Boxoffice-April.24.1978

Another SMASH
from GROUP 1!
APRIL 24. 1978
XOFFIL
The girls from Hollywood High go wild in Paris...
.;^m IVhat they do in public
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^
^vill shock you...
.
I^^B What they do in
private will
blow^ your mind!
GROUP 1 9200 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90069 |

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Published In Nine Sectional Edfliont
BEN SHLYEN
Editor-in-Chiel and Pubfisher
RALPH M. DELMONT
MORRIS SCHLOZMAN ...Business Mgr.
GARY BURCH Equipment Editor
RALPH KAMINSKY ...Western Editor
Publication Offices; 825 Van Brunt Blvd.
Kansas Clly. Mo. 64124. (816) 241 7777
Western Offices: 6425 HoUj«ood Blvd.
Bollywood, Ca.. 90028 (213) 465-1186.
Eastern Offices: 1270 Sixth .\ienue, Suite
2403, Rockefeller Center, New York, N.Y.
10020. (212) 265-6370.
London Office: Anthony Gruner, 1 Woodberry
Way, Flnchley. N 12. Telephone
Hillside 6733.
THE MODEKN THEATRE Section U
included in one Issue each month.
Albuquerque: Chuck MIttlestadt, P.O. Box
8514. Station C 87108. Tele. 265-
6578, 265-1791.
Atlanta: Genevlete Camp, 166 Lindbergh
Drive, N.E. 30305.
Baltimore: Kate Savage, 3607 Springdale.
21216.
Boston: Ernest Warren. 1 Colgate Road,
Needham, .Mass. 02192. Tele. (617)
444-1657.
Buffalo: Edward F. Meade, 760 Main St.,
14202. Tele. (716) 854-1555.
Chicago: Frances B. Clow. 175 North
Kenllworth, Oak Park, 111. 60302. Tele.
(312) 383-8343.
Cincinnati: Sharon Baglicn, 4211 AUendorf.
No. 71, 45209. Tele: (513)
561-1944.
Charlotte; Blanche Carr. 912 E. Park
Ave.. 28203. Tele. (704) 376-1815.
Chas. .1, Leonard sr., 319 Queens ltd .
2S204. Tele: (704) 333-0444.
Cleveland: Elaine Fried, 3255 Grenway
Rd. 44122. Tele. (216) 991-3797.
Columbus: Jim Pearce. 230 Graceland
Blvd., 43214. Tele. (614) 885-2610.
Dallas: Mable Gulnan. 5027 Wlnlon.
Denver: Bruce .Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry
Way, 80222.
Des Moines: Cindy VIers, 4024 E. Maple,
50317. Tele. 266-9811.
Detroit: Vera Phillips. 131 Eliot St.
West. Windsor, Ont. N9A 5Y8.
Hartford: Allen M. WIdem, 30 Pioneer
liriie. W. Hartford 06117, Tele. 232-
3101.
Indianapolis: Robert V. .lones, 6385 N.
Park. 46220. Tele. (317) 253-1536:
Jacksonville: Robert Cornwall. 3233 College
St.. 32205. Tele. (904) 389-
5144.
Memphis: Earllne Fans, 3849 Maid Marian
l.ane. 38111. Tele. 452-4220.
Miami- Martha Lummiis. 622 N.E. 98 St.
Milwaukee: Wally L. Meyer. 301 Heather
Lane. Fredonla. Wis. 53021. Tele:
(305) 588-678«.
Minneapolis: Bill Dlehl, St. Paul Dispatch,
63 E. 4th St., St. Paul. Minn.
Sew Orleans: Mary Greenbaum, 2303
Mendez St. 70122.
Oklahoma City: Eddie L. Greggs. 410
South BIdg.. 2000 Classen Center,
7310
Palm Beach: Lois Baurooel, 2860 8.
Ocean Blvd., No. 316, 33480, Tele.
(305) 588-6786.
Philadelphia: Mauric H. Orodenker, 312
W. Park Tnwne Place, 19130. Tele.
(215) 567-4748.
Pittsburgh: R. F. Kllngensmlth, S16
Jeanetle, Wllklnsburg 15221. Tele.
(412) 241-2809.
Portland. Ore: Robert Olds, 13640 SB
King Rd., 97236.
St. Louis: Fan R. Krause, 81 8A Longacre
Drive, 63132. Tele. (314) 991-
4746.
Salt Lake Clly: Keith Perry, 264 B. Ist
South. 84111. Tele. (801) 328-1641.
Pan Antonio: Gladys Candy. 519 Cincinnati
Ave. Tele. (512) 734-5527.
San Francisco: Cathy Meyer, Jan Zones
Ajenrv, 1221 Jones St., Suite lOP.
94109.
Seattle: Stu Goldman, Apt. 404. 101 N.
46th St., 98103. Tele. 782-5833,
Toledo: Anna Kline, 4330 Willys Pkwy.,
43612.
Tucson: Gib Clark, 433 N. Grande, Apt.
5, 85705.
Washington: Virginia R. Collier, 6112
Connecticut Ave.. N-W. 20008. Tele.
(202) 382-0892.
IN CANADA
Calgary: Madne McBean, 420 40th St.,
Telf. 249-
6039.
Montreal: Tom Cleary. Association des
Proprletalres de Cinemas du Quebec,
Suite 4-5. 3720 Van Home, H3S 1R8.
Ottawa: Garfield Willie" Wilson, 758
Rain.

Bart to Take Helm
At Lorimar Films
HOLLYWOOD—Peter Bart will take
over May 1 as president of Lorimar Films.
newly created arm of Lorimar Productions,
and will dissolve his partnership with Max
Palevsky to accept the new post.
As an outgrowth of that development at
Lorimar, Jerry Gershwin announced that he
will resign his position there as vice-president
of motion pictures, a move which Bart
said was obviated with the creation of his
position. Gershwin will continue, however,
as executive producer on two of Lorimar's
productions, "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh"
and "The Big Red One."
Bart said his connection with Lorimar
began as a result of conversations he had
with Lorimar's chairman Merv Adelson and
president Lee Rich when they were bidding
on "Gulf Stream," which Bart wrote with
Denne Petitclerc. Lorimar bid a six-figure
total for screenrights to the book which will
be published by Simon & Schuster and as
a Bantam paperback.
Most recently the Bart-Palevsky team had
produced "Islands in the Stream" and "Fun
With Dick and Jane." Dissolution of the
partnership was "amicable," Bart said, adding
that Palevsky's interests have turned to
artistic
pursuits other than filmmaking.
Columbia Names Guettel
V-P, Creative Affairs
NEW YORK—Henry Guettel has been
appointed vice-president in charge of creative
affairs for Columbia Pictures, it was
announced by Daniel Melnick. in charge of
worldwide production for Columbia.
Guettel, who most recently was vice-president
in charge of acquisitions for Cinema
5 in New York, assumed his new post Friday
(14).
Prior to his association with Cinema 5.
Guettel produced and directed stage plays
in New York and was managing director of
the American National Opera. He also served
as producer of Broadway and touring
company stage productions while at the same
time holding the post of general manager of
the Music Theatre at Lincoln Center.
Guettel will be based in New York City.
He is married to Mary Rodgers, screenwriter,
composer and author.
UFE Appointed U.S. Sales
Agent for Alpha Films
NEW YORK—United Film Enterprises
has been appointed U.S.A. sales agent for
Alpha Films, London, it was announced by
Munio Podhorzer, president of UFE.
Among Alpha's finished films to be
handled by UFE are "Under the Doctor,"
with Barry Evans and Liz Eraser; "Adventures
of a Private Eye." with Christopher
Neil and Suzy Kendall, and "Adventures
of a Taxi Driver," with Barry Evans and
Judy Geeson.
UFE also will handle the sale of Alpha's
future productions and acquisitions.
BOXOmCE :: April 24, 1978
'Rabbit Tesf' Grosses
High in
New York, LA
Hollywood — Joan Rivers' "Rabbit
Test" opened in the Los Angeles and
New York markets Friday (7) and, as
in previous opening engagements, the
comedy about the world's first pregnant
man scored spectacular boxoffice
returns, grossing more than $327,000
in its first three-day weekend.
The film opened in 34 theatres in
the Los Angeles area. In New York,
"Rabbit Test" opened in a group of
seven selected theatres and totaled
$105,137 playing in three houses in
Manhattan, two in New Jersey and two
on Long Island.
Two Peter Perry Features
Score High at Boxoffice
LOS ANGELES — Peter Perry Pictures'
"The Young Cycle Girls," playing a 28-
unit multiple opening in Detroit, scored a
$90,000 gross, according to Jules Gerelick,
general sales manager.
The playdate was ballyhooed via a new
Honda motorcycle giveaway (over 100,000
entry blanks were filled out and deposited
for the drawing) and 1,000 one-sheets and
1.000 window cards were displayed around
town. Twenty promotional trailers also were
used to plug the engagement.
PPP's new release "Mag Wheels" opened
a test run Wednesday (12) at an ozoner in
Bakersfield, Calif., Gerelick said, and despite
a big windstorm Saturday (15) the first
five days' gross was $4,012. The publicity
campaign for the program cost only $600,
according to Peter Perry, while "Coma,"
which grossed $4,400 in the same period,
had the benefit of ballyhoo staged at three
times that cost, he said.
"Mag Wheels." handled in the territory
by Chappell Releasing, will have its big
break May 5 in Atlanta.
Bob Rains, Universal V-P,
Plans to Retire April 28
UNIVERSAL CITY—Bob Rains. Universal
Pictures vice-president, advertising,
publicity and promotion, will retire Friday
(28) on the advice of his doctors. He was
the victim of a massive heart attack 15
months ago.
Rains joined the industry April 1, 1946,
as unit publicist with International Pictures,
which later merged with Universal to
become Universal-International and. subsequently,
again Universal Pictures.
Harold Rand & Co. Moves
To Madison Ave. Suite
NEW YORK—Harold Rand & Co., a
producer's representative, marketing and
public relations firm, has relocated its offices
to 527 Madison Ave., Suite 1109,
New York City, phone (212) 699-8102.
Rand formerly was located at 157 West
57th St. here.
KahnloHeadMGM
Global Marketing
NEW YORK— Richard Kahn has been
named senior vice-president in charge of
worldwide marketing
for MGM, Frank e'.
Rosenfelt, president
and chief executive
announced.
officer,
In his new position,
Kahn,
formerly
MGM vice-president/
worldwide advertising,
publicity and exploitation,
will over-
Richard Kahn
see
and
the distribution
advertising of
MGM's theatrical product in the U.S. and
throughout the rest of the world.
In making the announcement Rosenfelt
commented, "Dick Kahn is a proven executive
with vast experience in mot'on picture
marketing. He is eminently qualified to provide
the leadership in integrating MGM's
marketing planning with the sales policies
of our theatrical distribution arm."
In his new post. Kahn will be working
with MGM's Byron Shapiro, vice-president
for domestic distribution; Maccabi Attas,
MGM International's executive vice-president,
and international vice-president Jack
Gordon, as well as the company's new vicepresident
of advertising, publicity and exploitation.
In addition, he and his associates
will work closely with Al Fitter,
senior vicepresident
of United Artists, distributors of
MGM product in the U.S. and Canada and
Pedro Teitelbaum, president of Cinema International
Corp., MGM distributors in
overseas territories, in the blueprinting and
execution of MGM's distribution and marketing
policies.
Rosenfelt stated further. "In creating this
new executive position, we have recognized
the need to maximize a marketing-oriented
attitude and philosophy in the distribution
of motion pictures. Kahn's appointment will
enable MGM to organize and administer
the activities of the sales and advertising of
theatrical motion pictures as one integrated
function."
Kahn joined MGM in 1975 from Columbia
Pictures, where he was vice-president in
charge of special marketing projects.
Shelley Hack Featured
In May Viva Magazine
NEW YORK—Shelley Hack, who is
starred with Joe Brooks in "If Ever I See
You Again." a Columbia Pictures May release,
is the cover-story subject of the May
issue of Viva Magazine.
The interview feature is based on her
role in the Brooks production, her first
major film-starring appearance. The actress
is best known for her magazine and TV
advertisements for the Charlie line of Rev-
Ion
cosmetics.
"If Ever I See You Again," written, produced
and directed by Brooks, also stars
Jimmy Breslin and Jerry Keller.

Special Guest Stars DONNA SUMMER and THE COMMODORES
Executive Prod ucer NEIL BOGART Written by BARRY ARMYAN BERNSTEIN Produced by ROB COHEN Directed by ROBERT KLANE
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM AVAILABLE ON CASABLANCA RECORDS AND TAPES
© 1978 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
PGl nxmu. eumuct sii6bstcg g&

''THE
MOST SPECTACULAR
MOVIE PROMOTION
EVER?
Frank Barron -THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
An unprecedented 6 Vi
"THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY".
hours of national television featuring
A special two-part Merv Griffin Show to salute "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY"
and the new night life of the '70s featuring Donna Summer, the cast, music,
dancers and the finalist of the national disco dance contests to be aired
May 18-19.
Dick Clark presents American Bandstand, a tribute to Disco Music, starring
Donna Summer, the artists and the music from the film to be aired May 27 on
ABC-Network.
The Midnight Special will feature a salute to Disco with the music and artists
from "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY" to be aired May 26 on NBC-Network.
A nationally syndicated half hour television program about the making of
"THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY".
National radio promotions, 200 key markets will feature radio promotions tyingin
with disco dance contests and theatre openings.
Members of the cast will make a month long national nersonal appearance tour,
hitting high schools and college campuses. This event will highlight a multimedia
publicity campaign.
Major department stores, record stores and disco tie-ins, promoting the movie
with a full range of "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY" merchandising, including
in-store displays, T-shirts and bumper stickers.
using
Real Cigarcues have tied-in with "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY" and is
the music from the movie in their nationally advertised disco dance contest.
A special three-record soundtrack album of "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY" is
being released to coincide with the opening of the movie with a CASABLANCA-
MOTOWN promotion of its own.
Patti Brooks • Cameo • Commodores • Thelma Houston • Paul Jabara • D. C. La Rue •
Love & Kisses • Marathon • Natural Juices • Diana Ross • Santa • Esmeralda •
Donna Summer* Sunshine • Wright Brothers Flying Machine •
PLUS A RADIO, TV, NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE CAMPAIGN THAT
WILL MAKE EVERYONE SAY AND SEE "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY".

French Filmmaker Claude Berri Now
Involved in
By JOHN COCCHI
NEW YORK—A filmmaking conglom-
Claude Berri. the well-known French
erate is
producer, director, writer and actor who also
is a distributor. Partnered in AMLF, he
can say with pride that it is the leading independent
distributor in France. He also can
state that he didn't intend to be a distributor,
but that he found he had a great deal of
freedom as a producer and realized that he
would have even more as part of a releasing
organization.
Berri is popular here for his semi-autobiographical
comedies: "The Two of Us."
"Marry Me! Marry Me!". "Le Sex Shop"
and the current "The First Time." He was
in this country to open the latter film, an
EDP Films (Gene Picker) release. In this,
young Alain Cohen plays Claude Langmann
(Berri's real name), continuing the part from
the 1968 "The Two of Us." Here, he's a
teenager anxious to consummate his first
love affair. Charles Denner again is the father.
Reviews have been very favorable, as
is usually the case with Berri's pictures.
For his first film, a short. Berri borrowed
mpney from a friend to make it. Another
friend was a cameraman, so Berri obtained
his services. He co-produced three features
'Mr. No Legs' Star Raises
Hopes of Handicapped
STEELTON. PA.—Ten years ago. Ted
Vollrath lost a 13-year battle to keep his
legs. They had been shattered by a communist
mortar shell in 1952 during another
battel near Inchon. Korea. Now? the ex-
Marine is fighting a third battle—to raise
the hopes, spirits and self-esteem of handicapped
youngsters—and he's winning.
Vollrath has signed experts to teach
youths in the U.S., England and Canada.
Last spring he incorporated a group called
"Martial Arts for the Handicapped." The
program seems to be going strong, largely
because of the mind-bending example set
by Vollrath.
The 39-year-old yodan (fourth-degree
black belt in karate) is widely known. Magazines
have featured h^m and he has appeared
on many TV shows. Recently, he
packed 'em in at Madison Square Garden.
Vollrath has just completed a motion picture,
an action-thriller titled "Mr. No Legs."
and is set to do another. In the film, he
swims underwater and jumps from his
wheelchair for hand-to-hand combat with
h's attackers. His wheelchair has two shotguns
built in and they spring out of the
arms for instant use. But Vollrath says that
apart from his family, his biggest passion
is the Martial Arts for the Handicapped
group.
All Phases of Industry
with Claude Zide and was involved with
such films as Milos Forman's Americanmade
"Taking Off." dealing with the drug
culture. Some of Berri's films have been
co-produced with United Artists and Columbia
(the latter distributed his "The Man
With Connections" here). From his own experience,
Berri extended help to other producers
whose projects he liked.
AMLF is successful even with fewer
films than the 30 other distributors in
France. It has attained a $16,000,000 grossing
volume, equaling that of Gaumont"" with
its three-times-as-many releases. Berri's
company distributes films by Truffaut. Lelouch
and Paul Morrissey. Since American
films cover 30 per cent of France's first-run
market. AMLF has acquired distribution
rights to "Farewell My Lovely" and the
forthcoming "Apocalypse Now." among
others.
United Artists Theatre Circuit picked up
"The First Time" for four cities even before
its opening here: New York. Chicago. Milwaukee
and Detroit. Berri also was" in this
country to promote "A Moment of Weakness."
which opened in France in December.
He journeyed to Los Angeles and Washington,
D. C, for the comedy about fathers
and teenage daughters. For Berri. the U.S.
is his best market outside of his native
country ("The First Time" did $1,400,000
there). However, he feels as others do that
French films are not that well established
in the U. S. as yet. Here, foreign product
often is acquired by the reputation of the
director. As to how he became established
here. Berri admits. "You don't choose
you are chosen."
"I'm the first one in the world to get a
belt from a wheelchair . . . I've got
other handicapped people involved now."
he said.
Classes already have been started for 176
handicapped individuals in England and in
several states. "Never in my wildest dreams
did I think it would come to this," he exclaimed.
He continues a fast pace of personal appearances,
traveling in his specially adapted
car or by air, often working 16 to 20 hours
a day. And at every opportunity Vollrath
plugs his martial arts organization.
Harry Tatelman Appointed
Universal Vice-President
UNIVERSAL CITY—Harry Tatelman.
in charge of special film projects for the
past 15 years, has been named a vice-president
of Universal Pictures.
Tatelman also was associated with MCA.
Inc., when it was an agency, and for 11
years headed department.
its literary
A native of Keene, N. H.. Tatelman was
graduated from Harvard University and did
graduate work at Yale University.
May 19 'Hi -Riders' Release
HOLLYWOOD—Lawrence H.
Woolner,
president of Dimension Pictures, has set a
May 19 national release date for "Hi-
Riders." a Greydon Clark production.
MCA Names Alexenburg
Record Company Head
UNIVERSAL CITY — Sid Sheinberg,
president and chief operating officer of
MCA, Inc.. announced the formation of a
major new record company and the appointment
of Ron Alexenburg. most recently
senior vice-president and general manager
of Epic. Portrait and CBS associated labels,
as its president and chief executive officer.
The new corporation, headquartered in
New York City, will have its own complete
staff and will function as an automous label,
separate from the Los-Angeles based MCA
Records. Distribution will be through MCA
Distributing Co.
Sheinberg stated that MCA's funding
commitment to the new company guarantees
Alexenburg the unlimited opportunity
to make the company a major force in the
record industry. This long-term commitment
by MCA means that no artist is beyond
the resources of Alexenburg and the
new company.
"There is no more talented a record executive
than Ron Alexenburg." said Sheinberg.
"He has demonstrated throughout a highly
successful career in the record industry that
he has the experience, the expertise and the
vision necessary to meet the challenge of
developing a firm that will
play a leadership
role in the industry. My colleagues join me
welcoming him to
the MCA family."
Alexenburg stated that "starting a new
record company from scratch is an exciting
and challenging prospect. I am looking forward
to this venture with total confidence
in its eventual success." Alexenburg added
that he felt "deep appreciation" to those
within the CBS organization with whom he
worked during the past 13 years.
Initially the new company will operate
out of the MCA offices at 445 Park Ave.
Its permanent offices will be selected at the
earliest
possible time.
Leo Greenfield Resigning
MGM Distribution Post
CULVER CITY — MGM announced
Tuesday (18) that Leo Greenfield has resigned
as senior vice-president in charge of
worldwide distribution. Greenfield's resignation
will become effective following a
transition period with his successor, who
be named shortly.
will
Greenfield said, "My association with
Frank Rosenfclt. Dick Shepherd and other
members of the MGM management has
made the two and a half years that I have
been at MGM the most productive and personally
satisfying period of my entire working
career. I am leaving MGM with great
regret and only because of an overwhelming
desire to take on new challenges in a
broadened arena of activity."
Frank Rosenfclt, president and chief executive
officer of MGM stated. "I am very
sorrv' that Leo Greenfield is leaving MGM.
He has made an important contribution to
our motion picture division which is clearly
evident when viewing the current success
of our theatrical releases. I wish him well
in his future endeavors."
BOXOFHCE :: April 24, 1978

^kt tm^np dit^ Umt§
VOL. 110. NO. 190 MAIN EDITION KANSAS CITY, MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 17, 1978 — 42 PAGES
Movies Are Still
the Ticket
For Publisher Ben Shiyen
Ben Shiyen can't remember the name
of the first motion picture he ever saw.
"It was in a small theatre in Boston. The
auditorium was on the second floor of a
building right on one of the main streets.
I remember that to get to it you had to
climb these stairs, glass stairs with water
running underneath! I'm sorry I can't remember
the name of the movie. It was a
comedy."
Shiyen can't really be faulted for a fuzzy
memory about the movie; he thinks the
year was 1905. He is sure of one thing:
He liked the picture.
He liked almost every picture in those
days, attending three or four a week as a
boy growing up near 15th and Park in
Kansas City. Today he has cut back his
moviegoing to twice a week but that
doesn't mean movies still aren't the life
blood of this 77-year-oId Ukrainian immigrant.
Founded in 1920
At an age when most men are long retired
or dead, movies still are a full-time
labor of love for Shiyen. who oversees a
publication he started in 1920 as a fourpage
newsletter called "The Reel Journal."
printed for $60 with $80 in advertising
and hand-delivered to Kansas City movie
men by Shiyen.
Today that publication is a slick weekly
magazine called "Boxoffice." billing itself
as "The Pulse of the Motion Picture Industry."
Despite its stature as one of the leading
trade publications in the movie industry,
Boxoffice still is published and printed
in the same city where it began—Kansas
City.
International in Scope
In a nondescript brick plant at 9th and
Van Brunt. Shiyen sits at the helm of a farflung
publishing operation that includes
branch offices in New York. London and
Hollywood, with correspondents in dozens
of other cities.
From these correspondents comes news
of the motion picture industry that is assembled,
edited and printed here each week
in nine regional Boxoffice editions, as well
as in several annual special editions and
the monthly Modern Theater, a Boxoffice
supplement geared for theater owners interested
in improving theater facilities.
From short stories on actors or producers
to capsule movie reviews with holes already
punched in the pages for easy indexing
by theater operators. Boxoffice covers
the movie industry around the globe. Subscribers
number more than 17.000 (paid)
and are scattered throughout the Englishspeaking
world.
CLOSE UP
/
By George Koppe
A Member of the Staff
The magazine had more simple beginnings,
however. Originally designed for
Kansas City theater operators and film distributors.
The Reel Journal contained
some national film news. But its popularity
was generated by the chatty items about
local folk chronicled in the "Along Movie
Row" column.
Publisher at Age 19
Modesty is for the young and the unaccomplished.
When asked how a brash 19-
year-old former paperboy fresh out of
Manual High School could parlay a love
affair with movies into a thriving publication.
Shiyen replied:
"With guts and a lot of nerve. I was a
tremendous movie fan. I read up on them,
everything I could get my hands on. I was
a pretty good writer and I kept myself informed."
Worked Multiple Jobs
The son of a Ukrainian who brought his
family to Kansas City to operate a clothing
store at 15th and Park about 1906.
Shiyen sold copies of The Star and the old
Kansas City Post from a stand at 15th and
Brooklyn and worked in a tent theater at
the same comer as a youth.
"There were quite a
few of those places
(tent theaters) around then." Shiyen recalled.
"The man just put up a big tent
and showed movies, two-reelers mostly."
Later. Shiyen fed his movie habit at a
theater at 15th and Prospect, remembering
that in summer months theater operators
would set up benches in a vacant lot next
door to the theater, showing movies at
night in a forerimner to the modern drivein.
Movies Were 'Mot Topic'
"In my youth, movies were the hot topic
of conversation." Shiyen said. "The movie
companies themselves did a lot to foster
this. Universal (a film company) put out a
house organ here in Kansas City and every
Saturday I would wait at the door for the
mailman to bring me a copy."
In high school Shiyen did a little
writing
of his own. editing the Manualite student
newspaper. A young woman on his staff.
Clara Hermer. reported for Shlyon. first at
the Manualite and later with the Reel
Journal. Fifty-three years ago she swapped
the title of reporter for another: Mrs. Ben
Shiyen.
Apparently determined to sample every
Ben Shiyen and his magazine
(Stoff photo by Williom H. Batson)
aspect of the business. Shiyen dabbled in
acting and music in high school and amateur
Theater groups and even tried his hand
at writing movie scripts for Universal. The
scripts weren't accepted but his new magazine
was.
Subscription From China
"After I put out the second issue I
caught the flu." he said. "I was out for
about three months. During that time,
though. I received several subscription letters,
one from a man in Oklahoma who
sent a check and another from a man in
China who wanted five years' worth of
copies ($5 worth)."
With his spirits thus boosted, Shiyen
got out of bed to put out a special edition
for a Kansas film convention and the Reel
Journal was on its way. Soon it would have
some sister publications.
In eight years Shiyen either acquired or
started nine other magazines: Movie Age
(Omaha). Motion PicUire Digest (Chicago).
Michigan Film Review (Detroit). Ohio
Showman (Cincinnati and Cleveland). Exhibitors
Forimi (Pittsburgh), the New England
Film News (Boston). Motion Picture
Times (Dallas), the Exhibitors Tribune
(Continued on page 8)
BOXOFnCE :: April 24. 1978

Movies Are Still
(Continued from page 7)
{Oklahoma Cit\0 and the Film Trade Topics
(Los Angeles).
In 1933 all were combined into Boxoffice,
with regional editions published for
various areas of the country. Shlyen. however,
wasn't content to just publish magazines
about movies and theaters. He wanted
the practical experience of rimning a
theater as well.
After publishing for several years in a
building at 18th and Main. Shlyen purchased
the Maple Theater and several adjoining
storerooms on 9th just east of Van
Brunt.
Bought 300-Seat Theatre
'T bought a theater that had 300 seats
and added 300 more," he said. "We put in
new sound and projection equipment and
I hired two men to run it. The first night
we had a good crowd and the two nien
forgot to turn off the projector. It caught
fire
that night.
"The fire was contained in the projector,"
Shlyen adds, but it convinced him to
end his career as a theater operator. "The
next day I sold all the seats to a church up
the street. That was it."
Today, that projection room is a storage
area for the Boxoffice circulation department.
The theater auditorium now is the
press room and the other old storerooms
contain other parts of the Boxoffice operation.
Editorial and business offices are in
a brick building that was added on to the
west of the theater several years later.
Anchoring his magazine in an old residential
neighborhood on the east side of a
city not normally considered a film capital
has never been a problem, Shlyen said. "If
they want in your magazine they come to
you,"
Shiyens Travel Extensively
Although he and his wife have traveled
around the world viewing theater operations
and meeting movie stars and moguls,
Shlyen is reticent when asked to name his
favorite movie stars or film industry characters.
"There have been so many, I liked so
many," he said. "Besides, those I remember
best are in their 70s or 80s or gone
now anyway."
The answers come a bit easier, though,
when he is asked about the motion picture
industry itself.
TV Won't Replace Theatres
"There will always be movie theaters,"
he said emphatically. "Television will never
replace them. In every nation of the
world there are go-places people. They are
able to keep up their friendly relationships
through going to movies together.
Going to a movie theater and watching a
movie with a large group of people is much
more satisfying than watching it alone at
home."
Shlyen said he is proud of his magazine's
contributions toward improving theater
facilities in the United States and thus
making theaters more attractive to both
exhibitors and the public.
But Shlyen thinks more should be done
the Ticket..
to make theaters more accessible to the
public, noting that he and his wife live at
68th Terrace and Ward Parkway, a good
distance from any theater. Many others are
similarly handicapped, he said.
Convenience a Factor
"There arc more people not going to
theaters who would go if the "facifities
were provided for them, if theaters were
more closely situated to their residences."
Although fewer movies are being made
than in other eras, Shlyen said films today
are promoted better. "They're getting bigger
and better," he said, voicing the complaint
that theaters "hold them too long."
Shlyen would prefer several bill changes a
week rather than every week or longer as
most theaters now operate.
As for the argument that there is too
much emphasis on sex in movies today,
Shlyen said it is merely a reflection of
human nature and social trends.
In a 1932 editorial in the Reel Journal,
Shlyen expressed a need to get away from
"the cycle of filth" in films, but 36 years
later his magazine often is filled with ads
for such low-budget and R-rated films as
"The Naughty Cheerleader." ("High school
was never like this!" the ad reads)".
Films Reflect the Times
"They're following the desires of human
nature and the trend of the times," he said,
adding that he reads items in the Star and
Times every day "that would have been
astounding 10 or 20 years ago."
Unfortunately, he added, sex movies
seem to make a lot of money. "You just
can't get away from human nature," he
said, not even in the movies.
At age 77, Shlyen is reluctant to admit
that thoughts of retirement might be crowding
into his head. But he does admit that
"I'm not a kid, anymore."
One childhood habit that has stayed with
Shlyen is going to the movies. His tastes,
though, have become a bit more discriminating
than they were that day in Boston
when a young boy fresh off the boat from
Russia walked up those glass stairs to be
awed by his first movie.
The last movie he has seen? He remembers
the name of this one—"House Calls,"
starring Walter Matthau.
(Reprinted, with permission, from the
Kansas City Times.)
'The Legend of Sea Wolf
May Be Cougar Winner
HOLLYWOOD—Dick Nash, vice-president
of Cougar Releasing, announced that
the test-market showing of Jack London's
sea classic "The Legend of Sea Wolf"
grossed over $12,000 in its opening week
in Medford, Ore., with only a modest TV
campaign.
Nash said he was pleased with the test
engagement even though the media campaign
was incomplete. The complete campaign
is now ready for the next playdates.
If the test date was any indication. "The
Legend of Sea Wolf" could be Cougar's
biggest grosser for 1978, Nash stated.
'Hold Your Hand' Publicly
To Recall Beatlemania Era
NEW YORK—Universal scheduled a
comprehensive publicity and promotion
campaign for the New York opening of
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand." The film
opened here and nationally Friday (21).
Executive producer Steven Spielberg, producers
Tamara Asseyev and Alex Rose, director
Robert Zemeckis. associate producer
Bob Cjale. who co-wrote the screenplay with
Zemeckis, and the stars of the film, Nancy
Allen, Bobby DiCicco, Susan Kendall Newman,
Theresa Saldana and Wendi Jo Sperber.
spent a week in New York for special
publicity and promotional activities launching
the film.
In addition to interviews with major
media outlets. Universal also scheduled a
press conference with more than 200 high
.school newspaper editors, an appearance
on "The Mike Douglas Show" and a filmed
interview with WCBS-TV's Pat Collins at
the Ed Sullivan Theatre on Broadway, where
the Beatles made their first major appearance
on American TV, a scene depicted in
the film.
As an added publicity stunt Universal
booked everyone at the Plaza Hotel where
the Beatles stayed on their first visit to
New York.
"1 Wanna Hold Your Hand" is the story
of six teenagers and how their lives are
changed by the Beatles' 1964 visit to the
U.S.
MTPS Catalog Features
Variety of Short Films
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — Modern
Talking Picture Service has issued its winter/
spring 1978 "Free Shorts for Theatres"
catalog. It offers exhibitors a wide variety
of short subjects, including such recent releases
as: "Rumble of Wheels, Jingle of
Chain," a four-season journey with the
"gentle giants," the world-renowned Clydesdale
horses; "Destination: Big Apple," a
celebration of metropolitan New York and
its many tourist attractions on both sides
of the Hudson; "Kelly Harmon: Take One,"
on location with a top fashion model who
tells what it takes to succeed in front of
the camera, and "The Gould Cup," the
World Series of polo, the Gould Cup Match,
featuring top U.S. players and horses.
For the convenience of exhibitors, prints
of Modern's shorts are deposited in shipping
centers in more than 25 key cities. Copies
of the "Free Short for Theatres" catalog
may be obtained by writing to Modern
Talking Picture Service.
Triple Play Gets Film
Rights to Beattie Book
NEW YORK—Amy Robinson.
Griffin
Dunn and Mark Metcalf of Triple Play
Productions have acquired film rights to
"Chilly Scenes of Winter," based on a book
by Ann Beattie.
The dramatic love story has a screenplay
by Michael Wellcr and will be filmed in
New York by the Los Angeles-based company.
BOXOmCE April 24, 1978

Count Dracula Awards
Are Presented in LA
LOS ANGELES—The Count Dracula
Society, a national nonprofit association of
some LOGO members, recently announced
the winners of its 16th annual awards.
Awards for outstanding careers in cinema
went to George Pal, director and producer
of "The Time Machine" and "The War of
the Worlds"; Burgess Meredith, actor, who
appeared in "The Sentinel" and "The Manitou,"
and Ray Harryhausen, special effects
artist and producer of the "Sinbad" series
of films.
In literature. C. L. Moore, famed sciencefiction
author, won an award acknowledging
her career. Louis Jourdan won in the TV
category for playing Dracula on PBS this
year, while Dr. Donald A. Reed, founder
of the Dracula Society and its president,
won for bringing about the televising of
the Science-Fiction Film Awards.
Frank Langella and Edward Ansara both
won for their portrayals of Dracula, the
former on the Broadway stage, the latter
on stage in the Los Angeles production
"The Count." Christine Maclntyre won an
acknowledgement for services to the Count
Dracula Society.
Actor Jay Robinson, winner of previous
cinema and TV awards, was chairman of
16th annual dinner Saturday (22) at the
the
University Hilton, Los Angeles. Among
those on the program presenters were
as
science-fiction writers Ray Bradbury, A. E.
Van Vogt and Forrest Ackerman, director
Rouben Mamoulian, actress Ann Robinson
and Gayna Shireen.
Orion Pictures Appoints
East Coast V-P, Editor
BURBANK—Eric Pleskow, president of
Orion Pictures Corp., announced the appointments
of Judith Feiffer as vice-president
of East Coast production and Joel
Ditrolio as East Coast stoiy editor for
Orion.
Feiffer most recently was in charge of
the story department of Warner Bros, in
New York. Prior to that she was an editor
for Wm. Morrow & Co.
Wolves a Howling Success
As Actors in Owensby Film
SHELBY. N. C—Two hybrid wolves, the
subject of a recent article in the Cleveland
(County) Times, were the stars of several
scenes in Earl Owensby's latest film, "Wolfman."
Apache, a male cross-breed between a
wolf and an Arctic Circle dog, appeared in
a scene during which he circles a campfirc.
"He acted like a regular professional," said
Apache's owner, Troy Smith.
Apache's son also was used in a scene in
which he attacked Owensby. "He takes after
his father as an actor," Smith recounts.
"When the director yelled cut, the wolf
calmly took his powerful jaws from Owensbv's
throat."
BOXOmCE :: April 24, 1978
'Heaven Can Wait' Poster
Requests Swamp Para.
NEW YORK— In the wake of initial
newspaper reader response to Paramount
Pictures' recent giveaway offer of its
"Heaven Can Wait" poster, marketing experts
are predicting that Warren Beatty will
become the newest superstar in the world
of pop poster personalities.
In the first three days since its appearance
in the Sunday New York Times and
the Los Angeles Times, Paramount's poster
advertising art for "Heaven Can Wait" has
been requested by more than 16,000 readers
of the two newspapers.
The spectacular poster, which shows
Beatty wearing athletic togs and angel
wings, contemplating his stopwatch while
standing admist celestial clouds and sunbeams,
was introduced recently via fullpage
advertisements in the two newspapers,
with a giveaway offer to those readers
writing into Paramount's home office for
the
poster.
In anticipation of the public demand for
the "Heaven Can Wait" poster. Paramount
has ordered an initial printing of 100,000
copies. On the previous occasion when
Paramount offered a free movie poster, the
film was "King Kong," with more than
60,000 requests being received.
"Heaven Can Wait," which will be released
nationally in June, stars Warren
Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason and
Charles Grodin.
Kidney Foundation Award
Goes to UA V-P Goldberg
NEW YORK—Fred Goldberg. United
of the Hotel Pierre Wednesday, June 7.
Goldberg was selected for this tribute in
recognition of "his unstinting and dedicated
efforts on behalf of the Kidney Foundation,
which have made possible the prolongation
and enjoyment of life for many
victims of kidney disease."
Goldberg also is noted for his support and
participation in the affairs of a number of
other organizations in the health and philanthropic
fields, such as Variety Clubs and
the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Ira Greifer is chairman of the awards
banquet. Producer Joseph E. Levine and
Al Fisher, former UA executive, are cochairmen.
Cinema Radio Signs
13 Distributors
NEW YORK— Fred Schwartz, president
of Cinema Radio Corp., has announced
the formation of its U.S. and Canadian distribution
network.
To date Cinema Radio has formalized
dealer agreements with 13 theatre equipment
dealers. Schwartz stated further that
he currently is negotiating with two or three
additional dealers and is hopeful that the
entire dealer force will be functional within
the next month.
Thus far the following have been signed;
Capital City Theatre Supply, Atlanta; the
Filbert Co., Los Angeles; Florida Theatre
Equipment, Miami; General Sound & Theatre
Sound & Theatre Equipment, Toronto;
Joe Horn&tein, Inc., New York; Melcher
Enterprises, Milwaukee; Mid-Continent Theatre
Supply, Kansas City; Pacific Theatre
Equipment, San Francisco; Pinkston Theatre
Equipment, Dallas; Southwestern Thea-
Supply, Houston; Standard Theatre Supply,
tre
Greensboro and Charlotte; Western
Service & Supply, Denver; Western Theatrical
Equipment, San Francisco.
Cinema Radio is now in the process of
conducting instructional and marketing seminars
for these dealers and their technical
personnel in the operations and installation
of the Cinema Radio sound system. The
first of these sessions was held at the recently
concluded Show-A-Rama convention
in Kansas City, while the second will be
held at the upcoming Theatre Equipment
Ass'n convention in Myrtle Beach. S. C.
David Lund, head of Cine-Tech Corp. of
Milwaukee, Wise, the company handling
Artists senior vice-president in charge of
all technical support for Cinema Radio, is
marketing, will be honored by the Kidney
in charge of the seminars.
Foundation of New York as its 1978 recipient
of the foundation's Humanitarian
Award. The presentation will be made at
an awards banquet in the Grand Ballroom
Rodriguez Is Named Gen'l
Mgr. of 20th-Fox in PR
SAN JUAN. PUERTO RICO— Luis
Rodriguez has been named general manager
of 20th Century-Fox Puerto Rico, it was
announced by Emile Buyse, president of
20th Century-Fox International.
Rodriqucz, who assumed his new position
Monday (.3), had been assistant manager
for 20th-Fox in Puerto Rico.
McMeel to Promote 'Star'
During Five-City Tour
HOLLYWOOD—Mickey McKeel. who
co-stars in the rock feature "Hanging on a
Star." has been scheduled for a five-city
tour to promote the Mike MacFarland production
released by Trans World Films
Corp. The picture, which features newcomer
Lane Caudell. Deborah Raffin and Wolfman
Jack, is the story of a rock band's climb
to success.
McMeel, who has an album soon to be
released on Epic Records, also stars on a
ABC-TV Saturday morning series.
Playdates Set for Two
Cal-Am Artists Films
SHERM.A,N OAKS. CALIF.—Cal-Am
Artists set has spring playdates for "The
Toolbox Murders" and "Sunset Cove." "The
Toolbox Murders" will break in the Southwest
in April and "Sunset Cove" is set to
open in Florida in late April.
Jim Prichard's New World Pictures of
Dallas is handling bookings for the Southwest
and Jack Rigg of New World Pictures
of Atlanta is setting the Jacksonville territory
bookings.

is America's Boxoffi<
NEIL SIMON'S 'THE GOODBYE GIF
and Inlroducing
•
QUINN CUMMINGS as Lucy Written by NEIL SIMON Produc
Song "Goodbye Girl" written and Performed by DAVID GATES a RASTAR Feature-

' —
Now
From
veetheart!
ACADEMY AWARD
WINNER
BEST ACTOR
A RAY STARK PRODUCTION OF A HERBERT ROSS FILM
RICHARD DREYFUSS
•
'STARK -Directedby HERBERT ROSS
•
MLabs
PG PABtNTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED - ; Nov/
Available on Eiektra Records 1
1
A>
MARSHA
© 1979 METHO GOLDWYN MAYER INC. mil WAHNEH BROS. II
MASON
Music Scored and Adapted by DAVE GRUSIN
; Avaitdble in Paperback From Warner Books
W.rn., Bros ^^
| ^ ^^^^^ Commun.cationj com|»n, ^^^

Screening of Seven Short Subjects
Reveals Sponsored Film Techniques
By JOHN COCCHI
NEW YORK—Seven outstanding short
subjects, including two Academy Award
nominees, were screened here March 29 at
Shown together at Modern Talking
Picture Service's special screening for
outstanding motion pictures are (left
right): Robert Finehout, Modem; Beatrice
Watson, BP North America; Jack
Lusk, Modem, and Sarah Johnson,
Exxon Corp.
invitational gatherings hosted by Modern
Talking Picture Service, the world's leading
distributor of free-loan sponsored films. The
screenings were designed to showcase the
state of the art in films that project a
corporate identity. Held at the Magno Review
Theatre, the screenings were hosted
by Carl H. Lenz, Modern's president; Jack
Lusk, vice-president and Eastern sales manager;
Dan Kater, vice-president and general
manager; Robert M. Finehout, vice-president
and Peter Fallon and Jay Campbell,
account executives.
Tatron of the Arts' Image
Three of the films were shown as examples
of the corporation as a patron of
the arts. They were:
"Of Time, Tombs and Treasures," 27
minutes, sponsored by Exxon Corp. and
providing closeup views of the rich treasures
and the world of ancient Egypt's boy king,
Tutankhamun. A CINE Golden Eagle
Award-winner and a nominee for Best
Documentary Short in the latest Oscar
awards, it was produced by Charlie/Papa
Productions, Inc.
Showing at Smithsonian
"To Fly," 27 minutes, an examination of
the manned flight experience in this country.
Sponsored by Continental Oil Co. and
produced by Francis Thompson, Inc., the
to
America's women and early American art
forms—underwritten by Philip Morris.
The remaining films, examples of the
corporation presenting itself to the public,
were:
"The Shetland Experience," 26'2 minutes,
presented by BP North America, Inc.,
and produced by Balfour Films, nominated
as Best Documentary Short. It is a poetic
study of the new relationship developing
between a concerned energy industry and
the people of the Shetlands, a remote British
island group beyond Scotland in the
^
North Sea.
Featured at Music Hall
"Rumble of Wheels, Jingle of Chain,"
13'j minutes, produced by Robert Johnson
and D'Arcy-MacManus & Masius. was part
of Radio City Music Hall's "last" stage and
screen presentation. It looks at the magnificent
Clydesdale eight-horse hitch which has
become a trademark for Anheuser-Busch,
Inc.. and follows a colt from birth through
training and public appearances.
"Steelmakers." in 1 1 and 28-minute versions,
presented by Bethlehem Steel Corp.
and produced by Vision Associates. The
manufacture of steel, from mining operations
to rolling mills and use by industries,
is shown.
"One Summer Saturday," ten minutes,
produced by Grant/Jacoby, Inc., presenting
highlights of the day-long 100th anniversary
celebration staged with free food
and entertainment by major stars for 50,000
company employees and guests by R. J.
Reynolds Industries, Inc.. in Winston-Salem.
The films, widely seen by U. S. audiences,
have been honored with industrv
awards at the Public Relations Film Festival,
Columbus Film Festival and Festival
of the Americas. Such screenings as these
will be held periodically by Modern in major
cities as part of the company's current
plans to gain greater recognition for the
creativity and communications techniques
of sponsored films.
Songs From 'The Seniors'
Score on Music Chctrts
NEW YORK—"The Seniors." Cinema
Shares' contemporary campus comedy premiering
in Jime, has songs written by top
tunesmith Norman Gimble ("Killing Me
Softly") and produced by Patrick Williams,
who scored the films "Casey's Shadow" and
"One on One." Their songs in the new film
are sung by Gene Cotton, whose current hit
film is currently a prime attraction at the
new Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian
"Before My Heart Finds Out" was in the
Institute in Washington, D. C. No. 3 position for two consecutive weeks
"An American Gallery," representative after 1 1 weeks on Billboard Magazine's
segments of three films sponsored by Philip "Top 50 Easy Listening" chart.
Morris, Inc., and produced by Forma Art
Dove
Cashbox Magazine and Record World
Associates, Concepts Unlimited and also have listed the Cotton single as a rapid
Films. The segments are visual tours of riser and Cinema Shares hopes that the same
three American art exhibits— the Old West, will h.ippcn lo the numbers in "The Seniors."
DeLuxe Pure Water System
Now Marketed Worldwide
HOLLYWOOD— DeLu.xe Laboratories'
patented ion exchange technique for the removal
of impurities from photographic
washwaters will be marketed to laboratories
around the world.
DeLuxe is licensing patents for the economical,
energy-saving process to Pace International
Corp.. according to a joint announcement.
Pace, based in Hollywood,
markets scientific equipment.
Developed by the research group at De-
Luxe and tested with installations in three
different lat>oratories. the ion exchange process
removes ferricyanide. silver and hypo
from photographic washwaters. The process
has been cited by the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences.
Robert T. Kreiman. Pace president, explains,
"Retising purified water is of tremendous
value in preserving a limited resource.
Furthermore, the water does not
change much in temperature as it is being
purified, so little gas is needed to reheat it
to required lab temperatures."
The Environmental Protection Agency's
restrictions and taxes on effluents have focused
attention on the need for practical
solutions to the problem.
Kreiman says that photo labs and other
film processors, such as microfilm, graphic
arts and X-ray facilities, represent a large
market for a system that can save up to 65
per cent in water and gas. while permitting
the user to meet government standards for
waste discharge.
Glenn Wilder to Direct
'Grifa' in Guatemala
SAN FRANCISCO—Glenn R. Wilder,
one of Hollywood's leading stunt coordinators,
has been set to direct "Grifa," an action-adventure
film to be shot in Guatemala
th's summer. The announcement was made
by producers Gordon Howe. David Kirschner.
David Okimoto and Paul Steinbroner
at a San Francisco party celebrating the
completion of the film's final screenplay.
Wilder, a I960 USC graduate and former
pro-footballer with the San Diego Chargers
is. with Ha! Necdham and Ronnie Rondell,
one of the founders of Stunts, Unlimited,
the leading supplier of quality stuntmen
for motion pictures. As a stuntman himself.
Wilder has doubled for such stars as John
Wayne, Gene Hackman and Burt Reyolds.
His innumerable screen credits as actor and
stunt coordinator include "The Sand Pebbles,"
"Two-Minute Warning," "For Pete's
Sake," "Night Moves." "March or Die."
"McQ," "Shamus," "White Lightning,"
"Fuzz" and the forthcoming "Hollywood
Stuntman," starring Burt Reynolds. Glenn
also has had extensive TV exposure.
Grifa Productions, a San Francisco-based
company, held the party Saturday (8) at the
c'ty's Thomas Bros, film studio. Another
highlight of the celebration was a "Western
Union" singing telegram written and sent
from London by elusive novelist Thomas
Pynchon. author of the bestselling "V." and
"Gravity's Rainbow."
12 BOXOmCE :: April 24, 1978

G. W. Finkhousen Joining
Western Service & Supply
DENVER—Robert Tankersley, president
of Western Service & Supply Co., has announced
the upcoming
opening of a
branch office in Tucson
and the affiliation
of George W. Finkhousen
with the company.
The Tucson office,
which will be managed
by Finkhousen,
will be available to
exhibition and production
f a c i 1 i t ie s
throughout Arizona, Nevada, Southern California,
west Texas and New Mexico with
a complete theatre equipment service, plus
the finest design and engineering capability
in the area, Tankersley said. Special attention
is given to the particular needs of
theatres, viewing rooms and studios interested
in optical stereo sound.
Tankersley noted that Finkhousen brings
to this new venture a world of experience.
He formerly was sales manager for Dolby
Laboratories and played a major role in
introducing Dolby soundtracks to exhibition.
Additionally, he participated in the
installations for "A Star Is Born," "Star
Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind." The film laboratories of Technicolor,
Movielab and DeLuxe General all have
used his services for their Dolby SVA installations.
He previously served as sales manager
for Altec Service Corp., was a sales manager
for Altec Sound Prolucts and was regional
sales manager for Electro-Voice, Inc.
He is a member of the Audio Engineering
Society and the Society of Motion Picture
& Television Engineers.
Tankersley stated: "Finkhousen's association
with Western Service & Supply presents
exhibitors with a quality of service
and expertise unmatched in the industry and
is a step by Western Service & Supply toward
becoming the nation's first truly 'total
capability'
supplier."
Avco Embassy Relocates
New York City Offices
NEW YORK—Avco Embassy Pictures
relocated to the Tower Suite at 300 East
42nd St., New York City 10017, Friday
(21). The company's previous address was
Will Rogers Hospital
At Saranac Lake Sold
New York — Salah M. Hassaneiii,
president of the Will Rogers Memorial
Fund, announced that the contract for
the sale of Will Rogers Hospital at
Saranac Lake, N.Y., has been made to
Adirondack Recreation, Inc., of which
Richard L. Boyea is a principal. Proceeds
of the sale will be used to finance
the new Will Rogers facility at Burke
Rehabilitation Center, now operating
in White Plains, N.Y.
The Saranac Lake hospital was built
in 1928 and served members of the
entertainment and communications industry
until December 1975, when it
was closed because it was no longer
feasible to carry out the principal mission
of treating pulmonary disease.
Columbia Has New Billing
Record for Fiscal Year
NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures International
established a new all-time fiscal
year billings record in the 40th week ended
Saturday (1) of the current year, it was announced
by Patrick M. Williamson, execu-
training of many of the men presently servicing
Dolby equipment and provided the
tive vice-president. The new mark is $71,-
stimulus to ASC Technical Services and 367,000, which eclipses the $66,131,000
RCA Service to train service engineers. record set in 1974-75.
Finkhousen executed many of the major Williamson pointed out that the major
contributions to the total have come from
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind,"
which began its international releases February
24, and "The Deep," "Sinbad" and
the Eye of the Tiger" and "Crime Busters,"
being released everywhere except Italy in
partnership with Warner Bros.
En route to the new annual record, Columbia
International established three consecutive
weekly billings records, beginning
with the week ended March 18. Those figures,
which eliminated a one-week record
that stood for six years, were $4,323,000.
$4,405,000 and $5,293,000 for a threeweek
total of $14,021,000.
20th-Fox Acquires Global
Distribution of 'Magic'
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox
has acquired worldwide distribution rights to
Joseph E. Levine's presentation. "Magic."
A chilling love story. "Magic" stars Anthony
Hopkins. Ann-Margret and Burgess
Meredith and was directed by Richard Attenborough
from a screenplay by William
Goldman, who adapted his best-selling novel
for the screen. Tentative plans call for the
film to be released in the U. S. and Canada
750 Third Ave. here. The new locale also
house company's department,
beginning in October, with foreign dis-
will the print tribution to follow early in 1978.
headed by Ed Reister, formerly situated on Coincidcntally. interiors of the film were
38th Street. Phone number remains (212) shot at Fox Studios in California, production
949-8900.
having recently been completed on lo-
Among those relocating were Mitchell cat'on in New York City. This is the second
Goldman, Eastern division manager; Jerry film to be directed by Attenborough for
Horowitz, New York branch head; Bernie Joseph E. Levine Presents, the first having
Glaser, Eastern advertising/ publicity, and been last year's "A Bridge Too Far," a
Nancy Goldstein, Glaser's assistant.
United Artists release here.
BOXOFnCE April 24. 1978
UA Announces Preliminary
Plans to Sell Record Div.
NEW YORK—Andy Albeck, president
and chief executive officer of United Artists,
has announced a preliminary agreement to
sell United Artists Records, headquartered
in Los Angeles, to Arthur MoguU, president
of the record company, and Jerry Rubinsti-'in,
former chairman of ABC Records.
Under its new ownership the company is
expected to operate with present management
and personnel.
[he sale of the record division will complete
a program whereby UA will concentrate
its resources and efforts on its two core
businesses, motion picture distribution (to
theatres and TV) and music publishing.
^^Delightful...hilarious^
You will love it/^
Jeffrey Lyons, WCBS Radio
This fabulous Academy
Award nominated short
which was selected to
open at Filmex is available
for your screens now.
Call EDP Films, Inc.
600 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York 10022
(212) 758-4777 for
further information and
the name of your local
distributor.

Delegation of Cuban
Filmmakers on Tour
NEW YORK— For the first time since
the Cuban revolution almost 20 years ago,
a delegation of Cuban filmmakers is visiting
a number of cities throughout the U.S.
The Cuban delegation was invited to appear
at the Los Angeles International Film
Exposition Thursday (13) through Sunday
(30) in conjunction with the American premieres
of two new Cuban films. Tomas
Gutierrez Alea's "The Last Supper" and
Octavio Cortazar's "The Teacher." From
Los Angeles the delegation will travel to
San Francisco, Washington, D.C.. and New
York City where they will make additional
public appearances and be available for TV,
radio and press interviews.
The delegation is headed by Santiago Alvarez,
internationally acclaimed documentary
filmmaker and vice-president of the
Cuban Film Institute. Joining him on the
tour is film critic and writer Mayra Vilasis
Rodon and actress Alina Sanchez Rodriguez,
most recently seen in "The Other
Francisco."
A fest'val of new Cuban cinema, featuring
the U.S. premieres of eight award-winning
Cuban films, also will be playing theatrically
in cities throughout the U.S. this
spring, including Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Boston, Washington and New York. The
festival in New York will be at the Beacon
Theatre with a special opening-night premiere
May 14 and the regular festival engagement
running May 16-21.
The festival will include the following
feature films: "The Last Supper," winner of
the Grand Prize, Chicago Film Festival, and
the first prize, Benalmadena Film Festival;
Humberto Solas" "Cantata de Chile." first
prize, Karlovy Vary Film Festival; Manuel
Octavio Gomez's "Days of Water," the
"Outstanding Film of the Year" at the London
Film Festival; Manuel Perez's "Black
River." Special First-Prize Jury Award,
Moscow Film Festival; Sara Gomez's "One
Way or Another," Pesaro Film Festival;
Jose Massip's "Angola: Victory of Hope,"
Leipzig Film Festival, and Rigoberto Lopez's
"Spear of the Nation," Berlin Film
Festival.
Following its premiere, "The Last Supper,"
already acclaimed as a new masterwork
from the director of "Memories of
Underdevelopment," will be opening for
extended theatrical runs.
DIRECT BOOKING — 35mm or
CHAPLIN CLASSICS
Schwartz Named Stigwood's
Business Affairs Director
HOLLYWOOD — Suzanne J.
Schwaitz,
who functioned as a special counsel for the
Robert Stigwood Group while senior associate
of a law firm, has been named to the
newly created position of director of business
affairs and general counsel of the Stigwood
Group of companies.
Ms. Schwartz resigned her position with
the New York firm of Paul, Weiss. Rifkind,
Wharton & Garrison to take the new assignment
in which she will report to Frederic
B. Gershon, president of the Stigwood companies
around the world. Gershon also announced
the consolidation of the 34 subsidiary
Stigwood companies into three major
headquarters. New York, Los Angeles and
London.
Los Angeles will be headquarters for RSO
F Ims. RSO Records and the Robert Stigwood
Organization. New York headquarters
will include the Stigwood Group, Ltd., Stigwood
Music, RSO Films' New York office,
the Robert Stigwood Orangization, RSO
Records' New York office, RSO Services,
RSO Publishing, Red Cow Music and Casserole
Music.
London will house the Robert Stigwood
Group, the Robert Stigwood Organization.
RSP Productions. RSO Publishing. RSO
Records' U.K. office. Superstar Ventures.
Superstar Music, Throat Music, Evita Music,
ALS Management, Presentations and
Television, Artists Management, Associated
London Films, Associated London Productions,
Abigail Music's London office, Delmount,
Bruce Music, Dratleaf, Larchbrook,
Matcost and St. George Music.
Quarterback Passes Before
Cameras in WB's 'Hooper'
BURBANK— Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Terry Bradshaw will make his motion
picture acting debut in "Hooper," a Warner
Bros, film about Hollywood stuntmen starring
Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent,
Sally Field, Brian Keith and Robert Klein.
He is cast as a ferocious SWAT officer in
the Burt Reynold/ Lawrence Gordon production
directed by Hal Needham.
"Hooper" also stars John Marley. James
Best. Adam West, Soupy Sales and Alfie
Wise. The screenplay was written by Bill
Kerby and Tom Rickman and is based on
a story by Walt Green. Hank Moonjean is
producer and Lawrence Gordon is executive
producer.
16mm
BY THE SEA
IN THE PARK
SHANGHAIED
THE BANK
TRIPLE TROUBLE
FILM CLASSIC EXCHANGE
1914 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, Cal. 90007
Telephone (213) 731-3854
Disney Scores Record
Revenues and Income
BURBANK—Walt Disney Productions
has reported record revenues and net income
for the second quarter ended March
31. Revenues totaled $169,920,000, up 21
per cent, while net income increased 29 per
cent to $23,028,000, or 71 cents per share.
For the six months ended March 31, the
company also achieved record revenues and
net income. Revenues increased 18 per cent
to $307,026,000. while net income rose to
$36,381,000, an increase of 23 per cent,
or $1.12 per share.
Six-month revenues and net income for
the comparable period last year were $259,-
525,000 and $29,614,000, respectively.
Second-quarter revenues and net income
for the same period in 1977 were $139,996,-
000 and $17,786,000, respectively.
Worldwide film rentals, including TV,
increased 37 per cent, to $41,189,000 for
the three months and 21 per cent to $68,-
085,000 for the six months ended March
31, 1977. Film rental operating income increased
43 per cent to $19,204,000 for the
three months ended March 31.
Michael Rosenberg Joins
Saul Zaentz Productions
HOLLYWOOD — Michael
Rosenberg,
who joined Saul Zaentz Productions Saturday
(1) following his resignation as West
Coast advertising and marketing director for
United Artists (see April 3 Boxoffice, page
5), will be active in all phases of production,
advertising and marketing. Prior to
joining UA, he was national advertising
d rector for Columbia Pictures.
Zaentz, who co-produced the Academy
Award-winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest" and co-produced "Three Warriors,"
both for UA release, currently is
preparing John Fowles' "The French Lieutenant's
Woman" for 1979 production.
In production for Thanksgiving for UA
is J. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings,"
produced by Zaentz and directed by Ralph
Bakshi, which will be followed two years
later by "The Lord of the Rings Part II."
Florin/Creative Services
Moves to New Location
NEW YORK — Florin/Creative
Film
Services, motion picture booking and buying
service for independent exhibitors in the
Greater New York area, has opened offices
at 1585 Broadway here. The phone number
is (212) 489-0850.
The new company is a merger of two
booking offices. Seymour Florin Enterprises
of Manhattan and Creative Film
Services of East Meadow, L.I. Marc Laffie
and Pamela Pritzker of Creative have relocated
to the new address.
Florin/Creative heads Steve Florin and
Laffie plan to draw on their diverse backgrounds
in exhibition, publicity, promotion
and specialized product to offer a service to
exhibitors that is complete in all phases of
theatre
operation.
BOXOFTICE :: April 24, 1978

Short Auto Racing Film
Emphasizes Safety Need
NEW YORK—When it comes to auto
racing today, the Super-Vee is one of the
hottest and most challenging cars on the
track. An exceptional 29-miniite 16mm
color film sponsored by Montgomery Ward
Auto Club and narrated by Chris Economaki,
"Super-Vee—New Young Giant of
Racing," offers not only the enthusiasm and
excitement of racing but also illustrates the
importance of safety both on and off the
track.
This fast-paced film lets the viewer feel
the tension of the crews as they make lastminute
checks of the sophisticated VWpowered
Mini-Indy cars, the outer calm of
the drivers as they wedge into their tiny
seats and the roar of engines as the cars
speed onto the track.
The short is distributed by Association
Films.
Todd Seeks LA Publicity
Firm for Miami Film Fest
MIAMI—J. Hunter Todd, executive director
of the Greater Miami International
Film Festival, flew to Los Angeles Monday
(17) for a week of confabs with studio heads
and leading publicists. Todd planned to select
the official public relations firm to represent
this 11th annual Festival of the
Americas, now based in Miami, and hoped
to line up major studio support for the
event, scheduled for November 10-19. Accompanying
Todd was festival board chairman
Stephen Quade.
The festival includes America's first and
only official film market for features and
shorts. This year it will add a major production
equipment tradeshow.
Cinerama, Inc., Announces
77 Operations Earnings
LOS ANGELES — Cinerama has reported
its consolidated operating results for
the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 1977, with
comparative figures for the prior fiscal
year. Net earnings for 1977 amounted to
$168,000, equal to six cents per share,
compared with net earnings in 1976 of
$561,000, equal to 20 cents per share. The
1976 results included an extraordinary gain
of $260,000 or nine cents per share.
Revenues increased to $57,400,000 in
1977 from $56,471,000 in 1976 because of
increases in the hotel and theatre operations.
These were offset partially by decreases in
gains on sales of theatre properties and a
reduction in film distribution revenues, the
area of operations which substantially has
been phased out.
'Hooper' Is Final Title
BURBANK—"Hooper" is the final title
of the Burt Reynolds/ Lawrence Gordon
production starring Burt Reynolds, Jan-
Michael Vincent. Sally Field. Brian Keith
and Robert Klein. The Warner Bros, release
is being directed by Hal Needham and spotlights
the exploits of two Hollywood stuntmen.
CALENDARofEVENTS
S M T W T F S
2 3 4 S 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 IS
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11
14 IS 16 17 18
APRIL
23-25, Southeastern NATO convention (Alabama,
Georgia and Tennessee), Oprylond Motel, Nashville,
Tenn
MAY
1-3, Theatre Equipment Ass'n convention, Hilton
Hotel, Myrtle Beoch, S.C.
7-9, NATO of Arkansas coi
Hot Springs, Ark.
Majestic
17-30, Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France.
Hotel,
9-10, Independent Theatre Owners Ass'n of New York,
2nd annual New Product Seminar.
21-23, North and South Carolina Theatre Ass'n, 66th
annual convention, Hilton Hotel, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
29-June 2, Variety Clubs International convention,
Seattle, Wash.
JULY
23-25, Mid-Atlantic NATO convention, the Homestead,
Hot Springs, Vo.
30-August 3, NATO of New York State convention.
Concord Hotel, Kiamesha loke, NY.
AUGUST
14-17, Theatre Owners of New .England convention.
OCTOBER
3-4, NATO of New Mexico con>
Albuquerque, N.M.
15-19, National NATO conventic
New York, N.Y.
Six Cartoons From 1930s
Restored for Rerelease
LOS ANGELES—Restoration of six
original Willie Whopper cartoons produced
by Ub Iwerks has been completed by
Film Technology Co., Inc.
The Hollywood-based laboratory restored
the original negatives of six Iwerks films
to theatrical market standards, signal processed
and rerecorded the soundtracks and
replaced missing footage.
Film Technology's four-month-long project
is part of Modern Sound Pictures president
Keith Smith's objective to rejuvenate
a number of films from the 1930s. MSPI,
located in Omaha, Neb., has earmarked the
six cartoons for summer release to theatres
and nontheatrical markets.
Alfred A. Liberatore Dies;
Show Business Veteran
BOSTON—Alfred A. Liberatore. 73,
known professionally as Al Libby, died Saturday
(15) after a heart attack. He was a
vaudevillian on the old Keith and Orpheum
circuits 40 years ago. He was a member of
the Screen Actors Guild and the American
Guild of Variety Artists.
Survivors include his wife Lillian, two
daughters, a son. two sisters and four grandchildren.
Wilfred Pickles Is Dead
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND — Veteran
character actor Wilfred Pickles, 73, died
recently at his Brighton home. He had
worked in theatre, radio. TV and films.
Owensby's 'Living Legend'
In Race With Elvis Film
SHELBY. N. C.—The race is on between
the two coasts to see who will be first with
films that deal in one way or another with
the legend of Elvis Presley, according to
Elizabeth Stewart, staff writer for the Mirror-Herald.
The West has entered the race
with Jerry Weintraub's purchase of the film
rights to Presley's story, whereas the East
Coast's entry will be Earl Owensby's production
of "The Living Legend." The Owensby
film, while not strictly an Elvis biography,
will have elements of "The King's"
life.
The leading character, for instance (Eli
Canfield, played by Owensby), is a countryrock
singer who has been one of the biggest
superstars in the business. The love interest
in his life will be played by Ginger Alden,
who just happens to have been the late
Presley's fiancee.
"We've gone a different route with our
story," Owensby said. "Instead of the usual
show business rags to riches story, we begin
'The Living Legend' with the hero 20 years
into his career and still going strong. The
characters are so much more complex and
battle-scarred by that time."
"The Living Legend" will contain a number
of new songs which will be heard during
scenes of concerts, rehearsal and recording
sessions. Owensby probably will not be doing
his own vocals. Roy Orbinson has been
approached to do the singing but Owensby
did not say whether he'd been signed for
the film.
Tom Mclntyre, editor of the Mirror-
Herald, said the film would be "a strong
love story between a man and a woman.
But, it also is a love story concerning the
public and its entertainment idol. The film
will show how much love affairs can shoot
someone to the top and at the same time
wear them down."
Fred Zinnemcmn Honored
By the British Academy
LONDON, ENGLAND — Academy
Award-winning director Fred Zinnemann
became only the fourth person in history
to be honored with the British Academy of
Film and Television Arts' coveted Special
International Award. Previous recipients
have been Charles Chaplin, David Lean and
Jacques Cousteau.
The British award was presented at ceremonies
which were telecast live ovei
Thames-TV.
First 'Baker's Hawk' Gross
Soars High in Montana
HOLLYWOOD—Dick Nash, vice-president
of Cougar Releasing, announced that
the first grosses of "Baker's Hawk" under
the Cougar banner were better than expected.
The tally in a few Montana engagements
was well over $87,000.
Nash said he expected to see a significant
jump in the picture gross in its next engagement
due to a new campaign developed by
Cougar.
April 24, 1978 15

. . Barry
. . . Van
. . . Maurice
. . Norman
. . Ron
. .
M ^J^oliuwood /"Report mi
f
m
Film Version of 'Snow Blind'
Scheduled by John Marshall
Snow Blind." based on a novel by Robert
Sabbag, will be produced by John Marshall
and directed by Sidney J. Furie. Filming is
scheduled for later this year on locations
in New York City and South America . . .
Universal Pictures is preparing, with producer
Roy Huggins. to film Harold Robbins'
"The Lonely Lady." Ed Hume is
writ-
First Artists has acquired theatrical film
and TV rights to the life story of Gen.
Daniel "Chappie" James, who became the
first black four-star general in the history
of the U.S. Sept. 1.^1975. Before retiring
Feb. \, 1978, Gen. James was responsible
for the surveillance and air defense of North
American airspace and for providing warning
of and assessment of hostile attack on
the continent by bombers or missies. Gen.
James died Feb. 25. 1978. shortly after
reaching an exclusive agreement with First
Artists . . . Motion picture rights to James
Clavell's monumental novel. "Tai Pai," have
been acquired by producer Georges-Alain
Vuille from Rim Run Shaw Productions.
Vuille plans to begin production in Hong
Kong next year on the story about the period
when European traders and adventurers
first sought to establish a foothold on the
Chinese mainland.
Edward Binns Joins the Cast
Of 'Oliver's Story' in NYC
Edward Binns has been cast in the role
of Phil Cavalleri in Paramount's "Oliver's
Story," the sequel to "Love Story." now
under way in New York . . Robert Hegyes,
Anne Lockhart, Debralee Scott and Ricci
Martin have been added to the cast of
"Maui," which begin filming in Maui under
the direction of Tony Mordente . . . Sally
Kirkland has been cast in Max Baer's
"Hometown. U.S.A." . Primus,
Michael Greer and Harry Dean Stanton
have been cast in "The Rose," due to begin
filming Monday (24) for 20th Century-Fox
in New York . . . Jack Carter has been
added to the cast of "The Glove," shooting
in Los Angeles . . . Christa Linder, the leading
lady in 28 Italian and Mexican films,
will make her debut in an American motion
picture in "Hooper." a Burt Reynolds/Lawrence
Gordon production for Warner Bros.
release . . . New York actor John Cunningham
has been cast in Gordon Film Productions'
"Lost and Found" . . . David Warner
will play a crusading scientist in "Nightwing."
which began photography Monday
(17) on locations in New Mexico for Columbia
Pictures release . . . Timothy Bottoms
will star in the Dino De Laurentiis production
"The Hurricane" for Paramount Pictures
. . . Michael Delano, who has the recurring
role of Johnny Venture on TV's
"Rhoda." is set for a lead role in "Bitter
England and Rankin Bass Productions will
produce "The Bushido Blade." to be directed
by Tom Kotani from William Overgard's
Heritage," Bitter Heritage Production Co.'s
feature which is lensing on locations in Los
Angeles . . . Viveca Lindfors has been signed
screenplay about Commodore Perry's attempt
to play a featured role in Metro-Goldwyn-
to open Japan to the West in 1854.
May
Mayer's "Voices," it was announced by producer
Joe Wizan . . . British actor Anthony
Photography will begin in in Japan . . .
Principal photography on the Mel Simon Valentine has joined the cast of ITC Entertainment's
production of "When You Comin' Back.
"Escape to Athena," shooting in
Red Ryder?" began Monday flO) in the El Greece . . . John Saxon will star in "The
Paso area.
Glove," an action-adventure story to be
directed by Ross Hagan .
First Artists Acquires Screen
Leibman
Beau
will co-star with Sally Fields and
Rights to Gen. James' Story- Bridges in the 20th Century-Fox feature,
"Norma Rae," about a female textile worker
who attempts to organize a labor union
in the Deep South.
Streisand Is Slated to Sing
'Eyes of Laura Mars' Theme
Barbara Streisand will sing the theme
"Prisoners" for Columbia Pictures' "Eyes
of Laura Mars." produced by Jon Peters
Dyke Parks and Perry Botkin jr.
will compose the music for Paramount's
"Goin' South" . . . Bruce Geller will direct
Brut Productions' "Department Store" .
Valerie Jeanne and Danny Bravin will
write
the score for producer Anthony Cardoza's
"Hotwire and the Car Takers" . . . John
Bud Cardos has been signed by producer
Charles Band to direct "Vortex," sciencefiction
feature set to begin shooting in May
Vaccarino has been named unit
production manager and David Silver assistant
director on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's
"The Champ." which will begin photography
May 1 in Miami . Gimble
has written the songs for Cinema Shares'
"The Seniors." Gene Cotton wrote the vocals.
'Vampire Hookers' Begins
Preproduction in Manila
HOLLYWOOD—Jerry Zanitsch. general
sales manager of Caprican Three, announced
that Robert E. Waters, president of Cosa
Nueva Productions, and Emmett R. Alston,
director of creative development, have begun
preproduction in Manila on "Vampire
Hookers."
Shooting will start in mid-May on the
film, which will star veteran actor John
Carradine. This will mark Carradine's 50th
year in the motion picture industry and his
435th film. "Vampire Hookers" will be
slated for national release June 30.
'Bitter Heritage' Begins
Lensing in Los Angeles
HOLLYWOOD—Filming of "Bitter Heritage"
began on Los Angeles locations Tuesday
(11). according to producers Robert
Mayo and Gary Troy. Troy is directing the
screenplay by Michael Cartel, which was
based on a story by Troy, who also plays
the role of Marcos, a big-city crime boss in
conflict with his mob, the law and his son.
"If we can get a rough cut ready in time
I'll show it at the Cannes festival in May,"
said Mayo.
Director of photography is Enzo Giobbe
whose film "II Giorno" (1975) starring Sylvana
Mangano was nominated in Italy for
a "best picture" award. Jerry Cole is composing
and arranging the ten-song musical
score. He already has written the words and
music for the theme song, as well as "Secret
War," "We'll Be Running" and "You'll
Never Tame Me." These will
be featured in
an album to be released about the same time
as the film.
In a last-minute decision, actor Rory Calhoun
switched roles with famed psychic
Peter Hurkos. Calhoun now plays Manuel,
an ambitious mob enforcer who covets Marcos'
position; Hurkos becomes Carlo, a
crooked cop. Lorri Calhoun, the daughter
of Rory and Lita Baron, makes her feature
film debut as Lupe in "Bitter Heritage" but
has no scenes together with her father.
The crime drama, with a 12-15 day shooting
schedule, will be distributed in Holland
by Corona Films. It is set to open in some
300 theatres there July 27. Distribution also
is set for some parts of South America, and
negotiations currently are pending with distributors
for the U.S.. Canada. Mexico and
foreisn markets.
ABM's 'Runnin' Free' Has
Started Post-Production
PHOENIX — ABM International, Phoeni.x-based
motion picture company, has
completed its first feature film, "Runnin'
Free," and post-production work has been
launched. The two-year-old firm's executives,
who have media backgrounds, now
are searching for a new screen property for
spring production.
ABM International additionally has invested
in a picture that now is in preproduction
in England.
Morgan Skinner, president of ABM International,
stated that while the company
will remain headquartered in Phoenix, a
West Coast office recently was opened
near the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with
Will Henderson in charge of operations.
Fenady Gets Film Rights
To Dash's 'Out of Fear'
LOS ANGELES — Writer-producer Andrew
J. Fenady has concluded a deal
through literary agent Arthur Pine in New
York for motion picture and TV rights to
the novel "Out of Fear," by Bart Dash.
Pine agented Fenady's novel "The Man
With Bogart's Face" and sold hardcover
rights to Contemporary Books and paperback
publication rights to Avon.
BOXOFnCE :: April 24, 1978

. . Mel
. . . One
. . "Candleshoe"
. . Combined
.
. .
U^Tr COM/WEA/T ^
COUNCIL ^-^ I
fJTy vote is for 'High Anxiety;' it's a treasure"
wrote Mrs. Julie Steiner of the "Candleshoe" is the best of the lot. Jodie
N.Y. . . . Have seen six on the list and
New York Federation of Women's Clubs. Foster is one of the best actresses, child or
Most of the National Screen Council members
seemed to be in agreement, as "High don, Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La,
adult, working in movies today.—Joe Ley-
Anxiety" was selected as February's Blue Disney Studios' productions still rate very
Ribbon Award recipient. From a large ballot
of ten nominees, "High Anxiety" was young and not so young.—Mrs. R.A. Hun-
high with me. Good entertainment for the
the clear winner. Mel Brooks, Madeline holz. Motion Picture & TV Council, Milwaukee
. . . Against a lot of competition,
Kahn, Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman
are the stars of Brooks' own script that this Disney hit still holds its own.—Justin
is a take-off on the movies of Alfred Hitchcock.
Iowa . . . "Candleshoe" is loaded with
Jacobsmeier, Dubinsky Theatres, Sioux City,
laughter, love and larceny,—Mrs. Shirley
H. Gunnels, Fowler, Ind.
A great cast for a fine traditional Disney
Besides being bestowed the Blue Ribbon
Award, the Mel Brooks vehicle has drawn
354 per cent of average business in key
situations across the country, as reported
in the Boxoffice Barometer. Coming in a
close second was Buena Vista's "Candleshoe,"
followed by "Coma." Also popular
on the February ballot: "The Other Side of
the Mountain Part 2" and the Henry
Winkler starrer, "The One and Only."
Listed below are selected comments from
the February ballots of the NSC:
"High Anxiety"
The Leading Loon of Lotusland has done
it again. What fun, and lovingly done with
Hitchcock in mind,—Holly D. Spence, Lincoln
Journal, Lincoln. Neb. . . . Another
winner from Mel Brooks.—John P. Recher,
NATO of Maryland, Baltimore , , .
Mel
Brooks did a tremendous job.—Mrs. E. H.
Montgomery, Indianapolis Group, National
Screen Council . Brooks is fast
becoming a national treasure. A funny,
imaginative film.—Earl J. Dias, New Bedford
(Mass.) Standard-Times . . . Mel Brooks
is at his best in "High Anxiety."—Elston
Brooks, Fort Worth (Tex.) Star-Telegram.
So outrageous, I saw it twice. An admirable
tribute to Hitchcock.—James L.
Limbacher, Dearborn Department of Libraries
... If I were Alfred Hitchcock,
1 wouldn't be just flattered, I'd be delighted!—James
G. Moorhead, Evening Independent,
St. Petersburg, Fla. More rapidfire
humor from Mel Brooks, Only about
half of the jokes are funny, but those that
are are hilarious—Randy Weddington, the
Grapevine, Hollywood, Calif. . . .
Mel
Brooks scores again. He's a comedy genius.
—Walt Reno, KORK-TV. Las Vegas , . .
My daughter saw "High Anxiety" once and
wants to see it again for her birthday
Marged Wakeley. SAG-AFTRA, Reseda,
Calif.
"Candleshoe"
. . .
"Candleshoe" is another Disney miracle.
Great family entertainment.—Jerry Webb,
WARI Radio, Abbeville, Ala. It's a
shoo-in for the small fry and the adults will
enjoy it too—Lois Baumocl, Boxoffice.
Palm Beach, Fla. . . . "Candleshoe" is the
best all-around for children and adults.
Nevart Apikian, Post-Standard, Syracuse.
film. Unlike many films in the G-rated category,
it deserves the label of "For General
Audiences"—Bruce Westbrook, the Daily
David
Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
Niven's characterizations in "Candleshoe"
put this film in a plane that should delight
the parents more than the children. I vote
this one for the whole family.—Yolanda
Godfrey, Motion Picture and TV Council,
San Rafael, Calif,
"Candleshoe" is best for the family.
Mrs. William Stute, Fort Wayne Indorsers
of Photoplay, Fort Wayne, Ind. , . . How
could they miss with Helen Hayes and
David Niven? Charming and fun.—Dorothy
A. Pearsall, Better Films Council, Staten
persu Uzala" is not only the best film
of this year but of nearly any other
year. It holds the audience in absolute
awe. The most strikingly beautiful cinematography
I have seen in years. It
makes one yearn to speak Russian so
you can fully appreciate the motion
picture as the work of art it truly is.
Terry Flynn, Fox Theatres, Amarillo,
Tex.
"Fonzie" Henry Winkler has done it
again. In "Heroes" he proved his ability
as a serious star. In "The One and
Only" he is hilariously funny and obviously
has the makings of a great superstar.—Aileen
Kandyba, Kansas City.
In "The Other Side of the Mountain
Part 2," it is quite the opposite of the
original film. The young paralyzed
woman's mental agonies and physical
weaknesses are vividly reinforced. She's
not a valiant superwoman battling back
from adversity; instead, she's cowardly,
afraid of the future's uncertainties
and terrorized by the past. Kinmont's
struggles and sorrows climbing the
greatest mountain of her life serves as
monumental evidence that even out of
the most agonizing defeat there is a
road back.—Tony Rutherford, the
Entertainer, Huntington, W.Va.
Island, N.Y.
family.—Mrs.
. Best entertainment for
Frank J, Baldus, Independence,
.
Mo. is another
example of really great Disney family fun
in films. Disney always comes through for
the entire family.—Chuck Fisher, Lenexa,
Kas.
"Coma"
Tight, chilling and effective medical horror
story. Jerry Goldsmith's score is brilliant.
This one keeps you on the edge of your
seat.—Elias Savada, Film Dope Magazine.
Bethesda, Md. . drama of a
hospital plus a good mystery are unbeatable—Lynn
Hinds, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh
of the most enjoyable and suspenseful
movies of this or any year. Great
acting, especially by Bujold, by an excellent
cast. High production values with that great
MGM look. A film that can be enjoyed by
all.—Robert J. Spatafore, South San Francisco.
"Coma" is the sort of engrossing heroinein-distress
thriller too often discarded to TV
instead of being developed for the big
screen. Genevieve Bujold is wonderful.
Edward L, Blank, Pittsburgh Press . .
"Coma" gets off to a slow start but develops
into an exciting thriller.—Kim Larsen,
.
Billings Gazette, Billings. Mont. Maybe the thriller of the year. Cold as
ether, sharp as a scalpel, quick as a racing
pulse.—James G. Moorhead, Evening Independent,
St. Petersburg, Fla.
"Coma" is nail-biting suspense. An ef-
.
fective and
market in
believable
human
story of the black
organs.—Wendeslaus
Schulz, New Orleans . . Until Crichton
comes up with an original novel upon which
he bases a screenplay with nice scientific
cutting edge, this will have to do. Good
adaptation.—Joe A. Ortega, Bank of California,
Seattle, Wash.
Miscellaneous
(Listed in order of votes received)
The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2:
A sequel as moving and touching as its
predecessors,—Dan Dunelberger, Arcadia,
Calif. , . , "The Other Side of the Mountain
Part 2" is a beautiful love story that
should make us all realize how lucky we
are. A picture everyone should see.—Mrs,
Paul Gebhart, Cleveland (Ohio) WOMPI.
The One and Only: Henry Winkler out-
Fonzied himself on this one. A classic that
my whole family enjoyed.—James Mannshardt.
East Bay Motion Picture and TV
Council, Oakland, Calif. . . .
Winkler is a
remarkable comedian. Kim Darby is charming.
Loved it.—Nancy Nelson, WTCN-TV.
Golden Valley, Minn. . . . Henry Winkler
shows he has talent far beyond the Fonzie.
—Tom Hodge, Johnson City (Tenn.) Press-
Chronicle.
Dersu Uzala: Ranks not only with the
best pictures of this or any year but among
the best movies ever made. An epic that
speaks to it's audience's humanity. A timeless
masterpiece.—John Crittenden. New
York ... A case can be made for most of
the films on the list but the 100 or so
persons who see the Kurosawa film will
have the most uplifting experience—Don
Braunagel, Oakland Press, Pontiac, Mich.
BOXOFHCE :: April 24, 1978
17

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 ore not listed. As new runs
in in
are reported, ratings are added and averoges revised. Computation terms o( percentage is
relation to average grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as average,
the figures show the gross ratings above or below that mark. (Asterisk * denotes combination bills.)
1
Across the Great Divide (PIE)

-
Fun Fillies Favored
In New York Ciiy
NEW YORK—The ladies dominated the
first-run scene, which was very slow. "Pretty
Baby" again scored, staying on top with a
605 in the second week at the Coronet.
"Madame Rosa" was second, same place as
last time, a nice 480 for the fourth round
at the Plaza. The late Charles Chaplin's
1923 silent (now with a music track) "A
Woman of Paris" was third in its debut at
the Cinema Studio with a 285. Stars of the
55-year-old classic are Edna Purviance,
Adolphe Menjou and Carl Miller, with
Chaplin barely recognizable in a cameo.
"Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands"
came in fourth. 180 in the sixth Paris session.
"Word Is Out." the documentary in
which gays talk of their lives, was fifth
with a 175 average in the third round at
the Eastside Cinema.
Showcase action was much sturdier: Winners
included "The One and Only." "Coma."
Oscar winner "The Goodbye Girl." "Straight
Time," "The Fury." "The Medusa Touch."
"Saturday Night Fever." "Annie Hall." "An
Unmarried Woman." "Rabbit Test." "Close
Encounters of the Third Kind." "Coming
Home." "A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich."
"Julia." "Joseph Andrews." "The
Turning Point," "High Anxiety" and "Star
Wars." the latter about to celebrate its first
anniversary in metropolitan area houses.
(Average Is 100)
Cinema 11—September 30, 1955 (Univ),
2nd wk -
90
Cine '
Colu
Pans Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
(Carnaval Films/New Yorker), 6th wk, ..
Plaza—Madame Rosa (Atlantic Releasing),
-Crosssed Swords
Four Now Motion Pictures
Make Debut in Baltimore
(WB)
BALTIMORE—"An Unmarried Woman."
"A Special Day." "The Chosen" and
"Manitou" arrived to brighten the moviegoer's
world. Alas, only "Unmarried Woman."
170. and "Manitou." 100. could add a
glimmer to the scene. "House Calls" continues
to be the pacesetter with a 195 and
"Julia." at 160 is the only other film rated
above average.
Cinema I—The Chosen (AIP)
Mini-Flick II—Julia (20th-Fox), 19th wk
Patterson I, Westview III—The Fury (2Cth-Fo
5th wk
Paramount, Super 1-70 Manitou (Emb)
Senator, Westview 1 An Unmarried Woman
(20th-Fox)
Towson, Westview II—House Calls (Umv).
5th wk
Westview IV—A Special Day (Emb)
Dog Day Has Ad Push
SARANAC LAKE. N.J.—Northern New
York state day-and-date reprise booking of
Warner Bros.' "Dog Day Afternoon" was
preceded by teaser advertising in New York
and Vermont newspapers. Participants in
the schedule were the Pontiac. Saranac:
State, Ticonderoga: and Supreme 87 Drivein.
Pittsburgh.
Short Film on New York Marathon
Stresses the Positive Side of City
By JOHN COCCHI
NEW YORK—The best way to promote
New York is to point up its positive aspects.
Reasoning on that order went into the
making of "New York City Marathon." a
14-minute color film about last year's 26-
mile marathon race through the boroughs.
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. is presenting
the film, a Field & Wall Associates
production. United Artists Theatres has
opened it here with Universal's "House
Calls" and plans are imder way for national
distribution.
Narrated by John Facenda. the film was
produced by Sandy Wall and written, directed
and edited by Andrew Field with a
team of 12 cinematographers positioned
throughout the five boroughs, some in helicopters
above the race. Starting from the
Staten Island side of the Verrazano Bridge,
the course wound through Brooklyn to
Queens and the Bron.x before entering Manhattan
and ending at Central Park. Five
thousand runners stretching out over two
miles competed, representing 44 states and
27 foreign coimtries. The winner. Bill Rodgers
of Massachusetts, is seen being
crowned— for the second consecutive year
—by former Mayor Abraham Beame.
Mickey Gorman of California is honored
as winner in the women's division.
The film was screened as part of a cocktail
reception at the Mango Theatre here
Tuesday (11). Charles McCabe of Manufacturers
introduced the program and the
various speakers, starting with Don Turrell,
executive vice-president of Manufacturers.
He greeted Abe Beame and his wife, the
Rudin family (sponsors of the marathon)
and winner Rodgers. Turrell said that the
New York Marathon is the biggest of its
kind in the country and that New York is
the greatest city in the world.
Radio Stations, Stores
Promote 'Blue Collar'
BALTIMORE—WWIN and WSID Radio
gave Universal's "Blue Collar" some added
attention last week by sponsoring Baltimore
"Blue Collar Days." According to Ronnee
Greenberg of The Ad-Venture Group,
listeners responded in full force to obtain
their official "Blue Collar.'" imprinted with
the film's logo, to be worn as free admission
to the theatre.
Four area men's wear retailers supported
"Blue Collar" Day by redeeming the "Blue
Collars" in their stores as discounts on blue
shirts.
4-Plex Ready to Reopen
LOUISVILLE—Don Wirtz. assistant to
Roy B. White. Mid States Theatres, announced
completion of the refurbishing of
the J-Town cinema.s 4.
Jack Rudin said his family participated
because Percy Sutton and Beame expanded
the race from the environs of Central Park
into the streets in observance of the bicentennial.
Beame said that he was proud to
have been mayor at the time the marathon
was expanded. The first marathon in this
country also was held in New York in 1896.
The former mayor referred to the Rudins
as "the greatest New York City boosters"
and also said he was happy to have crowned
Rodgers two years in a row. Fred Lebow.
president of the New York City Road Runners
Club, stood by as Beame called him
the "sparkplug" of the race. After being
presented a plaque by Beame. Rodgers
voiced his appreciation.
Racer Chris Stewart, who came in third
in the fall marathon, spoke briefly, also
calling New York the greatest city in the
world. Lebow then thanked all those who
helped him realize what had been a nineyear
dream. Bringing greetings from Mayor
Koch, commissioner Gordon Davis said
that he was happy to be involved with the
race. Producers Wall, also a runner, and
Field ended the
presentation by praising the
crew, some of whom were present, including
composer-conductor Jan Johnson who
wrote the score over the phone without
having seen the film.
Wall's professional film career began
with the documentary feature "Contest,"
which Tians-American Pictures is releasing.
For ABC Sports he made the "Up Close and
Personal" looks at the athletes shown during
the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Field has produced and directed over 30
shorts, including the CINE award-winner
"Pendulum." Together Field and Wall will
produce a feature. "The Selectman." based
on an actual event in New England in which
a man made a large number of false arrests
for drug possession.
'Doctor of the Day' One
Of 'House Calls' Tie-ins
BALTIMORE — Universal's "House
Calls" enjoyed some extra excitement over
the past two weeks generated by two Baltimore
promotions.
According to Ronnee Greenberg of The
Ad-Venture Group. WCBM Radio invited
their listeners to nominate their "Doctor of
the Day." prompting them with. "Who says
they don't make 'House Calls' anymore?"
The response was excellent with the listeners
and their doctors receiving free passes.
In addition. Luskin's, the largest appliance
retailer in Maryland, took out full-page ads
in the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore
News American, heralding "Luskin's Makes
House Calls.' " They gave out passes to the
first 100 customers to purchase an extended
appliance service
Arthur Hille
Nightwing."
contract.
direclina
Columbia'
BOXOmCE ;: April 24, 1978 E-1

1
'
King and Meg
BROADWAY
Foster, will not open as American visit to appear on "The Ed Sullivan
Show" in 1964. began Friday (21) a:
scheduled Thursday (27) at the Baronet.
The film will now premiere in mid-June. the Rivoli. Trans-Lux East. UA East 85th
Replacing it at the Baronet is the Belgian Street and 34th Street East theatres in Man- .
THE MUSIC HALL LIVES. A last-minuic
decision to keep Radio City Music
•
and the Cinenia 46 in Totowa. N. J. The
film 'High Street."
hattan. the Syosset Theatre in Syosset. L.I.,
Hall open for at least one more year took At the Movies, a new guide to films stars include Nancy Allen. Bobby DiCicco.
everyone somewhat by surprise. Actualh'. around town, made its debut at local theatres.
Volume 1. No. I. for the period of Theresa Saldana. Wendie Jo Sperher. Eddie
Marc McClure. Su.san Kendall Newman.
the announcement was made several hours
April 12-25. feature a premature article Deezen. Christian Juttncr and Will Jordan
on the closing of Radio City Music Hall, a as Sullivan.
commentary on "American Hot IVa.x" (called
the best movie on rock by writer Tom ten by and .starring Steve Lack, with Moyle
Allan Movie's 'The Rubber Gun." writ-
Carson} and a cover story on Brooke Shields co-starring, has its American premiere Monday
(24) at The Little Carnegie. Set in Mon-
and "Pretty Baby." Published bi-weekly by
Marquee Magazine. Inc.. the guide will be treal's St. Laurence district, the Canadian
50 cents per copy or free with admission to import is being released here by Edward
participating theatres. A new feature is the Schuman and Gabriel Katz.ka. A one-man
inclusion of comments by patrons on a particular
film, in this case "Madame Ro.ui." at the theatre.
show of artist Lack's work also is on display
still operating.
A new bill begins Thursday (27) with The magazine is a handsome and a heady "The Gentleman Tramp." a biography of
the Warner Bros, feature "The Sea Gypsies."
G-rated entertainment about a man, many specialized and revival offerings.
the Waverly. New Yorker and other area
reference to films about town, including the Charles Chaplin, begins W ednesday (26) at
•
houses. Narrators are Walter Matthau. Jack
Loews Theatres here announced a new Lemmon and Sir Laurence Olivier. Tine
phone number as of Monday (17). 841- Productions is releasing in association with
1000. Every important member of the staff Marvin Films here.
rom Ted Arnow to Frank Welton has a A major showcase break was afforded
new direct number.
Columbia's "The Silver Bear.s" Friday (21).
Rattray are old hands at this type of adventure,
since they've previously been as-
•
7 he romantic suspense comedy about an attempt
to corner the world market in silver,
The Adult Film As.s'n of America held a
sociated with such films as "The Adventures
of the Wilderness Family" and "Across
regional meeting Saturday (15) at the H'aldorf
Astoria. Previews of new product, a was directed by Ivan Passer on locations in
the Alex Winitsky-Arlene Sellers production
the Great Divide."
luncheon and a speech by Prof. George Las Vegas. North Africa. England and
On the stage will be "It's in Your Music
Gordon, chairman of the communications Switzerland. Heading the cast are Michael
Hall Stars." produced and directed by Jean
department at Hofstra University, were on Caine. Cyhill Shepherd, Louis Joiirdan.
Henry Jackson and themed around performers
at the Hall in earlier times. Singer Joe Les Baker of Artemis Films, who is vice-
Warner and Tommy Smothers.
the agenda.
Martin Balsam. Stephane Audran. David
McGrath appears as "Mr. Music Hall."
president of AFAA. handled the invitations.
•
while the ballet ensemble and soloists perform,
five singers offer operatic renderings
•
Showcases Wednesday (19) were led by
Film celebrities continue to make good
and the world-famous Rockettes continue to
the arrival of "The Chosen" from American
International, a new thriller starring
guest-i on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America"
show. Tuesday morning (18), young
bring joy to all.
•
Kirk Douglas, who is competing with himself
in "The Fury" at other theatres. Also
actress Susan Newman, daughter of Paul
Oops department: Last week's article on
and a star of Universal's "I Wanna Hold
the Mary Pickford documentary. "America's
Sweetheart— The Mary Pickford Story,"
same, this time from Warners with Richard
playing: "The Medusa Touch." more of the
Vour Hand." appeared. TV actress Ann B.
Davis, who now lives in a religious commune
in Denver, was a guest Wednesday
mistakenly implied that actor-director Marshall
Neilan was in the audience attending
Burton and Lee Remick. and "The One and
Only," "Joseph Andrews" with "Looking
(19). Star Raquel Welch showed up Thursday
(20). Friday (21). Rona Barrett inter-
the preview. What was actually meant was
for Mr. Goodbar" at most theatres. "Casey's
Shadow." "Annie Hall." "Straight
"I
"H'gh An.xicty" (mini). "Close Encounters
ent Story." Avco Embassy's new comedy Universal's look at a group of teens u lui
of the Third Kind" and "Sweet Throat."
about an unusual love story between Perry want to see the Beatles during their liisl
Universal's "House Calls" had a wide showcase
break Friday (21).
FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG
FINER PROJECTION -SUPER ECONOMY
Make it your aid to increase your attendance
and concession sales, by using
Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films,
and Special Announcement films.
foa^
(Write For Your FREE Copy)
FILMACK STUDIOS, FILMACK STUDIOS.
that actress Blanche Sweet, former wife of vi.wed Natalie Wood, who has reactivated
Neilan. was present. Neilan died in I95H.
Time." "Coming Home" (mini). "Julia."
her career.
"Rabbit Test" (mini). "Coma." "The Goodbye
Girl," "An Unmarried Woman" (mini),
•
•
More corrections department: "A Differ-
Openings: Wanna Hold Your Haiul."
after the last performance Wednesday evening
(12). a benefit for Variety Club Foundation.
When the reprieve came through,
business went on as usual the next day
"Crossed Swords" onscreen and the "Glory
of Easter" Pageant and the "Springtime
Carousel" revue onstage, although no one
knew of it until ads in the Friday (14)
papers proclaimed the news. Business was
slow but the Showplace of the Nation was
his two motherless daughters, an intrepid
female reporter, a young black stowaway
and assorted animals braving the Alaskan
wilds after a shipwreck ends a round-theworld
journey. Director Stewart Raffill.
star Robert Logan and co-star Heather
(S
1327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago,lll.60605
(312)427-3395
Ask Your Supply Dealer or Yfritt
HURLEY SCREEN COMPANY, Inc.
2i Sereh Drive Farmingdole, L.
E-2 EOXOFFICE :: April 24. 1978

