TO LORD

. . The
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Sack Theatres Opens
Twin in Brockton
BOSTON—Sack Theatres opened its
new Brockton Cinema 1 .md 2 March 24.
marking the first move into southern Massachusetts
in the film company's aggressive
expansion program throughout New England.
A. Alan Friedherg. president of the
circuit, hosted dignitaries and celebrities in
a real Hollywood-style premiere, the first
ever for
Brockton.
While miniskirted drum majorettes from
Holhrook High went through their performance
in the subarctic temperatures, glamorous
models in evening gowns handed out
roses at the door, and a cross section of
Brockton society gathered inside the lobby
of the new twin for the premiere showings
of "Airport '77" and "Slap Shot."
The list of political figures at the opening
included Mayor David E. Crosby and city
clerk John Lyons, state Sen. Anna P. Buckley,
state representatives Mark E. Lawton
and Paul F. Goulston, city councilors, business
leaders and Sack Theatre staff members.
The night was reminiscent of Hollywood-type
premieres, usually held at Boston
film theatres, complete with limousines
bringing in
the honored guests while searchlights
swept overhead and klieg lights bathed
the new theatres in a brilliant glare of
light.
"I think show business is supposed to be
glamorous." said Friedberg as the glittering
finery of Brockton's socialites swirled
around him in the cinema lobby, where,
surrounded by Sack Theatre officials, he
hosted a champagne reception.
With the largest auditorium in its film
market. Sack's Brockton Cinema 1 and 2.
located adjacent to Cardinal dishing Hospital,
played host to a Boston Filmrow
contingent in addition to the Brockton
VIPs. Down from Boston came representatives
of the major and independent film
distributors and their friends and guests to
see the new theatres go into operation.
"The Brockton complex is eminently well
located to serve a broad section of southeastern
Massachusetts," Friedberg said in
his remarks, "with a market totaling over
350,000 filmgoers.
"Some theatres tend to forget what show
business is all about—it's just not opening
the doors and showing pictures. This year
also promises to be a record one for the
entire film industry.
"Thus far, 1977 is shaping up as the best
year in dollars and in unit admissions since
the advent of TV. I don't know if the industry
will ever come back to what it was
before TV. but it is giving TV more competition.
Films compete with TV's free entertainment
by offering a form of entertainment
free of commercial interruptions, ringing
phones and noisy children.
"It's one of the cheapest forms of entertainment
and one of the best. Films are one
of the highest art forms available to our
civilization."
George R. Papas welcomed Sack Cinemas
to Brockton "because they always have
been trailblazers in film theatres." The time
was, he said, when "the good foreign films
were to be found only in the smaller art
film houses in Boston, but the Sack Cinemas
opened the way for a more widespread
appreciation of these films by showing them
in their own theatres."
Decor of the new theatres is the Sack
motif of white, blue and red: color curtained
walls, individually coordinated to each
auditorium, one furnished with red upholstered
chairs, the other royal blue and
carpeted lobby and aisle areas. Projection
equipment is a Christie Auto-Wind Platter
film transport system. Christie xenon lamphouse
consoles. Super Simplex projection
and sound heads, and a Simplex automation
system. Sound is the Altec-Lansing Voice-ofthe
Theatre system. Safety features are an
automatic cutoff projection system in case
of booth film breakage, including a device
which turns on the house lights in case of a
show interruption.
WORCESTER
The White City Cinema, which recently
shifted from RKO-Stanley Warner to
Redstone management, has blossomed forth
with new print media advertising logo emphasizing
the words, "Acres of Free Parking"
. Redstone Showcase 4 had
teaser advertising ahead of 20th-Fox's
"Wizards" . . . The General Cinema
Corp.'s Worcester Cinemas 3, normally on
a single-feature policy, played two attractions,
"Beyond the Door" and "Night of
Bloody Horror."
P. J. Carroll Dies at 72
HYANNIS, MASS.—Patrick J. Carroll.
72. retired projectionist, died recently in
Cape Cod Hospital. He was a long-time
member of Local 182, Motion Picture
Operators Union, working for many years
in theatres in Massachusetts, including the
Cinerama, earlier known as the RKO-Boston.
Survivors include his wife Margaret,
two sons, a daughter and a sister. Burial
was in Winthrop (Mass.) Cemetery.
