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ne ureaies! uruisin' in rne lana ^ 

Takes Place or the Street \ 

^h^C| it all Began 

'M INTERNATIONAL PICTURES Presents VAN NUYS BLVD. 

• 

BILLADLER CYNTHIA WOOD 

• DENNIS BOWEN 

MELISSA • 

PROPHET DAVID HAYWARD 

-e Producer NEWTON P JACOBS • Produced by MARILYN J. TENSER 

OWN 

NATIONAL PICTURE 

V 

INTERNATIONAL 

PICTURES. INC. 

'written and Directed by WILLIAM SACHS 

Director of Photograptiy JOSEPH MANGINE 

Associate Producer MICHAEL D. CASTLE 

Edited by GEORGE BOWERS 

jsic by KEN MANSFIELD and RON WRIGHT 

RESTRICTED 

Beverly Hills

p 

s.m ARTISTS 

Announces 

for Summer Release 

The First Major Motion Pia 

About The World Of Tennis 

RACQUET 

ni PRODUCTIONS 

IN ASSOCIATION WITH 

HARLEQUIN PRODUCTIONS, INC. 

presents .1 DAVID WINTERS Al^N ROBERTS FILM 

a 

RACQUET" 

BERT CONVY 

also starring EDIE ADAMS LYNDA DAY GEORGE PHIL SILVERS BOBBY RIGGS 

TANYA ROBERTS BRUCE KIMMEL DOROTHY KONRAD special appearance by BJORN BORG as Himself and MONTE ROCK III 

rntroducing KITTY RUTH as MELISSA and SUSAN TYRRELL as MISS BAXTER executive producer JOSEPH R. LAIRD 

executive in charge of production KENNETH A. YATES associate producer JACK KINDBERG 

directors of phoiograpliy ALAN ROBERTS & MARIO Dl LEO screenplay by STEVE MICHAELS & EARLE DOUD 

produced by DAVID WINTERS & ALAN ROBERTS directed by DAVID WINTERS 

Si al m ARTISTS 

15250 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91403 (213) 990-2411

LAS VEGAS—ShoWesT '79. 

ShoWesT Honored 12 Are Named 

the exhibitors' 

convention and trade show sponsored 

by Theatres West, the National Assn. of 

Concessionaires and the Theatre Equipment 

industry respectability, our boxoffices stimulation, 

our methods challenge and implementation." 

according to convention officials. 

Robert D. Johnson of iVIilcs City, Mont., 

city manager for Theatre Operators, Inc. 

John Malone of Las Vegas is city managr 

of Plitt theatres here. 

Ray James Ernest R. Hoffman Jerry Proctor Dean Klliott Kubert 1). Johnson John Malone 

Assn., will convene Feb. 20 at the MGM 

There was a tie in the selection of the 

Grand Hotel here with over 1,500 expected 

Oregon honoree. Jerry Proctor of Salem is 

BoxoFFiCE has learned the names of the 

"Honored 12" and is pleased to recognize 

them here. 

Ray James of Anchorage, Alaska is city 

city manager for Tom Moyer Theatres, and 

Dean Elliott of John Day is owner-operator 

Neal Meyer Connie Coffield Art Gordon I.G. Harris 

Jerry Kivela Allen Mercer 

ored 12" ceremonies to take place during 

the opening afternoon session. 

Convention officials have revealed the 

names of those to be honored, one each 

from the 12 western states represented at 

the conclave. 

Recognized for outstanding efforts in 

to attend. 

A highlight of the affair will be the "Hon- 

theatre 

operation and promotion, as well as 

for civic involvement, the honored showmen 

represent "the best exhibition can offer." 

As with ShoWesT itself, the "Honored 

12" awards were instituted by founders 

B.V. Sturdivant, Fred Danz, Ross Campbell 

and Bob Selig. 

The 12 are "the leaders and the doers. 

These are the guys and gals who give our 

Effective Thursday, Feb. 15, 1979, 

the Hollywood office of BOXOFFICE 

will be at a new location. 

All correspondence and shipments 

of magazines should be sent to: 

BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE 

1800 N. Highland 

Suite 707 

Hollywood, Calif. 90028 

The telephone number remains the 

same: 213-465-1186. 

The Post Office Box remains the 

same: P.O. Box 226, Hollywood, Calif. 

90028. 

Published weekly, except one Issue at year-end, by 

Vance Publishing Corp., 825 Van Brunt Bhd., Kansas 

City, Missouri 64124. Subscription rates: Sectional 

Edition, $15.00 per year, foreign. $25.00. National 

Executive Edition: $25.00, foreign, $30.00. Single 

copy, 75«. Second class postage paid at Kansas City. 

Mo. BOXOFFICH Publication No. (USPS 062-260). 

manager of Wometco-Lathrop of Alaska. 

James will receive his award in absentia. 

Ernest R. Hoffman of Tucson. Ariz, is 

advertising director for TM Theatres there. 

Neal Meyer of San Francisco, Calif., is 

operations chief for Blumenthal Theatres. 

Connie Coffield. one of two women honored 

this year, is from Longmont, Colo. 

She is city manager for K-Theatres. 

Art Gordon of Honolulu, Hawaii is vicepresident 

and general manager of Consolidated 

Theatres. He is ShoWesT's first repeater. 

LG. Harris of Burley, Idaho is general 

manager for the Harris-Voeller Theatres 

Co. 

of various drive-in interests theie and in 

Burns. 

Nancy Tullis of Ogden. Utah is co-owner 

and manager of Cinedomex 70 Theatres, as 

well as the Riverdale Twin Drive-In. (No 

picture was available.) 

Jerry Kivela of Longview, Wash., is aiêa 

manager of the Sterling Recreation Organization. 

Allen Mercer of Basin, Wyo. operates, 

with his wife, theatres there and in Powell. 

"No one is claiming the 'Honored 12' are 

supermen or women of all-time 

exhibition," 

convention officials said. "But the competition 

for acknowledgement is much, much 

more than the ceremony." 

BEN SHLYEN: SHOWEST HONORS A LEADER 

By WILLIAM C. VANCE, Publisher 

Since Vance Publishing Corp. look over BOXOFFICE in January, we have 

had the invaluable advice and assistance of executive editor and founder Ben 

Shlyen. We enthusiastically join the sponsors of ShoWesT, who will he honoring 

Ben this week, in wishing him the very best. 

BOXOFFICE. under the stewardship of founder Ben Shlyen, has flourished 

for nearly 60 years as one of the most respected trade journals in the history of the 

motion picture industry. 

During those years Ben Shlyen has established a tradition which has been reflected 

on every page of the publication. 

Editorially, BOXOFFICE has championed unity within the industry and good 

citizenship in the operation of community theatres. The magazine has stood for 

morality in filmmaking but has fought all efforts at censorship. 

The theatre owner, the man to whom BOXOFFICE has traditionally addressed 

itself, has come to regard Ben Shlyen as a leader without peer in building and 

maintaining exhibition's status as a co-equal with production and distribution. 

My hope is that BOXOFFICE will alwavs retain the respect which it so deservedly 

earned under his aegis. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

Published in Nine Sectional Editions 

BEN SHLYEN 

Executive Editor 

WILLIAM C. VANCE 

Publisher 

JOHN F. BERRY 

Assoc. Publisher/National Sales Manajer 

"/& tS^

!?t'i:-tii!c.?r.t;.-5;3E" 

You've got to hand it to 

Avco Embassy Pictures 

we're really going places 

with the sleeper-shocker 

of the year... 

And if this one doesn't scare you, 

You're Already Dead! 

Special Jury Award 

at ih< 

Festival Internationale 

(TAvoriaz - du Film 

Fanlactlque In France 

PHANTASM 

STARRING MICHAEL BALDWIN. BILL THORNBURY, REGGIE BANNISTER. 

KATHY LESTER AND ANGUS SCRIMM AS THE TALL MAN 

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DON COSCARELLI 

PRODUCED BY DA. COSCARELLI 

CO-PRODUCER PAUL PEPPERMAN 

MUSIC: FRED MYROW AND MALCOLM SEAGRAVE 

COLOR BY TECHNICOLOR® PRINTS BY CFI 

Opens in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Antonio 

on March 28th 

From ^:17AVCO EMBASSY PICTURES 

the Compan]^ that's going places! 

s^^f^^H

.». 

. i-.,.-. 

Th(z Innoemt' is the 

f 

"An erotic ideal." 

—Jack Kroll, Newsweek 

I 

p 

q 

I 

audience." 

^Ân elegant and 

erotic film." 

—Boxoffice Magazine 

-Gene Shalit, NBC-TV 

^Î recommend 

'The Innocent'." 

—Andrew Sarrls, Village Voice 

"OneofVisconti's 

most beautiful films . . 

splendidly performed." 

'^ *" '^ -Vincent Canby 

m^ 

'^^ Innocent 

^ ^^ 

qiANCARLOqiANNINI 

^.Mk 

LAURAeANlONtXLI OENNIFER 0'I\K1LL l|H^ 

a 

D, SUSI CECCHI DAMICO ENRICO MEDIOLI LUCHINO \ 'ISO jNTI 

FRANCO MANNINO -i ... GIOVANNI BERTOLUCCI 

LUCHINO VISCONII 

-....n., 

iiV'

I 

l)oxoffice phenomenon! 

Three weeks and three days 

at 450 seat iii^QGflWIt 

Third week 

shatters all previous 

record-setting weeks 

and fourth weekend tops its own 

opening weekend record 

».3407l 

All engagements arranged 

exclusively through: 

ANALYSIS 

FILM RELEASIMG 

CORPORATIOM 

DISTRIBUTION COMPANY 

President Vice President Treasurer 

Paul E. Cohen Robert J. Kaplan Paul Leeman 

146 West 54th St., New York, N.Y. 10019 

(212) 765-8734 

Fred Baker: Sales AgenI 

/ 

\ 

IN PRE-PRODUCTION 

MOEBERG 

based on the 

best-selling book, 

MOEBERG, 

Athlete, Scholar, Spy." 

A Grand Slam Production.

Agatha s 

RON SCHAUMBURG 

Bv 

Associate Ed:tor 

Thrust into the public spotlight by a $.V5 

million advertising budget and a bitter battle 

over artistic control, "Agatha" opened Feb. 

9 for exclusive runs in Los Angeles. New 

York and Dallas. The film, a fictional examination 

of Agatha Christie's mysterious 

eleven-day disappearance in 1926. stars 

Dustin Hoffman as an American journalist 

and Vanessa Redgrave as the famed mystery 

writer. 

"Agatha" is as likely to stir the ire of 

Christie's legion of devoted fans as her notorious 

novel, "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd." 

Kathleen Tynan, co-author of the 

book on which it is based, has assembled 

the few facts known in the case, blended 

them with some sleuthing of her own. and 

concocted a tale from which Dame Christie 

emerges with her dignity not entirely intact. 

In the film, husband Archibald Christie 

(portrayed with steel-edged coldness by 

Timothy Dalton) tells his painfully shy wife 

that he loves his secretary and asks Agatha 

for a divorce. Upset, the writer drives off 

begins his own investigation. Col. Christie's 

vague answers convince the police that she 

was murdered, but Stanton, who has met 

the husband and is intrigued by Agatha, believes 

differently. He interrogates Christie's 

maid, discovering a clue which leads him 

to the Hydro Hotel in Harrogate, a town 

famous for its mineral baths. 

As the police search continues elsewhere. 

Stanton, introducing himself as Carl Schatz, 

moves closer to his prey. Intrigued by Agatha's 

remoteness, and suspecting that she 

is scheming, he intrudes on her at every 

opportunity. Meanwhile, as Agatha had expected. 

Col. Christie's secretary, Mary 

Neele (Celia Gregory), arrives at the hotel 

for health treatments. Agatha begins asking 

the bath attendant some leading questions 

concerning some of the therapeutic but lethal-looking 

electric shock devices used at 

the spa. 

Agatha, posing as a nurse, calls Nancy 

Neele and gets her to change her morning 

therapy session to an earlier time. Ihat 

Own Real-Life Mystery 

Vanessa Redgrave in 'Agatha' 

night, Stanton, still suspicious but growing 

more and more concerned, tenderly con- 

into the fog. smashing into a tree. Her car fronts Agatha with the fact that, while her 

found abandoned; she has disappeared. marriage may be crimibling, her life might us from suspending our disbelief entirely, 

is 

An effete American reporter. Wally Stanton 

(Dustin Hoffman), scents a story and 

yet be happy. The next day, however, Agatha 

goes to the bathhouse, tampers with the 

so that the unlikely romance between Hoffman 

and Redgrave seems doomed from the 

start to failure. And. while Hoffman, miscast 

controls on the therapeutic chair, and sits 

down in it. Nancy arrives for her session. 

as the reporter, is generally stiff and 

'Agatha' Credits 

Agatha, hidden behind a curtain, asks her reserved throughout, he does manage to imbue 

the film with its only light, comedic 

First Artists presents "Agatha." a Sweet- 

Wall production in association with Casablanca 

FilmWorks for Warner Bros, release. parison to the writer upon whom she cen- 

Hoffman, incidentally, is angry with First 

Kathleen Tynan's ingenuity pales in com- 

touches. 

ters 

CAST 

her story. Her blend of fact and fantasy Artists Productions for allegedly seizing the 

is forced and, at times, less than credible. film before he could complete his final editing 

H'ally Stanton 

Dustin Hoffman Her story, however, leaves some troubling 

on the project. The actor has repudiated 

Agatha Christie Vanessa Redgrave gaps, holes in plot which Agatha herself any involvement with the picture. 

Archibald Christie Timothy Dalton would never have allowed. The character Legal and artistic battles aside, "Agatha" 

TECHNICAL CREDITS 

of Stanton and his coincidental presence and will find an audience among those anxious 

Directed by 

Michael Apted 

involvement are not fully explained; nor, for to see two fine actors engage in a transatlantic 

Produced by 

Jarvis Astaire and 

romantic drama, as well as among 

that matter, is his infatuation with Agatha. 

Gavrik Losey 

At times the screenplay seems directionless those Agatha Christie fans anxious to learn 

Screenplay by 

Kathleen Tynan —wandering, like Agatha, into the hazy fog more about the writer's own unsolved mystery. 

Both groups 

AND Arthur Hopcraft of speculation and downright guesswork. 

will be disappointed to 

This imcertainty, which is reflected in the some degree. But then, as "The Murder of 

somber tone that permeates the whole Roger Ackroyd" clearly demonstrated, the 

project, doesn't help to reveal the character 

of Agatha, although Vanessa Redgrave follows 

up her portrayal in 

"Julia" by bringing 

to this role a similar grace and sophistication. 

Inconsistencies in the story plague us, 

though. How, for example, could this woman, 

who depends so desperately on her husband, 

have overcome her extreme shyness 

to enter so freely into the festivities 

of hotel 

nightlife? Why, in this intrinsically English 

story, is the reporter an American? Perhaps 

a more solid screenplay or a firmer directorial 

hand could have resolved these and 

other nagging questions. 

The period look has been admirably captured 

by production designer Shirley Russell 

(wife of flamboyant film director Ken 

Russell) and by cinematographer Vittorio 

Storaro. The costumes are elegant improvisations 

on a brown monochromatic pallette, 

and fit effortlessly with the entire mood. 

Despite the generally high production 

values (the most notable exceptions being 

the screenplay and a ridiculously inappropriate 

song tacked on over the final credits), 

the film falls short of achieving its potential 

catharsis. The impact of the climactic scene 

is modified by the general dreariness and 

evenness which permeates the mood. Our 

constant awareness that history will take 

over as soon as the final reel ends prevents 

solution to a Christie whodunit, while always 

ingenious, is also just a bit controversial. 

Seances^ Spot Ads Boost Warner Bros.' 

Agatha' 

Warner Bros, plans a $3.5 million adverrising and prcnioton campaign to back 

its release of "Agatha," starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave. 

In its first week of exclusive engagements, the film earned $27,475 at the 

Cinema 1 in New York, $15,838 at the Northpark in Dallas, and $23,448 at the 

Avco Cinema Center in Los Angeles. 

Warners is handling the film cautiously this month because of the stern competition 

from the three major television networks, which have scheduled such blockbusters 

as "Gone With the Wind" to boost their ratings in the market sweeps. Next 

month, however, the studio will buy network ad spots to tout the film. 

Author Kathleen ijnan and aitor Timothy Dalton, who plays Agatha's husband, 

are making the usual rounds of TV talk shows. Ballantine Books is planning 

a widespread promotional tie-in for the paperback version of Tynan's novel, on 

which the film is based. 

One unique idea was the seance arranged by First Artists and conducted by 

Tamara Rand, psychic medium from the Rand Institute in Los Angeles. Ms. Rand 

apparently contacted (he late Agatha, who revealed that the key to her diar>' 

lies hiddi-n in a hotel in Istanbul. 

February 19. 1979

Fox Fever* Strikes the Rocky Mountains 

58 THEATRES FIRST 3 DAYS 

(NON-HOLIDAY WEEKEND) 

$250,000 

Watch For *Fox Fever' 

MINNEAPOLIS, FEB. 28 

LOS ANGELES, MAR. 9 

SAN FRANCISCO, MAR. 9 

KANSAS CITY MAR. 14 

JACKSONVILLE, APRIL 20 

CHARLOTTE, APRIL 27 

CAT ^NS NC 

To Catch 'Fox Fever' Contact Your Local Sanrio Distributor or Phil Garfinkle, 

Sanrio Communications, Inc.. 1930 Century Park West. Suite 402, Los Angeles. CA 90067 (213) 552-0525

MURDER BY DECREE 

Sherlock Holmes is back, again tangling with a Jack 

the Ripper counterpart. A star-studded cast of big names 

in small roles gives life to the John Hopkins screenplay. 

Based on the John Lloyd-Elwen Jones story, "The Ripper 

File" (from the BBC TV series), the film's setting is 1888 

London, where East End prostitutes are slashed to death 

by the notorious killer. 

The .Avco Embassy release, rated PG, has distinct assets 

in both Christopher Plummer as Holmes and James Mason 

;is a nonbumbling Dr. Watson. A sympathetic and almost 

boyish Holmes (purists beware), Plummer is fine in the 

role: Mason is an absolute delight as the patriotic, loyal 

and entirely dependable friend and colleague. The rest of 

the players do what they can within the limits of their 

roles. 

Despite opposition from Scotland Yard police commissioner 

Anthony Quayle, Plummer, as Holmes, is called into 

the murder case. He learns from psychic Donald Sutherland 

that prostitute Susan Clark holds the key to the 

solution. The involved plot has Clark directing him to 

Genevieve Bujold, an asylum inmate who gave birth to 

a daughter by a member of royalty. The fraternal Masons 

are responsible for the killings, being carried out to get at 

the child and save the country embarrassment. 

Director Bob Clark added nice touches of humor and 

some quite gory scenes, the latter evident in the ritual 

murder of Clark. Holmes eventually finds not one but two 

killers. The plot's resolution, which leaves something to 

be desired, has Holmes agreeing to keep silent when the 

case is solved and the baby is safe. 

The 121-minute running time is a problem, yet fans 

should be satisfied with the Robert A. Goldston presentation 

John Cocchi. 

CAST 

Sherlock Holmes Christopher Plummer 

Dr. Waison James Mason 

Robert Lees 

Donald Sutherland 

Annie Crook 

Genevieve Bujold 

Inspector l-oxboroiif^h David Hemmings 

Miiry Kelly 

Susan Clark 


L.xecutive Fiodiicer I.EN HerBERMAN 

Co-producer 

Rene Dupont 

Co-producer-Director 

Bob Cl ark 

Screenplay John Hopkins 

Feature reviews 

THE WARRIORS 

Street gangs and their code emerge as part of a fantasy 

world in this wild and action-filled Paramount release, 

based on Sol Yurick's novel. Set in the streets and subways 

of New York's boroughs, the David Shaber-Walter 

Hill screenplay is both unintentionally furmy and exciting 

at the same time. Structured in the manner of a World 

War II movie, the plot has the main protagonists on the 

run from every gang in the city as they attempt to make 

their way back to home turf, with skirmishes at intervals 

along the way and time out for romance. 

The R-rated story begins with New York street gangs 

travelling to the Bronx to hear Roger Hill, leader of the 

black Riffs, who has arranged a truce. Hill proposes that 

all 

the organized gangs unite to take over the city. 

This initial premise of gangs overpowering the entire 

city has frightening implications; but these are quickly 

forgotten in favor of the fast and furious pace, which picks 

up when Hill is suddenly shot by Rogues chief David 

Patrick Kelly. The latter blames the killing on the Warriors, 

a Coney Island group, whose black leader Dorsey 

Wright is also slain. Eluding the police, the Warriors hide 

in a cemetery where the war chief, well played by Michael 

Beck, takes command. All but James Remar, in another 

fine performance, accept Beck. 

The group outruns the Turnbull A.C.'s gang, then has 

to pass through Orphans territory. Deborah Van Valkenburgh, 

a stunning Booke Adams type, plays a street girl 

whom Beck takes as hostage after she nearly causes a 

fight. Waites is killed and Remar gets arrested. The others 

make it back home, and Beck and Deborah find love. 

Screenwriter Walter Hill directed the large cast of new 

young actors and actress in a serious manner, but the acting 

and action overcome the stilted situations and dialog. 

If it's wholly unbelievable, the production, at 94 minutes, 

is well paced and totally enjoyable. John Cocchi. 

CAST 

Swan Michael Beck 

Aja.x James Rem.\r 

Cleon 

Dorsey Wright 

Snow 

Brian Tyler 

Cochi.u- David Harris 

Cowboy 

Tom McKitterk k 


Producer Lawreni e Gordon 

L.xecutive Producer Frank Marshall 

Director 

Walter Hili 

David Shaber. Walter Hill 

Screenplay 


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Available in three versions: 

CC-301 . 1 0-minute clock trailer, 900 ft., $249.95 each. 

CC-302.* Deluxe clock shell, 500 ft., $1 69.95 each. 

CC-303.* Standard clock shell, 300 ft., $1 1 9.95 each. 

(*CC-302 and CC-303 require insertion of additional film material, such as concession 

trailers and/or snack bar footage, to achieve 10 full minutes of intermission time.) 

CUSTOM CROSS PLUG TRAILERS 

Graphically animated, and personalized with musical sound track. Announcing "NOW 

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$1 7.50 each, minimum order, two per title. 

AUDIENCE "ETIQUETTE" TRAILER 

A friendly message to our audience—we would like to take this opportunity to thank 

you prior to the start of our show for your cooperation in refraining from unnecessary 

conversation and noise which may create an annoyance to others around you. 

CC-501 . "Etiquette" Trailer, $1 6.95 each. 

"FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY" TRAILER 

CC-502. "For your own safety LOOK for the nearest EXIT. In case of emergency 

WALK do not RUN to that EXIT", $10.95 each. 

THE GREAT THEATRE "CLEAN-UP" TRAILER 

This full color, fully animated special trailer tactfully requests your patrons to deposit 

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Great Theatre "Clean-Up" Trailer, $1 6.95 each. 

CC-601 . 

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL TRAILERS 

A colorful portrayal of America through brilliant visual effects and a stirring musical 

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CC-776. "America the BeautifuT'Trailer, $49.95 each. 

PLEASE INQUIRE REGARDING QUANTITY DISCOUNTS. 

PERSONALIZED THEATRE FEATURE PRESENTATION TRAILERS 

Personalized feature presentation headers to precede a main attraction or to announce 

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I 

^ 50 Top-Grossing Films 

"SLITHIS"RANKED18^h|N THE 

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IH£ SLIIHIS OVS 17»,4^C 18^ 

SHO-WEST CONVENTIOI 

Feb. 19-22, Contact: 

MR. R. L. DAVIS 

MGM Grand Hotel 

Las Vegas, Nevada 

Telephone (702) 739-4111 

ALLAH 

BIG GROSSES! 

kDAMS DETROIT 

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lONEER Dl DES MOINES 

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HERE ARE JUST A FEW! . . . 

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$14,903.00 SUNSET Dl SKOKIE $13,284.00 

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(202) 244-1500 

SAN FRANCISCO 

HARPER PAUL WILLIAMS 

(415) 981-6180 

ALBANY - BUFFALO 

IKE EHRLICHMAN 

(716) 854-6752 

SALT LAKE CITY 

MARY SMITH 

(303) 751-7520 

PITTSBURGH 

JOHN MAJDEK 

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WILLIAM GLASER 

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(216) 461-9770 

ATLANTA 

LOUIS OWENS 

(404) 237-3314 

JACKSONVILLE 

HARRY CLARK 

(904) 721-2122 

MILWAUKEE 

RICK RICE 

(312) 693-8334 

LOS ANGELES 

JERRY PURCELL 

(213) 652-8844 

LOS ANGELES MULTIPLE MARCH 21 . H^mSERVE 

JUR PRINTS TODAY! . . . MULTIPLES . . . MINI-SATURATIONS 

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. . . 

1 ^^cademu Lôuntdiown 

Jifominations ballots for ihc Academy 

Awards presentations April 9 were due 

at the office of Price Waterhouse & Co. at 

5 pm. Friday, Feb. 9 . 

The Academy's board of governors has 

voted honorary awards to Laurence Olivier, 

King Vidor. Walter Lantz and the film department 

of the Museum of Modern Art. 

It has also voted a special achievement 

award for visual effects to the film "Superman." 

This is Olivier's third Oscar, having 

won a Best Actor nod in 1948 for 'Hamlet" 

and an honorary award in 1946 for his 

work on "Henry V." Vidor was chosen this 

year "for his incomparable achievements as 

a cinematic creator and innovator," having 

been nominated for the Best Director 

award five times over the years. Walter 

Lantz was named "for bringing joy and 

laughter to every part of the world through 

his unique animated motion pictures." The 

Museum of Modern Art was recognized 

"for the contribution it has made to the 

public's perception of movies as an art 

form" .... 

An exhibit featuring original Academy 

Award winning and nominated costumes 

will be on display in the lobbies of the 

Academy headquarters, 8949 Wiishire 

Blvd., from Feb. 20 through May. . . . 

Three Academy Awards of Merit have 

been announced. Statuettes were given to the 

Eastman Kodak Co. for the research and 

development of a duplicating color film for 

motion pictures; to Stefan Kudelski for the 

continuing research, design and development 

of the Nagra Production Sound recorder, 

and to Panavision, Inc., for the development 

of the Panaflex 35mm camera 

system .... 

Academy plaques, honoring scientific and 

engineeiing achievements, have been awarded 

to Ray M. Dolby, loan R. Allen, David 

P. Robinson, Stephen M. Katz and Philip 

S. J. Boole of Dolby Laboratories, for their 

work in improving theatre sound. . . . 

Technical Achievement Awards in the 

form of certificates went to Karl Macher 

and Glenn M. Berggren of Jos. Schneider 

Co. for the development of the Cinelux- 

ULTRA lens; to David J. Degenkolb, Arthur 

L. Ford and Fied J. Scobey of Deluxe 

General for their photographic wash water 

QUICK SCREENING 

purification method; to Kiichi Sekiguchi of 

Meisei Electric Co. for the development of 

the CINE-FI auto radio sound system for 

drive-ins; to Leonard Chapman of Leonard 

Equipment Co. for the design and manufacture 

of the Chapman Hustler dolly; to 

James L. Fisher for the Fisher Model Ten 

dolly, and to Robert Stent of Production 

Grip Equipment Co. for the Stent dolly .... 

Nineteen countries have submitted entries 

for the Best Foreign Language Film 

award: "Carnival Dreams" (Brazil); "Viva 

el Presidente" (Cuba); "Nick Carter in 

Prague" (Czechoslovakia); "Me and Charly" 

(Denmark); "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs" 

(France); "The Glass Cell" (West 

Germany); "Hungarians" (Hungary); "The 

Chess Players" (India); "Lemon Popsicle" 

(Israel); "Viva Italia!" (Italy); "Empire of 

Passion" (Japan); "The Wedding of Zein" 

(Kuwait); "Promise of Love" (Lebanon); 

"A Limitless Place" (Mexico); "Pastorale 

1943" (The Netherlands); "As We Were" 

(Philippines); "Death of the President" 

(Poland); "White Bim Black Ear" (USSR) 

and "Occupation in 26 Pictures" (Yugoslavia) 

.... 

'Woman' Production Halted 

NEW YORK— Universal Pictures president 

Ned Tanen, star Lily Tomlin and director 

John Landis have agreed to suspend 

production at this time on "The Incredible 

Shrinking Woman." Delayed because of 

budgetary complications, the film had been 

scheduled to begin filming in March. 

FOR DRIVE-INS 

WITH TREES THAT GROW 5-8 FEET PER YEAR 

10-12' trees 

2 years after planting 

6-8' whips 

You can have effective, 

inexpensive screening 

in just 2 or 3 years. 

...Miles W. Fry & Son Nursery, Inc., 

Dept. BX 7902 RD 3, Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 354-4501 

All trees are guaranteed to survive. Trees are shipped bare-root, 

express collect nationwide. Price F.O.B. nursery. 

Satisfy the new regulations with fast-growing Hybrid Poplars, 

and have a better looking theatre In the bargain. Developed by 

the US Forest Service for reforestation, they are resistant to 

Ice, storm. Insect and disease damage. These Hybrid Poplars are 

specially selected for fast, full screening, and are not to be 

confused with the short-lived Lombardy Poplars. Hardy In all 

U.S. climates. Note: screen trees are best planted on 6 to 9-foot 

centers.

vouDotrr 

NEEDAIRAILER 

RNtEVERir 

Just the ones you want to 

make money on! 

HsS 

National Screen Service 

BOXOmCE :: February 19, 1979

I 

Crown International 

Attends ShoWesT 79 

LAS VEGAS — A contingent of Crown 

International Pictures executives are in 

Las Vegas this week for a round of activities 

at ShoWesT and to meet with Crown 

distributors from the United States and 

Canada. 

Jacobs Heads Contingent 

Heading the group from the Beverly 

Hills firm will be Newton P. "Red" Jacobs, 

chairman of the board; Mark Tenser, 

president; George M. Josephs, vice-president 

and general sales manager; Donald 

Foster, Western division sales manager, and 

Bill Steinmetz. director of advertising and 

publicity. 

On Feb. 22 Crown will host an informal 

luncheon at the Strand Room and that evening 

will sponsor a cocktail reception for 

ShoWesT conventioneers at the MGM 

Grand's Metro Club. 

will be host for a dinner show party in the 

Grand's Celebrity Room on Friday evening. 

Crown International distributors on hand 

for the sales conferences, screenings and 

social events will be Arthur Friedman and 

Roger Lockwood, Boston; Ike Ehrlichman, 

Buffalo; Bill Lange, Chicago-Milwaukee; 

Jeff Ruff and Dennis Glenn, Cincinnati- 

Detroit; Mode Zyrl and Jay Schultz, Cleveland; 

Fred Beicrsdorf, Dallas-Oklahoma; 

Bates Farley, Denver; Harry Clark and 

Belton Clark, Atlanta-Jacksonville; John 

Shipp, Kansas City-Des Moines-St. Louis; 

James Payne, Minneapolis; Lewis Oubre 

and Billy Briant, New Orleans-Memphis: 

Kenny Lloyd, Salt Lake City; Ross Wheeler, 

Washington, D.C.; Andy Anderson, San 

Francisco; Allan Strulson. Philadelphia; 

Marvin Friedlandsr, New York City, and 

Martin Bockner, Toronto, Ontario. 

Cinema Concepts Promotes 

Corporate Image on Screen 

NASHVILLE—In six months, a Nashville-based 

film trailer company, Cinema 

Concepts, has earned a strong foothold in 

the motion picture industry. According to 

Stewart D. Harnell. executive vice-president 

of Cinema Concepts. "Our company, 

through its creative and refreshingly innovative 

production staff, has offered exhibitors 

an unprecedented portfolio of unique 

institutional trailers covering a multitude of 

subjects." 

After extensive personal visits with exhibitors, 

in addition to attendance at national 

and regional conventions, Harnell said he 

is firmly convinced that theatre owners do 

have a strong desire to upgrade and update 

Screenings Are Planned 

the quality of their special institutional trailers 

Screenings Feb. 23 will be held for "Van 

and screen presentations through the use 

Nuys Blvd.," a Marilyn J. Tenser production 

which Crown will be releasing in June, thusiastic 

of contemporary film products. The en- 

response from exhibitors has been 

followed by another scheduled 1979 release, 

with 

most gratifying," Harnell asserts. "To think 

that a relatively short period we have 

the tentatively-titled "Terror," together in 

achieved major penetration into a market 

the Crown International product reel. 

Capping the week-long activities. Crown which has been virtually dominated over the 

past 50 years by two or three companies." 

According to Harnell, "The demand for 

circuit or corporate identification headers 

(personalized feature presentation trailers) 

has been overwhelming. 

"We feel it is important for a theatre 

patron to identify the quality entertainment 

he views in a theatre with the company 

who owns and operates the show place," 

Harnell stated. "Circuit identification trailers 

produced with exciting visual and audio 

effects help to achieve this objective." 

Gulf & Western Stock 

Pays 75-Cent Dividend 

NEW YORK—Gulf & Western Industries, 

Inc. has announced an increase in the 

quarterly cash dividend on its common 

stock to 18 3/4 cents per share payable 

1. April 1979 to shareholders of record 

March 12. 1979. The previous quarterly 

rate was 17 1/2 cents per share. 

This action increases the indicated annual 

rate of regular dividends to 75 cents frem 

70 cents per common share. Gulf & Western 

has paid higher regular quarterly dividends 

every year since common stock cash 

dividends were initiated in fiscal 1965. 

The following quarterly cash dividends 

also were declared, payable April 1, 1979, 

to shareholders or record on March 12, 

1979: 

Series C—$3,875 Cumulative Convertible 

Preferred Stock, 96 7/8 cents per share; 

Series D—$2.50 Cumulative Convertible 

Preferred Stock. 62 1/2 cents per share; 

$5.75 Sinking Fund Preferred Stock, 

$1.4375 $1.43 and 3/4 cents per share. 

Blizzard Halts Filming 

On 'Electric Horseman' 

NEW YORK—"The Electric 

Horseman" 

has temporarily shut down production on its 

St. George. Utah location due to blizzard 

conditions in 

that area. 

The Ray Stark-S. Pollack-Wildwood Production, 

which stars Robert Redford and 

Jane Fonda, has been plagued with adverse 

weather since that unit arrived in St. George 

Dec. 15 after completing five weeks of 

shooting on schedule in Las Vegas. 

According to Frank Price, president of 

Columbia Pictures Productions, the unit 

plans to move to Los Angeles where they 

will shoot some interiors before returning 

to St. George in two weeks to complete 

filming on that location. 

InternotionQl 

Screenwofid c^p'or Corporation 

THE LEADING WORLDWIDE EXPORTER OF EROTIC FILMS 

:«Si'rr.:iv:"£"""«lrj^DISTRIBUTOR ...... 3303 Cables: "SCREENIT' 

Telex: 696294 SCREENIT LSA 

—Contact— 

DAVID M. 

GOLDSTEIN 

INOUlBENCtOF 

SElf-PlMSUBt SCREENWORLD International Corporation 

P.O. Box 69414, L.A. CalH. 90069 U.S.A., 

Tel: (213) 659-9230/659-3384 

BOXOFTICE :: F-

Albuquerque and Columbia have gone crazy over 

"DIRT" 

You will too. 

20 theatres in 10 days 

$130,000 

Albuquerque, NM 15 theatres -$89,000 • Columbia, SC 5 theatres -$41 ,000 

l^m AMERICAN CINEMA RELEASING 

BOXOmCE :: February 19, 1979

'Express' Is Honored 

By Narcotics Officers 

NEW YORK— -Midnight Express." its 

executive producer Peter Guber and Casablanca 

Record & FilmWorks president Neil 

Bogart have been voted the 1979 Award 

of Honor by the International Narcotic Enforcement 

Officers Assn.. announced John 

J. Bellizzi. executive director of the Albany, 

New York-based organization representing 

200.000 peace officers throughout the 

a Turkish prison after receiving a life sentence 

for smuggling hashish. Brad Davis 

stars in the film, which won six Golden 

Globe Awards, including Best Picture. 

world. 

"We are extremely proud of the film," 

Guber said when accepting the award, "and 

Opportunity to Warn Americans 

it is gratifying to know that its important 

Citing the high quality of "Midnight Express" 

and the fact that it has "reached mil- 

hope that the story of Billy Hayes is never 

message is making an impact. It is our 

lions of voune Americans with a vital mes- 

repeated." 

s;ige concerning the international drug 

laws." Bellizzi told Bogart and Guber that 

their efforts have been of "substantial assistance 

in the war against drug abuse" and 

said that the film offered an "unusual opportunity 

to warn traveling Americans of 

the danger of breaking the laws of foreign 

nations." 

"Midnight Express" is based on the experience 

of Billy Hayes, who escaped from 

ATTENTION 

EXHIBITORS! 

Do you haie Iroiihle iiellinti /xirls for your equipmeul? 

Do you find thill shiijphiii ilelays and excuses of parts being obsolete 

are costing yoti money? 

If these problems sound familiar, remember that ne have over 70,000 

different parts in stock for immediate shipment for: 

ASHCRAFT— BRENKERT — CENTURY — DE VRY — MAGNARC 

MOTIOGRAPH — R.C.A. — SIMPLEX — STRONG 

WEAVER — WENZEL 

The ]y oik Company offers a quality product and service. Order your 

parts through your local theatre supply dealer and please specify 

"W OLK'" parts when placing your order. 

EDW. H. WOLK, INC. 

1241 South Wabash Ave. 

Chicago, Illinois 60605, U.S.A. 

Cable "EDWOLK" 

Phone: 312-939-2720 

Telepictures Announces 

Its Package of Projects 

NEW YORK—Telepictures Corp., a recently 

formed entertainment company with 

offices in New York and Hollywood, unveiled 

its first package of major television 

and theatrical projects. These include production, 

acquisition, distribution, development 

and nontheatrical ventures. The company 

was founded this fall by president 

Michael Solomon, a former vice-president 

of MCA-TV. and executive vice-president 

Michael Garin, previously vice-president 

and general manager of syndication and 

public television for Time-Life Television. 

Vice-president of marketing Dick Robertson 

had been a sales executive for the CBS 

Television Network, among other positions. 

The company has acquired theatrical, 

nontheatrical and television rights on a 

worldwide basis, except for North America, 

to Ely Landau's "American Film Theatre," 

l.'^ distinguished features with prominent 

stars and directors. 

It is completing negotiations for domestic 

distribution rights to a package of features 

for television and off-network distribution 

of a major television series. It is distributing 

and developing several shows and specials. 

International acquisitions include 135 features 

for distribution in various areas of the 

world. 

Telepictures Corp. is headquartered at 

One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. New York 

City. Its West Coast office is at 8732 Sunset 

Boulevard in Hollywood. 

Benson Ends 10-Day Tour 

InfernQfionol 

Screenwofld c^' Corporation 


NEW YORK—Robby Benson recently 

completed a ten-day national whirlwind promotional 

tour in connection with the Columbia 

Pictures release, "Ice Castles," in 

which he stars. Cities visited for interviews 

and media appearances included Atlanta. 

Boston. New York. Dallas and San Francisco. 

Sweet 

|^l2!'!ffili$ISTE1lS 

Secrets : THEY WILL EXCITE 

• VOUR SENSES BErOND 

: DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTOR: ESSEX ^^13J 466J144 

• THE LIMITS OF 

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IMAGINATION 

VICKI LYON 

• 

^^^^^^^^ msTRIBUTOR: ESSEX |2i; 1213)466-1144 

••••••••• 

SCREENWORLD International Corporation 

P O. Box 69414, L.A. Calif. 90069 U.S.A., 

Tel: (213) 659-9230/659-3384 

Cables: "SCREENIT" 

Telex: 696294 SCREENIT LSA

BIG GROSSES 

BEAUTIFUL LEGS 

SEATTLE- UPTOWN THEATRE 

*13,712 

FIRST 14 DAYS-HOLDING 3RD WEEK 

THE EROTIC FANTASIES 

OF THE WORLD'S MOST 

NOTORIOUS DIRECTOR 

ROMAN POLANSKI'S 

fdrbidden 

^dteams 

''Bold, sensual.... and very explicit^ 

RRESTRICTED^ 

AN MPM RELEASE 

AVAILABLE MARCH 7th 

MOTION PICTURE MARKETING

Disney Seis Dividends- 

Board Is Reelected 

LAKELAND. FLA.—The board ol directors 

of Walt Disney Productions, meeting 

in Florida for the first time in its history, 

has declared a quarterly cash dividend 

of 12 cents per share. 

The dividend is payable April 2. 1979. 

to all stockholders of record as of March 

16. 1979. 

