Boxoffice-September.04.1978

. . Peter
WASHINGTON
J^ctor Tony Randall, whose role in the film
version of "Oh Men Oh Women"
brought him to Hollywood where he remained
for some 25 movies before returning
to the New York stage and TV. is
appearing at nearby Wolf Trap Farm Park
for the Performing Arts in Meredith Wilson's
"The Music Man." Randall has been
playing the summer stage circuit as Professor
Harold Hill.
After Wolf Trap. Randall's
final engagement will be three weeks in
Baltimore's Morris Mechanic Theatre.
Larry St. John, Paramount branch manager,
tradescreened "Up in Smoke," starring
Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. at
the Motion Picture Ass'n of America Friday
(1). Paramount's top local representative's
invitation stated that every generation
has had it's comedy duo: the '30s had
Laurel and Hardy. Abbott and Costello
broke up the '40s. Martin and Lewis really
fractured the '50s. and Cheech and Chong
have helped make the '70s go "Up in
Smoke." St. John also issued invitations to
exhibitors, buyers, bookers and special
guests for a special screening of the new
Agatha Christie whodunit. "Death on the
Nile." at the MPAA Wednesday (6). The
branch chief listed the film's stars as Bette
Davis. Mia Farrow. Olivia Hussey. Angela
Lansbury. David Niven. Maggie Smith.
Jack Warden. Lois Chiles and Peter Ustinov
as Hercule Poirot. The thriller will
have a four-house unreeling Friday (29).
William Zoetis, 20th Century-Fox branch
boss, issued invitations to a tradescreening
of "The Boys From Brazil" at the MPAA
screening room Tuesday (5). Zoetis advised
his invitees that the film's stars are Gregory
Peck. Laurence Olivier. James Mason
and Lilli Palmer . Myers, vicepresident
in charge of domestic distribution,
was here visiting the exchange from 20th-
Fox's Los Angeles home office. Bruce Snyder,
Eastern division manager. New Yorkbased,
accompanied Myers. Zoetis hosted
his visitors on a tour of area situations.
"No peeking 'til February 1979," read the
Walt Disney invitation issued by Buena Vista,
to preview "The North Avenue Irregulars."
"but for YOU we'll make an e.xception."
So. among those "peeking" at the
special screening at General Cinema Corp.'s
Springfield. Va.. Cinema 1. August 24. were
Sam Bendheim II of Richmond, vice-president
of Neighborhood Theatres, with booker
Floyd Davis; Jim Pedas. co-owner of
Circle Theatres: Ronald Goldman, junior
partner of K/B Theatres and son of Marvin
Goldman, president of NATO: Harley
Davidson, president of Independent Theatres
with Jane Klotz. his assistant who also
is president of WOMPI of Washington:
Alan Rubin. Biograph Theatre Group; Ron
Steffensen. head booker for Glenmar Cinestate;
Mike Rowan. Roth Theatres, and
Larry St. John, whose Paramount film.
"Heaven Can Wait." was the theatre's current
attraction. Also observed enjoying the
"irregular" comedy were Dorothy N. Stabell.
past president of the Washington chapter
of the National Society of Arts and Letters;
David Gramkow of the District of
Columbia government with his wife Norah
from the office of the Embassy of Great
Britain; Samuel W. Sarbescu. president and
operator of Sam's Trading Post. Rockville.
Md.; Love Patti from the office of U.S.
Representative William R. Poage (D.. Tex.)
and author of "Washington With Love."
and Gregg Howard of the International
Theatre Ball, who exclaimed: "I laughed so
much. I had to take out my contact lenses."
Paul Roth, president of Roth Theatres,
left for his vacation August 21. while Ned
Glasser, the circuit's vice-president, returned
from his Colorado trip August 24.
Independent's Jane Klotz won the top
door prize, a Panasonic TV. at the NATO
of Maryland 24th annual symposium-seminar
at Annapolis Bay Ridge Inn. August
22. according to LaVern Boswell. 20th
Century-Fox top booker, who attended with
salesman Bill Robinson and branch chief
William Zoetis.
'Midnight Express' Shows
Po"wer at London Theatre
LONDON— "Midnight Express" is continuing
its record-breaking pace in its world
premiere engagement here, according to Patrick
M. Williamson, president of Columbia
Pictures International. The second week
at the Odeon Haymarket finished at $33.-
348, slightly above the opening week, creating
a new first-two-weeks record for the
house of $66,674. Each night during the
first two weeks, the 600-seat theatre has
been sold out and there have been turnaways.
Directed by Alan Parker for Casablanca
FilmWorks. "Midnight Express" was written
by Oliver Stone and based on the factual
best seller by Billy Hayes with William
Hoffer. Executive producer was Peter Guber,
with David Puttnam and Alan Marshall
as co-producers.
UA's 'Due Pezzi Di Pane'
Now Under Way in Italy
NEW YORK— Production was launched
in Italy in late August on Sergio Citti's new
film. "Due Pezzi Di Pane." starring Vittorio
Gassman. Philippe Noiret and Luigi
Proietti. it was announced by Norbert Auerbach.
United Artists senior vice-president
and foreign manager. UA is distributing the
Gianfranco Piccioli-Mauro Bernardi production
worldwide.
Strand Theatre Closes;
Resisted X-Rated Films
BANGOR. PA.—The 61 -year-old Strand
Theatre, a midtown landmark for entertainment
in this Slate Belt area, has been forced
to close because of lack of public support
and increased operating costs. At one time,
this area in eastern Pennsylvania boasted
six local movie houses, including two here.
Now. the Cinema in Wind Gap is the only
local theatre between Easton and Stroudsburg.
In the last ten years, three different operators
have tried to keep the 537-seat theatre
open as a movie house, showing every kind
of popular films except X-rated films. The
last attempt to keep the Strand open was
made a year ago when two men from nearby
Phillipsburg. leased the theatre from
Robert A. Lobb. whose family had operated
the house since 1974.
The theatre was closed during early 1977
and James Takacs and David Carhart reopened
the house last August. Business
seemed to go well for the two new operators,
but in December attendance began to
dwindle, despite the attraction of two live
music concerts. The theatre operators, a
spokesman said, were caught between two
economic factors—the need for large attendance
to support financially the showing
of top first-run film product, or big-name
bands and top attractions to draw the attendance.
Costs for advertising also continued to
rise and with dwindling receipts at the boxoffice,
they couldn't afford to do any extensive
promotion. The spokesman said the
basic reason for the closing was that "the
public just didn't care. The people of the
Bangor area just aren't interested in local
entertainment. It's a shame the theatre had
to close."
The Strand Theatre was sold this week
by the Lobb family to Frank Castone, a
local garment manufacturer, for $28,000.
Castone said he will sell the projection
equipment and theatre seats, then use the
building as part of his women's apparel
manufacturing operation.
The theatre originally was opened by
Henry Weiss. Ralph Sobelson purchased it
from the original owner in 1920 and operated
the house until 1967. The theatre then
remained dark for two years and was reopened
in 1969 on a lease basis by Earl
Grier, of Flemington. Sobelman sold it to
Lobb in 1974.
John Denos has a featured role in "Wanda
Nevada."
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BOXOFFICE :: September 4, 1978 E-3