., Birmingham .
The only one that's been here is "The Return
of a Man Called Horse," and I certainly
would not recommend it for children! It
seems we also have so many porno-type
things currently running.—Dorothy R.
Shank. WJJL Radio, Niagara Falls. N.Y.
this isn't John's last picture. It
was very good.— Mrs. William Stute, Fort
Wayne Indorscrs of Photoplays.
J^ifficult choice between "Burnt Offerings"
and "Horse." Both are fine
movies, but the suspense thriller will
have to get my No. 1 vote. Love
"scary" movies with top-flight stars and
"Burnt Offerings" was just that. A
super-shocking ending! !—Walt Reno,
KORK Radio & TV, Las Vegas.
Not a single family film. What happened?
"Norman" is at least humorous
and non-violent, though not for children.
"Horse" and "Jaws" are merely
repugnant.—Randy Weddington, The
Grapevine, Fayetteville, Ark.
"Special Delivery" is the best of one
of the weakest groups to date. Only
Richard Jaeckel makes "Jaws of
Death" worth a look. "Burnt Offerings"
is hopelessly contrived; "Horse," humdrum;
"Norman," a travesty.—Edward
L. Blank, Pittsburgh Press.
"Mustang Country": simple, but effective.
"Horse": a disappointment.
Joan Vadeboncoeur, Syracuse Herald-
Journal & Herald-American.
A tie (between "Norman ... Is
That You?" and "The Return of a Man
Called Horse") because they're the only
ones I've seen and liked. What a list of
time-wasters this month.—John Crittenden,
Bergen Record.
My. my, is it still considered chic to be an
Indian? Must be. This is the worst film of
the lot, if only because of its intentions.
Loved the photography; music was okay.
But a sequel five years after the fact—after
Harris went on record as saying he would
never be involved with such a venture
reeks of big dollar signs. Harris, as the whhe
man who is the only one who can bring
those savages away from silly superstition to
the height of pride and battle, is more offensive
than entertaining. Let's hear it for
the white man's burden. Rah.—William D.
Kerns, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
"Rctinn of a Man Called Horse" has
beautiful scenery, but it seems to take forever
to relate its sparse—but savage— tale.
—Carole Kass. Richmond Times-Dispatch
... A weak list, but "Horse" is probably
the most palatable of an unappetizing movie
menu.— Earl J. Dias, New Bedford Standard-
Times . . . This would be my choice for this
month.—Mrs. Leslie T. Barco, Greater St.
Louis BFC . weakest slate in months.
"Return of a Man Called Horse." flawed as
it is, wins by defauli.— Jim Shertzer, Winston-Salem
Journal . . . But with reservations.—
Dr. Robert Steele, Boston Univ.
"Burnt Offerings"
Slow-paced (typically British), but wellacted
thriller. Oliver Reed can terrorize with
a wink.—Fred W. Wright jr., freelance writer,
St. Petersburg. Fla. . . . Admirably assembled.—David
J. Sterritt, Christian Science
Monitor. N.Y.C. . grisly final
scenes of "Burnt Offerings" should not deter
anvone from seeing Bette Davis and Oliver
Reed act themsefves to pieces.— Joe A.
Ortega, Bank of Calif., Seattle ... A polished
and superb thriller with taut, calculated
direction making those watching freeze in
their seats until the offbeat climax.—Tony
E. Rutherford, WCMI Radio-The Entertainer,
Huntington, W. Va.
Like the old song said, "Chills run up
and down my spine."—Elston Brooks, Fort
Worth Star-Telegram . . . Family-wise, we
are at "the bottom of the barrel" moviewise.
"Burnt Offerings." in spite of its
bloody finale, is a splendidly produced,
acted and directed film for teens up.—Al
Shea. Guide Newspapers, New Orleans . . .
If you want to see a suspense thriller, go
see "Burnt Offerings."—Mrs. Shirley H.
Gunnels, GFWC. Fowler, Ind. . . . Here's
a house Rosemary Clooney never sang
about.—Bill Kitchen. Ottumwa Courier . . .
These are some famous names in such miserable
portrayals. Heavens help!—Mrs.
Claude Franklin. Indianapolis NSC group.
"Mustang Country"
One of the finest family pictures to come
out in a long time. That beautiful, shiny
black horse does everything but talk. Wish
we could see Joel McCrea in more pictures
of this nature, he is fine.—Mrs. Paul Gebhart.
Cleveland WOMPI . family
western with lovely scenery.—Dr. James K.
Loutzenhiser, Mo. Council on Arts, Kansas
City.
I went to this one with anxious expectation.
A small film, hut one perhaps initiating
the comeback of one of our great traditional
western actors. Unfortunately. I found
the film dull, low quality and saddening in
that I saw McCrea make not a comeback,
but a comedown.—William D. Kerns, Lubbock
Avalanche-Journal . . . Good family
entertainment with interesting background
scenery.—Mrs. Wayne F. Shaw, USD of
1812, Lawrence, Kas.
Miscellaneous
(Listed in order of votes received)
Special Delivery: I don't think there is one
film on your list that I would recommend
for children. From the standpoint of simple,
escapist entertainment, "Special Delivery"
provides the most fun. as well as the first
opportunity for Cybill Shepherd to display
an innate comic sense.—Carole Kass, Richmond
Times-Dispatch . . . Cannonball: This
one was popular with both the young-andup
croup. Did good biz.—Loyd Franklin,
N. M. Theatre Ass'n, Clovis.
Dixie Dynamite: You've got to be kidding.—William
D. Kerns. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
. . . Let's Talk About Men:
Viva Wertmuller!—Joyce J. Persico, Trenton
Times . . . Chino: Charles Bronson gives
a convincing, sensitive portrayal. A really
good western.—Mrs. CM. Stewart. Soroptimist
Int'l of Lincoln.
A Sorry September
I pass. I'll go see "Barry Lyndon" and by
the time it's over, it'll be time to vote again.
—Donna Bailey, freelance writer, Springfield.
Mass. ... No vote this month. Billings
theatres are on another rerun kick.—Kim
Larsen, Billings Gazette . . . You'd better
start listing R pictures. The PG list is putrid.—And'rew
Sarris. Village Voice. N.Y.C.
Evidently there has been a mixup. The
attached list must surely not be award nominees,
but a carefully selected listing of the
most useless movies of a dreadful summer.
The best thing I can say about any of them
is that "Mustang Country" didn't play here.
I'm not comfortable in this "pox on all their
houses" posture, but this is the lowest of the
low.—Doug Smith. Buffalo Courier-Express.
12
BOXOFFICE :: December 6. 1976

• 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
THE GUIDE TOMBETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S B U I L D I N G
Radio Contest Stirs 'Rocky/ 'Glory Recordings Include
Norman' Interest Soundtracks, Singles, Rereleases
Cross-plugging at Ogden-Perry's Ellis Isle
Twin in Jackson, Miss., with posters and
trailers initiated Jackson Mall Cinema manager
George Pritchett's successful tubthumping
for his engagement of MGM's
"Norman ... Is That You?" Subsequent
promotional activity centered around a
ticket-giveaway contest involving major
radio stations in the area.
For the first week of the run, Pritchett
set up a program with a popular black station
in which free pas&es were mailed out
to
listeners.
Pritchett broadened his
reach for the second
week of the run, tieing in with the three
biggest audience-drawing black AM and FM
stations, the two strongest top-40 stations
and the only country music station in Jackson.
All stations ran the same contest, awarding
25 passes for two to the first listeners
who telephoned in with correct answers
to questions posed by the dee-jays.
The contest centered around the film's
star Redd Foxx and the character he plays
on his popular TV series. Enthusiastic deejays
bantered word about the contest back
and forth, resulting in 40-50 free spots for
the
film.
Listener response to the contests was described
as "fantastic" by station dee-jays,
according to Pritchett. Bearing this out, he
suggests, were the positive four-week
grosses for the engagement.
Record tie-ins will be figuring prominently
in promotional activity for two
United Artists releases, "Rocky" and
"Bound for Glory."
United Artists Records is following up its
"Rocky" soundtrack album with a new
single performed by pianists Ferrante and
Teicher. One side features "Gonna Fly
Now," which is the main theme from the
score. On the flip side is "You Take My
Heart Away," also from the film. Bill Conli
composed the music, and Carol Conners and
Ayn Robbins wrote the lyrics for the Winkler
and Chartoff production.
Five long-playing albums, including the
"Bound for Glory" soundtrack released by
United Artists Records, are being issued
as part of a major music promotion for this
month's opening of the Hal Ashby film.
Warner Bros. Records, by arrangement
with Moses Asch of Folkways, will market
original recordings made by Woody Guthrie
in the 1940s under the title "Woody Guthrie
Sings the Songs From Bound for Glory."
The company also will release a two-set
package "Tribute to Woody Guthrie," which
was recorded at the Guthrie Memorial Concerts
in 1968 and 1970.
The other releases include Cream Records'
"Woody Guthrie—We Ain't Down Yet,"
with narration and music of Guthrie, and
RCA Records' reissue of the first recordings
made by Guthrie in 1940. "Woody
Guthrie: Dust Bowl Ballads."
•
NIC.
'it t.
",- Be T*
NY Lottery Tie-in
A 'Slipper' Bonus
In an unusual promotional move. New
York City's Radio City Music Hall is creating
additional excitement for "The Slipper
and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella" by
giving every paying Tuesday-evening patron
a free 50-cent New York State Holiday Lottery
and Colossal Year-End Bonus Ticket.
The offer, which is good only after 6
p.m., is said to mark the first time in the
history of lottery tickets that a motion picture
theatre has given them away free.
The grand prize for the Empire State's
newest lottery is $980,000.
The Music Hall began its promotional
fun November 23 and will continue it
through Christmas.
'Pony'
Primin
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 6, 1976 — 67 —
These Polk Ihearre srajjcrs in Western garb
accent a lobby display of old wagon wheels and
tongues, horse collars and bridles, hay and a
live horse, which manager Cliff Bailey used to
arouse the curiosity of Lakeland, Fla.,
residents
for his "Pony Express Rider" run. The four
young ladies also traveled throughout area
shopping centers, distributing heralds that told
about a contest set up by Doty-Dayton. The
first 50 persons submitting correct entries to
theatre won free passes.
the

BOXOFFICE
BAROMETER
This chart records the performance 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 terms of percentage is in in
relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal,"
the figures show the gross ratings above bcio that mark. * denotes combination or (Asterisk / bills.)
3 i
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150 as
'Rocky' Scores Lofty
700, NYC Firsl Week
NEW YORK— Bigge?,t movie news in
town was the terrific opening of UA"s
"Rocky" which led the pack of Thanksgiving
holiday attractions and scored a very
fine 700 at the 291-seat Cinema II. The
crowds are lining up for this one and whopping
returns are predicted for all playdates.
With strong national media coverage,
"Network" came in a close second with a
big 650 at the Sutton. Audience response
made an additional opening necessary at
the Paramount, adding a strong 350 to the
grosses. In third place this week is Paramount's
"The Last Tycoon" which continued
its momentum by garnering a big 550.
"Cousin Cousine" continued to show its
long legs by picking up another great 450 in
its 19th week. Universal takes fourth place
with "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" at 440
in its fifth week. Paramount's "Marathon
Man" continued coming on strong in its
eighth week picking up 340 at the State.
(Average Is 100)
Baronet—Maitreise (Tine Productions), 4th wk 90
Beelcman—Lumiere (New World). 2nd wk 320
Cinema I—The Last Tycoon J v. k 550
J.. T)
Cmema II—Rocky (UA) 700
Festival—The Incredible Sarah H- :,3';st),
41h wk 80
Fine Arts—Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000
(New Yorker), 6th wk 80
Paramount—Network (UA) 350
Pans—Cousin Cousine (Libra Films), 19lh wk 450
Plaza—The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Univ),
Sth wk 440
Radio City Music Hal!—The Slipper and the Rose
(Univ), 4th wk. 250
68th St. Playhouse—The Marquise ol O
(New Line), Sth wk 260
State 1—Marathon Man (Para). 8th wk 340
Sutton—Network (UA), 2nd wk .650
Tower East—Marathon Man (Para), Sth wk 350
Trans-Lux East—How Funny Can Sex Be?
(In-Frame), 9th wk 100
'Carrie' Pulls Baltimore Out
Of Rough Boxoflice Grosses
BALTIMORE—"Carrie" pulled this city
through a slow week with a 160 gross for
United Artists. Most films couldn't make the
Emerson Martin Fete
Dec. 8 at Plaza Hotel
NEW YORK—J,
Martin Emerson, secretary-treasurer
of the American Federation
of Musicians, will receive the Israel Labor
Award at a dinner-dance Wednesday (8)
at the Plaza Hotel.
The event is sponsored by the joint labormanagement
committee of the music industry
division of State of Israel Bonds. Hal C.
Davis, president of the AFM, largest union
of professional performer in the world, is
chairman of the event.
Boris Sagal is directing "Ange
Braun production.
BOXOFFICE :: December 6. 1976
Zev
Kressel-Brown Associates
Casting Office Announced
NEW YORK—Kressel/ Brown Associates,
a new casting office, engaged in the
business of casting for motion pictures,
theatre, TV and commercials, has been
formed, it was announced by the principals.
Deborah Brown. Lynn Kressel and Barbara
Shapiro. Kressel/ Brown Associates is headquartered
at 250 West 57th St. in New York
City.
Lynn Kressel has served as casting director
at Ampersand Productions. Norman
Craig & Kummel and Bob Giraldi Productions.
Early this year she was casting director
for Andy Warhol's soon-to-be-released
"Bad." She and Deborah Brown have,
among other credits, handled New York
casting for "Phyllis" and "Doc" for MTM
Enterprises and for Radnitz/ Mattel's "A
Hero Ain't Nothing But a Sandwich." They
also have served as casting consultants for
the NBC-TV movie "Savage Swarm." directed
by Bruce Geller. and for Trevor
Griffith's "Comedians." directed by Mike
Nichols.
Barbara Shapiro, educated at Newton College
and Columbia University, has worked
in advertising at Adams, Dana & Silverstein
and Gumbiner & North; at the Film Study
Center of the Museum of Modern Art. and
has done play script reading for Theatre
Development Fund and independent producers.
NJ Senator Supports
Local Community Curbs
MOUNT EPHRAIM, N.J.—Town commissioners
won the support of state Sen.
Joseph Maressa in their efforts to regulate
and control pornography and obscenity.
Mayor Harry Barracliff announced at a
meeting of the commissioners that Sen. Maressa
has prepared a bill to be introduced
the growth of pornographic outlets in the
area.
The commission also criticized state laws
as being vague and pointed out that local
municipalities are not allowed to set their
own laws in this area because of the existing
state
statutes.
Manos Holiday Party Set
GREENSBURG. PA.—Employees of
Monessen Amusement Co. -Manos Theatres,
with executive offices here, will stage their
annual Christmas party at Pier 30, three
miles east of Greensburg, Friday (10) at
7 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Manos are hosts
and M. Mangery is chairperson for the
event.
Twin Unit Openings
Precede Holidays
TRENTON, N.J.—With the approach of
the holiday season, a number of theatres in
central New Jersey marked their reopenings
as twins. Philadelphia-based Sameric Theatres
reopened its Eric Independence Mall
here as an Eric Twin, featuring the newest
in
screen and sound development, new projection
equipment, climate-controlled airconditioning,
new decor and rocking-chair
seats. First features for the new Eric Twin
Independence Mall were "From Noon Till
Three" and "Carrie." Bargain matinees are
offered Wednesdays.
Sameric Theatres added two other twins
with the reopening of the Eric Lawrenceville.
in the suburban Lawrenceville Shopping
Center, as the Eric Twin Lawrenceville
with "Manson" and "Two-Minute Warning."
Bargain matinees are scheduled for
Wednesdays and Fridays. Nearby on the
Pennsylvania side, the Eric Fairless Hills
Theatre near Levittown. Pa., reopened in
the Fairless Hills Shopping Center as the
Eric Twin Fairless Hill with "From Noon
Till Three" and "Two-Minute Warning."
Bargain matinees are offered Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
Music Makers opened its Community
Theatre in nearby Eatontown as Cinema 1
and 2 with "Two-Minute Warning" and
"Car Wash." For a champagne preview
opening, free champagne was served adults
with free soda for the youngsters. Drawings
for door prizes included luncheons, dinners,
flowers and gifts via tie-ins with local merchants.
United Artists Theatre Circuit made it a
weekend grand opening, with free gifts to
the first 200 patrons each day, for the reopening
of the Theatre East and Theatre
West in nearby Middletown. Opening features
were "The Next Man" and "Two-Min-
average mark. "How Funny Can Sex Be?" in the New Jersey Senate which would relinquish
state control over matters relating
reached 100 but "Marathon Man," "The
ute Warning."
Clockmaker," "Two-Minute Warning" and to obscenity.
"Car Wash" couldn't pull together strong Local support for the commissioner's GTE Consolidation Move
scores. "The Next Man," at two theatres, efforts was established when residents here
Disclosed at NY Plant
scored 75.
voted in favor of a referendum to repeal all
Playhouse—The Clockmaker (SR), 3rd wk 80 state statutes that now
BATAVIA. N.Y.—GTE Sylvania, Inc.,
limit the extent to
Two theatres—The Next Man (AA), 2nd wk 75
has disclosed plans to consolidate all color
Two theatres—Carrie (UA), 3rd wk 160 which local municipalities can enact their
Two theatres—How Funny Can Sex Be? (SR) 100
Westview 1—Car Wash (Univ), 5th wk own TV final-assembly operations in one domestic
manufacturing facility "to help meet un-
laws on obscenity and pornography.
60
Westview II—Two-Minute Warning (Univ),
The commissioners repeatedly have criticized
state lawmakers for failing to control
2nd wk 60
fair price competition from foreign sources."
Westview IV—Marothon Man (Pa
wk.
The assembly operations are being consolidated
at the Smithfield, N.C., plant, resulting
in layoff of 488 of the 1,200 employees
here.
MHA Honors Cliff Robertson
PHILADELPHIA—Award-winning actor
Cliff Robertson was named the 1977 national
mental health chairman of the Mental
Health Ass'n at the organization's 26th annual
meeting held here recently. He also
was honored with an MHA appreciation
award for his portrayal of astronaut Buzz
Aldrin in the ABC-TV special "Return to
Earth."
Oliver Reed and Deborah Rnffin star
'Assault on Paradise."

B R O A D W AY
THE TRADITIONAL lighting of the benefit performance for the Council for a
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will Beautiful Israel and will be followed by a
be highlighted this year by emcee Richard supper-dance at Tavern on the Green.
Chamberlain, star of the Radio City Music
•
Hall's Christmas presentation 'The Slipper
and the Rose." The gala event will be Thursday
(9) from 4:30 to 5 p.m. and will mark
the beginning of the holiday season in New
York. Celebrities, skaters, dancers and
musicians will join the festivities which will
be televised live and in color by WNBC-TV,
Channel 4.
Helping to make the program a joyous
success will
be the 45-voice Dessoff Choirs,
the Figure Skating Club of Lexington,
Mass., the PAL Steel Band and 12 dancing
participants in the finale.
Chamberlain is starring in "The Night
of the Iguana" on Broadway and no doubt
his presence at the ceremonies will be a
great boost to Universal's "The Slipper and
the Rose." The fact that the tree lighting
is taking place right across the street from
the Music Hall where long lines of patrons
already are in evidence daily will be an
additional boost to bo.xoffice gross.
The American Society of Conipuseis.
Authors & Publishers will honor E. Y.
"Yip" Marburg's new book of poetry. "At
This Point in Rhyme" at a champagne reception
Monday (6), Crown's publication
date for the volume of verse.
Harburg, who turned 80 this year, is
internationally known as a top stage and
screen lyricist, having collaborated with
Harold Arlen, Burton Lane, Arthur
Schwartz, Vernon Duke. Jerome Kern.
John Green and Sammy Fain. He has contributed
to such memorable Broadway
productions as "Finian's Rainbow." "Bloomer
Girl" and "Jamaica."
His best-known film songs are those he
created with Harold Arlen for the picture
"The Wizard of Oz," including the classic
"Over the Rainbow," for which they received
an Academy Award. A member of
Ascap .since 1930, Harburg will be joined
at the luncheon by the entire Ascap board
and many of his distinguished colleagues
and collaborators. The luncheon will he
held at the society's New York headquarters.
Among the many expected to attend
are Jules Styne, Burton Lane and Harold
Arlen.
•
Ambassadors from Ireland. Argentina, the
Columbia Pictures' holiday attraction.
"Nickelodeon." starring Ryan O'Neal. Burt
Reynolds and Tatum O'Neal, has been
set to open a special engagement Wednesday
(22) at the Columbia I and II theatres in
Manhattan, the Twin Lawrence and the East
Meadow I and II in Long Island and the
Mall Paramus in New Jersey. Directed by
Peter Bogdanovich, "Nickelodeon" is a
touching slapstick drama about the pioneer
days of silent moviemaking.
O'Neal stars as an undistinguished lawyer
who is mistaken for a film writer and then
fumbles his way into becoming a successful
director. The Robert Chartoff-Irwin Wink-
penguins from the current show at the
Music Hall. Special guests for the lighting
will be famed singer Andy Williams, Melissa
Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert of
ler production co-stars Brian Keith. Stella
NBC's "Little House on the Prairie" and Stevens. John Ritter and introduces Jane
jazz great Lionel Hampton, who begins an
Hitchcock. Written by W. D. Richler ami
engagement at the Rainbow Room Monday Peter Bogdanovich, "Nickelodeon" is a
(13). Santa Claus himself and New York's
Columbia-British Lion-EMl co-production.
symbol, "Mr. Big Apple," will lead all the
•
One of Warner Bros." holiday attractions,
"A Star Is Born," which opens Christmas
Day at the big Ziegfeld and smaller Baronet,
continues to be the center of controversy
with another report on the making of the
film appearing in New York Magazine.
Director Frank Pierson writes about his experiences
with his stars Barbra Streisand and
Kris Kristofferson. This and other recent
stories have stimulated interest in the film.
The soundtrack album has gone on sale
in New York stores, with full-page ads appearing
in most newspapers.
Proceeds from the New York opening day
will go to the Ass'n for a Better New York,
a group attempting to organize support for
the city in its current fiscal crisis.
•
Openings this week included the first film
made in Trinidad/ Tobago titled "Bim,"
the French "Serail," "Love Comes Quietly"
and the adult film "The Starlets."
Showcases beginning Wednesday (1) included
"Norman . . . Is That You?", paired
with "Logan's Run" from MGM/UA:
"How Funny Can Sex Be?"; modified versions
of "Behind the Green Door" paired
with "The Resurrection of Eve"; "The Outer
Space Connection," and "Super Dragon,"
Other attractions continuing on showcase
were "Car Wash," "Two-Minute Warning"
paired with "Family Plot." "Shout at
the Devil." "Carrie." "Alice in Wonderland."
"The Front" and "Small Change."
'Lumiere' a Lofty Grosser
At Beekman Theatre. NYC
NEW YORK—New World Pictures' "Lumiere"
racked up an excellent gross in its
second week at the Beekman Theatre here.
Jeanne Moreau's debut directorial effort,
Netherlantis and Israel will join Gene Wilder.
Richard Pryor, producer Frank Yablans
and director Arthur Hiller at the world premiere
of "Silver Streak" Tuesday (7) at the
which she wrote and stars in as well, is continuing
indefinitely at the east-side house.
"Lumiere" is scheduled to open across the
Loews' Tower East. The event will be a U.S. at Christmastime.
'Slipper' Sets Weekly
Gross Record at RCMH
New York— "The Slipper and the
Rose," the Christmas attraction at Radio
City Music HaJI, set a new record
for a single weekday at the theatre
November 26, reporting $75,209.75
Starring Richard Chamberlain and
Gemma Craven, the lavish costume
film features music and lyrics by Robert
B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman.
The famed "Nativity Pageant" and
Peter Gennaro's holiday spectacular
"Snowflakes" comprise the Music Hall's
stageshow.
NORTH JERSEY
^urray Steinberg reopened the Castle Theatre
in Irvington November 25. The
1.333-seat house had been closed for the
past month and was last operated by the
Baldenaro Corp. Reopening attraction was
a double feature consisting of "Bugsy Malone"
and "The Big Bus." Steinberg also
operates the Chancellor in Irvington, as well
as the Baker in Dover. The Castle normally
has been operated as a subsequent-run house
and present plans are to continue that
policy.
Officials in Asbury Park on the Jersey
shore have profwsed a plan that would
turn Walter Reade's 2,000-seat Paramount
Theatre on the boardwalk into a cultural
arts center during the winter months when
it normally is closed. The city owns the
Paramoimt but leases it to WRO during the
summer. City manager William Shiel estimates
the theatre, originally opened in 1930,
is worth $5 million and could be restored
for less than $10,000, which would be the
cost of materials. Labor would be provided
by city workers.
Shiel noted that the city would not operate
the theatre but already has made contact
with such groups as the Metropolitan
Opera House in New York and the Mc-
Carter Theatre in Princeton in the hope
that they would be interested in presenting
live shows at the theatre. The city manager
stated that the target date for completion of
renovations and opening of the Paramount
is the week after Labor Day 1977. Newspaper
accounts of the opening of the Paramount
46 years ago termed the house "the
most magnificent theatre on the Atlantic
Coast."
United Artists Theatres has announced
plans to convert its 1,789-seat Fox Theatre
in Hackensack into a triplex during the
coming year. UA already has converted the
Stale in Jersey City into a trio and last
September opened two twin units adjoining
the Cinema 46 in Totowa, thereby making
that a three-unit operation.
UA's Colonial in Pompton Lakes closed
following performances November 28
and will reopen Christmas.
E-2
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BOXOFTICE :: December 6, 1976
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BUFFALO
J^ilton Berle, George Jessel. the Harmonica
Rascals, the Ink Spots, June Valli and
Donald O'Connor all appeared in person at
Kleinhans Music Hall in Roy Radin's
"Vaudeville '76" show for the benefit of
Patrolmen's Silver Shield Ass'n.
the Buffalo
Frontier Amusement Corp. again is booking
for Al Wright's Holiday Theatres driveins
.. Zurich, exhibitor from
.
Syracuse, was in town to visit Bill Hebert
and to tour the exchanges.
Lewis Lieser, local branch manager for
Avco Embassy, attended that company's
multiple screenings in Los Angeles November
30 and Wednesday (1)
. . .
Mannie
Brown and Bill Hebert of Frontier Amusement
Corp. were off to the West Coast with
Al Wright of Holiday Theatres and Bill
Dipson of Dipson Theatres to attend the
Avco Embassy function and then on to other
film companies . . . Cine Theatre, Fulton,
has engaged the services of Frontier Amusement
to buy and book films.
Bob McGrath of "Sesame Street" appeared
November 27 with the Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall. He
told Christmas stories and sang holiday
songs for the children.
Mrs. Alfred E. Anscombe, Variety member
and wife of Tent 7's past chief barker,
is the newly elected president of the women's
board of Suburban Millard Fillmore Hospital.
Earl Beall has left WGR-TV to become
general manager of WDAF-AM and KYYS-
FM, Taft Broadcasting outlets in Kansas
City. His successor as general manager of
WGR-TV will be Phil Jones, currently general
sales manager of WTAF in
Philadelphia.
Minna Zackem held a special screening of
American International's "Chatterbox" in
the Motion Picture Operators' screening
room Tuesday (16) . . "International Pay
.
TV Adult Cinema" is being advertised by
Channel 5 for late shows Friday and Saturday.
The X-rated "Love Games" was
shown November 12-13.
Tom Woolery of the Como S theatres inserted
a "two-for-one" coupon ad on "A
n Backgammon
i
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A new Distribution Company for
the New England territory. Formed
by people experienced in handling
all types of film. We are prepared
to try new and different
methods to insure proper marketing
of your product. Contact:
Mark Diamond (617)868-4250
Matter of Time." With one full-price adult
admission, a second admission was given
free. The offer was good for evening shows
following the "Twi-Lite Hour."
Bill Abrams of United Artists tradescreened
"Network" at the Plaza North Theatre
November 19. An eight-minute trailer of
"Demon Seed" also was shown ... Ike
Ehrlichman of Frontier Amusement Corp.
was in New York City to visit friends at
CinemaNational Theatres.
Joe Garvey has arranged for a series of
Saturday morning shows at the Holiday 1
and 2 theatres from now until Christmas.
He has tied in with WBNY-FM for the film
presentations and kids get details by listening
to the station. Inaugural attraction was
"Trap on Cougar Mountain" . . . Another
in a series of top-quality foreign films
currently is at the Valu 5 cinemas. It's
Gerard Oury's "Delusions of Grandeur," a
comedy experimental films of
Peter Gidal were discussed November by
the British filmmaker in the Albright-Knox
Art Gallery. There was no admission
charge.
Peter Davis, award-winning filmmaker,
has been well represented on local programs.
His "Selling of the Pentagon" was shown in
the Central Library, while "Hearts and
Minds," about Vietnam, was screened in
UB's Diefendorf Auditorium and the next
day in Buffalo State College's Union Assembly
Hall to benefit the Western New
York Peace Center.
"Carrie," United Artists' terror classic, is
doing runaway business at the Amherst,
Como 8 and Seneca Mall cinemas. It seems
destined for a long engagement.
When the Friends of Shea's Buffalo Theatre
tried to get the Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra to play for the Eliot Feld Ballet
November 30, they learned the musicians
already had been booked for that date. As
a result, the orchestra pit of the theatre was
filled by the Rochester Philharmonic.
Auditions for male and female ballet
dancers were held Wednesday ( I ) on the
stage of Shea's Buffalo. Feld also will audition
dancers in Philadelphia and in Wilmington,
Del. The company is seeking dancers
for a six-week West Coast tour and a
spring
season in New York at the City Center
Theatre.
Industryites arc looking forward to the
annual WBLK-FM Christmas party, which
will be Wednesday (8) at the Holiday Inn.
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Final Downtown Trenton
Theatre Has Shuttered
TRENTON, N.J.—For the first time,
downtown Trenton is without a single motion
picture theatre. After 54 years, the
Mayfair Theatre closed its doors because of
lack of business, according to Frank P.
Henry, former president of the company
that owned the film house. It was the last of
eight downtown theatres. When first opened
March 29, 1922, as the Orpheum Theatre,
it was heralded as one of "the most palatial
and modernly equipped" motion picture
theatres in the East.
Before the theatre doors were locked,
Vincent Henry was manager of the 1,000-
seat house and 18-member staff which included
projectionist R. Douglas Hewitson,
who had been in the booth since 1940.
At one time, there were 17 theatres in
Trenton but with the closing of the Mayfair,
only two neighborhood houses, the
Greenwood and the Brunswick, remain
within the city limits.
The Mayfair Theatre was owned originally
by George B. Ten Eyck and was built as
a de luxe showcase with a $25,000 theatre
organ, velvet opera chairs and 30 lifesize
paintings of the movie stars of the 1920s.
During^ the early '30s, when it was converted"
to "talking pictures," the house was
taken over by the William Hunt Theatres
circuit based in Wildwood, N.J.
The Henry family acquired the house in
1940, refurbished it and renamed it the
Mayfair Theatre, operating it until its closing.
Opened in 1922 with "Come on Over,"
its" last films were "Saga in Africa" and
"Burnt Offerings."
Tent 13 Clubrooms Vanish
With Bellevue-Stratford
PHILADELPHIA—The closing of the
Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, caused by the adverse
publicity attending the so-called "Legionnaires
disease" which resulted in 29
deaths among hotel guests, has left Variety
Club Tent 13 without a home. For the past
35 years, the local tent has maintained clubrooms
at the Bellevue, as well as holding all
its affairs and dinner events in the hotel
ballroom.
Until new permanent facilities are found,
the Variety Club will be housed temporarily
in the Fox Theatre Building, courtesy of
theatre owner Henry Milgram.
The local tent, in spite of the inconvenience,
has completed plans for the staging of
its annual telethon January 22-23, with a
gala celebrity dinner the night before to
kick off the major fund-raising effort for its
Heart Fund. Variety Clubs International
chief barker Monty Hall again will act as
host for the telethon.
BUX-MONT
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BOXOmCE ;: December 6, 1976
iOKOFTicE