Judge Is New Trade Name
NORWALK, CONN. — A new trade
name. Judge Productions, 240 Rowayton
Ave., Rowayton 06853, was filed with the
Norwalk Town Clerk's office by Thomas
A. Judge jr.
Newcomers Bolster
Grosses in Boston
BOSTON—Exhibition is in fine shape
this week with grosses bolstered by the
opening of five new films. "Airport '77"
flew in with a 350 to share the lead with
"Slap Shot." Other strong bows were made
by "The Eagle Has Landed," "The Domino
Principle" and "Wonderful Crook." Holdovers
were led by "Rocky" at 300.
(Average Is ICO)
Beacon Hill, Circle Cinema—Slap Shot (Unv) ...350
Charles—Bound tor Glory (UA), 4th wk. 150
Charles, Circle Cinema—Fun With Dick and
lane (Col), 6th wk. 135
Charles, Savoy—Airport '77 (Univ) .350
Chen, Chestnut Hill—The Eagle Has Landed
(Emb) 190
Ch eri—Wizards (?0th-Fox), 4th wk 150
Cheri—Rocky (UA), 14th wk
Chestnut Hill, Gary—The Domino Principle
(Emb) 200
Cinema 57—The Late Show (WB), 3rd wk. .
Cinema 57—Thieves (Para), 2nd wk ...100
Exeter—Wonderful Crook (SR) 200
Orson Welles—Jonah Who Will Be 25
in the Year 2000 (SR), 9th wk 2C0
Orson Welles—Cousin Cousine (SR), 6ih wk 150
Pi Alley—Network (MGM/UA) 15th wk 150
Savoy—Emma Mae (SR), 2nd wk. 100
'The Domino Principle' Tops
Hartford With 200 Opening
HARTFORD—A four-theatre bow generated
200 for Avco Embassy's "The Domino
Principle" to top the town as far as
opening product is concerned. The firstrun
bloc had only one other new show,
a doublebill of "The Sacred Knives of Vengeance"
and "South Sea Fury" which registered
135.
Art Cinema—Through the Looking Glass (S''J,
Naked Came the Stranger (SR), 3rd wk 140
Atheneum Cinema—Cousin Cousine (SR),
9th wk 30
Cinema, UA East—The Town That Dreaded
Sundown (AIP), 3rd wk 85
Cinema, Westfarms—Fun With Dick and Jane
(Col), 7th wk EO
Cinema City—Wizards U0h-Fox), 2nd wk. 150
Cinema City—Chatterbox (SR), 2nd wk 135
Colonial—South Sea Fury (SR) 135
Four theatres—The Domino Principle (Emb) 200
Showcase—Bound for Glory (UA), 2rd wk 150
Showcase—A Star Is Born (WB), 14th wk 125
Showcase—Network (MGM-UA), 6th wk 155
Showcase Rocky lUA), oth wk 135
Showcase—Freaky Friday (BV), 6th wk 140
Webster—The Love Slaves (SR); Deep Tunnel
(SR), 2nd wk 125,
Westfarms—Bugsy Malone (Para), 2nd wk 90
'Edvard Munch' Paces New Haven
In Benefit Opening, 185 Gross
NEW HAVEN—"Edvard Munch," ir
premiere at the Sampson & Spodick Yori
Square Cinema, paced the town with 185
A benefit showing ($5 for adults, $3 fo
students with ID cards) turned over pro
ceeds to the Art Gallery at Southern Con
necticut State College. Avco Embassy'
"The Domino Principle" registered 17
while "Emma Mae" hit 150.
Cinemart, Milford—Fun With Dick and lane
(Col), 7th wk /;
Milford—The Domino Principle (Emb) 17
Roger Sherman—Emma Mae (SR)
li
Showcase—Bound for Glory (UA), 2nd wk K
Showcase—A Star Is Bora (WB), Nth wk 1
Showcase—Network (MGM-UA), 6th wk. ... 1
Showcase—Voyage of the Damned (Emb).
3rd wk .
Showcase—Rocl-cy (UA), 8th wk l\ .
York Square Cinema—Edvard Munch (SR) 1 1
;
Norman Tokar will direct "The Cat Fro
Outer Space" and co-produce with Re
Miller.
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NE-2 BOXOFFICE :; April 11, 19"
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