Boxoffice-April.10.1978.

_ 

r^'^'/ 

RICHARD LIPTON 

PRODUCTION 

BIG THUMBS 

introducing 

JANETTE SINCLAIR 

written by DAVID NEWBURGE & CARL STONE music by ROGER JOYCE 

lyrics by DAVID NEWBURGE produced & directed by RICHARD LIPTON 

a COAST FILMS release 

GO CHECK IT 

OUT 

For additional information contact: 

COAST FILMS 

439 S. LoCienega Blvd. 

Suite ~l\b 

Los Angeles, CA 90048 

Howard Willette 

(213) 271-9543 

{ '^T 

IN COLOR 1-2L

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Published In Nine Sectional Edition's 

BEN SHLYEN 

Editor-in-Chiei and Publisher 

RALPH M. DELMONT ..Managing Editor 

MORRIS SCHLOZMAN .. .Business Mgr. 

GARY BURCH Equipment Editor 

RALPH KAMINSKY ....Western Editor 

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TOP OSCARS TO 'ANNIE HALL/ 

ALLEN, DREYFUSS AND KEATON 

HOLLYWOOD—The Academy of Motion 

Picture Arts and Sciences observed 

its 50th anniversary Monday night (3), holding 

its Oscar ceremonies as usual, in the 

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los 

Angeles Music Center. 

Compared to other Oscar shows in recent 

years, the golden anniversary bash was. 

appropriately, a sedate one, which may have 

proved to be incomprehensible to some in 

the industry. However, it did afford them a 

glimpse into the flash, glitter and sparkle 

which marked big-screen events in decades 

gone by—and hopefully some of the "class" 

to which they were exposed will prove to 

be contagious. 

Koch Produced Show 

Howard W. Koch, president of the Academy, 

produced the show, with Marty Passetta 

directing and Allan Carr serving as executive 

consultant for the annual ritual, which 

was aired live on the ABC-TV Network. 

Via satellite, the proceedings were telecast 

in 51 

countries and watched by an estimated 

100,000,000 viewers (some estimated as 

high as 300,000,000 viewers). 

Motion picture personalities who have 

been absent for far too long were there for 

the well-organized (if overly long) show, 

with many serving as presenters. Among 

the latter were Fred Astaire (who was accorded 

a standing ovation), Bette Davis, 

Greer Garson, Joan Fontaine. Janet Gaynor 

(winner of the first Oscar ever presented). 

William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck, King 

Vidor and many others. 

Hope Emcee for 14th Time 

Bob Hope, in his 23rd appearance on 

the Oscar show, served as emcee throughout 

the proceedings, turning in his usual creditable 

performance. It was. incidentally. 

Hope's 14th solo emcee chore for the 

Academy—and he earlier had expressed 

satisfaction that "at last the nominated pictures 

are rated PG," a fact which eliminated 

the familiar bleeps in the few film clips 

shown. 

Rather late in the show, Hope paid tribute 

to absent John Wayne, who was in a Boston 

As in previous years, the Academy 

Awards show was not without its moment 

of controversy. Vanessa Redgrave, who won 

the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress, voiced 

remarks defending a recent pro-Palestinian 

documentary which she had financed. The 

audience gasped and boos could be heard. 

Later, when Paddy Chayefsky presented 

Winners of Academy Awards for 1977 

Best picture: "Annie Hall," a Jack Rollins-Charles 

H. Joffe production. United 

Artists, Charles H. Joffe producer. 

Best directing: Woody Allen for "Annie 

Hall." 

Best actor: Richard Dreyfuss in "The 

Goodbye Girl," a Ray Stark production, 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/ Warner Bros. 

Best actress: Diane Keaton in "Annie 

Hall." 

Best supporting actor: Jason Robards in 

"Julia." a 20th Century-Fox production. 

20th Century-Fox. Richard Roth producer. 

Best supporting actress: Vanessa Redgrave 

in "Julia." 

Best foreign-language film: "Madame 

Rosa." a Lira Films production (France). 

Best original screenplay: Woody Allen 

and Marshall Brickman, "Annie Hall." 

Best screenplay—adapted from other material: 

Alvin Sargent. "Julia." 

Best cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond 

for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." 

a Columbia Pictures presentation with EMI, 

Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips producers. 

Best sound: Don MacDougall, Ray West, 

Bob M inkier and Derek Ball for "Star 

Wars," 20th Century-Fox production, 20th 

Century-Fox, Gary Kurtz producer. 

Best film editing: Paul Hirsch. Marcia 

Lucas and Richard Chew, "Star Wars." 

Best visual effects: John Stears, John 

Dykstra. Richard Edlund. Grant McCune 

and Robert Blalack. "Star Wars." 

Best art direction: John Barry, Norman 

Reynolds, Leslie Dilley; set decoration, 

Roger Christian. "Star Wars." 

Best costume design: John Mollo for 

"Star Wars." 

Best original score: John Williams, "Star 

Wars." 

Best original song score/adaptation: Jonathan 

Tunick. "A Little Night Music." a Sascha-Wien 

film, produced by Elliott Kastner, 

New World Pictures. 

Best original song: "You Light Up My 

Life," music and lyrics by Joseph Brooks. 

hospital recovering from open-heart surgery. 

In one of his rare serious moments, Hope 

commented: "We want you to know. Duke. the writing awards, he took a few minutes 

we miss you tonight. We expect to see you to point out that the Oscar show was not 

amble out here in person next year, because "the time or the place" for exploiting causes 

no one else can walk in John Wayne's and suggested to Miss Redgrave that "a 

boots." 

simple thank you would have sufficed." 

BOXOFHCE April 10, 1978 

Jason Robards. who was not present, 

achieved an enviable record. For the second 

straight year he captured the Best Supporting 

Actor Oscar. Robards in 1976 won in 

the same category for "All the President's 

Men." 

One of the highlights of the evening 

was the presentation of a Special Honorary 

from "You Light Up My Life." produced 

by Joseph Brooks. Columbia Pictures. 

Best documentary feature: "Who Are the 

DcBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen 

Kids?". Korty Films and Charles M. 

Schulz Creative Associates in association 

with Sanrio Films, John Korty, Dan Mc- 

Cann and Warren L. Lockhart producers. 

Best documentary short: "Gravity Is My 

Enemy," a John Joseph production, John 

Joseph and Jan Stussy producers. 

Best live-action short: "I'll Find a Way," 

National Film Board of Canada. Beverly 

Shaffer and Yuki Yoshida producers. 

Best animated short: "Sand Castle," National 

Film Board of Canada, Co Hoedeman 

producer. 

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: 

SPECIAL SOUND EFFECTS EDITING 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind." 

Frank Warner. 

"Star Wars," Benjamin Burtt jr. 

SPECIAL TECHNICAL AWARD 

Garrett Brown and the Cinema Products 

Corp. engineering staff under the supervision 

of John Jurges for the invention and 

development of Steadicam. camera support 

device which isolates the camera from the 

motion of its moving operator or vehicle. 

SPECIAL HONORARY AWARD 

Margaret Booth, "for 62 years of exceptionally 

distinguished service to the motion 

picture industry as a film editor." 

IRVING G. THALBERG 

MEMORIAL AWARD 

Walter Mirsich for "creative producer 

whose body of work reflects a consistently 

high quality of motion picture production." 

JEAN HERSHOLT 

HUMANITARIAN AWARD 

Charlton Heston. actor, "whose humanitarian 

efforts have brought credit to the 

industry" and specifically for "continually 

putting his talents and energies at the disposal 

of projects and causes which have 

Ijenefited our industry, the community of 

Los Angeles and the nation." 

Award to film editor Margaret Booth, who 

was visibly moved by the tribute, by Olivia 

de Havilland. Miss Booth, currently supervising 

editor for Rastar Productions, began 

working in film as a negative cutter in D. 

W. Griffith's laboratory iri 1915. 

The evening's festivities were, perhaps, 

summed up best by Koch, who said: "There 

has never been a cast like this one. But 

then there's never been an event like this 

one. Only the 50th anniversary of the 

Academy could attract so many important 

celebrities."

Paramounf Unveils Plans to Make 

'Star 

Trek—The Motion Picture 

By RALPH KAMINSKY 

HOLLYWOOD—The production "Star 

Trek—The Motion Picture," featuring all 

the key stars of the classic TV series, officially 

was announced by Paramount Pictures 

March 28. with top officers of the 

company present to emphasize the importance 

of the event and with all key stars of 

the famed show participating. Release of 

the $15,000,000 film is planned for June 

1979. 

Announcement of the decision to make 

the motion picture was made by Michael D. 

Eisner, president and chief operating officer 

of Paramount Pictures. In the audience were 

Barry Diller. Paramount's chairman of the 

board, and Charles Bludhorn. chairman of 

the board of Gulf & Western, the parent 

holding company. 

TV Actors to 

Repeat Roles 

Every important actor in the TV series 

will repeat his or her role in the film, starting 

with William Shatner as Capt. James 

Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock the Vulcan. 

They and other cast members took 

part in the press session. 

Paramount's vacillation over a decision 

whether to revive the famed TV series or 

go ahead with a feature film was resolved 

when the film company was "innundated 

with mail and petitions." leading to the decision 

to make the movie. Eisner said. 

And Paramount is not looking toward 

making any future TV series based on the 

film, Eisner added. "We hope this picture 

will be the forerunner of others, maybe in 

three years. We look forward to major motion 

pictures," he declared. 

Wise Will Direct Film 

Veteran Robert Wise will direct the film, 

adding to his science-fiction output. Among 

the numerous films he has directed are 'The 

Day the Earth Stood Still" and "The Andromeda 

Strain." 

Gene Roddenbcrry, creator and producer 

of the TV series, will be the producer. The 

icript will be based on an original story by 

Roddenberry and Alan Dean Foster, with 

Dennis Lynton Clark doing a revision and 

polish job of the screenplay written by Roddenberry 

and Harold Livingston. 

Robert Abel Associates, including Con 

Pederson and Richard Taylor, will create 

the special photographic effects. The visual 

effects team is being assembled with the guidance 

of Douglas Trumbull, famed for his 

work on "Close Encounters of the Third 

Kind," who is serving as special adviser. 

A new U.S.S. Enterprise, the starship 

around which the story revolves, is being 

kept secret under such tight security strictures, 

Eisner said, that "even I and Bludhorn 

were almost arrested when we tried to get 

into the sound stage." 

The returning cast members are De Forest 

Kellcy as "Bones" McCoy, chief medical 

officer; James Doohan as "Scotty," chief engineer; 

George Takei as Sulu. the helmsman; 

Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, the communications 

officer; Walter Koenig as Chekov; 

Majel Barrett, who is promoted from 

her Nurse Chistine Chapel role to Dr. 

Chapel, and Gracj Lee Whitney, promoted 

from yeoman to transporter chief Rand. 

New to the cast will be Pcrsis Khambata, 

a former Miss India and winner of "best 

actress" honors in her coimtry, who will 

play Ilia, an exotic woman from another 

planet who joins the crew as navigator lieutenant. 

"I am confident that 'Star Trek—The 

Motion Picture' will be one of the most important 

and talked-about pictures of next 

year," Eisner declared. 

"Star Trek" probably will be one of the 

few pictures, if not the only one, made by 

overwhelming public demand by its fans, a 

demand which made itself felt first while the 

TV series was about to be canceled. The 

protests to that move resulted in a continuation 

of the series. 

Fans of "Star Trek" soon became known 

as "Trekkies" with fan clubs, books, conventions 

and "Star Trek" paraphernalia 

spreading across the country and solidifying 

as a force behind the show. The effectiveness 

of the movement was demonstrated 

best when pressures from the "Trekkies" resulted 

in the U.S. naming its space shuttle 

craft 

the U.S.S. Enterprise. 

First Aired in 1966 

Eisner recounted that the TV series went 

on NBC in 1966 and 79 episodes were 

filmed before it went off the air three years 

later. The show still is being seen 308 times 

a week in 134 cities and is screening in 131 

international markets involving 51 countries. 

The series is 77 per cent more popular 

now than it was in the beginning, Eisner 

asserted. A total of 371 fan clubs have been 

formed and a new one is created whenever 

the series opens in a new area. Some 50 

books have been written about the series, 

431 fan magazines are published on "Star 

Trek" and the series has been the subject 

of numerous doctoral dissertations. 

"It's the event series of all time." Eisner 

declared. 

Morris Schlozman at Home 

For Further Recuperalion 

KANSAS CITY — Morris Schlozman. 

B0.XOFFICE business manager, departed 

Mcnorah Medical Center here March 31 

following a two-week hospitalization which 

included extensive surgical treatment. 

Schlozman, who now is recuperating at 

his Kansas City home for an indefinite 

period of time, reports he's "feeling fine" 

most of the time and is looking forward to 

resuming his duties at Boxoffice as soon 

as possible. 

"Morrie" also extends thanks to 

friends and associates for their many cheerful 

get-well messages during his recent hospitalization. 

NATO Board Focuses 

On 'Positive Aclion' 

PALM SPRINGS. CALIF.—An upbeat 

the NATO board of 

atmosphere prevailed at 

directors meeting, which was attended by 

approximately 70 exhibition leaders. The 

conference was held at the Canyon Hotel 

here March 28-31, with chairman of the 

board T. G. Solomon and president Marvin 

Goldman presiding. 

Tom Moyer received a standing ovation 

from the NATO board upon announcment 

that EXPRODICO had reached its goal of 

$3,300,000 in exhibitor pledges. Moyer 

said that the EXPRODICO board shortly 

will select and announce its management 

team and begin production. 

Obviously delighted, Goldman said, 

"Ladies and gentlemen, that is No. 1 and 

the other two are on the way!" Goldman 

was referring to his pledge of several 

months ago to produce prompt and definitive 

action in three major areas: first, 

successful completion of the EXPRODICO 

fund drive; second, reconfirmation of the 

legality of product splits, and third, passage 

of antiblind-bidding legislation in a significant 

number of states. 

"Years of energy and effort have been 

devoted to making NATO a strong and 

representative trade association," Goldman 

stated. "We've had our ups and our downs 

but I sincerely believe we're now moving 

toward a number of much-needed, positive 

accomplishments." 

He reported favorable progress on antiblind-bidding 

legislation in a number of 

states, including expected signing by the 

governor of Virginia. 

NATO's legal affairs chairman Morris 

Goldschlager and general counsel Peter 

Fishbein announced significant progress in 

the Greenbrier "split" litigation. A July 

trial is expected. 

The board of directors' two days of 

meetings followed a day of intensive and 

wide-ranging committee meetings running 

the gamut from sound and projection 

standards to the establishment of a governmental 

liaison service in Washington, D.C. 

Officers and directors gave unanimous 

and enthusiastic approval to "NATO's 

Declaration of Interdependence," a definitive 

statement of the goals of the organization. 

"Following dissemination of the 

declaration to state and regional NATO 

units, it will be announced broadly to the 

industry at large," Goldman said. 

The board's next meetings will be conducted 

prior to the national NATO convention 

October 15-18 in New York City. 

Peter Perry Announces 

4 Youth-Type Pictures 

HOLLYWOOD — Peter Perry Pictures, 

Inc., has just completed financial negotiations 

for four feature films. 

Peter Perry, president of the company, 

disclosed that the four new pictures will be 

of the "youth exploitation" genre but will 

be large, quality productions and with 

young star names heading the casts. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 10. 1978

EMI Plans 5 Releases 

In Six-Month Period 

HOLLYWOOD—EMI Films will have 

five important pictures in release from May 

to October, with each handled by a different 

major distribution organization. Distributors 

will be United Artists, 20th Century- 

Fox, Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures 

and Paramount Pictures, according to Michael 

Deeley and Barry Spikings, joint 

heads of EMI's production-distribution 

operation. 

The five-picture lineup: 

• May 26, "Warlords of the Deep," 

Columbia, produced by John Dark, directed 

by Kevin Connor from a screenplay by 

Brian Hayles and starring Doug McClure. 

Cyd Charisse, Peter Gillmore and Daniel 

Massey. 

• June 28, "Convoy," United Artists, 

starring Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, 

Burt Young and Ernest Borgnine. Sam 

Peckinpah directed the screenplay by Bill 

Norton jr., with Michael Deeley and Barry 

Spikings as executive producers of the 

Robert Sherman production. 

• July 28, "The Driver." 20th Century- 

Fox, starring Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern 

and Isabel Adjani and with Walter Hill 

ABC Theatres May Be 

Purchased by Plitt 

NEW YORK — American Broadcasting 

Cos. has announced that negotiations are 

under way with Plitt Theatres. Inc., for the 

sale to Plitt of all of ABC"s motion picture 

theatre operations for approximately $50.- 

000,000 in cash and notes. 

At the end of 1977, ABC operated 91 

single-screen theatres, 79 twin-screen theatres 

and three triple-screen houses, for a 

total of 258 screens in 1 1 Southern states. 

Plitt operates approximately 140 theatres 

in the Midwest, Mountain and Western 

states, all acquired from ABC. 

Forman to De Laurentiis 

As Technical Consultant 

HOLLYWOOD — Milton Forman has 

joined the Dino De Laurentiis Corp. as a 

technical production consultant. 

Forman has done consulting work for 

the Motion Picture & Television Corp., assisted 

in the reconstruction of the Samuel 

Goldwyn Studios and was executive producer 

for Harry Saltzman and assistant producer 

for Gregory Peck's production company, 

among others. 

Mark Hamill Wanfs to See Industry 

From Exhibitors Point of View 

By JERRY JONES 

KANSAS CITY—When Mark Hamill 

came here for Show-A-Rama 21. he didn't 

come as a young actor ready to bask in 

the glow of the phenomenally successful 

picture in which he starred, "Star Wars," 

nor did he come expecting exhibitors to be 

swept away by the new film "Corvette 

Summer," strictly on the power of his presence. 

Instead, he came— in part—to explore 

the business side of the film industry 

and to assure exhibitors of his concerns for 

their 

welfare. 

Intrigued that "Star Wars" writer-director 

George Lucas attended ShoWesT '78 in 

San Diego, Hamill asked why he appeared 

at that convention when he generally doesn't 

attend industry events, such as the Oscars, 

Grammies or the People's Choice awards. 

Lucas told him. "I always thought that the 

people who exhibit the films get the raw 

end of the deal." Hamill, of course, asked, 

"Why?" 

Learning 'Money Side' 

To answer his own question, Mark is attending 

conventions and learning the trap- 

directing the Lawrence Gordon production 

from his own screenplay. 

pings of the money side of show business. 

• October, "The Deer Hunter," Universal, 

starring Robert De Niro, directed by gained some solid insights into exhibition 

In fact, it was apparent that he already had 

Michael Cimino. 

dilemmas as he explored some of the pitfalls 

of presold "blockbusters" which, as he 

• September, "Death on the Nile," Paramoimt, 

starring Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow. put it, "failed to bust blocks as advertised." 

David Nivcn. Bette Davis. Angela Lansbury 

and Maggie Smith, with John Guillermin 

Questions Advance Buying 

directing. 

"Exhibitors hear about an upcoming re- 

BOXOFnCE :: April 10, 1978 

lease as 'the greatest thing ever' and these 

guys buy the film—or some other picture 

for seven weeks. How long do you buy in 

advance?" he asked. "I'm just an actor. I 

don't know much to talk about when it 

comes to boxoffice. All I know is that I 

would fall for it just as (exhibitors) do. I 

would buy the film and say, 'Oh boy, what 

a hit film for nine weeks, nine months, 

nine years!' It's just a tremendous, colossal 

bust . . . The ones who should get hurt 

CPI Scores New Weekly 

Billing 

Record Again! 

New York—Columbia Pictures International 

broke its all-time weekly 

billings record for the second week in 

a row. with $4,405,000 reported for the 

week ended March 25. according to 

Patrick M. Williamson, executive vicepresident. 

The new mark was marginally 

larger than the previous week, which 

had erased a six-year-old record. 

The major contributions came from 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind," 

which in its initial openings set new 

records in the international markets. 

Through its 15th week of national release 

March 28, the film had grossed 

$96,563,454. 

are the people who try to sell the film, not 

the theatre owner." 

But judging a film's public acceptance 

before the fact is a difficult task and Mark 

explained what he looks for in a script before 

he decides to accept it. Naturally, he 

considers his part, the overall quality of the 

script and his paycheck—but he said he 

tries to look beyond that, into the potential 

audience appeal of a script. To gauge that 

potential, he said, he first must check his 

own reactions. 

Test for Acceptance 

"What would be a movie that I would 

like to see?" he listed as his first test for 

audience acceptance. "What would entertain 

me basically is what is going to be 

entertaining to the public." he explained. 

When Mark first received the script for 

"Corvette Summer," he summarily rejected 

it without a reading because of its working 

title at that time ("Stingray"). "I hated it," 

he declared. '"Junk! But my agent said, 'It's 

a great script, a wonderful love story, read 

it.' So I read it and fell in love with it. It's 

a terrific movie." 

Mark said he didn't do "Star Wars" with 

thoughts of advancing his career but he enjoyed 

the script so much and thought it 

would be such a tremendous hit that he 

signed for three films. 

" 'Star Wars' is not an actor's movie," 

he confided. "It's a set piece. We all did 

our parts fine but it's certainly not something 

that's going to make people run up 

to our doors and say 'Can we hire you for 

a movie?' " 

But the appeal of "Star Wars" was overpowering. 

"I read the script." he recalled. 

"I thought, 'This is a wonderful movie. 

This is funny, this is wonderful, this is 

exciting. If they can pull off the special 

effects, this thing is going to be fantastic' " 

Still, no matter what criterion is used to 

judge scripts and films—what's best for the 

producer, the exhibitor or the audience 

Mark found that you can't please everyone. 

"My grandmother." he said, "she's wonderful. 

She saw 'Star Wars' and she thought 

the only thing wrong with the whole picture 

was that T didn't marry the princess." 

Did he mention to her that a marriage 

might be forthcoming in the sequel? 

"Yeah and she said. 'Easy for you to say 

sequel. I'm 89 years old,' " Mark related 

with that famous grin. 

Seven Nations Siqn Pacts 

For 'Geese' Distribution 

HOLLYWOOD — Producer Euan Lloyd 

and Warner Bros, have signed deals with 

seven nations to complete the foreign distribution 

plan for "The Wild Geese," starring 

Richard Burton, Roger Moore and 

Richard Harris in a story about mercenaries 

on a mission in Africa. 

The deals involved Italy, France. Spain, 

South Africa, Brazil, Portugal and Korea.

'COACW IS THE BIG 

WINNER OF '78

'Bill of Rights' for Independents 

Outlined by President 

ATLANTA—Tom Patterson, president 

of the National Independent Theatre Exhibitors 

Ass'n. appeared before two conventions 

during the last week of March and 

outlined to both assemblages what he termed 

the "Independent Exhibitors' Bill of Rights." 

Patterson addressed the National Ass'n of 

Theatre Owners of Montana March 28 and 

March 29 he was a speaker at the Theatre 

Owners of Oklahoma convention. 

NITE Board Resolution 

The NITE chief disclosed that at a recent 

national board meeting held in Atlanta, the 

following resolution was adopted for transmittal 

to major film distributors: "It is 

NITE's view that you have no rights as to 

whether or not a theatre exhibits screen 

advertising so long as the advertising does 

not interrupt exhibition of films over which 

you have control. In view of the fact that 

screen advertising is a well-established practice 

in the industry, dating back to the "20s 

and '30s, and that your resistance to same 

was not expressed until the commencement 

of NITE's film financing fund appeared 

imminent, we consider your actions, both 

implied and expressed, against screen advertising 

to be anticompetitive and in violation 

of the laws of the U.S. We strongly 

urge you to reverse your position publicly 

regarding screen advertising." 

'Your Screen Is Yours' 

Commenting at length on the negative 

reaction which the resolution apparently 

was accorded by major distributors. Patterson 

declared: "NITE has become the vehicle 

by which the independent exhibitor 

can be heard and through which the independent 

exhibitor can assert his rights. YoLir 

rights are not much good to you if others 

do not recognize them. Even though you 

feel and know that your screen is yours and 

of NITE 

that you alone control what may or may 

not appear thereon, that right is meaningless 

unless it is recognized ." 

. . 

The ten independent exhibitor rights, as 

spelled out by Patterson, covered the following 

areas: 

• In regard to film rental terms, independents 

have a right to a "most favored 

nations" status. 

• Independents have the right to be sold 

according to the true designation of the 

run within the established market. 

• Independents have a right to the same 

considerations, in regard to extension of 

credit, as large circuit operators. 

• Right to equality with large circuits 

with regard to advertising allowances, credits, 

etc. 

• Second runs will commence no later 

than 28 days after the commencement of 

the first rim and third rims will commence 

no later than 14 days after commencement 

of the second run and all theatres within a 

given market will have availability within 

90 days of initial release. 

• A right to view product; i.e.. no "blindbidding" 

or "rigged bidding." 

• Print quality must be maintained and 

prints must be shipped at least 98 per cent 

complete. 

• In regard to the use of house allowances 

to determine film rental to be paid, a 

right to a uniform system that eliminates 

discrimination between large circuit operators 

and independents. 

• Independent exhibitors have the sole 

right to determine whether or not screen 

advertising will be shown in their theatres. 

• In regard to distributors' right to check 

admissions, a right to demand that such 

checks be done by independent agencies 

utilizing competent and trustworthy individuals 

and that all such reports be filed 

with a neutral third party. 

In connection with the final right. Patterson 

went on to assert that "my information 

is that Sargoy & Stein essentially is 

owned and operated by the MPAA distributors 

... I also am told that there is great 

pressure to obtain reports that will show 

underreporting . . . that the checkers who 

obtain many of such reports are given pay 

increases and promotions. Is it any wonder 

that under such circumstances a checker 

would arbitrarily inflate your traffic count? 

It is our demand and our right to a system 

of verification that is removed from those 

who benefit by it." 

Patterson, who made clear his message 

that NITE was responsible for the current 

government interest in film trade practices, 

urged his listeners to "gather evidence of 

discriminatory conduct and send it to the 

Department of Justice." 

Invited to Join NITE 

The independent exhibitor leader reflected 

that NITE, in less than three years, had 

grown from a small grass-roots movement 

into an organization representing over 5,000 

theatres and he invited delegates at the conventions 

to "join with us to assert these 

'rights' on behalf of all independents." 

Patterson told the assemblage at each site, 

"We'd like your help; we need your help. 

NITE's motto is 'Right Makes Might 

Through NITE.' We believe that! It doesn't 

mean that we won't have to work at it. It 

simply means that if we do what's right and 

persist in our efforts to see to it that right 

is done to the independent exhibitors, we 

will 

demonstrate a 'might' exceeding that of 

the largest conglomerate in our business. 

"The answer to industry woes is really 

very simple. All that is necessary to bring 

about solutions is for the 'greedy' to recognize 

that it is in their best interests to 

share the marketplace. This is a good business, 

easily able to provide a profitable 

place for us all. We hope that you will 

join with us in working toward these soals." 

MGM Has Early Promotion 

For 'Brass Target' in KC 

CULVER CITY—Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr 

believes it has established a record for 

early promotion of a major studio motion 

picture. More than 1.000 exhibitors viewed 

a four-and-a-half minute product reel on 

"Brass Target" at Show-A-Rama 21 in 

Kansas City. The screenmg came exactly 

ten days after the first scene of the picture 

was filmed in Munich, Germany. 

Leo Greenfield, MGM senior vice-president, 

worldwide distribution, pointed out: 

NEW AS.SOCIAHON—.Salah M. Hatsanein. president of the Will Rogers 

lastitutc, jointly announced the affiliation of the institute with Cornell University 

Medical College in New York City with Dr. Theodore Cooper, college dean. The 

institute's chief pulmonary physician will be a professor at Cornell and his associate 

and as.sistant will hold these respective ranks at the college. The a.s.sociation gives 

the institute access to Cornell's pulmonary department for diagnosis and care of 

patients. Likcwi.ve, it provides entree to outstanding physicians for assistance in 

the production of health education material. Dr. Guy Robbins. Memorial Sloan- 

Kettering. is helping with the WRI trailer on brea.st examination. 

"'Brass Target' is MGM's Christmas attraction 

for 1978. It's never too early to 

begin the race for top bookings during the 

prime release period of the year." 

Southern Films Is Named 

Sub-Distributor for FVI 

HOLLYWOOD—Film Ventures International 

has named Leu Oubre's Southern 

Films in New Orleans as the company's 

sub-distributor for the New Orleans and 

Memphis markets, it was announced by 

FVI general sales manager Murray Kaplan. 

BOXOFHCE April 10, 1978

Stone to Become DeLuxe 

Gen'l President May 1 

HOLLYWOOD— Burton Bud" Stone 

will become president of DeLuxe GeneraL 

Inc., effective May 1, 

^(jlî^^ it was announced by 

W^ ^^^ 

Alan W. Livingston. 

W president. Entertain- 

^^^ 

Ifih^^^^B m

Sandy Duncan to Add Nightclub Act 

To Already Multi-Faceted Career 

By SUSAN JONES 

KANSAS CITY—From the star-spangled 

list of Show-A-Rama 21 guest screen personalities, 

which person was flanked by 

fewer policemen, was not in "Star Wars." 

had the longest list of credits for motion 

City from Los Angeles to preside as guest of 

honor at the March 16 luncheon for the 

wives of exhibitors attending Show-A-Rama. 

She was only slightly upstaged when Mickey 

Mouse himself appeared, wearing an astronaut's 

suit. Mickey presented Sandy with a 

stuffed white cat to promote the Disney 

summer release in which she stars. "The 

Cat From Outer Space." 

Acquired 'Disney Image' 

After the luncheon. Miss Duncan talked 

about her affiliation with Disney Productions. 

She has been in two video specials. 

"Sandy in Disneyland" and "Christmas in 

Disneyland." plus the film "$1,000,000 

Duck." At one time Miss Duncan said she 

got caught up in the image that had been 

created for her. "a lily-white saint archetypal 

person." She laughed and shook her 

head, exclaiming. "They could have animated 

me and put me right into Disney forever!" 

She doesn't try to live up to any studio 

images anymore and says her life is better 

for it. 

Wearing a tailored navy blue three-piece 

pantsuit with a quiet, plaid blouse and a 

short, casual-style haircut, Sandy Duncan 

looks like a vibrant woman whose profession 

could be anything, but happens to be 

show business. 

She has a truckload of credits in movies. 

TV and live theatre, including starring roles 

in ABC's "Roots." a series titled "Funny 

Face," numerous plays—off and on Broadway—the 

Neil Simon picture "The Star- 

Spangled Girl" and—but that's the past and 

what Sandy likes to talk about is what she 

is doing now and what she hopes to do tomorrow. 

'Loves Theatre Best' 

Of all the media in which she has 

worked, she loves theatre the best, "without 

a doubt," but needs to compromise a little 

since her husband. Dr. Tom Calcaterre, and 

son Scott, 13, live in Los Angeles and "the 

good plays are in New York." 

To appease her need for the stimulus of 

a live audience, she is putting together a 

nightclub act consisting of singing, dancing 

and comedy, "a Las Vegas act, sort of like 

Mitzi Gaynor used to do, a very high-energy 

act." 

She hopes to tour with two male dancers 

and play before large audiences, possibly on 

summer-theatre stages. Places such as Kan- 

sas City's Starlight Theatre are beginning 

to book nightclub acts because, she says, 

"How many times can you play 'Carousel?' " 

While Sandy complains about the lack of 

good parts for women in musicals lately 

("which is why I do 'Peter Pan' and guys a 

lot," she grins), she jumped at the idea of 

pictures. TV and theatrical plays and is 

doing one of the women's films hitting the 

bigger than a bread box (but not by much, 

market, such as "The Turning Point" or 

everything accounted for)? Answer: Sandy 

"An Unmarried Woman." 

Duncan. 

"I would love to do one of those but it's 

The petite Miss Duncan flew into Kansas 

hard to get one for a TV person," she commented. 

Asked if there was any other part of her 

career she would like to talk about and see 

in print, Sandy laughed. "I think I'm getting 

chestier." she said. What a kidder! 

USFSA Skaters Are Set 

For Columbia's 'Castles' 

HOLLYWOOD—Producer John Kemeny 

has concluded arrangements with officials 

of the U.S. Figure Skating Ass'n for 

the participation of member skaters and 

representatives in his production of "Ice 

Castles." currently filming on location in 

Minneapolis with Donald Wrye directing. 

Registered amateur members of the 

USFSA will perform in skating sequences 

of the new motion picture under sanction 

of the association and representatives of 

the group will serve as technical advisers 

in 

the filming. 

"Ice Castles." directed by Wrye from his 

screenplay based on a story by Gary Baim, 

is the contemporary love story of a young 

Midwest girl's ambition to reach the tip of 

the competitive world of figure skating. 

Starred are Robby Benson as the girl's romantic 

interest and inspiration. Colleen 

Dewhurst. Tom Skerritt and Lynn-Holly 

Johnson, featured solo performer with the 

Ice Capades. 

"Ice Castles" is am ICC production for 

Columbia Pictures release, with Rosilyn 

Heller the executive producer. 

Robinson Named Senior 

Counsel at Columbia 

NEW YORK—Bob Robinson has been 

appointed senior counsel in Columbia Pictures' 

legal department, it was announced 

by Philip M. Breen, associate general counsel. 

Before joining Columbia in January 

1977, Robinson was engaged in private and 

corporate practice in New York City for 

six 

years. 

'Apocalypse' Screenings 

NEW YORK~Al Fitter, 

chief of domestic 

sales for United Artists, has confirmed 

that two screenings of "Apocalypse Now" 

for exhibitor viewing have been planned for 

April. The Francis Ford Coppola production 

reportedly will be unspooled once in 

San Francisco and once in New York. 

First Miami Film Festival 

Scheduled for November 

MIAMI—After ten years of effort and 

two years of negotiations. Miami will host 

its first International Film Festival this November. 

Under the direction of the president 

and founder of the Festival of the 

Americas, J. Hunter Todd, the Miami festival 

should rival Cannes. Milan. Berlin and 

Teheran in importance and impact, according 

to spokesmen. 

The festival will be based both in Miami 

and Miami Beach, with the Film Market 

and the Photokina, a film and TV production 

trade fair, 

to be held at the Omni International 

complex, and the world premiere 

and competition sections at the Center for 

the Performing Arts. The Photokina will 

be the first major tradeshow in America 

that will feature all the top film and TV 

equipment and production exhibits from 

every major manufacturer and supplier. 

Over 50 exhibitors are expected to take 

part. 

One aspect of the festival will be the Film 

Market, the only major American marketplace 

for feature, short and TV films. The 

market will be equipped with 35mm and 

16mm projectors, as well as Advent wallscreen 

TV and videocassette playback systems. 

More than 20 theatres and projection 

rooms will house screenings. Over 100 features 

and 300 shorts from 40 countries, including 

all of Latin America, will be presented. 

As was the case with the Festival of the 

Americas, the Miami event's forerunner, the 

Flor'da festival will continue to honor outstanding 

contributions made by great personalities 

in the industry. They will be recognized 

with a Life Achievement Award 

and a retrospective of their works. In the 

past such industry giants as Frank Capra. 

Busby Berkeley. Joshua Logan. John Frankenheimer. 

Steven Spielberg and William 

Wyler have attended. Seminars, discussions, 

and a three-credit college course also will 

be featured. 

As an annual event, the festival, which 

originated in the Virgin Islands and took 

place there for 11 years, will attract over 

2.000 international filmmakers annually, 

giving a needed boost to Florida film production. 

"With the superb advantages of Greater 

Miami, such as air travel, hotel facilities, 

and entertainment, we fully expect to make 

Miami the major world film festival within 

three to five years," stated director Todd. 

"We have bigger and better facilities than 

Cannes. Berlin and Milan combined, plus 

we have the spirit and the drive. We will 

bring Miami and the world the best possible 

festival." he declared. 

The event is being coordinated by Stephen 

Quade. chairman of the festival board: 

Blanka Rosenstiel. president of the board; 

Harry Nathenson. chairman of the executive 

committee; Tibor Hollo, vice-president; 

Albert Goodstein. treasurer; and Juan Serralles. 

secretary. Other key board members 

include Donald Kahn, Zev Bufman, Jean 

Loach. Harry Gurwitch. Joseph Stefan and 

others. 

10 

BOXOFTICE :: April 10. 1978

Int'l Security Conclave 

In Chicago May 21-24 

LOS ANGELES—Theatremen 

may find 

subjects of interest discussed at a conference 

billed as "the world's largest security product 

expo." slated to take place in Chicago 

May 21-24 at the Conrad Hilton Hotel. 

A seminar conducted by Don D. Darling 

will cover diverse subjects including preplanning 

for catastrophes such as hurricanes 

and other natural and man-caused disasters, 

as well as preparedness for blackouts, arson, 

riots and looting. 

"Disaster Survival Planning" is just one 

of over 30 security seminars to be presented 

by the International Security Conference. 

Others include: "Industrial Espionage Counter-Measures." 

"Executive Protection," 

"Computer Security." "Retail Security" and 

"White-Collar Crime" 

Among the devices to be displayed are 

access controls. X-ray inspection equipment, 

perimeter surveillance, alarm systems, locking 

and keying systems and a variety of 

closed-circuit TV equipment. Admission to 

exhibits is free with your business card. 

Detailed information may be secured by 

writing ISC. 2639 South LaCienega Blvd., 

Los Angeles 90034. or by calling (213) 

836-5000. 

CALENDARofEVENTS 

Theatre Restoration Meet 

Scheduled for July 15-17 

S.AN ANTONIO—The topic of converting 

old movie houses into new performing 

arts auditoriums will highlight a national 

meeting of preservationists, urban renewalists 

and theatre historians that will be convened 

here July 15-17. The state of Texas, 

with a large number of historic theatres 

now in the process of being restored, has 

been chosen as the site of the convention, 

due to funding by local leaders and private 

foundations. 

The meeting will focus on many Texas 

theatres, including the century-old Beethoven, 

which will be open for guided tours 

daily. Evening programs will focus on presentations 

by architects, planners and others 

involved in theatres. 

Before and after the meeting, other Texas 

cities will be spotlighted for their work in 

theatre preservation. The city of Beaumont 

will show its Jefferson Theatre, a 1927- 

vintage house recently reopened as community 

a 

auditorium. The tour will continue 

through Galveston and Columbus which 

boast two 19th century opera houses now 

being restored—the Stafford and the Grand. 

Sponsor of the national conclave is the 

Theatre Historical Society. Additional information 

can be obtained from Clifford 

Edge, convention coordinator, P.O. Box 

1045, Robstown. Tex. 78380. 

Dimension Sets Openings 

For 'Smokey Roadblock' 

HOLLYWOOD — Dimension 

Pictures 

has set "The Great Smokey Roadblock," 

starring Henry Fonda, to open in the Atlanta 

territory Friday ("21). The film is scheduled 

to debut in Cincinnati Wednesday (12).

Some Unrated Films Using 

MPAA Symbols in Ads 

NEW YORK—As a result 

of complaints 

from patrons. Barbara Scott, vice-president 

and general attorney for the Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America, announced that the following 

films have not been rated by the 

Classification and Rating Administration: 

"A Special Day," "One Sings, the Other 

Doesn't" and 'The Man Who Loved Women." 

"A number of complaints," said Miss 

Scott, "have come to the attention of 

the MPAA as a result of patrons seeing 

these films advertised with CARA ratings 

or have called the boxoffice of the theatre 

to receive a response that these films were 

rated either PG or R, 

"We want to alert theatres and newspapers 

that these films are not rated and 

cannot carry any CARA rating symbols. 

"Under the terms of the rating program, 

only the X rating may be self-applied. The 

G, PG and R ratings, along with their accompanying 

legends, may be employed only 

on films submitted to and so rated by 

CARA. 

"Any advertisement or boxoffice response 

which implies that these films have 

been submitted and rated is therefore both 

inaccurate and misleading." 

latum O'Neal Is Voted 

Japan's 'Actress of Year' 

NEW YORK—Tatum O'Neal has been 

voted Actress of the Year by the readers 

of Japan's top-circulation fan magazine, 

Screen. The award follows an unprecedented 

media interest in the 14-year-old actress and 

her new film "International Velvet." A 

United Artists release of an MGM film, it 

is a continuation of the studio's 1944 hit 

400 Prints of 'Roadblock/ 

Will Be Working May 3 

LOS ANGELES—Lawrence H. Woolner. 

president of Dimension Pictures, annoimced 

that 400 prints of "The Great Smokey Roadblock," 

starring Henry Fonda, will be in national 

distribution May 3. 

The film, which also stars Eileen Brennan, 

Susan Sarandon and John Byner, is 

opening in key situations throughout the 

country. 

MOTION PICTURES RATED 

BY THE CODE & RATING 

ADMINISTRATION 

The following feature-length motion pictures 

have been reviewed and rated by the 

Code and Rating Administration pursuant 

to the Motion Picture Code and Rating 

Program. 

Title Dislribulor Baling 

Breakaway (Walter Yates Prod.) 

The End (UA) 

Illustrious Corpses (UA) 

Matilda (AIP) 

The Moonbeam Rider (Univ) 

\g\ 

[r] 

PG 

\c\ 

PG 

Oily Oily Oxen Free (Sanrio) 

\g\ 

Rimning Amuck (Group I Int'l Dist.) |r] 

Teenage Teasers (IRC) 

[r] 

Fotofilm of Spain Becomes 

Deluxe General Lincensee 

HOLLYWOOD—Fotofilm of Spain has 

signed a licensing agreement with Deluxe 

General, Inc., for use of Deluxe technology 

and the "Color by Deluxe" trademark. 

Fotofilm has facilities in Madrid and Barcelona. 

The lab is the second to join the international 

program announced by Deluxe 

General. Revela S.A. Laboratories Cinematografico 

of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was the 

first to participate. Robert T. Kreiman, Deluxe 

president, said that Fotofilm will receive 

technical assistance from Deluxe to 

assure U.S. distributors that prints made by 

the Spanish laboratory will match prints 

made by Deluxe in Hollywood from the 

same negative. 

Licenses in the program have been carefully 

selected for their high-quality work 

and technical excellence so that this objec- 

"National Velvet," which brought stardom easily can be achieved, Kreiman added. 

tive 

to Elizabeth Taylor, 

Velvet" was produced, 

Daily communications also permits Deluxe 

"International directed 

to provide U.S. users with price and 

and written by Bryan Forbes and delivery information on any work they wish 

have done by Fotofilm Spain. Fotofilm 

also stars Christopher Plummer, Anthony to in 

may use the line "Color by Deluxe 

Hopkins and Nanette Newman. 

MGM plans to open the film in Japan in 

Licensee" in all of its advertising as long as 

July. 

its processes match Deluxe Hollywood, 

Kreiman explained. 

Deluxe also provides monthly reports and 

Jack Hulbert. 85. Dies 

LONDON—Veteran actor-comedian Jack 

Hulbert, 85, died here March 25. His film 

career dated back to 1931. He and his wife 

Dame Cicely Courtneidge began performing 

together in 1913. Their film credits included 

such titles as "Jack's the Boy," "Jack 

Ahoy" and "The Camels Are Coming." 

technical bulletins to Fotofilm and its other 

licensees and Deluxe technicians will be 

sent to the international laboratories to solve 

problems, if necessary. Training for licensees' 

technicians also will be provided 

at Deluxe's Hollywood facility. 

Murray Kaplan Joins FVI 

As Gen'l Sales Manager 

HOLLYWOOD—Murray Kaplan has become 

general sales manager for Film Ventures 

International after resigning as worldwide 

sales 

director for Key Pictures-Pro International. 

Kaplan also has been general sales manager 

for Cinemation Industries and was the 

producer's representative for Ilya Lopert. 

He previously had been associated with 

Warner Bros, and 20th Century-Fox, among 

other companies. 

Elan Will Merchandise 

Tolkien Film Offshoots 

HOLLYWOOD — Elan 

Merchandising, 

Inc., has established a special Tolkien Enterprises 

division to handle all merchandising 

items to be generated by "The Lord of 

the Rings" film, which producer Saul 

Zaentz has scheduled for release by United 

Artists during Thanksgiving Week. 

Elan Merchandising obtained worIdv.'ide 

licensing rights to the "Rings" trilogy and 

"The Hobbit" from the estate of the late 

author J. R. R. Tolkien, whose books about 

the little folk of Middle Earth have won 

millions of fans, 

Tolkien Enterprises already is negotiating 

merchandising rights for authorized use of 

"The Hobbit?' "The Lord of the Rings," 

"Bilbo Baggins," "Gandalf" and "Frodo" 

as trademarks on the licensed items such as 

jewelry, posters, games, dolls, toys, T-shirts 

and much more. 

Animator Ralph Bakshi directed the 

Middle Earth epic. Artists he summoned 

from all over the world have sought to 

interpret the trilogy's characters in accurate 

representations. Their original paintings and 

drawings will be the key to the merchandising 

campaign. 

Tolkien books have sold more than 10,- 

000,000 copies in the U.S. alone. "The 

Hobbit," written 30 years ago, continues to 

rank among the top 15 titles on the paperback 

best-seller lists. "The Silmarillion," the 

latest Tolkien book, was the No. 1 best 

seller for 23 weeks on the New York Times 

list. 

Academy Awards Initiated 

By Japan's Film Industry 

TOKYO — The newly formed Japan 

Academy Award Society slated its first 

presentation ceremony Thursday (6) at the 

Marunouchi Teikoku Theatre, according to 

the Japan Times. American actor Kirk Douglas 

planned to appear as a special guest at 

the televised festivities. 

Prizes were to be in ten categories: best 

movie, director, script, leading supporting 

actor and actress, technique and best foreign 

film. 

Five names were nominated in each 

category by 60 members of the nominating 

committee, for any motion picture, including 

privately produced films, shown at theatres 

in Tokyo during the previous year. 

Winners were selected by open ballots cast 

by 1,200 persons. 

The Japan Academy Award Society, 

which says its purpose is to promote the 

Japanese film industry and foster closer relations 

between moviemakers, is made up 

of representatives of cinema groups. 

'The Pack' Gets New Title 

NEW YORK—"The 

Long Dark Night" 

is the new title for the Warner Bros, film 

thriller, starring Joe Don Baker and Hope 

Alexander-Willis, formerly called "The 

Pack." Set on a remote vacation island, the 

Fred Wcintraub-Paul Heller production 

was directed by Robert Clouse from his 

screenplay, based on the 

novel "The Pack," 

12 

BOXOFHCE ;: April 10, 1978

. . Audra 

. . . Tanya 

. . . Meadowlark 

. . James 

. . 

. . 

. . Ken 

. . 

H ^Jôliuwoocl liêpovt mi 

f 

M 

Warners Acquires the Rights 

To Broadway Play 'Deathtrap' 

Warner Bros, has acquired the screen 

rights to "Deathtrap," Broadway stage play. 

The murder-mystery-comedy was written by 

Ira Levin, who also will do the screenplay. 

Alfred de Liagre jr., co-producer of the 

stage version with Roger L. Stevens, will be 

obtained the rights to Jerry Lee Lewis' single 

record, "Middle-Aged Crazy," to serve as a 

basis for a feature film, with Carl Kleinschmidt 

set to write the script. 

Shooting on 'Bitter Heritage' 

Is Started by Mayo and Troy 

Bitter Heritage Productions producers 

Robert Mayo and Gary Troy began principal 

photography Tuesday (4) on "Bitter 

Heritage," a crime-drama about a rackets 

boss, his estranged lawyer son and their 

opposing ways of life. Mayo wrote the 

screenplay with Michael Cartel and also 

stars as the racketeer. Others in the cast are 

Rory Calhoun, Lorri Calhoun (in her first 

feature film). Skip E. Lowe, Gail Fisher and 

Peter Hurkos . . . Arnold Kopelson's Film 

Packages, Inc.. plans to begin lensing "Harold" 

in July. It was written by David Swift, 

who also will direct . . . "Fort Travis," 

starring Richard Harris and Karen Black, 

will go into production May 15 on locations 

in Southern California, with Ted Post directing 

the Suncrest Cinema feature. Richard 

G. Abramson and Michael C. Varhol 

are producing. The script was written by 

L. M. "Kit" Carson based on the novel "Ft. 

Banowitz," by Horatius Haeberie . . . Producers 

Allan Carr and James Randall plan 

to launch production this month on "Vivian 

Leigh, a Biography." Gavin Lambert is writing 

the script, an adaptation of Ann Edwards' 

Rastar Productions began 

book . . . principal photography March 21 on Neil 

Simon's "California Suite" for Columbia 

Pictures, with Herbert Ross directing. 