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. . Washington
. . The
. .
Fight Started to Abolish
Pennsylvania Blue Lows
PITTSBURGH—Department and discount
stores, etc., on the highways, had
planned Sunday openings but ran into
trouble which may lead to the abolishment
of all of the remaining Sunday blue laws
of the commonwealth of 1794. The year
1976 finds many stores of all types open
and operating on Sunday throughout Pennsylvania,
with each county more or less
having its own rules, looking the other
direction, some enforcing the ancient laws
and others ignoring them.
No doubt about it, Sunday blue laws will
come before the general assembly early in
the 1977 session at Harrisburg. Most of the
old provisions are long since gone in Pennsylvania
via legislative exceptions. Sunday
sale of ice cream was permitted in 1923,
Sunday sports got the nod in 1933, Sunday
movies via local referendum won in 1935
and Sunday sale of liquor and beer was
legalized in 1971.
Supermarket chains, despite four rulings
since 1959 which declared the blue laws
constitutional, headed appeals to the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court. The superior court
of the commonwealth has just upheld the old
statutes after waiting a year to rule on this
matter, hoping that the general assembly
would repeal or change the 182-year old
trading law. As of now, municipalities may
prosecute stores that violate the state blue
laws.
All states surrounding Pennsylvania have
open Sundays, again leaving the Keystone
State in an unfortunate nonprogressive position.
Manager Promises Coffee
To X-Rated Film Pickets
BELMAR, N.J.—Dan Ferguson, manager
of the Belmar Cinema in Belmar Plaza
here, promised to serve hot coffee to pickets
protesting the showing of an X-rated movie.
And while the coffee was ready and waiting,
none of the expected protesters showed up
for the opening of "The Private Afternoons
of Pamela Mann." A cry was raised when
the theatre replaced the original booking of
is "soft-core."
Mayor John A. Taylor said that members
of the area's churches had objected to the
screening and had written letters to the city
commissioners expressing their opinions.
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PHILADELPHIA
l^ichard T. Markovitz, handling the publicity
and promotion for Universal, set
up two private screenings in advance of the
opening of "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution."
Both previews were at the Top of the Fox
screening room . Cable Co.
gets the bid from Washington Township
near Easton to provide the area with paid
TV service. At Barrington. N.J., a Tuesday
(14) hearing will be held by the city council
there on granting CATV rights to Cable
Systems, Inc., of Audubon, N.J.
Yvonne DeCarlo, in New Hope appearing
at the Playhouse in a revival of the "You
Never Knew," Cole Porter musical, takes
time out to promote her forthcoming film,
"Satan's
Cheerleaders."
A Women's Film Festival, with film dealing
with developing new expectations and a
new sense of what it means to be a woman,
is being shown at the Penn State capitol
campus, Middletown Astor Theatre,
Reading, and the Roxy Theatre,
Northampton, silences the screen weeknights
to allow for the promotion of rock
concert stands . . . Budco Quality Theatres,
based here, set up Claude Cinema Advertising
as an in-house agency to handle its
advertising, promotion and public relations.
George Plimpton made a personal appearance
at Bucknell University, Lewistown,
with the showing of the movie version of his
best-seller "Paper Tiger."
When the chinches called for pickets to
attend the opening, the theatre management
promised free coffee to any protesters.
The first showing of an X-rated movie
at the Belmar Cinema, the only movie theatre
in this borough, ended April 13, 1976,
after a petition signed by 48 persons was
hand-delivered to Ferguson. The film, "The
Story of O," drew objections from residents
and the clergy. They said when the movie
theatre was built several years ago, they
were told that only family-type movies would
be shown.
However, after the engagement of "The
Story of O," Ferguson had said there would
be no more showings of X-rated movies "because
the theatre was losing money." For
"Pamela Mann," neither Ferguson nor Mrs.
the X-rated "Misty Beethoven" with another
X-rated film.
Ferguson said the owners of the theatre,
Firtel & Riva, Inc., of nearby Brick Township,
N.J., rejected the originally scheduled
Harriet Firtel, head of the ownership corporation,
would comment on the number
"Misty Beethoven" because it was "hardcore"
pornography, while "Pamela Mann"
of tickets sold or on the film's reception.
A letter signed by Mrs. Firtel and posted
outside the theatre acknowledged the letters
of protest sent to her concerning the films.
"It is our intention to operate the Belmar
Cinema in a business-like manner."
RG/I
Theatre
SsrvicG
The nation's finest for 40 years
RCA Service Company
A Division of RCA
3310 South 20th St., Philadelphi<
Phone: (215) HO 7-3300 (Pa.)
(800) 631-8823 (N.J.)
It was a three-day, four-screening premiere
here for "O Povo Organizado," a finalist in
the Chicago International Film Festival this
year, at the Band Box Theatre, Academy
Screening Room, International House and
Mother Bethel Church, with the film's director-producer,
Robert Van Lierop, attending
each benefit showing that took $5, .$10
and $15 tickets.
A "Kate Festival," with daily showings of
Katharine Hepburn films over a two-week
period starting with "Pat and Mike" and finishing
with "Quality Street," has been programed
at the center-city World Theatre .
A Yiddish film series at the center-city Walnut
Street Theatre opened with "The Dybbuk"
and continues through Sunday (12)
with "Tevye" and "Singing Blacksmith."
WCMB Radio and W-99 FM, Harrisburg,
sponsored the midnight showing of "Yes,"
the filmed rock concert, at United Artists'
Camp Hill Theatre 2 in the suburban Camp
Hill Shopping Center . . . Cinema 273, Wilmington,
Del., launched a new policy with
ous showings from 1 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays.
Barry L. Hankerson, executive producer
of "Pipe Dreams," was joined by his wife
Gladys Knight, the film's star, to promote
its opening in center city at Sameric's
Duchess Theatre.
Railroad Crossing Danger
Explored in Free Feature
NEW YORK—"Gambling With Death,"
an informative ten-minute 35mm sound and
color motion picture presented by Illinois
Central Gulf Railroad, details the problems
and dangers that face America's drivers at
highway-railroad crossings. It is available
free to theatres in Illinois and Mississippi
from the theatrical libraries of Modern Talking
Picture Service in New York.
"Gambling With Death," a 1976 CINE
Golden Eagle Award winner, features exclusive
1927 black and white footage of
steam trains and vintage autos dramatically
contrasted against color scenes of modern
vehicles.
MA new booking and buying service
Backgammon
^nim Distributors, Inc.
for New England and New York.
We have experience In programming,
advertising and promotion
for commercial, art and repertory
theatres. Contact:
Mark Diamond (617)868-4250
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

. . . The
Penthouse
. .
PITTSBURGH
Q,orgeous Gibby Girls are now featured on
stage at the Ritz Mini . . . "Let's Tali<
About Men'" comes to the Squirrel Hill . . .
Showcase cinemas will bring in Columbia's
"Fun With Dick and Jane" . . . George Werl,
former property master, is the new chief
barker of Variety Tent 1 . . . "Honeysuckle"
again was a great attraction at the Palace
in holdover engagements. Penthouse 2 held
over "Kiss Today Goodbye" and "Creation"
and Penthouse 1 had dynamite girls on
stage, plus the movies "Love in the Rain"
and "Super Charger."
"In the Heat of the Knight" was licensed
for feature exhibition at Penthouse 2 . . .
We looked in at Bank cinemas 1 and 2 and
veteran projectionist Bob Lorentz told us
that he, too, had taken an advanced peek
Redstone circuit continues plans
for opening other showcase units in the
South Hills.
Interesting in October's Carnegie Institute
Magazine is an interview with William Judson,
curator of the film section of the Museum
of Art. Illustrations include a scene
from Eisenstein's "Potemkin" and Sarah
Bernhardt in the 1912 "La Raine Elisabeth."
(When this correspondent was a young projectionist
for Dick Rowland, Adolph Zukor
came here and sold "Queen Elizabeth" exhibition
rights to Rowland.)
An antipornography bill won unanimous
approval in the city council. It is an amendment
to the zoning ordinance which is aimed
at stopping the spread of adults-only businesses.
Adult theatres, bookstores, cabarets,
etc., which are already established will not
be affected.
Cardinal Sound Co,
Equipment
Service
Parts
"CALL CARDINAL"
301-937-6630
(24-Hour)
* Ballantyne * Strong * Drivo-In
CARDINAL
SOUND
COMPANY Beltsville, Md.
Rt. 1 at Rt. 212
Cardinal Sound Co.
This city's 10 per cent amusement admission
tax has been renewed by the city council
.. . 1 featured a stageshow
and the movies "The Agony of Lash, Lace
and Love" and "Hallucinations." Penthouse
2 showed "Stars in My Eyes" and "Charlie's
Party" . . . WRS Motion Picture Laboratory
in Oakland suffered water damage November
29 when a half-inch water pipe broke.
Two false ceilings in office sections were
destroyed but the lab and equipment were
not
damaged.
Derris Jeffcoat
of Theatre Equipment &
Service has completely recuperated from his
illness. He and his wife are in Texas visiting
his mother . . . Lisa Beth Mervis, daughter
of former local exhibitors Mr. and Mrs.
Norman Mervis, is engaged to be married
next spring to Neil Bruce Kossis of
Churchill. Her parents made the announcement
from Bal Harbour, Fla.
Although boxoffice action is slow, some
films making the rounds include "Carrie,"
"Two-Minute Warning," "Silent Movie,"
"Couples," "Dirty Girls," "Burnt Offerings,"
"Midnight Desires," "Post Graduate," "Deranged"
and "Confessions of a Window
Cleaner." The Emerald featured "Daddy's
Little Girl" and "Bridal Intrigue" . . . "Once
Upon a Time" was a kiddies matinee
Thanksgiving weekend at several dozen
theatres . . . Fulton Mini reached back and
First-run houses, including the Kings
Court, added a second feature, thus "Mean
put on screen "Murder on the Orient Express."
Streets" joined "The Ritz" . . . John Holmes,
whose "Spirit of Seventy Sex" is featured at
Wheeler Films is offering Intercontinental
the Garden, continues to dominate the adult
Releasing's "Affair," "The Girl From Starship
screens. He has appeared in more than 2,000
Venus," "Alice Goodbody" and "The
adult
was
. The original "King Kong"
movies
seen
. .
here on Cable 43 (WUAB-TV
Passion Potion." Wheeler also handles the
Intercontinental product at Washington,
Cleveland) Thanksgiving and will be
on Channel 2 Friday (17), the day that the
Day
Next big boxing show is dated
December 16 at Monroeville's Howard
D. C. . . .
for
new "King Kong" opens at the Gateway.
TV again has been advertising
Johnson's . . .
sex movies via interviews on sidewalks in
front of the city's downtown adult theatres.
This used to be a semi-annual affair but it
seems that giving such free advertising to
the adult houses is now on an cvery-othermonth
schedule.
Deeds relating to the recent sale of the
Ardmore Drive-In property in Braddock
Hills are recorded and show that $619,416
was paid for the ozoner area and 15 acres
:it Brinton Road and Yost Boulevard. Federal
Department Stores also paid $480,584
for an additional 11.67 acres at Ardmore
Manor Drive.
Henry Becker sr., 49, custodian at the
Greenville Drive-In, was killed when a car
hit him as he walked across Route 18.
Network Ticket Agency, ninth floor of
Kaufmann's Department Store, was robbed
of $2,300 in cash when two teenagers scooped
up the money and made their escape to
the parking garage, where an envelope of
the agency containing $875 was found. The
thugs escaped.
Bernhard Kiewe Addresses
Baltimore Variety Women
BALTIMORE — Approximately 100
members of Women of Variety Tent 19
attended a luncheon and lecture November
10 at the Milbrook Community Hall, where
they were treated to a sumptuous buffet and
spirited talk by Bernhard Kiewe, executive
director of the Jewish National Fund.
Along with hors d'oeuvres of cheeses,
crackers, punch and ice cream, an adjacent
companion table was filled with platters of
tuna salad, deviled eggs, tossed salad, fancy
Jello molds, potato chips, assorted rolls and
butter. Centerpieces for the small tables
were plates of varied cakes for dessert.
Kiewe's address was titled "The Jewish
People and Their Problems" and he began
by saying. "Like the French fashions, this
talk will be long enough to cover the essentials
and short enough to be interesting."
Kiewe discussed the Jew and Judaism
from many standpoints, stating with emotion:
"For 4,000 years the Jews have been
the standard-bearers for discrimination.
We're still here. Something higher up keeps
us here. The Jew will survive despite all
difficulties."
He warned, "History is bound to repeat
itself," reminding his listeners of the holocaust
in Hitler's Nazi Germany. A volcano
is erupting in South Africa presently, he
commented, and pointed out that the Jew
has to keep his fortune there now, since
the government will not allow it to be
moved.
Noting that Jews are sending their children
to Israel to get a "sense of values,"
Kiewe remarked that "they're looking for
their 'vitamin pill.' " He added that "the Jew
must do something for himself. There won't
be another Dachau. Israel gave us pride
with all the problems they may have .
If someone kicks us, we can kick back and
we have a place a to go."
Kiewe mentioned the generosity of Frank
Sinatra (terming it "fabulous"), who donated
$50,000 to build an International Youth
Center in Nazareth.
Mrs. Pearl Higger supervised food preparation
and serving for the occasion, with
Mrs. Rosa Schevker, treasurer of Women of
Variety, collecting tickets at the entrance.
Mrs. Barbara Goldberg was another member
of the committee who worked to make
the event a success, aided by many other
members of the organization.
Bob Thomas' Walt Disney
Biography Now on Sale
NEW YORK—Simon & Schuster has
published Bob Thomas' newly completed
biography of the late Walt Disney. The
book, "Walt Disney: An American Original,"
is selling for $9.95 and contains neverbefore-published
photographs.
Thomas, Hollywood correspondent for
the Associated Press, previously wrote biographies
of the late Harry Cohn and David
O. Selznick.
"Behind the Iron Mask," a Sascha Wien
film, began production October 20.
E-6 BOXOFTICE :: December 6, 1976

. . Betty
. . George
Razing Set for Palatial
Theatre Built in 1912
TYRONE, PA.—Razing of the historic
Wilson Theatre spells the end of what once
was this city's entertainment center. Closed
several years ago, the once-beautiful de luxe
showhouse was built in 1912, truly the show
place of the area with its four-story height
and spacious interior containing 610 seats
on the auditorium floor and 490 in the balcony.
In addition there were eight roomy
boxes and eight loges.
The late George C. Wilson, founder of
the Wilson Chemical Co., built the theatre
which has been operated by four generations
of Wilsons since its beginnings. The last
operator was Wilson's grandson, George C.
Wilson III, and his sons have been active in
recent years at the Huntingdon Drive-In,
Himtingdon, Pa.
A pioneer in exhibition, the first Wilson
made movie history in the early silent movie
days when he purchased "Mickey" starring
Mable Normand and distributed it nationally
with extraordinary showmanship. This
included exploiting the song "Mickey,"
staging street parades with a girl in overalls
leading a horse, and each theatre adding a
drum and cornet to its piano or organ, with
complete musical score being provided.
"Mickey" was the first moving picture to
gross more than $1 million. Harry F.
Grelle, Pittsburgh, directed the sales.
The Tyrone Urban Redevelopment Project
brings about the demise of the once
magnificent theatre which had more than
200 mirrors on the main entrance walls, 16
exits, a giant proscenium, a handsome dome
suspended from the center of the auditorium,
surrounded by numerous smaller ones,
indirect lighting and fireproof construction.
Pittsburgh 'Car Wash' Bow
Preceded by Heavy Bally
PITTSBURGH—Prior to the opening of
Universal's "Car Wash" here at Showcase
cinemas, several stars from the picture were
in town to promote the film. The screen
personalities participated in many newspaper
and radio interviews and, highlighting
the campaign, they chatted on the air with
Brother Matts of WAMO Radio.
Showcase cinemas, a Redstone circuit
operation, held three sneak previews of
"Car Wash" before the scheduled opening,
giving away 150 passes per night.
Some passes were distributed in conjunction
with a tie-in with one of the major car
wash establishments in metropolitan Pittsburgh.
BALTIMORE
gill Hewitt, former exhibitor, is now handling
the Maryland Censor Board Seals
for most major film companies . . . "Shout
at the Devil" is currently showing at five
theatres locally. It stars Lee Marvin and
Roger Moore . Chazen and her
husband Max returned from a fortnight's
vacation in Los Angeles. Mrs. Chazen is
secretary to Leon B. Back, general manager
of Rome Theatres and president of NATO
of Maryland.
Arthur Hallock, manager of the Paramount
Theatre returned with his wife Olga
from a week's touring in Ireland November
9. He reported a wonderful time. Olga
said, "It was beautiful. The people on the
trip were absolutely wonderful and beautiful.
As hostess. I supervised 83 people on
the seven-day journey." The last night of the
tour the couple was honored with a Medieval
Banquet in Bunratty Castle in Limerick.
Eric Hayword dubbed Olga "Lady Olga"
and queen of the evening while Arthur was
made lord of the evening.
Ron Kurz, former manager of Playhouse
Theatre, sends a note from his new home
in Antrim, N.H.; "Thanks for thinking of
me for another greeting in the Christmas
issue of BoxoFFiCE. My best wishes do go
out to everyone. Hoping for something on
a grander scale to advertise in the future— if
my novel 'Lethal Gas' ever makes it to
film. The project has been in the works for
two years now and finally, we all hope, is
shaping up for production. I've worked
several months on the screenplay along with
Bud Yorkin who holds the option. We think
we've got it right. Casting will begin soon."
The Vagabonds production for November
was "Jekyll & Hyde." Written and directed
by Steve Yeager, it was freely adapted
from the Robert Louis Stevenson novella
and the Rouben Mamoulian film. In the
program was the following tribute; "Dedicated
to a true cinema pioneer-Rouben Mamoulian
who, after all, studied with Stanislavski."
Variety Club Tent 19 held its annual
election of officers at 8:30 p.m. November
10 in Howard Johnson's Meeting Room,
Reisterstown Road. The following members
were elected to hold offices: Phil Harris,
chief barker; Henry Paltell, first assistant
barker; Al Zlatin, second assistant barker;
Ronnie Freedman, property master and Joe
Pollack, dough guy. New board members
are Lou Swartz, Herbert Harmatz, Kevin
Lloyd Molley, Phil Weinberg, Gurt Gran,
Ed Edelson and Harry Friedlander.
of the pressing problems of our day, it is also
timely and provocative," according to Sun
film critic R.H. Gardner.
For the past 14 years, with help from
various federal and state grants and endowments,
the Center Stage Young People's
Theatre Company (YPT) has traveled statewide,
visiting schools, senior citizens centers
and hospitals. The company performs short
plays and offers-story telling to small groups.
Henry O. Pezold, longtime Claude Neon
Signs associate, celebrated his 99th birthday
November 28. A retired electrical contractor,
Pezold was affiliated with Claude Neon
Signs for over three decades. Jack Nethen
commented: "He still visits the firm once
a week and the people here hosted a luncheon
to celebrate his birthday. Henry was
a very close friend and associate of my fa-
ther Adolph F. Nethen." November 22, by
the way, was the seventh anniversary of
Adolph Nethen's death Hawkins,
former bookkeeper Claude Neon
at
Signs, celebrated his 57th wedding anniversary
Thanksgiving Day.
Herbert Schwartz, HIS Pictures, has
joined retired state department official Leo
L. Seligson in charging the Bcthesda Country
Club in Montgomery County with discriminating
against Jews. Seligson testified
at a special hearing held by the Maryland
attorney general to decide whether the club
is eligible for special state tax benefits granted
under the open-space law. Schwartz said
his application was rejected in March because
of what he termed "the uncivilized
practice in today's market of discriminating
against Jews." The hearing was conducted
by Fred Oken, a designated hearing officer.
Alexander H. Cohen, New York impresario
and director of the Mechanic Theatre,
brought a group of 100 other producers,
theatre owners and assorted members of the
New York show business community to this
city by train recently for a special performance
of "Hellzapoppin." starring Jerry
Lewis and Lynn Redgrave. Cohen and other
spokesmen for the theatre stressed that this
was a working gathering and not a "starstruck
deal." Ths group, which came from
New York in two special train cars, included
Gerald Schoenfeld, president of the Shubert
organization; Philip Rose, producer of
"Shenandoah"; Maxine Fox and Kenneth
Waisman, who produced "Grease," and Cy
Feuer, producer of "Guys and Dolls."
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,
^°^^ "^'^^ *^^ famous
BlUfiilliC*'
f^^^;;;^ Don Ho Show. . . at
[Horasj Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
IIM WAIKIKI: REEF REEf TOWERS
-
EDGEWATER
Phil Harris, chief barker. Tent 19, innovated
the very successful oyster and crab
feasts held at Overlea Hall since 1968. The
annual feasts have made a substantial contribution
to the Sunshine Coach Fund for
Crippled Children.
"Sean Connery's 'The Next Man' is not
only extraordinarily engrossing as suspense
films go, but inasmuch as it deals with one
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976 E-7