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WASHINGTON
producer Lester Persky and Milos Forman,
of the
director of the motion picture version
rock opera "Hair" for United Artists
release, needed and got a crowd of 11,000
for the filming of the last sequences of the
picture at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting
Pool Saturday (15). U.S. Park Police issued
the permit upon being assured by the production
unit that the counterculture musical
numbers would be played between the shooting
of the sequences and thus minimized.
.Although the cast of paid extras only
niunbered 50. local publicist Michael Fillman's
agency was paid $15,000 by UA to
conduct an area campaign to attract thousands
of background extras. TV and radio
announcements, as well as ads in student
newspapers, blurbed that young student
types were invited to participate by acting
in the background. A press release stated
that the scene would be a huge 1966-stylc
"Be-In." The appropriate "garb" requested
was the costume of blue jeans, work clothes
or that of a "flower child." Ten years after
its Broadway opening, "Hair" is being made
into a $10,000,000 motion picture.
On that spring day, on another side of
our town, there were demonstrators picket-
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ing the White House to make Elvis Presley's
birthday a national holiday.
Producer Martin Bregman and director
Jerry Schatzberg are bringing their crew
and cast here for filming "The Senator."
which stars TV actor Alan Alda. Alda also
is author of the screenplay. The $5,000,000-
budgeted motion picture casts Alda as a
workaholic senator and features a wife and
a g'rl friend. Among those in the cast are
Melvyn Douglas, Barbara Harris and Rip
Torn. Producer Bregman said that the senator
is a "made-up character." Another site
selected for the lensing of "The Senator" is
nearby Baltimore, which is in this exchange
area.
The Motion Picture Ass'n of America reported
to the Federal Trade Commission
that the motion picture industry continues
into 1978 with a boxoffice gross of $700.-
000,000, of which 7 per ceni ($50,000,000)
was realized from pay TV.
Marquee Television Network's Channel
3, with a microwave network covering the
metropolitan area, is the largest independ-
based producer/ writer/ educator, gathered
in the newly opened private dining room
of the Golden Booeymonger on Connecticut
Avenue at 7 p.m. Monday (3) for Oscar
show watching. Some 100 attended the buffet-dinner,
indulged in film talk and then
cast ballots for their favorites, which later
were tabulated for comparison to the actual
Academy Awards as viewed on portable
TV sets brought in for the occasion. Tromberg,
producer of "Teenage Graffiti," currently
in worldwide release, and "The Redeemer,"
set to open in 65 District of Columbia,
Maryland and Virginia area theatres
this June, teaches "Business of the Film
World" at Georgetown University. He also
holds private seminars in screenwriting and
both his films feature area talent. Tromberg
recently acquired theatrical film rights to
two of Les Whitten's novels, "The Alchemist"
and "Conflict of Interest," both of
which deal with the Capital City.
Doris Sims, an executive with Wheeler
Films and a past president of WOMPI here,
retired from Wheeler, an independent distribiUing
company.
The Smithsonian Institution and the National
Archives commemorated National
Oceans Week Sunday (16) through Saturday
(22) by showing seagoing subjects. The
former commissioned and screened Graeme
Ferguson's "Ocean."
New World Pictures' release of the film
version of "A Little Night Music." starring
Elizabeth Taylor, distributed locally by Atlantic,
currently is at Tenley Circle 2. Critic
Gary Arnold of the Post states that the film
"under-achieves all the least astute and rewarding
film musicals of recent years ... as
imdernourished as a musical can get . . .
Taylor projects nc'ther sexual cunning nor
sexual authority . . . Now that her physique
has grown corpulent, it's a shock to hear
such a tiny voice coming out."
Nancy Collins, Post staff writer, describes
bachelor congressmen on the Hill as "a cross
generallv between Robert Redford and Dustin
Hoffman." The 33-year-old Connecticut
Democrat Toby Moffett is quoted as saying
Los Angeles, CA 90C
ASC
Performing entertainers included the love ent multipoint distribution system (MDS) in
band Rosslyn Mountain Boys; singers Ronnie
Dyson and Melba Moore, and the Twyates'
Pay TV Newsletter. Having entered the that he was stopped coming out of the White
the world, according to Paul Kagan Associla
Tharp ballet dancers. The entertainment local market three years ago, Maiquee Television
Network's subscription list comprises vester Stallone. The congressman admits
House by a guard who thought he was Syl-
seemed to reflect tribal love and an antiestablishment
mode. Some of the music approximately 7,200 apartment homes and that he secretly wanted to be Al Pacino.
rolled on tape.
some 2,800 hotel rooms. Marquee continues
Filmmaker Forman and crew controlled to improve local cable stations' product by James Cawley of Redstone
the mass of stiburban youths in camera supplying first-run feature films to subscribers
of systems such as Gaithersburg.
Is New Pa. NATO Director
range by loudspeakers or bullhorns. Comedian
emcee Robert Klein assured the mass Md., CATV. Marquee is bringing into area
PITTSBURGH—James Cawley, Redstone
Theatres executive, was elected to the
of 11,000 extras that they would "get their residences films which swept the Academy
board of directors of NATO of Western
puss in the movie" and "will be seen by four Awards.
Pennsylvania. Cawley was named in a vote
trillion persons all over the world."
Speaking of the Oscars, film students and of the other board members to serve the
associates of Sheldon Tromberg, locally remainder of Phil Pennington's term of office.
The latter is also a Redstone circuit
staffer and has been transferred to Boston.
Cawley arrived to replace Pennington as
manager of Redstone's Showcase cinemas.
At the same board meeting, Frank Lewis
of Blatt Theatres, in his role as NATO
treasurer, read the financial statement prepared
by auditor Arthur Silverman and local
NATO chief George Tice reported on
the national meeting held in Palm Springs,
Calif. Mel Meyers and Tom Harper attended
the meeting as guests.
Two important dates to add to the calendar
were announced May 9-10, when the
Independent Theatre Owners Ass'n of New
York is sponsoring a new product seminar,
and October 15-19, when NATO will hold
its national convention at the Americana
Hotel in New York.
When you plan to install your Dolby system,
call the service company with the most
Dolby system experience.
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BOXOFFICE :: April 24. 1978

'Magic of Lassie' Debuts
At Washington DAR Dinner
WASHINGTON — "The Magic of Lassie."
a Jack Wrather presentation, had its
first showing here Sunday (16) at the annual
awards dinner of the motion picture and
TV committee of the Daughters of the
American Revolution.
The DAR committee voted "Star Wars"
the best picture of the year and the award
was presented by the chairman, Mrs. Vivien
Vecciarelli of Roslyn, N.Y. Ken Clark,
MPAA executive vice-president, was the
evening's host.
"The Magic of Lassie," produced by Bonita
Granville Wrather and William Beaudine
jr.. will be released to theatres in late
summer. Beaudine was present at the dinner
and screening. The picture stars Mickey
Rooney. Pernell Roberts. Stephanie Zimbalist,
Michael Sharrett. Alice Faye. Gene
Evans, the Mike Curb Congregation and
James Stewart as Clovis Mitchell.
The picture is the first Lassie film in 26
years and is the first musical built around
Lassie.
Several songs are sung by Debby Boone
and one by Pat Boone. Music and lyrics are
by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B.
Sherman, who wrote the screenplay with
Jean Holloway. Don Chaffey is the director.
The DAR committee Tuesday (18) held
a motion picture-TV seminar in which Paul
Roth of NATO, Susan King of WTOP-TV
in Washington, and Ken Clark participated.
Roy Minninger Dies
ALLENTOWN, PA.— Ray E. Minninger,
partner in H & M. Concessions, which
provides refreshments, programs and souve-
for amusement parks, sports events and
nirs
fairs, and formerly engaged in booking
shows for theatres throughout the country,
died Sunday (9) at the Allentown Osteopathic
Hospital. He was 71 years of age.
After a career as a vocalist with b'g name
bands in the late 30's, Minninger became an
agent in New York for Music Corp. of
America and Consolidated Radio Artists.
He later went to Hollywood as an agent for
Pantages Corp. on the West Coast. His wife
Mildred M.: a son, two sisters and a grandchild
survive.
Another Film in NJ
OCEAN COUNTY. N.J.— While he said
he could not identify the name of the film,
the producers or actors involved in it, a
"major film" will be produced in this South
Jersey resort area, it was announced this
week by Joseph Friedman, executive director
of the New Jersey Motion Picture and
Television
Production Commission. He said
plans for the film will be announced short-
ly-
The movie would he made over a si\-toeighl
week p-riod, and Friedman said the
commission prnm'sed the producers to let
them make the announcement themselves.
The state commission was established last
\ear to attract film producers to the movie
potentials in New Jersey.
George Tice Has Seen Many Indusfry
Changes During His 60 -Year Career
PITTSBURGH—George Tice's career in
otion picture exhibition has spanned 60
years,
covering everything
from the tworeel
slapstick backlot
comedies of the silent
era through today's
huge - screen, huge -
budget blockbuster
epics. He recently recalled
some of his
memories of those
times with Jerry Vondas.
a writer for the
George Tice
Pittsburgh Press, said:
"George Tice always gets the 'show on
the road.'
"For the past 60 years. Tice, of Munhall
and president of NATO of Western Pennsylvania,
has been a moving force in the
motion picture industry and at 75 is still
going strong.
He Had Faith
"As a young man growing up in Homestead.
Tice worked summers for a motion
picture display firm.
"It whetted his appetite to become a part
of the 'new-fangled' innovation that many
thought wouldn't last.
"After completing a year of high school.
Tice was given a job as a messenger by
theatre owner John Stahl. who operated
five movie houses in the large steel town.
"Those were exciting times for a young
man starting out in the business. Mot'on
p'ctures were coming into their own and
Dosh theatres were being built all over the
Tri-State.
"Tice rented his first theatre in Universal
and vividly recalls his opening day: "We
had wooden benches, a potbelly stove and
we packed them in.
" 'I d'd very well, but never realized I
d'dn't have a lease. I was still a yotmg
man.' he says. 'When my landlord saw how
well I was doing, he forced me out.'
" 'Several months later, the movie house
blew up. Mv old landlord had been makinp,
moonshine in the basement and the still
caught on fire.' Tice recalls.
1927 Key Year
"Years ahead of his time. Tice knew the
value of advertising and promoted 'Uncle
Tom's Cabin' heavily when it played at the
Palace Theatre in Washington, Pa.
"He strung oak leaves across the theatre
entrance for atmosphere and mounted large
cutouts of Simon Legrce and Little Eva.
"To top it off. he hired four black musicians
known as the Plantation Quartet to
"
The f rst voices were recorded on
discs,' he recalls. "Often, because of the
frames slipping, the film and disc would
lose synchronization. It was my job to make
sure the frames and pictures matched. If
there was a lapse. I'd work il out with the
machine operator.'
"The first talkie that Tice synchronized
was 'Coconuts' with the Marx Brothers.
'
In the late '50s. Tice w;nt into the
d^-ivc-in business. In one of his drive-ins in
West Miffl'n, he innovated a 'swapmarket,'
now known as a flea market.
"I knew people had things they didn't
want, so I invited them to come over and
swap and buy. The only charge was 50
cents for the parking.' Tice adds.
"A member of Variety Club Tent 1 since
19.^2. Tice was chief barker in 1970 and
1971.
Recalls Variety Club Birth
"'He likes to recall how I I theatre men.
including the late John Harris, got together
and started the club. At first, according to
Tice. the club consisted of a room in the
William Penn Hotel where the men could
come and relax.
"" "It wasn't until John Hooley of the
Sheridan Square theatre in East Liberty
found an abandoned bibv girl in one of the
seats that the club d rected its efforts to
helping children." Tice explains.
"Through the years. Tire has met manv
stars—Ann-Margret. John Wayne and Buck
Jones, just to name a few. 'Buck Jones was
a real gentleman. Kind and considerate.'
'Star System' Mourned
""Tice laments the demise of the Hollvwood
star system. 'Years ago, a studio sold
a oicture because of its star. They could
sell four Clara Bow pictures before they
even went into product'on,' he says. "Moviegoers
wanted to see such stars as Bing Crosby.
Bette Davis. Irene Dunne and Cary
Grant.
" "In those davs, il was a family affair
to go to the movies. For a couple of dollars
you could take your family to a fancy
theatre and come home and say you've been
someplace.'
""Tice and his wife, Ann, have four children,
17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
""What does he do w-th his leisure time?
"Ann and I go to the movies." "
Warner Plans to Make
Cash Offer for Stock
NEW YORK—Warner Communications
announced that it intends to make a cash
tender offer for any and all shares of its
provide background music.
"In years to come. Tice worked for Pathe Series C convertible prefered stock at a
Films Distributing Co.. Universal. Columbia nrice of $7.50 per share. The tender will
and Paramount. In 19.52. he retired as a be made as soon as practicable, with Bear.
branch manager for Columbia.
Stearns & Co. as dealer-manager.
"According to Tice. a breakthrough for There are approximately 1.900.000
the industry came in 1927 when voices were shares outstanding of the stock, which is
added to
traded on the .American Stock Exchange.
films.
EOXOmCE April 24. 1978 E-5

. .
. . Sinaer
BUFFALO
^r. Rona.'d Brauner, dean of faculty ;it ihe
Rsconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Philadelphia, lead a panel discussion of
"Pop Religion in America as Evidenced by
the Movie -Qh. God!'" Friday (14) in
Temple Sinai. Amherst.
ning an Oscar at the Academy Award presentation.
The acceptance speech of Vanessa
Redgrave showed that 'h; doesn't make use
of them anyway."
Lisa Lucas (who pla\s ".An Unmarried
Woman's" 15-year-old daughter) gets a kick
out of announcing that she has 13 grandparents
(two of whom live in Williamsvillc.
N.Y.). And shj blithely continued: "I have
two half-brothers and two stepsisters. My
father got remarried and had two little boys
ard my mother got remarried to a man who
had two daughters from his former marriage.
One was also named Lisa, so this got
to be very confusing, not for me. but it
seems that everyone else gets confused."
Lisa shrugs her shoulders and giggles nervously.
"I don't blame them. When I sit
ard tell them my family; between the four
families, I end up with 1.3 grandparents
and God knows how many cousins."
Free twice-weekly lunch hour film programs
are being presented at the Buffalo
and Erie County Library. Each 52-minute
segment of the 13-episode film on Dr. Jacob
Bronowski's "The Ascent of Man" is shown
Mondays and Tuesdays in the Library's
West Room. Recent budget restorations have
reopened the library film department's
lunch hour programs which were discontinued
in 1977. The first film was titled
"Lower Than the Angels." about hi man
evolution.
The series continues as follows;
Monday. Tuesday (17-18) "The Harvest
of the Seasons"; (24-25) "The Grain in the
Stone"; May 1-2 "The Hidden Structure";
8-9, "Music of the Spheres"; 15-16. "The
Starry Messenger"; 22-23, "The Majestic
Clockwork"; 30-31, "The Drive For Power";
June 5-6, 'The Ladder of Creation";
12-13, "World Within World"; 19-20.
"Knowledge or Certainty"; 26-27. "Generation
Upon Generation"; July 3 and 5 (Monday
and Wednesday) "The Long Childhood.
"Coming Home," starring Jane Fonda,
Jon Voight and Bruce Dern. opened exclusively
Wednesday (12) at the Holiday The-
CI]VERA91A IS m SHim
BI'SUVESS L\ HAWAII TCN>^
WTicn you come to Wulkiki,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
atre . . . Nick Lowe with Rockpile is scheduled
for Tuesday (25) at Shea's Buffalo Theatre.
The Aveiage White Band comes in
Saturday (29) with special Spyro Gyra .
Fraga's "The New School" (1973) was presented
at the Waterfront Community Center.
"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" at
Buffalo State College. "His Girl Friday."
Butler Library Buffalo State College; "Yellow
Submarine," Stud;nt Union Social Hall,
From Joe Caldarella in Everybody's Column
of the Buffalo Evening News: "Well. Shrinking Man," Niagara County Commun-
Buffalo State College; "The Incredible
now we can set aside the concept that ity College, Sanborn; "That's Entertainment,"
Niagra County Community "brains' are a prerequisite for someone win-
College.
"The Courage of the
People." U.B. Main
Street Campus and Niagaia Branch Library.
German Expressionism Series: "Emil
Nolde," "Ernst Barlach-The Fighter" and
"Franz Marc." Albright Knox Art Gallery;
"Brief Lives," memoirs of John Aubrey.
Buffalo State College; French Film Series:
"La Belle Americaine" at Daemen College;
"The Harpy Eagle." pboLit largest eagle in
the world, filmed in South America. Buffalo
Museum of Science.
The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency approved
the allocation of $50,000 in federal
community development block grant funds
for the restoration of the Wurlitzer organ in
Shea's Buffalo Theatre. L. Curt Mangel III
of Friends of the Buffalo Theatre, Inc..
said
the project will cost $100,000. The federal
money will augment a $30,000 grant from
the state and $20,000 to be raised from the
public. Mangel estimated that replacement
of the organ would cost $350,000 . . . ParamoLmt's
"1900," a f Im by Bernardo Bertolucci.
opened an exclusive engagement at
the Colvin Theatre. The film was an entry
in the New York Film Festival. Originally
running 5'/2 hours, this is a somewhat reduced
version.
"Great Ladies of Warner Bros.." a new
s'-r'es of fine old films, is scheduled for the
Rivoli Theater. Three or four day runs are
nlanned for each pair of films. On tap are
Joan Crawford and John Garfield in "Humoresque"
(1946) plus Bette Davis in "Beyond
the Forest" (1949); Ingrid Bergman in
"Casablanca" and Bette Davis in "Now.
Vovager"; Joan Crawford in "Possessed"
and Bette Davis in "The Letter"; Patricia
Neal in "The Fountainhead" and Lauren
Bacall in "To Have and Have Not."
UB Series Week of Sundav (9): Meyer's
"Up." "Lenny." "The Spy Who Loved Me,"
"Hold Me While I'm Naked." "Corruption
of the Damned," "Eclinse of the Sun Virgin."
"Knockturne." "Outrageous!". "Unstrap
Me." "Red Dust." "The Way to Sh-dow
Garden." "Flesh of Morning," "Reflections
on Black," "Anticipation of th^"
Night," "Notebooks," Altman's "The Lonz to
his testimony, the film was by Stanley Kubrick.
Expectations were high. Even though
no one had seen "Barry Lyndon" at the
time. Green paid $15,000 for the right to
show it in his Glens Falls theatre. Months
later, when he finally was able to see the
movie. Green's heart sank.
"I knew it was a bomb, but I was stuck
with it," he sadi. The film earned only $4.-
000 during the month-long run at his theatre.
The Urban Gospel according to Harold
Cohen was extolled in the Sunday magazine
S'^ction of the Courier-Express, in which he
'"nvisioned the transformation of a seedy
section of downtown Buffalo into a vital,
pttractive entertainment district. Cohen is
dean of the School of Arch'tccture and Environmental
Design (S.A.E.D.) at the Univ'^rsitv
of Buffalo. He has been asked bv
Mayor James D. Griffin to assist with the
rejuvenation plans. Shea's Buffalo Theatre
was featured on the magazine cover, in
color.
Chief barker Bill Shields is calling a gencr'l
membership meeting for Variety Club
of Buffalo. Tent 7 members May 1 in
the clubrooms. Convention business and any
other business related to club activities will
be d scussed . . . Clint LaFlamme has been
splected for the Variety International Presidents
Award by Tent 7. Each tent selects
a person who they feel has contributed a
"reat deal toward the welfare of children in
reed ... Pat Corey has been named Telethon
Steering Committee chairman. Pat will
work with the present chairman and steering
committee to bring about an orderly
transfer that should benefit the 1979 effort.
Films on oceanography and dolphins
were shown by the Niagara Frontier Underwater
Association in the Commimitv room
of the Erie Savini-s Bank . Al Mar-
E-G BOXOmCE .•Xpril

, . . Sardinian-born
. . Dave
. . Lawrence
. . Mike
. . . Woody
. . . "An
. . "Supervan"
. . Mrs.
tino, comedian Frank Fontaine, the vocal
group Mariah and Bobby Ephram, dancer,
will head this y;ar's "Funorama" benefit
for police widows and orphans May 27 in
Kleinhans Music Hall.
"Cria!" the acclaimed Spanish film ;,bout
a mother and daughter, which had a brief
urn in the suburbs, is now fcatiued downtown
at the Allendale Theatre, along with
the Claude LeLoiich's "Another Man. Another
Chance."
Bill Shields is advising all Buffalo barkers
to get out those rusty golf club and clean
them up. Variety is planning a golf outing
in July, tentatively scheduled for Ransom
Oaks Coimlry Club in East Amherst.
Michael F. Ellis, Variety Club Tent 7
member, submitted this ode to Reporters'
Notebook column of the Buffalo Evening
News:
"The easiest job
Becomes more tough
The longer that
You put it off."
PITTSBURGH
Qeorge Tice reports that NATO is still
strong. Tice and George Stern reported
on their trip to the national board meeting
in Palm Springs. Calif. . . . Subscription
sales for the si.\ offerings of the 1978 version
of the Civic Light Opera are up. The
schedule for Heinz Hall is "Carousel," July
11-16; "How to Succe;d in Business Without
Really Trying," July 18-23; "Half a
Si.xpence," July 25-30; "A Funny Thing
Happened to Me on the Way to the Forum,"
August 1-6; "Pal Joey," August 8-13
and "She Loves Me." August 15-20. The
pick of the season should be "Carousel" and
"Pal Joey."
practor, bodybuilder and costar of the
movie, "Pumping Iron," was in town pushing
his books. His third effort is slated for
fall publication . Brown, one of
the I 1 men who founded the local Variety
Club, underwent further eye surgery and is
now recuperating at his Penns Hills home.
Brown is a retired booker.
Although the totals haven't been announced.
Variety Club Tent described
I
their recent telethon as a success. Credit
was accorded the many individuals, committees
and volunteers, WIIC-TV. WWSW
radio, and entertainers such as Frankie
Avalon, Jack Smith, Marty Allen, Mitzi
(Steiner) McCall, Jay Johnson, Bob Newkirk,
JoAnne Worley, Al Martino, Prairie
Fire, Don Brocket! and Barbara, and
Fischer and Marks.
Martin Merzer, AP business writer's "The
Business of Hollywood," another expose,
was in the Thursday (13) edition of the
Post Gazette . . Eight area theatres and
the Fulton II showed "The Medusa Touch"
Allen's Oscar-winner "Annie
is Hall." showing around town with the ad
plug "best picture" Ernest Stern
was the honorary chairman of the Royal
Night Cancer Society Ball in the William
Penn Hotel ... By Williams. WIIC-TV
program director and one of its original
staffers, left the channel 1 1 operation to
become general manager of the local Television
Production Center.
Glenn Easter, Republic, is retiring. An
exhibitor, innovator and holder of patents
for motion picture lenses, he wrote to tell
us of his de.ision. Throughout his career he
has worked in the exhibition of 16mm ard
35mm aud o-visual equipment and supplies,
mobile circuit operation at schools, institutes
and the Ike. and he was the builder
and operator of one of the first 16mm theatres,
anywhere.
'Sweet Wet Lips" was the Garden feature
Unmarried Woman" is coming
to the Fulton and Showcase . . .
"That
Obscure Object of Desire" is at the Forum
and Encore . . . Area theatres are showing
"American Hot Wax," "Citizens Band,"
"Sehool Days," "Delinquent School Girls."
"China de Sade." "Sugar Cookies," "Lipps
and McCain," "Liquid Lips" and "Straight
show, has been attacked as racist and defended
for discussion of free speech. The
movie was shown here as part of the local
library's observance of National I.'brarv
Week.
BALTIMORE
.
The Security Square Mall advertised "Free
Kiddie Movie" at the shopping center
Saturday (15) at 10 a.m. However, there
was only one showing of "Battle for the
Planet of the Apes" . . The Apollo Thentre
was broken into after hours Friday (14)
and the concession sfmd contents wer^
rpped off . . . Claude Neon Signs executives
Alan and Jack Nethen spent the w'?k of
Simday (16) in Hollywood Fla.. at the annual
National Electric S-^n Ass'n convention.
Jack heads up th:' Eastern States Sign
Ass'n. It wasn't all bi'siness as ihe pair
squeezed in some "R & R."
Jean Stapleton was ami^n" thns'^ anm-aring
on a 30-minirte special entitled "Love
Thy Neighbor," recently. The actress told
how practicing the Golden Rule helps the
donor as well as the recipient of an act of
love . . . Sun Drama critic R.H. Gardner
had warm words for "An Unmarried Woman."
Singled out for special kudos were
Director Paul Mazursky. along with stars
Jill Clayburgh and Alan Bates.
Balfimore Office Opened
By Standard Theatre Co.
BALTIMORE— Lawson Rankin, president
of Standard Theatre Supply Co.. has
annoimced the opening of a new complete
sales and service branch office here.
This eastern office is responsible for sales
and service of all theatre equipment, including
project'on room equipment, auditorium
and lobby furnishings, janitorial and concession
equipment and supplies, complete
stage settings and wall fabric. The areas to
be served are: Northern Virginia,
District of
Columbia. Maryland. New Jersey. Delaware,
Eastern Pennsvlvania. and New York.
Mini-Cinemas Inc.. paid $50,000 to Morgan
American Management Corp. for the
Bob Roth, formerly of ROAR Industries,
nnd
Mt. Oliver Theatre Welk
Inc.. is the manager of ihis branch will
stars Myron Floren. and Ralna. Jim
be responsible for carrying the "standard"
Guy
of professional sales and service, and 24-
Roberts, Cissy King and Bobby Burgess,
along with Anacani. will appear in a special Time" and "Love Truck"
hour-a-day support to the East Coast exhibitors.
.
The Forum
are the area drive-in hits.
show at Heinz Hall May 1-3 . . .
will close May 1 in order to be con-
Standard's office is at 107 Sudbrook
verted into a restaurant . Cardone
Lane, just three minutes off of the 695
Slim Audience for The Speaker'
opened his four-screen cinema at McKeesport.
It had been a Cinemette enterprise
(301) 484-7211.
Beltway's exit 20. The phone nimiber is
CHERRY HILL. N.J.— Although the
film had received national attention by its
which had been shuttered these past four
exposure on CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" network
show at the beginning of the month,
years . . . lATSE local 171 is still picketing
Project's Program Expanding
Cardone's Whitehall and Mt. Oliver units
the
over a dispute which began March 15 and
showing of the controversial "The CAPE MAY. N.J.—The newly-organized
Speaker" at the Cherry Hill Public Libraiy Project Moving Pictures, formed here to
"Noodles" Boehm and Ralph Ferry.
involves Cornelius
also the dismissal of
th's week drew only eight viewers. five
of those were library employees.
in the art of film, intends to broaden its
And promote a cultural and educational interest
Jean Rivers' "Rabbit Test" opened here at The 42-minute film concerns problems program and go beyond the presentation of
high school student film classics on Saturday afternoons and
the Cheswick. Cinema World. Cinemette
fictional after a at a
South, Eastland, Manor, McKnight and committee invites a speaker known for his evenings in the auditoriiuii al Cape Ma\'
Monroe. Initial feedback indicates a hit theory that blacks are genetically inferior to city hall.
... 24 c ty area drive-ins are in operation whites. The move, shown last summer for Some of the Project's goals, apart from
as are most underskyers in the territory the first time at the conference of the American
bringing fine cinema to this resort commun-
Franco Columbo. chiro-
Library Ass'n, which sponsored the ity, will be to sponsor and promote
conferences,
semimrs and classes on motion pictures;
disseminate information about film
resources in the community; and sponsor
film trips to Philadelphia. New York and
Washinaton.
EOXOFHCE :: April 24, 1978 E-7

. . Donald
PHILADELPHIA
1'he 1978 Academy Awards Calendar, loaded
with tidbits on those who won the
coveted Oscars in the past, is being distributed
free as a promotional effort by
the Philadelphia Area Manpower Services,
local agency dealing with temporary jobs
... An evening course. "Introduction to
Cinema Animation." is planned by the Art
Institute of Philadelphia as a workshop
course for students and professionals who
want to learn the fundamentals of screen
animation.
Music Makers Theatres marked the
seventh anniversary of its Cinema 34 at
Matawan. N.J., with a two-for-one special
from Monday through Thursday, offering
patrons one free ticket with the purchase
of one paid admission. "Coma" is the anniversary
film showing .
Bogle,
whose "Toms. Coons. Mammies. Mulattoes
and Bucks." won the Theatre Library Ass'n
Award for film history, explored the role
of blacks in overcoming stereotyped film
parts in lectures at the Capitol Campus of
Penn State University in Harrisburg. Pa.,
and at Dickinson College. Carlisle. Pa. He
is a former story editor for Otto Preminger.
Asbury Park, N.J., gets cable TV with
the township franchise for cable TV going
to Telco Cablevision. a division of Ultracom
Inc. based in Lansdale. Pa. John Turner
will be manager of the local operation
which will be available to some 17.000
homes by the end of the year. Two pay
channels will include movies via Hollywood
Home Theatre, and sports events from
Madison Square Garden in New York.
Hilary Harris, independent filmmaker,
came to town Thursday (20) to show his
"Nine Variations On A Dance Theme."
"The Nuer" and "Organism" at the Philadelphia
College of Art . . . General Cinema
Theatres makes it "open end" for the "early
bird" admissions for its twin cinemas on
the New Jersey side at the Cherry Hill,
Deptford and Echelon Malls in those communities.
The SL.'iO admission "til 2:30
P.M. now prevails until house seating is at
capacity.
The planning board in Atlantic City,
N.J., approved conversion of the Apollo
Theatre's lobby into Albert
a retail store.
Cohen, owner of the Boardwalk Theatre
which couples burlesque stage shows with
adult movies during the summer season,
said if he can't lease out the lobbyless theatre
in the future, he would find another
use for the facility.
Joan Rivers, in town to promote her
"Rabbit Test" movie, attracted the largest
crowd ever at Temple University as nearly
600 students jammed the lecture hall and
greeted her with a thundering ovation. Student
organizers could not remember a crowd
as big as the one Rivers attracted .
With the larger independent circuit here
passing up "A Little Night Music." the
Elizabeth Taylor movie has been taken up
by Leo Posel for opening later this month
at his Ritz Three Theatre in the Society Hill
section bordering center city . . . Black Culture
Week at St. Joseph's College here this
week features the showing of "Black Orpheus"
at the Bluett Theatre on campus.
"Welcome to L.A.," the Robert Altmanproduced
film scheduled to make its local
debut at the Walnut Street Theatre's Film
Center, has been canceled. Altman wants
the feature to have a regular theatrical engagement
here before playing the Film Center.
It is now expected to open at the Arcadia
Theatre in center city in June, where
it would be presented in Dolby sound. "Going
Places" and "92 in the Shade" were the
replacement films at the Walnut . . . Mid-
Jersey Cable TV Co.. also known as Futurevision
Cable TV. based in Monmouth
County. N.J.. has been awarded the franchise
to provide cable television service for
Shrewsbury, N.J. The company expects to
have the service in operation by next fall.
Bernie Jacon to Promote
Films for Independents
By JOHN COCCHI
NEW YORK—Bernard "Bernie" Jacon,
a veteran of 40 years in distribution, has
announced his plans to return to promoting
product for independent distributors, following
his ten years as general sales manager
for Cambist Films. Lee Hessel, president
of Cambist, is liquidating the adult
film distribution company shortly. With no
thought of ever retiring, Jacon is open to
offers from qualified producers to "expose
their product" on a national basis, while
dealing with the many problems involved
in such an undertaking. Jacon intends to
step into the picture at the exhibition stage,
so that the producer can retain control of
expenses as against income for each film.
Jacon. born in Louisiana, began in the
'20s as a relief pianist in theatres while still
in high school, eventually becoming a manager.
In 1939. he entered into distribution
with Universal Pictures in various capacities
revolving around home office and branch
operations. He also functioned as a liaison
between the home office, the studio and
the branches; conducted a special audit of
sales operation in all of Universal's 32 domestic
branches; coordinated product availability,
and worked in accounts receivable
in relation to exhibition, branches and the
home office.
In
1946, Bernie organized Superfilms Distribution
Corp., the first national foreign
film company in America, causing a breakthrough
with "Carmen," which played in
over 400 situations. He resigned in 1949 to
become general manager of Lux Film Distributing
Corp.. whose outstanding hit was
"Bitter Rice," and in 1952 was named vicepresident
of sales and distribution for IFE
Releasing Corp.. which had merged with
Lux. Until 1955. when he formed^ his own
company, Jacon was instrumental in bringing
about the acceptance of dubbed Italian
f 1ms on a national scale, the market including
theatrical. TV and 16mm non-theatrical
From 1955 to 1958, he operated Jacon
Film Distributors and released such films
as the Academy Award-winning "Samurai"
(1956). Additionally, he accepted special assignments
with independent distributors
and producers. In 1958 and 1959, he was
national coordinator for Distributors Corp.
of America, launching such hits as "Go,
Johnny, Go," "Liane the Jungle Goddess"
and "The Sword and the Cross." For Zenith
International, he promoted the classic "Hiroshima.
Mon Amour."
Between 1959 and 1964, he and three
associates
reactivated IFE's product and released
"Madame Butterfly" and "Aida" to
first-run art houses. Jacon at this point developed
a formula for midweek playing
time in commercial Flagship first-run
houses. A financial success, this policy then
was adopted by the majors and other distributors
for specialized films. From this,
it was clear that older films still had potential
and Jacon's reputation as a handler of
special product grew. Until he joined Cambist.
Bernie was a consultant and coordinator
for Brandon International, Panther Pictures
Corp., Ron Gorton Associates, MGM
Classics, Richard Davis and Fine Arts Films,
Inc. He also liquidated DCA Corp. and
Harrison Pictures Corp. for the estate of
the late Edward Harrison.
'Sea Gypsies' Will
Bow at Music Hall
NEW YORK—"The Sea Gypsies," a
Warner Bros, adventure drama about a
young widower who sets out to sail around
the worid with his children, will have its
New York Premiere at Radio City Music
Hall on Thursday (27). with the theatre's
new stage show. "The Music Hall Stars,"
featuring the Rockettes and the symphony
orchestra. The film will be the first to be
shown at the Music Hall since agreement
was reached to keep open the world-famed
theatre.
Robert Logan and Mikki Jamison-Olsen
star in "Sea Gyps'es." which features 13-
year-old Heather Rattray and introduces
two young newcomers. Shannon Saylor and
Cjon Damitri Patterson. Written and directed
by Stewart Raffill, the drama focuses
on the amateur crew's journey in a rustic
sailboat up the California coast to Oregon
and off Alaska toward the Aleutians, where
they are shipwrecked in a storm and become
castaways on an island inhabited only by
wild animals.
The motion picture was produced by Joseph
C. Raffill, with Peter R. Simpson as
executive producer.
'Deathtrap' Rights to WB
BOSTON—Warner Bros, has acquired
screen rights to Ira Levin's play. "Deathtrap."
which had its pre-Broadway tryout at
the Wilbur Theatre this past winter. Acquisition
price was not disclosed, but one news
source indicated that Warner Bros, paid the
highest ever for a non-musical play, which
would put the figure over the $1,000,000
mark.
E-8
April 24. 1978

'Pretty Baby' Makes
Its Mark in Denver
DENVER — -Prcil.v Baby." Ihc Louis
Malle film aboiil a 12-year-old prostitute
in the Storyvilie district of New Orleans in
1917, scored an impressive 400 on the scale.
"An Unmarried Woman" had a strong .''2.'^
rating, and "House Calls" continued its successful
run at the Colorado Four with 300.
"An Enemy of the People" dropped to 90.
the lowest rating achieved by any Denver
first run this week. The perennial "Star
Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind" continued to do well, with 260 and
280 respectively.
(Average Is 100)
Century 21--High Anxiety (20th-Fo.x), 4th wk .180
Centre—Blue Collar (Univ), 4th wk 110
Cherry Creek, Villa Italia— Straight Time (WB)
5th wk 140
Colorado Four—An Enemy of the People (WB)
4th wk ^n
Colorcfdo Four—House Calls (Univ), 5th wk 300
Continental—Star Wars (20th-Fox), 47lh /.'k 2f.n
Cooper—Close Encounters oi the Third Kind
(Col), 18th wk 280
Cooper Cameo, Universry Hills— Casey's Shadow
(Col), 5th wk 175
Esquire—Pretty Baby (Paia) 400
Four theatres—American Hot Wax (P^ra)
5th wk 125
Four theatres— Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 5th wk IPO
Paramount, Aurora Ma,:—Youngblood (AlP) 150
Six theatres-The Medusa Touch (WB) 250
Tamarac Six—An Unmarried Woman (20th-r-v)
,
4th wk 325
Tamarac Six—Julia (20lh-Fox), 24lh wk 120
Three theatres—The Fury (20!h-Fox), 5th wk 125
University Hills—Coming Home (UA), 2nd wk 2S0
Valley 3—1900 (Para), 3rd wk 100
TUCSON
Que of the former art dcco showhouses in
the West, the beautiful old Paramount
Theatre, for several years has been "the
scandalous Cine Plaza," a triple X-rated
adult theatre. Renamed the Cine Plaza, the
downtown landmark shortly will revert to
its previous use as a Spanish-language theatre.
Operators of the Cine Plaza have announced
they are moving to a new location.
If a Mexican-American activist group's
hopes for a westside bilingual, bicultural. social
services center materialize, the center
would feature lectures in Spanish and English
on the culture of Mexican-American
movies, theatre, art, and history.
In lier
"Film Clips" column, Jacqi Tully.
writer for the Arizona Daily Star, states
that the rating system as it now stands offers
for parents to go on. There are "countless
little
stories of children having nightmares
over films their parents sent them to with
little idea of the film's content." Tully suggests
a little Rx for the G-PG-R-X systeiri.
She says the rating board's evaluation on
each movie should be made public.
Anna Maria Albcrghetti graced the Geni.
Inc.. dealer recrLiiting meeting here, personally
appearing before the group to spark
the first sales area of Geni goods outside
of Southern California. Geni is an Avon
Products division.
"Three Seas of Mexico" was the featured
travel film at Sunday Evening Forum Sunday
(16).
AWARD WINNERS—Elayne BIythe, president of the
Film Advisory Board,
second from left, front, made the presentation of plaques denoting Awards of
Excellence at a recent meeting. Recipients, left to right, front row, were Mrs. Ilya
Salkind, producer of "Crossed Swords," a Warner Bros, release; Kim Richards
accepting for Walt Disney Productions' "Return From Witch Mountain" and
"Pete's Dragon." and Philippe Cinq Mars, vice-consul of Canada, accepting for
the National Film Board of Canada's "I'll Find a Way," "High Grass Circus"
and "The Bead Game." In back row, left to right, are Warren Lockhart, producer
of "Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did they Get Nineteen Kids?", Bea
Bernstein, FAB preview chairman, and Marvin Hamlisch, honored for contributions
to film music.
3rd Poetry Film Festival
Slated for San Francisco
SAN FRANCl.SCO—The third annual
Poetry Film Festival is scheduled for Sept.
30, Oct. 1 and 2 at the San Francisco Art
Institute. Submissions in 16mm, 8mm and
videotape, which must incorporate a poem
in narrative or captioned form, are solicited,
and must be sent by September 20.
The fir.st day of the festival will feature
opening ceremonies at 8 p.m., followed by
16mm screenings. On Saturday at 3 p.m.
there will be a forum to discuss the poetry
film format, aesthetics and economics. That
evening at 8 will be the second screening
of 16mm films. The following afternoon
at 3, Super 8 and video entries, as well as
exceptional poetry film documentaries, will
be seen. At that time award winners will
be announced.
Prizes include three cash prizes and three
honorable mentions. Winning films are to
be included in a national tour of at least
fifteen universities, film societies, and PBS
TV. Sixty per cent of the royalties will go
to the filmmaker, forty per cent to the
Poetry Film Workshop.
WOMPI Elections Apr. 25
HOLLYWOOD—The election of officers
will be the highlight of the WOMPI Club
business meeting Tuesday (25). The mem-
will conduct the election following dinner.
SAN FRANCISCO
^Je are reminded by Shirley Stimmel at the
United Artists branch here that, with
"Annie Hall", UA becomes the first distributor
to have won the Best Film/ Best
Director Oscars three years running.
"Rocky" and John Avildsen, and "One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and Miles
Forman, were the last two years' winners.
Steve Naify has resigned his position as
manager of the Granada and Serra theatres
here to accept a sales position with the newly
formed United Film Distributors.
Syufy Enterprises will be holding its first
bi-annual managers conference May 3 at the
Century 22 Theatre in San Jose. Syufy managers
from all over the western territory
will be in attendance. In addition, sales and
advertising personnel from all major distributors
will be there to address the convention
and show product reels. San Jose
mayor Janet Gray Hayes heads the list of
local dignitaries to be present.
Disco Party Promotion
ROSWELL. N.M.—Charles Green, manager
of the Commonwealth circuit's Starlite
Drive-In. staged a
successful Saturday night
disco party to promote the engagement of
"Saturday Night Fever." The affair was
sponsored by KBCQ Radio and deejays
were present two hours before showtime
bers-only meeting will be held at the Williamsburg
Inn in West Los Angeles, according
to add color and excitement to the occasion.
Patrons registered at the refreshment
to Betty Silverforb, program chairman.
Hilda Frishman, nominating chairman, center for records, tapes. T-shirts and
BOXOFFICE :: April 24. 1978 W-1
passes.

Hollywood
Happenings
HEADS OF SIX WOMEN'S organizations
have formed the Presidents" Council to
serve as an idea interchange to help promote
women in their fields of endeavor. Members
are Phoebe Beasley, American Women
in Radio and Television: Barbara Boyle,
Women in Film: Betsy Berkheimer. Los
Angeles Advertising Women; Connie Greaser.
Women in Business: Marylynn Holder,
California Press Women, and Rita Rooney.
Women in Communication.
*
Don J. Yolt has been named administrator
of finance and operations for the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,
moving up from the position of controller
which he has held for two years.
•
Principal photography has been completed
on Universal Pictures" "Same Time.
Next Year."" starring Alan Alda and Ellen
Burstyn. a Mirisch Corp. production directed
by Robert Mulligan.
*
Harry Geissler of Factors Etc.. Inc.. and
John Liarson of Baum Printing, have won
the Neographics "78 Silver Award lor their
work in creating a .special "Star Wars"'
poster of R2D2 and C3PO.
•
"Harold and Maude."" which has become
a cult film running more than two years
in Detroit and Minneapolis, will open with
a new .35mm print Wednesday. May .3. at
THE WEST LARGEST PRINTER
ONE SHEETS
TWO SHEETS
PRESS BOOKS
SLICKS
1 TO 4 COLORS
CENTRAL LITHOGRAPH CO.
Los Angeles. CA 9001 i
the Royal Theatre. The film stars Bud Cort
as Harold, who is led away from his depressed
fascination with dying by Ruth Gordon
as Maude.
•
Pamela Prince has left her position as
agent with the Beakel & Jennings Agency
to join Film Artists .Associates.
Charlton Heston. star in UniversaKs
"Gray Lady Down." is on a two-week personal
appearance tour in Latin America to
promote the film. His itinerary includes
Buenos Aires. Rio de Janeiro. Caracas.
Guatemala City and Me.xico City, returning
to Los Angeles Saturday (29).
Ik-
Seymour Borde & Associates has announced
that "Master of the Flying Guillotine"
grossed over $94,000 in its five-week
engagement at the Roosevelt Theatre in Chicago.
•
"Silver Bears." Columbia Pictures' suspense-comedy
about high finance, starring
Michael Caine, Cybill Shepherd and Louis
Jourdan. opened Friday (21) in multiple
engagements in the .Southland, including
Avco Center Cinema in Westwood and the
Egyptian in Hollywood.
•
Gary Grossman, operator of various technical
production services, has joined Marquee
International Films as associate producer
and initially will work on designing
and creating a "spectacular event" for the
premiere of Marquee's rock-fantasy film
"Simon."
•
Joseph Campanella has been named national
honorary chairman of the National
.Society for Autistic Children.
•
Avco Embassy Pictures' "The Prcmonit
on' won the Golden Mask "Prix de la
Critique" by les Editions dii Masquel at the
seventh International Science-Fiction and
Fantasy Film Festival. Sharon Farrell. who
stars in the Robert Allen Schnitzer productions,
was awarded the "Prix d'lnterpretation
Feminine."
•
Producer David Chudnow has changed
the title of his "Amazing Dobermans" to
•Lucky," after the name of the lead character
played by James Franciscus. The film
has been reshot in part, Chudnow said, and
is being prepared for a May release. Also
starring are Fred Astaire and Barbara Eden.
"Chicken," a popular costumed mascot
for San Diego's KGB Radio, helped promote
Universal's "House Calls" by going
door-to-door and handing out two free tickets
to the film. Many who heard the promotion
over the air placed signs on their
doors
welcoming "Chicken".
*
Principal photography has been completed
on the Mirisch Corp. production of
"Same Time, Next Year." Alan Alda and
Ellen Burstyn star in the Universal release.
•
Film Ventures International's "Buckstone
County Prison" will begin a multiple engagement
run May 19 in the Georgia territory.
•
Irwin Moss has been named to the newly
created position of executive vice-president
in charge of national business affairs for
International Creative Management and will
supervise ICM's New York a^nd Los Angeles
buj'ness affairs departments from Los Angeles.
He has been head of ICM's New York
business affirs department and administrator
of the New York offices.
*
Variety Clubs International and the Royal
British Legion will benefit from the royal
premiere October 23 of EMI Films' "Death
on the Nile" at the ABC I and II theatres
in London's West End, with Queen Elizabeth
II, the Duke of Edinburgh and Earl
Mountbatten attending.
Ik-
Four American International feature motion
pictures were seen on prime time TV
in the Los Angeles area over a recent weekend.
"Wuthering Heights" screened Friday
(14), and on Saturday appeared "Who Slew
Auntie Roo?". "Count Yorga Vampire" and
"Scream and Scream Again.
Michael Wilson, 63. Dies
In Beverly Hills Apr. 16
LOS ANGELE.S— Screenwriter Michael
Wilson. 63, died of a heart attack while
visiting friends in Beverly Hills. Sunday
(16). He was the recipient of the Writers'
Guild's top honor, the Laurel Award, in
1976, and earned an Oscar for his screenplay
"A Place in the Sun," in 1951.
His credits include "Five Fingers," "Salt
of the Earth,"" "Sandpiper"" and "Planet of
Wilson is survived by his wife Zelma and
two dauahters.
the Apes."" He had collaborated on "Bridge
on the River Kwai"" and "Lawrence of Arabia.""
< UVERAMA IS MX SHOW
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r.OXOFFICE :: April 24, I97S

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professional installation, with unbelievable
ease.
Century now spares you the "grief" of
aligning the projector and reproducer.
Film alignment is automatic, right on the
button every time. Every frame feeds true.
Your prints are treated to the tenderest loving
care ever.
Century's "all in 1" design is one of the nicest
things to happen for projection booths in a long
time.
Celebrate the Bicentennial.
Update your theatre with the new Century.
See your
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Western Theatrical Equipment Co.
187 Golden Gote Avenue
Son Francisco, Colifornia 94102
Phone: (415) 861-7571
Pacific Theatre Equipment Co
142 Leovenworth Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Phone: (415) 771-2950
John P. Filbert Co., Inc.
00 Flower Street (P.O. Box 5085)
Glendale, California 91201
Phone: (213) 247-6550
Theatre Service & Supply, Inc
1250 Eost Wolnut
Pasodena, California 91106
Phone: (213) 792-7158
Western Service & Supply,
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Phone: (303) 534-7611
BOXOFFICE :: .Apri 1978
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455 Bearcat Drive
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Phone: (801) 466-7642
S. F. Burns & Co., Inc
2319 2nd Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
Phone: (206) 624-2515

SEATTLE
l^alph and Fran Osgood were back in the
greater Seattle area Tuesday (11) and
Wednesday (12). Ralph is the general manager
of Tom Moyer's Luxury Theatres based
in Portland. Ore., and he was visiting the
various facilities of the circuit throughout
Seattle. Bremerton and Everett. From here
he flew on to Spokane. Wash., to visit facilties
there.
Screenings at the Jewel Box of Filmrow:
•Universal's "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
Tuesday (18) and Warner Bros." "The End
of the World in Our Usual Bed in a Night
Full of Rain" Thursday (20). Universal's
"FM" is scheduled for Wednesday (26).
20th Cenlurj-Fox had a special sneak
preview of its forthcoming release "A Wedding"
at the UA Cinema 70 in downtown
Seattle Saturday (15). The regular feature.
"An Unmarried Woman." was shown following
the sneak. Quite a number of those
involved with the film were in attendance,
including Robert Altman. They arrived just
before the sneak and returned to Los Angeles
immediately following. Audience reaction
was fantastic!
Stu Goldman of Fun returned from a
weekend visit with Joan Rivers in San
Francisco on behalf of her film "Rabbit
Test" which opened Friday (21) in six Seattle
area situations. Fun also saluted the
spring break of films with cover photos on
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand." "Rabbit Test "
FM" and "F.LS.T."
"Double Nickels" was new at the Valley.
Bel-Kirk. Kenmore and Everett Motor
Movie drive-ins along with the Federal Way
Cinema; "The Medusa Touch" was at the
Admiral Twin, Lynn Four. Lewis and Clark
3, .SeaTac 6, Valley and Sunset drive-ins:
"The Big Sleep" was at the Southcenter,
Northgate and Belvue theatres, and "The
.Serpent's Egg" screened at the Uptown.
Still going strong: Walt Disney Productions'
"Return From Witch Mountain," at
the Bellevue Crossroads Twin, Everett Mall,
Renton Village and Seattle Aurora Cinemas
as well as the SeaTac 6 Cinema, Bellevue
Crossroads Twin and Bay theatres; "Straight
Time" at the Town: "High .An.xiety" at the
Cinerama: "Saturday Night Fever" at the
Uptown; "The Goodbye Girl" at the Lewis
and Clark, Lake City. John Danz and Lynn
Four: "The Fury" at the Renton Village,
Bellevue Overlake and .Seattle Aurora cinemas;
"The Boys in Company C" at the Sno-
King and Valley drive-ins as well as in the
Bellevue Overlake, Seattle Aurora and Renton
Village cinemas: "Close Encounters of
the Third Kind" at both the Everett Mall
and King cinemas; "A Special Day" at the
Harvard Exit; "Julia" at the Guild 45th;
"Iphigenia" at Seven Gables: "Blue Collar"
at the Coliseum in downtown Seattle and
the SeaTac 6 Cinema: "An Unmarried
Woman" at the UA Cinema 70 and of
course "Star Wars" at the UA Cinema 150.
Sterling Recreation Organization had special
Saturday and Sunday matinees of
"Journey Back to Oz" in five of their hardtops
with all seats just $1.25.
Dorothy Matin and Melanie Polik of the
Dorothy Matin Agency are in Los Angeles
attending the Paramount seminar all this
week, as is the local representative, Craig
Hyland.
PORTLAND
film
J^ workshop and seminar featuring a
showing of "American Hot Wax" was
held at the Fox Theatre Tuesday (4), sponsored
by Thunder Media and Paramount
Pictures. The early days of rock music was
the theme, with a panel discussion following
the film. Speakers included representatives
from radio and the recording and motion
picture business.
Personnel changes were announced at
Seven Gables Theatres by publicity manager
Robert Bogue, who also manages the
Movie House. David Riker has been hired
to manage the Cinema 21. replacing Dave
Basaraba, who has resumed management of
the Fine Arts. Hila Scott, who was the Fine
Arts manager, will be a floating manager.
She will work primarily at the Movie House,
allowing Bogue to spend more time on publicity.
Iphigenia' Star Papas
To Build Drama School
SAN FRANCISCO—Irene Papas, whose
films mckide "Z" and "The Trojan Women,"
appeared in
it
San Francisco on her first
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1 To
'Skateboard' Promo Blitz
Is Off to a Rolling Start
UNIVERSAL CITY—A major promotion
and marketing campaign kicked off the
March 17 opening of Universai's "Skateboard"
at 90 theatres throughout Southern
California.
Promotion and marketing support came
from RCA Records who spotted 1,000 onesheets
in stores throughout the area, arranged
contest promotions on local radio
stations, released the film's soimdtrack album
a week before the opening date and
introduced the single "Skateout" to AM airwaves.
Nike Shoes displayed a special poster
with the Skateboard key art in ail its stores.
Grosset & Dunlap's Tempo Books distributed
the paperback novel based on the film
to stores two weeks prior to its opening.
The cover of the book has the same key art
as the one-sheets.
J. C. Penney sponsored skateboard promotions
at their 64 area stores and there
were skateboard demonstrations and safety
clinics at each of the 23 mall stores. Pepsi-
Cola promoted the film with coupons for
free Pepsi at several fast-food restaurants.
A comprehensive tie-in with Zody's department
stores included a mailer to all their
charge customers with a catalog and coupons
for discounts on skateboards and all
skateboard equipment. On opening day there
were personal appearances by Tony Alva.
Ellen O'Neal and Laura Thornhill. championship
skateboarders who appear in the
film.
"Skateboard," a Blum Group Production,
stars Allen Garfield, Leif Garrett and Kath-
film.
Senior Citizen Discount
CARLSBAD. N.M.—Abby Parrish has
launched the Grand Generation Movie Club
at Commonwealth's Cavern Theatre, advertising
the promotion via newspaper display
ads. Discounted admissions are given to
senior citizens presenting the special membership
card.
Assnoi Manila Theatres Organized
To Help Solve Common Problems
MANILA — The owners of 35 Metro
Manila's biggest and newest moviehouses
have organized themselves into the Metro
Manila Theatres Ass'n for the purpose of
uniting all theatre owners or operators in
their search for solutions to common problems,
and "to work for the common good
of all segments of the business."
One other principal objective of the association
is "to give preference to Filipino
judiciousness in the selection of foreign
films shown in their theatres so that only
those morally acceptable and consistent
films which seriously represent Filipino
folkways, historical heritage, and contemporary
aspirations."
The group will also endeavor to exercise
with local values are screened.
The Metro Manila Theatres Ass'n is headed
by Atty. Nicolas Santiago, president, and
Antonio Dulalia, vice-president. Other officers
are well-known lawyers Leonardo
Siguion Reyna, secretary, Rolando Rivera,
assistant secretary, Aurelio K. Litonjua.
treasurer, and the firm of M. Tulio and Associates,
auditors.
Composing the association's board of directors
are Santiago, Nang Meng Tam, Antonio
Dulalia, Leonardo Monteverde, Jun
Litonjua, Hubert Co and Bobby Roca.
Th; present board of advisers is composed
of Jorge L. Araneta, chairman, and Luc;o
A. Tan. who represents the
foreign film
distributors, but the two principal organizations
of local film producers—the PMPPA
(think back. . .)
WHEN WAS
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leen Lloyd. George Gage directed from a
screenplay he wrote with Richard A. Wolf.
and the IMPIDAP—have been invited to
Harry N. Blum and Wolf produced. Richard
Van Der Wyk. Steve Monahan, David
name their key officers to represent their
association in the Metro Manila Theatre
Hyde and Pam Kenneally, all championship
skateboarders, are introduced in the
Ass'n's bord of advisers.
The other principal purposes of the association
as stated in its Articles of Incorporation
are:
take the necessary measures that
shall
consistently upgrade the quality of
films shown in the theatres and to encourage
a high degree of artistry,
competence and dedication among
movie producers, directors and all
those involved in the business.
2. To foster and maintain high standards
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of integrity and business ethics and to
instill in the minds of all theatre owners
or operators utmost decorum, fairness
and consideration.
3. To promulgate rules and regulations
governing the
proper operations of theatres
in general and the provision for
adequate ventilation,
properly functioning
toilet facilities, fire prevention
equipment, and such other items and
services to
insure public welfare.
4. To help develop and maintain a healthy
moral attitude among patrons by allowing
more and better booking dates
to pictures whose themes or subject
matters are endorsed with positive
values and with artistic qualities.
5. To help disseminate information on the
quality of the locally-produced movies
and to help mutual understanding on
matters affecting the theatre owners or
operators.
6. To cooperate with the government in
in the implementation of lawful rules
and regulations issued by the board of
censors and other similar governmental
agencies governing theatre operation
and management in general and film
censorship laws, regulations, and orders
in
particular.
7. To participate vigorously in the promotion
and development of all sectors
engaged in the theatre business and
make them responsive to the changing
demands of the economy.
8. To conduct sem'nars on the latest
trends in theatre operation and management
and encourage the adoption
of the modern methods in the construction
of movie houses with emphasis on
safety, sanitation and convenience of
the viewing public.
9. To represent directly or through approved
representatives the interest of
theatre owners or operators before the
Philippine government or agencies and
the general public.
10. To provide a forimi for theatre owners
or operators and to evolve a system of
periodic consultations among those involved
in the theatre business.
Among the theatres represented in the
association are such popular movie houses
as New Frontier. Nation. Ali 1 & 2, Gotesco
1 & 2, Superam;i I & 2. Cinema 21. Galaxy.
Luneta, Capri. Dynasty Super Mini 2 and
3, Lider, Boulevard. Fame, Topstar, Mari.
Jennet, Lord, Dillon. Pcdmon, Red White
& Blue theaters, .Scala. Main, Pearl, and
Paco Theatres. All of these theatres are located
with-n the Metro Manila area.
^iBHHii:
April

Film Fast to Feature Documentary,
Criticism, International Seminars
By JACK ROSE
DENVER—A series of three major seminars
on film and the humanities will be
held during the Denver International Film
Festival May 5-14. The seminars, funded
by a grant from the Colorado Humanities
Program, will be at the Ogden theatre.
They will explore the topics of film criticism,
documentary film and international cinema.
The first in the series, "How to Watch
a Movie: The Power and Responsibility of
the Film Critic," is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
May 13. Panelists include Charles Champlin.
arts editor for the Los Angeles Times;
Robert Altman, whose latest film, "A Wedding,"
will be presented during the festival;
Stan Brakhage, widely acclaimed independent
filmmaker; Richard E. Foushee. assistant
professor of mass communications at
the University of Denver and Ron Hecht.
director of the festival.
Critic's Social Role
The panelists will discuss theories of art
and will examine the role of the critic in
society and the influence of criticism
on the
creative film artist.
The second seminar. "The Drama Documentary
and Biography." is seheduled for
2 p.m. May 13. It will feature Harry Rasky,
Canadian filmmaker whose documentaries
include "The Wit and World of George
Bernard Shaw," "Tennessee Williams"
South" and "Homage to Chagall: The Colours
of Love." Rasky has won the Venice
Film Festival Award and Peabody and
Emmy Awards. The Chagall film was nominated
for an Academy Award this year.
Other panelists will be Virgil Grillo. director
of the Rocky Mountain Film Center
and chairman of the film studies program
at the University of Colorado, and Howie
Movshovitz, filmmaker, critic and visiting
lecturer at the University of Colorado at
Denver.
Last Seminar Mid-May
The last of the seminar series, "The Political,
Sociological and Economic Environment
as it Affects International Cinema," it
will be held at 1 p.m. May 14.
The principal panelist is Jose Luis Borau.
one of Spain's leading writers, producers
and directors. His work, highly respected in
PETERSON
THEATRE
455 Bearcat Drive
Times Square Park
SUPPLY
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
801-466-7642
other countries, is considered controversial
in Spain and often has been banned for its
outspoken political content.
The most controversial and highly acclaimed
of his works. "Fuetivos (Poachers)"
is one of three Borau films scheduled to be
shown during the festival. The others are
"Black Brood" and "My Dear Miss." Borau
wrote, produced, directed and stars in
"Fuetivos."
Panel of Experts Named
Other members of the panel are Joel
Edelstein, a professor of political science
at the University of Colorado who has used
film to explore ethical questions in society,
and Arthur Gilbert, associate professor in
the graduate school of international
studies.
University of Denver, who has used films to
study cross-cultural attitudes toward war.
The panelists will discuss public policy on
films in three environments: countries in
which the artist is given little freedom or
support, such as those in Eastern Europe;
countries that provide complete freedom and
support, such as Canada, and countries that
provide freedom but little or no support,
such as the United States.
Films from more than a dozen countries
will be shown dur'ng the festival.
Grant Makes Series Possible
The Colorado Himanities Program, whose
grant has made the seminar scries possible,
is a state-based program of the National
Endowment for the Humanities. Its purpose
is to foster the support and appreciation of
the humanities among the adult public. The
program provides financial support for
activities
that bring the adult public together
with historians, philosophers and scholars of
law, languages and the social sciences. They
may then discuss questions of human values
and aspirations, rights and responsibilities,
ethics and the subject matter and tests of
history, literature, philosophy and other
humanities. Contact the Colorado Humanities
Program. 83.'^ Broadway, Boulder.
Colo. 80302 for further information.
The Denver International Film Festival.
a project of the non-profit Colorado Celebration
of the Arts, is being underwritten
by the First National Bank of Denver.
Kenneth Randall Head
Of Royal Oak Film Corp.
SALT LAKE CITY— Kenneth Randall,
formerly with Doty-Dayton, has been named
head of the newly organized Royal Oak
Film Corp., which is currently handling the
G-rated "Dirkie" and is in preproduction
on two other family-oriented
pictures.
.Sales for Royal Oak will be handled by
Roger Sereika and Mike Pearse. Other executives
are Mike Molen of media relations,
Toni Olsen, director of field operations,
and Norman Smith, in charge of company
funding.
New MATO Officers Chosen
At Kalispell Convention
KALISPELL, MONT.—The recent convention
of the Montana Association of
Theatre Owners (MATO) was held at the
Outlaw Inn here, and industry representatives
from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado
were in attendance.
The featured speaker at the President's
Luncheon was Tom Patterson, president of
NITE, who spoke on "The Independent Exhibitors"
Bill of Rights,"" dealing with fair
treatment of the small-town exhibitor by
the major distribution companies. Appearing
at the convention's final banquet was
Verl Osmond of Osmond Productions. Discussing
the entry of the Osmond family
into the feature motion picture business.
Osmond pledged to produce films that the
exhibitor would be proud to show. Stressing
the importance of the family unit, Osmond
urged closer ties among members of
a family. Accompanying Osmond was Max
Keller, head of the Osmond"s film distribution
arm and Gary Persell of Crest Films,
Los Angeles.
Harold Chessler of St. George. Utah and
Norm Chessler of Theatre Candy Distributing
conducted a concession seminar entitled
"Is This You?"' featuring video-taped
re-enactments of patrons purchasing concession
items. A mini tradeshow followed.
Over three hours of product reels were featured
at the local gateway cinema.
The auctioning of prizes with play money
won during a n'ght of "gambling"" highlishted
the second night of the convention.
The ladies were entertained with a limcheon
and guided tour of a nearbv art gallerv. Tom
Hines of Kalispell was chairman of the convention.
Elections were held during the convention,
and Rich Snyder of Wolf Point was
chosen MATO president. Elected vice-president/treasurer
was Larry Flesch of Shelby
while Patsy Skogen, secretary from Ronan,
was chosen to continue in her position.
Newly elected three-year term members
of the board of directors are Dave Weisbeck
of Libby, Tom Hines of Kalispell and
Norm Costin of Havre. Holdover members
of the board are Dean Osterander, Great
Falls; Myron Bean. Choteau; Payton Terry,
Glasgow; Dan Grudziadz, Livingston; Howard
Pickerill. Poison and Stephen Moser,
Bozeman.
The annual fall meetin.s; of the board of
directors has been set for Tuesday, October
3 in Great Falls, Mont, at a place a time yet
to be determined.
Robert Ranstrom of Sias-
Sharp Theatres and Bob Reid of Theatre
Operators will serve as co-chairmen.
Payton Terry was appointed legislative
committee chairman and Joe Baker was appointed
to serve on that committee.
By-laws of incorporation, as prepared under
the direction of former board member
Joe Baker, were adopted.
The new dues structure with NATO was
discussed and it was voted to retain the
present dues structure in effect for MATO
members. Other problems pertaining to theatre
operation were discussed and voted upon
b\' the membership.
BOXOmCE :: April 24. 1978

to a provocative
very informative article by Helen M.
Denver Post staff reporter, "most
movies reach the bargain theatres."
Her story covered all the bases and exr
plained
I DENVER—According
I
and
j
Cass,
[
good
Even the Big Ones Come
To the Bargain Cinemas
why films finally reach the final
rung on the ladder, which in many places
is the $1.00 admission price. She goes on
to say:
"There are nine theatres in Denver which
charge $1 for admission. Because of the
price appeal, audiences are largely families
and persons who already have seen the film
but are willing to pay a dollar to see it
again. These houses also appeal to teenagers
and patient people seeing a picture
for the first time.
"The exception is a blockbuster film such
as 'Star Wars.' The movie has grossed $2,-
260,000 in Denver since it opened last May
25, said Marvin Goldfarb, film buyer for
Cooper Highland Theatres. The movie
opened at the Cooper and was moved to the
Continental Theatre last Dec. 14 to make
room for another blockbuster, 'Close Encounters
of the Third Kind.'
"Goldfarb has set a tentative date in mid-
June to conclude the first run of 'Star Wars,'
although he may hold it longer. Even so,
Frank McLaughlin, owner of Deluxe Theatres,
Inc., which operates dollar movie
houses, isn't planning to get the film until
the summer of 1979. His theatres are the
Gothic. Oriental, Fox Aurora, Mayan, Crest,
Federal, the twin Cinema 70 and Village
Square and the Evans Drive-In.
" 'There is a lot of business left in 'Star
Wars,' Goldfarb said. For one thing when
it goes into multiple second run it will get
to the as-yet-untouched drive-ins which
have their own cult of followers who are
unlike the average indoor theatre goer.
"Even though the film will have played
more than a year at first run prices of $3.50
and have the exposure of anticipated extended
second run showings, McLaughlin is
confident time won't have diminished the
picture's appeal and that it will pack his
dollar houses.
" '
'People are hooked on 'Star Wars,' he
said, 'They want to see it again and again.
They'll he willing to spend a dollar to see it
over and over.'
"A best-picture Oscar probably would
have increased the box office 'by 25-percent,
even though it's still doing good business,'
said Goldfarb. An Oscar or Oscars may or
may not affect the length of its first run.
"Goldfarb said his second blockbuster
picture. 'Close Encounters,' probably will
stay at the Cooper until mid-June. When
the film opened at the theatre, admission
went up to $4. When the film leaves the
admission price will stay, according to the
film buyer.
" 'It was the most expensive film we
ever bought,' he said, pointing out that
other factors were responsible as well for
the ticket price increa.se. These include increased
utility costs—heat in the winter.
air conditioning in the summer—the minimum
wage increase and escalating maintenance
costs.
"He said that 'Close Encounters' is
grossing
from $36,000 to $37,000 a week at the
box office. A $20,000 a week gross is considered
big in Denver. 'Bui it won't hold up
as long as 'Star Wars,' which has been
doing tremendous repeat business. People
are seeing it two, three, seven times at
$3. .50 a show.'
"McLaughlin said he expects that 'Encounters'
will be showing at his theatres
around next Thanksgiving. As he does with
most popular pictures, he will run it in two
or three theatres at the same time and will
reschedule it every six months until the distributor
pulls it out of release. Runs of films
vary from one to six weeks.
"Another big money-maker was 'Jaws.'
whi.h Goldfarb said grossed about $1,000.-
000 when it ran for almost a year at the
Cooper and Cooper Cameo two years ago.
McLaughlin got the film about four months
after it started its second run. opening the
film on Labor Day. He played it several
more times until it was unavailable.
" 'If people don't see movies at the dollar
houses, they won't see them until they're
cut up for TV,' McLaughlin said."
Ann-Margaret to Appear
At Sahara Tahoe Hotel
STATELINE. NEV.—Film star Ann-
Margaret, along with comedian Sammy
Shore, will be appearing in the High Sierra
Theatre of Del Webb's Sahara Tahoe May
5-7 and May 12-14.
Nominated for an Academy Award for
her performances in the film "Carnal
Knowledge," Ann-Margaret has been seen
in such boxoffice hits as "Tommy." "Joseph
Andrews," "The Last Remake of Beau
Geste" and "Bye Bye Birdie." One of the
most popular attractions in nightclubs across
the country, she also has been seen frequently
on TV and in 1975 was voted "Las
Vegas Female Entertainer of the Year" by
the Academy of Variety & Cabaret Artists.
WOMPI's Will Stage Their
'Las Vegas Night' May 6
HOLLYWOOD — Las
Vegas comes to
Beverly Hills when the Hollywood/ Los Angeles
WOMPIs stage their fourth annual
"Las Vegas Night" Saturday evening. May
6, at 7 p.m. at the 20th Ceniitry-Fox Studio.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Motion
Picture and Television Country Home
and Hospital.
Some of the celebrities who will be participating
in the fund-raiser are: Whitney
Blake, Sybil Brand, Georg Sanford Brown,
Jack Carter, Mike Farrell. Earl Holliman,
Jackie Joseph, Shari Lewis, Arthur Mannings,
Ross Martin, Greg Morris, Brock
Peters, Peter Mark Richman and Tim
Rooney.
For further information, contact chairman
Romayne Hoffman or co-chairman
Evelyn Gordon at 20th Century-Fox. Tickets
must be obtained in advance.
"The Amsterdam Kill." a Golden Harvest
production, was filmed on locations in
Europe and Asia.
NEW FIIM COMPANY—Allen Elrod,
left, president of the new Seattle-
Portland Film Company, is shown with
his branch manager Candace Manning
(center) and booker Lou Kahn in their
new offices.
Spring Brings Managerial
Transfers at Drive Ins
roZEMAN. MONT.—The opening of
the drive-in season has brought about several
managerial transfers within Theatre
Operators, Inc., according to Stephen Moser,
director of personnel.
Jack Hotaling, former manager of the
Park Theatre in Miles City, Mont., will
manage the Sunset Drive-In there under the
direction of c'ty manager Bob Johnson.
Mark Kosty replaces Hotaling as house manager
at the Park and has been employed
as doorman and relief manager.
Joel Overton, former assistant manager
at the Plaza Twin in Butte, Mont., reports
to city manager Fred Nicholls in Helena.
Mont, and will manage the Sunset Drive-
In there. Managing the Sky-High Drive-In
will be Kevin Flanagan, last season's manager
at the Sunset and former assistant manager
at the Circus Twin.
Stanton Price has been appointed as manager
of the Starlite Drive-In in Bozeman
under the direct supervis'on of Jim Phillips.
Price is a former doorman at the Cinema
Twin and has worked m theatres in Missoula,
Mont.
Two newcomers are starting their theatre
careers in Lander. Wyo. and Grants, N. M.
Don Hastings will manage the Diane Drivein
in Lander under the direction of city
manager Darrell Gabel while a former radio
station account executive, Steve Rosenthal,
has taken over management of the Trails
Drive-In in Grants under citv manager M'kc
Persons.
Sam Schmerbauch. former manager at
the World Theatre in Billings. Moni".. will
manage the Big Sky Drive-In imder city
manager Lanny Wagner. Replacing Schmerbauch
at the World will be Maria Herbel. a
former assistant at both the Rimrock 4 and
Crossroads Twin in Billings.
Attendance Is Hypoed
RIVERTON. WYO. — Commonwealth
Theatres' Al Pesicka reports over 750 cars
in the local trade area are now displaying
the Knight Drive-In bumper stickers. Drivers
of those autos are admitted free on a
designated weeknight when accompanied by
another pa'd adult admission, greatly increasing
business on an otherwise slow night.
:OXOFFICE .Apri 1978 W-7

Lee Garmes, 82, Discusses
Years as Cinematogropher
TUCSON—Ace cinematographer Lee
Garmes. 82 this month, is apprehensive
about the breakdown of moral standards
in today's films. Here to participate in the
Arizona Filmmakers Workshop. Garmes.
in an interview with Tucson Citizen film
critic Micheline Keating, talked about his
feelings on this trend.
While personally against censorship,
Garmes definitely feels that "if films continue
in the way they are now headed. I
believe full disclosure of what a film contains
must be provided in a theatre lobby
where a person can see it before he buys
a ticket. "Looking for Mr. Goodbar.' for
instance, is a sick, sick film. People should
be aware of what to expect when they go
to see it."
Garmes has been a part of the motion
picture industry from the days of the
flickers," when the only censorship came
from the home, to today's marvelous refinements
requiring newspaper supplementary
ratings.
Technologically Garmes has run the
movie gamut from his static camera on a
tripod for his first films to his current
sophisticated Panoglide camera. ! like a
fluid camera." explaines Garmes. 'Actually.
Panaglide is an improved version of the
hand camera." He goes on to describe the
harness, the gyroscope mechanism which
enables the cameraman to turn away from
the action while the camera holds its posi-
costs by 75 per cent. He produced and directed
the first 3D film. "Hannah Lee." He
photographed the first 70mm feature, "The
Big Fisherman. and in 1971 produced one
of the first videotape features transferred
to 35mm film. He has lensed 91 major
movies and earned six Academy Award
nominations.
Despite having photographed a large pact
of Gone With the Wind." Garmes did not
receive credit listing. He and producer David
Selznick had a "falling out". Games felt
the epic, lent itself to a soft, impressionistic
focus," but Selznick thought 'all color
movies should be bright and sharp like a
picture postcard."
'Neither of us would compromise."
Garmes recalls, "so he fired me and the
film was finished by someone else." But in
the end Selznick admitted he was wrong,
and when he produced Duel in the Sun"
the credit line for cinematographer read
"I.ce Garmes."
TOI Retains Officers But
Makes Managerial Change
BOZEMAN. MONT.—The current slate
of officers of Theatre Operators. Inc., headquartered
here, was re-elected at a meeting
of all stockholders. Chairman of the board
is Ross Campbell, Sheridan, Wyo; Doug
Williams of Bozeman is president; Robert
W-C
Tankersley of Denver is vice-president. Reelected
as vice-president/ marketing director
was Tim Warner, while Stephen Moscr continues
as comptroller-treasurer.
The following managerial changes were
also approved: Kelvin Plumb has been transferred
from Bozeman to Billings. Mont,
where he will be assistant city manager
under present city manager Lanny Wagner.
Plumb will be responsible directly for the
Rimrock 4 theatres in addition to assisting
with the supervision of TOl's other interests
in Billings. Moving to the Crossroads Twin
theatres as manager-projectionist is Dave
Simpson, former Rimrock 4 house manager.
Jim Phillips, former Crossroads manager,
has reported to Bozeman as manager of the
Cinema Twin Theatre there under the supervision
of city manager Dan Klusman.
Image Transform Secures
Art Mayer's Services
NORTH HOLLYWOOD—Image Transform
has appointed Art Mayer Productions
in Sydney as its sales and technical representative
for Australia and New Zealand,
according to Jack Mauck. marketing vicepresident
of the film and videotape firm
here.
Services represented include Image Transform's
electronic tape-to-film and film-totape
transfer technologies, as well as its
PAL/NTSC/SECAM standards conversion.
Image Transform is the only company in
North America offering broadcast quality
standards conversion from foreign television
tion. "You can do almost anything with
beams Garmes.
signals to the American broadcasting standard,
it."
Coming to Hollywood in 1915 after
and vice-versa.
graduating from Denver High School.
"We're pleased to add 'service center
Garmes introduced Mazda
manager' to Art
lights, which
Mayer's
cut
hyphenates.'"
Mauck said. "Art is a well-known motion
picture producer, director and editor, with
extensive experience in cinematography,
sound recording, mixing and music scoring.
And he's worked in video for the past three
years."
In addition to its North Hollywood head
quarters. Image Transform has offices in
London. Tokyo. Toronto, New York. Chicago
and Washington D.C.
Barbra Streisand to Sing
'Eyes of Laura Mars' Tune
NEW YORK— Barbra Streisand will
sing Prisoner." for the soundtrack of the
forthcoming film, Eyes of Laura Mars,"
it was announced by Jon Peters, producer
of the Columbia Pictures release.
The soundtrack album will be released
by Columbia records with Jon Peters and
Charles Koppelman as the executive prodLicers.
"Eyes of Laura Mars," starring Oscar
winner Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee
Jones, was directed by Irvin Kershner and
filmed on location in New York City. It is
scheduled lor release by Columbia Pictures
in August.
Streisand recently won two Grammy
Awards. ''Best Pop Vocal Performance. Female"
and "Song of the Year" for her gold
single "Love Theme from 'A Star Is Born'
(Evergreen)." for which she also had won
an Oscar at last year's Academy Awards
presentations.
In the course of her extraordinary stage,
film and recording career she has won virtually
every entertainment award in all
areas of show business, including Oscars,
Grammys. Tonys. Emmys. People's Choice
Awards and others.
Cool Cat on Cold Tin Roof
Finally Gets Her Comedown
VESTAL, N.Y.— Let me tell you, Tennessee
Williams, if you had the experience
I did you never would have come up with
a title like 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." When
it comes to pure drama you can't beat a
cold tin roof and Liz looks better when
she's shakin' and shiverin" anyway.
It was one of those nice spring days when
I crawled up on the roof in search of a
bird-burger, but the weather didn't cooperate
for long. As a matter of fact I don't even
know if the V Drive-In had a show, it was
so bad up there. I hollered and hollered for
two days before I got any action. I don't
know what's with manager Sally Frederick
and the people working here, but Cinema
Theatres oughta get out of their comfy office
in Syracuse, along with Joe Hazlett the
district manager, and come down here to
check the damsel-in-distress system.
Two days, can you believe it? Two days
those turkeys heard me calling for help before
they notified the dog warden's office
(the clowns don't even know a dog from a
cat, now that tells you something!) Then
the—ugh—dog warden called the fire department
who trucked on out despite the
rotten weather. You can tell they care.
Well, there I was. shivering, half-frozen
and soaked by the rain and cold, watching
the firefighters get organized. I guess they
knew I was important 'cause they didn't
send any old smoke-eater up—they sent a
lieutenant, Michael Narjarian. I thought he
looked like Paul Newman until he made that
smart remark about my ancestry— "a Heinz
57 variety," indeed. And then that smartmouthed
captain. Brian Mather, telling the
press I thought it was exciting. Can you believe
if? I mean, really. With an attitude
like that he should change his first name
to Cotton.
At last they finally got me down and
rushed me to the vet (just trying to butter
me up) who, I must admit, had warm hands
and a nice touch. Now I'm in the dog
(yecch) warden's place while they try and
find me a home. I got an idea. How about
Mike Sabal's place, since he's the joker
who sent the story in to Boxoffice.
'Tigers' Bat High in Hawaii
HONOLULU—American International's
comedy. 'Here Come the Tigers," is being
held over at the King Theatre here after an
excellent first week. First seven days at the
Sunset Drive-In also took in lots of coconuts.
Total gross was $18,664.
David Warner has been signed by producer
Martin Ransohoff for the role of a
crusading scientist in "Nightwing."
BOXOmCE :: April 24. 1978

'Hills Have Eyes'
Eyed By KC Fans
KANSAS CITY — The Hills Have
Eyes," a horror drama distributed by Vanguard
Releasing, opened here in eight theatres
with a flourishing 355 per cent following
heavy TV advertising. "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind" remained
K.C.'s favorite, however, still drawing 400
at the Glenwood. "House Calls" (380) and
"Star Wars" (325) were ritnners-up.
(Average Is 100)
Brywood. Metro North—The Billion Dollar Hobo
(Infl Picture Show), 9th wk 40
Eight theatres—The Hills Have Eyes (SR) 355
Embassy—An Unmarried Woman (20th-Fox),
3rd wk 245
Empire Emmanuelle in Bangkok (SR), 2nd wk 45
Fine Arts The Serpent's Egg (Para), 4>h wk 50
60
Four theatres—The Big Sleep (UA), 3rd wk
Four theatres—House Calls (Univ), 4th wk 380
130
Four theatres— Straight Time (WB). 3rd wk
Gladstone, Trail Ridae— Gray Lady Down (Univ).
5th wk
Glenwood Close Encounters the Third Kind
of
(Col), 17th wk 400
Glenwood—Star Wars {20thTox), 46th wk 325
Metcalf—The Turning Point (20th-Fox), 10th 120 wk.
4th 170
Plaza—The Fury (20th-Fox), wk
Six theatres Casey's Shadow (Col), 70
4th wk
Six theatres Return From Witch Mountain
'
,55
(BV), 3rd wk 195
Three theatres American Hot Wax (Pare),
4th wk 100
Three theatres Dynasty (SR) . 75
Three theatres High Anxiety (20th-Fox),
10th wk 115
In Chicago, 'Coming Home' Comes
Home to Roost at Top of List
CHICAGO—"Coming Home." the newcomer
in an exclusive first showing at the
Water Tower 2. was the top grosser for the
week with 350. But ihe holdovers generally
continued to do encouraging bi^siness.
Carnegie The Turning Point (20th-Fox),
22nd wk 275
Chicago—Blue Collar (Univ), 9th wk 275
Cinema The Serpent's Egg (Para), 200
3rd wk
Five theatres Straight Time (WB), 4th wk. 225
Five theatres Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 3rd wk 225
Americon Hot Wax (Pare)
Four theatres
4th wk 175
Four theatres Laserblast (Irwm Yablans) 200
Four theatres—An Unmarried Woman (20'h-Fox),
4th wk 250
Nine theatres House Calls (Univ) 4lh wk 300
Nine theatres Close Encounters the Third
of
Kind (Col), I7th wk 200
Six theatres The Goodbye 275
Girl (WB), 15'h wk
Ten theatres—Saturday Night Fever (P^rc)
17th wk 200
Ten theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 4th wk 175
Water Tower 2— Coming Home (UA) 350
James E. Goodloe Is Dead;
Former C'wealth Auditor
SPRINGFIELD. MO.—James E. Goodloe.
former auditor for Commonwealth
Theatres, died in February 1978 at the
Springfield Medical Center after a short
illness. He retired from the circuit in 1976.
He leaves his wife Norma, a stepson, one
brother, five sisters and two grandchildren.
Services were held at Greenlawn Battlefield
South.
Staff Courtesy Stressed
By Gary Davis of AMC
KANSAS CITY— In
the opinion of Gary
Davis, manager of American Multi Cinema's
Brywood 6 theatres here, "the main
ingredient in the smooth operation of a
theatre today is an efficient staff."
Davis is a native of Kansas City and
joined AMC in March 1969 as a projectionist
at the downtown Empire 4 theatres.
where he was promoted to assistant manager
in June 1974. After stints at the Empire,
Parkway 2 and Embassy 2 theatres.
Gary was named rnanager of the Empire
4 in February 1975. In May 1977, he was
transferred to the suburban Brywood 6 as
manager of that complex.
On the subject of an efficient staff operation,
Davis feels that courtesy is a prime
ingredient and emphasizes that "an eagerness
to serve adds to the quality of the
entertainment enjoyed by the patrons."
These two ingredients, according to Davis.
make up the pulse of the Brywood's staff.
Currently. Gary is working toward a degree
in business administration, attending
classes at Longview Community College. He
and his wife Cheryl have three children
Christy. Tracy and Brett. In his leisure
hours, he enjoys golf, bowling and biking.
Tie-In With Auto Dealer
Ballyhoos 'Oh, God!' Run
WAYNESVILLE. MO.— Holdover business
for "Oh. God!" was the result of a
promotion by Jim Dake with M&S Motors
which displayed two AMC Pacers in front
of Commonwealth's Ft. Wood Theatre. The
cars were identical to the one driven by
John Denver in the motion picture.
The dealer also gave away $25 certificates,
one each night during the first week's
run, to persons attending the theatre, good
as a discount toward the purchase of a new
car.
The result was front-page publicity, with
staff photos detailing the promotion and
giving the film a rave review.
Silent Film Foursome Shown
CAMBRIDGE. MASS.—Four silent
film
classics, dating back to 1916. were screened
on a recent Monday (5:.^0-7:30 p.m.) at the
Countway Library Auditorium. Harvard
University Medical area. The $1 admission
included refreshments. On the screen: "The
Pawnbroker" (1916); "High Hopes" (1921):
"Cops" (1922): and "A Pair of Tights"
(1928). The footage featured Charlie Chaplin,
Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton.
SHOW-A-RAMA
SALUIE—Larry
Scheerer, right, director of convenlion
services at the Crown Center Hotel in
Kan.sas City, was the recipient of an
unexpected award during Ihe recently
concluded Show-A-Rama 21 conventiin
and tradeshow. At the Tuesday
evening. March 14, dinner hosted by
Crown International Pictures and
Thomas & Shipp Films, Scheerer was
presented a plaque .saluting him and his
staff for their outstanding excellence of
service during the many Show-A-Rama
events at the hotel. Making the presentation
was Chuc Barnes, center, executive
secretary of the United Motion Picture
Ass'n, which sponsors the conclave,
and Miss Show-A-Rama 21, Annette
Walker.
Oscar Contest Winners
Not Exactly Film Fans
INDIANAPOLIS—There were 2.536 en
tries in the Indianapolis News' Pick-the-
Oscar-winners conest. but Doug Zapp. who
admitted he goes to the movies only three
or four times a year, managed to capture
the first place prize by naming eight of ten
award winners. Six other entrants had th'
same degree of success, but Doug broke thi
tic for the $50-prize by coming closest in
his prediction of the actual time the award
telecast went off the air. Second and third
places were also determined by the clock.
Judith Simpson, second place, said she
saw every film that was considered for an
award, but third-place winner Elaine Hook
didn't see a single film in 1977. Ms. Hook
said. "I'm a movie fan but I just don't go
to movies very much anymore. I think the
last movie I saw was that terrible one with
Burt Reynolds. 'Deliverance.' "
The first-place winner said he made his
selections mostly on the basis of news stories
he read about the award nominees.
CIATERANA IS m SHOW
BITSLVESS UV HAWAII TOO,
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don't miss the famous Don II
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.April

. . . Screenings
. . "Know
KANSAS CITY
gob Maddex, Garnett. Kas., exhibitor, has
wormed his way into the news again
but not into the entertainment pages. This
time he's wiggled onto the food page. Bob.
you see. also is a worm farmer and he was
promoting his worms as a valuable food
source in the Kansas City Star Tuesday (18).
In fact, Maddex. in conjunction with North
America Bait Farms, sponsored an earthworm
recipe contest.
Maddex told a reporter that worms are
the "food source of the future. They average
73 per cent protein and we've raised
some with a special diet which tested out
at 98 per cent protein." Bob. always the
showman-promoter, even with earthworms,
provided the newspaper with a recipe for
worm cookies (kind of makes your mouth
water, doesn't it?): 50 red worms make one
cup chopped, dried worms. Prepare worms
by storing them in moist peat moss for 48
hours, sprinkling cornmeal on top to feed
and purge them. Remove from peat moss,
rinse clean and boil three times for five minutes
each time in fresh water until water
clears.
Next, spread boiled worms on a cookie
sheet and bake in 200-degree oven for five
minutes or imtil dry and crunchy. Remove
and let cool. Sift one cup flour, 3/4 cup
flour. 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon
said, one teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4
teaspoon ntitmeg into 3/4 cup shortening.
Add 1 1/3 cups brown sugar, two eggs and
one teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth,
about two minutes. Stir in two cups rolled
oats and crumbled dried earthworms. Bake
12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. (This
should serve about 36 people or bait about
90 hooks.)
American International booker Jim Han-
Ion returned last week from Hawaii, where
he had been vacationing. Thanks to the
murky, chilly weather which seems to have
A correction: Condolences to Dianne
Thrasher. Columbia Pictures, whose father
ioa&
ported last week that Diane Rice's father
had died.
Universal booker Rose Cutting celebrated
her 23rd birthday Thursday {13)Tshe chose,
however, to take off Friday (14) and treat
herself to a
three-day birthday weekend, undoubtedly
spent getting her tax return prepared
for the Monday (17) deadline.
Jerry King, the young son of American
International salesman Jack Klug. was immortalized
in newsprint two weeks ago after
a passing photographer spotted the youngster
forlornly trying to negotiate his tricycle
over the front porch of the Klug home. The
picture was printed in the Kansas City Star
and our guess is that a proud papa, plus
that picture, equal a sudden boost in the
newspaper's circulation.
Mike Forsythe, Midwest advertising director
for American Multi Cinema, was in
Dallas most of last week attending an advertising
convention there.
Exhibitors seen on the Row: S. H. Bagby,
Phillipsburg, Kas. and Ben Moore, K-42
Drive-In, Wichita, Kas.
Ray Walsh, who two years ago sold his
drive-in and hardtop theatres in Chanute.
Kas.. to Bob Buscher of lola. Kas., has repurchased
the theatres from Buscher. Buscher's
B&B Booking will handle the film-buying
chores for Walsh.
Screenings at Commonwealth: Tuesday
(18), "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" (Univ)
and Wednesday (19), "Silver Bears" (Col)
at Midwest: Wednesday (19)
and Friday (21), "All Things Bright and
Beautiful" (World Northal), by
distributed
Thomas & Shipp; and Thursday (20), "Jokes
My Folks Never Told Me" and "Leopard
in the Snow," both distributed by New
World.
ST.
LOUIS
FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG
Make it your aid to increase your attendance
and concession sales, by using
Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films,
and Special Announcement films.
ancc on the Ed Sullivan TV show. The cast
of the film includes Bobby Di Cicco, Mark
McClure. Susan Kendall Newman (daughter
of actor Paul Newman). Nancy Allen and,
in a cameo role, rock 'n' roll personality
Murray the K, often referred to as "The
Fifth Beatle." playing himself.
"The Chosen," suspense-drama in which
Kirk Douglas becomes a target for assassination
because he heads a project to build
nuclear power plants, opens Friday, May
5. in a wide multiple. The Italian-British
co-production released by American International
Pictures in the U.S. and Canada,
also stars Simon Ward as Douglas' son,
who is the antichrist, bent on destroying the
human race as written in the book of Revelations,
along with Anthony Quayle, Alexander
Knox and Agostina Belli, who provides
the romantic interest.
Lisa Pelikan, who played the role of
young Vanessa Redgrave in "Julia." has
the title role in "Jennifer." also from AIP,
which begins a wide multiple Wednesday,
May 10, The mystery-drama involves a
high school girl endowed with terrifying
supernatural powers. Other key cast members
arc Bert Convy (featured in "Semi-
Tough"), Nina Foch. Jeff Corey and John
Gavin.
"The Hazing" will begin a multiple unspooling
in this area May 10. The first production
by two Des Moines theatremen.
Bob Fridley and Dick Davis, "The Hazing"
is the story of a fraternity initiation stunt
which backfires on the perpetrators and
results in a surprise ending. Jeff East, who
starred in "Tom Sawyer," is cast as a fraternity
pledge, as is Charles Martin Smith,
who appeared in "American Graffiti."
The Joe Don Baker starrer, "The Speedtrap,"
is an action-adventure yarn from
First Artists, which also features Tyne Daly.
It starts a wide multiple engagement Wednesday.
May 17 . . . Webster College's
Spring Film Series continues with "The
Conformist" Tuesday (25). "Lacombe Lu-
settled over this city, Jim's tan seemed to
stand out even
[Jniversal Pictures' "I
more, making him Wanna
at once
Hold Your
cien" May 2 and "Black Girl"
an object of envy and hate by Hand"
May 9.
all the Kansas
opened Friday (21) at the Crestwood,
Village, Woods Mill and Hi Pointe.
Screenings are at 7 p.m. each Tuesday in
City-bound mortals.
the Winifred Moore Auditorium. Admission
Produced by Steven Spielberg, the film concerns
the teenagers trying to make contact
is $1.50.
with the Beatles when the group first came "A Woman's Place," a film about notable
died two weeks ago. It was erroneously re-
to New York in 1964 to make an appear-
American women, narrated by Julie Harris,
will be presented at the Plaza Frontenac
meeting room at Lindbergh and Clayton
roads May 9 at 2 p.m. . the
News." a publicity seminar for those interested
in writing publicity for the media.
will be held at the meeting room Thursday
(27) at 10 a.m. To register for the free
session, call 567-1200 in advance.
Variety Club Women of St. Louis held
(Continued on page C-4)
THEWTRE EQUIPMENT
Everything for the Then
339 No. CAPITOL AVt., INOIANAMLIS, IND.
C-2 BOXOFHCE :: April 24. 1978

CENTURY
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You get your projector and reproducer outof-the-box
as "1". In place as "1". An entirely
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ease.
Century now spares you the "grief" of
aligning the projector and reproducer.
Filnn alignment is automatic, right on the
button every time. Every frame feeds true.
Your prints are treated to the tenderest loving
care ever.
Century's "all in 1" design is one of the nicest
things to happen for projection booths in a long
time.
Celebrate the Bicentennial.
Update your theatre with the new Century.
See your
Century Dealer
CENTURY'S PROJECTOR/REPRODUCER
-designed as
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shipped as
— or write:
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b
• CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
• 32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. 11101
Abbott Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
430 Country Club Dr.,
Bensenville, Illinois 60106
Ringold Cinema Equipment. Inc.
8421 GroYOis Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63123
(314) 352-2020
Mid-Continent Theatre Supply Corp.
1800 Wyandotte Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Phone: (816) 221-0480
rOXOrnCE :: April 24. 1978 C-3

CHICAGO
^
call to each and every WOMPI Club
member to send in the annual $5.20
contribution for Dimes for Dames. The 100
per cent participation goal almost has been
reached. This is the current outstanding
WOMPI project. The 1978 contribution
can be sent to Irene Solo. Warner Bros..
550 West Jackson Blvd.. Chicago 60606.
National Theatre Supply Co. has completed
all
the installation of the Simplex
equipment for the new Carish fourplex in
the Mankato, Minn., Mall. Opening is to
take place May 5. Owners George and Jerry
Carish had American Seating install the theatre
chairs and Econo-Plcal of I.os Angeles
provided the draperies.
Wm. Lange & Associates has found that
planned weekend entertainment for children
still brings in good business. Lange's latest
films for kids are "Hugo the Hippo" and
"Bugs Bunny Superstar." Both had the children
cheering.
The Brotman Cinema on the near north
side will present the first showing of "Pretty
Baby."
Oscar Brotman, owner of Brolnian Theatres,
was first in line for "Madame Rosa,"
Hello to Barbara Sapstein, who jo'ned
Brotman Theatres as booker.
Max Milstein, who was manager at the
Loop Theatre until Oscar Brotman closed
it March 31, has transferred to the Lake
Shore as manager. Final disposition of the
Loop is still in the air. There has been talk
that the Kohlberg circuit people had eyes
on it.
"Annie Hall" has been doing a soaring
business in its return engagement. This
marks the third winner in a row for United
Artists. As Bob Stockmar. head booker for
UA sa'd, "This is the 'hat trick' for us: first
we had 'Cuckoo's Nest,' then 'Rocky' and
now "Annie Hall."
Mid-America Releasing Co. has set up a
children's feature for Satrrdav and Sundtv
(29, 30). The film. "Gcdzilla vs. the Cosmic
Monster," is based on the well-known comic
book creatures.
Members of the late Mario Lanza's family
attended the featured showing ol "The
Great Camso" at the Oriental Theatre.
Essaness Theatres Corp. once again is
launching a big expansion program. First,
the Hammond Outdoor is being twinned.
In June, the circuit opens the Centiuy 1-2-3.
rhis new triplex is located in the Hoffman
Estates, a thriving suburb in the northwest
area of the city. The Century will offer
2,100 seats and "acres" of open parking.
Opening attractions will be brand new
"Jaws 2," "Capricorn One" and "Conway."
with the additions, Essaness will own a total
of 20 screens.
M&R Amusement Co. will be presenting
"The Turning Point" on a new third screen
at the Evergreen May 12 . . . Louis Marks
of M&R credited "The Boys in Company
C" with bringing in especially good business
at the Sky-Hi and Bel-Air. Marks also said
that "The End" has been set for showing at
the Evergreen. Meanwhile, "House Calls"
has been a top grosser at the Old Orchard
and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
and "Saturday Night Fever," both of which
are going into the 19th week, have continued
to rack up high grosses.
Cathy Hand McBride has been entering
into all possbile phases of the film industry
since her association with Teitel Amusement
Co. She is going to expand her efforts
in connection with some of the recent film
projects in which Charles Teitel, head of
the company, is organizing . . Teitel
Amusement Co. has been awarded rights
to distribute "Inheritance," in which An-
a new movie which won honors as the best thony Quinn stars; "Death Rage," starring
foreign film of the year in this year's Academy
Awards. It opens Saturday (29) at the Bisset, and "Brutal Justice." with Sonnv
Yul Brynner; "Secret," with Jacqueline
near north Carnegie. The Carnegie also will Chiba.
be first with "The Last Waltz." Moviemaker
Martin Scorsese already has been in
town for advance promotion and Dolby stereo
is being installed for this
ST. LOUIS
showing.
(Continued from page C-2)
their 18th annual Fun for Funds Frolic
Saturday (15) at the Khorassan Room of
the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel. A chorus line,
led by Christine Du Fromme, Miss Dance
1978, and the Rounders barbership group
were among the performers. The theme was
the IRS Blues. Mrs. Fran Barrett was party
chairman and Marion Ford Tobias, a past
president of Dance Masters o\' America,
choreographed the prodirction. The .$20-
per-person event is the organization's major
fund-raiser, with proceeds going to various
children's charities. In 1977, members
volunteered 26.000 hours of service to those
agencies and raised over $17,000.
In a recent article, "MGM: The Lion
Finds New Game," Hollis Alpert reported
that MGM studio sound stages are bustling
with customers for rental waiting six months
to a year. The backlots were sold and the
money used to build the MGM Grand
Hotel in Las Vegas. The MGM Grand in
Reno, with over 1,000 rooms, will open
in May. The film processing lab at the
studio is on a 24-hour-a-day schedule.
Theatre Lowers Admission
FORT LAUDERDALE. FLA.—A new
SI 50 admission policy is in effect for all
seats at all times at the Southland 1 win
Cinema, Southland Shopping Center.
Ai/ety
REFINED
Gentleman
ORhow
NORBERTRILUEUX
wasl'Ae
original
SugarDadc^
On August 26, 1842.
Norbert Rillieux put a patent
on a sweet idea.
It was a way to refine sugar.
To help the sugarcane
juices evaporate more quickly,
he enclosed condensation coils
in a vacuum chamber. A
process that's made things a
lot sweeter ever since.
You can make your future
a little sweeter, too. by buying
U.S. Savings Bonds through
your Payroll Savings Plan.
They're the dependable
way to save for an education,
vacation, or even retirement.
Because they always pay off
with interest.
So buy U.S, Savings
Bonds.
And be a "sugar daddy" in
your spare time.
5 E Bonds |)ay 6";
. y b"„ interest wlien held to
rity of 5 years (4^2% tlie first year). Interest
iuliject to state or local i" ""• *--'"- -—
redemr>tion.
Take .
.stock .
in/^enca.
C-4 April