4 Major Stars Added to Cast 

Of 'Good Luck. Miss Wyckoff 

Robert Vaughn, Ronee Blakley, Carolyn 

Jones and Dorothy Malone have been signed 

by producer Raymond Stross for roles in 

"Good Luck. Miss Wyckoff," now shooting 

in Stockholm, Sweden . . . James Brolin has 

been cast in "Night of the Juggler," a Packages, 

Inc.. production to be directed by Sidney 

J. Furic and set to roll June 1 . . . Bobby 

Di Cicco has been signed for Lorimar Productions' 

"The Big Red One" . . . Frederic 

Forrest has joined the cast of "The Rose." 

20th Century-Fox feature starring Bette 

Midler . Lindley, a regular on 

the "Three's Company" video series, has 

signed for her first feature motion picture 

role. She will portray Peter Firth's mother 

in "When You Comin' Back. Red Ryder" 

Roberts has joined Keith Mc- 

Dermott. Chuck Connors, Jon Van Ness, 

Jocelyn Jones and Robert Sherwood in 

Charies Band's "Tourist Trap," which began 

lensing March 27 . Franciscus 

and Gary Collins have been cast in "The 

Naked Sun," which got under way Monday 

the executive producer of the motion picture 

. . . George LeFave and his Sedbar 

Productions have purchased the film rights 

(3) in Brazil. 

to Joseph Wambaugh's latest novel, "The 

Black Marble," under a deal which gives the Ricky Schroder Is Selected 

policeman-tumed-author control over the For Child's Role in 'Champ' 

final script ... Sid and Marty Krofft have 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and filmmaker 

Franco Zeffirelli ended a six-month talent 

search by signing eight-year-old Ricky 

Schroder, a veteran of the modeling and 

TV commercials profession, to play the 

child's role in "The Champ" that propelled 

Jackie Cooper to stardom in the 1931 version 

of the story. Jon Voight stars as the 

father. Ricky was auditioned by Zeffirelli 

in New 'V'ork and was screen-tested in Miami, 

where the director was filming preproduction 

scenes for the picture. The talent 

search involved more than 2.000 aspiring 

child actors . . . Beau Bridges has been set 

for the role of Sonny and will co-star with 

Sally Field in "Norma Rae," to be directed 

by Martin Ritt for 20th Century-Fox . 

Misty Rowe will have a role in "A Pleasure 

Doing Business" and Tom Smothers and 

Phyllis Diller will have special guest-star 

roles in the film, a TCA Pictures feature 

Lemon, veteran member 

of the Hariem Globetrotters, has been inked 

to make his screen debut in Lorimar Productions' 

"The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." 

Ray Milland Again Is Father 

To O'Neal in 'Oliver's Story' 

Ray Milland will repeat his role as Ryan 

O'Neal's father in "Oliver's Story," the sequel 

to "Love Story," which began shooting 

March 24 in Boston with John Korty directing 

and David Picker producing . . . Timothy 

Bottoms has one of the five starring 

roles in Dino De Laurentiis' "The Hurricane," 

set by director Jan Troell to go into 

production in June . . . Sally Kirkland has 

joined the cast of "Hometown USA," now 

shooting in Southern California locations 

under the direction of Max Baer . . Joining 

. 

the cast of "Butch and Sundance: The Early 

Days." 20th Century-Fox feature, were 

Peter Weller. Vincent Schiavelli. Noble Willingham. 

Elya Bask'n, Peter Brocco. Carol 

Ann Williams. Charies Knapp, Paul Price, 

Jill Eikenbcrry (in the pivotal role of Mary), 

Jack Kehoe, Chris Lloyd. Patrick Egan. 

Sherril Lynn Katzman. Liam Russell. Hugh 

Gillin and Will Hare . . . Final castings for 

American International Pictures' "The 

Norseman" include Deacon Jones, former 

Los Angeles Rams defensive end; Fred Biletnikoff. 

wide receiver for the Oakland 

Raiders, and actress-singer Susie Coelho . 

Barbara Sigel has joined the cast of the 

Swartout production of "The Prize." which 

began shooting Monday (3) at Lake Tahoe. 

Ridley Scott of Britain Set 

To Direct 'Alien' Sci-Fier 

British director Ridley Scott has been 

signed to direct the Brandywine-Ronald 

Shusett production of "Alien," a 20th Century-Fox 

release to be lensed in England 

beginning July 3. The science-fiction/horror 

film will be produced by Gordon Carroll 

and David Giler. with a screenplay by Dan 

O'Bannon, Walter Hill and Giler, based on 

the original story by O'Bannon and Ronald 

Shusett . . . Gary William Friedman will 

compose the score of "Spree," a co-production 

of Spiegel-Bergman Productions and 

Mexico Film International. Larry Spiegel 

directed and Mel Bergman was the producer. 

Starring are Peter Graves, Ray Milland 

and Vincent Van Patten . . . Composer 

Arthur Smith will use the North Carolina 

Philharmonic Orchestra in Charlotte in creating 

the score for Earl Owensby's "Wolfman" 

. Thome will compose the 

score for producer Lance Hool's "Wolf 

Lake," starring Rod Steiger . . . Joseph Sargent 

will d-rect Universal's "Coal Miner's 

Daughter," the Loretta Lynn story, from a 

screenplay by Tom Rickman. based on the 

book "Loretta Lynn. Coal Miner's Daughter," 

written by Ms. Lynn and George 

Vecsey. Bernard Schwartz will be the producer. 

Dave Loggins to Pen Lyrics, 

Sing in 'Our Winning Season' 

Dave Loggins will write the lyrics and 

sing two songs written with Charles Fox. 

composer and conductor of the score for 

American International's "Our Winning 

Production designer for Neil 

Season" . . . 

Simon's "California Suite." the Rastar film 

version of the Broadway hit for Columbia 

Pictures, will be Albert Brenner. David M. 

Walsh will be the cinematographer . 

Roger Kelloway is composing the score for 

"The Dark," a Film Ventures International 

release . . . Jimmy Webb will write the 

music and lyrics for MGM's "Voices." now 

shooting in New Jersey . . . British composer 

Mike Batt will compose the score for 

"Caravans." an Ibex-FIDCI film . . . David 

Shire is scoring "Old Boyfriends" for producers 

Edward Pressman and Michele Rappaport. 

Fenady Set to Reactivate 

'Willie Winkie' Project 

LOS ANGELES—Writer-producer Andrew 

J. Fenady is planning to reactivate 

production of the feature "Wee Willie 

Winkie." by Rudyard Kipling. Fenady acquired 

rights to Kipling's story from the 

author's estate several years ago. Fenady 

admits the success of Kipling's "TTie Man 

Who Would Be King" has caused renewed 

interest in the "Winkie" project. 

"Wee Willie Winkie" was made into one 

of the top ten boxoffice hits of 1937 by 

20th Century-Fox. That version starred 

Shirley Temple and Victor McLaglen. Fenady 

currently is at Universal working on 

TV and feature projects. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 10, 1978 13

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 is in terms of percentage in 

relation to average grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as average, 

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

Across the Great Divide (PIE)

Atlantic City Film Group 

Announces Season's Slate 

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—Women directors 

and a touch of sex highlight the 

new spring-summer series offered by the 

Atlantic Film Society. Lou Reichert, president 

of the society, announced that the 

its society, in third year, has now become 

a non-profit corporation, making it eligible 

for state and federal endowments that could 

fund the entire film schedule in the future. 

Standouts in the new series include 

Ingmar Bergman's "The Magic Flute" 

Orson Welles' latest effort "F For Fake" 

and a full-length animated parody of Walt 

Disney's "Fantasia" entitled "Allegro Non 

Troppo." According to Reichert. the new 

schedule features films that would never 

ever be shown in this resort area because 

of their limited commercial appeal. 

Films by three women directors are scheduled 

in "Seduction of Mimi," "Lumiere" 

and the "Union Maids" documentary. 

Reichert's sister, Julia Reichert. directed 

"Union Maids," and it expected that she 

will appear at the society's Gordon's Alley 

Theatre when the film is shown. 

Calling the new schedule the "most 

ambitious film program ever," other films 

to be presented, both on a subscription 

basis and on single admissions, include 

"Children of Paradise," "Take the Money 

and Run." "200 Motels," "Head," "Sisters," 

"Nothing Sacred." "My Man Godfrey." 

"Harold and Maude." "Footlight Parade" 

and "Goldiggers of 1933." 

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Ellis 

Celebrate Golden Wedding 

MELROSE PARK. PA.—Martin B. Ellis, 

general manager of A. M. Ellis Theatres 

Co., and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding 

anniversary March 18. 

Their two children. Ruth Schulman and 

Robert Ellis, are holding a dinner-dance in 

honor of the couple Sunday (16) at the Shel- 

UA Employee Piccirillo 

Weds Michelle D'Alessio 

NEW YORK—Joseph Piccirillo, United 

Artists payroll employee tax manager, was 

married to Michelle B. D'Alessio in Manhasset, 

L.I., Saturday (I). A resident of 

Tarrytown, N.Y., Piccirillo has two children 

by a previous marriage. The bride, 

who has been living in Bayside, L.I., has 

three children by a previous marriage. 

The newlyweds will live in Manhasset. 

Dylan Film Tie-In Plans 

PHILADELPHIA—A promotional contest, 

with sponsorship by Radio WYSP. the 

top-rated rock station locally, and "The 

Drummer," weekly entertainment tabloid 

with wide circulation on the college campuses, 

was set up by Don Davidson, advertising 

and promotion director for the Sameric 

Theatres circuit, for the opening of 

"Renaldo & Clara." The Bob Dylan movie 

opened at the Eric Walnut 3 near the University 

of Pennsylvania campus. 

Radio listeners and the newspaper read- 

ers entered the contest by submitting the 

answers to two questions — "What is Bob 

Dylan's real name and what is the name of 

the song Joan Baez wrote to him'.'" The 25 

winners, selected at random, received a pair 

of tickets to the opening of the movie, a 

limited edition record album with songs 

from the movie, and a poster from the film. 

Richard Elkman Will Lead 

'Old Newsboy's Day' Group 

PHILADELPHIA — Richard Elkman, 

president of Group Two Advertising, a 

local 

advertising agency, has been named chairman 

for "Old Newsboy's Day" to be staged 

on June 16 by the Philadelphia Variety Club 

Tent No. 13. The proceeds from the event, 

highlighted by the sale of a special "Happiness 

Edition" of the cooperating Philadelphia 

Inquirer, will benefit the Variety Club 

Camp for Handicapped Children in suburban 

Worcester. Pa. 

The entire center city area and many 

neighborhood and suburban shopping malls 

are turned into entertainment arenas as 

celebrities from television, theatre, radio, 

music and others join with civic leaders in 

"hawking" the sale of the "Happiness Edition." 

Elkman has also been active with the 

American Diabetes Foundation for Retarder. 

Brain Damaged and Emotionally Disturbed 

Children. 

Two Industry Wives Aid 

Hadassah Celebration 

BALTIMORE—Jo Anne Glazer. wife of 

Phil Glazer. head of Associated Pictures 

Co., and Mis. Herbert (Ferle) Cantor, 

daughter of Fred Sandy, manager of the 

Washington D.C. Branch of American International 

Pictures and sister of Jerry Sandy, 

also with AIP. are helping to handle 

arrangements for the Hadassah's "Intellectual 

Fair" at the Balitmore Hebrew College 

Wednesday and Thursday (12-13). Mrs. 

Cantor is overall chairman of the event, 

which celebrates the 30th anniversary of 

the State of Israel. 

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. There will be 

four panels beginning at 10:15. Lunch will 

be served at 11:45. and discussions will 

resume an hour later and continue until 

2 p.m. 

"I'm moderating the news media panel 

at 10:15 Wednesday," stated Jo Anne. The 

panelists include Jerry Turner. WJZ-TV 13 

news anchorman; Michael Olesker. investigative 

reporter. News American, and Richard 

O'Mara. editor of the Perspective section 

of the Sunday Sun. 

On Wednesday (12) at 8 p.m. there 

will be an interpretation of American Jewish 

music at the Evergreen House. Elliott Galkin, 

who writes a music column for the 

Sun, and Leon Fleisher, guest conductor 

of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, will 

be present. 

Rabbi L. Smolar, president of the Baltimore 

Hebrew College, and a noted lecturer 

and authority on the Mideast, will 

speak on "World of Our Children: Israel's 

Next 30 years." He will open his segment 

of the meeting Thursday (13) at 10:30 a.m. 

'Madame Rosa' Still 

Reigns in New York 

NEW YORK — Oscar-winning foreign 

film "Madame Rosa." in the person of Simone 

Signoret. topped the list again although 

its average was down to 470 in its 

second, record-breaking week at the Plaza. 

"Coming Home" jumped up one place to 

second, earning 380 in the seventh Cinema 

I encounter. Changing places with "Home" 

was "House Calls." a pleasant 360 for the 

third round at the Tower East. 

A new sexer. " 'V—The Hot One." was 

the first of its kind to make the list in awhile 

(due mainly to lack of reporting of figures 

—no pun), opening at the Pussycat Cinema 

with a fourth-place 345 week. Fifth was 

another newcomer, of a different kind, the 

documentary "Word Is Out." a significant 

305 in the first stanza at the Eastside Cinema. 

From fourth to sixth went "Crossed 

Swords." 265 in the next-to-last (5th) week 

at Radio City Music Hall. 

Showcase hits were recorded by "The 

Fury." Oscar winner "The Goodbye Girl." 

"American Hot Wax." "Coma." "Saturday 

Night Fever," the horror bill "Dracula's 

Dog" and "Horror High," "Close Encounters 

of the Third Kind" (another Oscar 

pick), "An Unmarried Woman" and a total 

Oscar loser but still b.o. winner. "The Turning 

Point." 

(UA) 

4th wk 8b 

Columbia II—The First Time (EDP Films) 210 

Faslside Cmema—Word Is Out (Adair Fi'ms) 3Q5 

Fmbassy 46th Street A Hero Ain't Nolhin' But 

a Sandwich (New World), 8th wk 80 

Pan-.—Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands 

(Carnoval Films), 4th wk .245 

Pla;a Iâdame Rosa (Atlantic Releasing) 

2nd wk 470 

Pussycat Cinema—"V The Hot One 

34S 

(Cal-V.sta) 

Quad 3—Sebastiane (Libra Films) 5'h wk 130 

Quad 4 The Children ol Theatre Street 

(Pepperccrn-V/ormser), 9th wk 150 

Radio City Music Hall—Crossed Swords (WB) 

5th wk 265 

Rivoh—Blue Collar (Univ), 7th wk 160 

58!h Street Playhouse Blue Country 

(Quartet Films). 8th wk. 105 

Baltimore's Screen Roster 

Is Composed of Holdovers 

BALTIMORE—The motion picture listings 

on the entertainment pages were limited 

to holdovers with a brief upswing at 

the ticket windows turning back to the 

rather disappointing returns of the winter. 

The range of averages ran from a low of 50 

for "American Hot Wax." to a high of 255 

for "House Calls" which maintained the 

lead it established last week. 

C'nema II 

Big Sleep 

W^s'view III— Casey-s Shadow iCol)

B R O A D W AY 

mon, the winner of two Oscars, was shown 

in a two-part interview Thursday (6) and 

(Write For Your FREE Copy) 

( LVEKAMA IS Vi SHOW 

FILMACK STUDIOS, BI SLVESS IX HAWAII TOO, 

f 

Wlicn you conic to Waikiki, 

don't miss tlic famous Don Ho 

Show ... at Cinerama's 

1 327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicagojil. 60605 

Reef Towers Hotel. 

Friday (7). .-Mso Thursday, a West Coast 

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL is 

couple named the DeBolts talked about their 

set lo the Coalesgold film is presented by Sir 

19 children and the Oscar-winning documentary 

on their lives. "Who Are the De- 

ring down the curtain on its 45-year 

association 

history of the best stage and screen offering chan and Elliott Kastner. Jack Gold directed 

and co-produced with Anne V. Coates. 

Bolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen 

in town Wednesday (12) as a benefit for the 

Kids?" Joan Rivers, comedienne and creator 

of Avco Embassy's "Rabbit Test,' 'spoke 

Variety Club Foundation of New York. The from a screenplay by John Briley as based 

Lew Grade in with Arnon Mili- 

last attraction is Warner Bros.' new version on a novel by Peter Van Greenaway. Also 

of Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper." 

in the cast: Harry Andrews. Alan Badel, 

about her film Friday (7). the day it opened 

at several theatres. She appeared in person 

Marie-Christine Barraiilt. Jeremy Brett, Michael 

entitled "Crossed Swords." with the 

the houses showing her comedy. 

at 

traditional Easter stageshow. Keeping a vigil 

Hordern. Gordon Jackson. Derek Ja- 

• 

through the last few weeks was a solitary cohi and Robert Lang. 

• 

Joseph Ceslik has been appointed vicepresident 

protestor, a young man who carried a sign 

condemning the closing of the theatre; he Home Box Office taped a special titled 

of operations for United Arlists 

could be seen at the main entrance in all "Double Bananas." a salute to comedy Television. Inc.. syndication division, it hyjv 

kinds of weather and remains unidentified teams. Sunday (2) at ABC-TV's theatre on announced by Martin J. Robinson, picsideni 

the moment (perhaps a former chorus 58th Street. The show will premiere on and chief executive officer of UA-TV. 

at 

boy from the 

HBO Sunday (23). Dick Martin and Dan 

• 

Hall). 

• 

Rowan were hosts and performers, the teams Showcases Wednesday (5) included "Annie 

"Madame Rosa." this year's Oscar-winniiif; 

including Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. 

Hall," Woody and Diane's big Oscar 

Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill Bob Williams 

winner. "An Unmarried Woman" (mini), 

Best Foreii>n Film, broke all opening- 

week house records at the Plaza and scored 

and his dog Louie. Senor Wences and "The Turning Point." "High Anxiety" 

the biggest single day in its history. Directed 

dLimmy and the Ritz brothers, who are celebrating 

(mini), "Straight Time" with Dustin Hoffman. 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind." 

their 50th anniversary in show bus- 

by Moshe Mizrahi and starring Si- 

mone Signoret as the former prostitute who 

"Star Wars" (mini), "The Fury," "The Amsterdam 

iness. Following the taping, a reception was 

held at Charley O's. attended by many of 

cares for the children of her younger colleagues, 

Kill" starring Robert Mitchum, 

the performers, plus such people as Lynn 

the film is an Atlantic Releasing 

"Julia," "The Goodbye Girl," "That Ob- 

Corp. presentation. 

Redgrave in her "St. Joan" cut and Sylvia scure Object of Desire," Universal's bill 

• 

Miles, surely New York's greatest partygoer. 

"The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2" 

Good luck to: Larry Steinfeld. who departed 

and "The Sting," "Saturday Night Fever," 

The Ritzes. Harry and Jimmy, held 

American International Pictures' 

"Coma," "American Hot Wax" and United 

forth with anecdotes and the revelation that 

is their story being turned into a book. 

publicity department after 12 years for that 

Producers Organization's "The Last Survivor." 

company. One of the most cooperative and "From Rags to Ritzes." 

• 

friendly people among our trade contacts. 

Larry can be reached at home, 749-4302. Manufacturers Hanover will hold a reception 

where he'll consider all offers. 

and a .screening of its 1977 Ncm' 

Congratulations to: Amy Einbinder. who York City Marathon film Tuesday morning 

has been appointed assistant John Dartigue. 

(II) at the Magna Review Theatre. The 

to THE WEST LARGEST PRINTER 

vice-president of advertising and publicity 

the male and female winners of maialhun 

for United Artists. She joined UA as 

will he special guests. The 

a senior publicist in January 1977 and was Wall A.s.sociciles production. 

OF 

film is a Field & 

promoted to publicity manager that April. 

• 

Get well wishes to: Tom Allen, film Gregory Peck, a member of the board ONE SHEETS 

writer for the Village Voice, recovering of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture 

Arts and Sciences, discussed the Oscars 

after a pleurisy operation at Misericordia 

Hospital and to our own Morris Schlozman. with host David Hartman on ABC-TV's TWO SHEETS 

convalescing at home in Kansas City after "Good Morning America" show Monday 

surgery. 

(3). the day of the 50th annual Academy 

• 

Award presentations. Bob Hope. Marvin PRESS BOOKS 

"The Medusa Touch." a Warner Bros, Hamlisch and Sylvester Stallone also were 

thriller starring Richard Burton. Lee Remick guests that day. all 

and Lino Ventura, opens Friday (14) at the the Oscar show that 

SLICKS 

of them appearing on 

night. 

Rivoli and Red Carpet theatres. Dealing 

with telekinesis (see "Carrie" for definition): 

Tuesday (4), Rona Barrett interviewed 

a number of the Oscar winners. Jack Leni- 

1 TO 4 COLORS 

FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG CENTRAL LITHOGRAPH CO. 

1515 So. Hope 

'umm 

Street 

M 

Make it your aid to increase your attendance 


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and concession sales, by using 

Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films, 

and Special Announcement films. 

(312)427-3395 

April 10. 1978

. . "Although 

. . 

. . 

. . "On 

. . Philadelphia 

. . Media 

BUFFALO 

^yâlt Cunningham, gL-neral chairman of 

Variety Club Telethon "78, thanked the 

Buffalo Evening News in a Letter to the 

Editor, for help extended during the recent 

record-breaking event. Variety also took 

"thank you" ads in both The News and 

Courier-Express . . . "Bubbling Brown 

Sugar" is being brought back for a repeat 

performance on the stage of Shea's Buffalo 

. . . "Rabbit Test," originally slated for the 

refurbished Granada Theatre, was switched 

when the Granada failed to reopen in time. 

It opened at the Como, Kensington and 

Towne Theatres. 

plus excerpts from "Birth of a Sorority" at 

Media Study/ Buffalo. He also presented a 

24-hour performance of "Safe" at Hallwals 

Gallery. 

Joe Garvey put on special m'dnight shows 

at the Holiday 3. 4 . 5 and 6 theatres Easter 

Saturday . . . Mini-Reviews: "Cros.sed 

Swords"—Bob Groves . the 

swords don't cross enough, this is a romping 

romantic adventure for family viewing" . . . 

Four chairs . . . Courier-Express entertainment 

editor and broadcast personality. 

Jayne Freeman, discussed films and the 

upcoming Academy Awards on Radio Station 

WEBR. 

Jeff Simon, radio-television critic of the 

Buffalo Evening News, came through with 

his annual Oscar tip sheet. Says Jeff: "About 

90 million people will watch, at least a 

quarter of whom will spend the evening 

muttering and vilifying the Academy for 

block-headedness and all-around bad faith. 

For what it's worth: Best Picture— Probably 

'Star Wars'. Best Actor: Richard Dreyfuss, 

Best Actress: Diane Keaton. Best Supporting 

Actor: Maximilian Schell. Best Supporting 

Actress: Tuesday Weld. Best Director: 

Herbert Ross. Best Songs: "You Light 

Up My Life.' Best Foreign Film: "That Obscure 

Object of Desire." 

Buffalo's Michael Bennett, director of 

the stage version of "A Chorus Line," has 

bowed out of the film. Mike Nichols will 

direct the screen version for Universal , 

The Spotlight Committee of Friends of 

Shea's Buffalo Theatre celebrated the opening 

of "Membership Drive '78." The drive 

Youngstown restaurant manager Thomas J. 

Cottonaro missed his performance as the 

Munchkin mayor in "The Wizard of Oz" 

for the umpteenth time, Easter Sunday evening. 

The four-foot-six Cottonaro has never 

seen himself in the classic though it's been 

televised for decades. The 62-year old Buffalo 

native appeared in a dozen other movies 

before he left filmland. His most enjoyable 

film, he says, was "Tarzan Finds a Son" 

in which he did stunt work as Cheetah, the 

chimpanzee. 

Motion picture animation by Glen Zimmerman 

was demonstrated at the monthly 

meeting of the Buffalo Cinema Club in the 

. . . The 

Amherst Community Church 

purchase of equipment inside the Granada 

Theatre, from a Dutch firm, has postponed 

Barry Gerson's first local showing of the reopening of the movie house scheduled 

films shot in the Buffalo area, "Inversion" for March 31, Victor Mole announced. 

(1973), "Translucent Appearances" (1975) Seats, screen, projector and other equipment 

and "Celluloid Illuminations" (1975) were in the theatre are owned by B. V. Beleggingsmaatschappij 

shown at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery . 

Rila of The Netherlands. 

Charlemagne Palestine, videomaker-performer-artist-musician 

of international renown, Andy Warhol's "Young Dracula" was 

presented "Andros: An Escapist's Primer" shown at special late shows at the Boulevard 

Mall and Seneca Mall Cinemas. 

"How long has it been since there' ve been 

two pictures by Luis Bunuel playing simultaneously 

around Buffalo?" asks Doug 

Smith in the Courier-Express. "The Spanish 

filmmaker's 'That Obscure Object of Desire' 

is at the Maple Forest Cinema. "Discreet 

Charm of the Bourgoisie' at the Allendale." 

Media Study/ Buffalo's silent 

(and talkies) 

series at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical 

Society, continues on alternate Saturdays 

as follows: "The Lost Squadron" 

(1932) and "Crazy House"" (1943); "Our 

Dancing Daughters" (1928) and "Movie 

Night" (1929) and "Exit Smiling" (1926) 

and "Flying Elephants" (1927). 

Federal Judge John T. Curtin issued an 

order spelling out the limits he placed last 

month on the use by Erie County District 

1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services 

of copyrighted films it has videotaped 

from television without paying the licensing 

fees. 

Judge Curtin issued his order after attorneys 

from BOCES and three national 

producers of educational films who are 

suing BOCES for copyright infringement 

were unable to agree on the wording of the 

order. 

Judge Curtin ruled that BOCES District 

I, "at its own risk," can distribute to schools 

in the district, covering north and central 

Erie County, copies of firms' copyrighted 

films that BOCES has already videotaped 

and incorporated into curriculum. He ordered 

BOCES to keep complete records of the 

number of times the films were shown, the 

is being sponsored by the theatre's board of 

Lips"" and "My Master, My Love"" the 

dates, name of teacher and class, etc. 

Theme for the evening was "Nos- 

The companies seeking payment are Encyclopedia 

opening offering the Waterfront" 

directors. 

Mary Beth Lawton 

Brittanica Educational Corp., the leads off a series of "Films from the Fifties" 

Learning Corp. of America and Time-Life 

of Cinemaradio 

announces the installation offering for free showing on Sunday after- 

at the 1-290 Drive-In. 

Films, 

noons at the Northeast Regional Library of 

Inc. 

the Philadelphia Free Library 

"Masquerade Party," an X-rated film, was Charles B. Pierce has begun production 

. . . 

Drive-In at New Cumberland. Pa., reopened 

confiscated from the Village Cinema after a 

city court judge and Buffalo police officer 

on his $3,000,000 "The Norseman." about 

Vikings who land on the East Coast to in- 

for the new season with a pairing of "Mac- 

Arthur" and "Airp

Sylvia Stieber, 

Strong on Need for 

B\ ALLEN M. WIDEM 

HARTFORD— She is 

by nature ebullient 

and outgoing; in philosophy pronouncedly 

optimistic: and by industry standards an 

acknowledged "joiner" quick to participate 

in both exhibition and community effort 

and endeavor. What's more, she's a firm 

believer in the premise that, once exhibition 

and distribution finally join ranks 

in the realization that the industry's obvious 

weaknesses detract from the industry's 

strong points, there will be overall industry 

improvement. 

.She is Mrs. Alexander (Sylvia) Stieber 

who. with her proud husband, can be found 

attending to the drive, the very dramatic 

innovativeness inherent in the daily "selling" 

of the twin-auditorium plex known 

as the Avon Twin Cinemas, off heavilytraveled 

Rte. 44, northwest of downtcwn 

Hartford. (The Stiebers daughter, Nancy, 

is presently concluding requirements for a 

Ph. D. at the Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology. Her major is the history of 

architecture.) 

First Year in Office 

Sylvia Stieber is marking completion of 

her first year as president of the Connecticut 

Ass'n of Theatre Owners. She is 

the first lady chief executive in the state 

exh'bition group's 50-year history, and, for 

that matter, probably the only lady chief 

executive on the state exhibition level with 

a working projectionist's license. And if 

the foregoing is not impressive, let it be 

noted that Sylvia Stieber's continued participation 

in women's activities, more 

especially the Farmington Valley League 

of Women Voters, has made her a "name" 

of considerable impact and importance far 

beyond the exhibition enclaves. 

The Stiebers opened their twin plex sixand-a-half 

years ago. In the interim, the 

Hartford area has had a whopping 30 

screens opened. Inflation has mounted an 

endless campaign against profitability. Distribution 

increasingly has become very 

much of a seller's market and, as the battle-hardened 

exhibitor down the block would 

say, "What else is new?" 

Aware of Bottom Line 

"I'm well aware of what distribution is 

going through with bottom-line cost factoring," 

Sylvia Stieber told this Bo.xoffice 

reporter the other afternoon in her tastefully-decorated 

lobby. 

"But distribution," she insisted, "has to 

be reminded tactfully, of course, but reminded 

very emphatically, that what affects 

exhibition has a habit of affecting distribution. 

"On a very immediate basis, distribution 

has to stop "bunching up' the top product 

for the key holidays and summer, and try 

to remember that spring and fall are important, 

too. They've got to understand that 

we have buildings whose local taxes have 

CATO President, Is 

Industry Unity 

jumped enornioush in a very few years and 

we have tremendously increasing costs that 

have to be absorbed. Trying to absorb these 

increases in operation by betting on alsoran 

product isn't going to do it. We can 

charge just so much, realistically. When we 

opened we were charging $2.50 for adults 

and 99 cents for children. Now. we're 

charging $2.50 for adults ($3 for firstrun 

product) and $1.25 for children. 

"Distribution comes in with these huge 

percentages and says 'take-it-or-leave-it.' or 

something to that effect, and we have to 

take it because, frankly, while we'd love 

to support some of the better independent 

product coming along, our built-in expense 

emphasizes the need to 'go' with product we 

known will play to the point where we 

can come out ahead. It's a seller's market 

more than ever and distribution knows it. 

But the coin has two sides. Distribution 

has to understand that we need enough income 

to meet our outgo and if distribution 

proceeds to take a huge percentage from 

the very first day with little heed for adjustment, 

distribution isn't being fair to the 

exhibition ranks who just happen to be 

their customers bad times and good." 

in 

Student of Industry 

Industry student that she is, Sylvia Stieber 

concedes that distribution has had its 

hangups, too. Not every picture coming out 

of major distribution sources can be expected 

to be a block-buster. Yet exhibition, 

to function, must seek to raise its sights. 

Promotion, very much in vogue a generation 

ago in industry ranks, is problematic for 

one sound reason: "There's little start-time 

between firming a booking and opening in 

which to promote. Thirty years ago, this 

business knew what would be available in 

quantity and proceeded on that course of 

action. It just doesn't happen any more." 

The Stiebers book through Boston's 

Cinema Film Buying (Arthur Friedman. 

Roger Lockwod and Harold Blanks). 

Recalls Magazine Story 

In Sylvia Stieber's view the PG rating, 

on some 40 per cent of playing product, 

is most popular with family-oriented audiences. 

"I remember reading in Boxoffice," 

she mused, "where Joe Camp, who was 

responsible for 'Benji' and 'For the Love 

of Benji,' remarked putting a 'G' on a 

film turns people off. I've had phone calls 

from youngsters, obviously pre-teenagers 

and teenagers, who have asked for the 

rating and. when informed it was 'G,' have 

said outright, 'Ycch!' Outside of the distinctive 

Disney draw, I happen to feel the 

Camp attitude merits consideration." 

How can 1978 independent exhibition 

enhance and embellish its day-to-day income? 

"Bernic Menschell (immediate past 

president of CATO) put mechanical games 

into lobbies of some of his theatres and 

lie told me to Ir\ them. .Alex and I have 

put two in our lobb\ and are testing the 

response. Another thing we've done is to 

start serving as an outlet for an art gallery: 

patrons waiting for showtime can browse 

among the works we have selling for anywhere 

from $20 to $60. 

"You've got to make your theatre a focal 

point of community interests," Sylvia Stieber 

says. "More than ever, the atmosphere 

of 'family' or 'neighborhood' is enormously 

vital. Years ago. of course, people walked 

to their neighborhood theatre. Nowadays, 

it's more a matter of drive-time in many, 

many cities and public mass transit in others. 

The fact remains that regardless of where 

your patrons are coming from, you've got 

to persuade them to come back time and 

again with stationary prices, comfort, convenience 

and reasonable refreshment stand 

pricing. 

Distributors Visit 

Exhibitors 

"I'd like," the dark-haired, quiet-toned 

lady exhibitor continued, "to have distiibuting 

send more of its key executives into 

theatres to see personally how frontline 

exhibition, so to speak, is attempting to keep 

pace with inflation. The interchange of ideas 

might indeed prove invigorating!" 

Sylvia Stieber happens to feel that what 

Marvin Goldman of the National Ass'n of 

Theatre Owners (CATO is not presently 

affiliated) is seeking to do for exhibition 

unity deserves exhibition acknowledgment. 

She happens to feel, too, that with 

such long-range projects as EXPRODICO. 

exhibition may have a longshot for balanced 

profitability. "Our main flaw is an even 

flow of product, quality product. Regardless 

of what we put in our lobby or use in our 

advertising, no matter how much we spruce 

up the theatre grounds and parking lot. 

what we've got on the screen is the main 

lure. Playing it at terms that can give us. 

the exhibitor, a chance to make up for the 

slack times is the best, most understanding 

gesture distribution can make." 

Keep Problems Private 

Airing dirty linen in public, that is. the 

mass media attention to flaws in indusliy 

imagery, from production through distribution 

through exhibition, is to be avoided 

at all times, she insists. "It's one thing for 

a group of exhibitors and distributors to 

sit around and strive for understanding and 

it's something far different to downgrade 

any facet of this still wonderful business 

and have it appear in media intended for 

the general public. We should keep squabbles 

within the pages of Boxoffice. wh'ch 

has been a traditional sounding board, and 

within industry conferences." 

L.U.C.K. Inc. Buys Cluster Theatre 

LANHAM. MD.—Land Use Consultants 

Kompany, Inc., a real estate development 

company, has purchased the 570-seat Cluster 

Theatre in Fells Point, Md. L.U.C.K. 

spokesman Greg Pake made the annoimccment. 

adding that the house will be complently 

remodeled and moved from a sub-run 

to a feature policy this year. 

Arnold Kopelson's Film Packages. Inc. 

plans a production start this month on "Los; 

and Found." 

E-4 

April 10. 197S

. . Samuel 

. . . Area 

. . The 

. . Frank 

. . 

PITTSBURGH 

Jîlo Rand has all the movie news in the 

April Pittsburgher . R. La- 

Rosa, 118-pound amateur boxer and a film 

salesman here some 45 years ago, founded 

the McKccsport Boys Club "way back 

when." Now 65. he has retired as the club's 

operating manager but his heart still remains 

with the worthy organization which has 

done so much tor the youngsters and to 

which he gave so much of himself. A constant 

helper through the years has been a 

reformed barber, one Perry Como of 

Canonsburg, 

"Feelings" was the Garden's top feature 

f 

NOTICE \ 

HLM VENTURES 

INTERNATIONAL, INC., 

which owns all right, 

title and interest in a 

soon-to-be-released 

motion picture entitled 

"THE DARK", wishes to 

call attention to the fact 

that its prior Notice 

warning any distributor 

from selling, or any 

exhibitor from 

exhibiting, any motion 

picture under a 

deceptively similar title; 

does not apply to 

DIMENSION PICTURES, 

INC.'s soon-to-bereleased 

motion picture, 

"OUT OF THE 

DARKNESS". As a 

consequence, FILM 

VENTURES 

INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

has no objection 

whatsoever to any 

distributor selling, or 

attempting to sell, or 

any exhibitor exhibitin 

or attempting to exhibit, 

DIMENSION PICTURES. 

INC.'s "OUT OF 

THE DARKNESS". 

FILM VENTURES 


by Edward L. Montoro, President 

310 \. San Vicente Blvd. Suite 200 

Los Angeles, Ca. 90048 

(213)659-0545 

"Captain Lust." the first swashbuckler se.\ 

film, lopped the Art Cinema bill following 

"Dutch Treat" and "Barbara Broadcast" 

. . . Variety Club Tent 1 honored 1 1 police 

officers, deputies and other law enforcement 

agents at a special luncheon helmed 

by Blair Griffith and Bob Colville. 

Tlie John O. Glaus agency, here, is distributing 

"Little Miss Innocence," "Teenage 

Seductress," "The Erotic Adventures of 

Pinocchio." "Jade Pussycat," "Hard Soap" 

and "China Cat" 

Cleveland, is the area distributor for "Death 

Rage" . . . Larry Pilmaier, formerly 20th 

Century-Fo.x branch manager locally, is now 

AIP's branch boss in San Francisco 

Jones, ex-branch manager for Warner 

Virgil 

Bros, in this town, has joined Don Buhmester 

& Associates, an advertising-PRpromotion 

company in the Windy City, 

which is now embarking on a venture in film 

distribution. 

Variety Club Tent I's telethon, scheduled 

tor Saturday and Sunday (15, 16) on WIIC- 

TV, announced that W. F. Rockwell jr. will 

be honorary chairman. Paul A. Stackhouse 

is honorary vice-chairman. Leonard Swanson 

and Byron Williams are executive chairmen 

. Easter stage show at the Cinema 

Follies Club featured six theatre employees, 

each of them a star. This was the 

third such show staged by the CF players 

and. with such talent, there will be more of 

them. The new CFC in Washington D.C. is 

now open with units in Tampa, Atlantic 

City and Philadelphia slated to follow suit. 

. . . "House Detective" 

"Wet Rainbow," "Good Morning Little 

Schoolgirl" and other sex films were on 

view at the Liberty 

headed the Cinema Follies Club program 

following the showing of "Dirty Words" 

and "Curb Service" with the Midnight 

Cowboy on stage. 

Lynn Hinds of the National Screen Council 

hosted a six-part series on "Oscar's First 

50 Years," March 29-Thursday (6) at 6 p.m. 

and 1 1 p.m. on WTAE-TV. He also featured 

an Academy Awards report Monday (3) on 

this channel's "A.M. Pittsburgh." 

Toronto Jail Is Reopened 

For 'Fast Company' Cast 

TORONTO—The municipal jail, closed 

not long ago, was reopened recently to permit 

the cast of "Fast Company." a motion 

picture about small-time bank robbers who 

want to turn big time, to film there. 

Faster Films, operating on a grant from 

the Ontario Arts Council, plus private investments, 

has set a $100,000 budget for the 

picture. 

BALTIMORE 

... "A Special Day" returned to the Forum 

and Encore following "The Serpent's Egg 

theatres showed "Crossed Swords," 

"Love in Strange Places," "China de Sade," 

pritz and Pat Goldschniidt (he is the Washington 

branch manager for AVCO 

"Bloody Waters," "Semi-Tough," "Beyond 

and Back," "Journey Into the Beyond" 

and "Crucible of Horror." 

Embassy,) moved into their new home in 

. P. 

Buriak, Point Park College student, is preparing 

a paper on the early years of motion 

Crofton near Annapolis . . . George F. Eitel, 

National Theatre Supply's regional manager, 

said they are working on the Tenlcy 

pictures in this area. 

Circle Theatres in Washington "... adding 

a Dolby Sound System and this will be followed 

by the installation of projection." 

Jan Nethen, son of Jack Nethen, secretarytreasurer 

of Claude Neon Signs, said that 

the company was featured on the Monday 

(3) edition of WJZ-TV's "Evening Magazine." 

The channel news staff filmed an 

eight minute feature, interviewing neon department 

head Walt Dudley, 21, the only 

one of five men in this field who is under 

60. In the next few years Dudley may well 

be the only one in town doing this kind of 

work. Jan has been the fulltime service manager 

at Claude for nine years. 

Vera Austin Wolfe, NATO of 

Md. executive 

secretary, told this reporter that she 

has been getting phone calls from the parents 

of teenagers concerning admission 

prices. They also asked her if they could 

send a note with the youngsters so that they 

could get in to see R-rated pictures. Vera 

noted that the MPAA code requires that 

the minors be accompanied bv a parent or 

guardian, thus the necessity for two tickets 

at a performance. She recommended that 

the parent or guardian and the child so to 

an early show on the weekend if they wish 

to save money. 

Hideko Takayama, of the Sim's Tokyo 

bureau, wrote that a double-decker. Britishmade 

bus is serving as one of the city's 

unique coffee houses. Even the name is 

unique for Japan—Bonjour Lyon. These establishments 

also serve as a place to take a 

nap, see an old Charlie Chaplin classic or, 

for the local equivalent of $4 a cup, you 

can get a private room with a TV set and 

a couch. 

Painter's Mill Music Fair 

Forced to Shorten Season 

OWINGS MILL, MD.— Shellv Gross, a 

principal of Musical Fair Enterprises Inc., 

admitted that their Painter's Mill Music Fair 

is in trouble but said that they had no 

intention of closing the summer theatre. 

Instead he declared they would run a shortened 

schedule of six to eight weeks. 

The parent organization is beset by serious 

financial problems relating to the rising 

costs of production. 

Tom Lipsky, the theatre's manager, had 

some comments on the brighter side as he 

pointed out that advance sales for the 

May appearance of Liberace have already 

hit $100,000 and that the concert to be 

given by singer Lou Rawls is also been 

chalking up a healthy advance. 

"Lost and Foimd" will be produced and 

directed bv Mclvin Frank. 

April 10. 1978 E-5

. . Joan 

WASHINGTON 

niddings on pictures (blind-bidding) for 

Christmas release have been launched 

by the distributors, particularly the majors, 

according to head booker Ronald Steffensen 

of the Gienmar Cinestate. formerly District 

Theatres. Similarly, area theatre owners are 

pushing for legislation which would require 

film distributors to screen the film before 

they have to 

b'd on them. With the current 

policy of blind-bidding, exhibitors are advised 

of only the title and of the stars. 

Phil Jenkins, who was transferred from the 

company's Dallas office. Christine Webb, 

former booker, has resumed her scholast'c 

activities. 

Fritz Goldschniidt, Avco Embassy branch 

manager, is set to release the suspense thriller, 

"The Manitou," in a multiple debut 

Wednesday (12). The late William Girdler 

produced, directed and, with actor Jon 

Cedar, wrote the screenplay, based on 

Graham Masterton's novel . Rivers' 

"Rabbit Test" will premiere locally Friday 

(28). The film's presell campaign included 

four front covers of Boxoffice. 

WOMPI of Washington will meet Tuesday 

(II) at the residence of the president. 

Jane Klotz, Independent Theatres. An important 

item on the agenda will be the announcement 

of the proposed slate of officers 

for membershp consideration for the 

1978-79 year. Doris Simons. Wheeler Films, 

as chairman of the nominating committee, 

has circulated the membership as to choice 

of nominees for 

the slate. 

Universal's sunken submarine epic. "Gray 

Lady Down," at area theatres, according to 

the Star's critic, "is the most expensive recruitment 

film Hollywood has ever made 

on behalf of the Navy ... If the Navy has 

been experiencing recruitment difficulty in 

its nuclear submarine program. 'Gray Lady 

Down' should prove a welcome addition at 

enlistment stations." 

Kelly Harmon, top American model, is 

featured in a new .'^.Smm sound and color 

short entitled ""Kelly Harmon Take 1." produced 

for Noxell Corp. by Sheridan Elson 

Communications. Requests for free-loan 

playdates in theatres should be sent to Modern 

Talking Picture Service. 

A salute to Adrian (Gilbert Adrian). Hollywood 

designer during the '.Ôs and '4()s, 

is in progress in the Smithsonian's American 

costume collection. .Adrian gows, accessories 

and photos will be on display throimh 

June. 

Festival, under the joint sponsorship of the 

American- Film Institute, announced the 

award-winning entries. The two top winners 

were a documentary commissioned by the 

National Archives. "Conquering the Paper 

Mountain," and Polly Krieger's feature. 

"The Wh'djit Maker."' Winners judged best 

by division were: independent documentary, 

Nancy Bear's ""Alice Neel, Collector of 

Souls": documentary short subject among 

sponsored films, Jim Messenger's "Of Time, 

Tombs and Treasure"" (also an Oscar nominee); 

abstraction, Stan Vanderbeeck's 

"Poemfield No 7: Peace"; animation, 

Howard Hoffman and Ann Goodman's "Hit 

a Sin Rain"; theatrical shorts. Morgan Wesson's 

"The Birds, the Bees and the Gum 

Lloyd Wineland, president of Wineland 

Theatres, has opened his drive-ins full time 

and completed their summer bookings. 

Disease"; Super 8. Kirk Brady's "Leader of 

the Pack"; TV spots. Edgar Cheetham's 

Wineland's first-run situation showings include 

Universal's "Jaws 2"; Warner Bros." 

"The Piano Shop." and international category, 

submitted by the Japan Society. "Full 

"Swarm." and Walt Disney's "Jungle Book," 

"The Cat From Outer Space" and "Hot 

Lead, Cold Feet" . . . Harry Howar. Buena 

Moon Lunch." 

Vista branch chief, announced new booker 

E-6 

Restoration of Old Theatre 

Stirs Nostalgic Memories 

BEAUMONT~The following story recalling 

the old Jefferson Theatre here recently 

appeared in the Houston Post: 

"Al Sacker and friends have fond memories 

of the Jefferson Theatre in its heyday. 

They are working to restore some of its old 

glory. 

" "I used to play hooky from school to 

come over and put my ear to the door and 

just listen to the organ,' says Sacker, .'^8. 

who became a musician and played for silent 

movies at the Jefferson and other theatres. 

" "As kids we used to run in the aisles 

until the ushers came out and stopped us." 

recalls Earl Brickhouse. 'and there was a 

whole lot of courting in those balconies.' 

"Although run-down now the Jefferson 

was a grand palace of fantasy when it was 

built in 1927 at a cost of $1,000,000 as a 

showplace for silent films, vaudeville, traveling 

orchestras and cultural events. 

"The theatre seated 1,800 in an old Spanish 

atmosphere, complete with six types of 

imported marble in the lobby. Moorish false 

windows, an 18-foot chandelier copied from 

the Palace of Versailles and etched glass in 

the powder room. 

"It had — five floors of dressing rooms, 

four safes 'They must have been bringing 

in a lot of money,' Sacker says—and a 20- 

seat screening room used bv local critic 

Merita Mills — 'Everybody feared Merita 

Mills.' 

1978 Washington Area Filmmakers er." 

"'There were decorative nude statues of 

Apollo and Venus and a 790 pipe theatre 

organ. 

"Sacker has restored the organ, which 

cost $30,000 originally and is now valued at 

$9.3.000. He still plays. 

"Hearing him expertly pump out some of 

the old silent screen music as the giant organ 

rises from the orchestra pit on a hydraulic 

lift makes one wonder why they 

needed films. 

•" 

'It's the only theatre organ in operation 

in Texas." says Sacker. now a music teach- 

ALL OF THESE 

PRACTICAL 

SERVICE 

DEPARTMENTS 

APPEAR REGULARLY 

i 

in 

ADUNES AND EXPLOITIPS 

BOXOFHCE BAROMETER 

(First 

Run Reports) 

FEATURE BOOKING CHART 

FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST 

& ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

REVIEWS OF FEATURES 

• 

SHORT SUBJECT CHART 

• 

SHOWMANDISING IDEAS 

In 

All Ways the Best 

SERVICE THAT SERVES! 

April 10. 1978

Floyd Mutrux Talks About 

Film 'American Hot Wax' 

DALLAS—The Morning News film critic, 

Philip Wiintch, carried the following 

account of some background of "American 

Hot Wax," as related by director Floyd 

Mutrux: 

Floyd Mutrux's "American Hot Wax," 

which received the largest ovation so far of 

any film at the USA Film Festival, was almost 

canceled by the studio a day before 

shooting began because of the lack of a 

major star. 