CLEARING HOUSE 

HLMS FOR RENT 

FILMS FOR SALE 

16MM HABD XXX films, brand ne 

Posters cmd trailers availcrble. $300. 

50 titles. Boxolfice, 4187. 

WORLDWIDE EXPORTERS Muslim religious 

aims. Rinalilm, Box 116031, Beirut 

Lebanon. 

16MM CLASSICS, Ulustrated catalog 

25c. Manbeck, 3621-B Wakonda Drive, Des 

Moines. Iowa 50321. 

35MM ACTION leoture film available. 

World rights purchase available. Percentage 

distribution considered (602) 279- 

FILMS WANTED 

WANTED: 35mm traUers. 1930-1977, any 

L. quantity. Brown, 6763 Hollywood Blvd., 

noUywood, CaUl. 90028 

WANTED 35mm entertainment feature 

films for Canadian market. Rights purchased 

or will distribute on a percentage 

basis. Send particulars to Boxoffice, 4139 

More Classified Listing 

On Inside Back Cover 

At the company's annual meeting, also 

held yesterday at the Lakeland Civic Center. 

Card Walker, president and chief executive 

officer, reported that the company 

"has joined the relatively select group of 

American companies that can call themselves 

billion-dollar corporations." 

He said the company had established new 

records in both revenues and net income in 

what he termed "the best possible fashion 

—not by one or two remarkable performances 

from our various divisions, but by 

a balance of excellent performances from 

every facet of our business." 

"What's more," Walker said, "this was 

our eleventh consecutive year of growth." 

The highlight of the year for the company, 

he said, was the formal announcement 

in October of plans for the $500 million 

EPCOT Center to be constructed at Walt 

Disney World in Florida. 

He pointed out that the announcement 

has been greeted with great enthusiasm in 

both business and government circles 

around the world. 

"Some of the world's largest and most 

respected corporations have already joined 

us as financial and creative partners in this 

vast undertaking." Walker said, "including 

General Motors, Exxon, Kraft and American 

Telephone and Telegraph." 

In addition, he said, government or business 

interests from ten foreign nations have 

indicated their intention to participate. 

Phase One of EPCOT Center's World 

Showcase will include Mexico, Japan, Germany. 

Morocco, Canada, Israel, the United 

Kingdom, France, Italy and the United 

Arab Emirates. 

At the meeting, the stockholders of Walt 

Disney Productions reelected all nine incumbent 

directors. 

They are: Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson, 

William H. Anderson, Roy E. Disney, Philip 

M. Hawley. Ronald W. Miller. Richard 

T. Morrow, Donn B. Tatum, E. Cardon 

Walker and Raymond L. Watson. 

AL Filmways Discuss 

Merger Possibilities 

NEW YORK. N.Y.—American International 

Pictures, Inc. (AMEX) announced today 

that preliminary discussions with Filmvâys. 

Inc. (NYSE) have commenced relating 

to a possible revival of the proposed 

merger tiansaction which was terminated 

last December. American International Pictures, 

Inc. emphasized that these discussions 

are only preliminary and no agreement or 

understanding has been reached on any 

terms. 

Paramount Sets Record 

For Worldwide Rentals 

Hollywood—Paramount Pictures has 

set a new industry record for worldwide 

film rentals during a calendar 

year with $429,890,000 in billings for 

the 12 months ending December 31, 

1978, it was announced by Barry Diller, 

chairman and chief executive officer. 

This new industry record, which includes 

unprecedented billings in both 

foreign and domestic rentals accrued to 

Paramount, breaks down as follows 

$139,890,000 in foreign billings and the 

previously reported record $290 million 

in domestic bilHngs. 

The two major contributors to Paramount's 

foreign rentals during 1978 

were "Saturday Night Fever" and 

"Grease," with both films establishing 

new attendance and boxoffice records 

in foreign playdates. 

As previously reported, the Paramount 

films contributing to the record 

domestic billings were "Grease," "Saturday 

Night Fever," "Heaven Can 

Wait," "Foul Play," "Up in Smoke," 

"The One and Only" and "Death on 

the Nile." 

Screenwofld &^ 

InternofionQl 

Corporation 


This Main 

Course is 

Finger Lickin' 

Great! 

00.*ESTIC DISTRIBUTOR 

ESSEX |..3J^^;J44^^.__^___^^ 

SCREENWORLD International Corporation 

P.O. Box 69414, L.A. Calif. 90069 U.S.A., 

Tel: (213) 659-9230/659-3384 

Cables: "SCREENIT" 

Telex: 696294 SCREENIT LSA 

Ichruarv 19. 1979

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

HONORED SHOWMAN COMPETITION 

• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••*• 

Cwtet y©iut Bcdl PimtMrfuMi! 

1. BEST PRINT Promotion 

2. BEST RADIO-TV Promotion 

3. BEST OFFSITE Promotion 

Three SHOWMEN will 

be honored at this year's 

•••SH0W-A-RAIVIA22*** 

April 23-26, inclusive Kansas City, Mo. 

HOW TO ENTER 

The Boxoff ice — Show-A-Rama Honored 

Showman Competition is open to all theatre 

owners and managers. Each entry should contain 

a written description of the promotion, 

evidence of the success of the promotion and 

resulting attendance. 

Each entry should be clearly labeled with the 

name of the entry, the theatre for which the 

promotion was held and the category for which 

the entry is submitted. 

All entries should be carefully packaged to 

insure safe arrival; each entry accompanied by 

return postage and suitably packaged for its 

return following Show-A-Rama. Entries will be 

judged by a panel of promotions experts; 

the decisions of the judges will be final. 

Nline for Entries: MARCH 19, 1979 Honc 

— EACH WINNER RECEIVES 

— 

^ All expense-paid trip 

to Kansas City 

• SHOW-A-RAMA 22 registration 

• Deluxe accommodations at the 

Crown Center Hotel 

• Bronze Medallion in 

walnut frame 

mm

JANUARY PRODUCTION STARTS 

FIRST ARTISTS 

Horn. Steve McQueen stars as TonT 

Horn frontier scout and guide who turned 

into a gun-for-hire and was finally hung 

producing. 

HOOL-JOSEPH PRODUCTIONS 

Cabobianco. Charles Bronson, Dominique 

Sanda and Jason Robards star in this 

adventure-thriller about a ship loaded with 

Nazi treasures which is sunk off the coast 

of South America. Fihning began Jan. 5 at 

Barra de Navidad, Mexico. J. Lee Thompson 

is directing from a script by Milt Gelman. 

Others in cast are Fernando Rey, 

Camila Sparv, Simon MacCorkindale and 

Clifton James. Lance Hool and Paul Joseph 

are producing. Martin V. Smith and Pancho 

Kohner are executive producers. 

ISRAM MOTION PICTURES 

Moments. Filming began Jan. 11 m 

Jerusalem with Michal Bat 

Adam and Moshe 

Mizrahi directing 

from a screenplay by 

Michal Bat Adam. Mizrahi is producmg. 

Brigitte Catillon, Michal Bat Adam and 

Assi Dayan are in the cast. 

ITC ENTERTAINMENT 

Saturn 3. Sir Lew Grade's first science 

fiction film began principal photography at 

Shepperton Studios in London on Jan. 8. 

Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kirk Douglas and 

Harvey Keitel head the cast. John Barry 

began directing but left early in February. 

Special effects work is continuing pendmg 

his 

replacement. 

ITHACA-ANTHEA PRODUCTIONS 

Wise Blood. Brad Douri, Ned Beatty 

and Harry Dean Stanton top the cast of this 

feature on which principal photography began 

Jan. 5 in Macon. Ga. Also in the cast 

are Amy Wright. Daniel Shorr and Mary 

Neil Santa Croce. John Huston is directing 

from a screenplay written by Michael Fitzgerald 

and Benedict Fitzgerald. Michael 

producer. 

KENDON PRODUCTIONS 

Scum. Shooting got under way Jan. 8 

Fitzgerald is 

on this feature at Elstree Film Studios in 

London. Ray Winstone. Mick Ford, John 

Judd and Phil Daniels head the cast. Alan 

Clarke is directing from Roy Minton's 

screenplay. Olive Parsons and Davina Belling 

are producing. Michael Relph is executive 

producer. 

LORIMAR 

Hi iNd liiiKi. Direetui- Hal Ashby began 

filming Jan. Id in Los Angeles on this 

22 

adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski's novel. Plot 

concerns a gentle, simplistic man whose 

sheltered life is limited to his TV and garden. 

Starring are Peter Sellers, Shirley Macafter 

beina framed for a murder he didn 

Laine and Jack Warden. Jerzy Kosinski 

t 

wrote the screenplay. Andrew Braunsberg 

commit. Linda Evans and Bert Williaiiis 

is 

are also in the cast. Filming began Jan. 15 

producer. Jack Schwartzman is executive 

in Nogales. Ariz. The Fred Weintraub Solar 

producer. 

production will be distributed by Warner 

STUDIO FILM CORP. 

Bros. William Ward is directing from The Capture of Big Foot. Producerdirector 

Bill Regane began filming Jan. 8 

Thomas McGuane's screenplay. Wemtraub 

in Wisconsin from a screenplay he wrote 

is 

with Ingrid Neumayer. In the cast are Stafford 

Morgan. Katie Hopkins Zerby and 

Otis Young. Dan Stroick is executive producer. 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Corky. Filming began Jan. 31 in New 

York on this romantic thriller starring Talia 

Shire for Michael Lobell Productions. Gordon 

Willis is making his debut as director. 

Script is by Barry Siegel. Also in the cast 

are Elizabeth Ashley, Joseph Cortese, Kay 

Medford. Russell Horton. Linda Gillin, Rick 

Petrucelli, Richard Waid and Michael Lip- 

UNIVERSAL 

The Last Married Couple in America. 

George Segal, Natalie Wood and Richard 

Benjamin head the cast of this Gates Bros.- 

Edward S. Feldman production. Plot concerns 

a happily married couple's effort to 

remain happy while all their friends are getting 

divorced. Also in the cast are Dom 

DeLuise, Marilyn Sokol, Valerie Harper. 

Bob Dishy and Billy Holmes. John Herman 

Shaner wrote the screenplay and is producing 

with Edward S. Feldman and Al Ramrus. 

Fikning began Jan. 22 in Los Angeles. 

Gilbert and Joseph Gates are executive producers. 

Resurrection. Ellen Burstyn stars as a 

woman with the gift of healing in this Daniel 

Petrie-directed feature. Sam Shepard also 

stars as a hell-raising young man who is 

healed by Burstyn after a brawl and falls 

love with her. Filming began Jan. 29 with 

lensing planned for California and Texas. 

Others in the cast are Eva Le Gallienne and 

Richard Farnsworth. Screenplay is by John 

Lewis Carlino. Rence Missel and Howard 

Rosenman are producing. 

WARNER BROS. 

Just Tell Me Whai You Want. Alan 

King stars as a self-made tycoon in total 

control of his life until AH MacGraw, his 

mistress of fifteen years, abandons him. 

Filming on this comedy began Jan. 29 in 

New York. Sidney Lumet is directing and 

co-producing with Jay Presson Allen, who 

wrote the screenplay. Others on the cast are 

Peter Weller, Dina Merrill, Keenan Wynn, 

Tony Roberts and Myrna Loy as King's 

secretary. Filming is also scheduled for Old 

Westbury, N.Y. and Los Angeles. 

in 

Col Spanish-Language 

Releases Announced 

LOS ANGELES — Columbia Pictures 

Spanish Theatrical Film division has announced 

the titles of three Spanish and 

three Mexican productions that form an 

initial group of features it will distribute in 

1979. 

"In response to the demands of the 20 

million Hispanics living in the United 

States and comprising an audience for films 

in their native language, we are seeking 

properties from a prestigious group of 

Mexican, Argentinian. Spanish, Puerto Rican 

and Venezuelan producers," said Carlos 

Barba. vice-president and general manager 

of the Columbia Pictures Industries, 

Inc. division. 

"The six films that we have acquired 

thus far for 1979 release are representative 

of the high-quality, all-family product we 

1 

are interested in," Barba added. 

The first film released, at the end of 

January, was "El Tren de la Muerte" 

("Death Train"), produced and directed by 

Juan Orol and filmed in Mexico. A revenge 

drama, the film stars Julio Aleman and 

Patricia Rivera with a special appearance 

by Dinorah Judith. 

Due in late February is "Bermudas: La 

Cueva de los Tiburones" '('Bermuda: Cave 

of the Sharks"), a Spanish-Italian co-production 

(Amanacer Films and Panorama 

Films of Madrid with Koala Cinematography 

of Rome). Filmed in Bermuda, directed 

by Anthony Richmond, the action-suspense 

drama stars Andres Garcia. Janet Agren, 

Maximo Valverde and Arthur Kennedy. 

Two Spanish films are set for May release. 

The first, "No Mates a Nuestro 

Hijo" ("Don't Kill Our Son"), is from 

Regia Films, produced by Arthuro Gonzalez, 

directed by Gil Carretero. starring 

Consuelo Fernandez and Pedro Sandra. 

Filmed in Madrid and London, it is the 

drama of a young couple who face the 

dilemma of seeking an abortion. "Todos 

Los Dias, Un Dia" (Every Day. One Day), 

is a musical romance starring the internationally 

famous singer Julio Iglesias with a 

special appearance by Tony Martin. Filmed 

in Miami, New York, Panama, Guatamala, 

Paris and Madrid, it was produced by Alfredo 

Fraile Jr. and directed by Orlando 

Jimenez. 

No release date has been set for two 

Mexican films nearing completion. "La Criada 

Maravilla" ("The Marvelous Servant") 

is a comedy starring Maria Victoria. Patricia 

Rivera. Gualberto Castro, Alfonzo 

Zayas and Joaquin Garcia (Borolos). It 

was directed by Fernando Cortes and produced 

by Roberto Rodriguez from Peliculas 

Latinoamericanas. "Fabricantes de 

Panico" ("Panic Makers") is a suspense 

drama about a gang of fugitives who hold 

a family captive in their house. From Real. 

S.A.. it was shot in San Juan. The director, 

Rene Cardona, is a master of the suspense 

genre, with "Sobrevivientes de los Andres," 

"Tintorera," "Ciclon" and "El Triangulo de 

las Bermudas" to his credit. Stuart Whitman 

.uul Michele Wagner are among the stars. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19. 1979

. . Could 

. . . Once 

. . The 

. . . An 

. . The 

. . 

NSC Says 'Superman No. 7; 'Suife 

Is Second; 'Targef at the Bottom 

By STU GOLDSTEIN 

^hristopher and Margot flew high above 

the competition for the month of December, 

soaring over such boxoffice biggies 

as "California Suite" and "Every Which Way 

But Loose" in the process. The nationwide 

membership of the BoxoFFiCE-sponsored 

National Screen Council made it their overwhelming 

choice as best picture of the 

month. In fact, "Superman" received more 

single votes than any other picture of the 

last two years! 

Business-wise, "Superman" is registering 

668 on the Boxoffice Barometer report of 

opening week grosses. In comparison, Columbia's 

"California Suite," coming in with 

a very-far-behind second place, has a current 

412. The third-place winner, "Invasion 

of the Body Snatchers," from UA, is listed 

at 380. Continuing with the list of December 

eligibles, Warner's "Every Which Way 

But Loose" came in fourth place, Paramount's 

"Oliver's Story, fifth place and AI's 

"Force 10 From Navarone" in the number 

si.\ position. In last place with the least 

votes: UA's "Brass Target." 

SUPERMAN (WB) 

Super, super, super. Gotta go back for 

more of this one.—N.P. Street, WKSR. Pulaski, 

ing, brilliantly photographed. Combination 

of drama and camp that exceeds expectations.^ 

Carole Kass, Times-Dispatch, Richmond. 

Va. ... A fantastically exhilarating 

escape that will carry you aloft, faster than 

a speeding bullet. Don Dorsey, Caribou. 

Me. . . . Beautiful until Clark reaches the 

"Daily Planet." Transition weak. The longest 

credits in film history. Clayton Miller, 

Iredell Ctv. Arts Council. Moorseville. 

N.C. 

Not as great as the hype, but fun never- 

theless. Donna Bailey. Windsor Locks. 

Conn. . . Big, splashy, entertaining, but at 

times illogical. Still good. Jerry Fitzgerald. 

TV-Star. Inc., Tyler, Tex. . . . Split 

between pretension and high camp. Overblown, 

but still works, J.G. Severns. N.E. 

Mo. Stale Univ.. Kirksville, Mo. ... We 

expected the flying sequences to be dazzling, 

but they weren't. What made the film was 

the charming relationship between Superman 

and Lois Lane. Gene Siskel. Chicago 

Tribune . . . Don't worry about missing the 

first 30 minutes— it's a bore. From there, 

it 

picks up and becomes good entertainment. 

. 

—John P. Hill, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati. 

Super. — Marged Wakeley, SAG— AF- 

TRA. Hollywood have been 

shorter, but still a pleaser. Michael 

crowd 

Bernard. Northeast Theatres. Presque Isle. 

Me ... A supermovie, especially for us who 

once pinned-on a cape and leaped from a 

tree. Don Braunagel. Pontiac. Mich. . . . 

Frankly, my Christmas stocking has been 

better stuffed in the past. Alvin Easter, 

Cinema Magaizne, Minneapolis . . Flying 

. 

sequences were incredibly believable. Paul 

Mudlofj. Cominonwcidth Theatres. Liberal. 

Kan. . . . Muscles way ahead of the rest.^ 

George H. Bell, Salem. Ore. 

California 

Suite 

'Simon rini;s the bell agi 

CALIFORNIA SUITE (COL) 

It's too bad that so much good work, especially 

by Smith and Caine, is negated by 

the stupid, tasteless, subtly racist skit with 

Cosby and Pryor. Doug Smith. Courier- 

Express. Buffalo. N.Y. . . . Smith and Caine 

prove that Neil Simon writes better drama 

than comedy.—M/rc/! Fox. KLVX-TV, Las 

. Vegas performances of Smith, 

Caine and Fonda give class to the film Dr. 

Robert Steele. Boston University . . . How 

Sweet "California Suite" is. Neil Simon rings 

the bell again. Art Pinansky, Portland, 

Me. 

Caine and Smith work so wonderfully 

together that I wish the entire film could 

be about them. Joe Leydon, Shreveport 

Times . . Maggie Smith and Michael Caine 

. 

are so perfectly matched, I wished the whole 

film were about them. Fonda also excellent, 

as usual. Merwyn Grote, Bowling Green. 

Mo. . . . Great work by Alan Alda and Jane 

Fonda. Dennis Williams. SAG, Studio 

KMCR-FM, Tempe, Ariz. 

City. Calif. . . . Atypically poor. Even Simon's 

past failures were more cohesive than 

these not-so-special playlets. Doug Myrtand. 

The two bittersweet episodes carry the 

picture. Pryor-Cosby piece is too silly to believe. 

Wendeslaus Schidz, Star Theatre, 

New Orleans . . . Hilarious. Fonda was excellent, 

but I was disappointed with Michael 

Caine's lifestyle. Mrs. E.H. Montgomery. 

Vincennes, Ind. . . . Couldn't stop laughing 

through the entire picture. Mrs. Robert 

Hunholz, Milwaukee Better Films Council 

again, Neil Simon didn't let us 

down. Catherine L. York. Overland Park. 

Kan. 

INVASION OF THE 

BODY SNATCHERS (UA) 

One of the best films of \91S.— William 

D. Kerns, Lubbock (Tex.) Avalanche-Journal 

. . . Great fusion of horror and sly humor.—Jim 

Shcrtzer, Winston-Salcm (N.C.) 

Journal . original wasn't half as good. 

When the pods start popping, look out. Even 

the man in the blue underwear and red cape 

can't begin to compete. — Gene Pack, 

KUER. Salt Lake City . . Preserves the 

. 

urgency and tight style of Don Siegel's original. 

Paranoia is as alive today as it was in 

the '50's Milo Rand, Pittsburgher Magazine. 

Marvelous remake. Sutherland is in rare 

iorm.-Rene L. Ash. lATSE. New York . . . 

I like the light touch which is sustained 

throughout. Earl J. Dias. Standard-Times, 

New Bedford, Mass. ... In many ways, a 

better version of the original. Elias Savada. 

Film Dope Magazine. Bethsda. Md. . 

The new "Body Snatchers" is great! I went 

right home and burned all my plants. Stu 

Witmer. KRAB-FM, Seattle. 

For once, the pod is better than the original. 

Carl Deuker. Seattle Sun . . . Best 

film of its kind ever made, but not for kids, 

or even many adults. Too scary. William 

J. Upton-Knittle Jr., Columbia Magazine, 

Culver City. Calif. ... If you're going to 

a remake, this is the way to do it. Jim 

Moorhead. Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, 

Oliver's 

Fla. 

Story 

Sequels should he carefully considered." 

OLIVER'S STORY (PARA) 

.\ bummer if I ever saw one. What a 

bunch of nonsense! Jim Schrader. Amherst 

Bee. Buffalo. N.Y. . . . "Oliver's Story" is 

one good reason why sequels should be carefully 

considered before they are produced. 

Debbie Corso. The Squire, Leawood. Kan. 

extremely fine cast. Good entertainment. 

Mrs. John A. Smith, Fed. Motion 

Picture Councils. Pittsburgh. Pa. . . . What 

a waste of time and money, except for the 

quick peek at the oriental slums, if one enjoys 

slumming! Mary Pat Conway. Downtown. 

Inc.. Kansas City. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 23

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

1,000 

^^^ 

This chart records the peiôrmonce 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 

ore reported, ratings ore added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in 

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

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

FIRST RUN 

REPORT 

(Average Is lOO) 

Denver 

California Suite (Col), 3 theatres, 

7th wk 250 

Caravans (Univ). 4 theatres, 2nd wk. . . 75 

Every Whicli Way But Loose (WB). 

7th wk 250 

Ice Castles (Col), Cooper, 7th wk 100 

Invasion of tlie Body Snatcliers (UA), 

Continental, 7th wk 100 

King of tlie Gypsies (Para), 4 theatres, 

7th wk 75 

The Lord of tlie Rings (UA), University 

Hills, 12th wk 110 

Magic (20th-Fox), Biickinham, 

Westminster, 13th wk 75 

Movie Movie (WB) Cooper Cameo, 

7th wk 120 

Moment by Moment (Univ), 3 theatres, 

7th wk .120 

National Lampoon's Animal House 

(Univ), 4 theatres, 27th wk 210 

CMiver's Story (Para). 4 theatres, 

8th wk 75 

Superman (WB), Century 21, 8th wk. . .300 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), University 

Hills, 1 2th wk 110 

The Wiz (Univ), Aladdin, 14th wk 60 

Seminars Are Planned 

For Film Institute 

DENVER—The Western States Film Institute, 

the Rocky Mountain area's only independent 

film school, announced a series 

of seminars in filmmaking and photography. 

The seminars are held evenings and on 

weekends and are scheduled at two different 

times for the convenience of students. 

The spring schedule of the seminars is: 

Feb. 24, "Writing for Motion Pictures," 

Phil Stephens: March 10, "IGmm Equipment," 

Mark O'Kane; March 10, "Basic 

Lighting," Andy Brown; March 24, "Animation," 

Jeff Jurich: April 2 and 5, "Film 

Editing," J. J. Syring: April 21, "Professional 

Super-8," Hal Freeman; April 28. 

ShoWesT'79 Draws 7,500 Delegates 

For Previews, Parleys and Panels 

LAS VEGAS—Over 1,500 delegates have 

converged on this desert oasis to attend 

.ShoWesT 79 at the MGM Grand Hotel. 

The four-day event features 110 trade 

booths and speakers ranging from Henry 

G. Plitt, president of Plitt Theatres, to Philip 

M. "Perry" Lowe, president of the National 

Assn. of Concessionaires. 

Topic of speeches and programs vary in 

content from "Can We Meet the Threat of 

Pay TV?" to "How to Increase Snack Bar 

Sales." 

During the Tuesday session, Ralph Batschelet, 

Boxoffice Denver correspondent, 

will present the "Honored Twelve Showmen," 

honored for their handling of theatre 

operation, their promotion of product and 

their involvement in civic affairs. 

The complete schedule of events follows. 

MONDAY, FEB. 19 

12:00 noon- 

8:00 p.m.—Registration, Grand Salon, 1st 

floor 

TUESDAY, FEB 20 

8:30 a.m.- 

7:30 p.m.—Registration, Grand Salon 

2:45 p.m.— Parade and band concert by 

the Western High School 

Band, Las Vegas, conducted 

by James Harris 

Posting of the Colors by the 

Nellis Air Force Base Color 

Guard 

Address by Robert W. .Selig: 

"Welcome to the Wonderful 

World of ShoWesT '79" 

Address by Lloyd Katz, host 

city chairman; "From Nevada 

and Las Vegas—a Wow Welcome" 

Introduction of Henry Plitt by 

B. V. Sturdivant, president of 

the Foundation of Motion Picture 

Pioneers 

5:30 p.; 

6:00 

-7:30 p.i 

Keynote address by Henry G. 

Plitt, president of Plitt Theatres: 

"The Way Ahead: Is 

There One?" 

Address by Ross Campbell, 

Wyoming: "Thealies West: 

The Constructive Confederation" 

Presentation of the Honored 

12 by Ralph Batschelet, Colorado, 

chairman of the Honored 

12 committee 

Address by William F. Kartozian, 

California: "Our Proud 

and Productive Partnership" 

Introduction of TEA president 

Chailes Wolk, Chicago, by 

Spero L. Kontos, president of 

Filbert 

Introduction of NAC president 

Philip M. "Perry" Lowe, Boston, 

by Al Lapidus 

Introduction of A. Alan Friedberg, 

Boston, president of 

NATO, by Bruce C. Corwin. 

-Drawing for an all-expense 

paid vacation to Las Vegas 

(winner must be present and 

pre-registered) 

Ti.—Opening of the trade show. 

Jerry Ireland, Los Angeles, 

chairman, with Chris Kontos 

and William Rector 

6:00 

-7:00 p.i n.—Cocktail party sponsored by 

Lily Division of Owens-Illinois. 

Host: Fred Jacobson, Western 

sales manager. 

Presentation to Robert E. 

(Continued on page W-6) 

"Basic Lighting," Andy Brown; May 5, 

"Animation," Jeff Jurich; May 5, "Introduction 

to Still Photography," Ralph Crosby; 

May 8 and 10, "Writing for Motion 

Pictures," Phil Stephens: May 19, "Introduction 

to 16mm Film," Gerald H. Brumbule; 

May 19, "16mm Equipment," Mark 

O'Kane. 

The Western States Film Institute is a 

program of Sebastian House, Inc., a nonprofit 

Colorado corporation. 

Diane Kay, Slim Pickens, Lionel Slander 

and John Candy will have co-starring roles 

in "1941." 

AWARD WINNERS—Award of Excellence plaques were presented at a 

recent luncheon at the Friars Chib in Beverly Hills by Elayne BIythe, center, president 

of the Film Advisory Board. From left are Mark Rosen, co-producer of 

Sanrio's English version of "The Glacier Fox"; Koreyoshi Kurahara, the film's 

director; Linda Purl co-star in the ABC-TV movie, "A Last Cry for Help"; Johnny 

Grant, for his Toys for Tots telethon on KTLA, and Richard Donner. director of 

"Superman." 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 w-

Hollywood 

Happenings 

feature on all forms of motorcycle racing 

around the world, will go to Europe on a 

sales tiip for distribution talks with EMI 

Films, the Rank Organization and GTO 

fJARRlSON ENGLE will produce the film 

sequences for the American Film Institute's 

Life Achievement Award presentation 

to Alfred Hitchcock March 7 at the 

Beverly Hilton Hotel. Engle co-produced 

last year's salute to Henry Fonda. 

• 

"Midnight Express" executive producer 

Peter Guber and Casablanca Records and 

Film Works president Neil Bogart have been 

cited with the 1979 Award of Honor by 

the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers 

Assn. for their "substantial assistance 

in the war against drug abuse." 

• 

John Wayne has stepped into a new area 

of conquest, with two of his television commercials 

for Great Western Savings and 

Loan winning awards in the annual International 

Broadcasting Awards sponsored by 

the Hollywood Radio and Television So- 

Barbara Eden, now promoting the saturation 

release of "Harper Valley PTA." put 

her hand and footprints into the "Walkway 

of the Stars" at the Stars Hall of 

Fame Museum in Orlando. Fla., during 

ceremonies Feb. 16. 

* 

Movie memorabilia covering the SS-year 

career of the late German film producer 

Erich Pommer have been presented to the 

Fcuchtwanger Institute of Exile Studies at 

the University of Southern California. 

Items include complete files of the American 

Military's efforts on behalf of German 

cinema, scripts, sketches, films, programs 

and correspondence with prominent people 

in the film industry. 

• 

The John Ford Award has been created 

by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame 

and Western Heritage Center and will be 

presented for the first time April 7 when 

his daughter Barbara Ford will accept the 

awaid presented to the famed director of 

Western films. 

• 

Warner Bros.' "Superman" will get a 20 

million readership boost when Reader's Digest 

reprints the Newsweek magazine cover 

story in its April issue. Newsweek's Jack 

Kroll praised the film in his article "Superman 

to the Rescue." calling it "a mass entertainment 

of high class and energy." 

• 

Gabriel Kaplan will go out on a threeweek 

promotional junket to boost Columbia's 

"Fast Break," in which he stars. The 

film went into release nationally Feb. 16. 

• 

Peter Starr, producer-director of "Take 

It to the Limit, a Motorcycle Odyssey," a 

Judy Tarlo. vice-president of the International 

Division of Rogers & Cowan Public 

Relations, is in from London for home 

office meetings and to confer with clients 

on advertising and publicity campaigns for 

films to be released this season in the 

United Kingdom. 

* 

Paramount's "Starting Over" completed 

principal photography in New York City 

Feb. 9. two days ahead of schedule. Alan 

J. Pakula directed and Burt Reynolds. Jill 

Clayburgh and Candice Bergen starred. 

• 

"Agency." produced by Robert Lantos 

and Stephen J. Roth of RSL Films, and 

starring Robert Mitchum. Lee Majors and 

Valerie Perrine, completed filming in Montreal 

the week of Feb. 5, with the project 

coming in on time and within its $5 million 

budget. 

• 

Barbara Eden, Ronny Cox and Nanette 

Fabray. all principals in April Fools Distributing's 

"Harper Valley PTA," will make 

per.sonal appearances to promote the national 

saturation release of the film March 

28. 

* 

Liberty/ United Records is rushing into 

release the soundtrack album of United 

"The Great Train Robbery." 

Artists' 

aiy announces 

tioi^cture 

released... 

John Dobbs Is Pres. 

Of Roy Cooper Co. 

EMC FILM CORP. RELEASE 1979 

Roy Cooper (left) congratulates John 

Dobbs. 

SAN FRANCISCO—Roy Cooper recently 

announced that John A. Dobbs has 

been elected the new president of Roy 

Cooper Co., Inc. 

With Dobbs in his position as head of 

the organization, Roy Cooper steps up as 

chairman of the board, and will continue to 

remain active with the company. 

Dobbs joined Cooper in .September of 

1978 as general manager. As Cooper predicted 

at the time, "He will undoubtedly 

be an asset to our organization." 

W-2 979

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BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 W-3

'. 

SEATTLE 

gome 83 members of the motion picture 

industry throughout the state of Washington 

are attending the ShoWesT "79 convention 

in Las Vegas this week. Taking 

leading roles in convention activities will be 

Fredric A. Danz, Bud Saffle. Jerry Vitus 

and Tad Danz. The state of Washington's 

"Honored 12" member this year is Jerry 

Kivela of Longview. Last year there were 

50 registrants from Washington at the Sho- 

WesT '78 convention in San Diego. From 

our neighbors to the north, some 63 will 

be in attendance from Canada, many of 

these from the closest province of British 

Columbia. 

Shi Goldman and Joe McCann of Fun. 

Seattle's entertainment weekly, were in the 

Los Angeles area visiting various studios, 

observing future product in production and 

interviews with a number of stars involved 

in same. McCann also was a member of the 

press corps attending the Grammy Awards 

at the Shrine Auditorium. 

Opening Feb. 23 in an exclusive engagement 

at the King Cinema in downtown 

Seattle in 70mm and Dolby six-track stereo 

will 

be Universal's "The Deer Hunter." 

Sterling Recreation Organization was 

showing "Dersu Uzala" at their Cinerama 

Theatre in 70mm and Dolby stereo at midnight 

showings Fridays and Saturdays Feb. 

16, 17. 23 and 24. 

An exclusive engagement of "Same Time. 

Next Year" went into the UA Cinema 150 

in downtown Seattle Feb. 9: likewise with 

"The Warriors" at the Town and up at the 

Everett Mall Cinema, same date. 

"Halloween" has been doing astronomical 

business for the Seattle-Portland Film Exchange 

which has it playing at the Cinerama 

and the Everett theatres. An exclusive showing 

of "The Great Train Robbery" commenced 

at the Varsity Theatre Feb. 9 in the 

University district. 

"The Brinks Job" went into the Everett 

Mall. Bellevue Crossroads. SeaTac 6 and 

Sfaltle Aurora Cinemas Feb. 16. 

Walt Disney Productions' "The North 

Avenue Irregulars" had a 5 columns x 12'/2 

inch coloring contest in Fun in the issue of 

Feb. 7, with the best adult entry receiving 

a three day and two night package at the 

Chateau Victoria Hotel, in Victoria. B.C., 

Canada. Thirty other winners of all ages 

each receive a pair of passes to see the new 

release at a designated theatre. It began 

Feb. 16 at the Everett Mall, Seattle Aurora. 

Bellevue Overlake, Renton Village, 

.SeaTac 6 and Tacoma Villa Plaza cinemas. 

The new film, "Richard Pryor in Concert." 

started at Tom Moyer's Coliseum 

Theatre last Feb. 16. "The Wiz" just closed 

there the night before after a long run. 

Atlantic Releasing's "Once in Paris" was 

sneak previewed with "Movie Movie." Feb. 

16 at the UA Cinema 70; and same night 

Columbia's "Hanover Street" was sneaked 

in Dolbv stereo at the Music Box. 

SANFRANOSCO 

Qary Stevenson ha.s been named head film 

buyer and booking manager for Maestri 

Management Corp. and Redwood Theatres. 

Inc. He replaces Dan Pavich who 

will continue as part-time consultant. Gary 

has been with the firm since 1969. his tenure 

interrupted with a brief stint at Syufy 

Enterprises. Pavich has been with the Maestri 

firm since 1944. He started in the business 

in 1937 as a shipper at Paramount. 

Larry Levy, previously with Buena Vista 

here and recently Seattle/ Portland branch 

manager for Warner Bros., is the local 

branch manager for American Film Distributors, 

with offices scheduled to open March 

Bill Coovert died in Sunnyvale Feb. 8. 

Coovert had retired from various positions 

with Westside-Valley Theatres and United 

Artists Theatre Circuit where he began his 

long industry affiliation in the '30s. 

Bob Cheren (20th-Fox), Barry London 

(Paramount) and Jules Needelman (Tower 

Films) were here recently on business. 

Marjoe Gorfner, producer and star of 

"When Ya Comin" Back, Red Ryder?", was 

THE ORIGINAL THEATRE SERVICE 

here Feb. 13 and 14 on behalf of the film 

7933 ELECTRA DRIVE / HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90046 

HAL GOLDSTEIN & SONS / (213) 2761365 / (213) 293 6211 

New Theatre Inferior Design 

Theatre 

Drapery 

Screen 

Screen 

Remodeling 

Resurfacing 

Frames 

24 Hour Service 

• Curtain Controls 

• Stage Service 

• Drapery & Stage Rcpoii 

• Multiplexing Theatres 

• Curtain Tracks 

which had its West Coast premiere at the ( 

'" 

Vogue Theatre Feb. 1 6. 

Sophia Loren is next on the series of celebrity 

appearances at the Mike Thomas 

Warfield Theatre. One-half hour of film 

clips, an on-stage interview and showing of 

"Marriage. Italian Style" is the program 

which begins at 8:00 p.m. 

Filbert Opens Branch 

In Seattle, Wash. 

LOS ANGELES—In the first step of a 

long-range plan for expansion throughout 

the Western states, the Filbert Co. has established 

a full-service branch-office in Seattle. 

Wash. According to president Spero 

L. Kontos, the Glendale, Calif. -based company 

will offer theatre supplies, furnishings, 

equipment and services to Pacific Northwest 

exhibitors through the new office located 

at 2503 152nd Ave. N.E. in Redmond, 

Wash., a Seattle suburb. The new office will 

serve the Washington-Oregon-Idaho-Western 

Montana and northern California areas 

and will be staffed and open for business 

the first week of March. 

The Filbert Co., celebrating its 75th anni- ; 

veisary this year, has in the past concen- 

I 

tratcd its sales efforts in the Southwest 

' 

states and Pacific Island areas. Its existing 

staff and facilities at Glendale comprise the 

largest theatre-service facilities west of the 

Mississippi. During the past several years, 

internal expansion has developed a design 

and architectural services division to provide 

complete planning services for new 

theatre construction as well as for twinning 

or multiplexing of existing theatres. Filbert 

has recently completed new facilities or 

multiplex projects at Lake Tahoe. Santa 

Barbara, Mammoth Lakes and in Los Angeles, 

at the use campus. 

"In our new Seattle operation, we offer 

exhibitors throughout the Pacific Northwest 

the same individualized service that characterizes 

our California operation." according 

to Chris Kontos. Filbert vice-president. 

Warren Blessing has been appointed general 

manager of the new branch operation. 

His background of technical expertise combined 

with management ability provide the 

qualities required for a rapidly expanding 

branch operation. He will maintain a local 

stock of parts, xenon bulbs and items of 

equipment in order to service emergency 

requirements of theatres throughout the 

area. As with the California operation, the 

new branch will offer consultation, planning, 

construction supervision, equipment, 

furnishings, installation and technical servrUVERAMA 

IS nv SHOW 

Bl^SLVESS lAI HAWAII TOO, 

Wlicii you conic to Walkikl, 

don't miss tlic famous Don Ho 

Show ... at Cinenuna's 

Reef Towers Hotel. 

REKF»ttAIiaKI TOWER OFTIIE REEF }^l^,\ 

REEF TOWERS • EIXIEWATER l"»f 

W-4 February 19. 197')

TO: ALL EXHIBITORS, DISTRIBUTORS, SUBDISTRIBUTORS, 

BOOKERS & BUYERS, PRODUCERS, AMD ALL OTHER 

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY ITES WHOM IT CONCERNS. 

FROM: NEAL SIMMONS, Publisher 

and RALPH ZUCKER, Editor-in-Chief 

RE: "FILMROW-THE ANNUAL STANDARD DIRECTORY 

OF THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTORS, SUBDISTRIBUTORS 

AND IMPORTERS-EXPORTERS (1979/80 EDITION.) 

"FILMROW" is the one and only industry sourcebook 

that offers truly comprehensive, accurate and authoritative 

reference information on every major and 

independent distributor and states' rights distributors 

in the 32 G.S. exchanges and Canada's 6 regions. 

"FILMROW" provides up to the minute and 

thoroughly detailed listings of: 

All companies and enterprises in 

the field 

(address, phone, etc.) 

Company execs and key departmental 

personnel (whom to contact for what) 

Company divisions, district offices, branches 

and/or subdistributors 

Subdistributors by each region 

(complete coverage and survey) 

National and regional distribution 

"linkage" cross-references 

Plus current availabilities from both national 

and local distributors, including such 

product info as: 

—Type and category specifications 

(family entertainment, sex, action, etc.) 

—Rating classification and alternate 

version availability 

—Title, cast, credits and running time 

—Color or B/W and format 

—Foreign films indicated (dubbed and/or subtitled) 

—General and specialized releases 

—Reissues 

—and all other accessible pertinent data 

ACT NOW! Take advantage 

of this SPECIAL TEN-DAY 

_ ShoUJesT _ 

:3HTR@¥8€TaH£OFFER 

and SAVE $10. OFF 

REGULAR PRICE. 

Mail this coupon today with your 

check or money order for $40. 

(subscription includes postage and 

handling) NOTE: If coupon is missing 

write to above address. 

"FILWROW" further offers 

extensive information on foreign sales 

specialists and organizations as well as overseas 

product-acquisition leads. 

"FILMROW" is the indispensable and definitive 

new reference guide that belongs on every 

film executive's and key staff member's desk, 

or briefcase. 

''FILMROW** IS THE ANNUAL 

STANDARD DIRECTORY 

OF THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTORS 

SUBDISTRIBUTORS AND 

IMPORTERS-EXPORTERS 

(1979/80 EDITION) 

PlimRGUJ publication/ 

Dept. B. 12349 Millbank St., Studio City. CA 91604 

Enter my subscription today for "FIU^ROW" The Annual 

Standard Directory of Theatrical Distributors. Subdistributors 

and Importers-Exporters (1979/80 Edition) My check or 

money order for ^40. is enclosed. Add ^4.00 for Canada. 