. . Sean
WASHINGTON
iparainuuiit's "King Kong" will be screened
for an invitational audience Thursday
(16) at the Landover 6 theatres. Landover,
Md. The nontransferable invitations were
issued by the local office of Ray Thompson
& Associates, where Michael Fillman is
manager with Patti Romeo as assistant manager.
The remake of the classic "King Kong"
will be opening in 1.000 theatres across the
U.S. Friday (17). The Dino De Laurentiis
production will have the benefit of approximately
$10 million worth of promotional
tie-ins.
Allied Artists' "The Next Man," now at
six area theatres, was described by the Post's
John Marks as "well worth seeing." He added:
"It is too bad that (it is inaccurately promoted)
as "in the world of spying and dying,
love is the ultimate weapon." This actually
is a film about how the U.S., the Soviet
Union and other powers use terrorism when
it suits their purposes and how the real
losers are the ordinary citizens around the
world Connery's message seems
pretty to me and perhaps someday
good
the world will be ready for an Arab spokesman
who calls for peace, shared resources
and an end to terrorism."
CINE, the Council on International Nontheatrical
Events, held its annual awards
ceremony and film showcase at the Mayflower
Hotel November 17-19, where winners
of the CINE Golden Eagle were presented
their certificates. At a November 17
luncheon hosted by CINE president Carl
H. Lenz, the board of directors presented
254 awards to the filmmakers from a total
of 774 entries submitted by producers, sponsors
and distributors. At a November 18
banquet, ranking diplomats presented by
producers, sponsors and distributors. At a
November 18 banquet, ranking diplomats
presented the awards to producers of the
128 films which have won awards for the
best U.S. short films submitted to international
film festivals. The deadline date for
receiving entries in CINE's 1977 spring competition
is February 1
"Jimmy Carter Presents the Third American
Century" when he addresses the Women's
National Democratic Club limcheon
Monday (13). Congresswoman Corinne
Boggs of Louisiana will introduce Monroe.
Rosalind Russell's death November 28
prompted the Post's Tom Shales to recall
an interview with her in 1972 when the
AFl toasted her at a special screening of
her 1939 film "The Women." He said: "This
was indeed still the spunky, spirited, wisecracking
gal who could, authoritatively, have
told just about anyone where to get off
and often gave us great pleasure by doing
just that in the movies . . . Her resourcefulness
was distinctively her own and immistakably
American."
United Artists' "Network" had an invitational
preview hosted by AFI at the Kennedy
Center, followed by a cocktail-buffet,
November 16. Paddy Chayefsky was among
the guests freely discussing his film which he
believes will do tetter because of TV's rather
negative reaction to it. Sander Vanocur,
writing for the Star, stated: " 'Network' is a
wonderful two hours of entertainment. The
film really isn't about TV. It's a study of the
modern corporation . . . that insists each
year on the maximization of profits. Chayefsky
has sounded in 'Network' a cry of
despair for himself and others who still
cling to the elusive faith that one day TV
might be
magic again."
Director Brian De Palma, at a United
Artists sales and advertising confab in New
York, discussed the surfacing of "Carrie"
since its openings (locally, in ten situations,
the gross reached $150,000 the first week)
as being his first major commercial breakthrough.
The Post's Gary Arnold thinks the
audience response to "Carrie," which he
describes as a "superlative new horror
thriller," may reflect "elation from . . .
discovery of a new, distinctively exciting
master of the exquisite movie art of making
'fun chills' run up one's spine."
. . . Either
The sixth Washington National Student Elizabeth Taylor's costume designer, Florence
Film Festival, organized by the radio-TVfilm
Klotz, for "A Little Night Music" is
division of the University of Maryland, making Taylor's wedding dress and Georgetowner
had filmmakers Nicolas Roeg, Frank Capra
Monique Thiessen of Bogart's is cre-
and Barbara Loden select and present the ating her hairstyle for the wedding, set for
100-minute program at the American Film year's end.
Institute Theatre Friday (3). Among Roeg's
works, which he directed, is "The Man Who Catherine Burgess of the X-rated film
Fell to Earth"; Capra's include "Mr. Smith "Through the Looking Glass," now showing
Goes to Washington," and Loden has made at the K-B Cerberus Theatre, on a recent
an independent feature, "Wanda." The promotional visit described the film as "truly
best
student films submitted from schools across an artistic orgasm." The Star's Charlie Mcthe
country were shown . . . API's Center Collum had this to say: " 'Through the
for Advanced Film Studies in Beverly Hills, Looking Glass' ranks as a curiosity piece
Calif., is accepting applications for next and no more. As a piece of porn, the version
year's curriculum until March 1. A 16-page
playing here—which is very, very soft— is
brochure describing the programs going
is available
to disappoint devotees
from the center.
way, 'Through the Looking Glass' isn't
worth a visit on a rainy Saturday afternoon."
Bill Monroe, moderator of NBC-TV's Burgess has a small role in the sequel to
"Meet the Press," will speak on the topic "Taxi Driver," which is in production.
AFI Film Club Has Raised
$38,550 to Fund Projects
WASHINGTON~The Film Club of the
American Film Institute has opened its fifth
season by raising $38,550 in contributions.
Mrs. David Ginsburg, who has been chairman
of the Fans of AFI since it was established,
said that the funds would support
educational and special projects of the
American Film Institute Theatre at Kennedy
Center, including children's matinee
programs.
The Film Club has raised more than
$150,000 for AFI since 1973. This year,
members are contributing $150 per person
for a series of film previews arranged by a
committee of the Fans of AFI.
This year's first club event was the Washington
premiere of "Network." Screenwriter
Paddy Chayefsky and producer Howard
Gottfried joined Film Club members and
special guests, including Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger, Federal Communications
Commission Chairman Richard Wiley and
many Washington correspondents, for the
screening and a buffet-supper hosted by
MGM and United Artists.
3 Masked Men Take $4,200
At Milgram's Fox Theatre
PHILADELPHIA—Three men wearing
masks, one with a shotgun, robbed
ski
Richard Rafferty, night manager of Milgram's
Fox Theatre in center city, at 9:20
p.m. November 18. Rafferty said he was
taking some money from the bo.xoffice to
his first-floor office when the three men
approached.
They made him go into his office and
open the safe, then they gagged and blindfolded
him, and tied him to a chair before
running off with $4,200. The money taken
from Rafferty and the safe represented the
day's
receipts.
Yugoslav-Born Filmmaking
Authority Vorkapich Dies
MIJAS, SPAIN—Slavko Vorkapich, 82,
Vukoslav-born authority on the use of
montage of filmmaking, died here recently.
He had been visiting his son. As a Hollywood
cinematographer between 1920 and
1940, Vorkapich worked on many early
among them, "Prisoner of Zenda,"
classics,
"Crime Without Passion" and "Joan of
Arc."
77 Convention Slated
HOMESTEAD, VA.—The National
Ass'n of Theatre Owners of Virginia will
conduct its annual convention here July
17-14. 1977. it was announced by the group.
Obscenity Ordinance Passed
WILKES-BARRE, PA.—A new city ordinance
has gone into effect banning the display
for sale or view of pornographic books,
movies and objects. Since there are no X-
rated movies presently being shown in the
city, enforcement of the measure was directed
against newsstand proprietors.
E-8 BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

Boulder Quad Charted
By Cooper-Highland
DENVER— Marshall Smith, executive
vice-president of Cooper Highland Theatres,
announced that the Denver-based circuit is
expanding in Boulder. Colo. The Village
Theatre will have an additional three auditoriums
added to the present structure, making
the Village a quad. Construction is to
start within 90 days, with a projected opening
on Memorial Day 1977.
Seating in the three new theatres will be
approximately 400 each. The present Village
Theatre will not be changed in any way.
The construction is part of the expansion
of the shopping center in which the theatre
is located, with 3,000 feet of retail space
and 1,000 parking spaces being added. Mel
Glatz & Associates of Golden. Colo., will
handle the design.
Acme Labs Are Acquired
By the Stockdale Corp.
SALT LAKE CITY—The Stockdale
Corp., a multi-divisional communications
and photographic complex located in Salt
Lake City, has just acquired the assets and
building of Acme Video & Film Labs, Ltd.,
in Hollywood. Announced by company
president S. Patrick Stockdale, the purchase
of this facility, for terms undisclosed, will
offer Western-region producers a fully
equipped 16mm and 8mm motion picture
processing and printing facility on the West
Coast.
Located at 1161 North Highland Ave. in
the heart of Hollywood's filmmaking community,
the new facility will be renamed
Photo-Tech Laboratories/ Hollywood and is
expected to begin its new operation with the
first business day of 1977.
Paul Deer, manager of Stockdale Corp.'s
Salt Lake City Photo-Tech Laboratories
and formerly with Technicolor Labs in Hollywood—currently
is
staffing the new laboratory
and also is overseeing the installation
of new processing equipment including
VNF. (Video News Film), Eastman Kodak's
newest color reversal film. Deer will return
in Salt Lake City once the new facility is
operational.
Variety Club 25 to Host
Youngsters at Yule Party
LOS ANGELES—Some 1
,000 youngsters,
aged six to 14, will be the guests of Metro-
the Variety Boys' Club.
The youths, members of the Variety Boys
Club, which is largely supported by Tent 25,
will be treated to refreshments and gifts.
BOXOmCE :; December 6. 1976
Crest Film to Distribute
Animated Feature in West
HOLLYWOOD—Crest Film Distributors
plans a February distribution in the 13 Western
states of Voyage Productions' "Fantastic
Animation Festival," a 113-minute feature
compilation of animation cartoons from
around the world. Director Chris Padilla
reportedly researched 40 years of cartooning
in seven different countries to compile
the best animated works he could find.
Among items in the film are an original
Superman cartoon produced by Max
Fleischer in the early 1940s and the 1975
Oscar winner. "Closed Mondays."
Harry Phillips Named V-P
Of Artists Creation. SLC
SALT LAKE CITY— Harry Phillips has
been named financial
vice-president of Artists
Creation & Associates, locally based
motion picture production company.
SEATTLE
J^
cameraman involved in filming a chase
scene for the movie "Joyride" was
killed Tuesday, November 23, when the car
he was shooting from overturned, according
to the Washington State Patrol. Charles A.
Parkison jr., 3L Sylmar. Calif., was leaning
out a car window filming when the vehicle,
which was supposed to have gone into a
skid and slide sideways, rolled instead, according
to a state trooper. The accident
hapened between Port Ludlow and the Hood
Canal Bridge on an hilly, curvy, county road
west of this city across Puget Sound. In
the film are Robert Carradine, Desi Arnaz
jr.. Anne Lockhart and Melanie Griffith.
Bruce Cohn Curtis is
the producer.
Bill Shonk, Pacific Northwest division
manager for United Artists Theatre Circuit,
returned from meetings in San Francisco
November 23.
Tlie main new film here Thanksgiving
week was "Carrie," which opened November
24 at the Music Box. "The Adventures
of the Wilderness Family" did well and held
a second week in the Everett Mall Cinema.
Lewis & Clark, Lake City, John Danz and
Lynn theatres . . . "Jonah Who Will Be 25
in the Year 2000" will be the first attraction
in the new Seven Gables Theatre under the
banner of Randy Finley. Probable opening
day is Wednesday (8).
politan Theatres Corp. and Variety Club of "Maratlion Man" was still going strong
downtown Southern California Tent 25 at the annual in its seventh week at the Coliseum
Christmas party to be held at 12 noon
and in the Everett Mall and Tacoma
Thursday (23) at the company's Brooklyn Villa Plaza cinemas.
Theatre, 2524 Brooklyn Ave., Los Angeles.
"How Funny Can Sex Be?" opened at the
Hosts will include Bruce C. Corwin, president
Varsity in the University district November
of Metropolitan Theatres: Milton L
24.
Moritz, president of Tent 25; Maryellen
Aspell, president of the Ladies of Variety, Lou Kalin, branch manager for Warner
and Louis R. Diaz, executive director of Bros., was in Portland on business, making
final arrangements for the holiday releases.
Believe this one! The month of November
in the metropolitan area went out with a
Variety 25 Planning
Milton Moritz Fete
LOS ANGELES— Milton I. Moritz, retiring
president of Variety Club of Southern
California Tent 25, will be honored at a
noon luncheon January 12 at the Beverly
Hilton Hotel.
Moritz has served for the last two years
as chief of the show business organization
devoted to aiding physically handicapped
and needy children in the Southland.
Samuel Z. Arkoff, as honorary chairman,
heads an arrangements committee for the
affair with Mort Goodman and Gene Cofsky
as co-chairmen.
Committee members include Leon P.
Blender, Mike Gerety, Max Goodman, Pete
Latsis, Dick Porter, Murray Propper, Paul
Ross and Sandy Wilk.
total of less than three-fourths of an inch of
rain, some six inches below the normal for
the month. For the year, the deficit is 12
inches below normal and no change is in
sight. The four-day Thanksgiving holiday
dawned clear—but it was cool throughout
the entire period. Drive-in owners are still
scratching their heads trying to figure out
if closing at this time really makes sense
. . . Fun. the Entertainment Weekly ran
some ten photos on its cover for the Thanksgiving
edition, featuring all of the film
product playing for viewers' Thanksgiving
week enjoyment.
SAN FRANCISCO
fhe Richelieu Cinema, which just celebrated
its first anniversary, under Jack
Tillmany's ownership and management, will
present a four-week Alfred Hitchcock festival
during December. Eight of the maestro's
most popular suspense thrillers will be
shown. November was devoted to a Rudolf
Nureyev film festival consisting of "I Am a
Dancer," "An Evening With the Royal Ballet,"
"The Ballet of Romeo and Juliet" and
"Don Quixote."
The Richelieu has undergone a facelifting
during the last year. The auditorium and
lobby have been repainted and redecorated
and the lounge area now boasts an impressive
photo mural display of historic local
theatres, culled from Tillmany's extensive
personal collection. New seats, rugs and
screen will be installed during the forthcoming
vear.
'Dreams' Opens at Wiltern
LOS ANGELES—Avco Embassy's "Pipe
Dreams." a romantic adventure story set in
Alaska and starring Gladys Knight and Barry
Hankerson, opened Wednesday (1) at the
Wiltern Theatre for a one-week engagement
to qualify the film for Academy Award
consideration.

Hollywood
JVJEL BROOKS will participate in a special
screening and discussion of his
"The Producers" Tuesday (7) at the Writers
Guild Theatre in a program coordinated by
Herbert Margolis, senior vice-president of
the Penthouse Films International and presented
by the UCLA Extension program.
•
Universal has exercised its option on
Gretchen Corbett for an additional exclusive
contract term. The studio also has signed
stage actor Bob Neill to a term contract
under its new talent development program
•
Perry Lafferty has been named producer
of the American Film Institute salute to
Bette Davis to he held March in Los
1
Angeles.
*
Producer Marty Hornstein completed
shooting on "Catch a Falling Star" two
days ahead of schedule. The Warner Bros,
film stars Robby Benson and was directed
by Lament Johnson.
•
The late Fritz Lang was honored posthumously
at the first annual Science-Fiction,
Horror and Fantasy Hall of Fame
awards luncheon Sunday at the Wilshire
Hyatt House. Nine other awards also were
presented to actor Christopher Lee and
producer director George Pal in the motion
picture industry; Robert Bloch, literature;
TV actor Jay Robinson; Jerry Siegel and
Backgammon
I ^nim Distributors, Inc.
A new Distribution Company for
the New England territory. Formed
by people experienced in handling
all types of film. We are prepared
to try new and different
methods to insure proper marketing
of your product. Contact:
Mark Diamond (617)868-4250
Happenings
Joe Shuster, co-creators of the Superman
comic book art; Jim Danforth, special
effects and stop-action animation in TV
and films and animator Bob Clampett for
TV and motion picture animation.
*
Hollywood columnist Bob Thomas, whose
new book "Walt Disney; An American
Original" has just been published by Simon
& Shuster, joined dais guests when Disney
was honored posthumously Novvember 29
by the American Society of Cinematographers.
A plaque giving Disney posthumous
honorary membership in the ASC was presented
to E. Cardon Walker, president of
Walt Disney Productions.
*
Memorial services for Dr. Bernard R.
K.antor, chairman of the University of
Southern California Division of Cinema
Dr. Kantor died
were held Wednesday ( I ) .
of a heart attack November 23. He had
been chairman of the cinema division since
1964 and served in various capacities in
the motion picture business making documentary,
educational and TV films. He was
president and owner of New Media Enterprises,
a motion picture producing company.
Signet Books has printed
1,000,000 copies
of its paperback edition of "Carrie" as a
tie-in with release of the United Artists
picture. An initial printing of 650,000
copies sold out soon after publication and
an added 350,000 printing was ordered as
the film's boxoffice results began coming
in. The movie edition includes an eightpage
illustrated insert of scenes from the
Brian De Palma film starring Sissy Spacek,
John Travolta and Piper Laurie.
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'Network' Garners 900
In Varied LA Listings
LOS ANGELES—Strong variation marks
the listings in Los Angeles with "Network"
at the top with 900 and "A Matter of Time"
slipping to a 50 gross. Several films stayed
strong in between those extremes. Paramount's
"The Last Tycoon" pulled 305 in
its second week followed by "Cousin Cousine"
at 275. Two films. "Marathon Man"
and "The Front," were at the 225 level.
"The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" garnered
210 in its third week at Avco I.
(Average Is 100)
Avco I—The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Univ),
3rd wk 210
Brum—The Last Tycoon (Para), 2nd wlc 305
Chinese—Marathon Man (PaTa). 8th wk 230
Cinerama Dome— All This and World War II
_ (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 115
. o-x Wilshire—The Song Remains the Same
(WB), 6lh wk 140
Hollywood Pussycat—Expose Me Lovely (SR),
4th wk .125
Music Hall—Cousin Cousine (SR), 4th wk 275
National—The Front (Col), 8th wk 225
Pacilic Beverly—Passover Plot (SR), 5th wk 75
Regent—Network (UA), 2nd wk 900
UA Cinema 4—A Matter ol Time (AlP), 8th wk 50
"Pony Express Rider' Legging
Into
Second Denver Week
DENVER—AIP's "Street People" opened
just under the average mark in Denver last
period following stronger openings the week
before. In its second week was the Golden
Film release "The Amazing Dobermans"
holding down a 115 for the dog story. Top
scorer is still "Marathon Man," now in its
seventh week, rating a 190. "The Next
Man" in its third is at 180. "Pony Express
Rider" is at 150 in its second round.
Centre—The Song Remains the Same (WB),
4th wk 70
Century 21—Marathon Man (Para). 7th wk 190
Cherry Creek—The Ritz (WB), Bih wk 90
Colorado 4—Murder by Death (Col), 23rd wk 135
Continental-Bugsy Malone (Para), 4th wk 140
Cooper—The Front (Col), flth wk, 110
Cooper Cameo—The Next Man (AA), 3rd wk 180
Five theatres— Street People (AIP) 90
Four theatres—Two-Minute Warning (Univ)
3rd wk 135
Nine theatres-The Amazing World of Psychic
Phenomena (SR), 2nJ wk 100
Seven theatres— Pony Express Rider
(Doty-Dayton), 2nd wk 150
Six theatres—The Amazing Dobermans (SR).
2nd wk 115
Ten theatres- Carrie (UA), 3rd wk 180
Two theatres—Car Wash (Univ), 5th wk 135
Two theatres—Shout at the Devil (AIP), 4th wk .100
University Hills —
1 Winter Equinox (SR),
2nd wk 125
University Hills 2—Alex & the Gypsy (20th-Fox).
6th wk 30
University Hills 3—The Edge (SR), 10th wk 125
r\y'
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Western Theatrical Equipment Co.
187 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102
Phone: (415) 861-7571
Pacific Theatre Equipment Co
142 Leavenworth Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Phone: (415) 771-2950
John P. Filbert Co., Inc.
)0 Flower Street (P.O. Box 5085)
Glendale, California 91201
Phone: (213) 247-6550
Theatre Service & Supply, Inc.
1109 South La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90035
Phone: (213) 652-1517
Western Service & Supply,
2100 Stout Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
Phone: (303) 534-7611
BOXOFFICE :: December 6. 1976
Inc. Peterson Theatre Supply
455 Bearcat Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
Phone: (801) 466-7642
S. F. Burns & Co., Inc,
2319 2nd Avenue
Seottle, Washington 98101
Phone: (206) 624-2515
W-3

. . BEST
TUCSON
. . .
Tack Frost had star billing November 27 at
dri\'e-ins throughout the stale when
Arizona-style winter came on location. The
usual short stay is expected but the economy
was left with freezing temperature In early
mornine hours in southern Arizona
The empty Rio Theatre in Yuma was among
the casualties in a $240,000 to $300,000
fire that partially leveled the historic 50-
year-old Territorial
Mall.
The Cactus Drive-In is being converted
to a three-screen operation. According to
Ewart Edwards, "Everything will be new
except the original screen." Edwards is city
supervisor for Cactus Corp.
:housiom cin^M^fi^souriD equipr^rfr commmv inc.
IN EXPRESSING GRATITUDE AND THANKS FOR A
VERY SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR, WE, IN TURN WANT
TO OFFER ALL OF YOU AN ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL OF
A GUILLOTINE M2/35mm or M2/16mm MYLAR SPLICER
WITH YOUR CHOICE OF THREE ROLLS OF CLEAR OR
WHITE TAPE, FOR THE PRICE OF $175.00, fob,
HOUSTON, TEXAS. WE HAVE THESE IN STOCK FOR
IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. EXTRA TAPE IS $1.75 per roll,
CLEAR, and $1.95 per roll, WHITE. OFFER IS GOOD
THROUGH JANUARY 1, 1977. MAY WE OFFER OUR
ASSISTANCE TO YOU FOR YOUR SUPPLIES, SPARE
PARTS, NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT-EVERYTHING
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JOHN -JIM -
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JEANNIE
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3732 N. SHEPHERD DR., HOUSTON, TEXAS 77018 (713) 691-4379
Last Week of Filming
For 'Willie' in Texas
HOLLYWOOD—"Willie," a sophisticated,
contemporary family comedy, is completing
its last week of filming in Kerrville,
Tex.
"Willie" is the story of an eight-year-old
electronic genius. Much to the disappointment
of his sportsminded father. Willie
would rather program a miniature computer
or design a bionic rabbit than to play baseball.
His construction of an electrical computer
creates havoc for the town of Kerrville.
Henry Darrow, formerly of the "High
Chaparral" TV series, plays Willie's father
who is the local sheriff. Willie is played by
Marc Gilpin, a talented young actor from
Dallas. Others in the cast include Guy Madison
as the old cowboy, Kate Woodville as
Willie's mother and Rock Montanio, also of
Dallas, as Willie's friend.
"Willie" is being produced by the Bountiful
West Corp. of Hollywood.
DENVER
^ini Warner has taken over the buying and
booking chores for Spence Ryder in
Kalispcll, Mont. Warner will be setting dates
for the Strand and Liberty theatres, the
Midway and Sundown drive-ins and the
newly erected Gateway Theatre.
Ron Ingebretsen, who operates High
Coimtry Film Distributors in Salt Lake
City, was in town calling on accounts . . .
A Friday night sneak of "Network" was
held in the Cooper Theatre.
Jack Felix and Jack and Betty
Micheletti
of J&B Film Distributors held an invitational
cocktail party at the Colorado Four
Theatre and then showed a product reel of
their forthcoming releases. Exhibitors were
treated to footage from "The Amazing
Dobermans," "Crash!", "Hollywood High"
and "Mad Dog Morgan" as well as eight
other features.
PETERSON
THEATRE
SUPPLY
455 Bearcat Drive
Times Square Tark
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
801-466-7642
Boston • Dollas • New York
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264 East Isr South, Solt Lake City, Utah 841
W-4

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Key Int'l Moves Kaycee
Operations to Denver
KANSAS CITY—Key International
Films division manager David Darr announced
that, effective Monday (8), division
office functions formerly handled in Kansas
City will be consolidated with those of the
Key home office in Denver. All correspondence
and sales inquiries should be directed
to the Denver office. Film shipments.
however, will continue to be made to exhibitors
from existing centrally located
branch locations. Darr said, to assure that
the ultimate in fast, dependable service for
theatremen will be continued.
Inquiries concerning Key International
Films product should, in the future, be directed
to David Darr, Key International
Films, 8000 East Girard Ave., Suite 412,
Denver Colo. 80231. The Key telephone
number in Denver is (303) 755-7666.
Darr stated that he would continue to call
on accounts periodically in the Kansas City,
St. Louis, Des Moines, Omaha and Lincoln
areas.
Chicago Columnist Notes
Dearth of Kiddies Films
CHICAGO—"Good movies arc hard to
find—but they're there." declared Christine
Nieland. Chicago Daily News staffer in a
recent article which noted the low patronage
accorded so-called family films.
"Several substantial problems stand in the
way of good films for children." said Ms.
Nieland. "Parents continually complain
about their nonexistence, then stay away
from them in droves when they finally are
released."
The article, published in the Daily News
November 13, continued: "The magic Disney
label does not guarantee success anymore.
Animated features cost a fortune to
produce. TV in consequence often functions
as the convenient Saturday babysitter that
the movie matinee used to be. Besides,
there's never any way of gauging the quality
of those Saturday afternoon specials now
occasionally slipped in theatres without advance
critical review.
"Two very good prospects, however,
opened here recently. Francois Truffaut's
'Small Change' at the Biograph is a playful,
charming view of childhood, full of lively
humor. I would warn more discriminating
parents that the film is in French with English
subtitles and that sometimes those subtitles
contain words they would rather not
believe their children know. 'Bugsy Malone'
at the McClug Court and local theatres is a
gangster musical with an all-children cast
and word is that it is charming.
"Meanwhile, the best alternative to the
commercial market is the continuing weekly
children's film festival presented by
Facets Multimedia with help from a Mc-
Donald's Corp. grant. Films are screened
free at the Facets Center. 555 West Belden.
at
1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays. The series
recently has expanded to a second location,
the Resurrection School, 5060 Jackson, at
10 a.m. Saturdays.
"Facets members select for this series
films that neither pander to children nor
dwell on stereotypes or violence. A special
holiday feature. "The Wizard of Oz,' will be
shown Saturday (11) and Saturday (18) . . .
With the exception of the Facets series and
whatever programs individual schools offer,
parents simply have to play do-it-yourself
with your own projector.
"The Chicago Public Library's audiovisual
branch, on the fourth floor at Michigan
and Washington, stocks a library of 20
to 30 8mm silent shorts, including several
celebrated silent-era comedies and Disney
cartoons. Anyone with an adult or young
adult library card can check out up to three
films for a week— free.
"In the suburbs, individual libraries have
their own policies. The Evanston Public
Library,
available for rent.
for example, even has 16mm films
"After that, it gets expensive but not prohibitive.
Companies such as . . . Select Film
Library . . . sell 8mm prints of everything
from Laurel and Hardy to 'The Birth of a
Nation.' as well as cartoons. Prices are reasonable,
print quality is quite good and a
Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy classic will
stand up to repeated viewings and provide
a more reliable return on your investment
than a dozen of those latter-day Disney
(films). Besides, you don't have to go out
into
the rain and pick up the kids when the
movie's over."
Goodland Patrons Sleep
In Lobby to Plug Film
GOODLAND, KAS.—Northwest Recreation
furnished a king-size waterbed, manager
Bud Perrey furnished the lobby of
Commonwealth's Sherman Theatre and the
local newspaper furnished lots of publicity
to make "Futureworld" a big hit here.
Perrey arranged to have the bed, dubbed
a "Futurebed," set up in the lobby and,
through newspaper ads, invited couples to
spend the night for "the sleep of a lifetime."
Present to cover the promotion were a
reporter and a staff photographer from the
Goodland Daily News, which devoted frontpage
space for a week to the gimmick with
articles and photos.
Those who spent the night in the Sherman
lobby received free breakfast and tickets
to see the film.
'Small Change' Has Lofty
Opening in Windy City
CHICAGO—New World Pictures' "Small
Change" reported an outstanding gross during
the first three days of its engagement
at the Biograph Theatre here.
The Francois Truffaut film, which has
opened to excellent business around the
country, recently was screened in the Chicago
International Film Festival.
Previously. "Small Change" was the
opening-night attraction at the New York
Film Festival and it also was featured at
the
San Francisco Film Festival.
Lee Nolan and Zev Braun are producing
"Angela," based on a screenplay by Charles
Israel.
Xarrie' Doubles All
Other Film Grosses
KANSAS CITY—"Carrie" brought in
the crowds in Kansas City opening at three
theatres during the last period. It more than
doubled the gross of any other film in town
with a whopping 465 score. Still strong in
its second week was "Two-Minute Warning"
with 210 score. The feature "Small
a
Change" debuted in the city with a very
strong 200 following an excellent review in
the Kansas City Star. "The Song Remains
the Same" scored 180.
(Average Is 100)
Eight theatres—Super Bug. Super Agent (SR) 115
Embassy Fantastic Invasion ol Planet Earth (SR),
2nd wk 115
Empire, Ranchma: l— The Song Remains the Same
(WB) 180
Four theatres—The Next Man (AA), 2nd wk 85
Four theatres—Two-Minute Warning (Univ),
2nd wk -210
Glenwood—Alex 4 the Gypsy (20th-Fox),
5th wk, 100
.
Plaza—The Ritz .', : 140
Seven thecttre. Pony Express Rider
(Doty-Dayton; 90
Six theatres—The Girl From Starship Venus
(SR) - 70
Six theatres—James Dean: the First American
Teenager (SR) 55
Three theatres—Car Wash (Uii.v), 5::, -.vi: .130
Three theatres—Carrie lUA) 465
Three theatres-Duel in Tiger Den (SR) 55
(Col), 5th _ Three theatres—The Front wk 100
Three theatres—Marathon Man (9c(ra), 6th wk 95
Watts Mill—Small Change (SR) 200
"Small Change' and 'Upl' Lead
Stable Chicago Boxoffice List
CHICAGO—The Thanksgiving holiday
helped boost grosses at many boxoffices,
local managers say. Both holdovers and
openers received top scores. The list was
led by "Up!" at 325, an adult film, and
followed by a film about children titled
"Small Change." "Pipe Dreams" matched
the "Small Change" score at 300 while
"Two-Minute Warning" was a close fourth
in its second week with 295. "God Told Me
To," "Car Wash" and "Joshua" were at the
250 mark.
Biograph—Small Change (SR) ..._ 300
Carnegie-Keetie Tippel (SR) ..- .225
Chicage^Pipe Dreams (Emb) - -..300
Cinema—Cousin Cousine (ST!), 4th wk 250
Five theatres—Two-Minute Warning (Univ),
2nd wk. - 295
Four theatres—The Next Man (AA), 2nd wk 225
Four theatres—Bugsy Malone iPara) 225
Four theatres—Marathon Man (Para). 6th wk 180
Hillside—The Song Remains the Same (SR),
5th wk 250
Looi^Upl (SR), 2nd wk 325
Michael Todd—Annie (SR) 225
Oriental—God Told Me To (SR) 250
Roosevelt—Joshua (SR) 250
State Lake—Car Wash (Univ), 7th wk 250
Two theatres—The Front (Col), 5th wk 150
Two theatres-Carrie (UA), 3rd wk 200
'Erotic Adventures' Debut
Scheduled for St. Louis
ST. LOUIS—Chris Warfield's "The
Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio," starring
Alex Roman, Dyanne Thorne, Karen Smith
and Eduardo Ranez, is set to open Wednesday
(8) at the Fine Arts Theatre here. The
Lima Productions feature in Technicolor,
rated X, was directed by Corey Allen with
Ray Dennis Sleekier as cinematographer.
"The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio" is
distributed in the Kansas City-St. Louis-
Omaha territories by Overland Park, Kas.-
based Mercury Film Co.
BOXOFTICE :: December 6, 1976
C-1