"I had cast Tim Mclntire as Alan Freed 

because he had rock "n' roll spirit." Mutrux 

said Thursday before his film was shown 

for the festival audience at the Bob Hope 

Theatre. "James Caan and George Segal 

didn't want to do the movie, and Elliott 

Gould was in Canada. As it happened, I 

think we were lucky." 

Not Freed's Story 

Although the film centers on Freed's final 

days as rock 'n' roll arbiter and king of 

New York disc jockeys, Mutrux emphasizes 

it is not "The Alan Freed Story." 

"That would be an entirely different 

story. The star of this picture is the music. 

Freed is secondary." 

Mutrux tried to get the top remaining 

rock 'n' roll stars for the movie's climactic 

concert at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre 

(Actually, it was filmed at the Wiltern Theatre 

in Beverly Hills. Calif.) He was successful 

at getting Chuck Berry and Jerry 

Lee Lewis to recreate their acts but had 

less luck with Fats Domino and Little Richard. 

"Fats Domino can't even come to California," 

Mutrux said. "He's got eight exwives 

and they'd all jump on him for alimony. 

And Little Richard is now a minister 

in Watts. He's totally involved with God 

and religion. He said Arthur Freed was the 

biggest influence in his life but he doesn't 

perform anymore." 

Laraine Newman Picked 

He cast Laraine Newman of "NBC's Saturday 

Night Live" as a character named 

"Teen-age Louise" without having seen a 

segment of the television series. 

"She just walked into the office and was 

very cheerful and very right as a 1959 teenager," 

Mutrux said, "I hadn't seen 'Saturday 

Night Live' at all. The character she 

plays is supposed to represent Carole King, 

but I don't know how many people are 

going to catch that. It doesn't really matter 

if they do." 

Although the film skims the surface of 

Alan Freed's personality. Mutrux anticipates 

a media blitz on the controversial disc 

jockey, who died penniless in 1964. 

"There's no doubt Freed died heartbroken. 

He was accused of payola, but that was 

part of the territory then. That was the day 

of the $50 handshake. But once they took 

away his music, they took away his spirit." 

Tim Conwav and Don Knotts have signed 

for starring roles in "Trail's End," a sequel 

to "The Apple Dumpling Gang" which 

Walt Disnev Productions plans to begin 

filming in May. 

Bullfrog Breeding Business Booms; 

Adolescent's Aboreal Abode Axed 

By KATE SAVAGE 

BALTIMORE—A far cry from Rudolph 

Valentino is Charles Glazer, Phil Glazer's 

enterprising rising young teen-ager [\?i 

years) who held open house in his threeman 

tent on the first day of spring, the one 

he purchased with $40.00 he earned cleaning 

snow in the neighborhood during the 

winter (he revealed later his overall earnings 

were $200.00; this was but one segment—and 

now has a yearly contract for 

cleaning snow). 

He didn't have to kidnap the darlings 

nearby to see his new addition to the Glazer 

estate—and with a horse, yet . . . the way 

Valentino did with that flying sand, riding 

and travail, etc. All he had to say was "Comova 

mah house"—the tent variation, that 

is! The dress of the occasion was warm-up 

suits and printed tee shirts. What a documentary 

that would have made for the 

Junior Achievers' group! 

However, earlier, Charles had his frustrations. 

Under neighborhood pressure he 

had to tear down his tree-house— his beloved 

house which he had built "by ear" 

... so to speak—no blue print—no architectural 

discipline— a free spirit—and while 

it didn't make a sound; it proved to be a 

tremendous eye-sore, for his mother, Jo 

Anne, explained rather apologetically, "It 

was an architect's nightmare. Curiously 

enough, it was sturdy enough to hold an elephant! 

It will be next year's kindling wood 

NFB Starts Photographing 

Commonwealth Games 

MONTREAL—A National Film Board 

crew left Montreal in early March on a 

month-long assignment in Africa to begin 

shooting for the official film of the Commonwealth 

Games to be held in Edmonton 

next August. 

Director-cameraman Paul Cowan, with 

camera assistant John Dyer and soimdman 

Richard Nichol, planned to start in Tanzania 

with coverage of Filbert Bayi, the runner 

who holds the world record for 1,500 meters. 

The much-anticipated race between 

Bayi and the chief contender. John Walker 

of New Zealand, did not take place at the 

Montreal Olympics when several African 

nations withdrew from competition. The 

games in Edmonton will provide the first 

opportunity in four years for the two speedsters 

to run in the same race. 

After Tanzania, the NFB crew will go to 

Nairobi to film spr'nter Ruth Waithera, who 

also is a corporal in the Kenya armed forces. 

Some shooting in Zanzibar is scheduled before 

the crew moves on to cover other athletes 

with whom negotiations should be 

completed by that time. 

Preparations are under way for several 

other NFB crews to leave soon for various 

parts of the world where athletes are being 

groomed for the XI Commonwealth Games 

to be held in Canada this year August 3-12 

tor the tircplacc." 

But Charles explained rather plaintively 

that he had put so much work into it. He 

had posters, wall-to-wall carpeting, shelves 

to hold tools, even electricity—(he ran a 

cable underground, himself, for 100 feet) 

even a flower garden. However, what he 

gained via the interior, he lost exteriorally. 

It almost became a "cause celebre" among 

the neighbors, particularly that one female 

character who ranted and raged for its demise. 

So down it went. And to put it mildly. 

Charles was heavy-hearted and sad. 

But there's no stopping Charles. He'll create, 

concoct, construct something equally 

as ingenious in the future. 

The latest bulletin on the agenda reveals 

he may go into the breeding of African 

bullfrogs. Big business—that you can sell 

them to restaurants for 50 cents per frog, 

he explained. However, he did admit their 

voices left a lot to be desired. But no matter. 

However, since he also has guinea pigs 

and they breed so fast, he can always sell 

the surplus ones. And he has already marketed 

some over his CB radio. There's no 

doubt something else will turn up. 

Right now, the next immediate project is 

his fruit and vegetable garden he and his 

father will start, beginning the weekend of 

Friday-Saturday (7-8). 

"We're going to plant strawberries in an 

80 by 40 foot garden this weekend." he 

stated with suppressed excitement. 

Mercury Is Launching 

3 Major Films in May 

KANSAS CITY— Locally based Mercury 

Film Co. is lining up bookings which should 

make May 1978 the biggest comparable 

month the distribution company has had. 

Kicking off the lineup May 17 will be 

EMC Film Co.'s "Convention Girls," which 

a Mercury spokesman said appears to have 

"tremendous potential" in view of test-engagement 

results in selected Texas and Oklahoma 

situations. 

May 24, Mercury is launching territory 

saturation playdates of Dimension Pictures' 

"High Riders." The feature, which is described 

as "a new breed of picture dealing 

with a 'car gang' instead of a motorcycle 

gang," reportedly has been well received at 

all tradescreenings held to date. 

May 31, Mercury will open areawide 

multiple engagements—including Kansas 

City and Wichita—of the Henry Fonda 

starrer, "The Great Smokey Roadblock," 

also from Dimension. Originally titled 

"Elegant 

John and His Ladies," this feature has 

met with excellent reaction at all preopening 

unspoolings. 

All the openings, pegged for successive 

weeks in May, involve saturation playdates 

throughout the Midwest trade territory. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 10. 1978 E-7

Business Sector Must Accommodate 

Women s New Economic Leverage 

Bv ALLEN M. WIDEM 

HARTFORD — Call it •Women's L'b." 

call it ""the feminist movement. "" but the 

'act remains that the American woman has 

blossomed forth as none of her predecessor 

generations would have dated in the market 

place. The gals who once were content 

to rock the cradle and ladle the soup have 

struck for greater personal achievement and, 

in so doing, have proceeded to change the 

day Women's Lib by offering free admission 

to lady patrons when escorted by a paying 

male. True, the amount of attention accorded 

the so-called "women's audience" in 

exhibition a mere generation ago has been 

strikingly succeeded by the "togetherness" 

that brings out couples, yoimg, middle-aged, 

older, as never before for the product of 

the caliber of 20th Century-Fox's "Julia" 

and "The Turning Point," to cite just two 

titles. 

Learn From History 

If the present can learn from the past, it 

must be conceded, straightaway, that what 

was generally accepted in industry thinking 

as proper, such as "inviting" a lone woman 

to sit through a post-midnight horror film 

showing, her response, to be recorded by 

the media, has given way to distinctively 

more sophisticated promotion. More than 

likely, in many cities where this Boxoffice 

issue is being read many an exhibitor has 

a continuous link with women's clubs, parent-teacher 

organizations and the like for 

sporadically-scheduled special showings, at 

markedly reduced rates. Where this concept 

was handled in the not-so-long ago, the 

timing was more erratic than emphatic. The 

bottom-line guide for exhibition in determination 

of 1978 promotion, most certainly, 

is 

cost. What cost a theatre 25, 30 years ago, 

to promote can be said to encompass expenditure 

of many times a given figure. 

Hence, the need for caution, predicated on 

the end result, i.e.. boxoffice ticket sales. 

Bottom-line philosophy. 

Women's Lib Impact 

But Women's Lib has produced yet another 

phenomenon in the American marketplace: 

The enormous escalation in the number 

of working women. The change, and it 

is something that will be discernible across 

these burgeoning 50 slates for many years 

hence, can be adopted to cinema tradebuilding, 

provided, and provided is an imlortant 

word, the individual cinema ownerperator 

approaches the sell with seriousss, 

built on some semblance of research. 

A'hat better field from which to absorb 

g lessons than food? Regardless of how 

hours a working gal is behind a desk. 

a counter or a machine-tool bench at some 

point that very same gal has to replenish 

her energy— i.e., eating and, to a lesser exlent, 

entertainment. 

Progressive Grocer magazine, a trade 

publication, has done its homework. Coming 

up with findings on the very subject 

with which this story is concerned, the magazine 

mentions that the very presence of 

huge numbers of working women today necessitates 

an upgrading of merchandising's 

nation's economy. From all indications, at 

Ih's point in time, the change is working outlook. It is noted that some 38,000,000 

women are working in America today. This 

for the good of the coimtry, in more ways 

than one. 

is about double the figure for the mid-'50s. 

True, there are a nimiber of adult film The magazine advises the food retailer, 

women 

outlets grudgingly acknowledging the latter- 

net to try and "sell" the working 

through the cut-and-dried motif of cut-price 

"specials" or cents-off coupons. This, it is 

assumed, is best reserved for the gals still 

very much content with sheer domesticity 

24 hours a day. The working woman, obviously 

more rushed than the woman at 

home all the time, is not as interested in 

""specials" or coupons. Nor, says the same 

magazine survery, is she overly enthused 

about the prospects of comparison shopping. 

Hours Are Factor 

The working woman, it is said, opts for 

patronizing those stores with longer operating 

hours and less crowded than those retail 

outlets adhering to a minimal open 

schedule. The working woman likes to 

know that when it comes time to check-out 

at the stores, there will be more than the 

one "express" counter. 

The survey insists that once a working 

woman has come across a store that is open 

late, rarely crowded and which provides 

quick check-out service, she will make it 

her business to return time and again. There 

is loyalty indeed! 

Magazine Studies Women 

Promotionally the 1978 food retailer 

seeking an increasing share of the working 

woman's dollar has to adopt his advertising 

budget to implement avenues of approach 

best suited for what has been emerged as a 

prime financial factor. Progressive Grocer 

has found that the working woman reads 

newspapers and listens to radio even more 

than the average person. When it comes to 

television, however, the viewing is said to 

be somewhat below the "going" average by 

66 per cent for daytime programming and 

17 per cent for primetimc programming. 

Noteworthy, too, are findings to the 

effect that this same viable market spends 

more than the average woman on such items 

as cosmetics, toiletries, wine, cellophane 

tape, chewing gum, carbonated drinks and 

low-fat milk. 

An increasing number of cinemas have 

sought out the couples' market, offering 

either markedly reduced admission or free 

admission for lady patrons on given nights, 

male patrons on other nights, when attending 

as a couple. This means, of course, that 

the theatre does not have to pick up the tab 

for two people at one time. It builds theatre 

interest, something on which nobody in exhibition 

is about to put a price tag, by any 

stretch of the imagination. 

Given the 1978 cinema circumstances, being 

able to latch on to a profitable pitch, 

maintain and expand that pitch, is not only 

sound business practice, but reflective of 

1978 showmanship of the first rank. The 

youth audience and the senior citzien market 

are important, too; but, realistically 

speaking, there is a ceiling as far as admission 

potential is concerned. Excessive pricing 

is 

not about to charm a youngster or an 

oldster. Admission fluctuation can be better 

absorbed by someone such as a working 

woman out for leisure. The boxoffice potential 

is obvious. 

21 Obscure Japanese Films 

To Be Unveiled in Series 

NEW YORK—""Unknown Masterpieces 

of Japanese Film" is a 2 1 -film series featuring 

the works of a number of directors 

who are unknown to American audiences; 

15 of the screenings will be U.S. premieres. 

The series, from Friday (7) through May 

26, will be shown in single features on 

Tuesdays and double features on Fridays 

at 7:30 p.m. at Japan House, 333 East 47th 

Street. John Gillett, 

noted British film critic, 

will open the series with a lecture. 

Amidst the social and military upheavals 

of the 1930s and '40s, export of Japanese 

flms to the West virtually ceased, and many 

of the filmmakers of the period had little 

hope of having their work seen abroad. The 

Japan Film Library Council gathered together 

some of these masterpieces for a 

tour beginning at Japan House, traveling 

to the British Film Institute in London, 

and on to Paris and Montreal. 

The series opens with the 1935 version 

of Kinugasa's "An Actor's Revenge" on 

Friday (7). Kazuo Hasegawa plays the triple 

lead, as he did in Ichikawa's 1963 remake of 

the film. The younger Hasegawa is more 

plausible in this story of a Kabuki actor's 

vendetta. 

"The Abe Clan" on Tuesday (25), is 

credited as being Japan's first full-scale 

historical epic. Adapted in 1938 by Hisatora 

Kumagai from Mori Ogai's celebrated 

novel, the film is a scathing indictment of 

the samurai tradition of harakiri. This antifeudal 

work portrays a warrior family's 

fight to preserve its honor and its inevitable 

annihilation from ritual suicide and government 

execution. 

"Sweet Sweat" is a 1964 work by the 

recently deceased Shiro Toyoda. The film, 

to be shown on May 16, depicts the struggles 

of an unmarried mother who works 

as a Tokyo bar hostess. Machiko Kyo gives 

an outstanding performance as the mother. 

"The Moon Has Risen" is a domestic 

drama of a widower, his three daughters and 

their romances. Directed by the outstanding 

actress Kinuyo Tanaka who died last year, 

the f'lm is from a script by Ozu and heralds 

the debut of actor Shoji Yasui. 

E-v BOXOmCE April 10, 1978

22iid 

Matt Appelmctn, SRO V-P. 

Announces His Retirement 

BELLEVUE. WASH.—Matt Appelman, 

affiliated with Sterling Recreation Organization 

(SR) for the past 31 years, retired 

Tuesday (4), it was announced by SRO 

president Fredric Danz. 

Appelman held the position of vicepresident 

with SRO prior to his retirement. 

He will remain in active retirement with 

the company as consultant in the area of 

leadership training, organizational development, 

e.xploration of new projects, and 

long-range planning. 

He began with SRO when the company's 

founder. John Danz. hired him in 1947 to 

acquire a California drive-in. Appelman has 

served as theatre manager, programmer, 

general manager for California and vicepresident. 

He has served on the board of directors 

of NATO of California and of the Theatre 

Ass'n of California. Most recently he was 

an organizer of ShoWesT and has been its 

treasurer since its inception. 

Appelman's community activities include 

the development and initiation of the Volunteer 

E.xecutive Program, which encourages 

retired executives, professionals and business 

men and women to work with community 

agencies in the areas of their expertise. 

Appelman lives with his wife Frances in 

Los Angeles. 

Seattle-based SRO owns and operates theatres, 

bowling centers and radio stations in 

Washington. Oregon, California and Arizona. 

It also is the parent company of the 

American Song Festival, based in Los Angeles. 

MGM Gets Hotel OK 

CARSON CITY, NEV. — The Nevada 

Gaming Control Board has given its approval 

for MGM to open the world's largest 

hotel/ casino in Reno May 3. The board said 

its recommendation was conditional pending 

final approval of a security system now 

being installed at the hotel, which will have 

1,015 rooms, 141 table and keno games and 

about 2,000 slot machines. 

PETERSON 

THEATRE 

455 Bearcat Drive 

Times Square Park 

SUPPLY 

Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 

801-466-7642 

VARltlV CLLB VVtEK PRO- 

CLAIMED—The Mayor of San Francisco 

proclaimed the week of Feb. 18- 

24 as Variety Club Week, honoring the 

club and its 28 years in the San Francisco 

community. Above, left to right, 

are Al Camillo, first assistant chief 

barker. Tent 32; San Francisco mayor 

George Moscone; Mrs. Sascha Smith, 

president of Women of Variety, and C. 

Connie Carpou, chief barker. Variety 

Club Tent 32 supports the Blind Babies 

Foundation. The club has assisted over 

2,000 children bom without sight 

throughout northern California. 

Seven Union Projectionists 

Are Indicted in Colorado 

DENVER—Seven members of Local 230 

of the Moving Picture Machine Operator's 

union have been indicted by the Denver 

grand jury. They are charged with various 

offenses against theatres owned and operated 

by Cooper Highland Theatres. The alleged 

offenses are said to have taken place in 

Denver, Loveland, Greeley and Fort Collins, 

all in Colorado. 

The seven men indicted are Joseph 

Goecke. Roy L. Stewart, Orville Humler. 

Rory Von Buitt, Daniel J. Johnson. John 

F. Acker and Thomas Bateman. 

The charges are fire-bombing and attempted 

fire-bombing, as well as breaking 

into a projection booth and attempting to 

set fire to at least one theatre, along with 

other actions which investigators claim were 

paid for by other members of the union. 

An eighth man, John W. Ford III, was 

not indicted but was charged later with 

burglary and attempted arson. All eight men 

furnished bonds of $5,000 each and were 

released. 

The various acts are said to have been 

prompted by Cooper Theatres' efforts to 

replace the union motion picture operators 

with non-union help. 

The grand jury is not yet finished with 

its 

investigation. 

Jonathan Demme will direct United Art- 

"Last Embrace." 

ists" 

Dylan's 'Renaldo' 

Ignored in Denver 

DENVER—-House Calls" continued to 

doctor up boxoffice returns, grossing a 

healthy 400 in its third week at the Colorado 

Four. "An Unmarried Woman" also 

showed strength, delivering 350. Bob Dylan's 

first film effort, "Renaldo & Clara," opened 

on a sour note, scoring a low 50, far below 

average. "Close Encounters of the Third 

Kind" is still doing out-of-this-world business 

at the Cooper, landing a hefty 310. 

(Average Is 

IOC) 

Century 21—High Anxiety (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 250 

Centra-Blue Collar (Univ), 2nd wk 275 

Cherry Creek, Villa Italia— Straight Time (WB) ....200 

Colorado Four— An Enemy ol the People (WB), 

2nd wk 125 

Colorado Four—House Calls (Univ), 3rd wk 400 

i20th-Foxl, wk ,,.240 

Continental—Star Wars 45th 

Cooper—Close Encounters of the Third Kind 

16th 

Cooper Cameo, Unive::-.!'-, HilL^— Casey's Shadow 

(Col), wk .310 

(Col), 3rd wk 175 

Esquire Blue Country 75 

(SR) 

Flick Cinema—Aldra Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala 

(New World), 6th wk. 100 

Four theatres—American Hot Wax (Para) 

3rd wk ...140 

Four theatres ... 80 

Crossed Swords (WB), 3rd wk 

Four theatres Return From Witch Mountain 

(BV), 3rd wk 150 

110 

Four theatres The Big Sleep (UA), 2nd wk 

Tamarac Six An tlrunarried Woman {20th-Fox), 

2nd wk 350 

Tamarac Six— Julia ."(Otn-F ox) 175 

Three theatr.,;— Gray Lady Down (Univ), 

4th wk, 120 

Three theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 200 

Two theatres-Coma (UA), 8th wk 75 

Village Square-Henaldo & Claro (SR) 50 

"Power" is being directed by James 

Bridges, who co-authored the screenplay 

based on an original script by Mike Gray 

and T.S. Cook. 

THE WEST LARGEST PRINTER 

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264 East 1st South, Salt Loke City, Utah 84111 

BOXOFTICE :; April 10, 1978 W-1

1 

NOTICE 

HLM VENTURES 



















"OUT OF THE 



VENTURES 






any exhibitor exhibiting, 




THE DARKNESS" 

FILM VENTURES 





(213) 659-0545 

de^^ 

Filbert Company 

Theatre Systems 

1100 Flower Street 

Glendale, CA 91201 

Award-Winning Filmmaker Will 

Appear at Denver Film Festival 

Harry Raske 

By JOHN ROSE 

DENVER—Canadian filmmaker Harry 

Raske, who is scheduled to present his 

award-winning documentaries 

during the 

been nominated for an Oscar in 

initial Denver International 

Film Festival 

May 5-14, may receive 

an Academy 

Award for his 1977 

portrait of painter 

Marc Chagall. 

'Homage to Chagall—The 

Colours of 

Love," to be presented 

at the festival, has 

the featurelength 

documentary category. 

Though the 47-year-old filmmaker is already 

widely acclaimed as a master documentarian 

and has received 17 major awards 

for his work, the nomination represents deserved 

recognition for an immensely creative 

effort. 

Film, the maverick art, is emerging. For 

ten days in May the art of film will be 

celebrated here. The first Denver International 

Film Festival will include more than 

75 contemporary and classic film programs. 

The festival, a project of the nonprofit 

Colorado Celebration of the Arts, is being 

underwritten by the First National Bank of 

Denver. The purpose, according to festival 

director Ron Hecht, "is to discover and present 

filmmakers from around the world and 

to present a showcase for works which might 

not otherwise be shown in this area." Hecht 

is former owner and manager of the Vogue 

Theatre here. 

An advisory committee, which consists 

authorities, critics of Denver-area film and 

members of the business community, will 

help plan the ten-day program of feature, 

documentary, children's and animated films. 

Peter Warren, an associate professor of 

mathematics at the University of Denver, is 

the chairman. Irene Clurman, art editor of 

the Rocky Mountain News, is secretaryftS***«aWe 

From initial design 

to construction supervision, 

to selection of proper 

equipment & furnishings, 

the Filbert Company will 

deliver professional results. 

Talk to a Filbert professional 

today. (213) 247-6550. 

The festival will be highlighted by the 

Rocky Mountain premiere of Robert Altman's 

"A Wedding." Altman, whose films 

include "Nashville" and "McCabe and Mrs. 

Miller," is expected to be present to introduce 

"A Wedding" on May 15. A retrospective 

of Altman films will 

be included. 

At least ten other foreign and American 

feature-length films, not yet seen in Colorado, 

will be included in the contemporary 

cinema program. Three new Cuban films 

also will be presented. 

Other film personalities scheduled to attend 

include George Pal, noted Hollywood 

producer-director; Stan Brakhage, independent 

filmmaker and Charles Champlin, author 

and film critic for the Los Angeles 

Times. 

Pal, whose films include 'The Time Machine," 

"Destination Moon," "War of the 

Worlds" and "The Seven Aces of Dr. Lao," 

will present a selection of his features and 

his three-dimensional animated short subjects. 

First for Colorado 

Documentaries by Raske will be included. 

His award-winning films have never 

been shown in Colorado. 

Brakhage, a Colorado native, will 

present 

a program of his poetic films including the 

world premiere of "Thot-Fal'n." 

"In Quest of Cockaboody: The Animated 

Films of Faith and John Hubley," traveling 

exhibition created by the Smithsonian 

Institute, will be presented in cooperation 

with the Denver Public Schools. A freestanding 

exhibit of original art and graphics 

is currently on display at the main branch 

of the Denver Public Library. Included will 

be names of 14 films to be shown at the 

library and festival 

screenings. 

Animation Films Slated 

Several animation programs are set. including 

a two-part program on three-dimensional 

animation, new works from leading 

foreign and American animators, and the 

"13th International Tournee of Animation," 

a two-hour package of shorts from around 

the worid. Denver animator Stan Phillips 

and film historian Al Miller are planning 

the animation program. 

A program of films for children, which 

include new and classic live-action and animated 

works, is being assembled by Willard 

Simms, a playwright who has been active 

in Denver children's theatre and television 

for several years. 

A "festival within a festival," the Western 

States Invitational, will feature works of independent 

and student filmmakers from the 

Rocky Mountain states. This program is being 

coordinated by Richard Foushee, a filmmaker 

and professor of mass communications 

at the University of Denver. 

Film programs and seminars are scheduled 

at 

the Vogue and Ogden Art Theatres. 

W-2 BOXOFHCE :: April 10. 1978

Hollywood 

Happenings 

gLOSSOM KAHN resigned her position as 

director of creative services for First 

Artists, effective Friday (7). 

• 

Fred Scobey has been named president of 

DeLuxe Laboratories, in charge of all molion 

picture processing operations for that 

division of DeLuxe General, Inc., a. wholly 

owned subsidiary of 20th Century-Fox Film 

Corp. He has been with DeLuxe more than 

25 years, joining the company in 1953 on 

the engineering staff. He was promoted to 

technical director in 1957 and was named 

vice-president, engineerine, in 1967. 

• 

Howard Goldfarb has succeeded William 

Moraskie, who has resigned as international 

sales manager for the Dino De Laurentiis 

Corp. 

* 

"Buckstone County Prison," a Film Ventures 

International release, will open May 

10 in multiple screen runs in the Norfolk, 

Newport News and Portsmouth, Va., areas. 

* 

Bob Artz has been named director of 

advertising for Plitt Theatres, succeeding 

William Haver, who began a leave of absence 

Saturday (1) after a career of 39 years 

in film exhibition. Edward H. Plitt, vicepresident 

of the West Coast division, also 

announced that Charles Huggard will be the 

new district manager of the Salt Lake City 

area, succeeding Ernie Hoffman who also 

is beginning a leave of absence. 

HONOLULU 

NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED—The Women of Variety recently installed 

new members and officers at a luncheon at the PSA F^ranciscan Hotel in San Francisco. 

From left to right: Anita Sellieck, Rose Bonaparte, Shirley Stimmel, Sally 

Boutin, Gloria Wyman, Sascha Smith, president; Sylvia O'Neal, Mrs. Sam Sobel 

and Irma Levin. In the back, left to right, are Ben Bonaparte and Guy Cherney. 

the tournament was Sonny's usual co-star 

Miss Etsuko Shihomi. However, Sonny's 

newest kung fu-karate action movie, "Kowloon 

Assignment" is currently on the 

Liberty theatre screen. 

TUCSON 

J^ccording to plans, Tucson's exciting new 

quad at El Con will occupy practically 

the entire space formerly allotted to parking 

between Penney's and the maze of stores 

in the east mall area, which will be enclosed 

and air-conditioned. Directly across 

from the new four-screen will be the glittering 

new Goldwater's department store. 

A family Easter special at Old Tucson's 

new Movieland Wax World was a ten per 

cent discount coupon contained in the "Dandy 

Dime" shopping news giveaway good 

March 24-26. 

Kid brother Tucson, flexinj growmg 

muscles, is giving big brother Phoenix a 

real run for the marbles. With IBM already 

building a huge plant here, speculation 

is rife that Toyota and Motorola, too, 

will "try Tucson first." Motion pictures 

next? 

"Spring Hangin'," was held Saturday and 

Sunday (8-9) at Old Tucson. Included in 

the price of admission to the annual show 

are displays of the work of Tucson artists 

in various media, and crafts including sculpture, 

clothwork and glassblowm objects. 

Author Joins Times Staff 

LOS ANGELES — Roderick 

Mann, for 

20 years the principal entertainment 

columnist for the London Sunday Express, 

has joined the Los Angeles Times as a 

featured entertainment columnist. He is the 

author of three novels, the most recent 

being "Foreign Body," a satire with a London 

setting. 

fhe downtown King Theatre has become a 

twin house. First opened in 1935, it 

was the second theatre for Royal Amusements, 

Ltd.. following the opening of Roosevelt 

Theatre in 1934. The Roosevelt since 

then has been renamed the Rex. Royal 

Amusements, Ltd. has become Royal Theatres. 

Ltd. King 1 is showing Paramount's 

"The One and Only" while King 2 is 

holding American International's "The Last 

Survivor" for another week. 

THE SIGHTS 6 SOUNDS OF 

SUCCESS" 

Columbia's "Close Encounters of the 

Third Kind" is being presented in 70mm 

6-channel stereophonic sound for the continuing 

engagement at Waikiki 2. 

Shinichi (Sonny) Chiba, who was scheduled 

to be in the championship karate 

competition between Japan and Hawaii in 

Honolulu this week, failed to show because 

of a knee injury. Also named to appear in 

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Variety Club Donates Motor Coaches 

To Anchorage, Fairbanks Charities 

ANCHORAGE, AK.—The Alaska Treatment 

Center and Hope Cottages have each 

received a specially equipped transportation 

coach donated by the Variety Club. 

1 1 m;n intent on finding a home for an infant 

girl abandoned in Sherida Square Theatre 

o Christmas Eve, Variety Clubs International 

has grown into a world-wide charity 

Gathered by the snowy peaks of Anchorage to present motor coaches to two 

charities are, left to right: Hugh McCauley, general manager of Wonietco Lathrop 

Theatres; Dean Tolson, Anchorage Northern Knights basketball team; Robert Mullen, 

director of Alaska Treatment Center; Yvonne AJford, representing the mayor 

of Anchorage; Zollie Volchok, international vice-president of Variety Clubs International; 

and Robert Cadieux, president of Hope Cottages. 

The organization, which has presented 

nearly 3,000 such coaches to institutions 

over the past decade, also gave one to the 

Fairbanks Rehabilitation Center. 

Zollie Volchok, international vice-president 

of Variety Clubs International, traveled 

to Alaska to present the "Sunshine 

Coaches" last weekend. When not donating 

time to Variety Club, Volchok is executive 

vice-president of First Northwest Industries 

and general manager of the Seattle Super- 

Sonics basketball team. 

Organized in Pittsburgh. Pa., in 1927 by throughout America. 

Awards of Excellence Are 

Presented Disney. WB 

HOLLYWOOD—Two Walt Disney Productions' 

features, "Return From Witch 

Mountain" and "Pete's Dragon," and Warner 

Bros.' "Crossed Swords" were honored 

with Awards of Excellence by the Film 

Advisory Board at its monthly luncheon 

March 28. 

Mrs. Alexander Salkind, screenwriter and 

co-producer of "Crossed Swords," accepted 

the award for that picture. Youthful actress 

Kim Richards, who began her professional 

career in TV commercials when she was 

four months old, accepted the Disney 

awards, one of which went to composers 

Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for their 

song "Candle on the Water," in "Pete's 

Dragon." 

Marvin Hamlisch, composer and Academy 

Award winner, was presented with an 

network devoted to bettering the lot of handicapped 

and underprivileged children. 

Variety has raised and distributed some 

$250,000,000 over the years to support the 

charities. Its members, numbering over 11,- 

000, come from every field of the entertainment 

world. 

The special motor vehicles, provided to 

transport children through the Sunshine 

Coach program, can be found in Indo- 

China, India, Israel, Canada, Puerto Rico, 

Ireland, Mexico, many African nations and 

Award of Excellence for his contribution 

to music in films. He returned the favor 

by taking over at the piano and playing a 

medley of his songs. 

Warren Lockhart, producer of the documentary 

"Who Are the DeBolts and Where 

Did they Get 19 Kids?", accepted the award 

for that project on behalf of Korty Films, 

Charles M. Schultz Creative Associates and 

Sanrio Films. 

Phillipe St. Mark, Canadian vice-consul, 

accepted an award for three documentaries 

produced by the National Film Board of 

Canada: "I'll Find a Way," "The Bead 

Game" and "High Grass Circus." 

Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions will 

film "The Ludendorff Pirates," based on 

a novel by John Herman Shaner and Al 

Ramrus about Germany's largest, most 

powerful battleship. 

Variety in Salute 

To Henry Winkler 

By RALPH KAMINSKY 

HOLLYWOOD—Henry Winkler, hailed 

as one of the "great movie stars of the future," 

was honored by Variety Club Tent 25 

March 14 with the organization's Heart 

Award for his voluntary work in helping 

handicapped and underprivileged children. 

Mayor Tom Bradley proclaimed "Henry 

Winkler Day" and with Los Angeles commissioner 

Sol Marcus presented the citation 

to the star. 

President Murray Propper presented the 

award and lauded Winkler for his desire to 

"keep busy helping worthwhile causes and 

using his popularity to influence his youthful 

followers. He is a man who cares— 

superstar helping handicapped and underprivileged 

I 

children. can't think of anyone 

who deserves it more than you." 

Winkler also was made a Life Patron of 

Variety, receiving that honor from Variety 

International's president Eric Morley who 

reported that four Sunshine Coaches have 

been made possible by the youthful actor. 

Past VCI president Monty Hall dubbed 

Winkler "The King of Tuesday Night," referring 

to the TV show "Happy Days" 

which he said has made him one of the 

biggest stars of television. Hall predicted 

Winkler will become "as great a star in 

movies as in television." 

Hall reported that among his Variety 

good deeds Winkler turned over his entire 

fee as a participant on the John Wayne TV 

special to Variety and showed up as an unexpected 

volunteer at the Tent 25 telethon 

last year, spending several hours on the 

show. 

"He said he wanted to be a part of it," 

Hall reported, and called on the guests to 

"honor the one and only—Henry Winkler." 

Winkler demonstrated his quick ability to 

inject a humorous note into any untoward 

incident of a ceremony. Alluding to the 

luncheon's overly-long entertainment segment 

he said, "I want to thank everyone 

who stayed this long. This is a good way 

to know who your friends are." 

Declaring "I'm very proud of this award," 

Winkler asserted that one has only to visit 

a rehabilitation facility for the handicapped. 

"It's monumental what comes back to you 

from those being helped." 

"What you put out is what you get back," 

he declared to an ovation of applause. "One 

needs heart in order to create," he declared. 

"As an actor not only do I have fun but I 

also help make other people happy." 

Reporting on Tent 25 fund raising activities. 

Hall told the audience that the 1978 

telethon for the organization will make a 

radical departure, moving out of the usual 

television studio atmosphere for a nightlong 

outdoor show at the ABC Entertainment 

Center in Century City. Promising a 

"wild party," Hall said the telethon will 

feature such entertainment as disco shows, 

marching bands and circus acts—all aimed 

at raising the $500,000 set as the telethon's 

W-4 April 10, 1978 

goal.

KANSAS CITY 

There are hvo new WOMPl Ckib members 

floating arotmd. Shana King and Donna 

Robinette. both of American Multi Cinema, 

were installed as members at the March 

28 meeting. 

Winners, winners, winners! Pete Peresko. 

Thomas & Shipp booker, won $50 at a 

WOMPI raffle during Show-A-Rama 21 

and Mary Ann Ward. National Screen Service, 

walked away with a free trip to the 

races in Omaha, courtesy of another 

WOMPI Club raffle. Now. should Pete 

give Mary his money to bet on the horses? 

Virginia Kelly of the WOMPIs gives 

this 

report on the club's last monthly meeting: 

"Kim Tomlinson. a vivacious young energy 

expert from the Kansas City Power & Light 

Co. was our speaker. She told us things we 

had heard before—about what we can do to 

our homes to help ease the energy crisis 

but she did it in such an exciting and interesting 

way. it was very entertaining." 

Judy Helton, Buena Vista booker, is 

rolling right along. Judy, who has been an 

active participant in the last two Filmrow 

bowling leagues, rolled a sparkling 233 recently 

in her Saturday mixed league, which 

now stands as the high women's score in the 

league. For her efforts. Judy won a patch 

which says "Happiness is Bowling 200." 

from the Bowling Propietors Ass'n. 

John Poscik has surfaced in show business 

again. Poscik. whose fantastic sciencefiction 

novels (he's also a writer) are based 

upon his personal love life experiences, began 

Monday (3) as a student booker at 

Universal. Although this is his first time 

around as a booker, John long has been 

associated with the industry, having worked 

previously with National Theatre Supply, 

L&L Supply and as a correspondent for 

BoxoFFiCE. He had been out of the industi7 

since last year, when he went into semi-retirement 

to finish some literary projects. 

If you play football, you invite everyone 

over for a Super Bowl party. If you're in 

the film industry, then you throw an Academy 

Awards party. That's the way it went 

in Kansas City Monday evening (3) as different 

groups gathered to watch the annual 

Oscar fete. One group, for example, met at 

the home of New World salesman Dennis 

Marsh, who barbecue ribs for the gathering 

("Better than Gate's." one observer noted. 

Gates being a fine barbecue restaurant in 

Kansas City). Naturally, a pool was organized 

to pick the Oscar winners and the 

pool winner was Topar branch manager 

Roger Miller, who picked off $19 as a reward 

for his omniscience. 

It seems that you just can't satisfy some 

people. After struggling thix)ugh a late winter 

that has dumped almost two feet of snow 

on Kansas City since mid-February, we are 

now experiencing the beautiful 70-degrce 

weather that we normally associate with 

— and apparently with spring—Jim departed 

Thursday (6) for Hawaii, where he will 

bask on the beaches for about ten days, then 

spring. Now, that might be acceptable to 

some folks but not to American International 

booker Jim Hanlon. Fed up with winter 

return to our equally balmy and beautiful 

Midwestern springtime. 

Chalk up one more entry into the hallowed 

halls of show business. Karman White 

is the new employee at the Midwest Film 

offices. Karman is 25 years old. married 

and brand new to the film industry. 

The first case of poison ivy has been reported. 

American International salesman 

Jack Klug got the itch last weekend while 

cleaning up his yard. In the meantime, all 

AIP transactions should be handled by 

phone, unless yoti have an itch to see Jack 

in 

person. 

Morris Schlozman, Boxoffice business 

manager, happily returned home March 31 

from Menorah Medical Center following a 

two-week stay which included two surgical 

sessions. We're pleased to note that "Morrie" 

says he's recuperating in accordance 

with the best medical traditions and. we 

suspect, probably is plotting to drop into 

the office when least expected—and unannoimced. 

Meanwhile, back at MMC. the 

nurses in the OR are walking the halls and 

singing "Our Party's Over." 

Steamy Cable TV Film Fare 

Is Banned in Marion, Ind. 

MARION, IND.—The city council has 

voted five to two to ban R- and X-rated 

films from the pay TV channel of Marion 

Cable TV. owned by ATC. a nationwide 

system of cable firms. Marion Cable added 

Home Box Office to its service on March 

1. at an extra charge to customers. HBO 

offers R-rated films late at night. 

Opponents of the bill said that those who 

objected to the films did not have to subscribe, 

and those who did subscribe could 

get a "babysitter lock" for the channel. 

Only one such lock had been ordered as of 

March 29. 

Marion Cable is believed to be the first 

and only city in the nation to rebel against 

having R-rated films sizzling through the 

wires along its streets. 

Tom Wendt. manager of Marion Cable, 

said. "This issue drew 500 people to the 

council meeting for the 'witch-burning.' but 

last year, when there was a hearing to approve 

adding a lane to Highway 18—a serious 

problem vital to the future of the city 

—only 150 persons turned out. 

Although the bill would ban R-rated 

films from pay TV. it ignores theatres in 

the area which can and do show them. 

Observers said it was no secret that the 

sponsor of the ordinance. Paul Reed, has 

aspirations to be elected mayor. They also 

pointed out that city officials were miffed 

that the CATV firm was able to add the 

pay TV service under its existing franchise 

without seeking further approval from the 

United Artists' "Last Embrace" is scheduled 

to begin principal photography in May. 

KC Spring Film Tide 

Swells in Big Week 

KANSAS CITY—"House Calls" retained 

its No. 1 standing this week at 435, barely 

holding that position against a strong tide 

of still newer spring releases. Hitting the 

movie scene this week were such blockbusters 

as "An Unmarried Woman" (405), 

"Return From Witch Mountain" (390) and 

"Straight Time" (325). "The Fury" gained 

more than 100 percentage points in its second 

roimd. grossing a competitive 395. This 

exceptional film week also brought a 25- 

point increase in both "Close Encounter.s" 

and "Star Wars." 

(Average Is 100) 

Blue Ridge—Coma (UA), 7lh wk 200 

Chouteau, Sev;.!. -The Betsy (AA), 7th wk 240 

Embassy—An Unmarried Woman (20th Fox) .405 

Fine Arts—The Serpent's Egg (Para), 2nd wk ,35 

Four theatres— American Hot Wax (Para), 

2nd wk. 185 

Four theatres—The Big Sleep (UA) 170 

Four theatres-The Billion Dollar Hobo 

(Infl Picture Show), 7lh wk 110 

Four theatres—House Calls (Univ), 2nd wk 435 

Four theatres Straight Time (WB) .325 

Glenwood Close Encounters ol the Third 

Kind (Col), 15th wk 425 

Glenwood—Star Wars (ZOth-Fox), 44lh wk .325 

MetcaH—The Turning Point (20th. Fox 

Metro North, Ronchmart—The One and Only 

(Para), 8th wk 

in Midland The Boys Company C (Col), 

5th 110 

125 

theatres Here Come the Tigers (AIP) 

Oak Park The Other Side of the Mountain 

Pail 2 (Univ), 7th wk. .. 70 

.395 

(20th-Fox), 2nd wk Plaza-The Fury 

Seven theatres— Return From Witch Mountain 

(BV) 390 

Six theatres— Casey's Shadow (Col), 2nd wk 110 

Six theatres—Crossed Swords (WB), 2nd wk 110 

-Gray Lady Down (Univ) 

3rd wk 

85 

Thr^ -High Anxiety (20th-Fox), 

'The Goodbye Girl' Has Gained 

Ground Ever'y Week in Chicago 

CHICAGO— It is interesting to note that 

all distributors shared in the past week's 

good grosses, and it is also interesting to 

note that grosses for "The Goodbye Girl" 

have inched up each week during the first 

1 3 weeks of showing. 

Carnegie—The Turning Point (20th-Fox), 

20th wk 275 

Chicago—Blue Collar (Univ), 7th wk. 300 

Cinema The Serpent's Egg (Para) 250 

Eight theatre.'.- Colls (Univ), House 350 

2nd wk 

Eight theolref— The Goodbye Girl (WB), 

I3th wk 350 

Eight theatres— Saturday Night Fever (Para), 

15th wk .225 

Eleven theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 300 

Five theatres Close Encounters ol the Third 

Kind (Col), 15th wk. 175 

Four theatres—An Unmarried Woman (ZOth-Fox), 

2nd wk. .275 

Seven theatres— Straight Time (WB) 2nd wk .275 

Seven theaire,—Return From Witch Mountain 

. (BV) 350 

Seven theatre;-American Hot Wax iPîl 

2nd wk. 200 

Six theatres—The 175 

Big Sleep lUA) 

Six theatres— Casey's Shadow iC-;i 

Six theatres—Crossed Swords iWP! 

225 

175 

Jnd .•. k 

.r 1 v, k 

Robert B. Johns Is Dead; 

Retired Univ. Salesman 

KANSAS CITY—Robert B. Johns, a 

salesman with Universal in Kansas City for 

eight years before his retirement in 1977. 

died Sunday (2). 

He was a Des Moines native and had 

lived in this area 30 years. Johns previously 

had worked for MGM. 

He leaves his wife Dortha; two sisters. 

Mrs. Josephine Hornaday and Mrs. Elizabeth 

Rice; a daughter. Mrs. Joyce Baimt. 

and three grandsons. 

April 10. 1978 C-1

. . . The 

. . Ken 

CHICAGO 

Tack Dioniie, president of United International 

Films, and Jack Eckhardt were 

in Springfield to talk with members of the 

Kerasotes circuit about spring and summer 

product, including "Towing." Made in Chicago. 

"Towing" was produced by Fred 

Smith and his sister Maura. They directed 

the film with local actors, except for two 

leads. Sue Lyon and Jennifer Ashley. 

been booked into theatres operated by the 

(19) at Warner Bros, offices. It's time to 

Kohlberg Circuit, L&M Management, Marcus 

Theatres and U.S. Theatres. 

elect new officers . . . Welcome to Debbie 

Steffy who joined Mid-America Releasing 

Co. as local cashier. 

Reports on the midnight showings of In Aurora, 40 miles west of this city, the 

In an effort to continue a program of "The Yessongs," starring Rick Wakeman, Paramount Theatre is in the heart of a 

films for every member of the family, Wm. 

assure S-K Films that the Chicagoland engagements 

have been very productive. In gram. The theatre, opened in 1931, has 

$15,000,000 downtown redevelopment pro- 

Lange & Associates is setting up a campaign 

for a break of "Dogs." The film stars 

fact. General Cinema has been so encouraged 

with the grosses for this rock 'n' roll eled Paramount opens Saturday (29), it will 

been completely restored. When the remod- 

a popular TV personality, David McCallum. 

The theme is something new; it tells the 

feature that they are going to put another be known as the Paramount Arts Center 

story of diligent research to determine Ellman Enterprises film into a midnight test and it is planned to feature it as a Midwest 

if it 

is an atomic reactor which is killing livestock 

and seriously injured a passing motor- 

Roll Show" stars are Chuck Berry and was restored at a cost of $2,800,000 and, in 

run in late April . . . "The London Rock mecca for the performing arts. The theatre 

'n' 

cyclist in a small college town. Suspense Little Richard. 

addition to featuring movie festivals, it also 

will be used for professional and amateur 

ends only at the close of the film, when it 

Burt Livingston is transferring from Brotman 

Theatres to serve as local salesman for 

theatre, concerts and dance productions. 

is discovered that attacks by packs of dogs 

are foimd to be the source of the trouble Columbia Pictures . . . Other changes in In a survey of German and Austrian expressionism, 

the Museum of Contemporary 

Lange organization also is finaliz- 

the Brotman organization: Bob Kennedy 

Art is presenting a five-part film festival at 

ing arrangements for a saturation of a Brut 

production, "Fingers," starring Harvey 

Keitel and former football player Jim 

Brown. 

Mid-America Releasing Co. is holding 

open house Friday (28) to introduce new 

and larger quarters at 9575 West Higgins 

Rd., Rosemont. (This is the location where 

they have headquartered for the past several 

months.) For early April, Mid-America 

has set up a good-sized break for the combination 

showing of two new science-fiction 

films. "Laserblast" and "End of the World." 

While Allied Artists does not maximize 

the number of films distributed in any given 

period, the quality of film is not minimized. 

What it does present does well, such as 

"The Betsy." It has been one of the strong 

spring entries and now "The Betsy" is set 

for a second run in 25 theatres beginning 

Friday (14) The first-run opening of 

. . . 

Allied Artists' "Alice Sweet Alice" takes 

place in Kansas City Wednesday (19). It's 

a succession of openings for this film 

throughout April, May and into June; Milwaukee 

area theatres Friday (28), St. Louis 

May 3, local territory theatres May 12, 

Indianapolis May 19 and Minneapolis June 

Kaplan-Continental Pictures is launching 

of new films, starting with "The 

While making a stopover visit for lunch 

a series 

Child" and "Axe." These films with horror 

here, Mel Brooks was heard to say that he 

is going to make another fun movie "The 

overtones will open as a combination 

History of the World, Part One." 

throughout the area starting in early May. 

An alert to WOMPls: Everyone is urged 

Wednesday 

The Near North Cinema is getting the 

complete decorating treatment. Following 

to attend an important meeting 

"The Serpent's Egg," now showing at the 

Cinema, "The American Friend" will have 

an exclusive opening here. 

retires as general manager. Fred Schultz. 

who has served as manager of the Lake 

Shore Theatre, will take on most of the 

responsibilities which had been assumed by 

Kennedy . Mathe, who had managed 

the near north Carnegie, has joined 

Buena Vista as booker . . . Tom Brueggeman 

returned from New York, where he 

spent a few days viewing new product for 

the Brotman Theatres circuit. 

Teenagers who attend the movie at the 

Portage Theatre also will have a chance at 

a big prize—$500 in cash. Oscar Brotman. 

head of the Brotman Theatres circuit, is 

going to try out Disco-Rama contests Friday 

nights. 

" 

Columbia Pictures' "Silver Bears opening 

is 

in Midwest theatres Friday (21). 

The 

film, based on Paul E. Erdman's novel, 

"The Silver Bears," stars Michael Caine, 

Cybill Shepherd, Louis Jourdan and Tom 

Smothers. The story deals with shady banking 

operations and counterfeiting. 