;.,
'
. . After
'House Calls' Cure
For Memphis Blues
MEMPHIS—"House Calls"
continued to
turn in healthy boxoffice returns, hitting a
strong 530 on the barometer. "The Turning
Point" is still doing well in its 10th week at
the Maico Quartet 3, where it scored a
420. Two openers this week drew modest
attention. Warner Bros.' "Straight Time"
did a stretch at 220. while the same studio's
"Crossed Swords" failed to buckle any
swashes, pulling in a dull 70. somewhat below
average. "Here Come the Tigers" and
"Return From Witch Mountain," also in
their first weeks, fared considerably better,
netting 300 and 330 respectfully.
(Average Is 100)
Malco Quartet 1, Ridgeway Four 2— Return From
Witch Mountain (BV) 330
Malco Quarte: 2—High Anxiety (20th-Fox),
8ih wk ??5
Malco Quartet 3—The Turning Point (20!h-Fox)
10th wk 420
Malco Quartet 4, Southbrook 1—Casey's Shadow
(Coll, 2nd wk 240
Paramount 1, Southbrook 3—The Goodbye Girl
(WB), 6th wk 305
Plaza 2—Straight Time (WB) 220
Ridgeway Four 4—House Calls (Unrv), 2nd wk 530
Southbrook 4—Here Come the Tigers (AIP) 300
Three theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 250
Three theatres—Crossed Swords (WB) 70
Three theatres—American Hot Wax (Para),
2nd wk 160
'Pretty Baby' Scores a Growm-Up
600 in its New Orleans Debut
NEW ORLEANS— Louis
Malle's "Pretty
Baby," a story of the red-light district of
New Orleans in 1917, which has stirred
quite a controversy, opened with a strong
600 on the barometer at an exclusive Robert
E. Lee Theatre engagement. "Saturday
Night Fever" is still going strong in its 17th
week at the Sena Mall Theatre. "House
Calls" and "Bahia," two other new names
on the marquees, clocked in at 200.
Joy—House Calls (Univ) 200
L.akeEide 1, Westside—Return From Witch
Mountain (BV), 3rd wk 125
Lakeside 2—An Unmarried Woman (20th-Fcx),
3rd wk 250
•-.
Lakeside 3—Julia (2nfh-F-y , 250
Lakeside 4—The Turning Point .
x)
16th wk 200
Loews State—The Fury .. F ;• ,. k 175
Loews State, Plaza-American Hot Wax (Para),
4th wk 100
Loews State, Sena Mall—Saturday Night Fever
Staffers Plug 'Conspiracy'
HOT SPRINGS, ARK. — Byers
Jordan
dressed two staffers as Abe Lincoln and
then had them walk around shopping centers
as part of his advance campaign on "The
Lincoln Conspiracy" when the picture
played area Commonwealth theatres.
CUVERAMA IS Wi SHOW
BrSLVESS VS ILIWAII TOO,
WTicn you come to Walklki,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at Clnemma's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
FRIENDLY OUTER-SPACE VISITORS paid a call on Duane Sikes, manager
of ABC Florida State Theatres' Kingsley twin at Orange Park, Florida, publicizing
the long runs of "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The latex
rubber costumes were creations of Imagination Productions of Orange Park.
CHARLOTTE
gtewart & Everett Theatres, Inc., Eddie
Marks returned from Show-A-Rama.
Kansas City was great, he said. Some L600
exhibitors were charged with enthusiasm
for future product and great grossing possibilities.
The product outlined and projected
gives reason to believe there will be plenty
of top films to play in
theatres now through
1979 .. . Eddie announces that S & E will
have regional managers meetings Tuesday
(25) in Charlotte, Thursday (27) in Greensboro.
May 3 in Wilson and May 4 in Wilmington
. 25 weeks of hard work
S & E has finally achieved over-quota status
in our ninth incentive plan year, as outlined
by Mr. Trexler.
Correction: "Meteor" was erroneously reported
as a Christmas release. It should
have been noted as an Easter release from
American International Pictures.
Bill McClure (Universal) returned from a
five-day sales conference in San Diego,
Calif. March 27-31 to set up marketing
campaigns and to finalize plans for the remainder
of the company's 1978 release
schedule. Hosting the conference at the
Town & Country Hotel was Robert Carpenter,
Universal general sales manager.
Ed McLaughlin (Columbia Pictures) is
now attending a sales confab in Montreal
for a few days.
:I00KIN6 SERVICESS^
230 S. Tryon St., Suite 362, Chorloltc, N.C.
Frank Lowry . . . Bill Cline
Phone: (704) 377-934t
There were no new films on theatre marquees
due to the extended running of pictures.
Incidentally "Star Wars" in its tenth
month is still holding on strong at the boxoffice.
Coming event: The Carolina Exhibitors
and Distributors annual golf tournament,
June 5-6-7, at the Green Park Hotel and
Blowing Rock Country Club in Blowing
Rock, N.C.
Correction: Blue Ribbon
And Clark Films Address
MEMPHIS—The new address for Blue
Ribbon Pictures and Clark Films office
here was incorrectly printed in the Monday
(10) edition of Boxoffice. The new address
should read: "5855 Poplar Pike. Memphis
Tenn. 38138. Phone 901-683-8182."
Boxoffice apologizes for having moved
the office several blocks up the road, and
hopes inconvenience to Blue Ribbon and
Clark customers was minimal.
SOUND PROJECTION
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
•TROUTS SOUND AND PROJECTION
MANUAL." Simplified service data on
Leading makes of projectors, Step-by-
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transport equipment (platter), motors,
soundheads, speakers, etc. Schematics on
sound equipment and drawings. This helpful
Service Manual endorsed by the industry.
Authentic maintenance data for
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TROUT, EDITOR, Box 575, Enid, Oklahoma
73701.
April 24. 1978 SE-1

PALM BEACH
^eathtrap," the comedy-thriller which
opened on Broadway in March, is the
surprise final show of the season at Parker
Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale. It was written
by Ira Levin, author of "Rosemary's Baby,"
the screen version of which was credited
with having sparked the current revival of
occultism. Warner Bros, recently purchased
the film rights to "Deathtrap," reportedly
paying the highest price ever for a nonmusical.
"The Boys from Brazil," another
of Levin's books, also is being produced as
a motion picture.
Robert Moore will be in Fort Lauderdale
to direct the production. Moore, whose career
was launched as an actor, much of it
in South Florida before hitting New York,
is now acknowledged as one of Broadway
and Hollywood's most prominent directors.
"The Boys in the Band" marked his Broadway
directorial debut and triggered a succession
of hits including "Promises, Promises,"
"Last of the Red Hot Lovers" and
"The Gingerbread Lady" as well as the
motion pictures "Murder by Death" and the
soon-to-be-released "The Cheap Detective."
Debby Boone presented her rendition of
the Oscar-winning song "You Light Up My
Life" at the Academy Awards Monday (3).
The following day she and father Pat Boone
flew into this state where they opened a
one-week engagement at the Sunrise Theatre
(4). Twenty-one-year-old Debby not
only received the Grammy for outstanding
achievement, but also won the American
Music Award for Favorite Pop Single. Her
recording of "You Light Up My Li"fe" sold
more copies than any other single of 1977
and held the number one pos'tion for ten
consecutive weeks, making this the longest
running top-of-the-charts single Warner
Bros, ever had. Pat, who was born in Jacksonville,
Fla. and is a descendant of Daniel
Boone, signed a million-dollar contract with
20th Century-Fox in 1956 and starred in
15 motion pictures including "Bernadine,"
"April Love," "All Hands on Deck," "Mardi
Gras," "Yellow Canary" and "Journey
to the Center of the Earth." The fatherdaughter
team played to a near-capacity
house opening night at the Sunrise Theatre.
Mmm
FILMACK'S
ISk
George Ramsdell recently returned from
Charleston, N.C., to the Carefree Theatre as
manager and helped out until Thursday (20)
when General Cinema ceased to operate the
theatre . . . Plans are being made to twin
Cinema 70 mithin the next few months . . .
Steve Wiener. ABC Theatres area supervisor,
recently returned from a one-week
holiday in Freeport where, he claims, he
helped the casinos make their payroll. There
is always "next time," Steve!
The proposed sale by American Broadcasting
Companies of its remaining theatre
operations to Plitt Theatres, Inc., locally
involve would include the Plaza Twin,
Dolphin and Florida in West Palm and the
Ultravision in Deerfield Beach. According
to the release, Plitt, the Chicago-based
chain, owns 140 theatres, many of which
were purchased from ABC in 1974. The
theatres now under consideration are in
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arkansas,
Louisiana, Mississippi and this state.
Steve Wiener, ABC Theatres area supervisor
here, said that in his opinion the sale
has been in the works for sometime.
"One of the reasons ABC may sell," said
Wiener, "is with recent changes in film acquisition,
involving large cash guarantees
months in advance, the cash flow advantage
has disappeared and sale has become imminent.
If the sale is finalized, the status
of ABC Theatres should remain the same."
Plitt's operation started with ABC Theatres
and therefore it is logical that they
will follow the same basic operational format
which should facilitate a smooth transfer
of ownership. This sale further proves
what we have been trying to tell the public
for years. It is not the local theatres who
are making all of the money from the motion
pictures, but the production companies,
producers and stars."
Joe Berger, U.A. Mall Cinema assistant
manager, said several patrons were disturbed
Saturday (5) when they learned that
"Robinson Crusoe and the Tiger" was being
shown at the 12:10 and 2 p.m. performances.
Several people arrived expecting to
see the quadruple Academy-Award winning
"Annie Hall." which was being shown that
evening and had mistakenly been advertised
also for the Saturday matinee.
1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG
Make it your aid to increase your attendance
and concession sales, by using
Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films,
and Special Announcement films.
(Write For Your FREE Copy)
FILMACK STUDIOS,
1327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago,lll. 60605
(312)427-3395
Smithfield Shopping Center, a $4,000,000
shopping complex scheduled to be completed
in November, is under construction on
1 1 acres on East Ocean Boulevard in Stuart.
The 40-store site will house the Cobb Theatre,
a triplex with a total seating capacity
of 720 seats.
Josh Logan, Broadway and Hollywood
director, producer and writer appeared at
Riverside Theatre, 'Vero Beach Tuesday (4)
with his "Broadway Scrap Book," a musical
history of Logan's career.
Stan Waterman, award-winning underwater
photographer for such films as "Blue
Water, White Death" and "The Deep,"
presented a film and narration in the Florida
Atlantic University Center Gold Coast
Room Wednesday (5) for an SRO crowd.
Waterman, whose home and office are in
Princeton, N.J. has close ties
to an inherited
150 acres of craggy coastline in Maine. In
the mid '50s, Waterman lived in the Bahamas
working as a charter boat operator
and teaching scuba diving. It was there he
began filming the fascinating world of life
beneath the sea. He talked about the filming
of "Blue Water, White Death," which
he described as "the greatest adventure of
my life." It took seven and a half months
before they spotted a white shark and it was
everything they wanted, 14 feet long and
weighing 1,000 pounds.
Songwriter Irving Caesar was a recent
guest at the Palm Beach Spa. The songwriter's
acquaintance with this city is a
long one. Florenz Ziegfeld brought him
here in 1926 to write songs for "Palm
Beach Nights," the only Ziegfeld production
to originate off-Broadway. It starred Claire
Luce, fresh from a triumph in Paris, and
Morton Downey, who now resides here.
Among the chorines were Paulette Goddard,
Louise Brooks and Rhonda Fleming. Caesar
interspersed his songs ("Tea for Two," "I
Want To Be Happy" and "Swanee,") on
which he collaborated with George Gershwin
with anecdotes about famous stage
and screen personalities he had known.
Two men were taken into custody Tuesday
(4) and charged with theft and copying
trade secrets. The trade secrets were
negatives of exclusive film of Elvis Presley
in his casket, owned by the National Enqurer,
a Lantana-based weekly newspaper.
The men, Terrence Willows, 42, and Jeffery
Samuels, 28, were employees of the Enquirer.
Former Palm Beach County Sheriff
William Heidtman, who was acting as consultant
for the paper, notified police officials
of the alleged theft. The police spokesman
said Samuels was arrested at a room
in the Sheraton Inn on Palm Lakes Blvd.
in West Palm Beach after he delivered the
film and was given $20,000. Willows was
arrested at the Enquirer office. The mystique
of Elvis remains expensive, desirable
and saleable. The charge of stealing
copyrighted trade secrets with intent to deprive
the owner of the secret is a first-degree
misdemeanor. Both men were released on
Iheir own recognizance, according to
police.
SE-2
BOXOmCE :: April 24. 1978

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^CE ;: April 24, 1978
Joe Hornstein Inc.
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Capital City Supply Co. Tri-State Theatre Supply Co
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Trans-World Theatre Supply, Inc
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Wil-Kin Theatre Supply, Inc
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SE-3

. . Michael
•^
ATLANTA
J^tlanta's venerable Municipal Auditorium
is not going to become a parking lot
for Georgia State University after all. city
officials have disclosed. Seems as if GSU
does not have the money to buy the $3,-
000.000 facility this year as school officials
had hoped. "We're operating on the presumption
that it is going to be ours for a
while." said Michael Lomma.x. commissioner
of parks, libraries and cultural affairs. So
instead of continuing to consider selling the
aude. which has been operating at a deficit
for several years, the city has decided to
hold on to the 5.500-seat facility and look
for other uses for it. GSU and the city had
been discussing a deal for two years. But the
money needed to buy the building and tear
down part of it for the parking area was cut
from the state board of regents' budget during
the 1978 general assembly session.
The auditorium and the newer civic center,
which Includes a 4.600-seat theatre,
have caused a $300,000 a year deficit because
the city has not been able to make
any long-term committments for use of the
auditorium due to the possible sale. It will
cost about .$300,000 to renovate the 69-
year-old building, repaint it, replaster the
walls, put in new seats and rework the heating
and air conditioning systems. Bob Rivers,
director of the bureau of cultural affairs,
said. The Metropolitan Opera Company, in
Enrico Caruso's heyday, performed a week
of opera annually in the auditorium.
Atlanta's John Wayne fans are rejoicing
over the news that the 70-year-old actor is
continuing his recovery from successful
open-heart surgery. "The Duke's" hospital
room is overflowing with gifts from his followers
which include cards, letters, oil
paintings and American flags. "I expected
a lot of mail, but never anything like this,"
said Pat Stacy, Wayne's personal secretary.
The actor made many Atlanta friends during
the filming of "The Green Berets" at nearby
Fort Benning on the outskirts of Columbus.
Ga. During that filming Wayne took time
off to come to Atlanta and preside as the
grand marshal! of WSB-TV's annual Fourth
of July parade.
"F.I.S.T.", the United Artists picture starring
Sylvester Stallone and Henry Wilccxon,
800 Lambert Drive N.E,
Atlanta, Go. 30324
(404) 876-0347
is scheduled to open in a number of theatres
in Metro Atlanta Friday (28). Wilco.xon is
best remembered as a dashing Antony opposite
Claudette Colbert in the 1934 "Cleopatra."
Wilcoxon is cast as a business tycoon
in the labor epic, which also stars Rod
Steiger.
Atlanta playwrights arc getting a big
break. They are going to have ready outlets
for their works if the Atlanta New Play
Project proves a success. Scheduled for June
17-29. the effort will involve eight local theatre
groups, critics and new works from
playwrights or company-developed plays.
Each of the theatre companies will offer
two performances of a new "work-in-progress."
either developed by the group itself
or written by a playwright living in the
Southeast. Those organizing the project,
which hopefully will be the forerunner of an
annual Southeastern New Play Festival,
hoped to focus attention on the variety of
theatre available in Atlanta.
rated . . .
Hawaii's first 24-hour satellite live TV
service from the mainland has been inaugu-
from Atlanta! Oceanic Cablevision
and Cablevision, Inc., began the new
service last week when TV signals were
beamed to the islands from Atlanta's
WTCG-TV, owned and operated by Turner
Communications Corp.. Atlanta-based and
headed by Ted Turner, who owns the Braves
and the basketball Hawks.
Century Cinema Corp. screened two pictures
for critics and exhibitors last week.
They were "Tigress," distributed by New
World Pictures of Atlanta, and "The Killer
Inside of Me," distributed by Warner Bros.
Parver Associates and Universal
Pictures have mailed out invitations for
a special screening of "I Wanna Hold Your
Hand," a Steven Spielberg presentation, at
Weis' Broadview Cinema No. 1, Thursday
(20).
C. L. Autry of Dixie Films has returned
from Florida and North Carolina in which
he called on circuit officials and exhibitors.
He reports that on the whole they said that
summer business could be described as "promising."
He is
setting dates for "The Devil's
Rain," a Joseph Brenner release, which will
open with 32 prints in the Atlanta area. Also
poised for summer are two more features,
"Restless" and "Super Jock."
I
Everything for your theatre— except film"
800 S. Graham St
Chorlone, N.C. 28202
(704) 334-3616
The Atlanta Historical Society staged the
premiere of the film "Not Just Whistlin'
Dixie; Atlanta's Music, 1837-1977" Friday
(21) at Walter McElreath Hall and followed
it with a reception. Atlanta is the fourthlargest
music center in the country. The
society has documented the incredible story
of the South's musical roots in a spectacular
film, adapted from a popular multimedia
exhibition. The film was made possible by
a bequest from Anne Fiorentino Leide, to
honor her late husband Enrico Leide, talented
musician and conductor and a leader in
Atlanta's music and civic circles.
WOMPIs who attended the open house
Thursday (13) hosted by Mr. and Mrs. John
Thompson and their son Robert in Gainsville
at the Blueridge Cinema III were Nell
Castleberry, Fentriss Carr. Judye Stephens
and Harriett Woodall. Also on hand with a
large group of Atlantans were Patrick Pade,
assistant to Dan Coursey, 20th Century-Fox
branch manager, Travis Carr, 20th-Fox
salesman and Rick Adams. Storey Theatre
Co.
Henry Hill Becomes Sales
Mgr. of Standard Supply
CHARLOTTE—Henry Hill
was recently
promoted to sales manager of the Theatre
Equipment division of
Standard Supply Co.
Henry Hill
Hill has been selling
theatre equipment for
Standard for over six
years. He has attended
many factory service
and sales seminars
in becoming familiar
with modern projection,
sound and film-
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his experience
includes layout of auditorium seating,
coordination of interior color and design
of wall fabric, stage curtains and lighting
carpeting and seating.
His responsibilities will include supervision
and coordination of sales in Greensboro,
Charlotte, New Orleans, Cincinnati
and the Washington-Baltimore area. Lawson
Rankin, president of Standard, said,
"Henry's knowledge of theatre equipment
will strengthen our management staff and
will
help us to cover other areas better."
TVIack' Back; Racks Stack
Of Memphis Drive-In Jack
MEMPHIS — American International's
release of Cinerama's "The Mack." starring
Richard Pryor. is doing sensational business
in Memphis at the Bellevue Drive-In, even
though it has played here countless times
since its original openings in 1973.
It is being held over indefinitely after
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BOXOmCE :: April 24, 1978

WALKATHO N—Jacksonville
WOMPIs Thelnia Claxton and Tanya
Russell register some of the 1,300
youths who participated in Superwalk
'78 for the March of Dimes, held Saturday
(8). Thelnia and Tanya also
walked the Golden Mile, the first mile
of the 12-mile walk.
NEW ORLEANS
J^ore notes on the recent Show-A-Rama
Dawn Wise, director of advertising for
Ogden-Perry Theatres, Inc.. attended the
convention along with Mr. and Mrs. Jules
Courville, Charles Cinema. Lake Charles,
La.; Mr. and Mrs. Herb King, Eastgate
Plaza Cinema, Shreveport. La.; Tony Bru
guiere. Santa Rosa Cinema. Ft. Walton,
Fla.; Richard Breland. Ellis Isle Cinema
Jackson. Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Gibson,
Edgewater Plaza Cinema. Biloxi. Miss
Also attending was Randolph Ogden of Ogden-Perry
Theatres. Inc.. who is also presi
dent of NATO of Mississippi.
Ogden was accompanied by Lebo Ma
nusco who was attending his first Show-A
Rama convention prior to the opening of
his Admiral Doyle Twin Cinema in New
Iberia. La. in June of 1978. The Cinema
will b; handled by Ogden-Perry and Manusco
used S-A-R as a crash course to familiarize
himself with the working of the
motion picture industry and viewing the
coming products. John Bajon. of Cinema
Concession and Supply Co., Inc.. also attended
to check out the new editions of
equipment and supplies being shown.
Earl G. Perry jr. of Ogden-Perry christened
his son Ian on Sunday (9). Friends
and relatives helped him celebrate at his
home on Carrollton Avenue.
Clark Jackson, Ogden-Perry, enjoyed a
visit from his brother and family. They
reside in Port Arthur, Te.xas. This was their
first visit to New Orleans and Clark had a
big time showing them around.
The Ladies of Variety will
hold their regular
luncheon and bingo Wednesday (26) at
Ernie Masson's Restaurant. They plan to
change restaurants each month so they may
enjoy a change of scenery.
The annual crawfish dinner was held
Thursday (20) at the Robin's Restaurant.
Breaux Bridge, La. This affair is thoroughly
enjoyed by all male membjrs of the film
industry each year.
.Sybil
teor."
Dai
ing has a featured role in '"Me
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April 24, 1978

. . Also
JACKSONVILLE
yhe annual WOMPI election of officers
scheduled for a closed meeting Tuesday
(25) at the Spring Hill Clubhouse in
nearby Orange Park. Installation ceremonies
for the incoming officers will be held the
night of June 17 at a banquet in the Sea
Turtle Restaurant at Atlantic Beach. A
large group of WOMPI's relatives and
friends from Filmrow has been invited to
attend.
is
During Mareli, WOMPI members devoted
47 hours to commimity service projects,
including the Hubbard House for
Battered Wives, a field and track meet
for retarded children, a Kidney Foundation
bowling tournament and a bingo party for
elderly residents of the Florida Christian
Health Center. In early April WOMPI
members gave 92'2 hours of their off-duty
time to the March of Dimes Superwalk "78
and collected $242 in donations from Filmrow
to benefit the fight against birth defects.
Vivian Ganas scheduled advance screenings
for exhibition bookers at Eastern Federal's
Capri Theatre, including Film Ventures
"Buckstone County Prison" and New
Specially Designed for Drive-ln Theatres
World's "Prime Time." Held at ABC Florida
State Theatres' Regency Theatre were
advances for Universal's "I Wanna Hold
"your Hand" and "Scott Joplin." The ABC
FST Preview Theatre was used in screening
"The Bottom Line" for the Clark Film
Co.
In the most dramatic court ruling against
pornography ever issued here. Circuit Judge
John S. Cox sent out a permanent restraining
order prohibiting the Southland Management
Co.. operators of the Roxy Theatre,
oldest X-rated film center in north
Florida, from showing any more pornographic
movies. The judge's order followed
a civil action by the state attorney's office
against exhibition of a film entitled "Unwed"
... A new local civilian organization
with more than 500 volunteer workers.
Citizens Against Pornography, is conducting
a picketing drive against 19 local
"adult" bookstores, theatres and motels.
CAP has forced the closing of four such
shops by shaming patrons into staying away.
The main leader of CAP is Maurice Samples
who formerly led one of the South's most
popular rock 'n' roll bands and who i
recent convert to Christianity.
HARMLESS • PLEASANT
Exclusive sliowings were accorded to
Kent's St. Johns II Theatre for "The Medusa
Touch" and to ABC FST's Edgewood
Theatre for Walt Disney's "Fantasia," here
for the first time in stereophonic sound .
Cyd Charlsse began gracing the boards of
the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in the world
premier of Don Appell's comedy "Kindling,"
tabbed for mature audiences only.
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Continuing in mid-.'Kpril two of its most
popular and valuable services to the community,
WOMPI brought an evening of
pleasure to ordinarily shut-in teenagers by
sponsoring a dance for some 150 of them
in the city-owned Woodstock Community
Center and by serving as hostesses, providing
refreshments and by giving transportation
to many .
sponsored by WOMPI
for the large group of elderly residents of
the Florida Christian Health Center was a
bingo party including prizes, decorations
with a spring theme and refreshments.
Thomas P. Tidwell, manager of the local
20th Century-Fox branch office here for
many years and who later ran an exhibitor
booking service in Texas, died recently in
Dallas. Many Jacksonville friends mourn
his
passing.
'Gray Lady Down' Debut
HYANNIS, MASS.—The Airport Cinemas
3 slotted the Cape Cod premiere of
Universal's "Gray Lady Down" into auditorium
two, with newspaper ads emphasizing,
"Pass List Suspended."
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BOXOmCE :: April 24. 1978

t
'
PALM
Versatility of Characterization Has
Marked the Career of Lou Jacobi
By LOIS BAUMOEL
BEACH—Lou Jacobi enjoys being
in a play that is a crowd-pleaser such as
Neil Simon's "Come
Blow Your Horn." the
comedy in which he
recently appeared at
the Poincianna Playhouse
to end its 1977-
78 season on a happy
note. As Jacobi smilingly
quoted. "It's better
to be in a 'tour de
force' than a "forced
to tour.' "
Lou Jacobi
Jacobi's appearance
and friendly manner make him, at once,
recognizable; however, not necessarily as an
actor. He easily could be your former
butcher, a
bartender away from your favorite
watering spa. an old friend's father or
the supermarket manager. He could be any
one of these and at least a dozen other people
you encounter in the business of everyday
living.
Jacobi Is 'Cool'
It is this very quality of versatility that
yields so many character parts for this 64-
year-old, 195-pound, five-foot 11 -inch actor.
Lou is a natural conversationalist and is
very much at ease backstage in his dressing
room, from his warm greeting to his changing
trousers in your presence while dressing
for his performance.
The Canadian-born star, who played the
same role of the bombastic, domineering
father in "Come Blow Your Horn" here
as he did on Broadway, was complimented
by the playwright. Neil Simon told Jacobi
that he had written the role as a tyrannical
one but that the actor had succeeded in
adding warmth and depth that created a
character with whom one could empathize
more easily.
Many Notable Credits
Lou last was seen on Broadway in
"Cheaters." which he said "the audience
liked—but not the critics!" Before that, he
was seen on Broadway in "Norman ... Is
That You?" He was the clinical atheist
Schlissel in "The Tenth Man." the Hollywood
producer in "Fade Out. Fade In" (costarring
Carol Burnett), the Newark caterer
in Woody Allen's "Don't Drink the Water"
and appeared as the bread-stealing Van
Daam in "The Diary of Anne Frank." a
role he played both on Broadway and in
film version.
the
Filmgoers also have applauded him for
such excellent characterizations as Moustache,
the bistro owner in "Irma LaDouce"
(a role written for Charles Laughton who,
unfortunately, was dying when casting was
set). Jacobi played the role of Franz Liszt's
manager in "Song Without End." He also
was seen in Woody Allen's "Everything You
Always Wanted to Know About Sex . . .
BOXOFHCE :: April 24. 1978
But Were Afraid to Ask," as well as in
"Penelope," "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and
"Little Murders." He currently has a starring
role in "Roseland," a film produced by
Ismail Merchant and released by Cinema
Shares, which co-stars Geraldine Chaplin,
Helen Gallagher. Lilla Skala and Teresa
Wright.
Teresa Wright Fan
Shot in New York at the Roseland Ballroom,
the picture cost $300,000 to produce.
According to Jacobi. it was bitter cold during
the photography. The stars had no rooms
of their own; everyone shared the same
dressing room. Lou found it fascinating to
be playing opposite Teresa Wright, an
actress he always has liked and admired.
"She is very nice and very proper-atypical
New Englander." he said.
Jacobi made his professional debut in his
native Canada and continued his training in
London where he played a club engagement
at Ciro's, a command performance at the
Palladium for Queen Elizabeth and made
numerous stage appearances. His mother,
who is close to 90, still lives in Toronto.
Jacobi and his wife of 20 years make their
home in New York City.
The actor believes that casting is 90 per
cent of the success of plays and motion
pictures.
Theatre Over Films
Yes, he has a hobby—an unusual one.
He likes to make up cartoons and captions.
"Any today?" this reporter asked. "Oh yes!
There is Mrs. Lincoln at the ticket office
of the Ford Theatre. The ticket-seller is
learning forward asking, "Sure you don't
want two seats in the balcony?' "
Jacobi prefers theatre to motion pictures.
"On the stage you deliver the goods on your
first appearance. If you've learned your
craft, you will feel the waves of love between
audience and performer. Once the
character is established, you can do two
things at one time. But, on the screen, with
the close-ups, you can't stop thinking, you
can't afford to drop a stitch—or you're
lost."
Relax. Lou. you've established the role
and the waves of love are flowing!
Tallahassee Loses Chance
To Be 'U.S. Senator' Site
TALAHASSEE. FLA.—"U.S. Senator,"
starring Alan Alda. will not be filmed here
as originally planned, it was announced by
Deputy Commerce Secretary Joe Hennessy.
Instead Atlas Entertainment Complex, Inc.,
will lens the picture on location in Washington,
D.C., and Annapolis, Md.
Tallahas.see had been considered for the
location because the vacant legislative chambers
in the old capital building resemble the
U. S. Senate chamber.
Alda will portray a senator torn between
his family and lawmaking.
ENERGY POSTER—Frederick G.
Storey, president of Storey Theatres,
Inc., an Atlanta-based circuit, saw the
story in BOXOFFICE about energy
posters put out by National Screen Service.
He promptly ordered one for each
theatre in his circuit for display in lobbies
(above). Rick Adams, manager of
the circuit's National Triple Theatre,
says that the posters have attracted a
great deal of interest.
Theatre Manager Has Close
Encounter in his Lobby
JACKSONVILLE—Duane Sikes. manager
of the Kingsley twin theatres at nearby
Orange Park, leading units of ABC Florida
State Theatres, felt himself to be among
good friends when a group of strange creatures
called on him in the Kingsley lobby.
Duane, who has had months of highly successful
and consecutive runs of "Star Wars"
and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
shook hands and feet warmly with the unearthly
visitors.
It was all a gag. of course, concocted by
Duane and his assistant Al Wimberly. Imagination
Productions, a local firm which creates
original costumes, animation and special
effects, brought the weird creatures to
life.
IP is headed by Kenneth J. Hall. Its
creators of latex rubber costumes include
Cleve Hall. Steve Sleap. Tim Lawrence.
Richard Sikes and Marc Tyler. Their work
has appeared on local TV programs and
Cosmic Concerts and have been sold to Six
Flags over Texas. IP has won numerous
prizes at film conventions and the company
of young designers brought many good
laughs to Kingsley patrons with their lobby
performances, although manager Sikes definitely
banned them from haunting the aisles
inside the twin darkened auditoriums while
movies were on screen.
"Ice Castles" is an ICC production for
Columbia Pictures, with Rosilyn Heller the
executive producer.

self. The original records were the brainchild
of actor-writer Paul Tripp and composer
George Kleinsinger. The film project
was three years in the making and was credited
at the entirely new animation studios
at the New York Institute of Technology's
Westbury, L.I. campus, employing the expertise
of more than 150 professional animators.
The film features the voice of Dick Van
Dyke as Tubby, and the voices of Pearl
Bailey, Ruth Enders, Jack Gilford, Hermione
Gingold, Ray Middleton, Jane Powell,
Cyril Ritchard and David Wayne, with
narration by Paul Tripp.
RETIREMENT—Congratulating Elmer Hecht on his recent retirement from
Wometco Theatres after 52 years of service are (left to right): Mitchell Wolfson,
president; Dale Toemmes, secretary; Elmer Hecht; Stanley Stern, vice-president of
entertainment. Hecht began working for Wometco in 1926 as a theatre manager
in West Palm Beach. He later was transferred to Miami as a district manager.
Hecht has been working in Nassau since 1962 as general manager of Nassau
theatres.
"Tubby the Tuba" was produced and directed
by Alexander Schure, with original
story, book and lyrics by Paul Tripp. George
Kleinsinger composed the original score,
with additional music by Lehman Engel.i
New songs have been written by Ray Carter.
'Boss of the Day' Honored
By New Orleans WOMPI
NEW ORLEANS—WOMPI ot
atres, Inc., was master of ceremonies. Bill
Williams, southern division manager of
20th Century-Fox. was guest speaker.
Earl Perry, president and general manager
of Ogden-Perry theatres, Inc. a locally
owned circuit, was chosen "'Boss of the Day
1978." Other dignitaries seated at the head
table were Billy Briant of Southern Film
Distributing Corp., who aided in the coordination
of the program; Paul Back, retired
branch manager of Buena Visgta, who presented
the invocation; H. P. Mosley of Gulf
States, who gave the blessing, and Gene
Goodman, division manager of United Artists
and the WOMPI "Boss of the Day
1977."
Local WOMPI president Anna Power
welcomed everyone, and Marie Berglund,
program chairman, introduced Teddy Solomon
as a man who holds his own among
young turks and old moguls. Solomon's infectious
manner spread quickly among the
group and his easy humor was related to so
many of the bosses present that it became
a very relaxed and happy occasion.
Anna Power presented the plaque proclaiming
Earl Perry as WOMPI "Boss of the
Day." assisted by Teddy Solomon and Marie
Berglund.
The welcoming committee and registration
desk manned by Lee Nickolaus, Anna
Sinopoli and Joan Winstell was kept very
busy and every boss and pinned with a personal
WOMPI favor by Yvette Cardinale.
At each guest table were unique arrangements
of dried flowers and 8mm film made
by Etmice Peebles and Irene Mexic.
One of the highlights of the event was a
huge bouquet of baby pink tea ross which
was delivered to Ms. Power, much to the
surprise of everyone in attendance. Accompanying
the flowers was a note expressing
appreciation to WOMPI and its work and
good luck on the event from Roy Roach,
owner and operator of a flower shop in the
city who has been guest speaker himself on
two prior occasions.
New Orleans
held its annual Bosses Luncheon Tuesday
(4) in the Grand Ballroom of the Gatetroduced
Bill Williams as an old friend in
As the afternoon progressed Solomon inway
Hotel, located in suburban Metairie. the industry. His vigorous, charming, aggressive
manner soon had the rapt attention
Teddy Solomon, past NATO president and
chairman of the board of Gulf States The-
of the audience. He closed by telling the
audience that WOMPI in Dallas had big
plans for the forthcoming 25th anniversary
and expressed the wish that everyone could
be present in Dallas.
President Power ended the meeting by
adding her personal thanks to each of the
men for their participation, to Billy Briant
for aiding in the coordination, and to the
assembly for its whole heated support. She
made reference to the award which the New
Orleans club received at the international
convention, putting emphasis on the fact
that it was a shared project because of the
combined efforts of all members. Mention
was made, however, of the creative talent
of Agnes Garcia in compiling the data given
to her. The award is a perpetual one given
to the International by Lee Nickolaus, past
International president and local president.
Both ladies were asked to stand and were
honored for their dedication.
There were many out-of-towners present
for the affair, including Weldon Limmroth,
Harry Broussard, Cliff^ Wilson, Gene Williams,
Ronnie Bullion. Charles Fontenot,
Marijo Denson and Doyle Maynard.
It was a successful event and a most
happy day for the WOMPI.
'Tubby the Tuba' Schedule
For Carolinas Announced
CHARLOTTE—New York Institute of
Technology's "Tubby the Tuba." a color
animated musical film, will open at major
cities in North and South Carolina beginning
May 6.
The whimsical film is based on the popular
children's record series which has sold
more than 8.000,000 copies. It tells the story
of a star-struck tuba on a quest to find him-
GULF STATES EXPANDS—Gulf
Theatres added another to its growing
circuit with the opening of the Hammond
Square Twin Cinema, Hammond
Square Shopping Center, Hammond,
La., Friday (17). Participating in the
ribbon cutting ceremonies were Jack
Dobbs, president of Gulf States; Tom
Anderson, Mayor of Hammond; Emile
Stolleis, manager of the new theatre;
Hal Schiffman, shopping center manager.
KEY TO THE CITY—A gold
key
to the city of Miami awaited young
Mario Custodio (right), star of "The
Black Pearl," on his recent visit here,
where the film played a highly successful
three-week engagement. Above,
Miami Mayor Maurice A. Ferre makes
the deep-sea adventure tale based on
Scott O'Dell's Newberry-Award-winning
novel.
SE-i BOXOFHCE :: April 24, 1978

. . Gene
OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoman Shares Cache of Memories
Pd Nail, Rogue Theatre, Wheeler, Texas,
"played hooky" from his school-teach-
ing chores to make a rare trip here on film
Others in to handle affairs
were Charles Smith. Grand Theatre. Canton;
Charles Townsend. Allied Theatre and
Pryor Drive-ln. Pryor; the Dennis Colliers.
89er Theatre, Kingfisher and Woodie Sylvester,
Vesta Theatre and 40 West Drivein,
Weatherford. Woodie took in th; United
Artists tradescreening of "Three Warriors,"
remarking that the beautiful scenery in the
picture reminded him of Idaho where he
hunted so often.
Delbert Cummiiigs, "e\" of the shuttered
Roxy Theatre, Stratford. Texas, was in to
check on the availability of pictures for that
hardtop should the chamber of commerce
it. decide to reopen Perhaps more important
was the fact that he came to be
with his daughter Cynthia while she underwent
major surgery. Delbert then left for
Houston where his wife Dorotha is hospitalized.
We all hope that the Cummings
family will be hale and hearty soon and
there will be no need for hospital trips by
any of them.
Bruce Westbrook, Daily Oklahoman reviewer,
wrote that "After years of negotiation.
'Star Trek" is being revived in the form
of a feature-length motion picture with Rob-
ert Wise directing and a budget of $15.-
000.000." Autry, outgoing president
of the Cowboy Hall of Fame's board
of directors, presided at the recent unveiling
of the portrait of Dale Evans and Roy
Rogers.
Marquee changes: "Rabbit Test." Avco
Embassy "An Unmarried Woman." 20th
Century-Fox. North Park 4: "Annie Hall."
United Artists. Continental. South Park and
MacArthur Park: "Speed Trap." First
Artists. MacArthur Park. Park Terrace, The
Movies Moore Theatres, 14 Flags and Sooner
Twin; "Almost Summer." Universal. West
Park, South Park, Movies Moore Theatres,
and 14 Flags; "The Boys in Company C."
Columbia and Westwood. "F.I.S.T.," United
Artists, opens Wednesday (26) at the South
Park and Continental, here, and the Continental
in
Tulsa.
"Annie Hall" is picking up fans and filling
tills here and in Tulsa after its brilliant
showing in capturing Academy Award
. laurels . Tulsa marquee changes: "Short
Eyes," Film League. Fox Twin; "Gulliver's
Travels." Sunn Classic. Bowman Twin;
"Speed Trap." First Artists, Fontana, Uth
Street and Airview.
Gable Filming in Denton
DENTON. TEX.—Shooting has begun
here on a feature film. "The Trouble With
Hello." The movie, scheduled for release in
the fall, is one of several planned for production
in the Dallas area by producer Jim
Gable. Allen Case, Ruth Buzzi and Georgeanne
La Pierre, are the stars of the picture.
BOXOFHCE Apri 14. 1978
With Public at the Popcorn Theatre
EL RENO. OKLA.—Leon Wayland is
rich man but he doesn't hoard his wealth.
Rather, he shares it with all who care to take
a walk through a bygone era. Mike Carrier,
Oklahoma City Times newsman, recounts
Wayland's story in the following
article:
"In the early part of this century, when
the motion picture was fairly young, people
could go to the local movie house and see
Tom Mix, Lillian Gish or Rudolph Valentino
for a quarter, dime and maybe a nickel.
"Well, those old silver screen stars continue
to shine at least three months a year
and cost less than a nickel thanks to El Reno
resident Leon Wayland.
"During the last eight years Wayland has
been a silent film collector, slowly building
up the number of films until his collection
bulges with a minimum of 200 silent offerings.
"And he enjoys sharing.
Five Years Old
"Since 1973 his "Popcorn Theatre' in the
back of the Canadian County Historical
Museum has been bringing back the memories
and the magic of the stars in his collection.
"For three months, mainly during the
summer, and on special occasions or on
request, the silent film collector makes his
way into his theater's projection room and
flips all the switches and dials that make
all
the stars come to life.
" 'This year I am planning to open the
theater on May 21 with "Birth of a Nation'
with Lillian Gish and Henry B. Walthall,"
Wayland said proudly. 'This is a pretty
famous feature length film and I like to
start off the season with a big show."
"The film, which was one of D.W. Griffith's
most famous products, is absolutely
free, as are all of Wayland's films during
his running season that includes part of
May and all of June. July and August.
"He doesn't charge to run the films partly
because he can't, and mostly because he
doesn't want to.
Pleasure
Not Profit
" 'I don't run the films to make a profit.'
he explained. 'I run them for my own enjoyment
and I don't see any reason why
other people can't enjoy them too.'
" 'Besides.' he said. 'I can't charge for
the films according to a contract when I buy
them.'
"However, during the off season when
groups call him up asking for a special
showing he does charge a $10 projectionist
fee.
" 'The projection fee goes to the historical
society and I don't see it.' he said. 'There
is also a donation box in the theatre that is
there all during the year for people who
feel like giving,' he added.
"On top of his running season and special
requests. Wayland also runs his films for
a
the senior citizen's centers and for Canadian
County's first and second graders during
a special Christmas party.
" 'When the kids come we give them free
popcorn and they just love the films, especially
the slapstick comedies.' he said.
"The theatre, which has acquired the
name Popcorn Theatre, seats about 80 people
in front of an eight-foot screen, and
during the summer the theater gets pretty
full.
" 'Tourists, kids and people visiting here
in El Reno are the major ones that come,'
he said. 'Some come to remember films that
they saw when they were kids and the kids
today, well, they come because they like the
films.'
Old Films Expensive
'Wayland's film collection includes 25
Charlie Chaplin films, the original 'Mark of
Zorro' with Douglas Fairbanks sr., the original
'Phantom of the Opera' with Lon Chancy
sr. and other films by Harold Lloyd. Will
Rodgers, Lillian Gish. Tom Mix and the
'Sheik' himself. Rudolph Valentino.
"And the films don't come cheap in all
cases.
" 'The price runs from about $10 to more
than $100,' he stated. 'I paid $119 for the
1914 film 'Birth of a Nation,' he said.
"The film buff started his collection after
looking through a film catalogue and since
then it has 'been all down hill.'
" 'I'm kind of simple minded I guess.'
Wayland joked. 'I remembered some of the
films in that catalogue from when I was a
kid.
" 'I just decided to buy one and then 1
bought another and another. It just kind of
progressed.'
"The first film in his collection was the
series 'Perils of Pauline' with Pearl White.
He bought it because he saw the series as a
child.
Personal Taste Decides
"Usually before the summer season starts,
Wayland sits down and works out an entire
showing schedule for the summer. He starts
the films at 2 p.m. on .Sundays and runs
them until 4 p.m.
"He said he has printed advertisements
and placed them in local shops, but that all
depends on what he feels like doing.
"He chooses the films he buys on a whim
and doesn't consult anybody.
'•
'I select the films because I like them.'
he laughed. 'Sometimes I kick myself for
buying and running certain films but not
always.
" 'I run the theatre for me. not for other
people really.' he said. 'The other people
that see the films are just a side attraction.
I just plain do it for me.' "
"Ashanti" will be distributed by Columbia
Pictures in most major areas of the foreign
market.

DALLAS
phil Taylor of Burkburnett was in town
this week and is well pleased with the
progress of the Palace Theatre he took over
from Ray Townsend. Taylor did a complete
overhaul of the theatre, painting the walls,
putting in a new screen, a new sound system,
new carpeting and a new concession
area.
Mrs. Bill (Wanda) Slaughter of Women of
Variety, chairman of the organization's
spring rummage sale, announced the sale
this year will be held at her home. 6151
Berwyn Lane. Friday (28) and .Saturday
(29). These ladies really put their hearts
into making this a most worthwhile event
for both the customers and the club treasury.
Funds from this sale go toward furthering
the work of Variety Club's Sunshine
Coach program and aid the handicapped in
the metroplex area. They would appreciate
any assistance you can give them, anything
from pots and pans to clean usable clothing.
Remember what has become too large.
due to your diet, or too tight because you
gained weight; there are many who would
just love to buy these to fit their need.
WOMPIs are working hard on plans for
the various events at their Silver Anniversary
which will be held in Dallas. Sept. 6-
10. Why not get up a foursome and start
brushing up on your square dancing and
put it to full swing at their Ranch Party
Friday night, .Sept. 8? For those of you
who can't spin in a square-dance step, get
ready for ballroom dancing the following
night.
Laverne Smith, president of Laurel Leaf.
Inc., advises that the firm's new release.
"Kriti and the Legend of Mount Shasta,"
is now being edited and should be ready
for release by late June. The film was shot
by the well-known wildlife photographer
Ivan Marx and is beina edited h\ Llo\d
Reed.
Charlotte Martin has closed the Bijou
Theatre in Mansfield, due to her lack of
time to care for it as she should. She owns
a florist shop and thought handling the theatre
would be an e.xciting moonlighting job.
She spent much time, money and longrange
planning to remodel this theatre lo
the fulfillment of a woman's dream. The
150-seat theatre is one of the most delu.xe
theatres in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
metroplex. She has now placed it into the
hands of an agent for sale.
Bennie Lynch of Grimes Film Booking
has been advised by a new production firm.
Independent Artists, that they are shipping
her a print of their newest release. "When
the Screaming Stops." She will set up a
promises to be a nice way to get better
acquainted with your fellow workers in the
film business.
We have received word ihat Gidney Talley,
veteran theatre man of Pleasanton. died
last week, as did C. E. Campbell of the Trail
Drive-In, Bowie, and Sydney Hall of the
Hall Theatre Circuit. Beeville. We extend
sympathy to the families of these three
gentlemen and regret we did not have sufficient
data to properly recognize these veterans
of the industry.
Hazel Martin Lovelace, retiree from Paramount,
is at home now following a long stay
Pinkston Sales & Service
MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT
in Baylor Hospital. She returned only to
find that, while in the hospital, her homehad
been burglarized. Two TVs, a clock!
radio, jewelry, a bedspread and oher Ihingsj
had been taken.
|
Bill Bond of Grimes Film Booking is still
in St. Paul's Hospital, 5909 Harry Hines
Blvd., Room 642, Dallas 75235. He does
seem to be improving gradually and cheer
cards would help his morale.
AMC Manager Finds Work
'Rewarding, Challenging'
DALLAS—Troy Willingham. manager of
American Multi Cinema's Northtown 6 theatres,
has eight and a half years of service
with AMC to his credit. His career in theatres
began at the age of 15, when he began
working in various capacities for the Phil
Isley circuit.
Willingham had served as a projectionist
and manager for three circuits before he
tradescreening upon receipt of the print, joined AMC but he reports that he finds
the Kansas City-based circuit "the most
Phil Guiles and Jim Fritz are planning a challenging and rewarding."
filmrow float trip for May 6-7. The 19-mile
canoe trip starts at Lake Possum Kingdom
It was in June 1969 that Troy began
working for AMC as a projectionist, remaining
in that position until August 1976. when
and ends at Palo Pinto. The group will camp
at Dark Valley where boat and canoe
rental, trailer parking, fishing bait, camping
supplies and groceries are available. This
he moved into management. He spent a
year and a half in training under Bill Le-
Neveu at Forum 6 before being named manager
of Northtown 6 and Troy feels Bill's
extensive experience has greatly influenced
his development as a manager.
The operational policy .set by Willingham
emphasizes that members of the Northtown
6 staff work together toward the ultimate
satisfaction of patrons. He enjoys all aspects
of theatre business, especially meeting and
dealing with the public.
Willingham and his wife Carolyn met
while both worked at a theatre in Dallas.
They married in 1965 and have two children.
Tammy and Troy jr.
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April 24, 1978

CENTURY
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Phone: (713) 6541461
EOXOFFICE :: .^pril 24. 1978 SW-3

HOUSTON
ing "Lady for a Day." "Mr. Deeds Goes to
Town," "It Happened One Night." "Lost
Horizon," "You Can't Take It With You"
and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" were
shown. There were to be discussions with
Capra after each showing. The screenings
are scheduled for the Bayou Building Auditorium
with a $1.50 admission.
Debra Paget Kung, one-time movie star,
returned home with a cast from her toes
to her hip. The actress broke her leg recently
while on a skiing trip . . . Former
Houstonian Annette O'Tolle will star in the
upcoming "King of the Gypsies," Dino De
Laurentiis' production of the Peter Maas
bestseller. She was recently seen in "One on
One" with Robby Benson and "Smile" before
that. In "King of the Gypsies," she
joins previously cast Shelley Winters, Susan
Sarandon and Brooke Shields. O'Tolle will
play the WASP girlfriend of the young
gypsy hero. Frank Pierson will direct the
Paramount film from his own screenplay
and shoot it on location in New York City.
Cortez as the detective.
Among the films opening and returning
for additional playing time arc: "Ode to
Billy Joe" at Northwest 2. Southway. Almeda,
North Oaks. Airline. Telephone Road
Drive-In. King Center. Allen Center. Shamrock.
Westchase, Northwood, Southmorc.
Palms. Gulfway. McLendon Triple and
Town & Country; "Youngblood You Gonna
Be a Star" at the Majestic Metro with an
Qomedian George Gobel was in for a twonight
stand at the Houston Music Theatre
with singer Jack Jones. Gobel can be
seen in the current motion picture "Rabbit
Test" . . . Eric Gerber of the Houston Post
in-person appearance by Lawrence Hiltonreports
that Frank Capra, one of America's
Jacobs: "Pardon Mon Affaire" at Greenway
3: "Speedtrap" at Allen Center 3. Deau-
foremost directors, will be on hand at the
University of Houston at Clear Lake on
ville 2. Festival 6. Kingwood 2, Northoaks
Thursday and Friday. On Thursday. "It's A
6, Northwood 6, Shamrock 6, Southmore
Wonderful Life" will be shown and on Friday
a program of film clips from his Oscar-
6, Southway 6, Town & Country, Westchase
5. Airline. Gulfway 2. King Center 2. Mcwinning
and Oscar-nominated films includ-
Lendon-3, Parkway. Telephone Road 2 and
Thunderbird 2: a multiple theatre opening
was held for "Annie Hall."
Showings at the Museum of Fine Arts include
"Jonah Who Will be 25 in the Year
2000". "Foreign Correspondent," Orson
Welles' "Journey into Fear" and Bertolucci's
"Partner" ... at the Rice Media Center
"Andy Warhol's Bad Friday," Pasolini's
"Medea," "The Thin Man," "The Glass
Key," a program of American avant-garde
cinema, "Bad Company," Fassbinder's "Fox
and His Friends" and "The Hellstrom
Chronicle."
SAN ANTONIO
pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, a Hollywood
actor from San Antonio best known
his appearances in a number of movies,
for
was named as the parade marshal for the
annual Fiesta Flambeau night parade on
Saturday (22) . . . While Cesar Romero
was appearing in person at the Fiesta Dinner
Playhouse in "Never Get Smart With
An Angel" one of his 1965 films was shown
shown on "The Big Show" on KENS-TV.
"Two on a Guillotine" with Dean Jones and
Connie Stevens. Although a well-known
A Dashiell Hamniett film festival is scheduled
at the Rice Media Center, it was reported
by Eric Gerber. The series of seven
films (either scripted by Hammett or adapted
from his writings) began Sunday at 7:30
and 10 p.m. with "The Thin Man." Followed
by "The Glass Key," "After the Thin star, Romero has limited his movie performances
Man," "Another Thin Man." "The Maltese
in recent years because he said that
Falcon," "Satan Met a Lady." and the
pictures are not as good today. He has
original
starred in such classics as "Captain from
"Dangerous Female" with Ricardo Castille," "Vera Cruz," "Around the World
in Eighty Days" and three films for Walt
Disney Productions. Romero stated that his
Bob Mortensen
Dan Waggoner
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Making F

'•Blue Collar." "Speed Trap" and "The
Fury" at the Century South ... the KTSA
Late Shows at the UA Cine Cinco and UA
Movies 4 was "Saturday Night Fever" at
Special film showings
included San Antonio Film Society "Four
Nights of A Dreamer" on Tuesday (IS)
and "Duel in the Sun" on Tuesday (25);
"A Doll's House" on (25) in the Fiesta
Room of the Loftin Student Center. San
Antonio College and "The Taming of the
Shrew" the UTSA Student Representative
Assembly Film Series at the Humanities-
Business Bldg. on Thursday (20).
Don Mosher Reveals
RG Circuit On Move
SAN ANTONIO— Don Mosher. head of
the San Antonio-based RG Theatres, announced
that the circuit continues its expansion
with the opening of the State Theatre
in Wichita Falls in addition to the comi'ng
opening of the Cole-Anna Drive-In and
the Longhorn Drive-In (formerly the Oak)
in Colernan. Texas. These bring the circuit
up to nine screens operating in Texas.
Mosher also announced that several appointments
and promotions within the company
have been made recently. Victor Vargas,
formerly manager of the circuit's Arcadia
Theatre in Floresville has been named
general manager. Vargas is currently in
Wichita Falls getting the State off to a good
start.
Mike Russell has been promoted from
Waco city manager, handling the Ivy Twin
and Orpheum Theatres, to district manager
for the Central Texas area. Russell wMI continue
to be in charge of the Waco theatres
as well as the newly-added Coleman driveins.
He came to the circuit after service with
Cinema Southwest and later Texas Cinema
Corp.
William Burns, formerly with Cooper
Foundation Theatres in Omaha. Nebr.. has
been named temporary manager of the Orpheum
Theatre in Waco pending his assignment
as city manager for the circuit's San
Antonio-area theatres.
Deeia Curry, also formerly with Cinema
Southwest Theatres has been named assistant
manager of the Ivy Twin Cinema in
Waco. Curry began with RG Theatres last
October as a cashier.
Mosher stated that the circuit's home office,
at 1109 S. Presa. is being expanded
with the addition of a fulltime office staff.
In addition to the circuit's local phone
number. 532-5451. Mosher said that a direct
Dallas telephone line is scheduled to
be installed in May. This direct line will
permit toll-free calls from Dallas to the
San Antonio office and from the Alamo
City to Dallas.
Mosher concluded by noting that the firm
expects to continue to acquire theatres in
Texas and surrounding states in the coming
months, with the emphasis on existing
downtown houses and shopping center sites.
A major acquisition is expected to be announced
soon.
Rosilyn Heller is executive producer of
'Ice Castles," an ICC production.
BOXOmCE :: April 24. 1978
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SW-5

Pat Wolfe Helping Lone Star State
Earn a Reputation as 'Third Coast'
DALLAS—A talented, attractive young
lady spends her time helping the "he-man"
Lone Star state earn its moniker as the
"third coast." Kent Biffle. Morning News
staffer, here, tells all about it in the following
story:
>retty Pat Wolfe had a call the other day
from a man of definite tastes.
He wants a 1958 motel of eight to 10
units that sits by a cafe with booths next
to the window.
"Outside the cafe. I'd like to see a mountain
rang;. I want desolation. And a mile
down the road, I'd 1 ke to see a town."
Maslansky On Phone
Pat Wolfe doesn't run a real estate office
for fi ssy kooks. but she was making notes.
She's director of the Texas Film Commission,
a small, Austin-based agency set
up to lure moviemakers' dollars to the state.
And the man on the phone was a producer
nam'd Paul Maslansky.
His "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryd°r?"
will be budgeted at perhaps $4,000.
000. So, Pat hopes to have him happily
checked into a 20-year-old motel near El
Paso by m'd-April.
Maslansky had heard about Pat from a
cameiaman, Jules Brenner, who had found
her helpful while filming "Outlaw Blues" in
Austin last year. Word gets around.
Since 1971, when Gov. Preston Smith
commissioned the effort, increased filming
and tapini! has come to Texas with the 'mpact
of future shock—or, in some cases, future
schlock.
Look For Increase
Movies and TV productions with budgets
totaling about $40,000,000 were shot^ in
Texas last year, Pat says.
"We think the total will be around $60.-
000,000 th s year." she adds.
"We used to figure that about one-third
of the budget of a movie filmed in Texas
stayed in Texas.
"But the percentage is higher now
about 45 percent. That's about the average.
It can be more. In the case of "Outlaw
Blues," about 85 percent remained here because
so much was done here. Only the lab
work and cutting was done on the West
Coast."
Some moviemakers have begun calling
Texas "The Third Coast."
The number of Texans trained in film
crafts and the amount of available equipment
have increased remarkably in recent
years.
In Texas are more than a thousand members
of the International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees, the stagehands'
union. And the state is home for about 500
members of the Screen Actors' Guild. In
addition, there are hundreds of talented
non-imion workers.
Besides sunlight and spectacular settings.
Texas has provided a comfortable union climate
for making movies. Many Hollywood
producers are frustrated by the sometimes
unreasonable and expensive demands of
West Coast locals.
Crossovers Are Permitted
In contrast, Texas shooting permits crossovers.
That is, grips or scene-shifters commonly
aid the gaffers or electricians and the
gaffers may even pitch in to help makeup
specialists. Rigid restrictions of Hollywood
unionism, on the other hand, might require
one worker on a set to do nothing besides
empty an ashtray, for example, during an
entire day on location.
In addition to trained people, Texas offers
a storehouse of equipment and the only 35
mm lab in several states. In fact, sales of
raw 35mm stock from Eastman Kodak's
Southwestern Regional Distribution Center
in Dallas are thiid only to California and
New York.
So hot is the film business in Texas that
last fall a truck mounted with a camera
crane suitable for shooting chase scenes was
reported stolen from MFC Productions in
Houston. Unless the crane is being used by
someone with a lightbulb to change, it may
be on location somewhere right now. If police
spot the stolen truck on the road, the
thieves can get some fine chase footage.
Has $145,000 Budget
A 32-year-old. blue-eyed blonde with an
"I Love Texas" pendant on her neck. Pat.
for $24,000 a year, directs two assistants,
controls a $145,000 annual budget and reports
to Gov. Dolph Briscoe. The commission
is more accurately a directorate since
the last commissioner, Scott Hardy, retired
Lobster.
Curiously, she was a music grad of the
University of Texas in Austin, where she
grew up. who had planned to be a high
school band director until she joined Mulberry.
She says she likes spotting locations, helping
on sets and generally smoothing the way
for production companies.
For example, she was instrumental in winning
Dallas police cooperation for companies
shooting "The Trial of Lee Harvey
Oswald" and "Ruby and Oswald" for network
shows. Traffic was rerouted for sequences
downtown and cameras were even
set up in the basement of the police station
for re-enactment of Oswald's shooting.
Her job is demanding, not only in attracting
productions, but in assisting when companies
are filming 'n the state. "You really
can't get away. They call with all their
crises."
An outfit shooting a film called "The
Beasts Are Loose" in Grand Prairie—employing
some lions, rhinos, zebras and the
like from Lion Country Safari and some
trained animals imported from the West
Coast—found some of the beasts actually
getting loose, she said. Not to mention an
equipment truck that almost rolled into the
cameras.
The company currently shooting the
CBS-TV series "Dallas" in. of all places,
Dallas, unexpectedly had to
scenes this
winter.
Filmmaking Began in 1913
write snow into
And there was the famous switch in
"Semi-Tough" when Southern Methodist
University Ponies were forbidden to go before
the movie cameras by the National
Collegiate Athletic Ass'n. After a desperate
period, the lenses finally opened on pickup
teams composed mostly of former football
players hired and assembled for game
scenes.
Everyone -n Dallas remembers "Semi-
Tough" and "Logan's Run," which employed
about 900 extras, but not everyone
is aware that since 1923, Texas has provided
the background for at least 75 feature
films, scores of them before 1970.
The history of filmmaking in Texas is
hazy, but some argue it actually began with
a 3-reeler called "Their Lives by a Slender
Thread" in 1913.
Oddiv. the off'cial record begins with
"The Warrens of Virginia," which was shot
in the best Hollywood tradition in San Antonio
in 1923 by the Fox Film Co. Paramount
the following year in the same tradition
filmed in Houston "North of the 36th,"
which Houston isn't.
Many Classics
Lensed
Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr filmed "The Big
Parade" in San Antone the next year. Paramount's
"Wings" and "The Rough Riders"
followed in 1927. Again. San Antone. "West
years ago and no new one has been
several
appointed.
She formerly was a producer for Mulberry
Square Productions in Dallas, whose
Po'nt of the Air" and "Air Cadet" and "I
Wanted Wings" were all based in San Antone.
"Benji," filmed in McKinney, grossed more
Abandoning the Hollywood tradition
than $32,000,000. Pat didn't work on "Benji"
in 1935, Vitaphone filmed "The Fall of the
Alamo" in San Antonio.
or its son. "For the Love of Benji;" she
turned out commercials for Braniff and Red Did vou know that 20th Century Fox
shot "Viva. Zapata" in the Rio Grande City
area in 1952?
If not. you certainly recall that Warner
Brothers did "Giant" in Marfa in 1956 and
how John Wayne moved the Alamo to
Brackettville for United Artists in 1959.
As for Dallas, the big remake of "State
Fair" by 20th Century Fox was filmed here
in 1962. And "Bonnie and Clyde" rolled
BOXOFHCE April 24. 1978

through with a bang in 1967 when Warner
Brothers shot up the countryside.
•It was not until the formation of the
film commission four years later that the
sound of clapper boards began signaling the
shooting of a growing number of feature
films in Dallas.
On the wall in Pat's office in Austin is a
blackboard. Chalked on it is "Shooting in
Texas." It lists:
• Lorimar Productions" 'Dallas" series
for CBS-TV. presently budgeted at $2,000.-
000 to $3,000,000.
• Schick Sunn Classic Productions" "The
Bermuda Triangle," now on location in
Harlingen and budgeted at almost $2,000.-
000.
• American Video Cinema's "Gusher,"'
setting up in Victoria with a $2,000,000
budget.
• Cinematograficas Roma"s "El Amor
de Mi Vida." (•"The Love of My Life"), a
Spanish flick being filmed in San Antonio
with a budget of about $250,000.
Another blackboard lists upcoming Texas
films. They include "The Raggedy Man,"
budgeted at $1,300,000: "Piranha," budgeted
at $1,500,000; "Red Ryder." up to $4,-
000,000. and the really big, $10,000,000-
budgeted CBS-TV series "Blood and Money."
which is scheduled, litigation permitting,
to get rolling this spring.
Pat wants to make a trip to the West
Coast to knock on doors and make her pitch
about the pleasures and profits of shooting
in Texas, but she wonders when she'll be
able to do it.
"The competition is fierce. Forty states
now have film commissions. Last October,
Gov. Edwin Edwards of Louisiana took
about 100 businessmen out there to attract
film productions."
In Dallas. Hal Sacks of American Video
Cinema says, "She's fantastic." His company's
"Gusher" already is wired in to the
drilling rigs and the rundown roadhouse it
will use near Victoria for production of the
dramatic comedy.
Sacks values the education that Pat offers
to many Texas investors. "In the past,
they've always invested in oil. Now they're
becoming interested in movies."
With a film like "Gusher," American
Video seems to have struck the right note.
Meanwhile, from the Canadians set for
"Superman." Pat has a request for copies
Producers of Viranha Say Nothing
Fishy About Their Welcome in Texas
SAN MARCOS. TEX.— It docsn"! look
like the Aquarciia Springs thousands of
tourists know and love, reported by Robert
C. Stewart jr.. of the San Antonio Light, in
this account:
"A few dozen teens (actually it looked
like hundreds or thousands) loitered about
a sandy beach while a young man ran about
shouting 'Quiet" and another 'Action.'
"Startled patrons were greeted with a
sign stating they might be in a movie. And
a number watched the action as barges
tipped and people ran from the water in
mock frenzy.
Story of Search
"The movie, called 'Piranha!", is the joint
effort of Jeff Schetchtman and Jon Davison,
two Los Angeles producers who are
heading their first movie under the auspices
of New World Pictures and United Artists.
" "We've already completed a week of
principle photography in Los Angeles.'
Sehechtman said. We did all the underwater
photography and interiors such as
laboratory, jail and homes,"
" 'The movie is about a woman who is
searching lor missing children. She finds a
laboratory where scientists are still attempting
to breed an especially vicious piranha
to release in the waters of Vietnam,"
Sehechtman continues. 'She finds a recluse
who helps her. The piranha are accidently
released and they attempt to warn a children's
camp downstream and a resort about
the menace.'
Pat admits she needs more manpower and
"You
"Davison said that mechanical fish, replicas,
puppets and live piranha were used in
budget. can't be everywhere."
While the beasts are loose elsewhere, she's controlled filming in Los Angeles.
the Rio Grande Valley trying to line up
in
Kids Are Cooperative
a dead citrus grove for Johnny Cash to
stand in front of in "Thadeus Rose and
" 'Now we are just concentrating on the
Eddie."
attack scenes in the water with people
thrashing about.' he said. "We just finished
a scene on the Guadalupe River at a children's
camp.'
" The kids were wonderful,' he laughed.
'We were told they were bred for this cold
water and they plunged right in. We couldn't
get the adults to do that.'
"Both of the producers had high praise
for Texas cooperation.
" 'It's fantastic' Davison said. 'In L.A.
they want to charge if you put one foot on
a lawn. In Texas the people come out and
offer help, bring you a glass of water and
a dam at Seguin and Lake Austin.
"'The scene Icday is about the grand
opening of a river ride at a lake resort. A
large barge tips over and the fish attack
the riders. We've already filmed the victim
scenes and it was pretty gruesome with
people coming onto the beach torn up by
the fish," Sehechtman explained. "We" re also
going to do the aitermath scenes with police
cars and television cameramen and ambulances.'
"The film was to finish Saturday for theatrical
release on Labor Day.
" "We plan to be back for a big party."
Sehechtman said.
TFC Promises Greenery
" 'This certair.ly is a beautiful place to
film. The picture had to depict summer and
when we came down, there wasn't a leaf on
the trees. But, the Texas Film Commission
promised greenery.'
"What about the rating for the movie?
" Probably an 'R', says Davison. 'If we
were a larger outfit we'd get a 'PG' but
when you're smaller you get an 'R'. And
that will probably be because of the attack
scenes.'
"What about filming in Texas?
" 'We'd love to come back' they both
-himed in,""
Dallas Adult Film Rule
Temporarily Suspended
DALLAS— Police here were prevented
temporarily from enforcing a city ordinance
that prohibits the location of adult film theatres
within 1.000 feet of a residence,
school, church or park. The injunction
would remain in effect per.d ng the de,termination
of the ultimate constitutional ordinance
and was issued at the request of
attorneys for Ellwest Stereo Theatres. Inc.,
308 S. Ervay.
Mike Aranson. attorney for Ellwest. said
the Dallas ordinance is unconstitutional because
it makes no provision to protect theatres
already in operation at the time the
law was enacted.
U. S. District Judge William M. Taylor,
in making the decision to restrain enforcement
of the ordinance, said he hoped to put
a halt to what had become a daily merrygo-round
of arrests. Ellwest employees have
been arrested 245 times by Dallas police for
say 'What can I do?'.
violation of the ordinance. Each arrest requires
a $202.52 cash bond payment "They have filmed in Aquarenc Springs,
for
release.
of the Kiwanis Club emblem and a Knights
of Columbus insign'a. She quickly complies.
"I can"t imagine why they want them.
But I want to be obliging. They'll remember
Two Redstone Drive-Ins Open
BOSTON—The Redstone circuit opened
the Neponset and Revere drive-ins for the
season, advertising a charge of $4.50-a-carload
(regardless of number of passengers).
When you plan to install your Dolby system,
call the service company with the most
Dolby system experience.
th:hnical services corporation
P.O. Box 5150 • Richardson, Texas 75080 • 214-234-3270
ASC
STAR TREATMENT SERVICE -
April

'Choo Choo Charlie, Billy Gene and
Wild Bill Elliott a Wild West Story
DALLAS— Dallas Morning News columnist
Bob St. John saddled up his memory
and rode a trail back to the "good ole days"
in Paris. Texas. A saga of the "Old West"
that starred Billv Gene. "Choo Choo" Charlie.
St. John and Wild Bill Elliott. Let us
ride with him back to those days when the
West was young:
"One of the best days was when Wild
Bill Elliott, who played Red Ryder, showed
up at the town square in Paris, Te.xas.
for some function or other. Really, the town
square was the only place for him to be.
considering his status. The square had
neatly trimmed grass, clean steps and water
which actually spurt:d from a fountain. The
water always smelled like church water but
the town square was the best place I can remember
except during the hottest part of
the summer when the gnats bothered you.
Saturday on the Square
"In those days people gathered on Saturdays
around the square and talked about
crops, the price of milk and madmen with
funny soundmg names such as Hitler and
Mussolini. Those of us in the first, second
and third grades never listened all that much
but we could tell you that Hitler had a
mustache and Mussolini was fat.
"Mostly, we knew about the cowboys in
the white hats who. every Saturday afternoon,
rode across the silver screen at places
such as the Rex. Lamar and Plaza theaters
and so. I mean, it was a big deal that Wild
Bill Elliott was there in the flesh, talking to
people and everything. Wild Bill was a really
good fighter but so were Gene Autry.
Roy Rogers. Bob Steele. Charles Starrett.
Lash LaRue. the Durango Kid and the Lone
Ranger. I didn't go that much for Hopalong
Cassidy because he was kind of old
and d'dn't fight or shoot anybody. I can
imderstand him now.
Bitten by 'Cowboy Bug'
"We were all bitten by the cowboy
craze and on lazy summer afternoons we
would ride stick horses across the old wrecking
and gravel yard near where I lived.
Wrecked cars would be hideouts and the
gravel piles would be mountains but we
lost a lot of terrain when the big dump
truck would come.
"But one kid was bitten worse than any
of us. I wish I could remember his name.
I think it might have been Billy Gene. Anyway,
everybody but Billy Gene would put
away their stick horses and toy guns when
they went to church or J. G. Wooten Elementary
school.
"That kid had money, all right. Most of
us would get three sticks. Two of them
would be our guns and the third our horse.
But Billy Gene daily would came to school
all decked out in a cowboy suit. He had a
nice white hat, a red bandanna around his
neck and a plaid shirt. He wore chaps over
his jeans, crammed into black boots with
white stars on them. .And strapped around
his waist were two great toy silver guns in
scabbards that were real
leather.
"I can still see him sitting in the second
row. guns hanging down almost to the floor
on both sides and his hat tilted back, like
Gene Autry's was when he was about to
sing. We used to argue a lot about whether
Gene was singing to the girl or his horse.
My sister. Norma, used to say he was singing
to the girl but I knew that was a lie.
Gene Autry wasn't that stupid.
Billy Gene 'Sump'n Else'
"Billy Gene was something. He'd tip his
hat to teachers and girls he passed in the
hall. He never said he would meet you on
the corner after school but 'at the pass.' He
didn't live up the street, around the corner,
but 'where the trail turns yonder."
"We all had our unusual styles of running.
I know I was a little knock-kneed and
always seemed at odds with running straight.
But as a runner Billy Gene was in a class by
himself. When he'd nm he'd slap himself on
the hip. as if he were whipping his horse to
full gallop and then kinda hop along. Sometimes
when he ran he'd yell. 'Hi-ho Silver,
awayeeee!" Sometimes he'd yell. 'G'dy-up.
old feller!' And sometimes, he'd say, 'Dade-da-de-da-da-DAAA,'
which I guess he
thought sounded like action music in the
cowboy movies.
"The kid was really fast. too. although
not as fast as 'Choo Choo' Charlie Moore,
who was older and bigger than anybody in
our class because he had flimked a couple
of times.
"The best fight I ever saw was when
Gene challenged 'Choo Choo' Charlie,
Billy
who naturally could whip everybody. I was
somewhat of an expert on this because after
watching Gene Autry whip not one but
two guys with an uppercut I went after
"Choo Choo' Charlie. Somehow it never
worked for me like it had Gene but I kept
trying and 'Choo Choo' Charlie whipped
me more than anybody.
His Watermelon Smile
"One day a bunch of us at recess were
walking dangerously near the girl's side of
the playground. The girls were playing softball
but looked silly, batting cross-handed
and all that. But one hit the ball near us
and 'Choo Choo' Charlie picked it up and
wouldn't give it back and nobody could
make him. ever. ever. This little girl
stomped her feet and started screaming that
she wanted her ball back. 'Choo Choo' Charlie
smiled his watermelon smile and just
held the ball high over her head.
"All at once, out of the gray October
sky, came a lone rider. We heard this bloodcurdling
yell. 'Hi-ho Silver, awayeeee! Gidyup!'
We turned to see Billy Gene galloping
toward us, slapping his hip. His white cowboy
hat was pulled down tight on his forehead
and his bandanna was waving in the
wind. He was coming a mile a minute and
we didn't know whether to laugh or run.
"He was on us quicker than a heart beat
and leaped at 'Choo Choo' Charlie, knocking
him to the ground. 'Unhand that lady
you dirty crook!' said Billy Gene to 'Choo
Choo' Charlie, whose eyes were bigger than
silver dollars.
"Now. if Billy Gene had jumped right on
top of 'Choo Choo' Charlie, I think he would
have whipped him because the big guy was
stunned. But honor got the best of him.
'Auh see you're not armed,' said Billy Gene,
who backed off. He then took off his twin
guns and put them on the ground. 'Choo
Choo' Charlie, recovering, was all over him,
knocking him down and then sitting on him
and pounding away.
•Hi-Ho Silver'
"I wasn't about to take up for any ol'
girl who lost her softball but I didn't like
to see Billy Gene get whipped. 'Choo Choo'
Charlie, you couldn't whup that lil' girl over
there,' I said. He came after me and I threw
my uppercut but it got caught in his overalls
and didn't hurt him much, although it
caused him some embarrassment. I went into
classic boxer's stance and started backing up
fast as I could when, behind us, we heard
the words, 'Hold it. Put your hands up or
you'll be a-talkin' to your maker.'
" 'Choo Choo' Charlie turned around and
there was Billy Gene, hold'ng a gun on
him. 'One more move and I'll let vou have
it.' he said, looking at 'Choo Choo' Charlie
with steel blue eyes. 'Choo Choo" Charlie
looked kind of puzzled, then put up his
hands. Billy Gene slowly backed off, bolstered
his gun and went galloping off, 'Hiho
Silver, awayeeee!'
" 'That kid's crazy as a nut,' said 'Choo
Choo' Charlie, finally bringing his hands
down.
'Choo Choo' Charlie and Billy Gene
in his cowboy suit were with me the night
we saw Wnd Bill Elliott on the town square.
Wild Bill never shot a man in the back. I
don't know what happened to Billy Gene
but I bet he never shot a man in the hack
either."
Curtis Joins Films, Inc.,
As V-P in Sales Post
WILMETTE. ILL. — Arthur H. Curtis
jr. has joined Films. Inc., as vice-president
and national sales manager of the film and
tape division, it was announced by Charles
Benton, cha'rman.
Curtis comes to Films. Inc.. after
18 years
with Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational
Corp., where he most recently served as regional
sales manager for Michigan, Ohio.
Ind-ana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
In his new position, Curtis will be in
charge of a rapidly growing part of Films,
Inc. "During the past 20 years I have witnessed
a tremendous growth in educational
media." Curtis said, addng, "Films, Inc.. is
a company with the vision necessary to
earn a leadership role in this area."
Films, Inc., is the nation's largest distributor
of educational and feature films.
SW-8
BOXOmCE :: .4^pril 24. 1978

;: 1
::
MINNEAPOLIS
Ctevc Johnston, Sunn Classic Pictures
branch manager, and Randy Green,
branch operations manager, journeyed to
Indianhead in Ironwood. Mich., for some
last-minute spring skiing. They initially encoimtered
icing conditions, but then four
inches of snow followed. It resulted in a
great weekend of powder skiing. On tap
from Sunn Classic is "The Bermuda Triangle,"
which will be test-marketed in Duluth
in July.
The latest Academy Awards gave a boxoffice
boost to "Annie Hall" and "Julia."
The telecast was well-received locally . . .
United Artists branch manager Chet LeVoir.
just prior to his retirement, sneaked "Corvette
Summer" Friday (7) at the Mann Theatre.
The picture stars Mark Hamill of
"Star Wars" and Annie Potts, who is Paul
Newman's daughter. Reports LeVoir: "It
was very successful."
The branch bunch at 20th Century-Fox
is watching the "Star Wars" situation here
very closely. The picture has been sizzling
at the Park Theatre—but up ahead is a
commitment to open "Heaven Can Wait."
Speculation is that if "Star Wars" continues
to crack its control figure weekly. "Heaven"
—indeed—will
wait!
Jim Wilson of the Wilson Booking Service
was in Abbott Hospital here briefly for
treatment of a skin rash . . . Jim Ellis of
the Carisch Theatre circuit was in San Francisco
for a few days.
Ron Greely, Kim-Hi Drive-In, Kimball,
Minn., visited Filmrow to book his theatre
for the season . . . Also visiting Filmrow
were Mr. and Mrs. Bob Collins, Morris
Theatre. Morris. Minn. . . Dick Malek.
.
Warner Bros, branch chief, set a 60-screen,
territorywide, saturation Friday (14) for Joe
Don Baker's "Long Dark Night."
At the Universal branch, manager Frank
Zanotti lined up one of the biggest saturations
ever for this territory. Breaking May
5, the Burt Reynolds boxoffice winner
"Smokey and the Bandit" will be playing
241 dates across the region.
Anthony Blake Montgomery
Is Tarciy But Wins Prizes
CHADRON, NEB. — It has just been
learned by Boxoffice that, although Anthony
Blake Montgomery arrived early in
1978 and won Chadron's first baby contest,
he was late as far as his father was concerned.
It seems that "Tony" was expected Christmas
Eve or thereabouts. Taking his chances,
the baby's father, Ron Montgomery, bought
his wife a mother's ring for her Christmas
present, having a December birthstone set
in it to go with the ones for the couple's
other children—Monica and Christopher.
The setting since has been replaced with a
garnet, traditional January birthstone.
Yet, considering the large number of
prizes and gift certificates Anthony Blake
and his family received from Chadron merchants
for being the first baby born in 1978,
the delay really was worth it.
The young man arrived at 9:30 a.m. Jan.
1, 1978, and weighed in at eight pounds,
one ounce.
Ron is manager of Commonwealth Theatres'
Eagle and Starlite Drive-In, which
prompted one patron to quip, "Good show!"
Fremont Fan Is Preparing
Catalog of Feature Films
FREMONT. NEB.—John Reeves, 35, a
resident of this city, is a devoted motion picture
fan. Until there was a shortage of film
product, he viewed 200 pictures in an average
year, counting those shown on TV.
"Now I've seen most of the ones on TV,"
he says. "I drive into Omaha at least once
a week to see shows. We have just one theatre
in Fremont and by the time movies are
shown there they already have been on TV."
Reeves began compiling a card catalog
of movies in 1962. Now, he has approximately
13,000 cards, each of which lists the
title of the feature, the year it was made
and its starring performers.
A sheet metal layout worker, Reeves says
he has "thousands and thousands of movies
yet to catalog" before his work will be up
to date.
Michael Nolin has been appointed executive
consultant on product acquisition for
Columb'a Pictures distribution.
'Jokes' Is Newcomer
On Twin Cily Scene
MINNEAPOLIS—Was it the chilly, wet
weather that led such droves back to their
favorite film? Was it the dreary fare offered
on TV that propelled such throngs
from their homes? Was it the sight of those
two familiar robots on the Oscar TV show
that lit old flames and kindled new ones?
Whatever the reason. "Star Wans" in its
46th week at the Park Theatre catapulted
to a 420. a reading not approached since
the early weeks of its run (though it has
been in the 200 and 300 levels well into its
engagement). The outer-space winner was
by far the "hot ticket" attraction during a
week that saw only one fresh attraction.
That was "Jokes My Folks Never Told
Me." not exactly a mirthquake. with a 100
across five screens. "House Calls" continued
leggy as did "The Goodbye Girl," an interesting
situation since the former is a middleaaed
vers'on of the latter.
(Aveiage Is 100)
Academy—Equus (UA), 3rd wlc 60
Brookdale Close Encounters of the Third Kind
(Col), 17th wk 135
Brookdale, Movies at Burnsville House Calls
(Univ), 4th wk 240
Brookdale Soulhdalf— Saturday Night Fever
(Para), 17th wk 125
Cooper—High Anxiety . ; •: •'.: 180
Edina II—The Other Side of the Mountain
Part 2 (Univ), 9th v. .:
60
Five thecrtres—lokes My Folks Never Told Me
(New World) 100
Four theatres—American Hot Wax Fii
4th wk 55
Four theatres Return From Witch Mountain
120
(BV), 4th wk
Mann—Coma (UA), 8th wk 110
at Prairie, Movies Eden Norihtown— Gray Lady
Down (Univ), 5th wk 80
Park—Star Wars (20th-Fox), 46th wk 420
Skyway II The Goodbye Girl (WB), Iflh v.'k 200
Skyway HI, Soulhdale Straight Time (WB),
4th
4th wk
Three theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 4th wk 120
World The Turning Point (20th-Fox),
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Contact
James P. Norton, Broker
J. P. Norton Real Estate, Inc.
Buying • Selling • Trading • Leasing • Building • Developing
149 School St., Chilton, 'Wis. 53014 — 414-849-9718—849-9565
BOXOmCE ;: April 24. 1978 NC-1

MILWAUKEE
y^pien the Victory Drive-In at 156th &
Lisbon near Menomonee Falls, a Milwaukee
suburb, opened recently, it had a
new manager. Tim Conaty. who had formerly
managed a Nino's Restaurant in the area.
Slated to re-open in mid-April was another
Kohlberg theatre, the Franklin Drive-In.
managed again this year by Dean Ebert.
Dean has been "very busy building fences,
painting and making general repairs." according
to Len Schulze, divisional director
for the Kohlberg Theatres.
Art Heling, branch manager, here, for
American International Pictures, was set to
host a "special trade showing" for "Our
Winning Season" at the Southtown II in
West Allis on Friday (21). The PG rated
film "for the young and those who remember
being young ... a story of the turbulent
'60s," stars Scott Jacoby and Jan
Smithers.
A mirror was needed to read the latest
news release (which was printed backwards).
issued by John litis Associates of Chicago,
concerning the opening of "Rabbit Test."
PG rated comedy by Joan Rivers. The Avco
Embassy Pictures release was slated to open
Friday (21) at Northtown. Point and Westlane
Cinema. Another news release from
litis to film industryites and press contacts
in Milwaukee, pertained to Universal Studio's
motion picture. "I Wanna Hold Your
Hand" which had been previously reviewed
as a brief product reel at the Centre Screening
Room several weeks ago. "Hand" is
also opening (21) at Brookfield Square and
Mill Road.
Polly Holliday, star of Paramount Pictures'
"The One and Only," who appears
weekly as Flo in "Alice" on CBS-TV, was
in Milwaukee on Saturday (15) to appear
at the opening of the new "I Love You
Milwaukee" shops. She and a radio personality
from WISN. Oogie Pringle. met
the public at noon at the Gimbels store
downtown, and also in the afternoon at
the Mayfair Gimbel's store on the city's
far west side.
One Wisconsin movie house operator has
become the center of controversy in his
community for his steadfast refusal to book
the popular film "Oh, God!" He is Elmer
V. Krueger who owns the Badger Theatre,
the only one in Reedsburg. He has become
the target for complaints from local moviegoers
because of his determined stand
against the film, one which he admits he
has not seen. But because he had read a
critical essay in a religious magazine concerning
it, Krueger resolved that he would
"have no part of the movie," and to explain
his reasons, he wrote a letter to the Reedsburg
Times-Press in which he said: (The
film) "contradicted the Bible, portrayed
God as a fellow somewhat less than infallible
and with a human sense of humor,
and suggested that God would stoop to performing
supernatural antics in order to impress
people." He said that he subscribed
to a literal interpretation of the Bible and
concluded his letter: "Therefore, it is well
to be exceedingly concerned with Biblical
accuracy which concern eternal things, foi
the Bible also teaches that even the Devil
will employ Bible excerpts out of context
or with inaccuracy to lead many astray."
The editor of the Reedsburg weekly
paper, David Knight, says that the theatre
man's letter "touched off the biggest controversy
Reedsburg has seen in a long time."
Letters both in support of and against Krueger's
decision have filled the weekly's editorial
page since then. Missives from the
non-supporters outnumber the others. The
most vociferous critic has been a minister,
the Rev. James Know of Reedsburg United
Methodist church, who wrote to reveal that
he had seen the movie three times and
would probably see it again. He said: "I'm
sure God is no more offended by a movie
about Himself than He is with our feeble
attempts to reduce Him to words in a Bible:
that is. unless we believe He is paranoid."
Some of the dissenters have pointed to
other recent film fare shown at the Badger,
such as :"Six Pack Annie." "Rape Squad,"
"The Pom Pom Girls" and "Damnation
Alley," and they question the movieman's
consistency in such things. However, Krueger
told a Journal reporter, who described
the showman as a
"placid sort of soul," that
it was with him simply a "matter of the
Almighty being exploited for the almighty
dollar, and he would have no part of it."
Steve Hannah of the Journal quotes Krueger
as saying: "What the people really dislike
is the idea I'm acting as a censor. I'm
not. A storekeeper can sell whatever brand
of beans he wants and I can do the some.
It's my theatre and I assume I can play what
I
want."
Marshall Home, manager of Marc 1-2
Cinemas in Sheboygan, Wis., wrote a special
message as a part of his theatre's newspaper
display as in the local daily. It read:
"Dear Patrons: One of the pleasures of
managing a movie theatre is the chance
every so often— to see a movie that I can
wholeheartedly recommend to my friends
and patrons. "The Other Side of the Mountain
Part 2" has laughter, tears and a sense
of the 'human spirit' few films have ever
captured. I found it an unforgettable experience.
I think you will, too." A PG-rated
picture, it was in its "2nd Heart-Warming
Week" in mid-April with two showings each
'.'vening and a total of five on Sunday.
A menageries of magicians was on hand
at the Uptown Theatre, on Milwaukee's
west side, for two shows on Saturday (15)
with the proceeds going to the Girl .Scout
Sustaining Membership Fimd. Cooperating
to present the show were the Houdini Club
of Wisconsin, the International Brotherhood
of Magicians and the Society of American
Magicians with levity being provided
by the clowns from the Top Banana Club.
Show times were 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with
tickets going at $1 each.
"Veteran King of the Console," John
Muir, was all set to perform at the Mighty
Wurlitzer at the Avalon Theatre on B^eertown's
southside in a special pipe organ
show scheduled in April. Sponsored as usual
by the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society,
the show consists of a silent movie (unnamed),
a singalong and an organ recital
"recreating the sounds of the '20s." Tickets
in advance went at $2.50. at the door
$3.00.
Delevan Theatre in Delevan, Wis., was
slated to close for about four weeks in April
for remodeling into a twin movie house.
Standard Theatres Inc., Waukesha, which
owns the Delevan, said the twin house will
be able to offer more features to the area.
A front page story in the Delevan Enterprise,
local weekly, quotes Ted Rosenfeldt,
theatre manager, as saying the twinning
"will improve the booking situation." He
said he had no idea if
customers prices will
be affected by the remodeling. Each twin
auditorium will have a seating capacity of
200. Delevan's population is about 5,600.
In addition to its regular display ad in
the local weekly, the ChMton Theatre in
Chilton, Wis., will frequently use teasertype
ads which are sprinkled about the
newspaper. One week recently a teaser ad
stated: "The 'World's Greatest Lover' is
coming to Chilton, Wednesday. Lock up
your women." Another one of these small
1 -column ads (the borders of which resemble
a film frame with sprocket holes in the
sides) states: "Got Cabin Fever? Get out
of the house. See a Movie."
In the summer of 1977, 20th Century-
Fox licensed 50 of its movies to Magnetic
Video Corp., and thus became the first motion
picture company to make its movies
available for sale to the home video cassette
audience. The first titles reached the marketplace
in November, and included "Beneath
the Planet of the Apes." "The French
Connection" and "Hello Dolly." Already
40.000 cassettes have been sold, according
to a report in the Journal, despite the comparatively
high cost of $50 each. Some, like
"Patton." run longer than the two hour casette
and need an extra one hour tape.
FBI Seizes Pirate Tapes
FAIRFIELD. N.J.—The Federal Bureau
of Investigation announced that it had seized
more than 400 videotape movie masters and
machinery used to duplicate the movie films
from Theatrevision of New Jersey, Inc.,
headquartered here. Seized under Federal
copyright laws were movies such as "Star
Wars." "Julia," "The Goodbye Girl," "The
Deep," "Jaws," "Semi-Tough," "Saturday
Night Fever," "Rocky," "Annie Hall" and
"The Sting." according to the FBI agents.
The value of the motion picture film
videotapes and equipment seized was not
estimated. However, industry sources indicated
the potential loss to the film industry
is in the millions. Theatrevision of New
Jersey has been a major source for the
of pre-recorded videotapes for home use.
sale
NC-2
BOXOFTICE :: April 24. 1978

CENTURY
nowdoes it
AUin
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"nuts and bolts" of making separate projectorand
sound reproducerinstallations.
You get your projector and reproducer outof-the-box
as "1". In place as "1". An entirely
professional installation, with unbelievable
ease.
Century now spares you the "grief" of
aligning the projector and reproducer.
Film alignment is automatic, right on the
button every time. Every frame feeds true.
Your prints are treated to the tenderest loving
care ever.
Century's "all in 1" design is one of the nicest
things to happen for projection booths in a long
time.
Celebrate the Bicentennial.
Update your theatre with the new Century.
See your
Century Dealer
— or write:
CENTURY'S PROJECTOR/ REPRODUCER
-designed as
-packaged and
shipped as
-installed asC
• CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
« 32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. 11101

. . Ray
. .
DES MOINES
^he premiere showing of Mark IVs "A
Distant Thunder" was held at Des
Moines Tech High School Friday-Sunday
(14-] 6) with eight showings and an admission
of $2.50. "A Distant Thunder" is a
sequel to their first film "A Thief in the
Night." The picture stars Patty Dunning.
treated his late show customers to free coffee
and donuts March 31 . . . The Englert.
Iowa Citv. recently had a tie-up with a disco
den for "Saturday Night Fever."
Film Plans for 'Dribble'
Are Encountering Hassles
DES MOINES— Problems seem to be
nLimerous for producer Nicholas Nizich and
co-producer Michael de Gaetano. as they
plan to make a movie in Des Moines tentatively
named "Dribble." "Dribble" has to
do with girl's basketball which is very b g
in
these parts.
Nizich and de Gaetano feel the production
needs something to make it a boxoffice
hit. And what might that be? Suzanne Somers,
in a wet T-shirt yet. Actress Somers
currently appears in the ABC TV series
"Three's Company." The trouble is. Somers
comes high. A half-million dollars, said
Nizich and that doesn't leave much in the
movies $1,200,000 budget for other things.
Earlier Nizich and de Gaetano had announced
that Dick Van Patten, of the "Eight
is Enough" series, and Ruth Buzzi, of the
old "Laugh-In", were tentatively committed
to appear in the film. However, all of this
dickering with the moneymen is taking time
and they are not sure that Van Patten and
Buzzi will be available when needed.
Trying to move the filming location from
Des Moines to Dubuque was a Dubuque
reporter who called for a production announcement.
"This was odd," Niz'ch said, "because
most places where a movie has been shot
never want to see another film crew, what
with all the wrecked hotel rooms and so
on." Nizich said thanks but no thanks and
reiterated his intention to do the movie in
Des Moines. Adding to the problems, is
the fact that Veterans' Memorial Auditorium
in Des Moines is booked for the month
of June, the time set aside for location
work, and the crew will have lo scout out
another arena to use. Further complicating
the production picture is the fact that an-
other Hollywood film company is hoping
to cash in on the girls' basketball craze with
a film of its own, also tentatively titled
"Dribble." Nizch and de Gaetano plan to
come out with theirs first. They are hopeful
that the movie could be completed in time
for a premiere sometime in November.
"Dribble" will be the coproducers' third
movie.
They made their debut with a quickie
called "UFO Target Earth" which appeared
Central States:
as
Betty Hemstock the
received CBS late movie a while back and
a nice inheritance
they
recently in the form
followed that
of
up with "Haunted," starring
a 1937 Chevy. Should have some value Aldo Ray as
and Virginia Mayo. "Haunted"
is described as a
an antique . Truesdell, former city
soft-core horror film
manager at Ames underwent open-chest
which isn't quite ready for release yet in
this
surgery at Mercy Hospital on Monday country although it is already playing
(3).
in The surgery was successful
theatres
and Ray was
overseas.
to
be released Friday (14) . . . In Iowa City
recently to get the drive-in opened were
Arthur Stein. Glenn Nargang, Jacksonville and Clinton
WOMPI Urges
Smestad. Glenn Nargang is planning to take New Member Recruitment
an exciting boat trp, one of those "rapidsshooting"
runs down the Grand Canyon .
ATLANTA—Sandy Easley was active in
the Atlanta WOMPI scene for two years
Bob Morton, at the drive-in in Fremont with her husband Jennings Easley, American
Multi Cinema official who has been reassigned
to Jacksonville. Sandy is missed in
Atlanta. She wrote recently to her fellow
WOMPI:
"What a great response we had for the
'Champagne Meet and Greet Luncheon' at
the Century Cinema Corp.'s elegant screening
room. Now we know for sure that many
eligible Filmrow girls are not WOMPI's.
Almost every distribution office and many
exhibition agencies were represented. I still
can't believe the crowd we had, 70 of them
non-WOMPI. I want to thank each and
every WOMPI who helped with this affair.
It was truly a team effort which made it
such a success.
"We passed out 25 WOMPI applications
and each person was given a copy of the
WOMPI story. Hopefully we will get many
new members. I have foimd that recruiting
new members is only successful on the personal
contact level. Enthusiasm is contagious,
so talk about WOMPI to your prospects
and watch the Atlanta Club's membership
grow. Just to prove the point: we installed
a new member of the 20th Century-
Fox force, Linda Crane, and she in turn
has sponsored three new members in the
last month.
"As you read this missive I will be in
Jacksonville. It has been a great pleasure
being your second vice-president this year.
The board voted on my replacement and
I'm proud to announce that it saw fit to
name my sister Susan Franks, from New
World Pictures of Atlanta, as my replacement
for the remainder of the year.
"When we moved to Atlanta two years
ago, I must admit I missed my Jacksonville
WOMPI, but the Atlanta WOMPI family
adopted me right off and I feel so lucky to
have so many good friends in both clubs.
My new address is 3126 Himters Hill, East,
Jacksonville. Fla. 32216. Please keep in
touch and I will see you in Dallas in September
this year and in Jacksonville in
1979."
The letter was signed: "Love, Sandy Easley."
Dubuque Is One of Stars
At Unveiling of 'F.I.S.T'
DUBUQUE, IOWA—The long-awaited
movie "F.I.S.T." more than half of which
was filmed here, was unveiled recently in
Culver City, Calif.
Dubuque and its people, most of the
1.000 extras are from the city and nearby
areas, also have a major role in the film.
The movie is almost two and a half hours
long. An hour and twenty-five minutes of
the action occurs in Dubuqi:e locations.
There are several panoramic shots that show
the entire city. lowans will find many familiar
faces and familiar places throughout
the movie.
The picture was shot in the sprang of
1977 and into the summer and is about
the labor movement. The parts shot here
occur during the violent 1930s, when the
imions clashed with company men in bloody
battles. The actual location is supposed to
be Cleveland, Ohio. The movie starts out at
the south gate of the Cardaco manufacturing
complex near downtown. The complex
is unusual because there are several tunnels
leading to a central open loading dock in
the belly of the structure. They are used
effectively to show the discrimination to
which the dock workers were subjected.
There are several shots where former
Des Mo'nes resident Chuck Gradischnig
arm wrestles Kovac (Sylvester Stallone) and
Zigi, played by Hugo Bolba of Dyersville,
serves lots of beer with a big smile on his
face. During the big fight scene. Carl Vandermeulen
of Dubuque is prominent as a
polxe captain and John Bisenius of Dubuque
plays a policeman, who calls for aid
over a police radio. Ron Delagardelle of
Maquoketa plays a worker who gets fired.
Perhaps the most prominent local part is
that of Vince Williams, a Hempstead High
School theatre teacher, who plays the boss
of a group of seamstresses. Williams and
Bolba are listed in the screen credits. There
are many other Dubuque locations that are
easily recognizable.
The movie itself is a powerful film that
creates a series of impacts. It moves along
at a rapid pace and when it is over it is
hard to believe that two hours and 25 minutes
have passed. Two endings were tested
in a sneak preview, in one Kovac dies and
in the other he lives. In the final version
Kovac . . . well no fair telling.
lowans can find out for themselves at the
world premiere in Dubuque on Tuesday
(25) at the C'nema Center Theatres.
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 Shclron.
"Ice Castles" is
by Gary Baim.
based on an original story
NC-4
BOXOmCE ::
April

