Boxoffice-September.04.1978

:..—
CHICAGO
Jf appears that Fox booker Bob Rosterman
was the only representative from the
Midwest to attend the Telluride Film Festival
in Telluride. Colo., over the Labor
Day weekend.
Wayne Witte of the Mononk Theatre,
Minonk, 111., is now doing the booking for
the Woodford Theatre in Eureka, III. The
Woodford is operated by the town's Chamber
of Commerce.
Virgil Jones, who heads up the International
Picture Show Co. operations in this
area, returned from Indianapolis where he
set up openings of "Where Time Began.'" a
G-rated film. Jones will be spending a couple
of days on the West Coast to hear more
about "The Magic Of Lassie."
Ciiicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel says
of "Who'll Stop the Rain": "Once in a
while critics run across a film they would
like to re-edit— just a few changes that
could make the movie really sing. Of
course, it has to be a fairly good film to
be worth tampering with, and 'Who'll Stop
the Rain' is precisely that kind of motion
picture, a strong film undercut by a couple
of errors. Fix those, and it could be one of
the year's best." The film is based on the
novel "The Dog Soldiers" which was the
film's original title. A change was made to
the present title because, it is noted, "war
movies have failed at the boxoffice."
The delayed opening of "A Wedding"
might create a tantalizing effect when the
area-made movie arrives for official showing
here sometime later this year. As mentioned
earlier, it is to open the New York
Film Festival. Members of the press who
could not be in town for a recent preview
will be in the audience in New York.
The Kohlberg Circuit's Point Theatre in
Milwaukee sent in a report announcing record
business with "National Lampoon's
Animal House."
Even though Allied Artists' "The Wild
Geese" does not open until November 10.
preview showings have been held in eight
different cities. It looks good for this film
which stars Richard Burton and Roger
Moore.
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show." playing
at the Biograph Theatre at midnight
Fridays and Saturdays, has claimed capacity
crowds.
Congratulations to Virgil Jones, the golfer.
He won a trip for two to the Playboy
Club in Lake Geneva as one of the winners
in
the Tent 26 golf outing.
HONOREES — Eric D. Morley,
president of Variety Clubs International,
and his wife Julia will be feted in
Chicago Thursday (14) at a dinner to
be held in the Cotillion Room of the
Continental Plaza Hotel. Morton Sunshine,
Variety Clubs International
executive director, will accompany
the Morleys.
Dieckhaus is also gearing up for a preopening
campaign for "Magic." a new Joe
Levine movie starring Anthony Hopkins.
"Magic" probably is going to open in Chicago
area theatres November 10. but Levine
is thinking about bringing it here for showing
at the Chicago International Film Festival
November 13. If the festival schedule
is followed. Levine is expected to be on
hand with Anthony Hopkins. Burgess Meridith
and director Richard Attenborough.
After seeing footage of upcoming product.
Dieckhaus foresees a busy and good
year. He is enthusiastic about "The Alien."
which is still being filmed in London. It
may just be good luck that "Alien" is being
filmed on the same sound stage as "Star
Wars." In mentioning footage from "Butch
and Sundance: The Early Days." Dieckhaus
said. "It seems uncanny, but William Katt
and Tom Berenger really look a lot like
Robert Redford and Paul Newman in
'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." "
"Every Which Way but Loose" with
Clint Eastwood is a new Warner Bros, film
soon to be seen in area theatres. Another
new early arrival is "Who Is Killing the
Great Chefs of Europe?" a comedy/ mystery
starring Jacqueline Bisset and George Segal.
Welcome to Eve Conklin. who joined the
20th-Fo\ cashiering department.
Elizabeth Downs, secretary to Fox
branch manager Doris Payne, returned
from a vacation Tuesday (5). Amanda
Jones. Fox cash'er. vacationed in Nassau.
Jackie Macri of the 20th-Fox TV department
announced her engagement to Gary
Grover. The wedding is to take place next
spring.
20th-Fox division sales manager Ray
Russo rcttuned from a company meeting
in Toronto.
Richard Phillips has been added to the
night management staff at the Oriental Theatre
in the Loop. Gary Michel is the new
night manager at the Loop McVickers Theatre.