Now that Chuck Teitel has so much activity 

on the West Coast, he has opened a 

second Teitel Amusement Co. office in the 

Los Angeles area. Teitel Amusement Co. 

has been a Chicago independent distributor 

since 1914. As for some of the company's 

more recent activities, it has obtained the 

exclusive distribution rights to the R-rated 

version of "Alice in Wonderland." which 

will play with another R-rated film already 

making the rounds, "The Exotic Adventures 

of Pinocchio." These films already have 

the Biograph Theatre. The program features 

rare prints of such films as "The Cabinet of 

Dr. Caligari," a horror film. It dates back 

to 1919 and was directed by Robert Wiene. 

The museum has, in fact, acquired the only 

existing 35mm print of the film for this 

showing. Admission to the screenings are $2 

and $1.50 for students and museum members. 

The Biograph has. with considerable success, 

played exclusive first runs of special 

features which have won acclaim in various 

f Im festivals. Recently the Biograph opened 

with Luis Bunuel's "That Obscure Object 

of Desire," which garnered two Academy 

Award nominations. 

iti» 

FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG 





FINER PROJECTION-SUPER ECONOMY 

1327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago.lll. 60605 

(312)427-3395 

Screens 

As* Your Supply Dtaltr or Writo 

HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc. 

2t Soroh Drly« Formlngdele, L. I., N. Y., 1173S 

C-2 

April 10, 1978

Vincent Canby of the New York Times 

says of this film: "Triumphantly funny and 

wise ... the incomparable Luis Bunuel . . . 

an authentic master . . . restores one's appreciation 

for the fantastic." The screenplay, 

which is an adaptation of Pierre 

Louy's novel, "La Femme et le Pantin," 

was written by Bunuel in collaboration with 

Jean-Clande Carriere. Serge Silberman produced 

this R-rated First Artists release. 

Summit Plaza I & // Groundbreaking 

Takes Place in Holts Summit Mar. 29 

HOLTS SUMMIT, MO.—Groundbreaking 

ceremonies were held March 29 for 

the 

construction of a twin theatre in the Siimvhich 

opened last year. Stimm 

nk is participatins inancing ihc theaf 

NOTICE I ^.^.^ 

HLM VENTURES 






'THE DARK", wishes to 








deceptively similar tide; 





"OUT OF THE 



VENTURES 









INC's 'OUT OF 


FILM VENTURES 



310 N. San \icente Blvd. Suite 200 


(213) 659^545 

THEOTTtE EQUIPMENT 

tvervihing for the Theatre" 

339 No. CAPITOL AVE., INDIANAPdLIS, 

sTfA 

Present at ihc ^ronndbroiikiny ceremonies for the Summit I'ki/a U\iu theatres 

were, from left to right: George Day, president. Day Theatres, Inc.: Margie Day, 

secretary and treasurer. Day Theatres; Mayor Larry Vaughn of Holts Summit, 

Missouri; George Jeffers, project engineer; and Bill Hutchlngs, developer of the 

project. 

mit Shopping Center in Holts Simimit. The 

new theatre, the Simimit Plaza I and II, will 

be completed and open for moviegoers by 

midsLimmer, George L. Day, president of 

Day Theatres, which will own and operate 

the theatre, said in announcing plans for the 

structure. 

The theatre will offer first-run, highquality 

movies that will appeal to all viewers 

in the Cole, Callaway and Boone County 

areas. Day said. Theatre I will seat 350 

persons and Theatre II will seat 321. 

"Our theatre will bring a new dimension 

of entertainment to the Jefferson City area." 

Day said. "We hope to offer the best quality 

movie entertainment possible to our patrons." 

The theatre is being constructed at the 

north end of the Summit Shopping Center, 

located at the intersection of Highway 54 

and Route 00 in Holts Summit. Boardman/ 

Mulchings. Inc., a Kansas City real estate 

firm, is developing the theatre and the 

Romayne Hoffman Director 

Of Upcoming Award Dinner 

HOLLYWOOD—Romayne Hoffman of 

the Hollywood/Los Angeles WOMPI Club 

has been named director of the 

"Artistry in 

Cinema" award dinner, to be held by the 

National Film Society at the Beverly Hilton 

Hotel May 28. 

Members of the WOMPI Club will be 

assisting as hostesses. 

Holts Summit and Callaway County officials 

attended the ceremonies. Mayor Larry 

Vaughan of Holts Summit turned the first 

ceremonial spade of dirt to start the construction. 

"We plan to build the best theatres in the 

central Missouri area," Day said. "This will 

be a public entertainment facility that everyone 

in this area can be proud of." 

High-backed rocking theatre chairs, with 

maximum leg room, will provide seating 

and Dolby sound systems that surround the 

viewer with stereophonic sound will be installed. 

A chandelier imported from Spain 

will accent the lobby, which also will feature 

a hexagon-shaped concession stand. A 

separate smoking lounge will be provided 

for the comfort and convenience of movie 

goers. 

Ample parking for the theatres will be 

provided on the shopping center lot, within 

easy walking distance of the theatre. 

Technicolor in Five-Year 

Pact With United Artists 

I. OS ANGELE,S—Technicolor. Inc., announced 

March 20 that, after analyzing 

proposals from various laboratories. United 

Artists Corp. had chosen Technicolor to 

perform film laboratory services for the 

U.S. theatrical distribution market. Such 

services formerly had been provided UA by 

a Technicolor competitor. 

The agreement between Technicolor and 

UA is for a five-year period. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 10. 1978 

C-3

ST. 

LOUIS 

yhe Island of the Damned," suspense drama 

centering on a couple whose vacation 

proves a far cry from their plans for a joyous 

holiday, opens Wednesday (12) at the 

Holiday Drive-In, 1-70 and South Twin 

drive-ins locally and in Illinois at the Capri, 

Woodriver; Skyview, Belleville, and Bel Air, 

Granite City. 

"The Billion Dollar Hobo," starring Tim 

Conway, begins a limited multiple at Mid- 

America Theatres Wednesday (12) following 

a successful run in the Kansas City 

territory. The comedy has a G rating . . . 

AIP's science-fiction/horror tale "The Incredible 

Melting Man" opens the following 

Wednesday (19) in a wide multiple. The 

screenplay concerns a war veteran who has 

incurred a mysterious disease which causes 

his skin to melt. 

Paul Schrader, who wrote the screenplays 

for 'Obsession" and "Taxi Driver," 

makes his directing debut in "Blue Collar." 

currently at the Northland and Stadium 

Cinema. The Richard Pryor-Harvey Keitel- 

Yaphet Kotto starrer revolves around workers 

on an automobile assembly line and 

deals with the problems of monotony, ruthless 

management, corrupt union officials and 

the frustrations of trying to make ends meet 

that eventually lead to a blackmail attempt. 

Joan Rivers' first motion picture. "Rabbit 

Test." will brighten up the scene Friday 

(21) when it opens at the Granada. Hi 

Pointe and Crown Cine as well as in Illinois 

at BAC Cinema. Belleville, and the 

Eastgate, East Alton. If preselling has any 

bearing on a successful run. this should be 

a knockout. Besides personal appearances 

by Rivers, there have been humorous ads 

in tradepapers. film clips on TV and promotions 

on college campuses where Rivers 

has been holding student seminars. Billy 

Crystal is the "pregnant" hero of the Avco 

Embassy release and in featured roles are 

Sheree North. Paul Lynde. George Gobel. 

Joan Prather and Imogene Coca. 

John Shipp of Thomas & Shipp and his 

partners in Mid-America Releasing, a subsidiary 

of the parent operation, held an 

open house in Denver March 30 to celebrate 

the opening of their office there. 

Frankie Ford, the New Orleans-based 

singer, is featured in the hit movie "American 

Hot Wax" at Hi Pointe, Halls Ferry, 

St. Andrews and South City and will be 

making a nightclub appearance here this 

month at the Clydesdale on South Broadway. 

In the film. Ford played himself and 

€LVEKA1»L\ IS L\ SHOW 

BITSLVKSS Vi H.\WAII T(N>, 

WTien you come to W'uikiki, 

don't miss the famous Don H 

Show . . .at Cinerama's 


REEF. W,UK1KI TOWER OFTIIERFFF ^^^ 

REEF TOttT.RS • EIXiEWATER w>Jf 

sang his international hit, "Sea Cruise." 

His latest album, titled "Frankie Ford," is 

the only album recorded in this city to receive 

a Billboard Magazine "Top Album 

Pick." 

A sure sign of spring is the scheduling of 

auditions for the Muny Opera singing and 

dancing choruses. The Breckenridge Pavilion 

Hotel will be the scene for tryouts for 

the 60th annual season Friday (14) and 

Saturday (1.5). Singers will report to the 

Hawthorne IV Room and dancers to the 

Pavilion Ballroom. 

Fun at the ball park is another sign of 

spring and Mid-America Theatres' Softball 

league will take the field Saturday (22) for 

the opening of the 1978 season. MAT's district 

manager Bob Stanze is league commissioner 

and there will be two teams competing 

for the North-South championship 

n June. The North team consists of representatives 

of Paddock Cinema. Holiday 

Drive-In. Village. Fine Arts. Four Seasons 

and Esquire A. The South team will represent 

the Brentwood. Crestwood. Manchester. 

South City. Woods Mill and Esquire B. 

Glenn Bill, manager of the Manchester Theatre, 

who passed the information along to 

us. says his team is a preseason favorite to 

nab the championship and at the Mid-America 

cup. 

The farewell luncheon for David Arthur 

and his lovely wife Kathy prior to their 

heading west to res'de in sunny California 

was attended by over 100 well-wishers who 

knew Dave before and after his association 

with Arthur Enterprises as buyer/bookei 

for the circuit. On the dais at the Colony 

Hotel March 30 were, in addition to the 

honorees, Luis Benavides. 20th-Fox branch 

manager; Ed Stevens. United Artists branch 

manager; George Phillips. AIP branch manager 

who. with Louis Jablonow. presideni 

of Mid-America Theatres, chaired the event: 

Ray Parker of Wehrenberg Theatres who 

was toastmaster (he refused to be called 

emcee because that would imply that he 

could sing!); Mr. and Mrs. Norm Nielsen 

of Dickinson Theatres, based in Kansas 

City, longtime friends and neighbors of the 

Jerry Banta. local sales representative of 

Thomas & Shipps; Stan Smith of Kemp 

Films, representatives of Kerasotes and Frisina 

theatres; B'll Williams of the Williams 

circuit, and various local lights still in the 

film industrv here or in associated enterprises, 

includina Bob and Art Johnson of 

the Robert E. Johnson Advertising Agency 

and Meyer Kahan of Kahan Film Delivery. 

Many former industryites now retired or in 

other enterprises also came to pay their 

respects and were warmly remembered bv 

Dave in his humorous, albeit at times almost 

tearful, response to all the kind words and 

good wishes expressed by those in attendance. 

Departing also to establish residence in 

sunny California Friday (14) is Hana Gorelick, 

wife of Herman Gorelick who. prior 

to his death in Chicago two years ago, was a 

pioneer in the industry here, later managing 

theatres in the Windy City. Mrs. Gorelick 

is following her children who moved to the 

West Coast recently when her son-in-law 

George Cohn, formerly of MAT Theatres 

became associated with the home office of 

Columbia Pictures. Her new address will be 

440 North Hayworth. Apt. 106. Los Angeles, 

Calif. 90048. Our best wishes ao with 

her. 

Ralph A. Amacher Dead; 

Retired UA Branch Mgr. 

KANSAS CITY—Ralph A. Amacher. 

branch manager for United Artists in Kansas 

City 22 years until his retirement in 

1972. died Saturday (1) at Shawnee Mission 

Hospital after suffering a heart attack. 

He was 71 years old. 

Prior to his association with UA, Amacher 

had worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 

and Eagle Lion Films. He was a member of 

the Motion Picture Ass'n of Kansas City. 

Amacher. who was born in Portland, 

Ore., had lived in the Kansas City area 27 

years. 

He leaves his wife Barbara, who is an 

employee of Guy-Con Enterprises; a son. 

Donald R. Amacher; two daughters, Mrs. 

Patricia Jones and Miss Linda Amacher. 

and a brother, Jake Amacher. 

Memorial contributions may be made to 

the Will Rogers Institute; mail to Mike 

Klein. Paramount Pictures, 4220 Johnson 

Dr.. Shawnee Mission. Kas. 66205. 

Univ. of Indiana Reveals 

Plans for Arts Festival 

BLOOMINGTON. IND.—The second 

annual forum for filmmakers and artists 

from throughout the Midwest will be held 

at the Media Arts Festival on the Indiana 

University campus here Thursday through 

Saturday (13-15). The festival is jointly 

sponsored by the School of Education's Matrix 

Gallery, the Indiana Creative Resources 

Arthurs, and Sheila DeLoach. Southern division 

manager of Columbia Pictures Corp. 

home office in California, who was on the 

staff of the local Columbia office for many 

years prior to her promotion to Dallas and 

later to Los Angeles. 

Among other friends and associates of to independent producers of film and other 

Dave (in addition to members of the Arthur visual media who pay their own shipping 

family here) were Bernie Palmer and Tom costs. The committee is hoping for heavy 

Simon representing General Cinema Corp.; participation from throughout the Midwest. 

Corp.. and the Indiana University Memorial 

Union Board. 

The festival is to be open without charge 

Two Atlantic City Theatres Sold 

ATLANTIC CITY. N.J.—The Center 

Theatre and the Hollywood Theatre, 

located off the Boardwalk on Atlantic Ave. 

in the business area of the resort between 

Kentucky and New York Avenues, have 

been sold to a group of New York investors 

for $400,000. Albert M. Greenfield & Co., 

conducted the sale. The purchasers have announced 

no plans for changing the present 

use of the theatres at this time, and it is expected 

that they will again reopen for the 

spring and summer season. 

C-4 


James H. Edwards Becomes 

President of Storey, Inc. 

ATLANTA—The appointment of James 

H. Edwards as president of Storey Theatres, 

James H. Edwards 

Inc., was announced 

March 22. Frederick 

G. Storey, founder 

and former president 

of the circuit, assumed 

the post of chairman 

of the executive 

committee. At the 

same time it was disclosed 

that Manuel F. 

Rodriguez has been 

appointed executive 

vice-president of the 

tirm. 

Edwards, a native Georgian, joined the 

circuit when it was organized in 1952 and 

became manager of the Decatur Theatre. 

Since August, 1976 he has held the title of 

executive vice-president and for 17 years 

prior to that he was vice-president in charge 

of operations. 

Edwards is the immediate past president 

of Variety Club of Atlanta Tent 21 and currently 

serves on the board of directors. During 

his term as president the club sponsored 

the first Sunshine Sunday telethon to raise 

money for its children's charities in Atlanta. 

In 1977 he served on the board of directors 

of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is 

chairman-at-large for NATO of Georgia and 

serves on that organization's public relations 

committee. 

Rodriguez joined Storey theatres as a 

theatre manager. Since 1967 he has been 

the circuit's buyer/booker. A native of Havana, 

Cuba, he was attending school in 

Georgia at the time of the Fidel Castro 

takeover and chose to remain in this country 

and become an American citizen. 

Storey, while removing himself from the 

pressure of day to day management, intends 

to maintain a close involvement with the 

company's planning and direction. Storey 

is Theatres, Inc., an Atlanta-based management 

company operating theatres in Atlanta 

and Chattanooga, and holds an interest in 

theatres in Gainesville, Ga. 

NY Times Alters Its Film 

Review Publishing Policy 

NEW YORK—Labeling the scheduling 

convenience" to its readership, the New 

"a 

York Times now is publishing each motion 

picture review the day the attraction opens 

in New York. 

Previously, the ^newspaper published a 

review on the day after the start of the 

playdate. 

C L\ERAMA IS L\ SHOW 

BUSLVESS L\ HAWAII TOO, 

When you conic to Waiklkl, 

don't miss the famous Don Ho 


Reef Towers Hotel. f 

Nothin Says Lovin Like Somethin 

From the Fendelman's Grove Cinema 

MIAMI—Richard and James Fendelman, 

the brothers who own the theatre, don't 

actually cook over a hot stove all day, but 

ihcy see to it that others do. While individuals 

are whipping up delectable dishes for 

sale at the confection counter of the theatre, 

which caters to health food fans, the 

brothers see to it that the film fare they dish 

up is just as personalized, varied and unsual. 

Located in the heart of Coconut Grove, 

a section of the city which abounds in artists, 

sculptors, dancers, actors and all manner 

of artistic residents, the theatre is the 

only one in the area. The policy of tailoring 

film fare to patron's tastes has paid off. The 

theatre, which is open evenings and weekend 

days, is nearly always sold out—and in 

advance. 

Organic Foods Sold 

The Grove Cinema concession doesn't 

sell soft drinks, opting for unsweetened apple 

juice instead. In fact, almost all of the 

concessions are organic natural foods, with 

no preservatives, and sweetened with honey. 

Many are baked by gourmet cooks in their 

own ovens especially for the theatre. Apple 

strudel is available, as are carrot and banana 

cakes, homemade date cookies, pies, fastselling 

bakalava, ice cream sweetened with 

honey, beer (light and dark, with imported 

on tap), wine, and so on. Traditional popcorn 

remains a best-seller, but spiced popcorn, 

"sujimama," does equally well. 

The theatre's lobby is quite modern and 

features a large $5,000 picture-mirror-sculpture 

entitled "Biscayne Bay," on loan from 

the artist. Also decorating the walls is macrame, 

which is for sale; a nude lifesize 

figurine (it used to wear a T-shirt, but it 

got stolen); triangular stairsteps, a pyramidstyle 

fountain, antique brass lamps and a 

crystal chandelier. Seating capacity in the 

comfortable, sloping auditorium, which used 

to be a supermarket, is 221. The auditorium 

is decorated with Zulu wall hangings, and 

loudspeakers have been installed in the theatre's 

rest rooms so patrons won't miss a 

word of the film. 

Personalized Service Credited 

The Fendelman brothers think personalized 

service is the reason for their success. 

The can do daring things that a circuit operation 

would not undertake, such as 

publishing 

a giveaway newspaper, the Village 

Choice, which is paid for by advertising and 

has news about the forthcoming fare at 

their 

theatre. The brothers usually have a different 

film each evening. On a rare occasion 

they can devote time to the showing of a 

local person's work. Such was the case of 

Miami attorney Glenn Terry's "Retrospective 

Festival." Terry's film featured local 

subjects and people, and played to a sellout 

audience. Another evening of Terry's films 

is planned for the future. When "Way of 

the Wind" was shown, the author, Charles 

Tobias, gave a brief talk, after which the 

patrons went to the nearby water's edge to 

see his ship, the star of the adventure film. 

If the brothers find they have a special 

film relevant to school-age viewers, they 

work in advance of the show with school 

principals or send out brochures. 

Theres no need for newspaper advertising. 

The Fendelman's own publication and 

word of mouth keeps everybody informed. 

The press, in fact, is always asking for feature 

stories from the film house. The cinema's 

regular customers already know what's 

cooking. 

ACLU Meets There 

Recently, rushes of Franco Zeffirelli's remake 

of "The Champ" were screened at 

the Grove. The American Civil Liberties 

Union had a brunch and film presentation, 

and on many occasions individuals entertain 

there with special screenings. 

Dade Community College gives credits 

for a course taught at the theatre, with 

screenings and lectures by critics and other 

professionals in the field. The plan is to 

expand this course in the near future. 

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" has 

been shown to sellout crowds for 39 weekends, 

and a Charlie Chaplin festival was a 

huge success. Bob Dylan's film "Renaldo 

& Clara" will have its Miami premiere at 

the Grove, and the owners may have to 

increase the usual $2.50 price for this fourhour 

epic. Robert Downey, creator of 

"Chafed Elbows," "No More Excuses." 

"Putney Swope" and "Greaser's Palace," 

will be at the theatre for the world premiere 

of his "Moment to Moment" during its twoweek 

engagement in April. 

Bakery Not Planned 

There's some talk, but not too serious, 

of creating a bakery within the environs of 

the theatre, due to customers' demand for 

the organic bread and other goodies, but no 

immediate expansion is on the drawing 

board. There's also been some talk about a 

T-shirt business, but not at the present time. 

The brothers are too busy to give future 

expansion much serious thought, and are too 

satisfied with things as they're cooking right 

now. 

'Bandit' Steals A Second Run 

NEW BEDFORD, MASS.—The Oxford 

Cinema in Fairhaven brought back Universal's 

"Smokey and the Bandit," advertising 

$1.50 admission for all seats. 

BOXOmCE :: April 10. 1978 SE-1

ATLANTA 

fhe local PBS affiliate, WETC. channel 30, 

participated in the Festival 1978 fund 

drive, to which public TV friends and 

viewers pledged nearly $12,500,000 in the 

16-day campaign, up 48 per cent from last 

year. During the festival special programs 

were presented to attract more of the viewing 

audience. One success of the campaign 

was the first-ever live telecast of Nashville's 

Grand Ole Opry. The network, with 157 

licensed stations nationwide, is diligently 

plugging along and making small gains. 

Lamar McGarity, local Avco Embassy 

branch manager, reports that William Lau, 

the company's Cincinnati branch manager, 

has replaced Norris Gazaway as the division 

manager for the Southeastern division, 

which embraces New Orleans, Memphis. 

Jacksonville, Charlotte and this city. Lau 

has been commuting between Cincinnati 

and this point and is making arrangements 

to move his family here pronto. 

Esther Osley, international president of 

the WOMPI. reports she is alerting the 

members that there is much to be done to 

make the 1978 Dallas convention (Sept. 

6-10) a gala affair and a fruitful event for 

the membership. Ms. Osley is 

fortunate that 

she has the services of a fellow Atlantan. 

Fentriss Carr, who is the international corresponding 

secretary of WOMPI. The gathering 

will be the silver anniversary of the 

organization and it is fitting that it is being 

held in Dallas, where WOMPI was founded. 

New Orleans was the second city to receive 

a charter. The third was issued to Atlanta, 

with Ms. Osley among the charter 

members. She has served at one time as the 

international treasurer and has filled jusl 

about every local chapter office since its 

beginning. The city will be well represented 

at Dallas and the Texans can be depended 

upon to show the visitors a good time. 

^ 

The Lady Tara Classic returns for the 

second year at Brookfield West Golf and 

Country Club here, and will be broadcast 

live over WRNG radio, it was announced 

by Butch Hansen, tournament director, and 

Harry Davey, vice-president and general 

manager of the local CBS network affiliate. 

The tournament dates are Friday and Saturday 

(28-29) and women will be playing 

for an estimated $75,000 in prize money. 

Proceeds from the Lady Tara will go to 

benefit the Georgia Special Olympics, the 

year-round sports training and recreation 

program for mentally handicapped citizens. 

The national touring company of the 

broadway hit "Bubbling Brown Sugar" 

played six performances at the Fox Theatre, 

and the critics were very kind to the musical. 

They saved their raves for Mable Lee, 

a native Atlantan, starring as Irene Paige. 

As a student at Washington High here she 

appeared regularly in talent shows and local 

productions. By age 15 she had already 

toured in Nassau with the "Ebony Review" 

and soon after performed for President 

Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was a regular 

performer at the Top Hat Club, the Royal 

Theatre and at the 81 theatre on Decatur 

Street, along with another now-famous Atlantan, 

Nipsey Russell. When Ms. Lee went 

to Harlem she was hired as a chorine in the 

opening show at the West End Theatre. She 

later appeared at the Apollo Theatre, 

Small's Paradise, the Ubangi Club and Club 

Sudan. After a tour with Cab Calloway and 

his band she performed for the USO in 1940 

with such Harlem greats as Eubie Blake 

and the Noble Sisters. The opening show 

here was a benefit for the Opportunities 

Industrialization 

Center. 

Atlanta was one of ten cities selected by 

Dino De Laurentiis to host a talent hunt for 

his remake of "The Hurricane." He is looking 

for a leading lady for the Paramount 

picture which he is producing. His requirements 

for the girl were simple: "blonde, 

beautiful, between the ages of 18 and 24, 

and willing to star in a motion picture." 

Some 90 applicants responded to the call 

and gathered in the auditorium of the Memorial 

Arts Center. They were called to the 

stage in groups of five, told to give their 

names and home towns while a couple of 

judges carefully scrutinized their faces, their 

bone structures, their teeth, their voices, 

their walk and, most of all, their hair. They 

were not necessarily interested in talent, it 

seemed. "We are looking for someone who 

will appear naive, uncorruptible— the kind 

of girl who would fall in love with a prince 

on an island," said Italian director Roberto 

Malenotti, De Laurentiis, representative. 

Some 30 finalists will be selected after the 

tour. 

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"A Little Night Music," starring Elizabeth 

Taylor and Len Cariou, is scheduled 

to open here Wednesday (12). The film is 

being released by New World Pictures. It 

was directed by Hal Prince and written by 

Hugh Wheeler. Test screenings have been 

going on in the past few weeks to help the 

producers figure out the best way to market 

it. Atlanta was included in this tryout. Taylor's 

role in "Night Music" is one of her 

best since "Who's Afraid of Virginia 

Woolf," and it remains to be seen how the 

public will show its appreciation of her 

efforts. At any rate the score, featuring the 

song "Send in the Clowns," will be a definite 

booster for the picture. 

Doug and Debbie Ouderkirk announce 

the birth of their baby girl, who was born 

on St. Patrick's day in Atlanta's Northside 

Hospital. The little girl weighed six pounds 

and has been named Jennifer Elizabeth. 

Mother and daughter are settled at home 

now and have as their guests two grandmothers, 

who flew to Atlanta from their 

homes in Canada to greet the new arrival. 

Doug is 20th Century-Fox's Southeastern 

division director of advertising and promotion. 

Marquee changes: Cinema 75, Loew's 12 

Oaks and Arrowhead, "The Fury"; Cobb 

Center, Lenox Square and South DeKalb, 

"Straight Time"; Arrowhead, Greenbriar, 

Cobb Center. North DeKalb and South De- 

Kalb. "Return From Witch Mountain"; Village 

and N.E. Expressway, South Expressway 

and Roosevelt drive-ins, "The Bad 

News Bears in Breaking Training"; Akers 

Mill, Belmont Hills. Old Dixie, Perimeter 

Mall and Phipps Plaza, "House Calls"; National 

Triple, "High Anxiety"; Atlanta, 

"Saturday Night Fever" and "Let the Good 

Time Roll"; Cinema 75, Old Dixie, Loews 

Tara, Mableton Triple. Weis Doraville and 

Westgate, "American Hot Wax"; Cobb Center, 

National Triple, Omni, Loews Tara and 

South DeKalb, "The Big Sleep"; Coronet 

and Bankhead and South Starlight Driveins, 

"Blind Rage"; Greenbriar, Parkaire, 

South DeKalb, Omni, Jonesboro Twin and 

Suburban Plaza, "Here Come the Tigers"; 

Lenox Square, "Casey's Shadow"; Cobb 

Cinema, Tower Place Six and North De- 

Kalb, "An Unmarried Woman." 

W. A. "Mac" McAfee, local Paramount 

Pictures branch manager, and his family are 

spending a week on Jekyll Island, enjoying 

the sun, surf and sand . . . Weber Howell, 

Universal Pictures branch manager here, 

T. E. Dunn, southern district manager, and 

Sam Perloff, accounting manager, are spending 

a week in San Diego at the company's 

spring meeting to discuss various aspects 

of what the future holds for the company. 

Rix Barnes, National Screen Service 

salesman, and Pat Roberson, Chappell Film 

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SE-2 April 10. 1978

Releasing booker, have rounded up some 

20 athletes from which will be chosen a 

Filmrow softball team to represent the industry 

in a league. They turned out for 

their second practice session March 25 at 

Hammond Park and went through a series 

of drills to test some muscles that have been 

dormant since last year. They hope to make 

a better showing this year by avoiding the 

injuries that plagued last year's team . . . 

Robin Roberson. by the way, daughter of 

Pat and WOMPI Marjorie, has been selected 

to be captain of the varsity cheerleaders 

of Forest Park Senior High. 

John Peckos, vice-president and general 

sales manager of 20th-Fox of Los Angeles. 

William B. Williams, southern division 

majnager of the company with headquarters 

in Dallas, and Pat Pade, assistant branch 

manager, paid a visit to the local branch. 

Century Cinema Corp. screened only two 

pictures last week. They were "Boogie Vision," 

distributed by Grimes Enterprises, 

Inc., and "How the World Began," distributed 

by The International Picture .Show. 

CCC set Monday (3) for the gala opening 

of the snack bar they have added to their 

other activities on Tullie Circle. 

Robert Mitchum has the distinction of 

bringing back Philip Marlowe in the eighth 

remake of "The Big Sleep." Author Raymond 

Chandler created Marlowe, described 

as "the toughest private eye who ever wore 

a trench coat, slapped a dame and split his 

knuckles on a jawbone." Mitchum dropped 

into Atlanta to do a bit of promotion for 

the film, in which Sarah Miles has the role 

once played by Lauren Bacall. 

One would think Jack Nickolson would 

welcome interviews since winning an Oscar 

for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" 

in 1975. Not so. He flatly refuses to give 

interviews. He says "I am the only person 

alive who does not have a press agent, but 

I've been in print too often as it is." He 

wanted to know why a reporter thought an 

interview with him would be worth the effort 

it took to get it arranged. She tried to 

explain that his basic unavailability, his reluctance 

to talk about h'mself, has created 

curiosity within the press and among his 

fans. Nicholson snorted. 'T give NO interviews. 

Interviews are advertising and I 

don't 

have anything to advertise." Nicholson did 

say he is putting finishing touches on a 

film he "may want to chat about" later. 

It's called "Going South," a film he directed 

and starred in. Shot in Durango, 

Mexico, it was due to be released soon, 

but was pushed back to a summer release. 

Nicholson said he reads reviews of his films 

"because I am curious." He has been very 

lucky with critics so far, he adds. 

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LOUISVILLE—Don Wirtz, assistant to 

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. . Ronald 

. . Lester 

. . . Author, 

PALM BEACH 

prank Sinatra opened at the Sunrise Theatre 

March 13 to a sold-out, 3,800- 

seat house. The actor-singer had the audience 

eating out of—and reaching for—his 

hand. Ole Blue Eyes, who was staying at the 

home of Ann and Morton Downey and 

commuting via helicopter to the theatre, 

had to cancel part of his engagement 

March 15-18—due to a "bad throat." The 

Academy Award winner plans to return in 

April to fulfill the remainder of the run. 

In the interim, security was doubled around 

the Downey estates, where Sinatra spent a 

few e.xtra days recuperating, to prevent what 

the Post referred to as "strangers in the 

night." The Sunrise Theatre suffered a 

double blow with the announcement that 

Diana Ross had postponed her personal apperance 

until later this year. Ms. Ross was 

scheduled to appear Monday (10) through 

Sunday (16). According to producer Ben 

Segal, Diana's appearance conflicted with 

her commitment to complete the soundtrack 

for the motion picture "The Wiz." Her 

contract allowed postponement of the Sunrise 

engagement. 

Congratulations to Grey John Harris, 

former manager of the Carefree Theatres 

here and present manager of the Lauderhiil 

I and II cinemas. Lauderhiil. Harris recently 

married Barbara Lynn Austin of Charlotte, 

N.C., in the Candlelight Chapel in Fort 

Lauderdale. The couple spent their honeymoon 

at Daytona Beach. 

offices of Raymond-James & Associates 

early last month looking for investors with 

$5,000 who would like to be independent 

Larry Kert who. early in his film career, film producers . Vincent Price, veteran 

was Roddy McDowall's stand-in for "Lassie 

. 

actor and art collector, entertained a packed 

Come Home" and later starred on the Van Wezel Hall in Sarasota March 9. Price's 

Broadway stage in "West Side Story" and performance raised an estimated $8,000 to 

"Company" (for which he received a Tony 

nomination), is one of the leads in "Side by 

$10,000 for the Ringling School of Art 

Side by Sondheim" at the Parker Playhouse. 

Also in the cast is Millicent Martin, 

whose film credits include "Alfie," with 

Michael Caine, and "Nothing But the Best," 

with Alan Bates. 

Gerald Ford, former President, held a 

press conference at the Hotel Breakers but 

before he could answer how he felt about 

national subsidization of the arts, the end 

of the media session was called . . . John 

Wayne's son Patrick was a recent guest here 

at the Colony Hotel . Reagan, 

former governor of California, gave a lecture 

at the Society of Four Arts. No newcomer 

to the Four Arts stage, Reagan addressed 

a capacity audience. 

Herbert Bamum Seeley II, 66, longtime 

resident of this city and formerly of Bridgeport. 

Conn., died March 10. Seeley, great 

grandson of P. T. Bamum, attended the 

University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton 

School of Finance. After graduation he 

worked at Radio City and later joined "Earl 

Carrol's Vanities" as stage and production 

manager. At the beginning of World War 

II, he joined the Army Air Corps, rising to 

the rank of captin in a motion picture unit. 

At the time of his death he was president of 

H. Bamum Seeley, Inc., of this city. He 

leaves his wife Arleen P., a son, two daughters 

and two grandchildren. 

A special preview of 20th Century-Fox's 

"The Fury" was held at Budco's Twin City 

cinemas and Budco Century March 10. 

Ethel Smith, stage-screen-TV star, gave 

a supper party at her Winthrop House apartment 

in honor of the cast of "Come Blow 

Your Horn," final show of the season for 

the Poinciana Playhouse . Wilson, 

UmMm^ 

Library. The benefit was followed by a 

champagne reception. Price, 66, plans to 

open a one-man show about Oscar Wilde 

this month at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in 

New York. 

Gaylord Hauser, a youthful 82, was 

here March 19 to address the Palm Beach 

Round Table at the Paramount Theatre. 

Hauser has authored 27 books on nutrition 

which sold more than 40,000,000 copies in 

27 languages. In a course of a career span- 

FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG 






FILMACK 

1 327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago.lll. 60605 

(312)427-3395 

ning more than 60 years. Hauser has won 

international praise and a considerable following, 

including the Duchess of Windsor. 

Greta Garbo. Leopold Stokowski and Marlene 

Dietrich. 

Sergio Franchi, who recently appeared at 

the Sunrise Theatre with comedian Pat 

Henry, announced while here that he would 

be starring as Vincent Sardi, the famous 

proprietor of the celebrated New York cafe, 

in the movie "The Life of Sardi." 

"Julia" is coming to town despite protests 

from some members of the West Palm 

Beach Jewish community, who don't want 

it here. Danny Lamp, manager of the Budco 

Century Twin Cinema, said the motion 

picture would begin its local run Friday 

(14). Lamp denied reports the picture is 

being delayed because of complaints concerning 

alleged anti-Semitic statements made 

by Vanessa Redgrave, one of the film's 

stars. Lamp stated the movie is being delayed 

because of the continued drawing 

power of "The Turning Point," although 

he has received several crank calls. 

Bob Davis, author of several books, has 

been spending much of his time in Miami 

where "The Pilot" is filming. The script 

calls for an airplane fire, much like the one 

choreographer, was in town recently. Wilson which occurred recently in Los Angeles. 

worked with John Travolta in "Saturday The accident is to be simulated at Miami 

Night Fever" and referred to him as "a hard International Airport later this month and 

worker." 

a bulletin will be issued to all incoming 

Kirk Kirkpatrick was in this city at the 

flights that the crash they will be witnessing 

on the runway is not a real one. Several 

local people are reported to have cameo 

parts in the film. 

Lee Majors, the "Six Million Dollar Man" 

of the TV series, has been hiding in a 

plush Greyhound bus in Hillsborough State 

Park to avoid public cameras and autograph-seekers. 

Majors is busy filming a 

Viking epic titled "The Norseman." 

Howard Caine, who recently appeared 

with Paul Lynde in "The Impossible Years" 

at the Miami Performing Arts, has been 

seen in many motion pictures. His film 

credits include: "From the Terrace," "Judgment 

at Nuremberg," "The Man from the 

Diner's Club." "Alvarez Kelly" and as Lewis 

Morris in "1776." 

"The Darwin AdventurCi" the dramatic 

feature-length movie, was shown for the 

Palm Beach Round Table's meeting March 

9. Hostess for the event was Joan Claire 

Bovc, a member of the board of directors 

of the Round Table, who secured the film 

for its premier Florida showing. 

When actress Cloris Leachman recently 

was in town for the John F. Kennedy 

Hospital Ball she said: "Your air is so good 

here!" A devoted health enthusiast, she 

cherished a walk along the ocean at dusk 

playwright, f'lm director and 

screenwriter Garson Kanin recently was in 

Tampa to promote his latest book, "It Takes 

a Long Time to Become Young," published 

by Doubleday . . . Well-known personalities 

from the sports and entertainment 

fields recently participated in the fifth Pinellas 

Ass'n for Retarded Children Celebrity 

SE-4- BOXOFHCE April 10. 1978

Golf Tournament at Bardmoor Country 

Club, St. Petersburg. Among them were 

Norm Crosby, Harvey Korman, Mark Russell, 

Efrem Zimibalist jr., Mark Lindsay, 

Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Nat Moore, Doug 

Dickey, Steve Spurrier, June Haver and 

Fred MacMurray. 

Victor Nunez, 31 -year-old filmmaker, is 

the director of "Gal Young'Un" being shot 

in this state. "Gal Young'Un," is based on 

the work of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. with 

Paramount as producer. 

MIAMI 

^ctor Dana Andrews, in Miami to give a 

talk on "Alcoholism: The Disease of 

Denial" at South Miami Hospital imder the 

auspices of the Dade County Council of Alcoholism," 

was featured in a picture story 

in the Miami Herald's "Living Today" section. 

He discussed his problems with alcohol, 

and how he has overcome them. In 

helping people cope with alcoholism. Andrews 

has appeared on television in a national 

campaign to make Americans more 

aware of the problem of drunken driving. 

John Ruddy, entertainment editor of the 

Miami Herald, says that the Miami area is 

targeted for much filmmaking in the near 

future. He notes that Sophia Loren is 

scheduled to come to Miami in early June 

to perform before the cameras of director 

Michael Winner ("The Big Sleep") in a 

thriller to be called "Firepower." Ruddy 

adds that Jon Voight, Hal Holbrook and 

Louise Fletcher are others who have important 

new film productions in the area at the 

same time. He says that Voight has been 

signed by MGM to play the lead in Franco 

Zeffirelli's "The Champ," which is to begin 

shooting here in June, while Holbrook and 

Fletcher will appear in "Natural Enemies," 

a story about a Miami-based cruise ship. 

Ruddy also says that Stanley Kubrick 

plans on shooting certain scenes from "The 

Shining" in the area. He says that Cecil 

Prunier Associated will film "The Pilot" at 

the airport, and that Artists Entertainment 

Complex is scouting the area. Paramount is 

already working on "Spaners Key," a TV 

pilot that stars Michael Parks, and Bill 

Grefe, Florida director, is working on another 

pilot, "Venture Bay." 

Attorney Robert L. Sheven, who would 

like to see the Florida Film industry support 

his candidacy for governor, wasn't too happy 

when he learned that a state agency discouraged 

producers of "The Senator" from 

using the old capitol chambers in Tallahassee. 

Sheven thinks they should be able to 

use the old capitol and that the production 

will be worth much economically to the 

Steve Cuiffo, president of Studio Center 

Sound Recordings, Inc. in North Miami, has 

said that the studio was formed so the recording 

and film industry in South Florida 

could function under one roof. And it looks 

as though that is happening. The studio, 

founded in 1976, had only been operating 

for six months when a disco song recorded 

there, "Do You Want to Get Funky with 

Me," become a gold record. Then, early 

this month, 32-year-old Cuiffo's partner, 

Angelo Ross of Ross-Cuiffo Film Services, 

was nominated for an Academy Award for 

editing "Smokey and the Bandit." Ross 

came to the area to retire after 35 years in 

the film business. But he couldn't stand the 

idleness and ended up editing "Smokey and 

the Bandit," starring Jackie Gleason and 

Burt Reynolds. That effort earned him a 

nomination for an Oscar. Ross has said he 

won't mind losing to the editor of "The 

Turning Point," but he would like to beat 

out the other nominees. 

Barry Schatz, correspondent for the Herald, 

writes: "Department of Environmental 

Regulations director Jay Landers has overruled 

negative recommendations from his 

local and regional staffs to grant speedy approval 

for dredging 100 cubic yards of bay 

bottom for a movie in the Florida Keys. 

Landers personally intervened in the case 

following inquiries on behalf of the movie 

makers by U.S. Rep. William Lehman (D.. 

Fla.), Lt. Gov. Jim Williams office and the 

state commerce department. 

"The dredging permit for Pigeon Key, 

located midway through the Florida Keys, 

is being sought by Paramount Pictures for 

the filming of a TV series pilot in which a 

large boat, to be used in one of the scenes, 

ties up to the dock. But some researchers 

complain the use of the University of Miami 

marine biology research station located on 

the key could be impaired by the dredging. 

They object that it could make it difficult 

to collect specimens in the area, destroy seagrass 

beds, suffocate coral and otherwise 

damage the surrounding ocean environment." 

New Memphis Office Opens 

MEMPHIS. TENN.—Blue Ribbon Pictures 

and Clark Films have jointly opened 

an office here in Memphis. Heading the new 

enterprise is William Minkus, formerly associated 

with Malco Theatres. Blue Ribbon 

and Clark's lineup of features is quite extensive 

for this summer and Bill is busy 

setting up saturations. He will attend the 

upcoming conventions in Nashville and Hot 

Springs and may be contacted at 3855 Poplar 

pike, Memphis, Tenn. 38138. Phone 

901-683-8182. 

Smiljanich Is Editor 

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.— Dorothy 

Smiljanich has been named newsfeatures 

editor of the St. Petersburg Times, succeeding 

Buddy Martin, who resigned to become 

Sunday sports editor of the New York 

Daily News. 

Smiljanich will direct the writing editing 

and production of the day sections, the Sunday 

family, homes, arts and travel sections. 

Crossroads magazine, TV Dial section and 

various special accent projects. 

Jack Cardiff will direct and Dorothy 

Spencer will serve as editor on the Lorimar 

production of "Avalanche Express," now 

filming in Munich, Germany. 

'Turning Point' Tops 

In Memphis Again 

MEMPHIS—The story 

of two aging ballerinas 

as depicted in 20th Century-Fox's 

"The Turning Point" has found solid support 

among filmgoers here. The Anne Bancroft-Shirley 

MacLaine vehicle rolled up a 

whopping 450, far and away the strongest 

showing of any first runner. Its nearest competition, 

Warner Bros.' "The Goodbye 

Girl," racked up a strong 315. All films 

dropped noticeably from last week's tally, 

including "The Boys in Company C," occupying 

the cellar with an anemic 75. 


Malco Quartet 1—Semi-Tough (UA), 12th wk 180 

Malco Quaiiet 3 The Turning Point 

(20th-Fox), 8th wk -450 

Malco Quartet 4, Southbrook 1—The Late Great 

Planet Earth (PIE), 4th wk 105 

Memphion, Ridgeway 4 The One and Only 

(Para), 6th wk 150 

Muhammed Ah—Which Way Is Up? (Univ), 

14th wk 150 

Paramount 1, Southbrook 3—The Goodbye Girl 

(WB), 4th wk 315 

Plaza 1—The Boys in Company C (Col), 

Plaza 2, Raleigh Spnnas— The Betsy (AA) 

' 

5th wk 

Southbrook 2—Candleshoe (BVl 5th wk 

Three t.heatres—High Anxiety (2Cth-Fox), 

.130 

New Orleans Extends Warm 

Welcome to "Last Survivor' 

NEW ORLEANS—"Last Survivor" in its 

second week at the Orpheum Theatre took 

the top spot with a startling 600. "Return 

From Witch Mountain," one of the new 

names on the marquee, tied for the second 

spot with "The Fury" in its second week at 

(he Loews State at 400. "An Unmarried 

Woman," another newcomer, and "Julia" 

in its second week were right behind at 350. 

"Saturday Night Fever" is still doing well in 

its fifteenth week. 

Joy—Gray Lady Down (Univ), 3rd wk 150 

Lakeside 1—Return From Witch Mountain (BV) .400 

Lakeside 2 An Unmarried Woman 

(20th-Fox) .350 

Lakeside 3—luUa (20:h-Fox), 2nd wk ,350 

Lakeside 4 The Turning Point (20th-Fox), 

14th 

2nd 

State, Loews Sena Mall—Saturday Night Fever 

(Para), 15th wk 

Orpheum Lost Survivor (AlP), 2nd wk 

Plaza, Robert E Lee Casey's Shadow (Col), 

2nd wk 

Plaza The One and Only (Poia), 6lh wk 

Plaza—The Big Sleep (UA) 

Early Hitchcock Work Screened 

NEWTON, MASS.— "Murder." an early 

Alfred Hitchcock mystery, was screened at 

the Rebecca Pomroy House, with a $2 admission 

in effect. 

Columbia Pictures and Barry Weitz Productions 

have commissioned novelist Paige 

Mitchell to write a novel, "The Cutting 

Edge," about a physician and his astronaut 

friend. 

FLORIDA THEATRE 

EQUIPMENT 

& SUPPLY CO., INC. 

EVIRYTHINC YOU NIID FOR YOUR 

1966 N.E. 149th SI. • N. Miami, Fl, 

Tel: (3051 944-4470 

BOXOmCE April 10, 1978 SE-5

. . Advance 

. . . WOMPI 

, . 

JACKSONVILLE 

gilver Springs, the large outdoor attraction 

complex run by ABC in connection 

with ABC Florida State Theatres, announced 

two specials for senior citizens 

running through June 15. First, persons 55 

and over are admitted for $3.25, a savings 

of $2, on weekdays only. Second, a "Senior 

Sweepstakes" offers a grand prize of an 

Ameripass for two persons from Greyhound 

bus lines, good for travel to anywhere in 

the United States. 

NOTICE 

nLM VENTURES 














deceptively similar tiUe; 





"OUT OF THE 



VENTURES 











FILM VENTURES 



310 

\'. San \ icente Blvd. Suite 200 


(213) 659-0545 

\ 

annual 20-kilometer fund-raising activity 

aid in the fight against birth defects. 

WOMPI will also participate in the "Golden 

Mile" walk, for which J. Cleveland Kent, 

president of Kent Theatres, is serving as 

chairman. Filmrow firms are sponsoring the 

WOMPI walkers to the time of several hundred 

dollars in the April event. WOMPI is 

also handling March of Dimes cannister collections 

in local theatres. Ethyle Vorhis, 

WOMPI at Kent Theatres, is helping with 

the paper work involved in the "Golden 

Mile." 

Martha Murphy Scott, WOMPI president, 

VVOMPI members have 

was one of local leaders taking part 

volunteered their 

services in "Superwalk '78." in the recent county Olympics for retarded 

a major communitv 

drive for the March of Dimes" 

persons held at Bolles School ... A group 

sixth 

of eight WOMPIs were hostesses at Valentine 

and Easter parties held for aged residents 

of the large Florida Christian Health 

Center. Each resident received a special 

favor and WOMPI contributed bingo prizes 

and home-made refreshments. Julie Williams 

made individual Easter baskets and 

Girl" . . . "Casey's Shadow" snared a rating 

of 2'/2 . . . Coming in at 2 was "American 

Hot Wax" ... At the bottom of the heap 

was "Straight Time" with l'/2. 

A special price of $2 a carload was 

offered by the University Drive-In, a unit 

of Eastern Federal Theatres, for a triplefeature 

program featuring Barbra Streisand 

in "The Owl and the Pussycat," "For Pete's 

Sake" and "The Way We Were" . . . "Barbarella," 

starring Jane Fonda, was the Friday 

midnight attraction at the Edgewood, 

Kingslcy and Regency Theatres, units of 

ABC FST . showings in the Preview 

Theatre included New World's "The 

Man Who Loved Women" and two reels of 

Llniversal's "Gray Lady Down." 

Norm Going, lifestyle editor of the Florida 

Times-Union, pounded out an interesting 

interview column up Chicago way with Jon 

Voight, who is drumming up trade for his 

new movie, "Coming Home," in which he 

stars along with Jane Fonda and Bruce 

Dern . . . Harold Solomon, fourth-ranking 

tennis pro in the nation, came in town for a 

benefit match with Eddie Dibbs, fifth ranker, 

at the new Big Tree Racquet Club, sponsored 

by the Exchange Club and Jaycees. 

