Boxoffice-October.02.1978

—
. , Half
Columbia Pictures' Fine
Is Quadrupled to $5,000
From Canadian EAtion
TORONTO—The fine imposed on Columbia
Pictures last year for using its influence
to raise the price of matinee movie
tickets at an independently owned Scarborough
theatre has been quadrupled.
The Ontario Court of Appeal gave no
reason for its decision this week to increase
to $5,000 the $1,250 penalty levied last
year by a judge of the Provincial Court.
The Crown had launched its appeal
against the initial sentence on the grounds
that Provincial Court Judge C. J. Cannon
"did not give sufficient consideration to the
aspect of deterrence."
Columbia Pictures Industries, one of
Canada's major film distributors, pleaded
guilty in June, 1977, to a charge of pricefixing
under the federal Combines Investigation
Act.
'Jack and the Beanstalk'
In March, 1976, Bijou Cinemas, an independent
movie house which normally did
not show first-run films, obtained "Jack
and the Beanstalk," a new release being distributed
by Columbia to Odeon theatres in
time for the spring school break.
Federal prosecutor Roger Leclaire told
the Provincial Court that the Bijou ticket
prices were initially set at $3.25 for adults
and $1 for children, but when sales were
slow theatre management dropped the adult
matinee price to $1.
Odeon management then received a complaint
from a patron for charging $3.50
admission to see a film that could be viewed
at the unaffiliated Bijou Theatre in the
Morningside Shopping Centre for only $1,
the Crown counsel said.
prices should be more uniform," the court
was told.
After the booking agent spoke to Charles
Knapp, the owner of the theatre, the matinee
prices at the independent theatre (now
closed) were raised back to the normal
$3.25 from $1.
Pressure to Comply
"Knapp felt that if he didn't comply he
would no longer be supplied with films by
Columbia or would receive only second or
third-run films," the Crown lawyer said.
A federal investigation into the case revealed
a letter in Columbia's files which
Harnick had written to another company
official, deploring the "lack of cooperation"
from independent theatres that was "causing
us nothing but untold grief."
Harnick wrote: "I am not saying what
the price should be but certainly it should
he standardized and anybody who doesn't
want to fall
into that category can drop out."
NEW BEDFORD
J^ew Bedford's special fondness for one
Continuing attractions on southeastern
particular Warner Bros, release
Massachusetts screens included Paramount's
1956's "Moby Dick," starring Gregory Peck
"Grease" plus "Foul Play." Universal's
and directed by John Huston—was renewed
"National Lampoon's Animal House" plus
with a benefit showing, at the Lockwoodreprise
of "Smokey and the Bandit." Co-
Friedman Twin Cinemas. Tickets were
priced at $12.50. with proceeds going to
help along the $1,500,000 Whaling Museum
library campaign. The film's initial setting
and world premiere was in the Whaling
City—hence, the continuing interest. The
global press attended several days of activities,
with leading man Peck himself very
much visible in a plenitude of events.
Melvin Simon & Associates,
whose president,
Mel Simon, is increasingly investing
in motion picture projects, announced plans
for a shopping center to the west of the
North Dartmouth Mall. The latter facility
is site of General Cinema Corp.'s North
Dartmouth Mall Cinemas 4, running firstrun
in metropolitan New Bedford.
Earl J. Dias, arts critic for the Standard-
Times, enthused about Paramount's
"Grease" in a recent column: "One of the
advertisements for 'Grease,' the musical
film starring John Travolta and Olivia
Newton-John, which has been playing at
area theatres for many weeks, notes. "It
gets better every time you see it.' In seeming
support of this hyperbolic claim, a
young woman speaking on one of the local
radio talk shows recently confessed to having
seen 'Grease' 1 1 times. I stand in awe
not only of her single-minded dedication
but also of her stamina."
"Captains Courageous," MGM 1937 release
with Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore
and still very-much-alive Freddie Bartholomew,
was shown as a free attraction on a
The complaint got back to Columbia and
Harvey Harnick, the company's general
manager, called Bijou's booking agent and recent Monday evening at the suburban
told him "to rectify the situation Westport
so that
Free Public Library . . . Another
he would not receive similar complaints."
area free film was "Feet First," Paramount
1930 release starring the late Harold Lloyd,
Harnick said that when independent theatres
were showing the same first-run movies
shown at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday and again at
6:30 p.m. the following Thursday at the
being played at Odeon cinemas, "admission
New Bedford Free Public Library.
Area openings included AIP's "Mean
Dog Bkies" and state's rights X release
"Maraschino Cherry."
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lumbia's "The Buddy Holly Story," Carnaval/New
Yorker Films' "Dona Flor and
Her Two Husbands," Cinema Shares' "Seniors,"
United Artists' "Revenge of the Pink
Panther" and Warner Bros.' "Hooper."
Reprise scheduling of United Artists'
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in
the area was preced:d by large-scale teaser
advertising . . . The Westport Drive-In has
a new solid-state sound system . a
dozen cinemas, with "Smokey and the Bandit,"
advertised: "Wall-to-wall entertainment!
Even better the second time 'round!"
in large-scale, co-operative ads.
Providence Adult Theatres
Raided by Ever-Alert Police
PROVIDENCE—The two X-rated showcases
in Rhode Island's capital city were
raided by police at Boxoffice press-time,
with two film prints seized at one cinema
and the owner of each showplace arrested
for alleged violations of the new state obscenity
laws. Jon Sarkis Berberian, 47, owner
of the Columbus Theatre at 270 Broadway,
and Stanley Lemenski, also 47, owner
of the Paris Cinema at 291 Weybosset St.,
were arraigned in District Court and released
on personal recognizance.
Unlike an earlier state police raid at the
Rustic Drive-In, North Smithfield, the developments
at the intown cinemas were
"low key," according to Sgt. Ronald J. Urso
of the Providence police intelligence bureau.
Urso added that he and detective Alfred
Hamel had obtained search warrants signed
by District Court Judge Robert McAsker
for four films after viewing the attractions
during regular public showings. The action,
he said, had followed complaints from religious
and civic groups and city officials.
Identifications were not disclosed.
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BOXOFFICE :: October 1978