'
Hot Films Burn Slowly
During Last Toledo Run
TOLEDO. OHIO—The Toledo Blade reports
that three films declared obscene in
court were destroyed in a hospital's incinerator.
The report continues:
-Court officials reported that they were
having trouble finding a place to get rid of
the frims. which could not be burned in
conventional incinerators because of the
fierce heat, or outdoors because of pollution
standards.
•Tsmael Ortiz, the court security officer
assigned the task of destroying the films.
said he received an anonymous call that the
Riverside Hospital incinerator might be able
to dispose of the films.
"Ansclm Snyder. superintendent of
grounds and buildings at Riverside, said he
checked with Surface Division of Midland-
Ross Corp. and found that the facility could
take on the job.
"The dozen large garbage bags filled with
35mm film were hauled from the courthouse
vault to the outdoor incinerator. The
film tended to shrivel at first and then to
burn fiercely, with temperatures reaching
more than 1.500 degrees. Ortiz said.
"The final run of 'Deep Throat." 'The
Stewardesses.' and 'Without a Stitch' took
about one and a quarter hours in the doublechambered
incinerator.
"In addition to pollution-control devices.
the Rivers'de burner has a I 15-foot-tall
stack.
"Although they could be legally termed
'dirtv movies." the films staved under pollution-control
limits when they were burned,
Ortiz said.
"They had been confiscated at the Westwood
Art Theatre, where they were shown
during 1970 and 1973. and lawsuits brought
by private citizens invoked the state's antinuisance
law against their showing.
"The tip about the Riverside incinerator
wasn't the only one that he received about
destroying the films. Ort'Z said.
" T got about seven or eight calls. I think
most of them were pranks. They said they'd
be alad to take them off my hands.'
"Taking no chances on any collector's
items, Ortiz stood by until the last of the
film was gone—right down to the sprocket
holes.""
Karate Black Belt a Boon
For Budding Film Career
COLUMBUS. OHIO— One way to become
a film actor is to be a karate expert.
Jay T. Will. 36. of suburban Upper Arlington,
who holds a fifth degree karate black
belt, has been signed as a "bad guy"" in a
martial arts action film entitled "Jaguar.""
In 1976 Will, f^ve feet II inches tall and
weighing 218 poimds, became the ninth man
to enter the Black Belt Hall of Fame.
He will start work in June in New Mexico,
and from there travel to nine countries
for location shooting. "Jaguar"' is a James
Bond-type story of a CIA assassination
group, for which the agents are given animal
names. Will's principal occupation is operating
a karate studio.
FILMMAKING IN DETROIT—The mythical "Bethleheni Motor Company"
was the setting for shooting "The Betsy" in Detroit last year. Director Dan
Petrie (in hat) chats with Sir Laurence OHvier between scenes. Filmmakers "borrowed"
the offices of Parke, Davis & Co., a Detroit pharmaceutical firm, for the
shafting. Production of the film pumped an estimated $400,000 into the local
economy.
Ohio Obscenity Decision
Could Affect Film Trade
COLUMBUS—Ohio's obscenity law was
declared unconstitutional Thursday (13) by
Franklin County Municipal Judge Sidney
Golden, in a ruling which may lead to the
enactment of a new law by the next session
of the Ohio legislature. Judge Golden ruled
that the state law was too broad and that
it did not comply with the U.S. Supreme
Court's tests for obscenity set in 1973.
Though the decision came in a case involving
a bookstore owner in Columbus, the
effects will be felt by other media.
Ohio law says something can be called
obscene if it meets any of the three tests
for obscenity established by the U. S. Supreme
Court, according to the defendant's
attorney Larry Sturtz. But. he said, the high
court has ruled that all three tests must be
met for an item to be declared obscene.
He pointed out that Ohio law also says a
picture of a nude person is obscene in itself,
whereas the Supreme Court denied that
contention in 1967.
The three tests are: the item under scrutity
must appeal to prurient interest when
considered in light of community standards;
it must depict in a patently offensive manner
sexual matter or conditions, and it must
lack serious artistic, social or educational
value.
Sturtz, counsel for the defendant, said
other obscenity cases could be affected by
Golden's ruling, but the decision has no
binding effect on their rulings. If a judge
goes against the Golden decision. Sturtz
said he would appeal.
Dedham Sees 20th-Fox Release
DEDHAM. MASS.—"How Green Was
My Valley." 20th Century-Fox 1941 release,
was screened as a free attraction on
a recent Wednesday (3 and 6:30 p.m.) by
the Dedham Public Library.
Second Airer Screen Nixed;
Seen as Nuisance, Hazard
MAUMEE. OHIO— Plans by the
Northeast
Theatre Corp.. Boston, to add a second
screen to its Maumee Drive-In have been
halted by city mayor Arthur W. Buffington
on the grounds that the new screen would
constitute a nuisance and a safety hazard.
Observers saw this as a victory for a citizens'
committee formed by mothers who
had opposed the expansion.
Last December a building permit was
issued for the change after inspectors determined
that plans and specifications were
compatible with the industrial zoning for
the property at 1360 Conant St. When nearby
residents learned of the plan they formed
a group to oppose the expansion because
of the type of films that had been shown
on the existing screen. The residents said
that the R- and X-rated films were visible
clearly from various nearby fast-food operations
frequented by children, and also
could be seen from the highway and backyards
or houses. The group obtained the
signatures of about 5.000 residents who opposed
the second screen.
Mayor Buffington. in revoking the building
permit, said he was particularly disturbed
by an ad for a teenage sex film to
be shown at the drive-in. He said such an
offering did not indicate cooperation with
the group of residents who have objected
to "forced viewing of objectionable films by
the general public."
Ironically. Mayor Buffington has learned
since that the film was not shown at the
drive-in. and that the Maumee ozoner had
erred in placing the ad. In a letter to city
safety director Ver>n Ryan, the mayor ordered
a stoppage of work on the new screen,
saying it would he a nuisance and a hazard
for drivers who use Conant Street, and also
would have a "negative" impact on the
community. Conant is Mauniee's main Ihorought.ire.
BOXOFHCE :: April 24. 1978
ME-1

3rd
. . contains
. . . Sandler
. . . Sportservice
. .
In Cleveland, Tever'
Finds Further Favor
CLEVELAND—Saturday Night
Fever"
keeps on movin" and shakin' in its 16th
week at two theatres, drawing a high 480,
far outpacing its competition. Another Paramount
release about the music scene.
"American Hot Wax," did only average business
at situations. four ""The Goodbye
Girl," like "Night Fever" a pre-Christmas
release, hit an impressive 310. The week's
loser was "The Big Sleep." rating only a
sleepy 50.
(Average U 100)
Five theatres—House Calls (Ur;iv) 2nd wk 305
Five thectres—Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 2ncl w): 205
Five theatres—The Fury (20tr.-Fox) wk 225
,
Four theatres—The Goodbye Girl (WB),
15th
310
Four theatres—American Hot Wax
3rd wk
Four theatre-
Four theatres
One theatre Coma !UA), 8th wk
One theatre—Short Eyes (SR)
Six theatres—The Big Sleep (UA), 2nd wk.
Three theatres Casey's Shadow {Col),
2nd wk
Two theatres Close Encounters oi the Thir(
Kind (Col), 16th wk
Two theatres The Turning Point (20th -Fox)
15th wk
Two thectres Saturday Night Fever (Para)
Miami Writer Takes Issue
To PTA's Violence Stand
MIAMI — Veteran Miami Herald Collumnist
Jack Kofoed recently remarked:
The PTA is complaining about violence
on television. Most of those PTA members
attended the movies when they were youngsters.
Many of those films were westerns in
which whole families were slaughtered by
yelling, tomahawk-waving braves, who were
in turn shot down by gallant troopers of the
Second Cavalry.
"If the kids didn't see cowboys and Indians
killing each other, it was some bloody
thing such as 'Scarface' with Paul Muni,
'Public Enemy' with James Cagney, or
'Petrified Forest' with Humphrey Bogart.
'Those flicks made anything in a 'Kojack'
script seem like something for a Sundayschool
play. In the heyday of those movies
there was more violence in the streets than
there is today. So I can't buy the complaint
that the crime on televis'on will make criminals
of the young 'uns."
NFB Declines Unmerited
Credit for Hit Picture
MONTREAL—Credit the National Film
Board of Canada for wanting to cite credit
where credit is due. David Novek, director
of public relations, wrote this letter to the
editor the Hartford Courant, largest newspaper
in Connecticut:
Your otherwise fine review of the Canadian
film 'Outrageous!' . a couple
of errors.
It states that 'Outrageous!' was produced
"under the auspces of the National Film
Board of Canada.' While we would have
been very proud to have been associated
with this very tine Canadian film. National
Film Board was in no way involved in its
production.
It was produced by two of this country's
most innovative film personalities, William
Marshall and Henk Van der Kolb, who
raised most of the money from private investors.
"The only government involvement in
the film was an investment from the Canadian
Film Development Corp., which was
set up ten years ago to aid the development
of a Canadian feature film industry.
"The review also states that 'the film
stirred up a furor up north as provincial
sensibilities reeled and raged over its subject
matter.'
"I was not aware of any furor and
checked with the producers of the film, who
also were unaware of what your reviewer
was referring to."
Avco's 'Different Story'
Slated for NY Premiere
NEW YORK—Avco Embassy's offbeat
romantic comedy, 'A Different Story," will
have its world premiere at the Baronet Theatre
here Thursday (27), it was announced
by Bob Rehme, senior vice-president and
chief operating officer of Avco Embassy.
Two stars from the film. Perry King and
Meg Foster, and Paul Aaron, the director,
arrived in New York Wednesday (19)
for local ard national publicity. They also
w'M attend the premiere.
"A Different Story." also starring Valerie
Curtin and Peter Donat, was produced by
Alan Belkin and written by Henry Olek.
Michael F. Leone is executive producer.
Sales
Stock
Service
Serving Michigan and Ohio
RiNGOLD THEAlYlE EOyiPMENT CO.
952 Ottawa, rvJ.W. . Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 • (616)454-8852
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CLEVELAND
The Playhouse Square Foundation brought
the Pablo Jazz Festival featuring Ella
Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass and
Count Basic and his orchestra to the Palace
Theatre Tuesday (18) through Monday (24)
and Young with special guest
Rober Williams will appear at the Palace
Tuesday (25) through Sunday (30). Cleveland
is really shining with stars!
Academy Award-winner 'Annie Hall" is
now enjoying renewed success on six screens
in suburban Cleveland . . . and of course
"Star Wars" is still going strong.
Larry Crowley of Sportservice Corp. said
that if their drive-in patrons purchase both
a large soft drink and a large popcorn they
will receive a free poster of Elvis Presley
also has a new bumper
sticker promotion. The stickers will be given
to all patrons and read "We did it at the
Miles" and "We did it at the Auto" .
Sportservice is actively seeking further concession
opportunities in recreation and skiing
centers in the Cleveland area ... All
Sportservice managers should be much better
informed on all management policies this
season since the parent corporation has sent
instruction booklets to all
personnel.
Lorraine Crowley (Mrs. Lany) is interested
in buying or managing a theatre in
the Cleveland area or in Florida. Lorraine
has worked in the industry for many years
and is familiar with every aspect of exhibiting.
However daughter Margaret is opting
for a career in nursing. She has been accepted
into the nurses training program at Toledo
University Hospital.
Buying, Booking Service
Formed by Steve Smith
CHARLOTTE, N,C. — Steve Smith
opened a new buying and booking combine,
the Independent Theatre Booking Service.
Monday (3). Smith has been in the industry
quite a few years and formerly was affiliated
with 20th Century-Fox as booker, then
with Columbia Pictures, where he was a
booker and a student salesman. From there
he went to ABC's home office in Charlotte
as a buyer and booker and then with R. T.
Belcher (Twin States Booking). He will assume
the responbilitv for buving and booking
for the Janus I-li-III-IV-V-VI-VII Janus
Wings (Greenboro, N.C.). Falls I-II and Regency
I-II (Raleigh, N.C.), Center (Goldsboro,
N.C.), Colony House, Cinema MI
(Nags Head, N. C). Island (Hilton Head.
S.C). Mavberry Cinema (Mt. Airy, N.C.).
Liberty (North Wilkesboro, N.C.). South 17
Drive-In (Elizabeth City. N.C.), Greenbrier
I-II (Charlottesville, Va.) and Radford
(Radford, Va.).
Smith will be assi.sted by his wife Nancy.
He will make a personal swing to visit all
of his accounts at different intervals, and is
always looking for new potentials.
Sue Morz
ich has been appointed cxecueditor
of Columbia Pictures.
ME-2
April 24, 1978

This film is so terrific you
have to see it to believe it.
HUSTLER MAGAZINE

'Betsy' and 'Blue Collar'
Are Film Studies in Power
DETROIT— -Blue Collar" and "The Betsy"
both use the automobile industry as the
backdrops for their stories, but in actuality
the theme common to both films is power
and its affects on individuals. One succeeds
more than the other, as Jay Carr. staff
writer for the Detroit News, points out in
a recent article. He goes on to say:
Power, Not Cars
" 'Blue Collar' and 'The Betsy' both use
the automobile industry as their respective
settings, and large parts of both were filmed
in Detroit. But it would be a mistake to
think that cars count for much in either
film. Both films are about power, not cars.
"Paul Schrade, who made 'Blue Collar."
and Harold Robbins. the man behind 'The
Betsy.' see power differently, and the contrast
is fascinating. Schrader takes an angry
pessimist's view of power, lashing out at it.
Robb'ns gets mushy about power, sentimentalizing
it.
"In 'Blue Collar.' three buddies on an assembly
line are torn apart because the momentary
threat they pose to their corrupt
union is bad for business. Richard Pryor.
Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto, heavily in
debt, decide to break into their union's safe.
They find petty cash and a notebook listing
questionable union loans. When they try to
blackmail the union chief, the walls start
closing in. An increasing weight of pessimism
is felt as it dawns on us that they
never had a chance against the meatgrinder
system that chews them up.
Kotto
Most Effective
"As the hothead who is bought off with
a shop stewardship. Pryor sizzles. And Harvey
Keitel, as the Hamtramck member of
the team, is satisfyingly tightlipped as the
union's thugs drive him into the arms of the
FBI. Most effective, though, is Yaphet Kotto.
As an unschooled but street-wise ex-con.
he brings a smoldering world-weariness to
his role. He is the only one who has an overview
of their predicament.
"Pryor and Keitel supply the desperation.
Kotto. before he dies, trapped in a utility
room where jammed spray valves paint him
blue, knows why they are kept desperate.
Pryor can be bought off and Keitel can be
-m^m
m.
scared off. reasons tough Harry Bellaver.
the union chief known as Knuckles. But
they have no lever on Kotto. And so he is
killed because power is at stake.
"Schrader's last few films. "Taxi Driver'
and 'Rolling Thunder' and now 'Blue Collar'
have been remarkably single-minded in
their concentration on violence and the
forces that produce it. Here it is produced
by a simple addiction to power.
" Blue Collar is a gritty, unpleasant film
that means to get under not only Detroit's
skin, but America's, and does, by slapping
us in the face with the utter powerlessness
of the
three workers.
Factory Scenes Phony
"The factory scenes in themselves aren't
that remarkable. They were in fact shot in
the Checker Cab Co. in Kalamazoo, because
the shooting schedule would have disrupted
General Motors. Ford. Chrysler and American
Motors, ironically imderscoring the
point that keeping the line moving is what
counts above all else. The factory scenes
look staged, and when one worker rams his
forklift into a vending machine that took
his money and didn't give him a candy bar.
the message slips into heavy-handedness.
"But 'Blue Collar' pays blue collar types
the compliment of acknowledging them by
at least tyring to capture the flavor of their
lives with some degree of truth, as precious
few films have. And. without sentimentalizing
workers in the style of the '30s. it sympathizes
with the men who must endure the
deadening pressures of assembly line work.
Film Bleakly Pessimistic
"But above all it is an intelligently angry
attempt to come to grips with the insidious
process of social victimization of which the
dehumanizing line work is only the first
step. In its bleak pessimism, it may be the
first counter-Watergate film.
" 'The Betsy.' by comparison, is an insult.
Except for a perfunctory tour of an auto
plant, it never gets any closer to cars or the
men who make them than the soft-focus
Vogue Magazine spread of vintage cars that
opens the film. 'The Betsy' could as easily
be about the oil or pharmaceutical industries.
Aside from ritual titillation and roundrobin
sex. 'The Betsy' is about nothing
more than the last hurrah of an 86-year-old
auto patriarch.
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and concession sales, by using
Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films,
and Special Announcement films.
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'The character, known as 'Number One'
and played by Laurence Olivier, makes a
pious speech about building smaller cars to
serve people in a energy-short era, but all
he really wants to do is interrupt the boredom
of his Florida retirement by taking
the company he founded away from his
grandson. A plain and simple power play.
And 'The Betsy' meekly follows in the
footsteps of two decades of car ads by linking
power and potency.
Contemporary Lord's Right
"In 'The Betsy.' sex is simply one of the
accoutrements of power and women are
merely its badges. Olivier can sleep with
whomever he pleases because he rules an
auto empire. It is the contemporary droit
de seigneur.
"Throughout. Olivier simply clubs everyone
into submission with his potency, particularly
in the copious flashbacks. Part of
Olivier's appeal lies in his sheer mastery of
the craft of acting. It doesn't matter that
he uses half a dozen American accents. This
man. who has survived several dangerous
illnesses, who no longer can sustain stage
performances, and who. in what is laughably
referred to as real life, must carefully
marshal his strength, unquestionably convinces
as a powerful man.
Olivier
Earns Salute
"And also as a violent man. We feel hairtrigger
ferocity seething just beneath the
lines he purrs. Olivier supplies seductive
presence. Combining evil and sentimentality
like a latter-day version of old man Karamazov,
he almost diverts us from the resolute
shallowness of 'The Betsy.'
" 'Blue Collar' at least confronts some of
the forces that diminish us.
" 'The Betsy' refuses to, mendaciously trying
instead to personify them in a charming
old rogue."
'Jennifer' Draws Applause
At Dayton World Premiere
DAYTON. OHIO—"Jennifer" had its
opening premiere in the Southtown Cinema
here Friday (7) and opened in other
houses throughout the nation Friday (21).
Steve Krantz, former NBC program director,
spent a year and $2,000,000 to produce
the film, which in the promotion campaign
was compared to "Carrie."
The film stars L'sa Pelikan as Jennifer,
a supernaturally gifted teenager who is
taunted by her classmates at a girls' school
and uses her powers to get revenge. "Jennifer"
is rated PG and is playing at the Page
Manor Cinema on Airway Road and the
State Theatre in Springfield, as well as at
Cinema South.
In explaining why the film opened in
Ohio. Krantz said. "We chose Davton because
this has to be the most typical town
in the United States. If they like it here.
they'll like it everywhere, and from the
;ipphiusc al the end, 1 think they like it."
"Spider-M;ui" was directed by E. W.
Swackhanier and produced by Edward J.
Mortagno from a script by Alvin Boretz.
April 24, 1978

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Hadden Theatre Supply Co.
3709 Hughes Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Phone: (502) 896-9578
Ohio Theatre Supply Co.
2108 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: (216) 771-6545
Moore Theatre Equipment Co.
213 Delaware Ave. (P.O. Box 782)
Chorleston, West Virginia 25323
Phone. (304) 344-4413
BOXOFHCE ;: April 24. 1978

Lack of State Film Commission
May Cost Michigan Millions
DETROIT—The absence of a state film
commission to attract filmmakers to the
to co-found Station 12 because she believes
the media production industry in Michigan
area may be costing the state millions in
about to boom.
lost is
revenues, according to Alex Ben Block, staff
" 'We"ve had brushes with six feature
films since opening for business six months
writer for the Detroit News, who wrote at
ago. but not one of them shot here. Producers
length on the subject in a recent article. He
goes on to say:
don't want to come in a place where
"On a Saturday late last October, about
Nancy Evelyn
they aren't assured of help,' she said.
" 'Silence'" was lost because film month after Kelly and a
business
Orbach opened Station 12. their Southfield
is done by phone. When the first con-
casting agency and production service, they tact was made there needed to be someone
knowledgeable and informed who could
received a letter from the Detroit Producers"
have picked the phone and acted immediately.
Ass'n. The letter relayed a request from
up
David Niven Productions of Los Angeles
We"re an industry of minutes,
for information on locations and facilities not even hours, and we pay for things by
for a motion picture called "Silence,' which the minute. It's unreasonable to expect any
was about to begin production.
producer to wait for anything. There's too
much competition for their business.'
Horner Outlines Needs
"The request had been referred to the
producers" group by Sue Callaway, publicity
director of the Commerce Department's
Travel and Tourism Bureau in Lansing.
"In h's letter, Niven Productions Art
Director Harry Horner explained that the
multimillion-dollar 20th Century-Fox production
was considering shooting in Detroit.
Dearborn. Flint. Grand Rapids and Windsor.
It specifically needed, Horner said, a
tenement in an inner city black neighborhood
near several blocks of ghetto stores,
an elegant club, a hospital, a convalescent
home and a city where snowfall was ensured
during shooting. Most of all, the
company needed a fast reply.
Call Is Ignored
'Delighted at the prospect of another
film company coming to town, in a year
that had already seen 'The Betsy' and 'Blue
Collar' among others, Nancy Kelly called
Horner in Hollywood first thing Monday
morning. She was told he was out and
would call back. When he didn't, she called
again on Friday and learned the 'Silence'
company was already in Cleveland.
"There's no scarcity of ghettoes or snow
in Cleveland, and Ohio had one other important
added attraction: An active, aggressive
state film commission ready to provide
logistical information, state vehicles and
helicopters for site locating: help in arranging
reasonably priced services and a hand
to cut bureaucratic red tape.
" "This is a business of immediacy, everyone
has to have everything done yesterday,'
laments Miss Kelly, who quit her position
as an agent with the Leslie Fargo Aaencv
We can handle it!
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Studio System Out
"Once upon a time Hollywood made
movies on sound stages within shouting
distance of paternal producers. The end of
the studio system, the introduction of portable
equipment and the need for more
realism to satisfy sophisticated audiences
has changed that. Today most movies and
many television shows are shot on location.
"Producers scour the country for the
right backgrounds and then transport dozens,
sometimes hundreds, of actors and crew
members to the scene. And wherever they
land they require food, housing, transportation
and other resources. All this ripples
through the economy, generating everything
from additional retail sales to higher tax
revenues—and enhances the tourism industry
of the chosen state by creating a positive
image.
Film Commissions Growing
"To lure filmmakers and their multimillion-dollar
budgets, 35 states and eight major
cities have created film promotion offices
either as independent commissions or
as adjuncts of the governors' office. With
budgets from a few thousand to many
hundreds of thousands of dollars thev promote
their states in ads in the movie trade
papers, create service directories and assist
busy producers in finding and securing locations
at a reasonable cost.
"Michigan is not among the 35.
"In 1973 an internal state report reviewed
the situation and recommended formation
of a film commission within the Department
of Commerce in Lansing. Facing
apathy from legislators who didn't consider
movies much of a business, plus opposition
from powerful bureaucrats, the idea was
shelved. Instead the tourism office was told
to provide whatever site location help they
could with no additional budget.
"Sue Callaway, who is listed in "On Location,"
a national directory for moviemakers,
as the primary Michigan contact, says
she receives about ten calls a week but has
little to offer except to pass on the requests
to private companies or local associations
who might be interested.
" "Ld say we are losing millions because
we aren't making an effort to attract film
makers," she says. 'Geographically, Michigan
has everything in one state you could
possibly want: Lakes, islands, sandy beaches,
forests, unspoiled rural terrain and of course,
cities. Our potential is unlimited, but we arc
losing out every day."
"Mari Barnum-Soult. a former assistant
with the Ohio Department of Economic and
Community Development, became manager
of the newly created Ohio Motion Picture
and Television Film Services Bureau three
years ago. In 1977 her agency took credit
for attracting $7 million in film business to
Ohio. Among the ads she has run in Variety
ind the Hollywood Reporter is a picture of
in auto assembly line and a teaser suggestng
it might be in Detroit, followed by the
message that you can find such a scene in
"^
Ohio.
Michigan Is Failing
" 'Personally 1 think it's a gold mine up
there, and they aren't picking up on it.' Miss
Barnum-Soult says of Michigan. 'The whole
state is a desirable location. And with four
shows on autos last year, it could have been
a very big year—had they been organized.'
"Roland Sharette, deputy director of the
Michigan Council on the Arts, is chairman
of the ad hoc committee for a Michigan
film and TV commission. The group is working
with the New Detroit media steering
committee, the Detroit producers' ass'n. the
state AFL-CIO. the chamber of commerce
and others to convince Gov. Milliken and
key legislators to put Michigan on Hollywood's
map.
" 'The assets, from laboratories to locations,
are here," he says. 'Michigan is ideal,
but many productions have come in and had
nothing but problems. In Detroit they have
to talk to the mayor himself to get anything
done.'
Detroit's Efforts Rewarded
"New Detroit's initial efforts in the field
were to urge local industry— primarily the
auto companies— to spend more of their ad
budgets to make commercials at home,
rather than exporting them to New York,
Chicago, Miami or Los Angeles. Jack
Wertz. communications director, says that
effort has been an outstanding success. His
opinion is shared by others.
"The next step, says Wertz, is to create a
Detrol* med a production clearing house
that will promote the local filmmaking industry
as well as provide help for visiting
producers. Such a clearing house would be
a forerunner of a state film commission, he
explains.
" 'My problem has been that if I step on
any toes this could all blow up," says Wertz.
C I]VERAMA IS KV SHOW
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BOXOFFICE :; April 24. 197S

"We have a touchy situation because everybody
has axes to grind. We found that out
when we wanted to compile a directory of
film-related services. There are a lot of oneman
shops that didn't want to be listed. It's
so competitive they're afra'd of putting any
information into a directory.'
"Wilding Productions' vice-president Jerrold
Sundt. who is currently president of the
four-year-old producers' association, a loose
coalition primarily composed of people involved
in industrial filmmaking, says few
commercial or industrial filmmakers, or lo-
CLillv based ad agencies, want to support an
effort to bring in people who will compete
with them for business.
•'
'We often run into a blank wall talking
to corporations in the med'a industry,' explains
Sundt. 'Hollywood coming here
doesn't help them. They're only interested
if you can show how it would promote the
local
industry.'
Selfishness A Business Must
to-date facilities in the nation.
The Betsy' rom^ng to town didn't put
a dime in our pocket,' he said. 'If the whole
purpose of a Detroit film commission is to
bring in feature films, vou'll find few people
ready to chip in
these thousands of dollars.'
•'
T think the city has to have a person
or group who can act as coordinator for
the needs of the Detroit media production
industry, but the state must promote the
whole state,' suggests Robin Eichele, who
heads his own companv. Big Muscles Productions.
Eichele bemoans the loss of talent
which creates a kind of media Catch 22:
Although the technical facilities for more
business are here, there is a shortage of
skilled people when things get busy.
' 'People work here, develop reputations
and then change their base to the East or
West Coast,' says Eichele. "We're running a
service industrv to the majors that depletes
resources here.'
Vem Nobles Dubious
"How close to reality is either a city or
state film agencv? Verne Nobles, a commercial
and TV director who operates NL
Productions, is second vice-president of the
producers' association and co-chairman of
th" New Detroit media steering committee.
He thinks a privately financed city clearing
house must come first, and that it could be
geared up and operating within eight
months. He is very pessimistic about the
creation of a state agency in anything less
than two years.
"Nobles calls the ad hoc committee chaired
by Sharette 'lightweights,' and says they
are 'moving too fast in the wrong direction.'
" 'We need a state commission, but not
one that iust suppl-es location information,"
Nobles said. "We need a full-blown effort
and that takes time. "You need a system of
permits based on agreements negotiated with
each municipality, police department or
other affected agencies, if thev rush something
through Lansing we are going to end
up with a $20,000-a-year paper shuffler."
""While those in the Motor City feel
strongly a commission must be based in
Detroit, Miss Callaway of the tourism office
doesn't agree. 'From the standpoint of services,
the largest concentration is in Detroit,'
she says, 'but if it's a state bureau it makes
just as much sense to have it in Lansing.
The telephone works wonders, too.'
"Patty Knox, speaking for Detroit Mayor
Coleman Young, says the city is totally supportive
of efforts to attract films here, although
they forsee no money in the budget
to help grease the wheels of progress.
Governor Is Waiting
"Milliken's assistant on the arts, Libby
Schleiffarth, who has been studying the ad
hoc committee-New Detroit-producers proposals,
says she is interested but 'the governor
has not yet taken a position, because he
hasn't seen a complete proposal.'
"Meanwhile these are prosperous times
for the Detroit media production industry,
' 'They look at it selfishly, as any businessman
must to survive,' adds Randy Hippier,
president of General Television Net-
as it was when New Detroit stepped in at
so the pressure for action is not as intense
work, a video production company based the end of 1975.
"
in Oak Park, which has among the most up-
"I go to New York and they tell mc the
commercial business is dead.' says Ron
Rose, who opened a large modern recording
studio in Southfield to service the media
production industry 21 months ago. 'They
say they've heard Detroit is hot and ask if
they should fly out to drop off a tape.'
""
"If there is never a commission we'll still
get along,' savs Miss Kelly. 'We're already
doing work for most of the major companies
in town. But if our industry really
wants to expand, there will eventually have
to be a state commission to attract new business."
Detroit
Has Potential
""When "Danven-Omen IT shot in Chicago
they were there for approximately ten
days and dropped about $1,200,000. One of
the most misunderstood things about film
that it is an industry. It's transportation,
hotels, restaurants. The big job is one of
education.'
"' 'It's all here,' says Buzz Luttrell. 'There's
no reason Detroit can't be the Hollywood
of the Midwest.'
""What could creation of a film commission
mean to Michigan? Some answers
are provided by an unpublished survev circulated
among the motion picture and television
commission directors at their annual
meeting, held in January in Tucson (where
44 states, not including Michigan, were represented).
"Each participant was asked to estimate
how much new money had been brought
into its state by visiting film makers.
"Aside from California and New York,
the acknowledged leaders who provided no
figures (although the New York Times recently
estimated the film business at an annual
level of $100,000,000 in New York),
the leaders were New Mexico ($I.'^-$20,-
000.000), Texas ($1 2-$20,000,000) and
Georgia ($11,380,000).
".Among Michigan's neighbors, who because
of climate and geography are more
comparable to what wc might expect, the
is
big winners were Colorado ($7,600,000).
Illinois ($7,000,000), Massachusetts ($3,-
.'!00,000). and Ohio ($6,500,000).
""New Jersey, with tough competition
from New York, began its film commission
only a year ago and reports great success.
From almost nothing, their commission estimates
film makers spent more than $3,-
000,000 in New Jersey during 1977.
""When film companies spend $10,000 a
day or more on location, who really makes
what? The ad hoc committee for a Michigan
film and television commission came up
with some answers provided by Colorado,
where they set out to break down how more
than $23,000,000 was spent between July
1969 and August 1976:
TYPE OF SERVICE AMOUNT
Transportation $6,075,420
Local crew salaries 4,907,070
Location construction
and costs 4,439,730
Lodging 2,570,370
Casting (extras) 1,285,185
Contingencies 1,168,350
Crew expense 1.168,350
Ca'cring 934,680
Security 701,010
Local casting 116,835
TOTAL SPENT $23,367,000"
Four-Hour Bob Dylan Film
Still Blowin' in the Wind
CHICAGO— According to John Bream,
pop music critic of the Minneapolis Star,
finding a theatre for Bob Dylan's film "Renaldo
& Clara" has not been easy. Circuit
F'lms, the distributor, is said to be seeking
a Chicago theatre for the first screening in
this area. The picture reportedly had been
booked at the Biograph but a prior commitment
by the theatre forced cancellation.
In fact it appears that there have been
hitches even in renting a theatre in Minneapolis,
Dylan's hometown. The film did
manage to make it into the Varsity where it
played to about 4,000 people. While this
was only one-third of the potential capacity.
David Zimmerman, Dylan's brother, who
set up the Minneapolis-based Circuit Films
to distribute the picture, expressed satisfaction
with the attendance figures.
It is noted that Circuit also had wanted
to book "Renaldo & Clara" into the downtown
Skyway theatres operated by Plitt Theatres.
Inc. This deal with was not completed.
Mark Benenson of the Plitt organization
said, "We were booked for the dates that
Circuit wanted the theatre. But we also
wanted to wait for the New York and Los
Angeles reports. They were not impressive.
I didn't think we could come out ahead financially.
It's hard to make monev with a
four-hour film because you can have only
two shows a day."
Fred Krohn. a Minneapolis entertainment
lawyer and concert promoter who is
working with Zimmerman, sa'd, "This is a
thinking person's film. We now know to
book it in theatres that run intellectual or
art films. We're looking at the Eastern colliT'ie
market now. We expect the film to play
in 100 cities by the end of the year."
EOXOFHCE April 24. 1978 ME-7

. . . Mike
CINCINNATI
J^l Glaubinger has opened his Mid-America
Releasing at Northland Boulevard
and Shari Eugle of Buena Vista in Chicago
has moved back here to take the job of
booker for Al.
Rhoda Mospens, Universal Pictures, continues
her convalescence from gallbladder
surgery which she underwent approximately
a month ago.
Karen Hassler is the new secretary in the
booking department of Chakeres Theatres
Schector. Warner Bros, branch
manager here, and Bob Miller. Warners'
division manager, visited Chakeres Thea-
Bob Scarboiirgh, formerly of Holiday
.Amusements (in advertising) and salesman
for C. J. Ruff Film, Inc.. has taken the
position of assistant to Roy White, head
of Mid States Theatres. Bob currently is
working with Paul Grossman at Mid States.
The Shady Nook Theatre in Oxford has
suffered the loss of another of its owners.
Virginia Todd died Saturday (8) of natural
causes, exactly three months after the death
of her husband Stan Todd, who died Jan.
8. 1978.
Janet Brannock, Warner Bros, secretary,
is the proud mother of a baby girl, who
has been named Jill Marie.
EVERY
Susie Lewis is Mike Schector"s new secretary.
Susie has been working at Warner
Bros, for two years . . . Gail
White, cashier
at WB. will be married to Wilbur Harris
Wednesday (26). She will continue to work
at Warners after the wedding.
Lu Ann Winters of Tri-State Theatres
has returned to work following a leave of
absence. Her son Jason Michael was born
January 28.
May 20 Toledo World
Debut for 'Corvette'
TOLEDO. OHIO— For the first time in
its history. Toledo will be the site of the
world-premiere showing of a major motion
picture when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer unspools
"Corvette Summer" at the Showcase
Cinema May 20.
The premiere of the romantic comedyadventure
starring Mark Hamill and Annie
Potts will highlight a full four days of
special events centered around a gigantic
nationwide rally of Corvette sports car enthusiasts
who will be in Toledo to attend
the Corvette Jubilee Festival at the invitation
of Terry Michaelis.
world's largest supplier
of Corvette parts and accessories.
Michaelis estimates 5.000 Corvettes will
participate in a parade led by the $38,000
custom Corvette that shares star honors in
the film with Hamill and Ms. Potts, who
also will be present for the Toledo premiere
festivities, along with Hal Barwood, who
WEEK
Opportunity
in
Knocks
BOXOFFICE
• CLEARING HOUSE for Classified Ads
• SHOWIVIANDISER for Promotion Ideas
produced "Corvette Summer," and Matthew
Robbins, Who directed.
Mayor Doug DeGood has proclaimed
Toledo "Corvette City" for the day. Among
the many civi'c and government dignitaries
who will attend the premiere are Gov.
James A. Rhodes. U.S. Sen. John Glenn,
U.S. Sen. Howard Metz;nbaum. Congressman
Delbert Latta. Congressman Thomas
L. Ashley and MGM studio officials.
"Corvette Summer" begins its U.S. and
Canadian engagements in June as a United
Artists release. The picture will be distributed
throughout the rest of the world by
Cinema Internationa! Corp.
New Orleans WOMPI Slate
i
Of Candidates Announced
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans i
WOMPI club's nominating committee, consisting
of Gene Bamette, chairman Anna
Clare Leggitt and Yvette Cardinale. announced
the slate of officers for the 1978-
1979 year. The nominees are Anna Clare
Leggitt, Universal, president; Georgette
Leto, Universal, first vice-president; Yvette
Cardinale, New World, second vice-president;
Eunice Pceples, Gulf States Theatres,
recording secretary; Eileen Kaiser Dalier,
United Artists, corresponding secretary.
The election of officers is scheduled for
Tuesday (25) at Scvin's Restaurant in suburban
Metairie.
Marvin Hamlisch as been signed to write
the music for "Ice Castles."
• FEATURE REVIEWS for Opinions on Current Films
• REVIEW DIGEST for Analysis of Reviews
Don't miss
any issue.
ME. BOXOFnCE :: April 24, 1978

'Coming Home's' Hub
Homecoming Is Happy
BOSTON—Two new motion pictures arrived
in town with a googol of fans hitting
the ticivet wicket to welcome them. United
Artists" "Coming Home" was greeted hke
the prodigal son, turning an enviable 600.
There was no doubt about the runner-up.
either, as "An Unmarried Woman" proved
to be the most popular gal in town. The
20th Century-Fox release was credited with
a lusty 550. The rest of the averages ranged
from 100 to 250 and, as long as you're
making money, who's complaining? Perhaps
the most popular show in town was
not in a local theatre as the Bosox, with
Dennis Eckersley and Mike Torres added
for pennant insurance, returned to friendly
Fenway—now that's a homecoming!
(Average Is 100)
Charle 111—IJoming .
Cheri I—Coma (UA), 9'h wk
Cheri 11—An Unmamed Woman
Cheri III—The Man Who Loved \
5th wk
Chestnut Hill 1. Cinema 57 I—Hou Calls
(Univ), 3rd wk
Chestnut Hill II—High Anxiety (20th-Fox),
10th wk
Cinema 57 II, Circle Cmema 111—Saturday Night
Fever (Para), 17th wk
Circle Cinema I The Goodbye Girl (WB).
10th wk
Circle Cinema II, Pi Alley—The Fury (20'hTox),
4th
Exeter—Thot Obscure Obie
(SR)
10th wk, ...
Gary—Stroight Time IV.'B) 4
Savoy 1—Blue Collar (Univ),
Savoy II—A Hero Aint Nolhii
(New World), 3rd wk
Hartford Filmgoers Awaken
With Debut of "Big Sleep'
HARTFORD—United Artists' -The Big
Sleep," in auditorium two, Menschell Berlin
Cine 2; auditorium four, SBC Cinema
City 4; and auditorium one, SBC Cine Enfield
4, hit a brisk 275. States-rights', X-
rated "From Holly with Love" (double-bill),
Webster, generated 175, with leading lady
Joanna Miquel in town to autograph photos
opening weekend (Friday through Sunday).
Everything else held over.
Art Cinema—Expectations (SR), Beyond
Fulfillment (SR), 2nd wk 175
Atheneum Cinema That Obscure Object ol
Desire (SR), 5th wk 100
Avon Twin 1—Julia (20th-Fox), 11th wk 125
Cinema City 11—The Turning Point (20th-Fox),
11th wk 75
Cinema Citv 111, Mall Cinema—Blue Collar
(Univ), 4th wk 150
Four theatres Casey's 160
Shadow (Col), 3rd wk
Showcase I—House
Showcase II—
Calls (Univ), 2nd wk
Coma wk
250
(UA). 75
8th
Showcase III—Saturday Night Fever (Para),
17th wk 90
Showcase IV—The Goodbye Girl (WB),
16th wk 70
Showcase V—The Fury (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 225
Three theatres—The Biq Sleep (UA) 275
Three theatres High Anxiety (20th-Fox),
lOth wk 75
Three theatres Straight Time (WB), 3rd wk 165
Three theatres—American Hot Wax (Para),
.. 2nd wk 200
Webster From Holly with Love (SR),
Hot Oven (SR) 175
an unusual turn of events, added
a second feature with fourth week's run
of Universal's "Blue Collar." A Universal
rerim, "The Car," was slotted. Ads alluding
to "Blue Collar" enthused: "Is It Good?
Ask Anyone!"
Cine II—American Hoi Wax (Pa.-a), 3td wk 175
Cinemart I. Millord 1—The Goodbye Girl (WB)
10th wk
"The Amsterdam Kill' Is
The Leader in New Haven
NEW HAVEN—Columbia's "The Amsterdam
Kill," auditoriums two, RKO-SW
Cinemart 2 and General Cinema Corp. Milford
2, respectively, zipped along at a brisk
250. United Artists' "Equus" registered 225
at the Sampson & Spodick Lincoln. The
Whalley, in

I
BOSTON
^he Hub's I.A.T.S.E. local unanimously
re-elected the same slate
of officers for
a third term at their dinner meeting at
Nick's Restaurant. March 29. The officers
are Ray Anderson, president; Mary Dougherty,
treasurer; Donald Sandler, vice-president;
Peter Miglierini. secretary and Grace
Cardy. trustee. Roger Mintz conducted the
swearing-in ceremony before the 4S members
present.
Melvin R. Wintnian, president of GCC
Theatres Inc.. a subsidiary of General Cinema
Corp. annoimced a series of promotions
effective immediately: Larry Lapidus.
GCC's former vice-president for film, has
been promoted to senior vice-president for
film and will continue to work out of New
York. Tom Sherak. film buyer for GCC
units in Maryland. Virginia and the District
of Columbia, was picked to be Lapidus'
executive assistant. Larry Market, manager
of the South Bay Cinemas. Redondo Beach
Calif., has been appointed as the circuit's
Southern California division manager. The
28-year veteran will be based at the GCC
Avco Cinemas in Westwood.
Blaise J. Noto, United Artists' publicity
director, has been transferred to their Los
Angeles office where he will handle publicity
and promotion in Southern California.
Nevada and Arizona. He will work out of
the MGM studios in Culver City. Pat Verducci
took over the local publicity reins
Monday (3) with Ellen Lewis continuing as
publicity manager .. . Joe Rathgeb. Paramount
branch boss, held a trade-press
screening of "The Duellist" at the Judd
Parker Screening Room Tuesday (4). The
film stars Keith Carradine and Christine
Raine.
Warner Bros.' "Oh, God!" continues its
strong showing. The third saturation booking
opened in 35 theatres March 31. Tom
Duffy's Flick in Natick "went to the well"
for a fourth time, making a total of nine
weeks . . . Harvey Appell's NFB Films hosted
a screening of "Hi Riders" at the Judd
Parker Screening Room Thursday (6). The
picture is due to open here May 24 . . . Jay
Sands, Columbia sales representative, and
Richard Myerson, film booking office, flew
to Miami and. from there, took off on a
two-week cruise of the Caribbean.
55 '^^TCH PROJECTION IMPROVE >^
^ NEW TECHNIKOTE ^
S SCREENS 5
^ XRL (LENTICULAR) ^^
WHITE & PEARLESCENT ^
^ JET
y^^V Avoiloblc from vour outhorized
>i^il^Theo»re Equipment Supply Dealer
JTICHNIKOTE CORP. «3 Seob.ln, St.. B-klyn 3
John Markle, Columbia publicity direcaor,
was on the West Coast to visit the
wall near Steve's desk is a sign bearing the
admonition "Not Today. Josephine—This
Means You. Stanzler."
Bob MacPherson, Ellis Gordon Films'
office manager, is loud in his praise of the
Osmond family release "The Great Brain"
starring the clan's youngest member. Jimmy.
It breaks here July 12 . . . Lucia De-
Santi led the North Shore Cinema staff in
flooding Gloucester with 3,000 flyers annoimcing
the opening of "Straight Time"
for a two-week run . . . Justin Freed's Coolidge
Cinema feautred two Japanese samurai
films. "Sanjuro" and "Samurai Trilogy."
which offer a comparison of old Japanese
swordplay to the gunplay of the American
West.
Local filmgoers are eagerly awaiting the
word on the release of "See How She Runs."
a story of a woman runner in the Boston
Athletic Ass'n's marathon held annually on
Patriot's Day. April 17. Joanne Woodward
stars as the female marathoner .
. . Tourists
will have added attractions when they visit
Beantown this year. Two motion pictures.
"Oliver's Story," a sequel to "Love Story."
with Ryan O'Neal, will be filmed in Cambr'dge
this May and Peter Falk will be in
town to shoot some scenes for William
Friedkin's opus, "Brinks," in April.
Pat Patenaude is back at his desk at Variety
Club headquarters after a spell in a
local hospital. Pat's return sure perks the
place up. Bill Koster was also smiling
broadly over the new membership campaign.
Helping out are Red Sox immortals
Ted Williams. Carl Yazstremski and Bob
Montgomery. The tent facilities are currently
undergoing a spruce-up campaign.
The Variety annual golf meet is slated for
June 12 at the Oakley Country Club. This
year's tournament will observe the local's
25th anniversary, so get in touch with Pat
and aet vour name in "toute suite."
Nimoy Attends BC Lunch
BOSTON—Leonard Nimoy. soon to be-
it provides a sense of commimion and insiahi
into ourselves."
VERMONT
studio and attend advance screenings of
Steve Barbett. AIP
summer releases . . .
booker, insists that Joe Stanzler brings his Y^t another public relations outlet has developed
grandson along on visits to Filmrow as
in Vermont. The state's largest
"muscle" during booking negotiations. On a
newspaper, the morning Burlington Free
Press, is now publishing a series of profiles
on Vermonters at work. The first feature
focused on the manager of a Burlington
shoe store. Somewhere along the line, of
course, someone in exhibition will be
Preliminary figures provdied by a University
of Vermont economist's study indicate
that rural land prices have markedly
dropped in the state's southern and eastern
portions since the land gains tax was imposed
five years ago to slow real estate
speculation. The tax at the outset imposes
a 60 per cent levy on profits from land
sold less than a year after purchase and
declines over six years. Some state legislative
leaders have claimed that the tax has not
curbed land speculation, per se, and they
are seeking repeal. Agricultural economist
Neil Pelsue's survey found land prices
dropping in two of three areas of the state
he studied and sales to non-Vermont residents
decreasing in all three. An acre of
undeveloped property in southern Vermont,
he said, sold for an average of $638 in
1973 but $550 three years later. A similar
drop was indicated in eastern Vermont and
a slight increase in central and northeastern
Vermont.
David Parnigoni has sold WKVT-Radio.
Bratlleboro. to a group headed by Donald
Webster of South Burlington, subject to
Federal Communications Commission approval.
The terms involved were not disclosed.
Webster, who was development and
community affairs secretary under former
governor Thomas Salmon, chaired the Vermont
Democratic State Committee in 1972.
Among holdovers, the record of the
moment seemed to be Paramount's "Saturday
Night Fever." in its fifth month's stay,
auditoriimi three, of the Merrill Jarvis Theatres'
Merrill's Showcase 3, metropolitan
Burlington first-run plex. Close on its heels,
short by only a week or so, was Columbia's
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind," in
auditorium two of the Merrill Jarvis Theatres'
Century Plaza 2, the independent cir-
gin work on Paramount's "Star Trek" theatrical
cuit's other metropolitan Burlington first-
plex.
film project, participated in a Parker run
House luncheon at which plans were outlined
Also staying on: 20th Century-Fox's "The
for Boston College's planned theatre "Julia." "The Turning Point." "High
Ftiry."
arts center. Nimoy, who developed his acting
Anxiety," Warner Bros.' "The Goodbye
interest while attending the college, re-
called he performed the Girl." United Artist's "Coma." among
that his first role at
age of 17 at the now-defunct Elizabeth Peabody
other titles.
Playhouse. "\ realized then." he said,
"that acting was more than entertainment
Hub Has 50 Freebies Weekly
BOSTON \ Boston Globe survey indicated
that there are approximately 50 free
film showings any week on Boston educational
campuses.
CWERAMA IS UV SHOW
BrSUTESS UV HAWAII TOO,
Wlien you conic to Wulklkl,
don't miss the famous Don H
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel. f

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Century now spares you the "grief" of
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Film alignment is automatic, right on the
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Your prints are treated to the tenderest loving
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Phone: (617) 542-6797
BOXOmCE :; April 24. 1978 NE-3

New England Exhibitors Are Advised
To Become Aware of Local Economics
By ALLEN M. WIDEM
HARTFORD—On a state-by-state level,
the viability of New England's economy is.
by no stretch of the imagination, varied and
diverse. The status of the economy, regardless
of how the individual exhibitor
looks at the matter, affects the status of
cinema profits. It behooves a conscientious
exhibitor to delve into the reason involved
with maintenance of sound busiess
conditions in his immediate periphery.
Chamber of Commerce participation is a
must and personal participation in service
organizations is vital to generating growth
of boxoffice returns.
Fable, Fact Rampant
It is noteworthy that both myth and fact
abound in any discussion of New England's
economy. Ralph R. Widner. president
of the Academy for Contemporary
Problems, told a gathering of 180 members
of the New England Ass'n of Chamber
Executives in Springfield. Mass.. that while
the story persists that northeastern labor
climate is bad. the truth is that man-days
lost by work stoppages lag behind several
other manufacturing regions.
The insistence by some sources that New
England's manufacturing climate is poor, is
refuted by Widner. He contends that the
rate of productivity improvement has been
ahead of the southern states since 1963. As
for erergy costs, thes; may be higher in the
New England states, he conceded, but the
fact remains that energy costs are increasing
at a faster rate in the southern states.
Hostilities
Are Barrier
What's needed at this point in time for
New England is a diminishing of "antagonism"
between business, labor and government.
The region needs to f>ool its resources.
An investor responding to a survey. Widner
went on. asserted, "Why should I put up
with the hassle up here (New England) when
I could get loved to death down there
(south)?" The New England states, according
to Widner, could spark entrepreneurial
expansion by reassessing methods of investment
regulation, improvement in labor skill
training "because vocational and educational
systems have lost touch." There is a need
to bring the cost of doing business under
belter control and the latter does not imply
relying on preferential tax abatements. The
abatement concept. Widner said, does not
always work.
"We have to re-invest the future using
our Yankee ingenuity." Widner told his
Springfield audience, "capitalizing on popu-
ARTOE 'WATER COOLED' CONTACTS
1243 W.BELMONT CHICAGO
lation and other demographic changes that
have taken place since 1960. when the
southern states began to grow at a rate
much faster than the more mature northeast."
What's happening on a state-by-state
it basis, particularly as pertains to New
England exhibition?
—Maine
Maine On Upswing
was one of three New England
states to chalk up population gains (New
Hampshire and Vermont were the other
two). Even more important, from an exhibition
standpoint, is an evident escalation in
manufacturing employment across the Pine
Tree state. Electrical machinery manufacturing,
for a striking example, is looking
to chalk up a brisk 22% increase by 1980.
John E. Menario. executive vice-president
of the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce,
emphasizes a veritable turnaround
as far as economic expansion concerned
is
in southern Maine. There is decided improvement.
To the north. Bangor will have
a 500.000-square-foot shopping mall, at
cost of $30,000,000, operational by early
General Cinema. SBC are among multiauditorium
fall.
plex exhibition interests across
Maine.
—Massachusetts points to 1977 expansion
by in-state manufacturing firms, providing
upwards of 10,000 new jobs (the
highest such figure in three years). Sack.
Redstone, General Cinema, Interstate Theatres
of New England and a flock of theatre
circuits with home-bases in Massachusetts,
significantly, have expanded, rather than
cut-down. The Redstone Showcase 6. Seekonk.
is presently the largest multi-auditorium
plex in the eastern part of the state,
the same circuit's Showcase 8, West Springfield,
the largest in the western sector, and,
for that matter, largest in New England.
New Hampshire Growing
—New Hampshire, as of now. the only
one of the 50 states without a general sales
tax or personal income tax. is experiencing
enormous industrial expansion, especially
in the so-called "southern tier," which abuts
Massachusetts. Conservative governor Meldrim
Thomson has this sign posted on his
office wall: "Low Taxes Come From Low
Spending." Most recent exhibition expansion
in the Granite state encompassed construction
of a four-auditorium plex by SBC
in the Newington Mall.
—Vermont is continuing to enjoy economic
growth, bulk of it in the more populous
Chittenden county (metropolitan Bur-
I'ngton), Luther F. Hackelt, who chairs
governor Richard Snelling's Council of Economic
Advisors, has remarked that personal
income can be expected to rise 10 per cent
this year. Upwards of 6.000 new jobs are
predicted. Again, multi-cinema units arc
Ihc dominant factor in exhibition, with kev
plcxcs under Merrill Jarvis and ,SBC ban-
—Rhode Island, in a typical demonstration
of tenacity and drive, got out of its
February blizzard economic slump with
vigor. The region's (and the country's) smallest
state is holding its own as far as economic
stability is concerned. The state's exhibition
interests, like counterparts across
New England and the nation, do as well
with product as anybody else. Downtown
Providence may yet see a resurgence of the
prominence once held by the long-shuttered
States Theatre. A private, non-profit corporation
is seeking to raise money to operate
a performing arts center in the Loews
showcase.
Conn. Southwest Focus
—Connecticut's main thrust, as far as
economic expansion is concerned, is focused
on the southwest. Fairfield county is presently
"home" to an increasing number of
major corporations that have opted for relocating
from New York City. From Danbury
in the north to Greenwich in the south,
the area is adding industrial plants and corporate
headquarters on a scale merely
dreamed about by more ebullient state officials
a generation ago. Cinema construction
has concentrated, not so surprisingly, in
shopping centers and the like. Nothing major
is on the horizon at this time, as far as
cinema construction is concerned in the
southwest. But, exhibition being exhibition,
such projects are subject to what the trade
fondly calls "instant evalution."
If an exhibitor has paid attention to political,
economical and sociological developments
in his immediate area he can predict
profit patterns. Being more than a mere
"joiner" of Rotary, et al. with vigorous participation
in meaningful municipal improvements
and impact, will give an exhibitor a
better view of what he can. as an individual
as well as showman, do to help upgrade a
community's outlook.
Vets Lead Way
Veteran exhibition executives such as
Albert
M. Pickus of Stratford, Conn, (a past
president of the. then Theatre Owners of
America); Peter G. Perakos jr.. assistant
general manager. Perakos Theatres, New
Britain, Conn, (he is a former city treasurer
of New Britain) and a hand full of other
community-minded exhibition people across
the New England states reflect the "bestfoot-forward
concept." They know that
exhibitor,
the
willingly sitting down with a local
or regional chamber of commerce to purposely
project upgrading of an area's economy,
does not label the individual a concerned
exhibitor as much as a concerned
citizen. The difference emphasizes the showman
that is part of the phrase showmanship!
'Sylvia Scarlett' at Harvard
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — "Sylvia Scarlett."
RKO 1935 release starring Katharine
Hepburn, was shown at the Harvard Science
Center on a recent Sunday at 7:30 and 9:30
p.m.. under sponsorship of the Radcliffe-
Harvard Women's Center as a benefit for
local feminist publications. Admission was
NE-4 BOXOFnCE :: April 978
$2.

. . . Twinning
. .
HARTFORD
yariations on a theme: The marquee at
the
Perakos Cinema One. East Hartford,
carried the lines. "Henry Wini^lcr Is The
One And Only— PG."
The committee backing state senator
Lewis B. Rome for the Republican gubernatorial
nomination took space in the shuttered
Central Theatre. West Hartford, at
the same time using the long-unused marquee
for words reading. "Lew Rome For
Governor." The building is owned by Hartford
Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n and
closed down several years ago. The operators
had included, among others, Warner
Bros. Theatres. Park Street International
Co.. Hartford Theatre circuit and Esquire
Theatres of America Inc.
The Canton Cinema is the new monicker
for the Jerry Lewis Cinema off Rte. 44
of the Perakos Elm. West
Hartford, was accomplished at a brisk pace.
The work was completed (after extended
engagement of Columbia's "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind") with regional bows
of 20th Century-Fox's "An Unmarried
Woman." auditorium one. and Avco Embassy's
"Rabbit Test." auditorium two
The real estate firm of
.
Dow & Condon
is seeking to either sell or lease the shuttered
Keppner-Tarantul Burnside 2, East
Hartford, and the Cine Webb, Wethersfield.
which was under the Lockwood & Gordon
banner for many years.
Connecticut Business Trends, bi-monthly
publication of the Connecticut Bank &
Trust Co., cites the need for further gains
in some of the state's labor market areas,
especially Ansonia, Danielson. Norwich and
Torrington. "On the other hand." the findings
continue, "if these numbers are correct
(CBT business indexes). Norwalk. Stamford
and Willimantic began this year with unemployment
rates that indicate the possibility
of a general shortage of labor in
before the year is over."
these areas
The 2,700-seat Bushnell Memorial, nonprofit
auditorium used sporadically for motion
pictures (but. generally, for cultural
programs), is seeking to cope with financial
woes. Some 12.000 brochures have been
prepared for mailing as part of the first
mass public appeal for funds. Mrs. Douglass
Wright, who chairs the Friends of the Bushnell,
says brochures are being mailed "to
anyone and everyone who has shown an
interest in the Bushnell over these many
years." The facility dates back 50 years.
The Noah Webster Foundation and Historical
Society of West Hartford sponsored
a showing of Paramount's "The Devil Is
A Woman." 1955 release starring Marlenc
Dietrich and directed by Joseph Von Sternberg,
at the Atheneum Cinema; tickets sold
for $10. Chamber music was provided before
the showing by the Hartt School of
Music. University of Hartford, and a champagne
reception with hot and cold hors
d'ouevres followed the screenins.
"There Was An Old Couple," Soviet 1965
import, was shown at the Roaring Brook
Nature Center. The $2.50 tab included hoi
cider and cookies.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded
study conducted by Thomas Steahr. University
of Connecticut rural sociologist, says
that while people in other states are found
to be moving from cities to rural areas for
reasons of economy. Connecticut residents
seem to emphasize peace-and-quiet as prime
factor for rural life over urban dwelling.
Steahr says. too. that some 80 per cent of
.'!.'?
the 400-plus rural households in small
towns interviewed said they prefer their
lifestyle even if it means a long commute
to work. They also agreed that the country
is presently preferable to the city because
it has less crime, more freedom, is more
attractive and is a better place to raise
children. "It's unusual to find such agreement
in a survey of this type," Steahr adds.
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
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."
Redstone Units Open Flea Market
BOSTON— Redstone Theatres' suburban
Neponset and Revere Drive-In Theatres
have opened their Sunday flea market/ swap
and shop schedule for the season. Activity
is scheduled at both underskyers from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
All four of the circuit's suburban driveins
are open for the year; the roster,
in addition
to Neponset and Revere, includes the
Dedham and V.F.W. Parkway. All four are
charging $4.50-per-carload. regardless of the
number of passengers.
Regional Film Fest
Ends at Dartmouth
HANOVER. N.H.—Thc S:h Annual
Student Film Festival ended al Dartmouth
College with the selection of the winners.
The triumphant regional filmmakers qualified
for national competition against the
champions from six other regional festivals.
The national kings and queens of student
filmmaking will be crowned later this year
at the Motion Picture Academy.
The top films, and filmmakers, picked
were "Dead End." Janet Shapero. Museum
School at the Museum of Fine Arts. Boston.
Best Animation. The rimner-up was
Harvard's Carter Burwell for "Help. I'm
Being Crushed by a Black Rectangle." Best
Documentary honors went to Mark Ranee.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for
"Mom."
"Button. Button" wen the Best Dramatic
film crown for Burton Lee Harry of the
University of Bridgeport. Close behind in
this category was the host school's Tom
Ropelewski with "A Hollywood Story."
The Experimental Group award was taken
by "Triptych," the work of Hampshire
College's Matthew Patrick. The team of
Jeff Carpenter and Mary Larkin carried a
special award back to the Rhode Island
School of Design for their effort entitled
"Rapid Eye Movement."
The consensus of judges, critics and viewers
was that this program was successful
and that the selections as winners truly merited
their honors despite some stiff and surprisingly
professional competition.
Loews' Palace in Capital
City Awaits Demolition
WASHINGTON — Loews' Palace Theatre,
a carpeted 2.000-seat showplace, glittery
with chandeliers and tapestries, closed
Sunday (16) to await demolition. The site
will become a unit in an inn;r-city shopping
mall. Quadrangle Develoj-ment Corp.. which
bought the Palace, soon will have its wreckrg
ball razing the structure.
Loews Palace's last feature showing was
"Blind Rage." with that picture's engagement
ending Thursday (6). A live stageshow
from New York City. TP Productions,
played the following week. Friday (14) and
Saturday (15). all-night films, a Ray Bently
booking, occupied the big screen before the
demise of the showhouse.
Fred Erling. Loews area manager, moved
his office from the Palace to Loews'
Embassy, a 567-seat contemporary theatre,
also in northwest Washington. Tom Luck,
former assistant to Erling. has not announced
his plans.
Stuart Hoffman, manager of the Embassy.
s transferring to one of the circuit's units
in another city, while assistant manager Vay
McNeill will continue her duties at the
Embassy as assistant to Erling.
W. Trambukis from Loews' home office
in New York City has been a recent visiting
official consummating his company's
business.
EOXOmCE April 24 1978 NE-5

. . The
. . Whitney,
. .
. .
. . Lincoln
MAINE
^mong Pine Tree stale premieres: Uni-
versal's "House Calls" plus "The
Other S'de of the Mountain Part 2." Columbia's
"Casey's Shadow," plus statesrights'
X-rated "A Coming of Angels" and
The E.M. Loew's
Fine Arts Twin Cinemas, in-town Portland,
playing Buena Vista's "Candleshoc," auditorium
oni:, advertised: "Disney Prices
Matinee Or Evening, Under 12, $1.50; All
Others, $2"
. . . North American Productions'
"Sasquatch" was back in Portland,
for 1 and 3 p.m. showings on a recent
Saturday and Sunday, with $1 admission
charged at all four performaces.
Holdovers include United Artist's
"Coma," Warner Bros.' "The Goodbye
Girl," 20th Century-Fox's "Julia," "The
TLirning Point." "The Fury," Buena Vista's
"Candleshoc," Universal's "House Calls,"
"The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2,"
Paramount's "Saturday Night Fever,"
"American Hot Wax," among other titles.
General Cinema Corp.'.s Maine Mall Cinemas
3, South Portland, are charging $1.50,
all three auditoriums, to 2 p.m. daily.
There was plenty of newspaper ad content
urging moviegoers to watch Oscarnominated
shows prior to Monday (3), but
only a small number of cinemas went ahead
and used reminders of the Oscar telecast
itself in advertising.
Ten motor vehicles quickly piled up on
icy Rte. 161 near the Polaris Drive-In.
Caribou, on a recent Friday at 4:50 p.m.
The occupants escaped with only minor injuries,
but damages totaled $21,000. State
police said that the icy condition of the
highway just north of the underskyer was
the contributing factor. The accident site
was not far from the general area where,
several days earlier, some 50 vehicles had
collided within a two-hour time span because
of poor visibility and wind-driven
snow.
A year's supply of "Rickie and Debbie
in Sardineland" comic books and a poster
showing Farrah Fawcett-Majors falling off
a skateboard were among prizes offered by
the Maine Public Broadcasting Network in
its "12th Annual Fritz Lyon Academy
Awards Sweepstakes Contest."
The Peninsula Film Society sponsored a
showing of the Gallic import. "Playtime"
at the Blue H'll Town Hall on a recent
Friday evening at 8 p.m. ... A Margaret
Rutherford Festival was held at the Hancock
County Auditorium, Ellsworth, that
same Friday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Shown
were "Murder Ahov" and "Murder Most
Foul," both MGM 1964 releases . . . The
University of Maine's Fort Kent campus
film festival continued with showings of
"Topaz" (Universal, 1969): "The Magician"
(Janus, 1959); and "The Third Man'MSelznick
Releasing. 1950), in Cyr Hall Auditorium.
The Empire Theatre, Lewiston. brought
back Allied Artists' 1977 Oscar-winning release,
"Black and White in Color" .
Two Charlie Chaplin classics, "The Gold
Rush" (1925) and "The Immigrant" (1915).
were shown by the Grange in the town of
Troy, the program supplemented by cartoons.
Refreshments were served, and the
Grange provided babysitting service . . .
Warners' "Dog Day Afternoon" was shown
at 7:30 p.m. on three successive nights in
Bailey Auditorium, University of Maine
Gorham campus.
NEW HAVEN
H 55-year-old employee of the Stamford
Theatre was shot and wounded during
a Simday night holdup attempt. Police said
that Edward Augustine was shot after two
imidentified men attempted to rob the cinema
at about 10:15 p.m. The duo fled without
taking any money.
The Hoffman Capitol, Milford, with subsequent-run
booking of Paramoimt's "Saturday
Night Fever" (double-billed with
Paramount rerun, "Joseph Andrews"), advertised
Simday afternoon admission (to 4
p.m.) of 99-cents, with charge jumping to
$1.65 at that hour . Milford Drive-
In opened for the year. The first program
was comprised of Paramount's "Looking
for Mr. Goodbar" and "Lipstick" . . .
Branford, in an unusual ad development
for a suburban situation, emphasized. "No
Passes Accepted," for playdate of Universal's
"The Other Side of the Mountain
Part 2."
Cines 2, New Haven, are continuing an
innovative promotion with Soffers Barn
Restaurant, which is directly across from
the plex; the price of a dinner includes
New
a ticket to Cines 2
Haven, sub-rim of 20th Century-Fox's "Star
Wars," is advertised thusly: "Will Not Play
Elsewhere Until Summer!" The Whitney
engagement went into its fifth month's stay,
incidentally.
.
Veteran character actor Theodore Bikel
performed in concert at Yale University's
Woolsey Hall, sponsored by the Lubavitch
Youth Organization of Connecticut
Arthur's, retail store in the Hamden Mart,
as well) Columbia's "Casev's Shadow," auditorium
one, and Warner Bros.' "The Cioodbye
Girl," auditorium two, with a $1.50
admission in effect to 2:30 p.m. . . The
.
Edmond Town Hall Theatre, Newtown,
which has been on a $1 admission policy
at all times, upped the price to $1.50 for
reprise of Warners' "Start the Revolution
Without Me," explanatory advertising copy
reading, "Due to special promotion contract
with Warner Bros,, admission for this feature
will be $1.50 for all seats."
Estelle Parsons, equally at home in motion
pictures and theatre, has been starring
in Brecht's "Man Is Man" at the Yale University
Repertory Theatre. "I like to be
frightened ... in the abstract," she said
the other day. "I don't like rock climbing,
because the stakes are too high. And I would
never go snow climbing where you jump
over crevasses that can give way any minute.
But I do I'ke things that are thrilling. I
like acting for that reason, too. You never
know what's going to happen, who's going
to do what."
A number of British film imports have
been shown in the area of late Harold Pinter's
"Accident" was screened as a free attraction
on a recent Friday at 8:30 p.m. by
th; Greenwich Town Library. Admission
was restricted, incidentally, to Greenwich
residents . . . The Yale University Center
for British Art screened two Joseph Losey
1960 releases, "Blind Date." "Chance Meeting,"
on a recent Saturday afternoon at 2
WORCESTER
p.m.; admission was free, with limited seat-
folding over in mid-Massachusetts: 20th
Century-Fox's "High Anxiety" plus
"The Fury," Columbia's "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind" and "The Boys in Company
C." Allied Artists' "The Betsy," Paramoimt's
"Saturday Night Fever" plus
"American Hot Wax," United Artist's
"Coma," Universal's "Gray Lady Down,"
Warner Bros.' "The Goodbye Girl" and
"Straight Time." among other titles.
The Lincoln Plaza 2 plex is using a new
ad logo, emphasizing free parking and citing
the exit ramp number off Route 70 and
290.
The town's biggest plexes, Redstone
Showcase 4 and Galleria Cinema 4, have
opted for $1.25 admission for children at all
times. The adult tab approach is something
else. The Redstone plex (plus Redstone
Cinema One and White City 2) charges
$2.50 for adults every day, all performances,
while the Galleria plex charges $1.25
for adults to 2 p.m., with the $2.50 charge
in effect from that hour to closing.
. . .
The Redstone Showcase 4, showing "The
I hosted a free children's show at 1 a.m.
the other Saturday morning for those aged Fury,"
Passes
(auditorium
Accepted" .
one) advertised,
Plaza 2
"No
(auditorium
12 and under: ads enthused, "Mom
Shop in
. . .
Peace, As We Watch For You!"
two), with Paramount's "The One
Adjacent RKO-Stanley Warner Cinemart 2 and Only." advertised. "All Seats $1.25"
was showing that afternoon (and evening
Fine Arts Cinema, on X-rated film
policy, advertises. "Group Rates Available
—Gift Certificates Available— Adults Only!
Must Have Proof Of Age!"
GalUc Classic at Hub Library
BOSTON—The French Library hosted
three davs of screening of the Gallic import.
"La Chinoise." directed by Jean-Luc God:ird
and released in 1968.
NE-6 BOXOmCE April 1978

"
RHODE ISLAND
Regional premieres: Universal's "House
Calls," 20lh Century-Fox's "The Fury."
Lln'ted Artists' "The Bi.a Sleep," Warner
Bros.' "Straight Time," Paramount's "The
Serpent's Egg," plus states-rights' X-ratecl
product— "Butterfly," "Foxy Lady," "Fl\
Me," "Helena." "Rooms." "Gay Divorcee.
"Bizaire Moods." "Erotic Fortune Cookie."
"Three the Hard Way." "Mania." among
others.
Continuing titles: Universal's "Gray Lady
Down." Columbia's "Close Encoimters of
the Th rd Kind," "The Boys in Company
C," Paramoimt's "The One and Only," "Saturday
Night Fever," "American Hot Wax,"
UA's "Coma," Cinema 5's "A Special Day."
Allied Artists' "The Betsy," Warners" "The
Goodbye Girl," 20th-Fox's "High Anxiety,"
among others.
The Cranston Drive-In opened for the
season, advertising admission of $6-a-carload
(regardless of number of passengers).
The initial program was comprised of two
Paramount releases, the current "The One
and Only" and reprise, "Marathon Man."
Newport is getting a 1978 iazz festival.
A schedule with top "names" is planned
for Fort .Adams State Park over the July
1-4 weekend, by Rhodv Productions. The
state of Rhode Island will
collect 4 per cent
of the gross ticket receipts, or $1,000 daily,
whichever is greater.
The Providence Journal-Bulletin, in an
unusual touch, had a reporter who served
in Vietnam review Columbia's "The Boys
in Company C" instead of a conventional
amusement staffer. The lead paragraph asserted:
" 'The Boys in Company C just
might be a bigger fraud than 'The Green
Berets.' John Wayne's inane attempt to reduce
the horrors of the Vietnam War to
cowboys and Indians simplicity."
Kirk Douglas, touting 20th-Fox's "The
Fury," told the Rhode Island print media:
"I think that no matter how styles change.
good acting is always good acting. I think
that a good actor in any period would be
a good actor today. Bogart would be as
good today as he was 30 years ago. If
(James) Cagney were 25 today I don't know
of anyone who could be better than he
was.
"My youngest son," Douglas continued,
"was watching "Yankee Doodle Dandy' on
TV the other day with tears in his eyes
and he asked me, "Dad, who was James
Cagney?' It was interesting to see that he
knew nothing about Cagney, but it was
more interesting to see that he knew he
was watching good acting. Generally speaking,
good acting, like a good painting, lasts.
Unfortunately, it isn't always recognized
at the time."
Also interviewed by the Plantation state
print media, Ronny Cox promoted Universal's
"Gray Lady Down," insisting that,
despite career beginnings in the theatre, he
prefers motion pictures. "I prefer films for
Doctor Buys Cinema, Plans to Open
Dinner Theatre Showing Old Movies
By ALLEN M. WIDEM
BRISTOL, CONN.—A Bristol
physician.
Dr. Brian C. Hennessey, has purchased the
long-shuttered RKO-SW New Bristol Theatre
with plans to operate the cinema as
a dinner theatre. The acquisition price was
not disclosed.
Uniquely, Dr. Hennessey said he intends
to show motion pictures, most especially
the major attractions of the 1940s and
sons for dinner and motion pictures, with
plans for table arrangements eliminating
patrons" movement of chairs.
RKO-SW's predecessor circuit. Warner
Bros. Theatres, operated two cinemas here
for many years, the Bristol and Cameo. The
Bristol had seats for 582 patrons.
The physician said that he is a film buff
and got the idea for the dinner theatre from
entertaining his own friends in a like manner
at the Hennessey home. A portion of his
basement was converted to a quasi-dinner
theatre
motif.
Since he has a private practice in this
city, he intends to have the dinner theatre
operations supervised by other interests
their identity was not disclosed.
but
If. and when the project becomes
operational, it will be a "first" for Connecticut.
As previously reported in Boxoffice.
a similar development was planned by other
interests in East Hartford using a former
retail complex. As far is known, the latter
never became operational.
Dr. Hennessey concedes some skepticism
has been evidenced here but he emphasizes
optimism, adding. "1 feel it's going to work.
If I didn't. I wouldn't invest in it."
The dinner theatre idea, beginning five
years ago with the Sam and Ruth Belkin
Coachlight Dinner Theatre, East Windsor,
has caught on in Connecticut; for a tab
ranging anywhere from $12.50 to $15. a
person gets dinner and "live" entertainment,
the latter ranging the gamut from Broadway
musicals to comedies to plays to
"name" personalities fronting their own re-
1950s, rather than live entertainment, as is vues. Since the Belkin project opening, other
customary for dinner theatres in Connecticut
and elsewhere.
locations across the state.
such theatres have sprouted up in five other
Under the umbrella corporate identity of Signif'cantly, the price-factor, per sc. has
Carberry Dinner Theatre Inc., the cinema not proved a deterrent to success. The Belkins'
dinner theatie. hosting a myriad roster
was previously known as the Carberry, Hennessey
said he would I'ke to seat 200 per-
of international film personalities through
very logical and cogent reasons," he said.
"My main asset as an actor is a sense of
honesty about the work . . . Part of stage
acting has to be phony. Your gestures have
to be bigger than you'd ever make them in
real life. For films. you"ve got to simplify
and be extremely honest about your emotions
because that camera comes in so
close. Not everyone can do it. Look at
(Lord Laurence) Olivier; he made some
terrible movies until he got rid of some of
those stage tricks.'"
Burton "Buster" Bonoff, part of the
Bonoff exhibition family, will be marking
his 25th season as operator of the Warwick
Musical Theatre, summer music tent,
in 1979, and he's already thmking in terms
of a party for the patrons who have held
tickets for all 25 seasons. He remembers
that before he got into entertainment, among
other things, he sold automobiles. "Then I
figured." he grins, "that if I could sell
Nashes. I could sell anything!"
the years, has played to capacity business
with turnaway crowds reported on occasion.
If anything, Connecticut's unpredictable
weather has plagued the business more than
price-structuring well above mass entertainment
admission.
The Connecticut dinner theatre field has
mushroomed while the traditional summer
theatres have dwindled down to a precious
few. a development attributable to public
demand for "name" principals, inflation and
attrition.
If memory serves, the late Joe Faith
operated a chain of cinemas in villages and
towns in this region many years ago. His
was not in th; grandiose manner of, say, a
Sylvester Z. Poll, with huge film emporiums.
The Faith exhibition style was smalltown
and he gave the small-town audiences
of central Connecticut what they wanted,
family-style entertainment, the year-round.
If, indeed, the Hennessev project catches
central Connecticut's public fancy, the
down-home attitude that prevailed in the
Joe Faith era may well have carried over
to another generation.
Mall Merchant-Movie Tie-In
ALLENTOWN, PA.— ,A. free movie treat
being offered during the months of April.
is
May and June by the Lehigh Valley Mall
here in promoting a "Wednesday Wonders"
sale with more than 100 store merchants
participating. Each month, 1,000
free tickets will be given away on a firstcome,
first-served basis to the first 1,000
shoppers submitting a newspaper coupon to
the Mall's Information Booth. No purchases
are required for the free "Ladies' Day
Movie."
For the mall promotion, Broadway-musical
movies are offered with an 1 1 A.M.
screening scheduled for the Lehigh Valley
Mall Cinema, operated by General Cinema
Corp. In addition to the showing of "Cabaret,"
"West Side Story'" and "Camelot,"' the
moviegoing shoppers will receive free coffee
and donuts, and will also be eligible to
win free door prizes contributed by participating
mall stores.
rOXOFFICE April 1978 NE-7

New England Film Industry's Living
Legend, E.M. Loew, Merits Tribute
By ALLEN M. WIDEM
HARTFORD—Any exhibition gathering,
be it on a local, regional or national
level, is bound to contain an inevitable
anecdote or two. Exhibitors like to recall
the happy moments of camraderie. Not out
route, there are legends to be told.
No one in the industry could ever point
to one Elias M. Loew, E.M., as he's called,
as an individual resigned to dismal failure
with a theatre or grouping of theatres not
especially boxoffice-brisk. If anyone a generation
or two ago predicted significant success
for E.M.. few hearing such enthusiasm
could readily recognize the prospects.
TV Movies' TB
That E.M. started, admittedly in a small
way with small capital, in exhibition and
developed his chain to imposing size in
these New England states is, in truth, part
of the history of New England exhibition.
His career was cited in the course of a
birthday party attended by relatives, friends
and employees the other night. Beyond saying
that E.M. is the kind of exhibitor willing
to sign a 99-year lease on new theatre
property with option to buy, let it be noted
here and now that he was, is and will continue
to be part of a breed with the vision
to succeed, the stamina to stay calamity, the
determination to forge new trails in exhibition.
Years ago, he was heard to contend that
"TV is the TB of the movie business" and
he pursued a course of imaginative, aggressive
promotion in his theatres, calculated to
outdo, outsmart the brightest creative talents
in New England television. Never outwardly
seeking recognition, E.M. would
probably blush, at first glance, to know that
BoxoFFicE deemed it necessary to give some
attention to a key New England independent
exhibitor, busier than ever, despite
his age of more than 70 years.
The actual
Steady Expansion Rate
number of motion picture theatres
under the E.M. Loew banner at this
point defies the imagination simply because
the man has never slowed his expansion
pace. While essentially concerned with
single-standing and twin-cinema complexes,
Loew has been best identified with larger
cities in New England. His 1,500-seat EM.
Loew's, in downtown Hartford (demolished
to make way for the $80,000,000 Hartford
Civic Center complex), was typical of his
modus operandi. A first-run (Columbia/
Universal) situation, it was helmed for
many years by George E. Landers.
The fact that E.M. is no longer represented
in downtown Hartford is overshad-
owed by the presence of two metropolitan
first-run underskyers, the Farmington and
Hartford drive-ins, presently supervised by
Hector Frascadore and Dick Buzzell. respectively.
There is sporadic talk along
Connecticut Filmrow of E.M. again broaching
an in-town project.
of personal esteem as much as adherence to
W. Springfield Unique
a feeling that when it comes down to "separating
the men from the boys," differentiating
In West Springfield. Mass. E.M.. some
between those exhibitors willing to do time back turned over the Palace Cinema,
more than is expected to sell, product and on the Riverdale Drive-In property, to Sack
those going the "ho-hum-what's new?" Theatres. Sack, in turn, added a second
screen. West Springfield is unique as far as
E.M. is concerned. Normally, when there is
massive opposition (in West Springfield.
Redstone has an eight-screen plex. largest
in New England). E.M. has been known to
do battle, promotionally. on a scale that
would do honor to the finest-honed campaign
from the smartest Madison Avenue
advertising agency.
Pick up a key-city newspaper just about
anywhere in New England and there's bound
to be an E.M. Loew theatre signature cut.
distinctively bordered, economical in size
only because of a lifelong E.M. predilection
for fanciful over flamboyant. He has
done his homework. When necessary in
E.M. Loew situations, there prevails markedly
reduced price-structuring, appealing to
the family-audience. He has done his homework
so that double-bills are the norm in
highly-competitive locales. He has done his
homework and no published commentary
alluding to E.M. has ever hurled abuse at
people within or without the exhibition enclaves.
Interests Outside Industry
These paragraphs are being written
from
the vantage point of years of observing the
E.M. Loew lifestyle; conversation with the
gentleman, admittedly on rare occasions,
has always been interspersed with the essentials
of enthusiasm that are a prime ingredient
in spurring an independent exhibitor
into other endeavors such as the Foxboro.
Mass., Raceway and other interests beyond
exhibition.
The E.M. Loew theatre circuit cannot be
compared in numbers with the Loews (no
relation) Theatres, the Redstone Theatres,
the General Cinema Corp., to cite just three
circuits with decades of association in New
England. Rather, there is an individualism
that slots independent distribution product
along with major output constantly out of
obvious industry loyalty.
The enduring qualities of motion picture
theatre ownership in New England arc not
necessarily bound up exclusively in the life
and times of Elias M. Loew. He was and is
a key part of a generation that brought
mass-entertainment to New England at a
pace often imitated but never fully emulated.
We can recall such names as Martin
J. Mullin, Abner Polansky, Colonel Samuel
and Nathan E. Goldstein, the Redstone family,
the Smiths of General Cinema Corp..
Arthur Lockwood. Lou Gordon. Sam Rosen,
and a score more of exhibition executives
who literally blazed the trails into
situations not particularly inviting and
made profit the byword instead of loss.
New England Theatres. American Theatres
Corp. (and predecessor, before duo
spin-off, M&P Theatre Corp.), Interstate
Theatres of New England, Western Massachusetts
Theatres Inc., Loew's Poli-New
England Theatres, RKO-Stanley Warner
Theatres (and predecessor, Warner Bros.
Theatres), among the many circuits linked
to the time in which the burgeoning E.M.
Loew's Theatres made their mark in this
six-state
region.
Loew Part of History
Paul Macbeath. in his time an E.M. Loew
circuit executive, told us years ago that if
and when the story of motion picture
exhibition in the United States is written,
the efforts of a handful of New England
men. among them E.M., will be significant.
As he heads into his umpteenth year. E.M.
should be assured that he is not forgotten
in an industry with an all-too-quick habit of
forgetting.
New England was "starting point" for
such distribution "names" as Joseph E. Levine.
Samuel "Steve" Broidy (Monogram
Pictures Corp.. later Allied Artists Corp..
still later independent production.) The legendary
Louis B. Mayer, who was to go on
to Hollywood and international recognition
with formation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Pictures, had his start in these environs, too.
That Levine, Broidy and Mayer made
their mark is not so much reflective of New
England's basic conservatism tempered with
calm resolve; rather, the likes of a Levine,
a
Broidy, a Mayer, and an E.M. Loew seeking
to
outpace the opposition with imagination.
A Modest Man
The late Francis S. Murphy, long publisher
of the Hartford Times, had a lifelong
fondness for entertainment. His Connecticut
parties for exhibition were anticipated affairs.
He brought the greats of the industry
to town. On one occasion. Ronald Reagan,
then president of the Screen Actors Guild,
addressed metropolitan Hartford theatre
owners, at Murphy's invitation. Photographers
scurried about, clicking away, asking this
exhibitor and that exhibitor to pose. E.M.
demurred. "I want to sell the show." he
told this BoxoFFiCE correspondent. "Not
myself."
That's been the credo of a New England
showman. Happy Birthday. E.M.!
'Streetcar' Screened in Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — "A Streetcar
Named Desire." 1952 Warner Bros, release
with Marlon Brando and the late Vivien
Lc'gh, was shown as a free attraction on
a recent Tuesday night at 7 p.m.. by the
Central Square Branch Library.
"Ice Castles" was directed by Donald
Wrye from his screenplay based on a story
by Gary Bairn.
NE-8
BOXOmCE :; April 24. 1978

. . and
Ex-Boothman Irvine Willis Recalls Video Thealre Plans
Yesteryear as Princess Reopens
EDMONTON—Retired boothman Irvine
Willis still misses "the show," according to
a recent article, "One More Reel, That's
His Wish," bylined by Helen Melnyk and
published in the Edmonton Journal.
"When the Princess Theatre opens her
doors again today, the show will go on without
Irvine Willis." Ms. Melnyk wrote.
"Somebody else will be up there in the
booth where Willis once threaded the movie
reels and listened to the hoots, sniffs and
laughter rising out of the darkness as Charlie
Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Mary Pickford
had their heyday on the screen."
She continued: "The SO-year-old retired
projectionist would like to run one more reel
for Edmonton audiences, however, before
he retires to join them. Before the old movie
buffs feature films— 'Horse
settle in for the
Feathers" and 'Duck Soup,' with the Marx
brothers, first shown at the theatre more
than 40 years ago—he'd like to treat them
to a short nostalgic look at what was once
the Princess of Edmonton picture houses.
"Featured in this short are Willis, Neil
McKernon (whose father built the theatre)
and Ruth Williams, a Saturday matinee regular
in the '20s.
"The Edmonton Bulletin
heralded the debut
of the first south side cinema back in
1914 as 'one of the most complete and beautiful
buildings . the only marblefront
building west of Winnipeg.' Advertisements
promised 'the main program of
entertainment will be high-class moving pictures
varied occasionally with high-class
vaudeville or unusual concerts.' By the
1920s, the theatre was offering less resepectable
entertainment in its basement. Spike's
Poolroom was in full swing. And the temptations
of the pool hall proved to be too
much for Willis' partner who preferred to
spend his time downstairs rather than upstairs.
"Willis landed on the scene in 1928 after
following his war-bride sister from England.
He came expecting streets paved with gold
but had to settle for a job as movie projectionist.
'I used to get 35 bucks a week and
think it was big money.'
"The job had its harrowing moments, he
says, recalling the Saturday matinees when
the kids would turn the theatre into a Never-
Never Land. The youngsters like to bring
their own ammunition along to the western
pictures. 'Every Saturday afternoon they
would fill the house. When the cowboys
and Indians began to shoot it out, they
would pull darts out of their pockets and
shoot them at the screen. One of those kids
remembers being sent off by her parents
with a younger sister with 'a nickel for the
movie and a nickel for the popcorn' and a
martyr complex. "My little sister always had
to go to the bathroom during the exciting
parts," recalls Ruth Williams, now 65. 'And
during those very, very sad Mary Pickford
movies, she wouldn't just let the tears flow
like everybody else. My little sister would
bawl out loud until people would turn
around and say Take her out." And so I
missed the sad parts, too."
"The theatre didn't always have red plush
seats, adds Willis. Audiences had to sit on
wooden benches and the films were projected
on the bare wall. During the era of
silent films, theatre musicians provided the
sound effects. Usually there was a pianist
but sometimes a three-piece orchestra was
hired to provide background for the big
films. 'The pianist would play while looking
up at the screen. And if someone was
falling off the building, they'd give the old
piano roll. Some of them were pretty good
and could imitate a train or a dog barking."
"When the first talkies came to town in
the early "30s. Edmontonians lined up for
blocks to see "The Canary Murder Case' at
the Princess. First they had to sit through
the newsreel. 'There was no sound.' recalls
Willis. 'I couldn't understand it because I
had tested the equipment the day before
and it was working fine. I turned it up full
and still no sound. A sign flashed on the
screen: 'That was yesterday. And now today!"
Bang—the sound came on. full volume.'
"In the depression years movies continued
to draw people. Many of the unemployed
would come in the winter simply to
get warm. Fundamentalist religious groups
used to stand outside the 'House of Sin'
handing out tracts, according to Neil Mc-
Kernon. Inside the theatre the back two
rows would be taken up by young courting
couples who would hold hands and even
smooch a little. As an usher, he would have
to tap them on the knee and ask. 'Would
you let these people through?'
"The Princess held its elite position as
the only south side theatre until the Garneau
opened in 1939. Although the second
movie house d'd not prove to be undue
competition, TV did and the Princess closed
in 1958. In 1970 the Princess was purchased
by the Towne cinemas and the former
grande dame of local cinemas was given a
$270,000 facelift. After the plastering, upholstery
and decor was restored, the cinema
was reopened as the Klondike. But then it.
too, closed. According to reports, it was
slated to become a 'porn' movie house.
"But the Princess' reputation was saved
by the intervention of the Strathcona Foundation.
A five-year lease has been signed
and ... she was reopened with her original
brass nameplates hammered back on the
doors. The theatre will run classic movies
seven days a week, changing twice a week
as in bygone days. Profits will be plowed
back into the foundation to carry on its
restoration work.
"Opening day. Willis and many other
people who enjoyed her many attractions
over the years planned to be back in the
gallery with their popcorn."
Unveiled in Toronto
TORONTO — Film distributor Marvin
Miller has announced plans to open several
video-projection theatres in this area. Four
of these will be located in the Yonge-Bloor
district of this city, while six each will be
situated in Richmond Hill's Hillcrest Mall,
Kitchener: in Hamilton's Jackson Square,
and in Vancouver. Each theatre will seat
100.
"After ten years of experimenting," Miller
told the press here, "my brother Harvey
and I have found a way to take videotape
and put it through a machine to get a tenfoot
or a 20-foot picture on a screen without
distorting the quality of the picture.
"I want to sell seats. Ifs expensive to go
to a movie today and we"re going to make
moviegoing more accessible to the public.""
Miller said the video-projection theatres
would operate on a much-reduced price
compared with standard movie houses. The
admission price at these theatres would be
$3 or less; or, in some cases, 50 cents below
Toronto's regular $3.75 first-run movie theatre
tariff.
"We already have deals with three major
Hollywood studios and we're negotiating
with the others to supply us with movies,"
Miller said. "Some of them have transferred
their movies to videotape and, if not, we
have the capability to do that work in Toronto.
We also have the capability of going
into small rural areas and using storefront
buildings or otherwise unusable space and
shopping centers. Such theatres would be
wholly owned by us or franchised."
Miller said the video projection theatres
would operate at considerably lower cost
than standard movie houses.
His announcement comes a few weeks
after theatre owner Nat Taylor and lawyer
Garth Drabinsky announced their plans to
open a dozen conventional theatres in Toronto's
Eaton Centre, as well as in the city's
Yonge-Carlton area and in Kitchener.
'Sherlock Holmes' Feature
Lensing to Start in June
TORONTO—The Canadian Film Development
Corp. has invested $300,000 in a
motion picture to be directed by local
filmmaker Bob Clark, with the working
title of "Sherlock Holmes: Murder by Decree."
An additional $150,000 has been invested
by Famous Players in the feature,
which has a budget of $4,800,000.
Shooting is slated to begin in June in London
for release in spring 1979. Clark said.
Set in key roles to date are Canadian
actors Christopher Plummer and Donald
Sutherland and actress Susan Clark.
NH Traific Deaths Record Low
CONCORD. N.H.—New Hampshire reported
the lowest highway traffic death rate
in its history in 1977, according to just-released
state statistics. The Granite state registered
a fatality rate of 2.6 for each 100,-
000,000 miles traveled, compared with a
3.3 national rate.
BOXOFHCE :: April 24. 1978 K-1

Very
'Sleep,' 'Encounters and 'Mountain
Off a Bit! Others Steady in Ottawa
OTTAWA—It was a fairly steady week
here, but three pictures slipped a notch from
their popularity of the previous period.
"The Big Sleep," "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind" and "The Other Side of the
Mountain Part 2" all went to Very Good
marks from their previous showings in the
Excellent category. There were no new
films to give holdovers any competition.
Britannia 6—Casey's Shadow (Astral).
3rd wk Very Good
Capitol Square 1—Saturday Night Fever (F
16th wk
Good
Capitol Square I- The Goodbye Girl (WB
15th wk. Very Good
.
Capitol Square 3— Th
Only
8th wk.
...Good
Elgin—The Turning Point (BVFD),
7th wk Very Good
Elmdale— lulia (BVFD), 6th wk Very Good
Uttle Elgin—The Big Sleep (UA),
2nd wk Very Good
Nelson —Return From Witch Mountain (BV),
3rd wk ..Good
Odeon St. Laurent 1—Close Encounters of the
Third Kind (Astral), 17t;, v.k Very Good
Odeon St. Laurent 2—The Other Side ol the
Mountain Part 2 (Univ). 7th wk Very Good
Place de Ville 1—American Hot Wax (Para).
3rd wk Good
Place de Ville 2— Coma (UA), 8th wk Good
Somerset—High Anxiety (BVFD), 8th wk Good
Every Holdover in Edmonton
Retains Last Week's Rating
EDMONTON—An unusual week here,
in that no films rose or fell in popularity
at the boxoffice. Each picture held the same
rating it earned during the previous period.
"Leopard in the Show" opened to a Good
trade at two theatres, while three films, "Return
From Witch Mountain," "House Calls"
and "An Unmarried Woman" opened with
Excellent marks at their situations. All holdovers
scored either Very Good or Excellent.
Capilano, Plaza 2—Leopard in the Snow
Good
Very
Good
Cinema—The Turning Point (BVFD),
15th wk
Very Good
Claremont—An Unmarried Woman (BVFD).
3rd wk. Excellent
.
Cote Des Neighs—House Calls (Univ).
2nd wk.
are-The Othe
the Mou Exce
irday Night Ft
15th
..Exc
ia""(UA)',"8th""\
Ver Good
Loews— ised Swords
3rd wk
Good
Loews—The One and Only (Para),
9th wk - Very Good
'
Loews—The Big Sleep (UA), 2nd y
" ' "
Good
Snowdon— Casa: & Company
(Mut
..Ve Good
Van Hi ne—Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 3rd wk Very Good
York—The Betsy (IFD), 2nd wk Very Good
French Language Films
Berri—Smokey and the Bondit (Univ),
4th wk. . Very Good
Champlain—Recontre du 3ieme type (Col),
2nd wk. .. Excellent
Cremazie—Aimie Hall (UA), Jlh wk Excellent
Parisien—1900 (Para), 6th wk Excellent
Parisien—La Vie Devant Soi (Pros),
2nd wk.
Very Good
Parisien—Goodbye Emonuelle (Mut),
4th wk - Very Good
Parisien—Dents de la Morf (C-P),
2nd wk Very Good
'The One and Only' Rises a Peg
In Povt^erful Week in Calgary
CALGARY—"The One and Only" took
a leap upwards, settling comfortably in the
Excellent category. The week was quite
strong all around, with only one film. "Convoy
Buddies," hitting as low as Good. All
the rest were Very Good or Excellent, including
openers "Return From Witch Mountain,"
"The Big Sleep," "Gray Lady Down"
and "An Unmarried Woman."
Calgary Place 1—Straight Time (WB),
2nd wk - Excellent
Calgary Place 2—American Hot Wax (Para),
2nd wk Excellent
Chinook—The One and Only (Para),
Capitol 6—Saturday Night Fever (Para),
16th wk Excellent
Capitol 6—High Anxiety (BVFD),
7th wk Very Good
Capitol 6—Coma (UA), 8th wk Average
Capitol 5—Crossed Swords (WB), 4th wk Average
Capitol 6—The One and Only (Para),
9lh wk Average
Coronet 1—House Calls (Univ), 3rd wk Excellent
Coronet 2—Gray Lady Down (Univ),
4th wk Average
Downtown—The Big Sleep (UA), 2nd wk Good
Hyland—Mohammad, Messenger oi God (Astral),
2nd wk. Above Average
Odeon—Rabbit Test iA.str^n Excellent
Park—The Turning Point (BVFD),
15th wk. Very Good
Stanley—The Fury (BVFD), 3rd wk Very Good
Vancouver Centre^Julia (BVFD)
14th wk Very Good
Vancouver Ce,^t:e— The Goodbye Girl (WB),
14th wk. Very Good
Vogue—Close Encounters of the Third Kind
(Astral), 16th wk -... Very Good
Near-Record Houses in Winnipeg
Result of Easter Holiday's End
WINNIPEG—Business continued buoyant
the week after Easter vacation, with
several holdovers drawing near-record
houses. Most amazing returns came from
"Star Wars," and "The Goodbye Girl" and
"Saturday Night Fever." all of which have
been running since before the beginning of
the year. "American Hot Wax" and "The
Fury," relative newcomers, were very
strong. "The Big Sleep" slipped in its second
week.
Capitol—The Big Sleep (UA), 2nd wk Good
Colony—The One and Only (Para),
9th wk Very Good
Convention Centre—The Other Side oi the
Mountain Part 2 (Univ), 6th wk Good
Downtown—Baby Face (PR) and Swapping
Partners (PR) Average
Garden City—Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 3rd wk Excellent
Gainck 1—Julia (BVFD), 7th wk Very Good
Garrick II—The Fury (BVFD), 2nd wk Excellent
Grant Park—The Goodbye Girl (WB),
15th wk Excellent
Hyland, Park—Beyond and Back (PR),
2nd wk
. Excellent
Kings—Star Wars (BVFD), 41st wk Excellenl
Metropolitan—American Hot Wax (Para),
3rd wk .. Excellent
Northstar I—Straight Time (WB),
2nd wk Excellent
Northstar 11- Coma (UA), 8lh wk Very Good
Odeon—House ColU (Univ), 2nd wk Excellent
Polo Park—Saturday Night Fever (Para),
16th wk Excellent
8th wk Excellent
(PR)
Grand 1, Westhrook
Capitol Square 1—Straight Time (WB),
Shadow (Astral),
2nd wk
Very Good
2nd wk
Grand 2—Convoy Buddies 'AF: 'J:,i wk Good
Capitol Sfciuare 2—The One and Only (Pa
Market Mall 3^- High Anxiety iBVFD),
8th
7th wk .Very Good 'House Calls' And Other New
Capitol Sqi 3—Salurdoy Night Fever
Market Mall 5—Oh, God! (WB), ,;nd wk ..Very Good Product Scores in Toronto
15th wk Lxcellent Market Mall 6—Saturday Night Fever (Pora),
Capitol Square 4—Semi-Tough (UA).
15th wk Excellent TORONTO— It was a very steady week
14th wk Very Good Marlboro Square 1, Westbrook 3— Crossed Swords
Garneau—High Anxiety (BVFD), 7th wk. Very Good
for first
(WB), 2nd wk
runs here, with only one film ("Return
From Witch Mountain") going up on
Excellent
Londonderry A—Return From Witch Mountain
Marlboro Square 2—The Other Side of the
(BV) -
Excellent Mountain Part 2 (Univ), 2nd wk Very Good
Londonderry B—Coma (UA), 7th wk Very Good
Meadowlark, Odeon 1—Close North Hill—Close Encounters o( the Third
the barometer, from a Good mark to a
Encounters of the
Kind (Astral), 14th wk Excellent
Third Kind (Astral), 14th wk Excellent
Very Good, and only one ("American Hot
Odeon 1—The Turning Point (BVFD),
Paramount—American Hot Wax (Para),
14th wk Very Good Wax") dropping, from Excellent to Good.
2nd wk ... Excellent Palace—Return From Witch Mountain
Plaza 1—The Late Great Planet Earth (PR),
(BV)
Excellent
All new pictures did well, especially "House
4th wk Very Goo-» Palliser Square 1—The Big Sleep (UA) Excellent Calls." Drawing Very Good marks were
Rialto 1—House Calls (Univ) Excellent Palliser Square 2—Julia (BVFD),
Riallo 2—An Unmarried Woman (BVFD) ...Excellenl
8th wk Excellenl "The Big Sleep," "An Unmarried Woman."
Westmount A— Julia (BVFD), 8th wk Excellent Towne Blue— The Goodbye Girl (WB)
Westmount B— The Goodbye Girl (WB),
"Crossed Swords." "Rabbit Test" and "Casey's
Shadow."
14th wk. Excellent
14th wk. Excellent
.
Towne Red—Gray Lady Down (Univ) Excellent
Uptown 1—House Calls (Univ), 2lld wk Excellent
Uptown 2—An Unmarried Woman
Elgin—The Big Sleep (UA), 1st wk Very Good
Julia' Comes Out on Top After
(BVFD)
Excellent
Five theatres—Gray Lady Down (Univ),
2nd wk Very Good
Nine Weeks in Montreal Theatre
Hollywood—An Unmarried Woman
MONTREAL—A few attractions took a Academy Award Fever Brings Out
(BVFD) Good
.
Hollywood—The Turning Point (BVFD),
slight dip during the week. "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind" has dropped to VANCOUVER—The last weekend of Imperial—Crossed Swords (WB) Very Good
Crowds of Vancouver Filmgoers
13th wk. Very Good
Hyland—House Calls (Univ) Excellent
Good, as has "The Other Side of the Mountain
Part 2." "The Goodbye Girl" and "The fever, brought movie patrons out in large International—Return From Witch Mountain
Imperial— Rabbit Test (BVFD) Very Good
the Easter holidays, coupled with Oscar Imperial—The Betsy (IFD), 6th wk Good
(BV), 2nd
Big Sleep" also slipped, each to the Very
wk Very Good
numbers, particularly to Academy Award Park—The Fury (BVFD), 2nd wk Excellent
Good notch. "Julia," however, rode to the nominees; the boxoffice winner seemed to
Plaza—Julia (BVFD), 24th wk Very Good
Six theatres—Casey's Shadow (Astral) Very Good
top of the barometer in its 9th week at the be "Saturday Night Fever," which is in its Towne—Straight Time (WB), 2nd wk Excellent
Place du Canada. All other holdovers rated 16th week and bounced back
University—Coma (UA), 6th wk Very Good
into Excellent Uptown—American Hot Wax (Pora), 2nd wk. ..Good
either Very Good or Excellent; "Casanova figures at the Capitol to be joined by newcomer
"Rabbit Test" in its first week at Uptown—High Anxiety (BVFD), 7th wk Fair
Uptown—Saturday Night Fever (Para),
15th wk Good
& Company" opened with Very Good business
at the Snowdon.
the Odeon, and "House Calls" in its third
Atwater—Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Good week at the Coronet.
Saul David and John Hyde have partnered
to produce "Ravagers."
BOXOmCE :: April 24. 1978