Solomon told Charles Brock, the Times- 

Union's kingpin of the entertainment pages, 

that he eschews all the folderol of social life 

off the courts by going to as many movies 

as he has time for in hours away from his 

work. No cocktail parties or basking in the 

:i(.lniiration of tennis buffs for this voung 

athlete. 

to 

Diane Ruboy returned to IP after a bout 

with pneumonia ... At Kent Theatres, 

Norma Johnson went back to her accounting 

department desk after successful surgery 

in Memorial Hospital. Also at KT, Theresa 

Brillhart and JoAnn McKinney have replaced 

outgoing resignees Marg Allen and 

Cindy Carter in the firm's home office here 

has scheduled a noon board 

meeting for Tuesday (11) in ABC FST's 

Preview Theatre. 

Directors of Jacksonville's annual April 

Arts Festival have designated Bender A. 

"Dock" Cawthon, local projectionist, projection 

engineer and film historian to supervise 

screenings of 35 entries from many 

parts of the United States in a contest for 

honors and prize money in the motion picture 

division of the arts festival. The films 

are for public viewing in the theatre of the 

Civic Auditorium where Dock designed the 

projection booth in collaboration with a 

team of architects, a service similar to one 

he performed at the city's Little Theatre. 

Joyce Malmborg filled them with goodies. 

Evelyn Hallick gave a piano concert of nostalgic 

old popular tunes. Other WOMPIs March 28 meeting of WOMPI at the Kent 

A covered dish supper highlighted a 

providing pleasure for oldsters at the parties Theatres home office, with Mary Ellen 

included Cheryl Jennings. Diane Ruhoy, Boyd acting as program chairperson . 

Bea Barrow and Martha Murphy Scott. A crowd of handicapped teenagers attended 

a St. Patrick's Day dance given them by 

Journal movie ratings (on a scale of 4- 

a group of WOMPI members as one of their 

excellent, 3-good, 2-faT, 1-poor) gave a 

most rewarding and worthwhile community 

mark of 3 to "Equus," "An Unmarried 

service projects . . . The 1978 WOMPI 

Woman," "Return From Witch Mountain," 

convention committee gathered at the AMC 

"House Calls," "The Fury," "High Anxiety" 

office for an advance planning session devoted 

to financial arrangements and to com- 

and "Saturday Night Fever" . . . Sharing 

3' 2 ratings were "Julia" and "The Goodbye 

munity involvement by leading local business 

firms. 

'American Hot Wax' Rocks 

And Rolls in Pascagoula 

PASCAGOULA, MISS.—The '50s 

rocked-and-rolled 

into town when "American 

Hot Wax" tore across the screen at the Ritz 

Theatre here. Anticipation for the movie 

was heightened by several promotions executed 

by Allan Hollis. manager of the Gulf 

States Twin Cinema, and supervised by Clayton 

Courville, city manager. 

The music is a major part of the movie, 

so a tie-in with a local record store was 

called for. The record store placed a onesheet 

of the movie in its window, along 

with the theatre's name and a 

displav of the 

sound track album. 

WKKY Radio aired "American Hot Wax 

Time," during which listeners were invited 

to call in and identify singers of '50s songs. 

The first correct caller received a pass to 

see the picture. The contest was run at least 

five times daily for five days, ending when 

the film opened. 

Lockheart's Social Club, which consists 

of high school girls from Moss Point, got 

into the act by dressing in '50s costumes 

and staging a car wash at the theatre the 

day after the feature opened. The money 

they received went to their yearly charity 

drive. 

When the pictiue opened at the Ritz Theatre, 

Courville and Hollis were rocked-androlled 

over by the number of people that 

April 10, 1978

danced into the theatre helping to assure 

"American Hot Wax" of one of the highest 

boxoffice grosses of the season. 

NEW ORLEANS 

j^lizabeth Taylor and her husband John 

Warner were special guests at a soiree 

given by local Republicans and friends at 

i^he Hyatt-Regency Hotel March 30. The 

benefit raised funds to support Warner's 

candidacy for the U. S. Senate from Virginia. 

Bob Hope was in New Orleans March 28 

as the guest entertainer for the third annual 

Archdiocesan Charities Ball in the Grand 

Bail Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. 

The comedian provided entertainment for 

an estimated 1,700 guests at the dinnerdance. 

Paramount has announced opening dates 

for upcoming pictures here: "Pretty Baby," 

Friday (7). Robert E. Lee; "Grease," June 

16, Lakeside Cinema I: "Haven Can Wait," 

June 16, Robert E. Lee, Plaza Cinema, Elmswood 

Cinema; "Bad News Bears Go to Japan," 

June 2, Westside, Lakeside Plaza 

Cinema; "Foul Play," July 21, Sena Mall, 

Plaza, Loews; "Damien—The Omen IL" 

June 9, Lakeside. Oakwood, Gentilly 

Woods; "The Drive," July 28, Elmwood. 

Panorama, and the Westgate, Algiers and 

St. Bernard drive-ins. 

Vicki McWafers resigned from Sunn 

Classic March 31. Vicki is expecting her 

first baby the early part of May. Welcome 

to Pam Groetsch, a newcomer to the film 

industry, who is 

taking over for Vicki. 

their show dog. Candy. Candy stole the 

show in Mobile, Ala., by taking three first 

places in the nonsporting group. Joe and 

Irene are now far up the ladder towards 

having a champion Dalmatian in the Louisiana 

area. 

Ann Milligan, manager of the Sena Mall, 

and Irene Mexic, Star Advertising, are promoting 

disco contests every Saturday night 

in the parking lot in front of the Sena Mall 

Theatre. Winners receive record albums and 

passes to see "Saturday Night Fever." Local 

merchants are displaying fancy dress shirts 

and I -sheets to create interest in the movie. 

A private screening of Paramounts 

"Pretty Baby." which was shot in New 

Orleans, was held at the Robert E. Lee 

theatre Thursday (6) for the media and the 

local actors who were in the feature. 

Sue Edwards, New Orleans advertising 

executive for American International Pictures, 

and Dave Tribble were hosted by 

Kiki Dureau, local representative from AIP 

at a luncheon. Attending were Irene Mexic, 

Star Advertising, Billy Gay, Gulf States 

publicity, and Dawn Wise of Ogden Perry. 

George Solomon, Gulf States Theatres, 

has been travelling the circuit, visiting with 

the various managers discussing summer 

playtime and promotion ideas for forthcoming 

features. 

Irene Mexic, Star Advertising, attended 

the Show-A-Rama in Kansas City and met 

with various film company advertising executives 

to discuss special promotions for the 

summer product. Also attending were Billy 

Gay, Gulf States publicity; Mr. and Mrs. 

Bill Irving, Baton Rouge, La; Lou Oubre 

and Billy Briant, Southern Films; and Emmet 

Nicaud, New World Pictures. 

Eunice Peeples, formerly of Buena Vista, 

has joined Star Advertising as Irene Mexic's 

assistant. Irene and Eunice will travel 

to Dallas to attend a national screen advertising 

seminar. 

Irv Kash Heeds Old Advice; 

'Goes West' for Mid-States 

ASHLAND. KY.—Irv Kash has spent 

nearly 30 years working at theatres here, 

with jobs ranging from his humble beginnings 

in 1948 as an usher at the Paramount 

to the district manager in Ashland and 

Chesapeake supervising the Mid Town cinemas. 

Paramount and Capitol theatres, plus 

the Tri State and Corral drive-ins. 

Now the personable Kash has "gone west" 

to Lexington, where he handles division 

management for 20 Mid States theatres in 

the Lexington/ Richmond region. He continues 

to handle advertising for the Tri-State 

area Mid States theatres. 

Originally Kash had been asked to take 

Gerry Gaudet, Tidelands, Inc., recovered an advertising post in Cincinnati, but he 

from strep throat in time for Easter but refused, claiming reluctance to move to a 

then had the bad luck to trip on the stairs city that size. The Lexington offer, however, 

and sprain her ankle. Gerry is now back on 

the job hobbling around. 

was just too good to turn down. 

The move to Lexington will require some 

adapting on Kash's part, 

Irene and Joe Mexic are very proud of 

although "movie 

tastes are the same all over,' he declared. 

Over 20,000 college students within the 

city create a measurable impact. Also, nearly 

every film with merit will play the city at 

least four to eight weeks. 

Kash explained that the Lexington theatres 

draw not only from the city's population 

and students, but many surrounding 

towns, making it similar to the "hub of a 

wheel." 

Multiple screen complexes have revolutionized 

Lexington moviegoing habits, said 

Kash. Even smaller single theatres have 

profited by the upsurge in attendance. 

Audiences "just came out of the woods 

someplace and filled them," he noted. 

Despite his leaving the Ashland area, 

Kash retains fond memories of his friends 

and activities here. Yet Kash has the cinema 

theatre "bug." and obeys his calling wherever 

it leads him. 

Recently the "bug" has struck other 

former Ashland theatre personnel. Now 

residing in Lexington and working at Mid 

States theatres are Ted Osborne, Victor 

Sweeney, Frank Jackson and Irv's son Mark. 

CHARLOTTE 

Jt was a dismal, damp, cold Easter Monday 

here for the annual Will Rogers benefit 

at the Carolina Golf and Country Club 

promoted by L. A. Ireland (Charlotte Booking) 

and A. W. "Hap" Bell (retired Warner 

Bros.). Despite the weather many exhibitors, 

distributors, radio and TV personnel from 

as far away as Atlanta, Ga. and Jacksonville, 

Fla., attended. The highlight of the 

affair was "Hap" Bell's appearance as his 

old jolly self, despite his operation for the 

removal of his larynx. He greeted everybody 

with messages written on a scratch pad. 

Tommie Bailey, branch manager here 

years ago for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 

now retired from MGM Kansas City, was a 

visitor here with his wife during the Easter 

holidays. They renewed acquaintances 

around Filmrow . . . Walter Powell (New 

World Pictures) is in from Atlanta, Ga., 

visiting bookers and buyers. He screened 

his new product reel which looked very 

good, according to reports. 

Robbie McClure, son of Robert W. Mc- 

Clure (Variety Pictures), is working at Universal 

Pictures on a TV version of "Little 

Women." Most of the film is being shot at 

the Disney Ranch near Hollywood. 

Jimmie Murphy (Variety Pictures) returned 

after a trip to Washington D. C. during 

which he discussed new product from a 

national distributor. He said he was more 

than pleased after looking at screenings. 

A. Foster McKissick and Fred Curdt 

(Fairlane/Litchfield Theatres) were in town 

conferring with Allen Locke, Frank Jones 

and Jack Jordan (Southern Booking & Advertising 

Co.) on future product and new 

advertising format. 

"Erv" Melton (Car-mel Studios) has moved 

his office to Suite 368 (adjacent to the 

Car-mel screening room). Northwestern 

Bank building. The studio and production 

office still remain at 400 Bowman St. 

Deepest sympathy to Ernest Stellings 

(former president of Theatre Owners of 

America for two terms and former executive 

of Stewart & Everett theatres) on the 

death of his daughter, Isabel Stellings 

Holmes. 

Frank Jones (Southern Booking & Advertising 

Co.) returned after a swing through 

South Carolina. Alabama, Tennessee and 

Florida where he discussed potential boxoffice 

product and angles for selling the product 

to the consumer. 

Arnold Koelson serves as executive producer 

of "The Legacy." 

r>

I 

TheRiq 

cost more than 

agratid. 

In 1853, money ttx)k America to the banks. 

Of the Rio Grande. 

In that year, the Gadsden Purchase further 

extended United States territc^ry down the west 

bank of the mighty Rio Grande. 

And established what today is the bc^rder 

between Mexico and the states ot Arizona and 

New Mexico. 

The cost: $10,000,000. 

And Americans put up the "'

. . . After 

OKLAHOMA CITY Once There Stood a Picture Show 

Where Cars Now Park Row on Row 

Coonerama, the annual United Theatre 

Owners of Oklahoma and the Texas 

Panhandle get-together, was a huge success 

according to everyone we sfwke with. Unfortunately, 

an accident to this reporter's 

mother called us away and we were unable 

to attend. The word is, however, that guestspeaker 

Ben Johnson, a film star, kept his 

listeners in stitches with his dry wit. 

Prior to the confab kick-off the theatre 

owners group held its elections and the new 

officers are Johnny C. Jones, Alva, president; 

Earl Murray, Shepherd Twin Theatres, 

chairman of the board; Charles Townsend, 

Pryor and Miami theatres, vice-president 

and convention chairman; Marge Snyder. 

Family Theatres and Dwight Terry, Woodward 

Theatres; John McConnel, McConncl 

Amusement, secretary and W. D. "Bill" 

Turk, Video Home Office, treasurer. 

Aiidie Adwell, with the assurance of a 

Jack Nicklaus, admonished us to watch his 

approach shot at a 375-yard hole since it 

would be on the green. Just to humor him 

we followed the little white orb until it disappeared 

in the cup for an eagle. Audie, 

who had thought of giving up the game, 

now wants to know about a Master's berth 

a 14-month hiatus. Arnett's only 

theatre reopened March 24 under the aegis 

of Melodie Stiles who said that she will accomplish 

what her predecessors could not 

turn a profit . . . The Waldron Theatre, 

Lindsey. is being torn down. 

George Bannon was up from Dallas to 

push a pair of new releases, 'F.I.S.T." and 

"Coming Home," both out of United Artists 

... As a result of the recent debut of 

ten films, there has been little marquee action 

of late . . . Jack and Linda Boucher, 

Erie Theatre and Circus Drive-In, Hugo, 

were in town recently, biU not on film business. 

They came to get their registered 

bulldog bred. 

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HOUSTON — "Okay, you're 

driving by 

the neighborhood theatre and, out of curiosity, 

you take a quick glance at the marquee 

and . . . it's gone!" so reports Eric 

Gerber, Houston Post film writer. 

'Gone'.' It's hard to grasp theatres can't 

just be "gone' can they? Like churches and 

hospitals, they seem somehow timeless and 

immutable. 

"But they aren't. They die. There" ve been 

three recent casualties here—the Park IIL 

the Briargrovc and the Delman— in about 

as many months. .And they share a common 

epitaph: 

For a theatre there's 

nothing more lethal 

Than lack of product 

and lack of people. 

"The Park III, of the Houston-based Tcrcar 

chain, shut down January 1, ending a 

seven year stretch at its West Gray location. 

Charles Paine, Tercar president, said the 

closing came about because the 

theatre just 

wasn't being very competitive. We couldn't 

put up all the hefty guarantees that the film 

companies want for the big films. We 

couldn't see putting up 100,000— that's an 

arbitrary figure, of course—for a 300-seat 

A review of Variety Club Tent 22's membership 

reveals that only ten members have 

don't get the kind of films you need to 

not anted up. This is probably an oversight 

bring the people in and that theatre keeps 

and the overdue dues are probably on the 

that 'poor track record' reputation. What 

can you do?' 

way, right? . . . Berlin Parks joined the Oklahoma 

Theatre Supply staff. Very popular " T remember the first film we played 

Park Paine was the industry. Parks has been a longtime 

in 

member of the Motion Picture Operators 

at the TIT,' said. 'It 'Little 

Big Man.' We did real good business. But 

Union. 

that's all changed.' 

"Over at the Briargrove III. they may 

have set some sort of record for the briefest 

operation, opening in June of "77 ard 

closing last week. 

" "Basically, the theatre died from lack 

of business,' Bob Brown of Transcontinental 

Theatres expla-ned. "As simple as that 

soimds, there's really more to it. Why we 

moved into that area (on Westheimer near 

Chimney Rock) originally, I can't say. It's 

ovcrsaturated. But until we opened our new 

Westchase V in October (even farther out 

on Westheimer). the Briargrove was holding 

its own. 

" 'After that, we had this crazy situation 

where we were competing with ourselves 

and the Briargrove was the loser. The lack 

of product really hurt, of course, the Greenway 

III reopen:d (after also failing as a 

neighborhood theatre) as a specialty house 

with foreign films and that undercut us." 

" 'The Locw"s Delman. to be accurate, 

isn't really dead right now so much as in 

suspended animation. It may be revived. Or 

it may not," says Loew's city manager Ed 

Orr. Richt now. it's been dark since Feh- 

'We closed the Delman down once before 

this, too. Before Christmas. Then we 

reopened with the Clint Eastwood film, 

"The Gaimtlet" and it did disappointing 

business. 

" -We had 'The Last Waltz' (Martin .Scorsese's 

documentary about The Band's farewell 

concert) booked for February 15 and 

when the studio pulled it out we were stuck 

without anything. That house doesn't do 

anything with a quick, pick-up picture. 

You've got to get a big one to do business 

at 

the Delman,' he said. 

"When the Delman had exclusive films 

(that is, a movie appearing only at that theatre), 

everybody came. But those days are 

gone. What's happening to the Delman is 

happening in every city. The move out of 

the inner city means that the theatres have 

to move, too, 

" 'Yes, we could have gone with blackoriented 

product. We did play "Mandingo," 

"Drum" and "Mahogany," but those weren't 

the real stuff like the downtown Majestic 

was playing. Even if we had gone that route, 

have problems because those films 

we'd still 

are drying up now.' 

"Orr reiterated that the fate of the Delman 

is still uncertain. 

" "It's closed now, but Loew's does have 

auditorium. 

" 'Heck, even if we agreed to put up a 

guarantee like that, it still didn't mean we'd two big films 'Convoy' (with Kris Kristofferson 

MacGraw) 'Dog They'd say theatre has and Ali and Sol- 

get the film. the a 

poor track record and give the film to someone 

booked for the summer. If the Loew's 

diers,' 

who only put up half as much but management decides to reopen, that is. 

would do more business for them. So you Right now, it's hard to say what's going to 

happen. 

"Though not out-and-out closings, both 

the Greenway III and Interstate's Village 

have both gone underwater and resurfaced 

with new formats. The GW III, as mentioned, 

is a specialty house. The Village, 

first trying and failing to make another go 

of it as a 'dollar house,' currently is offering 

X-rated material. 

And, though as yet officially imconfirmed, 

there are rumblings that two others may 

also be on the chopping block. 

Nat'l Film Board Short 

Is Selected for Cannes 

TORONTO—Gilles Jacob, director of 

the Cannes Film Festival, recently screened 

15 films chosen by a Canadian preselection 

committee but selected only the short "L'Affaire 

Bronswik," directed by Andre Leduc 

and Robert Awad, for the official competition. 

€L\ERAMA IS Ui SHOW 

BI'SLVESS L\ HAWAII TOO^ 

When you conic to Wuikiki, 

don't miss the famous Don II 



April 10. 1978 SW-1

, 

BRJNG 

DALLAS 

Jt 

is nice to see S. G. "Mac" MacGillivray 

back at his desk at Modern Sales and 

Service. 

We regret to learn that Bill Bond, veteran 

motion picture industry personality is in 

St. Paul's Hospital, having undergone major 

surgery for artery blockage. He suffered 

with a swollen foot and went to the doctor 

for tests only to learn he had a blockage in 

the arteries but upon further tests they 

learned the arteries in his neck were also 

blocked so they operated to open this passage 

and will get back to the leg when the 

neck arteries are cleared. Bill was working 

at Grimes Film Booking when admitted, 

however, he has been with several film exchanges 

and is well known within the industry. 

We all extend our wishes for complete 

recovery. A last minute report. Bill was up 

for awhile and the nurses were walking him 

a little, which is encouraging news. 

The Country Dinner Playhouse has 

brought back, by "popular demand," Ruta 

Lee starring in the hilarious comedy "Goodbye 

Charlie." The show started March 28 

for a five week run. Miss Lee is an extremely 

versatile performer and has displayed her 

many talents in radio, television, stage and 

screen. She was the hostess of the NBC daily 

game show "High Rollers." She has appeared 

as guest star on such popular TV 

series as "Marcus Welby M.D.." "Love 

American Style" and "Hollywood Squares." 

Her first show business break came when 

was the yougest bride in "Seven Brides for 

Seven Brothers." She later co-starred with 

Frank Sinatra in "Sergeants 3." The play is 

delightfully different and one that has captivated 

her audiences every night, sometimes 

the laughter was so loud one could 

scarcely hear the dialogue. 

Dallas was really well represented at the 

Soonerama "78 held in Oklahoma City, 

March 28-29. Just how many were there 

from Dallas we do not know, but among 

those we know were: Doug Dopkins of Allied 

Artist pictures; Terry Graham. Joy Surratt 

and Sue Edwards of AIP: Jim Sabo and 

Jerry Brethour of Avco Embassy; Sebe Miller 

of Buena Vista; Jake and Phil Guiles of 

Continental Film Dist.; Jim Crump of 

Crump Distributors; Joyce Wilbanks, Dai- 

Art; Don Morris, M. & M. Releasing; Marlin 

Richert, McCrary & Assoc; Jim Middle 

ton and Robert Summers. Pacific Interna 

tional; Royce Brimage and Terry Kicrzek 

Paramount; Marie Powers and Dave Han 

sen. Sunn Classic; Larry Jamison. 20th-Cen 

tury-Fox. 

Ed Cernosek of Pinkston Sales and Service, 

together with United Artist Theatres 

engineers, Bobby Pinkston. Dallas, and Ed 

Glenn of Little Rock, just returned from an 

enjoyable and educational trip to California 

where they toured the plant of Optical Radiation 

Corp., Azusa and the Christy Electric 

Co. in Los Angeles. 

Cernosek reports business is good and 

they just installed new Xenon lamps in B. L. 

Hagel's theatre in Corsicana. 

Linda McCord is the new girl in the Ed 

DeBerry Film Distribution office. Lois 

Vance, division manager's secretary at Universal 

is enjoying a few days vacationing 

in Hot Springs. 

Best wishes are extended to Pat Pade who 

has been working in Dallas for 20th-Century-Fox 

in preparation for his new assignment 

as assistant branch manager of Fox's 

Atlanta branch. 

Lew Wade, veteran showman now retired 

and living in Sun City, Arizona, was in Dallas 

this week and made a quick visit around 

town visiting film industry friends. Lew expressed 

deep appreciation to Boxoffice for 

announcing to his many friends news of his 

Pinkston Sales & Service 

MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT 

upcoming birthday. He said it surely made 

his heart warm to know, after so many years 

away from Dallas he still had friends who 

made his birthday an enjoyable one full of 

memories he shall always cherish. 

Sympathy is extended Lloyd Edwards, 

branch manager of Fox, His father, Carl 

Edwards, died March 25 and funeral services 

were held on the following Monday in New 

Orleans. 

Bennie Lyncli, Grimes Film Booking, is 

looking forward to their second break on 

'Where's Willie?" which will open in Dallas, 

Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and 

Corpus Christi June 2-8. The kids will be 

out of school which should be a perfect summer 

playtime. The picture grossed $1 15,000 

in Dallas at Christmas. 

Bennie is glad to have the 17-minute color 

film of The Miss Universe Pageant which 

will be distributed free through her office. 

In addition to 

the beauty of the contestants, 

the colorful national costumes and all the 

be behind-the-scenes activities that lead to 

the final judging for the 1977 Miss Universe, 

this colorful short subject also offers 

varied scenes from the host-country, the 

Dominican Republic. Viewers will see the 

contestants as they visit such places as the 

mausoleum of Christopher Columbus, the 

historic city of Santiago and one of the largest 

and most attractive botanical gardens in 

the world. 

Bennie also has three feature country 

music spectaculars. "G" rated "Country 

Boy." "Coimtry Music" and Music City 

USA." 

Good Grief! We 'Blew It' 

In Story on Laurel Leaf 

DALLAS—Sad to say. we've lost some 

"face" in the editorial shop at the Boxoffice 

base. Laurel Leaf's most charming 

head is H. LaVerne Smith, a fact we left 

unsaid. To make it worse, two times we 

erred in captioning Bennie Lynch as Bennie 

Grimes. This notice is by way of correction 

of an error Monday (3) in the Southwest 

Section. We trust 

the two ladies will accept, 

with grace, our humble attempt at saving a 

smidgin of face, and we shall endeavour 

with might and main to insure this will 

never happen again. 

Complete Sales Service or Repair 

AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR MANY MANUFACTURERS 

Ed Cernosek 

2017 Young St, 

Dallas, Tex. 75231 

"Go Modern...For All Your Theatre Needs" 

R.W. (Pinky) Pinkston 

214-741-1637 

or 741-1638 

i^^^Hoiiletn 

' 

SALES & SERVICE. 

"Co Mcdtrm . . . EqaifmnI, .Supflia 

2200 YOUNG STREET • DALLAS, TEXAS, 75201 • TELEPHONE 747-3191 

^ 

NC. 

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SW-2 April 10. 1978

. . . Houston 

. . The 

. . 

. . "The 

SAN ANTONIO 

Pleanor McDonnell is 

the attractive cashier 

at the boxoffice of the Broadway Theatre. 

She is attending Ursuline Academy 

Street is a bit dark these days 

with two theatres being closed. The first 

was the old Majestic, flagship of the ABC 

Interstate Theatres Inc. circuit and now the 

Texas Theatre, which was once operated by 

Interstate. The old Prince, which underwent 

numerous name changes, has been torn 

down and in its place is a parking lot. There 

are only two downtown theatres now operating, 

the Empire and the Aztec 3. 

the first time at the San Pedro, Mission 

Twin and Judson 4. The bill included "Carnal 

Knowledge" and "The Graduate" . 

Walter Matthau is being seen in "Casey's 

Shadow" and "House Calls" at the UA's 

Cine Cinco . . . The Town Twin Outdoor 

Theatre has annoimced a new admission 

policy in keeping with the arrival of spring. 

Admission will be $1.50 for adults with 

children admitted free. Monday night is to 

remain as $1 night. 

Among the new film titles seen on local 

marquees and titles of films returning for 

additional playing time are "The Body 

Guard" and "Goodbye Bruce Lee, His Last 

Game of Death" at the Aztec 3; "The One 

and Only" at San Pedro. Trail, Town Twin, 

Aztec 3 and Judson 4; "The Serpent's Egg" 

at the Olmos; "An Unmarried Woman" at 

the Northwest Six; "That Obscure Object 

of Desire" at the Olmos and the double bill 

of "Carnal Knowledge" and "The Graduate" 

at the San Pedro, Mission Town and 

Judson 4. 

The KTFM Midnighters on Friday and 

Saturday included "Rocky Horror Picture 

Show" in its 31st week, "Eraserhead." "High 

Special film showings include San Antonio 

Film Society at Chapman Graduate 

Auditorium "The Goalie's Anxiety at the 

Penalty Kick" on Tuesday (4); on Tuesday 

(11), "An Autumn Afternoon"; on (18) 

"Four Nights of a Dreamer" and (25) "Duel 

in the Sun" . Red Shoes" was 

shown on Wednesday (5) and "The Romantic 

English Woman" on Tuesday and Wednesday 

(11-12) in the Fiesta Room of the 

Dewey Stocker is now a projectionist at 

the ABC Interstate Theatres Inc. Broadway 

Loftin Student Center at San Antonio College; 

"I, A Woman" will be shown Thurs- 

Theatre . . . Cesar Romero, appearing at 

Earl Holliman"s Fiesta Dinner Theatre, in 

day (13) in the UTSA Student Representative 

Assembly Film Series at the Humani- 

"Never Get Smart With An Angel," is drawing 

a large number of his movie fans to the 

ties-Business BIdg. with the "Taming of the 

production. The play will rim through June 

Shrew" to be screened there on Thursday 

14 . special matinee on Saturday 

(20) and "A Doll's House" will be shown 

and Sunday at Perrin Plaza Twin Theatres 

on Tuesday and Wednesday (25-26) in the 

was "Godzilla vs Megalon" with two showings 

each day. 

Fiesta Room of the Loftin Student Center 

at San Antonio College. 

Two Mike Nichols hits were together for 

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Greenway 3 Begins New 

Fine Arts Film Policy 

HOUSTON— Fans of fine arts films will 

find this city's Greenway 3 theatres just the 

place to tickle their fancy. The theatres 

have been converted to feature these specialty 

films exclusively as part of its new 

policy. 

New managing director of the American 

Multi Cinema theatres is Steve Buck, formerly 

with West Coast Theatres, San Francisco. 

Bob Berney is now house manager at 

Greenway 3. He was formerly at the Northwest 

4 and then the Town and Country 6. 

The theatres initiated their new policy 

with the premiere of "Mr. Klein," winner 

of three French Academy Awards. "Allegro 

Non Troppo," an Italian satire on "Fantasia," 

and a two-week revival of Ingmar 

Bergman films completed the debut of the 

new policy. 

Most of the shows for the first week 

were sold out at each performance. 

HOUSTON 

Anxiety" and "Saturday Night Fever" at the 

Northwest Six.-, and "American Hot Wax," 

"The Fury," "House Calls" and "Star Wars" 

at the Century South Six . . . KTSA Late 

£|lizabeth Taylor attended the Jack Benny 

Shows at the United Artist Theatres included 

"American Hot Wax" at the Cine 

tennis tournament at Walden on Lake 

Conrow on Saturday and Sunday (8-9). Also 

Cinco and "Saturday Night Fever" at the 

attending were Lynn Redgrave and Barbara 

Movies 4. 

Anderson, among other notable Hollywood 

stars . . . Floyd Mutrux, the director of 

"American Hot Wax" was in on a promotional 

tour in behalf of the film. Mutrux 

Bob Mortensen 

Dan Waggoner 

was born and raised in Houston. He was 

acting with several local theatrical groups 

prior to going to Hollywood. He began by 

writing screenplays and his first feature 

film as a director was "Aloha, Bobby and 

Rose." 

Among the new titles "The Big Sleep " at 

Almeda 9 East, Galleria I & II, Northoaks 

6, Town & Country 6 and Westwood 3; 

"The Man Who Loved Women" at the 

Greenway III: "The Goodbye Girl" at the 

AMC's Almeda 9 East, Festival 6, Greenspoint 

5, Shamrock 6, AMC's Northoaks 6, 

AMC's Town & Country 6 and AMC's 

Southway 6; "Crossed Swords" at the 

Greenspoint 5, Gulfgate 2, Meyerland 2, 

Northlme 2 and Town & Country 6; the 

double bill of "The Bad News Bears in 

Breaking Training" and "The Bad News 

Bears" at the Soutbmore 6. Festival 6, 

Southway 6, Allen Center 3, Northwood 6. 

Northoaks 6, McLendon 3 and Bellaire. 

Special film showings includ; "Island of 

Lost Souls" and "Monsieur Verdoux" at 

the Museum of Fine Arts ... At the Rice 

Med'a Center films screened included Chomana's 

"Drums," "The Gospel According 

to St. Matthew," and "The Runaway." 

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April 10. 1978

Quintero's Drink 

Led to the Clink 

SAN ANTONIO—There are many ways 

to cure whistle-wetting, but Jesse Qiiintero 

may have come up with a new wrinkle that 

has nothing to do with any organized, 

antialcoholic 

group. 

It seems that Quintero bought a ticket 

to see the skin-flick at the National Theatre. 

Once inside he made an apparently 

innocent query with malice aforethought. 

He asked directions to the restroom and 

promptly headed for the projection booth 

where he "liberated" three reels of the foul 

films. (It was .April Fools Day. you see. 

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and he wanted to qualify as one of those 

for whom the holiday was named.) 

"Casual" Quintero. as he may or may 

not be known, then sauntered to the refreshment 

stand where he purchased a hot dog 

and some popcorn. Evidently overwhelmed 

by the pungent aroma of his newly acquired 

confections, he yielded to impulse and 

whipped a "shiv" on the cashier, hollering 

"Your money or your life!" (or words to 

that effect.) The distraught ducat dispenser 

doled OLit $110 to El Bandito (who. according 

to all accounts, should have had his 

hands full by now — three reels of film, a 

hot dog. popcorn, the knife and the money). 

At that point the ticket taker screamed fortissimo 

bringing a gallant patron rushing to 

her rescue. Quintero. in his only smart move 

of the day, fled. 

Our villain, however, was to make yet 

another faux pas of magnificent proportions. 

Robbery, apparently, is thirsty work, so he 

wandered into an oasis of booze and bellied-Lip 

to the bar. In the meanwhile, also 

quenching the thirst of mortals, the heroic 

-kin-fl'ck fan sat in the background, quaffing. 

He recognized Quintero and piompth 

called the minions of the law. When they 

arrived he fingered Quintero who was collared 

by the cops. 

One would suspect this would encourage 

Jesse to take "the cure" voluntarily but if 

he is not so inclined, he may take it involimtarily 

since he is now resting in El 

Calabozo where he was remanded by acting 

night magistrate Homer Walls (an appropriate 

name for a judge) who added a $20,000 

bond to Quintero's woes. 

Censor Board of NS 

May Make Comeback 

H.-M IFAX—A provincial cabinet minister 

has told the press that the board of censors 

may be revived in Nova Scotia. The 

hoard has been inactive since Februarv 

1975. 

Th.' banning of the showing of "Last 

Tango in Paris" in 1974 made the censor 

board the focal point of a legal flap which 

went all the way to the nation's highest 

court. As a result, board vacancies were not 

filled as they occurred. 

The Supreme Court of Canada recently 

ruL-d that the Nova Scotia board had the 

legal r ght to bar exhibition of "Last Tango 

in Paris" in the province. 

^tein 

l/Uoodcraft Uo/p. 

MANUFACTURERS 

OF POPCORN WARMERS AND CONCESSION STANDS 

22 Sprague Avenue, Amityvilie, N. Y. 11701 

Controversial British 

Director Visits Rice 

HOUSTON—British filmmaker Peter 

Watkins. the director of "Edvard Munch" 

and "War Games," appeared at Rice Media 

Center, recently. 

He screened the latter, a controversial 

reconstruction of a nuclear strike on Great 

Britain, and discussed the film's 13-year 

ban by the BBC (which produced it) and 

the dilemmas faced by committed filmmakers 

working in cinema and television. 

After his dispute with the BBC over "War 

Games," Watkins resigned from the network 

and began making feature films. During 

his career, he's become known for his 

composite film style, mixing documentary 

and narrative elements in radical ways, often 

combining meticulous research, fictional 

dramatization, live interviews, reconstructed 

scenes, historical data, current information 

and predictions within the same context. 

One of Watkin's chief concerns is the 

danger of television and he discussed the 

nature of conventional TV narrative structure, 

the fallacy of objectivity, and his perception 

of the diminished role of committed 

filmmaking in recent years. 

Watkins presented a series of his own 

slides outlining the state of the nuclear arms 

r:i:c and its relationship to the development 

of nuclear energy programs around the 

\' o id a'temptina to illustrate the TV info'ination 

qap which systematically denies 

information to the public on certain crucial 

issues—nuclear ones in particular. 

'Spider-Man's Web Snares 

Filipino Filmgoing Fans 

BURBANK—"Spider-Man." an all-liveaction 

film based on the adventures of the 

world's No. I comic book character, has 

scored outstanding boxoffice figures in the 

Philippines, it has been announced by Patrick 

M. William.son. executive vice-president 

of Columbia Pictures International. 

In its opening five days. "Spider-Man" 

registered 690,68.1 pesos (U.S. $93,933) 

which ranks with Columbia's all-time-high 

boxoffice performers in this territory. 

The film was directed by E. W. Swackhamer 

and produced by Edward J. Montagno 

from a script by Alvin Beretz. Charles 

Fries and Daniel R. Goodman served as 

executive producers. Nicholas Hammon 

stars in the double role of Peter Parker and 

Spider-Man. Also featured are 

and Michael Pataki. 

(516) 691-2222 

David White 

^^^

. . The 

MINNEAPOLIS 

^âller Badger, who takes over the 

United 

Artists branch manager Jiities this 

month upon the retirement of Chet LeVoir. 

has been doing the house-hunting bit . . . 

Frank Zanotti, Universal branch manager, 

winged to San Diego for sales huddles. 

Morrie Buell, general manager of Associated 

Film Distributors Inc., had a part in 

an Easter presentation at Jonathan Community 

Church in that Minneapolis suburb. 

Elizabeth l.undell. the wife of Steve, 

sang in the same presentation. Lundell is 

booker for both Associated Film Distributors 

and Midwest Entertainment Inc. 

The Warner Bros, branch gang continues 

. 

the strength of "The Goodbye Girl." 

to hail 

At the end of March, it was playing 33 

houses in the area and 32 of the situations 

Don Dalrymple 

held it over 

Theatre Service is now buying and booking 

for the Rand Drive-In, Verndale, Minn., 

owned by Dave and Etta Mrnak, and for 

the 71 Drive-In, Redwood Falls, Minn,, 

owned by Bob Buckley. 

Stan McCuUoch, head of the buying and 

booking service that bears his name, returned 

from a week's vacation in Mexico 

with a much-admired tan . . . Filmrow 

visitors: Jim Eraser, Auditorium Theatre, 

Red Wing, Minn.; Sid Heath. Flame, Wells. 

Minn.; Al Bergman, Bay, Ashland, Wis.; 

Jane Pepper, Auditorium, St. Croix Falls, 

Wis. 

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'Dauntless Don' Palmquist 

Decides to Defy Disaster 

MINNEAPOLLS—Don Palmquist, noted 

local ice fisherman who is office manager 

at the 20th Century-Fox branch as a sideline 

to his line-wetting, really made a splash 

with his hobby. Easter Sunday afternoon, 

Palmquist arrived at his favorite ice-fishing 

spot on Lake Waconia, some miles outside 

the city. The temperature nudged into the 

.Ô's and Don was equally hot: He hauled 

in his limit of yummy crappies. About 10 

p.m., he got into his car, parked on the ice 

nearby, and headed for shore. 

Suddenly, the vehicle made a U-boat-like 

nosedive as the ice, thinned by the day's 

sun, gave way. Glub! Palmquist quickly 

opened the door and. as the water rushed in. 

he did likewise . . . out. The car settled in 

some three and a half feet of icy water. 

Palmquist continued his journey in water 

up to his waist. He managed to reach a 

phone and, in turn, a gent with a wrecker. 

Back on the shores of lovely Lake Waconia. 

a small crowd had gathered to ogle the car, 

its lights still on and illuminating the depths. 

"What jerk drove out on this ice?" asked 

one local yokel. Palmquist established his 

identity. 

Hauled out of the watery nest, the car 

oozed aqua but started up. Super soggy, 

the undaimted Palmquist now continued his 

journey homeward. It was not exactly his 

night. Pow! A tire, somehow weakened 

(perhaps bv a rock as the car was towed 

from the lake) blew out. Our fisherman 

now had to grapple with the ordeal of 

changing a tire beneath the starry March 

Bob Branton, booker for Midcontinent skies. He accomplished the deed and 

Theatres, paid a four-day visit to his son hopped back into his car. Despite all this, 

in Little Rock, Ark. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Palmquist still was set to go. The car was 

Ron Jacobson, Lincoln Drive-In, Tyler, not. The watery v'sit with headlights on had 

Minn., were in town for some booking diminished the battery. 

and visiting . . . Midcontinent Theatre Co. Our hero now did a "It Happened One 

had all of it managers in town for a threeday 

seminar. 

from almost non-existent rural road traffic. 

Night" bit. valiantly trying to thumb a ride 

But at last: Success! Palmquist managed to 

get the battery "jumped" and finally completed 

his journey and his day. Is he discouraged? 

Says Palmquist, his shoes curling 

slightly as they dry: "I can hardly wait for 

next winter!" 

A friend had the last word for all of this: 

He sent word to Palmquist saying he was 

forwarding a pair of waterwings . . .for the 

car! 

Universal will distribute "Yanks" in the 

U.S. and Canada. 

^tein 

UUoodcraPt L.orp, 

MANUFAOURERS 

OF POPCORN WARMERS AND CONCESSION STANDS 

Minneapolis Enjoys 

Escalating Grosses 

MINNE.'KPOLIS—The combination of 

Easter and weather that saw temperatiuxs 

reach into the middle 60s proved too much 

for many films competing for the public's 

attention. Grosses dipped at several situations 

but, oddly enough, jumped in others. 

Only one newcomer appeared: "Equus" 

opened (finally) at the Academy Theatre, 

where it had been kept waiting weeks in the 

wings because of the strength of "Saturday 

Night Fever." The Richard Burton starrer 

was a lame 65. 

Elsewhere, "House Calls" spurted from a 

290 to a 315; "Close Encounters of the 

Third Kind" went from a 180 to 190; "Saturday 

Night Fever" was up to 130 from 

120; "The Fury" scrambled to a 190 from 

its opening-week 120 . . . and the seemingly 

endless "Star Wars" whooshed to 285 

from 200—and this in its 44th week. 

(Av Is 100) 

Academy—Equus (UA) 

Brookdale—Close Encounters of llie Tliird Kii 

(Col), 15th wk 

Brookdale, Movies at BurnsvilV-House Calls 

(Univ), 2nd wk . 

e—Saturday Night Fever 

(Para), 15th 

-High Anxiety (20th Fox) 8th 

-Blue Country (SR), 2nd 

—The Other Side of the 

Hot 

Wax (Pa 

From Witch 

Moun 

(UA), 6th 

Park—Star Wars (20th-Fox), 44th vj 

Skyway II—The Goodbye Girl (WB 

Skyway III, Southdole— Straight Tii (WB) 

2nd wk 

Suburban World That Obzcure Object oi Desire 

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Three theatres Crossed Swords (WB), 

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65 

April 

NC-1

. . The 

. . Limit 

MILWAUKEE 

The issue of providing mosie passcN to 

local 

legislators, which drew criticism and 

newspaper ink here recently, has spread to 

Madison, the state capitol. The State Ethics 

Board there said. March 28. that free movie 

passes for legislators violated ""the spirit of 

Wisconsin's ethic laws." Disagreeing with 

this opinion was Representative Rod Johnson 

of Milwaukee who said "I do not believe 

the passes have any influence on lawmakers." 

Johnson said he always threw his passes 

away when they came in his mail but that, 

nonetheless, he d'd not believe accepting 

the free passes was a violation of the law. 

The practice probably started some years 

ago when legislative salaries were much 

lower. Johnson declared. "We're getting 

pretty good salaries now." he added with 

reference to some forthcoming raises for 

lawmakers which will bring their salaries 

to almost $20,000 "not counting per diem 

and other expenses." 

Gladys BeU who has been with Milwaukee's 

API branch office for the past 18 

is years, retiring on Friday (14). Branch 

manager Art Heling is plann'ng a farewell 

party. Recently. Art introduced Boxofftce 

to his new biller. Debbie Soslavsky, a local 

young lady who has had some experience 

in high school dramatics. 

An early April caller along Becrtown's 

Filmrow was Carl Olson, division manager 

out of New York for United Artists Corp. 

UA branch manager Toni Dyksterhuis 

mailed invites to film industryites callin" 

attention to the "major sneak preview" of 

UA's newest release "Corvette Summer" 

(MGM) starring Mark Hamill and Annie 

Potts. The "sneak" was held at the Capitol 

Court Cinemas on Friday (7). 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" 

is being "Held Over 16th Exciting Week!" 

at Movies Northridge and Southtown Cinemas 

(exclusive Dolby 70MM) . second 

annual competition as part of the Great 

Lakes Film Festival has been expanded to 

showings at two locations here over four 

nights with cash prizes likely to increase to 

$2^,500 over last year's $1,200 (depending 

TelltaL' Hjart" and "The Pit and the Pendulum." 

Both are from Edgar .'Mien Poe tales 

and were made by Price some years ago. 

Milwaukee is the first city to have this presentation 

which includes a personal appearance 

by Price "between the two films during 

which time I talk about stage and movie 

villainy in general ... it should be fun." 

This is what he explained to Gerold Kloss 

of the Journal who then wanted to know: 

"Are you. Vincent Price, afraid of anything 

— the dark, flying in an airplane?" '"No. 

I'm too old to be frightened of anything 

anymore," he replied. (Price is 66). In addition 

to his new show called "Masters of 

Horror." and his current Oscar Wilde show, 

"Diversions and Delights." Price keeps busy 

with his art collections and performing as a 

goLirmet cook. Following the debut of his 

new show here, the actor plans to take it on 

a tour in the east, playing in New York in 

mid-April. 

Gerald Downey, regional 

program director 

for Columbia Pictures in Chicago, issued 

a news release to Midwest media contacts 

stating that the suspense-comedy. "Silver 

Bears," will open throughout the Midwest 

on Friday (21). Starring Michael Caine. 

Cybill Shepherd. Louis Jourdan and others, 

the PG-rated film is based on the best-selling 

novel by the same title. 

Opened for business a year ago. the Coimtry 

Faire Shopping Center, located in the 

coimtry just north of Milwaukee and between 

the towns of Cedarburg and Grafton, 

now has 50 shops. More construction is 

planned on the 24-acre site including a twin 

movie theatre to be built before next fall. 

Sid Levy one of the developers, expects it 

to be completely filled with 80 shops within 

the next six months. 

That the Center attracts a lot of people 

is attested to by Levy who points out that 

a "gong show" held on the gazebo stage, in 

the basement, recently was attended by 

2.500 people. "It was such a success that 

we are planning on holding a "Gong Show" 

twice a month" he said. The only movie 

house competition in the immediate area is 

the Rivoli in Cedarburg and 57 Outdoor 

which has just reopened near Grafton. 

on ticket sales). 

Dale Kuntz, best known to local area 

While in Baltimore, where he was appearing 

one man show on Oscar Wilde, 

moviegoers as the organizer and president 

(FOOFS). of Followers of Old Films has 

in a movie actor Vincent Price phoned local programmed a film classics series called 

media contacts to talk about his forthcomine 

"Tearjerkers." Composed of nine senti- 

show here featuring two old films, "The mental dramas dating from 1939 to 1946, 

Kimtz will present them at the Milwaukee 

.'Krt Center where he is employed as community 

programs coordinator. Opening with 

"Goodbye. Mr. Chips," co-starring Robert 

Donat and Greer Garson. the series also 

includes: "The Mortal Storm," "Back 

Street." "Waterloo Bridge." "Smilin" 

ThroLigh." "Remember the Day," "Blossoms 

in the Dust," "The Love of Ours" and 

"Sentimental Journey," winding up in July. 

No admission will be charged but a donation 

of 50 cents will be suggested according 

to Kuntz. 

Gerald Olimen, owner and operator of 

the Mode Theatre in Waterloo, Wis., notified 

the local news weekly. The Lake Mills 

Leader, that he was installing a new sound 

system and new lamps for the projector. 

There will be a noted improvement in the 

quality of the pictures as well as the sound 

effects. Olimen mentioned. Result was the 

newspaper reported this information in a 

news story under the headline "Mode Theatre 

Installs New Sound System." The new 

improvements were made on March 21. 

and the "theatre was in operation on Friday 

evening as usual." the story concluded. 

Chilton Cinema 1 in Chilton had "a free 

coke to every child" offer as part of its 

special show for kids on a recent Saturday 

which featured the movie. "Charlotte's 

Web." All seats were $1.00 and the cokes 

were with the compliments of Chilton Cinema 

1 and Coca Cola. U.S.A. The movie 

house also had a tie-in with radio station 

WYNE for a "giant bunny" contest. 

Town Theatre in Watertown prints its 

display ad in the Lake Mills Leader with 

the word "coupon" repeated on its sides 

and the information: "Adults and Students 

75 cents with this coupon . one 

per coupon." Film attractions on a recent 

weekend were "The One and Only," and 

on Saturday & Sunday matinees, "Raggedy 

Ann & Andy" . . . Sparta Theatre in Sparta, 

Wis., has a special price for All Eve. shows 

— all scats 99 cents." It's an "Inflation Buster." 

All matinee admissions are onlv 75 

'Good Vibes' from Iowa, 

Reported by Norman Lear 

DES MOINE.S—Norman Lear, who filmed 

the movie "Cold Turkey" in Des Moines, 

Greenfield, Orient and Winterset, said he 

considers himself an lowan at heart since 

the film'ng. He was being interviewed by 

telephone in his Los Angeles office. He recently 

announced he is quitting television 

to write and direct films. Called "the man 

with the golden touch" in the world of entertainment, 

Lear was responsible for 16 TV 

series and 1.400 episodes over the last eight 

years, including "All in the Family," "Good 

Times," "One Day at a Time," "Maude" 

and "The Jeffersons." 

He is excited about retLirning to films and 

over the years he has made lots of notes 

about what he might want to do. It will 

probably be July before he really gets into 

it because he has several months work to do 

after he returns from a trip to mainland 

China. 