ST .
LOUIS
greakiiig Point," 20th-Fox thriller, opens
Friday (lO') at Cypress Village, South
County, Des Peres and Lewis & Clark. The
story revolves around a 35-year-old ex-Marine
who witnesses a murder and faces the
vengeance of a mob because of his testimony
to the police. Starring is Bo Svenson,
with Robert Culp and Linda Sorenson in
leading
roles.
Peter Sellers as the inept, bumbling Inspector
Clouseau (for the third go-round)
will be seen in "The Pink Panther Strikes
Again," coming Wednesday (15) to the
Crestwood, Manchester, Village, Stadium 1
and the BAC Cinema, Belleville, III. Herbert
Lorn co-stars in the detective-action
comedy.
Paramount's new version of "King Kong"
comes to town Friday (17) at Loews" State,
Northland, Sunset, Westport and Cross
Keys. In the De Laurentiis production, the
40-foot gorilla climbs the 110-story World
Trade Center in Manhattan instead of the
Empire State Building. This time his victim
is blonde New York fashion model and
actress Jessica Lange. Male leads are Jeff
Bridges and Charles Grodin. While the actual
"fall" was filmed in Hollywood with
the mechanical monster, the concluding
scene of the bleeding, dead ape at the foot
of the structure, was shot in New York
with some 5,000 "extras," a real New York
crowd, at the site. The three shootings of
the five-minute scene cost about $250,000.
Mid-America Theatres, in planning its
second annual film festival, is scanning the
results of an audience survey of pictures
patrons would like to see again. The most
popular productions will be on MAT
screens between Christmas (25) and New
Year's Day.
1 Backgammon
^^nim Distributors, Inc.
A new Distribution Company for
the New England territory. Formed
by people experienced in handling
all types of film. We are prepared
to try new and different
methods to insure proper marketing
of your product. Contact:
Mark Diamond (617)868-4250
MAT'S 1-70 Twin ozoner is now operating
weekends only and the Plaza Drive-In
has been closed for the season . . . KSLQ
Radio will air a two-hour special, "A Salute
to and With Barbra Streisand," Saturday
(18) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in connection
with her latest release, "A Star Is Born,"
which opens Christmas Day at MAT's
Brentwood.
Don Meyer, manager at Loews" State
who began his industry career in the booking
department at MGM, dropped his
bachelor status Saturday (4) when he and
Betty McDonald exchanged wedding vows.
They will be at home after that date at the
Georgetown Apartments on Laclede Station
Road.
Dion "Tony" Peluse ended a
long association
with Arthur Enterprises when he resigned
as managing director of the circuit's
Fox Theatre last month. Harry Arthur
brought Tony here from Los Angeles 36
years ago to become a member of the local
circuit. Tony has no immediate plans for
the future but feels he wants to change his
life-style after the pressures of a seven-day
work week, which included holidays, for
over 50 years. He is not giving up his annual
chore, however, of coordinating talent
for the Variety Club telethon, which is
scheduled for February.
Lester Kropp, a retiree from the Wehrc-nberg
circuit, is recuperating at his home
following a massive heart attack which required
an extensive stay at St. Anthony's
Hospital. Get-well cards may be sent to him
at 6 Dorclin Lane, St. Louis 63128.
Jerry Banta of Thomas & Shipp received
a letter recently from Herschel McManus,
former General Cinema Corp. division manager
here, now retired and living in Sun
City, Ariz. Mac was hospitalized 17 days
following surgery and is now resting at his
home.
Mac has had two strokes since his retirement
and wears a pacemaker. His wife
Hazel was injured in an auto accident two
years ago and is now suffering from a deteriorating
spinal disc. She will have to imdcrgo
surgery next month. Both of them
would appreciate hearing from their friends
"back home." The address is 9729 Pineairc
Drive, Sun City, Ariz. 85351.
The Washington University and St. Louis
Film Art Society series continues, with
"Topper" to be shown Friday (10) and
Sunday (12). The 1937 classic stars Cary
Grant and Constance Bennett . . . "Out of
the Past" (1947) will be the attraction at the
University City Library Thursday (9) at S
p.m. Stars are Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer
and Kirk Douglas. Admission is free and
there is no charge for parking.
The Better Films Council held its annual
luncheon and all-games party last month at
the Newport Heights Memorial Post. Proceeds
went to Girl's Town of Missouri.
A film crevt- from Allen Landsberg Productions
has been in town filming a feature
based on the career of local psychic Bev
Jaegers. The movie will be shown on Leonard
Nimoy's "In Search Of" TV show early
in 1977.
McKitrick to Be Honored
At December 10 Luncheon
KANSAS CITY—Ray McKitrick, Universal
Pictures branch manager, who is retiring
at year's end, will be honored at a
luncheon to be held Friday (10) at the Wishbone
Restaurant, 4555 Main St. A hospitality
period, starting at 1 1:30 a.m., will precede
the 12:15 p.m. luncheon.
Tickets for the salute to McKitrick are
priced at $5.50. Reservations may be made
by contacting Gene Krull at National Theatre
Supply, 221-9858, or Jean Calvert at
the Universal exchange, 421-5623.
New Voters Given Passes
CLINTON, MO.—Commonwealth Theatres
manager John Cochran gave a pass to
all new voter registrants in Henry County,
Mo., prior to the recent national election as
part of civic awareness program. The recipients
could present their registration cards at
the boxoffice of the Crest Theatre here on
one of three specified dates and be admitted
free of charge to see the screen
program. The public relations promotion
was publicized in the Clinton Daily Democrat,
widely read area newspaper.
Stereo Tapes Awarded
SPRINGFIELD, MO.— Len Eagleburger
held a drawing during his engagement of
"Summer of '64" at the Queen City Twin
Drive-In here. The first person whose name
was selected won eight stereo tapes by the
Beach Boys, promoted from the House of
Sound. Second and third-place winners won
passes for future attractions at the Commonwealth
underskyers.
FINER PROJECTION -SUPER ECONOMY
Hurley
Ask Your Supply Dealer or Write
HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc.
24 Soroh Drive
TECHNICAL
SERVICES
CORPORATION
Sound. PfO)ec1ion, Parts
NATION WIDE
COVERAGE
SINCE 1937
C-2
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

^^\^\l^'^
B\C£^I
The simplest
and finest automated
theatre system
in the world.
f%i^
With Bicentennial
Rebate, at a cost
you'll celebrate, too.
...the revolutionary
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frees the projectionist
entirely of all
'show routine"
For details on the Showmaster and our Cash Rebate
^^j^
• see your Century Dealer — or write: >i^^i^
• CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. 11101
Abbott Theatre Equipment Co.,
Inc.

. . The
. . Schatz
KANSAS CITY
pilnirow last week greeted Universal's new
branch manager, Steve Miller. Present
branch manager Ray McKitrick is retiring
later this month and Miller, formerly of the
Des Moines branch, has been designated as
his successor. A coffee at the Universal
office Monday, November 29. helped introduce
the new manager to local exhibitors.
John Wangberg, American International
Pictures branch manager, spent the lono
Thanksgiving weekend visiting his dauahter
in Omaha . Ute Theatre in Mankato,
Kas., will be closed several months. A fire
swept through the movie house Tuesday,
November 23, causing considerable damage.
Alas and alack! Another eligible female;
has fallen by the wayside, ensnarled in the
tangles of impending matrimony. Lehua
Hutchins, the vivacious secretary at Buena
Vista (noted for her brilliant but spotty
performances on the lanes during the summer
bowling league's existence), has committed
herself to taking the vows of marriage.
Lehua is engaged to wed Gordon
Graham January 15. Already looking into
the future, Lehua commented: "We're going
to name our first child Honey." Congratulations,
Lehua and Gordon.
Mary Lynch, who retired from her secretarial
position at Paramount last month
when she and her husband adopted a tiny
baby girl, brought the cute and cuddly
voung lady into the office last week for all
the staffers to see. And the word is that
she's cute, indeed! Little Maggie Colleen
I,ynch is seven weeks old.
Bob Maddox, Garnett. Kas., exhibitor
has decided to go underground in ^'^arch of
a profit-making venture. Actually, Bob is a
worm farmer, a distributor for the entire
midstates region. He makes franchises
available for local ownership and supplies
those franchises with a regular supply of
product—worms. Bob and his ooeration
have been the subjects of numerous newspaper
features but now the "worm kinp"
has a chance to strut his stuff and exhibit
the showmanship side of his personalitv.
He is appearing in TV commercials on
Kansas City stations to promote his worm
enterprises and the effect is very noticeable.
He's building a large recognition factor
among his audience. Now, when you think
of a worm, think of Bob Maddox!
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,
don't miss the famous
ISitSfii^n'
[hawaTiI Don Ho Show. . at
. i^vreisj Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
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ABC's Kingsley Twin
Opens Christmas Day
JACKSONVILLE — ABC Florida State
Theatres, Florida's largest circuit of motion
picture theatres, is opening the first of its
new Kingsley twins at Orange Park, a suburb
of Jacksonville in Clay County, on
Friday (17) with an area premiere of the
new version of "King Kong" by Paramount.
The second Kingsley twin will have its grand
opening Christmas day. Saturday (25), with
another area premiere, "The Shaggy D. A."
from Walt Disney Productions.
Both Kingsley twins have 500 pushback
seats from Massey Seating. Installation of
projection equipment is by Ralph Blalock.
Wil-Kin engineer from Atlanta. Bender A.
"Dock" Cawthon. ABC FST. is serving as
technical advisor and consultant during the
installation by Blalock of automated projection
and sound apparatus. Christie platters
are providing 2' 2 -hour productions
with animation at the end of each show.
Invisible wall speakers for special sound
effects and intermission music are concealed
behind side walls and background drapes.
The booths have Xenon lamps and Century
projectors, with emergency equipment in
both booths providing Wil-Kin sound and
optical systems. The booths are fully automated.
The throw from projectors to screens
is an even 100 feet. For CinemaScope film,
the screens are 39 feet wide and 16 feet
high. Flat film will show on a 30-foot
screen.
The Kingsley twins were designed by Bill
Murphy, ABC architect from Atlanta, who
also designed ABC FST's Springs twins at
Ocala, Fla. and ABC units in other Southeastern
states.
A detached marquee serves both twins.
A common lobby and concessions area includes
two Cretors & Co. popcorn machines.
Director of theatre operations is William
E. Baskin, veteran ABC FST executive of
Jacksonville.
Charles Rook Leaves Film
'Affliction' for Fishing
BUSHNELL, FLA.—"For every movie
star who shines on screen, there is a legion
of unsung people involved in other facets
of the film industry. They seem to be afflicted
somehow."
Or so Charles Walston writes in the
local newspaper in Bushnell in paying homage
to Charles Rook, pioneer theatre
operator. Portions of the article in his hon-
"The last link between this eclectic industry
and the film viewer is the person who
operates the theatre where the movies are
shown. Charles Rook spent nearly 50 years
in that position before retiring last month.
Rook built the Sumter Drive-in in 1950.
But his career in the business end of entertainment
goes back much farther than that.
He started showing movies in western Oklahoma
in 1917, back when people were
still entranced by the illusion of movement
on giant screens. He was eighteen years old
then.
"In 1940, when newsreels warned ominously
of the war cooking abroad, and FDR
smiled with a jaunty tilt of his cigarette
holder. Rook opened a 1.000 seat movie
house in Montgomery, Ala. At 15 cents a
head, he kept it filled from the time it
opened in the mornintg until the last reel
was shown at night.
"It was in 1947 that Rook came to
Sumter County. He changed homes, but not
professions; he wanted to remain in the
movie business and to that end he purchased
the Bushnell Theatre. Three years later he
built the drive-in at Beville's Comer. The
Bushnell Theatre and others in the county
have since closed their doors.
"In recent years, the trends in filmmaking
have left Charles Rook somewhat baffled,
and he cannot pinpoint a favorite made
since 1970. Still, he loves the business of
booking and showing films, and if arthritis
were not catching up with him at the age
of 78, he says no amount of money' could
have induced him to sell his drive-in.
"Last month though, he did just that,
turning the business over to Mrs. Betty
Eason of Brooksville and her son. His retirement
plans include fishing and more
time spent at home with his wife Rosemond."
Edward Chumley Career Is
Celebrated by Associates
JACKSONVILLE—Edward G. Chumley.
who had a long and active career in the
motion picture industry retired from Twentieth
Century-Fox Film Corp. on November
27. 1976. Ed started his career in the shipping
department of Paramount Pictures in
Okfahoma City, January 8, 1930. His way
up the ladder of success was interrupted
from 1943 to 1945 by World War II, when
he served with the Navy in the South Pacific.
In 1947 he was transferred to Charlotte,
N.C. and served there until 1949, at which
time he was promoted to branch manager in
Jacksonville, Fla. In 1958 Ed was honored
with becoming the national sales manager
for the motion picture "The Ten Com-
or are included for Boxoffice readers.
mandments," with headquarters in Paramount's
"Some (of the afflicted) are thinkers and
idea people; they write score
home office in New York.
scripts,
soundtracks, direct players, edit footage.
After leaving Paramount, Ed was engaged
And, as in any other high-stakes enterprises,
in the exhibition field for a number of years
before 20th-Fo.x persuaded him to accept
there are scores of businessmen, those who
finance the movies, hire personnel, buy the management of their Jacksonville
branch in April of 1967.
Ed and his lovely wife, Elvie, were feted
with a retirement party sponsored by the
employees of the local branch. There were
over a hundred guests in attendance at this
Memphis Moneymaker
Is 'Sasquatch' Film
MEMPHIS — The big moneymaker in
Memphis this past period was "Sasquatch"
showing at three theatres averaging a 360
score in its opening week. "Shout at the
Devil" was next with a 200 at two theatres.
Two second week films are showing off their
legs keeping well above average scores. They
are "The Return of a Man Called Horse" at
135 and "The Front" at 140.
(Average Is 100)
Malco Quartet 2—The Return ol a
Mem Called Horse (UA), 2nd wk 135
Paramount 1—The Front (Col), 2nd wk 140
Paramount 2—The Riti (WB), 4th wk 75
Soulhbrook 2—Upl (SR), 3rd wk 125
Three theatres—Marathon Man (Para), 6th wk 75
Three theatres—Sasquatch (SR) 360
Three theatres—Car Wash (Univ), 4th wk 90
Two theatres—Shout at the Devil (AIP), 2nd wk 200
Studio 1 Suffers $25,000
Damage in Morning Blaze
RALEIGH. N.C.—An early morning fire
of undetermined origin caused an estimated
$25,000 in damages to the interior of the
Studio One Theatre across from the North
Carolina State University campus here November
24.
Firemen said the blaze started at approximately
12:30 a.m., about two hours after
patrons had left. Theatre owner Bill Rawls
said the screen and the sound system would
have to be replaced.
He said the theatre, which was featuring
the X-rated film "Behind the Green Door,"
would be closed until repairs could be made.
The fire apparently started in the curtains
near the screen and spread to the stage.
gala affair, including many out of town
friends. To name a few. Bill Williams, division
manager, Dallas; Bill Gehring. Atlanta
and Harold Spears, Floyd Enterprises, Lakeland.
The highlight of the party was when
Howard Nicholson appeared as the surprise
guest. Howard was Ed's assistant shipper in
Oklahoma City 40 years ago. He later became
branch manager in Memphis. Ed and
Howard had not seen each other in a number
of years and their reunion was a happy
and emotional one. Ed also received many
wonderful gifts and telegrams from those
friends who could not be at
the party.
There was a lovely buffet luncheon set
up in the office, most of the food being prepared
by the girls of 20th-Fox. A beautiful
floral centerpiece made up with fall colors
graced the table along with a flowing silver
punch fountain. A bar was also set up, tended
by salesman Tom Davalt, so that Ed's
friends could toast him on this occasion.
All in all, it was a lovely party and it
was wonderful to see so many of their friends
present to wish him and Elvie happiness,
health and prosperity during the coming
years.
Ed will be greatly missed by his many
friends in the industry, but more so by his
fellow employees who have enjoyed working
with him during his years as branch manager
in
Jaeksonville.
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976
SE-1

PALM BEACH
Bmerican International Pictures was on
location shooting in nearby Fort Pierce
November 22 and 23. Due to unseasonably
chilly weather, actress Joan Collins, dressed
in cream-colored culottes and tall tan boots,
had difficulty feigning extreme discomfort
due to heat for which the role called.
The boat in which she was riding supposedly
was Hearing the tropics. AIP is shooting
"Empire of the Ants" and the 45-degree
weather was unexpected! Filming began
on a privately owned boat at the Pelican
Yacht Club. After two days of filming at
the Yacht Club the next series of scenes is
being shot in Martin County, near Seminole
Shores. Local folk are being used for small
talking parts and crowd scenes. Elliot
Schick, one of the producers of "Empire of
the Ants," is here for the filming.
Angela Lansbury opened in "Gypsy" at
the Parker Playhouse. Holiday Park, Fort
Lauderdale November 23. The musical runs
through mid-December. Producer Zev Bufman
gave a cast party in Ms. Lansbury's
honor which included several members of
the city. The mayor's letter added "Failing
to act positively to this request will necessitate
local legislation containing such regulations
as the city council deems advisable
and in the best interests of the city." Mrs.
Wilkens said she was acting on "numerous
complaints from residents." The mayor was
pleased with the rapid response and "the
spirit of cooperation." She was informed
by a Wometco official that the company's
recent showing of X-rated films was an
experiment that met with no success. The
response read in part "We tried a few X-
rated films in your city and are sorry they
caused so much distress. Due to a few letters
such as yours, we are discontinuing our
policy."
Dennis Wayne met actress Joanne Woodward
while both were performing in the film
•Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams." Ms.
Woodward and Wayne were both interested
in forming a small ballet company as they
felt "dancers can perform more in one
month in a small company than they can in
six months in a large one." Dennis, president
and artistic director of Dancers, the Contemporary
Ballet Company, was in town
to for prepare the international premiere
the audience. Marilyn Gleason, Jackie's
wife, was among them. She and Gleason
of the newly formed company at the Poinciana
Playhouse here on Tuesday (21). Im-
recently returned from Europe, where they
had spent most of the summer. Gleason was
mediate funding has been provided by
making a movie. Bufman is the son of Mord
Joanne Woodward. When asked about listing
dependents on income tax forms Ms.
Bufman, former movie circuit operator.
Bufman sr., now serves as general manager
Woodward, reportedly, immediately replied
of the Parker Playhouse.
"None." Then she corrected the one word
Wometco Enterprises has apologized to statement with one name, "Wayne." Wayne
has a free hand and appreciates the actress
tying no strings to the operation. The Dan-
the city of Boca Raton and promised there
will be no more X-rated films at the movie
house in that town. The letter was in response
cers Company will perform seven original
Poinciana Playhouse engagement.
to Mayor Dorothy Wilkens" request ballets in its
Orchestra and box seat tickets for
that two movie companies serving the city
opening night, including a reception after
reconsider their policy of X-rated films in
the performance with Joanne Woodward
Jefferson Parish Decision
Censors Drive-In Nudity
NEW ORLEANS—Jefferson Parish
Drive-In movie patrons can continue seeing
films rated "R" under a compromise reached
between parish councilmen and a theatre
owner.
Council Chairman James Donelon said he
and local theatre owner Theodore Solomon
reached an agreement whereby no "X" rated
films will be shown at any Jefferson driveins
and no nude scenes will be shown at the
Wcstgate Drive-In where they are visible
from Interstate 10. But "R" films without
nudity are permissible.
The parish council last week voted to ban
all "R" and "X" films at drive-ins at the
request of Sheriff Alwynn J. Cronvich because
they were creating a traffic hazard on
the
Interstate.
Donelon said Solomon told him that to
ban all "R" films would affect such popular
movies as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest" and "All the President's Men."
Such movies are rated "R" because of
and Paul Newman are
$50 each.
the strong language used rather than nudity.
Solomon told him the banning of all "R"
movies would put him out of the drive-in
business because of the scarcity of "PG"
and "G" rated fare for such theatres.
Facing a long and costly legal fight,
Donelon said he feels it would be better to
accept a compromise. Councilman Bob Di-
Viney. who introduced the ordinance on
Cronvich's behalf, agreed. The two councilmen
said they would introduce an amendment
at the next council meeting in Gretna.
Under the compromise Solomon said he
will show no "X" films at any drive-in and
if the sheriff's office complains about any
"R" film shown, he will immediately withdraw
it. He said he will monitor the films
to be sure nude scenes are not shown at the
Westgate. The screens of other Solomonoperated
drive-ins in the parish are not visible
from major traffic arteries.
Donelon said the council nevr intended
to try and censor movies or put Solomon
out of business, but was concerned about
motorists pulling onto the neutral ground of
the Interstate to watch sex scenes, creating
a traffic
hazard.
AIP 'Empire of the Ants'
Rolls Cameras in Florida
PALM BEACH, FLA.—American International's
production of H. G. Wells' "The
Empire of the Ants" has started shooting
near Palm Beach, Fla., reports Paul R.
Picard, AlP's vice-president in charge of
production. The cameras started rolling
Monday, November 22.
Joan Collins, Robert Lansing, John David
Carson and Jacqueline Scott star in the
film being produced and directed by Bert I.
Gordon, who also wrote the story for the
screenplay by Jack Turley.
Gordon wrote, directed and produced the
AIP release of H. G. Wells' "The Food of
the Gods." "The Empire of the Ants" is
scheduled for release in the summer of 1977.
Theatre Mgr. Announces
Betrothal in BOXOFFICE
SPARTANBURG, S.C—Charles P. Jol-
manager of the Pinewood Cinema here,
ley,
and Terri Clark, also of this city, have announced
their engagement. They will be
ij
married Jan. 7, 1977.
j!
Jolley, who has been in the theatre bus-
•
iness since he was 15 years old, became
assistant manager of the Pinewood, a member
of Consolidated Theatres, and served
for a period with the Greenville, S.C,
Drive-In. to before returning the Cinema
recently as its manager.
"Theatre business has become the center
of my life." Jolley wrote, "and I cannot
think of a more appropriate place to announce
my engagement than in your (Boxoffice)
magazine."
MIAMI
H French champagne party at the Palm
Bay club was part of a sneak preview
(viewing rushes) of "The Great Balloon
Race." Many friends were involved in the
film, including executive producers Jack
Hunt and Carling Dinkier and producer
Paul Holm. The movie stars Chris Robinson.
Terri Moore. Jayne Marie Mansfield
and Ted Cassidy with cameo appearances
by Pat Boone, Sid Caesar, Cab Calloway,
Norm Crosby, Phyllis Diller. Frankie Laine,
Trini Lopez, Gordon MacRae, Ben Murphy.
Bert Parks and Lyle Waggoner.
The Ernest Borgnines are staying at the
Palm Bay Towers here during the filming
of "The Greatest," in which Borgnine plays
the role of Angelo Dundee, Muhammed
All's manager. Following a casting call for
Monday, October 25, many hopefuls showed
up at King's Inn for interviews with Tom
Gries, the director, following introductions
by Beverly McDermott, the "talented and
glamorous motion picture casting gal of
South Florida." The movie is being filmed
also in Houston, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Warner Bros.' "Catch a Falling Star" began
production October 9 at Colorado State
University.
SE-2
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976 lOXOFFiCE

ceN-tEf^^*"'-
-•5s^lS'S.^.
liW
fill
The simplest
and finest automated
theatre system
in the world.
With Bicentennial
Rebate, at a cost
you'll celebrate, too.
...the revolutionary
automated system that
frees the projectionist
entirely of cill
"show routine"
,•
For details on the Showmaster and our Cash Rebate
see your Century Dealer — or write:
CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. 11101
Standard Theatre Supply Co.
125 Higgins St.
Greensboro, North Girolina 27406
(919) 272-6165
1624 W. Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, North Caroline 28208
(704) 375-6008
BOXOFHCE :: December 6. 1976
Joe Hornstein Inc.
759 West Flogler St.
Miami Florida 33130
(305) 545-5842
Capital City Supply Co. Tri-State Theatre Supply Co,
713 Sudekum Building 151 Voncc Avenue
Nashville, Tenn. 37219 Memphis, Tenn. 38103
Phone: (615) 256-0347 Phone: (901) 525-8249
Trans-World Theatre Supply,
Inc.
2711 Virginia Avenue
Kenner, la. 70062
Phone: (504) 729-8433
Wil-Kin Theatre Supply, Inc
800 Lambert Dr., N.E.
Atlanta, Go. 30S2(
(404) 876-0347
SE-3