5 12.00 for overseas, payable in advance. 

City. 

-Zip- 

SATISFACTIOM ASSURED OR MOMEY REFUNDED 

(Allow CA 8 weeks (ot delivery) 

BOXOFTICE :: February 19, 1979 W-5

SboWesT'79 Draws 1500 Delegates 

For Previews, Parleys and Panels 

(Continued from page W-1) 

Warne, Cincinnati, general 

sales manager, Tad Danz, 

California, presiding 

Dinner: Individual arrangements 

must be made 

900 p.m.—Board coaches for major preview 

at the Plitt Parkway Theatre 

9.30 p m.—Preview: -Hair" (United Artists). 

Host: Edward M. Plitt. 

California; Ted Minsky, California, 

presiding 

ll:.^() p.m.—Coaches return to hotel 

7:30 

9:30 

S:00- 

S:00- 

9:4.5- 

10:00 

WEDNESDAY, FEB 21 

-Registration 

contmues 

-Registration for Earh ird 

major prize drawing 

Deluxe si.vdown breakfast. 

Host: American International. 

Presentation of news and film 

footage by Eugene Tunick. 

vice-president and general 

sales manager, joined by Michael 

Gerety, executive director 

of advertising and publicity; 

Edward Russell, director 

of cooperative advertising and 

field exploitation; Mike Powers, 

division Western manager; 

Tom Hudson, Los Angeles 

branch manager, and Larry 

Filmaier, San Francisco branch 

manager, with William F. 

Hertz, Los Angeles, presiding. 

-Panel discussion: "Can We 

Meet the Threat of Pay TV as 

it Moves Into Theatre First- 

Runs?", conducted by Alan T. 

Gilliland. president of Gil 

Cable. San Jose; Robert John- 

director of pay television. 

son, 

National Cable TV Assn., 

Washington, D.C.; Jerry Levin, 

chairman and chief executive 

1 :00- 

officer. Home Boxoffice, New 

York; Marc B, Nathanson, 

president of Falcon Communications, 

Los Angeles; Gerald 

Phillips, vice-president of United 

Artists Pictures Pay TV. 

New York, and Jeffrey Reiss, 

president of Show Time. New 

York. Bruce C. Corwin presides. 

12:15- 

i2:00 noon— Address by Philip M. "Perry" 

Lowe, president of the National 

Assn. of Concessionaires: 

"How to Increase Snack 

Bar Sales and Reduce Thievery 

and Rackets." Jack Sawyers. 

Utah, presides. 

2:00 p.m.— Luncheon hosted by Universal 

Pictures. Host; Charles M. 

Powell, senior vice-president of 

advertising, publicity and promotion, 

with Buddy Young, 

vice - president, advertising, 

publicity and promotion; Robert 

L. Carpenter, vice-president 

and general sales manager; 

Davis Richoux Jr., Universal 

Film Exchange regional 

manager, and Glen Larson. 

executive producer of "Buck 

Rogers." Wayne Kullander of 

Idaho presides. 

6:00 p.m.—Trade show continues; prize 

drawings 

2:00- 

6:30- 

7:00- 

7:00 p.m.—Presentation of "Rocky 

11" 

product reel by Robert Chartoff 

and Irwin Winkler, coproducers 

of "Rocky" and 

"Rocky II." Irving M. "Bud" 

Levin. San Francisco, presides. 

8:00 p.m.—United Artists hosts a cocktail 

party. Host: Gene Goodman, 

vice-president and assistant 

general sales manager. Stan 

® 

When you plan to install your Dolby system, 

call the service company with the most 

Dolby system experience. 

th:hnjcal services corporation 

ASC P.O. Box 5150 • Richardson, Texas 75080 • 214-234-3270^ 

STAR TBEATMENT SERVICE • 

Livingston, Los Angeles, presides. 

8:00 p.m.—Evening out; individual arrangements 

THURSDAY, FEB 22 

8:00 a.m.- 

6:30 p.m.— Registration continues 

8:00- 

9:00 a.m.—Columbia Pictures hosts sitdown 

breakfast 

Piesentation: "A Startling 

Look at Marketing Methods 

and the Bold Advertising Approach 

on 'China Syndrome,' " 

by Robert Cort, vice-president 

and general manager of advertising, 

publicity and promotion, 

with Ray McCafferty, 

vice-president and general sales 

manager, Columbia Pictures 

Distribution, and Gene Margolius, 

Western sales manager. 

Fiedric A. Danz. Washington, 

9:45- 

presides. 

9:30 a.m.—Special meeting of the National 

Association of Concessionaires. 

Orpheum and Palace 

rooms. Charles Winans, executive 

director, presents annual 

report; presentation on sophisticated 

security systems. Norman 

Chesler, Utah, presides. 

10:15 .m.—Presentation 

Insurance Liability Hazards 

j 

and Control Premium Costs" 

10:15- 

by Joseph P. DeAlessandio, 

president of the National Union 

Fire Insurance Co. and a 

; 

leading authority on theatre 

liability insurance. Stanley J. , 

Reynolds, Iowa, presides. 

10:45 a.m.—Address by Chris Kontos and 

Jon Krueger, "How to Change 

Your Theatre's Image and Expand 

Its Multiple Use." Jerry 

Vitus, Washington, presides. 

10:45 a.m.- 

12:30 p.m.— Panel discussion: "Future Marketing' 

of the Motion Picture: 

Extracting the Maximum." 

Speaking for distribution: 

Richard Kahn. senior vicepresident 

of Worldwide Marketing. 

MGM. Los Angeles; 

Robert Cort. vice-president 

and general manager, advertising, 

publicity and promotion, 

Columbia Pictures. Los Angeles; 

Herman Kass, vice-president 

of advertising and publicity. 

Avco Embassy, Los Angeles; 

Steve Rose, vice-president 

of advertising. Paramount 

Pictures. New Yoik; Edward 

Salt Loke • Boston • Dollos • New York 

NIVERSAL THEATRE SUPPLY 

_ HOME OFFICE - 

264 fojt U» South, Solt Lake City, Utah 84111 

BOXOFFICE :: February

12:45- 

2:30 

6:30 

7:30 

2:30- 

6:30- 

7:45- 

11:00 

Seigenfeld, vice-president of 

advertising and publicity. United 

Artists, New York; and 

David Wcitzner, vice-president. 

Worldwide Advertising, 20th 

Century-Fox. Los Angeles. 

Speaking for exhibition: Lloyd 

Katz, owner and operator, Nevada 

Theatre Corp.. Nevada; 

John V. Louis, vice-president 

and general manager, the Harry 

Nace Co.. Arizona; Jack 

Myhill. general manager of 

Syufy Enterprises. California; 

Jerry Vitus, vice-president and 

general manager. Sterling Recreation 

Organization, Washington, 

and Douglas C. Williams, 

president of Theatre 

Operators. Inc.. Montana. 

Jules Landfield. California, 

presides. 

p.m.—Luncheon sponsored by Paramount. 

Host: Franc Mancuso. 

senior vice-president of domestic 

distribution, with Gordon 

Weaver, senior vice-president 

of worldwide marketing; Martin 

Kutner, vice-president and 

general sales manager; Jerry 

Esdin, vice-president and assistant 

general sales manager: 

Steve Rose, vice-president of 

advertising, and Gino Campagnola, 

vice-president of sales 

administration. Art Silber, Los 

Angeles, presides. 

p.m.—Trade show continues; prize 

drawings 

p.m.—Cocktail party hosted by Crown 

International. Hosts: Mark 

Tenser, George Josephs, Don 

Foster, Albert Giles and Bob 

Steinmetz. 

-Salute to MGM: "The Lion 

Roars Again." Dinner and 

show with MGM executives. 

Presentation of ShoWesT '79 

star awards to Jane Fonda 

and John Voight. Sherill C. 

Corwin, Los Angeles, is toastmaster. 

SPECIAL EVENTS 

Prize Drawing: An all-expense-paid trip to 

Las Vegas will be given away at 5:30 

p.m. Tuesday. Winner must have registered 

at the door of the Broadway Room 

by 3:00 Tuesday and must be present 

claim the prize. 

TAG Meeting: The board and membership 

of the Theatre Assn. of California will 

meet in executive session at luncheon at 

12:00 noon Tuesday in the Cafe Caruso. 

1st floor, prior to the official ShoWesT 

opening. 

Theatres West Meeting: Prior to the convention 

opening the board and membership 

of Theatres West will meet for luncheon 

at 12:00 noon Tuesday in the Cafe 

Caruso. 

NAG Meeting: 9:30 

* 

a.m. in the Barrymore 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 

to 

Jane Fonda, ShoWesT Female star 

of the 

Year. 

room Wednesday; Vernon Ryles presiding. 

Ladies' Day Wednesday: Scheduled for 12 

noon is a special disco luncheon and 

style show in the Metro Club. 26th floor. 

Pre-registered ladies only. 

Low-Grossing Theatres: Meeting Wednesday 

from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Mayer 

Room, with M. W. -Bud" Saffle, Washington, 

presiding. 

Ladies' Day Thursday: Las Vegas home 

tour. 9:30 to 11:30. Coaches leave from 

Flamingo Road entrance at 9:00; return 

to hotel 12:00 noon. Pre-registered ladies 

only. 

NAC Meeting: Special NAC meeting at 

9:30 in the Oipheum and Palace rooms. 

1st floor, with Norman Chesler, Utah, 

presiding. 

Information Center: In the registration area. 

Grand Salon, staffed by Ida Schreiber of 

the Theatre Assn. of California. 

Free Blood Pressure Tests: Outside trade 

show entrance. 

Continuous trailers: In the MGM Grand 

Theatre. Wednesday and Thursday, 2:00 

to 5:00 p.m. 

13 Honored Showmen 

To Receive Citations 

LAS VEGAS—This year, the ShoWesT 

convention will honor a baker's dozen of 

showmen who serve the 12 Western states 

with pride and perfection in the operation 

of theatres. 

This year's winners: 

Ray James, Anchorage, Alaska. Ray is 

city manager for Wometco Lathrop of Alaska, 

whose principal operation is in Anchorage. 

He began his career as assistant manager 

in 1977. progressing to manager and 

then to his current position. 

Following his honorable discharge from 

the Army as a sergeant, he moved into exhibition 

with ABC Intennountain Theatres 

as assistant manager, moving to Alaska in 

1977 with his wife Norma and daughter 

Jessica. 

Ernest R. Hoffman, Tucson, Ariz. Ernest 

began as an usher in 1951 for Fabian Theatres. 

Since then he has occupied a range 

of executive posts, from district to division 

management for such companies as ABC 

Intermountain and Plitt. Currently he is advertising 

director for TM Theatres. 

A 20-year serviceman in the Air Force 

and the Marine Corps, Ernest is active in 

Ih'j Opt:mists. the Rotary and Ihe Boy 

Scouts. 

Neal Meyer, San Francisco, Calif. Neal 

began as an usher at the Rialto, in Denver, 

for Fox Inter-Mountain, rising to become 

assistant manager in 1951. He is now director 

of theatre operations for Blumenthal 

Theatres in San Francisco. In Los Angeles 

he was manager of the La Reina and later 

became city manager in Phoenix of Electiovision. 

Neal stayed with the company as 

it changed hands, winding up as vice-president 

and general manager of Century Cinema 

before assuming his present post. 

In recent months Meyer spearheaded anti-admissions 

tax battles in Sacramento. Oakland 

and Berkeley. 

Connie Coffield, Longmont, Colo. Connie 

is manager of K-Theatres. a job that 

involves management as well as publicity 

and promotion. She is also kept busy w.th 

her work for the Chamber of Commerce, 

the Longmont Mei chants Assn. and the 

Little White Church in Longmont. 

I. G. Harris, Burley, Idaho. Irv began in 

1931 as a stagehand, turning, after the war 

years, to hotel management. In 1963 he 

returned to Burley, eventually rising to 

president 

and general manager of Harris-Voeller 

Theatres. 

H« is quite active in numerous civic organizations 

and a leader of many community 

charity drives. 

Art Gordon, Honolulu, Hawaii. As vicepresident 

and general manager of the 21- 

screen Consolidated Theatres. Art is the first 

person to repeat as a member of the "Honored 

12." 

An active lobbyist for legislation involving 

theatres, he has been instrumental in 

(Continued on next page) 

THEATRE 

DRIVE-IN 

SCREENS 

'T/ie Quality Touer that never 

has had lo be replaced." 

* • • 

GENE TAYLOR 

D & D Fabricafion 

and Erection Co. 

Post Office Box 3524 

Shawnee, Kansas 66203 

913-631-9695 

W-7

13 Honored Showmen 

To Receive Citations 

(C^ tinu;d from page W -7j 

keeping Hawaii's theatres 

discriminatory laws. 

ivelv Irec 01 

Jerry Proctor, Salem, Ore. Jerry began 

a marquee boy at 13 for the A. Wcsi 

as 

Johnson Co,"s Helig Theatre in Salem, Ore. 

moving up to usher, doorman and manager 

of the Mayflower. He moved to manage 

the Bagdad in Portland, where he became 

assistant with Fox Evergreen Theatres, first 

at ihe Orpheum in Portland and the Paramount. 

He went to Vancouver, Wash., to 

manage the Kiggins and Castle. He returned 

to Eugene as city manager for Helig, operating 

the Baker. Hoodriver, Lebanon and 

Springfield during the summer. 

In 1961 he returned to Eugene as manager 

of Ihe Eugene Drive-In, transferring 

to Salem as city manager. Jerry is involved 

in the Salvation Army, the Sisters of St. 

Vincent and Mary's as well as other Salem 

civic functions. 

John Malone, Las Vegas, Nev. John is 

managing Parkway Theatres as city manager 

for Plitt. having started at age ten as an 

usher and doorman in Springfield, Mo. At 

15 he moved to California as doorman for 

Sunnymount Theatres, eventually becoming 

manager. After the Korean War he moved 

to San Jose as Fox West Coast Theatres 

manager. He joined Plitt in 1976. 

Allen Mercer, Basin, Wyo. Allen has had 

171 2 years of experience in exhibition, beginning 

as a partner with his parents in 

1961. Four years ago he and his wife began 

leasing three theatres in Powell. They 

now operate the Vali Drive-In, Mini Cinema 

and the Vali Cinema in Powell, and the 

Kar-Vu Drive-In and the Wigwam theatres 

in Basin. 

Robert D. Johnson, Miles City, Mont. At 

15 Robert was a concession attendant, projectionist 

and manager of the drive-in in 

Poplar, Mont. In 1958 he moved to Glendive, 

Mont., as manager of several theatres. 

For 15 years he managed two theatres in 

Havre, Mont., serving as a member of the 

Havre Area Chamber of C ommerce. 

For the past 17 years he has been active 

in the .Montana State Theatre Assn., having 

held Ihe office of secretary for six years. 

Jerry Kivela, Longvicw, Wash. Jerry 

works for the Sterling Recreation Organization 

as an area manager in Longview and 

Rolso, Wash., having moved up since 1966 

from the Columbia Theatre's relief post. An 

events promoter for SRO Theatres, he is 

known as an expert at civic public relations, 

sponsoring police department benefits, ladies 

matinees and PTA summer shows. 

APPEARANCE—Pausing during a 

promotional tour for "Ice Castles" in 

San Francisco are (left to right) Robby 

Benson, star of the film; Cathy Mouton 

of Jack Wodell Associates; Ted Shugrue, 

branch manager of Columbia 

Pictures, and director Donald Wrye. 

The tour Feb. 1-2 included radio, 

Dean Elliott, John Day, Ore. Dean entered 

vision and newspaper interviews, a special 

appearance a Feb. screening 

at 1 exhibition in 1973 and operates the 

Grant County Drive-In, the Desert Theatre 

and the Sundown Drive-In in Burns. 

sponsored by K'VA Radio at the Ghirardelli 

Square Cinema, and three figure 

He is president of the Grant County 

skating demonstrations at the Hyatt 

Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Union Square Hotel, the Sontestown 

Rural Fire District and a member of the 

Grant County Resource Council. 

Nancy C. TulUs, Ogden, Utah. Nancy is 

co-owner and manager of the Cinemdome 

70 theatres as well as the Rivcrdale Twin 

Drive-Ins. Her late husband Darrell's father 

Mall and Ghirardelli Square. 

TUCSON 

phe Death of Mildred Nixon Gordon scpaiated 

constructed the first drive-in in Utah, the 

the prolific husband-and-wife 

Riverdale. Nancy took the helm as general 

writing team which novelized "Undercover 

manager of the Cinedome following the 

Cat," from which the hit movie "That Darn 

death of her husband in 1975. 

Cat" was produced. 

tele- 

Movies were included in Pima Community 

College's annual Black Culture Week 

activities at the main westside campus. 

A film series sponsored by the U of A 

International Arts Society was held recently. 

The Czechoslovakian film "Intimate Lighting" 

(1965) was screened twice in Modern 

Languages Auditorium with $1 admission. 

"Dr. Strangelove" shown twice at U of A 

Gallagher Theatre as was "Semi-Tough." 

Public admission $1.50; students $1.25. 

"The World at War," motion picture 

footage and stills from German. Japanese, 

Russian, Italian, British and American archives, 

plays Wednesdays through May 2 

in U of A Physics and Atmospheric Sciences 

building and Social 

II m 

Sciences aiiditori- 

"London to Land's End" was the SEF 

film Feb. 4 in U of A main auditorium. It 

is a color film narrated by film lecturer 

Jonathan Hagar. 

Leif Erickson (John Cannon in "The 

High Chaparral") is back at Old Tucson for 

filming "Hunter's Moon." 

PORTLAND 

phe fourth volume of Cinema 2rs advertising 

newsletter "Cinema Scope" hit 

the candy counters recently, and readers 

were treated to a fictitious interview with 

manager David Riker, with a note inside 

from Rik;r admitting it to be "simply a 

joke. This is really me talking now." This 

issue's big news is a nine-week series of 

Samurai movies, from Jan. 23 to March 

20. "Last year we had the biggest Samurai 

hits in the country. They returned last 

spring, and now they're invading us again," 

said Riker, adding that the series includes 

pictures "based on legends, one on Shakespeare, 

and several absurd fiction dramas." 

Luxury Theatres has a newsletter too, 

called "Show Biz," the third and fourth 

issues of which also came out i^cently. 

It's a one-page operation with printing on 

both sides. A contest featuring an all-expense 

paid vacation to Maui is announced 

in the fourth issue, with categories including 

a Pepsi-Buttercup contest, theatre cleanliness, 

cents [>er person, promotion and 

selling techniques, and concession counter 

appearance. 

Other news items include personnel 

changes: Michelle Volk of the advertising 

department. Bend manager Tom DeWolf, 

and Margie Eaton of the boxoffice department 

at the central office are leaving. New 

people: Tim Andrios, fiom Bend, as 

manager of the Lake; Muhammid (Moe) 

Abbelmalek, maintenance; Chuck Boening, 

from San Francisco, as west side district 

manager, and Harry Golden, from Winsor, 

Colo., as Broadway manager. 

Other staff changes: Rick Hanna from 

Washington Square to Mall 205; Jody Wicks 

is now assistant manager at the Eastgate; 

Mrs. Mills is assistant at Cascade Park; Walt 

Reed is manager of the Everett, and Carol 

Klugg is now working with Dale Pearce 

in promotion. Expansions: There is a new 

game room and movie novelty shop on 

Broadway between the Fox and Music Box 

theatres, with Susan Lewis as manager. The 

Everett will be remodeled into a tri-cinema 

and the Crossroad into a quad, with work 

to commence soon. And a final announcement: 

The new midnight movie series at 

several theatres are doing well. 

Planning for the third annual Portland 

International Film Festival is underway, according 

to Movie House manager Robert 

Bogue. Bogue said that there will be more 

than 70 films this year. He is working with 

Bob Sitton, director of the Northwest Film 

Study Center, to make arrangements for 

their co-sponsorship again this year. 

"My involvement with planning and promoting 

the festival will be more extensive 

this year," said Bogue, "and I'm training 

Pam Franks, our assistant manager, to take 

over more of my duties at the Movie House. 

She's very capable, and this will free me to 

do more promotion." In addition to working 

as assistant manager, Ms. Franks is a student 

at Lewis and Clark College. 

W-8 Februarv 19, 1979i

75 YEARS OF PROGRESS 

p — 

1

Authenticity Hallmark 

Oi 'Defiance' Setting 

Bv RALPH K.AMINSKY 

Wesl Coast Edllo- 

HOLLYWOOD—American 

International's 

Jan-Michael Vincent 

"Defiance" starring as a young sailor who gets involved 

helping a neighborhood beset by gang bullies, 

will have the kind of authenticity that 

only the real thing can produce. The film 

has gone into post-production after 28 days 

of shooting on location in New York and 

Hollywood, using actual buildings and 

into an apartment in a poor, slum-like area. 

Surrounded by cables, recording equipment, 

lights, cameras, bits of furniture and moveable 

walls, Flynn praised "a marvelous cast" 

for bringing the picture in on time and within 

its "medium budget." 

Typical of the smoothness in shooting the 

film, Vincent and Saldana wound up a scene 

which had her emerging from her bedroom 

to greet him where he was waiting in the 

living room. Then, the two went through a 

brief rehearsal and completed another shot, 

this time involving the kitchen of the apartment. 

The shooting was being done in an almost 

completely abandoned building which the 

company had taken over for several weeks 

of work. "We bought out some of the tenants 

who were here and got all the space 

we needed to give us very nice control over 

what we're doing," Flynn said. The building 

not only provided interior space for a variety 

of scenes, it also gave the company the 

outdoor rooftop scenes that were vital. 

Rooms that were not needed for the filming 

were taken over for production staffers, 

making for a convenient, all-in-one location. 

Having complete control of virtually an entire 

building made it possible to function 

without delays, moving in entire kitchen 

equipment, bedroom suites and other furniture. 

Portable walls, complete with hanging 

pictures and other decorations, were used 

to re-design rooms whenever necessary. 

"We were able to use five sets for interiors," 

Flynn said. And just outside the win- 

dows of that day's shooting rooftop a . as 

still had evidence of being used for two ..vterior 

sets, with lighting equipment still in 

place. 

In Los Angeles, in addition to the Hollywood 

location, scenes for "Defiance were 

" 

shot in downtown Los Angeles east of Main 

Street's run-down area and in a bowling 

alley in Boyle Heights. In addition, four 

nights' work was done on the New York 

street on the back lot at the Burbank 

Studios. 

Flynn also had worked out his shooting 

plan to make it possible to do all his night 

exterior shooting in Los Angeles and his 

day-time exteriors in New York City where 

various rooftops, dingy streets, alleys and 

the waterfront. One of the main locations 

turned out to be 1 2th Street between Avenues 

A and B, an area that provided a 

park, suitable rooftops, a pigeon coop and 

an alleyway, just as demanded in the script. 

Filling out the cast for "Defiance" are 

Art Carney, Danny Aiello, Joseph Campenella, 

Fernando Lopez, Lee Fraser. Santos 

Morales and Lenny Montana. Thomas 

Michael Donnelly wrote the screenplay based 

on a story he conceived with Mark 

Tulin. Donnelly also served as associate 

producer, with Robert J. Wunsch as executive 

producer. With post production well 

under way, producers William S. Gilmore, 

streets to create a gritty reality. 

the action of the story takes place. 

Jr. and Jerry Bruckheimer are aiming at a 

Director John Flynn. working on his 

Production began in New York where, 

fifth 

spring release date for the romantic actiondrama. 

feature, predicted "This is gonna be a good 

one" as he stood inside a run-down building 

at the corner of Western Avenue and Hollywood 

Boulevard to supervise final shooting 

on a couple of interior scenes with Vincent 

and his co-star Theresa Saldana. 

Flynn stood in a suite of rooms reworked 

for nine days, Flynn, cast and crew roamed 

POPCOBN 

(êtfopolitatiooiiiiixx 

PETERSON 

THEATRE 

455 Bearcat Drive 

Times Square Park 

SUPPLY 

Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 

801-466-7642 

M*?S 

Concessioqs ^qdustfies : 

mxixxrmT 

riniiiiiii 

A Division ol Metropolitan Theatres Corporation 

Serving Southern California 

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS 

55 Years of Motion Picture Merchandising Experience 


OXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 W-11

Paste this inside your medicine cabinet. 

Cancer's seven 

warning signals 

1. Change in bowel or bladder habits. 

2. A sore that does not heal. 

3. Unusual bleeding or discharge. 

4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere. 

5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing. 

6. Obvious change in wart or mole. 

7. Nagging cough or hoarseness. 

If you have a warning signal, see your doctor. 

American Cancer Society 

J 

W-12 


I 

District Attorney Aims 

"or Drive-In Closing 

PHILADELPHIA — Although Budcos 

1st Street Drive-In has been closed down 

nee early January because of cold weather 

nd faulty in-car heaters, district attorney 

;dward G. Rendell aims to keep the drivc- 

1 closed if it attempts to return X-rated 

1ms when it 

reopens. 

Manager Answers Charge 

Claude J. Schlanger, president of the 

iidco Quality Theatres chain, said that 

lost recently, the 61st Street Drive-In has 

lown "Thank God It's Friday" and "Midight 

Express," both popular and general 

Inis. 

However, the d.a. reminds that late in 

le fall, the drive-in, which is the only openir 

movie theatre located within the city 

mits in southwest Philadelphia, offered 

.ich classics X-rated as "Barbara Broadast,'" 

"Climax of Blue Power" and "Prisonrs 

of Love." 

According to Rendell, the films were beig 

viewed not only by the movie patrons. 

Lit also by motorists, some of whom caused 

affic jams and accidents, and by school 

hildren, who would climb a 25-foot railaad 

trestle to get a better look at the giant 

Iutdoor screen. 

D.A. Sought Injunction 

Tuesday, Feb. 6 Rendell went into comlon 

pleas court seeking an injunction to 

op Budco Theatres from showing such exlicit 

movies since they are visible from the 

:reet. 

"We've had complaints from citizens, the 

olice and businesses of the neighborhood,"' 

le d.a. told the court. "These movies have 

reated a nuisance. We're proceeding from 

nuisance theory, not under any obscenity 

atutes." 

Rendell said that traffic accidents and 

e-ups on already heavily travelled 61st 

treet had been reported when motorists 

stopped short." 

The petition states that "traffic has often 

ame to a complete stop when, the more, 

rovocative and graphically depicted sexual 

;enes are shown." 

Schlanger Will Comply 

Schlanger said that if the court orders 

le theatre chain not to run certain pictures 

1 there, "we're not going to run them—we 

not want to create a public nuisance." 

He said, however, that he had not reiived 

any complaints about the films 

lown. 

"Believe me, I feel for theatre owners. 

:'s tough to make a buck," said the d.a. 

1 believe them when they say they wouldn't 

-low X-rated films if they didn't have to 

1 order to stay in business. 

"If people would come to family films 

ke they say they do, we'd never have any 

f this kind of thing to worry about." 

BRO AD)N Ay 

pORTY TO 60 PEOPLE were expected 

for the Bosses' Luncheon given by 

members of the Women of the Motion Picture 

Industry Thursday, Feb. 15 at the 

Backstage Restaurant. United Artists' Alyce 

Locapo,^president of WOMPI, said that the 

restaurant's entire back room would be used 

to show the respective bosses the appreciation 

of their assistants, secretaries and other 

employees, as a sort of delayed Valentine's 

Day tribute. 

• 

Donald F. 

McConville. vice-president and 

sales manager of Columbia Picnires International, 

was honored at a recent luncheon 

on the occasion of his 25th anniversary with 

the company. Testimonials were given by 

Leo Jaffe. chairman of the board of the 

parent organization. Columbia Pictures Industries, 

and Patrick M. Williamson, president 

of Columbia Pictures International. 

• 

The Independent Theatre Owners Assn. 

of New York will hold its third annual New 

Product Seminar May I and 2 at the Loews 

Summit Hotel here, it was announced by 

Bernard Goldberg, president of the trade 

group. Carl M. Levine, general manager of 

Brandt Theatres, serves as chairman for the 

third year in a row. 

Levine stated that the emphasis will be 

on screening as many features as possible. 

A record turnout is expected for the expanded 

program planned. Registration is 

$75 and includes all meals, gifts and screenings. 

Applications for registration are available 

through the ITOA office, 1600 Broadway, 

New^ York City 10019. phone 246- 

6460. 

• 

Twentieth Cenlury-Fii\ features are being 

touted here as directors and actors arrive 

to talk about their films. Robert Altman 

and Vittorio Gassman. director-producerwriter 

and co-star of "Quintet." v.'ere here 

to participate in the Feb. 9 opening. Martin 

Ritt was in Feb. 14 through Feb. 16 and is 

e.xpected back Feb. 23-24 to talk about 

"Norma Rae." which he directed. Its stars. 

Sally Field and Beau Bridges, are due Feb. 

22-24. 

"Quintet." a Lion's Gale presentation, 

opened Feb. 9 at the Embas.-iy. Paramount. 

Beekirmn. Gramercy and other houses. Paid 

Newman. Fernando Rev. Bibi Andersson. 

Nina van Pallandt and Brigitte Fossey are 

the other stars. Screenplay for the futuristic 

chiller is by Frank Barhydt. Patricia Resnick 

and Altman. based on a story by Altman. 

Resnick and Lionel Chetwynd. 

"Norma Rae" will open March 2 at 

Loew's State I. Loew's New York I. 34th 

Street East and other metropolitan area theatres. 

The drama of union organizing also 

stars Ron Leibman. Pat Hingle and Barbara 

Baxley. It was produced by Tamara Asseyev 

and Alex Rose and written by Irving Raretch 

and Harriet Frank Jr. 

• 

"Picnic at Hanging Rock," the largest 

grossing film in Australian history, has its 

American premiere Friday, Feb. 23 at the 

Little Carnegie. Produced by James and 

Hal McElroy and directed by Peter Weir, 

the team which sLibsequently did the highly 

applauded "The Last Wave," the thriller is 

based on a novel by Joan Lindsey. It stars 

Rachel Roberts and Dominic Guard, with 

Helen Morse and Anne Lambert. The Atlantic 

Releasing Corp. presentation was also 

a big success at the 30th Cannes Film Festival. 

//, the magannes: Films In Review for 

February is the 3()th anniveisury issue and 

the first to be edited by Ronald Bowers, who 

has taken over from Charles P. Reilly. Included 

are ReUly's pick of I978's ten best 

films, starting with "Days of Heaven." 

"Coming Home" and "Interiors." Other articles 

cover the film career of character actor 

Alan Napier, by James Bigwood; a joint 

look at the two Neptune's Daughters, Annette 

Kellermann and Esther Williams, by 

DeWitt Bodeen and Larry L. Holland; Page 

Cook's examination of 197S's best film music, 

and Alvin H. Marill's Films on TV seclion. 

Not included are the annual lists of 

births, deaths and marriages among film 

personalities, probably set for the next issue. 

• 

Friday, Feb. 9 was a major day for film 

openings. Avco Embassy's "In Praise of 

Older Women" began at specially selected 

(mini-showcase) theatres, including the 

RKO Cinerama, UA Eastside Cinema, RKO 

86th Street and the Greenwich in Manhattan. 

Avco's "Murder by Decree' started 

its American premiere engagement, including 

the Ziegfeld among the six houses in 

which it opened. Paramount's "The Warriors" 

had a showcase unveiling. "When 

You Comin' Back, Red Ryder," from Columbia, 

began its world premiere at the UA 

Gemini 1 & 2. "Hardcore," also from Columbia, 

started an exclusive engagement at 

Suite." 

• 

several houses. including Manhattan's 

Loews State 2, RKO 86th Street and Trans- 

Lux East. Warner Bros.' "Agatha" had a 

world premiere at Cinema I. "Quintet," a 

20th Century-Fox release, was another 

showcase attraction. To top it off. Columbia 

had a special preview of "Ice Castles" at 

showcase houses which were playing "California 

Ken Lane Films has moved its headquarters 

to 80 N. Moore Street, Suite 18K. New 

York City 10013. The phone number is 

1212)732-6004. 

Producer Herz Screens 

'Squeeze Play' in NYC 

NEW YORK—Michael Herz, producer 

of Troma Inc.'s comedy about softball 

called "Squeeze Play," flew to Hollywood 

Sunday, Jan. 1 1 to screen the film for several 

major distribution companies. 

The stars are Jim Harris and Jenni 

Hetrick and the music includes songs by 

the Edsels, Ned .Albright and others. 

OXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 

E-1

BALTIMORE 

JJew pictures here Friday, Feb. 16: "Richard 

Pryor—Live in Concert" at the 

Reistertown Plaza and Towne: "Same Time. 

Next Year," Ritchie Cinema, Movies, Timonium 

Cinema and Columbia City Cinema, 

and "The Brink's Job," Movies, Liberty, 

York Road Cinema, Columbia City 

Cinema and Jumpers. 

C. William Pacy, 50, who from 1967 to 

1978 served as an officer and director of 

F.H. Durkee Enterprises, was appointed by 

Baltimore Mayor Donald Schaefer to head 

the new agency set up to direct the revitalization 

of the downtown retail district. Between 

1960 and 1964 Pacy co-founded and 

operated Frontier Town in Ocean City, 

Md.. a 120-acre western theme park. 

"Ladies day" at the Security Square Mali 

was back Tuesday Feb. 13, with a free 

showing of "You Light Up My Life" Free 

prizes were given away by mall merchants 

and a "queen for the day" was chosen. 

The Women of Variety, Tent 19 held 

their regular luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 14 

at Stewart and Co.'s department store in 

the Reistertown Plaza Shopping Center. 

Mrs. Barbara Goldberg is president of the 

group. 

Baltimore Home Theatre, a local cable 

franchise, advertises heavily in The Star, 

a weekly newspaper, running quarter-page 

ads. Fourteen films are offered each month 

and are shown several times. 

An anti-blind bidding bill was introduced 

in the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis 

by Rep. Alperstein and others. 

Citizens in South Baltimore are attempting 

to reopen the old McHenry Theatre on 

Light Street as "an entertainment center for 

the community." The man chosen to direct 

the project, local film impressario Chris 

Buchman Jr.. said that "restoring an actual 

old movie house and re-creating what going 

to the movies used to be like is an old 

dream of mine, something I've been waiting 

to do for a long, long time." 

"Maryland is actually speaking for the 

United States now. trying to keep controls 

on movies," said Martha Wright in discussing 

the state's Motion Picture Censor 

Board, the only one of its kind left in the 

country. She and Charles J. Harrison, both 

nominated for full board terms, expressed 

their views to the Senate Executive Nominations 

Committee Monday, Feb. 5. The 

appointments must be approved by the committee 

and the full senate. 

"I've never done such thinking as I've 

done on this board." Ms. Wright said. Harrison, 

former Home Improvement Commission 

chairman, said he also saw himself 

playing a significant role on the three-member 

board. "Children shouldn't be able to 

walk into a theatre and see some of these 

things," he said. 

Sen. Howard A. Denis ol Monlgoniery 

spoke against the nominees. 

In a related development, there was a 

senate hearing TLiesday, Feb. 6 on a bill 

which would double the penalty for censor 

board violations. 

lATSE Local 181 will be 69 years old in 

April, with a current membership of 105 

projectionists, according to Roland Bruscup 

who has been the local president since 1972. 

Lou Cedrone reviewed "Uncle Joe Shannon" 

for the Evening Sun, saying, in part; 

"It takes a lot of courage to do a weeper 

today. Asking today's moviegoer to cry is a 

little like asking a crocodile to be nice . . . 

If you like to cry, if you can still do that 

in a movie theatre, go see "Uncle Joe Shannon.' 

It's not a good weeper, but it's all 

we've had for a time. Sometimes we have 

to make do." 

Mort Hock Is Elected 

NY Variety Club Pres. 

NEW YORK—Mort Hock has been 

Mort Hock 

elected president of "Variety Club Tent 35 

it was announced by 

the club's executive 

director, Jerry Sunshine. 

Hock. who has 

been first vice-president 

of Tent 35 for 

the past two years, 

succeeds Daniel R. 

Fellman as head of 

the New York section 

of Variety Clubs International, 

the fundraising 

organization which supports children's 

charities around the world and which 

during 1978 raised over $20 million worldwide. 

Also elected to new positions at Tent 35 

were Norman Robbins, first vice-president; 

Harvey M. Baren, second vice-president; 

Marvin Friedlander, treasurer, and Jeffrey 

Deneroff, secretary. 

Those elected to the organization's board 

of directors were: Meyer Ackerman. Melvyn 

Berman, Bernard Diamond, Ralph E. 

Donnelly, Frederick M. Friedman, Robert 

H|| mji A 

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1st 

WITH 

SHOWMEN 

EVERYWHERE 

L. Friedman, Norman E. Cluck, Jerry 

Gruenberg, Roland Hassanein, Saul Jeffee, 

J| 

Ed LaPidus. Martin Levine, Frank Mancuso, 

Charles B. Moss Jr.. Stephen L. 

Pinkus. Ted Royal. Bruce M. Snyder and 

Henry Weintraub. 

FIRST RUN 

REPORT 

New York 

(.\verage weekly grosses follow theatre) 

All About Gloria Leonard (Evart), 

5th wk. 

Eastworld (avg. $6.300) $ 6.980 

World (8.000)" 11,325 

Autumn Sonata (New World). 

Baronet (8,500). 18th wk 15,000 

The Deer Hunter (Univ). Coronet 

(9,650). 1st wk 40,000 

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (New 

Line Cinema). Paris (9.000). 

8th wk 36.000 

Once in Paris (Atlantic). 68th Street 

Playhouse (5.000). 14th wk 5,000 

On the Yard (Midwest), Cinema II 

(6.000). 3rd wk 11,300 

Wifemistress (Quartet). Little Carnegie 

(7,500), 5th wk 26,000 

Your Turn, My Turn (Gaumont/ New 

Yorker). Cinema Studio I (5,000), 

2nd wk 9,280 

Baltimore 

(Average Is 100) 

Bread and Chocolate (his). Playhouse, 

3rd wk 350 

Every Which Way But Loose (WB), 

Liberty 11. 8th wk 80 

The Great Train Robbery (UA), Cinema 

II, 1st wk 250 

Halloween (Wheeler), Mini Flick II, 

1st wk 75 

Hardcore (Col), Westview II, 1st wk. . .100 

Ice Castles (Col), Cinema I, Westview 

IV. 2nd wk 120 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Towson, 

8th wk 100 

Midnight Express (Col). Mini Flick, 

8th wk 70 

The Warriors (Para), 3 theatres. 

1st wk 140 

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DATE STRIPS, 

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Chicaqo, Illinois 606( 

E-2 February 19, 1979 ( 

i

. • Jacques 

PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia Cify Council Approves 

The Canadian film, K.amouraska," has its 

first Philadelphia showing for Friday 

and Saturday night screenings at the International 

House Rivette's "Celine 

and Julie Go Boating" has its 

. 

Philadelphia 

premiere with a two-day showing at 

the TLA Cinema as part of the repertory 

movie house's 38-week French Film Festival. 

Residents in Merchantville, N.J., arc expected 

to have cable television by July, following 

the decision of the borough council 

there to award a franchise to Cable Systems, 

Inc., of Audubon. N.J. The borough 

will receive 2 percent of gross revenues 

from basic service for the 15-year franchise 

rights. 

While the Variety Club telethon was going 

on here last weekend, the Laurel Theatre 

in nearby Bridgeton, N.J., conducted a 

telethon of its own to help the Philadelphia 

Variety Club effort. With local area radio 

and musical personalities contributing their 

services for the continuous show taking a 

$3 contribution for admission, running from 

noon till evening, it was family entertainment 

in the afternoon and live rock music 

catering to a young audience in the evening. 

Filmmaker Kurt Kren was in town to 

discuss his works at a retrospective screening 

of his films at the Moore College of 

Art. The event was open to the public at a 

$1 admission. 

The fir.sf feature film from The People's 

Republic of China in 25 years, "The Opium 

Wars," will be shown at Bucks County 

Community College in suburban Newtown, 

Pa., with a free admission open to the public. 

In advance of its opening at Sameric's 

Duke and other area theatres, an invitational 

screening for "Hardcore" was hosted at the 

Top of the Fox Screening Room by Linda 

Goldenberg, regional publicity and promotion 

director for Columbia Pictures here. 

A 1979 film "mini-catalog" listing over 

150 new movie features which can be borrowed 

by adult public library members in 

southern New Jersey is now available. Catalogs 

are available for sale for $1 at all public 

libraries throughout the area. 

A series of children's films, starting with 

"Captain Kidd," is being offered to the public 

without charge Thursday afternoons at 

4 p.m. at the Cape May County Public Library 

in Middle Township, N.J. 