Lear, and a group that includes Mary 

Tyler Moore and her husband Grant Tinker 

and Carl Reiner and his wife, are currently 

on a tour of China. They left Saturday (1). 

He plans to do some filming there. Asked 

if his future plans for making movies 

include coming back to Iowa, Lear said "It 

all depends on what kind of a story he 

comes up with and if there is any way he 

will try to get back. He said he was standing 

in his office at the time looking at his 

painting of Greenfield. All he has to do is 

BOXOmCE April 10, 1978

look at it and remember everything he liked 

about Iowa." 

Lear said he knew nothing about a movie 

about girls" basketball, titled "Dribble," 

which is scheduled to be filmed, at least in 

part, in Des Moines, the "capital city of 

girls' basketball," by producers Michael de 

Gaetano and Nicholas Nizich of Intermedia 

Arts Film Corp., Los Angeles. 

Compass Cinemas Get New Name 

NEW BEDFORD. MASS.— Lockwood- 

Friedman's Compass Cinemas 2 have been 

renamed Twin Cinema 140. The two-auditorium 

ple.x is situated at the junction of 

Route 140 and Hathaway Road. 

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HLM VENTURES 



















"OUT OF THE 



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(213) 659-0545 

Columbia Pictures Presents $5,000 

Check to Senator Muriel Humphrey 

MINNEAPOLIS — Columbia went on 

location March 25 at the University of 

Minnesota's Williams Arena, as Minnestotans 

joined the cast. 

About 6,000 Minnesotans, mostly from 

the Twin Cities, were on hand. They had 

earlier been recruited as "extras" for the 

movie that's partly being filmed here called 

"Ice Castles." 

The extras were required for scenes in 

which a young skater is cheered on as she 

competes for a figure skating championship. 

Filming began at 8:30 a.m. and wasn't 

completed until 5:30 p.m. 

The extras weren't paid for their efforts. 

But most of them were young and they 

appeared to be finding more than sufficient 

payment from simply having the chance to 

maybe have their faces show up in a movie. 

Some of the extras were 'old hands' at acting, 

having shown up to appear in background 

scenes for another movie that was 

filmed in Minnesota— "Airport." 

Fans See Hero 

Plus, they got to see. in person, a bigname 

teenybopper star by the name of Robby 

Benson, who dribbled basketballs in the 

popular film "One on One." 

Benson co-stars with Lynn-Holly Johnson, 

a featured solo skater with the Ice Capades, 

in "Ice Castles." 

Both turned up at the filming session to 

make a presentation from Columbia of 

$5,000 to the University of Minnesota's Hubert 

H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. 

The contribution was made as a "thank 

you" to the Minnesota extras. The late 

Minnesota senator's wife. Sen. Muriel Humphrey, 

was there to accept it. 

The figure skating competition supposedly 

takes place in St. Louis, so the crowd of 

extras were told to pretend for the day they 

were no longer in Williams Arena but at a 

skating "Midwestern Sectional" in St. Louis. 

Short 2,000 Extras 

Because not quite as many extras turned 

up as had been anticipated (about 8,000 

were sought), people were told to spread out 

in order to make the arena look more 

packed. 

Popcorn vendors were not really popcorn 

vendors but actors provided by the Twin 

and the extras w.tc informed their instinct've 

cheering was precisely what the moviemakers 

had in mind. Only for the next 

scene, they were to applaud with more gusto. 

The extras obligated, and everybody 

sjemed happy. 

That's how it went most of the day: 

cameras would roll for a bit, the skater 

would skate, the crowd would cheer, then 

there'd be a break in the action. 

A bit boring after awhile, some of the 

extras admitted, and a bit cold, as it always 

is at the Williams Arena ice rink. 

"But it's a good way to spend a Saturday." 

suggested one of the extras, 15-year-old 

Daniel Giordano of South Minneapolis. 

In addition to the arena filming session, 

other scenes for "Ice Castles" have been 

recorded in the Twin Cities including hockey 

and snowmobiling sequences. 

Additional scenes for the film are being 

filmed on location in Colorado Springs, 

Colo. 

The movie, which will be released in December— 

possibly debuting in the Twin 

Cities— is about two youthful lovers, set 

against the background of a young girl's 

dream to achieve figure skating renown. 

Gov. Rudy Perpich proclaimed "Ice 

Castles Day" in Minnesota, March 25, because 

of the potential the movie has for 

"depicting the quality of life and recreation 

. . . Larry Day and 

. . . Also 

Merchandise for mov'es hasn't moved 

Cities Actors Guild. Thus, extras were told 

not to try to buy popcorn from these people. well for CSTC. but at Iowa City's Astro 

The extras were introduced to the movie for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." 

producer, John Kemeny (of "The Apprenticeship 

they tried the NSS buttons, of 72 all but 9 

of Duddy Kravitz" fame), and then were sold, and they didn't even have them 

shooting began. 

until the third week 

The young skater (Miss Johnson) glided 

and 

Glenn Nargang found that they were winners 

across the ice, twisting turning to background 

in the girls' basketball tournament pool 

music for the movie provided by upon returning from the Show-A-Rama. 

Academy Award-winning composer Marvin Juston Jacobsmeier, Dubinsky Bros, city 

Hamlisch. 

manager from Sioux City, was in Des 

The crowd instinctively cheered the Moines March 29 for meetings 

skater's efforts. 

visiting Des Moines that week was Byron 

After a few moments, shooting stopped. Hopkins of Bellevue. 

in 

Minnesota." 

DES MOINES 

pirn McLaughlin of Ottumwa broke one of 

his fingers playing basketball recently, 

a year or so ago he got a sprained ankle on 

the court . . . Recent promos include free 

ice cream cones for the first 25 kids at Burlington, 

thanks to Baskin-Robbins, a cuddly 

animal drawing at Mason City, a contest on 

"The pet I'd like most to have is ." . . at 

Norfolk with prizes courtesy of Pepsi Cola 

bottling, and at Fremont a tie-up with Mac- 

Donald's got a "2 for 1" price sundae for 

every youngster attending. 

Drive-in openings this week, March 27, 

looked pretty good, except for the Starlite. 

Waterloo, where the "Walking Tall" combo 

took off as though it were mid-summer. 

OXOFFICE :: April 10, 1978 NC-3

Paste this inside your medicine cabinet. 

Cancer's seven 

warning signals 

1. Change in bowel or bladder habits. 

2. A sore that does not heal. 

3. Unusual bleeding or discharge. 

4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere. 

5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing. 

6. Obvious change in wart or mole. 

7. Nagging cough or hoarseness. 

If you have a warning signal, see your doctor. 

American Cancer Society 

I 

BOXOmCE ;: April 10, 1978

Variety Club Tent 6 introduced 

CLEVELAND 

the medical 

personnel associated with Rainbow 

Babies and Children's Hospital and their 

new charity. The dinner took place at the 

TTnited Artists has pushed back the opening 

Executive Club Friday. The Prosthesis and 

of "Coming Home" here to May 16 

Tumor program will be one of the recipients 

when it will premiere at a joint benefit for 

of Variety Club's charity. 

the Ohio Public Interest Campaign (OPIC). 

the Cleveland Working Women (CWW) General Theatres has officially announced 

that spring is here by opening their 

and the Northern Ohio Project of National 

Priorities (NOPNP). According to the Plain drive-ins. Last weekend the East Drive-In 

Dealer, Carl Ferrazza, United Artists publicity 

and promotion chief, said the delay Ohio and the Hi-Road in Kenton, Ohio. 

in Akron opened, as did the Hub in Bryan, 

was necessary to work out the details of the 

gala event at which Jane Fonda, star of Mike Mooney, Academy Advertising, is 

the pictures, will be guest of honor. Ms. back and trying to clear his desk from a 

Fonda said that she will be in the lobby mountain of mail. Mike spent a relaxing 

of the Severance theatre to sign photos, and unusual vacation on a windjjammer 

answer questions and to do whatever it takes cruise to the Virgin Islands. 

to help make this important benefit a success. 

Ms. Fonda is interested in OPIC, CWW The Contemporary Film Society in Athens, 

Ohio announces an International Film 

and NOPNP, whose common bond is to 

correct employment inequities and improve Festival Friday (21) through Sunday (30). 

the total job scene in Ohio. 

There will be competition in 35 and 16mm 

animation, documentaries and experimental 

Herb Brown, Loews division manager, short story and feature films. Interested parties 

contact AIFF 388, Athens, Ohio 456 

has just returned from Rochester and Buffalo 

and is now headed south for Dayton 45701. 

and Columbus. Herb is eagerly looking forward 

to their summer product scheduled for Dick Landis, president of Operators 

the Loews houses. Paramount's "Grease" Union Local 160, saw March out and April 

and Columbia's "The Cheap Detective," in under the sunny skies of Florida. 

starring Peter Falk, are heading the list. 

Don Buda, Warner salesman, is back in 

If Cleveland can't go to the world, the harness after a wonderful week's visit with 

world can come to Cleveland. That is the relatives in Corsica. He enjoyed his stopover 

in the London airport, too. Don spent 

hope of Jonathan Forman who launched 

the second Cleveland Internationa! Film the last few days setting up dates for 

Festival Wednesday (5). This year's festival "Swarm" and for "Superman," Warner's 

holds greater promise than last. Forman Christmas release. 

said. It is being presented by the Cleveland 

EIna Gebhardt, Motion Pictiue Coimcil 

Cinema Guild with the assistance of the 

exec, finally was successful in making reservations 

to Sun City, Arizona. She is there 

Cleveland Area Arts Council. 

The universal appeal of motion pictures helping out and taking care of an artist 

as popular entertainment is being recognized 

by Ross Laboratories of Columbus, Ohio, 

friend who is ill. 

John Walters, the avant-garde filmmaker 

producers of Similac and one of the largest 

whose stock in trade is using shock to 

suppliers of infant formulas. The American 

project humor, will be featured at a film 

Academy of Pediatrics is having its spring 

festival at the Heights Art Theatre next 

meeting in Los Angeles Tuesday-Friday 

week. His "Desperate Living" was to have 

(11-14). As a promotion Ross Labs has invited 

pediatricians, their spouses and guests 

had its Cleveland premiere at Cleveland 

State University along with an appearance 

to a "Salute to Comedy" reception in the 

by Walters, billed as "The King of Sleaze," 

ballroom of the Los Angeles Century Hotel. 

but the energy crisis forced its cancellation. 

Some of the old-time greats who will be 

Four other films, including two of his earliest, 

"Mondo Trasho" and "Multiple Mani- 

featured in these films are Charlie Chaplin, 

W. C. Fields. The Marx Brothers, Laurel 

acs," will be shown. 

and Hardy and Mae West. This is boimd to 

be a crowd pleaser and should attract large 

numbers of doctors to the Ross display. 

55 fÂTCH PROJECTION IMPROVE t

Blue Collar/ The Betsy Evidence 

Of a Diversified Economy in Detroit 

panics such CBS. ABC. United 


riAÊRAMA IS m SHOW 

FILMACK STUDIOS, BUSLVESS L\ HAWAII TCM>, 

f 

When you come to Waiklkl, 

don't miss the famous Don H 

Show ... at C'inerama's 

1327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago.lll. 60605 


as Artists 

and Buddah pay top dollars to Detroit production 

specialists to put together millionsellers 

DETROIT—A recent edition of a Detroit about the automobile industry, pumped an 

for artists such as the Miracles. Billy 

Davis and Marilyn McCoo. Local hit-making 

stars such as Bob Seger and Grand Funk 

Railroad also record in Motor City studios 

newspaper carried side-by-side advertisements 

estimated $350,000 to $400,000 into the and limited edition LP's are made by a 

for Harold Robbins' "The Betsy." shot economy. 

nimiber of smaller local 

local 

labels. 

on location in Detroit and premiered here, Detroit is striving to win a reputation as 

and another for "Blue Collar." which carried 

Adcraft World's Oldest 

the "Hollywood of the Midwest" as its 

media production seeks greater support Long before Motown however, the advertising 

a "made in Detroit" tag. 

Detroiters are not exactly ready to throw from its enormously wealthy business community. 

business brought other diverse talents 

over the auto business and take over Hollywood, 

In 1976 the urban coalition called to the area. Detroit's .Adcraft Club is the 

but the ads make a point: Detroit's New Detroit began a program encouraging world's oldest and largest advertising club, 

economy is diversifying— particularly with more than 1,600 members. Names such 

in the local businesses to make greater use of the 

area of film production, recorded sound, 

advertising and musical productions. The 

city's media production 

executive officers of 23 

facilities. The chief 

area corporations 

as Jam Handy, the industrial film king, and 

Ross Roy, the ad gen'us who made Chrysler 

serve as trustees of the organization and local 

city has. in fact, been the industrial film 

a household name, maintain a significant 

capital of the country for years, drawing on companies have begun to make increasingly 

commercial presence: and Rov still runs the 

greater use of I>etroit 

the industrial might and communication 

thriving companv which bears his name. To- 

facilities. 

needs of the "Big Three" auto companies, For years, TV commercials, sales brochures, 

day Detroit is the third largest advertisina 

business machine makers, huge chemical 

production market in the nation, after only 

audio-visual aids, promotional films 

and pharmaceutical firms and thousands of and printed matter for the auto companies New York and Chicaao. Conservativelv estimated. 

small and middle-sized firms which supply were produced in New York or Los Angeles 

Detroit's 130 ad agencies gross 

parts to the automakers. 

by the large ad agencies that serve the city's more than half-a-billion dollars annually, 

But Detroit's media production business 

and Ross Roy alone boasts some $150,000,- 

industrial giants. 

000 in annual billings. 

is such a mixed bag that imtil recently no 

one 

Concentration 

paid much 

on Growth 

attention to Business it. 

is improving substantiallv. according 

Motown Gaining Recognition 

to reports from local producers, 

But in recent years Detroit has concentrated 

on expanding capabilities within production houses and their suppliers, 

its 

"People are just beginning to recognize 

thanks in part to Detroit's promotional 

New local media production firms. And the auto 

companies and Detroit's other giants increasingly 

Detroit's media production capabilities." 

efforts. New Detroit and local media production 

firms collaborated on a I2-minutc 

said Walter Luttrell. public relations representative 

have turned to these firms for 

for Chrysler Corporation and the 

needs. 

videotape which was shown to local corporations 

their 

major promoter of Detroit's media production 

Media production is no Johnny-come- 

to encourage the use of local resources. 

industry. "Many companies come from lately to Detroit. On the audio side, for 

other 

Volunteers Boost 

parts 

Effort 

of the country for Detroit's expertise, 

and we want to make sure this re- 

imder such labels as Motown. Groovesville. From there, local production houses, 

example. Detroit is famous for popular hits 

source is utilized so it w'll continue to Hitsville It 

technicians, directors, writers and film personnel 

U.S.A. and Golden World. was 

donated 

grow." 

Berry Gordy's Motown Records that established 

Detroit as a major recording center 

their time to produce a series 

While there may be a certain amoimt of 

of TV commercials boosting the city, to 

glamor in the film business, what Detroit 

demonstrate their own promise of excellence. 

in the late '50's and early '60's when young 

Detroiters Stev'e Wonder. Diana Ross and 

The spots were so well accepted that 

sees is the employment opportunities it 

the Supremes. Martha local 

Reeves and the Vandellas 

TV stations air them on prime time. 

creates. When Hollywood came to Detroit 

and others dominated the nation's and 

The effort has not been lost on the auto 

last year to film "The Betsy" it brought its 

key directors, production personnel and the world's pop music picture. Though Motown 

companies, still a dominant force in the local 

technicians. But it supplemented these with 

moved its headquarters to California 

economy. Gail Smith, general director of 

1972 and only a token operation 

advertising and merchandising for General 

Detroit technicians, soimd engineers, photographers 

in left in 

and other media specialists. An 

Motors Corp.. says there are superb produc- 

Detroit, numerous artists and technicians 

estimated 250 Detroiters participated in the 

tion facilities and personnel in Detroit and 

stayed behind to maintain the industry, 

filming and production of "The Betsy" which has since expanded. 

encourages their 

which premier.^d February 9 at a theater in Studios large and small have sprimg up 

use. 

"With the Renaissance Center and many 

Renaissance Center. Detroit's $350-million and prospered in Detroit, where more records 

other positive things happening for the revitalization 

are being made than ever 

The pro- 

riverfront commercial complex. of Detroit, it is 

before. New 

important that 

duction, based on Harold Robb'ns' novel York and 

we take a closer 

California-based 

look at 

recordina commmm 

what we can do at 

home." he told the Adcraft Club recently. 

But Detroit companies aren't being asked 

to do all their production in Detroit. Gail 

FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG says. "That just wouldn't be practical. We're 

M 

only being requested to ask ourselves: Can 

Make it your aid to increase your attendance the job be done here in town?" 

And for more and more users of Detroit's 


med'a production facilities the answer is incre.isingly 

becoming: Yes. 



(312)427-3395 

April 10. 1978

Paul VogeL Ohio Showman 

Honored by Legislature 

CLEVELAND—The Ohio House of Representatives 

honored by resoUition the 

memory of Col. Paul W. Vogel, who died 

Jan. 7, for his mifttary and commercial 

service to the nation and to the state. 

Vogel was president of Vogel Theatres, 

a chain of motion picture houses throughout 

Ohio and Maryland. 

Vogel. 62. was virtually a lifetime resident 

of the East Liverpool and Wessville area. 

He served with the 82nd Airborne Division 

during World War II and later with the 

100th Infantry Reserve Division. He was 

commandant of the Army Instructor Training 

School and served on the staff of "Bear 

Trap," a command post exercise based at 

Ft. Meade, Md. 

After retiring from reserve duty in 1971, 

he was presented the Legion of Merit 

Award. He had previously received the 

American Campaign Medal, the Distinguished 

Unit Badge, World War II Victory Medal, 

the Combat Infantry Badge and the 

Purple Heart. 

The resolution, introduced by Rep. John 

Wargo, and presented to his family, was 

signed by Rep. Wargo and Vernal G. Riffe, 

speaker of the 

house. 

Brouhaha Over Blind Bids 

Boiling in Ohio Congress 

COLUMBUS. OHIO— After lensthv debate 

the Ohio House of Representatives rccentlv 

voted 83 to ten in favor of a measure 

which would prevent blind bidding and 

other practices unfavorable to independent 

film exhibitors. The bill now goes to the 

Ohio senate for considerat'on. Introduced 

by Rep. Terry Tranter of Cincinnati last 

June 30, with the support of the Ohio theatre 

operators, the bill faces another stormy 

session in the upper house. 

Opponents of the bill argued that theatre 

owners were trvins "to make Ohio a guinea 

pig" in hopes of setting a national precedent. 

However, if the legislation is finally enacted, 

according to Rep. Richard D. Finan. also 

of Cincinnati, maior film producers "will 

ignore Oh'o" in the future, he predicted. 

"We are going to become a second-run 

movie state." Finan warned. 

The bill, besides prohibiting Ohio theatre 

exhibitors from participating in the blind 

bidding svstem. also would require that film 

distributors open bids for booking films in 

the presence of theatre operators. The bill 

also would limit the amount of cash guarantees 

that exhibitors must agree to before 

they can rent films from the distributors. 

These guarantees were said by proponents 

to cause the nrice of admissions to increase. 

Charles Sugarman. Columbus theatre 

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owner, testified that he lost $555,000 on the 

film "Nickelodeon" tiecause of guarantees 

he was forced to pay on the film, whith 

he could not view in advance. 

In the debate Rep. Charles R. Saxbe, 

Mechanicsburg. a major backer of the bill, 

said the current movie-renting contract system, 

besides being unfair to Ohio theatre 

owners, only helps to encourage the "diamond-studded 

lifestyles" of Hollywood tycoons. 

Saxbe said the advance cash guarantees 

ensure that Hollywood movie-makers will 

not lose monev on films. Even if a movie 

is a financial failure, he said, "the actors 

get paid, the producers get paid, and Begelman 

(David Begelman, Columbia Pictures) 

forges checks and keeps on getting away 

with it, but our people (local theatre exhibitors) 

go broke." 

Another proponent. Rep. John P. Wargo, 

Lisbon, said the choice was simple: "Either 

you back the West Coast money, or you 

back your local community people." Rep. 

Robert Corbin of Davton said passage of 

the bill might encourage Hollywood to produce 

better films instead of "the junk 

Ihev're throwing at us now." 

Rep. Finan. the bill's most vocal opponent, 

contended that the state has no business 

interferring in private film transactions. He 

noted that most houses these days are not 

of the small "mom-and-pop" variety but 

large chains that can speak for themselves. 

Santikos Circuit in Alamo 

City Joins Short Film Fest 

SAN ANTONIO—The Santikos Theatres 

circuit in Snn Antonio is participating in the 

National Endowment for the Arts Short 

Film Showcase. 

The endowment is supplying the theatres, 

which include the Northwest Six. Centurv 

South Six, Central Park Fox, Olmos and 

several dr've-ins. with three short films to 

run with featured movies. 

The shorts are "Lapis." one of the early 

computer-generated films; "Clay." in which 

clay animals transform from whales and 

anteaters into turtles, oysters and dinosaurs: 

and "Frank Film." an Academv Award winning 

film that's a visual blitz of cut-out 

images. 

The films will be shown in an irregLilar 

basis at the Santikos theatres. 

\K\mmm, 

RfNGOLD THEAltlE 

Film Festival Will Screen 

Ford and Welles Classics 

TOLEDO— Six films by John Ford and 

Orson Welles, two of America's greatest directors, 

were presented in a spring cinema 

classic series at the Toledo Museum of Art's 

Theatre. 

Little 

The scries, titled "Made in America." 

opened Monday (3) with Ford's 1940 landmark 

movie about the depression era. "The 

Grapes of Wrath," based on John Steinbeck's 

novel about a dustbowl farm family. 

It stars Henry Fonda. 

Each film in the series will be screened 

at 1:30 p.m. Monday and 8 p.m. Tuesday 

on a biweekly basis. 

The second movie, Monday and Tuesday 

(17 and 18), will be another Ford screen 

classic, "How Green Was My Valley," starring 

Walter Pidseon and Sara Allgood. The 

1941 film depicts the realities of life in a 

minng community in 19th-century Wales. 

The final Ford film in this series will be 

"The Quiet Man," the director's treatment 

of the storv of the return to the land of his 

fathers by an American of Irish descent. It 

stars John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It 

will be shown May 1 and 2. 

The first of the Orson Welles pictures will 

b" what many consider one of the greatest 

movies ever made— "Citizen Kane." In this 

tour di force bv Welles, he not onlv starred 

as Charles Foster Kane, a dynamic but ruthless 

publisher, but also directed, produced, 

and was co-writer of the screenplay. It will 

b.' shown May 15 and 16. 

Next in the series will be Welles' "The 

Magn'ficent Ambersons," starring Joseph 

Gotten, th: 1942 tragedy about a woman's 

unfulfilled love for a man of lower social 

standing. It is booked for Mav 29 and 30. 

The last in the series will be "Touch of 

Evil," Welles' 1958 film of suspense and 

terror, starring Charlton Heston, Marlene 

Dietrich, and Welles. It will be screened 

June 1 2 and 13. 

Series tickets are available at the museum 

bookstore, and individual admission tickets 

will be sold at the door only. 

Ray Stark's Rastar Productions plans to 

begin production late this year or early 

in 1979 on "Seems Like Old Times." an 

original script by Neil Simon, to star Burt 

Reynolds and Marsha Mason. 

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April 10, 1978

Two Cleveland Film Fests 

"Serious movie fans will have a busy two 

months. Why nW spread out the wealth of 

Competing for Audiences 

specialized movies? Why are two festivals 

CLEVELAND— It seems a shame, says a in head-on competition for viewers? 

writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, that 

two film festivals here couldn't have arranged 

more propitious times for their 

screenings. The article proceeds to say: 

"Ten months a year, film buffs lament 

the lack of quality artistic fare to be seen 

here. All we get is commercial movies, and 

the more commercial the better, they say. 

"Staring this month, there will be two 

film festivals featuring Cleveland premieres 

running simultaneously. One is the Second 

Cleveland International Film Festival at the 

Cedar-Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights. 

The other is at Cleveland State University. 

NOTICE \ 

nLM VENTURES 






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motion picture. 

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"Some film buffs and some newspaper 

people are irritated, but the directors of the 

festivals do not seem much concerned. They 

each wish the other the best 

of luck. 

"Jonathan Forman, director of the Cleveland 

International Film Festival, cannot 

really understand why Cleveland State University 

chose the identical time for its series, 

but he does not seem alarmed. 

"We have been working on the internat'onal 

film festival for two and one-half 

years.' he said. "The first festival ran at 

exactly the same time last year, and we announced 

six months ago intentions for this 

year. The dates Wednesday (5) through May 

25 were announced then. 

"Perhaps it is unfortunate that the festivals 

will be running simultaneously, but I 

honestly don't think this will in any way 

affect our audiences or potential subscribers. 

"Based on our success last year and the 

hich degree of recognition we are receiving 

this vear, we are optim'stic. If anything, I 

think that CSU will be hurt by the overlap. 

"All our films are 1977 and 1976 re- 

""Forman maintained that his is a bona 

fide film festival, recognized by the city 

council, the mayor, governor, the Cleveland 

.\rea Arts Counc'l and the Greater Cleve- 

"Christopher Stenger. the director of the 

Festival at CSU. explained that he was 

visuely aware that the International Film 

Festival would be operating at about the 

same time as his program, but that he was 

rot certain of the exact dates. He decided 

on the months of April and May. because 

'hat would allow time following spring 

hr?ak nil's a few weeks leeway at the end 

-'•" the festival to allow students to study for 

f''i'I 

exams. 

"It just worked out that the festivals 

(iverlan: it was certainly not intended that 

wav. I don't think that we will be hurt by 

the situation, and I also don't feel that Forman 

will lose potential subscribers. 

""Also, our audiences are pretty much 

huilt-in. Our films are 16 rather than 35 millimeter. 

We are not running them in a theatre 

but in the University auditorium, and 

we are non-profit making. Most of our audience 

consists of students. 

"My hope is that both these series will 

serve to bring in more film series in the cits. 

If the Hanna Theatre can be operating 

simultaneously downtown with Play House 

Square concerts and other plays and dinner 

I heal res. then what is the difference between 

a couple competing film series?' 

Ohio Att'y General Hears 

Arguments on Bingo Laws 

COLUMBUS. OHIO—The Ohio Attorney 

general's office has been restrained 

from interfering with bingo games sponsored 

by Variety Ckfb Tent 6 Charities, Inc., and 

Ohio Boys' Town, Inc., both of Cleveland, 

until Monday (17). By that time lawyers for 

both sides will have submitted briefs on the 

constitutionality of the law which prevents 

the charities from holding bingo games. 

The state attorney general's office had 

rejected applications for charitable bingo 

operator's licenses for the two groups and 

ordered the games discontinued in February, 

after articles appeared in the Cleveland 

press charging the charities had links to organized 

crime. The attorney general ordeied 

the games stopped because income from 

them was not used exclusively for charitable 

purposes. 

At issue is the constitutionality of the 

state law. which authorizes the attorney general 

to close charitable bingo games without 

prior investigation, and which sets up the 

attorney general as the accuser, prosecutor, 

judge, and enforcer of the judgment, according 

to Robert R. Disbro, counsel for 

the two charities, both of whxh hold their 

games at the same location. 

Shelley Berman Leads Cast 

Of Robert Anderson Play 

CLEVELAND—March went out like a 

roaring lion with the breezy presentation of 

land Growth Association. 

""You Know I Can't Hear You When the 

"I don't think that CSU is trying to com- 

CSU's 

Water's Running" as presented by that master 

Berman, P'Mc with us. films are older classics 

of comedy. Shelley supported 

as opposed to ours, which are newer films. by a talented and attractive cast. Written 

"Frankly, all of us associated with the by Robert Anderson, the show is comprised 

of three separate short plays examining a 

International Film Festival wish them the 

best of luck. I think it represented someone's series of human situations illustrating the 

poor judgment rather than intent to schedule 

contradictions and frustrations to which we 

the CSU series at the same time. 

are all 

exposed. 

Shelley Berman is immediately identified 

with stand-up comedy and his famous prop, 

the telephone. He is a versatile performer, 

however, who does nightclub acts, television 

and theatre. He has co-starred in three motion 

pictures. "The Best Man." with Henry 

Fonda and Cliff Robertson. '"Divorce American 

Style." with Debbie Reynolds, and 

"Every Home Should Have One" with British 

comic Marty Feldman. His stage credits 

are too numerous to mention. In addition 

to all of this he has produced hit records 

and written two books, "Cleans and Dirtys" 

and ""A Hotel is a Place." 

French Double Feature Unreeled 

BOSTON—The French Library hosted 

showings of a French silent double feature 

comprised of ""Juve Contre Fantomas," a 

horror film featuring ""the emperor of 

crime" and presenting a realist view of 

France in 1914. and "La Chute de la Maison 

Usher." experimental motion picture 

based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story 

""The Fall of the House of Usher." 

Jerry Douglas has signed for a co-starring 

role in ""Avalanche." New World Pictures" 

feature which is now shooting in Durango. 

Colo. 

April 1978

" 

morabilia that couldn't be replaced, but I 

How Can Ten-Year-Olds See 

R-Rated Film, Mother Asks 

Projectionist for 57 Years Says He 

BOSION—A letter to the editoi" appearing 

in the Boston Globe remarked: 

Would Rather Play the Trombone 

write if no one paid me." " Whi worki the Central, he also sion. 

"I have seen the marvelous 'Saturday 

JList 

Night Fever," and my mind is still reeling PORTLAND, MAINE— Harold Woodman 

found time to run a filling station at Old 

with the beauty of Travolta, the modern 

has been a projectionist for 57 years, Orchard Beach and, with another man, 

day Studs Lonigan (James T. Farreli), and since 1920, when he started working at the opened the first overnight cabins at that 

with the power of the film in its portrayal Savoy theatre here. Ironically, however, he 

town. 

resort 

of contemporary tribalism and ritual, and of would rather have spent those years playing "He also spent 12 springs and summers, 

the essence of tragedy: the production in the trombone, according to Lawrence between 1963 and 1976, showing movies at 

our system of wasted lives. It will be with 

the drive-in in Kennebimk. 

me for a long time. 

Sterne, who further states: 

"The sale of the Central Theatre to this "Born in Portland Feb. 3. 1893, Woodman 

"However, I have now an explanation for 

lived at Old Orchard Beach for 25 

city for use as a new police station marks 

some remarks of a most sophisticated sexual the end of an era here, but Harold Woodman, 

years. 

nature that have emanated recently from 

of Saco, a projectionist at the theatre "He remembers that before motor driven 

our ten-year-old son. They have shocked 

projectors came to Maine in 1925 or 1926, 

for 43 years, is still aroLmd and going strong. 

even our supnosedly liberal, open and comfortable 

a projectionist could exert more influence 

on what was going on up on the screen. 

attitudes on life. I now see the 

source of those quoted remarks. Many ol 

Theatre managers would sometimes tell the 

our son's classmates have seen the film and. 

projectionist to speed up the movie when 

they had a crowd waiting outside, he says. 

indeed, have been reading a copy of the 

book which has been passed around in 

" 'We could make the men on horseback 

school. 

ride faster,' he says, but 'we had to slow 

"My question is, how on earth do all 

down for subtitles.' 

those youngsters get to see R-rated films? 

"During the Depression, Woodman remembers 

"Just another 'old fashioned mommy." 

that people were so desperate for 

you say? No, just a mother who'd like to see 

spent upon mastering 

entertainment they would buy a ham from 

butcher with food vouchers and turn 

ten-year-old energies the 

the multiplication tables, long division and 

around and sell it at a discount so they 

the writing of a complete sentence— instead 

would have money to go to Ihf; mov'es. 

of studying the feverish explorations of a 

'Still, Woodman says, they weren't all 

19-year-old's Saturday nights."" 

i;lorv davs for a movie projectionist. 

'If I had to do it all over again. I 

wouldn't do it." he says, estimating that he 

Concert at Roger Sherman At SS he sa\s he is one of the oldest, if 

has spent thousands of hours by himself 

Center of Legal Argument not the oldest projectionist still working in showing millions of feet of film. 

NEW HAVEN—Concert promoter Ron the state. Now, he drives to work at the Fine 'You're a lone wolf at th's job, he says. 

Smcdley, who has been attempting to produce 

Arts cinemas. Congress Street, Portland, 

But. Woodman who lives with his 56- 

"live" entertainment at the downtown where he puts in about 15 hours a week vear-old wife Alice, whom he married 40 

Roger Sherman theatre, long-time zone flagship 

when matinees are scheduled. 

years ago. keeps on working. 

for the RKO-Stanley Warner and pre- 

"With a quick smile, Woodman talks of "'She was 16 when we married but she 

decessor circuits, is being sued in New 

had both feet on the ground,' he says. 

h's first days (in the 1920s) as a projectionist 

Haven Superior Court by the day student 

"His first love was the trombone and he 

when movies were a nickel for kids and 

government of the University of New 

went on the road briefly before World War 

a dime for adults. Instead of sex and violence, 

Haven. 

'movies had a moral lesson in the end 

I. In 1919. however, he was forced to put 

Smedley, in turn, acting as his own legal which they don't have now,' he says. 

aside the instrument when he cut his lip in 

"Today the theatre business isn't too good an accident. 

counsel, has filed a cross-complaint against 

the day student government. The latter has around here, he says, noting that when he " 'I could retire, but if I did, I'd go to a 

contended that it has already given Smedley 

rockina chair. I'd rather die with my boots 

started work at the Central in 1927, the 

$17,000 to arrange a Sunday (30) concert. theatre changed movies three times a week on, I think." 

The Rog?r Sherman played first-run major 

film product for many years. 

and would regularly pack the house. 

'What killed the Central Theatre 

"Surprisingly. Woodman appears stimiped 

when asked what his favorite movies are. 

was 

the cost of operating such a big building," Prompted, he mentions John Wayne and 

he says. 

Sheldon Says Writing Is 

Marx Brothers pictures—their early ones. 

"He thinks, however, that the ongoing Their later ones just got too silly because 

His Deeply Rooted Need renovation of the City Theatre in downtown they ran out of plots, he adds. 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — Best-selling Biddeford could be a success if the operators 

"But, Tm like a man who works in a 

candy store. He gets sick of candy." "" 

novelist and long-time Hollywood figure 

were to play popular movies. It's a 

Sidney Sheldon admits to one pertinent small auditorium, he says. 

need: writing constantly. 

"After the first Central Theatre burned in 

In a Washington Post News Service dispatch 

appearing in the Springfield news- 

stage manager and an electrician for the BOSTON—Theatre Owners of New Eng- 

1945, Woodman served for three years as 

TONE to Elect New Officers 

a 

City Theatre, between 1945 and 1947, while land (TONE) will hold its annual meeting 

papers, Sheldon said, in part: 

the theatre was still used for vaudeville acts. for election of officers and directors at the 

" 'It really hit me during that terrible 

"The five-act vaudeville shows from Boston 

57 Restaurant in Boston Tuesday (ID. 

Bel Air fire a few weeks ago. when we were 

told we had to evaculate the house,' he says. 

would usually cost 50 cents and includ- 

It is expected that A. Alan Friedberg, 

ed one movie, he says. 

"I have an Oscar, a Tony, scripts and me- 

president of the Sack Theatre chain, will be 

"Woodman started his career as a projectionist 

elected president of the 16-year-old exhibitor 

just took a handful of yellow pads and a 

organization, wh-ch derived from Inde- 

at the Savoy Theatre in Portland in 

1920 and in 1922 moved to the Star theatre pendent Exhibitors of New England, founded 

pen, ran to the car and said, 'I'm ready." 

in 1928. Carl Goldman, executive secre- 

Th's is what I grabbed, this is when T realized 

in Westbrook, where he worked until 1927 

how deep my need to write was. I'm when he came to work for the Central theatary 

and leaislative counsel, said the annual 

election will follow a noontime liinch ses- 

happiest when Tm actually creating. I'd 

BOXOFHCE :: April NE-1

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

Uolding over in the Granite state: Cokimbia's 

"Close Encounters of the Third 

Kind" plus "The Boys in Company C." 

Sunn Classics' "Beyond and Back," 20th 

Century-Fox's "High Anxiety." United 

Artist's "Coma," Warner Bros.' "The Goodbye 

Girl," Paramount's "The One and 

Only," and Universal's "Grey Lady Down." 

Those political leaders concerned with the 

ongoing growth of New Hampshire are 

studying a number of proposals for the state 

government to adopt (see earlier Boxoffice 

stories'). Among other things, a committee 

chaired by John .Simunu has given Gov. 

Meldrim Thomson a number of recommendations, 

overall objective "to achieve a wise 

and balanced use of land, water, air and 

other resources in accordance with the social 

and economic needs of this and succeeding 

generations." The six-page report 

contains proposed steps for environmental 

care, inter-governmental cooperation and 

energy conservation. One recommendation 

expected to spark controversy would encourage 

the development of so-called "cluster" 

construction as a means of minimizing 

public service costs and preserve open-space. 

First Runs in Boston 

Coast Through Easter 

BOSTON—Traditionally slow boxoffice 

and bad weather Easter Sunday left new entries 

and holdovers off key. "House Calls" 

opened to a respectable 200 at Cinema 57 

I and Chestnut Hill I, and "A Hero Ain't 

Nothin' But a Sandwich" opened well above 

average with 300 at Savoy I. Second week 

product held up fairly well with "American 

Hot Wax" in its second week at Charles III 

and Paris Cinema, newly acquired by Sack 

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Theatres, and "Straight Time" hitting 190 

at the Gary in its second week. 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" 

moved over to the Saxon after 14 weeks of 

solid business at Cinema 57 I, displacing 

"Gray Lady Down"" which sank below average 

in its second week and exited. "The 

Fury" maintained a strong pace in two theatres. 

Pi Alley and Circle Cinema I, in its 

second week. "Blue Collar" continues high 

in its third week at Savoy II. "Coma" holds 

steady in its seventh week at Cher I and 

"The Man Who Loved Women" is doing 

well in its thiid week at Cheri III. 

"Saturday Night Fever" is running a fast 

race in its 15th week at the Circle Cinema 

III and Cinema 57 II. "Star Wars," the 

longest running film in town, is still far 

above average in its 44th week at the 

Charles I. "Handle With Care" registered 

150 in its fourth week at Orson Welles I. 


Charles I—Star Wars (20th-Fox), 44th wk 200 

Charles 111, Pans Cinema American Hot Wax 

(Para), 2nd wk -165 

Cheri I— Coma (UA), 7th wk 200 

Cheri II—TTie Turning Point (20lh-Fo:0 

14th wk 225 

Cheri III—The Man Who Loved Women (SR), 

3rd wk 175 

Chestnut Hill 1, Cinema 57 I-House Calls 

(Univ) 200 

Chestnut Hill II—High Anxiety (20th-Fox), 

8th wk iro 

Cinema 57 II, Circle Cinema 111—Saturday 

Night Fever (Para), 15th wk C-iO 

Circle Cinema 1, Pi Alley—The Fury (20th-Fox), 

2nd wk 24C 

Circle Cinema II—The Goodbye Girl (WB), 

I5th wk, 100 

Exeter—That Obicure Object oi Desire (SR), 

8th wk. 175 

. . 

Gary-Straight Time (V/B), 2nd wk 190 

Orson Welles I—Handle With Care (Para 

4th wk 

150 

Orson Welles II—Padre Padrone (SR), 6th wk 

Orson Welles 111 Outrageous! (SR), 32nd wk 

Savoy I—A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich 

(New World) 

Savoy II—Blue Collar (Univ), 2nd wk 

Big Ad Campaign Unleashes Tury' 

On Receptive New Haven Fans 

NEW HAVEN — Twentieth Century- 

Fox's "The Fury," backed by one of the 

largest pre-opening ad campaigns for major 

distributor-provided product in many 

months, generated 350 in auditorium one of 

the Redstone Showcase 5, followed by Paramount's 

"American Hot Wax," 275, Cine 2 

(auditorium one); Universal's "Casey's 

Shadow" with 250, RKO-SW Cinemart I 

and General Cinema Corp.'s Milford 2 (autorium 

two); and "That Obscure Object of 

Desire," 200, Sampson & Spodick York 

Square Cinema. A "Casey's Shadow" promotion 

at the Cinemart included free disitibution 

of Bantam Books paperbacks opening 

day. 

Cinemart II, Miliord 1—The Goodbye Girl (WB), 

8th wk 115 

Showcase I—The Fury (20th-Fox) 350 

Showcase 11—High Anxiety (20th-Fox), 

5th wk. 135 

Showcase III—Coma (UA), 5th wk 110 

Showcase IV—Saturday Night Fever (Pcra), 

15th wk 150 

Showcase V— Grav Lady Down (Univ), 2nd wk 175 

Whalley—Blue Collar (Univ), 2nd wk 165 

York Square Cinema—That Obscure Object of 

Desire (SR) 200 

Academy Award Nominations Spur 

Ads for Hartford First Runs 

HARTFORD — Pre-Oscar award lime 

could hardly be labeled a frantic, much 

talked-about period for even the most avid 

movie buff in metropolitan Hartford. Newspapers 

gave the nominations story only matter-of-fact 

treatment. But most of the circuit 

and independent cinemas alluded to their 

product's nominations in their advertising. 

For good measure. United Artists theatres 

(Westfarms 3, UA East 3) conducted a 

"Guess The Oscar Winners" competition, 

top winner to receive a season pass for any 

United Artists cinema. Universal's "Caseys 

Shadow" (Cine Enfield 4, Westfarms 3. 

East 3 and Newington 3) galloped to 275. 

Warners' "Straight Time" was the week's 

sole other newcomer; it registered 250 Westfarms 

3, East 3 and Newington 3). 

Art Cmema—Black Silk Stockings (SR): 

Oriental Baby Sitter (SR), 3rd wk 200 

Atheneum Cmema That Obscure Objec: oi 

Desire (SR), 3id wk 125 

Cinemd City I—The One and Only (Para), 

Bth wk. 85 

Cinema Cuy IV The Turning Point (20th-Fox). 

9th wk 70 

Elm—Close Encounters oi the Third Kind (Col), 

15th wk 175 

Four theatres—Casey's Shadow (Mniv) 275 

Showcase I—The Goodbye Girl (WB), 14th wk 70 

Showcase II Saturday Night Fever (Para), 

15th wk. 90 

Showcase III— Ccma (UA), 6th v.-',: 70 

Showcase IV Gray Lady Down (Univ) 

2nd wk 150 

Showcase V The Boys in Company C (Col), 

5th wk 150 

Three theatres—Blue Collar (Univ), 2nd wk 160 

Three theatres—Straight Time (WB) 250 

Three theatres—Julia (20th-Fox), 9th wk 110 

Three theatres High Anxiety (20th-Fox), 

Bth wk 90 

MAINE 

^he Fine Arts Twin Cinemas (auditorium 

two), Portland, brought back an AIP 

duo, "Empire of the Ants" and "The People 

That Time Forgot," for Saturday-Sunday 

1:30 p.m. matinees, charging $1 admission 

for all seats both afternoons. Ads enthused: 

"Special Matinees! Back By Popular Demand! 

Big Sci-Fi Double Hit Show!" The 

Paris Cinema, same city, ran "Special Family 

Matinees" same days, screening Paramount's 

animated cartoon release, "Run For 

Your Life, Charlie Brown!" at 12:30 noon 

and 3 p.m. both days, and charging $1 for 

all 

children. Cartoons supplemented the feature 

attraction. 

Holding over across Maine: Universal's 

"Gray Lady Down," Allied Artists' "The 

Betsy," United Artist's "Coma," Buena Vista's 

"Candleshoe," Warner Bros.' "The 

Goodbye Girl," Columbia's "Close Encounters 

of the Third Kind" plus "The Boys 

in Company C," Paramount's "Saturday 

Night Fever" plus "The One and Only," 

United Artists' "Semi-Tough," 20th Century-Fox's 

"High Anxiety" plus "Julia." 

Cinema City 4, Westbrook. reported start 

of fourth month's stay of "Saturday Night 

Fever," auditorium one. 

Films screened at the University of 

Maine, Orono campus, during one recent 

week were impressive in quantity alone: 

"Naked Came the Stranger," "Pat and 

Mike," "Silent Movie," "Wizards," "Dr, 

Zhivago," and "The African Queen." 

"Citizen Kane" was screened in the Moulton 

Theatre at Westbrook College . . . The 

Hancock County Auditorium, Ellsworth, 

hosted a showing of "Rebecca" . . . "The 

Endless Summer" was screened in Kresge 

Auditorium, Bowdoin College. Brunswick. 

1^-2 BOXOmCE ;: April 10, 1978

. . . The 

. . Same 

. . The 

SPRINGFIELD 

JJew marquee titles in western Massachusetts: 

20th Century-Fox's "The Fury." 

Paramount's "American Hot Wax," Univcrsal's 

"House Calls." Warner Bros.' "Straight 

Time," plus states-rights' X-rated product, 

including "Abduction of Lorelei," "Chickie," 

"Affairs of Janice" and "Final Blow," 

Continuing major product: Columbia's 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "The 

Boys in Company C," Allied Artists' "The 

Betsy," Paramount's "The One and Only," 

"Saturday Night Fever," 20th-Fox"s "High 

Anxiety," "Star Wars," Warners" "The 

Goodbye Girl," "The Gauntlet," United 

Artists' "Semi-Tough," United Artist's 

"Coma." 

The Allen & Cooley Cinemas 2, 

Springfield, 

got a nice response to newly-started 

"Cinema Classics" programs in auditorium 

two. Initial titles included Warners' "To 

Have and Have Not" (1944 release) and 

Columbia's "It Happened One Night" (1934 

release). Newspaper ads have been captioned 

with such appealing copy as "Cinema 

Classics"—Now Showing For Your Enjoyment!" 

Current product continues to be 

shown in auditorium one, the overall policy 

providing a good balance in audience pitch. 

While not enjoying the so-called "glamor" 

appeal of, say, 20th-Fox's "Star Wars," 

Universal's "Smokev and the Bandit" has 

enjoyed one of the longest stays, bookingswise, 

in recent vears. Not only has the Burt 

Reynolds-Jackie Gleason starrer been 

brought back with significant boxoffice returns 

to smaller town situations, but larger 

cities, too. have found an audience. The 

Springfield Plaza Twin brought the comedy 

back for "One Week Only!" with a "Bargain 

Matinee" in effect for 2:15 p.m. on 

Wednesday, auditorium one. 

Redstone Theatres' Showcase 8. West 

Springfield, started advance teaser newspaoer 

advert'sins for United Artists' 

"F.I.S.T." 

Mann Theatres' Fox Cinema, Springfield, 

sneak-previewed "American Hot 

Wax" before start of regular engagement 

Redstone West Springfield plex 

had a record-smasher: nothing less than two 

full pages were used for advertising a sneak 

preview of "The Fury." 

Richard C. Hammerich, entertainment 

writer for the Spr'ngfield Newspapers, got 

back from accompanying the Boston Symphony 

Orchestra on its tour of Japan. 

Avco Embassy's "Git!" (1965 release) and 

MGM-UA's "National Velvet" (1944 release) 

were among recent showings by area 

libraries . . . The state of Massachusetts 

has designated $1,200,000 for a public ice 

skating rink in Hampshire County, with 

discussions under way for rink construction 

on property owned by the Three-County 

Fair Ass'n in Northampton. 

Spectrum Cable Systems Inc., which provides 

cable antenna television (CATV) service 

in West Springfield, urged town approval 

of proposed rate hikes at a public hearing: 

the CATV firm wants to increase rates from 

$7 to $7.95-a-month. West Springfield selectmen, 

however, have opposed the boost 

and asked the state to delay a decision until 

Spectrum has completed installation of 

cable in the town. 

Don't write off continuing appeal of 

weekend kiddie shows. "The Three Fantastic 

Supermen," 21st Century release, was 

"brought back" for a second weekend booking 

by the Agawam Twin, Agawam; Springfield 

Plaza Twin, Springfield: Mountain 

Farms 4, Hadlcy: Calvin Cinema. Northampton; 

and Garden Cinema, Greenfield. 

Ads were captioned: "Super Fantastic Fun 

For The Whole Family!" 