Circuit Honors Awarded
To Razorback Staff
SEARCY. ARK.—Employees of the
Commonwealth Rialto Theatre won circuit
chest contained 790 gold coins. Patrons
made their guess as to how many coins were
in the chest. The winner guessed 787 and
won a month's pass.
All employees wore pirate and Indian
costumes and concessionaires featured Spooju
Juice (pickle juice) at the refreshment
center.
Not content with one major promotion,
the staff prepared another film promotion.
This time, is it was "Gator." Employees set
up a working still in the cave producing
"moonshine." Authorities were notified and
local police arrived to make arrests, complete
with sirens, flashing lights and handcuffs.
Of course, they only found more
pickle juice. And so the staff members,
hauled off to the city jail, were later released
and allowed to
return to their duties.
Also alerted was the newspaper which covered
the event and provided outstanding
photo coverage during the picture's run.
Credit Ass'n Elects New
Officers at Annual Meet
HOLLYWOOD—The Motion Picture
and TV Credit Ass'n. an interchange of
honors with promotional campaigns involving
spelling, costumes and guessing.
Entrants in the word contest were asked
to make as many words from "Matecumbe"
as they could find. The winner, with 84
different words, won a month's pass while
the runner-up received a 2-week pass.
A pirate costume contest was held for the
youngsters in three divisions, ages 1-5. 6-11
and 12 or over. Winners in each age category
were judged at a Saturday matinee and
credit information within the industry, held
its 11th annual meeting at the Smoke House
at
each received a pass good for one month.
Toluca Lake Wednesday, October 27.
The guessing game included a cave in the Fannessa Buquor. Manufacturers Bank:
lobby constructed by employees Kristi Matejko,
Dianna Whotham. Lee Anne Dortch Jack Rose, Cinemobile Systems, were elect-
Tom Kobayashi, Glenn Sound Co., and
and Paul Zeltner. Inside the cave a treasure ed to three-year terms on the board of directors.
Returning board members are Leo
Chaloukian, Ryder Sound Services; Dan
Fleisher, DeLuxe Laboratories; Don Gault,
Technicolor Corp.; Milt Levinson, Pacific
Title and Art; Walt Reiher, Samuel Goldwyn
Studios, and Stan Salter, Consolidated Film
Industries.
The board of directors elected the following
officers to serve one-year terms for the
association: Stan Salter, Consolidated Film
Industries, president; Walt Reiher, Samuel
Goldwyn Studios. vice-president; Ken
Jones, Creditors' House, executive secretary,
and Fabian Berke, Motion Picture and TV
Credit Ass'n, treasurer.
'Part 2, Sounder' Star
On Promo in Home Town
NEW ORLEANS — A former
Tulane
University basketball star-turned-film star
was in the city recently to promote "Part 2,
Sounder" which opened at the Plaza Cinema,
Loews' State and Lakeside III theatres
the last week in October.
Turning from courts to cameras, Harold
Sylvester, who replaced Academy Award
nominee Paul Winfield in the role of
"Sounder's" Nathan Lee Morgan, returned
for a look at his home town from a different
angle in the process of promoting the second
"Sounder" movie. While here he was guest
at a luncheon given for him at the Chez
Helen restaurant.
A cameraman at Channel 12 before capturing
the lead role in "Part 2. Sounder,"
Sylvester has had roles in other movies including
"The Autobiography of Miss Jane
Pittman," "Dirty Dan," "Live and Let Die"
and TV pilot programs. He is rather choosy
about the films he works in. having turned
down a part in "Mandingo," which he
termed "junk." He denounced "Drum" also,
describing such films as demeaning.
Sylvester is working currently in the film
"A Hero Ain't Nothing But a Sandwich."
He plays a psychiatrist in the story about a
13-year-old junkie. Release is expected in a
year. He also will be working during November
with the Inner City Playhouse in
Los Angeles. He hopes eventually to become
a producer.
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MEMPHIS
Variety Children's Heart Institute
board of
directors has been elected for 1977.
Joe Keifer, chief barker of Tent 20. automatically
becomes a member. Those elected
were Conrad Bach, Robert L. Bostick, Gil
Brandon sr., Fred Gattas sr., M.A. Lightman
jr., George Sammons and Tom Young.
The seven elected will in turn elect seven
additional members to complete a board of
15 members.
Variety Heart Institute has contributed a
$24,000 gift to University of Tennessee's
Rehabilitation Engineering Center to provide
12 mid-south children with motor-driven
artificial arms. Memphis is one of three cities
in the nation capable of fitting electronic
arms to children. The others are Los Angeles
and Grand Rapids. Michigan.
Robert Bostick, president of Variety Institute
here, said the gift was designed to
develop a "limb bank" in Memphis which
can supply motor-driven arms without delays
involved in making individual orders
from elsewhere. The institute provides the
devices and supports the custom fitting and
training of the children in their use. The
limbs are replaced each year to accommodate
physical growth. Once removed, the
replaced limbs will be returned to the limb
bank for use of other children.
Variety Club welcomes new members
Sam Cloninger, Columbia branch manager
in Charlotte, N. C; Roscoe Perdue in the
film equipment business at Roanoke, Va.;
and William Wilson in the printing business
here.
A large crowd gathered here at the Variety
Club for the 101 Prize Party where
winners received many valuable prizes.
(Hors d"oeuvres and dancing to the music
of Dooney Ragsdale's orchestra were part of
the evening's entertainment.
Sympathy is extended to the family of
Frank Heard of Tupelo, Miss. His wife
Bernice was fatally injured when her car
was struck by another auto in Tupelo. She
will be missed by her many friends in this
area .
Shafer of Malco Theatres
recently entered the Baptist hospital for
surgery. He is now recuperating at home.
The beautiful Malco Theatre at Main and
Beale has been closed and sold to become a
part of the Memphis Development Foundation
for revitalizing parts of the river bluff
around Beale Street. Tentative plans are for
using the Malco as a performing arts center.
Theatres closing for the season are Laco
Drive-In, Lexington, Tenn., Osceola Drivein,
Osceola, Ark., Sunset Drive-In, Martin,
Tenn., 64 Drive-In, Russellville, Ark., Pines
Drive-In, luka. Miss., Calvert Drive-In, Calvert
City, Ky. and Skyvue Drive-In, Savannah,
Tenn. The Savannah Theatre at Savannah
reopened November 24. R. J. Doyle.
3wner of Maben Theatre in Maben, Miss.,
das advised that the Maben Theatre will be
ed a few months for repairs.
Rocco Viglietta Is Given
His AIP Export Stripes
BEVERLY HILLS—Rocco Viglietta
has
been named vice-president of the nontheatrical
division of American International Pictures
Export Corp.
Viglietta joined AIP's export division in
the accounting department in 1962 in New
York and in 1974 was promoted to director.
He moved to Beverly Hills in 1974 when
the export division was transferred here.
He is responsible for all nontheatrical
sales and services worldwide, as well as representing
the company in matters relating to
pay TV and foreign theatrical activity.
Mini-Theaire Under
Way in Vail Colo.
DENVER — Bill Pence has announced
that construction is under way on the Crossroads
Screening Room, mini-theatre which
will be operated in conjunction with the
Crossroads Cinema in Vail, Colo. The twin
complex will enable Pence to offer more
diversified programing in the Vail area.
The new facility is targeted for a preholiday
opening.
United Artists' "Equus" went before the
cameras in Toronto October 18.
Housoi ciM^M^fi^sajriD eouiPMOT coMMMv irc.
IN EXPRESSING GRATITUDE AND THANKS FOR A
VERY SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR, WE, IN TURN WANT
TO OFFER ALL OF YOU AN ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL OF
A GUILLOTINE M2/35mm or M2/16mm MYLAR SPLICER
WITH YOUR CHOICE OF THREE ROLLS OF CLEAR OR
WHITE TAPE, FOR THE PRICE OF $175.00, fob,
HOUSTON, TEXAS. WE HAVE THESE IN STOCK FOR
IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. EXTRA TAPE IS $1.75 per roll,
CLEAR, and $1.95 per roll, WHITE. OFFER IS GOOD
THROUGH JANUARY 1, 1977. MAY WE OFFER OUR
ASSISTANCE TO YOU FOR YOUR SUPPLIES, SPARE
PARTS, NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT-EVERYTHING
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JEANNIE
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GUILLOTINE
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3732 N. SHEPHERD DR.. HOUSTON, TEXAS 77018 (713) 691-4379
rU'"'
JOXOmCE :: December 6, 1976 SE-5

. . See
ATLANTA
\X7alter Walker, Buena Vista friend of Wilby,
star of "The Shaggy D.A.." sent invitations
for a special screening of the Walt
Disney production November 20 in the Perimeter
Mall Cinema. The invitations were
family affairs, and said "It's doggone howlarious
and I'm not 'arf bad . ya."
Century Cinema's projectionist, Steve
Davidson, had a busy time in the booth
recently unreeling films for the trade and
press: "Small Change." "Madame Kitty,"
"Malatesta's Carnival of Blood," "Cousin
Cousine," and "Carrie." Cliff Craddock,
manager of Peachtree West, formerly the
Atlanta Film Building, with the only screening
room in a fastly fading downtown Filmrow,
cranked up his projection machinery
to screen "69 Minutes" for Clark Film Releasing.
Atlanta's intrepid big game hunters returned
from a hunting and fishing trip with
empty game bags but having had a good
time. They assembled in Missoula, Mont.,
taking off for Bitterroot Mountains and
on to the North Fork of the Clark River.
The local contingent consisted of Gordon
Craddock, general sales manager of Film
Ventures: son Clifford Craddock, manager
of Peachtree West; Jack Rigg, chief of New
World Pictures and Walter Powell, his general
sales manager. Joining the Atlanta
group were William F. Heineman, Washington,
D.C., president of EMC: Rodda
Harvey, Stockton, Calif., exhibitor and his
grandson, also Rodda Harvey. The hunt
has been an annual affair since 1936 when
it was started by William J. Heineman, longtime
official with United Artists, and some
associates in the industry, including Harvey.
Contract employees of the film industry
here were granted a holiday for election day
and for Veterans' Day. They traded the
latter for the Friday after Thanksgiving,
giving themselves a longer holiday weekend.
Morris "Hank" Yowell, Allied Artists
branch manager here, reports that "The
Next Man," the Sean Connery/ Cornelia
Sharpe starrer, got off to a good start at
Loews' Tara, Perimeter Mall. Cinema 15
Capital City Supply
and the Marietta Strand. Robert Aldrich's
•The Twilight's Last Gleaming," starring
Burt Lancaster and a host of name actors
in support, is scheduled for release February
9. Hank is predicting it will set records.
Looking beyond winter, he sees springtime
when the release of "Zorro," starring Alain
Delon. and "Teenage Graffiti" will be on
tap.
Marquee changes: The "big
— pictures" are
making their appearances "Shout at the
Devil," Belmont, Georgia Twin and Westgate;
"Carrie," Lenox Square I and Cobb
Center I; "The Next Man," Arrowhead I,
Loew's Tara, Cinema 75. Northlake and
Perimeter Mall: "Small Change," Rhodes;
"Cousin Cousine," Phipps Penthouse: "The
Shootist," Stonemount 1: "Pipe Dreams,"
Loews' Grand; "The Passover Plot," Fine
Art Cinema; "The Happy Housewives,"
Broadview, Candler and Cinema 75.
JACKSONVILLE
Toe Charles, manager of the suburban San
Marco Theatre, smallest unit in the
large ABC Florida State Theatres circuit,
is proud of the refurbishing undergone at
the San Marco in advance of the busy yearend
holiday season. The 298-seat house has
attractive new poster display frames along
the theatre front, eye-catching new wallpapering
for the lobby, a new concessions
area and ladies" lounge plus a general paintup
for wooden borders and improved auditorium
lighting. The work was contracted to
Bobby Davalt, a former employee and
brother of Tom Davalt, local 20th Century-
Fox salesman.
Scores of employees in distribution and
motion picture exhibition circuit offices gave
quadruple thanks to Thanksgiving as they
enjoyed a four-day holiday period, Thursday
through Sunday. People on the industry's
theatrical firing line, however, doubled their
activities as weekend matinees and good
screen product attracted fine patronage.
"King Kong," the grand opening attraction
Friday (17) at the Kingsley I Twin
Theatre in suburban Orange Park being
opened by ABC Theatres, received a topnotch
recommendation from columnist
David Wilson on the dignified editorial page
of the local Florida Times-Union. Wilson
used a philosophical approach to his subject,
but ended up his lofty words by a down-toearth
prediction of, "The remake ought to
!;ross $200 million."
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Keith Miller, owner of the Village Cinema
I & II theatres, could be called a co-conspirator
with WOMPI and the Clark Film
Releasing Co. in presenting a Saturday (4)
morning matinee of "Indian Paint" with
proceeds going to the annual Dorcas Drake
Christmas Party for needy children. Keith
is donating his theatre, Clark is donating the
film and WOMPI is donating the kinetic
energy required for taking care of and dealing
with the children. Also lending a hand
is Debbie Capps of Buena Vista.
ABC FST's Preview Theatre is in the
doldrums as an advanced screening center
for new films due to sneak previews in area
theatres performing the same function for
exhibition bookers, but Vivian Ganas, FST
booker, managed to have bookers dust off
the seats during the week when she put in
Avco Embassy's "Voyage of the Damned"
and a private FST filming not yet for publication.
Doris Sussman, Journal feature writer,
used Roy Smith, the city's oldest popcorn
purveyor, as her main source of information
about a subject dear to the hearts of moviegoers,
none other than King Popcorn, a
high-profit mainstay of every theatre in
America. Others brought into the story were
Ron Hallman, regional director for Blevins
supply firm; Perry Reavis, district manager
of Eastern Federal Theatres: Cleveland
Kent, president of Kent Theatres; and an
anonymous spokesman for ABC FST. Opinions
varied over the excellence of fresh and
warmed-over popcorn. This correspondent,
a former ABC FST concessions executive,
once popped a bushel of quality Indiana
popcorn with first-grade cocoanut oil from
the Philippine Islands, put it in storage, then
brought it back to life, so to speak, in a
warmer three months later and found it to
be superior to popcorn of an hour's vintage
in
taste and in crispness.
Kent Theatres has knuckled under in
price war started by Keith Miller at
the
his Village
Cinema twins by dropping their high
first-run theatre prices to an even $2 in ten
units for a month ending December 14, plus
99 cents at Kent's 1 1th unit, the Main Street
Drive-In. Other scattered price drops have
been noted over town.
Karen LeBruno has rejoined the ABC
FST home office . . . Bob Pate, Journal
amusements editor, low-keyed the local
world premiere of Allied Artists' "The Next
Man" at Kent's Plaza I, but the Florida
Times-Union's counterpart to Bob, Charles
Brock, praised the film, and the feminine
lead. Cornelia Sharpe, a "superstar" from
this city.
Kent's St. Johns Theatre is presenting a
revival of four consecutive Saturday midnight
showings of Marx brothers comedies
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BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

. . The
. .
. . . Frank
. . Cape
under the sponsorship of WIVY-FM radio.
Don Waterman, radio station executive, said
"We're kind of excited about it." and added
that the station is trying to secure "other
old-time films to show in the future" .
Vivian Ganas, ABC FST director of the
Preview Theatre, set in an advance screening
of Allied Artists' "The Manson Massacre"
before closing the shutters for a long
Thanksgiving weekend.
A long procession of industry people
trooped in and out of the 20th Century-Fox
offices at 1 Regency Place to pay honor to
Edward G. Chumley, the firm's Florida
manager, upon his retirement November
18. The incoming manager, Charley Jones,
formerly of Charlotte, N. C, served as host
of the luncheon and cocktail party, assisted
by the Fox distaff members who provided a
great variety of smorgasbord foods, and by
Tom Davalt, young 20th-Fox salesman, who
tended bar.
In addition to scores of local
industryites.
present were Howard Nickolson, owner of
the 51 Twin Drive-In Theatres in Millington,
Tenn., an associate of Chumley's in
their many years with Paramount; Dave
Harris, former local Paramount executive
who worked under Chumley and who now
operates the Ritz Theatre and the Double-D
Drive-In Theatre in Marianna, west Florida;
Leonard Vaughan, Live Oak theatre owner;
Ralph Buring, retired Fox publicist; Gene
Goodwin, United Artists, New Orleans; Bill
Gehring, Gamma III executive from Atlanta;
Carroll Ogburn, retired Warner Bros,
manager, and Byron Adams, retired United
Artists manager, both of this city; and young
Doug Ouderkirk, new Southeastern publicist
for 20th-Fox from Atlanta who recently
moved from his former home in Toronto,
Canada . retiring guest of honor, Ed
Chumley, said he has no working plans for
the future, but for the youthful 65 retiree,
many friends expressed a hope that he will
Gene Fernandez' Arlington Theatre and
Kent's Neptune Theatre joined in sneak previewing
a Saturday night performance of
"Carrie," a new R-rated horror film.
a
Sidney Lumet is directing "Equus" from
script by Peter Shaffer.
"^^.^sSSlOOKING SERVICES
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221 S. Church St., Chorlotte, N.C.
Fronk Lowry . . . Tommy White
Phone: (704) 377-9341
CHARLOTTE
^he world premiere of "Red Neck Miller
in Florence, S.C, was warmly received
by press, radio and audience and looks like
a potential winner at the boxoffice. Frank
Jones, general sales manager of Fairlane/
Litchfield Theatres attended the premiere.
The picture also opened in key spots Thanksgiving
day in Charleston. Greenville and
Columbia, S.C. and also Wilmington, N.C.
Jack Kirby, branch manager for Buena
Vista, had an invitational screening of "The
Shaggy D.A." at 10 a.m. Saturday morning
at the Capri Theatre. The house was packed
with parents, grandparents and their young
folk. After the showing, the children were
presented with souvenirs. "The Shaggy
D.A." is a sequel to "The Shaggy Dog."
Ethel Lenczyk's father. Jack Steele, had
surgery in Memorial Hospital and is now at
home recovering. Ethel is with Exhibitors
Service . . . Dan Burris of Metrolina Film
Distributing, is setting up advertising on his
new picture "Volunteer Jam." He plans a
saturation campaign using 75 prints . . .
Clara Finlayson of Piedmont Theatres underwent
surgery at Memorial Hospital and
is recuperating very nicely. She is expected
to be released within ten days.
New pictures on the marquees include
"Godzilla vs. Bionic Monster" playing at the
Regency 1 and Village, "The Amazing Dobermans"
at Southpark and Charlottetown
NEW ORLEANS
^ariety Club Tent 45 elected their new
slate of officers at their recent board
meeting at Kolb's Restaurant. Incoming officers
are: chief barker, George Solomon;
first assistant chief barker, Larry Fine;
find a new niche in the industry.
second assistant, Don Woods; property master,
Ed dough Varnado;
Finnin; jr.; guy, Charles
Our local movie reviewers just can't get
For press guy. Jack Weiss; Fixer, Gibbons
together. the Times-Union, Charles Burke; directors, Milton Auftemorte, Clarke
Brock intoned after his viewing of "Shout Jackson, Ernest McKenna, Blaise Marino,
the Devil" that "Director Peter Hunt has Emmet Nicaud and Emile Schneider and
at
spread super-colossal adventures across his
assistant directors, Joe Mexic and John
Dunn.
epic landscape in the old-style Cecil B. Dc-
Mille tradition," and more of the same. But
Ben Johnson, star of "The Town That
Mike Clark of the Journal gives it the devil
Dreaded Simdown" was in town to publicize
by calling it "misnamed, miscast, misdirected
that picture Jack Dobbs, Gulf States
and a miss as a movie." Local movie-
. . .
Theatres, spent the Thanksgiving holidays
goers can take their pick.
Theatres are finalizing plans to open their
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,
"^°"'' "^'^^ ^^^ famous
BiUSSIICIKI
f^j^;^ Don Ho Show. . . at
JHOTEia
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IN WAIKIKI: REEF REEF TOWERS EDGEWATEH
Mall, "Carrie" at the Manor, "Pony Express
Rider" at Park Terrace 1 and Capri 1 and
"Across the Great Divide" showing at Park
Terrace and Tryon Mall.
Arietta Black, associated with Exhibitors
Service, has been speaking on behalf of
Hope Haven, Inc., a haven for women alcoholics.
In an impressive talk, she has asked
the Metrolina Optimist Club, the YWCA
and the Eastern Kiwanis Club for funds,
clothing and supplies for the service organization
of which she is president.
Tommy Bradford of Cape Fear Theatres
announces he will start construction on a
new twin auditorium theatre in the Greenville
Square Shopping Center in Greenville,
N.C. Each auditorium will have 350 seats
and together will be known as Buckaneer
One & Two, Their opening is scheduled for
early 1977 . Fear Theatres' construction
of Eutaw Cinema in Fayetteville is
ahead of schedule. The organization hopes
for a Christmas opening.
Exhibitors on Filmrow included Phil
Nance of Mission Valley Theatres in Raleigh,
N.C; Rudy Howell of Howell Theatres
Inc., Smithfield. N.C; Harry Osteen,
Easley, S.C; James "Pinlo" Littlefield, Inman,
S.C; Bob Turnbull, Mini Cinema of
Rock Hill, S.C. and Jack Fuller sr. and jr.
of Columbia, S.C.
sixplex cinema in Jackson, Miss. . . .
Christmas features scheduled are "The Enforcer,"
Warner Bros.; "Nickelodeon," Columbia;
"The Town That Dreaded Sundown."
AIP and "King Kong," Paramount
Owens, with Ed DeBerry Pictures
in Dallas, Texas, was a visitor here
recently.
Jack Panzeca and Ski Thomasweski, Gulf
States Theatres managers in Jackson, Miss.,
were here conferring with Rick Gould,
Plaza Cinemas in Lake Forest, about plans
for the opening of the sixplex in
Jackson.
In addition to operating theatres in Hammond,
La., Jesse Edwards raises horses. His
horse. Pride's High Society, recently was
bestowed the award of North American
Grand Champion Yearling and Yearling
Stallion Champion at the Dixie Jubilee in
Baton Rouge.
XENON LAMPS
and
AUTOMATED PROJECTION
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BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

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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SE-8 BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

Old Houses, Classic Film
Showings for Art Circuit
DALLAS—Art films largely have been
absent from this city since the "605 when the
art films grew more sexually explicit, forcing
the theatres to move into hardcore to
stay afloat. Craig Endicott writes in a recent
Dallas Times Herald article.
Such was the fate of the Edison, formerly
the Coronet, which opened in 1948 under
even another name, the Gay Theatre, named
for its first owner. L Gay.
Now. through the efforts of Movie Inc.
of Albuquerque, the Edison has gone full
circle from European art films to sexually
explicit movies and back to art films again.
Bert Manzari. Movie Inc.. president, by
buying old houses and bargaining for old
classic films has been able to keep a very
specialized audience flowing in and out old
theatre doors.
"You have to remember we have a limited
market." says Manzari who screens such
classics as "The Ruling Class" and "Citizen
Kane" as part of a regular policy. Manzari
owns two art theatres in Albuquerque as well
as the Edison and supplies films for a host
of other theatres.
A two-day run concept on his supply circuit
which includes Dallas. Albuquerque.
Phoenix. Tucson and San Diego theatres,
prevents the managers from putting all their
eggs in one basket. The supply for art
houses, which goes far beyond his personal
property holdings, enables Manzari to bargain
like a big guy with the film distributors.
Endicott learned the shortcoming of this
supply network is that movies don't have
equal appeal in the various markets. For
instance, while "The African Queen" was
it in not sccessful Dallas drew large crowds
in Albuquerque where it had not received
a great deal of TV exposure. Therefore,
the two-day run protects the movie house
from its own supply system.
Manzari agrees to pay the distributor a
front-end guarantee, approximately $150
and a percentage of the film's gross ticket
sales above the guarantee. It is seldom over
60 per cent. The theatre would suffer a loss
if the percentage were any higher since the
average gross per night with three performances
is usually less than $400.
Because of a second-run policy and keeping
the overhead low with smaller staffs and
shorter hours, the Edison management has
not had to depend on concession operations
to keep afloat but they see concessions as
playing a larger role in the future. Manager
Gary Lee says efforts are now under way
to increase concessions by adding a line of
health food.
Another role the shoe-string operation
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hopes to play in the future is to provide
a forum for locally produced, low budget
films which do not have the distribution network
available to the majors.
Endicott writes, "New channels of distribLition.
such as art houses, will be needed
for such producers if there's to be a continuation
at the current level of film activity
by people other than the top independent
producers and the major studios."
Meanwhile, a crowd of blue-jeaned young
adults nightly flocks to the Edison to catch
the latest art flick.
Critic Charles Chcmiplin
Appearing at USA Fest
DALLAS—Film critic Charles Champlin.
the Los Angeles Times entertainment editor,
will be sole critic at the USA Film Festival's
salute to its 1977 "Great USA Director."
King Vidor.
Champlin. making his fourth visit to the
festival, will appear on stage with Vidor in
March to discuss Vidor's career in filmmaking.
A member of the National Society of
Film Critics. Champlin has been principal
film critic of the Times since 1967 and its
entertainment editor since 1965. He gained
nationwide recognition among film fans as
host of "Film Odyssey," a selection of 26
film classics first broadcast on PBS in 1972.
He began his journalistic career as a reporter
and writer for Life magazine in the
late 1940s and 1950s, moving to Time
magazine in the early 1960s. His book "The
Flicks, or Whatever Became of Andy Hardy."
was published earlier this year.
Dallas Houses Fighting
Adult Zoning Ordinance
DALLAS — Ten adult movie theatre
owners filed a federal suit recently challenging
a city ordinance prohibiting such theatres
within 1.000 feet of a church, school,
park or residential area.
Five theatres claim they have been forced
out of business due to threats of prosecution.
The other five which continued operation
after notification of the zoning ordinance
charge Dallas police have made illegal
arrests and multiple seizures of films.
The theatre owners say the city law is unconstitutional
on the following grounds: It
establishes
an impermissible system of prior
restraint on freedom of expression; it lacks
adequate safeguards against the dangers of
censorship and it acts as an effective censorship
for the future.
They have asked U.S. District Judge William
M. Taylor jr. to restrain police from
forcing the ordinance.
RCil Theatre
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A Division of RCA
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Phone; (214) 631-8770
Azteca Appoints A. Arias
To Division Manager Post
SAN ANTONIO — Arnulfo Arias has
been named division manager for the Azteca
Films branch office in
San Antonio, it was
announced by Jewell
Truex. president and
^
I
I 1 his previous posi-
i,ons and with his new
niiilto
'*'*'*^'**'fIB general manager of
the Spanish language
film distribution organization.
- '^ Arias has made
>-" siizniticant contribuins
to the company
\rias
responsibilities, his proven and widely respected
ability will play an even larger role
in this important area," Truex says.
He first joined Azteca Films in 1948. and
his last position was assistant sales manager.
Prior to joining Azteca he was manager
and buyer for Circuito Guanajuato, a
chain of theatres in Mexico.
Tent 22 Election Results
Make Milt Kamber Barker
OKLAHOMA CITY—Elections at Variety
Club Tent 22 held at the Blue Room
of the Lincoln Plaza
Center November 23
resulted in
the following
new slate of officers,
B. Milton Kam-
V7''V"W ^^^- chief barker; Leland
Massad. first as-
_ ^ijir jn
sistant chief barker;
Lou Gatti. second assistant
chief barker;
George Sam Caporal.
Milt Kamber ^^^^^ §">• ''""^ ^^'
Ryan, property master.
New board members include Frank
Murphy. Frank McCabe. Eldon Peek. Bill
Lane. Mark Price, Dean Catchall and Sumner
Russman.
Member Elynor Kamber has announced
a Tent 22 membership drive slated for January
and the kick-off of the aniial "Sweepstakes
Raffle."
Children's Films Booked
ALBUQUERQUE—Scott
Brewer arranged
a booking of three children's films for
his back-to-school party at the Cinema East
which featured "Angel In My Pocket,"
"Toklat" and "Doctor Doolittle."
Filming of "Angela" began October 25
in Montreal.
€pi£itma!£ MERCHANT
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976 SW-1

'Willie' Ends Kerrville
Principal Photography
KERRVILLE. TEX.—"Willie." a sophisticated
family comedy, has completed principal
photography in Kerrville. It is the story
of an eight-year-old electronics genius and
his sometimes frustrating relationship with
his
sheriff-father.
Played by ten-year-old Marc Gilpin of
the TV series "High Chaparral," plays the
male lead as Willie's sportsminded father.
Kate Woodville, who has appeared in "Star
Trek" and the film "Posse," portrays Willie's
patient mother. Rock Montanio. also of
Dallas, appears as "Tracks." Willie's companion.
John Florea directs the fihn produced by
William H. White, who conceived the story.
Jorja Brown is associate producer for the
G-rated family-oriented product of Bountiful
West of Hollywood.
"Willie" is scheduled for a spring premiere
in Kerrville, marking general release
to the public.
Members of the "Willie" cast from the
San Antonio area include Harold Offer.
Kathleen Couser, Martha Black, Robert K.
Keigley jr.. Sari Elizabeth Keigler. Martha
Liland Stewart, Lael Harper, Jack Humphries,
Joseph Alston, Bill Vance, Fran
Tucker, Harry Frank Porter. Tommy Splittgerber,
Ervin Spenser, Elizabeth Ott, Jack
Boultinahousc and Paul Fields.
'Bad News' Sequel Plans
Texas Filming and Cast
DALLAS — Don Safran of the Dallas
Times Herald staff has learned for his readers
that a sequel to Paramount's "Bad News
Dallas. Willie is a mischevious inventor with
Marc's older sister Peri, who Bears" will be set in Texas and auditions
a 180 IQ.
works for General Cinema Bigtdwn ThLMtrc have been scheduled for boys between the
was cast in a minor role. Henry Darrow. ages of 12 and 15. The new film will be
called "Makin' Friends."
best known for his role as Manolito"' on
What kinds of kids is casting director
Shari Rhodes looking for? Among them.
Safran writes, a boy similar to Hoss Cartwright,
who must be able to ride a small
bull and a replacement for Engleberg. the
fat catcher, a role played originally by Dallas
teenager Gary Cavagnaro who may have
slimmed himself out of a job. A "Fonzie"
type and a Latin American type to replace
Tatum O'Neal are also needed.
"Making" Friends" will be the second
Paramount film to be set in Texas next year.
The Burt Reynolds. Kris Kristofferson feature,
"Semi-Tough," will begin shooting here
Januarv 3. 1977.
Real Donkey Joins Staff
For 'Gus' Promotion
OKLAHOMA CITY — The number of
Oklahoma farms which have turned out
football players wearing red and white jerseys
is probably in the hundreds. The latest
was a gentle brown fellow who weighs close
to half a ton and specializes in kicking.
During his engagement of "Gus," AMC
Apollo manager Jerry Mason invited young
Larry Fleming from nearby Moore to bring
his donkey to the theatre. The animal was
promptly named Gus and was dressed like
his movie counterpart.
Gus proved to be gentle throughout the
entire campaign and. according to Mason,
seemed to love it all. The only time the donkey
showed any of his innate tendencies was
when he balked at eating popcorn.
'Harry and Walter' Display
OKLAHOMA CITY — Hal Kirkpatrick
arranged for the display of a safe in the
AMC Quail twin lobby during his "Harry
and Walter Go To New York" engagement.
Customers who were able to "crack" the
safe won passes and dinner for two at a nearby
restaurant.
Sundae Coupons Sell Popcorn
HOUSTON—AMC's Almeda 9 East
joined with Farrcll's Ice Cream Parlour to
promote concession sales, according to manager
Bob Duncan. Duncan and assistants
Dan Jackson and Larry Williams obtained
coupons for free ice cream sundaes. The
coupons are given to theatre patrons with
the purchase of a large drink and hot dog
or a large popcorn.
Quick Screening
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BOSTON
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Lido East
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7 weeks $302,000
4 weeks $ 45,212
3 weeks $ 29,030
1st week $ 9,300
1st week
2nd week
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Contact: John Coles or Joe Spiegel
PHONE (713) 529-6157
UNIVERSAL AMUSEMENT CO., INC.
4040 Milam, Suite 104
Houston, Tx 77006
BOXOFFICE :: December 6. 1976