Framework for 

PHILADELPHIA—The city council this 

week gave preliminary approval to a legal 

framework that council leaders say will finally 

extend cable television service 

throughout the entire city. 

It has been 13 years since the first ordinance 

was passed to regulate cable TV, 

which is virtually non-existent in the city 

proper and available only in a very small 

part of the South Philadelphia section. 

Two Cable Bills 

Sitting as a committee of the whole, the 

council unanimously reported out two bills 

that would permit cable TV companies to 

acquire by bidding one of four city franchise 

areas into which the city will be divided. 

Those winning franchises would have to 

start the service within five years and provide 

each home subscribing with 30 channels. 

Under the two new bills, the city council 

itself would have most of the control over 

who gets and retains franchises. 

The bills allow easy renewal of the franchise 

for 30 years. They also provide for 

the establishment of a Mayor's Cable Television 

Systems Advisory Commission which 

would advise on the awarding of franchises 

Cable TV Extension 

and the regulation of rates, and encourage 

the 

use of public channels. 

6 Original Franchises 

The city originally awarded six franchises 

for ten-year periods in 1966. Only one of 

these. Telesystems Cable TV Corp., has 

ever offered cable service and only to subscribers 

who live in a small section of South 

Philadelphia. 

The cable TV enabling legislation, however, 

does not address itself to the "easement 

rights" problem unique to the heavily 

populated center city area, which has prohibited 

the further development of cable TV 

in 

the area. 

Overhead Wires Banned 

Overhead wires are banned by law in center 

city and the new ordinances ban the 

construction of poles or wires in areas where 

there had been none. 

The cable TV companies have complained 

that burying the cable wires underground 

is too costly and is a major reason 

t^hat cable TV has not developed in Philadelphia. 

The firms will have to secure an 

"easement" from homeowners in order to 

string up the necessary cable wires in any 

particular area. 

/ 

ENÎpr^ly announces 

a iM^jjzîytotio^cture 

released... 

Bob Aibel's Exploratory Cinema, held 

Wednesday evenings at the Studio Theatre 

on the University of Pennsylvania campus, 

goes into its spring cycle with Makavejev's 

"WR: Mysteries of the Organism," Frank 

Simon's "The Queen," Shirley Clarke's 

"Portrait of Joan" and Allen Funt's "What 

Do You Say to a Naked Lady"—films rarely 

seen in Philadelphia. 


EMC FILM CORP. RELEASE 1979 

E-3

B U F F A L 

O 

Walt Disney Productions' latest comedy 

feature "The North Avenue Irregulars" 

was sneaked Friday. Feb. 12 at the Colvin 

and Como 8 theatres. 

The Center for Media Study presents free 

film classics nearly every week. Offered 

Monday. Feb. 12 was the 1942 classic "To 

Be or Not to Be." starring Jack Benny and 

Carole Lombard. Other highlights still to 

come include: Feb. 26, "The Westerner" 

(Gary Cooper): Mar. 14, "Touch of Evil" 

(Orson Welles), and Mar. 21 "She Wore a 

Yellow Ribbon" (John Wayne). 

Reviewing "Halloween." News ciilic Jeff 

Simon wrote: "It may well be the best unpretentious, 

flat-out horror film since Hitchcock's 

"Psycho." If you have ever bounced 

eagerly into a movie theatre with the naive, 

childish hope of being scared witless. John 

Carpenter's "Halloween' probably will do it 

in spades." ""Halloween" opened Friday. 

Feb. 2 at the Holiday I Theatre, capturing 

the weekend's biggest grosses, with receipts 

exceeding $15,000 despite blizzard-like conditions 

on Sunday. 

The king and queen of Variety Club's 

Telethon '79 were crowned Monday. Feb. 

12 in the Children's Rehabilitation Center. 

The new royalty are Howard Sturm. 14. 

and Tina Marie Borgogelli. 15. 

Jonas Mekas, a pioneer in independent 

filmmaking, was in town Feb. 15 for a talk 

and screening of his '"In Between" as part 

of Albright-Knox Art Gallery's Evenings 

for New Film series. 

"Blond Venus," starring Mailenc Dietrich. 

Herbert Marshall and Cary Grant, was 

the attraction featured Saturday, Feb. 10 

in the Hollywood of the '30s and '40s 

series at the Historical Society. 

Thomas A. Million, secretary of the Variety 

Club of Buffalo, has been named general 

chairman of the 1979 Variety Club 

telethon scheduled for March .3 and 4, 

broadcast on WKBW-TV. 

. . . Also opened Feb. 

I 

"Quintet." the new film by Robert Altman, 

opened Friday. Feb. 16 at the Thruway 

Mall Cinema 

16 was ""The Brink's Job," starring Peter 

he 

Falk, at the Holiday 4 Theatre and 

Amherst Theatre. 

Universal, Paper Tie-in 

For Valentine's Day Promo 

PHILADELPHIA—With the cooperation 

of the Philadelphia Daily News. St. Valentine's 

Day provided the perfect tie-in for 

Fredell Pogodin. promotion director for 

Universal Pictures here, in promoting the 

forthcoming opening of ""Same Time. Next 

Year." 

A Valentine's Day gift will be provided 

the winner selected by the newspaper at 

landom. 

A chauffeured limousine will take the 

winning couple to a Red Silk Rose Saint 

Valentine's Day Supper at the Black Banana, 

one of the city's leading gourmet 

restaurants. 

Following dinner, the couple will 

be taken 

to a screening of ""Same Time. Next Year." 

And it will be ""same time, next year" for 

the lucky couple. 

On St. Valentine's Day 1980, the same 

couple will be treated to the same chauf-! 

feured limousine, the same Red Silk Rose 

St. Valentine's Day Supper, and following 

with the showing of any of the current 

run films available at 

that time. 

first 

York College Film Society 

Pays Tribute to Hitchcock 

YORK., PA.—The Film Society of York 

College of Pennsylvania will pay tribute to 

Alfred Hitchcock as the ""master of the 

macabre." for the group's third annual film; 

festival. 

With the screenings held in the Life-Sci 

ences Theatre, the festival is launched with 

two early Hitchcock classics in '"The Lady 

Vanishes" (1938) and ""Lifeboat" (1944) 

The Saturday afternoon screening ol 

"'Strangers on a Train" and ""Frenzy" will 

be followed by a cocktail hour and a dinner. 

Translation for Paleface: 

"Don't waste time with old-fashioned 

way sending message. BEST way to 

SELL used equipment, find HELP, SELL 

or BUY theatres, is with 

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RATES: 50c per word, minimum $5.00, casli with copy. Four consecutive insertions for price of th 

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Blind ads figure twoodditionol words plus 75« extra) 

BOXOFTICE ;: 1-ehrua

New Production Firm 

Established in Philly 

PHILADELPHIA—A local group of investors 

have established what is to be the 

first major motion picture production company 

in this area. 

Headed by film pioducers John Hunt and 

Dick Reed, with Stanton Triester. real estate 

operator, the major investor, the group has 

formed White Bread Productions. 

children, e'ght to 1 1 . 

AFI also has recruited instructors from 

The first film to be produced will be "The 

the National Science Foundation to lecture 

Mandate of Heaven" and David Carradine 

on and examine new concepts su.h as videodiscs, 

has already been signed for the male lead. 

instant movies, direct satellite recep- 

The filming will take place in Hong tion and computer video networks. AFI also 

Kong. 

is offering a course in film animation for 

While the speculative aspect still looms 

Children will design, 

storyboard and film the animation exercises. 

big in the appeal of White Bread Productions 

to investors, Triester is convinced that 

he and the producers have the formula to 

minimize the risk and maximize profits. 

Percentage of Independents 

While they realize it is a bit unusual to 

produce major films from offices in the 

Philadelphia area rather than centers like 

New York or Hollywood, Triester points 

out that more than half of the U.S.-pioduced 

films are being made by independent 

producers today. 

Triester claims that the major studios 

have declined in importance, and it doesn't 

matter where the production firm located, 

since so many films are shot on location. 

To insure minimal risk. White Bread Productions 

has planned to take financial advantage 

of such considerations as the foreign 

film market, the pay-cable television 

option, 

regular commercial television broadcasting 

and promotion of the film's theme song. 

Convinced that by generating top investment 

dollars, purchasing the first-rate services 

of director, actors and technicians, and 

planning to take advantage of every potential 

source of income, Triester feels that 

speculation and risk have been minimized. 

He said that investors in the new production 

company will be restricted only to those 

in the position to invest six-figure sums. 

Tent 13 Telethon Raises 

$1,123,00 for Handicapped 

PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Variety 

Club rolled up a record $1,122,731 

for its seventh annual telethon on the local 

ABC affiliate, station WPVI-TV. The 20- 

hour fund-raising effort, with theatrical, 

civic, sports, broadcasting and business personalities 

participating brought in a record 

for pledges representing more than $101,- 

000 over last year's total. 

CWERANA IS Ui SHOW 

Bl SWESS IN HAWAn TOO^ 

When you come to Walklki, 

don't miss the famous Don Ho 

Show ... at Cinerama's 

Reef Towers Hotel. f 

WASHINGTON 

prancois Truffaut, French "new wave' 

cinema director, was in attendance at 

the American Film Institute's press conference 

in the AFI Theatre Monday. Feb. 19. 

AFI Theatre is honoring the 20th anniversary 

of Truffaut's first film, "The 400 

Blows," with a two-coast retrospective, in 

Washington and Los Angeles, which will 

run here through March 31. 

Variety Club Tent 1 1 committees and 

their chairmen have been selected for 1979. 

They are as follows: welfare, Richard Dacey. 

Allied Artists division manager, and 

Jerome Sandy, American International 

branch manager; finance. Wade Pearson. 

Neighborhood Theatres" Northern division 

director and James Pedas, co-owner Circle 

Theatres; special events, Douglass Potash, 

United Artists branch manager and Steve 

Turner, Universal branch manager; ways 

and means, Paul Roth, Roth Theatres and 

Herbert Schwartz, president of Washington 

office of New World Pictures; awards, Fritz 

Goldschmidt, Avco Embassy branch manager, 

and Mark Freedman, radio station 

WWDC; athletic, Robert Rachensperger, 

Wheeler Films' salesman and James Lipsner, 

Glenmar Cinestate office manager; membership. 

David Garber, Sunn Classic salesman, 

and Jim Kimsey, restaurateur; publicity, 

Ernest Johnston, Johnston Advertising, 

and Michael Fillman, Ray Thompson and 

Associates, and Variety Foundation-executive 

and congressional liaison, Glenn Norris, 

film industry executive, Marvin Goldman, 

K/B Theatres" co-owner, and John 

Broumas, head of Showcase Theatres and 

chief barker. 

The Brookland-Newton Theatre in northeast 

Washington has closed. "Astronomical" 

theatre operation costs and the difficulty of 

obtaining product, particularly first 

runs for 

general audience viewing, were claimed as 

factors forcing the shuttering. The K/B circuit 

is not renewing the lease. The 560- 

scater, built for motion pictures in 1930, is 

up for sale by its owner. Catholic University. 

Doug Potash. United Artists branch manager, 

screened "The Champ" for exhibitors 

at the Motion Picture Assn. of America 

Wednesday evening, Feb. 14. Opening date 

is April 4. 

Marty Zeidnian, Columbia branch chief, 

had a sneak screening of "Hanover Street" 

at the K/B Baronet West, Belhesda, Md. 

Feb. 16. It opened the following day in 

area situations. 

Earlier in the month, Zeldman tradescreened 

"When You Comin" Back, Red 

Rvder?" at the MPAA screening room. 

Bob Mondale, Roth"s Theatres publicist, 

reduced admission prices for Valentine's 

Day. At all Roth theatres a $3 ticket admitted 

two persons to any performance. 

French director Berlrand Blier, while here 

promoting "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs," 

exclaimed that he preferred this film to his 

earlier "Going Places." Star movie critic 

Tom Dowling, when discussing the differences 

in the French and American reaction 

to Blier"s two films, wrote: "The French 

apparently found the gratuitous violence of 

'Going Places" fantastical enough to be unthreatening 

and the April-November impregnation 

of 'Handkerchiefs' real enough 

to be troubling. With us, of course, unproved 

violence is all too close to the bone 

and 13-year-old fathers too pleasantly farfetched 

to get exercised over. So, in this 

way, Blier has shown himself to be a menacing 

figure of perversity to two separate 

cultures. And that's no mean feat." 

Jack Valenti in Europe; 

Meets With Fihn Officials 

WASHINGTON—Jack Valenti, president 

of the Motion Picture Export Assn. of 

America, left Sunday. Feb. 11 for western 

Europe. 

He met with film industry leaders and 

French government officials in Paris. 

He went on to West Berlin where on 

Friday. Feb. 16, he made what was termed 

a major address to a group of German film 

leaders, journalists and West German government 

officials. 

Valenti also conferred with Fred Gronich. 

vice-president in charge of the MPEAA 

Paris office, and March Spiegel, vice-president 

in 

charge of the MPEAA Rome office, 

as well as meeting with U.S. ambassadors 

in Paris and Bonn and other embassy officials. 

.and we do it best. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 

E-5

. . Movies 

' 

-i 

PITTSBURGH 

Qeorge Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." 

produced here, will be released April 

20 by United Artists Theatres which had 

great success with the distribution of "Kentucky 

Fried Movie." Successor to his "Night 

of the Living Dead." which outgrossed all 

such horror films, the local moviemaker 

says the new one is unrated and will be released 

that way with those under 17 not 

permitted to view it. Richard Rubinstein 

produced "Dawn of the Dead." with a running 

time of two hours. 

William Gates, owner of adult 

theatres in 

Pittsburgh and Washington, was freed of 

charges in connection with a fire in October 

1977 at a Washington unit when a District 

of Columbia judge dismissed the case. The 

theatre had been fire bombed resulting in 

deaths by smoke inhalation. There wer; no 

building code or fire safety violations, so 

the management was exonerated. 

Planning the world's first telethon on 

water is Variety Club Tent I's chief barker 

and telethon chairman, Eugene F. Connelly, 

who is also an official of the Gateway 

Clipper Fleet. The 1979 telethon is set for 

April 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. aboard the 

600-passenger Party Liner. 

"Halloween" returned downtown when 

"The Wiz," which didn't generate much 

business, was removed from the Warner 

.screen. 

. 

Unheated theatres here arc getting no 

customers coming in March 

will include "The Champ," "Norma Rae." 

"The China Syndrome," "When You Comin' 

Back, Red Ryder?", "Hair." "Agatha," 

"Fast Break," "The North Avenue Irregulars" 

and "Nosferatu." 

On screen here are "Hardcore" at the 

Gateway; "Quintet," Fiesta, Denis and 

Showcase East; "The Warriors," Fulton, 

Cinemette East and Cinema World; "Same 

Time, Next Year," Squirrel Hill. Showcase 

East and West, and "The Great Train Robbery" 

at six area houses . . . "The Late 

Great Planet Earth" will be four-walled 

hereabouts starting Feb. 21, and the Fiesta 

and Showcase East and West will inaugurate 

"The Brink's Job" Feb. 23. 

"The Deer Hunter" is not a roadshow, 

yet without advance reservations it will 

have only two exhibitions daily—matinee 

and evening—except that there will be three 

showings on weekends at the Warner starting 

Feb. 2.^ . . . That day also Cincmette's 

Manor will bring in "Days of Heaven." 

At other area theatres: "Invasion of the 

Body Snatchers," "Sasquatch," "Pinocchio," 

"National Lampoon's Animal House," 

"Magic," "A Wedding," "Joint Venture," 

"Hunting Party," "Souperman," "Ice 

Castles," "Moment by Moment." "Movie 

Movie," "Beach Bunnies" and "Five Loose 

Women." 

E-6 

Indie Exhib Charges 2 

Chains With Monopoly 

PITTSBURGH—Allegations of monopolization 

of film product by Northeast Theatre 

Corp., and National Amusements, Inc.. 

both of Boston, came to a head with the 

filing of a civil action in federal court by 

Northgate Systems, Inc. 

Redstone and Showcase 

The Boston companies conduct business 

commonly using the names Redstone Management 

and Showcase Cinemas, while the 

latter concern is known as Cinema Wexford. 

Long in preparation of the case, plaintiff's 

attorney Edgar J. Cooke charges that 

the defendants violate federal antitrust and 

Pennsylvania laws. 

The plaintiff charges that unlawful contracts 

or combinations or agreements have 

restrained trade; that moveovers are obtained 

illegally; that the defendants have a veto 

over when a feature picture will become 

available to other exhibitors; that they hold 

unreasonable priority and clearance times, 

control the number of prints available, manipulate 

release dates and length of runs 

and conspire in advertising, extra exhibitions 

and financial tie-ins. 

58 Percent of Screens 

The defendants have ten (or 58 percent) 

of the first-run screens here and with the 

announcements of eight more screens will 

have 72 percent of first-run screens in Allegheny 

County. 

The federal civil action petitions the U.S. 

court to enjoin the defendants from building 

the announced additional screens and 

from any fuither building of screens in the 

Pittsbirrgh market area. 

Cinemas Will Be Included 

In Proposed Butler Mall 

BUTLER, PA.—The Goodman Co. of 

Allentown, Pa., has approval of the Butler 

Township and Butler County planning commission 

to build Butler Crossings, a new 

650,000 square-foot shopping center, an enclosed 

one-level mall with four department 

stores and up to 92 smaller stores, restaurants 

and theatres. 

Parking for 4,000 cars is planned. 

Goodman developed Westmoreland Mall 

in Westmoreland County. 

Butler Crossings could be open in August 

1960. The facility will be located on half 

of a 107-acrc tract on Route 356 (New 

Castle Road) and North Eber-hart Road, 

south of the Route 422 interchange. 

No theatre operator is named for the 

project 

fmm^ 

at this time. 

505 Pearl St BUFFALO, N.Y. 

and Booltcrs, serving leading 

Buyers 

in >i>ors Buffalo, Albany and Pittsburgh 

HEBERT (716)854-6752 CRAIG CLARK 

NorlTE Seminar to Discuss 

; 

Fair Trade Practices Law 

PITTSBURGH—T h e Northern Inde-; 

pendent Theatre Exhibitors will stage a 

seminar open to independent exhibitors who ; 

favor a motion picture fair trade practices i 

law for Pennsylvania, this to be announced j 

at the Sheraton Inn, Greater Pittsburgh In-:! 

ternational Airport, TTiursday, April 5, 9l 

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

I 

With NATO cooperating, NorlTE plans! 

discussions on blind bidding, advances, i. 

guarantees, clearances, extended runs, house < 

allowances and advertising. 

Edgar J. Cooke, executive director ol 

NorlTE, says that theatre owners and managers 

attending this seminar will learn of a^ 

new bill to be introduced in the Common 

wealth's general assembly which is 

designee 

to eliminate allegedly illegal trade practices 

of film distributors which "have preventec 

you from earning a fair return from th< 

exhibition of motion pictures." 

Al Boudouris, NATO of Ohio president 

will be one of the a.m. speakers. He was £ 

leader in the campaign to pass the Ohic 

anti-blind bidding law. 

The afternoon session will be devoted tc 

trade practices and abuses. 

Reservations are being received at $1( 

each, addressed to Northern Independen 

Theatre Exhibitors, P.O. Box 4165. 61' 

Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15202. 

Home of Abraham Straus 

In Horror Film Shooting 

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J.—Th 

23-room home here built 89 years agt 

which originally served as the summer horn' 

of Abraham Straus, founder of the Ne\ 

York department store chain, is being usei 

by film producer Joseph Ellison, who start 

ed production this week on a low-budge 

horror film. 

A family audience rating will be sough 

for the film, which has the working title o 

"The Burning Man," and which is e.xpecte. 

to be ready for release this summer. 

Ellison, who has been involved in th 

production of previous horror films, sat 

that Turbine Films has been establishe 

specifically for the production of the ur 

titled film here. 

The company may be used to produc 

and market additional productions, Elliso 

said, depending on the boxoffice success c 

the feature now in production. 

Diane Sancetta is the production manage 

in charge of a crew of 20 and cast of tcr 

, 

.Some $150,000 is being spent here fc 

the production for which the leads are Dar 

ny Delrey and O'Mara l.eary. 

An original screenplay was written b 

Ellison. Ellen Hammill and Joseph Masi 

field. Additional filming is planned for Ne' 

York City and upstate New York. 

Drew Named NSFC Chmr 

NEW YORK— Bernard L. Drew, fill 

critic 

for the Gannett Newspapers, has bee 

elected chairman of the National .Society (| 

I'ilm Critics. 

« 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19, Hi

iccess« 

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CATO Presidenf Stieber Is 

As NATO Directors 

From New England Edition 

By ALLEN M. WIDEM 

HARTFORD—Connecticut Assn. of Theatre 

Owners president Sylvia Stieber. marking 

her seventh year as a suburban Hartford 

exhibitor and third year as head of the statewide 

trade organization, is looking to a 

March 18-22 National Assn. of Theatre 

Owners directors meeting in Scottsdalc, 

Ariz., with mixed emotions. 

For one thing, Mrs. Stieber and husband 

Alexander are anticipating get-togethers 

with exhibitors from across the United 

States amid the tranquility of the desert. 

"We exhibitors," Mrs. Stieber says, "find, 

in 

talking with each other, that what bothers 

the exhibitor in Hartford may well be the 

same thing nagging at the mind of the exhibitor 

elsewhere." 

CATO Chief Troubled 

What troubles CATO's leader at this time 

is the attitude of distribution. 

"As an exhibitor," the suburban Avon 

Twin Cinemas owner and operator told 

Bo.xoFFiCE. "I'm very much apprehensive 

about the future of exhibition. There's not 

so much of a vacuum in communications 

between exhibition and distribution as an 

increasing awareness by exhibition that distribution 

cannot completely comprehend 

that exhibition, with all of its locked-in investment 

in land and physical equipment, 

plus time, is not getting a fair enough share 

of the profits." 

Distribution, Mrs. Stieber contends, 

should be aware of the evident nationwide 

renaissance in motion picture-viewing and 

should be capitalizing on this latter-day, 

stepped-up. interest on the part of the ticketbuying 

public in motion pictures. 

As an independent exhibitor, she feels 

strongly that distribution should be doing 

more to assure the ticket-buying public that 

to best appreciate a motion picture, the attraction 

should be seen in a motion picture 

theatre. 

She wants to air the suggestion at the 

upcoming Arizona conclave—along with 

her personal philosophy of the vital need 

lo convince distribution that exhibition, as 

it stands today, should not be regarded as 

"the enemy," but, rather, as "the partner." 

Wants 'More Credit' 

"Distribution." she said, "ought to give 

exhibition more credit for bolstering the 

movie attitude abounding in this country 

today. 

"I have yet to see a movie on the muchpublicized 

cable television but from where 

I stand, I don't think CATV can 'package' 

a movie as glamorously as a theatre. The 

Troubled 

Confab Nears 

very idea of seeing a movie in company of 

hundreds of people removed from the confines 

of home, conjures up a continuing 

fascination with illusion. Exhibition has 

capitalized on this, of course, and it's high 

time that distribution realized how very important 

exhibition is to the development of 

the moviegoing habit in America. 

"Moviegoing," she said, "didn't just suddenly 

happen.' It was carefully, calculatedly, 

expanded by exhibitors. Television, with its 

much-publicized ratings systems, came long 

after. But watching a TV movie, with interruptions 

for commercials, is noi the same as 

watching a movie in a theatre, and no 

amount of concerted promotion by television 

will convince me, or other exhibitors, 

otherwise." 

Product Means Profit 

Distribution, she insists, will earn money 

only when its product earns money. And 

the prime source, regardless of how much 

"glamor" is tied to film showings on television, 

must be regaided as the motion 

picture theatre. Top grosses prove this constantly, 

she adds. 

"I don't care if we're talking of a multiple-auditorium 

complex or a single-standing 

theatre in a Connecticut hamlet, the main 

thing is that every dollar coming into that 

theatre is earning money for the distributor 

and the exhibitor. 

"By giving the exhibitor a better break, 

money-wise, the distributor will be giving 

himself a better break, in the long run, because 

with more money, the exhibitor, by 

nature an expansionist, will spend more. 

And in spending more, the exhibitor's out to 

expand his audience. Hence, the distributor 

earns more. too. It's simple. But distribution 

isn't buying the argument." 

Coast Guard Reserve Gets 

'New' Base Movie Theatre 

CAPE MAY. N. J.—Coast Guard reservists 

stationed here have a base movie theatre 

again. When the Liberty Theatre here 

was being converted into the quaint gallery 

of shops now called Liberty Mall, the theatre 

seats were donated to the Coast Guard 

base to refurbish the old Chief's Club at 

the base. 

The Chief's Club is being converted by 

the reservists into a "new" 170-seat theatre 

which will return movies to the base. 

They also installed a sound proof projection 

booth with dual projectors. 

The movie theatre at the base will show 

quality feature films five times a week. 

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Phone A/C 618-847-7636 

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This fear can prevent them 

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in the early stages when it is 

most often curable. 

There are over 

3,000,000 people alive today 

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If that surprises you, it shouldn't. 

Cancer is highly curable. 

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SPACE coimuBUTcn by the pubusher as a pubuc senna 


FIRST RUN 

REPORT 


Kansas City 

Across the Great Divide (PIE), 

5 theatres, 4th wk 150 

CaUfornia Suite (Col), 3 theatres, 

7th wk 220 

The Class of Miss MacMiehael (.SR), 

8 theatres, 1st wk 180 

\W^ '^^ '^^^ 

Every Which Way But Loose (WB), ""'"'^^Hlirt^^^ ^ 


Ji^K-,*^ 

Ice Castles (Col), 4 theatres, 1st wk. , . .345 —^"•^'WKf^l. f 

^ 

Praise of Older Women (Emb), 

In 

6 theatres, 3id wk 160 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA), 


King of the Gypsies (Para), 3 theatres, 

7th wk 65 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Embassy, 

Watts Mill, 7th wk 145 

Moment by Moment (Univ), 3 theatres, 

7th wk 50 

Movie Movie (WB), 5 theatres, „. , 

2ndwk 150 

^'•^^'•^^ 

Charles Co/son Brings His Chrisfian 

Message and Movie fa Kansas City 

, 

^*''^«" 

Oliver's Story (Para), Plaza, 8th wk. ... 35 By G. GREGORY TOBIN 

Superman (WB), Empire, Glenwood, Associate Eiuor 

8th wk 250 KANSAS CITY—Charles W. Colson, 

Up in Smoke (Para), Trail Ridge, whose best-selling memoir "Born Again" 

19th wk 50 is the basis for the Avco Embassy picture. 

The Wiz (Univ), Midland, 14th wk. ... 45 was here Thuisday, Feb. 8 for the 32nd 

and final benefit premiere to be held in the 

United States. 

Chicago Colson, former special counsel to Presi- 

Autumn Sonata (NW), Biograph, dent Richard Nixon who was convicted in 

8th wk 225 1 974 of a Watergate-related felony and serv- 

Beyond and Back (SR), 9 theatres, ed five months in jail, currently directs 

3rd wk 200 Prison Fellowship, a Christian ministry con- 

California Suite (Col), 13 theatres, ducted in penitentaries across the nation. 

7th wk 200 At an afternoon press conference, the 

Every Which Way But Loose (WB), 47-year-old Colson. along with Christian 

5 theatres, 8th wk 225 "brother" former U.S. Senator Harold 

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (SR), Hughes of Iowa, discussed the purpose of 

Carnegie 400 his book and the film. 

Ice Castles (Col), 9 theatres, 2nd wk. ..250 "The movie is the first contemporary 

Movie Movie (WB), 9 theatres, conversion stoi7 to be produced at a ma- 

2nd wk 150 jor, secular studio (Burbank Studios) and to 

Richard Pryor, Live In Concert (SR), be released by a major, secular Hollywood 

3 theatres 450 distributor. We feel 'Born Again" is great 

Superman (WB), 10 theatres, 7th wk. ..250 entertainment and we pray that the film 

sets a precedent. To set a trend towards less 

trash on movie screens is really our goal." 

Tanned and articulate, Colson looked 

somewhat relieved that this was the last 

U.S. premiere, though he pointed out that 

plans call foi similar events in Great Britain 

and Australia later in the year. 

"Thank God this has been my only movie 

venture," he said. "1 never realized what 

went into making a film. I'm happy to say 

that it's my first and last—no more." 

Colson said that there has been mixed 

reaction to the picture in other cities across 

the country. Dallas and Atlanta were disappointments, 

he said, but it did better than 

expected in Denver and Portland. 

"In Denver after the piemiere there was 

spontaneous prayer, Denver packed 'em in 

for five weeks." 

Avco Embassy has developed a unique 

marketing strategy for "Born Again." 

Selecting 32 major markets for benefit 

premieres, the company formed an advance 

team to contact area religious leaders and 

churches and at range special screenings. 

Pastors received letters from Colson several 

weeks prior to the premieres, encouraging 

attendance. 

Trailers hit the screens some three weeks 

before the film opened, and Christian organizations 

received group discount rates. The 

strategy often resulted in heavily attended 

regular showings. 

Here the premiere screening was preceded 

by an invitational dinner at the Homestead 

Country Club where Colson ate steak 

with and spoke to about 200 persons. 

His message is everywhere the same: 

"People said it couldn't be done. Audiences, 

(Continued on page C-4) 

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cHinmAnoKmcGcn 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19. 1979 C-1

| 

CHICAGO 

Cam Coston was appointed operations manager 

for Plitt Theatres, Inc., it was announced 

by Raymond C. Fox. senior vicepresident 

of the chain's Midwest division. 

Coston. who has been involved in motion 

picture operations some 40 years, joined 

the Plitt circuit in January of this year. 

During the month of February, the Film 

Center at the Art Institute is bringing in 

guest filmmakers to discuss various product. 

The personal appearance lineup includes 

Jonas Mekas, George Kuchar. Mike Kuchar 

and Bruno Bozzctta. 

Columbia Pictures Videocassette Services 

now offers tape-to-film transferring under 

the direction of Marty Rennels, newly appointed 

manager of film services. 

Plans designed to benefit the November 

1979 Chicago International Film Festival 

are already reaching substantial proportions. 

The first of such events, a display of 

fashions, takes place Feb. 21 on the mezzanine 

of the John Hancock Center. The 

models, who will wear costumes by Koos 

van den Akker, will float around on roller 

skates. Other events to be scheduled as prefestival 

activity are being planned by Cinema/Chicago. 

The program includes a 

French film week in April; international 

dance film festival in June; Canadian film 

festival in August, and a Hungarian film 

week in September. Cinema/Chicago is the 

Chicago Film Festival's year-round, not-forprofit 

tax-exempt corporation formed to 

encourage the art of film. Also, Suzanne 

McCormick, the organization's executive director, 

announced plans to expand showings 

in 1979 for young people and senior citizens. 

Michael J. Kutza Jr., founder and director 

of the Chicago International Film Festival, 

said, "As the quality of international 

film product continues to rise, we will expand 

and lengthen programming. We do so 

in order to show all of the exciting new 

productions available." 

Allied Artists is marking time until a 

new film is introduced in this area. Meanwhile, 

however, bookings for "The Wild 

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Geese" ,irc being 

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up thioughoul the 

"No Time for Breakfast," handled in 

this 

aiea by Wm. Lange & Associates, follows 

"Days of Heaven" into the Near North 

Cinema. And looking ahead. Oscar Brotman. 

Cinema owner, reportedly has a hold 

on Luchino Visconti's last film, "The Innocent," 

costarring Giancarlo Giannini and 

Jennifer O'Neill. "No Time for Breakfast" 

stars Ann Giradot, who received the equivalent 

of our Academy Award in France for 

her role in this film. Producer/ director is 

Jean Louis Bertucelli. 

The Brotman Near North Carnegie has 

the first and exclusive showing of "Get Out 

Your Handkerchiefs." During the past 

weeks, this film has been highly praised by 

various critics. Since it is expected that this 

film will be a huge boxoffice success, no 

date has been set for the opening of "Wifemistress," 

a New World movie booked for 

showing at the Carnegie. 

20th Century-Fox brought back "An Unmarried 

Woman" for showing on Feb. 16. 

which was also the opening date for "Quintet," 

a new 20th-Fox feature. "An Unmarried 

Woman" is back on the scene in anticipation 

of the Academy Awards. 

20th Century-Fox publicist Larry Dieckhaus 

has been setting up itineraries for 

Martin Ritt. Sally Field and Beau Bridges 

in connection with upcoming openings of 

"Norma Rae." After the trio meets here 

in late February, they will continue on to 

Detroit and Cincinnati foi publicity rounds. 

"The Great Train Robbery," one of 

United Artists" newest films, opened with 

most critics enthusiastically applauding it. 

Ellen Davis. Midwest publicist for United 

Artists, and assistant Dennis Kuczajda, are 

new outlining promotion plans for the first 

screen version of the hit play "Hair." "Hair" 

is due to open first at the McClurg Court 

Theatre on March 21. 

"Inframan," a fantasy film made in 1977 

and imported from Hong Kong, finally 

made its first appearance here as a Saturday 

kiddie matinee feature. It was made by 

the Shaw Brothers, who are recognized as 

masters of kung fu. 

On Thursday, March 8, Doris and Cliff 

Payne will b; honored for their dedicated 

effort in furthering services to Variety Club 

Children's Charities. Doris and Cliff are 

credited as the "architects, contractors and 

master innovators" of the last four Hallo- 

CLVEKilNA IS tX SWm 

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1 

' 

ween Haunted House projects, sponsored / 

' 

' 

annually by Tent 26 and Chicago WOMPIs. 

The Payne salute will be held at the Guildhall 

in the Ambassador West hotel. Cost per 

person is set at $12.50, and tables of ten 

are available at $125. Checks can be sent to 

Variety Club of Illinois. 203 No. Wabash 

Ave.. Chicago, 111. 60601. oi Tony Beacon, 

Variety executive director, can be called at 

(312) 263-6586. 

Edgar Bryant, vice-president of Association 

Films, is now headquartering here in 

the John Hancock Building. Debra Day, 

Chicago office manager, succeeds Annette 

Minkalis, who was recently promoted to a 

new job in the company's New York office. 

Lance Botthoff has joined Association 

Films as account executive. 

Florence Cohen retired last week after 

40 years with Warner Bios. 

New World Pictures, headed by division 

manager David Levy, reported that the 

company has set "Secrets" for initial openings 

on March 16. Jacqueline Bisset is the 

film's star. 

New World's "Wifemistress," a love story 

produced in Italy, is set for its first showing 

at 

the Carnegie. And "Autumn Sonata," 

a top grosser in its exclusive first run at the 

Biograph, is being readied for subsequent 

runs. Marv Levy and his staff are also preparing 

a campaign for the May opening of 

"The Last Wave" with Richard Chamberlain. 

Lucy Salenger, managing director of the 

Illinois Film Office, reported that filmmakers 

are making contact with her office for 

sites which may be suitable for a number 

of productions. At this time, it seems certain 

that five or six features will be shot 

in Chicagoland territory, and if weather 

permits, production will start in the spring. 

During a wide search. Salenger found 

a bridge in Madison. III. which will fit the 

requirements for filming "The Night the 

Bridge Fell." Irwin Allen is producer/ direc- 

tor. In April, filming will begin here for 

"Jimmy B" starring Susan Clark and Alex 

Kairas. 

Sallenger. who brings in producers and 

directors for TV filming also, said currently 

Alan Landsburg is producing a TV! 

I 

mini-series in this area titled "Torn Between jl 

Two Lovers." Stars are Lee Remick and 

George Peppard. 

Two Arrested in Porn Case 

INDIANAPOLIS—While Aithur Stevens, 

owner of the Belmont Theatre. 2405 

W. Washington, was still being sought,!, 

Ronaldo Bailey, manager, and Stephen 

| 

Ferguson, assistant manager, were arrested I 

on pornography charges stemming from the, 

raid of the adult theatre eailier. They wcre| 

in jail in lieu of $2,500 bond each. 

jl 

THEWTRE EQUIPMENT 

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Installing and servicing by our own Sound Engineers: 

Gene Boos — Bensenville, III. (312) 860-2121 

James E. Reed — Springfield, III. (217) 629-9781 

Neol Brown — Morfon, III. (309) 264-0054 

Featuring over $150,000.00 in stock items, selling the following: 

Projection Equipment, Sound, Booth Supplies, Xenon, 

Screens, Carbons, etc. 

AuditoriumSeating, Carpeting, etc. 

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Janitorial Supplies, Cleaning Machines, etc. 

Towels, Tissue, etc. 

Letters, Signs, Daters, etc. 

Light Bulbs, Flashlights, etc. 

430 Country Club Dr. Abbott 

Bensenville, III. 60106 

Theatre Equip. Co., Inc. 

BOXOFTICE :: February 19, 1979 C-3

. . Screening 

i 

Commonwealth Elects 

Directors, Officers 

KANSAS CITY—Commonwealth Theatres, 

Inc.. announced that, at its annual 

stockholders meeting held here Jan. 26. 

management's nominees for directors were 

elected to serve the company for the ensuing 

year. 

Elected as directois were Richard H. 

Orear. Elmer C. Rhoden. Douglas J. Lightner, 

J. Glenn Hahn. R. Crosby Kemper 

Jr.. Richard H. Spencer, Dale N. Stewart. 

Clark S. Rhoden, George P. Kroh. Edwaid 

C. Bomberger and Earl W. Douglass. 

At the directors meeting immediately following 

the stockholders meeting. Richard 

H. Orear was re-elected chairman of the 

boaid of directors. Elmer C. Rhoden was 

re-elected chairman of the executive committee 

and Douglas J. Lightner was elected 

vice-chairman of the board of directors. 

Dale N. Stewart was elected president. 

Stewart joined the company in 1949 and 

served in various capacities including theatre, 

district and division manager in Dallas. 

Texas. He moved to Kansas City in 1977 

and served most recently as vice-president 

and general manager. 

Other elected officers were Edward C. 

Bomberger, vice-president; Earl W. Douglass, 

vice-president; Richard H. Spencer, 

secretary, and David H. Krause. treasurer 

and assistant secretary. 

ST. LOUIS 

JJardcore" opened at the Jamestown. 

Northwest Plaza. Sunset, Chesterfield 

and Ritz, Belleville. 111. 

"The Deer Hunter," which had a private 

invitational screening al General Cinema 

Corporation's Sunset Hills Feb. 13, will 

begin an exclusive showing at Sunset Hills 

Feb. 23. 

From 20th-Fox comes "Quintet." The 

Robert Altman drama brings Paul Newman 

ba

Bidding Bill Battle 

Has Begun in N.C. 

RALEIGH—The N.C. General Assembly 

stepped into the middle of a nation wide 

movie industry fight this past week. 

Rep. Park Helms and Jim Edwards, introduced 

a bill that calls for a fine of up to 

$10,000 and up to six months in jail for 

distributors who do not allow advance 

screenings. Helms said he sponsored the 

bill because theatre owners convinced him 

they had a problem. 

"All the bill does is afford theatre owners 

a chance to preview films before they 

contract, to see if the quality fits their 

neighborhoods and see if there's anything 

offensive about them," said Sanford lawyer 

and former state Senator William Staton, 

who's been hired by theatre owners to lobby 

against 

it. 

"This is nothing but government intrusion 

between wholesalers and retailers in 

the movie business," Valenti said. "The only 

thing it will do is drive up the cost at the 

boxoffice. The theatre owners merely want 

a world with all the profits and none of the 

risks, and things don't work that way." 

Distributors say abolishing blind bidding 

will slow the distribution process by as 

much as six months or more, tie up their 

money longer and increase production costs. 

Valenti questioned theatre owners' contention 

that previewing will help avoid renting 

losers. He said five of the ten biggest 

money losers in 1977 were screened by owners, 

while eight of the ten best-sellers were 

blind 

bid. 

Theatre owners argue any delays in distribution 

will be more than offset by better 

films and lower ticket prices. 

Five states, including South Carolina, 

prohibited blind bidding within the last two 

years. But bills identical to the North 

Carolina proposal will be considered in 27 

states by spring, according to Herman 

Stone, a vice-president of Consolidated Theatres 

and president of the North and South 

Carolina Theatre Owners Assn. 

"Theatie owners only complain when 

they have a loser like 'Slap Shot,' (starring 

Paul Newman)," Valenti said. "They'd take 

a dozen 'Saturday Night Fevers' or 'Star 

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Wars' under the blind bidding process. The 

owners have never had it any better, and 

now they want a risk-free industry for themselves." 

FIRST RUN 

REPORT 

(Avcrayc K 100) 

New Orleans 

California Suite (Col). Plaza, 7th wk. .175 

Disco Fever (SR), Loews, 1st wk 150 

Enter Kung Fu Dragon (SR), Loews, 

1st wk 260 

Ice Castles (Col), Plaza, 1st wk 475 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Lakeside, 

Plaza, 7th wk 100 


(Univ), Lakeside, 26th wk 600 

for the bill. "It'll actually help reduce costs 

because it'll keep owners from buying lem- 

Paradise Alley (Univ), Lakeside, 

ons and jacking up prices to cover their 

he said. 