The Parkway Drive-ln, Wilbraham, 

triple-billed 20th-Fox's "The World's Greatest 

Lover," "Moving Violation" and "Take 

A Hard Ride," with ads captioned. "3 

Super Hits!" 

The Pleasant St. Theatre, Northampton. 

had filmmaker Kevin Brownlee for ooth 

pre-and-post showing discussion tied to 

"Winstanley," which he co-directed with 

Andrew Mallo in 1975. Brownlee is also the 

author of "The Parade's Gone By." a study 

of the silent film from directors to mechanical 

processes such as title cards and tinting. 

Same cinema double-billed Paramount's 

"Double Indemnity" (1944 release) and 

Warners' more recent "The Late Show." 

Special Film Series Held 

At San Antonio College 

SAN ANTONIO—A short film series 

was shown at San Antonio College. Not 

only does the series have a brief run, the 

films featured are short, too. 

"The Possibilities of the Short Film: 24 

selected Works of Modern Filmmakers" 

was shown in McAllister Auditorium. 

Jack Landman, independent filmmaker 

and director of the San Antonio Film Society, 

selected the films which ranged from 

two and one half to 25 minutes long. 

Films which have been grouped according 

to the filmmaker's approach under the 

titles "The Pixilated Momentary Image," 

"Manipulation of Light" and "The Commonplace 

Transformed." 

Other themes were "Altering the Celluloid." 

"The Beauty of Cinematography" 

and "The Animated Image." 

Short film series of this type have been 

done in New York and on the West Coast, 

but have not been common elsewhere. Landman 

moderated and introduced the films 

to give continuity to the presentation, which 

showed film as an innovative art form 

RHODE ISLAND 

JJew attractions: Columbia's "Casey's Shadow," 

Paramount's "American Hot 

Wax," plus states-rights, X-rated releases, 

among them, "Expensive Taste," "Long 

Jean Silver." "Health Spa," "China Girl," 

"Heat Wave," "Sweet Cakes," "Joy," "Joint 

Venture," "Expose Me Lovely," "Lollipop 

Palace," "Wonderful World of Gays," 

"Long John," "Big Split" and "Love In 

Maid," among others. 

Holdovers included United Artist's 

"Coma." Universal's "Gray Lady Down," 

Columbia's "The Boys in Company C" plus 

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind," 

Paramount's "The One and Only" plus 

"Saturday Night Fever," Allied Artists' 

"The Betsy," 20th Century-Fox's "High 

Anxiety," Sunn Classics' "Beyond and 

Back," Cinema 5's "A Special Day," United 

Artists' "Semi-Tough," Buena Vista's "Candleshoe." 

The Palace Cinema, West Warwick, continues 

its unique, at least for Rhode Island, 

combination screen and stage programs, 

with a burlesque dancer "live" on stage 

both matinees and evenings and a doublebill 

motion picture booking. Programs are 

changed every Monday; the cinema is closed 

Sundays. 

The Redstone Showcase 6, Seekonk, had 

considerable advance teaser advertising for 

20th-Fox"s "The Fury" . plex advertised 

"No Passes Accepted" for its "High 

Anxiety" engagement . Fairlawn, 

Pawtucket, brought back Universal's "Smokey 

and the Bandit," on a double-bill with 

the same distributor's "The Car." 

Rare Cape Sneak Preview 

HYANNIS. MASS. — Cape Cod had a 

rare preview at the Interstate Theatres of 

New England's Cinema Centre 3. Cape Cod 

Mall, which screened 20th Century-Fox's 

"The Fury" on a recent Friday at 9:30 p.m. 

The auditorium's current attraction, Paramount's 

"The One and Only," was shown 

once that evening, at 7 p.m. 

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TREATMENT SERVICE - 

BOXOFTICE :: April 10. 1978 NE-3

. . The 

BOSTON 

Have Titleman has his 

their 

United Artists office 

staff flying high with the news that 

1977 Academy Award winner for best 

foreign film. -Black and White in Color," 

is being re-released in April for showings 

in certain designated art houses. 

We are pleased to pass the information 

that Henry "Bud" Scullys buying and booking 

service has moved to 37 Norman Dr., 

Framingham. Mass. Phone 872-9389. 

Celebrating 45 years with 20th Century- 

Fox, Bessie Szathmary, known as the 

NOTICE 

HLM VENTURES 



















"OUT OF THE 



VENTURES 











FILM VENTURES 





(213) 659^545 

"Dancing Bookers Clerk" at the Boston 

branch, was guest of honor at a luncheon 

sponsored by her fellow employees at the 

Park Plaza Hotel. Congratulating her on 

her length of service were fellow branch 

associates Marty Berman. Sal Popplizio, 

Joe Foley, Frank McGowan, Peter Miglierini, 

Linda Carlson, Leslie Lannan, 

Elaine Urban, Polly Saraceno and Linda 

Malcom. 

Nick Russo's booking department at G & 

G Communications had a busy month lining 

up a 100-theatre saturation booking for 

Iheir children's picture "Pippi on the Run" 

in the New York and New Jersey area. 

Craig Russel, female impersonator and 

star of "Outrageous!", now in its 32nd week 

at the Orson Welles, was in Boston this 

week with the Craig Russel show at the 

Berklee Performance Center. In the interim 

he made a personal appearance at the Orson 

Welles where he planted his feet and hands 

into a patch of wet sidewalk cement in real 

Hollywood fashion. 

Boston's Museum of Fine Arts salutes the 

anniversary of the Academy of Motion 

."iOth 

Picture Arts and Sciences by hosting a film 

series devoted to the first pictures honored 

with the Academy's coveted Oscars. The 

series began unspooling March 21 and runs 

through Tuesday (18). Included is the 1927 

silent classic "Sunrise," starring Janet Gaynor, 

along with Academy winners "The Jazz 

Singer," with Al Jolson, William Wellman's 

"Wings." Chaplin's "The Circus," plus 

others^. 

Blaise Noto, pLiblicity director at UA, in 

conjunction with the Real Paper and 

WCOZ radio in Boston, has took over the 

Sack Charles C'nema I for a midnight Saturday 

(1) screening of "Coming Home," 

starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. The 

March 18th issue of the Real Paper ran a 

half-page ad asking contestants to solve the 

cryptogram puzzle. The answer, a slogan 

from the film, was "A man who believed 

in war, a man who believed in nothing, and 

a woman who believed in both of them." 

All 200 passes were awarded two days after 

the paper hit the stands, and more correct 

responses continued to come in each day. 

New openings: "The Fury," Pi Alley and 

four shopping screens; "American Hot 

Wax," Paris and four shopping centers; 

"Saturday N'ght F;v;r." Sack .S7, Circle and 

four shoppers; "House Calls," Sack 57 and 

four malls. "Straight Time," Gary and four 

others. Continuing: "That Obscure Object 

of Desire," Exeter; "Star Wars," in its 4.')th 

week at the Charles; "Coma," at the Cheri 

and five others; "Padre Padrone," Orson 

Welles; "Children of Theatre Street." 

Allston. "The Betsv" opened at 22 suburban 

cinemas. 

VERMONT 

J^s aware of the inflation-conscious family 

movie-going crowd as anybody in exhibition, 

Vermont cinema circuit chief Merrill 

Jarvis, in his own distinctive way, has 

been pitching for more family trade by focusing 

on the one key factor: price. Just 

about every ad for the Merrill Theatres 

Corp. situations in metropolitan Burlington 

can be found to contain a reference to reduced 

pricing. He is careful not to employ 

to excess the word, "bargain." Rather, 

showman Jarvis opts for "reduced." 

One example is 20th Century-Fox's "High 

Anxiety." Jarvis advertised, "Reduced Adult 

Prives For Matinees!" (A difference of a 

dollar between afternoon and evening 

charge). 

The Jarvis Essex Twin Cinema, Essex 

Jimction, has a $1.50 admission in effect 

for all seats at all times (with exception of 

2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday matinees, when the 

tab is reduced to $1.25). 

Continuing attractions across the Green 

Mountain state: Columbia's "Close Encounters 

of the Third Kind," 20th-Fox's 

"High Anxiety," "Julia," "The Turning 

Point." Paramount's "The One and Only," 

"Saturday Night Fever," "Looking for Mr. 

Goodbar." United Artist's "Coma," among 

others. 

20th-Fox's "The Fury" was sneak-previewed 

on a recent Friday night in auditorium 

one of the SBC Management Corp. 

Burlington Plaza . . . Paramount's "Blonde 

2 

Venus," Marlene Dietrich 1932 starrer, was 

screened in the Marsh Life Sciences build- 

Paramount's "The Fury" opened March 

22 at Sack's Pi Alley, Redstone Circle and 

ing on the University o" Vermont, Burlington 

campus, on a recent Saturday night at 

four shopping center spots, preceeded by a 

full two-page ad 14 days prior and one 

7 p.m. . 1978 Miss Vermont pageant 

has been announced for May 5 at the 

full-page add a day ahead in Boston's Globe 

and Herald, with critics giving good reviews 

Middlebury Union High School Auditorium, 

on its opening. 

sponsored by the Lions Club of Middlebury. 

Anybody in Vermont exhibition 

who'd like to see a lithesome lovely on a 

cinema staff participate? Young women, 17 

through 26 years of age, high school graduates 

or seniors, Vermont residents or attending 

a Vermont school and never married, 

are eligible to compete. The winner is to 

represent the state at the Miss America 

pageant in Atlantic City, N.J.. in September. 

More information: Either write P.O. Box 

150. Middlebury 05753, or call 1-388-2490. 

Why NOT a Vermont exhibition representative'?!! 

A letter-to-the-editor in the Burlington 

Free Press pondered: "Movie theatres in the 

North End—Where are they? Why isn't 

there one in the North End? We have to go 

into the city and South Burlington see a 

movie ... It would be good to have a movie 

theatre that is closer for the kids to go to. 

People waste gas to bring their kids to see a 

movie." 

Concessionaire s Wife Dies 

BO.STON—Jennic Ellis wife of George 

B. Ellis, concession director of Sack Theatres, 

Boston, died March 4 in Stoughton, 

NE-4 BOXOFFICE :: April 10, 1978 

Mass.

Exhibitors in New England Discover HARTFORD 

Multiple Screens Multiply Audience 

By ALLEN M. WIDEM 

HARTFORD—Inflation, taxation and increased 

competitiveness are problems which 

affect all businesses, including exhibition in 

the six-state New England region. Independent 

and circuit interests alike look with 

hope to expansion as a means of keeping 

pace with inflation's erosion of profitability. 

New theatre construction can only proceed 

when there is a firm indication that such a 

project will be profitable, according to 

sources within the industry. 

The more obvious route of expansion is 

ly converted into a twin. 

The Loews State in Providence. Rhode 

Island, was the showplace of the Plantation 

state; at last reports, the Dario family was 

allowing a non-profit corporation to convert 

the handsome structure into a performing 

arts center. At least the one-time Rhode 

Island "home" for MGM's finest product 

will not be demolished for urban renewal, 

as was the case for Loews situations in 

Bridgeport. New Haven. Hartford and elsewhere 

across southern New England. SBC 

management retains a first-run situation in 

Providence and there are a sprinkling of 

other first-run elsewhere in the city, but 

by and large the first-run scene in Rhode 

Island is strongest beyond the town line. 

There is grumbling on the part of the 

single-theatre exhibitor that distribution 

should b(^ doing more for "the little guy." 

But distribution spokesmen are contending 

that inflation has hurt their end of the business, 

too. One long-time distribution executive 

said that unless an independent comes 

to terms with himself— in effect, bites the 

bullet, builds another screen, eyes a new 

cinema site in another town with little or 

no competition—he will find himself at 

year's end with less "take" than before. 

Another distributor remarked that unless 

exhibitors support independent distribution 

on a regular year-round basis, the sources 

of supply cannot be expected to blaze trails 

and discover new areas, such as better story 

content. "I've time and again tried to sell 

one guy product," a distributor said, "and 

every time I come through town he gives 

me the same old song-and-dance— 'Who's 

in it?' How in the world is independent 

distribution supposed to become competitive 

with major distribution if the independents 

be said to have reached the end of its development. 

If any'h'ng. more building (most 

especially expansion of existing structures) 

is in the offing. More often than not, the 

multiples are either in or quite close to 

large-scale shopping centers or malls, which 

are the focal point of cinema construction. 

The parking space is already there, a factor 

which immediately reduces the huge costs of 

land for new theatres. 

Merrill Jarvis, one of the most enterprising 

independents in New England, has carved 

a veritable empire of first run houses 

out of the northern Vermont region. His 

interests are primarily in multiples; he has 

kept pace with progress, and the Jarvis 

cinemas of the future no doubt will have 

kept pace with economic conditions of the 

times. 

Jarvis has the dramatic drive, the verve 

of showmanship, to be willing to prove to 

Vermont—and to New England—that multiples 

can operate in less-populated regions. 

He took a calculated risk by building triple 

cinemas in metropolitan Burlington. They 

have paid off despite the fact that most New 

Hngland multiples operate in areas of over 

a million people, while Vermont has a total 

population of fewer than half a 

million. 

phe Plaza Theatre, suburban Windsor, was 

sold for $235,000 by the estate of attorney 

Joseph L. Shulman to Mrs. Alice B. 

Kent, who indicated that the cinema would 

cont'nue with a motion picture policy on 

the existing 99-cent admission plan applicable 

for all seats at all times. 

The Colonial Theatre, 492 Farmington 

Ave., Hartford, reopened after nearly a 

\ ear's shuttering. New owners arc Francis 

and Kathryn Piacente of Wethersfield, who 

acquired the property from the Park St. 

Investment Co. last December. Decades 

ago, the 950-seater was a key component 

can't get playdates?" 

of the Warner Bros, metropolitan Hartford 

One veteran exhibitor contends that property 

to add screens to existing cinemas. Creating 

circuit. It was later under various independent 

new facilities on newly-purchased land tract 

circuit banners. Ernest A. Grecula, 

taxes have jumped in his town, and 

involves either enormous expenditures or any appeals to the local government are presently owner and operator of the Art 

high-interest loans. 

answered with the latter's recitation of increased 

Cinema, was a manager there some years 

Despite the enormous escalation of costs. 

operating costs. "When I tell the ago. 

New England has experienced a building town government that imless I can get a 

Former West Hartford mayor Ellsworth 

boom in multiple-room cinema complexes. better break on taxes, I'll be forced either to 

Grant (he is the brother-in-law of Katharin: 

American Multi C'nema and Redstone Theatres 

have four- and six-auditorium plexes tion spiral—or seriously to consider shut- 

boost my prices—contributing to the infla- 

Hepburn) has been named by Gov. Ella T. 

Grasso to the Citizen Advisory Committee 

respectively in Ssekonk, Mass. Both buildings 

ting down, then I hear the oft-repeated sug- 

for the New England River Basins 

"Why And 

Commission's 

are geared for a 

major share of metropolitan 

aestion. not twin vour theatre?' I 

Connecticut River Basin Program. 

Providence's first run market. SBC have to counter with a sound bit of rationalization—there 

isn't enough trade for my 

Grant has produced film in the past. 

Management Corp. has passed the 50-screen 

mark and is heading for at least 20 more. one screen now. I'm trying to 'sell' my theatre 

Sergie Eisenstein's 1938 classic, "Alexander 

The circuit recently penetrated Newington, 

Nevsky," was screened as a free at- 

for special shows, I'm reducing ad- 

and 

N. H. (suburban Portsmouth) with a fourpi 

missions, but unless I've got product right 

traction at 7:30 p.m. on a recent Thursday 

up there on the screen. I'm in the soup. 

ex. 

night in Webster Hall, West Hartford Pubmissions, 

And this circle goes on week after week!" 

In contrast to the boom, however, is the 

black-andwhite 

Multiples are very much a way of survival 

New 

import has subtitles. 

lic Library. The 107-minute, 

plight of the single-screen, single-standing movie houses, those long owned and operated 

for exhibition in England and 

by New England's independent exhibitors. 

elsewhere. Sack. Redstone. SBC. Merrill David O. Selznick's 1935 classic. "David 

Jarvis (northern Vermont). General Cinema Copperfield," was shown at 7:30 p.m. on a 

The Burnside Cine in East Hartford, 

for example, has been closed and offered Corp. and Menschell (central Connecticut) recent Wednesday in the Physics building 

are amona the key multiple-auditorium on the University of Connecticut Storrs 

for sale for months. Not that many years 

ago the Burnside. one of the Keppner- operators in the region. Significantly, while campus; admission was $1.50. 20th Century-Fox's 

Tarantul combme. enjoyed first run status they dominate the towns in which their 

"The Adventures of Sherlock 

as a single screen unit, but was more recent- 

situations are presently located, none can Holmes' Smarter Brother." a mid-1970s release, 

was shown as a free attraction at 

8 p.m. on a recent Friday in the auditorium 

of the Greater Hartford Community College. 

Cinestudio at Trinity College. Hartford, 

double-billed "At the Circus" (MGM. 

1939 release) and "Singin' in the Rain" 

(MGM, 1952 release) for three consecutive 

days, charging $2, general admission; $1.50. 

students. 

20th-Fox's classic, "The Grapes of 

Wrath" (1940 release), was shown on a 

Friday night at 8 p.m., by the Roaring 

Brook Nature Center, off Rte. 44. Admission 

was $2.50. with homemade cookies, 

hot coffee and cider sold. 

Janice Law Trecker, film critic for the 

West Hartford News, addressed the Connecticut 

Writers League at the First Church 

of Christ Conareaational. West Hartford. 

Museum Presents Comedies 

BOSTON—The Museimn of Fine Arts 

presented a program of vintage comedies 

cons-sting of "It" (1927 with Clara Bow) 

and "It's the Old Army Game" (1926 with 

W.C. Fields), charging $2 general admission, 

$1.50 for museum members. 

EOXOmCE :: April 10. 1978 NE-5

lighting for Existence/ Theatre 

Owners War on Blind Bidding 

BOSTON—Massachusetts theatre owners 

are supporting a bill which would prohibit 

blind bidding. A hearing was held May 21 

before the Committee on Commerce and 

Labor. Spokesman Sumner Redstone, president 

of the Redstone circuit, and Guy 

Spencer, owner of the Community Playhouse 

in Wellesley, appeared on behalf of 

the two bills. 

The new legislation will permit theatre 

owners to see a film before contracting 

for it, spokesmen explained. "This is usually 

not the case at this time. Massachusetts is 

a bellwether state as part of a national 

program for uniform legislation to achieve 

a balance between the production and exhibition 

ends of the film industry. Virtually 

identical bills have been signed into law in 

Louisiana, ars awaiting the governor's signature 

in Virginia, and have passed the 

Pennsylvania House." 

Mass. vs. Coasts 

The bills filed by TONE (Theatre Owners 

of New England), would prohibit blind 

bidding within the state. "Massachusetts 

theatre owners are fighting for their existence 

against the oligopoly of California and 

New York film prodi'cers and distributors," 

according to 

legislative 

TONE executive secretary and 

counsel. 

"In addition, when we bid for a film, 

we have no idea what the rating will be. 

Then we find the final product has an R 

or even an X rating. Sometimes the content 

stretches the suitability of those ratings. We 

must abide by this contract regardless of 

the appropriateness of the film for the audience 

at that particular theatre," Redstone 

said. 

"The motion picture business in Massachusetts 

is almost entirely a home owned 

industry. Our viabilitv as well as the cost 

of entertainment and the 

moral sensitivities 

of the general publ'c will be served by the 

passage of this 

legislation." 

Studios Take Risks 

But Stephen Schwartz, legislative counsel 

for MPAA, had appeared at a state house 

hearing the day before to oppose passage 

of the bills, contending that the major studios 

take many risks in putting millions of dollars 

into pictures years before they are filmed 

and shown. 

The two-hour hearing on the measure 

was held before a jammed session of the 

Commerce and Labor committee, which 

considered dozens of other consumer pro- 

for, and the small theatre operators don't 

have the resources to hang in there and 

tection bills. 

risk the financial consequences." 

On the question of obscenity, Redstone 

"If this legislation does not pass, more 

and more theatres will go out of business, asked "How can you consider obscenity 

and both big and small operators will be when you don't know the ratings?" Friedberg 

forced to seek help from the courts," A. 

said previewing films is necessary so 

Alan Friedberg, president of Sack Thea- 

theatre operators know which theatres the 

tres, told the committee. "We are losing 

thousands of dollars, losses that ultimately 

must be passed on to the consimier." 

Malcolm Green, a theatre exhibitor with 

40 houses, said "Blind bidding has only 

been common for five years. In 1973 up 

to one third of the films were offered on 

a blind bid basis, whereas now 75 to 100 

per cent of them are." Schwartz pointed 

out, however, that all films rated X and R 

are available for previewing by exhibitors. 

Schwartz said filmmakers "can't predict 

with pinpoint accuracy" when a film will 

be completed. "The industry would not be 

able to book crucial release dates if there 

were no blind bidding." "Star Wars," he 

noted, was completed onlv a week before it 

opened early last summer. "If the summer 

season had been lost, the profits would have 

been slashed for the industry and theatre 

owners," he stated. 

Six Companies Monopolize 

"Six film companies control 85 per cent 

'•a'd. was "Exorci't II: the Heretic." 

" 'The Exorcist' was a very successful motion 

picture, so people were putting up 

millions and millions of dollars 

to book the 

sequel. Opening day was a blockbuster, but 

by the th'rd dav the theatres were practically 

closed, although some had contractual 

obligations to show the film for 14 weeks," 

noted Redstone. 

Need for Jirdgenient 

Malcolm Green included other such boxoffice 

disasters as "A Bridge Too Far" 

and "King Kong" in the list. "We should 

be able to use our own judgment." he 

stated. 

Redstone declared, "Massachusetts is a 

very important market. If we can get this 

legislation passed in a half dozen prominent 

markets, there will be no more blind bidding. 

A lot of junk gets on our screens 

because we don't know what we're bidding 

film should be shown in and which not. 

He said he previewed "Pretty Baby," about 

a 12-year-old prostitute. "We will be playing 

it in Boston where it is fair game for 

the city audience," he said, "but I wouldn't 

want to show it in Danvers or Natick. 1 

wouldn't have known that if I hadn't seen 

it." 

The theatre owners contended that pornographic 

house operators are able to preview 

the films they show, but those who 

want to preview major films cannot. "We 

know of no other industry other than ours 

that is required to purchase a product without 

first having had the opportunity to see. 

feel, touch or taste the product," they said. 

"It's like telling a housewife she can't 

look at the meat in the supermarket, but 

she can buy it and we will send it to her," 

Redstone told the committee. The Commerce 

and Labor committee took no action 

on the bill, but according to Rep. Andrew 

Natsios (R, Holliston), there is "a lot of 

sentiment in favor of it, and if the bill passes 

we possibly could see a reduction in ticket 

prices." 

Distributors Wants Security 

"It appears that over the last ten years, 

because of increasing competition and investments 

in films by the motion picture 

of the business." Redstone, an exhibitor for industry, distributors want a greater degree 

30 years, told the committee. "If we want of security. The way thev are getting this 

any motion picture, the only way to get it is by forcing the local theatre owners to 

is to blind b'd. The dice are loaded when 

vou can't look at what you are gambling 

for." He sa-d the end result that 

accept pictures without having seen them," 

Natsios said. "As far as I'm concerned that 

makes the whole free market system irrat'onal, 

is "ticket 

prices go up to cushion against possible 

because they are saying 'accept our 

flops." 

product without knowing what it is,' " the 

"It's like a crapshoot or a game of Russian 

legislator stated. 

Anthony DeSantis. operator of a Gloucester 

roulette," Friedberg said. Redstone 

added, "A consumer pays $3.50 because 

theatre, said; "I got hurt on the film 

nine months earlier an exhibitor put up 

$200,000 for the picture." The best example 

of how theatre operators lost monev bidding 

on a film they have not seen. Redstone the way things turned out," he continued, 

'Slapshot.' Paul Newman was the star, it 

was a hockey picture being shown in New 

England—how could you go wrong? But 

"there was language in that picture that 

would shock a sailor. It turned people off. 

Parents wouldn't let their kids come. I lost 

a couple of thousand dollars, and I didn't 

even make house money. If I had seen that 

film first, I would have known it wouldn't 

go in my town." 

Redstone Lost $600,000 

Redstone said he lost $600,000 because 

he showed "The Heretic" before seeing it. 

Schwartz countered by saying exhibitors 

are not forced to bid blind. "They can hold 

off until the next showing of the film and 

during the interim exhibit another film 

which thev have tradescreened." 

The bills before the House read as follows: 

"No bids shall be returnable, no negotiations 

for the exhibition or licensing of a 

motion picture shall take place, and no license 

agreement or any of its terms shall 

be agreed to, for the exhibition of any 

motion picture within the Commonwealth 

before the motion picture has been tradescreened 

with the Commonwealth. 

"A distributor shall include in each invitation 

to bid for a motion picture for exhibition 

within the Commonwealth, if such 

motion picture has not already been tradescreened 

within the Commonwealth, the 

NE-6 BOXOFHCE April 10, 1978 

date, time and place of the trade screening 

of the motion pictiue within the Commonwealth.

'A distributor shall provide reasonable 

and uniform notice to exhibitors within the 

Commonwealth of all tradescreenings within 

the Commonwealth of motion pictures he 

is distributing. 

"Any purported waiver of the requirements 

of this section shall be void and unenforceable." 

The b'll calls for the following bidding 

procedures: "If bids are solicited from exhibitors 

for the licensing of a motion picture 

within the Commonwealth then the invitation 

to bid shall specify (a) the number 

and length of runs for which the bid is being 

solicited, whether it is a first, second 

or subsequent run, and the geographic area 

for each run; (b) the names of all exhibitors 

who are being solicited; (c) the date and 

hour the invitation to bid expires; and (d) 

the location, including the address, where 

the bids will be opened, which shall be within 

the Commonwealth. 

"All bids shall be submitted in writing 

and shall be opened at the same time and 

in the presence of exhibitors, or their agents, 

who submitted bids and are present at such 

time. After being opened, bids shall be subject 

to examination by exhibitors, or their 

agents, who submitted bids. Within (7) business 

days after a bid is accepted, the distributor 

shall notify in writing each exhibitor 

who submitted a bid of the terms of 

th>: accepted bid and the name of the winning 

bidder. Once bids are solicited, the 

distributor shall license the picture only by 

bidding and may solicit re-bids if he does 

not accept any of the submitted bids." 

Sack Theatres Buys 

The Paris Theatre 

BOSTON—Sack Theatres took over Joseph 

E. Levine's old showcase house here, 

the Paris, a 601 -seat theatre which had 

been playing second runs and revivals, and 

opened "American Hot Wax," the first 

playdate under its new first run policy. 

The Paris, across from the big Prudential 

Center which houses the Sheraton Hotel, a 

55-story office building and a convention 

hall, opened in 1963 and for some years 

served as the Boston showcase for Levine's 

Avco Embassy films. Under the Sack banner 

the house is being refurbished and facelifted 

with company logos and decor. The 

price scale is the same as other theatres in 

the circuit, $2.50-3.50, and the move brings 

the number of Sack screens in Boston to 

16. 

At the same time, said A. Alan Friedberg, 

president, groundbreaking will take 

place next month for one additional auditorium 

at the Sack Cinema in Natick. and 

for two additional theatres at the circuit's 

Leominster complex, bringing the total to 

35 screens in Massachusetts. 

Friedberg said a "continuing expansion 

move" is underway for Sack Theatres. Plans 

are to bring the number of screens operated 

by Sack in Massachusetts to 40. 

So far the network, which has staged a 

rapid expansion since acquisition by Cadence, 

is located onlv in Massachusetts. 

Sack, whose headquarters are in Boston, 

operates the following theatres: Charles 1. 

II, III; Music Hall, Pi Alley. Gary. Saxon, 

Beacon Hill and the newly acquired Paris. 

Plans to expand out of the state and across 

the country are "very possible," Friedberg 

said. 

In the meantime Cadence stock is up and 

a tender has been made to stockholders to 

purchase common at $8 per share. The Sack 

division has been showing steady gains, a 

company spokesman said. Friedberg, who 

has guided the film circuit through some 

five years of "good product," said "there 

was never anything wrong with the Paris 

that good product wouldn't correct. 

"The Paris did well when films like 'The 

Graduate' and "Carnal Knowledge' were 

there. We hope to play a major part in 

serving this very active area that has achieved 

an entertainment orientation in recent 

years. 

"The neighborhoods' continued upgrading 

as well as its excellent accessibility to a 

wide theatregoing population makes it an 

exciting place with great potential." 

He continued: "Our growth in the city of 

Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

is indicative of our continued confidence 

in our city and state. We see a bright 

future ahead for this area and for our industry." 

The Paris opened with "America Hot 

Wax" on March 1 7. the first picture booked 

under the Sack banner. A Paramount release 

about the 1950s oroduced by Art Linson, 

the picture stars Tim Mclntire and Laraine 

Newman and was directed by Floyd 

Mutrux. The film, portraying the story of 

Alan Freed, l-âding rock 'n roll disc 

iockey in the '50s, focuses on one week in 

his life when he was at the height of his 

success, prior to the New York payola 

scandals of 1959. 

"Wax" features a local musical talent 

who has played to Boston rock audiences 

for eight years. He is Charles Greene, whose 

performances include engagements at Paul's 

Mall and the Orpheum Theatre. In the film, 

which stars Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee 

Lewis, Greene plays a '50s rock singer. 

Greene made a personal appearance at 

the Sack Charles theatre during a special 

WBCN radio preview March 16. He also 

attended the premiere of "'American Hot 

Wax" the following day. 

Actress Peggy Wood Dies 

STAMFORD, CONN. — Peggy Wood, 

86, with a show world career spanning 50 

years, died in Stamford Hospital March 18 

after a lengthy illness. She leaves a son and 

three grandchildren. 

Redstone Sponsors Sneaks 

BOSTON— Redstone cinemas in eastern 

Massachusetts recently hosted weekend 

sneak previews of 20th Century-Fox's "The 

Fury." Paramount's "American Hot Wax" 

and Universal's "House Calls." 

Raymond Stross' production of '"Good 

Luck. Miss Wvckoff" will be directed by 

Marvin Chomskv. 

NEW HAVEN 

Just when one might think that major real 

estate developments, per se, are a long 

time off for New Haven proper, in light of 

the massive urban renewal on going for 

many years, along come disclosure of plans 

for a $25,000,0130 New Haven Harbor 

Gateway Landing project. Mayor Frank 

Logue has designated a partnership consisting 

of Kagan Co., E & F Construction Co. 

and C.A. White Inc., to develop the nineacre 

tract, components to include an enclave 

of shops and boutique, a hotel with 

300 to 400 guest rooms, executive suites, 

a restaurant, and potential for development 

of a full-service conference center, corporate 

headquarters office tower and multi-level 

parking structure capable of accomodating 

some 1,000 cars. As of Boxoffice presstime, 

there was no indication of either a 

cinema or cinema complex. 

Halcyon Ltd., conducting a downtown 

study, has issued a first-phase report, indicating 

that the "theatre block" in the area 

of College and Chapel streets has "enormous 

potential for revitalization as a center 

for symphony, dance, drama and cinema 

linked to new shops and restaurants" in a 

renovated Taft Hotel. 

The report, disclosed at a chamber of 

commerce meeting, takes note of inner-city 

problems: "Most of these problems are not 

unique to New Haven; they are reflective 

of downtowns throughout the country which 

have been impacted by suburban center 

competition, population out-migration, deterioration 

of the close-in immediate market 

area and increasingly poor access to downtown." 

The downstate Newtown Park and Recreation 

department sponsored a children's 

film matinee (title not advertised) at 2 p.m. 

on a recent Saturday at the Edmond Town 

Hall Theatre. Admission was 50c for all 

seats. 

Film critic Andrew Sarris discussed "The 

American Film Musxal," with both MGM- 

UA's "The Wizard of Oz" (1939 release) 

and "Singin' in the Rain" (1952 release) 

screened at the Playhouse Cinema, downstate 

Westport. Admission was $4 for all 

seats. 

INCORPORATIONS 

— Rhode Island — 

Star Productions Inc.. Providence 02903; 

director, Herbert J. Abedon; 1,000 shares, 

no par common; purpose of incorporation, 

"to market, promote, and present all types 

of events." 

Writer Faith Baldwin Dies 

NORWALK. CONN. — Lifelong 

writer 

Faith Baldwin died at 84 in her Connecticut 

home March 18, after a 17-month-long 

illness. About a dozen of her books were 

adapted to the screen. She was predeceased 

by her husband Hugh H. Cuthrell. Survivors 

include a son. two daughters, a sister, 1 

grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 

COXOFHCE April 10, 1978 NE-7

^Swore By NY Critics 

Now Swears at Them 

BOSTON— Bruce McCabe. Boston Globe 

film critic, took a swipe at reviewers in the 

Big Apple. "T used to swear by New York 

critics—but not any more." 

In a diatribe headed: "The New York 

critics type like anyone else."" in the Sunday 

arts and film section. McCabe stated: "The 

burden New York film critics place on a 

Boston critic is analagous to a tidal wave, 

and it feels heaviest when a picture like 

An Unmarried Woman' looms on the horizon. 

.'Although "Woman" hasn't opened in 

Boston yet. the implications are plain: How 

can I deny it its greatness when the New 

York critics, the most powerful in the business, 

have pronounced their benedictions? 

"And yel, if "An Unmarried Woman" 

doesn't measure up, I'll let you know forthwith. 

The reason is that, after years of lov- 

Tg and hatirg ard being excited and exasperated 

by the New York critics. I've finally 

come to terms with them. I've learned 

they're no different than reviewers anywhere 

else. They just happen to be in New 

York, a city in which, unlike Boston, perspective 

is not always uppermost in the 

mind." 

After stating that "rating critics is as subjective 

as rating movies." McCabe said "the 

only critic I'll come close to trusting is 

Andrew Sarris, if only because his constituency 

at the Village "Voice would murder 

EVERY 

him if he showed a disposition to compromise 

his instincts. I'm suspicious of everyone 

else." He cited Kael as "the most fluent 

stylist writing about films today," but said 

"Kael has arrogated to herself the role of 

a dictator of taste. She watches rough cuts 

of Altman movies and advises him. even 

when unasked, on editing. 

"The problem with many of the rest of 

the critics is they represent publications 

that are too susceptible to fashion and politics. 

You didn't e.xpect to see a pan of the 

film "All The President's Men' in Newsweek, 

which is owned by the Washington 

Post Co., just as you weren't surprised that 

Time found a lot to like in 'Close Encounters 

of the Third Kind,' a film it had a 

financial interest in. Of course, the politics 

of film criticism works in many ways. For 

reasons best known to itself. New York 

magazine dispatched a business writer to a 

preview of "Close Encounters.' He panned 

it mercilessly, but I never was able to figure 

out what his qualifications as a reviewer 

were. The weeklies, however, are pillars of 

rectitude in comparison with the kind of 

film criticism given on TV which is defined 

by Gene Shalit, Rex Reed and Rona Barrett. 

Summing up. McCabe said: "This week 

I sat through a film, 'Handle With Care,' 

that the New York critics had fallen all 

over themselves praising. Although it's a 

pleasant, unassuming and unabatedly commercial 

work, certain critics, particularly 

Kael and Richard Shickel of Time, have 

raised it to plateaus to which no average 

WEEK 

Opportunity 

in 

Knocks 

moviegoer could hope to ascend. As I watched 

it. the critics' eulogies kept coming back 

to mind. They were in contrast to what I 

was seeing on the screen. There was a time 

when this would have bothered me—I used 

to swear by the New York critics—but not 

any more." 

Men Now Get Equal Time 

NEW BEDFORD, MASS. — The State 

cinema hosted the southeastern Massachusetts 

premiere of UA's "Coma," with a 

ladies' day designated for Monday and a 

men's day for Wednesday ($1.25 admission 

for women Mondays, same tab for men 

Wednesdays), plus bargain matinees in effect 

Saturday and Sunday (adults charged $1.50 

and children and senior citizens admitted 

for $ 1 ). 

Old Double Bill Recalled 

MERIDEN. CONN. — From the '50 

Years Ago Today" column in the Morning 

Journal and Record: "Rin-Tin-Tin, the wonder 

dog in 'Race for Life," and Ben Turpin 

in "Broke-in-China," comprise the double 

feature at the Strand Theatre in Wallingford 

this weekend. Balcony ten cents. Orchestra 

25 cents." 

Goddard Classic Screened 

CAMBRIDGE. MASS.—Jean-Luc Goddard"s 

"Breathless." 1961 release, was 

screened by the Massachusetts Institute of 

Technolosy Film Society. Admission was 

$1.25. 

BOXOFFICE 

• CLEARING HOUSE for Classified Ads 

• SHDWMANDISER for Promotion Ideas 

• FEATURE REVIEWS for Opinions on Current Films 

• REVIEW DIGEST for Analysis of Reviews 

Don't miss 

any issue. 

BOXOmCE :: April 10. 1978

. . . Gratien 

C AL GARY 

H big welcome back to the fold to Jim 

Kirkwood. who has returned to the 

Towne Cinema duo downtown ... In keeping 

with the theme of Easter, the chaplain 

at the University of Calgary sponsored an 

unusual silent motion picture screening on 

campus March 19. The full-length black 

and white feature, titled "The Passion of 

Joan of Arc," was produced by Carl Dreyer. 

The film was an analogy of the trial and 

the death of Joan of Arc, as compared to 

the crucifixtion of Christ. There was no 

charge for the showing and the general 

public was invited. 

In town recently was everyone's favorite, 

Mickey Mouse, disguised in his nonworking 

hours as Raellen Lescault, Disneyland ambassador. 

The Disney group was appearing 

on behalf of Woodward's Store, one of the 

sponsors of the cartoon characters. Apart 

from other duties, Mickey took time out to 

The University of Calgary screened the 

Japanese film "Rashomon" in the Recital 

Hall March 22. "A Piece of the Action" 

was shown in the Science Theatre during 

the March 2.3-25 weekend. 

Janet McCoy of Theatre Agencies and 

her husband Vern spent a two-week holiday 

in Phoenix, Ariz., visiting with her parents. 

Some of the wettest weather in 32 years 

descended on that part of Arizona while the 

McCoys were there. There was much concern 

about whether the dams higher up in 

the mountains could handle such a volume 

of water. Flash floods on the lower reaches 

were everyday occurrences. In spite of the 

weather and its attendant problems, the 

McCoys had a wonderful vacation and flew 

home relaxed and refreshed. 

Gelinas Looks Back on Ten Years 

As CFDC Head With Satisfaction 

VANCOUVER—Gratien Gelinas stepped 

down March 1 as chairman of the Canadian 

Film Development Corp, after a long tenure 

in that post. He was appointed to the 

CFDC position in 1969 by Gerard Pclletier, 

who then was secretary of state. 

Considered one of Quebec's most famous 

actors and writers, Gelinas was selected to 

head the CFDC because of his celebrated 

career. However, as the Vancouver Sun's 

Les Wedman interpreted the situation, Gelinas 

then "had to watch others making films 

as he wanted to do it. Under his eagle-eye 

scrutiny, Canadian filmmakers got about 

$25,000,000 from the CFDC, amo'ther $50,- 

000,000 from private investors and made 

212 feature films that have returned to the 

CFDC roughly $5,000,000," 

Wedman's article, headlined "Handing 

Over the Helm of the CFDC," continued: 

"His job now ending— 'enough of a good 

"Gelinas. who appeared in a CFDC-sponsored 

feature film titled 'Red' before he 

became part of the agency, declares "I tried 

him and the CFDC because he was biased 

against some of their bright, young Quebec 

counterparts. 

"Perhaps, he admits, he was harder on 

certain people because he expected more 

from them and because they were cut off 

from CFDC fimding when they returned 

after making films that were nothing like 

the 

project the CFDC approved. 

to be a friend to nobody.' Translated, that 

means he tried for impartiality and he thinks 

he has been 'as impartial as any human 

being can be.' He denies that the English- 

Canadian filmmakers got a better deal from 

"With genius being 90 per cent perspiration 

and 10 per cent inspiration, 'mayhe 

some didn't perspire enough." While the 

CFDC searched for and insisted on quality 

from filmmakers, without always finding 

it. the corporation could not have been any 

more exacting. "But that would have been 

bad.' according to Gelinas, 'because we 

would have been accused of hoping only for 

masterpieces. It would be like a father wanting 

his son to be the prime minister, a general 

or the Pope.' 

"If there had been no CFDC there would 

be no feature film industry to speak of, 

says Gelinas. and he hopes the next ten 

years will see an even greater growth. T 

have been very proud of what the CFDC 

has been doing. I don't mind the complaints. 

We did our best and to whoever succeeds 

me. I say 'okay, do better." That is not a 

challenge, merely an assertion that he feels 

if 

entertain friends of all ages in local hospital 

the next chairman 'does his darned best, 

children's wards. Judging by the enthusiastic 

there's no reason why he shouldn't be better.' 

reception accorded him, this must have been thing is enough'—the multi-talented Gelinas 

the highlight of many a youngster's stay 

"Gelinas believes the 

in will be returning to writing and acting. T 

CFDC has 'done 

the hospital. Mickey's tour was to take him will not be taking it easy but merely moving 

what we were there to do' even though there 

on north to Edmonton. 

into another kind of 

has been no government film policy 'and 

uneasiness.' says the 

it 

bearded 68-year-old artist who. 

would 

through 

have been better if there had been 

his 

The Edmonton Film Society showed another 

in its International Series March 20 Canada long before it became 

one.' There's 

stage characters, was promoting 

been a film policy promised 

unity in 

by every secretary of state since 1967 when 

an issue. 

in the Students Union Building on the University 

of Alberta campus. The feature was 

Evaluates Own Performance CFDC and encourage development of a 

the legislation was possed to establish the 

"The Assistant." March 21, in the International 

Series, the society screened "Alice in 

Canadian feature film industry. 

"He says he has taken his job—a parttime 

one. incidentally—seriously and he has 

Vague on Policy 

the Cities" in the Tory Lecture Theatre on 

not been just a figurehead, according to 

the same campus. Admission was by membershipnas 

isn't the only CFDC board member to 

"Will there ever be such a policy? Geli- 

David Silcox, retiring assistant chairman. 

Gelinas admits he has worked harder than 

shrug off answers that range from 'the film 

perhaps he should have "for better or for 

Away to Israel for a three-week vacation 

policy is that there is no film policy' to 'but 

worse.' They might have selected another 

are Frank Kettner of Theatre Agencies and 

we do have a policy. The CBC does what it 

kind of chairman, he realizes, a politician or 

his wife Sophie. 

wants to do. The NFB does what it wants 

a lobbyist, neither of which he was cut out 

to do and the CFDC does what it wants 

to be. 'That might have been better but 

The Edmonton Public Library, in its science-fiction 

series, March 18-19 screened 

"Not true, of course, because the CFDC 

to do.' 

that's not for me to judge. I took for it 

granted that they needed someone who had 

"The Day the Earth Stood Still," Admission 

has almost been buried in a pauper's grave, 

made films (his first was "My Lady of the 

was free ... In Edmonton to star in the 

is not only limited by money but by an 

Camelias" back in the 1940s) and knew a 

Stage West production of "Star Spangled 

outdated mandate that Gratien Gelinas has 

little about scripts. According to my conscience 

never did I. through neglect or oth- 

Girl" is Ron Palillo, better known as the 

been trying to get changed to include CFDC 

whining Horshak of the TV series "Welcome 

Back, Kotter." The Neil Simon play 

He has met with opposition from the indus- 

participation in the making of TV films. 

erwise, do anything I shouldn't have. That 

doesn't mean I've done perfect work or that 

began March 22 at the Mayfield Inn. 

try itself and from one of his ministers. 

I didn't make mistakes.' 

"Maybe we could have tried to do more. 

Maybe I might have started yelling. But I 

don't want to break my neck. I have other 

things to do.' 

"He is more certain than ever that there 

has to be changes in filmmaking when the 

best Canadian 'film can attract 1.000,000 

people in theatres but almost any film can 

seduce 6,000,000 to 9.000,000 in front of 

TV sets. His father was a harness-maker in 

St. Tite. Que., and if he hadn't switched to 

working on automobiles 'I would have 

starved to death.' says Gelinas. The analogy 

is used to point a starving Canadian film 

industry into greener pastures. 

"To his successor, whoever that may be 

Gelinas advises 'stick to business. 

Do what you know well and do it to 

the best of your ability.' That, he is pleased 

to believe, is exactly what he has done." 

April 10. 1978 K-l

-Very 

'Gray Lady Down and 'Herowork' Ride 

The Edmonton Ratings Roller Coaster 

EDMONTON—Five of last week's Excellent-rated 

films slipped a notch into the 

Very Good category, indicative of a slight 

downward trend. The only holdover to score 

lower was "The Late Great Planet Earth," 

with a still-tolerable Good. Two drifted to 

opposite corners. "Gray Lady Down'" at the 

Jasper Red scored a Very Good, while 

"Herowork" at the Plaza 2 rode the tail end 

of a small dog with a Poor. Still holding 

strong were Paramount' s dynamic duo. "The 

One and Only" and "Saturday Night Fever," 

"Julia" and "The Goodbye Girl." 

Capitol Square 1—Semi-Tough (UA), 

12th 

' 

Capitol Squ< 2— The One and Only (Paâ) 

6th wk. . 

Capitol Sq' 3—Saturday Night Fever 

(Para), 1 3th 

ay J 

Very Good 

Londonderry A—Candleshoe 

3rd wk Very Good 

Londonderry B—Coma (UA), 5th wk Very Good 

Meadowioric, Odeon 1—-Close Encounters of the 

Third Kind (Astral). 12th wk Very Good 

Plaza 2—Herowork (PR) Poor 

Rialto 1—The Other Side ol the Part 2 

Mountain 

(Univ), 5th 

Three theatres—The Late Greot Planet Earth 

wk Very Good 

2nd wk Good 

(PR), 

Westmount A—luha (BVFD) h-hwk 

Westmount B—The Goodbye Girl (WB) 

Excellent 

12th wk Excellen' 

Six Openers in Montreal Send 

Theatre Owners Into Raptures 

MONTREAL — It was an outstanding 

week for new films in Montreal. Six new 

pictures splashed onto screens, and all 

scored Very Good or Excellent. "American 

Hot Wax" sizzled at the Palace, "An Unmarried 

Woman" scored a singular success 

at the Claremont. and "Straight Time" went 

straight to the top. AH three had Excellent 

marks. "Crossed Swords" sliced off a Very 

Good rating, as did "Return From Witch 

Mountain" and "La Vie Devant Soi." "High 

Anxiety" and "Gray Lady Down" were the 

lowest-rated films of this period, but even 

they held their heads above water with 

Good marks. 

Atwoter—Close Encounters of the Third Kind 

(Astral), 14lh wk Very Good 

^ 

Decarie Square—High Anxiety (BVFD), 

Loew 5—Saturday Night Fe 

13lh 

Exce 

Loew s— Lookii . Mr Goodbar (P3 „ 

13th wk Very Good 

Loews—Crossed Swords (WB) Very Good 

Palace—American Hot Wax (Para) Excellent 

Place du Canada—Julia (BVFD), 7th wk. Very Good 

Time (WB) Excellent 

Place Ville Mane—Straight 

Van Home—Relum From Witch Mountain 

- (BV) Very Good 

French Languaae Films 

Berri—Cours Apres Moi Sheriff (Univ) 

2nd wk 

Parisien—1900 (P:ira) 4th wk 

Excellent 

Excellent 

Soi Prfrisien—La Vie Devant lProsp=-ct) Very Good 

Parisien—Goodbye Emanuelle iMut), 

Disney's 'Witch Mountain' Casts 

Its Spell on Winnipeg Filmgoers 

WINNIPEG—Four new bills brightened 

the Winnipeg scene, each time with a different 

degree of success at its respective situation. 

At the low end of the scale was a 

steamy double bill at the Downtown which 

opened to only average business. "The 

Swiss Conspiracy" is doing Good trade at 

the capitol. "Return from Witch Mountain" 

scored a bewitching Very Good in its first 

week, and "American Hot Wax" hit the top 

of the charts with an Excellent. Holdovers 

continued to provide strong returns, but 

"Close Encoimters of the Third Kind" is 

finally 

Capitol—The Swiss Conspiracy (WB) 

Good 

fading. 