EXTENSIl/E NEH/SR4PERS/lTUR>lTION ^TELEVISION RkDIO
FULL PNSE TyGUIDE AND OTHER CONSU/MER /MAGAZINE ADS.
CONTKCT: MPiietanl I213}522ma

REEF
. .
. . United
SAN ANTONIO
^he San Antonio Motion Picture Council
met noon Wednesday (1) in the Venetian
Room of Earl Abels Restaurant. Henry
Holloway, minister of Music at Laurel
Heights United Methodist Church presented
Christmas songs. The Rev. Albert Hubertus,
pastor of the Apostle's Church and the Rev.
Jimmie L. Swearington of Harmony Hills
Baptist Church, presented his church's view
of Christmas. Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl of
Temple Beth-El spoke on Hanukkah . . . The
Leon Valley Lioness Club sponsored a
breast cancer program November 29 in the
Holmes High School Auditorium.
KEXL-FM held over for a second week
midnight shows at Mann Theatres' Fox Central
Park 3. All seats were $1 for the screening
of Steve McQueen and Duslin Hoffman
in "Papillon" . . . Over at the Northwest
Six. midnight shows were presented under
the sponsorship of KTFM-FM. The screening
was of the Rolling Stones in "Gimme
Shelter."
The Buckner Fanning Foundation and
Miller Productions were awarded the Gold
Medal at the 19th International Film and
TV Festival of New York for their TV
special, "Nagasaki—One Man's Return."
The hour-long special, which was broadcast
nationally last April, documented the
trip of 35 members of Trinity Baptist
Church and their pastor, Buckner Fanning,
to Nagasaki. The trip commemorated the
30th anniversary of the atomic bombing
of Nagasaki.
"Corrie: Behind the Scenes, with the
Hiding Place," a new full color release from
World Wide Pictures, will be shown Sunday
in the Allena Baptist Church. The film is
based on a true story about Corrie ten
Boom, her father, sister and brother, who
provided refuge for countless Jewish families
in Holland until they were caught and
sent to prison during World War U. The
showing is open to the public.
SILICON
Lee ARTOE FuZeD" SILICON TUBES
FOR MOTION PICTURE RECTIFIERS
>^>i^|
RtPlACl
iNixpeNsivc
INSTtAD Of
fNT/M TUBt
fusts
New titles appearing on local marquees
include "The Girl From Starship Venus"
at the Woodlawn and "Sex With a Smile"
at the Northwest Six, Century South Six.
San Pedro Triple-Screen Outdoor Theatre
and Mission Twin Outdoor Theatre .
Patrons attending the showing of "On Any
Sunday" may register for a free 'Vamaha
which is to be given away by Yamaha City.
The film is currently at the Northwest Six,
San Pedro Triple-Screen Outdoor, Trail
Drive-In, UA the Movies 4 and UA Cine
Cinco.
Town Vetoes Proposal
.SOUTHINGTON, CONN.—The
Southington
Town Council has shelved a recommendation
by Councilman Andrew Meade
calling for outlawing of R and X-rated motion
pictures plus massage parlors in this
central Connecticut town. Richard Krezel,
assistant town attorney, told the council that
supervision in such matters "is best left to
governmental agencies that enforce the
penal code."
HOUSTON
0ub Taylor, his wife Florence and son Buck
(best known for his continuing role
in TV's "Gunsmoke") were in town promoting
"Pony Express Rider," a G-rated
western that has opened at the Clearlake
2, Greenspoint 5, Greenway 3, Northshore,
Parkview, Palms, Shamrock 6, Southway 6
and Woodlake 3 theatres. The film marks
the first time that father and son have appeared
together in a film but they're slated
to appear together again in "Grey Eagle."
a story about mountain men to be shot in
OUR CUSTOMERS'
appreciate the some day delivery of
orders. Only a tremendous stock can
assure this service."
"Your Complete Equipment House"
OKLAHOMA THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
628 West Grond Oklohoma City
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,
don't glhrfaljUl miss the famous
[^^^ Don Ho Show. . . at
i"°^^i Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
IN WAIKIKI: REEF
-
TOWERS . EOGEWATER
Colorado. The Taylor family attended the
premiere of the film in San Antonio.
John E. Billedeau and Jimmy Lee Thomas,
both of Metairie, La., have been fined
$450 each after entering pleas of guilty to
charges of commercial obscenity. County
Criminal Court Judge Bill Ragan fined the
two but dismissed 22 other obscenity charges
against them. Billedeau and Thomas were
arrested September 15 when Houston police
seized 250 allegedly obscene films at the
Houston Intercontinental Airport.
OKLAHOMA CITY
he
f
good news to all of us in the film business
is that Charles Hudgens, former
Universal manager and more recently with
Starline Pictures, is recuperating at home,
after a very bad fall there. He was rushed
to the hospital November 21 with a severe
cut on his forehead from the fall.
Delbert Ciininiings, ex-veteran showman,
from the Roxy Theatre, Stratford, Tex.,
was here renewing acquaintances. He still
misses not rimning the Roxy which has long
been closed.
in 1951—first-run movies showing in this
city included; "Across The Wide Missouri"
starring Clark Gable, "His Kind of Woman"
starring Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell,
"Two Tickets to Broadway" with Gloria
DeHaven, Ann Miller and Sid Silvers and
Lionel Barrymore in "Bannerline."
Funeral services were held recently lor
Mrs. John Sinopouio. She and her husband
operated the OrpheimT, Warner and Lyric
theatre and Del Mar Gardens amusement
park. Our sincere condolences.
Five major felony charges were filed
against the Nevada corporate owners of the
Vegas Cinema recently, even as police were
raiding the suspected pornographic movie
house . Artists Theatres have
taken over operation of the Forum Twin
Theatre in Tulsa . . . Phil Guiles, Continental
Film Distributors, is up from Dallas
to buy, sell and book pictures for independent
theatres that
he handles.
Webb Meredith, Commonwealth division
manager, attended a press awards dinner in
Kansas City for Commonwealth president,
Doug Lightncr.
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iCREENS
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SW-8
December 6. 1976

'
Eight Screens Spread
'Noah's Ark' Message
MINNEAPOLIS — Four-walled and
boosted by a hefty all-media ad campaign,
reportedly budgeted at $50,000 for the area.
"In Search of Noah"s Ark" sailed high and
handsome in an eight-screen spread. The
film packed houses at several performances
and ended up with a talk-of-the-town 300.
And that earned the film an unscheduled
second week.
While holdovers dominated the screen
scene, there were two other openings. "Winter
Equinox" bowed at the Cooper Cameo
Theatre with a 125 and "Amazing Dobermans"
was a bare 100 in a six-house break.
The Thanksgiving holiday was included in
the \»eek reported and gives a boost to several
figures. "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution"
.
inched upward from its initial week in its
second stanza at the Skyway III. "Bugsy
Malone" was performing nicely at the Cooper
but "The Ritz" has shown no legs.
(Average Is 100)
Academy—The Ritz (WB), 5th wk. 55
Cooper—Bugsy Malone (Para), 3rd wk 165
Cooper Cameo—Winter Equinox (SR) 125
Eight thecrtres— In Search ol Noah's Ark
300
Four thea!:-.-— Shout
Gopher—Two-Minute
Mann—The Return oi Called Ho "JA),
2nd
Park—The Next Man (AA), 2nd wk
Six theatres The Amazing Dobermons
(Golden Films)
Skyway II—Upl (SR), 3rd wk _ .._
Skyway 1-Car Wash (Univ), 4th wk
_ 115
——The
" "
Seven-Per-Cent
(Un r), 2nd wk
Southtown; Te
Solutit
Marathon Man (Pa
..220
Hot Second Round for 'Two-Minute,'
"The Front,' The Return of a Man'
DES MOINES—In their second round,
"Two-Minute Warning" and "The Front"
led the list with high scores— "Two-Minute
Warning" more than doubling "The Front"
gross with a 475. Most films brought in
rather strong grosses but "Bittersweet Love"
opening alone was a weak 50. "Marathon
Man," a long holdover in its sixth week
held up 100 gross to the relatively newcomer
a
"The Return of a Man Called Horse"
in its second round.
Capri—The Front (Col), 2nd wk 230
River Hills—Two-Minute Warning (Univ), 2nd wk. 475
Riviera—The Return o( o Man Called Horse
140
(UA), 2nd wk
Sierra 1—Shout at the Devil (AIP), 2nd wk 150
Three theatres—Norman ... Is That You? (UA),
3rd wk _
Two theatres-Marathon Man (Pn:a), 6th wk
115
100
Two tlneat res— Bittersweet Love (Emb) ..._ _ 50
Heavy 'Gumball' Promotion
Campaign in Scottsbluff
SCOTTSBLUFF. NEB.—Hundreds of
colored paper circles were cut out by Mary
Robinson and her staff to decorate the
Bluffs Theatre refreshment center for the
engagement of "Gumball Rally." Other
items used were racing flags displayed inside
and outside the Commonwealth circuit theatre.
Marquee letters in various colors
spelled out the title of the picture.
Prizes promoted from merchants were
awarded to those who could come the closest
to guessing the number of gumballs in a
large fish bowl at the refreshment center.
MILWAUKEE
JJarry Melcher Enterprises had an unexpected
intruder in its big new showroom
facing North Fond du Lac Avenue:
namely, an automobile driven by a woman
who apparently had passed out. It happened
during office hours but. fortunately, while
everyone present was given a bad scare, no
one was seriously hurt. However, getting
the enormous picture window replaced is
taking some time; the first effort resulted
in the window being incorrectly inserted and
it, consequently, cracked. Biggest damage
was to the expensive stereo sound equipment
that was set up in the showroom . . . Harry's
son Dick does much of the necessary traveling
to the firm's accounts and reports that
at least two more hardtops are being
twinned. One is located in the North Woods
country and the other in Upper Michigan.
Carole Sutter, formerly local branch office
manager for Buena Vista Distributing
Co., before it was combined with the Chicago
office (8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.),
managed to find time for her first trip to
Europe. She got to visit places such as
Vienna and Paris. Her oldest son Arthur
now has entered show business and is ushering
at the Paradise Theatre on our town's
south side.
Theatres Candy Co., locally based concessions
supplier for theatres the past 30
years or more, has brought out a brand new
candy bar. Called "King Kong." it is a
nifty (and tasty) tie-in with the entirely new
movie version slated to be premiered very
soon now. "The ten-cent and 15-cent candy
bars are 'Gone With the Wind,' " a spokesman
for the candy firm pointed out. This
new bar is a 25-cent seller . . . Ron Leibundgut,
assistant manager, was among the early
deer hunters to pull out for the North Woods
as the deer hunting season began November
20. Ron's dad has a hunting lodge in the
Land O'Lakes area (where, by the way,
President Eisenhower used to be a VIP
guest for fishing and hunting years ago).
Oliver Trampe, president of Milwaukee
Film Center and an ex-chief barker of Variety
Club Tent 14. attended the board of
directors meeting of the National Film Center
held in Kansas City during the last weeks
in October. Oliver also is vice-president of
the national group and he informed this
correspondent that among the matters considered
at the two-day meeting were "the
workaday problems that come up with our
centers." (Note: There are 33 exchange centers
in the U.S. The local office at 333
North 25 St. takes care of the needs of
exhibitors throughout Wisconsin and Upper
Michigan.)
Other exhibitors around the state
may be
interested in the letter and reply (in the
Journal) that resulted when an indignant
moviegoer protested as follows: "My friend
and I are 17 and wanted to get into an
R-rated movie in Racine but the employee
at the boxoffice said we had to be 18 or
accompanied by an adult of legal age. I
thought that was only for X-rat^d movies.
Please settle this."
Reply: "In some places the age is lower
than 18 but as the rating system is applied
in Wisconsin the theatre employee was absolutely
right" ... In the same Journal issue
another filmgoer had inquired: "When 'Gone
With the Wind' was released in movie
houses, how long did the film run? 1 don't
remember sitting through five hours of it."
Reply: "The film actually ran 3 hours and
40 minutes. The remainder of the five-hour
TV showing was taken up by commercials
and station breaks."
Vice squad officers confiscated a film as
well as a coin-operated camera November
17 from the Libra Bookstore on the city's
south side after a police officer had viewed
the film. According to a report in the
Journal, the owner and manager of the bookstore
was ordered to appear in the district
attorney's
office.
Art Heling, AIP branch office manager
here, hosted a tradeshowing of "Shadows
in an Empty Room," starring John Saxon,
Stuart Whitman, Martin Landau and Gayle
Hunnicut, on Wednesday afternoon, November
24. The R-rated film was unreeled
in the Centre screening room. 212 West
Wisconsin Ave.
Morgan Moore and Paula Jamrock of
Jack Wodeli Associates, Chicago-based publicity
office promoting Avco Embassy pictures,
mailed a news release to contacts here
concerning a PG-rated modern-day Alaska
movie entitled "Pipe Dreams," which opened
exclusively at the downtown Riverside Theatre
Friday (3),
Montello Theatre in Montello is now
closed Monday through Wednesday and is
open other days of the week at 7:30 p.m.
Recent bookings for the four-day (Thursday-
Sunday) periods have been: "Grizzly." "Lifeguard"
and "Peter Pan."
Mosinee Theatre, Mosinee, booked Walt
Disney's "The Gnome-Mobile" November
3-9, with a Sunday matinee, at which time
all seats were priced at $1. However, the
matinee fare November 6 during this same
run was a special with a half-dozen local
merchants sponsoring this treat with two
showings, 1 and 3 p.m. Main feature film
was "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying
Machines." plus five cartoons. All seats for
this special were priced at 25 cents.
CkiSftmas; MERCHANT
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976
NC-1

. . . Meanwhile,
MINNEAPOLIS
Tf grosses posted across the territory by "In
Search of Noah's Ark" are any indication,
there's an enormous "family audience"
turned off by current violent and sex-ridden
movies and just waiting to pop out of the
woodwork for wholesome screen fare. The
Sunn Classic Pictures release was fourwalled
in the region—and though the picture
"bought its gross" with a hefty firstweek
promotion budget, those initial figures
pushed the attraction into unscheduled second-week
holdovers.
Marty Grodin, who operates the Cedar
Theatre in this city near the University of
Minnesota, has purchased the Arcade and
St. Clair theatres in St. Paul from the estate
of owner-exhibitor Art Stevens. Both houses
have been closed. The Uptown, a third Stevens-owned
property and also shuttered for
several months, was not included in the deal.
Grodin had no immediate announcement
concerning plans for the theatres.
Ted Mann, circuit chief and producer,
was here November 22 from Hollywood for
personal business and to visit with his brother
Marvin. Marvin Mann heads his own regional
circuit and also is co-owner (with
Jim Payne) of Midwest Entertainment, an
independent film distributing company.
Steve Felperin, Warner Bros, branch manager,
left Friday (3) on a Miami vacation
Karen Swing returned Monday
(6) to the Warner Bros, branch as
branch manager's secretary . . Felperin
.
stressed that Warner Bros, and Columbia
Records are joined in a record-setting promotion
collaboration for "A Star Is Born."
The Barbra Streisand-Kris Kristofferson update
of the screen classic opens in the Twin
Cities Christmas Day. The push is on for
Season's Greetings
to ALL
both the film and the album and single (the
movie's theme as sung by Barbra) recordings
from the movie.
Dean Ziettlow, manager of the Cooper
and the Cooper Cameo theatres, has been
easing back into harness as he recovers nicely
from recent gallbladder surgery . . .
Frank Zanotti, Universal branch chief, put
"The Slipper and the Rose" out for bids.
Richard Chamberlain stars in the musical
version of the Cinderella story.
"Hard on the heels of the closing November
25 of the Plitt circuit's Riviera Theatre
n downtown St. Paul comes a report of the
mpending shuttering of the South 1 and 2
n South St. Paul. It's been an open secret
for a long time that the twin installation has
been a
losing proposition.
"Network" was the talk (favorable) of
Filmrow following its sneak November 19
at the Cooper Theatre. Peter Finch was spoken
of as being assured an Oscar nomination—and
reaction to the movie was one of
unqualified
praise.
Bill Wood, Columbia branch manager,
and his crew were sure that "we're in the
money" in the "Salute to David Begelman"
sales push. Just where the local branch finished
in the standings wasn't definite but an
announcement was expected at any moment
—and, said Wood, "We're in there somewhere."
Wood also announced that "Fun
With Dick and Jane" is set for a February
1 1 day-and-date opening at the Gopher,
Northtown and Southtown theatres here and
at the Roseville 4 (exclusively) in St. Paul.
Jane Fonda and George Segal topline the
cast.
6 Irv e^Ci 5f
Navy Helps 'Midway'
RAPID CITY. S.D,—The local Navy recruiting
office furnished a lobby display
and banners to herald the "Midway" engagement
at the Rapid Theatre, a unit of
Kansas City-based Commonwealth Theatres
circuit. Rapid manager Gale Poland dressed
his staff in Navy uniforms before and during
the film's playdate.
Richard Burton, Peter Firth and Joan
Plowright head the cast of "Equus."
UjW*,
^^C'
P.O. Box 16036
Minneapolis, Minn. 55416
(612) 339-4055
Silver Screen Designers,
Costumes Traced in Book
NEW YORK—"Hollywood Costume Design,"
a new book by David Chierichetti, is
being published by Harmony Books, a division
of Crown Publishers. With an endorsement
from multi-award winning Edith Head,
the book traces the work of costume designers
for films made by such major studios as
Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO and MGM.
Hundreds of photographs are included.
In the early years, design was determined
by the whims of the moguls who controlled
the industry. Cecil B. DeMille once ordered
his wardrobe department "not to design anything
that anybody could possibly buy in a
store." Discussed in the book are the professional
careers of the famed designers
whose fashions had the most impact, such
as Adrian Rosenberg, creator of clothes that
added to Greta Garbo's mystique, and Edith
Head, whose skills were so developed that
the strapless evening gown designed for
Elizabeth Taylor in "A Place in the Sun"
(1951) was in style when the film was released,
two years after its completion.
"Hollywood Costume Design" provides
an interesting inside look at the foibles,
frustrations and tremendous talents and productivity
of Hollywood's famous designers.
UA Records Sets Release
Of 'Panther' Soundtrack
NEW YORK—The original motion picture
soundtrack LP of "The Pink Panther
Strikes Again" will be released this month
by United Artists Records. The music is
composed, arranged and conducted by Henry
Mancini with lyrics by Don Black.
The album will be distributed prior to the
Christmas saturation openings of the Blake
Edwards' film starring Peter Sellers as Inspector
Clouseau. The motion picture is being
released by United Artists.
|
Shorlane-Benet Moves
NEW YORK—Jerry Sager, president of
Shorlane-Benet Co., has announced that
the company has doubled its space by moving
into new quarters. The expansion of the
advertising agency and its services took
place November 29. with the new offices
at 45 West 45th Street, New York.
Treasure Chest Plugs Film
RAPID CITY, S.D.—Elks Theatre manager
Val Dunkcr had hundreds of entries
guessing what was in a treasure chest displayed
in the lobby of the Commonwealth
circuit house during the engagement of
"Treasure of Matecumbe." Those who
guessed correctly won a pass for all Walt
Disney movies to be shown at the Elks durina
the next 12 months.
\,g0^ SCREENS«>«QE»^
^ IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
j
> ""
60c SOU»RE FOOT iSWn V
T"
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BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

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theatre system
in the world.
With Bicentennial
Rebate, at a cost
you'll celebrate, too.
...the revolutionary
automated system that
frees the projectionist
entirely of cill
"show routine"
For details on the Showmaster and our Cash Rebate
see your Century Dealer — or write:
^fjS
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CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. 11101
Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.
1100 High St.
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: (515) 243-6520
Minneapolis Theatre Supply Co.
51 Glenwood Ave.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
Phone: (612) 335-1166
Harry Melcher Enterprises
3607-15 West Fond Du Lac Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53216
Phone: (414) 442-5020
Slipper Theatre Supply, Inc.
1502 Davenport Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
Phone: (402i 341-5715
BOXOFHCE :: December 6. 1976 NC-3

. . The
D E S
MOINES
Qarrie." shocker from United Artists,
opened November 24. following a Halloween
night screening at the River Hills
before an enthusiastic audience. Manager
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,
don't miss the famous
BifeXA'
iHAWAiii '-^°" ^° Show. .
[hotels
j Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel.
IN WAIKIKI lltFJ REiF TOWIJIS InGFWATKH
MERCHANT ADS-SPECIAL TRAILERS
Trailerettes-Daters
COLOR—BLACK & WHITE
PARROT FILMS, INC.
P.O. BOX 541
•
DES MOINES, IOWA 50302
PHONE (5151 288-1122
MM MM MM
mw#l
Theatre
Service
The nation's finest for 40 years
RCA Service Company
A Division of RCA
Mike O'Malley, Wakonda Theatre, planned
to try late shows during the Thanksgiving
holiday weekend.
With the usual seasonal slowdown in
busness
hitting the week of November 23, Universal's
"Two-Minute Warning" at the River
Hills was the only show in town doing sellout
business . Ingersoll Theatre's
weekly midnight shows, an exclusive in this
city, were not drawing as well as had been
expected, according to manager Jeff Eisentraut.
He said that "Catch-22" had been the
best attending program to date.
Key Int'l Moves Kaycee
Operations to Denver
DES MOINES—Key International
Films
division manager David Darr announced
that, effective Monday (6), division office
functions formerly handled in Kansas City
will be consolidated with those of the Key
home office in Denver. All correspondence
and sales inquiries should directed to the
Denver office. Film shipments, however, will
continue to be made to exhibitors from existing
centrally located branch locations,
Darr said, to assure that the ultimate in fast,
dependable service for thealremen will be
assured.
Inquiries concerning Key International
Films product should, in the future, be directed
to David Darr, Key International
Films, 8000 East Girard Ave., Suite 412,
Denver Colo. 80231. The Key telephone
number in Denver is (303) 755-7666.
Darr stated that he would continue to call
on accounts periodically in the Kansas City,
St.
areas.
Louis, Des Moines, Omaha and Lincoln
'Cuckoo's Nest' Reaches
IM Mark in Paris Run
NEW YORK — Milos Forman's multi-
Academy Award winner "One Flew Over
the Cuckoo's Nest" has joined the exclusive
group of films that have broken the 1,000,-
000 admissions marks in a Paris first run.
Pedro Teitelbaum, UA senior vice-president
and foreign manager, announced that
the United Artists release, which opened
in Paris Sept. 17, 1975, reached this landmark
November 4.
Since 1973 only six other films have
achieved the distinction of racking-up 1,-
000,000 admissions in Paris first-run engagements.
They are: "Last Tango in Paris,"
"Toute le Monde II Est Beau, Tout le Monde
II Est Gentil," "The Mad Adventures of
Rabbi" Jacob." "The Sting" and "Jaws."
Get-Acquainted Promotion
CHADRON. NEB.—To acquaint new
college students with Commonwealth's
Eagle Theatre here, manager Gary Palm
offered a two-for-one admission for all new
enrollees on the Chadron State College
campus.
Translation for Paleface:
"Don't waste time with old-fashioned
way sending message. BEST way to
SELL used equipment, find HELP, SELL
or BUY theatres, is with
BOXOFFICE CLEARING HOUSE
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Blind ods figure two additional words plus 75< extra)
NC-4 BOXOFTICE ;: December 6, 1976

Two-Minute Warning'
Tops Cleveland List
CLEVELAND — Two muliplc-scrcen
openers brought crowds to several Cleveland
boxoffices while some holdovers slipped to
below average grosses. "Two-Minute Warning"
was on top with 325 followed by
"Cousin Cousine" at 195 in its opening
week. "Car Wash" going for a third round
and "The Front" in its fourth fell to 90
and 80 respectively. "Bamboo House of
Dolls" opening at the Embassy brought in
a fine surprise gross of 170.
(Average Is 100)
Embassy—Bamboo House ol Dolls (SR) 170
Five theatres—Two-Minute Warning (Univ) 325
rive theatres—Marathon Man (Para), 5th wk 150
Five theatres—The Front (Col), 4th wk 80
Five theatres—The Next Man (AA) 80
Four theatres—Car Wash (Univ), 3rd wk 90
Six theatres—Shout at the Devil (AlP), 2nd wk 65
Two theatres—Cousin Cousine (SR) 195
Two theatres-The Ritz (WB), 4th wk 50
High 950 Gross Is Sweet Music
For 'Song Remains the Same'
CINCINNATI—"The Song Remains the
Same" grossed 950 for its opening week at
Showcase 4 to top this recording week's list.
"Carrie" posted 850 for its second week at
Times Towne Cinema followed by "Two-
Minute Warning" which drew 600 for its
second frame at Showcase 2. "Car Wash"
at three situations pulled 400 for its fifth
round and "Marathon Man" at Showcase 1
got 375 in its sixth stanza.
Carousel—Small Change (SR) 200
Five theatres—Shout at the Devil (AIP),
2nd wk 100
Four theatres—The Front (Col), 5th wk 100
Kenwood—A Matter of Time (AIP), 3rd wk 100
Showcase 1—Marathon Man (P.ara), 6th wk 375
Showcase 2—Two-Minute Warning (Univ),
2nd wk 600
Showccrse 3—Norman ... Is That You? (UA),
8th wk - 225
Showcase 4—The Song Remains the Same (WB) ....950
Studios—The Ritz (WB), 5th wk 100
Three theatres^Car Wash (Univ), 5th wk 400
Times Towne Cmemc-Carrie (UA), 2ni wk 850
COLUMBUS
pacific International's "The Adventures of
the Wilderness Family" opened November
15 in four hardtops here—the
Graceland, York Plaza, Raintree and Grove
City. Business was brisk and PIE picked
up the option for a second week. Reviews
in both daily papers were good. It is interesting
to note that both Graceland and York
are $1 houses and the management reported
little or no complaint about the price increase
for the four-wall attraction.
Dave Walsh, manager of Loews' Arlington,
was feted by the Dispatch and was
the guest of the newspaper at a recent Ohio
State football game. Dave reports that group
sales have been quite good on "The Front,"
United Artists feature now showing in one
auditorium at the twin theatre.
Loews Theatres reportedly will shutter the
Westerville until Friday (17), when Paramount's
holiday release, "King Kong," is
slated to open.
Robby Benson wrote the original screenplay
for "Catch a Falling Star."
Actress Gloria Swanson, 77, Talks
Abouf Movies, Diet—and Jogging!
CLEVELAND—Following u recent personal
appearance here by Gloria Swanson,
Plain Dealer entertainment editor Emerson
Batdorff described her as "a star before there
were flappers and she was a star after there
were flappers. After that she was part star,
part legend." He described the renowned actress
as "incredibly young-looking, even if
a little artificial around the eyes which
retain their well-known almond shape that
caused a generation of star-struck school
girls to squint slightly—but they couldn't
almondize their eyes."
Reporting on the appearance of the starlegend,
Batdorff wrote: "Miss Swanson took
a chair beside the screen in the Colony Theatre
and the picture started. It was made
up of clips of her old films, showing techniques
so nostalgic they could make the
heart ping a bit and also bring some laughs,
most of them intended.
Appeared at Town Hall
"Miss Swanson was appearing at Town
Hall, which usually holds its assemblies in
smaller quarters but which, on this occasion,
rented the Colony. The house was nearly
full, mostly women in their middle years
and some beyond. The tiny figure on the
stage was dressed in black velvet—tam over
hair of gold (she's letting it go gray now.
she said later), jacket, skirt, white gloves
and a white scarf trailing from her throat.
On each wrist a bangle glinted in the spotlight
as she gestured.
"The clips showed her, surprisingly, looking
much as she does today, with one exception
that will be brought out later, as
she began her career at age 14 with Charlie
Chaplin and later with Wallace Beery and
Laurence Olivier, an incredibly young Laurence
Olivier. 'Look how plump I was!' said
Miss Swanson. 'We called it plump. I'd call
it fat now.'
Devotee of Good Eating
"Miss Swanson has skinnied down in
the
last half-century. She has become a devotee
of good eating. By good eating, she means
ingesting nothing that is adulterated. That
removes so many comestibles from her list
that she eats only food she herself prepares.
At a small luncheon that followed her talk,
for example, she partook of nothing at all,
although she had with her what appeared
to be a lunch bucket. 'Is that your lunch
pail?' someone asked. 'It used to be a lunch
pail.' she said, 'but not anymore.' She opened
it. It was her handbag, a gloriously crafted
Mexican tin handbag.
"Miss Swanson is nothing if not frank.
"Oh yes,' she said. 'The usual question. My
age. Next March 27, I'll be 78.' Everybods
applauded.
"Miss Swanson had been so frank at her
talk that at the small private luncheon the
ladies felt quite free to ask questions. Of a
tall, gray-haired gentleman who entered the
room carrying Miss Swanson's reel of film,
which seldom leaves her sight, a woman
asked: 'How many husbands has she had?'
The fellow smiled a bit. bowed and said,
'I am No. 6.' The woman squealed, 'Oh!'
The awkwardness was smoothed over. No.
6, as he phrases it, is William Dufty, who
also fortunately is interested in healthy eating.
He didn't eat at lunch either.
"He got Miss Swanson interested in jogging.
'A pedometer is a great help,' said Miss
Swanson. 'When we're out running I can
look down and say "not quite two miles"
and go around the park again.' Miss Swanson
feels that because of poisonous food and
pollution of the atmosphere, the quality of
the world is diminishing.
"She is not alone in that feeling, of course,
but she may be alone in the strength of her
feeling. 'People today don't act as they did
when I was younger,' she said. 'I don't think
people today have the strength they had.'
She said a doctor who got her to eating sensibly
equated strength and the ability to
bounce back after defeats to the vigor of
the adrenals.
"This can be told by looking at the earlobes,
he said. "Look at John Wayne's earlobes,'
said Miss Swanson. 'Look at Churchill's.'
"She said when she first went to this
doctor, she was amazed when he asked her
to take off her earrings. 'My blouse I could
have understood—to check the blood pressure.
But the earrings!" Miss Swanson felt
she was in the presence of a weirdo even
after he expressed his purpose. But later she
got to checking up on earlobes and found
them to be an indicator of strength.
"Miss Swanson was a Christian slave in
one of those Cecil B. DcMille epics involving
lions but everything worked out well;
the lion didn't eat her, although it scared
her nearly to death. In her talk she always
referred to DeMille as 'Mr. DeMille,' never
familiarly by first name, never casually by
last name alone.
"When they were making 'Sunset Boulevard'
more than 25 years after she last had
worked for him, she asked him something.
'Why did you always call me "Young Fellow?"
she wanted ' to know. 'I don't remember,'
said DeMille. This is not a very
zippy ending for the story but Miss Swanson
tendered an idea. 'Was it because I
(Continued on page ME-4)
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976
ME-1