7th wk 100 

losses," 

But movie distributors say blind bidding Superman (WB). Lakeside, 2nd wk. 

The Wiz (Univ), Sena Mall, 7th wk. ... 75 

keeps cost down and bitterly oppose the 

Helms-Edwards bill. Jack Valenti, president They Went That-a-Way and That-aof 

the Motion Picture Assn. of America, Way, (Int'l Picture Show), Plaza, 

showed up in Raleigh recently to lobby 1st wk 300 

Construction Planned 

For Tallahassee Quad 

CHARLOTTE— Eastern Federal Corp., 

a Charlotte-based theatre and real estate 

company, has announced that construction 

on their new four-plex theatre in Tallahassee 

is scheduled to begin this spring. 

The complex, to be known as the Parkway 

Cinema Four, will be located on a fourand-a-half 

acre tract on Apalachee Parkway, 

directly across from the Florida State Highway 

Department. 

Total seating capacity for the unit will be 

1,500 seats, with two of the auditoriums 

equipped with Dolby sound. 

The Parkway Cinema Four will be constructed 

by Benning Construction Co. of 

Atlanta and designed by Newman-Bower 

& Assoc, Charlotte. It is slated for a late 

fall 1979 opening. 

FILMACK IS 

1st CHOICE 

WITH " 

SHOWMEN 

EVERYWHERE 

MGM to Film Comedy 

In Asheville, N.C. 

ASHEVILLE. N.C—MGM Studios 

will 

film a major production here beginning this 

month, according to Lois Winstcad, coordinator 

of North Carolina's Office of Motion 

Picture Development. 

The film, to star Peter Sellers and Shirley 

MacLaine, is to be shot mostly at the 

12,000-acre Biltmorc Estate. Filming in 

Asheville is scheduled to run four to five 

weeks and is expected to contribute more 

than $1 million to this mountain resort 

city's economy. 

The Sellers-MacLaine vehicle will be the 

first major motion picture to be filmed at 

Biltmore Estate since "The Swan," a costume 

romance with Grace Kelly and Alec 

Guinness, was shot there in 1955. This was 

Princess Grace's last film before she retired 

from the screen and the United States. 

NEW ORLEANS 

Jôn Pabst. Blue Ribbon Pictures, is looking 

forward to the return of "Halloween" 

multiple run in March. "Halloween" 

played to excellent grosses in October at an 

exclusive engagement at the Lakeside Thea- 

On Jan. 31 WOMPI Anna Power, international 

vice-president, was honored by her 

fellow members at a reception planned by 

the social committee. Shirley Eagan, chairman, 

and her committee served wine, 

cheese, coffee and mi.xed cakes. 

A special major studio preview of "Breaking 

Away" was shown at the Robert E. Lee 

Theatre Feb. 9. The audience included the 

film's director, Peter Yates; Alan Ladd Jr., 

president of 20th Century-Fox Studios, and 

other production people and studio executives. 

The film won't be released until August. 

New titles on the marquees this week: 

"In Praise of Older Women," "Same Time, 

Next Year," "The Great Train Robbery" 

and "Hardcore." 

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BOXOFFICE :: February 19, SE-1

PALM BEACH 

lyjoonraker," the eleventh James Bond spy 

thriller, recently wound up two weeks 

of shooting in nearby Port St. Lucie. Roger 

Moore and film producer Lewis Gilbert 

were here for the shooting of a boat explosion 

scene involving four boats. This segment 

will be edited together with a portion 

filmed in Brazil which features Bond's boat 

going over a waterfall as he hang-glides to 

safety. Although Ian Macdougal was the 

stuntman stand-in for this scene. Roger 

Moore spent time on the set. 

From here Moore departed for Paris 

where the film will be completed. This is 

Moore's fourth appearance in the role of 

007. Here, on set. the jet boat raced 

thiough a mined section of the river. The 

boat flew three feet in the air and the sound 

was deafening. 

The film is being made by Les Productions 

Artistes, an English-French company. 

The film is expected to be released in the 

United States the last week in July. Thus 

far it has been twenty-six weeks in the making. 

Two boats, equipped with rocket 

launchers, cannons and torpedoes, were 

manned by the villains in pursuit of Bond. 

Bond's metallic silver jet boat was equipped 

with a bulletproof shield and a hang-glider 

that is ejected as the craft is about to 

tumble over a waterfall. Part of the filming 

here was done from a helicopter. The spray 

shot up close to eighty feet. The Coast 

Guard stood by in case of an emergency. 

Diane Baker was on the set of "The Pilot" 

at the Main Lobster Restaurant in 

Coconut Grove. Fla., the week of Jan. 28 

playing the role of "the other woman." The 

Cecil Prunier Productions' motion picture 

finished its Florida shooting. Shots taken 

in San Francisco and New York will wind 

up the film. 

Elaine Fried, vivacious Boxoffice Cleveland 

correspondent, and her husband Ralph 

arrived in Palm Beach Feb. 1 for a one 

week visit. F;om here the Frieds went to 

Miami where they visited their daughter and 

hjr family before returning home. 

Comedian Jerry Lewis, who soon will be 

shooting a feature film in this area, was 

the guest of honor at a Chamber of Commerce 

meeting the morning of Feb. 8. Lewis 

said, "I don't get into politics because I do 

comedy and that's competitive." Regarding 

the posh area, Jerry quipped "Where else 

but in Palm Beach would you find a fire 

department with an unlisted phone?" 

Ida Kaniinska, star of the award-winning 

foreign film "Shop on Main Street," appeared 

as a guest at the Cultural Arts Festival 

at Temple Beth El Feb. 17. Following 

a showing of the film the award-winning 

actress lead a discussion. 

The well-worn leather jacket worn by 

John Travolta in the Broadway production 

of "Grease" and the space silver necklace 

worn by Carrie Fisher in the role of Princess 

Leia in "Star Wars" are among the 

more than $30,000 worth of items assembled 

for the Northwood Institute evening 

auction and dinner Feb. 23. 

Phyllis Thaxter, currently being seen in 

Warner Bros.' "Supetman," as Superman's 

Earth mother, appeared here at the Poinciana 

Playhouse in Lillian Hellman's "The 

Little Foxes" the week of Jan. 22. Co-starring 

in the play was Oscar award-winning 

actress Anne Baxter. 

Cross County 8 Theatres, the area's eighliheatie 

complex, planned a VIP "Fall in 

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Love Valentine's Day" preview reception 

in honor of its opening Feb. 14. 

Liz Taylor did not appear at the Breakers 

Hotel Feb. 4. In her place, to receive her 

humanitarian award from The American 

Society for the Technion Institute was Sammy 

Davis Jr. Davis was appearing at the 

Sunrise Theatre the week of Feb. 5. 

MIAMI 

H special screening of "El Super" was held 

recently at the Cinematheque Theatre 

in Coral Gables. "El Super" is a funny/sad 

movie made by Cuban exiles. It was shot in 

New Yoik City, and now has opened to the 

public at the Cinematheque. It has English 

subtitles. 

Recent visitor to the Miami area was 

Lynn-Holly Johnson, the young star of "Ice 

Castles," currently playing in the Miami 

Aliza Kashi is at the Beach Theatre, 

along with Kole & Parham, and appeared 

: 

at Peppy Fields' annual bash the other evening. 

A free showing of the 

movie "The Year- 

ling," a classic story of a Florida back-; 

woods family starring Gregory Peck, Jane 

Wyman and Claude Jarman Jr., was presented 

as part of the Miami-Dade Public 

Library's "Great American Movies" series 

at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at the main library, at 

7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Coconut Grove 

branch and at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Model 

City branch library. 

Church Shows Triple Bill 

Fiom Eastern Edition 

CAMBRIDGE. MASS.—The Harvard- 

Epworth Church hosted showings of "Comanche 

Station," Columbia 1960 release! 

with Randolph Scott and Nancy Gates;! 

"Cloak and Dagger." Warner Bros. 1946i 

release with Gary Cooper and Lilli Palmer, 

and "The Last Fiontier." Columbia 1956 

release with Anne Bancroft and Victor 

Mature. 

There was a contribution of $1.50 for 

each screening. 

SIGNS of theJIMES 

QUADROPLEX 

and we do it best. 

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COMPLETE THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND CONCESSION SUPPLIES 

OUR 39th YEAR 

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800 S. Grohom St 

Chorlottc, N.C. 28202 

(704) 334-3616 

BOXOFTICE :: Febi

' 

Fairlane/ 

i 

(three 

I 

Theatre; 

J 

I 

Screenings 

; Comin' 

. . Lou-Ann 

2Q| 

C H A R L 

O T T E 

n. Foster McKissick and Fred Curdts. 

executives with Fairlanc/ Litchfield 

Theatres, took a tour of their theatres in 

Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North and 

South Carolina, winding up in Charlotte for 

a confab with the Big Four (Locke, Jones, 

VanderHorst and Smilin" Jack Jordan of 

Southern Booking and Advertising Co.) discussing 

future bookings, exploitation and 

management. 

Buster Schnibben, exhibitor, died this past 

week in Florence, S.C. He and his wife 

; 

Julia operated their theatres for years until 

Top grosses of the week: "Beyond and 

Back," Charlottetown Mall I and South 

Park; "Ice Castles," Eastland Mall I; "California 

Suite," South Park I; "Superman," 

Charlottetown Mall II and Tryon Mall II; 

"Halloween," Manor. 

Notes from Southern Booking and Advertising 

Co.; Andy Baker, Eastgate Cinemas 

I and II, Albemarle, N.C., lined up a 

school show of "The Lincoln Conspiracy" 

for 12. Feb. Lincoln's birthday. He also has 

a tie-up with the Albemarle Boy Scouts for 

"Wilderness Family." He is distributing 5,- 

000 special discount coupons with the full 

Congratulations 

cooperation of the troops 

to Norm Whisnant, Carolina 

Mall 

Cinema IV, who was honored by the Concord 

Mall Assn. at their annual meeting for 

the yearly "Business Showing the Top Percentage 

Gain" award. 

Notes from Eddie Marks, executive with 

Stewart & Everett Theatres: Eddie is working 

diligently with his managers and Columbia 

Pictures on the second go-around for 

"The Buddy Holly Story." An extensive TV 

saturation program is being used, plus other 

advertising gimmicks. 

Max Rosenberg, producer of "The Seven 

Brothers of Dracula," is offering Stewart & 

Everett managers $500 in cash prizes for 

special promotion efforts. 

Steve Smith, Independent Theatre Booking 

Service, announces that he will do the 

buying and booking for the Rex and Star 

drive-ins. Galax, Va., owned by Ronnie 

Milgrim, and the Movie Palace, Charlottesville, 

Va.. owned by Bob Storh. 

. 

ii 

1 

Litchfield acquired two theatres 

Charlie Jones, 20th Century-Fox. Jacksonville, 

built the 

newly 

Julia 

screens). Later they appointed division manager, 

IV and made Julia Schnibben general manager. 

I was in town meeting with personnel. Jones 

was formerly branch manager of Fox here. 

New this week on the marquees: The 

Changes on Filnirow: Joann Green 

I 

Great Train Robbery," Tryon Mall; -The 

moved from Consolidated Theatres to Columbia 

North Avenue Irregulars," Eastland Mall 

Pictures High, daugh- 

ii 

III; "Same Time, Next Year," Park Terrace 

Manor 

of Charlie Jones, moved from Columbia 

ter 

Pictures 

Shannon," 

I and III; "Uncle Joe to 20th Century-Fox as booker, 

"The Warriors," Charlottetown 

succeeding Danny Weatherford. 

I, Mall "Wilderness Family, Part 2," Park 

Terrace Theatre. 

At the Jan. 17 luncheon meeting of 

WOMPI a nominating committee was elected 

to present a proposed slate of officers 

at Car-Mel: "Quintet," 20th 

Century-Fox; "Fast Break" and "When You 

for the year 1979-80. as follows; Hazel 

; 

Back, Red Ryder," Columbia. At 

Mill;r retired; Virginia Porter. Avco Embassy;'Margaret 

the Manor Theatre: "Butch and Sundance; 

Sanders, 20th Century-Fox; 

The Early Days," 20th Century-Fox. Special 

Lou Ann Stringer, Columbia Pictures, and 

invitational at screening South Park: 

Sylvia Todd, Stewart & Everett Theatres, 

"Hanover Street" Columbia. 

chairman. 

704 - 333.9651 

CfS 

WOMPI Amalie Gantt has returned to 

her home in Charlotte after being hospitalized 

in Spartanburg, S.C. 

Jimmy Murphy, Queen City Booking and 

Advertising Co., returned from New York 

City, conferring with publicity and exploitation 

executives from the major film companies 

and then to the West Coast on a similar 

confab. 

"Beyond and Back," Sunn Classic Pictures 

opened here in Charlotte at the Charlottetown 

Mall and Southpark to overflowing 

crowds. It also opened simultaneously 

in^keys in both of the Carolinas. using 25 

or more prints to take care of the saturation. 

Much of the success in the grosses can be 

|->^^3KIKC SFRVICE--^^ 

230 S. Tryon St., Suite 362, Charlotte, N.C 

Frank Lowry 

CkaJotte jLatre Suppi^ 

Full Line Theatre Supply House 

229 S. Church Street 

February 19, 1979 

. . . Bill Cline 

Phone: (704) 377-9341 

OS©, 

• 

P.O. Box 1973- Charlotte, N.C. 28201 

;. 

28201 

attributed to the very extensive coverage 

on TV. which helped sell tickets, as did the 

G rating. 

Dave Szabo announces that, as of Jan. 

26. Twin States Booking has been doing 

booking and buying for the following Raleigh 

theatres: Terrace I and II, South Hill 

1 and II (previously the Regency), and Falls 

I and II, now operated by Martin Theatres, 

Atlanta. Twin States has handled the Parkway 

Twin since Feb. 2 and will take on the 

Rowan Twin as of March 2. 

Cable TV Plans to Carry 

Congressional Sessions 

RALEIGH, N.C.— Possibly by spring, 

the cable television subscribers in Fayettev:ih 

and perhaps Raleigh will be able to 

keep an eye on the U.S. House of Representatives 

simply by turning on their televi- 

. . 

The House's new gavel-to-gavel television 

sions. 

broadcasts will be available sometime in 

March, and Rep. Charles G. Rose III (D- 

N.C.) said Feb. 1 that the cable television 

company that owns the Fayetteville and 

Raleigh systems wants its viewers to see 

them. 

James H. Doolittle, a division manager 

for American Television Communications 

Corp. confirmed by telephone from his 

Denver. Colo., office that Cablevision of 

Fayetteville subscribers should be able to 

get the new service soon after it became 

available. . 

Cablevision of Raleigh is being considered 

for the service also, Doolittle said, but 

ATC Corp. hasn't finished the audience surveys 

and other research it needs to make a 

decision for this city. 

final 

Randall P. Fraley, general manager at 

Cablevision of Fayetteville, said the only 

left decision to be made for his system was 

which channel should carry the congressional 

broadcasts. 

Hitchcock Pictures Return 

From New England Edition 

BROOKLINE, MASS.—The Coolidge 

Corner Cinema brought back Alfred 

Hitchcock's "Foreign Correspondent 

(United Artists, 1940) and "The Man Who 

Knew Too Much" (Paramount, 1956) on a 

double-bill. 

DRIVE-IN 

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SCREENS 

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* • * 

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D & D Fabrication 


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SE-3

Success Is Being in fhe Right Spot 

At the Right Time, Says Josh Logan 

By 

LOIS BAUMOEL 

-Talent is not localized. It's spread 

throughout the counlr\—starting in little 

theatres and regional 

theatres. That does 

not mean that these 

performers are amateurs," 

said Josh Logan, 

producer, author. 

actor, director and 

Lecturer. 

Logan was in Palm 

Beach for a single 

performance of his 

seven-character pres- 

.losh Logan 

^.ptation "Broadway 

Scrapbook" al The Society of the Four Arts 

Jan. 16. 

Humorous and alert. Logan, who is 

stocky in stature, laughingly recalled a request 

by his mother. "Josh, why don't you 

write?" she asked. "Mother, I just coauthored 

"— the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'South 

Pacific!' "Oh, that!" Mrs. Logan casually 

responded. 

As a playwright, beside "South Pacific," 

he co-authored "Mister Roberts," "Higher 

and Higher," "Wish You Were Here," 

"Fanny" and others. He directed such outstanding 

hits as "Annie Get Your Gun," 

"This Is the Army," "Knickerbocker Holiday," 

"On Borrowed Time," "I Married 

an Angel," the revival of "Charley's Aunt," 

"John Loves Mary," "The World of Suzie 

Wong" and, among many others, the Pulitzer 

Prize play "Picnic." 

Alluding to comparison of costs of 

Broadway productions Logan observed, 

"Putting on musicals today is quite another 

story. 'South Pacific' was produced for 

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some $160,000. Today it would take at 

least $1.25 million." 

Films directed by Logan include "Sayonara," 

"Camelot," "Picnic." "Fanny," 

"South Pacific," "Paint Your Wagon" and 

"Bus Stop." In 1976 Logan published the 

fiist of his two biographies. "Josh: My Up 

and Down, In and Out Life," and more 

recently a continuation of his own life 

story, the book titled "Movie Stars, Real 

People, and Me." Logan found writing the 

first book "very hard," but during the second 

book, "I was used to it and it was fun!" 

Performing with Logan in his group, 

highlighting nostalgic songs from his hit musicals, 

were his wife Nedda, who introduced 

the act, beautiful daughter Susan, a singer, 

and son Tom, who plays the guitar. Prior to 

their presentation here the group staged a 

tribute to Larry Hart in New York at the 

YMHA. 

Logan confesses to being a workaholic. 

He thinks the films today are marvelous. 

"There is a film I would like to do," 

Josh confided. 'Tt is an Australian movie 

based on the book 'Careful, He Might Hear 

You.' I bought the book years ago. but I 

am having a difficult time getting the money 

to produce it." 

Logan also is working on a musical comedy 

based on Nedda Logan's father's plays. 

Mrs. Logan is the tenth child of the famous 

late actor Edward Harrigan. who was rendered 

immortal by the George M. Cohan 

song "Harrigan," Cohan wrote the song as 

a birthday present for Nedda's father. Logan's 

play will be titled "Mulligan's Alley," 

pertaining to the area in which the Harrigans 

once lived. 

Logan likened his own singing voice to 

that of Lee Marvin's vocal renditions in 

"Paint Your Wagon." And referring to his 

success. Josh said "It's all in timing. One 

must be born in the right year and be in 

the right spot at the right time." Of course, 

after a brief conversation with this modestappearing 

man, one also is aware that, although 

his sage observations on "How to 

Succeed" are correct, talent, such as his. is 

also a big help. 

TWIN 

IT!! 





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. . The 

Cinemark Constructing 

Del Rio, Tex., Cinema 

DALLAS— Lee Roy Mitchell, president 

of Cinemark Corp., announced that construction 

is under way on the new Cinema 

3 Theatre located in the new Plaza del Sol 

shopping mall in Del Rio, Tex. 

It was also announced that Bill Bohling 

will manage the new facility which will 

feature three auditoriums with a total seating 

capacity of 560 seats. 

'Cinema 3 has been designed with increased 

customer satisfaction in mind," said 

Mitchell. 

Special considerations include luxurious 

seating, widely spaced rows, fully tiled restroom 

facilities, and the most modern projection 

equipment available, "to assure a 

flawL'ss picture presentation." 

Also included will be Dolby stereophonic 

sound, the latest innovation in motion picture 

presentations. 

"Cinemark Corp. is widely known 

throughout Te.\as for proving to their customers 

that movies are still affordable by 

ev;ryone," said MitchelL 

He also said that Cinemark provides a 

daily bargain featuie at reduced prices, plus 

a Tuesday special each week. 

These specials are good at any time on 

any show. 

Mitchell says: "We try to do everything 

possible to provide the best in quality food 

and entertainment at a price everyone can 

afford. 

"Many families make our Tuesday bargain 

day a weekly outing and they can see 

a show for a total cost which is usually less 

than the regular admission for both parents 

alone." 

'Seven Samurai' Screened 

At N. Texas State Union 

DENTON, TEX.—"Seven Samurai," the 

Japanese film by Akira Kourasawa on 

which "The Magnificent Seven" was based, 

was shown Wednesday, Feb. 14 at the 

Lyeaim of the North Texas State University 

Union. 

Dr. Donald Staples, a film critic and a 

member of the National Board of Review 

of Motion Pictures, introduced the film and 

gave a lecture. 

Sponsored by the NTSU Union cinema 

committee, the event was open to the public 

with a $2 admission charge. NTSU students 

with university ID's were admitted 

for SI. 

SAN ANTONIO 

êbra Vrba, formerly with Santikos Theatres, 

has joined the staff of KENS-TV 

as promotion director. Linda Rios, program 

manager of the station, was also previously 

associated with Santikos Theatre . . . Cass 

Ole, a black Arabian stallion was on hand 

when the Junior Forum held a kick-off 

party for the San Antonio Charity Horse 

Show, which it will sponsor as a fund raiser. 

The horse appears in the soon-to-be released 

"The Black Stallion," starring 

Mickey Rooney. 

A program of short animated films fiom 

around the world, is to be the next program 

of the Bread-and-Butter Family Entertainment 

series in Our Lady of the Lake University's 

Thiry Auditorium. The cartoon 

classics include "Mighty Mouse," "The 

Roadrunner," "The Selfish Giant" and 

"Teddy at the Throttle." The series ticket 

prices are kept low, specifically for families 

.seeking wholesome, quality entertainment. 

Family members will be admitted for 50 

cents each with the purchase of one "breadwinner 

ticket" priced at $4. Other ticket 

prices are $3 for adults, $2 for students and 

$1 per person for groups purchasing tickets 

in advance. 

"Breathless." the film which established 

the career of stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and 

Jean Seberg, was shown as part of the San 

Antonio Art Institute's film series. The 

movie is considered the most brilliant of 

French director Jean-Luc Godard, forerunner 

of the "Nouvelle Vogue." The series is 

to be continued on Thursdays through 

March 15. 

F.R. Wolcot Ashby is co-owner with W. 

R. Burns of the downstatc Texas Theatre. 

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The operating company is Ashburns, a combination 

of the two names. 

Fred McClellan, city manager of the Plitt 

Southern Theatres and manager of the Wonder 

Twin and the Broadway will be in Dallas, 

headquarters for the southern division 

of the circuit, for a seminar. 

United Artists Theatres held the opening 

of the UA Ingram 6 in the Ingram Park 

Mall Friday, Feb. 16. Open house, sponsored 

by KTSA Radio was held Saturday 

and Sunday, Feb. 10 and 11. There were 

movies, popcorn, soft drinks and tours. 

free 

Open house movies included "The Sound 

of Music," "Patton," "The Graduate," "The 

Sunshine Boys," "Rooster Cogburn" and 

"The Billion Dollar Hobo." The opening 

schedule at the Ingram has "Movie Movie," 

"National Lampoon's Animal House," 

"Eyes of Laura Mars," "Watership Down," 

"Up in Smoke" and "Harold and Maude." 

KTSA will sponsor midnight movies at the 

complex and there will be a Golden Age 

Club for persons 60 and over. 

Local marquees had "Same Time, Next 

Year," "She Came to the Valley," "The 

Great Train Robbery," "The Warriors." 

"Circle of Iron," "Dogs," "Jaws 2" and 

"That's Entertainment" . UA Movies 

4. UA Cine Cinco and the North Star presented 

a special weekend children's show 

with "The Little Mermaid." Showings were 

at 1:45 p.m. both days at the North Star 

and at 12:45, 2:15 and 3:40 p.m. at the 

two UA theatres. 

"The In-Laws" is being produced by 

Arthur Hiller and William Sackheim, with 

Hiller directing from the script by Andrew 

Bergman. 

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blanket. 

Specifications: Wt. 10 lbs., Ht. 13 

any 110 v. AC outlet. Heav>-dul 

Jiffy Franks C.O.D. $395. 

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BOXOFFICE :: February 19. 1979 SW-1

. . 

DALLAS 

]!^t TEXPO '79 one could readily sec why 

one would say. "Yes. I'll sell you my 

theatre, but I'll keep the concessions." With 

the deluxe concession stand merchandizing 

everything from popcorn to Kryptonite, it 

has become a business within itself. Now, 

with the added attraction of game machines, 

it is becoming easier for a man to take his 

wife and children to the show, even if he 

is not a movie buff, and enjoy an evening 

in the lobby while the family enjoys a film. 

Exhibitors also saw ten hours of product 

reels as well as new innovations in sound 

and projection. Fortunately product seminars 

were interspersed throughout the convention 

allowing time to visit the trade 

booths, enjoy a little entertainment and go 

home well versed on what is going on. In 

short. TEXPO '79 was a very productive 

venture for all in attendance. 

Bill RIsener has assumed his new duties as 

director of advertising and publicity for Plitt 

Southern Theatres, Inc. Risener has spent .34 

years in the theatre business, having started 

with Interstate at the age of 14 as usher in 

the old Dal-Sec Theatre. 

Upon his return after two years in the Air 

Force be served in the ABC Interstate accounting 

department with W. R. Curtis. He 

then worked in advertising and publicity. 

Later. Risener was made division manager of 

Houston, San Antonio, Waco, College Station, 

McAllen, Brownsville, Harlihgen and 

Edinburg, replacing Pat Hudgins who came 

into the Dallas office as director of publicity 

and advertising. Hudgins retired Feb. 1. and 

Risener is now back in the advertising office. 

The newest film distribution center to 

open an office in Dallas is Associated Film 

Distribution Co. at 10300 No. Central Expressway, 

Bldg. 5, suite 345. Telephone is 

696-2494. Sebe Miller is division manager. 

Miller has surroimdcd himself with well-established 

film people to handle the Dallas 

branch, with Bob Davis serving as branch 

manager. The personnel also includes salesman 

Bill Crane, bookers Annele Patterson 

and Marlin Richer, cashier Carol Wier and 

secretaries Darline Blair and Sandy Johnson, 

all with a number of years experience in the 

territory. 

The Dallas branch will cover Dallas, Oklahoma 

City, Memphis and New Orleans. 

Miller, as division manager will also have 

under his jurisdiction Kansas City and St. 

Louis. 

It has been several weeks since major 

changes have been made in screen openings 

but this Feb. 9 six bowed in this area: "Agatha," 

"Hardcore," "The Warriors," "Ice 

Castles." "Same Time, Next Year" and 

"Great Train Robbery." 

Bill Bohling of Cinemark in Denton is 

preparing for his move to Del Rio, Tex. to 

open the Cinema 3 . . . Tom Marchetti is 

now with Cinemark to coordinate the new 

Valley enterprises, and Ted Conley, formerly 

with theatres in Ft. Worth before closing 

his theatres and moving to Montana, has 

returned to the Metroplex and will be working 

in all phases of Cinework operations 

from the office here. 

Eric and Maud deNeve left Friday, Feb. 

9 for Los Angeles to spend a week visiting 

various companies among which were Dimension, 

Seymour Boide and Associates, 

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P. R. O., Ellman Enterprises and Columbus 

American. 

Herrmann was in Dallas and ! 

Houston Feb. 5 and 6 on a promotional 

tour for two Buena Vista releases in which 

he stars, "The North Avenue Irregulars" 

and "Take Down." 

Dai-Art held a tradescreening at the Plitt 

Screening Room Feb. 15 of "Wifemistress" 

starring Marcello Mastroianni and Laura 

Antonelli. The picture is currently doing 

tremendous business in New York City 

20ih-Fox held a tradescreening Feb. 9 of 

'Butch and Sundance: the Early Days" 

New Production Company 

To Open in North Miami 

From Southeast Edition 

MIAMI—Motion picture and television 

executives Gil Stevens and David Fruitman 

announced the formation of a new production 

and post-production company in the 

City of North Miami, hub of Florida's film, 

video and music recording industry. 

The company will go into business by 

spring as The Video Place in one of two 

locations now being finalized. It will offer 

program and commercial videotape shooting, 

post production, editing, off-line editing, 

film transfer, cassette duplication and 

two mobile units for commercial and program 

production. 

"We will be very heavy on our service 

capabilities to producers, the broadcast 

trade, video publishers, advertising agencies 

and into the Latin American and Hispanic 

market," said Stevens. 

TTie Video Place increases to more than 

three dozen the number of physical plants 

within the City of North Miami which are 

engaged in film, videotape or music recording 

production and support services, according 

to North Miami Mayor Mike Colodyn. 

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SW-2 BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979

AGENCY—Valerie Perrine and Lee Majors are shown in a scene from "Agency," 

a new thriller being filmed entirely in Montreal. Somewhat of a change in 

image, Majors portrays a creative director of an ad agency who unearths the agency's 

plot to control population behavior through subliminal manipulation. 

Neighborhood Project 

Gets Pictures to People 

From tastern Edition 

PHILADELPHIA — The Neighborhood 

Film Project will make 30 film programs 

from its two public exhibition series available 

to community organizations for additional 

showings at their own locations. This 

film-sharing program will operate throughout 

the entire year and will be free to eligible 

organizations. 

Film programs from International Cinema 

will be made available. These include 

classic and new quality films from ELiropc. 

Japan, 

Latin America and Africa which arc 

dramatic in form. 

Also featured are new independent-made 

films on social issues which in the past have 

included "Union Maids" and the Academy 

Award-winning "Harlen County, USA," In 

some instances, the independent filmmakers 

will accompany their work lo discuss the 

film following its showing. 

For the past four years, the Neighborhood 

Film Project has served as a community 

resource in film exhibition and utilization. 

It currently programs and administers 

two public film exhibition series: International 

Cinema, co-sponsored by Internal ional 

House, and the Real to Reel series of documentaries 

and discussions. Many of the 

films to be shown this year will be Pliihidelphia 

premieres. 

The Neighborhood Film Project believes 

that the motion picture is a powerful me- 

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dium of communication which can educate, 

stimulate discussion and entertain when 

used to its full potential. 

Community Groups Encouraged 

The film-sharing program is designed to 

encourage the use and appreciation of a 

variety of films by members of neighboihood 

and community groups, and to provide 

film experiences where often the opportunity 

is limited. 

The film-sharing program is made possible 

in part by a grant from the National 

Endowment for the Arts. In addition to Hv 

film sharing program, the Neighborhood 

Film Project offers a variety of services 

assist community groups who wish to 

films as a part of their educational, cultu 

or outreach programs. 

Library of Catalogues 

The Project has a resource library of 

catalogues, periodicals and other refere 

materials. Projectors are available at a modest 

service charge to all groups. 

The Project staff also provides technical 

assistance on presenting an effective screening, 

and programming consultation to help 

groups locate and choose appropriate lilins 

for their needs. 

OKLAHOMA CITY 

jâle and Ann Smith, Siloam Springs, Ark. 

exhibitors, had to bring a film back 

hcrj, and were caught in another series of 

snow storms. 

The few who were able to brave the elements 

to come in on film business were 

Jake Guiles, Continental Film Distributors, 

Dallas; Danny Wolfenbarger, Dumas, Tex.; 

Charles Townsend, Pryor, and Jerry Marshall, 

Circle Theatre, Waynoka. 

"Ice Castles" (Col), now at the Shepherd 

Twin, is a very fine picture, and manager 

Earl Murray told us that it was doing very 

fine business. 

Marquee changes: "The Warriors" (Para), 

West Park, North Park, Reding 44 and 

Apollo Twin; "The Great Train Robbery" 

(UA), McArthur Park and Park Terrace, 

and "Hardcore" (Para), North Park and 

Reding 4. 

In TuLsa: "The Warriors" (Para), UA's 

Annex and Fontana; "Hardcore" (Para), 

Woodland Hills Cinema; "The Great Train 

Robbery" (UA), Fontana, and "Same Time, 

Next Year" (Univ), Bowman Twin. 

This trade territory is still in the middle 

of the worst snow, sleet and ice storms for 

many a year. The weather is still cutting 

into theatre grosses, and drive-in grosses 

are nearly nonexistent. 

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BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 SW-3

The only handicap to hiring us 

is not linowing where to find us. 

You won't find guys like us selling 

pencils on street corners. We're tation. Its function is not only to 

Department of Vocational Rehabili- 

skilled, able-bodied workers. We're evaluate a person's disabilities and 

industrial designers. Salespeople. 

Secretaries. Managers. Accountants. 

Technicians. Blue collar and 

wtiite 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 

to help him rehabilitate himself. 

But to help place him in a job that 

allows him to fulfill his capabilities. 

If you are interested in tapping 

your state's supply of hard-working, 

capable men and women, write to 

your State Director of Vocational 

Rehabilitation. His office is located 

in your state capital. 

Tell him what kind of business 

you're in. What job openings need 

to be filled. The background, experience 

and skills required. 

He'll be more than happy to put 

you in touch with the right people 

for your company or organization. 

People who will appreciate the opportunity 

to help your company 

grow. Who wrll work to their fullest 

potential. And help your company 

— and our nation — prosper. 

Write: Director, State Department 

of Vocational Rehabilitation at your 

state capitol. 

BOXOmCE :: February 19, 19'7

I 

57 

( spend 

; 

Movie 

I 

7th wk 25 Dean Lutz, Avco Embassy branch chief, Field, Ron Liebman and Beau Bridges and 

Movie (WB), Hopkins, World. flew to Los Angeles Jan. 28 for a sales set for a March 14 bow. 

2nd wk 1 20 meeting that covered three days. During his 

National Lampoon's Animal House stay there, Lutz screened "Murder by De- 

Business on 

(Univ), Skyway II, 26th wk Stage Column 

155 cree," which stars Christopher Plummer as 

The Psychic (Group I), 5 theatres Sherlock Holmes and James Mason as Dr. New Valley News Feature 

wk 80 Watson; "Bell Jar," starring Marilyn Has- 7.om Western Edition 

Superman (WB), Brookdale, Southtown, sett of "The Other Side of the Mountain" LOS ANGELES. CALIF.—The Valley 

News, a daily newspaper, has introduced its 

8th wk 385 fame; a horror film titled "Phantasm": "Ola 

new "Business on Stage," column reporting 

Violette (Gaumont-New Yorker), Boyfriends." starring Falai Shire, John Be- 

Siiburban World, 2nd wk 100 lushi Keith Carradine and Richard Jordan: the business side of the entertainment industry. 

WilderMss Family Part 2 (PIE), footage from "Winter Kills," starring John 

Writ'.cn in capsule form, "Business on 

6 theatres, 2nd wk 175 Huston and Liz Taylor; "Golden Girl," starring 

Stage" includes reports of new productions, 

James Coburn. Susan Anton and Curt legal actions, fiscal transactions, personnel 

changes plus interpretations and forecasts of 

j 

' 2nd 

I »« 

' 

Magic 

j 

Skyway 

ll Invasion 

I 

Cooper, 

' 

,^ 

. 115 

. . The 

. . . And 

I 

FIRST RUN 

MINNEAPOLIS 

t%Ft%^t%V 

0''P''C""i Theatre in downlovvn Min- 

T*"-' 

KCr^KM neapolis no longer will be used for ihc 

j| 

''!m^^^M. 

showing of movies. The various film 

(Avcraac Is 100) 

branches here were notified of this change 

of policy in an announcement which also 

Minneapolis said that General Cinema Corp.'s lease on 

California Suite (Col), Hopkins, the theatre had expired and that it would 

Northtown, Southdale, 7th wk 160 revert back to Ted Mann. Mann, now based 

Circle of Iron (Avco), 4 theatres, in Hollywood and the head of a circuit of 

2nd vvk 100 more than 350 theatres, sold his area hold- 

Evcry Wiiich Way But Loose (WB), ings to General Cinema several years ago. 

Northtown. Southdale. 7th wk 145 The Orpheum, it was announced, will 

Halloween (Compass Int'l). 3 theatres, henceforth present stage productions only. 

1st wk 340 The show house is located on the city's 

main stem, Hennepin Avenue . 

Ice Castles (Col), Skyway I, 8th wk. 

In Praise of Older Women (Avco). Henrepi.n Avenue house, the State, went 

Ml. 1st wk 210 dark some time ago and recently has been 

of the Body Snatchers (UA), purchased by a religious group, the Jesus 

7th wk 125 People, for use as a church and mission. 

(UA), Edina I, J Lord of the 

;,..,, 

Rings 

^ ,„„ c Forrie 

»« 

Myers, n . 

Paramount 

\, i. 

branch man- 

12th wk 100 ' 

, 

, . 

, , 

. J ,, , 

• ,-ir> u T- , /^ /-> ager, has now eased back mto full work 

20th-Fox , Cooper Cameo, 

, t u c j . u j . 

'^ , , ,, days fol owmg surgery for a detached rcti- 

1 2th wk 65 / ^ " ^ 

[ Moment by Moment (Univ), Southdale, 

Jiirsicns. 

p!atMil*» Pfllt** DvAfvvnm 

and "A Man, a Woman and a 

r ainiiy r lini jrrO^rain Bank.- starring Donald Sutherland. Lutz 

jj* , rvi 1 J Iflf ^''^ 

1 

^'S'^ "" ^" '^"^ attractions—but got a 

nuns 1 Pa^cular boot out of 

OlBdO 1 nSBirB OM Boyfriends 

format. 

When they re-opened the long-dark deluxe 

nabe house in 1977, they tried offering 

family films, but in order to remain in business, 

they finally switched to adult X-rated 

movies. This was a life-saver for the 820- 

seat house, which has been in existence for 

years. The pair made enough money to 

$20,000 on improvements, such as 

new stereo sound, lights, projectors, etc.. 

j 

and refurbishing the interior, including a 

concession area and new lighting. 

Then they decided late last year to again 

try family films, with special matinees for 

youngsters on Saturday and Sundays, and 

a convenient new illuminated paved parking 

lot across the street. 

Wagner said the results were very disappointing— 

"It was pure murder"—and 

so the pair have again started booking X- 

rated films, with a double feature policy. 

since it involved a "Pilgrim Inn" located in 

From Mideast Edition 

Minneapolis. 

TOLEDO—Switching from an adult X- 

rated film policy to a family-type programming 

policy at the Eastwood Theatre last viously operated by Sanford Johnson, is 

The Time Theatre, Chisholm. Minn., pre- 

Nov. 22 was a costly affair. After about now owned and operated by Dick Maw. 

nine weeks of trying to break even, the two Dick is the son of Ralph Maw, onetime district 

manager here for Metro-Goldwyn- 

partners—David Hughes and Richard Wagner—have 

gone back to their earlier adult Mayer . Amery Theatre, Amery, 

Wis., owned by Mike Schanon, is now being 

booked by Northwest Theatre Service. 

Filnirow visitor: Carl Brownfield. Elk 

Cinema Theatre, Elk River, Minn. . . . Walt 

Badger, United Artists branch manager, 

sneaked "The Great Train Robbery" Feb. 2 

at the Cooper Theatre here and at the 

Roseville 4 in St. Paul. The reception was 

"excellent," Badger reported, "with lurnaway 

crowds on hand." 

Meanwhile, Columbia branch manager 

Jack Ignatowicz sneaked "Hardcore" the 

same evening with "solid audience reaction" 

prior to its opening Feb. 9 at the Har-Mar 

Theatre, St. Paul, and at the Academy, 

Southdale and Northtown in Minneapolis 

Frank Zanotti, Universal branch 

boss, sneaked "Same Time, Next Year" 

Feb. 2 at the Southdale Theatre here and 

at the Har-Mar in St. Paul with "just excellent" 

results. Zanotti has set Universal's 

"Buck Rogers" for a March 30 bow at St. 

Paul's Har-Mar and at the Northtown, Shelard 

Park. Southdale and Chief Theatres in 

Minneapolis. 

Don Palmquist, office manager at the 

20th Century-Fox branch, reported that 

"Magic" would go into sub-runs Feb. 9, 

with 20th-Fox's "Quintet" pegged for a Feb. 

16 bow in the Twin Cities. Also on tap here 

from Fox: "Norma Rae," starring Sally 

the effects of these doings in the overall 

business community. 

"With several entertainment firms, such 

as Columbia, Disney Productions, MCA 

and Universal headquartered in Burbank, 

this new column provides Valley News 

readers 

broader coverage of business activities 

within our circulation area," editor 

Bruce Winters noted. 

Running the weekly column on Sundays, 

he said, lets readers learn what's happening 

in show business before arriving at their 

offices Monday morning. 