Fral Fracas Film
Favored by Kaycee
KANSAS CITY—"National Lampoon's
Animal House" persisted in claiming the
No. 1 spot in its fourth week of wooing
filmgoers. this time to the tune of 520 per
cent. "Grease" and "Foul Play" scored in
the mid-300s, while "Eyes of Laura Mars."
"Heaven Can Wait" and "Beyond and
Back" slipped safely into the 200 range.
"The Buddy Holly Story" opened to good
business at 180. Other new titles were New
World's "Piranha" and "It's Alive 2," Warner
Bros.' sequel to "It's Alive."
(Average Is 100)
Esquire—Jaws 2 (Univ), list wk.
Fairyland—Tarzoon, Shame of the
50
Jungle (SR).
2nd wk. 135
Fine Arts—Cat ...170
and Mouse C.:i- ' .-'.J .-.r.
Glenwood—Grease
Midland—Sgt. Peppers
7 ~: -:
Lonely
350
Hearts Club Band
(Univ), 6th .'.:: 90
Stnwk 125
Midland—Thank God Its Friday : :
3 of theatres— Eyes Laura Mars ?..; 2nd wk 205
3 theatres—Heaven Can Wait
3 theatres— National Lampoon's
7-.:^j
Animal
9th wk
House
240
(Univ). 4t:. ...: 520
3 .'.:? r.d 80
theatres—The Norseman wk
4 theatres—The Buddy Holly Story :Col), 180
1st wk.
4 theatres— Foul Play ? -.- ^ ':. ::,:
4 thecrlres—The Magic of Lassie 'Inf.
360
Picture
Show), 2n3 ,.-..: -
theatres—Revenge of the Pink Panther (UA),
170
4
fith wk 165
4 Jheatres—-Who'll Stop the Rain CJA), 2nd wk. 100
5 theatres—The Cat From Outer Space (BV),
4th wk 165
5 theatres— Corvette Summer (MGM-UA),
2nd wk -
6 theatres—Beyond and Back (Sunn Classic),
145
280
2nd wk
9 theatres—It's Alive 2 (V/B), 1st wk 70
13 theatres—Piranha (New World), 1st wk 125
'Lampoon's Animal House' Finds
Favor Among Chicago Film Fans
CHICAGO — "National Lampoon's Animal
House" opened in this city to roars of
laughter and high grosses. It was the top
film of the week, reporting 550 per cent
activity at the boxoffice. "Dear Inspector."
a delightful French mystery, continued to
do well in its fourth week, earning 300 on
the barometer. "Piranha" bit off a solid 250
in its opening week, but "Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band" sounded a sour
note, 125 at two engagements.
Carnegie—Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
(SR), 5th v.k
Cinema—Dear Inspector b.-Li 4th v.k
,250
300
Chicaao, 53 T-.v-: -In-Dogs iSR) Ut .vE 150
C-;tv ? Fo-d ^ith-: k—Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
lUniv), 5th LonelyHearts Club Bond wk 125
R;: -Death Dimension (SR), 3rd wk 300
K V : 1st Piranha (SR), wk 250
:
n f -3;.:-
fi tiieai:^^—The
—Heaven Can Wait (Para), 11th
Buddy Holly Story (Co!>
225 wk
3rd wk,
theatres—Revenge
225
5 of the Pink Panther (UA)
6th wk .275
: 200
7 theatres-Grease - ^ '-^
8 theatres—Hooper ', = 4- ...... 275
8 theatres—Who'll Stop the Rain VA 1st .-.k .200
9 theatres—Eyes of Laura Mars iC:: 3rd ,• k ...225
9 theatres—Foul Play iFj:^ J d .-,: ...275
11 National Lampoon's Animal House
Larry Dieckhaus, Midwest publicist for
20th Century-Fo.x. returned from a trip to
the West Coast where he had a first
glimpse
of "The Boys From Brazil." suspense film
which stars Lawrence Olivier and Gregory
Peck. Larry is now organized to set up promotion
for this film which is scheduled to
open here October 6.
BOXOFFICE :: September 1978
JOHN TRAVOLTA
gloss%'t°ock' fan photo!
THEATRICAL ADV. CO.
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313-333-0S8C
Chaplin Screened for Free
From New England Edition
WATERTOWN. MASS. — "Monsieur
Verdoux." United Artists 1947 release with
Charlie Chaplin, was shown as a free attraction
at the Watertown Public Library.
C-1