CLEVELAND
gob Long, former Fairview Theatre manager,
was feted November 17 at Kiefer's
Restaurant, 2591 Detroit, by friends
and industryites honoring his recent retirement.
Long spent 35 years in the industry.
Friends of the Free Medical Clinic are
planning a benefit premiere of "King Kong"
at LoewV Cedar Center Friday (17).
Bruce A. Taylor, assistant police prosecutor
who specializes in obscenity cases, said
the adult movie business in the city is down.
In 1973, he said, 49 movie houses and bookstores
in town featured "pornography." Today
the number is down to 24. He attributed
the decrease to declining public interest and
and to the work of the police department's
special five-man unit whose task is to keep
a watchful eye on adult establishments.
Following several arrests and at least 12
trials in jury 1976, people were concerned
about working in such places, particularly
since only one of the trials resulted in a
ruling in favor of an X-rated movie house.
Taylor admitted, however, that no one who
was convicted this year has served any time
in jail. "All of the sentences have been
appealed and while awaiting court decisions
the pornographer continues to make money,"
he said.
Laura DeMent, secretary to Universal
branch manager Jim Ryan, celebrated a
birthday November 22 and Julie Selznick,
Selected Films, celebrated one November
23. Neither one is furnishing ages.
Anthony Newley, actor-composer-singer,
appeared at the Front Row Theatre November
30 through Sunday (5).
Two-time Emmy nominee Tommy Sands
replaced Doug McClure November 16 for
the final week of "A Thousand Clowns" at
the Carousel Theatre, Ravenna. Producer
David Fulford released McClure from the
third week of his contract to allow the actor
to be free to film an ABC "Movie of the
Week" at 20th Century-Fox in Los Angeles.
Sands, internationally known as an actor,
singer and songwriter, received his original
Emmy nomination for his performance on
CINERAMA IS IN
SHOW BUSINESS IN ,
HAWAII TOO.
When you come to Waikiki,

et^v^\'^^
CASH P£S,«.. •
The simplest
and finest automated
theatre system
in the world.
With Bicentennial
Rebate, at a cost
you'll celebrate, too.
...the revolutionary
automated system that
frees the projectionist
entirely of all
"show routine"
For details on the Showmaster and our Cash Rebate
see your Century Dealer — or write:
^f""^^
'S^)^
CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. 11101
Ringold Theatre Equipment Co.
952 Ottawa, N.W.
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Phone: (616) 454-8852
29525 Ford Rood
Garden City, Michigan 48135
Phone: (313) 522-4650
JOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976
Hadden Theatre Supply Co.
3709 Hughes Road
LouisYille, Kentucliy 40205
Phone: (502) 896-9578
Ohio Theatre Supply Co.
2108 Payne Avenue
CioYcland, Ohio 44114
Phone: (216) 771-6545
Moore Theatre Equipment Co.
213 Delaware Ave. (P.O. Box 782)
Charleston, West Virginia 25323
Phone: (304) 344-4413
ME-3

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DETROIT
Mate Levin, Levin Film Distribution, and
the new feature "False Face." They also
will have luncheon at Sardi's. "False Face"
is scheduled for release in February 1977.
Meivin B. Malinas of Cinema Bookkeeping
& Tax Service announces that his office
has been retained by Levin Film Distribution
to act as accountant for the film.
Malinas will take care of the company's
records and taxes, etc.
John Dembek of Dembek Cinema Service
advised that he and his wife Evelyn took a
ten-day vacation in late October to visit with
.sister-in-law Mrs. Joan Grass, who resides
in a beautiful Swiss chalet (built by John
and Joan Grass) on the beautiful shores of
Lake Huron near Port Sanilac. Dembek
further reports that the Sun Theatre in
Grand Ledge, owned and operated by Harold
and Virginia Phillips, will close Wednesday
(1) through January 10 for renovation.
Harold and Virginia will take a well-deserved
vacation during the updating.
Community Theatres recently moved
from downtown offices to a Southfield location—3000
Town Center, Suite 1780,
Southfield. The zip code there is 48075
and the new phone number is 358-1680.
In cooperation with city high schools, suburban
schools and parochial schools, the
Greater Detroit Motion Picture and TV
Council held a Youth Film Forum November
13 at the Redford Theatre. Moderator
was Mrs. Ladene Schofn, teacher at Martin
Luther King High School, who currently is
on study leave at Wayne State University.
The film screened was "Bugsy Malone."
The Town Theatre, Grand Rapids, closed
in late October with no immediate plans for
reopening.
Mrs. Earl (Eleanor) Seielpade was the
guest at a farewell luncheon be held in the
Director's Room of the Detroit Boat Club
Wednesday morning, November 24. Mrs.
Seielpade, well-known to filmites for many
years, is moving to Denver, Colo.
Goodrich Theatres has announced it will
open the Majestic 1 and 2 theatres in Grand
Rapids in the near future. Majestic 1 scats
900, while the other auditorium will accommodate
200 viewers. Cooperative Theatres
of Michigan will be the buyer-booker agent
Cine Corp. will open Cinema 3
and 4 in Muskegon Saturday (25). Each
theatre seats 350 patrons. Cooperative Theatres
of Michigan will buy and book.
Shores Madrid Theatre, St. Clair Shores,
soon will undergo an exterior facelifting.
The modernization project will include removal
of the present porcelain panels and
the installation of the latest type mansard
roof, extending over the top of the marquee;
application of multicolored brick veneer to
his wife (and assistant) Doris depart by
Wednesday (8) for "The Big Apple,"
the remaining portion of the front of the
building; restyling the display window of a
air
where they will attend a press screening of store, and mounting aluminum poster frames
at the theatre entrance. This will give the
entire area a complete new look and should
do much to attract patrons, according to
Bob Anthony, vice-president of RAE Enterprises,
which owns and operates the 600-
seat movie house.
Walt Disney Productions' "The Shaggy
D.A.," starring Dean Jones, Suzanne
Pleshette and Tim Conway, is set for a gala
four-week engagement at the Main Theatre,
located midway between Wodward and the
1-75 Freeway at 1 1 Mile Road in Royal
Oak, with opening slated for Christmas Day
(25). Daily matinees with continuous performances
are planned during the school
holiday vacation, according to owner Bob
Anthony . says that Halloween
is a time for fun for both patrons and employees
at the 750-seat Main Theatre. As
patrons came to watch "Frankenstein Conquers
the World" and two cartoons, the
October 30 kiddies matinee program, they
were greeted by the cashier dressed as a
"Raggedy Ann doll." The doorman/tickettaker
was attired in an impressive Frankenstein
costume complete with a green face
mask and high shoes. "It was lots of fun
and got everyone in the Halloween mood,"
Anthony said. He added, "For practical
reasons, the candy girl was attired in a cute
skirt and blouse with red apron and an eyecatching
Halloween hat."
Gloria Swanson Discusses
Films, Dieting, Jogging
(Continued from page ME-1)
never complained when I was hurt climbing
cliffs and hills?' she asked. 'Probably,' said
DeMille. For me, it is enough to know that
DeMille always called Gloria Swanson
"Young Fellow.'
"Miss Swanson made a lot of money in
her time and she saved a lot of it. She makes
a movie rarely. She made "Sunset Boulevard'
in 1950 and it was hailed as a splendid retrospective
of the silent era. "How did you
get involved in that?' She said, "They kepi
pestering me. I was in the hospital in New
York, being operated on for a wrong diagnosis.
I had a twisted intestine. I knew that.
But I couldn't convince the doctors. They
operated for appendicitis. Uselessly, of
course—I didn't have appendicitis. I not
only had the pain from the operation but I
still had the pain from the twisted intestine.
""She thought awhile. "Then I had adhesions.
But that's another matter.' To recuperate
from the appendectomy, she went
to the West Coast. There people convinced
her to make 'Sunset Boulevard.' She said,
"I suspect I was their last chance. They had
asked everyone else.'
""But she took the lolc— that ot a demented
old-time movie star down on her
hick :irid living thoroughly in the past
and the movie turned out splendidly. Since
then, she has made "Airport 1975.' 'How
did you get roped into that?' "They kept
pestering me,' she answered. "Finally the
producer, the director and Edith Head came
to my apartment in New York and said,
'"Why won't you do the part?" '
" 'Because it's written to make the part
of a movie star a freak,' she said she told
them. 'I'm not a freak! I'm a person like
everyone else.' 'So they said, "Miss Swanson,
we'll write the role any way you want and
play it as yourself!" 'They had ' me,' Miss
Swanson said. "So 1 did it."
""She's a woman who never held the Hayes
Office in high esteem. Problems of censorship
caused her not to finish 'Queen Kelly'
in 1928 because she figured it never would
get by the Hayes Office but she has no liking
for much in modern movies either.
""She keeps a wide-eyed outlook on life.
"Each day I wake up and say, ""Well, God,
what have you got in store for me today?" '
she explained."
Ohio Church Group Upset
By Airer Screen Scenes
AKRON—The East Drive-ln on South
Avenue, in suburban Tallmadge near Akron,
has many residents up in arms because it
sometimes shows R-rated films which can
be seen from the highway.
The Rev. Kenneth Frisbee, whose congregation
has to drive by the ozoner as they
leave the church, said he is ready to go to
court, if necessary, to get rid of "this vulgarity."
The most recent Sunday night offering
to upset him was "Swinging Coeds."
"The screen faces Eastwood Avenue and
the people have to drive by as they leave
the church," Frisbee said. "Sunday night,
many of our members complained about a
vulgar scene which they had to look at as
they drove past ... A young girl who
comes to church with her boyfriend said
she would have to quit attending night services
because she was so embarrassed by
nudity on the screen."
Michael Dennis, operator of the theatre,
refused to comment. However, Village Solicitor
Fred Lawrence said he is studying
recent court decisions on obscenity and plans
to take action. He first intends to contact
the theatre owners to see if they will cooperate
in solving the problem.
No X-rated films have been shown.
'GWTW Theatre Screening
Beats TV Presentation
FORT WORTH, TEX.—The Bowie Theatre
showed the film "Gone With the Wind"
November 7, the same evening that it was
telecast on home television. Irwin Shaw, the
Bowie manager, reported his theatre was
full. Shaw said that he had 500 patrons in
the theatre and more were coming all the
time.
The preceding night, Shaw said he had
lines around the block waiting to pay $1 to
see "Gone With the Wind" on a large screen,
,
without commercial interruption, instead of
watching it on television the next night. The
Bowie scats a little over 500 persons.
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BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

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Anti-Obscenity Group
Soon to Incorporate
MONTPELIER. VT.—Revised Vermont
state legislation governing obscenity allowing
municipalities to apply their own "prevailing
standards" to determine what is obscene
will
be the prime objective of a soonto-be-incorporated,
10-member regional
anti-pornography committee.
As previously reported in Boxoffice. the
organization will be comprised of active
members from Berlin, Burlington, Rutland.
Stowe, St. Albans and Williston among other
communities.
Rev. Paul Weaver, minister of the Trinity
ptist Church, Williston, one of the organizers
of the state-wide committee, said the
group, which already has a treasurer and a
consulting lawyer, results from openings
earlier this year of bookstores in Berlin,
Rutland and Williston to sell what are characterized
as sexually-explicit books, magazines
and films. A fourth similar outlet is
situated in Pownal.
Citing a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court interpretation,
confirming the so-called local
near^Uron,
standards concept, the Williston religious
""•leader commented last week that the high
court decision means "that each town should
be able to come up with its own ordinance."
hose
As for Vermont, he continued, in communities
in which voters have approved
10
pay
iaWsn«;
[ion.insl"'
nat'is''''
penoK'
anti-obscenity ordinances, the local-level legislation
has been accorded support on a ratio
of "two-to-one, three-to-one, four to one."
Rev. Weaver said that some municipalities,
among them St. Albans and Williston,
have conducted opinion studies on local pornography
ordinances which were approved
from voters.
Significantly, a Rutland Board of Aldermen
ordinance adoption banning all sales of
explicit material was later
invalidated by the
State Superior Court, The reason cited at
the time for the invalidation was that the
action had exceeded state authority.
Hartford Comm. College
Opens Fall Film Series
HARTFORD—The Greater Hartford
Community College opened a seven-part
"Car Wash' Sneak Previewed
DEDHAM, MASS.—Universal's "Car
Wash" was sneak-previewed on a recent
Saturday night in auditorium three of the
Redstone Showcase Cinemas III, with the
current attraction, Paramount's "The Tenant,"
shown both before and after the
special
screening.
Phil J.
Scott Opens Worcester Duo
Attending the festivliics lor llu opiiiinu ol llio Lincoln Plaza Cinema 2 were,
from left to right, David Kio!l);isa,

New Attractions and Colder Weather H ARTFORD
Boost Income at Boston Boxoffices
BOSTON—With new product, cool
weather and an active legitimate theatre
season, crowds are rushing to town at night
booming the film business. As an example
of the amount of money film theatres and
legitimate theatres are taking in during this
period, Boston film theatres grossed over
$250,000 and the three legitimate theatres
grossed $225,000. These figures do not include
houses showing pornographic films
and the so-called "off-Broadway" theatres.
Observers say over $500,000 per week is
being handled here, not bad for a city that
is now facing the same bankruptcy situation
New York went through.
The big picture this period was "Seven-
Per-Cent Solution" which hit a terrific 500
above average at the Cheri I. "Two-Minute
Warning" is at 300. "The Next Man" is
nicely above average at 150 in two spots.
Chestnut Hill 11 and Cinema 57 II.
(Avirnge Is 100)
Cinema 57 I—I^arathon Man (Para), fith vk 210
Exeler—Cousin Coujine (SR), 8th v/lc 200
Gary—Car Wasll (Univ), 3rd wk . 240
Orson Welles Cinema 1—Hollywood On Trial
(SR), 2nd wk 180
Orson Welles Cinema 11—Story of Sin (SR) 175
Pi Alley—Two-Minute Warning (Univ) 300
Pussycat Cinema—Love in Strange Places (SR),
2nd wk 140
Savoy 1—Bittersweet Love (Emb) 145
Savoy II—Shout at the Devil (AlP), 2nd wk 140
Two theatres—The Front (Col), 4th wk 150
Two theatres- The Next Man (AA) 150
"Two-Minute Warning' Takes Lead
Followed by 'Carrie' in Debut
NEW HAVEN—Strong scores across the
board were evident in New Haven led by
"Two-Minute Warning" in its second week
ut the Showcase III. UA's "Carrie" rang up
a brisk 175 in auditorium one, Redstone
Showcase V. That film was introduced to
the community in an unusual Saturday night
sneak-preview. Russ Meyer's "Up!" hit 160.
Avco Embassy's "Pipe Dreams" starring
Gladys Knight scored 125 and "Long Arm
of the Godfather" opened at the average
mark, approximating three full houses during
the week.
Cinemart—The Front (Col), 3rd wk 125
Cine 1—Up! (SR) 160
College—Long Arm of the Godiather (SR) 100
Milford I—The Next Man (AA), 2nd wk 135
Roger Sherman—Pipe Dreams (Emb) 125
Showcase 1—Carrie (UA) 175
Showcase 11—How Funny Con Sex Be? (SR),
2nd wk 135
Showcase 111—Two-Minule Warning (Univ),
2nd wk. 185
Showcase V—Marathon Man h'n:-: ^'h wk 140
Whitney—Shout at the Devil AiP> "-? wk 130
York Square C:n- :y i Cousin Cousine (Sfl).
2nd wk 175
"Carrie' Gets the Party at 300,
Seven Openers Light Marquees
HARTFORD— For the third week, new
product dominates the once drought stricken
marquees of Hartford filmrow. A total
of seven new shows opened during this
period and most of them scored well above
the 100 range. The pace-setters included
UA's "Carrie" at 200. "The Song Remains
the Same" at 175. "How Funny Can Sex
Be?" scoring 165 and "Sunday Woman"
with a 150 gross. "Edvard Munch" brought
in 125 at the Atheneum Cinema and "The
Black Dragon vs. The Yellow Tiger" scored
115 in a double bill at the Colonial.
Atheneum Cinema—Edvard Munch (SR) 125
Cinema City I—Sunday Woman (20'h-Fn.v) 150
Colonial—The Black Dragon vs. The Yellow Tiger
(SR) 115
}
S Backgammon
Film DlstTlbutors, Inc.
A new booking and buying service
for New England and New York.
We have experience in programming,
advertising and promotion
for commercial, art and repertory
theatres. Contact:
Mark Diamond (617)868-4250
CQmtmaSf MERCHANT

VA^i^/^^
_ /v clvA r

.
FIRST-MGHTERS—Atlending the world-premiere of "Hollywood on I rial"
at the Orson Welles Cinema, 1011 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Mass., were,
left to right: Irwin Meyer of Regency Communications; producer James C. Gulman;
Gale Sondergaard, actress; Amie Reisnian, writer; David Helpern jr., director,
and Stephen R. Friedman, Regency Communications. Following the inaugural unspooling
of "Hollywood on Trial" at the Redstone circuit theatre, the feature film
reported better-than-average business during the first week of its engagement at
two Greater Boston area showhouses.
BOSTON
paramount branch manager Jim Engle, one
eral Cinema screening room for General
Cinema executives and friends.
Bessie Zathmary, contract girl
at Fox and
a favorite on Filmrow, flew to Arizona for
a ten-day vacation visiting relations. Her
trip west included motoring from Arizona
to San Francisco, stopping in Monterey and
Santa Barbara. She returned with a nice
tan gained by relaxing on one of those Pacific
beaches.
Mistaken Turkey Giveaway
Printed in Boxoffice
QUINCY, MASS.—The Strand Theatre
concluded a week-long, nightly giveaway of
two free turkeys in conjunction with the
Thanksgiving holiday. All ticket holders
were eligible to win a turkey. An earlier
Boxoffice story indicated the giveaway
would be for the entire year-end weeks;
Boxoffice regrets the error.
Vermont's 'Up!' Premiere
Gets Sizable Ad Campaign
BURLINGTON, VT. — Merrill Jarvis
scheduled Vermont premiere of Russ Meyer
set campaign including
TV and radio promotions for the January
dating of their 1976 boxoffice hit
International's "Up!" into auditorium two
"Solaris," scheduled to open simultaneously
of his Merrill's Showcase III, the sizable advance
at Providence, New Haven, Hartford, Burlington
advertising campaign geared to the
and Portland.
of Boston's well-known and respected
personalities lives in Wellesley and
theme, "If you don't see 'Up!' . . . You'll
during weekends a large part of his leisure
time is concerned with the game
Cate Theatres' Partha Pinson arranged a feel down!"
of soccer.
press screening of Alain Tanner's new film
Jim's daughter, Jeanne, plays soccer on the
"Jonah, Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000"
Vintage Serial on Reruns
school team and Jim is on the coaching
Their 1976 record weeks
at the Orson Welles Cinema for 12 noon,
staff. for ten is
November 22.
ten wins, no losses. They're the only team
WEST NEWTON, MASS.—In
believed to be a regional "first,"
what
the West
is
in their league unscored on. The coaches
Over at Lexington Cinema, Ray Feely
Newton Cinemas III are running the vintage
game
of the suburban schools recently arranged
brought back two record breakers on a
"Captain Video," chapter by chapter,
serial,
for successive a to raise cash toward a fund for the
Saturday matinees, 1:30 p.m.
double-bill, "The King of Hearts" and "Harold
league. The two playing teams were made
up from the coaching staffs. Jims says he
was hardly able to walk after the game but
& Maude." Mel and Stan Davis are go-
ing all-out for serials. They are now showing
"The Batman" at their Parkway and Chelsea
"Phantom Tollbooth' Reissued
BROCKTON, MASS.—MGM-UA's "The
he is ready, willing and able to play again
theatres and "The Shadow" at the Orpheum Phantom Tollbooth" had reissue showings
whenever the next game is planned.
and Foxboro. At their Needham Cinema, at 1 and 3 p.m., on both Saturday and
"Captain Video" is still running. That serial Sunday over a recent weekend at GCC's
Roland
Atlantic Releasing's Mike Rosenblatt has
Brockton Cinemas V. Admission was $1.50
has also begun an engagement at
Faucher's West Newton Cinema.
for all seats.
ARTOE 'WATER COOLED' C(
Allied Advertising's Jerry Feldman set
1243 W.BELMONT CHIC
up a trade ad and press screening for Peter
Watkin's film "Edvard Munch," an adaptation
of the life of the noted Norwegian
. . . painter Peter Miglierini, office accountant
at 20th Century-Fox, took a two-week 1 Backgammon
^nim Distributors, Inc.
vacation this past month. He flew to Los A new Distribution Company for
Angeles where he called on two former
the New England territory. Formed
Bostonians; Johnny Peckos at the studio
by people experienced in hand-
and Bob Cherin at the Los Angeles exchange.
ling all types of film. We are pre-
Peter says that though they are in pared to try new and different
Los Angeles they are still Bostonians at methods to insure proper marketing
heart.
of your product. Contact:
Mark Diamond (617)868-4250
Steve Barbett, live-wire booker at AIP
was busy this week setting up his booking
chart for two big combinations coming up.
CINERAMA IS IN
The first week in December brings the
SI low BUSINESS IN
thrillers, "Behind the Shutters" and "Dear
MAWAU TOO.
Theatre
Dead Delilah." "Psycho Sisters" and
When you come to Waikiki,
Service
"Fangs" are planned for January 12 through
'^'^"'^ '^'ss ^^^ famous
The nation's finest for 40 years I
BiCEuIICa'
18 . . . Bob Rancatore, Avco Embassy
Hawaii' '^^"^ Ho Show. RCA Service Company
. branch manager, arranged a special screening
and cocktail party for their coming re-
43 Edward J. Hart Rd. (212) 267-1550 (N.Y.)
Cinerama's Reef
A Division of RCA Ph. (201) 451-2222 (NJ.)
Towers Hotel.
Liberty City, N.J. 07305
lease "Voyage of the Damned" at the Gen-
NE-4 BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

'Carrie' Shows Legs
With 'Excellent' 2nd
WINNIPEG—Grosses moved up a bit
period due to the continuing strength of
last
"Carrie" and the strong debut of "Two-
Minute Warning." "Marathon Man" was
still generating "very good" business as the
reports came in. Billy Graham's "The Hiding
Place" did surprisingly well at the
suburban Kings. "Car Wash" remained
strong enough to hold.
Capitol—Mad Dog Morgan (PR)
Convention Centre—Car Wash (Univ), .Good
Garden City—Bugsy Malone (Para) Averdge
Garrick !—Shoul at the Devil (AFD), 2nd wk Good
Garrick II—Two-Minule Warning (Univ) Excellent
Grant Park—Alice in Wonderland (PR), 3rd wk . Good
Kings-The Hiding Place (PR) Excellent
Norlhslar I—Marathon Man (Para),
6th wk Very Good
Norlhstar II—The Next Man (IFD) Very Good
Odeon—The Front (Astral) Good
Two theatres—In Search of Noah's Ark
(Sunn Classic). 2nd wk Excellent
Two theatres—Carrie (UA), 2nd wk Excellent
'Carrie' Plus Holdovers Pull
City Through 3 'Fair' Debuts
TORONTO—Filmrow was marked by
three potentially strong debuts which received
only "fair" attendance and grosses.
But the United Artist shocker "Carrie" opened
with an "excellent" rating and several
strong holdovers continued with "very good"
scores. At "fair" were "Small Change," "Lies
My Father Told Me" and "Mourning Suit."
'Man Who Fell' Follows 'Carrie'
In Varied Calgary Listings
CALGARY—"Carrie" was at the top of
the list matching "Marathon Man's" previously
unbeatable "excellent" gross. The
Man Who Fell to Earth" came in third with
a "very good" gross while other films stayed
below that mark. "Emmanuelle—^the Joys
of a Woman," now in its eighth round is still
pulling in a "good" crowd as is "The Front,"
holding steady in its third week. "Car Wash"
has slipped to "fair" along with "Face to
Face."
Calgary Place 1—The Man Who Fell to Earth
(AFD), 2nd wk Very Good
Calgoiy Place 2—Carrie (UA) _ Excellent
Grand 1—Car Wash (Univ). 5th wk
.Fair
Odeon 1—Face to Face (Para), 3rd wk
_ ..Fair
Odeon 2—Clown Murders (Astral) Poor
Palliser Square I—The Hitz (UA), Sth wk. ..Very Good
Palhser Square 2—Marathon Man (Para),
^ 5th wk Excellent
Towne Red—Emmanuelle—the Joys of a Woman
(Para), 8th wk Good
Uptown 1—The Front (Astrcd). 3rd wk Good
Vitaphone Program to
Be Screened
December 9, Ontario Film Theatre
TORONTO—The 50th anniversary of
Vitaphone sound pictures, the historic first
program that began the sound motion picture
era, will be celebrated with a screening
of the original premiere program at the
Ontario Film Theatre in Toronto Thursday
(9) at 7 p.m.
Produced by the Institute of the American
Musical, in association with United Artists,
the film program played to capacity crowds
in eight major U.S. cities in August as a
tribute to the picture's historic premiere in
New York Aug. 6, 1926.
The first Vitaphone program consisted of
eight short subjects and the feature was
"Don Juan," with John Barrymore and
Mary Astor. The films were synchronized
with a sound-on-disc system, christened
"Vitaphone" by Warner Bros. The instantaneous
success of Vitaphone led Warner
Bros, to produce "The Jazz Singer" (1927)
and "Lights of New York" (1928—the first
all-talking
feature).
New 35mm prints of the first Vitaphone
program will be provided for the 482-seat
Ontario Film Theatre, which is located at
the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, for
the Thursday (9) event. Gerald Pratley, di-
ings during its first week at the Atwater.
"The Next Man" opened at the York with
a "very good" gross matching "The Man
Who Skied Down Everest" in its second
week.
Atwater—Two-Minute Warning (Univ)
Excellent
Avenue—The Hitz (UA), 6th wk Very Good
Carrefour—Police Python 357 (PR). 2nd wk Good
Chateau—Les Hommes Du President (UA),
3rd wk Good
Champlain—Vol Au Dessus D'un Nid De Coucou
(UA), 15th wk Good
Claremont—Marathon Man (Para),
6th wk. Excellent
Eros—Hard Core Blues (PR) 4th wk Good
Kent—The Man Who Skied Down Everest (PR),
2nd wk Good
Palace— Carrie (UA), 2nd wk Excellent
Ponmsau— Je Suis Loin De
Toi Mignonne (PR), 2nd wk Excellent
Place Du Canada—The Front wk Fair
(Astral). 6lh
Mane—How Funny Can Sex Be?
Place Ville
Very Good
(C-P)
Snowdon—All Screwed Up (IFD), 4th wk Good
Six 'Excellent,' Three Debuts
Mark Edmonton Boxoffice Week
EDMONTON—Six "excellent" scores
marked a successful week for Edmonton
theatres mixing openers with holdovers. The
high scoring openers were "Carrie" and
nir program will be given to members of
the audience, compliments of the John
Wanamaker Department Store in Philadelphia.
A renowned film and theatre historian,
Kreuger will be available for questions and
comments following the screening.
When the Vitaphone event was shown at
the Museum of Modern Art in New York
City Aug. 6, 1976, the audience included
persons who attended the premiere 50 years
earlier, as well as representatives of United
Artists, Warner Bros., Bell Telephone Laboratories,
Western Electric, and AT&T, all
contributors to the original production.
August 20 (exactly 50 years after the
Hollywood premiere at Grauman's Egyptian
Theatre), the Vitaphone program was shown
to industry professionals at the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly
Hills. The following Sunday, Kreuger showed
"Don Juan" at the Motion Picture and
Television Country House and Hospital near
Hollywood. Mary A.stor attended that special
screening with fellow residents.
Other organizations that have presented
the films to local audiences are: the Pacific
Film Archive, Berkeley; Boston Museum of
Fine Arts: the Art Institute of Chicago; Rice
20th wk Excellent
Paramount—Shoul at the Devil (AFD) ...— Excellent
Rialto 1—Car Wash (Univ), Sth wk Excellent
Rialto 2—The Man Who Fell to EaHh
(AFD)
Jlxcellent
Two theatres-Obsession (Astral), Sth wk Fair
Westmoum A—The Ritz (UA), Sth wk Very Good
Weslmount B—All the President's Men (UA),
2nd wk Excellent
T. H. McLeod, 60. Is Dead;
Onetime Manager of REA
REGINA, SASK.—T.H.
"Tommy" Mc-
Leod, 60, former manager of the Regina
Exhibition Ass'n, died November 17.
McLeod, who had managed the association
22 years, resigned in 1968 to become
general manager of the Saskatchewan
Jockey Club. He served two years as a
director of the International Ass'n of Fairs
& Expositions and at one point was vicepresident
of the latter organization.
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976 K-1