Colony—The One and Only (Para), 7th wk Excellent 

Convention Centre—The Other Side of the 

Mountain Pari 2 (Univ), 4th wk Excelleni 

Downtown—Joys of Sex (PH), 

I Wish I Were in Dixie (PR) Average 

Garden City—Return From Witch Mountain 

(BV) 

Very Good 

Garrick—Julia (BVFD), 5th wk Excellent 

Garrick 2—The Choirboys lUniv) 13>h wk Good 

Grant Park—The Goodbye Girl tWB) 

13th wk Excellent 

Hyland—The Late Great Planet Earth (PR), 

4th wk Good 

Kings—Star Wars (BVFD), 39th wk Good 

Metropolitan—American Hot Wax (Para) Excellent 

Northstar 1—Coma (UA), Bth wk Excellent 

Northstar 2—The Turning Point (BVFD) 


Od-eon—Close Encounters of the Third Kind 

(Astral), 13th wk Average 

Park—The Boys in Company C (As- 

2nd 

,.Exc 

(Par 

North Hill, Uptown 1—Close Encounters of the 

Third Kind (Astral), 12th wk Good 

Odeon 1—The Turning Point (BVFD), 12th wk. Good 

Palace—Candleshoe (BV), 4th wk Good 

Palhser Square 2—JuUa (BVFD), 6th wk Excellent 

Three theatres—The Late Great Planet Earth 

(PR). 3rd wk Fair 

Towne Blue—The Goodbye Girl (WB) 

12th wk .ExceUent 

Towne Red—Catastrophe (IFDl Poor 

Uptown 2—The Other Side of the Mountain 

Port 2 (Univ), 4th -/--k Very Good 

Westbrook 2— Star Wars (BVFD) 28-h wk GooH 

OTTAWA—A steady week in 

Ottowa Spring School Break 

Senids Cinema Scores Soaring 

Ottawa resulted 

in strong boxoffice returns, as the 

March school break allowed flocks of student-age 

filmgoers to fill theatre seats. 

"American Hot Wax" opened at the Place 

de Ville and is doing Excellent business. 

Weekend trade is terrific at the Nelson and 

Cinema 6 with Disney Studio's new "Return 

From Witch Mountain." All other films 

rated Good or better: even "Coma," in its 

sixth week at the Place de Ville, rose in 

standing to a Very Good. 

Capitol Square l-Saturday Night Fever (Paro)^ 

14!h wk Very Good 

Ccrpitol Square 2— The Goodbye Girl (WB), 

13th wk. Very Good 

Elgin—The Turning Point (BVFD), 5th wk Very Good 

. 

Elmdale—Julia (BVFD), 4.h wk Very Good 

Elgin—The One and Only (Para), 

Little 

Good 

7th wk, 

Nelson—Relum from Witch Mountain 

(BV) 

Odeon St 

Third Kind 

-V 

Laurent 1— Close Encounters o( 

(Astral), 15th wk ,V 

Good 

Good 

_ 

Odeon St Laurent 7—The Other Side of the 

Mountain Part 2 (Univ), 5th 

Place de 1—American Hot Wax 

wk Very Good 

Ville 

(Para) 

-Excellent 

Very Good 

Place de Ville 2—Coma (UA), 6th wk 

6th Somerset—High Anxiety (BUFD), wk Good 

"Fury/ 'Hot Wax,' 'CrossetJ Swords' 

Come On Strong in Vancouver 

VANCOUVER — The short-lived bus 

strike did not hurt the carriage-trade pictures, 

but d'd soften weekend grosses at 

those theatres who depend mainly on the 

patronage of those lacking wheels. BVFD's 

"The Fury" opened to excellent grosses at 

the Stanley, as did "American Hot Wax." 

"Crossed Swords" spiked an Excellent mark 

in its first week, and "House Calls" rang in 

with another Excellent score. 

Capitol 6—American Hot Wax (Para) Excellent 

Capitol 6—Crossed Swords (WB) Excellent 

Capitol 6—High Anxiety (BVFD). Bth wk Good 

Capitol 6—Coma (UA), Klh wk Good 

Capitol 6—The One ond Only (Para), 7th wk Good 

April 10, 1978

Very 

Hollywood—The Turning Point (BVFD), 


Imperial—End of the World (Astral) Fair 

Imperial—The Betsy (IFD), 4th wk Good 

International—Homage to Chagall (PR), 

2nd wk Fair 

Plaza—The Goodbye Girl (WB), 

wk Very Good 

11th 

Plaza—Julia (BVFD), 22nd wk Good 

Three theatres The Boys in Company C 

(Astral), 4th wk Very Godo 

Towne—The Serpent's Egg (Para) 5th wk Fair 

Two theatres— Star Wars (BVFD) 


Good 

wk University—Coma 

Uptown 

(UA), -Ith 

Saturday Night Fever (Para) 

Excellent 

13th wk 

Uptown— High Anxiety (BVFD) 5th wk Good 

Uptown—The One and Only (Para), 6th wk Good 

York—The Man Who Loved Women (PR), 

4th wk Good 

TORONTO 

Qscar-winning cameraman Conrad Hall 

was a visitor in this city for a series of 

meetings with Canadian cameramen and 

others with related occupations. On his 

schedule was a question-and-answer session 

at Film House with local members of the 

Canadian Society of Cinematographers. 

Hall won the Academy Award in 1969 for 

his brilliant lens work on "Butch Cassidy 

and the Sundance Kid." 

The first Denver International Film Festival, 

scheduled May 5-14, has included a 

documentary program devoted to the work 

of CBC producer Harry Rasky. Set to be 

screened is his Oscar-nominated "Homage 

to Chagall." 

Actress Maureen Stapleton has joined 

Glenda Jackson and George Segal in the 

filming of "Lost and Found," which is the 

sequel to "A Touch of Class." It will be 

shot in this city and Banff during the next 

two months. 

Financial cutbacks by the federal government 

are certain to be felt by the Canadian 

film industry. The Canadian Film Development 

Corp. only has been allowed a $1,000,- 

000 increase—and this increase only has 

been permitted to get the CFDC started in 

making films for TV. 

An administrator in Secretary of State 

John Roberts' department expressed the action 

this way: "The government has pumped 

$24,000,000 into the CFDC over ten years 

and is putting nearly $500,000,000 a year 

into the CBC. It probably has decided that 

it won't get any votes by doing more just 

now. In fact, by giving more, it might lose 

votes in some areas of the country. The arts 

or show business scene is labor intensive 

and the government could sell the public on 

more money through the unemployment issue. 

It doesn't think that way." 

"Conceivably," Secretary of State Roberts 

commented, "the government could tell 

the CFDC it shouldn't be making commerrL\ER.\i>L\ 

IS L\ SHOW 

BrSLVESS IX HAWAII TOO, 

Wlien you conic to Wulklki, 




'^!&i 

cial movies or might take the alternative 

view and issue a general directive. But if 

the government wants to do something drastic, 

it could do it now. I could abolish the 

National Film Board by refusing its funding. 

I'm not going to do that." 

The possibility of pay TV in Canada was 

set back for some time by a 56-page report 

released March 13 by the Canadian Radio- 

TV and Telecommunications Commission 

(CRTC). The cable industry had suggested 

an extra-channel pay service that would 

have been at least 75 per cent with firstrim 

feature films. It will be recalled that 

Famous Players tested such a service in the 

affluent Etobicoke area just west of this 

city a few years ago. The test was far from 

successful and gave little encouragement 

for future planning and development. The 

cable industry said that it would use 15 per 

cent of its gross revenue to help finance 

new Canadian feature films and to help 

build up the Canadian film industry. 

Variety Clubs International vice-president 

Sam Shopsowitz of this city will sponsor the 

welcoming reception for the Seattle VCI 

convention Sunday evening. May 28. Shopsowitz 

sponsored the Sir Billy Butlin luncheon 

here. 

The Variety Club of Ontario Tent 28 has 

been willed $138,000 through the estate of 

the late Alex Small. Tent 28 has agreed to 

contribute $150,000 over a period of three 

years to the Sunnyview School for Handicapped 

Children for the addition of a gymnatorium 

to the present building complex. 

The new addition, which will cost approximately 

$500,000, will be named after the 

Variety Club of Ontario and at least onethird 

of the money will come from the Ontario 

government through Wintario. 

Year-end allocation of an additional $35,- 

675 by Tent 28 saw $13,875 earmarked for 

retinitis pigmentosa; $8,500 for the Asthma 

Society; $7,000 for the Drop-In Centre for 

Disturbed Children; $1,000 for the Toronto 

Sun Christmas Fun; $1,000 for the Toronto 

Star Santa Claus Fund; $1,000 for the Mississausa 

News Christmas Fund; $1,000 each 

for CHUM'S Fund, CKFM Christmas Fund 

and the Globe and Mail's Jim Vipond Fund, 

and $300 for the Kilsdale School. The Nelson 

Arthur Hyland Foundation has awarded 

$2,500 to Tent 28 as a contribution to its 

efforts. 

Park Dedicated to Ritter 

NEDERLAND. TEX.—The late motion 

picture star and country and western singer 

Tex Ritter was honored by this Southeast 

Texas city where he attended school when 

a downtown park was dedicated in his 

honor. 

Ritter. who died in 1974, was born in 

Panola County and attended the University 

of Texas at Austin before breaking into 

show business by s'nging cowboy ballads on 

a Houston radio station. 

Ken Ritter. a nephew of the singing stai' 

and now mayor of nearby Beaumont, delivered 

an address at the dedication. 

The cowboy singing star is bured in nearhv 

Port Nech'es. 

OTTAWA 

gob Davidson, assistant to Ernie Warren 

at the Famous Players Elgin Theatre, 

recently returned from a week's vacation in 

California. He spent three days in Las Vegas, 

Nev., and said he "had a great time at 

the casino." Bob also visited Disneyland in 

California. 

'Lost and Found' Filming 

Is Begun at Lake Louise 

CALGARY—Filming got under way at 

a chateau on Lake Louise in mid-March 

for a motion picture which co-stars Glenda 

Jackson and George Segal. Titled "Lost 

and Found," the comedy is the work of 

Melvin Frank, writer-director who penned 

the screenplay for "A Touch of Class," 

for which Ms. Jackson won an Academy 

Award. 

The production schedule calls for approximately 

three months of principal photography, 

with filming set for locations in the 

Banff-Lake Louise, Calgary and Toronto 

areas. 

Other cast members of "Lost and Found" 

include Lois Maxwell, Maureen Stapleton 

and Canadian Douglas Campbell, who plays 

the role of an English professor in the film. 

Perrin Plaza Twin Cinema 

Now Owned by C. Anderson 

SAN ANTONIO — The Perrin Plaza 

Twin Theatre is now open for business under 

the banner of Cliff Anderson, who is a 

newcomer to the motion picture industry. 

Anderson is also an associate partner in the 

Independent Theatre Supply Co. 

The theatre complex is being managed 

by Dan Shoemaker who has extensive management 

background, most of it being with 

the military in which he served for 20 years. 

His first contact with the movie industry 

was when he was associated wit+i Santikos 

Theatres Inc. Shoemaker has dedicated himself 

to the theatre industry and promotional 

techniques. 

Anderson comes to San .Antonio from 

Milwaukee, Wis. This is his first adventure 

in the operation of a theatre. He has, however, 

an extensive background in electronics, 

sound systems and motion picture equipment. 

The pair stated that they will be showing 

first and second run features at the Perrin 

Twin with a commitment to honesty, sincerity 

and dedication to the public and the 

film industry. 

April 10, 1978 K-3

. . Theo 

VANCOUVER 

Qreating a big week for nostalgia buffs was 

the launching of a new restaurant. 

Harlow's, in Gastown right smack in the 

heart of the nightlife action when the city 

was young. In the best show business tradition, 

the piece de resistance was a "Jean 

Harlow Lookalike" contest and, to ensure 

its success, they rang in three of the local 

theatre veterans to get the show on the road 

and to judge the contest. 

The locale, 33 West Cordova, was exactly 

where John Schuberg. known on the carny 

circuit for his side shows as Johnny Nash, 

made his winter stands. In 1902 he opened 

the Electric Theatre playing dates with motion 

pictures from then on—and ushering in 

the era of the 'flickers," dish night, bank 

night and all the other old-time gimmicks. 

Present was Ivan "Little Orpheum" Ackcry. 

back from three months in Hawaii, 

brown as a nut and full of stories about the 

25 Harlow films he played. Another key 

man in the promotion was veteran Famous 

Artists impresario Hugh Picket who. when 

going through his souvenir kit of Harlow 

memorabilia, came up wilh his invitation 

to the wedding of Harlow and Paul Bern. 

Rounding out the trio of judges was Janet 

Baird, who admits to 70 years but doesn't 

look 50. To those older radio buffs, she is 

remembered as the gossip columnist who 

had her own network show over NBC for 

several years during Hollywood's big years. 

The whole affair, elegantly choreographed 

by Tom Butler, came off smashingly, with 

all segments of the media coming through 

with prime-time clips, pictures and radio 

interviews. It helped when the winner turned 

out to be Marilee Krogel. a delectable 20- 

year-old Kelowna peach. This was. indeed, a 

welcome bit in a week dominated by guerillas, 

strikes and holocausts. 

Dawson Exiey of Bellevue reports that 

the 300-seat theatre the Cassiar Asbestos 

Co. built for its employees at the mine up 

in the northeast corner of the province, lavishly 

equipped with the latest in seating and 

sound, opened with "Star Wars" the week 

before Easter. The same picture finally departed 

the mainstem after almost nine 

months and now is ensconced in the Dunbar, 

which normally plays art films. 

Larry Strick of Astral proudly announced 

that the 18 weeks "Who Has .Seen the 

Wind" played downtown, with 12 weeks in 

the Fine Arts after it was forced out of the 

Vancouver Centre to make way for Academy 

Award contender "Julia," is a record 

for any Canadian picture in this city. It 

immediately moved into the suburban Ridge, 

where it will stay until the house goes nto 

its now policy of golden oldies. 

In spite of the transit strike, "The Fury," 

which unleashes bolts of pure terror in the 

best Hitchcock tradition, according to Les 

Wedman, may well be the best picture of 

its type ever made—and it got away to a 

real swinging opening in the Stanley. 

Dick Delight and hi 

welcomed a 

new addition to the family when his wife 

gave birth to a son . . . Veteran Jimmy Patterson, 

a fixture with the old Fox organization 

for many years, paid a visit to the 

exchange area . Ross is busy boning 

up on current releases as he starts back in 

the business again as a booker . . . Camelia 

Gauthier is new settled in her new offices 

on West 12th. near city hall, and is busy 

booking the new Danton releases and films 

of other independents. 

2nd World Film Festival 

Touted by Serge Losique 

MONTREAL—The second World Film 

Festival, to be held here August 25 through 

September 3, promises to be even more interesting 

than last year's event, according to 

Serge Losique, president and general director. 

Said Losique, "The prestige will be enhanced, 

thanks to the creation of a unique 

competitive section on the American continent. 

This festival, which is recognized by 

the International Federation of Film Producers 

Ass'n. has acquired fame since its 

first year of existence." 

There are three principal characteristics 

which make Montreal a privileged locality 

for the holding of such a big international 

festival, Losique added. 

They are: (I) On a cultural level. Montreal 

is the go-between of the Old World 

and the New Continent, where three great 

cultures meet—French, English and American. 

Montreal can only favor the cinema 

of quality; (2) on a geographical level, Montreal 

easily is accessible for all the continents 

(it is the city where the International 

Civil Aviation Organization has its head 

office), and (3) on a commercial level, 

thanks to its situation, the International 

Film Market can help the cinema industry 

enormously. Montreal is the harbor for the 

vast North American market. Transactions 

made inside the first International Film 

Market have been extremely profitable and 

we are positive that this market will be 

called to become one of the centers of the 

world of cinema. 

American International 

Is Releasing 'Tigers' 

HOLLYWOOD—"Here Come the Tigers," 

recently acquired by American International 

Pictures, is slated for immediate 

release in line with the start of the baseball 

season, reports Leon P. Blender, AIP executive 

vice-president in charge of sales and 

distribution. 

Directed by Sean S. Cunningham and 

produced by Cunningham and Stephen C. 

Miner, the film deals with the adventures 

and misadventures of Little Leaguers. Filmed 

in Westport. Conn, and written by Arch 

McCoy, "Here Come the Tigers" stars Richard 

Lincoln, James Zvanut, Samantha Grey. 

Manny Lieberman, William Caldwell. Fred 

Lincoln and Xavier Rodrigo. 

New York State Rejects 

Shopping Mall Proposal 

ALBANY—The New York State Department 

of Envronmental Conservation has 

turned down plans for construction by the 

Pyramid Cos. of DeWitt of an 80-store 

shopping mall, with 600,000 square feet of 

floor space, on a 94-acre site in New Hartford. 

The development should not be allowed, 

commissioner Peter A. A. Berle ruled, because 

it would "destroy" wetlands on and 

near the proposed site. 

Whether the devolpment would have contained 

a cinema is mere conjecture at this 

point. 

NOTICE \ 

nLM VENTURES 



















'OUT OF THE 

DARKNESS" As a 


VENTURES 










THE DARKNESS" 

FILM VENTURES 



310 N. San \ icente Blvd. Suite 200 


(213) 659-0545 

April 10, 1978

BOXOFFICE BOOKMNCUIDE 

An interpretive analysis of lay and tiadepress reviews. Running tim« is in parentheses. The plus and 

minus signs indicate degree o( merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. Symbol ij denotes 

BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All films are in color except those indicated by (b«Sw) for black & white. 

Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings: [§1—general audiences; PG— all ages admitted (parental guidance 

suggested); [r] —restricted, with persons under 17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent 

or adult guardian; i^:—persons under 17 not admitted. National Catholic Office for Motion Pidures 

(NCOMP) ratings: Al—unobjectionable for general patronage; A2—unobjectionable for adults or adolescents; 

A3—unobjectionable for adults; A4—morally unobjectionable for adults, with reservations; 

B—objectionable in part for all; C—condemned. Broadcasting and Film Commission, National Council 

of Churches (BFC). For listings by company, see FEATURE CHART. 

Pbview digest 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

++ Very Good; + Gooc

REVIEW DIGEST 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX ^ Very Good, + Good; ± Foir; - Poor; = Very Poor. nmory H is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 

49S6 Lookins for Mr. Goodbar 

(135) D Para 11- 7-77 El C ++ ff ++ 

4987 Love at First Sight 

(85) C-D Movietime 11-14-77 it - 

—M— 

5014 MaOame Rosa (105) D Atlantic 3-20-78 

5001 Mado (130) D Joseiih Green 1-30-78 B 

5014 Man Who Loved Women, The 

4981 Maniac (90) 

(119) C-D Cinemas 3-20-78 B 

Ac-Sus-D New World 10-24-77 PG 

5009Manitou, The (104) Ho-D Emb 3- 6-78 PG 

4992 Mansion of the Doomed 

(85) Ho-D Group 1 11-2S-77 El 

4%9 March or Die 

(106) Ac-Ad Col 8-15-77 PG A3 

5010 Mean Dog Blues (108) Ac-D AlP 3- 6-78 H 

5010 Medusa Touch, The 

(110) Sus-Ho-D WB 3-13-7S PG 

Mr. Klein (124) D Quartet 2-13-78 PG A3 

4975 Mouse and His Child. The 

(83) An-F Sanrio 9-26-77 m 

5006 My Boys Are Good Boys 

(90) Ac-D Peter Perry 2-13-78 PG

•ON 

mi 

i 

i 

s

11 

Ills 

•ON

. Aor 

, Nov 

. Feb 

I 

. Hi-D 

. Apr 

May 

. 

May 

, 

. 

. 

• 

• • 

APACHE FILMS 

ATLAS 

The Confessional (95) ..Ho.. July 77 

Anthony Sharp. Susan renhallgon 

The Contest (83) D..Au||77 

Nancv Gordon, Sandra Potter 

U»ers Like Us (100) ..R-C..0cl77 

Catherine Deneuve. Yves MonUnd 

BEEHIVE PRODUCTIONS 

Lust Flight (SO) ...Sex D.. June 78 

Serena, llilie Ringer. Pat Manning 

Curves Ahead! (81) ..Sex C. Oct 78 

Goldie Bear. W.F. Margold 

The Lady Wants a 

Tramp Sex C. Jan 79 

Michelle St. Bernard. Robert Terrier 

CAMBIST FILMS 

Swedish Minx (99) C. .Ju 

.Maria Lynn, Ble Warburg 

Girl on Her Knees 0. Auo 77 

Chris fhlttell, Jacqueline Laurent 

Easy Come. Easy Go C . . 

Nov 

Remus Peets, Heidi Kappler 

to 

Washington 

Left 

Ho.Sus,.Nov77 

Charge of the Model T's , . C , . Nov 77 

People Who Own the 

Bank Ho-Sus, .Nov 77 

Super Wheels C. Dec 77 

CINEMA 5 

Outrageous! (100) 

MISCELLANEOUS 

FLORA RELEASING 

Mastermind (90) .•*"5" 

-V 

Zero Mostel. Bradford Dillman 

No Way Back (91) 

Fred Williamson. Charles Woolf 

Second Spring (92) •••••'""''' 

(îrt Jurcens, Irmgard Shonderg 

Chesty Anderson. U.S. Navy 

77 

niessions of Linda Lovelace 

(72. *>"'' 

Vou Wanna Be Loved 

Aug 77 

(gj) 

.Nov 77 

Please Please Me (75) Sept 77 

Bernard Kuby 

Candy Stripers (80) 0" " 

Mean Johnny Barrows (90) ••Nov77 

Frill Williamson Roddy McDowall 

Wacky Taxi (79) N"" " 

Sinatra jr.. John .\stin 

. Dec 77 

PETER PERRY PICTURES 

Seeds of Evil (90) 

,Ioe Dallesandro, Katharine 

Hollywood High (81) ...C. Feb 77 

The Young Cycle Glrli 

Houghton 

Keep My Grave Open (85) .Jan 78 (82) Si»-«l«lo..Ocl77 

ramilla fair. Gene Ross 

The Demon Lover (SO) May 78 

Christman Robbins. Val Mayerik 

The Bandits (87) May 78 PRO INTERNATIONAL 

Robert Conrad. Jan-Michael Vincent Young Lady Chatterley (88) 

Linda Lovelace for President (95) 

GOLDSTONE FILMS 

Kuug Fu Master— Bruce Lee Style 

Shannhai Connection 

Vampire Beast Craves Blood 

Cops Is Cops 

Ten Fingers of Death 

Kung Fu Brothers 

Curse of the Devil 

(80) Sex D.. Mar 78 

Iris Meilina, ,lohn Holmes 

Jungle Blue (83) .,Sex C, ,Jui 

The New Erotic Adventures of 

Casanova Part 2 . ,Scx D.. Oct 78 

OMNI PICTURES 

Hooch (98) 

PACIFIC 

COAST FILMS 

Ding Dong (90) 

Mister Scarface (85) 

Angels in Hell (94) 

(2UARTET 

FILMS 

Mr. Klein (124) D.. Nov 77 

rielon, Alain Jeaime Moreau 

Cat and Mouse 

(107) Sus-C..Jan78 

Michele Serge Rcgglanl 

Morgan. 

Blue Country (105) C. Feb 78 

Brigitle Fossey. Jacques Serres 

Think Dirty (94) C.May 78 

Marty Feldman. Shelly Berman 

SANRIO FILM DISTRIBUTION 

The Mouse and His Child 

(82) An.. Nov 77 

Metamorphoses (87) . . . An 7S 

. 

Oily. Oily. Oxen Free 

(92) Ac-Ad.. May 78 

Katharine Hepburn 

Where the Northern Fox Goes 

(90) OD-Doc. Oct 78 

Nutcracker Suite 

(100) An-M..Dec78 

KEY INTERNATIONAL 

S.J. INTERNATIONAL 

The Father Kino Story 

(115) Ac-D . Sept 77 le Inheritance R-D,,Mar78 

Anthony Quinn, Tomlnlnue Sanda 

l.'lchard Bgaii, lllcardo .Monlalban 

Run for Blue (86) .W-Doc. .Sept 77 Death Rage (90) Ac, Mar 78 

Erj-nner, Barb:ira Bouchet 

Rev Allen, Tanya Tucker 

Catherine & Co. (87) .,,C..Mar78 

Jane Birkin, Patrick Dewaere 

COUGAR RELEASING 

Sex and the Call Girl 

Legend of Sea Wolf ....Ad..Ni 

(90) Sex D. .Apr 78 

Chuck Connors, Barbara Bach MFI DISTRIBUTORS 

24 Hours of Terror— Kidnap 

Loralie Legend Ho. .Jan 78 Fog D 78 Syndicate (90) Ac. Apr 78 

. 

Tony Kendall 

Raices 

D..M 

Starhird and Sweet 

Come Home and Meet My Wife 

William Ad.. Jan 78 

(90) Sex C. Apr 78 

A. Martinez. Pan Haggerty 

A Slightly Pregnant Man C- Apr 78 

Saga of Dracula/Vengeance of the 

Marcello Mastrolanni, Catherine 

Zombies Ho .Jan78 MULBERRY SQUARE 

Deneuve 

Sisters of Satan/Dr. Jekyll and fjFor the Love of Benji 

The Girl Who Came From 

the Werewolf Ho. Jan 78 (85) C-Ad. 

Tomorrow (90) . . , R-SF. , 

78 

Baker's Hawk Ad. Feb 78 atsy Garrett, Cynthia Sralt 

Rachel's Man (105) 

. . 78 

nint Walker, 

Leonard Whiting, Rita Tushbigham 

Burl Ives 

Till Death Ho.. Feb 

Lunatics and Lovers . . . . C. . May 78 

78 

Keith Atkinson. Belinda Balaiki 

Marcello Mastrolanni, Claudia Mori 

re 

Dirty 

Bananas Boat C. May 78 

Pictures/Hassled 

Hooker 

C..Feb78 NEW LINE 

Hayley Mills, Poug McCIure 

Irene Papas/Terence Hill 

Femmes Fatales D.. Sept 77 Eagles Attack at Dawn Ac. June 78 

~ 

Escape From Angola ,. Ad,. Mar 78 Voyage to Grand 

Jason 

Stan Brock. Anne Collins 

Tartaric 

F..0cl77 Suspects Ac-D.. June 78 

Poopsie C. Mar 78 Desperate Living 

Fan 

Sophia Loren. Marcello Mastm 

(90) C-F..0ct77 

Caesar's Code Sus Apr 78 Gizmo! C. Nov 77 

.Main Nonry. Ruth Leuwcrlk 

Monty Python Meets Beyond the 

Right to Love D .. May 78 Fringe C. Nov 77 TOPAR FILMS, INC 

Omar Sharif, Florlnda Bntkan 

House Made of 

Love Cones Quietly ..Sus-Mj Dawn 

Hi-D..Nov77 Sudden Death 

.Cr-D. .May 77 

Ralph Meeker, Barbara Her.shev Stunts Ac-Ad.. Dec 77 SS Girls 

Sex D . . Oct 77 

Night of the Askarl Cr-D.. Oct 77 

Astral Factor Sus .June 78 

. .R-D. .Oct 77 

Bike Snmmpr, Stephanie Powers 

Don't Stop It, You'll 

The Body D. June 78 

Sex C. 

Zeudl Araya, Carol Raker 

t^lLES INTERNATIONAL 

Wackiest Wagon Train 

Love All Summer 

n the West (86) 

(95) C-D. Aug 77 

lb Denver. Forrest Tiickei 

I Wonder Who's Killing Her ^ ow 

(84) C. Aug 77 

FIRST ARTISTS RELEASING 

Pardon Mon Affaire 

(107) C. June 77 

Jean Rnchefnrt, Victor Lanoux, 

Annv Dnperey 

That Obscure Object of Desire I 

(100) C-D..Nov77 

Fernando Rey. Carole Bonqiiel, 

' 

.Vncela Molina 

Speedtf ap (101) . . . Ac-Ad . 7! , 

Joe Don Raker, Tyne Daly 

| 

HMD FILM DISTRIBUTING 

The Carhops (88) May 77] 

5„^fr(v^r"-.°^"".«ay77 

t 

CENTURY 

Three Fantastii 

Super 

.Apr 77 

The Divine Nymph Sent 77 

t;=edTr...v.-.;..^^^ 

(86/80/74) Hay 77 Voice in the Wind m 78 

COMING RELEASES 

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 

Our Winning Season . .C-D, .June 78 

lienni^ Quaid, Scott Jacoby, 

Pi-linrili lli'nsnn, Itanrtv Herman 

Trapped (94) My-Sus. .Oct 78 

rruncUa Ransome, Lems Fiandcr 

Starcrash 

F-Ad.. 

riiiistopher Pluramcr. Marine 

Gurtner. Caioline Munro 

The Black Pirate »d. 

Mel Ferrer 

Meteor 

•• 

Sean Connery, Natalie Wood. 

Henry Fonda. Trevor Howard 

The Incredible Melting Man . .SF. 

Alex Rebar. Michael Allredge 

Force 10 From Navarone 

llahprt Shaw. Franco Nero, 

FAv.ird Fox. Carl Weathers 

California Dreaming 

GljTinis O'Connor, James Van Patten, 

Seymour (Sssel, Dorothy Tristan 

The Norseman 

Lee Majors 

AVCO EMBASSY 

Wanda Nevada ... 

Peter 

Fonda 

CINEMA SHARES 

Godzilla on Monster Island ..J 

Blue Sunshine 

Zalman King, Mark Goddard 

COLUMBIA 

The Cheap Detective June 78 

.Vnn-Margret. Peter Falk, Louise 

Fletcher, Stockard Chanrtag 

Midnight Express July 78 

Brad D.avis, Randy Qu.ald 

Eyes Oct 78 

Fnve Dunaway, Tommy Lee Jones 

Watch the Skies 

Richard Dreyfum 

The Photographer 

Annie Glrardot. Jacques DutronI 

Paul Newman 

Hardcore D , 

George C, Scott, Bobby Kosser 

All That Jazz DM. 

Richard Dreyfuss 

Freestyle 

Susan Clark 

The Amsterdam Kill (93) Ac-D.. 

Robert Mitchum. Richard Egan, 

Br.nrtford Dillman, Leslie Nielsen 

Ice Castles 

Rolibv Benson. LjTUi-Holly Johnson 

NEW WORLD 

Avalanche J"'* 78 

Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow 

The Bees 

,lohn Saxon 

The Movie Goer 

Karen Black, Sam Watcrston 

. 

Dcathsport SF-Ac 

Darid Carradlne, Claudia Jennings 

Phibes Resurrectus . . . . . ..Ho-C. 

. 

Vincent Price, lloddy McDowall 

The Frat Rats 

Deborah Raffln 

PARAMOUNT 

Born on the 4th of July 

Al I'acino 

Fraternity Row (101) 

Peter Fox, Gregory Harrison 

Sextette 

Timothy Dalton, 

Do'm neLulse, Rlngo Btarr 

."hn Travolta,' Stockard Channlng. 

Olivia Newton-John, Dldl Conn 

Sus-C, 

Foul Play 

Goldlc Hawn. Chevy Chase 

Death on the Nile . 

r.elte Davis, David Nlven. 

Mangle Smith, Mia Farrow 

BUENA VISTA 

Hero From Otherwhere Ad-F.. ?0TH-FOX 

The Cat From Outer Space An ' 

. . . 

Ken Berry. McLean Stevenson, *Cal"Bu?nett.- G^ral'dine' ^h-aplln. 

Pandv Duncan, Roddy McDowall Ullian (Îsh, Lanret; Button 

•''°•''• 

Bloodshy 

C-W., Damien—the Omen " • 

Karen Valentine, Darren McGailn, William Holden. Lee Grant 

Don Knotts, Jack Eaam 

The Driver • • • • • • • •. 

The North Avenue Irregulars C, Ryan O'Neal, Isabelle Adjanl, 

Karen Valentine. Clorls Lcachman, Rnnee Blakley ,„,.„ 

Susan Clark, Barbara Harris 

St Petersburg Cannes Express .... 

Trail's End C. ^fulie Christie, Donald Sutherland 

Tim Conuay, Don Knotts 

°"' 

The Rose 

Bctte Midler 

Michael 

Jack 

Dnngla; 

CROWN INTERNATIONAL 

Coach July 78 

Cathy Lee Crosby, Michael Blehn, 

Keenan Wynn Steve Neil 

The Pom Pom Girls, Part II 

Gym 

DIMENSION 

Tennessee Work Farm June 78 

Stone Cold Dead July 78 

Tigers Claw 

FILM VENTURES 

The Dragon Lives (90) Ac. June 78 

The Dark (92) D. June 78 

William Devane. Cathy Ixv> Crosby, 

GROUP I 

The Black Box 

Eat It Raw . 

White Slavers 

UNITED ARTISTS 

. . 

Corvette Summer 

. 

.Ac-C .June /5 

Mark Hamill. .^nnie Pntts 

Eugene Roche. Richard Scha.ij^^^^ 

Kris Krl'stofferson, All MacGraw, 

Burt Young Ernest Borgnlne 

*srirrKoi,ejr'DuL,°''^ 

Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper 

The Dog Soldiers • •• 

Nick Nolle, Tuesday Weld 

Gall Strickland. Michael Mortarty 

Comes a Horseman ..... ••• 

,lane Fonda, Sterilng Has-d"' 

Jason Robards 

e of the Pink Panther 

Sellers, Dyan Cannon 

ZIT^""": 

Ad-D..June78 

Th."wt"?7.'.!"'."!"V-''D"'''«78 

Diana Ross, lilchard Pryor. 

Lena Home, Michael ,IacKson 

The Deer Hunter 

.Ac-D.. 

Robert De Niro, John Cazale 

The Lonely Lady 

" 

Susan Blakely 

Paradise Alley ••;•••;;„• 

Sylvester Stallone, Ann Archer 

The Moonbeam Rider .••••••• 

David Carradine. Brenda Vacarro 

The Promise 

ulnlan, Beatrice Straight 

Time, Next Year 

Alda, Ellen Burstyn 

WARNER BROS. 

Someone Is Killing the Great 

Chefs of Europe ^ i'J'''® 

lirnnellne BIsset. George Segal 

The Day the World Ended ,Ad-Sus.. 

Yul Brynner. Henry Fonda 

Hollywood Stuntmaii ••••'•"• 

Burt Rej-nolds. Sally Field, 

Jan Michael Vincent, Brian '•" 

Keltb 

Bloodhrothers 

;-i; 

Paul Snr\lno, Tony I/iBlanco 

Big Wednesday .....••• ••••••• 

Jan-Mlchael Vincent, Lee Purceli, 

Sam Melville. Barbara Hale 

The Swarm : • '.• „' ' 

' 

Michael Calne, Katharine Ross 

Richard Wtdmark, Henry Fonda 

Suj-C. 

The Squeeze 

Stacey Kpach, Linn Ventura 

BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: April 10, 1978

TJT TTC CplJT/TPI? 

Listed herewith, alphabetically by companies, are all of the feature pictures 

FLiUO OriilYlUIj reviewed in BOXOFHCE from January 2 through March 27, 1978. This is 

designed as a further convenience for Picture Guide users, the page numbers being the key to reviews kept 

therein. Between quarters. Review Digest pages serve as a cumulative P. G. index for feature pictures.

memo to advertisers 

a two Headed 

Coin 

An honest face, a pleasant smile, and a new set of facts to match each sales 

pitch. 

And there goes another unsuspecting advertiser, wondering where his 

message went wrong. 

We have only one set of circulation facts and figures—those audited and 

reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. 

That way you are ABC-sure our story is reliable, with nothing hidden and 

nothing distorted in the telling. 

You can depend on it. 

In the motion picture industry, 

ONL 

'"""' 

BoxoFricr 

is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Our circulation 

records and practices are subject to the scrutiny of regular field audits 

and the discipline of ABC determined standards. ^ 

X-ÊO 

(/ L ^

1 

JOE 

kTES: 50c per word, minimum $5.00 CASH WITH COPY. Fo\ir consecutive insertiona |or price 

mimm 

three. When using a Boxoffice No. figure 2 additional words and include $1.00 additional, to 

»er cost ol handling replies. Display Classilied, S38.00 per Column Inch. No co 

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

Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City. Mo. B1124 

KELP WANTED 

JHOW with a rapidly growing 85 theacompany 

in Alabama, Florida, Geor- Century C rebuilt like new, $2,995 00. Pair 

35MM INTERNATIONAL SPECIALS: Pair 

1 and Tennessee. Honest, sober City Strong Lumex 2000 watt Xenons with power 

supplies, rebuilt, $3,750.00. Pair Cine- 

tnagers. Managers and Assistants. Good 

ary, plus outstanding benefits. Send meccanica 35/70 V-lO's, $9,950.00 Xenons, 

.ume, photo and salary required to Irv reels, platters, supplies, all at large savings. 

Free list Parts for Simplex, Cen- 

:hland. Vice President, Cobb Theatres, 

: , 

Suite A, Eastwood Mall, Birmingham, tury, Brenkert, DeVry, and more. Interal 

Cinema Equipment, 6750 NE ibama 35210. Replies confidential. 

4th 

ilANAGERS and Assistant Managers, 

Mrienced- Due to expansion. General 

lema Theatres has openings in New 

leans. Excellent opportunity, good bene- 

(713) 777-0752. 

MNAGEH AND ASSISTANT Manager fo 

w triple hardtop in Hoffman Estates 

ii 

rthwest Chicago suburb, to open 

le. Excellent salaries. Write: Jack Belas 

Rm. 200, 54 W. Randolph St., Chidagc 

iOl, or call collect: (312) 332-7465 

POSITIONS WANTED 

MPLOYED District Manager, large cir 

it, California Age 52, family, college 

phases. Boxofiice, 4068. 

rHEATHE OPEHATIONS expert. 17 years 

oerience, field management through 

d-level home office. Operations, finanil, 

advertising, promotions. 35 years old. 

s Angeles area. Boxoffice, 4077. 

'HOIECTIONIST/MANAGER experiencall 

phases theatre operation. Reliable, 

aslal areas only. Boxoffice, 4074. 

:AIJF0RNIA theatre executive looking 

": more theatres, management 

:. arrangement. Boxoffice, 4079. 

HANAGEH. 15 yrs. experience in first 

1 ond multi screens. Will relocate Calinia 

or Nevada. Write: Bill Miller, 403 

12, ;cadilly P! No. San Bruno, Calif. 

)66. Phone:" (415) 871-1879. 

BUSINESS STIMULATORS 

rHEATRE GAMES. B.nao Banko 

lekly. Novelty Games, R.D. 2, Po 

1, N.Y. 12771. 

3UILD ATTENDANCE with real 

1 orchids. Few cents each. Writ* 

i of Hawaii, 670 S. Lafayette Pla 

igeles, Calif. 90005. 

samples, pric 

ta. Ga. 30301. 

8INGO CAHDS DIE CUT: 1-75, 1500 comlotion 

$6.00 per thousand and in color. 

EMItJM PRODOCTS, 339 West 44th St.. 

w York, NY. 10036 (212) 246-4972. 

IHE RIGHT backgrounc 

rfect touch to your the 

ailable. (815) 397-9295 

MARQUEES, SIGNS 

DESIGNED. ENGINEERED, BUILT, 

lECTED, MAINTAINED on Lease or purase 

plan. Bux Mont Electrical Adverlisj 

Systems, Horsham, Pa. (215) 675-1040. 

POPCORN MACHINES 

BRAND NEW COUNTER MODEL all 

iCTRlC Display Poppers from $426.50 

ich. Knspy Korn, 120 S Halsted, Chi- 

LOOKING 

FOR A 

JOB? 

try the "Positions Wanted" 

column of Boxoffice's 

"Clearing House" page 

Hoost 

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE THEATRES FOR SALE THEATRE SEATING 

Cour: Fla. 33138. 

I6MM SUPER SAVINGS. All have 5000 

ft. or more capacity: Norelco FP 15—new, 

with 1600 watt Xenon, $9,995.00. Eiki 3000 

with 500 watt Xenon, 50 hours since new, 

$3,650.00. Eiki 3020, used, good shape, 

ready, $2,700.00 Eastman 25 B Opt/Mag, 

$3,995.00. Horlson Model F, 450 watt Xenon, 

$4,500.00. Buy, Sell, Trade—Free List Supplies. 

Installations, Service. International 

Cinema Equipment Co , 6750 NE 4th Court, 

Miami, Fla. 33138. 

362-2971. 

MINI THEATRE SPECIALS. Pair of lANS- 

Halogen lamps, 30 watt sound, separate 

speaker, changeovers, lenses and more, 

rebuilt, $995 00. Same only brand new, 

$1,788.00. Pair oi Kalan/Victor 1600 with 

900 watt Xenons, etc., $4,200.00. Scope lens 

for 16mm, new, $99.95. Lamps, Lenses, 

Parts, Supplies— Free List. We trade. International 

Cinema, 6750 NE 4th Court, 

Miami, Ha. 

TICKET MACHINES repaired. Fast 

vice, reasonable rates JED. Service 

10 Woodside Dr., Grafton, Massachus 

(617) 839-4058. 

DRIVE-IN SPEAKERS reconed, $1.50 

each. Send to: J.E.D. Service Co., 10 

Woodside Drive, Grafton, Massachusetts 

(617) 

refinished. Norelco 35/70— 

plete. HARRY MELCHER ENTERPRISES, 

3615 Fond du Lac Avenue, P. O. Box 

W. 

16528, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53216. (414) 

442-5020. 

Boxoffice, 4073 

COMPLETE EQUIPMENT lor automated 

twin theatre. 2 Cinemeccanica V8R 35mm 

plus 2 lens; 2—1000 watt ORC Xenon 

lamphouses: 454 American seats; 2 Christie 

Autowind platters: 2 Voice of Theatre 

speakers; complete concesssion stand; 

ticket booth. 4 years old. Call (314) 442- 

0628 after 6 00 p.m. 

COMPLETE equipment, automated theatre, 

five years old, excellent condition. 

Ballantyne 35mm projectors, 350 seals. Sell 

separately, or package. No reasonable 

offer refused. Call Bill, Tel. (803) 288- 

2574, Greenville, S C. 

ENTIRE CONTENTS Strand The 

COMPLETE portable booth; two Holmes 

projectors, 35mm, A-1 condition, transistorized 

sound, two Bausch & Lomb anamorphic 

lenses, 2000 ft. magazines, glass 

screen 7x14, four 1000 watt Mazda lamps, 

rewinder, monitor, loud speaker, spare exciter 

lamps, two tables and wheels 

$2,900 00. (301) 466-3585 until 3:00 pm 

EQUIPMENT WANTED 

money for used equlp- 

university. Population in drawing area 

100,000. In over excellent condition. Large 

concession building. 12 acres including 

adjacent house, garage, and small barn 

Total package $175,000, or Drive-ln (7 

acres) only for $150,000. Cash or contract. 

No leasesl (812) 339-3300. 

VERMONT DRIVE-DJ theatre, 10 plus 

acres, excellent booth, gross increasing 

annually, $88,000. Faraci Consultants, 

Manchester Center, Vermont 05255. (802) 

THEATRE upstate New York, first ru: 

Only theatre town, summer resort arec 

40 year 

jous operation, 19 undf 

Steady rise in net, "i 

Only income, family rui 

7 days summer, 3 winle 

Boxoffice, 4069. 

TWO HARD-TOP theatres for sale ir 

small Western community. Nice incomt 

for owner-operator Will handle contract 

Contact Mike Mercy, P.O. Box 1557, Yak. 

ma, WA 98907 Telephone (509) 248-1360 

350 CAR drive-in, electric heaters, 300 

seat automated indoor, shopping center. 

North Central Ohio Phone (419) 562-5145 

or 562-0078 

FOR SALE OR LEASE 

2 YEAR OLD drive-in 

arkona, 250 cars. Excelle 

No X's. (214) 690-1937. 

DOWNTOWN South Bend, In 

new mall section. Mall Theatr 

Michigan St. Phone (219) 288-7 

Robert Walters. New seats, fui 

traction boards, modern front, 

appointment nightly. Now in 

For exploitation XXX policy. 

THEATRES FOR LEASE 

ATTRACTIVE 900 seat just outside Wich 

!a. Excellent equipment. Real money 

laker. Reasonable rent. Phone (313) 341 

THEATRES WANTED 

WILL TRADE 160 acres NM oil and gas 

sases for theatre (open or closed). Boxffice, 

4076. 

FILMS FOR SALE 

ISmm FILMS. Postcard brings bargain 

list. Ingo Films, P.O. Box 143, Scianlon, 

Pa. 18504. 

ISmm CLASSICS. Catalog 25c. Manbeck, 

362I-B Wakonda Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 

50321. 

FILMS WANTED 

WANTED: 35mm trailers. 1930-1977, on) 

quantity. L. Brown, 6763 Hollywood Blvd. 

Hollywood, Calif. 90028. 

TOP CASH PAID for Xenon lamphouses 

soundheads, projectors, lenses and portable 

WANTED: 

product. 35mm 

Animated 

only, 

and/or 

feature 

childr 

length 

projectors. What have you? STAR short, with limited and/or non-theati 

CINEMA SUPPLY, 217 West 21st Street, rights. Danny Johns, Box 76341, Atla 

New York lOOlI, Phone (212) 675-3515, Ga. 30328. 

WORLD'S LARGEST THEATRE broker, TOPS IN THEATRE SEATING upholstering 

JOSEPH, Box anywhere— seat covers made to order 

31406, Dallas 75231. (214) 

-finest materials—low prices— we buy and 

363-2724. 

sell theatre chairs. Chicago Used Chair 

Mart, 2616 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, 111 

in DRIVE-IN THEATRES Lemraon, 

60612. (312) 235-1111. 

and Bowman, ND. Show good net. 

189, Spearfish, SD. (605) 542-4857. 

SPECIALISTS IN THEATRE SEATING 

ew and rebuilt theatre chairs for sale 

400 CAR drive-in theatre in Southern 

near lake and 

Indiana Indiana's largest 'e buy and sell old chairs Trovel from 

Seating Corporation ol 

3ast 

ew 

to coast. 

York, 247 Water Street, Brooklyn 

Y. 11201. Tel. (212) 875-5433 (reverse 

charges). 

, 

RECONDITIONED used chairs. On-localion 

refurbishing, installation and staggering. 

seat covers, all Sewn makes. We buy 

used seating anywhere. Entire theatre 

equipment available Frost Sealing, 80 

Copeland St Quincy, Mass. 02170. Tel. 

(617) 298-7070. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

CASH for one-sheets, posters, lobby card 

sets pressbooks, stills, trade magazines, 

coming attraction slides, trailers, etc. (any 

quantity— older the better). Martinez, 7057 

Lexingon Ave., Los Angeles, Ca. 90038 

(213) 462-5790 

BOOKS 

THE MANUAL OF THEATRE MANAGE- 

MENT. Professional hardcover edition. 

Send your $20 or check money order to 

Ralph J. Erwin, Publisher, Box 1982, Laredo, 

Texas 78040. 

DRIVE IN THEATRE CONSTRUCTION 

SCREEN TOWERS INTERNATIONAL: Ten 

Day s"een Installation, (817) 642-3591. 

Drawer P. Rogers, Texas 76569. 

SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 

BOXOFFICE: 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

Please enter my subscription lo 

BOXOFFICE. 

D 

n 

1 YEAR $15.00 

2 YEARS $28.00 

D Remittance Enclojed 

n Send Inyoice 

Outside U.S., Conado and Pan 

American Union, $25.00 Per Year. 

THEATRE 

STREET 

TOWN 

NAME 

ZIP CODE . 

POSITION 

STATE. 

OXOFHCE :: April 10. 1978

ic 

\buVe got our number, 

use it! 

Introducing 

the 20th Century-Fox 

Information Hot Line. 

(800)421-4318* 

When you dial this toll-free number, 

the person who answers the phone will 

have all the information you need about 

the advertising materials on our pictures. 

We can tell you what's available, 

when and where and just how fast you 

can get them. And we can give you this 

information 24 hours a day 7 days a 

week. 

So whether you're looking for ad 

slicks on "An Unmarried Woman," a 

one-sheet on "Star Wars," or radio spots 

on "The Fury". . .callus 

that's what we're here for. 

— anytime — 

1978 20TH CENTURY-F 

*ln California call (800) 282-5846. In Los Angeles, call Foxdirectly at 277-2211

Boxoffice-April.10.1978.

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