CENTURY
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"nuts and bolts" of making separate projectorand
sound reproducerinstallations.
You get your projector and reproducer outof-the-box
as "1". In place as "1". An entirely
professional installation, with unbelievable
ease.
h
Century now spares you the "grief" of
aligning the projector and reproducer.
Film alignment is automatic, right on the
button every time. Every frame feeds true.
Your prints are treated to the tenderest loving
care ever.
Century's "all in 1" design is one of the nicest
things to happen for projection booths in a long
time.
Celebrate the Bicentennial.
Update your theatre with the new Century.
See your
Century Dealer
— or write:
CENTURY'S PROJECTOR/ REPRODUCER
-designed as
-packaged and
shipped as
-installed asC-
• CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION
• 32-02 QUEENS BOULEVARD, LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. 11101
General Sound and Theatre Equipment, Ltd.
7 Bonigan Drive
Toronto M4H 164, Ontario
Phone (416) 425-1026
Branches throughout Canada
April 24, 1978 K-3

VANCOUVER
^Approximately 100 neophyte filmmakers
gathered at a four-day seminar held
March 20-23, with all facets of production
and distribution being covered for their
study. Screenings were held each day of
various types of Canadian features and
shorts produced in recent years, with discussion
periods following. Speakers, all prof;ssionals
in their field, included Canadian
Odeon booker Ron Keillor, who spoke on
short subjects, which was one of great interest,
since most would be engaged in that
type of filmmaking.
Ron pointed out that this industry was
founded on the production of shorts. In the
early years. 20 minutes or less was the
norm, not the exception. As features grew
longer, shorts, which in many cases had become
repetitious, were dropped by many
producers and distributors; and. although
they had in fact become more valuable in
the creation of a well-balanced program,
they had become increasingly hard to find
(the cavalier attitude of many exchange
bookers to short subjects has been noticeable
for years. Lacking the incentives of
drives and bonuses, as in the pre-TV days,
they are more and more considered as
"fillers").
"Oh, God!", which departed the neighborhood
Ridge after a rousing 12 weeks.
proved a great inspiration to film buff,
theologian and philosopher Herbert O'Driscall.
dean of Christ Church Cathedral, who
weekly drew upon episides in the picture to
work into his daily "One Man's Journal"
vignettes over CHQM Radio. These were
used to emphasize that, while in his estimation
first-rate entertainment, with marvelous
performances by George Burns and
John Denver, the film had a greater message
than most so-called "religious pictures"
produced to proselyte some creed.
In that connection, "Mohammed, Messenger
of God" came to the suburban Hyland
and, as expected, created no great
waves, either of protest or at the boxoffice.
Nora Ross of Canfilms has a problem.
Someone with a sense of humor gave her a
five-foot bimny rabbit for Easter which she
(a) has trouble finding storage room for in
their living room filled with household impedimenta
and Theo's typewriter and (b)
their Siamese cats are scared to death of it.
What can she do and still please everybody?
(Editor's note: Name it Harvey and take it
out every night for a drink or two or three.)
The 500-seat East End Cultural Centre,
which plays a melange of legitimate theatre,
rock, off-Broadway-type musicals, avantgarde
and small-size musical groups and
even a little cultural funk, all to packed
houses, finally received the ultimate in
recognition Sunday (2)). Someone blew the
safe with the Sunday receipts, $1,600, inside
. . . Tarrying very briefly for an overnight
stop en route to the Far East was
Mary Tyler Moore, husband Grant Tinker
and producer/director Carl Reiner.
Friday (7) was one of those days. The
wind drove the clouds and the smog away,
giving the north shore mountains a look as
if they had been laundered with Cheer and
hung up to dry, all of which made Sun
columnist Danny Boyd, en route home over
the Lion's Gate suspension bridge, wax
lyrical and give the bridge this tag: "The
Car-Spangled Spanner."
The entertainment scene was saddened
the last week of March when two of the
most popular localites died within less than
seven days. Bill Kenny, 65, last of the original
Ink Spots, who started in Chicago in
1939, in semi-retirement here for many
years and getting ready for another comeback,
suddenly took ill and died. A devout
but nonsectarian Christian, Bill was mourned
by over 200 personal friends who gathered
at the Unitarian Church to listen to
many eulogies. Tributes came from all over
North America, including one from his great
friends, the Mills brothers.
Nathaniel "Nat" Bailey, 78, loved by
every member of the geriatric set who ever
bought a hag of peanuts at the ball games
in the years after World War II or took his
girl friend out to Bailey's first drive-in at
Marpole for a hamburger or barbecued
beef, died here. His admirers were legion
and, while the ball clubs Nat sponsored in
his lifelong love affair with the game did
not always prosper, his White Spot fastfood
chain did, so much so that in later
years he sold out to General Foods for a
cool $5,000,000. Always with his hand in
his pocket and a helping hand for charity,
he was a charter member of Variety Club
Tent 47 and was on the first the first
crews. He was a regular with the Granville
Rowgues of an earlier day, of whom only
Ivan Ackery seems to be left. Nat will be
m'ssed for what he gave cannot be replaced.
D. Daniel Joins Consumer
Division of Technicolor
LOS ANGELES—Technicolor, Inc., announced
that Dan Daniel has joined its consumer
photoprocessing division as vicepresident
of sales and marketing. Previously
associated with Phototron Corp., Daniel
has many years of experience in the photofinishing
industry. His office will be located
at Technicolor's North Hollywood facili-
Thj company's consumer photoprocessing
division has two photofinishing plants
in Sacramento, Calif., and one each in Fresno.
Calif., and Honolulu.
OTTAW A
^oug Pinder, who passed up his usual vacation
in Florida in favor of doing
some chores at home, has returned from his
two-week "holiday." Doug called upon his
carpentry skills and installed a second washroom
in his home, so there's be no more
lineups at the Pinder household!
"Saturday Night Fever" is doing very
good business at the Capitol Square Cinema
and the Britannia 6, while "Hockey Fever"
is enjoying excellent patronage at the Civic
Centre. The Junior A Ottawa 67s presently
are leading their quarter-final with the Sault
Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Each game of the
series is played before an enthusiastic standng-room-only
crowd.
This city's National Arts Centre planned
a busy schedule for April. Performers scheduled
for apearances included the Irish Rovers,
the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Harry Belafonte. Robert Charlebois and
Anne Murray.
Glen Pinkney, presently projectionist at
the Capitol Square C'nema. soon will be
celebrating his 25th year in show business.
He will be traveling to Toronto in June to
be industed into the 25-year club. Glen has
spent all his projectionist years in this area
and has worked at the Nelson Theatre, the
old Regent Theatre. Place de Ville and Capitol
Square Cinema. Congratulations. Glen,
and we hope you have many more pleasant
years in
the future!
Svend Pedersen, manager of the Rideau
Theatre, reports very good business with
his double bill of "Eat My Dust!" and
"Grand Theft Auto." He also states that
with action combos such as this, his pinball
arcade above the theatre does a thriving
business . . . Pedersen and his staff had a
stroke of luck recently. He and four staffers
bought a Loto Canada ticket and when the
draw was held in Montreal it was found
their ducat was worth $200. That is what
one would have to call a good "$2 investment."
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 readers
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.
K.4
BOXOmCE :: April 24, 1978

CENTURY
nowdoes it
AUin
Century now saves you the sweat, the
"nuts and bolts" of making separate projectorand
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Phone (514) 526-7719
April 24, 1978
K-5

. . March
. . Sunday
CALGARY
Unfortunately, "Leopard in the Snow" did
not do enough business at the boxoffice
to keep it in town for more than a
one-week run. Now it is opening in Edmonton
and observers are waiting to see if the
Harlequin Romances story will receive better
patronage in the North than it did here.
Sam Koplowicz offered anothei- outstanding
group of films for his Edmonton Cinematheque
16 during April. Features included
"Harold and Maude" (U.S., 1971);
"Two for the Road" (U.S., 1967); "Accident"
(Great Britain, 1966). and "Modern
Times" (U.S.. 1936). As a special screening
Sunday (30), May 4 and May 5, Cinematheque
16 will present Liv Ullmann in
"Scenes From a Marriage" (Sweden, 1973).
The Calgary Film Society showed
"Aguirre. the Wrath of God" in its International
Series March 30 in the Jubilee Auditorium.
This film was produced in Germany
in 1972 under the direction of Werner
Herzog
. 31, the Calgary Public
Library sponsored a kiddies cooking contest
and a film program from 2 to 4 p.m. in all
its branches. The film program was open
to anyone interested, while the cooking contest
accepted anyone aged 5 to 14, inclusive.
Classes were arranged according to age
groups and the entries in the Central Library
contest ranged from a beautiful "lamb"
cake, with white, fluffy icing, to a grilledcheese
sandwich (which was eaten for lunch
as soon as it was judged). Another entry was
bannock, which is a native Indian-type
bread. The youngsters all were enthusiastic
about the films and spent over an hour in
the aud'toriimi.
During the month of April, the Provincial
Museum in Edmonton has been showing
a series of Clark Gable motion pictures
Sundays at 4 and at 7 p.m. The kickoff feature
was "It Happened One Night," in
which Claudette Colbert co-starred. The
film was produced in 1934 and is a romantic
comedy.
The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton
launched a series of Chinese films in conjunction
with the National Film Board The-
C UVERAMA IS Vi SHOW
BI'SL\ESS IX HAWAII
f
TfM>.
When you come to W'aikiki,
tlon't miss tlie famous Don Ih
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel.
Is a Sinful Song" and "The Holy Family."
There was no admission to showings.
Set to open in early April at the Plaza
Theatre here were "Klute." "The Little
Foxes," "A Clockwork Orange," "Citizen
Kane," "A Southern Yankee" and "Concert
for Bangladesh."
There was no fooling around Saturday
(1) when himdreds of youngsters lined up
on the 8th Avenue Mall downtown to see
"Return From Witch Mountain" at the
Palace Theatre. Before the first show the
youngsters (all ages) were lined up in serpentine
fashion for more than an hour. It
must have been a great day for popcorn,
too
. afternoon (2) the Pleiades
Theatre at Calgary Planetarium screened
the Academy Award-winning film "Little
Women," starring Jime Allyson, Margaret
O'Brien and Elizabeth Taylor.
The Calgary Press Club held a "Girls
Night Out" Wednesday (5), billed as an organizational
meeting to make the club more
fun for the girls—and more interesting, too.
City police presented a film titled "Everything
You Should Know About Rape" and
"Lady Beware." This was followed by the
usual discuss'on period. Recommended by
some as "a program everyone should see,"
the suggested minimum age for viewers,
officially, is 14 years. The presentation may
be arranged with either the local or the Edmonton
police.
Manon Weegar of Canfilms is away from
her desk following surgery but is reported
to be recuperating nicely at home.
David Steinberg to Lens
First Film in Toronto
TORONTO—In a twist typical of his humor,
David Steinberg, Winnipeg-born comedia,
has announced that h's first film,
"Sex in America," will be filmed—where
else?—in Toronto. Steinberg, who became
famous on the Smothers brothers TV show
as the crazy psychiatrist, announced that
Universal Pictures has backed him with a
$2,500,000 budget. He will write, direct
and star in the comedy and has been given
free reign by the studio to make up any
story he wants, he said.
Other performers scheduled for the film
Lear's TAT Productions.
Colleen Dewhurst has been signed for a
starring role in
"Ice Castles."
TORONTO
panada and Israel have signed an agreement
aimed at encouraging film producers
in each country to undertake productions
in the other. John Roberts, Canadian
secretary of state, signed the agreement with
Yigael Horowitz, Israeli minister of commerce,
industry and tourism.
Two National Film Board productions
won Academy Awards Monday (3). "Sand
Castle," directed by Co Hoedeman, won the
best live action short film award and Beverly
Shaffer's "I'll Find a Way," the story
of a handicapped local girl, won an award
for animated short film.
The sweetheart" of all Canada just now
surely must be Nadia DeFranco. the pretty
and plucky youngster whose story is told in
"I'll Find a Way," the National Film Board
production which won an Academy Award.
Nadine is seriously disabled and attends the
Sunnyview School for handicapped children
in this city but is making such gallant strides
to overcome her limitations that she hopes
eventually to attend school in her own community.
"Ill Find A Way" was shown locally
by the BCB immediately prior to the Academy
Awards telecast.
Sydney Spiegel has been reappointed regional
vice-president of the Nation Ass'n of
Concessionaires. Spiegel has announced that
the association's midyear board meeting will
be held for the first time in this city a day
prior to the regional conference. This regional
conference will be held at the Royal
York Hotel here Wednesday (26) and is expected
to attract 300 delegates. The conference
is being held in conjunction with
HostEx'78, the Canadian Restaurant, Hotel-
Motel Show.
New World-Mutual Reins
Go to Orval Fruitmon
TORONTO—Pierre David, president of
Mutual Films Corp., and Roger Corman,
president of New World Pictures, confirmed
the appointment of veteran film distributor
Orval Fruitman as general manager of New
World-Mutual Pictures of Canada, Ltd.
Fruitman has assumed his duties, combining
immediate booking of product with set-
atre. All the motion pictures are from the are Burt Reynolds, who has worked with
Steinberg previously in a picture yet to be
People's Republic of China and cover a
wide range of subject matter. Among the released, and Second City, a satiric improvisation
troupe which currently is appear-
"Wheels A-Rolling." "Reconnaissance
ting up of the titles:
Across the Yangtze," "Th2 Pioneers,"
124 Merton St,
ing in a syndicated TV show.
company's
Toronto,
headquarters
Ont.
at
M4S lAl,
"Mountains Astir," "An Unforgettable Battle,"
"Red Blossoms of the Tien-Shan
Steinberg refused to divulge the plot but
he did indicate that John Candy, a member Corman and David also announced the
phone (416) 486-5535.
Moimtains," "Crimson Rain," "The White
appointment of Robert Shields as sales representative
of Second City, will play a reincarnated
Reindeer," "Antti Puuhaara," "The Earth Babe Ruth.
for New World-Mutual. Shields
Universal has offered Steinberg a threepicture
formerly was assistant general manager at
contract which, however, they can United Artists' head office in Toronto.
back out of should "Sex in America" prove Fruitman joins New World-Mutual after
1 1 years as a general sales manager for Cinepix
a failure. If that happens, Steinberg said,
he will pursue a standing offer from Norman
in Toronto. He began his career at Co-
Lear, creator of "All in the Family," lumbia Pictures, where he was promoted to
Montreal office manager at age 18. Active
to develop a pilot for a comedy series for
in all industry associations, including a stint
as vice-president of the Motion Picture Pioneers.
Fruitman lives with his wife and two
children in Toronto.
BOXOFTICE :; April 24, 1978

Roberts' Plan Scuttled
By the Federal Cabinet
TORONTO—A federal cabinet document
obtained by the Star here shows that Secretary
of State John Roberts wanted to tax
money earned by American film distributors
in Canada to help Canadian moviemakers
win screen time. The cabinet rejected the
plan, as did Minister of Finance Jean Cretien,
Roberts, left with only the shambles
of Canada's first federal film policy in 1 I
years, pulled back on promises to deliver
something lough to moviemakers.
According to an industry source, "Rob-
"In order to obtain a rebate equal to the
total amount of the tax," says the document,
"the distributors (collectively) would have
to increase the annual gross bo.xoffice receipts
of Canadian films (which now earn an
average of $2,500,000 to $3,000,000) to
$30,000,00 per year. There is little chance
of their ever reaching or even approaching
this amount."
Calling this move "the most attractive and
most acceptable" method of trying to combat
the overwhelming dominance of Cana-
screens by American movies and their
dian
distributors' lack of interest in Canadian
movies, the Roberts document presents the
following argument:
"In 1975-76, the receipts in Canada, of
all the principal distribution companies
under American control, were some $60,-
000,000, while Canadian distributors received
approximately $10,000,000 from the
same source. Therefore, the 10 per cent tax
should bring in almost $7,000,000 annually.
"However, if distributors take advantage
of the recommended rebate, the proceeds
from the 10 per cent tax will be reduced
(perhaps to nothing, although this appears
improbable). It is, therefore, impossible to
estimate the financial effects of such a
measures."
Rubin In 'Casey's Shadow'
NORTH DARTMOUTH, MASS.—General
Cinema Corp.'s North Dartmouth Mall
Cinemas 4 got a rare publicity break in
The Standard-Times for Columbia's "Casey's
Shadow."
An area native, Andrew Rubin, appears
in the Walter Matthau-starrer, and the newspaper
interviewed him by long-distance
phone. Rubin remarked: "I don't feel successful
yet. I did this film, a great part,
I'm still out hustling for another job . . .
I feel Tve constantly progressed in my career.
I feel good about it. I don't know if
I'm a movie star. As far as I'm concerned,
I'm an actor. You feel good to get recognition
after years on it."
Psychologist Says Effect of Sex,
Violence in
WINNIPEG— Psychologist Dr. Ivan Riitner
told the annual Conference on Film
Censorship and Classification here that the
detrimental effects of sex and violence in
films have been overrated. "Movies alone,"
declared Dr. Rutner, "will not create lasting
changes in behavior."
Speaking before the assemblage of repre-
BOXOFHCE April 24. 1978
Dr. Rutner advised: "A slick advertising
campaign will get you to try a product the
first time. But if it's no good you won't buy
sentatives of all film censor and classification
boards across Canada, the Winnipeg
erts" plan went into the cabinet like a tiger
and came out kitty litter."
psychologist emphasized that "children may
At the plan's heart was » recommendation
be influenced to try what they see on the
to "impose a (10 per cent) tax on gross
screen but, unless that behavior is reinforced
by society, they soon will give it up."
rental receipts collected by the film distributors
but to accord them a rebate equivalent
to the total amount they return to Canadian
producers as a result of distribution of Canada
and abroad."
it again. If, as a culture, we decide that
This stance, rather than a boxoffice levy
aggression and sexual behavior is a problem,
should we week to ban the stimulus
or quotas against American films, was
urged.
that elicits such behavior, or should we examine
the culture in which we live that reinforces
that behavior?"
He pointed out that if viewing of such
films has a "corrupting effect" on the viewer,
then the censor board members should
be the most corrupt of all.
Sgt. Dan Jones, a member of Winnipeg's
city police department vice squad for 22
years, disagreed with the psychologist. He
declared that police across Canada can
Satyajit Ray Scheduled
To Attend Unspooling
CHICAGO— Michael J. Kutza jr., director
of Cinema/Chicago, said Indian director
Satyajit Ray would be present for a special
screening of his latest film, "The Chess
Players," Monday (10) at the Uptown Theatre.
Ray also is remembered for "The
World of Apu." "Distant Thunder" and
"The Golden Fortress."
The screening was sponsored by Cinema/
Chicago, producers of the Chicago International
Film Festival.
"The Chess Players" had its U.S. premiere
at the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C. While it was to have been
screened in the 13th Chicago International
Film Festival, an offical decision stemming
from policy conflicts within the Indian Government
has held up the showing.
Airer Offers Split Week
Of Presley Triple Bills
WAYNESVILLE, MO. — Commonwealth's
Woodlane Drive-In offered a split
week of Elvis Presley films, using a triple
bill for each change, and boosted boxoffice
grosses with this approach.
The Wednesday-Saturday bill presented
"Elvis on Tour," "Elvis—That's the Way It
Is" and "Speedway," while Sunday-Tuesday
patrons viewed "Frankie and Johnnie."
"Kid Galahad" and "Spinout."
Films Are Overated
document cases where sex criminals were
"influenced by pornography." In the same
vein, the Rev. John Pungente, a Catholic
priest and former chairman of the Manitoba
Film Classification Board, warned of
an "insensitivity to violence created by
movies that portray violence and sex."
Members of the general public also presented
a number of briefs for the consideration
of the conference. Dwight Dubowitz
of Winnipeg asserted that censorship "violates
the fimdamental principles of freedom
of choice and expression." which the Joint
Church Parliamentary Committee Against
Pornography and Obscenity said censorship
is
necessary.
Anglican priest the Rev. David Crawley,
who read the brief, stated, "Censorship is
necessary on the same basis as other government
regulation of our lives. We have to
put up with some Big Brother legislation
such as seatbcit legislation to protect ourselves
from our own folly."
Restrictions of freedom are needed "for
the sage of greater freedom," according to
two representatives of the Manitoba Provincial
Committee of the Catholic Women's
League. "If people are allowed to indulge in
what they want," they warned, "society will
become hedonistic, coarse and brutal."
Joseph Gobriele Is Fined
$1,500 for 'Obscene' Film
WINNIPEG — Venus Theatre owner
Joseph Gabriele, who last November was
fined $1,500 for exhibiting the motion picture
"3 A.M.." has been fined another $1,-
500 for showing the film "The Sexualist,"
declared obscene in county court following
a trial. The latter picture was shown at the
Venus Theatre, 801 Sargent Ave., between
June 5 and June 8, 1977.
In setting the fine. County Court Judge
Alan R. Philp declared. "It (the movie)
goes beyond what Canadian contemporary
standards would tolerate."
"The Sexualist"
was approved for exhibition
by the Quebec censors and was not
deemed obscene by Manitoba censors, it was
pointed out by defense counsel Hcrsh
Wolch. The lawyer said that although he has
asked the attorney general to set up an advisory
board that can give advice on what
films might be shown, he was told the best
way would be for anyone interested in showing
such motion pictures to consult their
attorneys.
Wolch also noted that there had been no
complaints from the public about any of the
films seized by police at
the Venus Theatre.
Judge Philp, however, characterized Gabriele's
offense as a "victimless crime."
Albert Brenner has been set as production
designer for Neil Simon's "California Suite."

Call for Unity Is Made at Annual
Exhibitor Confab in Vancouver
meeting to air and discuss their problems.
This was followed by the first plenary session
at 1:15 p.m.. chaired by past president
Ralph Clarke in the absence of president
Barney Simmons, who was unavoidably detained.
After a short address of welcome to the
delegates and a brief outline of the programs,
reports for the year just ended were
called. Secretary-treasurer Vi Hosford presented
an overview of both depatrments.
with a detailed report on financial matters
and the current state of the latter. Both were
adopted as read.
Mcintosh Gives Talk
In the absence of the president, Ms. Hosford
also read a communication from Simmons
detailing activities of the past year.
Alberta president Brian Mcintosh gave
a short address touching on highlights of the
Alberta meeting and plans for activities concerning
the welfare of the industry in that
province in the current year.
Doug Gow, vice-president of Famous
Players, western Canada, conducted a short
seminar on advertising, centering mainly
on the participation deals now being offered
by national distributors, particularly food
chains such as Super Valu, which is promoting
a province-wide "Movie Month,"
tied in with selected products, in the month
of
May.
Hector Ross Keynoter
Keynote speaJcer for the afternoon was
Hector Ross, president of the Canadian
Motion Picture Theatre Ass'n, who discussed
with expertise exhibition matters
concerning the whole country. The theme
of his address focused on the necessity for
exhibition to operate in unity at all levels to
maintain notice and power at the national
as well as the local level.
Ross pointed out that it was only the eforts
of the individual members contacting
legislators, as well as the cabinet, the main
thrust of the campaign last year, that forestalled
a ticket tax. The initiative was tabled.
Gerry Sutherland, vice-president of Odeon
(Canada), invited to join in the discussion
Ross, suggested that western associations
individual exhibitors explore possibilities of
holding joint conventions, first with Alberta
and later involving Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Sutherland pointed out that "added
clout" would give the West more voice nationally
and providj incentive to bring trade
and exhibition suppliers to the joint conventions.
a demonstration on the use of the theatre
screen as a medium of extra revenue through
commercials plugging sundy products, with
the presentation made by Camelia Gauthier.
Prior to adjournment for cocktails and a
short social hour at 5 p.m., the assemblage
voted in a new executive for 1978. Installed
as president was Chris Van Snellenburg,
Odeon head office. Other officers are: vicepresident,
Mike Murphy, Famous Players
district manager: second vice-president,
Ralph Clarke, Chilliwack Drive-In; Vi Hosford,
Hosford Theatres, secretary-treasurer
and, as directors, Barney Simmons, past
president, of the Quadra, Victoria; Lucey
Shaw and Run Shaw, Vancouver, and Don
Gibbs, Abbotsford.
Johnny Bernard Host
Coffee and refreshments launched proceedings
the following morning at the
Vogue, the event hosted by Odeon (Canada)
and manager Johnny Bernard. A mammoth
screening of trailers on current and forthcoming
product from all distributors then
was presented.
After this, the delegates returned to the
Four Seasons for a round of cocktails and
luncheon and were joined by special guests,
including recently retired chief film classifier
Ray and Mrs. McDonald: Mary Lou Mc-
Causland, new film classifier; Henry Jenns.
provincial fire marshal; Al Wallace, and
media representatives, among them veteran
Vancouver Sun entertainment editor Les
Wedman.
VIPs at Head Table
Gracing the head table were Bryan Rudston-Brown,
president of the British Columbia
Film Board of Trade. Gerry Sutherland.
Mary Lou McCausland. Brian Mcintosh,
Doug Gow. Henry Jenns. Vi Hosford, Hector
Ross and chairman Ralph Clarke.
Introduced by colleague Doug Isman,
keynote speaker Ross, who operates 55 theatres
in British Columbia and the Prairies
(and in addition to his chairmanship of the
national exhibition board was voted this
past year's "Pioneer of the Year" award),
again deplored the previous lack of professional
leadership in the theatre business on
behalf of exhibitors "who are sick and tired
of being bound by archaic regulations that
have no bearing on current operations." He
declared, "The full support of exhibitors is
needed to remove these obsolete remainders
of the past."
Ross was followed by Ms. McCausland,
who gave her views of the classification approach,
not of a woman, but of a new-generation
classifier to the oft-demanding,
sometimes frustrating job of trying to please
everyone.
Jenns, as fire marshal, discussed at length
his position as the representative of the
VANCOUVER—A well-attended representative
Ross commented that the initial cost of provincial government, who is many situa-
meeting of the Motion Picture maintaining such a lobby and information tions can be overruled by the local fire
Theatre Ass'n of British Columbia, sparked center would not exceed over S5.000 per chief. Always alert, Henry spotted an exit
by spirited discussion, short pithy speeches
light in the banquet hall that was unlit and
territory. The meeting voiced h;arty approval
and informative workshops was held in the
made haste to have it corrected before he
of the plan and authorized the in-
Arbutus Room of the Four Seasons Hotel coming executive to study the proposal and
February 26-27. Registration commenced report at a later date.
at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. February 26. with Following a short coffee break, the meeting
the independ:nts breaking off for a special
reconvened to hear a short talk and view
left the building.
The place of media advertising in the
entertainment business was discussed by a
panel of TV and radio types, after an introduction
by Camelia Gauthier.
The convention closed with a cocktail
party after a 5 p.m. adjournment.
'Dauntless Don' Palmquist
Decides to Defy Disaster
MINNEAPOLIS—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
50'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 undaunted Palmquist now continued his
journey homeward. It was not exactly his
night. Pow! A tire, somehow weakened
(perhaps by 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
skies. He accomplished the deed and
hopped back into his car. Despite all this,
Palmquist still was set to go. The car was
not. The watery visit with headlights on had
diminished the battery.
Our hero now did a "It Happened One
Night" bit. valiantly trying to thumb a ride
from almost non-existent rural road traffic.
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
K-8 BOXOFHCE :: April 24. 1978

Churches (BFC). For listings by .
. John
BOXOFFiCE BOOKINCUIDE
An interpretive analysis of lay and tradepress reviev
minus signs indicate degree of merit. Listings cove
BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All films are in color
Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings: [Q]—general
I. Running time is in parentheses. The plus m
current reviews regularly. Symbol u denol
"ccept those indicated by (b

. .
Ona People: Life and Death i
REVIEW DIGEST
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX +t Very Good, + Good; ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. the summary ff is rated 2 pluses, = as 2
49S6 Looking for Mr. Goodbar
(135) D
Para U- 7-77 H C ++ ff +| ± ^ 9+i_
4987 Love at First Sight
(85) C-D Movietime 1M4-77 ± - 1+2-
5014 Madame Rosa (105) D Atlantic 3-20-78
5001 Mado (130) D Joseph Green 1-30-78 B
5014 Man Who Loved Women, The
4981 Maniac (90)
(119) C-D Cinema 5 3-20-78 B
Ac-Sus-D New World 10-24-77 PG
50C9Manitou, The (104) Ho-D Emb 3- 6-78 PG
4992 Mansion of the Doomed
(85) Ho-D Group 1 11-28-77 H
4969 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 3-13-78 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
Boys Are Good Boys
5006 My

•ON
VV

L i
r i
'S ^
ii
I
ll'
it-
Pii
Ill

MISCELLANEOUS
APACHE FILMS
The Best of Laurel & Hardy (90)
ATLAS
The Confessional (95) ..Ho. July 77
.\nthnn.v Sli;i n Susan Penhallgt
The Contest (83) D..Au|i77
\"anr\

Opinions on Current Productions
Symbol Q denotes color; © CinemaScope; ig; Panavision; ® Techuira
Feature reviews
For 6lory synopsis on each pictu
A DIFFERENT STORY H %'''
Avco Embassy (0299) 107 Minutes Rel. May '78
Can a homosexual and a lesbian find love with each
jq^
other and live happily ever after? Probably not. but this }(,%
engaging Avco comedy says otherwise. In the capable
hands of Perry King and Meg Foster, the Henry Olek
screenplay follows a natui-al progression from first meeting
to mutual affection to real love. Scene in which the
former gays discover that they're to be parents is a highlight
as the two stars register shock, amazement and joy
with equal skill. It's certainly different and entertaining
enough to warrant better than average interest. The film
marks the debut of stage director Paul Aaron and is the
first theatrical featm-e made fully by The Petersen Company,
a very successful TV commercial producer. Getting
full producer credit for the first time on a featui-e is
Alan Belkin. formerly with Petersen. For once, gays are
not portrayed as caricatm-es, while Valerie Curtin as
Foster's neurotic lover strikes a di-amatic note. Some of
the homosexual's problems are shown in the light of an
average relationship and the King-Foster marriage takes
on the aspect of any male-female pairing. There is a bit
of nudity and some foul language, yet things tend to be
discreet. Bob Wahler WTOte and performed the original
songs. Color by Consolidated Film Industries.
Perry King:, Meg Foster, Valerie Curtin, Peter Donat,
Guerin Barry, Doug Higgins, Lisa James.

ex-wife
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Programs
THE STORY:
"Malibu Beach" (Crown Infl)
It's summertime, school's out and attractive young people
head for Malibu Beach. Lifeguard Kim Lankford attracts
the males, with bully Steven Oliver the first to be
rebuffed. James Daughton and Michael Luther team up
with Susan Player Jarreau and Lankford. At a beach pot
party, two police officers appear but fail to put a damper
on the affair when one of them is enticed into joining
the festivities, Oliver picks a fight with Luther, but the
appearance of the officer cools them off. Later the gang
goes skiiiny-dipping. The next day Oliver and Luther
WTeck a police car and a Cadillac in a di-ag-race crash.
Lankford sneaks Daughton into her house when her parents
leave, only to experience a narrow escape when they
return. At the beach, Daughton and Oliver, still in conflict,
have a swimming race which is broken up when
Luther stages a phony shark scare. The scare becomes
real when a genuine shark appeaj-s and threatens Daughton.
Oliver wanders off to find consolation with Flora
Plumb, a teacher who has blossomed out with the summer
beach activities.
EXPLOITIPS:
Sm-fing clubs, hot-rod clubs and bikini contests are
naturals for ballyhooing this one.
CATCHLINES:
Everything Can Happen on Malibu Beach! . . . School's
Out! It's Time for a Wild, Zany and Sexy Summer!
THE STORY: "Blue Sunshine" (Cinema Shares)
Potential maniacs are glimpsed: kindly doctor Robert
Walden, baby-sitter
i
Ann Cooper of politician
Mark Goddardi, policeman Bill Cameron. Another is
singer-photographer Richard Crystal, who goes berserk
after his bald pate is revealed and pushes thi-ee people
into a fireplace. Blamed is party host Zalman King, who
causes Ci-ystal's death by a truck. After being wounded
by a trucker. King asks 'Walden for help in investigating
Crystal's background and the massacre-suicide committed
by Cameron. King, assisted by sweetheart Deborah
"Winters, is led to Goddard. Police lieutenant Charles Siebert
believes that King is guilty, but "Winters enlists his
,
^.^j^
aid. King has learned that the maniacs had been in nj^i
college with Goddard, who had sold a drug called Blue
Sunshine. "Walden had been a pusher but not a user. The
di'ug's effects had been dormant till now. Crazed Cooper
tries to kill two children and falls to her death in a
struggle with King. Goddard's campaign manager Ray
Young proves to be the final maniac, attacking patrons
at a discotheque before King shoots him with a tranquilizing
gun. Other potential maniacs may be at large.
EXPLOITIPS:
Use bald dummies and blue lights in department store
windows for displays.
CATCHLINES:
Did You Ever Hear the Words Blue Sunshine? Try to
Remember—Youi- Life May Depend On It.
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THE STORY: "A Different Story" (Emb)
Gay Perry King is chauffeur- and lover to symphony
conductor Peter Donat, who fires him. Meg Foster, a real
estate agent, is showing a house to clients when she discovers
King living there. She takes the penniless King
home and he is sm-prised to learn that she's a lesbian.
Both have had heterosexual experiences, but prefer their
own sex. The neat King, an excellent cook, keeps house
for the sloppy Foster. Teacher "Valerie Cm-tin, who loves
Poster, becomes upset over Lisa James, Meg's new interest.
When King refuses to see Donat anymore, the latter
reports him as an illegal alien (he's Belgian-born i. Foster,
now fond of King, marries him for the pm-pose of
changing his alien status. One night they discover they
really love each other and she becomes pregnant, to the
amazement of both. The two deal with suicidal Curtin,
Foster gives birth to a boy and King gets a job with gay
designer Guerin Barry. Foster suspects that King is having
an affair with Barry, but discovers him in the shower
with another woman. He goes to various lengths to win
back his wife.
EXPLOITIPS:
The very different theme should provide lots of material,
aside from the two appealing leads.
CATCHUNES:
You're Not Going to Believe This About Albert and
Stella, But They're in Love. With Each Other ... He
Prefers Men. She Likes Women. This Is a Relationship?
THE STORY: "Dracula's Dog" (Crown Int'l)
A military exercise with explosives in Transylvania accidentally
unearths the bm-ial place of the Draculas.
When guard Tom Gerard looses a stake from a corpse,
the dog Zoltan sprmgs to life and kills him. Zoltan also
mistakes his master, Reggie Nalder, a pseudo-vampire
who does not require blood. Many years before, Dracula
(Michael Patakii had bitten Zoltan and turned him into
a vampire. Now Nalder and Zoltan seek the last descendant
of Dracula, Michael Pataki, living in Los Angeles
with his wife Jan Shutan, children Libbie Chase and
John Levin and their dogs. Inspector Jose Ferrer, knowing
of the legend and of Pataki's whereabouts, travels to
Los Angeles. The Pataki family is camping when Zoltan
kills one of theu- puppies, then tm-ns the parent dogs
into vampires. Pataki sends his family home; he and
Ferrer fight off an attack by the vampire canines. Zoltan,
who had torn a young camper to shi-eds, dies, as do
Nalder and the other dogs. However, the puppy rises
from its grave to kill small animals in its thirst for blood.
EXPLOITIPS:
Ci-own has a free color TV spot and radio announcements
and suggests using a Dobei-man dog m a street
ballyhoo and putting it with a coffin display in the lobby.
CATCHLINES:
There's More to the Legend Than Meets—the Thi-oat.
THE STORY:
"Almost Summer" (Univ)
Bruno Kirby and Thomas Carter learn that their candidate
for high school student body president has been
suspended from school. They desperately pick John Friedrich
as then- last-minute entry in the race against ruthless
front-runner Lee Purcell. Kirby's sister, Didi Conn,
works hard in the F^-iedi-ich campaign, hoping to win his
notice. Carter has a falling-out with singer Petronia
Paley, who is dating an older man who may help her
career. The arrogant Purcell challenges Fi'iedi-ich to a
debate. But she appears for the session totally dissheveled,
her hair having been soaked in the gym shower just moments
before. Kirby is accused of pulling a "dirty ti-ick"
to make her look bad. When police later bust a student
for drugs and search his locker, Friedrich becomes a hero
by forcing the police to acknowledge that they had conducted
an illegal search. On the strength of that, he wins
the election. But he learns that Kirby had staged a phony
police bust by hiring fake cops. He renounces this newlywon
presidency but the student body, impressed with his
integrity, keep him in office.
EXPLOITIPS:
Tie in with local high school student activities. Use
radio spot ads on youth -oriented stations.
CATCHLINES:
Winning Isn't Everything—But it Sure Feels Good!
BOXOmCE BookinGuide ;: April 24, 1978

lATES: 50c per word, miniinum S5.00 CASH WITH COPY. Four consecutive inseniona lor
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illowed. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers
lo Box Numbers to BOXOFHCE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City, Mo. 64124^
CLEflllinG HOUSt
price
HELP WANTED
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
MANAGERS and Assistant Managers
experienced. Due expansion, Genera!
lo
Cinema in Theatres has openings New
Orleans. Excellent opportunity, good benelils.
(713) 777-0752.
POSITIONS WANTED
PHOIECTIONIST/MANAGER exper.enc
ed all phases theatre operation. Reliable
Coas:al areas only. Boxolfice, 4074.
BUSINESS STIMULATORS
THEATRE GAMES, Binao Banko S
weekly. Novelty Games, R D. 2, Port
vis, N.Y. 12771.
TICKET MACHINES repaired. Fast
vice, reasonable rotes. I. ED. Service
10 Woodside Dr., Grafton, Massachu
(617) 839-4058.
DRIVE-IN SPEAKERS reconed, $1 50
each. Send to: J. ED. Service Co., 10
Woodside Drive, Grafton, Massachusetts
(617) 839-4058.
ind
finished. Norelco 35/:'
plete. HAHRY MELCHER ENTERPRISES,
3615 W. Fond du Lac Avenue, P. O. Box
16528, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53216. (414)
442-5020.
EIGHT
BUILD ATTENDANCE with real Hawaiian
orchids. Few cents each. Write Flowers
of Hawaii, 670 S. Lafayette Place, Los
Angeles, Calif. 90005.
THEATRE MONTHLY CALENDARS, weekly
prograrns. heralds, bumper strips, daily
boxoffice reports, time schedules, passes,
labels, etc. Write for samples, prices. Dixie
Lilho, Box 882, Atlanta, Ga. 30301.
BINGO CARDS DIE CUT: 1-75. 1500 combinations
m color. PREMIUM PRODUCTS,
339 West 44th St ,
Ne-*- York, N.Y 10036,
(212) 246-4972
THE RIGHT background music adds the
perfect touch to your theatre Demo tape
available. (815) 397-9295.
POPCORN MACHINES
BRAND NEW COUNTER MODEL all
ELECTRIC Display Poppers from $426 50
each. Knspy Korn. 120 S Hoisted, Chi-
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SCREEN TOWERS INTERNATIONAL: Ten
Day Screen Installation, (817) 642-3591
Drawer P Rogers, Texas 76569.
EDUCATION, INSTRUaiON
VAN MAR ACADEMY: Mo.i:.-, Pictur.
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90069. (213) 650-8823.
MARQUEES, SIGNS
DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, BUILT,
ERECTED, MAINTAINED on Lease or purchase
plan. Bux Mont Electrical Advertising
Systems, Horsham, Pa. (215) 575-1040
HAVE SOMETHING
TO SELL ? THEN LET
PEOPLE KNOW! USE
THE
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WANT TO BUY? THEN
LET PEOPLE KNOW!
USE THE
"CLEARING HOUSE"

Edward L. Montoro cordially invites you to a product reel screening of "THE DARK'
There is a force more
evil tiian man lias
ever icnown.
It's out tiiere,
waiting.
iif#
i'T'lM^^
ig: WILLIAM DEVANE. CATHY LEE CROSBY . RICHARD JAECKEL and KEENAN m
SCHEDULE OF SCREENINGS AND CONTACTS
EDWARD L. MONTORO, PRESIDENT
MURRAY KAPLAN. GENERAL SALES MANAGER
FILM VENTURES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
310 N. SAN VICENTE BLVD., SUITE 200, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90048 (213) 659-0545

Will Rogers Health Spots
Attached to Feature Films
NEW YORK—Salah M. Hassanein, president
of the Will Rogers Institute, has announced
that the first of the health education
film messages produced by the institute
is completed. The one-minute film clip deals
with high blood pressure, or hypertension,
one of the nation's major killers. According
to Al Fitter, senior vice-president of
United Artists, it will be attached ahead of
the prints of "Convoy" to coincide with
National Hypertension Month (May).
Frank Mancuso. senior vice-president of
Paramount and Will Rogers distributor
chairman, will attach the clips to prints of
"Pretty Baby." Terry Semel, executive vicepresident
of Warner Bros., will affix them
to "The Medusa Touch" and Norman Levy,
executive vice-president of Columbia, will
make them a part of prints of "If Ever I
See You Again."
The one-minute subject, entitled "Thump,
Thump," explains that millions of Americans
are in danger of suffering a heart attack
or stroke because they have high blood pressure
and don't know it.
Martin Newman, executive director of
Will Rogers, is extremely gratified by the
tremendous help and cooperation he is receiving
from the distribution companies in
making the messages a part of feature
prints. Other film companies have pledged
their cooperation.
Other subjects in preparation by Will
Rogers deal with such health problems as
the immunization of children, drug abuse
(just completed and featuring Elizabeth
Taylor), cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and
accident injury care.
"Our industry can be proud." said Hassanein,
"of this great humanitarian service
that Will Rogers will provide the American
public through this new communications
effort."
Jack Volenti Tells Seminar 'Movies
Are Alive and Well All Over World'
KANSAS CITY—Jack Valenti,
president
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America,
speaking at the Midwest
Research Institute's
"Midcontinent
Perspectives 2001"
seminar April 26,
assured the assemblage
that the motion
picture industry is
alive and well in the
U.S. and all over the
world, despite the
challenges presented
Jack Valenti
by video.
"With the advent of TV, movie attendance
slackened and then almost disappeared,
with attendance dropping as low as
16,000,000-plus per week," Valenti reminded.
"To put it another way, in 1946 there
were some 4,100,000,000 admissions and
by 1967 it had dropped to 926,000,000.
The boxoffice take in 1946 was $1,700,-
000,000. Even with inflation, 1967 boxoffice
revenues were only a touch more than
$1,000,000,000."
Grosses Rise in
'70s
Theatre attendance and boxoffice grosses
began to rise in the 1970s, Valenti noted, as
TV lost its novelty. In 1977, total grosses
were at an all-time high—$2,400,000,000
and admissions soared to 1,100.000,000. Additionally,
motion pictures became the most
wanted U.S. export, the MPAA chief asserted,
dominating screens in more than 100
countries on five continents. "In 1976," he
observed, "foreign audiences contributed
some 49.7 per cent of all the revenues flowing
to the American film industry."
During the 1960s and the '70s, not only
did motion pictures change in content and
technique, Valenti pointed out, but the face
of exhibition also underwent radical alterations.
Theatre owners began to redesign
their geographic strategy, moving from the
core of central cities to the suburbs where
the people lived, Valenti said. He added,
"While it is true that we have some 2,000
fewer movie houses today than we did in
1946, is it a significant fact that from 1967
to 1977 the number of screens increased
from 12,187 to 16,829, a profound mark
of confidence by bankers and theatre owners
in the continued vitality of the movie
theatre as a part of the American culture."
He stated that "two of the major studios
in Hollywood are led by Rhodes scholars
and the others by mostly young, restless,
endlessly energetic executives who are keen
to sense change, not to resist it, ready to
explore unmapped territory, not content to
do what always has been done."
'Talent Is King'
"In Hollywood today, talent is king,"
Valenti told his audience, commenting, too,
that along with the "introduction of new,
young talent has been the advance of technology
in new cameras, fast film and special
effects flowing from the hand and brain of
modern craftsmen, fashioned with modem
tools."
Yet, Valenti emphasized, "No one can
forecast the value of a film to an audience
. . . That is really what makes filmmaking
such a fascinating enterprise."
He recalled, "Friends ask me, 'Why don't
they make movies the way they used to?'
And my answer is, 'Why isn't society the
way it used to be?' In the mid-1960s the
(Continued on page 6)
Prince Charles to Attend
'Panther' Debut in London
NEW YORK — Guest of honor at
the
world premiere of Blake Edwards' "Revenge
of the Pink Panther" will be Charles Prince
of Wales. The gala opening will be held in
London at the Odeon Leicester Square
Thursday, July 13, for the benefit of the
Newspaper Press Fund and the Welsh Environment
Foundation.
Prince Charles is a longtime fan of Peter
Sellers, who stars for the fifth time as Inspector
Jacques Clouseau in Edwards' popular
comedies about the Pink Panther. The
prince, along with his brothers Prince Edward
and Prince Andrew, had visited the
set of "Revenge of the Pink Panther" during
studio filming in England. He also attended
last year's London premiere of "The Pink
Panther Strikes Again."
These films along with the earlier Pink
Panther movies are released by United Artists.
Shot on locations throughout Europe and
the Far East, "Revenge of the Pink Panther"
also stars Herbert Lorn, Dyan Cannon, Robert
Webber, Burt Kwouk and Paul Stewart.
D of J Official Backs Antiblind-Bidding Measure
Washington—The National Ass'n of Theatre Owners April 25 hailed Assistant
Atty. Gen. Shenefield's letter concerning the practice of blind-bidding, which was
addressed to the Hon. David J. Swartz of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
In reply to Swartz's inquiry as to the appropriateness and impact of such
legislation, Shenefield sent a five-page letter stating that the public interest would
best be served by the passage of the proposed antiblind-bidding bill in Massachusetts.
For many years NATO has been striving to eliminate this practice, addressing
its appeal to the Department of Justice, the courts and to the distributors themselves.
Each of these efforts met with little or no success. Consequently, acting
on its own, NATO developed a program to introduce bills banning blind selling
in the various states.
A meeting was requested by NATO and, Februarj 10 this year, a small committee
met with representatives of the Department of Justice to present new theory
and argumentation for the consideration of the deparment. Subsequent to this meeting,
a position paper with additional documentation was presented by NATO to
the department.
"NATO is delighted to see its views and suggestions incorporated in Shenefield's
respon.se and applauds the department for its far-sighted statements regarding
this onerous practice. It is a great stride towards restoring balance to the distribution
and exhibition relationship and will be immeasurably helpful in the
passage of NATO's antiblind-bidding legislation,"
of NATO.
said Marvin Goldman, president
BOXOmCE :: May 1, 1978

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. . whose
David Proval Stars as a Retarded
Young Man in Universal's 'Nunzio
NEW YORK—"Nunzio." a
new Universal
release starring David Proval as a retarded
young man in
Brooklyn's Boro Park
section, is a combination
of fiction and
fact which might indicate
that dreams
really do come true.
It's a warm and loving
study of those
who help the title
character to adjust to
life and Proval would
.welcome comparisons
The saga of Nunzio began to take shape
not too long ago. when Proval was appearing
in a Los Angeles production of "The
Basic Training of Pavla HLmimel." Another
young actor named James Andronica was so
taken by Proval's starring performance that
he saw the play several times and began to
formulate the script for the film with Proval
in mind. Nunzio is based on a real person,
Andronica's uncle, and the actor-writer
found a quality in Proval which was ideal
for the role. Andronica wrote the part of
Nunzio's brother and protector, Jamesie. for
himself. Proval and director Paul Williams,
with whom the former has been involved
in an actors" workshop (a group with which
Jon Voight and Richard Dreyfuss have been
connected), became enthusiastic about the
project.
May Release Slated
With Williams as director, "Nunzio" was
made in Andronica's Boro Park neighborhood,
with many of Andronica's friends
and neighbors in the cast. Among the costars
are singer-actress Morgana King (from
"The Godfather" films), Tovah Feldshuh
(recently seen on TV's "Holocaust"), Theresa
Saldana (ciurently in "I Wanna Hold
Your Hand"), Vincent Russo, Joe Spinell
and Maria Smith-Caffey. Jennings Lang was
the producer and a May release is
set.
In researching the character, Proval spent
some time at the West Covina Adult Retardation
Center in California. With a physician
friend of the family, he was able to observe
members of a day program aimed at
guiding high functional retardates. Nunzio
is seen as a delivery boy for the neighborhood
grocer and would qualify in this category.
Proval adopted the curly hair style
character's death-defying leap near the climax
would not result in an injury or death.
A fireman stated that the leap as shown
with a landing on a collapsible roof—easily
could be survived.
Proval, who has been seen in "Mean
Streets," "Cinderella Liberty" and "Harry
and Walter Go to New York," was born in
the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, not
far from the locale of "Nunzio." Living in
New York with his family, he hopes to do
another low-budget film as challenging as
the new one before concentrating on a
production
of more major proportions. Right
now, he wants to see "Nunzio" take off.
'Cycle Girls' Pulls Hefty
Grosses in Detroit Area
LOS ANGELES — Peter Perry, head of
Peter Perry Pictures, disclosed that "The
Young Cycle Girls." playing a 28-unit multiple
engagement in the metropolitan Detroit
area, grossed $90,000 in the first week.
Promoting the playdate was a 1978 Honda
motorcycle giveaway, with patrons picking
up drawing entry blanks at the theatre.
Film Business Alive,
Well Valenti Says
(Continued from page 3)
social harness that had held together old
values and ancient slogans began to unravel
... It would be absurd to believe that
movies, the most creative of all the art
forms, would be unaffected by social and
cultural change that has infected the public,"
The head of the MPAA said that he had
taken over that post 12 years ago with two
firmly fixed objectives: to free the screen
so that a filmmaker could tell whatever
story he chose without anyone ordering him
to edit, revise or blot out that which he had
put together and to fulfill an obligation to
parents so that they could make their own
of the retarded man he had studied most of
David Proval
the time, as a tribute to the man's determination.
Williams insisted that Proval stay
judgments about which films their children
to that classic story of a Bronx butcher,
should or should not see.
"Marty." which brought an Oscar to Ernest in character throughout filming, to help with
"The parent should make this judgment,
Borgnine.
the interpretation. Proval found himself depressed
at the end of production.
not a government agency or some censor
Small intimate houses would provide the
wild of eye and ripe with delusion," Valenti
asserted. "Further, I determined that
best outlets for his film. Proval feels, and A mild sex scene between Proval and
time should be allowed for word-of-mouth Saldana was defended by the actor as reflecting
the difficulties which retardates contingent on whether children saw the
the definition of freedom should not be
to build. Advance reviews have been largely
favorable and groups on Universal Studio have in coping with their own interlude. work of an artist."
tours have been enthusiastic preview audiencescause
of this scene, it has been trimmed to now open in the video field leave many
Although the film received an R rating be-
The various technological opportunities
Based on Real Person
earn a PG. The actor also explains that his questions unanswered, he averred. "Explod-
A Woman's Picture
Written by a Woman
Directed by a Woman
THE PIT OF LONELINESS (1954)
Screen Treatment by CoUette
From novel by Olivia
Directed by Jacqueline Audry
FILM CLASSIC EXCHANGE
1914 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, Cal. 90007
Telephone (213) 731-3854
ing within the living room TV set is a
mushroom cloud . full shape and
dimension no one can readily foretell," he
warned.
Currently, there are some 727 commercial
TV stations; 260 public broadcasting
outlets; some 13,000,000 homes with cable
TV. and approximately 1,700,000 homes
receiving pay TV programs. The development
of "two-way cable" is just in its infancy,
Valenti said, and prerecorded tape
cassettes and video discs just now are taking
their first tentative steps into the marketplace.
"What will be the impact of this deluge
of visual material in our homes," he asked
the audience. "You and I could spend the
next year speculating on where all these
magical technological opportunities may
transport us. Your guess is as good as
mine."
William-Jones to Head UA
Middle East, Europe Sales
NEW YORK— Michael
current
Williams-Jones,
managing director of United Artists
Corp., Ltd., of the United Kingdom, has
been appointed UA sales manager for
Europe and the Middle East, operating out
of New York, it was announced by Norbert
T. Auerbach, senior vice president and
foreign manager of United Artists.
Jones, who previously worked for a
large
film distributing company, joined UA in
November 1969 as head booker in the Johannesburg,
South Africa office. He subsequently
served there as managing director
for nearly three years. In February 1974 he
was promoted to general manager of UA of
Brazil.
In June 1977, after a short absence,
Jones rejoined UA.
BOXOFHCE :: May 1, 1978

AuerbachtoHeadUA
Foreign Operations
NEW YORK— Norbert T.
Norbert Auerbach
Auerbach has
been appointed United Artists senior vicepresident
and foreign
manager, effective immediately,
it was announced
by Andy Albeck,
UA president
and chief executive
officer. He succeeds
E r n St Goldschmidt.
who has resigned.
Auerbach previously
had served as UA
sales manager for EuroDe
and the Middle
East since January 1977, operating out of
the New York home office, where he will
continue to make his headquarters.
He brings to his new position wide experience
in distribution and production and
is a second-generation member of the motion
picture industry. Auerbach's formal
association with the motion picture business
began in 1946 following his graduation from
UCLA with a degree in business administration.
His first job was with producer Harry
M. Popkin, who headed Service Studios
in California. Auerbach worked his way un
to first assistant director before moving to
New York to jo'n the domestic sales d'^partment
of Film Classics. There he worked
under the direction of Arthur Reiman, now
manager of UA's sales contract department.
Began With Columbia
Columbia Pictures gave Auerbach his
basic training in international distribution
when it hired him as a trainee for its foreisn
department. At that time the department
was headed by Arnold Picker, later executive
vice-president of UA. In 1950, Auerbach
was assigned to Columbia's Paris
office, where he remained for over a decade,
except for the year and a half when
he was transferred to Portugal as manager.
He returned to Paris in 1953 and filled a
number of executive sales positions for Columbia,
ultimately rising to Continental
manager.
In 1961, he left Columbia to produce
motion pictures in France in collaboration
with Gilbert de Goldschmidt-Rothschild.
After turning out several films for the European
market, Auerbach resumed his career
in distribution, this time at the Paris office
of United Artists. During a four-year stint
w'th UA he took over the reins as Continental
manager.
Produced 1967 Film
In 1966, he re-entered the production
ranks and was asked by UA to produce
"The Thief of Paris," which was directed
by Louis Malle with Jean-Paul Belmondo
and Genevieve Bujold starred. It was a
widely acclaimed 1967 release.
That same year Auerbach joined Seven
Arts Productions, heading the company's
theatrical and TV sales operations in Paris.
When Seven Arts acquired Warner Bros.,
.'Auerbach became Continental sales manager
for Warners, remaining in Paris. In
March 1968, he set up a European production
and distribution organization for
the then newly established CBS Cinema
Center Films, operating out of London. In
1972 he moved to Los Angeles as vice-president
and foreign manager of CCF.
When that company ceased its feature
film activity in 1973, he returned to London
and became a consultant in the areas
of production and distribution for such independents
as John Hayman, and for such
companies as Bing Crosby Productions,
Avco Embassy, Metromedia and Cathay.
He rejoined United Artists in January
1977 in his above-mentioned home office
sales
position.
Avco Embassy Unveils New
Charlotte Branch Office
HOLLYWOOD— Avco Embassy Pictures
has boosted its branch office operations to
a total of 14 by opening a new sales spot
in Charlotte, N. C, it was announced by
Bob Rehme, senior vice-president and chief
operating officer.
Bobby Bcnefield, salesman in the Avco
Embassy Atlanta branch since 1974, has
been named manager of the Charlotte office,
responsible for North and South Carolina,
which formerly were serviced from
Atlanta.
Enlargement of the sales staff is following
the pattern of an overall expansion plan at
Avco Embassy, according to Rehme.
BOXOmCE :: May 1, 1978

Dane S. Denick of Chrisfie Electric
Thrives on Long-Distance Commuting
NEW YORK.— In today's rapidly paced
business world, the story of the long-distance
commuter is relatively
common. New
York-based executives
sometimes travel 70
miles or so to the
office via various
forms of mass transportation.
On the
^^^^ ^H West Coast, the same
^^^^W ^^H holds true.
as
^^^fl ^ J^l
Dane S. Denick
far as time concerned:
The execu-
tives say goodbye to
their families at 7 a.m. and spend two hours
on the freeway getting to work.
There are even some highly placed persons
who da'ly fly between New York and
Chicago, with time zone changes confusing
their lives and schedules. But to Dane S.
Denick, the national sales manager for
all Christie Electric Corp., the commuting
done by others palls when compared to his.
On a typical Monday morning when he
wakes up and looks out over the Gulf of
Mexico, his office staff is still asleep and
probably will remain so for another three
hours.
3,000 Miles to Office
Denick's office is in Los Angeles, some
3.000 miles away from his St. Petersburg,
Fla., residence. On the way to his office,
Denick has time to do a little work—like
visit six or seven Christie dealers in as many
cities across the U.S., have dinner or lunch
with perhaps a dozen theatre owners who
use Christie equipment and learn more
about the needs and moods of the film industry.
In truth, Denick's 3,000-mile trip
probably is broken up into a series of small
segments and it may take as long as five
days for him to travel from Florida to California.
Appeared in Film
Once his plane arrives at the Los Angeles
International Airport, Denick begins another
lifestyle, more oriented to the West
Coast than to his native Northeast. He has
an apartment overlooking Marina del Rey,
where he can relax after his long commuter
trip and concentrate on the business generated
during his absence from Christie Electric's
main headquarters. On one trip, he
even squeezed in time from his schedule to
appear in the movie "Angels in Hell," about
Howard Hughes and Jean Harlow. Denick
probably will spend a week there before he
is out on the road again, commuting back
to his Florida home and visiting dealers and
customers on the way.
Denick spends his spare time with a combination
of demanding activities: outdoor
sports, education and politics. The 30-yearold
executive is a skier and boater, dividing
winter moments on the slopes of the Rockies
and sailing year-round off the coasts of
California and Florida. These activities have
kept his lean, six-foot, four-inch frame in
excellent shape. From an educational standpoint,
he currently is working toward a
master's degree in business. The politics in
Denick's life began in 1974 when he was
the state co-chairman of the successful campaign
for the U.S. Senate of Richard Stone,
a Florida Democrat.
Denick always has had a varied lifestyle
and busy career. He was reared in Cornwall,
N.Y., and left there to join the Navy. He
advanced rapidly, reaching the highest grade
possible in his period of enlistment. He spent
two years in Spain and one in Iceland. After
returning to civilian life, he became part of
the theatre industry, first with Macbeth and
later with Christie.
He feels his future is still expanding and
looks forward to contributing even more to
the movie industry. He plans to do another
motion picture in the near future.
As for the 3,000-mile commuter trip and
rapid pace: "It really doesn't bother me,"
Denick says. "Maybe I'll slow down somedav.
but not for the next 20 or 30 years."
SEI Acquires 13 Features
For Release This Summer
NEW YORK—Salzburg Enterprises, one
of the leading nontheatrical distributors of
motion p'cture and TV product, has acquired
1 3 new feature motion pictures from
Controlled Film Marketing of Los Angeles,
according to Richard Salzburg, SEI president.
Among the package of first-run films are
such features as "Antonio," starring Trini
Lopez, and "Hell Hounds of Alaska," starring
Doug McCIure.
SEI will market the motion pictures to
schools and libraries, colleges and universities,
governmental agencies, institutions,
transportation outlets, clubs and home rentals
over the next few months.
Heston on South American
Tour to Bally 'Gray Lady'
NEW YORK—Charlton Heston, who
stars in Universal's "Gray Lady Down,"
made a two-week personal appearance tour
of Latin America to promote the film.
Cities on his itinerary included Buenos
Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas, Guatemala
City and Mexico City. Heston returned to
Los Angeles April 29.
"Gray Lady Down" also stars David Carradine
and Stacy Keach.
'Smokey' Big at Boxoffice
LOS ANGELES — "The Great Smokey
Roadblock." a Dimension Pictures release
starring Henry Fonda, grossed $66,921 in
its first week in 14 drive-ins and hardtops
in the Cincinnati area, according to president
Lawrence H. Woolner. The film is
being distributed nationwide.
Joseph E. Levine Honored
At Harvard University
BOSTON—Harvard University Business
School's prestigious Communications. Arts
& Entertainments Club April 19 named native
son Joseph E. Levine its first "Man
of the Year."
In presenting the award to the producer
at the Harvard Business School, Ms. Stephanie
French, president of the student organization,
said it was in recognition of his
outstanding contributions to the motion
picture industry. The precedent-setting
award is especially significant, since the
motion picture showman was born and
started his career in Boston.
In an address at the Harvard Business
School acknowledging the honor, the producer
said, "About three miles from here
there's a street called Billerica Street. It
used to be a slum. That's where I started.
It's a short distance from there to here but
taken me 72 years to make it."
it's
Levine flew in from Hollywood, where
he recently completed production of his
494th motion picture. "Magic." which has
been acquired by 20th Century-Fox for
worldwide distribution next October.
Sandy Howard Productions
Announces 3 New Projects
HOLLYWOOD—Sandy Howard Productions
has announced plans for three more
features to be filmed later this year and
early in 1979, in addition to three pictures
now under way and two others scheduled
for the near future.
The new projects are: "The Gold Train,"
an action-adventure espionage tale based on
the book by Peter Fleming, with a screenplay
to be written by Michael Luke; "The
Power Barons," an original screenplay by
Quinn Donoghue about a young couple
facing the powerful and corrupt forces of
international arms dealers, and "Odysea,"
an original screenplay by John Lind of a
futuristic story about an epic struggle for
survival by a submarine civilization esablishcd
on the ocean floor.
Sandy Howard films now in production
are the $16,000,000 "Meteor," presented by
Gabriel Katzka in association with Sir Run
Run Shaw and starring Sean Connery and
Natalie Wood; "City on Fire," produced in
association with Astral-Bellevue-Pathe of
Canada, and "Jaguar," an action adventure
picture produced by Derek Gibson for
Jaguar Productions with Sandy Howard as
executive producer.
Scheduled for production later this year
are "Taxi, Taxi," a romantic comedy, and
"Brainstorm," described as "the first cosmic
murder mystery."
AIP Announces Stock Buy
BEVERLY HILLS—American International
Pictures announced the execution of
an agreement with Sylvia Nicholson whereby
the company purchased 72,927 shares
its of common stock Oct. 28, 1977. The
company shares are listed on the American
Stock Exchange and the number of shares
outstanding is now 2,415,447.
BOXOFFICE :: May I. 1978

No Blind-Bidding
For 'Apocalypse'
NEW YORK.—Francis Coppola, producer-director
and co-scripter of the Vietnam
conflict feature film "Apocaiypse Now,"
has taken a position against blind-bidding
and will screen a rough version of his picture
for exhibitors seven months ahead of
release.
In a letter to Coppola, NATO president
Marvin Goldman said, "I am sure I would
be remiss if I did not communicate to you
the exhibitors' gratitude for your actions
and statements regarding the process of
blind-bidding.
"It heartens us to see that a producerdirector
of your caliber has shown an understanding
of the problems facing exhibition
today. Our actions in seeking the termination
of this practice are not dictated by a
desire to dip into the pocket of the producer
or distributor but simply to return
equity and reasonableness to the relationship.
"You deserve the thanks and the congratulations
of all exhibitors in the U. S.
for your courageous stand. In the name of
the 8,000 some-odd theatres represented by
NATO, I hope that your action will be
rewarded, that 'Apocalypse" becomes the
biggest grosser of all time and that other
producer-directors follow your direction."
De Laurentiis' 'Robbery'
To Be Released by UA
NEW YORK—The Dino
De Laurentiis
production of Michael Crichton's best-selling
novel, "The Great Train Robbery," will
be released worldwide by United Artists, it
was announced by Danton Rissner, UA
senior vice-president in charge of West
Coast production. The deal marks the first
time that a De Laurentiis presentation has
been given to an individual company for
the film which is scheduled for location in
Ireland for ten weeks, with an additional
three weeks in England. "The Great Train
Robbery" recreates the most daring crime
of the 19th century, combining a blend of
tongue-in-cheek spoofery with high suspense.
This marks the second major production
deal reached in recent weeks by UA, which
recently announced a three-year, nine-picture
agreement with filmmakers Robert
Chartoff and Irwin Winkler.
'Cinerella' Bows Nationally
HOLLYWOOD—The R-rated version of
the comedy "Cinderella" has opened in the
Kansas City area to holdover grosses. The
film also is due to open in Memphis, Boston,
Denver. Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago,
Jacksonville, Charlotte, Los Angeles,
Albany, Buffalo and Dallas.
George Peppard Takes to the Road
To Promote 'Five Days From Home
By RALPH KAMIN.SKY
HOLLYWOOD—George Peppard. actor,
producer, director and screenwriter on his
first feature film, "Five Days From Home,"
is convinced that "it will do well—the question
is how well." And to give his brainchild
a chance to succeed, Peppard took to
the road to boost the film's openings in eight
Southern cities. Universal Pictures has
mapped out a releasing strategy to give the
film the careful exposure the company believes
it merits.
Peppard's itinerary took hLm to New Orleans,
Mobile, Shreveport, Little Rock,
Memphis, Baton Rouge, Jackson, Miss., and
Monroe, La. Touring with him was Savannah
Smith, making her film debut in the
picture as a ".30-year-old virgin" who helps
Peppard after he escapes from prison and
tries to reach his severely injured son. Ms.
Smith has trimmed off the 30 pounds she
had to gain to play the role. She will be
sporting an Edith Head wardrobe as she
makes the rounds of interviews with fashion
editors.
Plugging Film Soundtrack
Peppard is convinced that his chase-andaction
story is laced with the kind of emotional
ingredients that will make the audience
laugh and cry. In addition, Peppard is
plugging the film's soundtrack, written by
Bill Conti who, according to the actor-producer,
"gave us a more powerful score than
he did for 'Rocky.' It's superb music." MCA
Records released the soundtrack album a
week before the film opened and the film's
trailers and all TV spots are boosting the
album as a tie-in with the picture.
Peppard expressed great admiration for
Universal's "regional concept" in releasing
his film in carefully selected markets in
global distribuiton.
Southern states, following the technique the
Principal photography began Monday
headed by Sean
company used in developing a huge following
(17) with an all-star cast
for "Smokey and the Bandit." which
Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-
Anne Down with Crichton directing from
his own screenplay. lohn Foreman produces
became a top grosser.
140-Unit Multiple Set
After its initial 70-theatre break. "Five
Days From Home" will go into 140 theatres
in Louisiana. Arkansas and Mississippi.
From there Universal gradually will take
the film into Florida, Alabama and shortly
afterwards into Texas and Oklahoma, Peppard
said. After that will come the Central
states and "then I think we'll break into
the big markets," Peppard said.
"Everything is being done to see that it
breaks big," he explained. On his agenda
has been the familiar promotional route of
appearances on TV talk shows—Johnny
Carson. Merv Griffin. Mike Douglas and
Dinah .Shore. As an added touch, Peppard
even put in an appearance on the Liar's
Club show.
For the publicity tour he and Ms. Smith
each are equipped with clips of the film
which give a good representation of Conti's
music. In New Orleans Peppard had a
chance to meet with 30 deejays a week
before the film opened to screen the movie
and have a luncheon session.
The advertising campaign for the openings
emphasizes Peppard and a puppy
which becomes his companion during the
chase sequences. The ad copy declares that
this man is "armed and dangerous and besides
a 357 Magnum and a .38. he's carrying
a puppy that hasn't been housebroken."
Audience reaction to the picture will be
watched carefully in the first weeks of the
opening run, Peppard said, to determine
what, if any. changes in the advertising
campaign might be advisable. "We'll watch
and listen to the audience. After all, I conceived
the picture with the audience in
mind," he declared.
The answer to the big question "Will
that audience laugh and cry at the right
is spots'?" what Peppard wants to know.
4 Oscars for 'Annie Hall'
Boost Return Playdates
NEW YORK—Since winning four major
Academy Awards, including Best Picture,
"Annie Hall" has grossed $4,745,000 in ten
to 12 days in over 300 theatres, Al Fitter,
senior vice-president for domestic sales for
United Artists, announced.
The Jack Rollins-Charles H. Joffe production,
which also has received tremendous
media publicity, including a Woody Allen
cover story in Newsweek, won its other Oscars
for Best Actress (Diane Keaton). Best
Direction (Woody Allen) and Best Original
Screenplay (Woody Allen and Marshall
Brickman).
Boxoffice receipts for some of the situations;
Los Angeles (19 days), $458,052;
New York, $358,110; Chicago, $300,833;
Philadelphia, $190,223; Detroit. $185,340;
Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, $175,437;
Toronto, $101,189: San Diego (19 days),
$93,130: Minneapolis. $63,462; Pittsburgh,
$61,184. and Cleveland. $60,978.
Knecht Named Warners'
V-P, General Counsel
BURBANK— Frank Wells, president of
Warner Bros., announced that Peter D.
Knecht has been promoted to vice-president
and general counsel.
Wells said, "For as long as I can remember,
Peter Knecht has been without peer as
a chief studio counsel. He is selfless, dedicated
and a brilliant attorney. This promotion
is most deserved, as the entire industry
will recognize."
Knecht has been with Warners 23 years.
He joined the firm in 1955 during the administration
of J. L. Warner, taking the
position of assistant to then-chief counsel
Roy Obringer. Knecht became head of the
legal department in 1963 and has been chief
counsel. West Coast, since the present management
took over in 1970.
1978

Orion, EMI Finalize an Agreement
For Co-Financing
HOLLYWOOD—A major co-financing
and distribution agreement has been signed
betw en Orion Pictures Co. and EMI Films,
with three big-budget projects already under
way by the British-based firm. Under the
agreement. Orion will distribute EMI films
in the U.S. and Canada through its
association
with Warner Bros. EMI will distribute
its product internationally.
Although EMI already has five films
ready for release through five major U.S.
distributors. "We felt it time to establish a
more permanent arrangement with one company
in the world's most important market."
said Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings.
joint heads of EMI, in making the announcement
with Eric Pleskow, Orion president.
Having the talents and experience of the
Orion group available "presented an ideal
opportunity for us," Deeley and Spikings
explained. "The combined resources of our
two groups will allow us to offer more to
British talent," they added, commenting that
'Corvette Summer' Will
Bow in Toledo May 20
NEW YORK — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
announced that the Mark Hamill-Annie
Potts starrer, "Corvette Summer," will have
its worid premiere Saturday (20) in Toledo,
Ohio, at the Showcase Cinema. The unspooling
of the romantic comedy-adventure
will highlight four days of special events
centered around a gigantic nationwide rally
of Corvette enthusiasts, who will be in Toledo
to attend the Corvette Jubilee Festival
at
the invitation of Terry Michaelis, worid's
largest supplier of Corvette parts and accessories,
according to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Approximately 5,000 Corvettes will participate
in a parade led by the $38,000 custom
Corvette that shares star honors in the
film with Hamill and Ms. Potts, who also
will be present for the premiere festivities
along with Hal Barwood, who produced
"Corvette Summer," and Matthew Robbins.
who directed it.
Mayor Doug DeGood has proclaimed
Toledo "Corvette City" for the day and
among the many civic and government diguitaries
who plan to attend the premiere
are Ohio Gov. James A. Rhodes, U.S. Sen.
John Glenn, U.S. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum.
Congressman Delbert Latta and Congressman
Thomas L. Ashley. MGM studio
officials also will attend the world premiere.
"Corvette Summer" begins its U.S. and
Canadian engagements in June as a United
Artists release. It will be distributed
throughout the rest of the world by Cinema
International Corp.
and Distribufion
"the most pleasing aspect of the arrangement
is that it will help provide Britishbased
filmmakers with access to the wealth
of material available to Orion."
The first three pictures involved are;
"The Chinese Bandit," said to be a project
that will cost approximately $10,000,-
000 and set for shooting in the Far East
from a script by David Shaber.
"Cutter and Bone," a $6,000,000 project
to be filmed in Santa Barbara, Calif., under
the direction of Mulligan.
"Arabian Adventure." a large-scale special-effects
film scheduled for production
this summer in the Mediterranean and at
Pinewood Studios in London.
The five films EMI already has set for
distribution are "Convoy," starring Kris
Kristofferson and Ali MacGraw, for United
Artists; "The Deer Hunter," starring Robert
De Niro and directed by Michael Cimino,
for Universal; "Death on the Nile," the
Agatha Christie thriller with an all-star cast
directed by John Guillermin for Paramount;
"The Driver," starring Ryan O'Neal. Bruce
Dern and Isabelle Adjani, for 20th Century-
Fox, and "Wariords of the Deep," a sciencefiction
adventure, for Columbia.
GCC's Wintman Announces
A Series of Promotions
CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.—Melvin R.
Wintman. president of GCC Theatres, a
subsidiary of General Cinema Corp. here.
has announced a series of promotions, effective
immediately.
Alan DeLemos, assistant to the senior
vice-president of film, has been promoted
to chief film economist. Cari Bertolino has
been promoted from advertising controller
to DeLemos' previous job. Carlos Ronqillo.
assistant to the controller of film accounting,
is upgraded to advertising controller.
Finally, Karen Malagrifa succeeds
Ronquillo.
SHOWMANSHIP — E.
Cardoii
Walker, left, president of Walt Disney
Productions, received the Motion Picture
Showmanship Award presented by
the Publicists Guild of America at its
recent awards luncheon in Hollywood.
Bette Davis, center, made the presentation,
assisted by Kirk Douglas, right,
who starred in Disney's "20,000
Leagues Under the Sea."
WCI Has Record Net.
Revenue for Quarter
NEW YORK—Warner Communications,
Inc., has reported record first-quarter results,
with net income and earnings per
share the best for any quarter in the company's
history.
Fully diluted earnings per share of $1.41
rose 12 per cent from the $1.26 reported
last year. Net income of $20,382,000 for
the first quarter rose 13 per cent from $18,-
032,000. Revenues of $312,497,000 compare
to $253,241,000 in 1977.
Fully diluted earnings per share include
8 cents and 7 cents in 1978 and 1977, respectively,
from Garden State National
Bank and net income includes $1,140,000
and $948,000 for the respective periods.
Garden State is now reflected as a discontinued
operation because of WCI's previously
announced agreement to vote in
favor
of a proposed merger between Garden State
National Bank and the National State Bank,
Elizabeth, N.J.
Commenting on these results, WCI chairman
Steven J. Ross stated, "An excellent
performance by recorded music, filmed entertainment
and publishing accounted for
these gains. Recorded music had its best
first quarter, as revenues rose 22 per cent
and operating income 17 per cent. Results
from foreign recorded music were particularly
strong, while domestic results continued
to show good growth.
Ail-Time Record for Films
"Filmed entertainment had the highest
revenues and operating income for any
quarter in its history. Theatrical results reflected
the boxoffice success of "The Goodbye
Giri' and "The Gauntlet' and additional
film rentals from 'Oh. God!' Theatrical films
in TV distribution were sharply higher and
TV series also showed revenue gains.
"The publishing division had record firstquarter
revenues and profits. Cable Communications
had gains in basic cable operations
but continued heavy costs for the
Qube two-way TV service in Columbus,
Ohio, caused a sharp decline in the division's
operating income. Toys and electronic
games had higher revenue, largely due to
the inclusion of Knickerbocker Toy, which
was purchased in July 1977. However, the
seasonality of this division's business produced
a substantial loss. The division is expected
to be profitable for the year."
Stock Deals Announced
April 10. 1978. WCI announced the redemption
of its Series B convertible preferred
stock. Series B holders have the right
to convert each share of preferred into 3.48
common shares prior to redemption prior
to the close of business Monday (15). Any
shares not converted at that time will be
redeemed Monday (22) at a price of
$102.25 per share plus accrued dividends.
WCI also announced a cash tender offer
for any and all shares of its outstanding
Series C preferred stock at price of $7.50
a
per Series C share. This offer will expire
Monday (1).
10
BOXOFHCE :: May 1, 1978

Three-Film Pact With UA
Signed by Rollins, Joffe
NEW YORK—Jack Rollins and Charles
H. Joffe. recipients of this year's Best Picture
Award for United Artists' "Annie
H.ili." have signed an exclusive two-year
agreement with UA wherein they will produce
a minimum of three films, it was announced
by Danton Rissner, United Artists
senior vice-president in charge of production.
West Coast.
Rollins and Joffe are perhaps best known
lor their longtime association with Woody
Allen, as they have produced all
his films.
In announcing the pact, Rissner noted
this marks the third major agreement by the
company's new management team, in addition
to the recently announced long term
deal with "Rocky" producers Robert Chartoff
and Irwin Winkler and acquisition of
the worldwide rights to Dino De Laurentiis'
"The Great Train Robbery." He also expressed
his delight in the extended association
with such talented filmmakers as Jack
Rollins and Charles Joffe.
Joffe stated that he is "thrilled with the
continuing relationship with United Artists"
and is "particularly happy for the opportunity
to produce dramatic as well as comedic
films." The Rollins-Joffe team currently has
three original properties in various stages of
development which are expected to be announced
shortly.
While Joffe will headquarter in Los Angeles.
Rollins will continue to run their New
York operation.
Factors Acquires Rights
To Three Films' Products
LOS ANGELES—Factors Etc., Inc.. the
world's largest mass-merchandiser of products
licensed for motion pictures, TV series
and personalities, has secured the rights for
various articles licensed by three major motion
pictures, it was announced by Harry
Geissler, president of the company.
Factors has acquired the worldwide
rights for two years for iron-on transfers,
buttons, badges and bumper stickers for
"Superman."
The company has secured rights for the
U.S. and Canada for such items licensed for
"F.I.S.T." as posters, iron-on transfers, caps,
buttons and patches. In addition. Factors
has the right to use Sylvester Stallone in his
film
character.
Factors also has acquired worldwide
rights (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for
"Saturday Night Fever" posters, silk-screened
T-shirts, iron-on transfers, patches and
buttons.
Among numerous other rights owned by
Factors are certain products connected with
'Star Wars" and the exclusive rights to all
Elvis Presley articles with the exception of
recordinss.
Cannes Debut for 'Trap'
NEW YORK—Charles Kaufman and
.Alexander Beck will present the world premiere
of Troma's "The Fur Trap" at this
year's
Cannes Film Festival.
BOXOmCE :: May 1978
'Rabbit Test' Grosses
Soar All
Locations
Los Angeles—Joan Rivers' "Rabbit
Test" opened in several cities Friday,
April 14, and once again racked up
large numbers at the boxofficc. The
three-day figures for the cities are:
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.. $30,325
(six theatres); Des Moines, Iowa,
$8,024 (two theatres); Davenport,
Iowa, $8,274 (one theatre); Springfield,
Mass., $10,910 ( one theatre), and New
Haven/ Hartford, Conn.. territory,
$80,208 (12 theatres).
"Rabbit Test," the zany .story of the
world's first pregnant man, continued to
do outstanding business in its second
week in Los Angeles and New York.
The comedy was co-written (with
Jay Redack) and directed by Joan
Rivers and produced by Edgar Rosenberg.
It is an Avco Embassy release.
USO Tribute to Bob Hope
Will Be Telecast May 25
WASHINGTON—Bob Hope, who began
touring for the United Service Organizations
in 1941, will be cited by the USO in
a three-hour salute on his 75th birthday
Thursday (25).
The special program, originating from the
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
here, will air on NBC and will be co-chaired
by VIP's including Vice-President Walter
Mondale and Mrs. Mondale. former President
Ford and Mrs. Ford and Kathy Crosby,
wife of the late Bing Crosby.
Silver Halo Award Won
By Univ.'s 'Gray Lady'
NEW YORK— Universal's "Gray Lady
Down" was awarded the Silver Halo by the
Southern California Motion Picture Council
this month, it was announced by Marian
Swanson, president of the organization.
"We are proud to support and honor
'Gray Lady Down' because it is a thoroughly
entertaining motion picture for the entire
family. It is exciting and well acted, providing
audiences a unique view of new naval
techniques that are extremely interesting,"
Ms. Swanson said.
Charlton Heston, David Carradine and
Stacy Keach star in the Walter Mirisch
production, which was directed by David
Greene from a screenplay by James Whittaker
and Howard Sackler.
Jill
Eikenberry Signed
For Role in MGM Film
HOLLYWOOD — Jill Eikenberry. who
has just finished a starring role in "Butch
and Sundance: The Early Days," has been
signed by producers Robert Christiansen
and Rick Rosenberg to star opposite James
Caan in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Hide in
Plain Sight."
The contemporary suspense drama, which
marks Caan's debut as a director, begins
filming on location in Buffalo, N.Y.; Washington.
D.C., and Albuquerque, N.M., early
this month. The screenplay is by Spencer
Eastman, based on a novel by Leslie Waller.
"Hide in Plain Sight" is the story of a
father's search for his children who have
been given new identities and hidden away
as a result of the federal government's Witness
Relocation Program.
PARAMOUNT ADVERTISING RECORD — The New York Daily News
recently presented Paramount Pictures' advertising chief with a plaque in recognition
of a new ad record set by the motion picture company in the News. On
three consecutive Fridays, "Orca" was promoted with big double-page ads in
Friday, the amusement section of the Daily News. Shown here, left to right,
are Arthur Sullivan, News amusement salesman; Stephen Rose, vice-president
of advertising for Paramount Pictures, who accepted the award; Ed Zolnier, News
classified display advertising manager, and Steve Morris, News amusement ad
manager, who made the award to Rose.

Geo. Chasin to Head AFI
Second Decade Council
WASHINGTON—George Chasin has
been named by Charlton Heston. chairman
of the American Film Institute's board of
trustees, to head the institute's Second Decade
Council. The council is comprised of a
distinguished group of private citizens who
support the work of the AFI.
Chasin. who began his one-year appointment
as the council's chairman March 1.
is an agent of long-standing in the film
community with the Chasin-Park-Citron
Agency. Their clients include both the current
chairman. Charlton Heston. and Gregory
Peck, the first chairman of the AFI
board of trustees. Chasin has been a member
of the Second Decade Council since
January 1977. prior to which he was a member
of the AFI "Council of 100." He also is
a member of the institute's board of tnastees,
as well as its executive committee, positions
which he also holds with the Motion
Picture and Television Fund.
As head of the Second Decade Council.
Chasin will assist in various public relations
and fund-raising functions for the council,
as well as hosting the annual fall dinner of
the council, whose guest last year was Henry
Kissinger and this year will be another
"figure of national prominence." Chasin also
will work with other council volunteers in
soliciting new members.
'Weatherman' Film Planned
By New Production Group
HOLLYWOOD—"Weatherman." a futuristic
science drama, is being planned as
a $12,000,000 feature by the newly created
Weatherman Production Co., formed by
film newcomer John Chavez, who wrote
and who will produce the picture, and his
associates Lyn Thomson, marketing financial
consultant, and literary agent Paul
Sutherland.
Chavez spent more than five years researching,
writing and developing his vision
of a future-world in which man controls
floods, hurricanes, drouths and all other
weather disasters. Technical adviser on the
film will be Dr. Stephen H. Schneider,
deputy director of the National Center for
Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo.,
and the author of "The Genesis Strategy."
The trio also plans sequel treatments of
"Weatherman." along with a number of
other film projects which are in development.
World marketing and public relations
for "Weatherman" will be supervised by
Murray Weissman. who handled similar
chores for "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind" and was involved actively in publicity
and marketing activities for numerous films
while with Universal Pictures ten years.
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 Distributor Rating
Where Time Began (Int'l Picture

. . . Producer
. . George
. . . Morgan
. . Myriad
. . Parka
. . Heywood
M ^J^olluwood i^epoA M
^
Ransohoff Filming 'Nightwing'
On Indian Reservation in NM
Martin Ransohoff began production April
17 on "Nightwing." for Cohimbia Pictures
release, on an Indian reservation near Albuquerque.
Director Arthur Hiiler has scheduled
six weeks of location filming before
returning to the Burbank Studios for interior
scenes. A big-budget suspense drama,
"Nightwing" is cast primarily with motion
picture newcomers and is based on the contemporary
novel by Martin Cruz Smith. The
screenplay is by Steve Shagan and Edwin
"Bud" Shrake. Nick Mancuso. David Warner
and Stephen Macht will appear in
"Nightwing." which depicts a dangerous
encounter with vampire bats which, according
to scientific evidence, have been
migrating northward from Central America
and recently were within 150 miles of the
'Winterhawk' Sequel Rights
Acquired by Michael Dante
Michael Dante has acquired all sequel
rights to "Winterhawk" from Charles B.
Pierce Productions. Dante starred in the
title role in the original motion picture
Georges-Alain Buille has acquired
rights to Romain Gary's "Claire de
Femme" and has signed Costa-Gavras to
. . . direct Triple Play Productions, headed
by Amy Robinson. Griffin Dunn and Mark
Metcalf, has acquired film rights to "Chilly
Scenes of Winter," based on the book by
Ann Beattie. Michael Weller wrote the
screenplay of the dramatic love story . .
.
Paramount has acquired screen rights to
"Tribute," a new play by Bernard Slade,
and has set Lawrence Turman to produce
the comedy-drama about a moribund screenwriter-turned-press
agent who has laughed
his way out of a career and two wives, then
tries to reach an understanding with his 20-
year-old, long-neglected son.
"Thief of Bagdad' Now Under
Way in London for Columbia
"The Thief of Bagdad" has begun filming
in London for Columbia Pictures release,
with Clive Donner directing a cast
headed by Terence Stamp. Peter Ustinov.
Roddy McDowall. Paula Ustinov, Kabir
Bedi and Marina Vlady . Barrie.
president of Brut Productions, has announced
"Department Store" as the company's
next project, with a script now being drafted
by Ron Austin and James Buchanan. Bruce
Geller will direct . . . Cinecorp Productions
is scheduling a m'd-September shooting
start on "Good Time Charlie." to be made
by producer John Hyde, executive producer
Saul David and director Richard Compton,
the same team that currently is working on
the company's "Ravagers." Compton will
write the script about two ex-convicts, one
old, the other young, who are touring the
U.S. during the 1930s . Productions,
headed by Parveneh Hargrove, plans
a late summer start in Europe on "Mario
and the Magician," from a screenplay by
Abraham Polonsky, based on the novella by
Thomas Mann . Cinema International
is planning "Motel" as its second
feature to be made in Oklahoma with predominantly
Oklahomans in front of and behind
the camera. Ayne Robbins of Tulsa,
two-time Oscar nominee, will write the music
and lyrics, David O'Malley will write
the original screenplay and Oklahoma State
U.S. -Mexican border . . . Richard Putney, University's Prof. William Jackson will produce.
one of the biggest peach growers in Georgia,
plans to make "The Peanut Conspiracy,"
which will begin filming in Georgia in July, Kelly Harmon Making Her Film
with George Scares Associates, a Las Vegasbased
artists management agency, packag-
Debut in 'California Suite'
Kelly Harmon, daughter of ex-football
ing and producing . . . William A. Levey
great and sportscaster Tom Harmon and
and his Movie Machine Co. plans to begin
actress Elyse Knox, will make her theatrical
motion picture debut with a role as an
photography early next year on "The Street
Messiah."
airline stewardess in Rastar's "California
Suite," with Colleen Drape also playing
the part of a stewardess. Zora Margolis will
portray an autograph hunter in the Neil
Simon story, which Herbert Ross is directing
.. . Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters and
John Huston have joined the cast of United
Artists' "The Visitor," a Swan-American
Film Corp. production, which was slated to
begin shooting April 24 in Atlanta, with
J. Paradisi directing from the screenplay he
wrote with Norman Wexler. Ovidio Assonitis
is producing . . . Melvyn Douglas.
Barbara Harris. Meryl Streep and Rip Torn
have been cast in Universal's "The Senator."
which stars Alan Alda, who also wrote the
screenplay . . . Mia Farrow has been signed
to star in Dino De Laurentiis' "The Hurricane"
for Paramount, set to begin shooting
in May on Bora Bora . . . Candice Bergen
and Nicola Pagett are starring opposite Ryan
O'Neal in "Oliver's Story," the continuation
of Paramount Pictures' highly successful
"Love Story" . . . Kathryn Harrold
will debut in films playing a government
nurse working on an Indian reservation in
Martin Ransohoff's production of "Nightwing"
for Columbia. Strother Martin will
play the agent at the reservation . . . Paul
Clemens, 19-year-old son of actress Eleanor
Parker, has a feature role in the Hemdale/
Passage Productions feature, "The Passage"
Paul! has joined the cast of
"Norma Rae." 20th Century-Fox feature
which begins filming Monday (1) in Opelika.
Ala. . . . Michael St. Laurent. Claude
Sacha. Pearl Heart and Sylvester have signed
for roles as female impersonators in the
Marvin Worth/ Aaron Russo production of
"The Rose." The feature will be distributed
by 20th Century-Fox . . . Sheri Jason has
been added to the cast of Max Baer's production
of "Hometown U.S.A."
FVI Sets Les Roberts to Pen
Futuristic Western Feature
l.es Roberts will write "Mothball Convoy,"
planned by Film Ventures International
as a futuristic western and set for
production in the fall . . . Herman Blumen-
Ihal has been signed as production designer
for Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Champ,"
on which shooting is scheduled to begin
Monday (1) in Miami . . . British producerdirector
Roy Boulting has been signed to
direct "Fort Travis," a Suncrest Cinema
production starring Richard Harris and
Karen Black. A. J. Leydton and John W.
Berglas are executive producers of the
drama that raises important issues about
the U.S. social system and the manipulations
of TV network news programing,
based on Horatius Haeberle's novel "Fort
Banowitz." Filming is slated to get under
way Tuesday (30) on Southern California
locations . . . Fred J. Koenekamp has been
set as director of photography on Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Champ" . . . June
Lockhart and daughters Ann and Lizabeth
have signed for feature roles in "Maui,"
now shooting in Maui . Gould
will write the screenplay of "Trans-Siberian
Express." based on the Warren Adier novel,
for Sir Lew Grade/ ITC and the Producers
Circle Co.
Beverly Todd Is Selected
For 'Ashanti' Lead Role
HOLLYWOOD—Following an extensive
worldwide talent search for the femme lead
in "Ashanti," producer Georges-Alain
Vuille has signed actress Beverly Todd for
the role of Michael Caine's wife in the Beverly
Films production which got under way
April 24 on location in Kenya and Israel.
Ms. Todd joins the already-announced
cast which includes Caine, Omar Sharif,
Peter Ustinov, Rex Harrison and Telly Savalas.
Richard Sarafin will direct from
Stephen Geller's
screenplay.
Best known for her film roles opposite
Sidney Poitier in "They Call Me MISTER
Tibbs!". "The Last Man" and "Brother
John," Ms. Todd currently is starring in an
ABC-TV series.
"Ashanti" is a contemporary adventureromance
about the still existing practice of
slave trading in Africa and the Mideast. In
addition to "Ashanti," Vuille also now is
preparing two other films, "Tai-Pan" and
"Clair de Femme."
Trap' Filming Done
LOS ANGELES— Principal
photography
has been completed on "Tourist Trap." according
to executive producer Charles
Band. The picture, starring Chuck Connors,
Jon Van Ness. Jocelyn Jones, Keith McDermott,
Robin Sherwood and Tanya Roberts,
was produced by Larry Carroll and directed
by David Schmoeller. Carroll and Schmoel-
Icr
scripted.
BOXOFnCE May 1, 1978 13

BOXOFFICE
BAROMETER
This chort 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 ratings above or below that mark. (Asterisk denotes combination bills.)
*

Two
Shady Ladies' Tales
Still Thrilling NYC
NEW YORK.— Pretty Baby- was sitting
pretty as it again topped the list with a third
week 525 at the Coronet. Second and third
pl.ices were as before: "Madame Rosa," a
.V5() fifth session at the Plaza, and Chaplin's
"A Woman of Paris." 220 in its second
round at the Cinema Studio.
Joseph Andrews"" came in fourth with
215 in the second week at the Festival,
which is a bit amazing since it was also on
showcase before being pared down to an
exclusive run here. From fourth to fifth
\\ jnt "Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands,"
,in even 200 for the seventh Paris session.
.Showcase action went to "House Calls.""
"Saturday Night Fever."" "Straight Time.""
The Medusa Touch,"" ""The Goodbye Girl,""
Blue Collar," "The Fury."" "Annie Hall,"
First Love," "An Unmarried Woman'" and
"Rabbit Test."
(Average Is 100)
Cinema II—September 30. 1955 (Univ), 3rd wk EO
Cinema Studio—A Woman o! Paris (Kmo Infl)
2nd vk
'2'?fi
'
4th wk
Festival—Jo
2nd
—The Chosen (
-Dona Flor and . Husbands
(Can ival Films/New Yorker), 7th wk
-Madame Bosa (Atlantic Releasing)
5th wk
Radio City Music Hall Crosed Swords
'I
°°
Temple Students Get Credit
For Canadian Film Seminar
PHILADELPHIA—Temple University's
School of Communications and Theatre will
participate in a Canadian Film Seminar that
will be conducted in Montreal this summer
from July 3 to August 4. The university"s
Louis Giuliana is handling all arrangements
and enrollment.
The seminar, he said, addresses itself to
all aspects of the contemporary Canadian
film industry. Students will attend lectures
and presentations by distinguished Canadian
film directors, critics, writers, actors, documentarians,
producers, scholars, government
officials, archivists, educators and
labor officials.
The seminar lectures will be presented
during morning sessions and the afternoons
will be spent on field trips to the various
film studios, archives, libraries and museums,
and on individual research activities.
A research paper will be required of all students
enrolling for the course, which will
give qualifying students six college credits.
Trivia Ballys 'Candleshoe'
At AMC's Como 8 Theatres
BUFFALO—A four-day trivia quiz con-
test highlighted a promotion for the screen-
50 ing of "Candleshoe"' at American Multi Cin-
40 ema"s Como 8 theatres. Assistant manager
Gary Haak handled the promo and designed
Baltimore's Filmgoers 'Dig' a ten-question quiz which was taken by
Tale ol "Unmarried Woman' over 2,000 patrons.
BALTIMORE — "An Unmarried Worn- Entries were limited to children 12 and
an"' had a therapeutic effect on Baltimore- under. The prize was Como 8"s Candleshoe
ans and moved into first place, nudging Treasure, a box full of toys, games and
'"House Calls" by a narrow 20 points, 175 coloring books.
to 155. "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." a xhere were 14 correct answers, and the
newcomer, and the multi-decorated veteran, winner was decided by a drawing. Jason
Julia," tied for third at 100 and also com- Young, five vears old, was the lucky winpleted
the list of first run pictures matching ^g^
or exceeding the "average"" mark.
Cinema I— I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Univ)
Mini-Flick II—Julia (20th-Fox). 20th wk
100
100
n J„
iiuS
D.,«U
rllSn
T-;~l^„
1 riPieX
Paramount—Manitou (Emb) 2nd wk KO
Senator, -Westview 1-An Unmarried Woman PHILADELPHIA While radio and tele-
"'
Towso^n.^West^eVii-House Caiu (Univ),
^ision advertising here has been confined to
6ih wk 155 promoting a picture"s opening, Leo Posel
J. ,
.
promote
u' D-.
. . .• .
tumcd to radio to Westview IV—Alice. Sweet Alice (AA) 80 nas his RltZ
80 Weslview III—The Fury (20th-Fox), 6th
Three cinemas rather than the pictures
JNeW Jerseys BFU HeVampS .^reens located in the elite Society Hill sec-
State's CATV Regulations tlon bordering center city, has become a
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey '^^i°'^ first-run for both foreign and Ameri-
IVT T » nrtTT T3 themselves. The Ritz Three, with three
Board of Public Utilities approved a three-
'^^" '^'^'^^ f"";"^year
common tariff experiment designed to Started this week, the Ritz Three became
reduce cable television rates and at the same one of the participating sponsors of the
time expand cable service in the state. The "Ralph Collier Show.'" a talk show on Radio
board said the experiment will sharply re- WFLN. the city's "'good music'" station. Coldtice
the regulatory lag that has slowed the lier"s interviews are for the most part with
growth of cable television in New Jersey. book authors, museum and art directors and
Under the experiment, the 32 CATV artists, and attracts the kind of people that
companies in New Jersey will have the op- 'he Ritz Three seeks to attract. Instead of
tion of common tariff regulations, which using the canned commercials prepared by
would limit them to a maximum rate ceiling. 'he film distributors. Collier talks about the
They would be allowed to reach that ceiling distinctive character and film quality at the
only through monthly rate increases of 50- Ri'z Three.
cents during the first year and 75-cents dur- Typical screen shows at Ritz Three are
ing the second year. At the same time, a the current showing of "Padre Padrone,""
company could lower rates without going "Blue Country'" and ""Iphigenia." The radio
through lengthy and costly legal procedures commercial by Collier also emphasizes the
that now take from three months to a year, bargain matinee dally with a $1.50 ticket.
Morris Hills Stars
Oscar's Birthday
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Ctlancing around
the lobby of the Morris Hills Cinema, here.
one could easily be convinced that the cm-
: .ACADEMY* :
i
AWARD A .
:
i-MOMWATWie FOR 19773
rent feature was the .\cademy .Awards" 50th
anniversary.
The theatre went all out in motmting displays
dedicated to the celebration theme.
Theatre manager Jerry Littenberg"s efforts
and imagination (not to mention blood,
sweat and tears) are readily apparent in the
professional quality of the exhibit, and exhibit
it is indeed.
One billboard featured this year"s award
nominees, some 30 still pictures, with pertinent
data, in addition to an oversized film
strip with actor"s images flanking the main
section. Replicas of a movie camera and set
lights "shine"' on the display from the top
and sides. Surrounding the entire exhibit are
50 stage-lights and the base is strewn with
hundreds of yards of old film, pictures of
Oscars painted on film cans and an authentic
clapboard. The front of the platform
upon which this all stands is edged with 25
white stagelights. The photos of Oscar winners
have been adorned with miniatures
of the statuette.
The display at the concession stand is
similar in make-up but its theme is "50
Years of Oscar Winners" and features
pictures
of winners since 1932.
Even the program was coordinated with
the anniversary theme and a ballot for fans
to select their choices for the awards was
included. There were several winners among
the filmgoers and the overall promotion
was a big success.
We'd say the real winner was Littenberg,
whose thought and hardwork certainly
earned the appreciation and applause of his
patrons.
Attendance Is Hypoed
RIVERTON.
WYO. — Commonwealth
Theatres' Al Pesicka reports over 750 cars
in the local trade area are now displaying
the Knight Drive-In bumper stickers. Drivers
of those autos are admitted free on a
designated weeknight when accompanied by
another paid adult admission.
BOXOmCE :; May 1. 1978
E-1