THEATRE 

DRIVE-IN 

SCREENS 

T/ie Quality Tower that never 

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* • • 

GENE TAYLOR 





913-631-9695 


NC-

M I 

WAUKEE 

IJeports in recent issues of Boxoffice have 

reviewed the acquisition of the shuttered 

Strand Theatre on the city's Wisconsin 

Avenue by Shelmon Masce. Masce renovated 

the old downtown movie house and 

announced he would be showing vintage 

films. Just recently he Installed a food service 

to augment the regular concessions 

stand in the inner lobby. When vintage 

movies such as "South Pacific" and "The 

Wizard of Oz" were obtainable, they 

proved to be good draws. But to fill in the 

time gaps, the management resorted to triple 

bills of kung-fu and other adventure flicks. 

Masce also acquired the Parkland Theatres 

1 & 2 in Muskego and has recently 

renamed them Countryside Twins. In mid- 

January, Masce became ill and was in the 

hospital for three weeks and now is home 

convalescing. 

Meanwhile, the entire building in which 

the Strand Showcase Theatre is housed was 

sold Jan. 26, and the new owner's intention 

is to raze the building's tenants. Other tenants 

include the City News Center which 

has been at its present location for 20 years, 

and the Clock Restaurant at that location 

for almost 50 years. The building's corner 

tenant, the Voom Voom Room, a bar and 

nightclub, lost its liquor license and has 

been closed the past two years. 

Bill Hansen, manager of the Strand 

Showcase, spoke for Masce when he said 

they hoped to find another theatre in the 

downtown area with the idea of following 

through on their intention to show vintage 

films." Meanwhile, Hansen said, they will 

continue to operate the Strand while looking 

for the new location. 

the 

At its Feb. 5 meeting at the Tosa Theatre, 

Better Films & TV Council of Milwau- 

preview showing of "Same 

kee was given a 

Time, Next Year." 

Ralph "Clint" Norine of Frederic, Wis., 

died recently at the age of 77. Norine had 

been the owner and operator of the Frederic 

Theatre for many years. He also operated 

a farm north of the town. He is survived 

by cousins and was interred at the Lakeside 

Cemetery in Cimiberland. 

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Toni Dyksterhuis, United Artists branch 

manager, mailed invitations to the press 

and exhibitors and their friends for a sneak 

preview of "The Great Train Robbery," 

starring Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland, 

Friday evening, Feb, 2. The invitation 

gave a choice of three theatres at which to 

see the sneak: Northridge, Spring Mall or 

Skyways. 

Paula Jamrock with John litis Associates, 

the Chicago-based publicity agency. 

hosted an invitational screening of Universal's 

"The Deer Hunter" at the Southtown 

Cinema Tuesday evening, Feb. 6. It was 

the only Milwaukee preview of this R-rated, 

183-minute movie which deals with the horrors 

of the Vietnam War and the lives of 

some of the men who fought it. The theatre 

was three-quarters filled despite the continued 

cold which has plagued Beertown. 

Norton's Cinema 1 in Chilton. Wis., "the 

small-town movie house with the big-town 

movies," continues to bag the big ones: 

"Death on the Nile," "National Lampoon's 

Animal House," "King of the Gypsies" and 

"Oliver's Story"—all during February. Announced 

as coming attractions are: "Superman," 

"Magic," "California Suite" and 

"Every Which Way But Loose." A note in 

the theatre's newspaper display ad reads: 

"Thanks for your support and cooperation 

during our remodeling which is still in progress." 

Be sure to register for a free Door 

County vacation or an annual pass. No purchase 

necessary. Watch for our gala reopening 

later in February." 

Seventeen public libraries in Wisconsin 

are to share in a Federal Library Services 

and Construction Act grant which is to 

be used to establish a children's film collection. 

Funds from the $25,300 grant will be 

used to purchase 16mm children's films, 

projectors, screens, film cleaning and maintenance 

equipment, as well as publicity materials. 

The collection is to be housed at the 

Maude Shunk Public Library in Menomonee 

Falls, a Milwaukee suburb. Those libraries 

sharing in the project, which has 

been dubbed WOW, are Waukesha, Ozaukee 

and Washington counties. A director 

of one of the library services involved said: 

"We are glad to be a part of this program 

as it will make (film) materials available to 

our patrons which in turn will increase our 

rvice to the community." 

A Winter Film Series is being offered the 

moviegoing public at the Vilas Theatre in 

agle River, located in the North Woods 

There are six films in the series 

CLVERAMA IS IX SHOW 

nUSLVfrXSS IX H^VHTAll TOO, 

When you come to Wulkiki, 

don't miss the famous I )()n II 

Show ... at Cincrainu's 

Reef Towers Hotel. ^^, 

.«°^f 

SiI3£>kA 

RF. El- •WAIKIKI TOWER OFTIIKRliEF „,«,„ 

REEKnm-F.RSÊIK-.EWATER 

which began with "Coming Home" last 

month. Others are "Death on the Nile," 

which ran Feb. 11-13; "The Sound of Music," 

Feb. 25-27; "A Man for All Seasons," 

Mar. 11-13; "Annie Hall," Mar. 25-27, and 

"International Velvet," Apr. 8-10. Admission 

is $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for children 

and senior citizens. 

Tiie Movies in Tomahawk, Wis., announced 

a new policy effective Feb. 2. Regular 

admission price is $2.75 with children 

eleven and under, $1.50. Special admissions 

September through May: senior citizens, 

$1.50, ages to 15, and 12 $2. For the G- 

rated matinee series, the management offered 

"five special matinees for the price 

of two by buying your ticket for only $3." 

Admission at the door is otherwise $1.50. 

The matinee series began in early February. 

Valenli Comes to N. C. 

To Fight Bidding Law 

°RALE1GH. N.C.—Jack Valenti was here 

Jan. 25 to lobby against legislation that 

would make North Carolina the sixth state 

to outlaw blind bidding on films. 

The president of the Motion Picture 

Assn. of America said the bill was not in 

the public interest. 

"This is a fiscal disagreement between 

the fellows who make the movies and distribute 

them and the fellows who exhibit I 

the movies," Valenti said in meetings with] 

Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. and other state officials. 

"This legislation is of no public interestl 

unless it is passed," Valenti said. "And if itl 

passed, will mean higher ticket pi ices." 

The 

it 

Motion Picture Fair Competition 

Act is scheduled for consideration during 

the current session of the North Carolina 

General Assembly. 

The bill would make it illegal for a filn 

to be put out for bid before it is screened 

Similar legislation has been passed in Louisiana, 

Alabama, South Carolina, Virginl 

and Ohio. 

"We don't know what we're getting" witi 

blind bidding, said a Raleigh theatre own 

er. "We're just gambling on a title. We oftei 

bid before a film is even placed in pro 

duction." 

"We're not asking for an end to biddinj 

or an end to those guarantees. All we wan 

is 

a chance to see what we're gambling on.' 

Valenti referred to the practice as "ad 

vance bidding," which he said was equitablf 

because it meant that theatres shared 

the fiscal risk of moviemaking. Money sen 

in advance of the run— in advance of pro 

duction in some cases—helps studios defraj 

production loans. 

Valenti said legislation designed to out 

law blind bidding in 20 other states failec 

last 

year. 

"If bills like this are passed across th( 

country, it will mean that the cost of mak 

ing movies will rise. In my judgment, fewe 

films will be made, and the films that an 

made will demand higher terms from exhib 

itors. Exhibitors, in turn, will have to rais< 

their prices." he said. 


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BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 NC.3

That happy face belongs to my friend Cecil Andrus' daughter Ti-acy. 

Lately people say there's something new about her smile. Something I understand better than 

anyone. When I wasn't much older than Ti-acy, I beat cancer too.?? 

Senator Frank Church 

Almost oO years separate our victories. Years that brought major advances in the 

treatment of cancer. When I was fightin.u' for my life, Tl-acy's chances wouldn't have been good. Then 

most people with Hodgkin's disease, people like T\-dcy, died within 5 years. 

But yom- generosity helped change things. You funded research that developed new 

treatments. Tl-eatments that saved Ti-acy's life. Now she's leaving her job as a legislative assistant and 

going back to om- home state of Idaho. Back to school. Back to a life that's much dearer for 

neai-ly having lost it. 

Ti-acy and I aren't unique. Almost 2 million Americans have beaten cancer. But much stUl . 

remains to be done. Thiôugh research, rehabilitation and education, the Amei-ican Cancer Society 

is making yom- contributions count. 

American CancerSocietyi 

CANCER CAN BE BEAT 

Almost 2 million people are living proof your contributions count. 

This space tDiitributeil by the puhli; 

February 19. 197|

i)J' BOXOFFICE 

. . "Night 

Ohio Blind Bid Trial 

Is Set for March 29 

NEW YORK—Judge Robert M. Duncan 

of the U.S. District Court in Columbus has 

responded to the distributors' plea for an 

early trial and set March 29, 1979 as the 

date on which the trial in the Ohio blindbidding 

lawsuit will commence. This suit 

challenges the constitutionality of the Ohio 

Motion Picture Trade Practice statute which 

became effective on October 23. 1978. 

This contradicts a statement by Alan 

Friedberg, president of NATO, in his January 

31, 1979 address at TEXPO '79 in 

which he stated: "By way of an update of 

the Ohio case, I might tell you that an 

MPAA motion for an expeditious tiial was 

denied by the presiding judge, who rules 

that discovery could proceed in a normal 

fashion." Normally such a trial would not 

be scheduled for another year and a 

half. 

The trial attorneys for the distributors are 

Porter, Wright. Morris & Arthur of Columbus. 

CINCINNATI 

îrector Martin Ritt ("Sounder") will be 

in town March 1 to meet with the 

media and screen his new production "Norma 

Rae." The film stars Sally Field as a 

textile industry labor leader in the South. 

Beau Bridges and Ron Liebman ("Kaz") 

topher Plummet, Elliott Gould and Susannah 

York); "The Bandits" (Jan-Michael 

Vincent, Robert Conrad) and "The Last 

Wave," Richard Chamberlain's occult 

drama already receiving rave reviews. 

Mt. Adams has revived the near-classic 

"King of Hearts" which was directed by 

Phillipe de Broca. Short subjects on screen 

include "Bambi Meets Godzilla" and 

"Thank You Mask Man." Two midnight 

CI1VEIL\MA IS tX SHOW 

BUSLVESS tX HAWAII TOO, 

f 

When you come to Walkiki, 




REEF • WAIKIKI TOWER OFTI IE REEF .Qlim 

REEFTOWERS«EDGEWATER l"??^) 

shows continuing there too . of 

the Living Dead" Fridays and "Eraserhead" 

Saturdays. 

Tom McElfresh bestowed four stars (of 

a possible seven) on "Slow Dancing in the 

Big City." noting, "For all the sweat and 

pasteurized pain and murky, mud-toned 

cinematography, it is only cosmetically different 

from those high-key '30s movie romances 

with the likes of Fred Astaire and 

Ginger Rogers. But it does have it over '30s 

romantic movies in acting; Paul Sorvino, 

Anne Ditchburn and the supporting players 

are quite good." 

FIRST RUN 

REPORT 


Cincinnati 

Animal House (Univ). Showcase, 

28th wk 325 

California Suite (Col), 4 theatres, 

7th wk 500 

Every Wliich Way Bu» Loose (WB). 

5 theatres, 8lh wk 650 

In Praise of Older Women (Avco). 

Princeton. Skywalk. 7th wk 300 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA). 

Showcase, 7th wk 275 

King of the Gypsies (Para), Showcase, 

7th wk 175 

are also involved. 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Studio, 

Tri-County. 7th wk 350 

Trade screenings: Robert Altman's "Quintet" 

Newman) 

Moment By Moment (Univ), 3 theatres, 

(with Paul recently unreeled. 

7th wk 200 

Movie Movie (WB), Showcase, 

It marks Newman's return to the screen 

after a self-imposed year-and-a-half sabbatical. 

The core of the production revolves 

2nd wk 275 

Oliver's Story (Para), 3 theatres, 

around a game from which the title itself 

8th wk 200 

derived. Others unveiled aie Columbia's 

is 

Slow Dancing in the Big City (UA), 

film adaptation of the electrifying and powerful 

Valley, 1st wk 75 

"When You Comin' Back, Red 

Superman (WB). 3 theatres, 8th wk. . . .900 

Ryder"; UA's "The Passage" (Anthony 

Up In Smoke (Para), Showcase, 

Quinn, Malcolm McDowell. James Mason 

19th wk 225 

and Patricia Neal); "Silent Partner" (Chris- 

Watership Down (Avco), Kenwood. 

12th wk 200 

The Wiz (Univ), Showcase. 14th wk. . .100 

mmmmM^^m£ ^^•^^'*' 

1st 

WITH 

SHOWMEN 

EVERYWHERE 

Movie, Inc. Takes Over 

University Flick Twin 

COLUMBUS— Movie, inc., of Albuquerque, 

N.M., has taken over management 

of the two-auditorium University Flick, at 

1980 N. High St., near the Ohio State University 

campus, from General Cinema 

Corp. Movie, Inc., will continue to program 

one screen of the house in a ref)ertory 

fashion, consisting of films, usually double 

bills, that change three times a week. 

On the other screen, the company plans 

a similar mixture of films, but on extended 

runs, announced John Schlesinger, who is 

the new manager. The schedule will include 

"Madame Rosa," starring Simone Signoret, 

whi;h will play at least two weeks, with 

other films planned for extended runs to 

include "Harold and Maude," "El Topo" 

and "King of Hearts." 

The theatre will continue to publish a 

three-month schedule circular, distributed 

with a mailing list and at retail and university 

locations. Schlesinger will also seek 

suggestions from patrons on programming. 

He also said that the concession stand will 

include such items as organic juices and 

cookies, imported candies, hot cider, coffee 

and frozen yogurt. A new popcorn machine 

will also be installed soon, and some projection 

equipment will also be changed. 

Schlesinger, 26, came here early in February 

from managing a Movie, Inc., house 

in St. Louis. He said University Flick is the 

first two-screen facility of Movie. Inc., 

which owns seven theatres and books films 

for several others. 

Besides providing patrons with a place to 

see classics, foreign rereleases, and odd 

American first releases, the firm hopes to 

make local patrons aware of the enjoyment 

to 

be obtained from unusual films. 

Show Benefits Renovation 

CANTON. OHIO—A benefit show. "The 

Life, Times and Music of Abraham Lincoln." 

preceded by a dinner, was offered 

last Feb. 1 1 at Canton's Memorial Civic 

Center. Proceeds will be used to help finance 

the purchase and renovation of the 

historic 53-year-old Palace Theatre on Market 

Avenue North in downtown Canton. 

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:; February 19, 1979 ME-1

^j 

C L 

E y ELAND 

The Colon.v Theatre, a landmark at Shaker 

Square for 40 years, will close soon. 

The chances of future films flashing on its 

giant silver screen appear dim. Shaker 

Heights developer Lawrence Albert and 

owner of Shaker Square said that he has 

had pressure from people to maintain the 

Colony as a theatre. He is considering several 

options, which range from converting 

it to a mall with shops and a restaurant 

similar to what was done with the Beachcliff 

Theatre to setting it up as a cultural 

arts 

center for Shaker Square. 

A locally produced movie won an award 

at the Greater Miami International Film 

Festival. Titled "Looking for Yesterday," it 

is an informative and powerful documental 

y. The 29-minute color film was produced 

and directed by Edward Fell of Edward 

Fell Productions and was written by 

Mrs. Fell, who stars as the social worker. 

The movie was produced through a grant 

from the Ohio Program in the Humanities 

and is distributed and sponsored by the 

Ohio Chapter, National Caucus on Black 

Aged. 

The film features real patients in a 

nursing home. It was filmed at two nuising 

homes in Cleveland, both of which requested 

not to be identified. 

A letter lo the entertainment editor of 

the Plain Dealer stated: "As we head into a 

new year, now seems a good time to say a 

few things about old movies and who they 

appeal to, and also why few, if any, black 

people patronize the New Mayfield Repertory 

Cinema." The letter is in answer to an 

article in the Plain Dealer in which Sheldon 

Wigod of the New Mayfield Repertory 

Cinema described his audience and announced 

expansion of his mailing list tor 

future attractions. The letter continued: "Let 

me just say that, yes. black people, myself 

included, very much enjoy the kind of old 

movies Mr. Wigod delights in showing. And 

yes, many of us would attend his movie 

house if we thought it was safe to do so. 

(The theatre is located in Little Italy). And 

no, it's not just "King Kong" that attracts 

us. And yes, I resent being linked to "long 

hairs' in my movie tastes. While I certainly 

a.in'i IccI thai I'm a middle-class, middlebrow, 

very nice square. 1 nonetheless would 

give Mr. Wigod a failing grade in analyzing 

people if he excludes me, and other old 

movie buffs who happen lo be black, when 

considering a viewing audience for his theatre. 

"I resent feeling that I cannot venture 

into the neighborhood of Mr. Wigod's movie 

house without fearing for my safety and 

that of my friends. If he really cares about 

expanding his audience, I suggest he approach 

his neighbors around the Old Mayfield 

and get their views on black people 

attending his theatre. If they indicate they 

don't care one way or the other, find some 

means to let us know." 

Jerry Jorgensen, branch manager of Columbia, 

reports that "Hard Core" opened 

at multiple thcaties Feb. 9 and "Fast Break" 

will open March 6. 

Thomas P. Schaffiier, John litis Associates, 

screened "The Brink's Job" starring 

Peler I'alk at the downtown screening room. 

Ohio Theatre to Add 

Arts Center Complex 

The Capitol South Community Redevelopment 

Corp. plans to start a $13 million 

fund raising campaign this month to finance 

the construction of a 160,000 square foot 

performing arts center behind the historic 

Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus. 

Joseph Madonna, executive director of 

Ihe development group, said plans call for 

an SOO-scat proscenium theatre, a 400-seat 

experimental theatre, two 100-seat classrooms, 

and a large exhibit area to be included 

in the facility. It will be connected 

to the Ohio Theatre by a corridor. Office 

space might also be added to the center to 

help defray operating costs. Madonna said. 

The Hunter" will be produced by Paramount 

and Rastar/Mort Engelberg Productions, 

with Peter Hyams signed to wiite the 

script and direct the feature, ba-ed on the 

novel by Christopher Keane. 

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Bedford and Crew Set 

To Shoot 'Brubaker' 

COLUMBUS—Ohio's getting ready for a 

filmmaker invasion, including one of the 

industry's highest paid and most popular 

leading actors— Robert Redford. 

Redford, along with 100 industry crew 

members and 1,000 extras, will be descending 

upon the Perry County community of 

Junction City (population 732) about 40 

miles southeast of Columbus. 

in 

Four months of shooting will begin there 

mid-March on 20th Century Fox's "Brubaker," 

which is the tale of a man who becomes 

warden of a troubled prison and 

hopes to reform it. 

Fox scouted 25 states in quest of an 

abandoned prison farm before deciding upon 

the Junction City Treatment Center, a 

complex which had served as a prison and 

mental health center and is now awaiting 

development as an industrial park. 

The Ohio Film Bureau, staffed by four 

individuals within the state Department of 

Economic and Community Development, is 

credited with landing "Brubaker." which is 

among the biggest film projects brought to 

the state through the bureau's efforts. 

Others have included "The Deer Hunter," 

"Harry and Walter Go to New York," 

"Harper 'Valley PTA." "Harvest Home" and 

NBC-TV's "Centennial." 

But finding a useable location for the 

Hollywood crew is not the bureau's only 

chore. Arrangements in the case of "Brubaker" 

had to be made for hotel space for 

80 to 100 crew members (they will be 

housed in Columbus), transportation (buses 

to take film makers to the site, trucks for 

their equipment and mobile homes for the 

stars), 

plus police security to control crowds. 

To help protect the privacy of heartthrob 

Redford. the film bureau is locating 

a private home for him to rent during his 

stay in Ohio. 

In addition, as many as 1.000 extras will 

be chosen by the studio for scenes showing 

the prison population. The bureau is collecting 

applications for those roles. The 

resumes already on file now are estimated 

at in the thousands. 

Ironically, though a major picture generally 

pumps some $10,000 daily into a 

community, the Ohio Film Bureau's budget 

(excluding salaries) is only $12,000 a year 

—most olf which is spent on advertising in 

trade journals. 

.And, incidentally, these Ohioans are not 

finished yet. Their goal is to make the state 

the Midwestern capital of the film indus- 

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as 

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Brooklyn, 

E. C. Johnson Returns 

To Oversee Takeover 

DEIROIT—Howard Cogan, writer for 

the Bay City Times, spoke with E. C. "Eddie" 

Johnson, veteran exhibitor, when Johnson 

returned to oversee the takeover of one 

of his former theatres. His story appears 

below; 

EC. "Eddie" Johnson peeked out of retirement 

in sunny Port Charlotte, Fla., to 

return to storm-tossed Bay City to oversee 

the takeover of the former Empire Theatre. 

a bit. 

Always in a hurry, Eddie hasn't changed 

His Johnson Theaters Inc.. now owned by 

his nephew, John Johnson, has just completed 

leasing arrangements with Bob Hart 

of Washington Place. Negotiations between 

Johnson and Peoples National Bank to take 

over the theatre operation started over a 

, 

It was considered, according to Johnson, 

one of the finest legitimate theatres between 

Detroit and Chicago. 

It was converted to movies in the early 

1930s, the first in Bay City and one of the 

first to convert to talkies in Michigan. 

It was in 1930 that the then owner Richard 

Leahy signed an exclusive franchise 

the "best of the good movies and no X-rated 

lilms." 

Theatregoers here got a sneak peek recently 

of the renovated 1,500-seat theatre: 

a one-night special, co-sponsored by Johnson 

and the Bob Hart organization. It was a 

two-hour stage concert entitled "Moments 

to Remember." Featured were the Jimmy 

Dorsey Orchestra, conducted by Lee Castle, 

the Four Lads and Johnny Desmond. 

When in operation, the new Washington 

Theatre will employ ten people fulltimc. 

Managei will be Lorraine Cygan. who started 

with Johnson in the old Washington in 

1943 and has been managing the Westown 

in 

recent years. 

Johnson, now 62, describes him.self as 

semi-retired, spending most of his time golfing, 

playing caids at the Port Charlotte Elks 

Club and gardening. 

DETROIT 

year ago, he said. 

The theatre, now undergoing extensive 

QIark Theatre Service announces that, effective 

March 

they 1, will represent 

clcan-up and renovation, will be renamed 

the Washington Theatre. 

the Hillman Theatre. Hillman. Mich., in 

the licensing and booking of films. For Johnson, The 

it brings back a lot of memories. 

Larry 

owner and operator of the theatre is 

He first came 

E. Hardin, Route # 2, Box 308, Hillman 

to Bay City in 1937 as Mich. 

manager of the old State Theatre which 

A letter has been sent to news directors 

later was renamed the Westown. and took 

over operation of the original Washington of major Detroit television and radio stations 

Theatre in 1941. 

by the Main Theatre, an independent 

The original Washington Theatre here 

750-scat theatre in Royal Oak, protesting 

had a "great histoiy" dating back to the 

1920s when such stars as John and Ethel 

the use of "scare warnings" such as "Stay 

at home—don't drive," and so on during 

Barrymore. Eddie Cantor. Al Jolson and weather forecasts and disc jockey programs. 

Further, many more appeared there. 

the letter states that it obviously 

is the duty of the station to broadcast 

weather conditions and forcasts in the public 

interest, but to scare the public with 

"stay at home" scares hurts theatre attendance 

and probably attendance at sporting 

and civic events as well. 

When a theatre must guarantee a distributor 

certain gross receipts on a movie, 

listener's intellect regarding driving, after 

listening to the weather detail.s, without 

hearing alleged editorializing words." 

Not only the Main Theatre, but many 

otheis have been affected adversely by reactions 

to weather reports. 

Columbia Pictures held a restricted-admission 

screening at The Point-Of-Vue 

.Screening Room, Sunday. Feb. 4, of "Hardcore." 

"This is an extremely moral movie. 

The point of the story demonstrates how 

shallow, useless and sick the whole sex industry 

is," states George C. Scott, who stars 

in the film. Some shots are actual pornography 

establishments in San Francisco, San 

Diego and Los Angeles. 

"Wilderness Family, Part 2," a Pacific 

International release, rated 850 on the barometer 

by doing an outstanding business 

both in the Detroit area and outstate situations. 

The feature outgrossed the original 

"Wilderness Family." It 

served 30 situations 

in the area and had excellent prime time 

coverage via TV. 

The Detroit News Letter Box printed yet 

anothei gripe directed at the business, as 

follows: "I think movie theatres must' be 

one of the biggest rip-offs around. Why do 

they charge two prices? Do adults take up 

two seats? I know a lot of teenagers who 

can't afford to go to a movie with a date 

because of the different prices. If we teenagers 

have to pay adult prices, why can't 

we see adult movies? Why can't there be 

one price for movies, as there is for football 

games and concerts?" One wonders. 

A Clark Theatre representative has announced 

that the Richmond Theatre, Richmond, 

reopened Feb. 7 under new management. 

Thomas S. Welsh, P.O. Box 806, Mt. 

Clemens, Mich., is the owner. He is public 

works commissioner for Macomb County 

and has purchased the property containing 

the Richmond Theatre from the original 

owner. 

agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures. 

Johnson has a copy of the original contract, 

calling for a $180 a week guarantee. 

Theatre tickets at the time went for 25 to 

50 cents each. 

The Warner Bros, connection will be 

maintained by Johnson and the first movie 

to be shown under the new management 

was a Clint Eastwood film, "Every Which 

Way But Loose." 

To give an idea of how much costs have 

gone up, franchise arrangements today call 

for guarantees as high as $10,000, "and 

even more," based on an individual theatre's 

normal gross. 

Johnson said his organization would show 

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February 19, 1979 

he finds that weather forecast scares cut 

heavily into the admission receipts and that 

theatre operation can be "thrown for a 

loop." So declared Bob Anthony, co-owner 

of the Main Theatre in Royal Oak. He 

added, "There must be other ways to serve 

the public where the broadcaster respects a 

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The Capitol Theatre in Flint was reopened 

Feb. 15 by the owner of the Capitol 

Theatre building, George Farrah. The policy 

will be double-bill action films. Clark 

Theatre Service will represent both the 

above situations in the licensing and booking 

of films. 

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Show Biz Vet Recalls 

50 Years in the Trade 

Bv TONY RUTHERFORD 

CINCINNATI—Names in lights, stars on 

tour, opening nights, and informing the 

media have been a part of William Blum's 

life for decades. 

Blum's career spans nearly 50 years and 

virtually every facet of show business, except 

performing. The personable "Bill." with 

the heart and enthusiasm of a man thirty, 

began his career as a press agent with Tiffany-Stahl. 

Since then he has handled promotions 

for numerous legitimate theatre 

productions, toured for three weeks with 

Al Jolson. worked as a publicist with RKO. 

Walt Disney and Universal Pictures, managed 

this city's Shubert Theatre from 1965 

to 1967. operated the Queen City's National 

General branch office, and when that company 

folded Regency Film Distributing and 

William Blum Enterprises were originated. 

Holding the distinction as the first press 

agent hired by Walt Disney. Blum landed 

the position when he was in Philadelphia 

where the music was being recorded for 

Disney's "Fantasia." 

The film industry survived a depression, 

world wars, television, scandals and soaring 

costs. With the onslaught of home video 

cassettes looming perilously closer, this veteran 

of nearly half a century in "show-biz" 

still has a lot of confidence in it. 

'People Always Want to Go Out' 

Regarding the impact of television. Blum 

related a story about the owner of a clothing 

store next to the RKO Palace Theatre in 

Columbus. Ohio. When TV began invading 

living rooms, the man threatened to close 

his store because people would not be interested 

in attending the theatre anymore. 

"But I told him," Blum explained, "people 

are always going to want to get dressed up 

and go out. and you are the ones who will 

sell them the clothes." 

However, Blum acknowledges television 

caused "small towns to suffer." bringing 

about the demise of their motion picture 

emporiums. Yet in larger cities, "there are 

more screens than previously," specifically 

multi-unit complexes whose overhead is 

nearly equal to single situations. 

Blum believes legitimate touring shows 

have been hurt due to transportation difficulties, 

mainly the lack of trains. "Having to 

fly equipment and personnel around the 

country has done more to stop touring 

shows than anything else." Blum said. 

Perhaps, surprisingly, the showman and 

press agent stressed that explicitness (especially 

foul language) is the greatest obstacle 

which hurts the film business. Stating that 

"only a certain class of people talk that 

way," he complained most of the language 

is used for "shock value." 

"I'm no prude, I've been in show business 

all my life, but it's embarrassing and 

ceases to be entertaining," he explained. 

Interestingly, Blum is also having a problem 

setting a Cincinnati date for the open- 

ME-4 

ing of "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs," a 

French-Belgian co-production dealing with 

the new morality. This charming New York 

Film Festival entry has received remaikable 

reviews, but has not yet been rated. As such. 

Cincinnati's morning newspaper will 

not accept 

advertising for the film. 

While "Handkerchiefs" is not an X-rated 

product. MPAA guidelines state that any 

picture not submitted for a rating must be 

assigned a self-imposed X. 

Bill Blum, who began in the days when 

p;ess agents earned $115 per week and 

chorus girls a measly $35 per week, expressed 

many a fond memory of days and 

personalities gone by. Although having spent 

much of his life dealing with motion pictures, 

he most enjoyed his association with 

legitimate theatre because of the one-on-one 

relationships with "live productions and personalities." 

Mall, Theatre Complex Set 

For Construction in Fall 

COLUMBUS—Wisma Industries of suburban 

Canal Winchester announced plans to 

build a $40 million shopping mall and entertainment 

complex at the southeast corner 

of Bricc Road and the East Freeway, with 

construction to begin this fall. The facility 

would involve a 457,000 square foot retail 

mall and a separate 44,000 square foot entertainment 

center, both to be built on 56 

acres. 

The entertainment center would have 

three theaties for live stage productions, to 

seat between 3.000 and 8,000 persons each. 

Stephen C. Baytos. Wisma vice-president, 

said several production companies are interested 

in leasing the entertainment facilities. 

The company has asked Franklin County 

commissioners to issue $10 million in industrial 

revenue bonds to help finance the entertainment 

venture. Such bonds are issued 

by the county but are backed and paid off 

by the companies seeking the issuance. No 

public money is involved. Since the bonds 

are government issued, they are tax free 

and cany a lower rate of interest than conventional 

loans. Baytos told the county commissioners 

he already has a buyer lined up 

to buv the tax-free low-interest bonds. 

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i 

By 

j 

AGAWAM, 

. 

New 

Business Park to Have 

Twin-Screen Complex 

ALLEN M. WIDHM 

MASS.—In the second ma- 

;jor cinema development for New England 

this year, twin cinemas are included in 

planning for a $50 million project, to be 

known as Feeding Hills Commons and Business 

Park. If approved by the town council, 

construction could begin by April. 

i A 255-Acre Development 

calls complimenting him on making sense 

The development, as envisioned by backers 

John J. Beltrandi of Agawam and Leon 

out of a difficult situation for many independent 

theatre owners. 

Charkoudian of Newton, would be a selfcontained 

village on some 255 acres of 

Mel Safner, First Boston Films, hosted a 

prime land. 

tradescreening of "Newsfront" at the Park 

Planned are business space, a shopping Plaza Screening Room Thursday Feb. 15. 

mall. 300 condominiums, a bank, a convalescent 

home, medical facilities, a hotel and claimed by critics and fans at the New York 

Made in Australia, the film was highly ac- 

recreation center comprised of the twin Film Festival. 

theatre, a bowling alley and physical fitness 

facilities. 

The Variety Club of Boston held its annual 

election of officers at the Park Plaza 

The town council must approve a request 

for zone change from agriculture to business Hotel last week. The following officers were 

to permit start of construction. 

chosen: Roger Lockwood, chief barker; Mai 

Green, first assistant barker: Sol Sherman, 

One reliable source indicated that Beltrandi 

Associates, the "umbrella" corpora- 

second assistant barker: Doug Amos, dough 

guy. and Sam Feldman, press guy. Plans 

tion involved, might be faced with a 

"tough" zone-change vote by councilmen. 

Council Endorses Project 

At the same time, however, Agawam 

town manager Peter Caputo and town council 

president Richard M. Theroux voiced 

endorsement of Beltrandi/ Charkoudian 

planning, with Caputo characterizing the 

project as "a planned, professionally designed 

development, that will bring many and 

varied benefits to the people of Agawam 

and the surrounding region." 

Purchase rights for the land have been 

obtained from controllers of the pension 

fund of the Textron Corp., Providence. 

Adjacent to Springfield 

Agawam, adjacent to Springfield, presently 

contains the Agawam Twin Cinemas and 

the older Riverside Amusement Park. The 

latter facility many years ago had a drivein 

theatre. 

As previously reported in Boxoffice, 

Cinema Center Circuit is developing plans 

for a multiple-screen complex on a tract of 

land next to the Bangor Mall, which happens 

to be the newest—and largest—enclosed 

shopping mall in northeastern Maine. 

Beltrandi Associates did not disclose who 

would be operating the twin cinemas. 

The same interests, it is noted, also 

planned Pheasant Hill Village, a 200-unit 

housing village that opened this past January. 

Train Robbery' Sneaked 

HARTFORD— United Artists recently 

slotted Friday-night sneak previews of "The 

Great Train Robbery" at the SBC Cinema 

4, City Hartford; Perakos Elm 2, West 

Hartford, and Sampson & Spodick York 

Square Cinema, New Haven. 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19. 1979 

BOSTON 

T C;iiy Spencer Jr., president of the Community 

Playhouse in Wcllesley Hills. 

authored an article entitled "A Look at 

Scales," which appeared in the recent 

NATO Encyclopedia of Exhibition. The article 

is recommended for neighborhood and 

independent theatre owners who have 

in trouble figuring how much they should 

be making, in good times and bad, under 

terms of various rental contracts. Spencer 

reports that he has had numerous phone 

for the benefit premiere of "Same Time, 

Next Year." to be held later this month, 

were finalized. 

Fred MacLennon, owner and operator of 

the newly opened Oriental Theatre in Canton, 

announced that he would include cartoons, 

travelogues and newsreels in his program, 

depending on the length of the main 

feature. This policy brings back for many 

filmgoers memories of the days when Pathe 

News and Disney cartoons—and other 

shorts—were always part of the program. 

The Charles Cinema, a Sack theatre, began 

a run of "The Deer Hunter" Feb. 9. 

initiating a reserved-seat policy, with tickets 

priced at $4 and $5. 

Promotion of American International's 

Meteor" has begun. Over at Howard 

Shamblin's Allied Advertising office in the 

Park Square Building, one is confronted 

with a six-foot advertising spread with 

rockets, stars and so on in the reception 

room. Joe Leahy, AI branch manager, says 

he and Shamblin both agreed on the idea. 

Candice Bergen was in Cambridge to receive 

Harvard College's Hasty Pudding Club 

Woman of the Year award. Causing plenty 

of excitement, Ms. Bergen was transported 

to the awards ceremony in a parade beginning 

at Massachusetts Avenue and Harvard 

Street and ending at the Hasty Pudding 

Club. Admission to the ceremony was restricted 

to Harvard students. 

New on Boston screens: United Artists" 

"The Great Train Robbery," Universal's 

"Same Time, Next Year." Columbia's 

"Hardcore," Paramount's "The Warriors" 

and World Northal's "The Last Wave." 

Continuing were Universal's "The Brink's 

Job." Brut Pictures' "The Class of Miss 

MacMichael." Columbia's "California 

Suite." UA's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," 

New World's "Autumn Sonata," Columbia's 

"Ice Castles," New Line Cinema's 

"Get Out Your Handkerchiefs," Columbia's 

"Midnight Express," Sunn Classic Pictures' 

"The Bermuda Triangle," Paramount's 

"King of the Gypsies" and Warner Bros.' 

"Movie Movie." 

RHODE ISLAND 

Q,eneral Cinema Corp. and SBC Management 

Corp. situations participated in 

statewide premiere of Columbia's "Ice 

Castles." 

Mann Theatres' Warwick Cinema, in the 

Warwick Plaza, charged $1.50 admission, 

matinees only, for United Artists' "Slow 

X 

Dancing in the Big City" . 

product included "Frenchette," "The Gang 

That Could," "Pretty Peaches." "Black Silk 

Stockings," "Beach House," "Man to Man," 

"Beach Bums." "I'm No Angel" and "Love 

from Paris." 

Continuing attractions across Rhode 

Island: Warner Bros.' "Superman" plus 

"Every Which Way But Loose" plus "Movie 

Movie" Sunn Classics' "The Bermuda Triangle." 

Columbia's "California Suite," Brut 

Pictures' "The Class of Miss MacMichael," 

Universal's "Moment by Moment," AI's 

"Force 10 from Navarone," Paramount's 

"King of the Gypsies," United Artists' "The 

Lord of the Rings" plus "Invasion of the 

Body Snatchers" and New World Pictures' 

"Autumn Sonata." 

Touching on audience appeal. Providence 

Journal-Bulletin Newspapers film critic 

Michael Janusonis commented: "A friend 

remarked recently that he was sorry he had 

bought tickets to a play which he later realized 

was about death. 'When you go to a 

show you want to be entertained,' he reasoned. 

"I feel differently," Janusonis continued. 

"In fact, to me, two of the most entertaining 

films to play Rhode Island in the last 

year were 'Iphigenia.' a story about an 

ancient Greek king who sends his daughter 

to her death so he can be guaranteed victory 

in the Trojan War. and 'Autumn 

Sonata.' Ingmar Bergman's look at the flashpoint 

created when a mother and daughter 

who had grown apart come together. 

"Although those two films have done 

well, their audiences have been minuscule 

compared to the hordes that descended on 

such escapist fare as the musical 'Grease.' 

based on the Broadway show about high 

school life in the "505. 

" Tphigenia' and "Autumn Sonata' have a 

staying power that leaves the viewer with a 

sense of having learned something about 

life. On the other hand. 'Grease' has for 

me quickly faded to a dancing blur." 

NE-1

. . . Malcolm 

; 

\ 

j 

| 

5th wk 145 

Ice Castles (Col). Pi Alley II. 1st wk. . 

.300 


Pi Alley I, 7th wk 230 

King of the Gypsies (Para), Beacon Hill 

7th wk 

185 

The Last Wave (World Northal), Exeter. 

2nd wk 400 

Midnight Express (Col). Charles II. 

7 th wk 

170 

Movie Movie (WB). Chri I, Chesnut 

Hill I. 2nd wk 250 

Rubber Gun (Indie). Nickelodeon, 

3rd wk 100 

Skip Tracers (GG Comm). Orson Welles 

11, 4th wk 150 

Superman (WB), Cinema 57 I, Circle I, 

8th wk 

300 

The Wiz (Univ), Circle III. 3rd wk. 

Hartford 

The Bermuda Triangle (Simn), 6 

3rd wk 

The Bottom Line (SR), Cinema City II, 

theatres 50 

1st wk 175 

California Suite (Col), Cinema City IV. 

Elm 1. 7th wk 125 

TWIN ITM 



Steel 

Towers 

• Repairs 

II. 1st wk 175 


Showcase II, 7th wk 

200 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Showcase 

IV. 7th wk 130 

Movie Movie (WB). Showcase II, 

2nd wk 250 

Superman (WB), Showcase I, 8th wk. . .300 

NEW BRITAIN 

J)r. 

Brian Hennessey, the Bristol obstetrician 

who introduced dinner cinema 

theatre to Connecticut with his refurbished 

Carberry Theatre, is charging 99 cents admission 

on Friday and Saturday for vintage 

product. Typical show titles include "The 

Lady from Shanghai," Columbia 1948 release 

with Rita Hayworlh and Orson Welles, 

and "The Best of Laurel & Hardy." 

"The Phantom of the Opera." Universal 

silent classic (1925, starring Lon Chaney 

Sr.). was shown at The Cave, a Collinville 

High School night spot on the grounds of 

the Collinsville First Congregational 

Church. A small admission fee was charged 

pioneer Joe Faith. 

From the "50 Years Ago" column. 

for the audience comprised of area senior 

high school youngsters. Collinsville some 

years ago had a cinema operated by exhibition 

Bristol 

Press: "The latest addition to science. 

the talking picture, will have its first local 

showing starting next week at the Cameo 

Theatre. Engineers from the Western Electric 

Co. and the Electrical Research Corp. 

are working day and night at the theatre to 

have the equipment ready for its local premiere. 

Ihe equipment which consists of a 

full carload of parts is now being installed. 

Ihc program has not yet been announced." 

HARTFORD 

: 

; 

, 

Ihe Class of Miss Miss MacMichael 

(Brutl. 4 theatres. 3rd wk 175 

IE 

FIRST RUN 

Every Which Way But Loose (WB). 

Showcase V. 7th wk 135 

promises in the Dark," among initial Warner 

Bros, releases bearing the Orion 

Force 10 From Navarone (AIP). 

