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BUFFALO
T adles of Variety Tent 7 held their annual
Easter party for patients in the Children's
Rehabilitation Center for Children's
Hospital Monday (4). There were cartoons,
live entertainment and the distribution of
candy and novelties by the Easter Bunny.
Mrs. Salvatore Ricupito and Mrs. Thomas
A. Million were chairpersons for the party,
assisted by Miss Isabelle Wozniak of the
center.
"Murder My Sweet" was shown recently
as part of the free detective series offered
through May at Niagara Community College
. . . "Tunnelvision" was shown in
Squire Hall, University of Buffalo . . .
"Berlin: Symphony of a Great City." "Happy
Mother's Day" and "Salesmen" were
shown in Acheson Hall at the University of
Buffalo . Obsession" and "The
Key." Japanese films directed by Kon
Ichikawam. were shown as part of the
Media Study Central Library series March
29. Admission was free.
George Chakiris of "West Side Story"
movie fame, is co-starring with Oscar winner
Kim Hunter in a month's engagement
of "Elizabeth the Queen" at the Studio
Arena Theatre.
As a show of confidence in the downtown
business sector, the Innkeepers' Ass'n of
Western New York contributed $1,000 to
the Friends of the Buffalo Theatre . . .
Producer Ingo Preminger has an option on
"Little America," first novel of Bob Swigart,
who left this city a few years ago for
the West Coast.
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Shire of this city had
a special interest in the annual Oscar telecast.
Their daughter-in-law Talia Shire, wife
of their son David, was a nominee for the
Best Actress Award.
Tom Woolery, local division manager for
American Multi Cinema's Como 8 theatres,
had an unusual promotion with WGRO-
FM in conjunction with the Academy
Awards. Patrons were given ballots and
asked to underline their choices. Awards,
based on the number of correct selections,
included a year's free pass for two and
ten, seven, five and three passes for two.
Winners were announced on the radio and
posted at
the theatres.
Doug Smith, Courier-Express critic, described
"Airport '77" as "exceptionally fine
family entertainment. It's the sort of movie
that guardians of the public morality say
they don't make any more." In a separate
column, the paper recommended the movie
for
children.
Producer Robert Evans sandwiched our
town between Toronto and Washington,
D. C, in a promotional visit for his new
film "Black Sunday." Whether he knew it
or not, Evans was the first major film
industry dignitary (excluding studio press
agents) to include this city on an inperson
tour in more than three years. Robert
Plutzik, reporting for the Courier-Express,
called Evans a "compact dynamo in
cool
aviator glasses."
Evans Theatre repertory film art series
should resume in
mid-April. The series was
cut short in early March due to difficulty
in obtaining prints from distributors and
unacceptable programing changes by the
Boston packager of the series.
Openings include "Black Sunday," which
also was sneaked at the Holiday 2; "The
Late Show," at the Holiday and Boulevard
Mall; "The Littlest Horse Thieves" and
"The Many Adventures of Winnie the
Pooh," at the North Park and Como Mall;
X-Rated Film Library For Sale
"Raggedy Ann & Andy" at the Boulevard
Mall and Como Mall; "Thieves" at Valu 5
Cinema, and "Demon Seed" at Plaza North
and Como Mall.
Wyler's "Dead End" (1937) and Wellman's
"A Star Is Born" (1937) were shown
as part of the Studio Arena Theatre series
. . . Buffalo Cinema Club showed films by
its members in the Amherst Community
Church.
The men and women of Variety Club
Tent 7 are planning a "Gong Show" fun
night May 13. Applications are being taken
from anyone with talent (the lesser the
better) by Marge Schaefer. Sur Mason and
Phil
Goldstein.
Harry Edelman, owner of Theatre Film
Advertising and well known to exhibitors
here and throughout New York, died of a
heart attack March 21. He is survived by
his wife, a daughter and two sons.
Yasuhiro Yoshimatsu, one of Japan's
foremost young filmmakers, screened and
discussed his latest work, "The Slope in
the Sun," in the Squire Union Conference
Theatre. The director's appearance was in
conjunction with the Japan Film-Video
Series co-sponsored at UB by the Center
for Media Study and the Intensive English-
Language Institute. It was free and open
to the public.
1-290 Drive-In held its grand opening
Friday (1), charging $3 per carload for the
three-day weekend only. There were free
prizes for everyone and a dusk-to-dawn
showing of four features to mark the kick-'
off of the new season.
In a Courier-Express interview, Tony
Ragusa jr., manager and part-owner of the
Valu 5 Cinema, described movie theatres asl
.
"the most expensive candy stores in thei
world . . Right now Buffalo is in the
midst of an outrageous bidding war that's
going to help no one in the end." Lack of
product, soaring prices for release rights
and the fact that the metropolitan area has
more screens than is good for it have caus
ed Ragusa to all but drop out of this large
stakes poker game, leaving such heavies ai
the Holiday and the Como theatres to battl<
over first runs, the article said.
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On a Territorial or National Basis
Foreign and Video Rights Available
Soft and Hard Versions
Library consists of 28 Color 35mm 60-minute Features and 8 10-minute 35mm
shorts, all with voice-overs.
Films Come with Press Kits and Trailers
All Negatives are in Excellent Condition
Priced to
Sell.
Call Mr. Rogers 212-324-3539
Philly Officials Using
'Rocky' to 'Sell City'
PHILADELPHIA—City officials ar
hoping that "Rocky" can do for Philadel
phia what it has done for Sylvester Stallon
on the screen. The city launched "The Sell
ing of Philadelphia" advertising campaigr
designed to increase business and tourisrr
with a full-page ad in the New York Time
March 30, with a theme based on the Acac
emy Award-winning movie which is aboi
a Philadelphia fighter. Most of it was filrr
ed in this city.
The Times ad, which cost $12,000, w;
designed by a police graphic artist and
salutes "Rocky" as "a reel knockout" i
proclaiming "Philadelphia—A Real Wii
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E-6 BOXOFFICE :: April 11, 19: