old-time . I OKLAHOMA CITY Qommonwealth Theatres has brought Phil Blake) here as senioi division manager, in charge of the circuit's operations in Oklahoma C'iiy. Albuquerque and several Southwest towns. In other moves, Commonwealth sent Webb Meredith to Vlbu querque .is junior division manager and George Nichols was brought in from Co- OW PRICE AST SERVICE MOTION PICTURE SERVICE COMPANY Wi Hy«l
i 270 I (SR) — a Rocky/ 'Annie Hall' rhrive in Mill City MINNI M'OI IS Boosted bj drive-in osses, a tandem program made up ol Black Oak Conspiracy" and "Too Hoi to landlc" came in with a so .it six locations I leanwhile, "Realm ol the Senses" hit the une figure in its how at the Skyway II heatre. "Cross ol Iron" was spread across ,-n screens and ended up with a 100 avei ge. "Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 000" did a light 75 at the Cedar, and Pumping Iron" found few takers at the Iforld, where it tallied a 60. "Rocky" counted to show remarkable legs and—aided 1 some rainy weekend weather—soared to in its 14th round at the Brookdale and louthtown. Also leggy: "The Late Show.'' nth 165 at the Edina II. and "Annie Hall." DO m its fourth lap on three screens. (Average Is 100) Irookdale Southiown—Rocky (UA), 14ih wk 270 retkrr—lonah Who Will Be 25 in (he Year 2000 75 Cooper—Black Sunday (Para), 8th wk 95 5|na II—The Late Show (WB), 7th wk 165 :m : S — The Caj (Univ), 2nd wk :—Airport '77 (Univ), 9rh wk. s—Black Oak Conspiracy; Too Hot to Handle New World) 150 . I— Islands in the Stream (Para), 4th wk. .. 90 II— In the Realm of the Senses (SR) 150 :"•; — Cross of Iron (Emb) .100 s—Annie Hall (UA). 4th wk World—Pumping Iron (Cinema 5) Closing of an Underskyer Saddens Iowa Community DES MOINES—The Star-Vue Drive-in it P. mora. Iowa, has closed and it is being razed. The three and a half acres occupied by the ozoner will be farmed along with approximately 1 1 other acres near the site owned by Margaret Gibson. Ms. Gibson has operated the underskyer 27 years but. because of recurring vandalism and slim profit!, she has decided she's had it! She tried to lease the theatre but was unsuccessful. The closing of the Star-Vue leaves Guthrk County without a single theatre. The closest movie houses for Panora residents .ire 25 to 40 miles away. Ms. Gibson, a 65-year-old retired postal worker, said she used to show "mostly PGs. six or seven Disney movies a year and. once m a while. R films—but violent nonsex Rs." Weekend business was the best hut. while once good enough to support the theatre. even that patronage had tapered off, with the over-20 crowd particularly among the missing patrons. Vandalism increased, she said. For instance, last year Ms. Gibson spent over $1,000 for repairs, after repeated burglaries. Damage included smashed windows, overturned speaker posts, broken boards, smashed lights, etc. "It was just a continuing thing," Ms. Gibson commented. Now. the underskyer already is being missed by residents of the area particularly the teenagers. Each yeai there had been a special prom weekend. with showings from midnight to 3 a.m. for students. These events had to be- replaced with other recreation. One student lamented, "The teenagers BOXOFF1CE :: June 6. 1977 Southridge a De Luxe I cover planted soon. won't know wh.il tO do this siimmc cause there's nothing else to do in Panora " least a I he OZOnd was a common meeting place foi youngsters even ii the film fare wasn't Duhinsky Bros. Trio the best. Ih,\ could I. ilk .mil have Inn. one remarked. Di s MOIN1 s Reflecting a contin Although mans residents had stopped trend in exhibition. Dubinsl Bro ing to movies completely, ^n^- observed thai ties has added the Southridge III to n it's really a shame to see the drive-in close. don'l think it made much inoncv ... It I was run as son ol a service to the community." Ms. Gibson even had installed seats with speakers so thai youngsters could attend the drive-in whethei the\ had a c.n 01 not; their parents could pick them up after the show. I here had been some talk ol a civic group taking over the Star-Vue. I he Commercial Club, a group ol businessmen, and the Faycees tried to keep interest in the project alive but eventually gave up. Even a proposal for showing movies at the old Veterans Auditorium was abandoned because The de luxe Southridge III. Duhinsky Bros. Theatres' triplex which open- of the administrative demands involved. The drive-in speakers now have been ed recently in the Southridge Shopping sold, Ms. Gibson disclosed, and concrete is Center, Des Moines, is managed l>\ Roj being removed from the sile. She said she's Disney, right, a circuit veteran. At left sine her son-in-law will have beans—oi al crop— Announcer Tom Collins Is 'Roasted' by Variety 14 MILWAUKEE—Variety Club Tent 14 sponsored a "roast" in honor of sports announcer Tom Collins at the Pfister Hotel at noon May 16. Emcee of the event was sportscaster Ted Moore and the roasters seated at the head table included Merle Harmon. Bob Ueckcr, MU coach Al Mc- Guire and Lionel Aldrich. Collins was a Milwaukee Brewers baseball announcer and Marquette University basketball announcer but now is manager of media advertising for Schlitz Brewing Co. According to unconfirmed reports, approximately 400 attended the Variety Club fete. Selznick Films in Series At Milwaukee Art Center MILWAUKEE—The motion pictures of the late Hollywood producer David O. Selznick are being featured in a Milwaukee Art Center program that started April 2S wilh "Anna Karcnina" (with Greta Garbo and Fredric March). Five more films, ending with "Portrait of Jennie," with Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cottcn July 21. are to be shown on alternate Thursday evenings. There is no admission charge. Benefit Show at Spooner SPOONER. WIS. - I he Palace Theatre was the scene ol a spring variety show for the benefit ol the Washburn County Mental Health Ass'n April 20. A front-page Story in the Spooner Advocate said that the show "again will be staged with the cooperation of Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Kliman. who own and operate the Palace." hea- is Jeff Young, assistant manager of the Southridge III. cuit operations. The newest cinema facilities in the Des Moines area, the theatres allocated on the southwest corner of the Southridge Shopping Center. The triplex. which was unveiled in late December 1976. is managed by Roy Disney, longtime showman in Des Moines, with Jeff Young as assistant manager and Jarcd Torrence as projectionist. All auditoriums share a common boxoffice and are completely carpeted. The foyer and lounge area has vinyl-covered walls accented by orange, brown and white strips Restroom facilities are located near the foyer and were constructed to accommodate patrons in wheelchairs as well as ambulatory moviegoers. The 40-foot-long paneled concession counter has a Formica top with a copper theme and there are two complete stations for popcorn, beverages and candy service: one popcorn warmer: two butter-servers, and two beverage towers. Future plans arcto place ebony ceramic tile 30 inches out around the entire refreshment center— functional approach to highlighting the facility. Disney brags that he has a huge concession storeroom o\ which other iheatre managers seem to be jealous! Featuring the latest in totallv automated projection equipment, the booths are located on the ground floor (not elevated). Film images are transmitted to ihe proper screens via large minors above the prolectors. Both sound and projection equipment were installed bv Slipper Iheatre Supply With ihe suspended acoustical tile ceiling and sprayed-on soundproofing covered by Soundfold drapes, echo is eliminated, resulting in remarkable audio fidelity. (Continued on page N< • NC-1
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