REPORT 

Showcase HI. 2nd wk 275 

.150 

Pictures banner and one of the few major 

theatres. wk. Ice Castles (Col). 3 1st . 


Hollywood efforts filmed in recent yeais in 

lA\ 

7th wk 200 

Connecticut, is figuring in fund-raising plans 

for the West Hartford Cable Television coordinating 

Boston 

The Last Bath (SR), Art Cinema. 

1st wk board. The Marsha Mason star- 

225 

Autumn Sonata (New World). Charles 

rer, partially filmed in West Hartford this 

The Lord of the Rings (UA). Showcase 

110 

past summer, may get a sneak preview in 

JI. 14th \vk 

II, 6th wk 145 

Bermuda Triangle (Sunn). Saxon. 

Moment by Moment (Univ). Showcase 

West Hartford, courtesy of Wainer Bros., 

3rd wk 

125 

VI. 7th "wk 120 

on request of WHCT. The Perakos Elm 2 

The Brink's Job (Univ). Cheri II. 

Movie Movie (WB). 3 theatres, 2nd wk. 235 

would figure in planning. Boxoffice learn- 

9th wk 

.250 Superman (WB). Showcase I, 8th wk. . .300 

ed at presstime. 

Uncle Joe Shannon (UA). Cinema Citv I. 

California Suite (Col). Cheri III. 

Critics' comments: Janice Trecker, West 

Chestnut Hill. 7th wk 

200 

The Class of Miss MacMichael (Brut). 

Charles I. 3rd wk 120 

1st wk 135 

Hartford News, reviewing United Artists' 

'Invasion of the Body Snatchers," said, in 

new version is very well done 

part: "This 


Circle II. 7th wk 100 

New Haven 

indeed, but at nearly twice the length of the 

original it is not for children. Not that anything 

Navarone (AD. Cinema 

Force 10 From (New World). York 

Autumn Sonata 

untoward occurs, although the latter 

57 II, 2nd wk 135 Square Cinema. 7th wk 150 

sufficiently creepy to alarm the 

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (New 

California Suite (Col). Cinemart II, 

very young, but because the picture is too 

Line), Orson Welles I, 1st wk 500 Milford I, 7th wk 165 

slow and low key for the 'Star Wars' crowd" 

Girt Friends (WB). Orson Welles III. 

The Class of Miss MacMichael (Brut). 

L. Johnson, Hartford Courant, 

stages are 

Lincoln. 1st wk 225 

found "The Class of Miss MacMichael," 


Brut Pictures release, a waste of Glenda 

Showcase V, 7th wk 160 

Jackson's talents. "Glenda Jackson is one of 

I. Ice Castles (Col). Cinemart Milford 

Britain's most admired dramatic actresses ' 

and a dual winner of America's Academy \ 

Award." he wrote. "How then to explain her 

| 

presence in this dull and unclassy little 

movie." 

Free films: "Notorious," RK.O 1946 release 

directed by Alfred Hitchcock and costarring 

Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergmaii, i 

Burlington Senior Citizen Center; RKO's 

"Little Women" (1933, starring Katharine 

Hepburn), Kent Memorial Library, Suffield, 

and "Pal Joey," Columbia 1957 release 

co-starring Rita Hayworth and Frank 

Sinatra. University of Hartford Auerbach 

Auditorium, with seatmg pr 

U of H students. 

L ..j:. „,;..„, >.;;th c^nfino nrefoi encc for' 

The Israeli import, "I Love You Rosa." 

was screened at the Hartford Jewish Community 

Center. Center members were charged 

$2. as non-members. $2.50. Children 

under 12 were admitted for half-price. 

Warner Bros.' "Dog Day Afternoon." 

1975 release toplining Al Pacino. was shown, 

Von der Mehden Hall. University of, 

in 

Connecticut main campus, under sponsorship 

of the U Conn Film Society. Admission 

was $1.50. The society is selling mem-, 

bership cards (good for all showings) for 

$20 per semester. I| 

Universal's "American Graffiti." an earlier 

George Lucas effort, was biought back 

for showings in Trinity College's Cinestudio. 

Admission was $2. or $1.50 with any col- 

Icue ID card. 

'20.000 Leagues' Screened 

WORCE.STER. MASS.—Buena Vista's 

"20.000 Leagues Under the Sea." 1954 

lease, was screened on a recent Saturday 

afternoon hv the Worcester Art Museum. 

NE-2 

Februj 1979

I 

i Mimieux, 

! 

the 

1 

be 

: 

Vista's 

I ing 

' 

i as 

I 

mented: 

. . "The 

. . . "The 

triy 

NEW HAVEN 

prospects for reopening of the long-shuttered, 

1.800-seat Shiibert Theatre are 

brightening. The city of New Haven, the 

new owner, has obtained some New Haven 

Foundation money to help in planning for 

music-theatre projects. The big objective, 

however, is an $800,000 "challenge" from 

the National Endowment for the Arts. Such 

a grant—and local news sources say this 

will not be easily obtained—would have to 

matched by New Haven-raised funds in 

at least the same amount over the course 

of the next few years. 

Dave Brown came up with something 

unusual with reprise scheduling of Buena 

"The Cat From Outer Space." offering 

a free popcorn prize for every drawof 

a "space cat" at the Edniond Town 

. 

Hall Theatre, Newtown Red 

' 

Shoes," Eagle-Lion 1948 release, was shown 

a free attraction in the Lecture Hall at 

the Yale University Art Gallery. 

Bob Eimicke, film critic for the Register, 

someness, adding, " 'Ice Castles' should become 

a favorite rainy day activity at Girl 

Scout meetings and skating camps everywhere." 

"It Happened One Night," the Columbia 

1934 Oscar winner (Clark Gable co-starred 

with Claudette Colbert and Frank Capra directed), 

was shown in Bernhard Center. 

University of Bridgeport, for two shows on 

a recent Saturday night. Admission was 75 

cents. 

Fairfield University's Gonzaga Auditorium 

hosted a Beatles double-bill, comprised 

of "I "Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "A 

Hard Day's Night," plus, on other evenings, 

> showings of United Artists' 1973 release, 

"Sleeper," teaming Woody Allen and Diane 

Keaton. Admission for all screenings was 

SI . . . "The Time Machine," MGM 1960 

release co-starring Rod Taylor and Yvette 

was shown as a free attraction at 

Stratford Public Library . . . "The 

Diary of Anne Frank." 20th Century-Fox 

CUVERAMA IS EV SHOW 

BrSUVESS IX HAWAn TOO, 

WTicn you come to Waiklkl, 




1959 release with Millie Perkins and Joseph 

Schildkiaut. was shown (admission was free) 

at the Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury 

Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," the 

German silent classic horror film, was 

shown as a free attraction at the Chcsire 

Public Library. 

VERMONT 

ations. 

Merrill G. Jarvis slotted Universal's 

"Paradise Alley" in an exclusive, first area 

showing into his Essex Twin Cinema, Essex 

Junction. All seats admission was $1.50, 

all times, for the Sylvester Stallone starrer 

... In another "first" for the Merrill Theatre 

Corp. (the Jarvis parent company), an 

X-rated film, one of the few to hit metropolitan 

Burlington first-runs, was t>ooked 

pilation of Charles Chaplin's silent classics 

—was shown in Bentley Hall on the Johnson 

State College campus as part of the 

Catamount Film Series. Admission was 

$1.50 for the general public. $1 for students 

and senior citizens. 

SPRINGFIELD 

lêdstone Theatres came up with something 

unusual for western Massachusetts on 

a recent Friday night. The circuit held two 

sneak previews—United Artists' "The Great 

Train Robbery" and Universal's "Same 

Time, Next Year"—at the Showcase Cinemas 

8. West Springfield. 

Cunn Classic's "The Bermuda Triangle," Regional premieres included AI's "Force 

with a saturation playdate across the 10 From Navarone" and Columbia's "Ice 

was packed by major newspaper advertising 

Castles," plus X-rated product including 

state, 

budgets. Ads emphasized that only 

Sunn passes would be accepted in all situ- 

"Love in Strange Places" and "The Seduction 

of Lynn Carter." 

The region had a sizable holdover roster 

indeed: Avco Embassy's "Watership Down," 

Columbia's "Midnight Express" plus "California 

Suite." Brut Pictures' "The Class of 

Miss MacMichael," Warner Bros.' "Superman" 

plus "Every Which Way But Loose" 

plus "Movie Movie," United Artists' "Invasion 

of the Body Snatchers" plus "The Lord 

of the Rings" and the Buena Vista reprise 

of "Pinocchio." 

reviewing Columbia's "Hardcore," coni- into his downtown Flynn. The attraction 

"There is a substantial amount of was "Hard Soap." 

coarse language and an occasional scene 

where the underground of sexual profiteering 

Vermont premieres included Avco Em- 

Springfield Central, Inc. has released a 

proposed timetable for key downtown developments—ranging 

from reopening of the 

is graphically shown. But compared to bassy's "In Praise of Older and 

Women" long-shuttered Paramount Theatre (part of 

Brut Pictures' "The Class of Miss Mac- Western Massachusetts Theatres, Inc.) to 

'Taxi Driver,' "Midnight Express' or 'Saturday 

Night Fever,' 'Hardcore' is nothing to Michael." Holdovers included 20th-Century-Fox's 

"Magic," Columbia's "California 

blush over. Mayor Koch and everyone in 

rehabilitation of the Poli-Kennedy-Riker 

Block (once continuing Loews Poll)—covering 

New York would be tickled, I am sure, if Suite," Universal's "Moment by Moment," 

the next three years. The Paramount, 

Times Square were only twice as ugly and Warner Bros.' "Superman" plus "Every once a major downtown film outlet, has 

dangerous as the assorted West Coast strips Which Way But Loose" and Avco Embassy's 

been shuttered in recent years. Independent 

seen in this picture." He called same distributor's 

"Watership Down." 

exhibition interests had sought sporadically 

"Ice Castles" a monolith of whole- 

to revive a cinema policy. And the Poll, in 

"The Chaplin Revue," a two-hour com- 

the heyday of Loews Poli-New England 

Theatres, Inc., was western Massachusetts 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

JJew titles on New Hampshire marquees: 

AI's "Force 10 from Navarone" and 

Sunn Classic Pictures' "The Bermuda Triangle" 

The holdover bloc included 

. . . Columbia's "California Suite," Universal's 

"Moment by Moment" plus "The Wiz," 

Warner Bros.' "Superman" plus "Every 

Which Way But Loose." United Artists' 

"The Lord of the Rings" and Avco Embassy's 

"Watership Down." 

The loka Theatre in Exeter played Buena 

Vista's "Mickey's Birthday Party Show" 

program at 2 p.m.. Saturday and Sunday, 

charging $1 admission for all seats both 

afternoons. 

"The Magic Flute," the Ingmar Bergman 

version of Mozart's comic opera, was 

screened in Spaulding Auditorium at Hopkins 

Center. Dartmouth College, Hanover. 

Tickets sold for $2.50. with students admitted 

for $1.50. 

"home" for top Hollywood product, including 

that from MGM and 20th Century- 

Fox. 

SIGNSof theJIMES 


CHinmnnoKnicGCR 

WOODBAY CONSTRUCTION CORP. 

516 569-1990 

February 19. 1979 NE-3

Ho^v we sweetened 

the melting pot. 

We all pitched in.ThatV how 

the melting pot called America. 

Like a big family coming together for a 

festive meal, each immigrant group has added 

contribution. The world's best skills, talents, 

minds, hearts, music, children, customs, that's 

what's gone into America. 

We've put them all together and 

they've nourished the greatest 

nation in the world. 

And the best thing is, we ha\-en't stopped 

pitching in. 

Today 9' 7 millittn American workers in\'est 

in their country by buying U.S. Savings Bonds. 

You can tix). Sign up for the Payroll Savings 

Plan where you work. It's an easy, automatic way 

to sweeten your life while you sweeten your land 

„ by taking stcxk in America with 

_,j^ 

U.S. Savings Bonds. 

#A, % 

Take 

. stock 

i!; 

NB-4 Fcbruarv \9. 1979

I 

The 

' 

other 

I 

venture 

I 

have 

i 

the 

,'i 

as 

it includes such names aboard the luxury 

liner as Venessa Redgrave, Donald Sutheri 

land, 

, 

Christopher 

: nadians 

! nor 

' 

TORONTO 

location of this city's major production 

project at present, "Bear Island," 

has actually shifted to Alaska. There. 

aboard a Russian luxury liner chartered for 

three weeks, filming is being rushed forward 

despite many mishaps on what is the most 

expensive Canadian feature film that has 

ever been made. The budget for this project 

comes to a hefty $9.3 million, with $3 

million of this amount put up by the Toronj 

to-based Selkirk Film Holdings. The film itj 

self is based upon Alistair MacLean's ad- 

novel, of which 60 million copies 

thus far been sold. The cast gives it 

stature of any Hollywood super effort, 

Richard Widmark, Lloyd Bridges, 

Lee and Barbara Perkins. Cain 

the cast include Larry Dane, Paj 

tricia Collins, August Schelienberg, Michael 

Reynolds, Joseph Golland, Candice O'Conf 

and Nicholas Courtland. 

"Bear Island" is a joint British-Canadian 

project. Besides Selkirk Film Holdings, 

investments included $1.8 million 

from Toronto Dominion Bank, $1.2 million 

from the Bank of Montreal and $3.3 million 

from the United Kingdom's subsidiary 

of Columbia Pictures. The $100,000 put 

up in seed money by the Canadian Film 

Development Corp. has already been paid 

British Lion Films. Snell has been trying 

to bring "Bear Island" to the screen for 

two years and holds the rights to six other 

Alistair MacLean novels. "I was anxious to 

get as many names as possible, and Columbia 

wanted a balance of stars for foreign 

markets and for possible U.S. TV sales," 

stated Snell from the Alaskan location. 

"We're a Canadian movie and wc got Donald 

Sutherland. For the U.S. market we've 

got Richard Widmark and Lloyd Bridges. 

Barbara Perkins is known in U.S. TV, and 

she's Canadian, too. Vanessa Redgrave is 

for the U.K. and foreign market. 

"This," said Snell, looking at the Alaskan 

scenery, "is just the beginning. 'Bear Island's 

got the usual MacLean action; there 

are always people being blown up; things 

always explode over their heads, and there 

are a couple of spectacular sequences in 

which people get killed. I wouldn't want 

to be anywhere else at the moment." 

Shooting has started here on "Double 

first in Negative." the feature film Quadrant 

Films' 1979 production line-up. 

"Double Negative" stars Michael Sarrazin, 

Susan Clark, Anthony Perkins, Howard 

Duff and Kate Reid, and this is the first film 

Sarrazin has made in his native Canada in 

many years. Executive producer for 

"Double Negative" is David Perlmutter. 

founder of Quadrant Films and president of 

the Canadian Assn. of Motion Picture Producers. 

Perlmutter has been a leading figure 

in the development of a firm financial base 

for the Canadian motion picture industry. 

The director of "Double Negative" is 

George Bloomfield. Shooting will continue 

here in Toronto until March 4, then move 

to location sites in the Caribbean for two 

weeks. 

VANCOUVER 

Qhinese New Year celebrations stretched 

over two weeks this year as theatre 

and dinner parties were held everywhere. 

The elder Chinese also patronized the three 

local Chinese movie houses very heavily. 

The flagship house, the Run Shaw, is managed 

by Miss Lucy Shaw, who is also in 

charge of the Canadian interests of the farflung 

Run Shaw theatrical interests. She is 

also a driector of the Motion Picture Theatre 

Assn. of British Colitmbia. 

The National Film Board has started a 

daily series of "lunch-bag" programs for the 

thousands of office workers adjacent to the 

new Robson Square in the complex's theatre. 

Programs consist of short subjects produced 

by NFB and run from 12 noon to 2 

p.m. Admissions are minimum, and are being 

given to the Variety Clubs Telethon. 

Famous Players is refurbishing and redecorating 

the Royal, which is 68 years old 

and the oldest center of entertainment in 

back, and for it the corporation will receive 

the area. 

half of one per cent of the film's gross 

The city is rebuilding the Crystal Pool, 

profits. 

Producer Peter Snell is an economics which is 

graduate from the University of British Columbia 

Crystal 

almost 

Gardens 

a 

in 

replica 

London. 

of the 

The 

famed 

whole 

and former chief of production for project is expected to be completed in 

1981. 

'Agency' Completes Filming 

On Time, Within Budget 

MONTREAL—"Agency," the $5 million 

psychological thriller about the world of 

advertising and subliminal subversion, completed 

filming in Montreal early this month, 

on time and within budget. Starring Robert 

Mitchum, Lee Majors, Valerie Perrine, Alexandra 

Stewart and Saul Rubinek, the 

film has been sold for theatrical distribution 

in 70 percent of foreign territories and negotiations 

are now being conducted for 

Canadian and U.S. theatrical and television 

release. 

"Agency" is produced by Robert Lantos 

and Stephen J. Roth of RSL Films of Montreal 

and directed by George Kaczender, 

the same team that produced "In Praise of 

Older Women," now in general release. 

Based on the novel "Agency" by Paul 

Gottlieb with screenplay by Noel Hynd, the 

story concerns the phenomenon of subliminal 

manipulation. 

Produced with the participation of the 

Canadian Film Development Corp.. the film 

also features Canadian actors Michael 

Kirby, Gary Reineke, George Touliatos, 

Anthony Parr and Franz Russell. Awardwinning 

cameraman Miklos Lente is director 

of photography and Bill Brodie is production 

designer. Lewis Furey is writing the 

music score. 

Film Board Chairman 

Was Shocked by Films 

WINNIPEG—The new chairman of the 

Manitoba Film Classification Board says she 

was shocked by the first few sex-oriented 

films she saw after her appointment last 

September. 

Hope Carroll, a ."il -year-old grandmother, 

says she had no background in film and was 

only an occasional moviegoer before the 

provincial government selected her for the 

job. 

The action in some of the films she and 

other board members see before the films 

are classified for public viewing came as a 

bit of a surprise. "Some can be pretty harmless 

and even have a comical tone about 

them, but others show people who are quite 

depraved. Brutality and force are used as 

part of a sex scene," Mrs. Carroll says. 

The board's job is to classify, not censor, 

films. Since 1972, when the provincial censorship 

board was abolished, the classification 

board has not had the authority to cut 

from films scenes it finds objectionable. 

Under board guidelines, a film classified as 

general entertainment is suitable for unaccompanied 

children of all ages. A film 

classified as mature, with no other qualifications, 

is open to viewers of all ages although 

parental discretion is advised. 

The mature classification is split into 

further categories which, for instance, bar 

those under 18 unless accompanied by a 

parent or guardian or restrict admittance to 

those 18 and over. 

Mrs. Carroll says that by the time a film 

arrives in the province it already may have 

been cut by customs officials or by censorship 

boards in other provinces. Occasionally, 

the board will send a notice to a theatre 

about a film it has found particularly objectionable. 

Although the theatre still is 

legally entitled to show the film, "usually it 

doesn't," she says. 

A film classified by the board and screened 

by a theatre becomes the responsibility 

of the theatre's owner. If police deem the 

film obscene, the theatre may be charged. 

Mrs. Carroll says that when the censorship 

board existed, movie houses charged with 

showing an obscene film often would claim 

as a defense that the board had given its 

approval, but that no longer is possible. 

She questions whether a background in 

film is, indeed, a necessary requirement for 

the chairman of the film classification 

board. "Most government-appointed boards 

are supposed to be a reflection of the public. 

We don't give out awards or judge films." 

About 400 films are viewed annually by 

the 15 board members who are paid $20 

for each film they see. 

C1XERA91A IS WS SHOW 

BUSUVESS m HAWAII TOO^ 

When you come to Waikikl, 





.Very 

Place 

iloiie 

Edmonton 

California Suite (Astral), Meadowlark, 

Odeon 1, 5th wk Excellent 

Caravans (AFD), Londonderry B, 

5th wk Good 

The Class of Miss MacMichael (AFD). 

Capitol Square 2. 1st wk Excellent 


Capitol Square 2. 5th wk Excellent 

Goin' South (Para), Jasper Blue, 

. . 

Superman (WB), Hollywood. Imperial. 

6th wk 

Very Good 

1st wk Fair Wifemistress (PR). International. 

Grease (Para), Jasper Red. 4th wk. .Fair 1st wk Very Good 


Capitol Square 1. 5th wk Excellent 

King of the Gypsies (Para). Garncau. 

Calgary 

5th wk Fair California Suite (Astral). 3 theatres. 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), 

5th wk 

Very Good 

Westmount A. 5th wk Excellent Caravans (AFD), Chinook. 

Magic (BVFD). Odeon 2, Plaza 1, 

2nd wk 

Excellent 

5th wk Good The Cat From Outer Space (BV), 

Moment by Moment (Univ), Capilano, 

Marlboro Square 3, 3rd wk Fair 

5th wk Fair The Class of Miss MacMichael (AFD). 

Naked Prey (IFD), Rialto 2. 1st wk. .Fair Calsary Place 1. 1st wk Excellent 

. 



(Univ), Towne Cinema, 

Towne Red, 5th wk Excellent 

25th wk Excellent Force 10 From Navarone (AFD), 

Palliser Square 1, 5th wk Good 

Oliver's Story (Para), Westmount B, 

6th wk Fair 

Superman (WB), Paramount. 

6th wk Excellent 

Up in Smoke (Para), Avenue. 4th wk. Fair 

A Wedding (BVFD), Roxy, 1st wk. .Fair 

. 

Winnipeg 

Blood Relatives (C-P), Colony. 

1st wk Very Good 

The Boys From Brazil (BVFD). 

6th wk Very Good 

California Suite (Astral). 

Garrick II. 


Caravans (Univ). Northstar II, 

3rd wk Good 


6th wk 

Very Good 

Ice Castles (Astral). Convention Centre. 

1st wk Excellent 


Capitol, 6th wk Very Good 

King of the Gypsies (Para), Polo Park, 

2nd wk Very Good 

Superman (WB), Metropolitan, 


Watership Down (IFD). Garrick I. 

1st wk Excellent 

Toronto 

Force 10 From Navaronc (AFD), 

Imperial. 5lh wk Fair 

Crease (P.ii.i). Imperial. Mna uk lau" 


Uptown. 6th wk 

Very Good 

King of the Gypsies (Para), Plaza, 

5th wk Fair 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Eglinton, 

10th wk Good 

Movie Movie (WB), Uptown, 6th wk. Fair 

Sextette (PR). Uptown, 2nd wk 

Fair 

Goin' South (Para), Marlboro Square 2, 

2nd wk 

Fair 

Grease (Para), Odeon 2, 5th wk Fair 

Halloween (Astral), Grand 2, Westbrook 

3, 5th wk Excellent 


Palace, 5th wk Good 

King of the Gypsies (Para), Palliser 

Square 2, 5th wk Good 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Market 

Mall 5, 6. 5th wk Excellent 

Magic (BVFD), Market Mall 3. 

5th wk Fair 

Midnight Express (Astral), Westbrook 1 

13th wk 

Very Good 

Naked Prey (IFD), Westbrook 2. 

1st wk Fair 

Oliver's Story (Para), Market Mall 2. 

6th wk Fair 

Superman (WB), Calgary Place 2, 


Montreal 

California Suite (Astral), Place du 

Canada. 7th wk Good 


Claremont. 3rd wk Good 


Palace. 7th wk Very Good 

Force 10 From Navarone (AFD). 

Bread md Chocolate (PR), lownc. 

Loews, 7th wk 

Very Good 

3rd V ' 

Very Good Hershelc (C-P), Snowdon, 

Caravan.s ^FD), University, 


5th wk Fair Ice Castles (Astral), Atwatcr, 

The Class of .'/'i'.s MacMichael (AFD), 

2nd wk 

Very Good 

Hollywood, Ii: tx;rial. 1st wk Good Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA), 

Every Which Way Hut Loose (WB), 

Loews, 7th wk Very Good 

Imperial, 5th wk Good Jabbcrwalk (PR), York, 1st wk. Very Good 

King of the Gypsies (Para), Place Ville 

Marie, 7th wk 

Very Gwd 

The Lord of the Rings (UA). Avenue 

7th wk 

Very Goodd '4 

Movie Movie (WB). The Cinema, 

2nd wk 

Very Good 

Silent Partner (PR), Loews, 

2nd wk Very Good 

Superman (WB), Loews, 7th wk. Excellent 

Up in Smoke (Para), Loews. 

10th wk 

Very Good li 

Watership Down (PR), Cinema de Paris. 

2nd wk 

Good 

French Language Films 

L'Arbre Aux Sabots (Para), Parisien, in 

3rd wk Excellent 

Brillantine (Para), Parisien, 

7th wk 

Very Good 

La Fureur du Danger (WB), Berri, 

2nd wk 

Excellent 

Mort Sur le Nil (Para), Parisien, 


Le Prive de Ces Dames (PR), 

Champlain, 3rd wk Good 

Sensations Hollandaises (PR), Parisien, 


Sexe a I'Heure U.S.A. (C-P), Parisien, 

3rd wk Good 

Sonate d'Automne (PR), Le Dauphin. 

13th wk 

Very Good 

Vas-y Maman (PR). Cremazie, 

2nd wk 

Excellent 

Vancouver 

California Suite (Astral), Odeon, 

7th wk Good 


Vancouver Centre. 2nd wk Fair 


Downtown, 6th wk Excellent 

Force 10 From Navarone (AFD), 

Capitol 6, 6th wk Average 

The Girls of Madame Claude (PR). 

Coronet, 2nd wk Fair 

Ice Castles (Astral), Vogue, 2nd wk. Good 

In Praise of Older Women (Astral). 

Capitol 6. 10th wk Fair 


Capitol 6. 6th wk Good 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Vancouver 

Centre, 1 Ith wk Very Good 

Movie Movie (WB), Capitol 6. 

1st wk Good 


(Univ). Coronet. 22nd wk. . 

Good 

Silent Partner (PR). Capitol 6, 

2nd wk 

Excellent 

Superman (WB), Capitol 6. 


Ottawa 

Beyond and Back (PR), Cinema 6, 

">nd wk Very Good 

Brass Target (UA), Capitol Square, 

3rd wk 

Bread and Chocolate (PR), Cinema 6, 

^k 

Good 

California Suite (Astral), Somerset, 

7th wk Good 

Caravans (Univ). Capitol Square, 

2nd wk 

Good 

The Class of Miss MacMichael (AFD), 

Little Elgin. 3rd wk Fair 


Place de Ville. Cinema 6. 

7th wk Very Good 

K-2 


Halloween (Astral), St. Lament. 

4th wk Ciood 

Ice Castles (Astral), Elmdale, 2nd wk. Good 


Place de Ville, 7th wk Very Good 

The Lord of the Rings (UA), Elgin, 

7th wk Good 

Movie Movie (WB), Capitol Square, 

2nd wk 

Superman (WB), Nelson, Cinema 6, 

Good 


Watershlp Down (PR), St. Laurent, 

2nd wk 

Very Good 

Superman's Smooth Flight 

Made Possible by 'Nox' 

HAMILTON, Ont. — As the lights of 

Metropolis twinkle below, the Man of Steel 

suddenly flies out from between the skyscrapers 

and sweeps past in a blaze of 

muscle. 

The new Superman movie is filled with 

such sequences: aerial shots of Superman 

flying over cities, canyons, deserts and 

oceans. Or shots from Superman's point of 

view of the tops of buildings, railway tracks 

and highways. None of that magic would 

have been possible were it not for the labor 

of J. N. "Nox" Leavitt and a handful of his 

workers in the back shop of a small Hamilton 

electrical company. 

Five years ago, Nox left his 20-year job 

at Westinghouse Canada Ltd., buying the 

a special camera mount system he 

rights to 

had been designing for the company. He 

then formed his own company, Istec Ltd., 

which developed and manufactures, under 

the trade name Wesscam, the most intricate 

gyrostabilized camera mount in the world. 

It contains a remote-controlled movie 

camera within a multi-windowed sphere. 

The sphere can be attached to any type of 

vehicle— car, train, airplane, boat—but no 

matter how rocky the ride, because of the 

gyro-stablization the camera shot remains 

true and steady. 

With a world-wide patent, Istec has a 

stranglehold on the market. Nox says he 

is in touch daily with the world's major 

movie producers. "Ours is the best and 

cheapest of this kind of equipment and as 

long as the patent holds it should stay that 

way. 

"Most aerial shots you see on TV are 

jiggly and fuzzy. Any you see that are 

smooth were taken with our units." 

The units take time to build. Since Nox 

only has a staff of six, there are only eight 

Wesscams now in existence. There were 

nine, but one was destroyed last year when 

an NBC helicopter piloted by ex-U-2 spy 

Gary Powers crashed in Los Angeles. 

Powers was killed. 

Westinghouse initiated Wesscam as a surveillance 

unit under contract with the military 

and Nox says some of its past history 

is classified. 

Although he has since become accustomed 

to the high-finance world of the entertainment 

business, Nox sees the unit's future 

mainly in science. Istec is busy working on 

designs for hand-held models of the system 

and Nox hopes he can get some government 

money for much-needed expansion. 

CALGARY 

TJeversing the usual direction of holiday 

travel at this the time of year. Rose 

Biledeau of Theatre Agencies and her husband 

have taken off for the North. And it 

isn't just a routine vacation cither. It is going 

to include some camping! Now that is 

being really different. Rose, but we hope 

you enjoy your holiday. 

One of the best loved films of all times, 

"Wuthering Heights," played in Calgary's 

Pleiades Theatre Feb. 4. And on the same 

afternoon in the Odeon Theatre another 

Shakespeare film was screened. "Othello" 

starring Laurence Olivier and Maggie 

Smith.Ôn the night of Feb. 1 at Glenbow 

the silent film was "The Gold Rush" starring 

Charlie Chaplin. 

Lovers of Alberta's history will be pleased 

to know that the interior of the Strand Theatre, 

which is in the process of being demolished, 

is being very carefully removed 

piece by piece and will be restored in all 

its glory at the permanent village in Fort 

Edmonton Park. 

The Calgary Film Society ran another in 

its international series Feb. 1 in the Jubilee 

Auditorium. This picture, "One Sings, the 

Other Doesn't." was made in France in 

1977 and directed by Agnes Varda. 

The Edmonton Film Society had a very 

busy week with three programs being 

shown. In its classic series the picture was 

"The Moon's Our Home" (1936). a comedy 

starring Margaret SuUavan and Henry Fonda, 

screened Jan. 29. Jan. 31 the eroticism 

series continued with "The Shanghai Gesture" 

(1941) with Gene Ticrney and Victor 

Mature. Both of these programs were 

shown in the Tory Lecture Theatre at the 

University of Alberta. In the international 

series the film was "Jacob the Liar" (East 

Germany. 1974) with English subtitles. This 

movie was screened in the SUB Theatre 

Feb. 5. 

A mini iceshow put together by two Edmonton 

men. Bill Marchyshyn and Brian 

Grafuik. was used to promote the opening 

of "Ice Castles" at the Capilano Theatre 

Feb. 2. The ice in this promotion was a 

slightly sticky sheet of plastic—a polyethylene 

which isn't quite as good as Teflon 

which is used in some major ice shows on 

television. But the skating was for real and 

it was put together in a fast-paced, razzledazzle 

20-minute performance that attracted 

large crowds. The small version of Ice Capades 

included five solo numbers with background 

music from popular show themes 

and disco tunes. Brian Grafuik skated a 

comedy number, and others participating 

were Joanne McLeod, a professional skater 

for over a year, Marilyn Yoemans who has 

been teaching ice skating for eight years 

and Martin Hlynka in charge of lights and 

music. Grafuik has toured with the Ice Capades, 

and has been a part-time pro teacher 

a! the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton. 

The whole show fits into a surface 72 

square metres and according to comments 

is very, very good. According to Mr. Marchyshyn 

"it's an experiment. If it goes over 

well we might get other engagements at 

shopping centres or special promotions 

around town. If it doesn't I guess we'll have 

lost our money. But that's show business." 

And it may well be but this has proven to 

be a top notch attention getter for the movie 

"Ice 

Castles." 

The death is reported Feb. 2 of William 

Owen (Bill) Kelly in Calgary at the age of 

72 years. Survivors include his wife Elizabeth; 

four sons, the Rev. William H. Kelly, 

C.S.B., Lethbridgc, Michael, Donald and 

Robert, all of Calgary; eleven grandchildren; 

two brothers Thomas Kelly and Wilfred 

Kelly, both of Calgary, and two sisters. 

Miss Marie Kelly, Vancouver, B.C., 

and Mrs. F.W. (Kathleen) O'Brien. Seattle, 

Washington. Mr. Kelly was born in Manitoba 

and moved to DeWinton in 1904. He 

served with the Canadian Army during 

World War I and had lived in Calgary since 

his discharge. He was branch manager of 

Paramount Film Service for over 50 years, 

retiring in 1972. He was a member of the 

Canadian Picture Pioneers. Sacred Heart 

Church and Knights of Columbus. Funeral 

services were held Feb. 5 at Sacred Heart 

Church with interment in St. Mary's Cemetery. 

Friends and acquaintances throughout 

our industry in Canada will join in sending 

condolences to the Kelly family. 

Alberta Culture completed its last two 

series this past week with screenings in Edmonton's 

Provincial Museum theatre. The 

last in the road films was shown Jan. 28 

and was entitled "Road to Singapore." The 

great American writers series was wrapped 

up Jan. 31 with "Of Mice and Men." 

New face at Famous Players in the advertising 

and publicity department is Lindell 

Larson, who came to the position with 

a good background in newspaper advertising. 

Lindell. who has spent much of her life 

in eastern Canada, worked for one of our 

local papers in the entertainment section 

and then in the department store advertising. 

Working at Famous. Lindell can combine 

her work with one of her hobbies, motion 

pictures. Since skiing is a winter pasttime 

with Lindell. the nearness of the Rockies 

and the long hours of sunshine attracted 

her to Calgary. Lindell is single and enjoys 

tennis and hunting for old furniture. Welcome 

to our industry. Lindell. 


E-3

Who reads Boxofficj 

^ple you know... 

and want to reach 

Key people in Exhibition: 

11,266* theatre owners and managers, circuit 

executives, film buyers and bookers, and 

projectionists 

Key people in Distribution: 

1,198* distributors and sales executives, home office 

managers, bookers and publicity people 

Key people in Equipment: 

453* supply dealers, sales agents and executives 

Key people in Production: 

346* producers, directors, studio executives, 

cameramen, actors and writers 

Key People in the Media: 

262* newspaper, magazine editors and writers and 

radio-TV broadcasters 

Recognize your sales prospect? 

You should because more key 

people in the film industry rely on 

BOXOFFICE for its complete and 

accurate information than any other 

film industry pubHcation with ABC 

audited circulation.* 

Take one small step today toward 

big sales tomorrow . . . deliver your 

advertising message to the BOX- 

OFFICE Reader: someone who is 

integral to the film industry . . 

someone w^ho makes the big 

^decisions . . 

someone like 

you. 

• Audit Bureau of Circulalinns 

Publisher's Statement for 6 mos. ending June 30, 1978 

February 19. 1979

CtKtiSue&9M, • &iu/^fH6nt • CoHceMtmU, • AftUfdeKOMU 

FEBRUARY 19, 1979 

While building new diive-in theatres has nearly become a thing of the past, Pacific Theatres has forged 

ahead with the conversion and modernization of many of its single screen facilities. See page 26. 

featuring "SfiolVesT in Print'

THlAml 

1^ 

COnTEPTS ^ 

I sense an unfounded fear in the 

minds of today's exliibitors to invest money 

in new sound equipment. 

Undoubtedly, most exhibitors are confused 

by the recent onslaught of new sound 

equipment and proposed sound formats. 

Words like third-octave equalization, noise 

reduction, "dbx," Colortek. Dolby, Starscope, 

Kintek, Sensurround, Stereophonizer, 

Quintaphonic and digital sound have left 

exhibitors 

baffled. 

I believe many theaUe owners are reluctant 

to invest in any type of sound improvement 

for fear that it will become obsolete 

by the time it is installed. This is not 

and will never be the case. 

In my dealings with electrical engineers, 

technicians and manufacturers, I always 

hear one word compatibility. No manufacturer 

or designer in his right mind is 

going to put out a product that isn't compatible. 

To do so is financial suicide. 

On the other hand, it is financial suicide 

for exhibitors to ignore the fact that goodquality 

stereo sound is here to stay, although 

I readily admit that it is still in its 

infancy. 

Still, this should not deter exhibitors from 

making improvements now. While there are 

only a few firms currently offering stereo 

equipment, I expect the number to grow in 

the next two years. If you are reluctant to 

commit to a specific stereo format or brand, 

then at least take immediate actions to improve 

the sound components that affect all 

current and future films, i.e. amplifiers, 

speakers, equalizers and acoustical treatments 

within the auditorium. 

Some exhibitors complain that stereo 

equipment is a waste of money because only 

one out of ten films is released in stereo. 

This may be true today, but it won't be tomorrow. 

The advent of stereo sound in theatres 

can be compared to the advent of color in 

television. Perhaps only two hours a day 

was broadcast in color, but the national networks 

invested in color just as millions of 

Americans invested in color television sets. 

Patrons are actively seeking stereo. 

They'll drive across town, passing mono 

theatres playing the same feature, to go to 

the theatre with the foresight to offer stereo. 

The stereo market is there and the theatre 

with stereo capability has the competitive 

edge. 

The time to invest is now. Don't fear 

obsolescence because the manufacturers 

know that compatibility is a must. And 

don't fool yourself into thinking the cost is 

loo high. It is, rather, the cost of not improving 

your theatre's sound that you eventually 

will realize is too high. 

Indifference to Boxoffice Security 

Adds Up to Large Exhibitor Losses By Mickey Gitl'in 4 

"At this very moment, ticket takers in theatres across the nation 

are expertly palming whole tickets, cashiers are letting patron's 

enter without selling tickets and attendants at refreshment 

stands are bringing in their own merchandise and selling it." 

18 Screen Theatre Complex Is 

Under Construction in Canada 7 

FCC Rules and Radio Sound Systems; 

Debate of Applicability Continues ...A letter from John Tierney 8 

Self Imposed 'Truth in Rental' Policy 

Will Help Exhibitors & Distributors By Paul Hatch 10 

"Before the government becomes any more entrenched in our 

industry, I suggest that film distributors adopt and publicize a 

'truth in rental' policy for each picture." 

"ShoWest in Print" 14 

Black and white information on the ShoWesT '79 convention 

being held at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, including a 

list of exhibitors, the tradeshow layout and scheduled events. 

ShoWesT '79 Completely Sold Out; 

Is 

Convention Program Offers Variety 14 

Stegmoyer's Off Broadway Theatre 

World's Smallest & Least Profitable? By George Finkhousen 24 

Meet John Stegmoyer; owner, manager, projectionist, concession 

attendent, usher, booker, janitor and father of the "Off 

Broadway Theatre." 

Drlve-lns Live at Pacific Theatres 26 

Officials at Pacific Theatres say growth projects are keeping 

their plan and construction staffs going days, nights and 

weekends 

Drive-ln Amplifiers; 

Tubes vs. Solid State By George Finkhousen 28 

"J he dynamic range of a modern, high-quality Academy print 

can easily call upon amplifiers to provide as much as 700 per 

cent more power than average." 

In-Theatre Boutique Merchandising 

Seen as Profitable, Emerging Trend By Gary Burch 32 

"Film related impulse items are selling everywhere. Are exhibitors 

getting their fair share of the pie'.'" 

GARY BURCM, M«iM«lii9 

tditof 

The MODERN THEATRE is o bound-in section published each month in BOXOFFICE. Editoriol 

or general business correspondence should be addressed to Vance Publishing Corp. 

825 Von Brunt Blvd. Kansas City, Mo. 64124. Eastern Representative; James Young, 

1270 slQth Ave. Rockefeller Center, New York, N. Y) 0020; Western Representative: 

Ralph Komlnsky, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Colif. 90028.


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INCORPORATED 

Indifference to 

Boxoffice Security 

Adds Up to Large Exhibitor Losses 

One of the major problems confronting 

Mickey Giiliii 

the theatre industry today is due to three 

major causes; 1) dishonest 

employees, 2) 

apathy on the part of 

management and 3) 

distrust among the 

three chief segments 

of the industry— production, 

distribution 

and exhibition. 

In the first instance, 

employee dishonesty 

flourishes because of 

employer apathy and 

indifference. Theatre owners are unwilling 

to accept the fact that people will steal 

when given the opportunity. The two basic 

reasons employees steal are: 1) need and 

2 ) opportunity. 

Methods and Procedures 

The need is always present. The opportunity 

depends on how vigilant the employer 

or theatre owner is regarding systems 

and procedures. These are methods by 

which the dishonest employee would be exposed. 