! !
CALGARY
a real assortment of out-of-the-ordinary
films was offered in Edmonton and
included several which honored Remembrance
Day. The Provincial Museum show-
it
ed "Road to Ortona" Thursday afternoon,
November 11, and "Patton," starring George
C. Scott, that evening. November 13 the
matinee at the museum was "Captain Horatio
Hornblower" and the Sunday Humphrey
Bogart series offered "The Maltese Falcon."
The National Film Theatre presented "The
Ordinary Tenderness." with English subtitles,
in its Canadian Feature Films series
November 12. The public library had
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in "The
Gay Divorcee" on its Saturday program and
"Gallery" and "The Golden Age of Comedy"
the next day. The Women-in-Film
program continued at the Centennial Library
November 16 with "Good Riddance,"
a movie from Hungary.
M. Hooper of the motion picture censor
Board for this province, along with his staff.
viewed a total of 47 feature films during the
month of October. Now that is BUSY !
Of the 47, five were classified as family;
seven as adult; 1 1 as adult—not suitable for
children, and 24 as restricted adult. None
of the movies garnered a warning for advertising.
Of the total films classified, there
were only 15 from domestic sources and
32 from out-of-the-country producers.
Noted in passing are films from Japan. Britain,
France, Italy, Germany, Sweden,
China, Australia and Denmark. Some new
distributors also were listed—New Cinema
Entre and the Chinese Motion Picture Centre.
It is interesting to see that of the 24
Both Edmonton and this city were treated
to an Audubon film. The Calgary Field
Naturalist Society hosted here, while in Edmonton
the Provincial Museum presented
the Walter Berlet movie. Entitled "West
Side Story—Mexico to Alaska," the story
followed the sun in the springtime from
Mexico to the Alaskan tundra. Birds and
mammals of the West Coast of North
America going about their routine lilcstyles
were captured on film for an interesting and
highly educational show.
The award-winning documentary, "The
Great Grandmother." was shown by the
Calgary & District Home Economics Ass'n
November 16 in the Calgary Electric System
Auditorium. Guest speaker was Walter
Jamieson, faculty of environmental design
at the University of Alberta, who also spoke
at the Habitat conference held last summer
in
Vancouver.
Recuperating at iionie after a tonsillectomy
is David McLaughlin, son of the
branch manager of Paramount Pictures, Jim
McLaughlin.
At last there's a report on the Cuckoo's
Nest Lounge at the Calgary Press Club.
Most noticeable is the intimate atmosphere
and the soft lights that still let people see
the rather modern decor. There is a bandstand
and small dance floor in one corner,
with the balance of the room carpeted in
soft shades of brown. The green upholstery
of the comfortable chairs adds to the
color scheme. The feature wall is covered
with newspapers from all over the continent,
mostly front pages of newsworthy events of
days gone by. Hanging from the ceiling is
a large bamboo bird cage that is home to
the lounge's namesake, although what the
"thing" in the cage is certainly is anybody's
guess. All in all. the lounge is a very quiet
and cozy spot.
The Komedy Klassic shown November 14
at the local Odeon Two was the W.C. Fields
epic "The Bank Dick."
Cine-Participation held its first program
November 9 in the National Film Board
Theatre here, showing two films. The first
films rated as restricted adult, 12 were submitted
film was produced in Manitoba and directed
by Cinepix.
by Marcel Collet. "Les Potes" is the story
In town for several days were Mrs. Ken
of three friends trying to solve a common
McBean and daughter Sandra from Swift
problem. The other movie, a Francis Mankiewicz
Current, Sask. Maxine reports that all is
presentation, entitled "Le Temps
going well in their part of the world and,
since harvest is over, business is coming
D'Une Chasse,"
taking an
deals
expedition
with
into
three
the
Montrealers
forest
back to normal slowly.
to escape their daily life. Admission to the
program was free.
Calgary's Film Society screened the first
program in its Specialists' Series in the Bonis
Roubakine Recital Hall on the university
campus November 14. The double bill started
off with "Freaks" (U.S.. 1932) directed
by Tod Browning. The second film was
"Fantastic Planet," an animated feature.
Cost of a membership for this series of six
films is $7, with no special prices for any
groups.
Ads Hypo Premiere
MONTREAL—Odeon Theatres ran
halfpage
newspaper ads for the Canadian premiere
of Universal's "Two-Minute Warnin;;."
unreeled in Atwater Cinema I.
Unique Airer Ad
MONIRLAL—The St. Eustache Drivein
modestly bills itself as "Canada's Most
Modem Drive-In" in newspaper advertising.
NFS Films Win 3
Awards in Chicago
MONTREAL—The National Film Board
of Canada won three awards at the prestigious
Chicago International Film Festival, one
of the world's most important film competitions.
The top prize for animation films went
to "The Street," by NFB director Caroline
Leaf. Based on a short story by Mordecai
Richler, "The Street" recently was judged
the top animation film at the Canadian Film
Awards in Toronto. At the same event Miss
Leaf was awarded the Wendy Michener
Award presented to a film or filmmaker
adjudged worthy of special recognition.
Earlier, this same film won the grand prize
at the International Animation Film Festival
in Ottawa.
"The Street" will be opening in several
theatres across Canada this month with the
Columbia Pictures feature "Nickelodeon,"
starring Burt Reynolds, Ryan O'Neal and
Tatum O'Neal.
Another animation film from the NFB
took the Silver Hugo award at the Chicago
Festival, "Une Vieille Boite" (An Old Box),
directed by Paul Driessen. It is a film fantasy
of a beggar who stumbles upon an old box
which opens into an imaginary world.
A Silver Hugo in the category of documentary
films was won by the NFB's "Los
Canadienses." directed by Albert Kish. This
story of the famed Mackenzie Papineau
battalion, which fought in the Spanish Civil
War, recently was named the top TV film
at
in
the Mannheim International Film Festival
Germany.
Richard Burton Is 'Star'
Of 'Equus' Press Confab
TORONTO— Actor Richard Burton was
the main attraction here at a weekend press
conference when members of the electronic
and print media were invited to meet the
cast of "Equus," director Sidney Lumet's
film adaptation of the Broadway play of the
same name, at a downtown restaurant.
Burton, who was accompanied by his wife
Susan, commented: "There's this whole
image of me in the press as a drinker and
a womanizer. I know strong men who virtually
weep when they meet me. They think
I'm going to seduce their wives or something."
The image which he described might have
been created by the actor's superb performance
in the film "Who's Afraid of Virginia
Woolf?", an observer stated.
Burton told the press that he was getting
along "marvelously" with "Equus" director
Lumet, who has won acclaim for his motion
pictures "Serpico" and "Dog Day After-
Kiddies Cartoon Festival
MONTREAL—The Cote St. Luc Cinema
hosted a 12 noon kiddies matinee on a
recent Saturday and Sunday, screening a
"Pink Panther" cartoon festival. Admission
was $1 .25.
K-2
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

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30XOFFICE :: December 6, 1976 K-3

. . . When
. . . Local
Two NY Festival Awards
VANCOUVER
To Lumby Productions
SASKATOON—"Giants of Their Time:
The Dawson Exieys left for ihcir anniuil and all on freebies, which makes it tough
The Lumberjack" and "To Touch the
vacation in Lotus Land (Hawaii, the for the downtown theatres during midweek
Trees" won bronze and silver awards, respectively,
at the recent International Film
50th state). They planned to laze on the ... In the city for a one-night taping was
beach and enjoy the gentle breezes laden Ken Norton, who came within a near miss
and TV Festival in New York City.
with the fragrance of frangipani, oleander of dethroning Muhammed Ali. After his
Norman Black of Parsons & Whittemore
and hibiscus, while sipping the exotic offerings
of Waikiki Sam's Bar.
proposed series to be titled "Super Fan,"
guest short, Norton also did a pilot for a
in New York accepted the awards for Lumby
Productions of Saskatoon, which produced
the films, at ceremonies held at the
which Wendell Wilks would like to push
New Westminster always has been a biggrossing
town for Disney product and the
Americana Hotel and emceed by actor Telly
Wilks made a deal with Robert
Goulet to co-host a few of the episodes with
newly reopened Columbia Twin carried on
Savalas.
Carol Taylor, he asked the singer if there
the tradition as "The Gnome-Mobile" racked
up a terrific opening week and settled in
was anyone special he'd like to have on the "Giants of Their Time: The Lumberjack"
same show. Goulet replied instantly: "Shirley
Harmer." It has been arranged.
"To Touch the Trees" won in the public
won the history and biography category and
for a long run.
service category. Lumby films have won 1
The low fog which stretched from northern
California to the Alaska Panhandle ef-
All these comings and goings make it international awards and the production
difficult to walk the Granville Mall without company has had winners in New York for
fectively ruined drive-in business all along
a program—^or so the Vogue's Johnny four consecutive years.
the coast, shut airports and raised havoc
Bernard claims . . . Another story going
with print delivery over the Armistice Day
the rounds is that since November 2 all
holiday. The Abbotsford airport, which is
Canadian diplomats have been
45 miles from this city, fortunately remained
TORONTO
taking a
crash course in "Southern Accent" and all
open most of the time—but it was a threehour
run from there for delivery to spots
JJeporters from Canada, the U.S.. Britain
their children are learning to like peanut
butter. Col. Sanders' business is. of course,
here. However, the fog did not hurt the two
and Australia were given an opportunity
November 14 to meet actor Richard
"Away up!"
race meets still in operation.
It was good to notice in Bill Agnew's Toronto
column that Neil Dainard was playing on a recent Saturday was Canadian Picture at the Cossack Restaurant on Queen Street
Seen lunching at Trolls in Horseshoe Bay Burton and his wife Susan. The reception
alongside Laurence Olivier in the film version
of "Equus." It seems only yesterday was back from the Philippines for a vacation Burton is here to star in the film version of
Pioneer Wally Hamilton and Irma. Wally was hosted by director Sidney Liimet, since
that Neil was a teenager helping his parents and to attend a convention in New York the stageplay "Equus." Of his 61 films. Burton
acknowledged that 54 were "terrible"
operate the Hillcrest Drive-In at Surrey.
City.
but he felt confident that "Equus" was going
Other local names in the production news Local movie buffs are lauding three Canadian-made
shorts which have been on Plowright, playwright Peter Firth and de-
to be "wonderful." Also present were Joan
were those of journalists Bob Hunter and
whale expert-biologist Paul Spong, who are local screens in the past few weeks. "The signer Tony Walton. Burton plans to play
the moving spirits behind the Greenpeace Gift of Water," which played with "Carrie"; King Lear on the stage in London and New
Foundation, dedicated to the preservation of "Cadillac," a spoof on commercials, played York next year.
the whale. A New York production company
headed by Martin Bregman (of "Dog idge" moved over into the Varsity after a Variety notes: An induction ceremony for
the Odeon with "The Front," and "Cooper-
Day Afternoon" and "Serpico" fame) has long ( 13 weeks) downtown run in the Odeon. no less than 54 new members took place
chosen San Francisco as the locale for a "Cooperidge" was produced by Phil Borsos, November 18 in the Variety clubrooms . . .
feature film about the effort based in our who filmed it in 16mm for processing by Tent 28 held its 1977 election meeting
town. Hunter and Spong will be technical Bellevue-Pathe (producing division).
November 19. commencing at noon. Entertainment
and a special buffet were provided
advisers on the picture, which will deal with
Greenpeace stalking the Russian whaling
barkers were reminded of the
fleets.
'African Queen' Was a
Variety Clubs International all-star tribute
Joy,
Leontyne Price, whose concert to John Wayne, which was aired by ABCat
the Says Veteran John Huston TV Friday, November 26 . . . Recent applicants
for regular Variety membership in-
Queenie was covered in a one-liner "Leontyne
Is Magnificent"—flew directly to New ton, in Montreal for a role in the Canadian clude London Bobby, Sydney Chertkoff,
MONTREAL— Actor-director John Hus-
York after the gig for a special concert in production "Angela." starring Sophia Loren King Clancy, David Dennis, Bill Hodgeson,
Carnegie Hall November 13, which she explained
was "for music, not money, because porter that it "was a joy to make 'The Afri-
Jackie Rae, James Saunders, Randy Stevens,
and John Vernon, told a Canadian Press re-
Russ Jackson, Murray Koffler, Dave Mann,
there isn't enough money around to pay for can Queen,' " classic motion picture which Ray Sutherland and Lester Stanford. Applicants
for associate membership include Jack
it." Sounds like an updated NVA night.
starred Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey
Carson. William Cowper, Ray Greem, Alex
The filming of "Celebrity Revue" in the
Cave continues to attract the names. Some He recalled, "It was my first time in Africa.
I
Grossman, Martin Halberstadt, Bert Jacobs,
are in for a one-night stand, while
used to go out shooting with a rifle Richard E. Salam, Rolet Campbell, John
some like
Frankie Avalon and Arthur Godfrey do
and Katie used to ask me, 'How can you Colling and Bruce Howser.
a
week, with a couple of shows
shoot those beautiful animals?' I finally told
each night
her she should come out and try it for herself.
Well, she did and pretty soon she be-
This city had two completely filled theatres
at 7 a.m. On Wednesday morning, November
17. more than 2.000 Italians crowdcame
Diana of the Hunt."
CINERAMA IS IN
ed into the Radio City and St. Clair Twin
Huston, who is 70 years young, has directed
33 films in a Hollywood career that
SHOW BUSINESS IN
cinemas to cheer their home country to
HAWAII TOO.
victory in the World Cup qualifying soccer
has spanned more than three decades.
When you come to Waikiki,
match against England.
Among his motion picture credits are "The
'^°"'* "^'^^ '^^ famous
BlMS/iCml
Asphalt Jungle" and "The Treasure of the
^^^ Don Ho Show. . . at
Sierra Madre," as well as "The Misfits," Lester Persky and Elliott Kastner are
l"°^^J Cinerama's Reef Towers Hotel. Marilyn Monroe's last film, which also producing "Equus," starring Richard Bur
IN WAIKIKI: R£JEF • REET TOWERS EDGEWATER • starred Montgomery Clift and Clark Gable. ton.
BOXOFFICE :: December 6, 1976

. . . UA
Univ
BOXOFFICE BOOKiNCUEDE
An interpretive analysis of lay and tradepress reviews. Running time is in parentheses. The plus and
minus signs indicate degree oi merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. Symbol O denotes
BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award: All lilms are in color except those indicated by (b&w) for black

. . . AA
REVIEW DIGEST
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX
++ Ver, Good, + Good, ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor ]ted 2 pluses, -
4910 Last Affair. Tlie (SO) D Clielex 11-22-76 (H
Last of the Cuiva, Tlie
(65) Doc ...Granada Television 11-29-76
Leoacy (90) D Kino hu'i 5-24-76 4867 El B
4855 Let's Talk About Men
(93) C (b&w) AA S-16-76 PG A3
4887 Lifeouard (94) C-D Para 8-16-76 PG A3
4863 Lipstick (90) Melo Para 4-26-76 m C
MGM-UA 6-28-76 PG A3
Loose Ends (100) D
(b&w) ...Fat Chance Productions 6-21-76
Lost. Lost, Lost
(176) Doc Jonas Mekas 11-15-76
Lovers and Other Relatives
4S92
(98) C Crystal 9- 6-76 El
Loving Cousins
4905
(S7) Sex C-D Independent Infl 11- 8-76 H
—M—
4873 Macintosh & T.J.
(96) W-D Penland Productions 6-14-76 PG A2
4902 Mad Dog Morjan
(102) W Cinema Shares lO-lS-76 B
Maitresse (112)
Sex F-D Tine Productions 11-29-76
4899 Marathon Man (120)
Sus-D Para 10-11-76 B IS
4874 Male of the Century
(95) C Joseph Green 6-14-76 A3
4884 Man Who Fell to Earth. The
(118) SF-D Cinema 5 7-26-76 B) B
4890 Mannequin
(90) Sex D Joseph Brenner 8-23-76
4866 Mariken (90) D Joseph Green 5-10-76
4896 Marliuise of 0. The
(102) Hi-D New Line 9-27-76 PG A2
of 4902 Matter Time, A
(97) D AlP 10-18-76 PG A3
MerryGo-Round Line 5-10-76 B) C
4865 (90) Sex C New
4S76 Midway (132) Hi-War D Univ 6-21-76 PG A2
4870 Missouri Breaks, The
(126) W-D UA 5-31-76 PG B
4869 Mother. Jugs & Speed
(95) Ac-C-D 20thFox 5-31-76 PG B
Don Juan
Ms.
(95) D Scotia American 10-11-76
4880 Murder by Death (94) C-My ...Col 7- 5-76 PG A3
4883 My Friends (113) C AA 7-26-76 El B
—H—
4904 Network (120) C-D MGM-UA 11- 1-76 H
4906 Next Man. The (108) 11- 8-76 H
Sus-D
4856 No Problem (94) C Cine-Ill 5-10-76
4900 ONorman ... Is That You?
(91) C MGM-UA 10-11-76 PG C
4884 Obsession (98) Sus-D Col 7-26-76 PG A3
(Obsession)
Ohsessiiiiie
(135) D (b&w) Audio Brandon 10-25-76
to Billy Joe (106) C-D ....WB 5-31-76 4870 Ode PG A3
Old Gun. The
El (104) War-Melo Surrogate 9-20-76 A3
4875 Omen. The
(111) Ho-D 20th-Fox 6-21-76 El B
4892 Only Way Home, The
(85) Cr-D Cincworld 9- 6-76 PG
Otto Messmer's Felix the Cat
(62) An Otto Messmer 6-21-76
4883 Outlaw Josey Wales, The
(136) W WB 7-26-76 PG B
—PQ—
4901 Paper Tiger
(101) Ac-D ..Joseph E. Levine 10-18-76 PG A2
People of the Wind
(127) Doc Carolyn Films 11-15-76
Phantom Enthusiast. The
(60) F Andrew Norcn 5-24-76
Pipe Dreams Emb 11- 8-76 4905 (89i DM PG
4880 Pom Pom Girls. Tim (90) ..Crown 7- 5-76 El
C

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Conspiracy (S7) Ho. .
Between Heaven and Hell (87) .0. .
Sex
. Apr
rg
.
AAISCELLANEOUS
AMBASSADOR RELEASING
Stunts That Marie the Movies
Famous Apr 76
A. STIRLING GOULD
Anna Karenina (105) ...D.. Apr 76
Black Emanuelle (90) Oct 76
Karin Scllilbeit
The Goori, the Bari and the Loser
(90) Ac-C..Nov76
Winter Kills D..
Richard Boone, Anthony Perl

or
Opinions on Current Productions Feature reviews
olor; 'C CinemaScope; ?; Panavision; 3' Technii synopsis on each pictu
The Slipper and the Rose \C] ""^'^^' ^|"'="
Universal (7706) 128 Minutes Rel. Nov. '76
Cinderella in the flesh is served up in David Pi-osfs
Paradine Coproductions presentation of the immortal
faii-y tale. This new British version was written by Bryan :
Forbes and Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman, with
Forbes as director and the Shermans doing the songs.
They obviously had their tongues in their cheeks, since
the dialog is consistently amusing and the lyrics are constantly
clever. A new star is born in beautiful Gemma
Craven, 22, in the leading role of Cinderella. Richard
Chamberlain, her charming prince, sings and dances acrobatically.
Vii'tually everyone sings or dances. Marc
Breaux's choreography being lively whether the white
mice or the king's ministers are performing. Filmed in
Salzbm-g, Austria and London, with interiors shot at
Pinewood Studios, the musical should be a treat for
young and old. Occasional slow spots are followed by
marvelous performances of Margaret Lockwood. Kenneth
More. Michael Hordern and the late Dame Edith Evans.
Replacing Glynis Johns as the fau'y godmother, Annette
Crosbie makes a distinct impression as a weary miracle
worker. The Stuart Lyons production has the quality of
an endm-ing film, suitable for revivals for years to come.
Filmed in Panavision and Technicolor.
Richard Chamberlain, Gemma Craven, Annette Crosbie,
Michael Hordern, Christopher Gable.
THE AMAZING DOBERMAISS M
* '""^comedy
Golden Films 94 Minutes Rel. Nov. '76
These five Doberman pinschers are fast becoming top
animal film stars. The producer-director team of David
and Byron Chudnow have succeeded in altering the popular
image of Dobermans as killer guard dogs. In this
sequel to "The Doberman Gang" (recently aired on TVi
and "The Daring Dobermans," the five appealing and
talented canine stars assist in trapping a racketeer. Fred
Astaire retm-ns to the screen to star as the dogs' lovable,
Bible-carrying owner and trainer. James Franciscus and
Barbara Eden, two actors who have made their mark
on television, provide the love interest. Franciscus portrays
a Justice Department agent who becomes involved
with a small tom'ing circus where Eden performs as a
bareback rider. While the five remarkable dogs steal
the pictm'e, these three stars provide a pleasant bonus
for the audience. The action-packed screenplay is by
Richard Chapman, based on an original story by Michael
Ki-aike and 'William Goldstein. Don Reynolds was executive
producer of the Doberman Associates, Ltd. film,
shot in color with a musical score by Alan Silvestri. The
unbeatable combination of suspense, comedy and romance
makes this an ideal picture for the whole family. Filmed
with the approval of the American Humane Society.
Fred Astaire. James Franciscus, Barbara Eden, Jack
Carter, Billy Barty, Charlie Brill.
The Great Scout and
Cathotise Thursday P

. . Unique
. . More
FEATURE REVIEWS Sfory Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Programs
THE STORY: "Part 2, Sounder" I Gamma HI)
In rui'al Louisiana bayou country, Darryl Youug lives
with his siblings and parents, Harold Sylvester and Ebony
Wright. The latter work hard with little to show for it.
Theii- happiness is marred when Darryl's school is closed
and teacher Annazette Chase plans to accept a position
in Cleveland. Sylvester sparks the black community to
devote their- extra time to building a school and getting
suppUes. They have only fom- weeks to accomplish this,
that being the deadlme for Chase to accept the Cleveland
job. Sylvester and Wright quarrel when he takes the
family's meager savmgs to pay for some advance lumber.
He later tells Chase that she is basically rmming away
and won't find her satisfaction in Cleveland. She makes
the decision to sacrifice and stay. When the school opens.
Young knows what it has cost his parents and teacher
to build him this path to the future.
EXPLOITIPS:
Use the Teacher's Guide written by Roscoe C. Brown jr.,
Ph.D., Director, Institute of Afro-American Affaii-s, New
York University, available through Gamma III Distribution
Co. Use TV spot ads.
CATCHUNES:
For the 60 MilUon People Who Loved "Soimder"—Now
There is PART 2, SOUNDER . of the Adventm-es
of the Family That All America Loved and Embraced
. and Unforgettable in Motion Pictm-e
Entertaimnent.
THE STORY: "Battle Command" (Constellation Films)
The British, Belgian and French armies are evacuating
British troops from France in May, 1940. Captain Frederick
Stafford and men encounter lieutenant Francisco
Rabal, a Geiman spy, posing as an Euglish officer. After
the Dunkirk withdrawal, Rabal has a rendezvous in London
with major Luigi PistiUi and other spies. Theii- contact
is barmaid Teresa Gimpera, an old friend of Rabal.
Meanwhile, Stafford renews his romance with lieutenant
Evelyn Stewart, with whom air-marshal Van Johnson
has also been involved. As Stafford attempts to track
down the spies, who are to sabotage Britain's newly-developed
radar system, Rabal enjoys his hospitality. Because
Stafford had saved his life, Rabal is unable to kill
him. Johnson retm-ns to active duty, leading fighter
planes in defense of London as German squadrons attack.
Stafford prevents Pistilli from destroying the commmiications
base, as all the saboteurs—including Rabal—have
been killed. Johnson dies in battle. Stafford and Stewart
are reunited as Prime Minister Churchill expresses England's
gi-atitude to its defenders.
EXPLOITIPS:
Play up the Widescreen war scenes, complete with
stereo sound. Tie in with any TV showings of other war
films starring Johnson.
CATCHLINES:
New and Spectacular Action in the Tradition of 'The
Guns of Navarone,' 'Tlie Dirty Dozen' and 'Patton.'
USE THIS HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
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IN THE BIG-BUYING
DRIVE-IN THEATRE MARKET
29th Annual Edition
drive-in operation
issue
THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DRIVE-IN THEATRE MARKET
Get your sales for '77 off to a fast start. Cash in on the big buying that'll start off the bigger-thanever
1977 drive-in theatre season just ahead.
The "Drive-In Operation Issue" of Boxoffice-Modern Theatre assures you a perfect tie-in . . .
perfect timing . . . plus the largest concentration of drive-in theatre management . . . right when
their buying plans start.
It comes out February 14 . . . assuring
decisions your way.
you lots of opportunities to swing those all-important
It'll deliver your sales message to the key men who plan and buy for practically every drive-in
(and indoor) theatre in the U.S. and Canada. Thousands more than any other paper in the field.
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Here's a wide-open market and money-making opportunities galore for you . . . right now. Cash
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publication date FEBRUARY 14, 1977 / ad deadline JANUARY 31, 1977
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