BROADWAy
gETTE MIDLER has invaded the Big Apple
again, following her recent highly
successful nightclub stint. This time, she's
doing her first major motion picture. "The
Rose." which started production April 24
for 20th Century-Fox. Co-starring with the
Divine Miss M are Alan Bates. Frederic
Forrest and Barry Primus. It's being directed
by Mark Rydell for producers Marvin
Worth and Aaron Russo.
"The Rose." a love story with music
about a successful entertainer, has been described
as something of a parallel to the
career of the late rock singer Janis Joplin.
Locations to be used during the two weeks
of shooting here include the Brooklyn
Bridge, a major midtown hotel, a downtown
police station and a local bathhouse (where
Bette should feel right at home, having made
quite an impact in one). Following wrap-up
here, a 12-week schedule is planned at
Fox's Hollywood studio.
The screenplay is by Bo Goldman in association
with Michael Cimino, based on
an earlier draft by William Kerby.
•
Richard Dreyjuss. Oscar winner for "The
Goodbye Girir will host NBC's Saturday
Night Live" here Saturday (13). The New
York-horn actor will join the remaining
Not Ready for Prime Time Players: Dan
Aykroyd. John Beliishi, Jane Ciirtin, Garrett
Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman
and Gilda Radner and a musical guest to
he announced. Dryfuss has been appearing
as Cassius in a production of "Julius Caesar"
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
•
The first board meeting of the newly
elected board of directors of Ass'n of Independent
Video and Filmmakers and the
Foundation for Independent Video and Film
will be held Wednesday (3) at 7 p.m. at 99
Prince St. This has been rescheduled from
April 12.
•
The American Cinematheque completed
its salute to films from the year 1935 with
the screening Thursday evening. April 27. of
Dovzhenko's Soviet cla.^sic "Aerograd" at
the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beginning
Tuesday (2). the Cinematheque and
the American Film Institute will present
"The Lubitsch Touch," a series of nine features
directed by Ernst Lubitsch. on Tuesdays
and Thursdays through Thursday (25).
Film restoration and new 35mm prints
have been made possible through a grant by
Ex.xon. The first show, at 8 p.m. in the
Metropolitan's Junior Museum Auditoriuni.
will be "The Merry Widow" (19341 with
Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald.
Getting things under way earlier will
be an invitational cocktail party and a
screening of "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife"
(1938). with Gary Cooper and Claudette
Colbert. That will be screened for the general
public Tuesday (9).
•
Oscar winner Albert Whitlock will speak
on special visual effects in conjunction with
the exhibit "Designed for Film: The Hollywood
Art Director" at the Museum of Modern.
Art Friday (12) at 6 p.m. He will
illustrate his talk with scenes from "Earthquake"
and "The Hindenburg," for both of
which he won his Academy Awards. Other
clips of special visual effects will be shown
from "Bound for Glory," "Airport '77,"
"The Sting," "W.C. Fields and Me" and
many more films.
On loan to the museum are four oil-onglass
mattes Whitlock painted for Hitchcock's
films "The Birds" and "Frenzy."
Whitlock currentlv is working on "The
Wiz."
•
Showcases for April 26: "F.I.S.T.." .barring
Sylvester Stallone, opening at United
Artists Showcase theatres: "Star Wars." Oscar
winner "Madame Rosa" on mini. "I
Wanna Hold Your Hand (mini), "Coming
Home" (mini). "The Goodbye Girl." "The
Turning Point." "American Hot Wax," "An
Unmarried Woiium." "Coma," "Seven Into
Snowy" (mini). "House Calls," "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind." "High Anxiety,"
"Silver Bears." "Blue Collar," "First
Love," "Saturday Night Fever" and
"Straight Time." "Finger.i" began.
Openings: Martin Scorsese's "The Last
Waltz"," United Artists release about the last
concert of the Band, rock group, worldpremiered
at the Ziegfeld April 26.
"FM," Universal's look at a contemporary
radio station, began April 28 at the Criterion
and RKO S6th Street Twin 2 and on
showcase. Marking the directorial debut of
cinematographer John Alonzo, it stars
Michael Brandon. Eileen Brennan, Martin
Mull, Cassie Yates. Cleavon Little and Alex
Karras, with special concert appearances by
Linda Ronstadt and Jimmy Buffett.
"The Sea Gypsies," Warner Bros, adventure,
and the stageshow "It's in the Music
Hall Stars" began April 27 at Radio City
Music Hall, first of the post-reprieve bills
for the theatre.
•
"The Mouse and His Child," an animated
feature, was previewed Saturday morning,
April 29, at the Cinerama Theatre in Manhattan,
the RKO Twin Theatre in Rockville
Center, L.I.. and the Stanley Warner Quad
Theatre in Paramus, N. J. Winner of the
Best Feature Film Award at the Children's
International Film Festival, it is a deFaria-
Lockhart-Sanrio production in association
with Murakama-Wolf Productions.
Steve Dwoskin, New York-born avantgarde
filmmaker who has worked in Britain
since 1964, will be given a complete retrospective
of his works (11-26) at the Museum
of Modern Art. The ten programs will
commence with his latest work, "The Silent
Cry," at 8 p.m. Thursday (11). Due to the
nature of his films, they are not recommended
for children.
"Nunzio" is a hero, so Universal Pictures
is sponsoring an Italian feast and block
party Monday evening (8). The new film,
starring David Proval and James Andronica
and directed by Paid Williams from Andronica's
script, will premiere that evening at
the Art Theatre. 36 East 8th St.. with the
feast to take place immediately after on
Green Street, east of Eighth and University
Place. Catering is by Manganaro's Hero-
Boy Restaurant.
COMING SOON
Jack Stryker has the role of the company
foreman opposing Sally Field's attempt to
organize textile workers in the Deep South
in "Norma Rae."
DISTRIBUTED By J.M.G. FILM COMPANY
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Available from your outhorized
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TECHNIKOTE CORP. 63 Secbring St.. 8'klyn 31a
May 1, 1978

.
.
WASHINGTON
J^enneth Clark, executive vice-president of
the Motion Picture Ass'n of America,
as spcaiver at the Philadelphia Motion Picture
Preview Group's luncheon, will discuss
"The Years of the Movies." Clark, who is
based here at MPAA's headquarters, will
speak at the film council's 45th anniversary
at the Hilton Hotel Thursday (11). The Philadelphia
group and also the District of Columbia
Motion Picture & Television Council
are charter members of their parent organization,
the Federation of Motion Picture
Councils, which was founded by MPAA .
FMPC president Hilda (Mrs. George M.)
Westerfield of Memphis, writing in the federation's
organ. News Reel. April issue,
stated in part regarding foregoing its annual
conference: "After much thought and
a prayerful consideration and keeping in
touch with the federation officers, we have
decided to withdraw the conference for
1978. We were making plans for it to be
held in Washington, D.C., which would
have been a fantastic and interesting city."
April Fools Productions' "Harper Valley
PTA." in its territorial break, will open
Wednesday (24), according to Cindy Rivera
of Wheeler Films, local distributor The
film's presell campaign included the
cover of Boxoffice April 17.
front
Tazewell Twin Cinema, the new theatre
complex in Tazewell. Va., is being serviced
by Neighborhood Theatres' Richmondbased
booking and buying department,
which is headed by Sam Bendheim. II. The
dual auditoriums have a total of 537 seats,
of which 265 in Twin 1 are rocking-chair
seats . . . Robert L. Goldhammer, president
of Berkeley County Theatre Corp., books
and buys for the Twin theatres in Springfield,
Va., which opened in late April,
Martin Theatres of Atlanta, Ga., lessee
of the Palace Theatre at Newport News,
Va., closed the showhouse April 9 and returned
it to its owners.
The Allen Theatre, this area's Paul Sanchez-Jerry
Robertson film palace, has been
equipped with the Cardinal sound system
by Charles C. Cardinal's Professional Services.
The co-owners and patrons are "happy
with the new optical Cardinal Sound,"
according to Sanchez. Sanchez spends his
leisure hours authoring an historical tome
on fine old movie houses, such as Lowe's
Palace and Don King's B.F. Keith's, which
recently were closed by the Pennsylvania
Avenue Development Corp.
Herbert Schwartz, independent distributor,
returned from New York where he previewed
three films for which he is schedul-
BUX-MONT
Marquees—Signs
LEASING
Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044
Call (215) 676-4444 or 675-1040
May 1, 1978
ing playdates. They are World Northal Distributors'
"Bread and Chocolate" and "All
Things Bright and Beautiful," produced by
David Susskind, and Brut Productions'
"Fingers." Schwartz has Libra Films' "Martin"
opening Wednesday (10).
NATO of Washington had its regular
luncheon-business meeting at the Washington
Golf and Country club in Arlington,
Va.. April
18, with president Wade Pearson,
Neighborhood's Northern division, presidimi.'Following
the NATO meeting, the Variety
Club o"t' Washington Tent 1 1 met,
chaired by chief barker John Broumas. president
of Showcase Theatres.
Fredell Pogodin, Universal promotion
and publicity representative based at Cherry
Hill, N.J., issued invitations to special advance
previews to "1 Wanna Hold Your
Hand" April 20 and to "FM," April 27, at
area theatres. Steve Turner, Universal
branch manager, had tradescreenings of
each attraction at the MPAA April 26 and
The
at the K-B screening room April 18.
films opened here April 21 and Apri 28,
respectively. Amons other features which
Turner's office has scheduled territorial unveiling
are "The Greek Tycoon," Friday
(12); "Jaws 2," June 16; "Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band," July 21; "National
Lampoon's Animal House," July 28,
and the
rerelease of "American Graffiti."
WOMPI of Washington met April 1 1 at
the Frunsworth, Largo, Md., and re-elected
Jane Klotz, Independent Theatres, president.
Other officers elected to serve with
Klotz for the 1978-79 year are: first vicepresident,
Judy Pratt, archives; second vicepresident,
Betty Hide, Byron; recording secretary,
Delores Epersley, retired from Columbia;
corresponding secretary, Doris
Simms, retired from Wheeler, and treasurer,
Julie Nolan. The WOMPI's next meeting
will be Tuesday (9) at the residence of the
newly elected treasurer.
Filmrow was saddened by the death of
Mrs. Loritha Gallegher of Baltimore, who
served for many years on the Maryland
Censor Board.
Margaret V. Shea Is Dead
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Margaret V.
Shea died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
here April 19. She had retired after 50
years as a cashier for the Comerford and
Cinecom Theatre circuit.
Word of Margaret Shea's passing came
from Michael Sabal, manager of the Riviera
and Strand Theatres. The latter was her last
assignment prior to her retirement.
After funeral services at St. Paul's
Church, interment was in Calvary Ceme-
Paul Krumenacker Is Dead
PITTSBURGH—Paul Krumenacker. S3,
died in a Berlin, N.J.. hospital .April 16. He
served as salesman, office manager and sales
manager during his three decades with the
local Warner Bros, office and retired when
the branch was closed. He is survived by
two daughters.
Mid-Allanlic NATO's
Convention in July
WASHINGTON— Cicneral chairman R.
Wade Pearson has announced the tentative
schedule for the Mid-Atlantic NATO Convention
at the Homestead, Hot Springs. Virginia
July 23-25, 1978. Sponsoring NATO
regional units are Metropolitan D.C., Maryland,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
Registration will open at 12 noon on July
23. A NATO of Virginia board meeting
will begin at 3 p.m. The presidents of the
four sponsoring NATO units will host a reception
at 6:30. with dinner and dancing
following.
Business meetings begin at 9 a.m. July
24 in the Hotel Theatre, featuring film clips
and slide presentations. A reception at 6:30
p.m. will be followed by dinner and a feature
preview screening.
Both ladies' and men's golf and tennis
tournaments are planned, with many prizes
offered.
Ladies committee members Mable G.
Gordon, Lorraine Glaser, Hazel Aiken, and
Betty Cohen have planned many special
The popular suppliers' breakfast begins
8:30 a.m. July 25, sponsored by suppliers
at
who will have an opportunity to discuss
new developments in theatre supplies and
equipment. A reception at 7 p.m. and then
the grand banquet will close the convention.
activities
for the ladies including a casino
buffet luncheon with many prizes, a Cascades
Gorge walking tour, a, flower arranging
demonstration, shopping tour, bridge,
and a daily tea and concert.
A special bonus drawing for five special
gifts will be held for those whose registrations
are received by June 1. 1978.
Further convention information is available
from Jerome Gordon, 9817 Jefferson
Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23605
(804) 595-2207.
Hub Has 50 Freebies Weekly
BOSTON—A Boston Globe survey indicated
that there are approximately 50 free
film showings any week on Boston educational
campuses.
Sound and
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E-3

. . Joe
. .
BUFFALO
casting call went out through the local
J^
newspapers for extras to appear in
James Caan's "Hide in Plain Sight." The
call was from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the
auditorium of the College Learning Laboratory
at Buffalo State College. Anyone
from 15 to 65 wanting to take a shot at
one of 500 non-speaking parts as extras,
were asked to bring a Polaroid picture of
him or herself, preferably in color, to leave
with casting director Bernie Styles.
As the story took place in 1967. applicants
were asked to dress accordingly. That
means knee-length skirts (no minis, please),
narrow panels, narrow ties and other 1967-
era clothing. A few hippies also are needed.
If called, applicants were expected to
work between eight and ten hours a day.
The pay is at an hourly rate according to
minimum wage. Shooting of the film is expected
to start Tuesday (2), so extras must
be available between then and the end of
July. As a PS, the notice read: Mr. Caan
will NOT-—repeat, NOT—be at the casting
call. The call received a page one story in
The News.
"The Laceniaker" (La Dentelliere). sensitive
love story directed by Claude Goretta.
starring Isabelle Hubert. French with English
sub-titles, opened at the Maple Forest
Theatre.
University of Buffalo film scries for week
of April 16 included "I Never Promised
You a Rose Garden" (1977), Oshima's
"Death By Hanging" (1968), Fassbinder and
Pengler's "Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?"
(1969), "Effi Breisf (1974), Antonioni's
"Blow Up" (1966), Bunuel's "Los Olvidados",
"Playhouse" (1921), "Carnival of
Souls," Wender"s "The Goalie's Anxiety at
the Penalty Kick" (1971), "Chinatown",
"Walkover" (1965), Fassbinder's "Fox and
His Friends" (1975), "All Fear Eats the
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Soul" (1974). "An American Friend" (1977)
and "The Mack".
"Our Cities—Our Right" (1975) and "A
City at Chandigarth" (1966) two European
films dealing cogently with urban problems,
were presented at Waterfront Community
Center. "Bloody Mama" was shown free as
part of the four o'clock series at Butler
Library. Buffalo State College. "Invasion
of the Body Snatchers" was presented at the
science fiction festival at Niagara County
Community College.
Niagara Frontier Theatre Organ Society
presented a free concert and silent series,
Charlie Chaplin's "The Pawn Shop", at the
Riviera theatre. North Tonawanda.
"Rape Culture" was shown at the Student
Union Assembly Hall. Buffalo State College.
"Boys in the Band", a community
service film, was shown at Buffalo State
College.
Recently Courier-Express Focus editor
Doug Smith gave "An Unmarried Woman"
five chairs and a rave review. April 14 an-
.
other staffer, Patricia Ward Biederman, reviewed
it with altogether different results.
She wrote: . . "left me as unmoved as a
swing through a supermarket. In Mazursky's
fable. Erica talks about rejection,
about disorientation, but we never see any
of it. Where is the pain in this movie?
Where is the loneliness? . . . For me, 'An
Unmarried Woman' works only as a film
about surfaces, as a catalog of the tastes
in furniture and therapies of a small tribe
of Manhattanites. It is slick and glib and
as hollow as Bloomingdale's mannequin."
Vincent Price, Tab Hunter and magician
Harry Blackstone are scheduled on the
1978-79 Harvey & Corky Productions theatre
season. Specific dates were not announced,
but all arrangements have been made
and the shows will be held in Shea's Buffalo
theatre. Other Broadway plays coming
to Buffalo on the series are: "The Wiz."
"California Suite," "Chicago," "Side by Side
by .Sondheim" and "The Sound of Music."
Dates will be announced in June.
Mini-Reviews: "Coming Home"—Jon
Voight in a magnificent performance as a
disabled vet in a picture which is strongest
when it gets down to the business of making
choices." (Doug Smith, three chairs).
"Dersu Uzala" Russian-Japanese adventure
directed by Akira Kurosawa, is a vastly
romantic movie with totally natural actors
and overwhelming photography, about a
hunter in Mongolia and his meeting with
the "Western" world as represented by Russia,
circa 1902. (Bob Groves, five chairs).
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" opened an
exclusive engagement at the Holiday Two.
In a letter to the editor of the Focus Magazine
section of the Sunday Courier-Express,
u reader, Andrew Topolsi. wrote: "I was
disgusted the other day as I sat in the viewing
audience of "Rabbit Test,' I am of
Polish heritage and found the flagrant use
of Polish "jokes' to be in extreme poor taste
and a direct insult to the Polish people.
"Il is contemptible when young people
in the arts have to sublimate themselves to
degrade a nationality to attempt to generate
a laugh. In this particular case I found it
to be an appropriate measure of Joan Rivers'
(and all people involved with the film)
lac of creativity in her particular field.
""I strongly urge people of all nationalities
to boycott this film and begin to put an
end to this "cheap" display of questionable
entertainment."
Giving Bernardo Bertolucci's extravagant
film "1900" five chairs, reviewer Bob
Groves in the Courier-Express noted that
"only a handful of people were present
opening night. Students will probably probe
through it for years," he continued. "Suffice
it to say, '1900' should be experienced . " 'Casey's Shadow" is a quarter horse movie
on a three-eighths track; it's just as fast and
just as pretty, but it tends to get a little
tired," said reviewer Doug Smith in the
Courier-Express . Garvey instituted
midnight shows in all six of the Holiday
Theatres, with all seats $2.00.
"The Groove Room" opened an exclusive
engagement at the Kensington theatre . . .
"Operation Thunderbolt." an Israeli-made
feature about the celebrated commando
raid on Entebbe, Uganda, will open Wednesday
(10) at the Maple-Forest Cinema,
Amherst. The premiere showing will be a
benefit for the Kadimah School of Buffalo.
Tickets are $10 each. "The Lacemaker"
with Isabelle Huppert started at the Maple-
Forest.
Buffalo filmrow was saddened by the
news of the suddent death April 16 of Mike
Jusko, distributor representative. Mike was
formerly of Buffalo, working for Paramount,
and later with independents. He resided
in Katonah, N.Y. and is survived by
his wife, five children and a sister.
Emmy Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson
will be present at a special benefit performance
of the Dance Theatre of Harlem
in Shea's Buffalo Theatre, when the dance
company establishes a week's residence in
Buffalo from Tuesday-Sunday (2-7) . .
.
"A Different Story" was given a sneak
preview at the Como 8 Theatre. "I Wanna
Hold Your Hand" was sneaked at Holiday
Two.
Buffalo Cinema Club's annual awards
banquet honored Herman Lovett. a club
member for more than 40 years, with two
trophies. Best Film and Class B First Award,
both for his film ""Man's Great Miracle."
Other winners in various categories were
Fred Calandrelli. Robert Heckler. Michael
Wilson. Will and Kenny Ostwald, Ed Huth.
Fred Tolsma and John Heinning.
Hallwals Experimental Film/ Video Series
listed twu offerings, new audio and video
tapes produced in the New York City area
and a retrospective program of Dutch avantgarde
film presented by Peter Rubin, cosponsored
by Media .Study/ Buffalo, April
19 ... A locally produced feature film to
be directed by Fred Keller jr.. based on
Natalie Babbitt's children's novel "Tuck
Everlasting." put in a call for auditions Sunday
and Wednesday (21 and 24).
E-4 May 1. 1978

. . Main
. . "The
. .
PITTSBURGH
producer Howard Koch
". . . certainly
failed to deliver all the glamor he so
vociferously promised for the Academy
Awards," writes Barbara Holsopple. Press
"Raw Country"
TV and radio critic . . .
and "Fort Lauderdale Boys" were recent
Cinema Follies Club offerings . . . Bob
Lorentz. veteran local projectionist, said
that the past winter produced some of the
worst weather he remembers
Nizer, famed lawyer, came to town for a
Book and Author dinner . event
at the Playhouse is the appearance of Chesty
Morgan, internationally-known stripper, who
works with longtime booker Don D'Carlo.
^^'^
features . . .
The Mt. Oliver theatre, picketed when the
new management locked out lATSE local
. . . 171 projectionists, was closed "Ravaged
Models" topped the Liberty's three adult
Kennywood Park opened its
81st season with the attraction "Cinema
180" Pickets were withdrawn from
. . .
the Cinema Quad, McKeesport, indicating
that Mike Cardone and lATSE local 566
have come to terms.
Joan Rivers, whose "Rabbit Test" is playing
everywhere, was interviewed by Pittsburgh
Gay News in addition to being featured
on the current cover . New
Sacrilegious Movies" was a special feature,
April 14, on WPGH channel 53 . . .
Sam LaRosa, recently retired as executive
director of the Boys Club of McKeesport,
was named board president of that organization
in one of the highlights of a testimonial
dinner in his honor. Years ago he
was a film salesman here for his brotherin-law,
the late Bill Grande. Sam's sister,
Marie Grande, now lives in Menlo Park,
Calif.
Woody Allen's threat to remove Academy
Award winning "Annie Hall" from the theatres
paid off as ad copy was changed to
read "The Picture of the Year" instead of
"Best Picture of the Year."
Ernest Stern, Cinemette president, appeared
early on Variety Club Tent I's telethon
and presented a check for $5,000. He
said that Cinemette would continue the children's
charity fund raising campaign for
several more weeks.
Variety Club Tent 1 raised more than
$176,000 during its recent 19-hour telethon
on WIIC-TV. The proceeds from this city's
first Variety telethon in ten years will go
toward assistance for the community's
handicapped children. Gail Farrell of the
Lawrence Welk show, headed an enthusiastic
group of performers. Mary Liptz,
sister of the late Harry "Mr. Telethon"
Kodinsky of Pittsburgh, served on the committee
under the aegis of Jeffrey Weiss .
Ernie Stern's grandchildren and their friends
conducted their own fund-raising drive on
bjhalf of the telethon. Stern is an ex-chief
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E-5

PHILADELPHIA
Weteran docuiiientan producer Tom Brandon,
in town to present rarely seen films
Three award-winning children's films "Arrow
in the Sun." "Anansi the Spider" and
made by radical filmmakers in the 1930s "The Magic Tree." kick off the series of
and 1940s at the Christian Ass'n auditorium
children's films shown on Tuesdays at the
on the University of Pennsylvania Northampton County Area Community Col-
campus.
lege's theatre in Bethlehem Township, Pa.
Fredell Pogodin, promotion and publicity
rep for Universal, hosting an invited audience
at five area houses, including the center-city
Stage Door Cinema, for a special
advance preview of "FM." In a special promotion
with Station WMMR. leading FM
progressive rock station on the FM band
here, tickets are also being provided for
winning listeners.
Marietta (Pa.) Theatre brought in
the rarely
seen "Hell in a Circus," with short scenes
from other circus films, including "The Big
Cage," added to make it a program of
circus movies. Since the movie is a silent,
Hugh Glenn was brought in from Lancaster,
Pa., to handle the theatre's Wurlitzer
organ.
Some 1,100 persons turned out for the
suburban Main Line Forum at Harriton
High School to hear film director Joshua
Logan do his one-man show about his life in
the theatre. Responding to questions from
the audience, he termed Marilyn Monroe,
whom he directed in "Picnic," as the "finest
actress I've ever directed."
William Penn Museum in Harrisburg,
Pa., honors the late Bing Crosby by highlighting
the Saturday afternoon screen showings
for a month with favored Crosby films,
starting off with "A Connecticut Yankee in
King Arthur's Court."
The Gateway Twin Cinema in the Gateway
Shopping Center, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.,
returns its Econo-Hours, offering adults a
reduced admission at $2 between 2:30 and
Independent filmmaker Peter
6 p.m. . . .
Wollen came to town for a free showing
of his "Riddles of the Sphinx" at the Moore
College of Art Auditorium ... A special
sneak preview of "A House in the Woods"
was sponsored by the Channel Club at the
Barn Theatre in Rumson. N.J., as a benefit
for the Monmouth County Medical Health
Ass'n. The preview also included a champagne
reception.
Author Studs Terkel came in to lecture
and screen the Academy Award-nominated
"Union Maids" at the Friends Meeting
House, his appearance sponsored by the
Walnut Street Theatre Film Center.
Audubon Electronics Inc. made a presentation
to city officials in Berlin, N.J., on the
possibility of establishing a cable facility
which would bring cable television to the
community by the end of the year. Additionally,
the service would also include
PRISM, the Philadelphia-based moviesports
network, and Home Box Office, the
New York-based entertainment service.
Frank Sinatra's
week-long engagement at
the Latin Casino starting Tuesday (23) is
just about sold out and he has already
agreed to a return engagement September
22-24 . . . Al Pacino came to suburban
Villanova University's Vasey Theatre for
what was billed as "An Evening With Al
Pacino," featuring the screen star reading
passages from his favorite playwrights.
The works of five regional winners of the
Academy of Motion PictLirc Arts and Sciences
student film award competition were
screened at a free showing at the centercity
Temple University Campus' Cinematheque
. . . Richard Kane, of Sameric Theatres,
was reappointed a regional vice-president
of the National Ass'n of Concessionaires
by Paul Mezzy, of Pammco Food
Services, Lexington, Ky.. president of the
organization.
"Street Angel' at Fine Arts Museum
BOSTON—The Museum of Fine Arts
screened 20th-Century-Fox's 1928 release,
"Street Angel," co-starring Janet Gaynor
and Charles Farrell, on a recent Saturday
afternoon at 2 p.m.
Film Buying Combine Entering Washington Territory
Bardano Association headed by Nick Guadagno and Ben Barbosa
have announced their intention of entering the Washington, D. C.
territory. Bardano Association is now operating out of New York
City, handling some 50 screens in the New York, Buffalo and
Rochester areas. The combine will specialize in handling all types
of accounts, no matter how large or small. For further information
contact Nick or Ben at (212 541-6795.
BOXOmCE :: Ma\

. . Saul
NORTH JERSEY
pKO-Stanley Warner's Stanley Theatre in
Jersey City, a North Jersey landmark
since it was opened March 22. 1928, closed
recently following months of persistent reports
that the shuttering was inevitable.
Harold Widenhorn, division manager for
RK.O-SW in New Jersey, said his company
hopes to convert the theatre, located on
Journal Square, into a concert hall which
would feature stage performances by rock,
jazz and symphony groups.
The Stanley, with 4.3.16 seats, is considered
to be the second largest film theatre
in the nation, being surpassed only by New
York City's Radio City Music Hall, which
only recently averted what appeared to be
a permanent closing for that revered showplace.
It is well-equipped for stageshows and
featured live entertainment for numerous
years following is opening in 1928. It was
considered the premiere theatre in North
Jersey up until the mid-1960s.
Five years ago. a proposed deal in which
developers would acquire the building, raze
it and construct luxury housing in its place,
fell through after the city coimcil refused
to grant a tax abatement for the project.
AsWently as March, RKO-SW officials
reportedly were considering converting the
Stanley into a multiscreen theatre but
dropped this idea due to a shortage of film
product.
The theatre is still considered to be one
of the most magnificent in the East. Its interior
features a sculptured floor plan, intricate
mosaics, tall columns and nine mythological
murals by Hungarian-American artist
Willy Pogany. It has a vaulted ceiling on
which special lighting (no longer in use) can
create the illusion of moving clouds highlighted
by stars. The Stanley is the only
Journal Square film house still architecturally
intact. Loews, as well as UA's State,
both located on the square, were converted
into triple-screen houses about three years
ago. Persistent financial losses and poor attendance
were given as the reasons for the
closing of the Stanley.
James Corbett, president of the Corbson
Cinema Corp., has taken over operation
of the Director's Chair Cinema in Jackson
Township, it was announced recently. The
250-seat cinema had been opened in 1975
and had been imder independent ownership
since that time. Corbett also operates the
Jackson Cinema in Jackson, as well as the
Colonial in Keansburg.
Joe Mattey, veteran manager of Howard
Herman's Hawthorne Theatre in Hawthorne,
has returned to his duties there,
alter having undergone successful surgery
three times during the past four months.
Joe receved a hearty welcome-back from
his many friends both in and out of the industry.
UA's Colonial in Pompton Lakes, which
last January began a new admission policy
of 77 cents for all seats, believed to be the
lowest admission price for a theatre in New
Jersey, recently scrapped that policy and
announced that adult admission would now
be $1.25 Monday through Thursdays.
Weekends, a $1.50 price will prevail for
adults. Children are now 75 cents at all
times.
The l,UOO-seat Strand in Lakewood. acquired
about one year ago by Mr. and Mrs.
Weissmann Horesh from the Lakewood
Amusements Co., was closed by the Horesh
family recently. During the interim, Mr.
and Mrs. Horesh had attempted, unsuccessfully,
to present a subsequent-rim, neighborhood
film policy at the Strand. The theatre
had been operated as an X film house
for many years prior to that. It originally
was opened in the 1930s and for many years
had been a pre-Broadway tryout house for
in-person entertainers.
The independent Belmar Cinema in Belmar
has installed the new Dolby sound system.
The 500-seat cinema underwent a
change in management two months ago.
General Cinema reopened its Palace in
Orange recently, after the house had been
closed approximately five weeks because of
a shortage of good film product. Reopening
attraction was "Blue Collar."
"Bloopers," a compilation of never-before-shown
censored scenes from motion
pictures and TV. was presented at special
midnight shows on a recent Friday and Saturday
at Lenas" Willowbrook Cinema 4 in
Wayne; Mann's Fox in Union and Fox in
Woodbridge; the indepedent Fairview Cinema
in Fairview, and Cinema 35 in Paramus.
"King of the Gypsies," a $7,000,000 film
starring Shelley Winters. Sterling Hayden,
Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields and Judd
Hirsch, presently is being filmed in several
New Jersey locations, including Vernon
Valley, the Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside
and several locations just outside Jersey
City. It is one of six major films to be shot
in New Jersey since the state formed its
Motion Picture and Television Development
Commission last July. The others are:
"Eyes," "Hair," "Slow Dancing in the Big
City," "Somebody Killed Her Husband"
and "Voices." "Voices" was the first major
film since "The Perils of Pauline" to be
filmed entirely in New Jersey.
Gene Callahan, production designer for
"King of the Gypsies," noted that Paramount
leased 1,000 acres of farmland in the
Vernon Valley area for filming and that "a
couple hundred thousand dollars" were
spent in the area on goods and services.
One of the major expenses, he said, was
feeding 450 people two meals a day. Barbara
King, casting coordinator, said that in
addition to 200 extras hired from New
York. 30 local youngsters and their horses
are working in the film. Filming is expected
to be completed later this month and distribution
is set for early in 1979. A place to
premiere the film has not yet been found,
although Shelley Winters opined. "1 think
it should be in New Jersey."
"Norma Rae" is a Tamara Asseyev-Alex
:ise production for 20th Century-Fox.
BALTIMORE
district . . .
l^avid J. Preller, jr., an attorney who headed
the state censor board from 1970 to
1976. is a candidate for the Democratic
nomination as a state senator from the tenth
Rome's Super 1-70 Drive-In
will have a spectacular for Odenton area
residents on Saturday (6) according to Leon
B. Back, the circuit's general manager . . .
lATSE Local 181 held their 68th annual
banquet April 29 at Martin's West. In addition
to the three D's—dining, drinking
and dancing—longevity awards were presented.
Aaron Goldbloom, an operator at
Schwaber World-Fare's Mini—Flick I and
II, was the general chairman for the affair.
Joseph Liberto, manager of Schwaber's
Playhouse, celebrates his birthday Monday
(I). Ronald Bruscup, president of the
lATSE local, said Liberto is "49 and holding."
Bruscup. his wife Myrtle and Mr. and
Mrs. Chester Towers (he is the local's
treasurer) returned from a weekend vacation
at the Santa Maria Motel, Ocean City.
The quartet paid a visit to the civic center,
there, to hear the Tommy Dorsey band
... "A Perfect Lady," 30-minute historical
film about Baltimore with Garry Moore,
is being redistributed by Crown Petroleum
Corp., here. Civic groups may borrow the
film, free, by contacting Crown's Virginia
Baily.
A six-week Laurel and Hardy retrospective
is being held until Tuesday (9) at the
.
University of Baltimore's Langsdale Auditorium,
1420 Maryland Avenue. Starting
time is 8 p.m. Lilienstein. Harford
Opera Theatre artistic director during the
past decade, resigned and this, coupled with
money problems, cost the theatre its summer
season said Loretta Ver Valen, board of
directors president. She added they might
consider an early fall benefit, however.
News-American staffer Jacques Kelly recounted
the activities and travels of Alan
Alda and company as they began filming
"The Senator" AKA "The Public Affair"
in a variety of sites around town. Work
on the picture began April 17 . . . Radio
stations WLPL and WSID have been busy
promoting a number of films via the tie-in
route with give-aways, spots and other promotions.
They plugged "American Hot
Wax." "The Manitou" (plus an interview
with star Susan Str;issberg) and "Crossed
Swords." Robert Kriger Advertising and
Ray Thompson and Associates Advertising
played key roles in the action. WSID also
held an Academy Awards sweepstakes doling
out some fine prizes to the winners.
Monstrous Promotion Idea
ROCKAWAY. N.J.—The recent engagement
of "Sasquatch." new release from
North American Films, at American Multi
Cinema's Rockaway 6 theatres, was the occasion
for assistant manager Bill Hurston to
dress himself in a Sasquatch costume and
roam around the mall to bring attention to
the picture and the theatres.
BOXOinCE :: May I. 1978
E-7

Baltimore s 9th International Film
Festival Schedules Varied Program
BALTIMORE—The Baltimore Film Foiiim
announced that the 1978 International
Film Festival will be held Friday (12)
through Tuesday (23) at the Playhouse Theatre.
25th and Charles Streets. This year's
Festival will feature the best in
foreign films,
plus midnight shows and family and school
matinees. Also featured will be an evening of
prize-winning films from the festival's Independent
Filmmakers' Competition.
Scheduled feature films represent ten different
countries from the United States to
Switzerland, from West Germany to Mexico,
as well as today's best filmmakers.
Evening feature films include Renais'
Providence," Tanner's 'Jonah Who Will
be 25 in the Year 2000," and the Japanese
"Dodes Ka-Den." West German filmmakers
whose works will be screened are Werner
Herzog ("Stroszek"), Wim Wenders ("The
American Friend") and Rainer Werner
Fassbinder ("Jail Bait"). Five films by Luis
Bunuel will be played during the festival
his recent "Phantom of Liberty." plus four
films from his Mexican filmmaking period.
The festival is especially pleased to present
Cantinflos' Charity Work
Honored at NYC Reception
NEW YORK—Carlos Barba, vice-president
and general manager of Columbia Pictures'
Spanish Theatrical Film Division, accompanied
actor/comed'an Mario Moreno,
the celebrated Cantinflas. on a round of
official receptions in honor of the worldfamous
Mexican performer April 2

Winners of FOCUS Film
Competition Announced
LOS ANGELES—Winners of FOCUS
'78, an annual college-level competition for
student f'lmmakers and critics, were announced
at a special premiere and awards
ceremony hosted by Paramount Studios.
The presentations look place before an audience
of over 275 distinguished members of
the film community and a host of celebrities.
Actor-writer Chevy Chase served as
master of ceremonies. Guest speakers included
top executives of sponsoring companies:
Robert B. Kent, vice-president, marketing,
Nissan Motor Corp., U. S.; Michael
D. Eisner, president and chief operating officer,
Paramount Pictures Corp.; Charles O.
Glenn, vice-president, production and marketing.
Paramount, and Arthur Kretchmer,
editorial director. Playboy Magazine.
Provides Motivation
The second annual FOCUS (Films of
College and University Students) competition,
sponsored by Nissan Motor Corp., distributor
of Datsun automobiles, was designed
to provide motivation and support
for all
students seriously concerned with the
art of film. A distinguished group of judges
screened entries and made the final selections
in two categories, filmmaking and film
study.
Winners in
the filmmaking category were:
first place, Ms. Pat Tooke" of USC for a
film entitled "A Man's a Man for All
That!"; second-place winner was Brian F.
Colin of Southern Illinois University for
"In Search of a Plot"; third-place winner
was Steven S. Wilson of USC for "Recorded
Live," and honorable mention went to
Robert Millman. College of Staten Island,
for "Many Rivers to
Cross."
Film Study Winners
Winners in the film study category were:
first place, Judith M. Boasberg of Yale University
for an essay entitled "The Films of
Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut:
Correlative Themes"; second place, Mark
M. Block of Columbia University for "Steven
Spielberg; Jaws or False Teeth?"; third
place, Deborah J. Ziegler of USC for "Money
and Pain or the Man Who May Have
Shot Bill Roundtree (A Critical Analysis of
McCabe and Mrs. Miller')," and honorable
mention went to Jacques P. Baiihe of the
Arts Center College of Design in Pasadena
for an essay entitled "Minnelli's Magic."
First-place winners in each category received
a $2,500 scholarship and a Datsun
B210 GX automobile. Second-place winners
in each category received a $1,000 scholarship
and a Rollei sound movie camera.
Third-place winners received a camera and
a $750 scholarship and honorable mention
winners received a $250 scholarship and a
camera. Corresponding schools of first-place
winners also received a Datsun vehicle for
their film departments.
Two student internships, the first of their
kind ever given in conjimction with a
corporate-sponsored student film competition,
were presented in each category. Paramount
Studios presented a si,\-wcek internship
at its Hollywood studios where the
winner will be given the opportunity to
work with professional filmmakers. Playboy
Magazine in Chicago awarded a iwoweek
internship with the o'pportimity to
work with professional writers and film
critics. Both internships included accommodations
and a stipend.
Denver Says 'Yeah!'
To 'Hold Your Hand'
DENVER—"House Calls" and "An Unmarried
Woman" tied as frontrLmners with
325. Newcomer "I Wanna Hold Your
Hand" and "Pretty Baby," in its second
week at the Esquire, both drew 300 ratings.
Two other openers failed to do as well. "The
Force Beyond" drew the week's lowest
mark of 70, and "Silver Bears" turned in a
not-much-better 110. "Coming Home" settled
comfortably in its third week with a
275.
(Average Is 100)
Buckingham Square, Weslminsler— I Wanna Hold
Your Hand (Univ) 300
Century 21—High Anxiely (20'h-Fox), 5lh wk ,150
Centre—Blue Collar (Univ), 5th wk 100
Cherry Creek, Villa Italia Straight Time (WB),
6th wk,
100
Colora.-io Four— House Calls (Univ), 6th wk
Cooper Close Encounters oi the Third Kind
(Col), 19th wk 240
Cooper Cameo, University Hills—Casey's Shadow
(Col), 6th wk
. 125
Esquire Pretty Baby (Para), 2nd wk 300
Four theatres—American Hot Wax (Para),
6th wk 100
Four theatres—Heturn From Witch Mountain
(GV), 6lh wk 165
Paramount, Aurora Mali— Youngblood (AIP)
2nd wk 110
Seven theati.;— 70
The Force Beyond IKR)
Tamarac Six- An Unmarried Woman XO'b-F:.x)
5th wk .325
Tamarac Si>;---Iulia ;.rnF :m; 120
>;- •.vk
Ten theatres Silver Bears iCoi) 1)0
Three theatres The Fury (20th-rox), 6th wk 100
theatres—The Medusa Touch (WB),
2nd
Hills Coming Hon (UA), 3rd
Helen Lae Is Named Exec.
Ass't to Wm. Kartozion
.SAN FRANCISCO—Helen
Lake of San
Francisco has been named executive assistant
to William F. Kartozian, head of
the Theatre Ass'n of California. She was
promoted to the new position from her
former post as coordinator for TAC, which
was formed after the state NATO unit left
the national organization.
Kartozian said Ms. Lake will help expand
TAC services in the areas of legislation,
membership, localized problems and public
affairs.
May 15 Deadline for John
Muir Medical Film Entries
WALNUT CREEK, CALIF,— Films
made for the continuing education of physicians
and paramedical professionals will
compete for awards at the Second John
Muir Medical Film Festival, Monday (15)-
Junc 4. Deadline for festival entries is Monday
(15).
More than 80 films in 24 categories were
screened during the 1976 festival.
An awards ceremony is planned for June
4 at the Civic Arts Theatre here. The best
films will be shown for a week at the University
of California Medical Center. San
Francisco, starting October 23.
LIFE PATRON— .Milton I. Moritz,
board chairman of Variety Club of
Southern California Tent 25, left, presents
a life patron membership card to
producer Paul Kijzer.
TUCSON
gette Davis, in person and on film, brought
to a rousing close the University of
Arizona 1977-78 Artist Series April 3 at 8
p.m. in the U of A main auditorium. After
the audience was treated to a warm-up of
film clips from numerous Davis films, the
indomitable star burst onto the stage and
true to show business parlance "brought
down the house." Tickets for her Tucson
appearance were scaled at $6, $7 and $8.
Stella Parton, Dolly's sister, was "really
happy" in Tucson doing her act at the Pima
Town & Country Fair April 14-23, able to
relax for a while from one-nighters. Stella
will "pretty much play myself, a country
singer," she says, in her movie "Country
Loves Bluegrass" scheduled to lens in September.
A week before the fair, the tiny
28-year-old singer was in Phoenix for the
filming of "Cloud Dancer," starring Jennifer
O'Neill and David Carridine. "I sing
The Star Spangled Banner' with the Navy
band. That's all I do. I'm introduced as myself.
It was all very dramatic," she noted.
The newly refurbished, new management.
Spanish-language films policy Cine Plaza
Theatre in downtown Tucson held grand
re-oi>ening festivities April 23.
Old Tucson held its first annual Can-Can
Contest April 29-30 with free admission,
lunch and a souvenir newspaper for all participants.
An official entry blank was contained
in the April 21 "Dandy Dime" edition.
Five winners in the adult classification
were awarded cash prizes and Old Tucson
actors served as judges
'Boys' Bows in Southland
HOLLYWOOD— -The Boys in Company
C," Columbia Pictures' action drama about
the Vietnam conflict, opened Wednesday,
April 26, in multiple engagements throughout
the Southland. Included in the playdate
were the Avco Center Cinema in Westwood
and the Sherman Oaks Theatre in the San
Fernando Valley.
BOXOFTICE Ma 1. 1978 W-1

Hollywood
Happenings
J^LBERT WHITLOCK, two-time Oscar
winner for work on Universai's "Earthquake"
and "The H'ndenburg," will discuss
"Designed for Film: The Hollywood Art
Director," Friday (12) at the Museum of
Modern Art, illustrating his talk with clips
from numerous motion pictures.
•
Marilu Tolo, co-star in Universars "The
Greek Tycoon." will begin a six-city tour
Wednesday (10) to promote the picture
which will open nationally Friday (12). She
will visit San Francisco, Chicago. Boston,
Philadelphia, Atlanta and Dallas before returning
to Los Angeles Friday (19). "The
Greek Tycoon" stars Anthony Quinn and
Jacqueline Bisset.
•
Winners in the fifth annual student film
awards competition, conducted by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
and the Academy Foundation, will be
announced Sunday (21) in ceremonies at the
Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. The
American Telephone & Telegraph Co. cosponsors
the competition.
*
Susan Strasberg, starring with Tony Curtis
in Avco Embassy's "The Manitou," went
to Tokyo to promote the suspense thriller
when it opened at the Scala-Za Theatre and
six other houses there April 15. Two weeks
after the opening, the film went into release
throughout Japan.
•
Film editor George White, a veteran of
.service with Metro Goldwyn-Mayer Studios,
has reactivated his Sun Island Agency and
is specializing in providing either complete
production crews for motion pictures and
TV or individual technical talent and all
post-production service.
*
Seymour Bordc has returned from Chicago
where he set up multiple bookings for
three releases for Seymour Borde & Associates;
"Devil Times Five," ".Sex Machine"
and "Master of the Flying Guillotine."
•
William Holden, Gene Kelly, Marsha
Mason and John Wayne will star in "Oscar's
Best Actors," a one-hour special to air
Tuesday (23) on ABC-TV. Wayne's appearance
was filmed at Paramount just before
his recent hospitalization. The others will
be photographed shortly.
*
First Artists Releasing reports its first
venture into mass distribution, "Speedtrap,"
starring Joe Don Baker and Tyne Daly,
grossed $318,432 in its first three days in
a multiple engagement in Texas, It opens
Wednesday (3) in 90 situations in the Los
Angeles area and will open Friday (12) in
120 houses in Atlanta and 110 in Charlotte.
•
"The Sea Gypsies," Warner Bros.' adventure
drama about a young widower who
sets out to sail around the world with his
children, premiered April 27 in New York's
Radio City Music Hall.
*
Willie Hunt has been upped to West
Coast story editor for Warner Bros, where
he started in 1965 as a secretary and moved
up through the ranks as story analyst and
staff
story editor.
*
Bob Roth has been appointed manager of
the publicity and public relations department
at Disneyland, succeeding Jim Barber
who has moved to the Walt Disney Productions
Studio in Burbank to work on the
World Showcase project.
*
The special motion picture edition of
Harold Robbins' "The Betsy," published by
Pocket Books with the release of the Allied
Artists' picture, has been selling at the rate
of more than 600,000 per month and has
passed the 3,000,000 mark in sales.
•
Screenwriter Lawrence B. Marcus participated
in a workshop on script writing at
the West Lafayette, Ind., campus of Purdue
University as part of the third annual conference
on film under the Visiting Artists
Program of the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences and the Academy Foundation.
He also conducted a small group
discussion based on "Petulia," for which he
wrote the screenplay.
•
A one-day seminar on occupations in
film will be held at the Sherwood Oaks
Experimental College in Hollywood Saturday
(6) with 120 jobs in the film industry
set for discussion.
Ten-Day Denver Film Fest
Plans Premieres, Seminars
DENVER—More than a hundred films,
many of them never seen in America, will
be featured at the ten-day Denver Film
Festival at the Ogden, Vogue and Flick theatres.
The affair starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday (4)
at the Centre Theatre, where Warner Bros.'
"The Movies That Mads Us" will unwind
for a one-time showing in Denver.
There will be a festival-within-a-festival
as the Western States Invitational features
works of independent and student filmmakers
of the Rocky Mountain region.
Among the honored guests will be documentary
filmmaker Harry Rasky, whose
"Homage to Chagall—The Colors of Love"
was nominated this year for an Academy
Award.
A series of three seminars, free to the
public, will focus on film criticism, documentary
filmmaking and the effects of political,
sociological and economic environments
on international cinema.
Robert Altman hopes to be able to attend
the world premiere of his "A Wedding" at
the Ogden Theatre Sunday (14).
Showings cost $3.50 for single and general
admission to contemporary and specially
designated programs; $1.50 for morning
shows, $5 for opening night gala and closing
night ("A Wedding"). Seminars and
specially designated shows are free; all
other programs. $2.50.
Robert Archer Now Para.
V-P, Studio Operations
HOLLYWOOD— Robert V. Archer has
been promoted to vice-president of studio
operations and administration for Paramount
Pictures Corp. He joined Paramount
in 1967 as administrative assistant to the
vice-president of facilities and TV production.
Archer was named director of studio operations
and administration in 1977 after
serving for two years as director of studio
administration.
MEDA Acquires 'Groove Tube'
LOS ANGELES—"The Groove Tube,"
which has earned in excess of $40,000,000
in theatrical release, has been acquired for
home video distribution by Media Entertainment
Distribution Ass'n, it was announced
bv Charles Band, president of
MEDA.
o

MGM Grand Hotel Selected
As Site of ShoWesT 79
HOLLYWOOD—The MGM Grand Hotel
in Las Vegas has been designated officially
as the site for ShoWesT "79. scheduled
for Feb. 19-22. 1979. The selection was
confirmed by the executive committee
which met here April 19.
Ross W. Campbell, chairman of the 12-
state Theatres West organization which
sponsors ShoWesT. will serve as temporary
chairman of the convention committee until
a permanent chairmen is named.
Meeting with him were Robert W. Selig
of Pacific Theatres; Fred A. Dance of Seattle
and Matt Appelman of Los Angeles;
Nat D. Fellman, exhibitor consultant: Bruce
C. Corwin, president of Metropolitan Theatres;
Arthur L. Sanborn jr., representing
Sanborn Theatres; William F. Kartozian of
Walnut Creek, Calif., head of Festival Enterprises
and president of Theatre Ass'n of
California; Al Lapidus and Jerry
Ireland of
Lapidus Popcorn Co.; Spero L. Kontos of
the Filbert Co.: George Aurelius of San
Diego, convention coordinator, and Archie
Herzoff of Metropolitan Theatres.
Pioneer to Market Can-Am
Line of Film Cleaners
BURBANK—Pioneer Marketing Corp.
has been appointed to represent the product
lines of Can-Am Photo Equipment of Montreal
on the West Coast and in international
markets.
Can-Am's product line includes an ultrasonic
film cleaning machine for 16mm and
35mm and optical printing equipment.
Pioneer currently represents several companies
including Photo Research and its
line
of film gate photometers, the Richardson
Co. and its lines of film movements, and a
manual additive color lamphouse manufactured
by Opcomatrix Associates. Pioneer
also manufactures a variety of professional
film transport devices and OEM systems.
Denver 'Beyond' Multiples
HOLLYWOOD—Film Ventures International
released "The Force Beyond" in multiple
engagements April 21 in the Denver
market.
^Encounters' U. S. Gross DENVER
Tops $100,000,000
Burbank— "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind," Columbia Pictures release,
has topped the $100,000,000
mark at the domestic boxoffice with a
total gross of $100,811,494 through
the 17th week of its national release,
Tuesday, April 11.
The figure includes the grosses from
the first four weeks of the engagement
at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York
and the three weeks and five days of its
engagement at the Dome in Los Angeles.
Those openings began the record-breaking
business, the biggest in
the history of Columbia Pictures.
"Close Encounters of the Third
Kind," a Columbia presentation in association
with EMI, stars Richard Dreyfuss,
Francois Truffaut, Ten Garr and
Melinda Dillon. It was written and directed
by Steven Spielberg and produced
by Julia Phillips and Michael
Phillips.
Emmet Becomes Universal's
Los Angeles Press Contact
LOS ANGELES — Pete Emmet will be
the new Los Angeles press contact for Universal
Pictures, it was announced by Charles
M. Powell, vice-president of Universal's advertising,
publicity and promotion. Emmet
succeeds Tom Gray who has resigned to
take the unit publicity job on the Dino De
Laurentiis production of "The Hurricane."
Arthur Wilde moves into Emmefs former
slot as field representative for the seven
western states.
Compass Int'l Enlarges
LA Office Facilities
HOLLYWOOD—Irwin
Yablans. head of
Compass International Pictures, has announced
an expansion of his Los Angeles
headquarters office from 1,000 to 2,000
square feet.
The move was made, Yablans said, to
accommodate personnel added to the staff
to handle the company's eight motion pictLires
now in release.
Congratulations to Andy and Grace Webdell
of the El Grande Theatre, Granby,
Colo., who are now the proud parents
of a baby boy named Richard. Mother and
son are doing splendidly.
United Artists has brought Ralph Leshansky
in from Dallas to handle sales in the
Rocky Mountain area. Leshansky is calling
on the accounts and becoming familiar with
the territory.
Recently visiting the exchanges were
Bernie Newman, Gem Theatre, Walsh,
Colo.; Milton Boehm, Cover Theatre, Fort
Morgan. Colo.; George Karas, Summit!
Theatre. Breckenridgc. Colo., and Bob
Heyl, Wyoming Theatre, Torrington, Wyo.
Funeral services were held in Douglas
and Cheyenne, Wyo.. for Fred L. Kaysbier
sr.. 75. Kaysbier had worked for the Union
Pacific Railroad for 52 years up until the
time of his retirement, at which time he
became active in the theatre business. Along
with his son Fred he was active in operating
the Park Theatre in Miles City, Mont,
and the Mesa and Star theatres in Douglas,
Wyo.
Doug Williams and Tim Warner of Theatre
Operators, Inc.. headquartered in Bozeman.
Mont., along with Ross Campbell of
Sheridan, Wyo.. flew to Denver and together
with Bob Tankersley called on accounts
and renewed acquaintances in the various
distributor offices.
The regular monthly luncheon of the
RMMPA was held at the Broker Restaurant
with approximately 90 members of the
industry in attendance. Jaime Martinez, local
branch manager for Azteca Films, provided
a mariachi band to serenade the diners.
Ralph Albi of Columbia Pictures and
columnist of the Denver Post Trivia Quiz
presented a slide show of past stars in the
industry along with his humorous and interesting
trivia commentary.
The Hudson Brothers will write and perform
the title song and one other song for
First Artists' "Zero to Sixty."
Sound and
I Projection Service
Nationwide — on all brands.
RCA Service Company. A Division of RCA
1501 Beach Slreet, Montebello Call
Phone: (213) 728-7473
CUVERAMA IS Vi SHOW
ersuvEss m Hawaii TOOi
WTien you come to Wuikiki,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel.
EOXOFnCE :: Mav 1. 1978 W-3

NEW VICE-PRESIDENT—Harper
Paul Williams is vice-president of the
new Seattle-Portland Film Company in
Seattle.
Fremont Fan Is Preparing
Catalog of Feature Films
FREMONT. NEB.—John Reeves. 35. a
r.;5'dent of this city, is a devoted motion picture
fan. Until there was a shortage of film
product, he viewed 200 pictures in an average
year, counting those shown on TV.
"Now I've seen most of the ones on TV."
he says. "I drive into Omaha at least once
a week to see shows. We have just one theatre
in Fremont and by the time movies are
shown there they already have been on TV."
Reeves began compiling a card catalog
of movies in 1962. Now. he has approximately
13.000 cards, each of which lists the
title of the feature, the year it was made
and its starring performers.
A sheet metal layout worker. Reeves says
he has "thousands and thousands of movies
vet
to catalog."
THE WEST LARGEST PRINTER
OF
ONE SHEETS
TWO SHEETS
PRESS BOOKS
SLICKS
1 TO 4 COLORS
CENTRAL LITHOGRAPH CO.
1515 So. Hope Street
Academy Names Don Yott
Administrator of Finance
BEVERLY HILLS—Don J. Yott has
been appointed administrator of finance and
operations for the .Academy of Motion Piclure
Arts and Sciences, according to James
M. Roberts, executive director. Yott has
been the Academy's controller for the past
two years.
According to Roberts. Yott's new title
reflects more accurately his role in the financial
management and day-to-day administration
of the organization.
Prior to joining the Academy. Yott was
associated with the accounting firm of
Price. WaterhoLise & Co.
Cohen Signs Film Ventures
To Distribute 'Dragon'
HOLLYWOOD — Herman Cohen has
closed a distribution deal for the U.S. and
Canada with Edward L.
Montoro. president
of Film Ventures International, for Cohen's
picture. "The Dragon Lives." based on the
life of kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. Bruce
Li plays the leading role.
"The Dragon Lives" will be released June
28 with the premiere to be at Cohen's
5.000-seat Fox Theatre in Detroit and at 30
other first-run theatres throughout the country.
Curtis Joins Films, Inc.,
As V-P in Sales Post
WILMETTE. ILL. — Arthur H. Curtis
jr. has joined Films, Inc., as vice-presidont
and national sales manager of the film and
tape
division.
PETERSON
THEATRE
455 Bearcat Drive
Times Square Park
SUPPLY
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
801-466-7642
ASC
Dubuque Is One of Siars
At Unveiling of 'F.I.S.T'
DUBUQUE, IOWA—The long-awaited
movie "F.I.S.T.". more than half of which
was filmed here, was unveiled recently in
Culver City. Calif.
Dubuque and its people, most of the
1.000 extras are from the city and nearby
areas, also have a major role in the film.
The movie is almost two and a half hours
long. An hour and twenty-five minutes of
the action occurs in Dubuque locations.
There are several panoramic shots that show
the entire city. lowans will find many familiar
faces and familiar places throughout
the movie.
The picture was shot in the spring of
1977 and into the summer and is about I
the labor movement. The parts shot here :
occur during the violent 1930s, when the i
unions clashed with company men in bloody
battles. The actual location is supposed to
be Cleveland, Ohio. The movie starts out at
the south gate of the Cardaco manufacturing
complex near downtown. The complex
is unusual because there are several tunnels
leading to a central open loading dock in
the belly of the structure. They are used
effectively to show the discrimination to
which the dock workers were subjected.
There are several shots where former
Des Mo'nes resident Chuck Gradischnig
arm wrestles Kovac (Sylvester Stallone) and
Zigi, played by Hugo Bolba of Dyersville,
serves lots of beer with a big smile on his
face. During the big fight scene, Carl Vandermeulen
of Dubuque is prominent as a
police captain and John Bisenius of Dubuque
plays a policeman who calls for aid
over a police radio. Ron Delagardelle of
Maquoketa plays a worker who gets fired.
Perhaps the most prominent local part is
that of Vince Williams, a Hempstead High
School theatre teacher, who plays the boss
of a group of seamstresses. Williams and
Bolba are listed in the screen credits.
The movie itself is a powerful film that
creates a series of impacts. It moves along
at a rapid pace and when it is over it is
hard to believe that two hours and 25 minutes
have passed. Two endings were tested
in a sneak preview, in one Kovac dies and
in the other he lives. In the final version
Kovac . . . well, no fair telling.
When you plan to install your Dolby system,
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Dolby system experience.
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W-4 BOXOrnCE :: May 1. 1978

H
>
MP's 'Youngblood'
Pulsates in Chicago
CHICAGO — Five openers made strong
inroads against the slate of established holdovers.
Day" at the Evanston
"A Special pulled in a solid 200; "The American
Friend" and "The Last Survivor" each
racked up 225, and "The Medusa Touch"
scored a hefty 250. Topping the list, however,
was "Youngblood," which hit the
week's high of 400. All films this week
scored 175 or higher. "Coming Home" did
an impressive 350 in its 2nd week at the
Water Tower 2.
(Average is 100)
Carnegie The Turning Point (20lh-Fox)
23rd wk 275
Chicago—Blue Collar (Univ), lOlh wk 225
Cinema—The American Friend (SR) 225
Eight theatres—Close Encounters of the
Third Kind (Col), 18th wk 175
Evanston—A Special Day (SR)
2C0
Foxfield 3—The Last Survivor (.MP) 225
Four theatres—An Unmarried Wo
5lh wk
Four theatres—The Medusa Touch ,'.
Nine theatres—House Calls (Uni, ; t:; .. t
Nine theatres—The Fury (20th-Fo>: • ,-, -;
Roosevelt Youngblood (AlP)
Seven theatres—Saturday Night Fever (F^-n)
18th wk
Six theatres—The Goodbye Girl (WB), 16th wk !
Six theatres—Return From Witch Mountain (BV),
4lh
Water Tow 2 Comin Hon (UA), 2nd wk 350
Spring Newcomers Little Threat
To KC's Established Attractions
KANSAS CITY— It seems the spring
newcomers just can't compete with established
draws like "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind," which topped the list at 410.
and "Star Wars," which escalated once
again to 350. Two relatively new features,
"House Calls" and "An Unmarried Woman,"
are still doing well at 335 and 230,
respectively. But fresh titles this week such
as "That Obscure Object of Desire," "The
Medusa Touch" and "The Incredible Melting
Man," all averaging about 150 per cent,
proved to be no challenge to the big ones.
Choutecru, Truman Casey's Shadow (Col),
5th wk 60
Embassy—An Unmarried Woman (20th-Fox),
4th wk 230
Empire—Emanuelle in Bangkok (SR). 3rd wk 35
Empire, Fairyland— Dynasty (SR), 2nd wk 65
Fine Arts—That Obscure Object of Desire (SR) .155
Five theatres—Return From Witch Mountain (BV),
4th wk 190
Four theatres—The Hills Have Eyes (STR), 2nd wk, 135
Four theatres—House Calls (Univ), 5th wk 335
Four theatres—S::aight Time (WB), 4th wk 120
Gladstone—American Hot Wax 90
(Para), 5th wk
Glenwood—Close Encounters of the Third Kind
(Col), 18th wk, 410
Glenwood Star 350
Wars (20th-Fox), 47th wk
Melcali—The Turning Point (20th-Fox), Uth 115
wk.
Plaza—The Fury (20th-Fox), 5th wk 135
Seven theatres—The Medusa Touch (WB) 150
Ten Theatres The Incredible Melting Man (AIP) 145
Three theatres—The Big Sleep (UA), 4th wk 50
Three theatres—High Anxiety (20th-Fox),
(20th-Fox), 11th wk 95
Trail Ridge—Gray Lady Down 'Univ), 6th wk 80
Hollis McLaren, Douglas Campbell and
Lois Maxwell, who plays Miss Moneypenny
in the James Bond films, have been cast in
"Lost and Found," shooting in Canada.
KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS—The llth annual Variety Club Tent 26
Celebrity Ball not only was called one of Chicago's top social
events of the season
but it also was one of the most successful fund-raising events. Shown at left are
Variety Club presidents Edythe Stein and Melvyn Weisberg. who presented trophies
to the King and Queen of Hearts, Mario Thomas and Phil Donahue, standing at
the right. Donahue also was saluted for celebrating the tenth anniversary of his
popular talk show. The event attracted more than 600 and netted in excess of $25,-
000 for Variety Club children's charities. Bob Dachman served as chairman of the
affair.
Veteran Oriental Porter
Lorin Brown Is Honored
CHICAGO—Lorin Brown was honored
with a special award for his 53 years of
service as a porter at the Oriental Theatre
in the Loop.
Brown has, of course, seen many changes
take place at this movie house on Randolph
Street, now a part of the Kohlberg circuit.
For many years the Oriental presented top
motion pictures and the very best in stageshows.
While the Oriental, along with other Loop
theatres, dining spots and various types of
entertainment businesses, has had to endure
unwelcome changes with the altered character
of Loop traffic, the management of
the showhouse is, as has been announced,
making an effort to restore the better past.
For the first presentation April 21, "The
Great Caruso," advance ticket reservations
were heartening to the management. Even
Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic took time
to declare, by public proclamation, April 21
as 'Oriental Theatre Day."
Members of the late Mario Lanza's family
were special guests and Edna Sellers,
who played the Oriental organ back in
1931, was a star performer.
A great deal of effort has gone into the
planning for reviving the caliber of programming
at the Oriental and it is hoped the
interest
be there
for the May performance of "Singin'
in the Rain."
of appreciative moviegoers also will
It is sad to note that police protection is
necessary to protect law-abiding citizens
against the disturbing antics of young hoodlums
who make the Loop unsafe at night.
It is almost routine for the Oriental to call
workers daily to repair slashed seats and
general damage done throughout the theatre.
Peter Donat is a featured player in Avco
Embassy's "A Different Story."
KANSAS CITY
^he historic Midland Theatre in downtown
Kansas City was alive and well two
weeks ago when fabled stripper Sally Rand
took the stage and recreated her famous balloon
dance routine before an appreciative
throng. Her act was in connection with the
grand reopening of the Midland Theatre,
which had just been extensively refurbished
and placed on the Missouri Historical Landmark
Register. The event, which featured
the performance of the 74-year-old Miss
Rand, was billed as a night in "Old Possum
Trot" and also offered other live entertainment
and music. Possum Trot was a name
once considered for this town before Kansas
City was decided upon. The Midland,
an American Multi Cinema house, is now
an ornamental showplace, with huge crystal
chandeliers lighting the lobby and delicate
scroll work ensconcing the stage and two
balconies.
Ray McKitrick, formerly the branch
manager here for Universal, is actively back
in the film business again. McKitrick, who
retired about a year and a half ago, is now
the booking and buying agent for two Missouri
houses: the Hi-5 Drive-ln. Milan, and
the Edgewood Drive-In, Neosho.
If you should find a large bird nesting in
your fireplace chimney, please be careful
when you remove it. It may be the
(Continued on next page)
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. . Screenings
"
KANSAS CITY
(Continued from preceding page)
stork who. we have learned, is scheduled
to make September visit to National
a
Screen's Carmen Blake.
If it's May, can summer vacations be far
behind? No. not if you check with 20th
Century-Fox's tricky tandem of Sherry
Handzel and Carol Hobbs. Not only have
they made vacation plans, they've already
changed plans. Originally, they were going
to spend an idyllic four days in early July
in the cool mountains of Colorado. Now,
they have become more ambitious and envision
a week along sandy shores. At this rate,
they'll probably wind up spending the entire
month of July on the horn of Africa.
A special preview screening of "F.I.S.T. "
was held Tuesday night, April 25, at the
Midland. The audience was comprised
largely of media representatives and educators,
who had been invited to see the
movie and spread the word on behalf of
the Economic Opportunity Foundation,
which sponsored the benefit premiere of the
picture Thursday, April 27.
Dick Hill, Ihe Wamer Bros, branch manager
here several years back who was promoted
and moved to Chicago, is on his way
up the corporate ladder again, this time with
a location in Los Angeles. So, he was given
a going-away party Wednesday evening,
April 26. at the Point, but Dick promises he
will retLirn at least once a month.
Thomas & Shipp Films has relocated. No
longer can they be found at their West 18th
Street address. John Shipp went scouting
around the Westport area and April 28 the
company opened its doors for the first time
at 207 Westport Rd., Suite 200, Kansas
City. Mo. 64111. The telephone number is
new. too: (816) 561-0202. If you need used
cardboard boxes, hustle on over.
Two local WOMPIs went to St. Louis last
weekend to attend the South Central regional
conference of Soroptimist International
of the Americas. Virginia Keeley,
Dickson Theatres, and Hazel LeNoir, Wiles
Enterprises, attended the conclave as delegates
from the Shawnee Mission Club. Soroptimist
is a classified international service
organization of professional and business
women.
Screenings at Commonwealth: Tuesday
April 25. "At Last, At Last" (EMC Films),
distributed by Mercury, and "The Driver"
(20th-Fox): Wednesday, April 26, "FM"
(Univ); Thursday, April 27, "Jennifer"
(AIP) and Friday. April 28, "The Duellists"
(Para) . at Mideast: Tuesday.
April 25, "Goodbye Franklin High" (New
World) and Wednesday, April 26, "FDR
(Emerson), distributed by Marcus.
Mrs. Yefta Goldstein, mother of Stii
Goldstein, Bo.xoffice editorial assistant, entered
Menorah Hospital here to undergo
tests after a recent attack of flu. Boxoffice
sends its best wishes for a speedy recovery.
ST. LOUIS
yniversal's "FM" opened April 28 at the
Esquire. 4 Seasons, Paddock and
South City. The drama with music features
the songs of top rock stars. Michael Brandon
appears as a program manager at a
radio station. Eileen Brennan, Cleavon Little
and Martin Mull also are featured.
"Here Come the Tigers," American International
Pictures comedy about two rookie
policemen who coach a little league baseball
team composed of misfits and characters,
which begins a multiple run Friday
(26), could cash in on the publicity engendered
by the annual "Pitch, Hit and Run"
competition sponsored by the county's department
of parks and recreation. It's set
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Greensfelder Complex until Saturday (13),
While there are no major names in the
movie's cast, it is an enjoyable tale of a
group of youngsters, including two teenage
flirtatious girls, who start out as bumbling
losers but emerge winners m the big game.
Mel Brooks' "High Anxiety." affectionate
spoof of Alfred Hitchcock spellbinders,
begins a sub-run multiple Wednesday (24),
The super-comic cast includes (besides
Brooks) Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman,
Harvey Korman, Howard Morris and Dick
Van Patten.
Kelly Williams, who handles Wehrenberg
Theatres advertising for the Robert Johnson
agency, was an entry in the Miss St.
Louis contest April 29, held at the Jay-
Cee's Theatre in Kirkwood. Kelly, 20,
blonde and brown-eyed, five-feet, fourinches
tall and with all measurements in
proportion, is a graduate of Mehlville High
School.
Native St. Louisan Jonette O'Kelley is a
member of the cast of the New York
Shakespeare Festival's critically acclaimed
production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem
for the stage. "For Colored Girls Who Have
Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is
Enuf." beginning a two-week engagement
at the American Theatre Tuesday (2). The
play began as a series of readings by Miss
Shange in a bar outside Berkeley, Calif., in
the early 1970s. The element of dance was
added and eventually the show moved to
New York playing to SRO audiences. Miss
Shange's recent book "Sassafrass: a Novelle"
is scheduled for film production.
Nationally known sportscasters Joe Garagiola
and Jack Buck were co-emcees for
the Bob Bauman tribute dinner held at the
Chase-Park Plaza Hotel. The dinner saluted
Bauman's 50 years as trainer for the St.
Louis University's Billikens and in professional
baseball for both the Browns and
the Cardinals. At present, he is consultant
to the baseball Cardinals' trainers. Both
Buck (sports director of KMOX Radio and
the voice of the Cardinals) and Garagiola,
former Cardinal catcher now with NBC,
are longtime friends of Bauman's and interviewed
celebrities and friends at the dinner.
Proceeds from the $25-per-ticket event
were used to establish the Bob Bauman
athletic scholarship at St. Louis University.
A recent Globe-Democrat article stated
that moviegoers who are outraged by the
projected inroads of commercials into cinemas
have allies in two major studios. 20th-
Fox and Warner Bros. The studios feel commercials
would "annoy patrons" and that
they might stop people from "attending a
$3.50 or $4 movie altogether." reasoning
that the film eventually will turn up on TV
where they can see it with commercials
.
without paying additional revenue.
C-2 BOXOmCE May 1. 1978

. . . Welcome
l
CHICAGO
Jerry Bulger, advertising director for Piitt
Theatres, returned from Dallas. Tex.,
where he attended a seminar sponsored by
National Screen Service. Bulger said that
the seminar, attended by some 110 industry
advertising directors from all over the country,
was "very informative and especially
worthwhile." Burton Robbins. National
Screen Service president, headed the seminar
which highlighted the company's upcoming
product.
Universal Pictures, in alerting exhibitors
here to '"Paradise Alley." noted that a 20-
minute promotional reel on the film is available
for viewing by contacting branch managers.
In this area, this means William
Gehring. "Paradise Alley" stars Sylvester
Stallone with Kevin Conway. Anne Archer.
Joe Spinell, Armand Assante, Lee Canalito,
Joyce Ingalls, Frank McRae, Terry Funk
and Aimce Eccles. The film was written
and directed by Sylvester Stallone and it is
scheduled to be available by November 3.
We wish the very best for Mickey Gold,
manager of the Oriental Theatre, when he
has open heart surgery Monday (I). He will
be at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
While the formal opening of Robert Altman's
"A Wedding" has been delayed until
fall, interest has mounted in connection
with preliminary promotional activities.
Reservations flooded in for the benefit
showing April 28 and Altman personally
headed the ten-star group that came to
town for the festivities. Also in attendance
were 70 members of the press from the
U. S. and Canada.
Larry Dieckhaus, 20th-Fox publicist,
again will greet members of the press for
the premiere showing here June 5 of
"Damien—the Omen II." William Holden,
who stars in the film with Lee Grant, is
due here for this opening which will be
sponsored as a benefit for Northwestern
Military Academy. Part of the filming was
done at the academy.
Floyd Brethour is being welcomed back
as Warner Bros, district manager here. He
succeeds Richard Hill, who moves to Los
Angeles as the company's district manager
to Julie Bowe, who joined
the
local Warner Bros, staff.
It has been almost a year since Barry
Ehrlich left his post at Paramount Pictures
to live and work on a kibbutz near Haifa.
His letters to family members tell that he
has found this change of pace extremely
rewarding.
Universal's "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
April 21 started a first run at the Diana
3. Deerbrook. Norridge 3, Ogden 6, Studio
and Villa Park Cinema. The story relates
to the comic adventures of six youngsters
from New Jersey who go to New York
in 1964. the era of the Beatles craze. They
try to obtain tickets for "The Ed Sullivan
Show." where the Beatles were to be featured.
This Rose-Asseyev production was
BOXOmCE :: May 1. 1978
produced by Tamara Asseyev and Alex
Rose. Direction was by Robert Zemechis,
who wrote the screenplay with the film's
associate producer. Bob Gale. The picture
is rated PG.
Plitt Theatres' advertising director Jerry
Bulger will return from a short vacation on
Monday, (5). He and his wife took their
new daughter to Florida for a visit with
Jerry's parents.
Donna Santoro, the cheery and efficient
receptionist at Buena Vista, is spending her
vacation on the West Coast. She will for
the first time visit Disneyland and the company's
home offices.
New World Pictures of Chicago, constantly
on the move with new releases.
scheduled late-April showings of "The Evil"
and "The Toolbox Murders."
Filmmaker/ producer Bill Rebane isn't
disclosing any facts at this time but he did
have private talks with Jack Dionne, head
of United International Films. Rebane, who
uses Wisconsin sites for many of his movies,
stays pretty much within the science-fiction
genre. One of his newest is "The Alpha
Incident." He met with considerable success
with his "Invasion of the Spiders" and some
of the pundits in moviemaking have expressed
interest and admiration about the
way the technical aspects of the film were
handled.
A great deal of activity is scheduled for
(Continued on next page)
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Moviemakers Filming in
Windy City
Are Assisted by a Former Policeman
CHICAGO—The Windy City is becoming
more and more of a factor in the motion
picture industry because of the assistance
of Chicago policeman Cornelius Morgan,
who is the city's link with filmmakers,
according to a recent by-lined article by
Robert Davis in the Tribune.
The feature, headlined "Moviemakers
Find That City Policeman Is Just the Ticket."
related the following:
"Morgan held the police department record—eight
years— for serving on the bodyguard
detail of the late Mayor Richard J.
Daley before he was transferred to the mayor's
public relations office in 1976.
"Since then, he has served as liaison man
between visiting motion picture. TV and
commercial film crews who have increasingly
found Chicago a fresh and exciting
place to make movies. Scouting locations,
finding suitable resources such as old uniforms
or 1920-type trolley cars, providing
security for crews throughout the city
these are Morgan's duties. Currently he has
been scouting Chicago Transit Authority
garages for old trolley cars for use in the
filming of a TV mini-series based on the
"Studs Lonigan' novels. "It's a Chicago book,
about Chicago, written by a Chicagoan, so
naturally we convinced them to make it in
Chicago,' said Morgan.
"Morgan also is looking for Chicago
areas where the filmmakers can reproduce
the city of the 1920s, when the novel takes
place. In his job as official city red tape
cutter, he sometimes is met with requests
he can't fulfill, even with the cooperation
of other city departments. "Once, a crew
wanted to raise the Michigan Avenue Bridge
ov;r the Chicago River at noon,' he said.
'We just couldn't do it.' Since then, Morgan
has worked out a plan— if he gets a
similar request, the bridge will be opened
during morning hours and traffic rerouted.
An easier request was made by the producers
of 'The Fury,' a made-in-Chicago movie
which premiered here.
"The crew wanted to drive a new, $9,000
Cadillac off the end of Navy Pier.
Morgan
got all of the official clearances and the
shooting was on. The only problem was that
the car hit the water in an unplanned manner,
virtually destroying it. But they got the
shot, he said.
"In his first job with visiting moviemakers.
Morgan wondered what his future
would hold. The crew of 'Monkey Hustle'
was in a south side neighborhood, getting
ready to shoot, when loud rock music was
heard. Morgan traced down the noise—
bystander was playing his portable radio of
top volume and he wouldn't turn it down
unless the moviemakers made it worth his
while.
"Morgan, the city's police representative,
told the noisemaker there were laws prohibiting
disturbing of the peace and the volume
was turned down. To placate the bystander,
the filmmakers gave him a small walk-on
role, Morgan said.
"When a Polish crew arrived to film "The
Big Deal,' Morgan discovered that most of
them couldn't speak English, putting a big
dent in his liaison capability. 'But I found
another policeman who could speak Polish
and he was attached to the unit while they
were here,' he said.
"Persuading moviemakers to come here
and then making them happy is more than
a matter of civic pride, Morgan said. The
company that made 'The Fury' spent an
estimated $900,000 in Chicago on labor,
services and lodging while in town, he said.
And the cast and crew of 'Damien—the
Omen II,' which recently completed filming
here, spent $2.5 million. 'It's good for them
and it's good for us,' Morgan said. "We'll
go out of our way and bend over backwards
to make them comfortable."
"Since taking on his new duties. Morgan
COMING SOON
has rubbed shoulders comfortably with such
actors as William Holden. Kirk Douglas,
Lew Ayres, the late Freddie Prinz, Sidney
Poitier, Bill Cosby, Yaphet Kotto and Lee
Grant. "I thought I might be dealing with a
bunch of strange, artsy-craftsy types but
most of them are just regular people,' he
said.
"'Morgan works closely with Lucy Salinger,
his counterpart in state government,
who also is leading a statewide push to lure
more moviemaking—and its big money,
Morgan is getting comfortable in his job
and he feels he's able to handle most requests.
But he does have one nagging
thought in the back of his mind. 'I'm wondering
what's going to happen if Robert
Redford comes to town this summer to
make a movie, as he has planned. I guess
I'll have to bring the Army out then.'
CHICAGO
(Continued from preceding page)
the Friday (5) launching of "Towing" at 50
theatres in the metropolitan area.
Florence Cohen, head booker for Warner
Bros, here, found it interesting to talk with
two former Chicagoans during a business/
pleasure trip in New York. She spoke with
Sol Horwitz and Bruce Trinz, both of whom
were prominent men in the industry locally
for many years. Trinz, who long was
associated with Lubliner & Trinz and headed
special programs at the Clark Theatre,
is now a New York resident. He has a post
with Libra Films. "Capricorn One," which
is being built up by Warner Bros, as a June
2 release, is getting the sneak-preview treatment
in Chicagoland and downstate Friday
(19).
Keith Vezensky returned to his post at
Buena Vista April 26 after a vacation in
Spain. He immediately will be on the BV
bandgwagon for "In Search of the Castaways".
'Tigers' Bat High in Hawaii
HONOLULU—American International's
comedy, "Here Come the Tigers," is being
held over at the King Theatre here after an
excellent first week. First seven days at the
Sunset Drive-In also took in lots of coconuts.
Total gross was $18,664.
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Remnants From Atlanta's Loews Grand
Is Gone, Like Its Era, With the Wind
ATLANTA—Alan Colo, an estimator
with the Hudgins Co., Inc.. the firm responsible
for selling what remains after the
fire at Loews" Grand Theatre, is nearing
the end of his task. The theatre has been
ripped clean of all its seats, the carpeting
has been pulled up and sold, the walls
stripped of their panels, paintings, curtains
and peach-tinted imported mirrors. Everything—the
water fountains, slabs of marble,
old movie posters, even the bricks—has
been sold to eager memento-seekers.
Loews Grand's finest hour came Dec.
15. 1939. when David O. Selznick's "Gone
With the Wind" premiered there. Clark
Gable, Vivien Leigh. Olivia de Havilland
and other cast members were in the audience
of 2,200 gathered for the film version
of Atlantan Margaret Mitchell's great
of the Old South.
Now Loews Grand is rubble.
novel
Seats, exit signs and bricks from the
theatre sold like hot cakes. The bricks
brought many out-of-town requests. Cole's
company shipped them (ten cents apiece
for the brick, a couple of dollars for mailing)
for nostalgia's sake rather than for
Promotion Boosts 'Fever'
At AMC's St. Vincent 6
SHREVEPORT, LA.— "Saturday Night
Fever" was boosted to a top gross during
its
engagement at American Multi Cinema's
St. Vincent 6 theatres by a broad-scale promotion
wrapped around a disco dance contest.
Manager Jim Butterworth set up the
competition, which was sponsored jointly by
the theatre, KEEL Radio and Mall St. Vincent.
Promotion efforts began two weeks prior
to the film's opening, with the station airing
well over $2,000 worth of free promotion
spots. KEEL donated $1,000 worth of
"Fever" soundtrack albums and other prizes,
as well as deejays to emcee the event held
in the meeting room of Mall St. Vincent.
Dr Pepper furnished hot and cold drinks
for contestants, a record shop provided
more albums, one mall jeweler donated a
ladies' wristwatch and another a gentleman's
14-karat gold chain as grand prizes. The
theatre provided "Saturday Night Fever"
profit. "From all the bricks we made about
S5." Cole said. The red velvet seats sold for
$15. $10 each in a row of four or five. One
man bought 35 seats and wall curtains, obviously
planning to have a mini-Loews
Grand in his home.
One young man bought a row from the
nailery which included seat 105-E. the number
of Clark Gable's seat. Imagine his
chagrin when he learned there were two
105-E seats. Gable's was on the main floor.
A Brunswick. Ga.. woman paid "several
thousand dollars" for 24 walnut grain matched
wall panels. Similar workmanship is
rare today. Cole noted.
During the selling Cole "got a lot of inquiries"
about two LI 00-pound marble water
fountains that dated back to the time
the theatre was built, in 1892, but most
people couldn't figure out a use for them.
But even those sold at $150 apiece, the
buyers hauling them off themselves.
Also still clinging to their grand old home
for many years were two oil paintings of
Egyptian figures which seem firmly attached
to the lobby walls, and two huge gold wall
curtains near the stage, which have resisted
all efforts to pull them down. "I broke
three ropes and they never budged," Cole
said.
Built in 1892 as the DeGive Opera House
and office complex, the theatre was renovated
in art deco style in 1931 and renamed
the Loews Grand Theatre. After its peak,
the "GWTW" premiere in 1939. the playhouse
faced a slow decline. In its final decade
public support dropped so low that
owners resorted to sex-oriented product and
shows to attract patrons.
Even the business-minded Cole has been
touched by the sadness of his task. It was
not the fire that felled the Grand Old Lady
of Peachtree Street, but the neglect she suffered
for so many years.
"A lot of people come in here to say what
a shame it is and ask why the theatre has
to be knocked down," says Cole. "My
standard answer to them is to ask when
was the last time they had attended a movie
here.
"Some say 'never' and others say 'maybe
once in the last 20 years.' They answer their
own question."
posters as added prizes.
Admission to the contest was a new or
used toy, which was donated to the Marines'
Toys for Tots campaign. This facet
of the promotion garnered 12 large cartons
of toys for the charitable drive.
Empey to Supervise Cobb
Theatres in Southeast
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.— Richard Empey
has joined Cobb Theatres-Birmingham
in an executive position. The announcement
was made by Norm Levinson, executive
vice-president, who said: "We are very fortunate
to bring Dick Empey to Cobb Theatres
in the midst of our rapidly expanding
company. His showmanship and theatre
know-how will be a great asset."
Empey will supervise all Cobb theatres
in Albama (excluding Birmingham), Georgia
and Tennessee. He previously was employed
as general manager of Trans-Texas
of Dallas and prior to that was a press representative
for MGM.
Aldo Sambrell, Tom Hernandez. Karin
Schubert and Candice Kay have been set
for "The Newcomer Wrote His Epitaph."
Asbrell Films feature lensing in Madrid,
Spain, with Al Brell directing.
WOMPIS AID WALKATHON —
Jacksonville WOMPI Betty Poston and
Kitty Dowell are shown registering
some of the 1,300 youths who participated
in Superwalk '78 for the March
of Dimes April 8. The WOMPIs were
also on hand to record the walkers returning
from the marathon hike.
Toungblood' Surges
In New Orleans Debut
NEW ORLEANS— AIP's
"Youngblood"
was the No. 1 contender with an incredible
1,000 in its opening week at the Orpheum
Theatre. "Pretty Baby" in its second week
at the Robert E. Lee Theatre held at 600
for second place. "Laserblast." a new name
on the marquees this week was third in the
running with 300. The balance of the contenders
were holdovers with "Saturday
Night Fever" averaging 225.
(Average Is 100)
loy—House Calls (Univ). 2nd wk 200
Lakeside, Westside—Return From Witch Mountain
(BV). 4th wk .125
Lakeside—An Unmarried Woman (20th-Fox),
4th wk .250
Lakeside— Julia (20th-Fox), 5th wk .250
Lakeside—The Turning Point (2Gth-Fox),
17th wk 200
Loews State—The Fury (20th-Fox), 5tr. v.k .150
Loews State—Laserblast (lY) 300
Loews State, Sena Mall— Saturday Night Fever
(Para), 18th wk 225
Orpheum—Youngblood (AlP) .1,000
Plaza—Casey's Shadow (Col), 100
5th A-k
Plaza—Annie Hall (UA), 2nd wk 225
Plaza—American Hot Wax (Para), 5th wk 100
Plaza—The Big Sleep (UA), 4th wk 100
Robt E Lee—Pretty Baby (Para), 2nd wk 600
"House Calls' Healthy: 'Swords,'
'Wax' Fizzling Out in Memphis
MEMPHIS — "House Calls" stayed
healthy this period, scoring a solid 425 in
its third week at the Ridegway Four. "The
Turning Point" also stayed strong, dancing
into its II th week with a 340. "American
Hot Wax" has fizzled out with a 75 at three
theatres, and "Crossed Swords." limped to
a loose 50. also in three locations. "The
Goodbye Girl." "High .Anxiety and "Return
From Witch Mountain" continue to earn
steady boxoffice returns,
Malco Quar'et 1, Ridgeway Four 2—Return From
Witch Mountain (BV), 2nd wk 185
Malco Quartet 2—High Anxiety (20lh-Fox),
9th wk 235
Malco Quratet 3—The Turning Point (2aih-Fox),
nth wk 340
Malco Qucu-tet 4. Southbrook 1—Casey's Shadow
(Col), 3rd wk 130
Paramount 1, Soulhbrook 3—The Goodbye Girl
(WB), 7ih wk. 260
Plaza 2—Straight Time iWB) Jn.i .,:: 130
i
Ridgeway Four 4—House Calls il'.-.;. 3r 1 v. k 452
Three thealre.5-American Hot Wax iP^-^)
3rd wk 75
Three theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 150
Three theatres—Crossed Swords (WB), 2nd wk. ... 50
May 1, 1978 SE-1

ATLANTA
Those long-running blockbiistci;, are beginning
to drop out of the way and make
room for substitutes, and the ticket-buyina
public appreciates the turn-around. Now
they can see Jane Fonda. Jon Voiaht and
Bruce Dern in United Artists' •Comins
Home" in Atlanta's exclusive showina a't
Phipps Plaza 1. Kirk Douglas. Simon Ward
and Agostina Belli are starred in American
International Pictures' "The Chosen" at the
Cobb Center. Greenbriar. Jonesboro Twin
South DeKalb. Suburban Plaza and Tower
Place. Columbia Piclirres'
"
"Silver BL\'ir

. . Wedding
•HARLOTTE
s a small world— your correspondent was
getting ready to embark on the "M. S.
ribe" when he encountered Nita Kirby
irgan with a bevy of ten beauties from
ixboro, N. C, on the dock in Miami. Nita
the daughter of the late Teague Kirby.
exhibitor for many years, who operated
; Kirby Theatre. Nita managed the theaafter'
her father's death in 1970. She
)sed the theatre several years ago with
hat Darn Cat" and is still a dedicated
)XOFFiCE subscriber.
New films on the marquees: "Rabbit
.•si" (Capri), "Wild Fun" (Capri), "The
Medusa Touch" (Eastland Mall), "An Unmarried
Woman" (Park Terrace), "The
Amsterdam Kill" (Park Terrace and T.
Bird), "Fantasia" (Park Terrace).
Top grosses: "Saturday Night Fever"
(Eastland Mall III), "The Goo'dbye Girl"
(Southpark 1), "House Calls" (Eastland Mall
II and Southpark 2), "The Medusa Touch"
(Eastland
Mall).
Joe Bishop sr. (retiree, American International)
is spending a week in Winston-Salem
with friends and relatives.
Charlie and Doris Hiiiisuck (United
Artists) are spending a week's vacation,
destination unknown, at a beach in South
Carolina.
Exhibitors visiting Filmrow: A. Foster
McKissick and Fred Curdts, Easley, S. C:
Clyde Bolt, Anderson, S. C; Jack Fuller
jr., Columbia, S. C; Harry Osteen, Seneca,
S. C; J. K. Whitley, Kannapolis, N. C;
Sonny Baker, Gastonia, N. C; Phil Nance
and Del Carty, Raleigh; Jimmie Bellows,
Greensboro, N. C; "Buz" Loyd and Tommie
Bradford, Fayetteville, N. C; Art
Farmer, Lenoir, N. C, and Rudy Howell,
Smithfield, N. C.
Eddie Marks (Stewart & Everett Theatres
executive) was in Dallas for a two-day marketing
conference . . . Hunter Marcengill
(S & E Theatres, Charlotte) had a heart
attack April 1. He was moved from the
coronary care unit to a regular hospital
room and was due to be home April 17.
Welcome back Janet Honeyciitt (Eddie
Marks' girl Friday) after becoming a new
mother . bells ring for Danny
Grigsby (S & E Theatres, Lynchburg, Va.)
who will tie the knot with his lovely assistant
manager Dora Faye Turpin Saturday
(6) . . . Bill Simpson (Simpson's Distributing
Corp.), on a swing through South Carolina,
called on exhibitors in Spartanburg,
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May 1. 1978 SE-3

CHARLOTTE
(Continued from preceding page)
Greenville, Columbia, Orangeburg and
Charleston, securing playdates and contracts
with great results.
Screenings at Car-Mel: "I Wanna Hold
Your Hand." Universal; "The Tempest."
Avco Embassy; "The Evil." Galaxy; "Skateboard."
Universal.
will do the buying and booking for the circuit
which includes Asheville. N.C., Columbia
and Spartanburg. S.C.
Bill Vanderhorst, Southern Booking, and
wife Cathy. Tarheel films, spent a weekend
at
Hilton Head. S.C.
Disco Tie-in for 'Fever'
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS. FLA. —
American Multi Cinema's Interstate 6 theatres
tied-in with the Arthur Murray Dance
Tony Tracy, formerly with Irvin-Fuller studios to promote "Saturday Night Fever"
Theatres. Columbia. S. C. and most recently
Twin
with disco dancing demonstrations in front
at States Booking, has opened an office
of the theatre on Saturday nights. Manager
for Irvin-Fuller in the Northwestern John Medlin also arranged for patrons to
Bank Bldg.. suite 575. 704-376-6451. Tony receive tickets for a free disco lesson.
MIAMI
y^onietco Enterprises, Inc., is entering the
film distribution business in Central and
South America. Richard Wolfson, executive
vice-president, announced. Wometco
has formed a company to be owned jointly
with American Distributors. Inc.. the largest
independent film distributor in Latin America.
ADI has operations in all Central American
and in five South American countries.
Following Womelco's stockholders"
meeting.
350 shareholders were offered their
choice of two free films playing at the Byron-Carlyle
theatres on Miami Beach where
the meeting was held. Free popcorn and soft
drinks also were provided. Playing were "An
Unmarried Woman" and "House Calls."
Wometco Enterprises, Inc., e.xpects to
report first-quarter earnings that are 13-
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14 per cent higher than year-ago levels.
Mitchell Wolfson. president and chairman
of Wometco, told E)ow Jones News Service.
Wolfson said he expects net income for the
quarter to total about $27,000,000 or 32-34
cents per share. Revenue for the Miamibased
bottling, vending and entertainment
firm is up 23-24 per cent. In the first quarter
Wometco earned $25,000,000 or 29
cents per share on revenues of $45,800,000.
Earnings were up by 50 per cent in the
broadcast division. 40 per cent in the entertainment
division and 35 per cent in the
vending division. Wolfson said Wometco
is seeking to acquire another VHF and another
UHF TV station, adding that there
is nothing definite at this time.
The Miami Heart Institute honored 44
people at the institute's first annual benefactors
awards dinner. Among those who
received the gold medallions designating donations
of $50,000 or more were Wolfson
and his artist wife Frances.
Jackie Gleason, the Great One. will open
the new season of the Theatre of the Performing
Arts at Miami Beach for producer
Zev Bufman. In November he will appear
in the hit comedy "Sly Fox." Gleason has
been on the road for more than a month,
playing to capacity California audiences.
Gleason told his friend. Jack Philbin. that
it"s fim performing before live audiences
again. Bufman is lining up his most impressive
season year. He is negotiating for "King
Lear," starring Richard Burton, and "Dancin"
". one of the newest hits on Broadway.
A former Miami woman has been identified
as one of three student filmmakers shot
to death in the Mojave Desert recently.
Police have said they were killed by two Los
Angeles-area men who became angered
when the victims refused them a ride. Mar-
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SE-4

tha Soto, 22, a student at Pepperdinc College
near Los.Angeles, died a day after the shootings.
Soto attended Miami public schools
and was a student at the University of Miami
before she went to California. Mass
was held at St. Raymond Catholic Church
and interment of her cremated remains was
at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery.
Screen siar Hal Holbrook and Louise
Fletcher, Academy Award winner for "One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," were slated
to entertain aboard the U. S. Emerald Seas
cruise ship on the April 21 cruise.
Linda McGowan, who coordinates local
arrangements for film producers, has arranged
for some Sprite commercials to shoot
at the Sonesta Beach Hotel on Key Biscayne.
The commercials are for French and
Canadian TV markets.
The Footlighters roasted a surprise guest
at their luncheon April 17 at the Konover
hotel. It is their way of warming up for the
annual golf tournament on Monday (8) at
the Doral Country Club. All proceeds go
to Variety Children's Hospital. The last
target of the Footlighters, Red Buttons, is
back in town to headline the show at the
Beach Theatre.
The Oscar competition for student filmmakers
presented by the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences took place
recently. Films made by students in the
Southeast were screened, and judges were
on hand to pronounce their verdicts for the
Student Film Awards' fourth annual competition.
Documentaries, dramatic films, animations
and experimental movies were
shown in the Beaumont Cinema at the University
of Miami. The screenings were spwnsored
by the Academy foundation, AT&T,
and Alpha Epsilon Rho, a national professional
communications society.
Frank Sinatra returned to the Sunrise
Musical Theatre in Broward County April
13 for a makeup week of singing. His illness
during his recent scheduled appearance
forced cancellation of some of his performances.
Just being in a movie should be reward
enough, but young Miami actor Tyrone
Jackson, 15, gets more. He'll be traveling to
Kenya to perform his role in "Ashanti." The
film will costar Michael Caine, Rex Harrison,
Peter Ustinov and Telly Saviilas. Jackson
got the part because the director, Richard
Sarafian, is the same person who directed
"The African Queen' TV pilot here.
Jackson appeared in the pilot, and he's done
some theatre and commercial work in south
Florida. He and his father leave shortly for
Kenya where they expect to be for 12
weeks.
In a feature story in the Miami Herald
by Susan Sachs, Herald staff writer, it is
pointed out that several film producers have
said that North Miami can help promote
their industry by giving them money, providing
scenic locations for productions and
easing their way through red tape. George
Gill, a lighting expert, said that there isn't
anything being done at
the present time. Gill
and other representatives appeared belorc
the city council in response to a- request for
suggestions on how the council can help
local film industry. The council voted to let
its downtown redevelopment committee discover
how best to help. More than .10 film,
music and production studios arc located
in a in three-block area North Miami.
Among those making suggestions were Jett
Gillen of Dunwright productions; Doug
Weiss, general manager of Video City,
which will start production in July on a new
5-day-a-week soap opera to be shot on
Miami Beach and around North Dade
County, and B, J. Johnson, president of the
area Motion Picture and Television Ass'n.
Storer Broadcasting has reported a rise in
net income for the first quarter of the year
to $2,333,000 or 48 cents a share from the
$2,002,000 or 41 cents a share reported a
year ago. Storer operates TV and radio stations
throughout the country, including
WGBS and WLYF in south Florida.
The men who keep tabs on movie tickets
for area theatres say the four nights of
"Holocaust" on TV did not hurt business,
despite all the plugs for the NBC special in
magazines and newspapers. One executive
said he depends mainly on the 17-to 35-
year-old audience, and "Holocaust" d d not
have a strong appeal to that age group.
WCIX-TV, channels 6 and 33, joined
three other Florida TV stations in staging
the first annual telethon for the benefit of
the Florida Arthritis Foundation April 23.
Marty Allen and David Toma served as cohosts.
Show business celebs from Allan Ludden
and Mary Tyler Moore to Bob Hope
and Edward Asner joined in the appeal,
some on videotape.
In spite of winning Oscars, some films are
not being booked by distributors, John Huddy,
entertainment editor of the Miami Herald,
points out. He says the Wometco circuit
is interested in "Madame Rosa," but
the negotiations aren't complete. And Huddy
quotes a Wometco official as saying they
aren't begging for the award winner since
they lost on "Black and White in Color"
last year. One circuit official said they won't
spend money on short subjects, Oscar winners
or not, such as "Sand Castle" or "Gravity
is My Enemy." They don't make enough
money on a short. Even a week's festival of
short films would be too complicated to be
practical, and maybe not profitable enough.
Sammy Davis jr. revealed to an audience
at the Sunrise Theatre in Broward County
that he will leave the club stage for at least
a year and perform on Broadway in "Stop
the World, I Want to Get Off."
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NEW ORLEANS
\3J70MPI fever is continuing to spread and
the New Orleans club has inducted
Jeannie Fontaine and Shirley Bacque, both
United Artists staffers, as new members.
Congratulations, girls.
Not only was the "Night at the Races
at (April 14 Jefferson Downs) advantageous
to WOMPI by adding $150 to the club's
treasury, it was also a fun-filled time, with
a host of friends and members enjoying
themselves to the tune of "And they're off
. . ." The WOMPI handicap feature race of
the evening was the presentation of a
trophy
to the winning jockey by club president
Anna Power, assisted by 'V'vette Cardinalc,
chairman of the event, and Shirley Eagen,
recording secretary.
Letters and telephone calls arc still pouring
'n from the bosses and guests in attendance
at the Bosses Luncheon held April
4 in the Grand Ballroom of the Gateway
Hotel, reports Anna Power. Sincere thanks
to Teddy Solomon, Billy Briant and Bill
Williams for their participation and assistance
in making this affair the biggest in
the history of the Club.
Super-industrious WOMPI worked hard
toward the success of their garage and plant
sale April 29.
New names on the marquees this week;
Univcrsal's "Five Days from Home," "I
Wanna Hold Your Hand," "The Sea Gypsies"
and "Blind Rage,": AlP's, "Our Winnirg
Season," and "1 Will, I Will ... For
Now," starring Academy Award-winning
actress Diane Keaton. The Prytania Theatre
finds a Louisian premiere of Bernardo
B;rtolucci's "1900."'
Continuing attractions and holdovers:
•The FL:ry," "Saturday Night Fever," "The
Goodbye Girl." "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind," "The Turning Point," "Julia,"
"An Unmarried Woman," "American Hot
Wax." "Laserblast," "House Calls," "The
Medusa Touch" and "Youngblood."
Sneaked Tuesday, April 18 at the Lakeside
Theatre was San Rio's forthcoming
release, "Oily. Oily. O.xen Free." starring
Katharine Hepburn.
In progress at Loyola University is "New
Cinema From Belgium." a series of films
sponsored by the Film Buffs Institute of
Loyola and the Ministry of Education and
Culture of Belgium. To be shown are "Home
Sweet Home." about a revolt in a home for
the aged: an experimental work, "Jeanne
DilmaTi": -Belle" and "Du Bout des
Levres."
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BOXOFTICE ;; May I, 1978
SE-5

. . Albert
PALM BEACH
^^hen the Zev Bufmans plan opening night
parties for cast, press and area luminaries,
not only are the parties gala evenings,
but one is aware of the thought and
planning that make the events so suitable
for each occasion. Most recently there was
such a party honoring the opening of the
musical "Annie." winner of seven Tony
awards, after the first performance by the
national touring company. The party was
held at the Food Among the Flowers restaurant
and was set up to please the youngsters
in the cast. Pizza wa.s served and there
were stands with hot dogs, ice cream cones,
popcorn and carameled apples, and pictures
of Little Orphan Annie were displayed
throughout the cafe. The Grammy Awardw
nning album was heard playing the hit
tunes from the show.
"Annie" is being performed at the Miami
Beach Theatre of Performing Arts through
Saturday (13). Jane Connell, who played
Agnes Gooch in "Mame" on Broadway and
in the motion picture with Lucille Ball, has
a prominent part in "Annie." The film rights
to "Annie" were sold for $9,500,000.
The Bufmans had a cast party at the elegant
Edward's following the opening of the
prize-winning musical "I Love My Wife"
at Parker Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale, April
3. The theme was sophistication and the cast
of the comedy, which often is compared
to Paul Mazursky's 1969 film "Bob and
Carol and Ted and Alice," enjoyed the
festivities.
Beautiful Maureen Moore, one of
the four leads, also currently is appearing
in the Neil Simon hit "The Goodbye Girl."
It is Ms. Moore's film debut.
When two-time Academy Award nominee
Ann-Margiet opened at the Theatre of Performing
Arts March 28, once again the Bufmans
chose a suitable site for the party. This
time it was the chic California Club with a
dscotheque atmosphere that served to welcome
not only the beautiful singer-danceractress
but her equally beautiful mother,
Mrs. Gustave Ollson. Also on hand to help
cut the tastefully-decorated cake was the
star's husband Roger Smith and Roger's
daughter Tracy. Ann-Margret. who was
nominated for Oscars in "Tommy" and
"Carnal Knowledge," shared the stage with
Academy Award-winner Joel Grey ("Cabaret").
Ann-Margret told of her first audition,
which was for George Burns. She wore a
sweater and slacks. She won the part and
returned the following day in a red velvet
su't. Burns looked very disappointed and
asked. "What happened to the tight slacks
and sweater? You know the audience not
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only wants to hear a good voice—they enjoy
seeing where it comes from." Appearing at
the Bufman's party in a stunning clinging
gown, the star obviously hadn't forgotten one
word of his advice. Earlier in March a sitdown
dinner for 40 was given in honor of
Julie Harris who was appearing at the Theatre
in "The Belle of Amherst." George
Abbott,
the famous octogenarian, was present
to attend both the performance and the
party.
Backstage at the Sunrise Theatre, Bobby
Vinton, the Polish Prince of Song, told of
his career in Hollywood. He appeared in
"Train Robbers" and "Big Jake" with his
movie hero John Wayne. (Vinton does an
impersonation of John Wayne speaking in
Polish.) Vinton, who soon will release his
book "The Polish Prince," has written for
movies and TV, plays several instruments,
holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Duquesne
University, has at least a dozen gold
records and is a songwriter and composer.
Vinton told the story of his experience
with an agent who kept telling him "I've got
the perfect part for you" in a motion picture.
A few days later the agent would call
back and say, "The role has been taken."
This went on and on. Finally, toward the
end of the war, the agent suggested Vinton
go to Vietnam and entertain the troops.
The performer said he was not too anxious
to go to 'Nam and the agent suggested that
if Vinton went he was positive he could get
him a good part in a film. After thinking
it over Vinton decided to go. Two days later
the agent called back: "Someone else is going
to Vietnam." Vinton mused. "Someone
else even got that part."
For the sixth consecutive year the County
Council of Parent-Teacher Ass'ns, in cooperation
with ABC Southeastern Theatres,
have planned summer vacation movies for
elementary school students. Participating
theatres are the Plaza I and IL West Palm
Beach; the Dolphin, Palm Springs, and Ultravision
1 and 2, Deerfield Beach. The
project has the approval of the County
School Administration and the motion pictures
to be shown have been selected from
and approved by the Motion Picture Ass'n's
Children's Film Library. Programs and order
blanks have been distributed to the students
of all public elementary schools from
Jupiter to Boca Raton and to private and
parochial schools requesting the material.
Tickets for the ten-movie series, in this area,
are $2.00. Teachers and mothers wishing to
attend may order tickets at the same prices.
All tickets must be ordered by Friday (19)
and no tickets will be available on an individual
film basis or at the door. The first
show is set for June 13.
Parents and children were invited to Biut
Reynold's ranch April 23 where they were
allowed to take a short ride on Burt's beautiful
Arabian stallion, "Al Morafic." The
event served as a kick-off for the Mental
llcallh
Ass'n's benefit.
Frances Langford, actress and singing
s;ar of the ^Os and '40s, is recovering from
open-heart surgery at the Miami Heart Institute.
Recent finalized contracts have given the
"go" sign for the upcoming local production
of "The Pilot." The multi-million dollar motion
picture, based on the resident Bob
Davis' novel, will begin production in June
with Davis directing and fellow resident
Gregory Earls serving as executive producer.
The plot of "The Pilot" revolves around
an alcoholic a'rlinc captain. Among his
credits, Davis has won an Academy Award
and has written or directed more than 60
motion pictures. His associate. Earls, who
maintains homes in Washington. D. C and
here, has produced six feature-length films.
According to a spokesman, several major
Hollywood stars will be signed for the picture
and many local people will appear as
extras. The title role will be performed by
a soon-to-be-announced Broadway actor. Although
many films use Palm Beach as a locale,
few pictures actually are filmed here.
JACKSONVILLE
special benefit was reaped
P^
by the ABC
Florida State Theatres' Regency I in advance
of its exclusive north Florida showing
of "Coming Home." Norm Going, lifestyle
editor of the Florida Times-Union, turned
out
three lengthy story-interviews on different
days concerning the movie's main stars,
Jane Fonda, Jon Voight and Bruce Dern.
All of Norm's stories from Chicago were
full of praise for the stars and the picture.
Recently retired Fred Mathis, who administered
Paramount's southern division
from th's city, has been succeeded by Wayne
Lewellen of Dallas who will continue working
out of his Texas office. Royce Brimage,
Wayne's former assistant in Dallas, is coming
to Jacksonville to serve as Paranioimt's
Florida manager.
The Davalts enjoyed their recent camping
weekend in the Ocala National Forest.
Roughing it were Dorothy Davalt of Paramount;
son Tom. 20th Century-Fox salesman,
and his wife Camille; Bob Davalt and
his wife; and Allan Davalt, a teenager . . .
John Miller, head booker at 20lh-Fox, and
his family vacationed in Erin. Tcnn.
Joseph H. Charle.s, a senior house manager
with the ABC EST circuit, is returning
to the Southside San Marco Theatre after
more than three months of absence due to
knee surgery and post-operative remedial
care treatments.
Advance booker screenings
were held on
recent morn ngs at ABC FST's Regency I
for Universal's "EM" and for 20th-Fox's
"The Driver" . and Betty Rook,
film distributors of nearby Neptune Beach,
are serving as interim and temporary agents
for a new western-comedv film. "The Sweet
Creek County War." starring Slim Pickens,
Richard Egan and Albert Salmi. Rook opined
that a distribution firm and release dates
are yet to come. An advance screening was
held in the .^BC EST Preview Theatre.
Latest entries lighting up marquees for
the mazuma of patrons were Walt Disney's
BOXOFTICE :: May 1, 1978

. . Also
"In Search of the Castaways" at the San
Marco, Royal Palm I. St. Johns I and the
Blanding Drive-In; 'Coming Home" at the
Regency I, "Jennifer" at the Royal Palm
III. Northside Twin, Orange Park 5, Midway
Twin Drive-In and the Fox Drive-In;
"Fantasia" exclusively at the Edgewood;
and "Tintorera." latest of the tiger shark
spinoffs, at the Royal Palm II, Northside
Twin, Florida, Midway Twin Drive-In and
the Fox Twin Drive-In .
joining
the first runs were "The Billion Dollar
Hobo" at the Plaza I, Normandy 2, the
Neptune and Orange Park 5 and "The Medusa
Touch" in an exclusive at the St.
The St. Johns II, in addition,
Johns II . . .
came through with a sneak preview of "Our
Winning Season" during the waning run of
"The Goodbye Girl."
Mary Hart, a recent retiree from ABC
FST (a former international WOMPI president
and three-times local WOMPI president)
won't be idle at home. She is now in
a new career with a radio and TV firm . . .
Her husband John Hart, who also got back
into harness after retirement as a night
doorman at ABC FSTs Kingsley twins,
went into St. Vincent's Hospital following a
stroke for treatment of a blood clot.
H. A. "Red" Todder, who had a lifetime
career with ABC FST, died recently at his
home in New Smyrna Beach following a
long siege of acute emphysema. Red began
as a projectionist at the Victoria Theatre
in New Smyrna before going into theatre
management at the Victoria, the Mantanzes
at St. Augustine, the Florida and Center
twins at Gainesville and, finally, to the
Plaza twins in Orlando, from which he retired
because of illness in 1976. Red won
many company honors for his accomplishments
over the years.
A recent roundup in the Florida Times-
Union of five industry honorees in the city
included two from Filmrow. Stanley "Long
John" Davis, ABC FST home office manager,
was selected as executive of the year
by unanimous WOMPI voice vote for his
helping hand in carrying out WOMPI's industry
and community service projects.
Notice also went to Joyce Malmborg, a
Kent Theatres home office staffer, who
served WOMPI in multifarious tasks during
the year, including weekly publicity
releases
to the radio, TV and newspapers, and participation
in numerous community and industry
service
projects.
'Pretty Baby' Director
Absent from NY Debut
NEW ORLEANS — Frank Gagnard,
writing in his On the Scene column, accuses
French director Louis Malic of pulling
a Woody Allen disappearing act so that he
would be absent from New York the day
his new film "Pretty Baby" opened. He goes
on to ask:
"Did he deliberately skip the opening
and the reviews, as Allen did the Academy
Awards ceremony?
" 'Oh yes.' Malle admitted during one of
his assembly-line interviews at the Royal
Orleans Hotel. I'm very superstitious about
that. I was cooler when I was young.'
"It was a homecoming of sorts for Ihc
director, who worked two months on location
here last spring. It seems to have been
an unsettling period, what with reported
conflicts and personality clashes among cast,
crew and production heads.
"There also was the touchy matter of
theme: 'Pretty Baby' tells of the last days
of Sloryville, New Orleans' redlight district
that closed in 1917. The principal characters
are E. J. Bellocq, a real-life photographer
whose favorite models were Storyville
prostitutes, and Violet, a 12-year-old toiler
in this field.
"With the trauma behind him. how does
Malle feel about the finished product, which
opens Friday at the Robert E. Lee Theatre?
" 'What can I say?' he shrugged. 'Each
tme I'm finished with a movie I wish I
could do it again.'
"He told of the French painter Pierre
Bonnard being stopped by a muscLmi guard
from altering one of his canvases already
hanging on the wall. 'That's my approach
to my work.' Malle said. "1 would like to
do it again. But you have to let it go. You
get to a point where you're a little fed up
with it, too. 1 must have seen 'Pretty Baby'
200 times.'
"Malle expects the usual scrutiny of his
film by cinema buffs, who will be rooting
out symbols as if they were truffles, and
turning each frame upside down. What will
be made by the interpreters, for instance, of
Violet having one leg painted green and one
red by a voodoo practitioner, or of a bird
invading the brothel dining room to the
superstitious horror of the girls?
"Malle said the superstition that a bird
loose in a house presages death is international
and reminded his fans he 'used almost
the same scene in 'The Lovers'
"As for the other symbols, it's catch as
catch can, 'Sometimes, the best things you
do are something you can't really explain.'
he said. 'You did them and you don't know
why. I think it's better in a way when it
comes from your unconscious.'
" 'I find it more and more difficult to
make a film,' he continued. 'I made my first
picture when I was 24; I felt I had all the
right answers. It's only when you've acquired
experience that you get basic doubts.'
"Malle said it was 'essential' that 'Pretty
Baby' he made in New Orleans, so he insisted
that 'every frame' be shot on location.
'There are very few exterior scenes,' he sa'd,
'so normally we would have come to New
Orleans on studio sets.'
"Most of the interiors, however, were
made in 'that fantastic house,' the old Columbus
Hotel on St. Charles Avenue.
"
"There's something here,' Malle said of
the city, "something in the air.'
"'He said he is 'afraid' of employing professional
extras in a film, and that 'one of
the things I'm happy about is the local casting.
What was so great about shooting here
is that the extras were not professional
actors. Most of them were people who came
to us because they were interested—they
knew my work. Nothing is more difficult
New World-Mutual Reins
Go to Orval Fruitman
I ORONTO— Pierre David, president of
Mutual Films Corp.. and Roger Corman.
president of New World Pictures, confirmed
the appointment of veteran film distributor
Orval Fruitman as general manager of New
World-Mutual Pictures of Canada. Ltd.
Fruitman has assumed his duties, combining
immediate booking of product with setting
up of the company's headquarters at
124 Merton St. Toronto, Ont. M4S lAl,
phone (416) 486-5535.
Corman and David also announced the
appointment of Robert Shields as sales representative
for New World-Mutual. Shields
formerly was assistant general manager at
United Artists' head office in Toronto.
Fruitman joins New World-Mutual after
1 1 years as a general sales manager for Cinepix
in Toronto. He began his career at Columbia
Pictures, where he was promoted to
Montreal office manager at age 18. Active
in all industry associations, including a stint
as vice-president of the Motion Picture Pioneers.
Fruitman lives with his wife and two
children in Toronto.
Young Star Tours Tampa
TAMPA. FLA.— Mario Custodio, 17-
year-old star of "The Black Pearl," visited
the bay area recently to promote the film.
Assistant manager Les Caulfield of American
Multi Cinema's Varsity 6 theatres escorted
the young actor to area newspapers,
radio and TV stations
for interviews.
Colorful 'Hobo' Promo
PANAMA CITY. FLA. — American
Multi Cinema's Panama 4 theatres tied in
with WGNE-Radio to stage a coloring contest
to promote the showing of "The Billion
Dollar Hobo." Manager Dave Grunderman
arranged for winners to receive tickets to
DisneyWorld.
Food, Film Promo Combo
ATLANTA—Jack Hamilton,
manager of
American Multi Cinema's Omni 6 theatres,
put together a dinner/ theatre package promotion
with beef and burgundy. After dining
at the restaurant, patrons received tickets
to attend the Tower Place 6 or Omni 6.
Eiben Elected to Board
.ST. PETERSBURG. FLA.—Ron Eiben.
manager of American Multi Cinema's Tyrone
Square 6. was elected to the board of
directors of Tyrone Square Mall for a iwovear
term.
than being an extra, and they were so patient.
" 'I love to work with non-professionals.
I was very pleased, for instance, with the
man who marries Hattie. Don Hood. He did
it so well.'
"In retrospect, Malle sees it all as 'a very
nice experience.' That is, until the reviews
come in."
BOXOmCE May 1978
SE-7

TheRiq
cost more than
agrand.
In 1853, money took America to the banks
Oi the Rio Grande.
In that year, the Gadsden Purchase further
extended United States territor\' down the west
bank of the mighty Rio Grande.
And established what today is the border
between Mexico and the states of Arizona and
New Mexico.
>fi5s»-
Thecost: $10,000,000.
X^"^^.
And Americans put up the -^^^-^
I
money. By purchasing go\ernment securities.
You could bank on America back then.
And vou still can. By buying U.S. Savings Bonds
at
Iake>^i
. stock
in/^erica
work. Through the Payroll Savings Plan.
That way, a little is set aside trom each
pa\check to buy Bonds. Automatically.
So help keep your future, and America s,
,
flowing smcxnhly. Buy U.S. Sa\'ings
BCMUIS.
They re a grand way to sa\'e.
BOXOrnCE :: May 1. 1978

. . Trade
Lana Still Has The
Turner Mystique'
DALLAS—Lana Turner still has that oM
magic, according to News film critic Philip
Wuntch, who covered her appearance here
and wrote the following article:
"The image of Lana Turner must be indelibly
planted in everyone's mind.
"Whether you remember her skidding
through the Hollywood Hills in 'The Bad
and the Beautiful." gliding down the Cedric
Gibbons stairway in "Ziegfeld Girl.' or diving
into a pool of fire in 'The Prodigal." her
imprint is immistakable.
Lana In Control
"The Turner mystique is well-served by
Granny's Dinner Playhouse's production of
John Van Druten's 'Bell. Book and Candle.'
a rather thin comedy about a sensible. levelheaded
Manhattan witch. But the play itself
doesn't matter; as far as the opening night
audience was concerned, the evening might
have been titled 'The Lana Turner Show.'
"And from her first act entrance in a
flowing black gown, provocatively stroking
in love with the staid publisher who rents
the apartment upstairs. The brew thickens
when the publisher, not knowing Miss Turner's
peculiar gifts, thinks about publishing
a book on New York witches. There ensues
a series of lovers' quarrels, witches' spells,
renunciations and reconciliations.
"Director Harold J. Kennedy keeps things
moving curtly, particularly in the third act.
when Miss Turner starts plotting vengeance
in the best tradition of an MGM alumna.
"In summation, "Bell, Book and Candle'
(the title, incidentally, refers to the exorcism
rite) provides a diverting evening. The
play may show its age. but the Turner
glamour is intact. For audiences, that should
prove enough. It will continue at Granny's
for three weeks.
"Silver Bears" was co-produced by Alex
Winitsky and Arlene Sellers.
OKLAHOMA CITY
Qeorge Gaughn, Continental I heatrcs. Oklahoma
City and Tulsa, attended a National
Screen Service advertising seminar,
in Dallas. He said that it was one of the
best he has ever attended and ihai there
many fine suggestions on dillerent ways
to sell movies.
ly
.
The Chieftain is now operating as a new-
twinned theatre . . . Commonwealth
Theatres have closed their Plaza Cinema
Theatre screenings; "The Driver."
20th Century-Fox, "I Wanna Hold
Your Hand," Univ., at the Tower Theatre,
and "F.I.S.T.". U.A.. at the Continental
Theatre.
Marquee changes: "The Boys in Company
C." Westwood. Apollo Twin and
Reding 4 Theatres; "Almost Summer,"
South Park, Westpark Theatres and 14
Flags Drive-In; "One on One," Reding 4,
MacArthur 4, Sooner and Hillcrest;
"F.I.S.T.". Continental and South Park.
Tulsa marquee changes: 'Silver Bears,"
Woodland Hills and Village theatres; "Rabbit
Test," Plaza 3; 'I Wanna Hold Your
Hand," Plaza 3 and Spectrum Twin theatres;
"Julia," Loews Brook; "One On One,"
Annex, Fontana and Southside theatres;
"Almost Summer." Village and Fontana
theatres.
A special advance preview of "Our Winning
Season." AIP, was held at the Forum
Theatre.
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Wilshire Is Closed
By ABC-Interstate
DALLAS—The following story, marking
the demise of yet another theatre, appeared
in the Morning News April 12.
"The Wilshire Theatre, located at Mockingbird
Lane and Skillman Road, will close
in less than two weeks, it was announced
April 11.
"Pearcy-Christian Realtors has the property
under contract to purchase from the
ABC-Interstate theatre chain. The future
of the property is undecided.
"The theatre will close April 23 following
the 10 p.m. showing of 'Casey's Shadow.'
the film currently booked at the Wilshire.
"Joe Jackson, executive vice-president of
ABC-Interstate, said he hopes to replace the
Wilshire with a twin theatre, also in northeast
Dallas.
Several locations are under consideration.
"The 900-seat theatre, built in 1946. has
been a steady moneymaker for the chain.
We're still enjoying big business with it.'
Jackson said. "But the commercial value of
a docile black cat. she is in sure professional
control. Her voice is not stage-trained.
"Crossed Swords," WB. was given high the property is phenomenal. It amoimted to
praise by Bruce Westbrook and Ron Wolfe a big business decision.'
which presents a mild handicap at first: but
of the Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma "Among the films which have played
she moves gracefully, looks stylish ar.d delivers
the gently amusing dialogue with a
City Times, as well as Lola Hall, movie first-run engagements at the Wilshire are
reviewer of KWTV Channel 9. "House •The Goodbye Girl,' 'All the President's
right touch of wryness.
Calls." Univ.. was called "A very worthwhile
film." by David Behrman of the
Men.' 'Murder by Death.' 'The Deep." 'To
"The
Blue Max" and 'The .Sand Pebbles." '"
was first presented in the early 1950s and
seems even more so now. Miss Turner, her During a recent visit Didi Conn, one of
Nimoy Attends BC Lunch
brother and her aunt form the friendliest the stars of "Almost Summer." Univ., discussed
the picture with reviewer Bruce BOSTON—Leonard Nimoy. soon to be-
coven of witches imaginable. But all goes
awry when Miss Turner finds herself falling Westbrook.
gin work on Paramount's "Star Trek" the-
Wily, Wonderful Witch
"The plot was pure fluff when the play
Times.
Sir With Love.' 'A Patch of Blue."
atrical film project, participated in a Parker
House luncheon at which plans were outlined
for Boston College's planned theatre
arts center. Nimoy. who developed his acting
interest while attending the college, recalled
that he performed his first role at the
age of 17 at the now-defunct Elizabeth Peabody
Playhouse. "I realized then." he said,
"that acting was more than entertainment-—
it provides" a sense of communion and insisht
into ourselves."
Fawcett Publ-shing, Inc.
nove!izat:on rights to "Ice Castles."
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DALLAS
"V^e have often heard people say things
were so bad it just seemed like the
roof caved in . . . well that actually happened
at the Rex Theatre in Dallas. With
the weight of this winter's snow, the rains
this spring and heavy winds taking their
toll, the roof actually caved in. The theatre
had been closed for sometime, so no one
was hurt.
Joe Joseph, theatre broker, handled an
unusual transaction this week. He closed
an exchange of theatres. Ramon Medrana
of the Arcadia Theatre bought the Edison
Theatre and Movies Inc.. Albuquerque,
took over the Granada Theatre. They had
been operating the Edison Theatre.
Kay Wysong, manager of the Granada,
says the theatre will retain the name, Granada,
where they plan to show repertory of
cla.ssic and cult films. The Granada seats
650 whereas the Edison can accomodate
only 300 patrons. Ms. Wysong said the
move was necessary because the old theatre
(Edison) located at 2420 N. Fitzhugh could
not accomodate the large crowds that show
up for such perennial favorites as "'Harold
and Maude." "The Ruling Class" and "King
of Hearts." In fact, when they showed
"Pink Flamingo" and "Female Trouble"
the other night and had to turn away 250
persons due to lack of seating capacity. The
new Granada opened April 28 with "Forbidden
Planes" and "Freaks." Ticket price
will remain the same. $2.50. Medrana will
change the name of the Edison to Mexico
Theatre where they will show adult Mexican-American
films to an adult only trade.
"Sugar" Bamett, granddaughter of Joe
Joseph, is in the Columbia release "The
Buddy Holly .Story" which promises to be
a major release premiering Thursday (18)
in Lubbock, with a limited multiple relea.se
in the Texas area Friday (19).
Terry Graham, branch manager at AlP.
reports he has two new employees in the
accounting department. Mullie Sykes and
Carolynne Dickson, also a new salesman
Jay Routh.
Jim Sabo, branch manager of Avco Embassy,
reports they moved their office Monday
(1), to 6060 No. Central Expsway.
Suite 440. We will report later giving the
telephone number which has not yet been
assigned.
Phil Guiles is really excited about the
Filmrow Float Trip, at this time there are
between 35 and 40 registered with a little
more than 15 boats already reserved. Anyone
desiring to join in the fun contact Phil
at 748-7093. They will have this outing
Saturday and Sunday (6-7), total cost per
couple $15.00.
Eric and Maud deNeve, "Eric" Distributing
Co., had as their guest last weekend
their daughter-in-law Jan deNeve from
Boston. They were so happy to have her.
Harry Goldstone and his wife were in
Dallas April 18-21 visiting the Goldstone
Films of Texas. Inc. office. This was Goldstone's
first visit in three years, but it was
her first.
Terry Kierzek, office manager at Paramount,
reports they are quite busy with
their summer releases, a multiple saturation
on June 2 of "Bad News Bears Goes to
Japan." June 16. "Grease" and "Heaven
can Wait."
Sandy John.

starred in such classics as "Oklahoma,"
"Guys and Dolls," "Carousel," "Pajama
Game," "Brigadoon," "Showboat." "Kismet,"
"The Music Man," "Man of La
Mancha" and "1776." Mr. Horton married
his leading lady in his first musical production
(17 years ago) and she will join him
for this CDP presentation.
Birthday greetings to Lou V\ alters, 105.^7
Caron, Sun City, Ariz. 85391. Lou will
celebrate another birthday on Monday (8).
He has many friends in the industry from
the USA and overseas. At one time he owned
and operated Lou Walters Sales and
Service and it was not at all uncommon to
see crates of projectors, etc. arrive at his
shop from overseas for a complete overhaul
and returned looking much like new.
Speaking of Lou and Sun City—Recently
Lew Wade of Sun City, Calif, was in Dallas
and I listed him as being from Sun City,
Ariz, which was an error. Lew Wade spells
his name differently and his home is in Sun
City, Calif, whereas Lou Walters is from
Sun City, Ariz. These two are volunteer
members of the chamber of commerce insofar
as praising their retirement home setting.
We are glad both Lew and Lou are
happily situated in their individual Sun
cities. Sorry gentleman, will try to watch
that next time.
Presently shooting in San Marcos and the
Austin area is "Piranha." a production of
New World Pictures and United Artists.
The $1,500,000 project is indeed a fish
story about some particularly nasty little
piranhas bred by the military for special
purposes, which get away, threaten girl
scouts, eat swimmers, and the story wriggles
on from there.
Fred T. Kuehnert of the Charter Financial
Group. Houston, has announced that
the U.S. and Canadian distribution rights
to "The Buddy Holly Story" have been sold
to Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. Kuehnert,
who is executive producer on the film,
said that the film's investment group, headed
by Robert C. Hugley of Houston, closed
the deal with Columbia for four million
dollars, plus percentages. The world premiere
of the film is scheduled for Sunday
(14) in—where else?— Lubbock, Tex., Holly's
home town. Kuehnert says. "This will
be Columbia's major summer release."
Mapaho Productions, Ltd., a new San
Antonio-based production company, plans
to film a feature-length G-rated film at
Happy Shahan's Alamo Village. "Jody" will
be a "suspense-western," about a twelveyear-old
boy who realizes a long-held dream
of accompanying his father on a wagon
trip. Attacked by renegades, the boy becomes
separated from his father, and must
find his way back home by himself.
'Streetcar' Screened in Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE. MASS. ~ "A Streetcar
Named Desire," 1952 Warner Bros, release
with Marlon Brando and the late Vivien
Leigh, was shown as a free attraction on
a recent Tuesday night at 7 p.m.. by the
Central Square Branch Library.
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BOXOFHCE May 1978 SW-3

Theatre Expansion Plans Are Proof
That Lubbock Is
LUBBOCK. TEX.—Anyone who doubts two theatres opcraliny now will be un your "But what kills the large theatres is the
the fact that this is a growing, theatregoing left and the two new ones will be on your fact owners must bid not just money, but
community need only read the following
weeks, to obtain a picture. That is, they
right.'
column by the Avalanche-Journars entertainment
"Though one of the Showplace Four ad-
must agree to play the film a certain num-
editor, William D. Kerns, to have
ber of weeks. Scott said, "Naturally, we hate
ditions will house 250. a capacity smaller
than others in consideration, that complex
all their doubts dispelled forever.
lik; hell to cut up the Winchester or the
"Lubbock is a moviegoing city."
still appears to claim the most ambitious Cinema West. We're really the Johnnycome-latelys
to this multiple screen business.
—Ron Reid, Showplace Four manager
undertaking. Not just because the other
"During past years, Lubbock theatre managers
have often been asked why they book-
Showplace addition will have 575 seats and But whereas a 300-seat theatre can keep
a screen nearly as large as the current one operating for a long time, a picture may
at
ed a particularly poor film and the answer
the Winchester' but because both new
at the larger in just
was as predictable as the wind in West auditoriums will be equipped from the very two or three weeks. Yet we're obligated to
Texas: "What else can we do? There's no
beginning with a Dolby sound system. keep it and play it to empty houses.
burn out Winchester
product available." Imagine this writer's sur-
"Reid explained, 'We feel this is a thing
prise, then, at learning that Lubbock will
definitely open five more theatres by late
summer, and possibly an additional four by
the end of the year. With the city's influx
of people and new businesses comes construction
and expansion—and the local
a Moviegoing Town
film
industry, a booming business itself, has
every intention of keeping up.
Herd of Hardtops
"Construction began February 28 on two
additional theatres to be connected to the
United Artists South Plains Cinema, with
manager Robert Hurley expecting the new
Future Is Lubbock
""The word in film circles was that while
the Cinema West was being shaped into
two screens, the huge Winchester would also
be cut and reformed into a triplex. Scott
neither confirmed nor denied saying. "Nothing
is official yet with the Winchester.
Nothing is definite. But yes, it is a possibility."
Which leaves the Mann Theatres complex,
the Fox Four. Officials within that
organization have also been visiting the city
recently, pondering the possibility of building
more screens in Lubbock.
"Fox manager Harold Lieck said, 'As it
stands right now, we don't know for sure.
Expansion has been considered for some
time here. There's an undeniable possibility
that we'll build new screens—either at this
location or somewhere else in town-but
nothing is definite at this time.'
"According to Scott, the Cinema West
will not lose many seats. Now boasting a
it. 'As you walk in the main doors, the
not just of the present, but of the future.
We want to have our theatres equipped to
handle all special processes. And the quality
of Dolby sound as opposed to standard
movie sound will make a presentation of,
say, "Star Wars.' something entirely new.'
Anyone who has seen Dolby-encoded prints
of 'Star Wars' or "Close Encounters Of The
Third Kind' in cities like Dallas or Denver
can bear witness to the fact it was an awesome
and unique film experience.
Mass Theatre Expansion
""But the question still must be raised:
why this mass theatre expansion at this
screens to be in use "within two weeks either
way of June 8.' Showplace Four is due to point in time? Hurley was quick to reply,
become Showplace Six, manager Ron Reid 'If you've been out here on a Saturday
night, you should understand why. I just
reveal'ng to the A-J that his construction
began April 5. His new screens are to be in don't have enough seats to take care of the
operation 'by late July.'
people who come to see the movies." Lieck
"And finally. Video Theatres manager added, "Also, you must remember the product
Bob Scott revealed, "I can tell you that the
availability now is very good. Part of
Cinema West will most likely be turned the reason is more independents (distributing
twin theatre before the summer ends.'
companies) are putting out more qual-
into a
ity, enjoyable product. Things like "The Billion
Dollar Hobo." And the more product
there is available, the more theatres you
need.'
"Reid took it a bit further, saying, 'Lubbock
is a moviegoing city, a growing city.
And there has been more product released
this year than any other year in the past
ten. We've had to pass up pictures—very
playable pictures—which two years ago we
would have booked right away
when pay
the movie industry did not die
TV came in, as some expected . . . And
Lubbock has grown and is still growing.
With the growth of the city comes new development
and more population.
Expansion IVIeans Survival
" "And if you don't expand and stay with
the competition, someone else is bound to
move in and do it for you.'
"For Bob Scott, manager of the Winchester
and Cinema West, expansion is
merely a matter of survival. Distributors'
capacity of more than 600, it will be turned
into two 300-seat auditoriums. The South increasingly demanding booking terms started
Plains Cinema's new auditoriums will both
killing the large houses in all cities years
be larger than its present ones, slated to
hold 450 and 500 scats; the lobby will be
opened and the box office and entranceway
has 1,000 scats. Wc can have 300 people
both expanded. As Hurley explained in there watching the movie and it
looks
ago. and Lubbock has just held on longer
than most. Scott explained, "The Winchester
like wc have nothing. People say we're doing
lousy business. The mall (South Plains
Cinema) can have, say, a 400-seat theatre
;ind yet. when they have 300 or so there,
people say they're doing turn away business.
When actually we have the same boxofficc
gross.'
Margin for Error
""
"When you have three or four screens,
you can make a bad guess and get stuck
with a bad picture, and you still have three
other screens to carry you. Adding screens
adds no real expense in regards to staff or
overhead. Economically, the multi-screen
complex is just a better idea.'
"Lieck added, "Distributing companies
are also interested in your possible "crossover
business.' They look to see if you have
other big films because when people go to
see a movie and find they can't get in.
they'll often just stay and see another movie
at the same theatre. Also, with multiple
theatres, you can move a movie out of your
largest auditorium without having to get rid
of it altogether, you can still keep it at your
theatre.'
"Naturally, the good thing about this
theatre expansion is that Lubbock will be
getting more movie.s—and the movies will
be arriving faster. Reid said, "In effect, if
we'd had this many screens last year. "The
Turning Point' and 'Julia' and "Three Women'
would have played here last November
or December. They would have been Christmas
films in Lubbock. (As it is. they did not
arrive until late January and early February.)
Film Arrivals Expedited
" "Foreign films are not booked here now
because there is enough first run product
to go around. But with more screens, we
can have more specialized situations. We
can look at more product.'
""Hurley agreed, stating, "'Yes, movies will
get hero quicker. "Looking For Mister Goodhar.'
for one. would be an example of a
picture that would have been shown in
Lubbock much sooner.' But he added. "We'll
also be getting more promotional pictures;
the re-releases with big advertising campaigns
that may not necessarily be first rate
pictures.'
""More than one manager predicted Lubbock
may also be forced into a 'day and
date' situation; that is, a situation where a
first run picture will play two theatres simultaneously.
Not everyone seems excited
about that prospect, though Scott pointed
out. "This concept is already in effect at the
Village and Arnett-Benson and working
quite well." Hurley added the bonus. "If day
and date hooking comes about, theatres will
SW.-4 BOXOFHCE May 978

"
On
. . and
have to offer more customer services. In
essence, they'll have to sell their theatre as
much or more than the picture."
"Nevertheless, indications are that Lubhock
will support the new screens. After
all. Lubbock is already named by distributors
as a 'key release city.' whereas Amarillo
the United States.
'And Reid has also informed the A-]
that.
a per-screen. pjr-wcek basis.
Showplace Four brought in the state's highest
grosses with its first three weeks of 'The
Other Side Of The Mountain Part 2'.
That means Showplace Four in Lubbock
outgrossed larger theatres showing identical
product in Dallas. Houston, San Antonio.
El Paso. Austin and Fort Worth.'
"Such 'moviegoing cities" evidently deserve
.
more screens more movies.
Lubbock will soon have both.
'"The movies are not the only entertainment
draw in Lubbock, though. Concerts
are also doing well. Comed'an Steve Martin
proved so popular a second show had to be
added to his original agenda a couple of
weeks back. And this Thursday's concert
by the Beach Boys is already well on its
way to sellout status.
"Also, the A-J announced on April 9 that
tickets to the Sunday (7) John Denver concert
in the Lubbock Coliseum were on sale
at 10 a.m. April 10. Coliseum officials now
tell the Avalanche-Journal that, by 5 p.m.
April 10. "well over half" of the 9.900
available tickets were already sold.
"Looking Ahead: Columb'a Pictures has
announced that the film, "The Buddy Holly
Story,' will have its world premiere in Lubbock
(at the Cinema West) on Thursday (18)
with statewide release scheduled for the following
day. The premiere will be an all-out
gala affair, complete with appearances by
the stars of the picture. Stay tuned to this
column for further details on both the film
and the premiere.
'Rocky Horror Show' Has
Loyal Groupies in Texas
SAN ANTONIO—"A few minutes before
midnight on a Friday night. Riff Raff.
Janet. Magenta, Ambrosia and Frank N.
Furter (affectionately known as 'Franki')
check their makeup, hair, wigs and costumes
for one last time before striding up to the
ticket window at Northwest Six Theatre to
buy their way into "Rocky Horror Picture
Show,' it was reported by Elizabeth Mcllhaney
of the San Antonio Light in this
article.
"Janet has seen the film 18 limes. Ambrosia
has seen it 1 1 times. They have a
friend who has attended 34 showings. This
weekend will be the 20th the film has played
as a Friday and Saturday night midnight
movie in San Antonio. All but about six
showings have sold out and those did nol
because two screens were used instead rf
one. In Austin, the musical has been showing
as a midnight movie almost two year'
First a play and then a movie that flopped
in the early 1970s, "Rocky Horror' has
achieved a cult following in cities scattered
throughout the nation.
"To achieve the proper satisfaction from
a showing of "Rocky Horror,' one must not
only be dressed for the occasion, prcferablv
is not, according to Reid. And it may surprise
some to learn that this city has already
earned a far-reaching reputation as one with
an extremely high movie attendance rate. as one of the characters in the movie, but
To cite examples: Lieck was informed last certain utensils must be carried: rubber
year that the film 'One On One' grossed gloves (to pop), rice (to throw), water guns
more during its first week at the Fox than (for rain), lighters (for light), bells or similar
noisemakers (for sound effects) and confetti
at any other theatre of comparabb size in
(for the second wedding scene).
"Once the props have been acquired, the
only other necessity is practice: go to the
movie at least once every weekend, sina
along to the tunes, cue the characters and
then help them say their lines.
"But that"s not enough. Magenta explains,
'We all carry tape recorders at school and
sing and dance in the halls at school. Th-:re"s
about one of us in
each hall."
""Why the fascination for Rockv Horror'
and its characters? Frankie explains that
she imitates Frank N. Furter 'cause I love
him. He's just fun. a unique kind of auv;
he's sexy. It's the whole thing—something
completely weird.'
"Ambrosia quotes a lime from the scr'pt.
"He gives himself over to absolute pleasure.'
" 'Whatever he feels like doing, he does
it." Franki sighs. 'And he has a sexy voice.'
" "Magenta chose her character "cause I
wanta work for Franki," 'cause I'm in love
with his body and Rocky's. I'm his maid;
he's my master and I help kill him at the
end and I didn't want to. But I did because
my brother (Riff Raff) d-dn't. because we
want to return to Transylvan'a and do the
Time Warp.'
"Ambrosia is not a character in the film.
This high school senior decided to make up
a character that fit the movie. She named
her character Ambrosia and made her the
sister of Columbia, a g'rl in the film.
" 'Ambrosia is a convert to Transylvania
way of living.' she said. 'I listened to Franki
and decided to make his way of life mine
every weekend. During the week, my earthling
self just struggles along, waiting for
next weekend.
Karate Black Belt a Boon
For Budding Film Career
COLUMBUS. OHIO—One way to become
a film actor is to be a karate expert.
Jay T. Will. 36. of suburban Upper Arlington,
who holds a fifth degree karate black
belt, has been signed as a "bad guy" in a
martial arts action film entitled "Jaguar."
In 1976 Will, five feet 11 inches tall and
weighing 218 poimds, became the ninth man
to center the Black Belt Hall of Fame.
He will start work in Jime in New Mexico,
and from there travel to nine countries
for location shooting. "Jaguar" is a James
Bond-type story of a CIA assassination
group, for which the agents are given animal
names. Will's principal occupation is operating
a karate studio.
HOUSTON
phc HoiLston Symphony will repeat in response
to public demand, its January
2.'5 "Star Wars" concert on Friday (5) in the
Summit. C. William Harwood, the orchestra's
Exxon/Arts Endowment assistant conductor,
will lead the orchestra in music
from the science fiction films "Star Wars"
and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
and the long running television series "Star
Trek." Showco Productions, Inc. of Dallas,
will provide visual and aural effects, including
laser and lighting displays ard quad
raphonic wrap around. Harwood and the
orchestra will occupy a lighted plexiglass
podium and risers, which will be placed in
front of a giant film screen. The screen will
be suited for computer projections and
lighting effects.
Eric Gerber, the Houston Post film writer,
was in Chicago interviewing Bruce Dern.
star of "Coming Home"" which opens at the
Cinema Galleria. Dern has appeared in 14
movies . . . Academy Award wnner Red
Buttons was in Houston for a special private
show and returns with Connie Stevens
for an engagement at the Houston Music
Theatre on Sunday and Monday (28-29).
He received the Oscar for his performance
in "Sayonara"" and also appeared in "They
Shoot Horses. Don't They'?"" as well as several
other movies.
New film titles appearing here are "Almost
Summer" at the Allen Certer. Gal!era
IV, Greenspoint 1, North Oaks H, Parkview,
Southmore 2, Westwood 1. Town &.
Country 6; "Amsterdam Kill" at AMC's
Almeda 9 East, Festival 6, AMC's Northoaks
6, Northshore, Northwocd 6, Shamrock
6, Southmore 6, AMC's Sou'hway 6,
AMC's Town & Country 6. Westchase 5,
King Center 2, McLendon 3, Parkway.
Thunderbird 2 and Town & Country: "Coming
Home"" at the Cinema Galleria; "Barnaby
and Me" at Greenspoint 3, Gulfgate 2.
Meyerland 2. Northline 2, Town & Country
6 and Westwood 3; Walt Disney's "Fan-
returns to the Windsor: "One on One'"
tasia""
at Northwest, Southway, Almeda, North
Oaks, Memorial, Gaylynn, Allen Center,
Shamrock, Westchase, Northwood, all indoor
and the following drive-ins: McLendon
Triple Irvington. Telephone Road. King
Center, Pasadena. Town & Country; ""I
Wanna Hold Your Hand"" at Almeda 9
East. Gaylynn Terrace. Memorial 2 and
Northwood 6: "Silver Bear-"" at Gulfgate
2, Greenspoint 5, Loew"s Town & Country
3, Meyerland 2 and Northline 2 and ""Jennifer"
for a multiple opening.
At the Museum of Fine Arts films shown
included Resnais" ""Muriel, ou Le Temps
d'un Retour" and Minnelli's "The Clock""
... At the Rice Media Center films shown
included "After the Thin Man."" Pasolini's
"Accatone." Ozu's "Late Spring," "Im
Schatten de Karakorum" in German without
subtitles; "Macimaima," Rivette's "Celine
and Julie Go Boating."
EOXOmCE May 1. 1978 SW-5

. .
'
Coming
. . Special
SAN ANTONIO
^argaret Overslreet cashier at the New The film opened its regular eneagemcnt
Laurel Theatre is proud of her new April 28.
grandson, Za^hrey Michael Overstreet. who
New film titles
weighed
appearing arc: "The
in at 7 lbs. 3/4 Amsterdam
Kill" at Central
ounces on April
17 . . . Bob Polunsky
Fox 3. Mission.
of the San Antonio
Century
L'ght was
South,
in Hollywood
San Pedro, Aztec 3
where
and
he saw a
Judson 4: "Silver
scene being
Bears" at the
filmed for "Meteor." an American
International Picture. Among
North Star;
"One on One" at the Northwest 6. Westwood.
UA Cine
the stars
he met included Sean Connery.
Cinco and Movies 4, Aztec
Martin Landau,
3. Cine Mexico. San Pedro, Varsity, Mission
Brian Keith. Karl Maiden and the
double
and
for Connery, George Robotham
Town Twin; "I Wanna Hold Your
as
well as Roger
Hand" at Northwest Six.
Creed,
Century South;
stunt supervisor. Polunsky
also attended the filming of a TV segment
for the Dinah Shore show msde on
the set with Connery. Maiden. Keith and
Natalie Wood.
A large oil painting of comedian and Oscar
winner Woody Allen by Caria Gold-
stein of Austin, a University of Texas art
student, is among more than 350 works
included in the current 39th Annual Art
Students" exhibition on view in the University
Hollywood
of Texas Art Museum . was well represented during the annual
Fiesta Week obs:rvance. Earl Holliman
was at the head of the River Parade.
Maria Von Trappe. whose story was told
in the movie "The Sound of Music" lead
the Battle of Flowers which also included
Cesar Romero and the Flambeau parade
had Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez. Theme of
the 83rd annual Battle of Flowers parade
was "It's Showtime" held Friday afternoon.
Two stars of tomorrow, Didi Conn and
John Friedrich, were interviewed by Bob
Polunsky regarding their new film "Almost
Summer." This is Friedrich's first film and
the second for Conn who was the star in
"You Light Up My Life," was the voice
of "Raggedy Ann" and will be seen in
"Grease." "Almost Summer" is currently
at the UA's Cine Cinco and Movies 4.
"You Light Up My Life" is currently at
the Wonder Twin and McCreless .
"Star Wars" is now in its 43rd week at
the Century South 6. There is a special
admission price of $1.50 from opening at
San Antonio
noon until 5 p.m. daily . . .
movie fans were invited to a free showing
of "F.I.S.T." at thj New Laurel Theatre.
\mm^'
^,
"Almost Summer" at UA's Cine Cinco and
Movies 4 and Wonder Twin; the double bill
of "The Soul of Bruce Lee" and "Challenge
of the Dragon" at the Aztec 3; "Death
Port" at Century South, San Pedro, Varsity,
Town Twin, Mission, Aztec 3, Judson 4,
Capitan, Westwood and Universal City; and
Home" at the UA Cine Cinco.
KTSA late show at
the United Artist theatre
featured "Saturday Night Fever" at
both the Cine Cinco and Movies 4 . . . The
KTFM Midnighters on Friday and Saturday
included at the Northwest Six. "Rocky Horror
Picture Show," "One on One." "High
Anxiety," "An Unmarried Woman" and "I
Wanna Hold Your Hand" and at the Century
South Six. "Blue Collar." "The Fury,"
"Amsterdam Kill," and "I Wanna Hold
Your Hand" . film showings
include "Chronicle of Anna Magdelena
Ba:h" on Tuesday (2) by the San Antonio
Film Society at Chapman Graduate Auditorium.
Trinity University. They will also
sponsor the showing of "The Idiot," a Japanese
film by Akira Kurosawa ba?cd on
Dostoyevsky's novel on Tuesday (9).
'Star Wars' Blasts Off and
Leaves Record Run in Wake
FORT WORTH—Elston Brooks, writing
the Fort Worth Star Telegram, took note
in
recently of "Star War's" departure from
the area:
"Future historians, please note. Fort
Worth movie history will be made at the
Opera House Cinema Thursday night when
"Star Wars' finally ends its long run there.
"Long run? Hardly a strong enough term
for an amazing picture that opened at the
FILMACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG
Make it your aid to increase your attendance
and concession sales, by using
Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films,
and Special Announcement films.
(Write For Your FREE Copy)
FILMACK STUDIOS,
1327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago, III. 60605
(312)427-3395
Opera House on June 17. 1977. and is bowing
out March 16, 1978.
"It will close out with a staggering run
of 39 weeks.
"The record—not likely ever to be bested
— is just 13 weeks shy of an entire year!
"Manager Hy Glicksman said the theatre
wore out three prints of the movie during
the run.
"Glicksman can't estimate how many
people saw 'Star Wars' during the 39 weeks,
but just to give you an idea he does estimate
'tens of thousands' came back to see
it
more than once.
'A man at the concession stand one
night remarked he was embarrassed to admit
he was seeing it for the third time.'
Glicksman recalled. "The man next to him
said. "Don't be embarrassed. This is my
sixth time." '
"The fact is. after 39 weeks with the same
picture, the Opera House has no employee
with marquee-changing experience to put up
"The Fury,' a new Kirk Douglas picture,
for its Friday opening.
" "It's like a relative leaving town,' Glicksman
mused. "Star Wars" was a happy picture
that sent people home happy.'
""The reason the 39-week record is
unlikely
to be bested lies in the past track records
that began in 1944— in a far, far different
movie era—when the normal one-week run
of "Going My Way' was extended to four
weeks at the downtown Palace.
""It was many years before two films.
"Friendly Persuasion' and later "Cleopatra,'
set and tied a 17-week record.
""Then "Tom Jones' went 18 weeks. "My
Fair Lady' and the more recent "Silver
Streak' tied at 19. "Paint Your Wagon' and
"The Towering Inferno' tied at 20 weeks.
"The Sound of Music' and "The Poseidon
Adventure' tied at 21. 'Love Story' had 24.
"And "Doctor Zhivago,' the previous
champ, set a 25-week record. That was
some house call—imtil "Star Wars' came
along."
Dog Day Has Ad Push
SARANAC LAKE. N.J.— Northern New
York state day-and-date reprise booking of
Warner Bros.' "Dog Day Afternoon" was
preceded by teaser advertising in New York
and Vermont newspapers. Participants in
the schedule were the Pontiac. State, and
Supreme 87 Drive-In.
ASC
x5150
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SW-6 BOXOFTICE :: May I. 1978

Awry
REFINED
Gentleman
ORhow
N0R8ERTRILUEUX
wastfte
otiginai
SugarDaddy.
On August 26, 1842.
Norbert Rillieux put a patent
on a sweet idea.
H'
It was a way to refine sugar.
To help the sugarcane
juices evaporate more quickly,
he enclosed condensation coils
in a vacuum chamber. A
process that's made things a
lot sweeter ever since.
You can make your future
a little sweeter, too. by buying
U.S. Savings Bonds through
your Payroll Savings Plan.
They're the dependable
way to save for an education,
vacation, or even retirement.
Because they always pay off
with interest.
So buy U.S. Savings
Bonds.
And be a "sugar daddy" in
your spare time.
rest when held t
.stock
in/^erica.
May
Third Chicano Film Fest to
Problems in
SAN ANTONIO— Organizers have announced
a call-for-entries for the Third
Annual Chicano Film Festival. The festival
will accept film and video programs produced
by Mexican-Americans or having a
Chicano theme. All entries must be received
no later than July 15, 1978. This year's
festival is scheduled for August 24-25, 1978.
films, that audiences are receptive to their
works and that distributors and exhibitors
are reevaluating the potential of the Hispano
market."
Two Years Old
The Chicano Film Festival in its brief
two-year history has attracted over 10,000
participants from throughout th; U.S. and
Mexico. Medrano expects attendance to go
over 6,000 this year. Asked about the success
of the Festival, Medrano is quick to
point out that it is the content and quality
of the films that have attracted people.
'Chicanes and non-Chicanos see a particular
beauty in the life style of the Chicano
community, that the values, the culture and
the traditions arj worth preserving and perpetuating."
Although filmmaking in the Chicano
community is a relatively new art form,
Chicanos and Chicanas have been recognized
for the excellence of their works.
Competitive events, such as the Ohio State
Awards and the prestigious Academy
Awards, have bestowed nominations and
honors to Chicano film makers. Moctesuma
Esparza, Luis Ruiz, Ruben Pena, Luis Valdez.
Susan Racho and Severo Perez are but
a few who produced films depicting the
vitality of the Chicano community and
were consequently honored for their productions.
Oblate College Project
The festival is a project of Centro Video
of Oblate College of the Southwest. Begun
as a one-time project in 1976, the festival
was so successful that its continuation was
mandated by both filmmakers and the public
alike. At its inception festival organizers
developed three overall purposes: to be a
"showcase" for the very best of Chicano
films and to screen them to as large an
audience as possible: to bring together producers,
directors, and distributors to exchange
ideas, discuss common problems,
and seek solutions to those problems, and
Examine
Funding, Distribution
to act as a bridge between diverse ethnic
and cultural groups. By screening films that
portray the essence of the Chicano community.
Festival organizers hope that mutual
understanding and dialog will arise
and lead to a better understanding of America's
second-largest minority.
The festival will host two symposia at
10:00 a.m. on August 24 and 25. The first
symposium, entitled; "The Present and Future
Financial Base of Chicano Film," will
feature representatives of some of the na-
Screenings will be held at the Theatre for tion's leading private and public funding
institutions. Filmmakers from throughout
the Performing Arts and at the La Mansion
Motor Hotel in San Antonio.
Texas and the U.S. will be able to discuss
According to Adan Medrano, chairperson
and question panelists in order to clarify
of the festival committee, there has been funding policies and objectives. It is ex-
a noticeable increase in film making activity pected that this will provide filmmakers
during the past two years. "Chicano and with an opportunity to become better acquainted
Chicana film makers are encouraged," notes
with funding sources and con-
Medrano, "by the fact that the Chicano Film versely enable the representatives of these
funding institutions to become aware of
Festival has become a vehicle for their
the problems confronting Chicano film
makers.
Explore the Problems
The second symposium on. "Distribution
and Exhibition Systems for Chicano Films,"
will feature four panelists representing a
variety of distribution outlets. This symposium
will attempt to explore the problems
encountered by Chicanos in distributing
their films and attempt to seek solutions.
Afternoon screenings will be an addition
to this year's Festival providing an opportunity
for the general public and filmmakers
to discuss the content and quality of
their films. Both afternoon screenings and
the morning symposia will be held at the
La Mansion Motor Hotel in downtown San
Antonio.
How to
Participate
Individuals or organizations interested in
attending the Festival or submitting films
or video tapes should contact the Festival's
staff. Inquiries should be addressed to:
Chicano Film Festival
Centro Video
285 Oblate Dr.
San Antonio, Texas 78216 (512) .Ul-I.^66
The Third Annual Chicano Film Festival
is a project that is supported by Oblate
College of the Southwest, a professional
school of theology whose focus is ministry
in the multi-cultural Southwest. The festival
is also supported by a grant from the Texas
Commission on the Arts and Humanities,
Austin, Texas and a grant from the National
Endowment for the Arts and Humanities.
Washington, D.C. Additional support
comes from Festival patrons, radio and TV
stations and filmmakers.
Senior Citizen Discount
CARLSBAD, N.M.—Abby Parrish has
launched the Grand Generation Movie Club
at Commonwealth's Cavern Theatre, advertising
the promotion via newspaper display
ads. Discounted admissions are given to
citizens senior presenting the special membership
card.
SW-7

Do Film Producers Prefer
PG, R Raiings to G, X?
DALLAS— Philip Wuntch. lilni critic of
the Dallas News, discussed some of the
problems with the Motion Picture Ass'n ot
America rating system in a recent article.
He goes on to say: . .
"Local film figures agrej with a House
subcommittee opinion that motion picture
producers prefer a PG or an R rating to
the family-oriented G classification.
"The report on movie ratings by the
House subcommittee on special small business
problems, hsaded by Rep. Danny Russo.
D-Ill.. and including nine other representatives,
made the following observations:
• Although no proof exists, the MPAA
may be easier on major studios (Columbia.
Paramount. 20th C;ntury-Fox. United
Artists. Universal. Warner Bros.) than on
small, independent producers when rating
films.
• The specific reasons for the MPAA
rating should be made public on a national
level.
• Most producers prefer an R or PG
rating, rather than an X or a G.
"Local distributors basically agree with
the last observations while expressing reservations
about the first
finding.
"The majors are treated no differently
than the independents.' said Fred Mound,
assistant to UA's general sales manager.
pointing out his company is currently on
appeal to have an R rating changed on
their upcoming release. 'The Last Waltz.'
"The rating is based on the use of a
word 'referring to the anatomy in a coarse
manner.' The word has since been deleted.
"He mentioned UA accepted an X rating
for 'Midnight Cowboy' in 1969. The MPAA.
feeling 'that times had changed.' later
changed the designation for the Oscar-winning
film to an R.
"Wayne Lewellen. division manager of
Paramount Pictures, added some films are
rated before their distributor is named. 'So
the MPAA has no idea if it has a major
distributor or not.'
'Doctor of !he Day' One
Of 'House Calls' Tie-ins
BALTIMORE ~ Universal's "House
Calls" enjoyed some extra excitement over
the past two weeks generated by two Baltimore
promotions.
According to Ronnee Greenberg of The
Ad-Venture Group. WCBM Radio invited
their listeners to nominate their "Doctor of
the Day." prompting them with. "Who says
they don't make 'House Calls' anymore?"
The response was excellent with the listeners
and their doctors receiving free passes.
In addition. Luskin's, the largest appliance
retailer in Maryland, took out full-page ads
in the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore
News American, heralding "Luskin's Makes
'House Calls.' " They gave out passes to the
first 100 customers to purchase an extended
appliance service
contract.
'Magic of Lassie' Debuts
At Washington DAR Dinner
WASHINGTON — "The Magic of Lassie."
a Jack Wrather presentation, had its
first showing here April 16 at the annual
awards dinner of the motion picture and
TV committee of the Daughters of the
American Revolution.
The DAR committee voted "Star Wars"
the best picture of the year and the award
was presented by the chairman, Mrs. Vivien
Vecciarelli of Roslyn, N.Y. Ken Clark,
MPAA executive vice-president, was the
evening's host.
"The Magic of Lassie," produced by Bonita
Granville Wrather and William Beaudine
jr., will be released to theatres in late
sLimmer. Beaudine was present at the dinner
and screening. The picture stars Mickey
Rooney. Pernell Roberts. Stephanie Zimbalist.
Michael Sharrett. Alice Faye. Gene
Evans, the Mike Curb Congregation and
James Stewart as Clovis Mitchell.
The picture is the first Lassie film in 26
years and is the first musical built around
Lassie.
Several songs are sung by Debby Boone
and one by Pat Boone. Music and lyrics are
by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B.
Sherman, who wrote the screenplay with
Jean Holloway. Don Chaffey is the director.
The DAR committee April 18 held a
motion picture-TV seminar in which Paul
Roth of NATO. Susan King of WTOP-TV
in Washington, and Ken Clark participated.
$ MAKE MORE MONEY WITH TOPAR $
-Grosses
1st
week
Lubbock-Village $4422
Lubbock-
ArneH Benson $2644
Plonview-Cinema $2939
Brownfleld-Regol $1611
Amarillo-Showplace $3436
Daihart-Mission $932
Clovis, LoFondo Dl. $981
And on and on
The WACKIEST two guys
FORREST TUCKER
^^
THE -F TTK)OP-
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MAURICE PARKER
TOPAR FILMS SOUTHERN
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SW-: BOXOFFICE :: May 1. 1978

. .
Twin Cities Suffer
From Spring Fever
in its opening stanza at the Skyway III
the past seven years. Actually, it "was a
led the pack on the
Theatre. And
barometer.
it also
"Coach" foimd a 150 across reunion for me," says Dennis who started at
the drive-in 14 years ago as a bus boy in the
four screens, and "Rabbit Test" hopped to
concession stand. Comments Ebert: "Everyone
trio of theatres. "The Long Dark
is glad to see Dennis back."
a 145 at a
Night" was unable to whip up any excitement
at the ticket windows—and it came in
A Critics' Screening was arranged by Jerry
mere 70. "House Calls" continued
Downey, regional promotion director for
with a
leggy on the screens, clocking a solid 190
Columbia Pictures with offices in Chicago,
a fifth week. "Star Wars" seems inde-
in
in which he mailed invitations to the press
structible—and was a dazzling 200 despite
the weather in its 47th orbit at the Park.
(Averaae Is 100)
Brookdale— Close Encounters of the Tliird Kind
(Col). 18th
Brookdale, Mc
le—Hous
(Umv), 5lh wk
Brookdale. Southdale Saturday Night Fever
(Para), 18lh wk
CoDper—High Anxiety (20lh-Fox), Uln wk
Edina I The Lacemaker (SR)
Five theatres lokes My Folks Never Told Me
(New World), 2nd wk
Four theatres—Coach (SR)
Four theatres Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 5th wk
Mann—Coma (MGM). 9th wk
Movies at Eden Prairie— American Hct Wax
(Para). 5th wk
Park—Star Wars (20th-Fox), 47th wk
Skyway II—The Goodbye Girl (WB), 17lh wk
Skyway III—An Unmarried Woman (20th-Fox
Three theatres—The Fury (20th-Fox), 5th wk
Three theatres Rabbit Test (Emb)
Twelve theatres—The Long Dark Night (WB)
World The Turning Point (20;h-Fox), 17th wk
MINNEAPOLIS
Qhet LeVoir. newly retired United Artists
branch manager, was given a fond and
rousing sendoff at a luncheon held at the
Kahler Inn in downtown Minneapolis and
attended by 150 friends and associates. The
function was rated "an enormous success."
Among those on hand to pay tribute to the
popular LeVoir were Carl Olson. United
Artists division manager, in from New York
City; Bill Doebel, UA"s Detroit branch
manager; Arne Lewis, head buyer-booker
for UA. also in from New York; Don Urquart,
American International Pictures division
manager, in from San Francisco, and
Chuck Viane. Chicago, in charge of buying
and booking the Central States for General
Cinema. Every film company was represented
plus the circuits—and an overwhelmed
LeVoir called it "very flattering." He was
pi^esented with a handsome Seiko watch
and a Cross gold pen and pencil set. Olson
gave a talk that was a highlight. "I don't
know where I'd start in sending out thankyou
cards," LeVoir said. "I just hope all my
(Continued on next page)
MILWAUKEE
Ctardust Outdoor Theatre (Standard) in
Sheboygan opened for the season re-
MINNEAPOLIS—Spring sprang .
and sent most grosses sprawling—but "An cently with Bob Ebert again managing. Assistant
manager is Dennis Udovich who had
Unmarried Woman" still was a merry 350
worked for Marcus Corp. in that city for
tfB^flSound and
Projection Service
on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
7620 Gross Point Road, Skokie, Ml 60076
Phone (312) 478-6591
for the screening of "Silver Bells" at the
Center Screening Room, 212 W. Wisconsin
Ave. The PG-rated movie starred Michael
Caine, Cybil Shepherd, Louis Jourdan and
Stephanc Audran ... Art Heling invited
film indiistryites and the press for a "special
trade showing" of the new AIP release,
"Our Winning Season," at the Southtown II
in West AUis. The PG-rated film starred
Scott Jacoby, Joe Penny and Jan Smithers.
Heling, who manages the local AIP branch
office, described the film as being "for the
young and those who remember being
young, the story of a youth facing adulthood
in the turbulent '60s."
Polanki, Polish Women's Cultural Club
of Milwaukee, celebrating its 25th anniversary
with a festival of Polish films, has
started it with "Lalka" ("The Doll") at the
Modjeska Theatre on the city's south side.
The love story, with English subtitles, was
booked from Friday through Tuesday, April
28 to (2), with one showing evenings at
7:30 and three each on Saturday and Sunday.
Upcoming films Polanki plans to present
during its anniversary year includes
"A Woman's Desire" and "The Deluge."
Both "Saturday Night Fever" at Capitol
Court Cinemas and Westlane Cinemas, and
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" at
Movies Northridge and Southtown Cinemas
were in their "19th smash week" in April.
"Marcus: a Man of Stature" is the headline
over a special feature story concerning
Ben Marcus, president and chairman of the
board of the Marcus Corp., which appeared
on the front page of The Sunday Milwaukee
Journal recently.
Marcus tells of his pride in his corporation's
efforts to halt the decline of the city's
downtown, and an alderman, Kevin O'Connor,
is quoted as saying: "I have confidence
in Milwaukee because of what the Marcus
Corp. has invested in Milwaukee over the
(Continued on next page)
CUVER.\M.\ l*» L\ SHOW
BITSIATESS L\ IL

. . Jim
. . .
The
MINNEAPOLIS
(Continued from preceding page)
friends reading his in Boxoffice will i

. . . The
. .
the writer continues, "includes the 1977
Walt Disney Humanitarian Award ( of
which Bob Hope is a past recipient), the
1977 Milwaukee Sales and Marketing
Executive of the Year Award, the Prime
Minister's Medal (IsraeCs highest award for
citizens of other countries) in 1966. and an
award in 1968 from the National Conference
of Christians and Jews.
"Another measure of his interests and his
influence is the number of committees and
organizations he has been involved with.
He is a past president and chairman of the
National Ass'n of Theatre Owners of .America
and the current chairman of the Wisconsin
Ass'n of Theatre Owners. He has
been a director of the Greater Milwaukee
Committee, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,
the Milwaukee Redevelopment
Corp. and the Milwaukee Equal Employment
Opportunity Council. And the list
goes on."
In addition to being president of Mount
S'nai Medical Center. Marcus is the international
vice-president of Variety Clubs International.
He is credited with the successful efforts
to save and renovate the Pabst Theatre,
venerable show house for the stage arts,
which is not in the Marcus circuit. Along
with his son, Steve, he helped to save Summerfest
when it
ran into some organizational,
as well as financial, difficulties in its
earlier years.
The Marcus Corp. operates 73 theatre
screens throughout Wisconsin, numerous
hotels and motels, and 103 restaurants, all
in the Midwest. Included in this list are
Roy Rogers restaurants, Kentucky Fried
Chicken franchises. Captain's Steak Joynts,
and Budgetel Inns.
Majestic Theatre in Cudahy included an
announcement in its newspaper advertising
stating "in appreciation of your patronage,
our new lower prices start today (Saturday.
April 22): Adults $2.00; under 12 and over
60 $1.00.
Staffers Plug 'Conspiracy'
HOT SPRINGS, ARK. — Byers Jordan
dressed two staffers as Abe Lincoln and
then had them walk around shopping centers
as part of his advance campaign on "The
Lincoln Conspiracy" when the picture
played area Commonwealth theatres.
msx^m
'i>]M^2i
,L^AACK STUDIOS
Hot Films Burn Slowly
During Last Toledo Run
TOLEDO. OHIO—The Toledo Blade reports
that three films declared obscene in
court were destroyed in a hospital's incinerator.
The report continues:
"Court officials reported that they were
having trouble finding a place to get rid of
the films, which could not be burned in
conventional incinerators because of the
fierce heat, or outdoors because of pollution
standards.
"Ismael Ortiz, the court security officer
assigned the task of destroying the films,
said he received an anonymous call
that the
Riverside Hospital incinerator might be able
to dispose of the films.
"Anselm Snyder, superintendent of
grounds and buildings at Riverside, said he
checked with Surface Division of Midland-
Ross Corp. and found that the facility could
take
on the job.
" 'The dozen large garbagj bags filled with
35mm film were hauled from the courthouse
vault to the outdoor incinerator. The
film tended to shrivel at first and then to
bum fiercely, with temperatures reaching
more than 1,500 degrees,' Ortiz said.
"The final run of 'Deep Throat,' The
Stewardesses,' and 'Without a Stitch' took
about one and a quarter hours in the doublechambered
incinerator.
"In addition to pollution-control devices.
the Riverside burner has a 1 15-foot-tall
stack.
" 'Although they could be legally termed
'dirty
movies,' the films stayed under pollution-control
limits when they were burned,'
Ortiz said.
"They had been confiscated at the Westwood
Art Theatre, where they were shown
during 1970 and 1973. and lawsuits brought
by private citizens invoked the state's antinuisance
law against their showing.
"The tip about the Riverside incinerator
wasn't the only one that he received about
destroying the films, Ortiz said.
" 'I got about seven or eight calls. I think
most of them were pranks. They said they'd
be glad to take them off my hands.'
"Taking no chances on any collector's
items. Ortiz stood by until the last of the
film was gone—right down to the sprocket
holes."
FILAAACK'S 1978 INSPIRATION CATALOG
Make it your aid to increase your attendance
and concession sales, by using
Merchant Ads, Snack Bar films,
and Special Announcement films.
(Write For Your FREE Copy)
FILMACK STUDIOS,
327 S.Wabash Ave., Chicago, HI. 60605
(312)427-3395
DES MOINES
Qcntral States: Back in the home office is
Myron Blank after his trip to Egypt
and Greece. Mvron says he went over 40
hours without sleep on the return trip,
sounds like a drive-ln manager's hours on
a holiday weekend . . . Earl Lehman took
the pkmge and bought a new Mercury Marquis
. . . Ray Dodd was visiting in Missouri
last week at the same time a rain and hail
storm did, hailstones sizes from marbles to
golfballs cracked his windshield and did
damage to the body of his car. The car.
Ray says, is only two months old.
Charles City had an album tieup for "Saturday
Night Fever" with local merchant offering
one free pass to see the movie, with
the purchase of the soundtrack album for a
$10 bill . . . Iowa City recently had a disco
dance tieup on "Saturday Night Fever"
which was a huge success. A cutout of Pete
from "Pete's Dragon" and an album tieup
recently helped Mason City . . . From Mason
City Mark Levenhagen. one of the doormen
at the Palace, attended a conference in
Des Moines for a high school organization
for building business leaders, and received
several awards in studies marketing—about
theatres, advertising service merchandising,
and advertising in general—Jim reports that
Mark is interested in training to become a
manager.
At the Oelwein Drive-In recently, the
ground softened as cars travelled over,
some cars got stuck but all in all it was a
good opening weekend with "Starhops" .
Getting ready for opening is the Starlite
Drive-In here. The Starlite is the last to
open in 1978. They report they are having
big problems finding help . . . Irving Shiffrin
recently flew to Cleveland, only to become
ill and land in the hospital.
United Artists: Jeanne Myer. branch manager's
secretary, has b;en home ill with
bronchial pneumonia.
Twentieth Century-Fox: "Star Wars"
in Omaha has now grossed nearly $1,000.-
000 ... A "Star Wars" Birthday Party is in
the planning stages for Thursday (25) at
the
Riviera Theatre in Des Moines to celebrate
the picture's first anniversary. The party
will be for underprivileged and shut-in children.
Both Dubinsky Theatres and 20th
Century-Fox are looking forward to the
event with great interest.
Universal: Steve Quick. Des Moines booker,
left Universal April 28 and moved to
Webster City to go into business with a
friend . . . Sara Fletcher, previously the
Omaha booker, will move to th; Des Moines
booker position. Dan Bohemann. previously
a shipper, will now be the Omaha booker
new shipper is Scott Fisher, who
will be commuting from Ames. Scott is married
and has two children. Welcome aboard.
Gallic Classic at Hub Library
BOSTON—The French Library hosted
three days of screening of the Gallic import.
La Chinoise." directed by Jean-Luc Godard
and released in 1968.
May 1. 1978 NC-3

Wis. Brothers Worked
In Many '3Qs Films
By WALLY L. MEYER
iRepiinled. wilh permission.
iiom the Milwaukee Journal Green Sheet)
MILWAUKEE—These days when movie
fans gather in Httle circles to discuss the
old-time movie stars like Errol Flynn. Pat
O'Brien. Spencer Tracy. Bing Crosby. Freddie
Bartholomew. Judy Garland and others,
tew can discuss them with more nostalgic
appreciation than the Levenick brothers,
two Wisconsin men who appeared in films
with them as child actors. Knowlton. the
older of the two. lives with his family in
Madison. Homer and his family live in
Grafton.
Between them, the brothers appeared in
at least 100 motion pictures filmed between
1935 and 1938—Knowlton in. among
others. "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry." "Captains
Courageous." "Lost Horizon" and
"Angels With Dirty Faces" and Homer in
"Robin Hood." "The Buccaneer" and "Slave
Ship." They both appeared with Shirley
Temple in "Heidi" and with Spencer Tracy
in "Boys Town."
At the time, the brothers lived with their
parents in Los Angeles. An aunt. Bernice
Saunders, worked for Central Casting, an
agency to which film producers and directors
come for needed actors, actresses and
bit players (also known as extras). She saw
to it that the two, then in their preteens.
got plenty of "work."
Knowlton and Homer attended the school
for movie children on the MGM lot. Four
hours were spent in school during the
morning and child actors were restricted to
four hours of work in the afternoon.
Among the visitors, they recalled, were
Edgar Bergen and his famed puppet Charlie
McCarthy. When Bergen brought Charlie,
he claimed that Charlie had to go to school
just like the other children. He'd then sit
down and entertain.
"I us;d to wrestle with Mickey Rooney,"
Knowlton said. "I was only 12. five years
younger than Mickey, but I was his size, so
I became his first stand-in."
He brought out a treasured studio "still"
issued some 40 yeare ago on which the pintsized
movie star had autographed: "To
Knowlton. my first stand-in. all the luck in
the world, your pal Mickey."
When Bing Crosby sang "Pennies From
Heaven," Knowlton was one of the cherubs
who appeared with him.
"We were given ice cream cones which
we were to eat during one of the scenes." he
reminisced, "but during all the e.xtra takes
that were necessary, the ice cream kept
melting, so the studio solved the problem
by substituting mashed potatoes. So there
we were, licking away as though enjoying
our treat. You should have seen how fast
the kids dumped those cones after the shooting."
Homer was only seven and in second
grade when he appeared in a disaster film
titled "Chicago Fire." In one scene, horses
pulled fire engines with dramatic haste
down a debris-filled street and. Homer recalled.
"I almost got run over."
In one of the Errol Flynn movies, the
Levenicks were in a gang of street urchins.
It was decided that they looked "too nice,"
even in torn and tattered clothes, "so we
were sprayed with some sort of dust from
flitguns to put grime and, well, dirt on our
hands and faces." Homer said.
They worked three days a week for which
Homer was paid $9 a day. Knowlton. being
older and larger, received $25 a day—which
in the depression days of the 1930s was indeed
impressive remuneration.
In addition to those films made by MGM.
Knowlton and Homer appeared on movie
lots belonging to Columbia. 20th Century-
Fox. Paramount and others.
The youngsters' life in the "land of pre-
COMING SOON
tense" ended when their father got a job in
Wisconsin and moved to Madison.
Homer has been employed for some years
at the Mueller Color Plate Co. in Milwaukee.
Knowlton is a state inspector.
How do they enjoy today's movies?
"I very seldom go." Homer said. "Let's
see. when was the last time . . . Golly,
must be more than a year ago."
Second Airer Screen Nixed;
Seen as Nuisance, Hazard
MAUMEE. OHIO— Plans by the Northeast
Theatre Corp.. Boston, to add a second
screen to its Maumee Drive-In have been
halted by city mayor Arthur W. Buffington
on the grounds that the new screen would
constitute a nuisance and a safety hazard.
Observers saw this as a victory for a citizens'
committee formed by mothers who
had opposed the expansion.
Last December a building permit was
issued for the change after inspectors determined
that plans and specifications were
compatible with the industrial zoning for
the property at 1360 Conant St. When nearby
residents learned of the plan they formed
a group to oppose the expansion because
of the type of films that had been shown
on the existing screen. The residents said
that the R- and X-rated films were visible
clearly from various nearby fast-food operations
frequented by children, and also
could be seen from the highway and backyards
or houses. The group obtained the
signatures of about 5,000 residents who opposed
the second screen.
Mayor Buffington. in revoking the building
permit, said he was particularly disturbed
by an ad for a teenage sex film to
be shown at the drive-in. He said such an
offering did not indicate cooperation with
the group of residents who have objected
to "forced viewing of objectionable films by
the general
public."
Ironically, mayor Buffington has learned
since that the film was not shown at the
drive-in. and that the Maumee ozoner had
erred in placing the ad. In a letter to city
safety director Veryn Ryan, the mayor ordered
a stoppage of work on the new screen,
saying it would be a nuisance and a hazard
for drivers who use Conant Street, and also
would have a "negative" impact on the
community. Conant is Maumee's main thoroughfare.
Slim Audience for 'The Speaker'
CHERRY HILL. N.J.—Although the
film had received national attention by its
exposure on CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" network
show at the beginning of the month,
the showing of the controversial "The
Speaker" at^he Cherry Hill Public Library
this week drew only eight viewers. And five
of those were library employees.
The 42-minute film concerns problems
at a fictional high school after a student
committee invites a speaker known for his
theory that blacks are genetically inferior to
whites. The movie, shown last summer for
the first time at the conference of the American
Library Ass'n, which sponsored the
show, has been attacked as racist and defended
for discussion of free speech. The
movie was shown here as part of the local
library's observance of National Library
Week'.
DISTRIBUTED By J.M.G. FILM COMPANY
Sandy Howard will be executive producer
of "Jaguar." a $4,000,000 action-adventure
film planned as the first of a series of four
features, based on the same character, to be
made on a one-per-year basis.
BOXOmCE ;: May 1. 1978

SIrongsville,
CLEVELAND
There will be close encounters with the
classics for junior and senior high school
students and adults at the New Mayfield
Repertory Cinema for five weeks. The 18
films to be shown, many of them classics
themselves, are based on the plays and
novels by many of the world's famed writers.
Sheldon Wigood. a partner in the theatre,
said that St. Ignatius High School pupils
are going to devote almost a full day
to classic films at the theatre.
Art Thomas, the other partner, is a Ph.D.
in English literature and a former professor
terparts. The 18 films will include tragedies,
comedies of manners,
morals and situation,
stories of war, revolution, famine and other
natural disasters, romances and even two
musicals.
Michael and Julia Phillips were co-producers
of "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind." Although joined on the set, they
have been split maritally for three years.
The secret of smooth work under these circumstances
was that Julia bore the bnml
of the day-to-day projection chores while
Michael handled post-production tasks.
either.
Comparisons were made of prices for
Broadway plays, off-Broadway plays, pop
rock concerts, movies, symphony performances,
restaurants, sports and nightclubs.
Cities compared were Detroit, New York,
Los Angeles, Washington, Miami and Houston.
Of five theatres screening "The Goodbye
Girl," three charged more than the Detroit
theatre and one, Houston, charged less. Topl;vel
legit theatre tickets in Detroit hit $15.
Only New York was higher, charging $17.50
for the Saturday evening performance of
of Shakespeare and modern drama at Baldwin
Wallace College. He is now teaching a
"Annie." Liza Minnelli's "The Act" struck
a record $25 top price in New York.
course at Cleveland State University which
relates plays and books to their film coim-
BfB^SSound and
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RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
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CLEVELAND— -Saturday Night Fever"
Two theatres—The Turning Point (iOthF
16th
the -Saturday Night Fev (Para).
.125
"Silver Bears" was filmed on location in
Switzerland, Morocco and England.
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. . . Danny
. . Port
CINCINNATI
JJay Russo. 20th Century-Fox. Chicago,
visited his brother Tony Russo. manager
of Redstone's Showcase cinemas, Erlanger.
Ray came into town especially to
help celebrate his
mother's 73rd birthday.
Rosie Boardman, Tri-State Theatre Service,
has beeen promoted to assistant booker
Heilbrun. Mid-States Theatres,
just returned from vacationing for a week
in
Martinique.
Bobby Simminger, Universal booker, and
his wife Jill are finally taking a honeymoon
after two years of marriage. They will be
vacationing in Hollywood. Florida, of all
places. Can't get away from this business.
even on a honeymoon!
Milt Levins, division manager for Avco
Embassy, was in town from Chicago . . .
Mark Siegal. former booker for Mid-America,
moved to Miami and is working for
Loews Theatres there.
Our deepest sympathy to Lu Ann Winters,
Phil Brock's secretary. Tri-State Theatres,
in the loss of her baby boy Jason. He
was three
months old.
Bob Sweeney, formerly with Mid-States
Theatres, visited Cincinnati while traveling
around the U. S. during the last four
months. Bob is working for Bob Waters,
producer of "Death Force," promoting his
films.
Lee Erwin will be in town for a benefit
performance for refurbishing the Emery
Theatre. He was the staff organist at the
RKO Albec Theatre in the early '30s.
nati with Ruby Wright, vocals, and Cecil
Hale, poems. The last announcer for the
program was MC during the recreation.
Bill Meyers. The American Theatre Organ
Society of Ohio is sponsoring the production.
. .
Sharon McGruder, secretary at Buena
Vista, had a baby boy, William . Herb
Hart, maintenance construction manager for
Belmont Amusement Co.. is recovering
nicely from a recent heart attack. Herb is
responsible for putting the soimd system in
the Belmont Drive-In in Dayton.
Barry Steinberg, Tri-State Theatres, is
taking a break from plowing his 40 acres
to take his wife Jan to the National Screen
Scivice marketing convention.
Lou Smith, former owner of the Marianne
Theatre. Bellevue. Ky., was in town
visiting from De Bary, Fla. Holiday Amusement
leases the theatre now.
Charlie Palmer, formerly with Columbia
P ctiires for 30 years, is recuperating at
home from recent surgery.
DETROIT
^he Punch and Judy Theatre in Grosse
Radio's longest-running program, 'The Pointe Farms booked local rock 'n'
Moon River Review." was recreated April roll acts and a Detroit-based play for the
30 with the original cast at the Emery weekend. This is the owner's way of showing
good faith in Detroit's Auditorium. The show originated in Cincin-
renaissance.
Arthur Hiller will direct "Nightwing.'
Greater Detroit Motion Picture and Television
Council held its Youth Film Forum
April 8 at the Redford Theatre. Redford.
There was an organ recital prior to the
showing of the film, courtesy the Motor
City Theatre Organ Society.
The 500-car-capacity Lakeshore Drive-
In. Port Huron, opened for the season April
21. The owner and operator is Lakeshore
Drive-In Theatre, Inc.. Stanley J. Lepa, Port
Huron . Austin Theatre, Port Austin,
will open for the season under the new
ownership of Pfeifle Associates, Inc.. which
also operates the Bay Theatre in Caseville.
Clark Theatre Service represents both theatres
in licensing and booking of films.
ASC
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Film Plans for 'Dribble'
Are Encountering Hassles
DES MOINES—Problems seem to be
numerous for producer Nicholas Nizich and
co-producer Michael de Gaetano. as they
plan to make a movie in Des Moines tentatively
named "Dribble." "Dribble" has to
do with girl's basketball which is very big
in
these parts.
Nizich and de Gaetano feel the production
needs something to make it a boxoffice
hit. And what might that be? Suzanne Somers.
in a wet T-shirt yet. Actress Somers
currently appears in the ABC TV series
"Three's Company." The trouble is, Somers
comes high. A half-million dollars, said
Nizich and that doesn't leave much in the
movies $1,200,000 budget for other things.
Earlier Nizich and de Gaetano had announced
that Dick Van Patten, of the "Eight
is Enough" series, and Ruth Buzzi, of the
old "Laugh-In", were tentatively committed
to appear in the film. However, all of this
dickering with the moneymen is taking time
and they are not sure that Van Patten and
Buzzi will be available when needed.
Trying to move the filming location from
Des Moines to Dubuque was a Dubuque
reporter who called for a prodiiction announcement.
"This was odd," Nizich said, "because
most places where a movie has been shot
never want to see another film crew, what
with all the wrecked hotel rooms and so
on." Nizich said thanks but no thanks and
reiterated his intention to do the movie in
Des Moines. Adding to the problems, is
the fact that Veterans' Memorial Auditorium
in Des Moines is booked for the month
of June, the time set aside for location
work, and the crew will have to scout out
another arena to use. Further complicating
the production picture is the fact that another
Hollywood film company is hoping
to cash in on the girls' basketball craze with
a film of its own, also tentatively titled
"Dribble." Nizich and de Gaetano plan to
come out with theirs first. They are hopeful
that the movie could be completed in time
for a premiere sometime in November.
"Dribble" will be the coproducers' third
movie.
They made their debut with a quickie
called "UFO Target Earth" which appeared
as the CBS late movie a while back and
they followed that up with "Haunted," starring
Aldo Ray and Virginia Mayo. "Haunted"
is described as a soft-core horror film
which isn't quite ready for release yet in
this country although it is already playing
in
theatres overseas.
Happy Organ Sound Is
More At Detroit
DETROIT— It's shades of Spike Jones
when Jim Boutell lets loose with his left foot
on the old Barton TTieatre organ at the Redford
Theatre, says Jeff Gaydos, a
writer for
the Detroit news, who goes on to say:
"Birds whistle, fire sirens gong, cymbals
clash—it's a rare slapstick musical experience.
"The experience grows rarer when Boutell
gets serious on the keyboards. Close your
eyes and it's carnival time, or vaudeville
time or just time for that lush "roller skating'
sound that used to dramatize silent movies.
"The Motor City Theatre Organ Society
has taken great pains to restore the old
Barton, just as members have worked hard
at maintaining the theatre organs in the
Punch & Judy Theatre and the Royal Oak
Music Theatre. The society numbers 400
members—devotees to the sound popular
in the early 1920"s—who volunteered hundreds
of hours a week to make their recently
acquired Redford Theatre a success.
"They paid $125,000 for the old vaudeville
and movie house two years ago, says
Stuart Grigg, a spokesman for the .society.
What they got in the bargain was a 1928
building with gaudy Japanese pagoda decor
and a valuable musical instrument that had
seen better days. The theatre is an ideal
1,500-seat home for the old pipe organ.
"Seven years before it bought the Redford,
the society began restoring the forlorn
organ. Rats and mice had spent about 20
years gnawing the leather behind the keyboard,
water had damaged the sound boxes
and the thing hadn't been tuned for nearly
a quarter of a century. It's the kind of machine
that needs a lot of attention, Grigg
says.
"But in the condition the society has managed
to keep it, the organ and pipes and
Spike Jones accessories would bring about
$30,000 if it were to be sold. A new one of
similar quality would cost about $100,000,
Grigg says.
" -In the late '.'iOs and earlv •60s there
'Adams,' "Turning Point' at 140 Twin
NEW BEDFORD. MASS. — The Lockwood
& Friedman Twin Cinema 140
brought back "Grizzly Adams" for 1:15
p.m. showings on a recent Saturday and
Sunday, with the auditorium one current
attraction, 20th Century-Fox's "The Turning
Point," starting for the day at 3:30 p.m.
that weekend.
Heard Once
Redford Cinema
was a rebirth ot inter.-st in theatre organs.
They were vanishing as old theatres were
being torn down. And people began getting
nostalgic about the music they heard when
they were young.' Grigg says.
" 'Now there are a lot of people in their
20s and 30s who've learned to enjoy theatre
organ music. And not all of them are
organists.'
"Unlike Boutell, who has been playing
organ since he was 6 (he's 25), Grigg can
hardly play 'Chopsticks.' He was brought
to a concert several years ago, however, and
like many of his colleagues in the society,
fell quickly in love with the happy .sound
of the music. So he joined the Motor City
group and has become one of the hardcore
members, willing to run the Redford's popcorn
stand, sell tickets, stage money-making
events and do odd jobs around the theatre.
" 'We're businessmen. assembly line
workers, you name it. What we have in
common is an affection for the instruments
and for the old movies that often go with
the music' Grigg said. Detroit has one of
the largest theatre organ society chapters
in the nation. The Motor City group is part
of the 5.000-membcr American Theatre Organ
Society.
"For their annual dues of $25 they receive
a monthly theatre organ publication,
reduced ticket rates, notice of all local theatre
organ concerts and the opportunity to
practice on the great Oshkosh, Wisconsinbuilt
Barton.
"Folks like Boutell spend hours rhapsodizing
on the three-tiered keyboard. What
they play is sounded through pipes ranging
in length from several inches to 16 feet.
When they get good enough the society encourages
members to play at public performances.
" 'It's good experience.' says Boutell.
'None of us is professional, but some do
a fantastic job.' For the sound motion pictures,
organists play for about a half hour
before showtime and during intermission."
"Sylvia Scarlett' at Harvard
CAMBRIDGE. MASS. — "Sylvia Scarlett,"
RKO 1935 release starring Katharine
Hepburn, was shown at the Harvard Science
Center on a recent Sunday at 7:30 and 9:30
p.m.. under sponsorship of the Radcliffe-
Harvard Women's Center as a benefit for
local feminist publications. Admission was
$2.
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Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
ASHCRAFT
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equipment
Coll:
(304) 344-4413
MOORE THEATRE
EQUIPMENT CO.
213 Delaware Ave.
P.O. Box 732
Chorleslon. W. Va.
25323
ME-3

The only handicap to hiring us
is not knowing where to find us.
You won't find guys like us selling
pencils on street corners. We're
skilled, able-bodied workers. We're
industrial designers. Salespeople.
Secretaries. Managers. Accountants.
Technicians. Blue collar and
white collar.
Unfortunately, though, too many
of us are unemployed.
And the irony of it is, it's not that
men and women like yourself don't
want to hire us. It's simply that you
don't know how to go about it.
Every state in this country has a
Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Its function is not only to ence and skills required.
to be filled. The background, experi-
evaluate a person's disabilities and He'll be more than happy to put
to help him rehabilitate himself. you in touch with the right people
But to help place him in a job that for your company or organization.
allows him to fulfill his capabilities. People who will appreciate the opportunity
to help your company
If you are interested in tapping
your state's supply of hard-working, grow. Who w'ril work to their fullest
capable men and women, write to
your State Director of Vocational
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Tell him what kind of business
you're in. What job openings need
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— and our nation — prosper.
Write: Director, State Department
of Vocational Rehabilitation at your
state capitol.
ME-4
May

. .
Bill Favoring Small CATV
Businesses Is Killed In Vt.
Boston s 'Summerthing' Will Benefit
MONTPELIHR—The Vermont state legislature
has rejected a proposed measure From Concerts by Name Musicians
that would have made small cable antenna
television (CATV) companies immune from BOSTON—Mayor Kevin H. White announced
a major, new summer series of will feature such outstanding contemporary
Summer Music Festival." Ten to 15 concerts
state regulation.
Although the bill was passed by the senate,
house judiciary committee chairman theatre district for the benefit of the city's Sayer, Arlo Guthrie and many others.
popular indoor music concerts in Boston's artists as B.B. King, Phoebe Snow, Leo
Chester Ketcham, R-Middlebury. contended "Sum 1110 nil my" program.
Mayor White said, "The new series will
the legislation was not in the public interest.
provide quality entertainment generally unavailable
during the summer and it will also
"The state policy." he said, "has been
that CATV is a monopoly like telephone
generate additional revenues for 'Summerthing'.
Without the generous financial con-
and power and the public is served by some
form of regulation. Exempting CATV companies
from regulation by the State Public
f4^
tribution of Anheuser-Busch and Busch
Premium Beer, this benefit project could
Service Board, Ketcham continued, would
not have become a reality. The city is grateful
for their gift."
put the public at risk of "being gouged."
Ketcham's arguments were seconded by
Revenues in excess of costs will finance
Reps. Joseph Steventon, R-Rochester. and
Anthony Buraczynski, D-Brattleboro. No
many of "Summerthing's" free entertainment
and workshop programs throughout
member of the house defended the measure,
Boston neighborhoods. The income will also
in effect killing the proposal for the 1978
aid other year-round cultural programs
legislative session.
sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Cultural
In another development, a bill with some
Affairs.
application to Vermont exhibition (particularly
those cinemas with sizable refreshment
W.M. Roberts III, marketing manager for
Busch said, "We are pleased to be able to
areas), the legislature approved a bill tightening
shoplifting penalties and giving mer-
sponsor this concert series in Boston and
thank Mayor White and Helen Rees for
chants the power to detain suspects received
providing the opportunity.
legislative approval. A
We look forward
first offender convicted
of stealing merchandise worth less
to a successful summer."
than $100 could receive a maximum $300
The performers and concert dates scheduled
so far are:
fine, six months in jail or both: a second
Chick Corea, July 3: Al
Jarreau,
offense could mean a maximum $500
Grover Washington, July 20:
fine
and up to two years in prison. Any
Phoebe Snow, Gato Barbieri, July 28: Leo
person
Sayer,
convicted of shoplifting merchandise worth
August 2: Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie,
more than $100 could^be fined up to $500
-->-:"' August 17: B. B. King and Muddy Waters,
to be announced. Others will be announced
and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
at a later date. Ticket prices for the "Summer
Music Festival" will be in the $6.50 to
The measure allows a judge to order restitution
when merchandise is not recovered or
is damaged; restitution can be ordered without
imposing a jail sentence. The "reason-
nounces a series of concerts by out-
$8.50 range. H-T Productions booked all
Beantown's Mayor Kevin White an-
shows.
"Summerthing." aided by the proceeds
able" force a merchant is allowed to use in standing musicians to benefit the city's
from the festival as well as many other local
detaining shoplifters is defined as "minimal."
If a merchant detains someone, he
community summer program, "Sumby
Busch Prem-
and national corporations, brings to Boston
merthing." Sponsored
residents top-quality free performances in
is required to advise the person of his right iuni Beer, the series has been dubbed
their
to make
own neighborhoods, and helps each
a telephone call.
the "Busch Summer Music Festival,"
neighborhood plan and carry out its own
and will be held at tllie Music Hall in
cultural and artistic activities. Boston's
the theatre district.
streets, parks and playgrounds become openair
theaters for approximately 1.000 per-
The concert series, to be held at the Music
Hall, is one of the several new programs formances and 500 workshops held during
BOSTON—The popular "Names .
developed by the recently-appointed Office July and August. Since its inception 1
Faces" column in the Boston Globe accorded
considerable space recently to Art
of Cultural Affairs director Helen Rees. years ago, more than 10,000,000 people
The concerts will be sponsored by Busch have taken part in 10,000 "Summerthing"
Moger, long-time film industry promotion
Premium Beer and will be called the "Busch happenings, all free of charge.
man.
The column said: "Boston humorist Art
Moger, visiting Florida, noted the latest
lohn J. Massaro. 51, Dies Harry F. Corlew, 61, Dead
bumper sticker 'Thank God, I'm An HARTFORD—John J. Massaro, 51, H.-'iRTFOR D—Harry F. Corlew, 61. veteran
Connecticut cinema manager, died re-
Atheist,' and 'It's Bad Luck To Be Superstitious.'
Hartford Courant travel editor/boating
columnist, died at St. Francis Hospital Medical
Center after a brief illness. He worked tres East 3, Manchester Shopping Parkade,
cently. He was manager of the UA Thea-
"Moger encountered Don Rickles who
said, 'Frustration is when your cope runneth
for the newspaper for 24 years and had been and. earlier, was with other circuits in the
over.'
Sunday editor, with responsibilities for the
"Moger said the photo of himself and the
Sunday magazine supplement, entertainment
news and travel section.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery. Coven-
late Fred Allen, taken when Moger appeared
on Allen's radio show June 22.
try.
1938, 'made me an overnight celebrity and
the fame lasted just as long—overnight.' " Harvard Screens "Hai Hsia'
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.— "Hai Hsia," French Film at French Library
Chinese film with English titles, was screened
at the Harvard Science Center on a reed
showings of "Ne Pleure Pas La
BOSTON—The French Library sponsor-
Bouche
Humor of Art Moger, Film
Promoter, A News Feature
Ray Stark is producing Neil Simon's
"California Suite." which Simon adapted for
the
screen.
cent Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.: admission
was $1.50. general public; $1. students.
region. He leaves his wife Julia and a
daughter Catherine both of Coventry.
Pleine." charging $2.50. general admission,
and $1.50. library members.
BOXOFTICE :: May NE-1

'Unmarried Woman'
Drawing Boston Fans
BOSTON—The allure of •An Unmarried
Woman"" proved too much for the inhabitants
of "the land of the Bean and the
Cod" and they flocked to the Cheri II in
sufficient numbers to establish the 20th
Century-Fox hit as the current frontrunner
by a wide margin. Several other offerings,
although far to the rear, still racked up
impressive averages by anyone's standards.
"Coming Home"' continues to get a rousing
welcome as it notched a 500; "Pretty Baby"
scored a beautiful 420; "The Duellists"
fought the "The Medusa Touch" to a draw
as they both snaked in with a 300. "Saturday
Night Fever"' continues to set the mercury
soaring as it reached 250. "Return
From Witch Mountain" and "Crossed
Swords" cast a sharp spell at the boxoffice
producing a 220 for each film; while "Casey's
Shadow" batted 200 which "ain't bad"
in this league. Only "The Fury." enraged at
notching a sub-par 65, and "High Anxiety,"
seeking a friendly couch with a nervewracking
85. failed to deliver the expected
results.
(Average Is 100)
Beacon Hill Pretty Baby (Para) - 420
Charles I—Here Come the Tigers (AIP) 125
Charles III Coming Home (UA), 2nd wk 500
Cheri I—Coma (UA), lOth wk 175
II—An Unmarried Woman (20th-Fox),
Cheri
:heri 111—Casey's Shadow (Col)
;hestnut Hill I, Cinema 57 I—Hous
(Univ), 4th wk
Chestr
1 1th

I
. . . Joe
. . Bob
. . Joe
. . Harry
. .
Herb Baker, Avco Embassy branch manager
hosted a screening cum breakfast
BOSTON
Cinema
Hartford Exhibitors
at the Sack 57, April 13, for
"A Different Story" which stars Valerie
Toe Leahy, AIP branch manager, sent out
Push Reduced Prices
Curtin and Peter Donat . Marano,
invitations to the trade and press for a
Warner Bros.' Boston booker, started his HARTFORD — Metropolitan Hartford
sneak preview of "Our Winning Season" at
regular trips to New York April 15 exhibition, apparently making a calculated
the Sack Pi Alley Cinema Friday, April 21,
in an effort to help the company's soccer guess that markedly reduced admission, by
shown with "The Fury."
club defend the crown they won last year now very much a staple of early-week policy,
Universal branch manager Ben Cammack
Bean, Interstate Theatres publicity can induce greater Saturday-Sunday attendance,
announced a screening of "I Wanna Hold man, said the circuit is doing very well
is doing something about the sit-
Your Hand" at the Judd Parker screening
room April 18 and a Wednesday, April 26,
with their "superjumbo" popcorn and tonic
(soda pop, to the unlettered) combination.
uation.
On a recent weekend, survey of regional
screening of "FM" at the Parker screening
media advertising pointed up no less than
John Parker, Judd Parker Films, had a
room.
eight variations on the given theme—the
April 14 booking at five Hub area driveins
for their latest, headline-related story,
SBC Cinema City 4, for example, advertised
Frankie O'Driscoll, booker at NFB Films,
$2 admission to 5 p.m.; the Perakos Mall
is happily phoning for dates on NFB's "Hollywood—The Hillside Strangler" .
Cinema, Bloomfield, and Cinema I, East
Academy Award-winning documentary feature,
John Latchis, merrily telling one and all
Hartford, advertised 99 cents to 2 p.m.; the
the "Who Are DeBolts? And Where
Did They Get Nineteen Kids?"
is
mountains, was in
dates for his drive-ins
that the snow
town
at
finally
setting up
Keene, N.H.,
melting
spring
and
on the
Redstone Showcase 5 (soon to be six), East
Hartford, had a $2.50 admission in effect
Joe Foley, Columbia sales representative,
to 2:30 p.m.; the Paris Cinemas 2. Wethersfield,
Brattleboro, Vt. . . . Local theatre owners
charged 99 cents to 5:30 p.m
(Sunday
sent out plenty of cards while up in the
mountains on a ski vacation . . Paul Levi,
.
well-known publicity executive in the film
district, now retired, was roaming around
Filmrow saying hello to old friends.
NITE of New England, affiliate of National
Independent Theatre Exhibitors, with
headquarters at Hingham, sent out a fivepage
news letter to members and friends in
the six New England states, explaining what
has been accomplished in solving various
exhibitor problems during their first
year as
an association. NITE also sent a brief outline
of coming events, headed by the Monday-Tuesday
(15-16) joint meeting and the
northeast regional conference of NITE.
which includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania
and New York,
A movie theatre party, with Hitchcock's
award-winning "North By Northwest," starring
Cary Grant, was shown at George
Mintsman's Needham Cinema, Southington,
Conn., with the buying and booking of
pictures being handled by Larry Germaine
in New Haven.
NFB Films' Bob Rancatore announced
that their new release, "Dracula's Dog," is
set for a saturation run in the greater Boston
area, with bookings starting Wednesday
(10) to include an extensive TV and radio
spot annoimcement campaign.
Henry Scully, professional Service Booking
& Buying, announced that he has been
named booker and buyer for nine drive-ins
located in New England and operated by
Ed Eider's Fall River Theatres.
Bookers at Allied Artists are joyfully
passing along the news that their new picture,
"Alice, Sweet Alice," is set for Boston
and suburbs starting in May.
ISound and
Projection Service
Nationwide — on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
43 Edward J Han Rd Liberty Industrial Park,
Jersey City, N J 07305 Phone (2011451-2222
are making reservations to attend the annual
"New Product Seminar" sponsored by
the Independent Theatre Owners of New
York, Tuesday and Wednesday (9-10).
Peter Bonitatiabus, Universal booker, is
back from a ten-day safari to the beaches
of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. There, he tells us,
he met and trapped (or was trapped by)
a young lady from Presque Isle, Maine.
Needless to say, he is planning some weekend
safaris to Presque Isle . . . bright and
beautiful Nina Cucchiara. AIP billing clerk,
broke myriad male hearts with her announcement
that she would marry Wentworth
College graduate Mark J. Weare
is April 30. Weare a cable contractor with
Untertel. After a Hawaiian honeymoon the
couple set up housekeeping in Revere. Congratulations
and our sincere wish for a
lifetime
of happiness together.
Harvey Appell, NFB Films, announced a
New England-wide ad campaign for their
tandem of "The Van" and "The Pom Pom
Girls" will begin im May . Germaine,
Interstate Films, is distributing Association
Film's 17-minute short. "Miss
Universe Pageant '77," in 35mm and 16mm
to theatres. A story in Boxoffice March 20
inadvertently omitted the fact that this film
is available in 35mm.
Tom Coleman, Atlantic Releasing Co.,
opened "Madame Rosa," Academy Award
winner as the best foreign film, April 12
at the Orson Wells Cinema in Cambridge.
Full page ads heralded an indefinite
exclusive run . McPherson, Ellis
Gordon Films, gave out the good word that
their latest effort, "Campus Capers," hit a
gross of around $3,200 for opening week
at the Meadow Glen Drive-In despite a
heavy rainstorm Saturday evening.
. . . Roger Mintz, National
Henry Scully, Professional Service, announced
that he has been named film booker-buyer
for Pickens Theatre, Newport,
R.I., Kittery-York Drive-In, Kittery. Me.
and seven drive-ins under the banner of
Ed Lider Theatres
Screen, is grouchy these days as he
manifests "withdrawal symptoms." Mintz
has been ordered to cut out cigarettes and
only); United Artists Theatres (Westfarms 3
and Manchester Parkade 3) charged $1.50
to 1 p.m., and to 2:30 p.m., respectively.
The Avon Twin, operated by Sylvia
Stieber, current president of the Connecticut
Ass'n of Theatre Owners, had $2 charge
in effect to 2 p.m., for "Julia," both Saturday
and Sunday, and a $1.50 admission to
2 p.m., for "Annie Hall," both days.
General Cinema Corp.'s Newington Cinemas
3 had a $1.50 charge, 2 p.m., Saturday-Sunday.
A similar plan was in effect
at the same circuit's Meriden Mall 2, but
General Cinema's Waterbury Cinemas 4
charges $1.50 to 2 p.m. on a daily basis.
The Tolls Theatres' Newington, Newington,
admits patrons for 99 cents for all seats
at all times, but the sister Meriden 2 had
admission of $1.25 to 2:30 p.m.
Golden Oldies at Hub Museum
BOSTON—The Museum of Fine Arts
screened "The Fair Coed," 1927 MGM release
with Marion Davies, on a recent Saturday
afternoon at 2 p.m., and "The Circus,"
1928 United Artists release with Charlie
Chaplin, the following Tuesday night
7 p.m. Admission was $2, general public,
at
and $1.50, museum members, for each
showing.
lose weight by his doctor. Gutsy Roger is
determined to win this dual battle.
Ben Cammack, Universal branch manager,
screened "1 Wanna Hold Your Hand"
on April 18 and lensed "FM" on April 26.
Both events in the Motion Picture Screening
Room on Church Street.
C L\I:»i\i>L% IK I\ SH«m
BUSLVESS L\ IL\W.UI TCM),
V\Ticn you conic to Waikikl,
don't miss tlic famous Don II
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel.
REEF • \V.\JKIKI TOtt-ER OFTIIK REEF .fw^M
REEF TOWERS • EIX .HW.WER "Jf
rOXOFHCE :: May NE-3

. . United
. . N.W.
SPRINGFIELD
^^estern Massachusetts drive-ins have
opened for the season, after the worst
winter in decades, a point in time when,
even with in-car heater service, underskyer
trade would have proved unprofitable (think
of snow-plowing costs repeatedly necessary,
for one prime factor!) Three metropolitan
Springfield drive-ins bowed in for spring
with triple-feature programs; the Memorial
Drive-In. West Springfield, had "Last
House on the Left." "The House That Vanished"
and "E>on*t Look in the Basement"
(all re-runs; ads were captioned, "You'll
SCREAM Your Head Off!!"); the Air-line.
Chicopee. screened "Super Vixens," "Up
Your Alley" and "Vixen" (ads enthused.
"If You're Bored With T.V. Repeats. Attention—Have
We Got A Super Show For
You!"); and the Parkwav. North Wilbraham.
had "The Gauntlet." "St. Ives" and
"Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw."
Openings included 20th Century-Fox's
"An Unmarried Woman" (Sack Theatres'
Palace 2, West Springfield, had a Saturday
8 p.m. sneak preview ahead of playdate);
Cinema 5"s "Outrageous!" Avco Embassy's
"Rabbit Test" (pre-opening teaser ads in the
region were impressive in quantity alone);
plus reprise saturation bookings of Warner
Bros.' "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Start the
Revolution Without Me."
Continuing attractions: Columbia's 'Close
Encounters of the Third Kind." "The Boys
in Company C"; First Artists' "That Obscure
Object of Desire"; 20th-Fox's "The
Fury," "Star Wars," "High Anxiety"; Universal's
"Gray Lady Down." "House Calls";
Warners' "The Goodbye Girl." "Straight
Time": Paramount's "Saturday Night Fever";
AIP's "The Chosen"; United Artists'
"The Big Sleep," "Annie Hall," the Oscar
winner.
A trial date is being si^t for a West Springfield
motel owner, charged with dissemination
of obscene materials. Louis J. Calabrese,
owner of the Arrowhead Motel, had
pleaded innocent in Springfield District
Court on charges of showing obscene motion
pictures.
Winston S. Sliarples, 69, a former Springfielder,
who was musical director for Paramount
Pictures with 30 years of service, is
dead. He lived here before moving on to
New York.
Bing Crosby's widow, Kathrvn Crosby,
starred in Bernard Slade's hit comedy,
"Same Time, Next Year," in a one-evening
performance at the University of Massachusetts
Fine Arts Center, Amherst; tickets
were scaled from $2.50 to $7.
Holyoke's IVfountain Amusement Park
marked the start of its 1978 schedule with
a midway parade and distribution of free
prizes, with all
rides (except Sky Ride) available
for single
price of $2.75-per-person.
The Allen & Cooley Cinemas 2, Springfield,
brought back MGM's "Camille" (1936
release co-starring Greta Garbo and the late
Robert Taylor) for Simday through Tuesday,
single-feature, showings in auditorium
one . Artists' "City Lights," (1931
release starring the late Sir Charles Chaplin),
was shown as a free attraction at 7
p.m. on a recent Wednesday by the Forbes
Library in Northampton . Russo's
"Pippi in the South Seas" was a Saturday-
Sunday ( 1 and 3 p.m. both days) matinee
attraction in auditorium two of the General
Cinema Corp.'s Eastfield Mall 2; there was
a $1 admission in effect for all seats. The
mall, incidentally, is marking its 10th anniversary.
The Sixteen Acres branch of the Springfield
Public Library screened a Buster Keaton
silent classic, "The Railroader," at 3
and 7 p.m. on a recent Thursday with interested
persons asked to call
of limited seating.
ahead because
Spectrum Cable Systems, the cable antenna
television (CATV) service, is now
promising West Springfield that CATV will
be available to the entire community by
September. City Councilor Richard C.
Swords contends that Spectrum Cable has
reneged on a three-year-old promise to
string 48 miles of cable, with only 13 miles
installed to date.
The Pleasant St. Theatre, Northampton,
kicked off a four-month schedule of midnight
shows "presenting some of the best
from the '30s and 40s from Warner Bros.
Studios." with titles including "Taxi"
(James Cagney); "Sergeant York" (the late
Gary Cooper), among many others.
CAPE COD
Jnterstate Theatres of New England recently
advertised Monday and Tuesday
"Bargain Night" prices at the Twin Cinemas.
New Seabury (playing Warner Bros.'
"The Goodbye Girl" and United Artist's
"Coma"); Hyannis. (playing "The Goodbye
Girl"); and Twin Cinemas. Orleans (playing
"The Goodbye Girl" and Warner's reprise.
"Dog Day Afternoon.")
Cape Cod premiere of Group I's "Liz"
was booked into auditorium one of the Interstate
Cinema 28 twin, off Rte. 28 in
West Yarmouth.
'Blue Collar' at State Cinema
NEW BEDFORD. MASS.—Universal
slotted southeastern Massachusetts premiere
of "Blue Collar" into the State Cinema, with
the theatre advertising "Ladies' Night" for
Monday ($1.25 for female patrons). "Men's
Night" for Wednesday ($1.25 for male patrons),
and "Bargain Matinees" on Saturday
and Sunday (adults charged $1.50 to 2 p.m.
both days).
New Bedford Site of Debuts
NEW BEDFORD. MASS.—The Center
Theatre hosted world premiere of statesrights'
X-rated "Another Love, Another
Place." Companion feature was also X-rated
and from the states-rights field, "Young.
Free and Loose ."
. .
NEW BRITAIN
1
Jn the first such area development for 1978,
police were investigating extensive vandalism
at the Perakos Plainville Drive-In on
a Monday night in which more than $800
worth of damage was reported. The speaker
posts were damaged, plastic caps and ramp
lights taken. Stainless steel serving trays
were taken from outside the concession
stand as well.
United Artists' "A Thousand Clowns."
1966 release co-starring Jason Robards and
Barbara Harris, was shown no less than
three times in two days on a free basis by
the New Britain Public Library. Showings
were at 7 p.m.. Monday; 9:30 a.m. and
1:30 p.m. (latter for senior citizens only).
Tuesday.
Henry W. Keezing, editorial page director
of the New Britain Herald, foimd himself
in rather unusual circumstances; he offered
free passes to area theatres (the demolished
Strand. New Britain, and long-shuttered
Central. West Hartford) for the Hrst 1.000
people correctly identifying a political
satire on the newspaper's editorial page.
Nobody. Keezing figured, would bother "to
try to win passes to nothing." He did not
bother considering human nature; a number
of readers actually wrote in to explain what
the political satire was all about. As a result.
Keezing carried a column note asking
for readers to send along some passes!
"Passes will be promptly forwarded to the
winners," Keezing wrote, "although we
haven't the foggiest notion what they will
do with them."
The Bristol Press has a new daily policy
of publishing film starting times for all
cinemas in its circulation area. The column
is topped by a standing logo reading,
"What's Playing At/Movies/Area Theatres."
From the 50-years-ago column, Bristol
Press: "The owners of the New Bristol
Theatre on North Main street have offered
a reward of $100 for the capture of the
firebug who attempted to set fire to the
theatre on Thursday night. John Guertin.
who sweeps out the theatre, discovered a
man on the stage about to set fire to a pile
of papers. Grappling with the man. he succeeded
in tearing the man's shirt but he
finally escaped. Questioning by the police
failed to shake his story."
Dartmouth Drive-In Open
DARTMOUTH. MASS. — The Dartmouth
Drive-In. off Rte. 6. opened for the
season, initial program comprised of "Nine
Lives of Fritz the Cat" and "Chatter Box."
The underskyer advertised a $6-a-carload
policy (regardless of number of passengers).
Schmid Back from South Pacific
BOSTON—Boston-based filmmaker Lisa
Schmid has returned from a six-week stay
in the South Pacific, where she worked with
author James Michener on an educational
television
NE-4 BOXOmCE May 1. 1978
film.

. . "Cat
. .
MAINE
Qontinuing on Maine marquees: 20th Century-Fox's
"The Fury," "Julia" and
"The Turning Point." Warner Bros.'
"Straight Time," and "The Goodbye Girl."
United Artist's "Coma," Buena Vista's
"Candleshoe," Paramount's "Saturday Night
Fever," "American Hot Wax," and "The
One and Only," Columbia's "Casey's Shadow,"
and "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind," Universal's "The Other Side of the
Mountain Part 2," and "House Calls,"
states-rights' X-rated "Breaker Beauties,"
"French Classmates," and others . . . The
Lincoln Cinema, Lincoln, offered a family
admission plan for "Sunday Family Night"
showing of "Close Encounters" with a
charge of $5 in effect for "mom and/or
dad & kids" . . Country music's Loretta
.
Lynn and Conway Twitty, with Ernest Tubb
and the Texas Troubadors. were slotted into
the Augusta Civic Center for Friday (5) at
8:30 p.m., with tickets scaled at $6.50
(bleachers; no backs) and $7.50 (chairs).
All seats were reserved. Henry Mancini will
appear with the Portland Symphony Orchestra
Monday (8) at 8:15 p.m.; ticket scale
is $5-$6-$7. at the Cumberland County
Civic Center.
Maine's wood products are a staple of
the Pine Tree state's economy and Robert
Hellendale, president of Great Northern
Paper Co., for one, is concerned about constantly
increasing demands to withdraw timberland
from the commercial forest base.
He warned, while addressing the fifth annual
Governor's Conference on Economic
Development, that such demands "will inevitably
restrict our ability to grow, and
may very well put us in the position of cutting
back existing operations."
Robert H. Newall, arts editor of the
Bangor Daily News, said in part in a recent
column: "Of all bona fide art forms, the
motion picture must be accoimted the one
most oriented to the masses. From 1908,
the year when we can safely say the American
product was created under the aegis
of D.W. Griffith (The Birth of a Nation'
and 'The Great Train Robbery'). Americans
flocked to the rapidly mushrooming movie
theatres to catch the early comedies of the
Keystone Kops and men like Charlie Chaplin
and Buster Keaton . .
."
The Paris Cinema, Portland, brought back
20th-Fox's "Doctor Dolittle," the Rex Harrison
starrer, for matinee showings, charging
$1 admission for all seats . . . The
E.M. Loew's Fine Arts Twin Cinemas, same
city, double-billed "The Food of the Gods"
and "Tentacles" for matinee showings,
charging $1 admission for all seats . . .
The Empire Theatre, Lewiston, played a
Sunday 2 p.m. showing of Allied Artists'
"Black and White in Color."
Bangor Community College's Student
Lounge hosted a free Wednesday (7:30
p.m.) showing of RKO's "The Magnificent
Ambersons," 1942 release with Dolores Cos-
tello, Anne Baxtc .ind Joseph Gotten; admission
was free.
The Hancock County Auditorium, Ellsworth,
scheduled a Margaret Rutherford
festival, comprised of MGM's "Murder
Ahoy" and "Murder Most Foul" (both
1964). on a Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
WORCESTER
JJolding over in mid-Massachusetts: 20th
Century-Fox's "The Fury," and "The
Turning Point," Paramount's "Saturday
Night Fever," plus "American Hot Wax,"
Universal's "Gray Lady Down" and "House
Calls," United Artists' "Semi-Tough," United
Artist's "Coma," Warner Bros.' "The
Goodbye Girl," and "Straight Time," Columbia's
"Close Encounters of the Third
Kind." and "The Boys in Company C."
New states-rights product included X-rated
"Teddy Bear" and "Count The Ways."
The Oxford Twin Drive-In, North Oxford,
opened for the season, the Oxford
screen featuring Warners' "Oh, God!" on
double-bill with Columbia's "Shampoo,"
and the Worcester screen showing Paramount's
"The One and Only," on doublebill
with same distributor's "Marathon
Man."
The Frank Marcus adult comedy, "The
Killing of Sister George," was staged for
two weeks in the Warner Theatre at Worcester
Academy by the Entr' Actors Guild;
admission was $3.50, with senior citizens
and students carrying identification cards
charged $2.
Steve Allen appeared in concert at Worcester
Mechanics Hall April 11; tickets sold
for $8 for all
seats.
cester Art Museum on a recent Tuesday (6
and 8:30 p.m.); admission was free to members,
$2 for non-members.
Columnist Earl Dias Asks
For Serious Study of TV
NEW BEDFORD, MASS.—Standard-
Times arts columnist Earl J. Dias recently
remarked, in part:
"What is obviously needed is some serious
research into the influence of TV in our
daily lives. Does it dim the mind and create
a kind of hypnotic trance? Does it undermine
the family? What is the nature of our
neuro-physiological responses to the tube?
Does it help to create a passive, inarticulate
society for whom 'Laverne and Shirley' and
idiotic and often insulting commercials are
segments of reality?
"These arc some of the questions that
must be answered before the one-eyed
monster in our living room gets oiU of
control. TV could be a great and rewarding
medium—but as of now, it is loo much
with us and it is frequently more harmful
than benign."
NEW HAVEN
^he Edmond Town Hall Theatre in downstate
Newtown, which has a "going"
film charge of SI, increased the admission
to $3 for start of what was expected to be a
series of "live" country music concerts on
April 13; featured were Joan Spring,
Apple Coimtry, Lynn & Joy Ungar, Jackie
Pike Skifflcrs, Fcnnings AH Stars, Cranberry
Lake Jug Band. The theatre, which
normally plays motion pictures, has on occasion
slotted "live" entertainment at admission
well above the dollar tab.
Joseph Marcucci, 76, retired comic, died
at St. Raphael's Hospital. Known professionally
as Joe Marks of the team of Marks
& Conn, he leaves his wife Josephine, two
daughters, three sons, five sisters, and six
grandchildren. Burial was in the family plot
at St. Lawrence cemetery. West Haven.
lic Library . . .
Free film showings: "Little Women"
(RKO, 1933) and "The Thin Man" (MGM.
1934). Hagaman Memorial Libran,'. East
Haven . on a Hot Tin Roof" (MGM,
. 1958). West Haven Public Library
"Diabolique" (UMP, 1955), Fairfield Pub-
"M" (Paramount. 1933),
Stratford Public L'brary.
Columbia's "All the King's Men" (Columbia,
1949) was screened on a recent
Friday at 8:30 p.m., at the Unitarian
Church, Westport; the $2.50 admission included
serving of wine and cheese.
versity of Bridgeport . . .
MGM's "Gone With the Wind," 1939
release, was shown on recent Thursday
a
and Saturday (7 p.m. both evenings) in
Gonzaga Auditorium, Fairfield University;
There was a $1.25
admission was $1 . . .
admission in effect for 8 and 10:30 p.m.
showing on a recent Sunday of Universal's
"Slap Shot." in the Student Center. Uni-
The Bowl and
Warner Bros.' "Death in Venice," costarring
Dirk Bogarde and Sylvania Mangano
(1971 release), was shown at the Wor-
Milford drive-ins reopened, the Bowl showing
Paramount's "The One and Only" on a
double-bill with AIP's "Empire of the
Ants." and a Warner Bros. duo. "Oh. God!"
and reprise. "The Late Show," on the M'lford
screen.
The Branford in Branford. dropped the
pass list for Universal's "The Other Side of
the Mountain Part 2." Adult admission was
$2.
A first-come, first-served basis is in effect
for a continuing Saturday afternoon
"mini" series featuring the film work of
much-accoladed director Joseph Losey. in
the Lecture Hall, Yale Center for British
Art. Seating is limited to 200. with doors
op>en at 1:30 and performance time at 2.
Titles include "Secret Ceremony," "The
Servant," "King and Country," "Modesty
Blaise" and "The Go-Between."
'High Noon' at Boston Library
BOSTON—United Artists' "High Noon,"
1952 release co-starring the late Gary Cooper
and Grace Kelly, was screened as a free
attraction on a recent Friday at 5:30 p.m..
by the Boston Public Library in Copley
Square.
BOXOFHCE :: May 1, 1978 NE-5

. . Common
. . The
• . . Columbia
. . Sub-run
. . Elmwood.
HARTFORD
gimon koiiover of the Konover exhibition
family announced plans for construction
of a nine-story office building at estimated
cost of $10,000,000 on attract at
sr.. was endorsed by the state legislature
judiciary committee for appointment to
Connecticut superior court .
former
Jerry Lewis Cinema, in the Suffield Village
Mail, reopened with a new name. Academy
Cinema. The initial program featured Warner
Bros." "Oh, God!"
The recent death of Peggy Wood brought
back memories for West Hartford's John
Cabitor. who tells us of the time in the late
1920s he was among "extras" cast for a
courtroom scene in "The Merchant of Venice,"
being staged at the old Parsons Thea-
Its economy is post-industrial in the fullest
sense that phrase." he continued. "However
It IS one of the truly mature economies
in the world. The economic growth is generally
m areas of service—such as banking
insurance, non-manufacturing and non-industrial
output."
Bob Kane, who leases the Webster and
runs adult film product, was iewed
by the Hartford Advocate and. inevitably
.
slotted initial regional showings
of "The Amsterdam Kill," Robert
Mitchum starrer, into auditorium two of
the General Cinema Corp.'s Meriden Mall
2 booking of Columbia's "The
Boys in Company C." at Cinema, Kensington;
Plaza. Windsor: and Queen Plaza.
Pearl and
Southington.
Trumbull
was advertised
streets,
as
just down 99c admission
in
the
block from effect at all
the
times.
$80,000,000 Hartford Civic
Center complex .
Pleas Court
Judge Joseph A. Adorno. son of the late
Middletown exhibition pioneer. Sal .Adorno
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island had a rare personal appearance
for an X-rated attraction and
Joanna Miquel signed autographs at two
cinemas. Miss Miquel signed autoaranhs in
• ...
•' the
fternoon at the Strand, Providence and
the Johnston Cinema. Johnston, at night.
Wednesday through Friday of opening week
of states-rights' "From Holly With Love."
Another states-rights' X release, "Anyone
But My Husband," was Strand co-feature,
and "Virgin Dreams," states-rights' X prod-
Hub Hosts Regional
Mid-May NITE Meel
BOSTON — Monday (15) and Tuesday
(16). the first Northeast Regional Conference
of the National Independent Theatre
Exhibitors Ass'n (NITE) will be held in conjunction
with the Nite of New England
annual meeting. The two-day conference
will be held at the 1200 Beacon Street Hotel
here. The opening session will begin with
luncheon Monday (15) and continuethrough
the afternoon Tuesday (16). Tom Patterson
of Atlanta. Ga.. president of NITE. will
deiver
the keynote address at the dinner meet-
'"« ."^""^^^ "^) NITE of New England
election of officers take will place
at their business session on Monday afternoon.
Scheduled for Tuesday will be a trade
practices session with featured guests to be
announced soon. The national board of advisers,
representing NITE members across
the country,
uct,
will completed hold a
the double
session open to
bill at
all
Johnston.
in attendance.
tre. "To
NITE now
be
represents
seated over
within a few feet of the Also opening across the region:
courtroom statesrights'
X product. "Oriental
5,000 screens nationwide— the scene
Northeast
(Cabitor played a judge)
was Bkie,"
indeed "Taste Conference will include exhibitors
a thrill . . .
from
Who plaved Portia of Honey." "Jade Pussycat."
and who was
"Hard Soap." Pennsylvania, New York and New Shylock?
Jersey
Peggy Wood was the "Rough House," "Five
lawyer Hard Pieces,"
and "Intensive
Care,"
as well as the six New England states.
George For
Arliss. whom Shakespeare
"Diamond
must
Doublecross," further information contact
have NITE
had
of New
in mind for the role "Airline Cockpit,"
was
"Sweet
Shylock
Cakes,"
. . .
"Honey England headquarters at 188 Whiting Street.
This experience topped my Pie," and Cinema 5's
walk-on "One Sings, The role Other Hingham, Mass. 02043 or
as telephone
a Revolutionary (617)
soldier in Doesn't," as well as a Shaws reprise of
satire on
United 749-7974. All interested independent
the
theatre
exhibitors, their suppliers and
American Revolution Artists'
The "Annie Hall" and
Devil's Warner Bros.'
Disciple.' bookers
also at the Patrons "Dog Day Afternoon," are invited to
in the among attend this
late
others.
conference.
'20s. with the late Claude Rains
and Beatrix Thompson."
The holdover bloc was sizable: 20th Century-Fox's
"Julia."
Dr. Homer "High Anxiety," Babbidge, "The
once
Doctor's considered a
Dinner Theatre
Fury" and "The
gubernatorial
Turning Point";
candidate, Columbia's
"Close
is presently serving
A Step Closer
as
Encounters to Reality
president
of the
of
Third
the
Kind,"
Hartford Graduate Center
and Company
"The Boys in
opines
C." BRISTOL.
"Casey's Shadow";
CONN.— Plans of a Bristol
that the state's economy,
shiftmg
Paramount's
from
"Saturday
physician to
Night
convert
Fever."
the long-shuttered
manufacturing to service-related
Hot Wax":
"American
looks United RKO-Stanley
Artists'
bright "The
Warner New Bristol Theatre
indeed^ "Connecticut Big Sleep":
could be Cinema into a
5's
thought "A dinner
Special
theatre
Day";
(see earlier Boxoffice
to be over the hill because Warner's "Straight
story)
Time." cleared a "The Goodbye
major hurdle. The zoning
perhaps, alluded to last summer's protests
by neighborhood residents in Barry square
over Webster screen policy. "I will run any
type of product in that theatre that I can
make money on," Kane insisted. "I'll run
kiddie features if the neighborhood people
support me. But if they go out to the suburban
malls, with their four movie screens
then I'll run X-rated. I don't have four
screens. I only have one choice."
CInestudio at Trinity College doublebilled
"Bedazzled" and "The World's Greatest
Lover," charging $2, general admission,
and $1,50, students.
The Canton Village Cinema, off Rte. 44
with subsequent-run playdate of Paramount's
"The One and Only." advertised
a "Bargain Nite" $1.50 admission for adults
NE-6
Girl": Universal's "House Calls," "Gray
Lady Down"; among others.
The Rustic Drive-In, Woonsocket, opened
for the season with a triple-bill from the
states-rights' X-field. "Odyssey," "Angela"
and "Barbie's Hospital Affair" . . . Theatre
Management Services slotted first Warwick
booking of 20th-Fox's "Julia," charging
weeknight admission of $2 and Friday-Sat"-
urday night tab of $2.25. The matinee
charge is $1.50 . Providence,
brought back MGM's ".Son of Lassie"
(1945 release) for 2 p.m. showings over a
recent weekend.
Providence Journai-Biilletin's Michael
Janusonis says that "best performance" by
a personality at the April 3 Oscar show
was chalked up by Janet Gaynor. who won
the first best-actress category in 1928.
"Gaynor had more poise, more self control
and seemed less nervous than any of the
other Oscar presenters. Apparently, experience
and a touch of class still pay off."
Dwayne E.S. "Fatman" Wilson. 40. the
4()0-pound blues singer who toured the country
with "name" bands in the '50s, died of a
heart attack at Providence's St. Joseph's
Hospital.
board of appeals voted unanimously to allow
alcoholic beverages to be sold in the
building now owned by Dr. Brian C. Hennessey.
The doctor's legal counsel, Atty. John
Pearson, told the board: "Economic necessitv
requires alcoholic beverages."
Dr. Hennessey is to install tables to accomodate
"at most" 192 persons, serve
dinner and then show a motion picture from
the 1940s and 1950s.
A nearby property owner told the board
session that he was concerned about parking
for the proposed project, asking the board
to study the situation prior to acting on the
Hennessey request. The board, however,
agreed that parking, per se, could be worked
out.
The Hennessey interests will rename the
long-time cinema the Carberry Dinner Theatre,
remove the present 585 seats, paint
the ceiling, install antique chandeliers, carpeting,
clean the curtains and replace old
wall tapestries. The decor is to reflect the
atmosphere of the films' era. the arrangement
of tables to be on a scries of levels.
Columb'a Pictures' "Nightwing" began
filming last month on isolated New Mexico
locations.
BOXOmCE :: May 1, 1978

Films, Publishers Not
A Xoosome Twosome'
HARTFORD— A Knight News Wire dispatch
appearing in the Hartford Coiiranl
reported:
"Five years ago the movie industry and
the book publishing business were what is
known in gossip columns as a 'coosome
twosome.' Movie studios looked to publishers
to sort out the best stories for them
to bid on, and authors often realized substantial
fortunes as they sold movie rights in
the same breath they signed with a publisher.
Now the romance has cooled somewhat,
and publishing has a new sweetheart
— television. Its omnivorous appetite for
material and the trend toward mini-series
have put the networks where the movie
studios used to be.
"Initially, it doesn't mean as much money
for an author who sells his or her book to
television (generally about half of what
would be paid for a movie sale), but the
impact on book buyers is so much greater
from a so-so TV series, as compared with a
so-so movie, that TV can be more lucrative
in the long run. While the movies still go
for a handful or so of best sellers each
year, the thing about the switch in loyalties
is the growth in original scripts being made
into movies, stories that have not first appeared
as books. For some years Hollywood
shied away from stories without a track
period on the bookstore shelves."
Boola, Boola Bash Is Off
Says the Host, Alex Kwon
NEW HAVEN— Alex Kwon, a Yale University
senior from South Korea, called off
a lavish, $40,000 black-tie party he had
planned for the campus April 8 at the
11th hour; the activities were to have included
a showing of Columbia's 1967 release,
"Casino Royale." which co-stars Peter
Sellers and Ursula Andress.
Kwon had planned to invite 1,000 people
to gamble, drink, eat and dance in the University
Commons in the opulent style of the
jazz age and a night at Monte Carlo.
"It began as a way of saying goodbye to
my friends." he said, "but, unfortunately,
the party attracted the kind of attention
outside of Yale I did not anticipate and
has acquired a significance did not mean
I
it to have."
Multi-Media Gala Benefit
Recalls Memories of 1914
BOSTON—The New England Aquarium
was the setting April 12 for a 1914-
theme, multi-media gala, with emphasis on
Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy "lookalikes,"
as a benefit for restoration of the
Modern Theatre on Washington street as a
performing arts center.
The Modern, constructed in 1914 for silent
film, of course, later was a vaudeville
theatre and, in still later years, showed X
screen product.
The Modern, recently
placed on the Na-
Boston s
Downtown Expansion Plans
Will Prove Beneficial to
BOSTON— In a move to make Boston
compare to Las Vegas and New Orleans as
convention centers and surpass Miami, St.
Louis, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and
to increase the number of motion picture
theatres in the downtown area, some $135,-
000 in new construction is scheduled. A
plan to expand the 5,500-seat Hynes Memorial
Auditorium to nearly double that
number is being advanced by the Boston
Redevelopment Authority. A new hotel adjacent
to the auditorium, at a minimum
cost of $50,000,000, is seen, which could
bring 1,000 new hotel rooms to the downtown
area.
The Federal General Services Administration
recommended, April 12, that a second
fedeial office building, a $75,000,000,
22-story structure be built in downtown
Boston. U.S. House speaker Thomas P.
"Tip" O'Neill jr. said that the GSA had
completed a study on the need for more
federal office space in Boston and had concluded
a new building is required to house
3,000 Federal employees now working in
scattered, leased sites.
Under plans drawn by the BRA, the
Hynes auditorium and exhibition hall would
be extended across the Prudential Center's
access road to the Boylston St. sidewalk,
adding 112,000 square feet to the 149,000
now in the building. The proposed hotel
would be adjacent to the expanded hall and
extend in the hotel to be built, and also
tional Register of Historic Places along with
adjacent buildings, is being restored at a
projected cost of $2,000,000. The WWI era
function was scheduled along with other
events to meet the
financial goal.
'Graduate' at Pomroy House
NEWTON. MASS.—"The Graduate."
Avco Embassy 1967 release co-starring
Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman, was
shown at Rebecca Pomroy House on a recent
Friday night at 7:30 p.m., with an
unusual price schedule in effect: $2. single;
$3, couple; $4, triple.
Barry Gerson Speaks at Harvard
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—Filmmaker Barry
Gerson presented and discussed his ef-
Parents Censor Kids' T'V Shows?
HARTFORD— Irene Barry, Connecticut
Parent-Teacher Ass'n vice-president, has
suggested that neighborhood parents band
together and agree on what television shows
their children watch, "so none of the children
will succumb to peer pressure."
Exhibitors
would be included in surrounding areas of
the new multimillion dollar construction facilities.
With a total of 2,500 first class hotel
rooms within walking distance of the auditoriimi,
the BRA and the Boston Convention
Bureau officials say they arc convinced
that at least a dozen, major, national conventions
now bypassing the city could be
attracted, and this would bring much new
business into the city for exhibitors.
At present there are not enough rooms
for large groups such as the American Medical
Association, a BRA official said.
Also, now under consideration is an 800-
room hotel that would be built as part of a
$150,000,000 complex in an air rights development
above the Massachusetts Turnpike
in Copley Square with Western International
Hotels seen as the likely operator.
Sack Theatres has four theatres in the
vicinity of the Hynes Memorial: Cheri I,
II, III and the newly acquired Paris. The
Cheri's are opposite the Sheraton Hilton,
across the street from the Auditorium, and
the Paris is across the street from the Prudential
Center.
Plans are underway by Sack Theatres to
construct a fourth Cheri, which would give
the area five screens for first run films. In
addition, plans are on the drawing board for
the construction of twin cinemas by Sack
theatres in the rapidly expanding waterfront
area of the new Quincy Market.
New Bedford Museum In
Whale of a Fun Film Fest
NEW BEDFORD. MASS.—The New
Bedford Whaling Museum opened a classic
film comedy series, screening seven programs
on consecutive Thursday nights at
8 p.m. in the museum auditorium; the entire
series costs $10 for members of the
Old Dartmouth Historical Society, and $15
for non-members. Series ticket-holders are
assured of seats. Potluck seating purchase
is listed as $2 at show-time.
The programs are comprised of "Modern
Times," with the late Sir Charles Chaplin
(United Artists, 1936 release"); "Bringing
Up Baby." co-starring Cary Grant and
Katharine Hepburn (RKO. 1938 release);
a combination Buster Keaton show com-
forts, "Inversion," "Celluloid Illuminations" prised of "Sherlock Jr." (MGM. 1924 release)
and "The Frozen North" (distributor,
and "Translucent Appearances," in an 8
p.m. program on a recent Friday at Carpenter
Center, Harvard University. Admission
release year not available).
Also, "The Secret Life of Waller Mitty."
was $2.50.
Boris Karloff
with Danny Kaye and the late
(d'stributor, release year not available); "Unfaithfully
Yours." starring Rex Harrison
(20th-Fox. 1948 release): "A Day at the
Races." with the Marx Brothers (MGM.
1937 release); and "Murder, She Said," costarring
Margaret Rutherford and Arthur
Kennedv (MGM, 1962 release).
May 1, 1978 NE-7

Merrill Jarvis Caters to Vermonters
And Is Repaid by Filmgoers Loyalty
By ALLEN M. WIDEM
BURLINGTON, Vt.—Vermont exhibition
cannot claim, say,
the considerable cosmopolitan
audience of more populous points
(with notable exceptions, the so-called art
film is not particularly of blockbuster impact
in the Green Mountain state). Neither
c;in there be contention to the effect that
what is a "hit" in Boston, Providence and
Hartford, can be found to be in rare circumstances
in Burlington and Brattleboro.
The more distinguishing factor of Vermont
exhibition is steadfastness— i.e., a
sustaining audience that likes to return to
a cinema because that cinema is clean, comfortable,
yes, even cozy and because that
cinema is priced to encourage family moviegoing.
The foregoing implies cost, expense.
By no stretch of the imagination can a Burlington
first-run match its boxoffice "take"
with a first-run in larger New England municipalities,
but from the intriguing standpoint
of audience durability, Vermont exhibition
must be cited for exemplary endeavor.
Jarvis
Shows Pride
Talk to Merrill Jarvis. enterprising exhibitor
in northern Vermont (with, not so
surprisingly, emphasis on the state's largest
city. Burlington), and one discerns not only
pride in his industry but also pride in his
community—a coupling of significant elements
pointing to bettered boxoffice, and,
in truth, isn't bettered bo.xoffice the objective
for exhibition the year long anyway?
At this point in time. Jarvis. president of
South Burlington-based Merrill Theatre
Corp., operates, intown, the Flynn; Merrill's
Showcase 3, Century Plaza 2, and Essex
Twin Cinemas. Essex Junction, plus, in
season, drive-in interests. With the exception
of the SBC Management Corp.'s Burlington
Plaza Cinemas 2, the Merrill Jarvis operations
comprise first-run exhibition for
metropolitan area. Burlington, with more
shopping space than any other community
in the state, modestly bills itself as shopping
center for Vermont. And when the
chamber of commerce and like-themed
groups, organizations and committees stride
plagued exhibitors, has traditionally approached
the sensitive situation of newspaper
advertising on a low-key basis, he is
as aware as the next man in exhibition that
he who beats the drum louder than the
competition is the fellow who gets more
recognition. It follows that when Vermont
television, along with the rest of the country's
home-screen industry, gets around in
the fall of the year to boost attention for
new series, new specials and continuing
attractions, the input of Merrill Theatre
Corp. advertising expenditure must rise, to
capably do battle, in effect, with television's
fanciful promotion. Jarvis, resourceful, redoubtable,
goes about the task of coping
with television's immediacy through the inclusion
of ad reminders that moviegoing is
a pleasurable, economical leisure pursuit.
Convenient, comfortable.
Noteworthy, certainly, is the obviousness
of the Jarvis ad approach: No "look-whatwe've
got and the next theatre doesn't!"
kind of display space in the Burlington
Free Press. Vermont's largest newspaper.
Rather, an upbeat concept on the individual
attraction, with emphasis on the "name"
cast, running times (The Free Press does
not run movie schedules on its amusements
page), and. most understandably, pricetructuring.
Supporter of Tradition
Additionally, Jarvis holds to the exh'bition
trade's time-tested theory that when it
comes to touting, to promoting, "selling"
long-accepted motion picture glamor is a
prime ingredient in generating a "want-tosee"
attitude on the part of Vermonters.
He makes generous use of national
able quotes—a la Time Magazine's
quot-
"Very
Funny ... One of The Year's 10 Best."
for on-going ad copy for 20th-Fox's "High
Anxiety." Generous use is made, too, of
head-and-shoulder art of principal players
readily recognized by the man (or woman)-
in-the-street. And where many a cinema
(and this remark is not intended to score
other exhibitor's practices/policies) will
overlook use of a film company logo, Jarvis
seeks, week after week, to incorporate
the 20th-Fox. the Warner, the Columbia,
et al. logo. The corporate identity is part
of the industry legend Jarvis tells Boxoffice,
and it's an alert exhibitor who "sells"
his
product by including a corporate logo.
fiction, but they won't pay big-city dollar
at the boxoffice in Vermont; hence, an ongoing,
very much realistic appraisal of what
the traffic will bear.
For one thing, Jarvis makes a habit of
reducing prices for matinees, for youngsters,
and. significantly, making due note of the
practice. He does not "go" for the sometimes
exhibition habit of merely tossing in
a line to the effect of, for example, "Reduced
Prices!" He cites chapter-and-verse.
feeling that if it's worth advertising, it's
worth the time and effort in developing,
designing an ad—he usually runs a composite
ad for his Burlington area outlets.
Inflation has not sidestepped Jarvis; he's
paying more for services and goods than he
did a year ago, and. understandably, he has
to improve his profitability to keep pace
with the economy. One way is by seeking
to fill empty seats afternoons with reduced
prices. Another is distinctive advertising.
Still another is physical theatre cleanliness
and comfort. He stresses these matters the
year round.
Raise Was Necessary
The Essex Twin Cinema, in Essex Junction,
not so long ago was on a $l-for-all
seats policy at all times; inflation is simply
something that has refused to go away.
Jarvis upped the tab to $1.25 and, presently,
is charging $1.50—a bargain, comparatively,
to other things in life, but still a
50% boost over what the figure was not
so long ago. How to convince the moviegoer,
both regular and occasional, that the
Essex Twin Cinema is still worth patronizing?
By charging $1.25 for the 2 p.m. matinee,
Saturday and Sunday. Filling nonpeak
performance hours at lower prices,
but filling those hours!
Roots For Product
Above all, Merrill Jarvis (and, gratifyingly
enough, his bread is in the majority
in exhibition!) is not one to publicly single
out components of the industry for scorn
and derision. He is, first and last, an industry
booster, taking considerable continuing
pride—and concern—in matters affecting
exhibition. He wants the industry to succeed
with every film on the market and,
industry student that he is, readily concede
that not everything coming down the pike
can be the so-called blockbuster. He opts
for industry unity, industry camraderie. He
may not be a big-scale circuit man in Boston
or New York or elsewhere, but in Vermont,
mention of the name Merrill Jarvis
evokes words of praise— praise for having
the foresight to develop multi-auditorium
plexes in a region where such things were
merely for conversation alluding to distant
forth to promulgate Burlington trade, per
Vermont Structure Differs
When it
nary
comes
an
to
exhibitor
price-structuring,
the lenglh and
there's
se, it is not uncommon indeed to spot the
points. The Jarvis—and the SBC circuit,
Merrill Theatre Corp. among the participating
He
for that matter—multi-plex auditoriums
that are
advertisers. believes in boosting
Burlington because the city's public patronizes
showcases of Merrill Theatre Corp. to clamp on boxoffice charges com-
breadth of the Green Mountain state about
have
of winter
Vermonters out
heat of summer
brought
and
in
because
the cold
of
Ergo,
an
pat me on the back, I'll pat you on monplace, say, in the specialized situations
advertising approach that emphasizes
film
the back. Again, steadfastness, the basic ingredient
in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
glamor, an operating policy that assures
of Vermont's lifestyle.
Vermonters
comfort, convenience, and a personal
may be as worldly as New
philosophy that says, yes, motion pictures
Yorkers, folks from the land of Illinois or
Aware of Industry'
are still great entertainment!
California (airlines take Vermonters around
While Jarvis, industry-conscious, industry-wise,
the country and overseas, too), regardless of
as much as his fellow, inflation-
the stereotyped denizen depicted and
in
fact
Westport Shows' Roberta'
WESTPORT. MASS. — The public library
in this southeastern Massachusetts
town hosted a free showing of RKO's "Roberta,"
1935 release co-starring Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rogers, on a recent Monday at
7 p.m.
NE-8
BOXOFFICE May 1. 1978

. . . March
. .
VANCOUVER Montreal Festival Creates Press
The niaii.v friends of Alt Knowles, who has
hcen connected for many years with
the Ridge as projectionist and manager, are
happy that he is reported to be staying on
with the new management as the house
goes independent . . . Canfilm president
Hector Ross spent several days at the local
office. apparently discussing pending
changes.
The postal system here and in the U.S.
catches lots of flack, mostly deserved, but
both get brownie points for this one. A
young miss sent a letter to Ivan Ackery.
Orphcum Theatre here (Ivan has been retired
over a dozen years). The theatre dutifully
checked up and found out Ivan was
in Honolulu on his annual (?) vacation. So,
the letter got there just after he returned
to this city. The Honolulu post office found
his West Vancouver address and returned
the letter there, where Ivan finally received
it. The young lady wanted some information
about the late Joan Crawford, so Ivan rummaged
through his files, came up with what
she wanted and sent it
on.
Theo Ross reports that the monster Easter
Bunny which Nora received is now safely
ensconced in the kindergarten classioom at
nearby Eagle Harbor Elementary where,
towering over the diminutive teacher, it has
the moppets appropriately overawed.
Variety Tent 47 finalized details of its
1978 telethon at a meeting of the committee
chairmen March 23. No time was wasted
on self-congratulations but a lot of thought
and effort went into constructive criticism
of the recent marathon and active preparations
were started for the 1979 telethon
31, chief barker Ben Kopelow
publicly thanked everyone through the
media, as virtually all the pledges were received—truly
a remarkable achievement.
Most of the major Oscar-winning films
still were on first-run screens and continued
to do good business. "Annie Hall." however,
which had enjoyed a long run downtown
last year, was rushed into the Fine Arts.
where it opened April 6 . . . Viewing umpteen
pictures a year, it is to be expected
that a critic will carp occasionally. But a
young stringer for the suburban Western
News, one Mark Harris, has yet to like a
picture in the first 14 weeks of 197

A),
^"oool
Znd
'
8lh
i
'
'That's Carry On Carries Toronto
With a Strong First Week Showing
TORONTO—Only one new product ap- peared this period, neither one drawing an
peared on marquees here. "That's Carry overwhelming amount of attention. "Con-
On"" at the York, which pulled in a Good voy Buddies." at the Plaza 2. managed a
rating. Most other films either stayed at the fair rating, while "Looking for Mr. Goodsame
level of business as the previous re- bar."' at the Roxy. did Good business. "Close
porting period or dropped a notch or two. Encounters of the Third Kind" is still doing
"The Big Sleep"" dozed off to a "Poor"" Excellent trade at two theatres. Among Exrating:
"The Fury" slipped, as did "Casey"s cellent films are "Straight Time."" "The One
Shadow"" and "Gray Lady Down."" "Ameri- and Only"" and "The Goodbye Girl.""
can Hot Wax"" drew a not-so-hot "Poor" in Capilanc^Leopard in the Snow (PR), Znd wk Fair
... ,
. .. n Capitol Squarr- 1— Straight Time (WB),
,
Its third week at the Uptown. 3;:^ „j(^ .
Excellent
Elg:n—The Big Sleep (UA), 2nd wk Poor Capitol Squa; - 2— The One and Only (Para),
Five theatres—Casey's Shadow (Astral), 9lh wk Excellent
2nd wk Fair Capitol Square 3—Saturday Night Fever
Four theatres— Gray Lady Down (Univ), (Para), 16>h wk ..Excellent
3rd wk Capitol Square 4—Semi-Tough Good (UA),
Hollywood—An Unmarried Woman (BVFD), I5th wk Very Good
2nd wk Very Garneau—High Good
Good Anxiety (BVFD) wk
Hollywood—The Turning Point (BVFD), Jasper Blue—Gray Lady Dovim (Univ), 4th wk. Good
14th wk Very Good Jasper Red—Crossed Swords (WB),
Hyland—House Calls (Un.v), 2nd wk
Imperial—Crossed Swords (WB), 2nd
Excellent
Very Good
2ndwk
Londonderry
Very Good
Mountain
wk. A— Return From Witch
Imperial, Park—The Fury (BVFD).
3rd wk Very Good
(BV),2ndwk
Londonderry B—Coma (UA), 8th wk
Excellent
Good
Imperial—Rabbit Test (BVFD), 2nd wk Very Good Meadowlark, Odeon 1—Close Encounters of the
Imperial—The Betsy (IFD), 7:h wk Good Third Kind 'Astral), 15th wk Excellent
International—Return From Witch Mountain Paramount—American Hot Wax (Pare),
(BV), 3rd wk
Plaza—The Goodbye Girl iWB), 14th v.k V
Good
Good
3rd wk.
Plaza 1—The Late Great Planet Earth (PR),
Excellent
-y
Plaza—Julia (BVFD), IS-h v.,-. Good 5th wk Fair
Six theatres—Close Encounters Kind Plaza 2—Convoy Fair
oi the Third Buddies (AFD)
wk Very Good 1—House Calls (Univ), 2nd Excellent
(Astral), 15th
Town -Straight Time (WB), 3rd wk Excellent
Rialto wk
Rialto 2—An Unrrarried Woman (BVFD),
Twc t :• Star Wars (BVFD), 40th wk Good 2ndwk Very Gcod
'
Univ. ;i. Coma 7th wk Good Roxy—Looking for Mr. Goodbar (PcTra) Good
Up'ov.:.- American Hot Wax (Para), 3rd ...Poor Westmoun! A— Julia (BVFD), 9th wk Excellent
wk
Uplo/.r.— Saturday Night Fever (Para), Westmount B— The Goodbye Girl (WB),
I6th wk Very Good 15lh wk Excellent
Uptown—High Anxiety (BVFD), 8th wk Fair
York—Thafs Carry On (Astral)
Good
'First Nudie Musical' Exposure
'The Late Great Planet Earth' Successful in "Vancouver Debut
In Excellent Orbit in Ottawa VANCOUVER—"The First Nudie Mu-
OTTAWA — "The Late Great Planet ^ical"" barely pranced its way across the
Earth"" and "The Goodbye Girl" scored Ex- screen at the Coronet to a Good rating. All
cellent marks here. "Saturday Night Fever."" other films stayed at the same level of box-
"Julia."" "Rabbit Test,"" "Close Encounters office activity except for "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind"" and "The Other Side of of the Third Kind,"" "House Calls."" "Amerthe
Mountain Part 2"" continue to hold Very ican Hot Wax"" and "Saturday Night Fever,"
Good ratings. "Casey"s Shadow."" "The all of which dropped a notch or two. Spring
Turning Point."" "High Anxiety"" and "The weather here is still a bit cool for outdoor
Stanley—The Fury (BVFD), 4th wk Very Good
Two Openers Make a Few Waves ^1?^ wk' '=^"''^-'"''° (BVFD) ^^^^ ^^^^
In Edmonton First Run Ocean Vancouver Cemre-The Goodbye Girl (WB),
EDMONTON-Only two new films ap- Vogu'e "close Encounters of the ThirTKind"' °'°'
(Astral), 17lh wk Good
'The Fury' Does Furious Trade
In Initial Montreal Appearance
MONTREAL—"The Fury"" opened here
lo excellent business at the Atwater. The
„^,^ ^m^^^ French-language "Un Espion de Trop"
"
REVENUE ^ ^H^^H drew a Very Good at the Parisien. "House
Calls,'" ""Crossed Swords"' and "Casanova
& Company'" all slipped to the Good or
Very Good ranks, while "The Goodbye
Girl," in its 16th week at the Avenue,
climbed to an Fxcellent. probably on the
strength of Academy Award-winner Richard
Dreyfuss portrayal of an actor dedicated
to his craft. Other films continued either
Excellent or Very Good.
Atwater—The Fury (BVFD) Excellent;
Avenue—The Goodbye Girl (WB),
16th wk Excelle
Cinema—The Turning Point (BVFD),
16th wk Excellent
Calemont— An Unmrraried Woman (BVFD),
4th wk. Excellent
Cote Des Neiaes-Hou-e Calls (Ur.iv)
3rd wk Very Good
Decane Square—The Other Side ol the Mountain
Part 2 (Univ). 3:d wk Gc
Loews—The Big Sleep (UA), 3rd wk Very Gc
Loews—The One and Only (Para)
10th wk Very Good
Loews—Saturday Night Fever (Para),
17th wk Excellent
Loews—Coma (UA), 9'h wk Very G
Loews—Crossed Swords (WB), 4th wk Good
Palace—American Hot Wax (Para),
4th wk Very Good
Place du Canada—Julia (BVFD),
10th wk Very Good
Place Ville Mane—Straight Time (WB)
4th wic Very Good
Showdon— Casanova «S Company (Mut)
2nd wk, Good
Van Home—Return From Witch Mountain
(BV), 4th wk Very Good
York—The Betsy (IFD), 3rd wk Very Good.
French Lonauaqe Films
Bern—Cours Apres Moi Sheriff (Un.v)
5th wk Very Good
Champlain—La Rencontre du 3ieme Type
(Astral), 3rd wk Excelle
Cremazie—Annie Hall (UA), 5th wk Excellent
Parisien— 1900 (Para), 7th wk Very Good
Parisien—La Vie Devant Soi (Pros)
4th wk Excellent
Parisien—Goodbye Enunanuelle (Mut),
5th wk -..Very Good
Parisien—Un Espion de Trop (UA) Very Good
Winners of Academy Awards Get
The Most Attention in Winnipeg
WINNIPEG— Business was slightly slower,
with best returns coming from Academy
Award winners, including very strong "The
Goodbye Girl" and "Star Wars." "Julia"
remained well above average; "Crossed
Swords" created strong grosses in its opening
week.
Capitol—Crossed Swords (WB) Excellent
Colony—The One and Only (Para), 10th wk Good
Convention Centre—The Other Side of the
Mountain Part 2 (Univ), 7th wk Average
Dwontown—Lascivious (PR), Invitation
(PR)
Average
Garden City-Return From Witch Mountain (BV),
4th wk Very Good
Garrick 1— Julia (BVFD), 8th wk Very Good
Gcrrick II—The Fury (BVFD), 3rd wk Excellent
Grant Park—The Goodbye Girl (WB),
intervention had something to do with the
long run. Bertolucci's "1900" opened at the
Market Mall 3 with Fair business. "Straight
Time" and "American Hot Wax" continue
Excellent, as does "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind."
CTVERttMA IS IIV SHOW
BUSLVESS L\ HAWAII TOO,
WTien you conic to Wulkiki,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at CUncnuna's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
K-2
BOXOFFICE ;; May

. . Variety
Brentwood, Marlboro Square 2—The Other Side
ol Ihe Mounlain Pari 2 (Univ), 7lh wk Fan
Calgary Place 1—Siraight Time (WB),
3rd wk Excellent
Calgarv Place 2—American Hot Wax (Para),
Market Mall 6—Saturday Night Fever (Para),
16th wk Very Good
Marlboro Square 1, Wes'brcok 3— Crossed
Swords (WB), 3rd wk Very Good
North Hill—Close Encounters ol the Third Kind
(Astral). 15lh wk Good
Odeon 1 The Turning Point (BVFD), 15th wk. Good
Palace—Return From Witch Mountain (BVFD),
2nd A-k. . Excellent
Palliser Square I—The Big Sleep (UA),
2nd wk Good
Palliser Square 2— lulia (BVFD), 9lh wk Excellent
Towne Blue—The Goodbye Girl (WB),
15th wk Excellent
Towne Red—Gray Lady Down (Univ), 2nd wk Good
Uptown 1—House Calls (Univ), 3rd wk. Excellent
Uptown 2—An Unmarried Woman (BVFD),
2nd wk Good
Westbrook 2—Looking for Mr. Goodbar (Para) . Fcir
TORONTO
^ctor Paul Winfield was a visitor here to
promote his film "A Hero Ain't
Nothin' But a Sandwich." He was somewhat
concerned that the picture would be
given a "restricted" classification in Ontario,
whereas it was given a PG rating below
the border. George Belcher, vice-chairman
of the province's censor board, told
the press that no final decision yet had been
made and that the board might look at the
feature again before making up its mind.
However, a "restricted" sign was displayed
prominently when the fUm had an advance
screening at the Ontario Film Theatre in
the Science Centre.
Canadian distributor for "A Hero Ain't
Nothin' But a Sandwich" is Orval Fruitman
of New World-Mutual Pictures. Fruitman
said that his impression was that the censor's
first reaction was one of concern because
a 13-year-old junkie is shown responding
with rapture after an injection.
The picture was scheduled to open at the
Sheraton Centre.
Prints of entries must be received bv Friday
(5).
.
. . .
New World-Mutual Pictures of Canada
held an advance screening of "The Lacemaker"
at the Fine Arts Club
of Ontario Tent 28 sponsored the Canadian
premiere of "F.I.S.T." at the University
April 27. Director Norman Jewison and
other celebrities were in attendance
Tent 28 will be sponsoring the Wally
Crouter 100 Club at the Canadian Open
Golf Championship Jime 22-2.'>.
John Roberts, secretarv of stale, outlined
his proposals to assist Ihe Canadian motion
'
picture industrv on CTV's "AM Show
April 13.
Ontario Censors Veto
Para/s 'Prelly Baby'
TORONTO—The "sex theme" was given
as the reason for the Ontario Censor
Board's total rejection of Paramount's "Pretty
Baby," the story of a 12-year-old girl
who lives in a 1917 New Orleans brothel.
Not in recent history has this provincial
body taken such drastic action against a
major Hollywood release.
"We're talking about what is
acceptable,"
chief censor Don Sims reported to the press.
"In this case, 't's the whole theme of the
picture. I think that we're reasonable and
we're open to appeal." Paramount officials
had no comment but an appeal is planned.
Ontario censors screened the film before
the group of six, including Sims, met local
Paramount officials to deliver their verdict.
"We only rejected seven films last year,
yet our friends in British Columbia (that
province's censor board) rejected 14," said
Sims. "I don't want to say more that would
add fuel to the fire."
It seemed that France's Louis Malle, who
directed the p'cture. might come here to
present his case to the censor board at the
time of the appeal.
"Pretty Baby" had its Canadian premiere
in Montreal April 14 without cuts. Unlike
their Ontario counterparts, Quebec censors
decided that the film is suitable to be shown
in that province to audiences 18 years of
age and over.
Michael Spencer, executive director of
Graham Kerr,
the
vice-president and
Canadian Film Development
creative
director McKim was
Corp.,
said that he "surprised" by the board's
at Advertising. Montreal,
decision.
has been appointed the Canadian juror for
the 25th International Advertising Film "Malle is a very good filmmaker," he
Festival in Cannes. Adfilms is the Canadian added. "It's not as if someone went out
member of the Screen Advertising World with a 16mm camera to make a pornographic
film. I'm sorry that this happened
Ass'n, which sponsors the festival, and
would like to advise that the closing date and I hope the decision is reconsidered in
appeal."
for delegate registration is Friday (19).
Redstone Units Open Flea Market
BOSTON— Redstone Theatres' suburban
Neponset and Revere Drive-In Theatres
have opened their Sunday flea market/swap
and shop schedule for the season. Activity
is scheduled at both underskycrs from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
All four of the circuit's suburban driveins
are open for the year; the roster,
in addition
to Neponset and Revere, includes the
Dedham and V.F.W. Parkway. All four are
charging S4.50-per-carload. regardless of the
number of passengers.
OTTAWA
3rd wk
Chinook—The One and Only
1—
Women of Variety president Jean Carter P^s of mid-April, the Britannia Twin Drivein
Excellent
(P^i-i)
9th wk. Very Good
welcomed the following new members: Hilda
still was the only ozoner operating
Grand 1, Weslbrook Casey's Shadow (Astral),
3rd
Grand 2—Co
Brand, Roddy Gould, Mrs. Abe James,
..Fair
in the metropolitan area. Blake Murphy,
Fair
Good Bertha Kerbel, Carolyn Leslie, Bcrnicc lelief manager at the Britannia, was happy
Market Mall 3—1900 (Para) Fair
Rosenberg, Linda Shapiro, Helene Winston, to see spring arrive and to observe the melt-
Market Moll 4 High Anxiety (BVFD), 8th wk Good
Margaret Chiavatti, Marianne Heller, Sally
Market Mall 5—Oh. Godl (WB),
2Blh wk Very Good
Jones, Sandra Lato, Jean Michaud, Minerva
Rosenthal and Jill Turner.
ing snow. The twin aircr now is operating
on a seven-day-a-week policy and reported
good business with "Rabbit Test" and "Embryo"
in Britannia I and "The Toolbox
Murders" and "The Crimson Gang" in Britannia
2 . . . According
to reports, other
drive-ins will be opening within the next
few weeks. Furthermore, someone said
Doug Watt, manager of the Queensway
Drive-In, was seen with a snow shovel in
his hand trying to rid his ozoner of snow
via the manual method.
The annual meeting of the Canadian Motion
Picture Pioneers, Ontario branch, was
held in Toronto April 10 at the Plaza Hotel.
Four local theatre veterans— Ernie Warren,
Bart Brown. Doug Pinder and Jack
Marion—motored to Toronto to participate
in the induction ceremonies.
New Owners Unveil Policy
For Ridge in Vancouver
VANCOUVER— For the past ten years
(at least), Allen Stevens has wanted to have
a theatre of his own. That urge might even
go back to when he was approximately six
years old and met Orson Welles on Wilshire
Boulevard in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Leonard Schcin, who also grew up with
good movies in Los Angeles, has had the
same idea. A short time ago, when Schein
and friend Stevens officially took over the
Ridge Theatre at 16th and Arbutus, they
had their own movie house—and Vancouverites
have a chance to beat a path to a
community theatre that is different from
anything else in town.
Under the new management of Stevens
and Schein, a pair of 29-year-olds who
"love movies." the Ridge has inaugurated a
policy of "no junk movies and no junk
food." They hope Vancouverites are starved
for both of what they are being offered.
This includes "only Hollywood film classics,
the very best imported films (in their
original language with English subtitles) and
a few contemporary popular entertainment
favorites."
Declares Stevens, "We will
not show violent,
sexist, racist or dull movies!"
There will be two double-headers per
week at $2.50, which is one of the lowest
theatre prices in the city. Children will be
admitted for $1 and that also is what
Golden Agers will be charged.
Intending to make the Ridge a commimity-oriented
theatre, Schein and Stevens
think there is a real need for that they
envision: a place where "people can have
a good time at reasonable prices and see
good movies."
They also feel the Ridge can meet the
need and "we hope the commimity will
resf>ond and support it," they state without
pleading.
May 1, 1978 K-3

Toronto Festival Set
For September 14-21
TORONTO—This city will hold its third
annual film festival in early autumn—but
with a new name and a new director.
Formerly known as the Festival of Festivals,
the event now will be known as the
Toronto International Film Festival. An attempt
will be made to gear the occasion
more to the taste of the general public.
according to Wayne Clarkson. who takes
over from festival founder Bill Marshall.
"T want to break this notion that a festival
is elitist . . . that a festival is intended solely
for film buffs or even members of the
industry," Clarkson stated at a press conference.
Clarkson formerly was deputy director of
the Canadian Film Institute and director of
the Ottawa Film Festival, as well as the
1976 World Animation Festival. He said
that "all festivals must try to bring the general
public into the activities."
The Toronto International Film Festival
is scheduled to be held September 14-21.
with screenings at several theatres in the
Bloor-Yonge area. The 197S Canadian Film
Awards will be presented on Ihc closing
night.
Marshall, still
associated with the festival,
said that the inclusion of the awards "vindicates
our contention that we have the premier
week of film events in Canada."
Other changes are being made to strengthen
the festival for industry representatives.
Using videotape machines, distributors and
producers will offer their TV and feature
films for sale to other distributors in a
Cannes-like market.
Correction
KAN.SA.S CITY— It frequently has been
observed that the English language is abused
unmercifully by Americans. With films, that
lingual obstacle may be overcome either
with dubbing or by the use of subtitles. A
magazine poses a somewhat more difficult
problem. For example, the headline on page
K-7 of last week's Boxoffice proclaimed
"Psychologist Says Effect of .Sex, Violence
in Films Are Overated" and it is realized
that this message might be construed in a
variety of ways. As originally written, the
headline was "Psychologist Says Effects of
Sex, Violence in Films Are Overrated,"
which is what we believe the shrink intended
to convey. While this mysterious miscarriage
in the usage of the Queen's English
is being investigated, the entire editorial
staff has gone into therapy concentrating on
written discussions of selected segments of
the basic educational reading aid of the
1950s, "Dick and Jane." At least we know
why Johnny can't read: his parents couldn't
spell. And we regret the obfuscation which
has resulted from a simple analysis of the
diverse reinforcements in behavioral patterns
stemming from stimuli of cinematic
etiology.
Plaza Repertory Cinema
Adopts Membership Plan
CALGARY—This city has a new film
group, the Plaza Repertory Cinema, and it
is offering several advantages to its members.
An outgrowth of the interest shown
in the old. classic motion pictures that have
been shown in the Plaza Theatre for the
past six months, the group's membership
card holders will be entitled to a 50-cent
discount on adult admissions when the ID
is shown at the boxoffice (the policy does
not apply to senior citizens or children,
since they already receive a discount). Members
may part'cipate in all special organizational
programs and series which are presented
on a continuing basis. Further, they
receive advance notice and ticket-purchasing
privileges for special "open admission"
series and programs, often including advance
purchasing discoimts, as well as a
10 per cent discount on posters and books
from the Plaza concession stand on presentation
of membership card and delivery by
mail of monthly program notes and schedules.
Fees for one year are: students. $5; adults,
$7.50, and family, $12. Memberships are
provided free of charge to senior citizens.
Family memberships are available to
couples living at the same address and to
their children between 13 and 18 years of
age.
The Plaza advised via a news release that
it has had numerous requests for "serious
art films" and those with limited audience
appeal. Because of prohibitive costs, however,
this type of presentation has not been
possible. Under the new structure, the group
will be able to obtain such films because
there is a lower cost for closed screenings.
During May, some of the greatest of the^
silent films will be shown for members'
only. The series is entitled "Sounds of the
Silents" and advance mail orders are being
taken. Adults and students will be able to
see all four films for $10. Senior citizens
and children under 13 will be charged $6.
The four pictures will be D. W. Griffith's
"The Birth of a Nation"; Charlie Chaplin's
"The Gold Rush"; William Wellman's
World War I epic, "Wings," and Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer's "Ben Hur" (1926). Due to
the anticipated demand for tickets to "The
Gold Rush," two special screenings have
been arranged. Monday (15) there will be a
second show at 9:30 p.m. on a "rush ticket
only" basis and Thursday (11) at 1:30 p.m.
a senior citizens' showing will be presented
with those qualifying admitted for 99 cents.
In view of rapidly rising printing and
mailing costs, the Plaza has had to restrict
its mailing list to Plaza Repertory Cinema
members only but programs still can be
picked up at the theatre.
Another request from interested patrons
has been to bring to fhe theatre filmmakers
and their films with a lecture or discussion
period following the screening. Such sessions
are being arranged now but will
for members only.
be available
Nick Mancuso and Stephen Macht will
ar in "Nightwing."
ALL OF THESE
PRACTICAL
SERVICE
DEPARTMENTS
APPEAR REGULARLY
m
ADLINES AND EXPLOITIPS
BOXOFHCE BAROMETER
(First Run Reports)
FEATURE BOOKING CHART
•
FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST
& ALPHABETICAL TNDEX.
•
REVIEWS OF FEATURES
•
SHORT SUBJECT CHART
•
SHOWMANDISING IDEAS
In
All Ways the Best
SERVICE THAT SERVES!
K-4 May 1, 1978

Page
Title
Time
Run
Type
Distributor
BOXOFFMCE BOOKINCUIDE
An interpretive analysis of lay and tradepress reviews. Running time is in parentheses. The plus and
minus signs indicate degree oi merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. Symbol ^ denotes
BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All films are in color except those indicated by (bSw) for black d white.
Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings: 0—general audiences: PCi— all ages admitted (parental guidance
suggested); g] — restricted, with persons under 17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent
or adult guardian; i^h-persons under 17 not admitted. National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures
(NCOMP) ratings: Af— 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 compony, see FEATURE CHART.
I^EVIEW DIGEST
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX
W Very Good; + Good; — Fair; — Poor; — Very Poor. the summary H is rated 2 pluses,
G.
P.

5018 Pretty Baby (109) D Para 4- 3-78 [Rj C f
, . .Para
REVIEW DIGEST
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX ++ Very Good, + Good, ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. In the summary tt is rated 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses.
(135) D
4S87 Love at First Sight
(85) C-D ....
. Para U. 7-77 E) C ++ f). 4| ± 4+ g+i-
Etime 11-14-77 ± - 1+2-
5014 Madame Rosa (105) D ...Atlantic 3-20-78
5001 Mado (130) D Joseph Green 1-30-78
5021 Malibu Beach (93) C Crown 4-24-78 El
5014 Man Who Loved Women, The
Oh, God! (104) C WB 10-17-77 PG A3
4974 On the Comet (75) SF ....Filmaco 9-19-77
Ona People: Life and Death in Tierra
del Fuego, The (55)
Doc Chapman/de Gonzalez 1-23-78
5006 One and Onlv, The (98) C .
4975 One Sings, the Other Doesn't
2-13-78 PG A3
+
(105) C-D Cinemas 9-26-77 B
SOOOOpening Nioht (144) D Faces 1-9-78 A3
4998 Operation Thunderbolt
(125) Hi-Sus-D ....Cinema Shares 1- 2-78 PG A2
Other Side of the Mountain Part 5005 2,
The (100) D Univ 2-13-78 PG A3
Padre Padrone (114) B-D RAI 11-14-77 A4 ±
Pafnucio Santo
±
(98) F Conacine, S.A. 10-31-77
4988 Pete's Dragon
(135) An-CM BV 11-14-77 g) Al H
Phantom Baron
(100) F Raymond Rohauer 2-13-78 +
4981 Piece of the Action, A
WB

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Aug
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Oct
APACHE FILMS
The Best of Uurel & Hardy (90)
ATLAS
The Confessional (95) ..Ho- July 77
Anthony Sharp. Susan Penhaligon
The Contest (83) D.. Aug 77
Nancy (Gordon, Sandra Potter
Lovers Like Us (10(» ..R-C..0ct77
Catherine Deneuve. Tves Montand
BEEHIVE PRODUCTIONS
Lust Flight (SO) ...Sex D.. June 7!
Serm.a. Mike It-uigcr. I'at Manninc
Curves Ahead! (81) ..Sex C..0ct78
(Toldie Bear. W.F. Margold
The Lady Wants a
Tramp Sex C. Jan 79
llicliclle St. Bernard, RolKrt Terrier
CAMBIST FILMS
Swedish Minx (99) ....C.Ju
.Maria LjTui. Bie Warburg
Girl on Her Knees D. A
Clirls rhittell. Jacqueline Laiin
Easy Come. Easy Go C.N
Remus Peets. Heidi Kappler
CANNON GROUP
The Happy Hool -S" C. June 78
The New Erotic Adventures of
Casanova Part 2 ..Sex D.. Oct 78
KEY INTERNATIONAL
The Father Kino Story
„'"5) Ac-D ..Sept 77
RIcliard Egaii, Rlcardo
''-
Monialban
for Blue (86) .W-Doc. .Sept 77
rtes Allei '"- Tanya Tucker
COUGAR RELEASING
Legend of Sea Wolf .
Nov 77
Clorrk Connors. Barbara Bach LIMA
Loralie Legend "
PRODUCTIONS
Ur,
Tony 78
Kendall Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio
Starbird and Sweet
^ '75) Sex C. Mar 78
Teenaje Seductress
A. Snez.nanHagsPrt*"-'"''^^
Sex D. Mar 78
Sana of Dracula/Vengeance' Little
of the
-.^'''«.- Ho. Jan 78
iisters of Satan/Dr Jtkyll and
the Werewolf
Ho. Jan
Baker's
78
Hawk
Ad
.
Hint 78
Walkor, Burl ,,,,
Caesai
"?'"''• "''•''
out.'". LfiiwrlV
Rioht to Love n ««,, 7»
Omar Sharif ^'
Florlnda Bolkan '
Love Comes Qu etiv Siit M>v -n
€>r'v '*"''•""'«
^ciidt Araya. Carol Baker
FIRST ARTISTS RELEASING
Pardon Mon Affaire
"
Jean Rochefort; "vict;; 'unou"!!""*
Anny niiperey
(IM)"" *"""* °' ""'"
'^
Fernando hey.' CaV.'.lV B*;'," nel""'
.Angela Molina
Speedtirap (101) . . AcAd. .Apr
Joe
78
rvin Baker. Tync Dal)
NEW LINE
Femmcs Fatales 0.. Sept 77
Voyage to Grand
„ f"";''..-, F.. Oct 77
Desperate Living
Of)
C-F..0ctT7
Monty Python Metis' Beyijnd "the
Fringe c. Nov 77
House Made of
^Da
Hi.D..Nov77
S'""''
Ac-Ad. .Dec77
NILES INTERNATIONAL
Love All Summer C-D .
77
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now

I other
Opinions on Current Productions
Symbol Q denotes color; © CinemaScope; ^ Panavision; 5) Technir
SILVER BEARS
Columbia (78006)
PG
Comedy
©
113 Minutes Rel. Apr. '78
Except for an uninspii-ed title, this internationally
filmed comedy has much to offer; a top cast, excellent
locales and a fun tale filled with delightful twists. High
financing and the world silver market are the satirical
targets of scripter Peter Stone, basing his work on the
novel by Paul E. Erdman. Director Ivan Passer and the
cast contribute neat bits of business all the way through
and enjoyment runs high. The usual smooth work of
Michael Caine, Louis Jom-dan and Martin Balsam is
greatly eiihanced by Stephane Audran's beauty in a part
with which she has fun, Cybill Shepherd's wild character
and Tommy Smothers' deft handling of liis role as a
junior executive, unlike the bimibling image from his folk
singing days. Begimiing with some establishing shots of
Las Vegas, the Alex Winitsky-Arlene Sellers production
travels to Lugano, Switzerland, then to Marrakech, Morocco,
with interiors made at London's Twickenham Studios.
It's the kind of fibn in which everyone is a smooth
operator, each having a different angle on the old con
game. 'When amusing dialogue isn't necessary, there are
visual gags. The Columbia release has a lot going for it,
yet still may require some heavy exploitation. Claude
Boiling contributed the music. In Technicolor.
Michael Caine, Cybill Shepherd, Louis Jourdan, Martin
Balsam, Stephane Audran, David Warner.
/ Wanna Hold Your Hand PG
Comedy with Mu
Universal (7812) 104 Minutes Rel. Apr. '78
Beatlemama provides the driving force behind a group
of detennined teenagers who go to great lengths to see
the British quartet on their initial visit to the U. S. Lots
of fresh new faces are cast in the leading roles. Theresa
Saldana, pretty Nancy Allen and funny Wendie Jo Sperber
have the female leads, along with Paul Newman's
daughter Susan Kendall Newman, 24. Marc McClui-e and
little Chi-istian Juttner overcome the slapstick quality
of the Robert Zemeckis-Bob Gale script to turn in good
perfoi-mances, while Bobby DiCicco and Eddie Deezen are
saddled with such outrageous parts that they fail to •
make their characters believable. 'Will Jordan, in his film
debut, does the Ed Sullivan imitation which he originated
on the Sullivan show around 1950 and which easily wins
laughs. The Beatles themselves are heard throughout and
seen in black & white footage, while standins are cleverly
spotted whenever needed. The wild plot will appeal mainly
to teens who enjoy seeing authority deflated and who
may be able to appreciate the takeoffs on "American
Graffiti," hero worship and the Sixties. Zemeckls directed.
Gale was associate producer and Steven Spielberg
executive producer for producers Tamara Asseyev and
Alex Rose. In Panavision and Technicolor.
Nancy Allen, Bobby DiCicco, Marc McClure, Theresa
Saldana, Wendie Jo Sperber, Susan Kendall Newman.
LEOPARD /i\ THE SNOW
PG
Romantic Drama
New World (181) 90 Minutes Rel. Feb. '78
Hai-lequin Romances are like some automobiles, assembled
with interchangeable parts, which tends to create
the illusion of an ongoing theme from book to book. This
is the film version of one of the Harlequin novels. Keir
Dullea, astronaut in the epic "2001: A Space Odyssey,"
plays the role of a reclusive former American racecar
driver who is haunted by his past. Susan Penhaligon is
a young English woman who flees from her imminent
marriage only to become snowbound at Dullea 's isolated
country mansion. The script by Anne Mather and Jill
Hyen tells the essentially simple story of girl-meets-boy.
boy-rejects-glrl. girl insists, boy capitulates. Director
Gerry O'Hara allows Kenneth 'V. Jones' musical score to
accent dramatic moments, thus achieving effective audience-reaction
control. Billie Whitelaw, the nanny in
"The Omen," offers a brief, effective portrayal of a notso-evil
stepmother. The most likeable perfonnance probably
is that of Jeremy Kemp as Dullea's sympathetic
valet. There is some lovely, snowy scenery in this John
Quested-Chris Harrop production, beautifully photo- "^ i
graphed in Technicolor on location in Canada. The at- -my '
traction of the picture will be powerful for T'V soap-opera
buffs, making it ideal for ladies' matinee programs.
Keir Dullea, Susan Penhaligen, Kenneth More, Billie
Whitelaw, Jeremy Kemp.
Feature reviews
anamorphi : processes. For story synopsi
THE LAST WALTZ
Rock^usicai
United Artists (78014) 115 Minutes Rel. May '78
Martin Scorsese, drawing on his feel for rock music and
his experiences in editing "'Woodstock" and "Elvis on
Tour-," has directed what most likely will be judged as
the best so far among films made solely to feature a musical
group, either tom-ing or in concert. Members of the
Band, after 16 years of living on the road, decided to
present one final concert, to be called "The Last Waltz"
and to be presented at Winterland in San Pranci-sco,
where they first hit the major leagues as a rock group in
1969. Scorsese used a 24-track recording system with a
final mix down to a four-track Dolby stereo print. The
movie is also said to be the first rock film shot in 35mm.
Scorsese used eight cameramen. Including Vilmost Zsigmond
and Laszlo Kovacs, to capture all details of the
concert from every conceivable angle. Joining the Band
in its farewell performance are a host of stars, including
Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell. Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris,
Neil Young, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, the Staples
Singers, Ringo Starr, Dr. John and Ronnie Hawkins. The
Band members are interviewed in separate takes which
were edited in between the various stage numbers, providing
a commentary tracing their rise to fame. Band
leader Robbie Robertson produced.
Robbie Robertson, Levon HeUn, Rick Danko, Richard
Manual, Garth Hudson.
THE SEA GYPSIES
Adventure
Warner Bros. (78717) 101 Minutes Rel. Mar. '78
Continuing in the family-in-the-wilderness vein of entertainment
so popular in recent years is one which has
snared a major distributor. An English father and son
team, producer Joseph C. Raffill and writer-director
Stewart Raffill, has taken familiar- themes and a longtime
skill in handling animals to embellish the plot,
based on actual happenings. Star Robert Logan and costar
Heather Rattray, who plays his older daughter, will
be familiar to audiences from their appearances in similar
films. Set in Seattle and Alaska, the featui-e was shot
on rugged but lovely locations in Northern Canada, Alaska,
the Japan stream off the Northwest coast and along
the shores of California and Oregon. Every member of
the small sailing crew, including childi'en Shannon Saylor
and Cjon Damitri Patterson in their film debuts, does
his or her bit. Situations are predictable but invigorating
nonetheless. Logan makes a strong, resourceful hero, although
less rugged types will be satisfied with the evidence
that he often succeeds more by sheer luck than
ability. Some exciting scenes and comedy bits are well
balanced and animal lovers can have their fill of wildlife.
CFI Color photography by Thomas McHugh is absolutely
beautiful and Fred Steiner's music satisfying.
Robert Logan, Mikki Jamison- Olsen. Heather Rattray.
Shannon Saylor, Cjon Damitri Patterson.
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. . The
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Prograr
THE HIGHLIGHTS: "The Last Waltz" (UA)
Members of the Band, headed by Robbie Robertson.
explain in a preliminary intei-view their decision to hold
one final concert and end their 16 years on the road. On
stage the group goes into its first number and afterward
Robertson reveals in another interview how tired the
group had become of the grinding monotony of life on
the road. After performing "Up on Cripple Creek." other
members of the gi-oup add their comments about life on
the road. In succession, other stage numbers include
"Shape I'm In." "It Makes No Difference," "Stagefright."
"The Weight" and "Old Time Religion." Members of the
group reveal that they tried out numerous names for their
organization, finally settling on "the Band" simply because
it seemed that everyone was referring to them that
way when praising their work. Guest star performances
by Ringo StaiT on the drtmis, Ei-ic Clapton singing "Further
On Up the Road," the Staples Singers, "The Weight."
Bob Dylan performing "Baby Let Me Follow You Down"
and others are featured between most segments of the
concert.
EXPLOITIPS:
Tie in with record stores and radio stations featuring
rock music. Emphasize the famous star names.
CATCHLEVES:
Outdoes "Woodstock"! . Final Concert of the
Band!
THE STORY: 'The Sea Gypsies" (WB)
A converted North Sea trawler is about to depart from
Seattle on an around-the-world jom-ney. Recent widower
Robert Logan feels this is a good way to get to know
daughters Heather Rattray and Shannon Saylor. Photojournalist
Mikki Jamison-Olsen tm-ns up in place of the
man Logan was expecting to cover the trip. His reluctance
to have her along gives way to admiration when
she quickly learns how to sail the craft. Black youth Cjon
Damitri Patterson is befriended by little Shannon, who
doesn't betray the stowaway until he falls into the sea
and has to be rescued. A stonn forces the five and theiipets
to abandon ship in the Aleutians. They land safely
on an Alaskan island inhabited by wildlife. The five
learn to hunt for food and elude the dangers of the wilds.
Cjon becomes part of the family as Logan and Mikki are
drawn to each other. Hopes for rescue fade until Logan
has the group build a boat. A grizzly nearly causes Shannon
to drown. The Coast Guard picks up the adventurers
as Logan proposes to Mikki.
EXPLOITIPS:
Boating enthusiasts may be contacted for endorsements.
This is ideal family entertainment which adults
can enjoy as well as children: play that up.
CATCHLINES:
It Began as a Dream—and Became an Adventure of a
Lifetime.
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THE STORY:
"Silver Bears" (Col)
Las Vegas syndicate chief Martin Balsam can't interest
his contacts in acquiring a Swiss bank to keep their
profits from the government. However, Balsam assigns
financial wizard Michael Caine the job of buying the
bank and keeping son Jay Leno out of trouble. Counterfeiter
Tony Mascia accompanies them. Impoverished
Italian prince Louis Joui'dan shows them a small bank
over a pizzeria, which is what Balsam's $3 million has
bought. Caine decides to make the most of it and listens
when Jourdan interests him in a silver mining enterprise
in Shushan, Iran, operated by the prince's Persian cousin
David Warner and the latter's sister, Stephane Audran.
Using Warner's own money and Mascia's comiterfeit,
Caine finances the silver operations and promotes a party
at which wealthy depositors are recruited. London millionaire
Charles Gray, who controls the silver market,
asks San Francisco banker Joss Ackland to help in buying
the bank. Ackland sends assistant Tom Smothers to
negotiate, while the latter's wacky wife Cybill Shepherd
does more than negotiate with Caine. Fraud runs rampant,
but Caine manages to straighten matters out.
EXPLOITIPS:
Set a silver standard by issuing posters, playdate announcements,
etc. with silver backgrounds or borders.
CATCHLINES:
They Were After Silver and They Struck Gold ... 60
Million Laughs—and You Can Bank On It!
THE STORY:
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" (Univ)
In 1964, the Beatles are about to make their first
American appearance and Ed Sullivan (Will Jordan i prepares
for the group's performance on his Simday night
TV show. New Jersey teens who desperately want to see
the British quartet in person are fan Wendie Jo Sperber;
Theresa Saldana. who knows she will be paid well for
exclusive photos; Nancy Allen, who's concerned about
eloping with stuffy James Houghton; and Susan Kendall
Newman, daughter of a record store owner and a protestor
against the Beatles' commercialism. The girls are
joined by Marc McClure. Saldana's admirer, who uses
one of his undertaker father's limousines. Muscling in is
loudmouth Bobby DiCicco, who hates the Beatles. Sperber
befriends Beatles fanatic Eddie Deezen and Newman
is converted by her association with Christian Juttner.
whose father Read Morgan objects to his Beatle haircut.
Saldana is wilUng to prostitute herself for money to bribe
her way into a vantage point. Lightning stops DiCicco
from damaging the transmitting tower. Saldana chooses
to help McClm-e, but the Beatles use the limousine in
which to flee their fans.
EXPLOITIPS:
Tie in with early Beatle hits and other memorabilia.
CATCHLINES:
Can 22 Hotel Floors, 42 Guards, 157 Cops, 390 Barricades
and 3,000 Hysterical Fans Keep These Kids From
Getting to the Beatles? NO WAY!
THE STORY: "Leopard in the Snow" (New World)
Wealthy, attractive Susan Penlraligon runs away from
home to avoid marrying. When her car becomes stuck in
the snow she meets Keir Dullea, an embittered racecar
di-iver, who is out hunting. He gives Penhaligon shelter
for the night. The butler, Jeremy Kemp, is unable to repair
her car. Penhaligon soon realizes she is being imprisoned
at the isolated house. She discovers Dullea is
haunted by the belief that his affair with his sister-inlaw
resulted in his brother's death in a racing accident.
Dullea, injm-ed in the accident, has refused to have his
limp treated so that he carries a physical reminder of his
bm-den. Her sympathies are aroused but he rejects her
and asks her to leave. She returns to London, only to
realize that she loves Dullea. Her stepmother Billie Whitelaw,
aware of her own haunting memories of lost love,
advises her to return to him. Penhaligon traces him to a
hospital where he has had hip surgery. Once again he rejects
her, then discovers he loves her after all and calls
at her home to tell her.
EXPLOITIPS:
The Harlequin Romance tie-in is a surefire audience
builder.
CATCHLINES:
A Love Story as Beautiful and Powerful as the Wild
Creature That Brought Them Together!
EOXOFnCE BookinGuide :: May 1, 1978

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Hollywood,
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llowed. CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers
> Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Bnmt Blvd., Kanflos City, Mo. B4124.
HELP WANTED
PROJECTIONISTS — sem. -retire;
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[ake big money m local mdus
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r -:: : Texas, ENTIRE CONTENTS Strand Theatre,
ilc.aic A.-,:,:..! ; . . P.^rrvon, Tex- Ocean Grove, N.J, Everything very good
to excellent. Call (201) 774-0752 evenings
BUSINESS STIMULATORS
THEATRE GAMES, Bingo Banko
eekly. Novelty Games, R D 2, Port
s, N Y. 12771.
BUILD ATTENDANCE with real Hawain
orchids. Few cents each. Write Flows
ol Hawaii, 670 S Lafayette Place, Los
igeles, Calif, 90005.
THEATRE MONTHLY CALENDARS, week
programs, heralds, bumper strips, daily
3X0ffice reports, time schedules, passes,
bels. etc. Write for samples, prices, Dixie
tho. Box 882, Atlanta, Ga 30301.
BINGO CARDS DIE CUT: 1-75, 1500 comnations
m color, PREMIUM PRODUCTS,
9 West 44th St., New York, N,Y. 10036.
:12) 246-4972
THE RIGHT background music adds the
Jrfect touch to your theatre. Demo tape
mailable, (815) 397-9295.
POPCORN MACHINES
BRAND NEW COUNTER MODEL all
i:CTRIC Display Poppers from $426.50
.ch. Krispy Korn, 120 S Hoisted, Chi-
RIVEIN THEATRE CONSTRUQION
BOOKS
THE MANUAL OF THEATRE MANAGE-
ENT. Professional hardcover edition,
tnd your $20 check or money order tc
:lph I, Erwin, Publisher, Box 1982, Lado,
Texas 78040.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
HALF MILLION DOLLAR INCOME
possible with
SKY RAPIDS WATER SLIDE
iVater slides are the most extraordinary
profit successes in the booming recre-
Itional industry. Unprecedented income
n millions is now being enjoyed bv
existing owners. $250,000. -$500, 000.
average cost of other slides. We manu-
:acture and are now operating Sky
Rapids which now makes all other
slides obsolete, because it is made of
Jteel and fiberglass, more fun, more
ncome, only 50' x 75' needed, only
5140,000. total cost. Complc
nstalla nd of dirt,
:an be moved from site to site. Not a
ronchise, no fees, no royalties. For
romplete details phone collect for Mr
5ob Bernstein (305) 454-6100, or write
;ky Rapids, Inc., P.O, Box 625C, Holywood,
FL, 33021,
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
TICKET MACHINES repaired. Fast
vice, reasonable rates I,E,D, Service
10 Woodside Dr,, Grafton, Massachus
(617) 839-4058.
DRIVE-IN SPEAKERS reconed, $1 50
each. Send to: J, ED, Service Co,, 10
Woodside Drive, Grafton, Massachusetts
(617) 839-4058,
Peerless lamps, ticket machine, Xetron
7U-B automation system, and lots of
lenses; all reasonably priced. Bud Riikin:
(617) 482-3410,
ONE HORTSON 16mm 5,000 ft, capacity,
900 watt Xenon. Two Strong high intensity
(180 amp) lamps. Call Richard, (212) 222-
3370 after 2:30.
4421
COMPLETE equipment lor theatre. (2)
Super Simplex Projectors plus all related
equipment, including Hi-Rectifiers, lights,
lenses, soundheads, etc., 240 seats, popcorn
machine Contact Richard Huck, (501)
965-2201,
ith $250.00 each.
SUPER SIMPLEX. Brenkert lamphouses,
stereo sound, complete $1,500,00. (301)
742-5915 daily.
LAMPHOUSES, rectifiers, generators,
used. Have Ashcraft SP's, Brenkert Enarcs,
Strong 90's, Kneisleys, Hobarts, Motiographs
and Centurys, Cheap! (513) 381-
1111 or Holiday, 1600 Central Pkwy , Cincinnati
45210,
EQUIPMENT WANTED
WE PAY good money tor used equiplenl,
Texas Theatre Supply, 915 S, Alalo,
San Antonio. Texas 7B205
TOP CASH PAID lor Xenon lamphouses, THEATRES WANTED
soundheads, projectors, lenses and portable
projectors. What have you? STAR INDOOR THEATRES or dnve-ins wante
CINEMA SUPPLY, 217 West 21st Street,
to lease in Mich., .
Oh. and Ind Open
New York lOOU, Phone (212) 675-3515,
closed. Please send information Boxoffic
COMPLETE
the
FILMS FOR SALE
16mm FILMS. Postcard brings bargain
St. Ingo Films, P O. Box 143, Scranton,
Pa, 18504,
I6mm CLASSICS. Catalog 25c, Manbeck,
3621-B Wakonda Drive, Des Moines, Iowa
50321.
FILMS WANTED
WANTED: 35mm trailers. 1930-1977, oni
[uantity, L. Brown, 6763 Hollywood Blvd.
Mlywood, Calif. 90028.
WANTED: Animated and/or children's
product. 35mm only, feature length or
short, with limited and/or non-theatrical
rights, Danny Johns, Box 76341, Atlanta,
Ga, 30328,
CLfflRine Houst
THEATRES FOR SALE
WORLD'S LARGEST THEATRE broke
lOE JOSEPH, Box 31406, Dallas 75231, (21'
363-2724
DRIVE-IN THEATRES in Lemn
;nd Bowman, ND, Show good i
89, Spearfish, SD, (605) 642-4857.
350 CAR dnve-in, electric heaters. 300
seat automated indoor, shopping center.
North Central Ohio Phone (419) 562-5145
or 562-0078.
DRIVE-IN THEATRE, indoor theatre, rentals.
Will consider real estate and cash
for down payment. Excellent opportunity
for young aggressive exhibitor. Exceptional
drawing area. Wish to retire because
of age. Easy terms on balance, Boxofiice,
THEATRE. Townsend, Montana, in c
growing community, year round recrea
tional area For particulars write to Bo>
458, Rex Theatre, Townsend, Mont, 59644
PALESTINE, TEXAS, 750 seats with balcony,
good building, no equipment, $48,-
500.00, Terms available, will consider
lease, Anita Gibson, P, O, Box 1307,
Palestine, Texas 75801, (214) 723-1148
SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN. Only the
atre, county of 40,000. Sharp, newly re
modeled, well equipped, 50-year proven
money-maker. First time ever ofie
$48,000 takes all. Boxoifice, 4085.
.
INDOOR THEATRE, Florida West Coast
Excellent lease, family oriented, good
equipment and good seating
$45,or-" - -. -.
Real!
Petersburg Beach, Florida 33706.
SMALL TOWN theatre—reasonably priced.
Auditorium and lobby recently remodeled
228 seats. Phone (217) 648-2042 o:
write: Box 139, Atlanta, 111, 61723.
450 SEATS, $312.00 income per month
om rentals, excellent business. 320 N.
loin. Eureka, KS 67045, (316) 583-7145,
THEATRES FOR LEASE
ATTRACTIVE 900 seat just outside Wichila.
Excellent equipment. Real moneymaker.
Reasonable rent. Phone (313) 341-
LEASE, newly remodeled indoor theatri
Currently running top Amenccm movie
Located in sunny South Central Arizona
Boxofiice. 4083.
SOUND PROJECTION
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
"TROUTS SOUND AND PROJECTION
MANUAL." Simplified service data on
Leading makes of projectors, Step-by-
Slep Service instructions on Sound equipment,
xenon lamps, screens, lenses, film
transport equipment (platter), motors,
soundheads, speakers, etc. Schematics on
sound equipment and drawings. This helpful
Service Manual endorsed by the industry.
Authentic maintenance data for
the projectionist, the exhibitor. Simplified
data. You should have this Manual and
save on repair work and obtain better
proj, and sound. Send TODAY, Special
Price per copy, ONLY $8.50, prepaid. Don't
wail— order now at this special price
($8,50), Over 200 pages 8'/2 x H" Loose-
Leaf Practicat Manual—Data is Reliable
and Authentic. Edited by the writer with
35 years ol Experience; 27 years Techiucal
Editor, the MODERN THEATRE, (Remittance
to:
payable Wesley Trout, Cash,
Check or M.O.-No CODs). WESLEY
TROUT, EDITOR, Box 575, Enid, Oklahoma
73701.
THEATRE SLATING
TOPS IN THEATRE SEATING upholster-
— linest materials—low prices— we buy and
sell theatre chairs. Chicago Used Chair
Mart, 2616 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, 111
60612, (312) 235-1111.
SPECIALISTS IN THEATRE SEATING.
New and rebuilt theatre cnairs for sale
We buy and sell old chairs. Travel Irom
coast to coast. Seating Corporation ol
New York, 247 Water Street, hrooilyr,,
N, Y, 11201, Tel, (212) 875-5433 (reverse
charges)
SEAT COVER SALE. Inventroy close out
on thousands of yards of high quahty
sealing fabrics Mostly 100% nylons (treated
for soil resistance) and vinyls. Custom
made to fit any chair. Immediate delivery.
Samples at no charge. Save 50% and
more. Contact COUNTRY ROADS, INC.,
602 Ottawa Street, Lowell, MI 49331, (616)
897-8407,
MIDDLE EAST cinema concern interested
in best quahty used theatre chairs, unlimited
quantity. Write: P,0. Box 4353,
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, Co, 90038
(213) 462-5790.
CASH for ai slicks or press books on
CASABLANCA, STAGECOACH (1939),
WIZARD OF OZ and others Call collect:
Mr. Noah, (716) 688-1415. (Material can
be returned undamaged.)
WANTED: Recent movie posters, lobby
cards and stills in quantity L, Brown,
6763 Hollywood Blvd Calif,
,
90028
SUBSCRIPTION ORDfR FORM
BOXOmCE:
825 Van Brunt Blvd.
Kansas City. Mo. 64124
Please enter my subscriplion to
BOXOFTICE.
n
D
1 YEAR $15,00
2 YEARS $28.00
Remittonce
D Send
Inroice
Enclosed
Outside U.S., Canada and Pan
American Union, $25.00 Per Year.
THEATRE
STREET
TOWN
NAME
ZIP
CODE
POSITION
STATE..
)XOFnCE :: May 1. 1978

FIRST ENGAGEMENT
NASHVILLE
At learnt
An explicit motion picture that dares to
explore a woman's animal passions
D An EMC Film Corp Release
CINEMA NORTH & SOUTH-250 SEATS EACH
FIRST 10 DAYS-(4/14-4/23)
$18,402
OUTGROSSING BOTH AN UNMARRIED WOMAN AND EMMANUELLE
IN THEIR FIRST SEVEN DAYS AT THE CINEMA NORTH