At a recent theatre owner's convention, 

when the owners were asked to indicate 

how many in the group had a security program 

or definite procedure for controlling 

dishonesty among employees, only five exhibitors 

in the crowded room indicated 

they had such procedures. 

It is interesting to note that, in 1975, 

Most Used Methods of Stealing 

three of the nation's leading retail organizations 

had a combined volume of $25 

billion in sales. The same survey revealed 

that America's thieves stole $23.5 billion 

in the same year. Surely these statistics are 

sufficient cause for alarm. Yet, those of 

us in the security business are finding it 

increasingly difficult to convince theatre 

owners that some of their employees may 

be stealing from them. 

To emphasize this point, Dale System, 

Inc., a Garden City, N.Y. -based security 

firm, offers the following documentation. 

Last year, thieves stole $15,000 from a 

drive-in in Illinois. A cashier at another 

drive-in in Michigan admitted to stealing 

$7,320. Two other cashiers employed at 

the same drive-in admitted to stealing 

$3,900 and $1,450 respectively. The manager 

at this theatre admitted to 

'. 

having 

stolen $6,530. , 

Lucrative Second Income 

The boxoffice staff was stealing money 

by palming tickets, reselling stubs, letting 

cars in free and withholding receipts after 

boxoffice closing. In Massachusetts, a manager 

and two cashiers conspired to steal 

$20,000 over a one year period by reselling 

tickets. A drive-in manager in New 

York State made a lucrative second income 

by continuing to list employees on his payroll 

long after they had quit or been discharged. 

Three drive-in employees in Kansas 

City stole $20, $30 and $50 per day, 

respectively, during swap meets which 

were held at the theatre. 

< 

At this very moment, while you are 

This chart shows theatre owners "how to catch a thief" by listing the most often 

ised methods of dishonesty and the people most often having access to such methods. 

Collect additional money for loge, smoking 

Close boxoiHce early 

Aiter legitimate boxolfice closing, steal late 

Sell children's tickets fft adult prices 

nV ticket Told How people to enter at reduced 

bypass turnstile and car count- 

Carry former employees on payroll long after 

they leave and report fictitious employees on 

payroll 

Submit phony expense vouchers 

Sell refreshments, foil to reporl sales 

No record 

Bring in 

pers 

end collect 

money. 

theatre facilities 

locol ads lor per- 

The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

f 

BOXOFHCE 

reading this article, ticket takers in hardtop 

theatres across the nation are expertly palming 

whole tickets, preparatory to returning 

them to cashiers for resale. Cashiers and 

ramp attendants in drive-in theatres are 

letting cars enter without selling tickets and 

are pocketing the money. Attendants at refreshment 

stands are bringing in their own 

meichandise and selling it through the concessionaire's 

facilities while the concessionaire 

pays the rent, the attendant's salary and 

the overhead. 

These people, and thousands more like 

them, are employees. Within 24 hour 

a 

period of time, these people will steal at 

least $5.5 million from business and industry 

in this country. 

Fuel for the Fires 

Why is this happening? Why is it possible? 

Because of the apathy and indifference 

on the part of most businessmen. Apathy, 

indifference and distrust are qualities that 

apply to more than just employees. There 

is a tremendous amount of distrust that exists 

between the producers, distributors and 

exhibitors. It is the concept of trading that 

instills the initial feeling of distrust from 

the very first meeting. The give and take 

that is so necessary between the buyers and 

sellers provides the fuel for the fires of 

distrust. 

Each participant is wary of the other, 

trying to get the edge, hoping for a better 

deal so that he can make more profit. Unfortunately, 

like the retailer who has to 

build an extra percentage into the retail 

price of his merchandise to cover possible 

loss, the film buyers and sellers must take 

into consideration many areas of possible 

loss 

Ṁy experience has taught that the film 

producer automatically feels that he is going 

to be cheated. The film distributor may 

feel this way. too. The exhibitor, on the 

other hand, has the biggest exposure because 

he not only has to be wary of the 

producer and distributor, but also is exposed 

to the possibility of dishonest employees. 

It's a vicious cycle. 

We at Dale Systems constantly preach 

vigilance. We constantly advise our clients 

that the only solutions to the problems of 

dishonesty and trust are: 1) awareness, 2) 

delegating responsibility for control and 3) 

a positive system of cash follow-through 

and verification. 

Recommendations 

Often, employees are stealing as unsuspecting 

accomplices at the instruction of 

their superiors, while managers and owners 

are misinformed about the background of 

their employees because they fail to research 

the applicant before hiring him. We 

strongly believe in the use of a polygraph 

test as an effective tool for combating management 

misinformation. We recommend 

using a detailed employment application, 

running police checks and credit checks, 

talking with the prospects" former employers 

and accounting for gaps in an applicants 

employment history. 

We further recommend that theatre own- 

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Boxoffice Security— 

Coniiniied from preceding page 

ers set up rigid policies and procedures. 

These include never permitting a cashier 

to resell a ticket, a method devised and 

implemented to document the use of passes 

and special rate cards by patrons, a system 

for accurately reporting all cash shortages 

and a method of ticket collecting whereby 

tickets are ripped in half and placed in a 

secure container. 

Additional Security Checks 

1) Audit safes in theatres on a regular 

basis. Have district managers check to see 

that safes are kept locked at all times. 

2) See to it that your deposits are made 

regularly. Investigate any missing deposi'.s 

at once. Don't assimie it will eventually fhow 

up. 

3) Require duplicate deposit receipts be 

sent to you by the bank on a regular ba.u.^. 

not just 

with monthly statements. 

4) Compare the bank copy with the copv 

sent in by the bank. 

5) Delegate a definite responsibility for 

cash handling and deposit security to one 

person. 

6) All cash overages should be reported 

on the boxoffice statement and deposited 

with daily receipts. 

7) All cash shortages should be reported 

accurately on a daily basis. 

8 ) Do not allow non-employees or unauthorized 

employees to assist in cash handling 

or balancing. 

9) Insist that deposits be made on a daily 

basis. Do not permit deposits to accumulate 

for any reason. 

10) Require a detailed and accurate employment 

application from each employee. 

1 1 ) Insist that ticket series be used in 

sequence and on a daily basis, if possible. 

12) Demand an accurate accounting o' 

all tickets in stock. Tickets should be secured 

under lock and key. Treat them as you 

would cash. 

13) Insist that no loose tickets be sold 

/or any reason. 

14) Conduct regular audits of both cash 

and tickets. 

15) Act immediately on any violation of 

company policy, especially if it relates to 

cash or ticket handling. 

16) Insist on receiving an immediate report 

on all violations. 

17) Do not assume that things will work 

themselves out. Investigate! 

18) Insist on a written explanation of all 

discrepancies. Stories can change. 

19) If in doubt, check personally. Look 

at the facts yourself. 

20) Take nor/i/ng for granted. 

Mickey Gitlin is the vice-president of Dale 

Syste?7i, Inc. and president of Continental 

Protective Systems, a division of the Dale\ 

System. He has been in the security business 

for more than 25 years and is an interroga-. 

tions expert as well as a polygraph examiner. 

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REGULAR

18 Screen Theatre Complex Is 

Under Construction in Canada 

Eighteen theatre auditoriums are to be 

built on one site in what might be the 

largest multi-screen theatre in the world. 

The project is the brainchild of veteran 

Canadian exhibitor N. A. Taylor and Garth 

Drabinsky, a financial backer. The two 

have formed Cineplex Corp. in Toronto and 

launched the multi-screen project, which is 

currently being constructed in the Eaton 

Center in Toronto, early last year. 

The Cineplex facility will occupy a space 

as large as a football field with auditoriums 

arranged on two levels. Each auditorium 

will seat approximately 100 and will feature 

16mm rear screen projection. 

In addition to these auditoriums will be 

a 300 seat stage auditorium, a huge concession 

area and an internationally flavored 

restaurant. Patrons will have a choice of 

film fare from noon to midnight and a 

specially designed computerized ticket issuing 

system will 

record sales for each screen, 

allowing patrons to purchase tickets in advance 

and reduce the probability of waiting. 

Large Potential 

Audience 

The Eaton Center, reportedly owned by 

Texas-based real estate firm Cadillac Fairview, 

attracts an estimated 500,000 shoppers 

each week and is located near approximately 

200,000 office workers in downtown 

Toronto. 

"What makes this project unique," said 

Taylor, "is that we're investing over $2 million 

in somebody elses building." Taylor 

went on to say that he had told fellow exhibitors 

during his keynote address, presented 

at the 1965 Show-A-Rama convention, 

that multi-screen theatres would be an 

answer to the motion picture industries 

problems, especially where overhead costs 

were concerned. 

Taylor said that Cineplex intends to build 

similar theatres in other regions after the 

Toronto facility is completed. 

Made for each other. Each adds its special quality that drives people 

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BOXOFHCE :: February 19, 1979

j 

| 

j 

. FCC Rules and Radio Sound Systems; 

SifH^ "P^cducU Debate of Applicability 

THE 

SOURCE 

FOR 

3 Dimensional 

Plastic 

Letters 

6"to 31" 

The first word in 

DURABILITY 

DELIVERY 

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Affiliated with Sign Products 

THE 

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4" to 17" 

Self-spacing panels that are 

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Samples on request. For complete 

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213-747-6546 

1319 West 12th Place Los Angeles, CA 90015 

I 

To The Modern Theatre: 

I am communications counsel tor Cinema 

Radio Corp. and feel compelled to comment 

on the letter from Leslie A. Wall, an 

F.C.C. staff engineer, which appeared in 

your October 16. 1978 issue, in which he 

discusses the applicability of Part 15 of the 

FCC Rules to drive-in theatre sound systems. 

In his letter, Mr. Wall states, in pertinent 

part, as follows: 

A system in which the receiving and tia 

Hitting apparatus are connec ted to the same 

system of wires is subject to the provisions 

for a restricted radiation device in Section 

15.7. On the other hand a system which is 

designed to transfer RF energy througli space 

is classified as a low-power communication 

device and is subject to the technical specifications 

in Section 15.111 in Subpart D of 

Part 15. 

This legal interpretation of the Commission's 

Rules conflicts with the language of 

' 

the Rules themselves. 

Section 15.4 (d) defines a '"registered 

radiation device" as follows: 

... A device in which the generation of 

radio frequency is intentionally incorporated 

into the design and in which the radio frequency 

energy is conducted along wires or is 

radiated . . . (emphasis added) 

Furthermore, Section 15.4(f) of the Commission's 

Rules defines a "low-power communication 

device" as follows: 

... A liiu-pouer communications device is 

a restricted radiation device, exclusive oj 

tliose employing conducted or guided radio 

techniques, used for the transmission of signs, 

signals (including control signals), writing, 

images and sounds or intelligence of any nature 

by radiation of electromagnetic energy, 

(emphasis added) 

Finally, Section 15.7 of the Commission's 

Rules reads, in pertinent part, as follows: 

15.7 General requirement for restricted radiation 

devices. Unless regulated under some 

other subpart of this part, any apparatus 

which generates a radio frequency electromagnetic 

field functionally utilizing a small 

pail of such field in the operation of associated 

apparatus not physically connected thereto 

.. . need not be licensed, (emphasis added) 

Cinema Radio's drive-in theatre sound 

system employs a patented cable installed 

mip^ QA Portable 35mm 

Sound Projector 

Professional 

portable 

equipment offering top 

quality projection. 

Ideally suited for standard, 

mini-sized theaters 

and screening rooms. 

Many outstanding features 

including Xenon 

or incandescent lamphouse, 

interlock. Base 

price $2950.00. 

ALAN GORDON ENTERPRISES INC. 

Continues 

underground in proximity to the automobile 

parking spaces which guides intentionally 

incorporated energy along it. Sufficient radiation 

is emitted along this cable so that the 

automobiles parked near it can receive the 

radio frequency energy on their AM radio 

receivers. 

Under the clear language of the Com 

mission's Rules quoted above, the Cinema 

Radio system is a "restricted radiation device" 

in accordance with the provisions of 

Rules 15.4(d) and 15.7 and, therefore, it 

requires no license. On the other hand, 

system which physically connects the receiver 

to the same system of wires emanating 

from the transmitter cannot meet the clear 

provisions of Rule 15.7 which limits "restricted 

radiation devices" to those systems 

which ". . . generate a radio frequency electromagnetic 

field functionally utilizing a 

small part of such field in the operation of 

associated apparatus not physically connected 

thereto" . . . 

(emphasis added) 

By letter dated March 26, 1975, I advised 

the FCC's Chief Engineer that under 

the clear language of the Rules, systems 

such as Cinema Radio's were restricted radiation 

devices, and as such, they would continue 

to be operated under the provisions 

of Rule 15.7. I also informally brought this 

matter to the attention of each FCC Commissioner. 

Neither at that time nor since 

then has any Commissioner or the Chief 

Engineer advised me that he/she disagrees 

with my position in this regard. 

In any event, the clear language of the 

Commission's Rules, quoted above, cannot 

be interpreted, either by the Commission or 

its staff, informally, by "bulletin," or otherwise, 

in such a way as to make them have 

the exact opposite meaning from that which 

they clearly convey. Any such attempt to so 

! 

interpret the Commission's Rules would be 

contrary to the provisions of the Adminis- 

trative Procedure Act. Moreover, an admiii- i 

' 

istrative agency is bound by the clear provision 

of its own Rules. 

In order for the Rules to have the mean- 

I 

ing which Mr. Wall claims they now have, t 

it would be necessary for the Commission 

to amend its rules, after a formal rulemaking 

proceeding affording all interested parties 

an opportunity to comment on the proposed 

change. As Mr. Wall correctly 

points 

out. the Commission is presently engaged in 

a rulemaking proceeding to make changes 

in its Part 15 rules. The changes proposed 

have the tacit support of Cinema Radio. 

Until these changes are adopted and become 

effective, however, the Rules quoted 

above must be read in accordance with their 

clear language. 

Counsel for Cinema Radio Corp. 

JOHN L. TIERNEY 

Suite 304 

j 

1425 K Street, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20006 


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EASTWEST CARPET CO., INC. 

2664 S. LA QIENtGA 

LA., CALIF. 90034 (213) 871-1690 

) COPYRIGHT- EASTWEST CARPET CO., INC. 1975 

Self-imposed 'Truth in 

Rental' Policy 

Will Help Exhibitors & Distributors 

During a recent meeting of area exhibitors, 

many suggestions were offered as pos- 

^ — sible solutions to the 

problems that we 

share in common. A 

frequently suggested 

„ ^ "solution" was that of 

5%,'*' requesting legislation 

by either the state or 

federal government. 

As one who has 

1^ served for years in 

various elected and 

appointed positions 

Paul Hatch 

^jjj^jj, fo^^ levels of 

government, I speak with a certain amount 

of authority when I strongly suggest that 

the one thing we do not need is more intervention 

by any bureaucratic agency. 

There already are too many restrictive 

laws on the books relating to the motion 

picture industry, each of which ultimately 

several areas of concern. 

Consislent Policy 

Among the areas of concern is the policy 

adopted by each individual distributor with 

regard to the distribution of any given film. 

There need not be a uniform policy shared 

by all companies, but each firm should have 

a consistent policy, familiar to and understood 

by all in exhibition, for each film. 

We have seen recent legislation with regard 

to "truth in lending," "truth in labeling" 

and so on. Before the government becomes 

any more entrenched in our industry, 

I suggest that film distributors adopt and 

publicize a "truth in rental" policy for each 

picture. 

To better understand the need for such 

policies, one only has to read the fine print 

and clauses that are added to the contract 

for film rental. All exhibitors and distributors 

know that, in effect, a contract merely 

sets forth the terms under which we enter 

a mutually agreed upon arrangement for the 

"leasing of copyright privileges" for that 

which is owned by one of the parties. 

There have been altogether too many 

additional clauses affixed to contracts during 

recent years. 

Exhibitors are coerced into 

agreeing that they will run no kiddie matinees 

during certain runs; that no passes of 

any type can be honored; that there will or 

will not be any screen advertising during 

the engagement and, in some cases, provisions 

are made whereby certain distributors 

share concession grosses. 

Holdover Boondoggle 

Holdover clauses also are fast becoming 

a boondoggle and an ill within the industry. 

To the smaller situation, it creates a problem 

in advertising and affords the distribu- 

costs us money. 

What we do need is a self-regulated indus- 

tor a great excuse for being unable to provide 

try on the part of both distributors and exhibitors. 

a print on the proper date by stating 

We need to take a close look at 

that there is >to print 

excessive number of 

available due to the 

holdovers—holdovers 

the activities within our industry that have 

caused certain factions to seek intervention 

from governmental agencies, and work to 

that were known about well in advance because 

of contractual agreements. 

eliminate these problems ourselves. The 

and poor our 

Exactly what would a "truth in rental" 

negative impact press that 

accomplish? being policy I recall in the 

industry recently has received is the result 

office of a fellow exhibitor recently as he 

was calling a film salesman about booking 

of our failure to take corrective action in 

a particular film. I had just booked the 

same film the day before. To my surprise, 

the same sales representative (of a major 

distributor) offered my friend the same film. 

However, the minimum terms were different; 

the minimum required playing time was 

far different, and the amount of the advance 

was significantly less, even though both theatres 

are known to be similar in producing 

comparable grosses. 

Similarly. I have booked a film on Tuesday 

only to find a friend who has booked 

the same show on the following day with 

different terms. The policy changed overnight 

and, although 1 was offered only a 

Continued i 

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Kansas 

"Truth in Rental "- 

Conliniieil jiuin page 10 

two-week engagement, he was allowed to 

date the film for a week and, in some cases, 

two or three days. 

Upon calling and requesting that my playtime 

be reduced, I was told that it could not 

be changed because I had signed a contract. 

Had 1 known in advance that the company 

policy would change on a certain date, I 

would have waited. 

House expenses is another area where 

more continuity is needed. Two similar theatres 

oftentimes have distributor-approved 

overhead expenses that are radically different. 

There also should be a built-in escalation 

clause with respect to approved house 

expenses. 

One distributor has allowed me a certain 

overhead for the past six years. Many attempts 

have been made to increase the figure 

to be more in line with the inflated costs 

we have incurred in recent years. Utility 

costs, wages, advertising costs and the like 

have gone up drastically. Exhibitors should 

be allowed to automatically have the allowances 

increased to reflect the cost spiral. 

1 have worked hard over the years to create 

a better understanding of the problems 

that distributors and exhibitors have shared 

in hopes that a greater rapport and mutual 

respect could develop. But now. the stringent 

contractual agreements and clauses that are 

thrust upon us are beginning to look more 

and more one-sided, with distribution having 

the upper hand. 

How can any independent exhibitor 

prove that there have, in fact, been unfair 

trade practices? If he attempts to do so, we 

When we say, 

^This is Soundfold," 

it's Soundfold! 

When someone else says, 

*This is Soundfold," 

maybe it's not! 

There is one way to be sure your getting 

Soundfold call us collect at the number 

below. Soundfold is sold direct or through 

exclusive distributors. 

Take the time to make sure. 

Please send me information on Soundfold 

all know how the film distributor will react: 

"No prints. Sorry, it's out of release" or "We 

just sent all the prints to another area for 

a saturation booking." Easiest of all, the 

advance or guarantee will be double that 

which you paid last year for a comparable 

show. 

This is not to say that distribution should 

not have its fair share of protection. However, 

a truth in rental statement for each 

film would provide exhibitors with advance 

knowledge of certain information—information 

that would allow them to plan in a wellorganized 

and profitable manner so that 

their businesses could continue. Both distribution 

and exhibition depend on the continued 

success of each other. 

A truth-in-rental policy statement from a 

distributor should include such facts as: 

1 ) RELEASE 

DATES — Information 

about release dates to first-run, national release 

date theatres and sub-run situations. 

Just when can a particular theatre get the 

show? 

2) TERMS—Terms should be consistent 

and apply fairly to all exhibitors. Advances 

and guarantees for comparable situations 

should be comparable. 

3) REQUIRED PLAYING TIME—Precise 

information should be given in advance 

about the required playing time. For example, 

a particular film will be sold only for 

eight-week engagements with specified starting 

and closing dates, after which the policy 

will be to entertain bookings of six weeks, 

followed by four, three, two, etc. 

Working Togetlier 

These are but three thoughts that should 

be considered. There are more. It is essential 

that distribution and exhibition interests 

work together to formulate a better line of 

communications. The "truth in rental" concept 

will go a long way toward accomplishing 

this desired meeting of the minds. 

We need a self-imposed "truth in rental" 

policy. We do not need continued alienation 

between the two branches of this industry, 

nor more encroachment by government "on 

our behalf" as a result of our failure to cure 

our own ills. 

Opposing viewpoints from responsible partie 

welcomed and should be sent to: The Modern Theatre. 

825 Van Brunt Blvd , 

City, Missouri 

B4I24. Manuscripts are subject to editing lor reasons 

ol space and clarity. 

NATIONAL 

TICKET CO. 

TICKET AVE., SHAMOKIN, PA. 

Address. 

City 

Zip. 

Soundfold International 

Call collect 513 228 3773 or 513-293-2671. 

"// it's a ticket, We make it." 

• ROLL & STRIP • COUPON BOOKS 

• RESERVED SEATS • MACHINE 

N. Y. OFFICE: 1650 BROADWAY, N. Y. C. 

Jack Conway, President 


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Give us a call . be happy to 

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amusement parks, golt ranges 

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Patterson. Nc« N'l 

(S()0)4.^1-2()02 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19. 1979 

Ij¥LJ HUGIN 

Hu-inCashRc-yislors. I.ld. 

SOMiIikmAvciuic- 

.Sciirborough. Ontario 

MIS3P8 

(416)292-8000

85, 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

1^ShoWesT in Print It 

FIRM 

BOOTH 

Canrad-Honovia/Ballantyne/Slrong 1-3 

Prokote, Inc 4 

Solo Cup Co 5 

Chewie NewguH Co. 6 

Dixie Marathon 7 

Cinema Concepts 8 

Seven Up Bottling Co. 9 

Future Enterprises 10 

Pacific Theatre Equipment Corp. 11, 12 

Alco Dispensing Systems .. 13 

Ogden Food Service Corp. 14, 15 

Continental Bondware/Fun Foods 16, 17 

MIW Theatrical Enterprises 18 

Energy Control Systems 19 

Durkee Foods—division of SCM Corp. 20 

Image National 21, 22 

Hawaiian Punch—R.J.R. Foods. Inc. 23 

Arizona Theatre Equipment Co.. Inc. 24, 25 

Advance Seating 6. Repair Co., Inc. 26 

Shasta Beverages 27 

28 

Heiu-y Heide, Inc. 

H.I. Allen Co ... 29 

Promotional Packaging, Inc. 30 

Proctor Distributing Co./Butler Fixtures, 

.. Inc. 31, 32 

Bar 33 

Harlan Fairbanks Co. 34 

Poppers Supply of Portland 35 

Good Time Foods 36 

Lapidus Popcorn, Inc. ... 37 

The Filbert Co 39-42 

Marsh Concession Supply, Inc. 43 

Theatre Candy Distributing Co. 44 

Gold Medal Corp. 45, 46 

Crelors Co. 45, 46 

Slush Puppie Corp. 45, 46 

Lily Division/Owens-Illinois, Inc. 47 

National Screen Service ... 48 

National Theatre Supply 49 

Pepsi Cola Co. 50 

Optical Radiation Corp. 51, 52 

Metro Concessions Industries 53, 54 

Orange Whip Corp. 55, 56 

Universal Theatre Supply 57, 58 

Cine-Fi International 59, 60 

Adams

I 

Lapidus 

. . . mono 

an and incumbent president of the Motion 

Picture Pioneers; William F. Kartozian of 

Walnut Creek and San Francisco, Calif., 

president of the new Theatre Assn. of California, 

and his putative successor to that 

post. Bruce C. Corwin of Los Angeles; 

Spero L. Kontos, equipment business leader 

and ShoWesT co-chairman, and concessions 

business veteran Al Lapidus of Los Angeles 

who, like Kontos, is a co-founder of 

ShoWesT and has been a co-chairman since 

1975. 

Las Vegas exhibitor Lloyd Katz, as host 

city chairman, will introduce members of 

the city of Las Vegas and state of Nevada 

officialdom. 

An integral part of the opening afternoon 

session remains the "Honored 12" ceremonies, 

singling out one person from each 

of the 12 Theatres West states for achievements 

in civic activities, marketing, showmanship 

and theatre operation. 

Colorado industry leader Ralph Batschelet 

of Denver will again serve as chairman of 

this section of the program. 

NAG Convention Program 

ShoWesT '79 co-chairman Al Lapidus of 

Popcorn Inc., Los Angeles, reports 

that NAC will stage two business sessions 

which should be of interest to all members 

of the concession industry. 

Co-chairmen for the NAC business programs 

are Norman Chesler of Theatre Candy 

Distributing Co., Salt Lake City, and 

Vernon B. Ryles, Jr., of Popper's Supply 

Co., Portland, Ore. Chesler is vice-president 

counters. A visual presentation will kick oil 

major discussion on security and the prevention 

of theft at concession facilities. A number 

of key executives will be on hand to 

discuss pilferage, a problem that 

faces nearly 

all concession operators. 

A special presentation, "Profits and Value 

in Proper Candy Bar Merchandising," is 

also scheduled for NAC's business session 

on Thursday. The R. J. Allen Co., Burbank, 

will spearhead the session along with candy 

manufacturers and snack bar operators. The 

presentation will help concession operators 

become more knowledgeable in candy merchandising. 

"ShoWesT in Print" conliniies on the jollowinfi 

paiê.s. 

|

ShoWesT in Print" 

The jallowing ulphabelical list of Sho- 

WesT '79 exhibitors is presented as a service 

to readers of The Modern Theatre. 

// you're attending the convention, be sure 

to visit each of them. If not. read through 

this special section to learn what new products 

and services they'll soon he offering. 

Snap-Lok and slotted letters are available 

in sizes ranging from 4 to 3 1 inches. Pronto 

letters are available in either solid stroke or 

three dimensional styles in sizes ranging 

from 3 to 24 inches. 

Bevelite-Adler is a complete changeable 

letter supplier. Write to them for their free 

catalog. They also offer a toll-free number 

for exhibitors desiring to place an order or 

Bevelite-Adler 

Dick and Mike Strauss will be in booth 

68 at the ShoWesT convention representing 

the products of Bevclite-Adier. The firm 

manufactures a complete line of Snap-Lok 

letters, slotted letters and flat (Pronto) letters 

along with supporting backgrounds for 

all styles of letters. 

receive information on their product line. 

Bevelite-Adler 

14824 S. Main Street 

Gardena, Calif. 90248 

1-800-421-1256 

//) California, call collect 

1-213-321-5641 

Selby: 

Best performance in a 

supporting role.

mechamc-al peU" 

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^^^ 

This *ovt,.""P *«\i,u,ve .«.»*' V^^Wng «>* you TEA 

God/Ml* t"'. ^^'^ ' 

Business' 

Your 

»sBuHd>ng 

our 

Business

Christie Electric Corp. 

Lvnn Shiibert. Dane Denick ;md Stan 

Larson will represent Christie Electric Corp. 

in booths 65 and 66 at ShoWesT '79. 

Christie Electric manufactures a complete 

line of projection booth equipment including 

the Christie All-In-One Combo console, 

the Autowind 3 film transport systems, the 

FC-1 film cleaner, power distribution panels, 

automation programmers, Xenolite 

lamphouses. sound system amplifiers and a 

complete line of UL-recognized Xenolite 

xenon bulbs. 

Cliristie Electric Corp. 

3410 W. 67th Street 

Los Angeles, Calif. 90043 

(213)-750-llSl 

Cretors, 

Inc. 

C. Cretors & Co. proudly presents the 

most profitable piece of equipment in the 

theatre industry ... the Cretors Diplomat. 

Also on display for ShoWesT '79 is the 

new Cretors Merchant. This new popper is 

smaller than the Diplomat but packs the 

same profit punch as its big brother at an 

economy price. 

David Babbit and Ned McKnight of 

Cretors & Co. will be in attendance at 

booth 46 to answer any questions concerning 

Cretors equipment. 

Cretors, Inc. 

P.O. Box 90346 

Nashville, Tenn. 37209 

(615)-320-5555 


Stewart Harnell, Ron Ellis and Claudia 

Martin of Cinema Concepts will be found 

in booth number eight at ShoWesT '79. 

Their firm has earned a strong foothold 

in the motion picture industry by providing 

new ideas in special trailers, film daters and 

custom production work. Their portfolio of 

unique institutional trailers covers a multitude 

of subjects and are enhanced through 

the use of highly sophisticated computerized 

photographic equipment, similar to 

those special graphic effects trailers seen on 

television. 

The firm will also be introducing a new 

line of in-theatre merchandising products, 

including nostalgia posters as such "Casa 

Blanca," "Gone With the Wind" and The 

Bank Dick." 


210 25th Ave. N. 

Nashville, Tenn. 37203 

(615)327-4000 

Now!... 

an ULTRA image 

on the screen 

Dixie/Marathon 

Representing Dixie/ Marathon in booth 

number seven will be: Norm Stumes, district 

manager; Tim Roach, district manager; 

Paul Ghizzone, regional manager; Dick 

Ferguson, senior sales representative; Phil 

Benjamin, senior sales representative; Larry 

MacCormac. business manager, George I ot 

tier, product manager, and Bill Selby, s.iL^ 

development manager. 

The firm will feature their full line of 

popcorn and drink cups as well as towel and 

tissue products. 


Box 3400 

American Lane 

Greenwich, Conn. 06830 

Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. 

George, Ed and Gene Higginbotham, 

Jacque Dhooge and Francis Keilhack will 

be manning booths 51 and 52 for Drive-In 

Theatre Mfg. Co. 

The firm will be demonstrating the LP- 

270 film transport platter systems and accompanying 

make-up table, the ATS-2 and 

DPA-1 automation systems, the Boxoffice 

Security System (BOS) for drive-in theatres, 

an emergency public address amplifier, and 

a full line of drive-in speakers and lighting 

svstems. 

Drive-In Theatre Mfg. Co., Inc. 

709 N. Sixth Street 

Kansas City, Kansas 

913-321-3978 


the tickets 

and 

iW^^j 

K:lH;m:ffl-.[Xi: 

...ORC^ C.A.T 

can handle the rest. 

C.AJ. is the Complete Automated Theatre. C.AX allows 

your projection booth to operate - - unattended, and it 

eliminates costly, time-consuming film rethreading. 

It just may be the 

I 

greatest thing in theatres 

since sound. 

Check it out. 

See us at 

Show West 79- 

Booths 51-52^ 

Optical Radiation Corporation 

6352 N. Irwindale Avenue, Azusa, California 91702 • (213) 969-3344

sound of the 

70'S 

Model NVPG 

Associated Gold Medal Dealers 

The Associated Gold Medal Dealers are: 

Poppers Supply of Portland, Vcrn Ryies; 

Harlan Fairbanks. Co., Lloyd Hughes; Good 

Time Foods, Steve Lazar; Theatre Candy 

Distributing Co.. Norm Chesler; Lapidus 

Popcorn. Inc., Jerry Ireland; Marsh Concession 

Supply, Leonard Marsh, and Pete 

Bally and J.C. Evans of Gold Medal Products 

Co. They will be found in and around 

booths 45 and 46. 

Their exhibit will include the first western 

showing of Italian Ice, a product which 

usually sells for 50-cents at retail and costs 

the exhibitor only 6-cents. The four-wheeled 

Gay '90s popcorn wagon, the Cornado 

popcorn popper and other new concession 

items will also be featured. 

Gold Medal Products Co. 

1835 Freeman Ave. 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45214 

Alan Gordon Enterprises, Inc. 

Alan Gordon Enterprises will occupy 

booth 76 at ShoWesT 79. 

Their firm will be displaying the MP-30 

portable 35mm sound projector. This professional, 

portable projector offers top quality 

projection and is ideally suited for standard, 

mini-sized theatres and screening 

rooms. Features include xenon or incandescent 

lamphouses and interlock. 

Alan Gordon Enterprises, Inc. 

1430 N. Cahuenga Blvd. 

HoUywood, Calif. 90028 

(213)-466-3561 or 985-5500 

Hugin Cash Registers, Inc. 

Hugin Cash Registers will be represented 

by Angelo Licavoli, Ed Fumia and Fred 

Lester at booth number 10. 

Their firm manufactures the H-lOO modular 

register for theatre use, the electronic 

H50B-2 and the mechanical 4501 registers 

designed for concession use. The H-lOO can 

be used with up to three printers for triplexes 

and is operated from one keyboard. 

The electronic and mechanical registers are 

water resistant to withstand concession area 

work. 

Hugin. which is a wholly-owned subsidiary 

of Hugin Kassaregister AB of Sweden 

and reportedly the second largest manufacturer 

of cash register systems in the world, 

has been making registers for over 50 years. 

Hugin Cash Registers, Inc. 

200 Saw Mill River Rd. 

Hawthorne, N.Y. 10532 

(800)-431-2002 

Irwin Seating Co. 

Irwin Seating Co. will occupy booths 85 

and 86 at the ShoWesT convention and will 

be exhibiting their full line of theatre chairs- 

Included are the Citation, Loge, Atlas Hi- 

Back, Comet, P.A.C. and Gladiator chairs 

designed for auditorium theatre seating. 

Irwin seats are test run up to 100,000 sits 

and are provided to the theatre exhibitor 

with Irwin"s "single-source installation" 

ability. 

I 

Irwin Seating 

Company 

P.O. Box 2429 

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501 

(616) 784-2621 

Other models available. 

Model AVSG 

For complete catalog and prices 

p\ê^^M^. %. ) 

PROJECTED SOUND, INC. 

P.O. BOX 112 

PLAINFIELD, INDIANA 46168 

(317)839-4111 

PROJECTION 

SCREEN 

COATING 

DON'T REPLACE 

YOUR INDOOR SCREEN! 

REFINISH IT 

WITH 

• BRIGHT AS NEW 

• LOW COST 

• NON-FLAMMABLE 

• TOUGH WASHABLE SURFACE 

• DRIVE-INS TOO' 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. 

- 

PROKOTE P O Box 5551, Riverside 

California 92507 Phone (714) 877-0300 

See us at ShoWesI 79 Booth »4 

Kintek, inc. 

{formerly Colortek) 

Kintek, Inc., formerly Colortek, will occupy 

booths 95 and 96 at ShoWesT '79, 

The firm will introduce a product so new 

and unique that a new word had to be created 

to describe what it does. 

The word Kintek has created is "Stereoponize'g." 

The product is 

the KT-22 Stereophonizer,'?'. 

The KT-22 Stereophonizer has the nearmagic 

ability to create a left-center-right 

perceived stereo sound reproduction from 

any mono or SVA optical track ever made. 

Used with the KT-21 film processor, the 

exhibitor will get three channels of perceived 

stereo plus noise reduction, dynamic 

lange expansion and greatly improved natural 

sound for less than half the price of 

conventional SVA processors. 

You can hear the product demonstrated 

at Kintck's Jockey Club demo room or see 

il in Iheir booth. 

Kintek, Inc. 

7458 N. Obregon Drive 

Tucson, Arizona 85704 


WE SERVE UP THE BEST PLATTER 

IN THE INDUSTRY 

DRIVE-IN'S ELECTRIC FILM SYSTEM 

FEEDS 41/2 HOURS UNINTERRUPTED PROGRAMMING 

(rewinds automatically during projection) 

• No Swinging Arms to Interfere 

• Quicldy and Easily Installed 

• Factory Pretested (8 hours of film run continuously) 

System complete with work table 

and two upper and two lower 

magazine brackets with rollers. 

System complete with work table 

and one upper and one lower 

magazine bracket with roller. 

For Two Theatres 

LP270-4-Four Platter 

• Each pair of platters 

work INDEPENDENTLY 

• Can be adjusted from 

Automatic to Manual 

control if necessary: 

simply push a button. 

For Individual Theatre 

LP270-Three Platter 

• Each platter has 

permanent control 

panels. 

• No changing of control 

panels from platter 

to platter. 

Write, Wire or Phone- 

Your Theatre Supply Dealer or. . 

DRIVE-IN'Z^«?^ 

MFG. CO., INC. 

709 North 6th St. 

Kansas City, Kansas 661 01 91 3/321-3978 


• 

Double 

• 

X-CEL 

1 

We specialize in manufacturing precision 

engineered replacement parts 

for 

ASHCRAFT 

ARC LAMPS, RECTIFIERS and WATER RECIRCULATORS 

AC. DC. Motors, gearing, positive contacts, 

rectifier stacks, etc. etc. 

All sizes B&'L Silver and Cold reflectors 

ALL THE PARTS YOU REQUIRE 

IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT 

Rebuild — Exchange on 

lamphouse burners, 

rectifier transformers, water recirculators, etc. 

Water cooled positive contacts rebuilt 

ARCAL WATER CIRCULATORS 

WITH STAINLESS STEEL TANKS 

THEATRE 

PRODUCTS INC. 

(516)249-5745 

51 -C Heisser Lane—Farmingdale, N.Y. ii735 

I 

MARBLE 

THEM 

BOTH... 

Your Projectionist, with Marble's consistently 

high quality he can do a better job. 

Your Accountant, with Marble-s consls 

tently low prices and fast guarantee service he c 

show you more profits. 

Eagle Carbons • Sankdr Lenses 

Xenon Bulbs • Reflectors 

Call Bill Alexander, collect, or contact your theatre 

supply dealer. 

.MARBLE COMPANY INC 

P O Box 8218, Nashville, TN 37207 

(615) 227-7772»Telex 554303 

The Modern Theatre/Boxoffice 

Bill Vance, John Berry, Morris Schloznian 

and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Shlyen will be 

representing Boxoffice magazine and The 

Modern Theatre' at ShoWesT '79. 

Although they won't have a booth, any 

one of these individuals will be glad to meet 

with you to discuss industry activities, films, 

showmanship and advertising. 

Boxoffice Magazine 

825 Van Brunt Blvd. 

Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

(816) 241-7777 

Ogden Food Service 

Marty Winter and Phil DeMars will represent 

Ogden Food Service at booths 14 and 

15 at ShoWesT '79. 

Ogden, with over 50 years experience as 

leaders and innovators in the entertainment 

field, has regional offices and distribution 

centers across the country. 

Their proven promotions, point of purchase 

and merchandising techniques insure 

maximum per capita sales and profits for 

theatre concessions. They also offer their 

expertise in such important areas as planning, 

design, finance and on-site inventory 

controls. 

For more information, call Mel Berman, 

senior vice-president, at (201) 

964-9400. 

Ogden Food Service 

1435 Morris Ave. 

Union, New Jersey 07083 

(201) 964-9400 

Optical Radiation Corp. 

ShoWesT '79 will find ORC exhibiting 

the QCS-400 Quad Cinema sound system 

(compatible with the Dolby CP-50). plus 

the C.A.T. (Complete Automated Theatre) 

film handling system, and the complete 

line of Orcon high-intensity .xenon projection 

systems. 

ORC's booth personnel will include Joe 

Linett, vice-president of marketing; Ron 

Offerman, national sales manager; Ed 

Burke, customer service manager, and Walt 

Browski, Eastern sales representative. ORC 

will occupy booths 51 and 52. 

Mical Hadiiit ion Corporation 

ua"' 

6352 N. liwindaie Avt 

Azusa, Calif. 91702 

(213)969-3344 

Prokote 

Prokotc will occupv booth iiumbe tour 

at ShoWesT '79. 

This firm manufactures and markets a 

line of screen coatings for indoor and outdoor 

theatre screens. 

Their main product, Optikote, is said to 

restore screens to the brightness level of 

new screens. Optikote is economical, nonflammable 

and provides a tough, washable 

surface. Prokote also manufactures screen 

coatings for drive-in 

screens. 

Prokote 

P.O. Box 5551 

Riverside, Calif. 92507 

(714)-877-0300 

22 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION

Reed Speaker Co. 

Reed Speaker Co., established in 1929 hy 

Sam Reed, provides the theatre industry 

with numerous services and equipment including 

complete speakers and parts for 

drive-in use. junction heads and a product 

called the "Hummer" which is used for 

field testing drive-in speaker systems. 

The above products will be exhibited at 

ShoWesT booth number 84. The firm will 

also offer an advanced showing of a new 

FM broadcaster for drive-in radio sound. 

The receiver is about the size of a pack of 

cigarettes and is used in cars equipped with 

FM stereo radios. The device is purchased 

by the patron through auto radio suppliers 

or in the theatre's concession area. It requires 

no wiring expenses or maintenance 

and meets FCC regulations. A patent is 

pending. 

Reed Speaker Co. 

7530 W. 16th Ave. 

Lakevt'ood, Colo. 80215 

(303) 238-6534 

Smithfield Ham & Products Co. 

Ben Houge, Elliot Grubert and J.C. 

Sprigg Jr. will occupy booth number 80 for 

for the Smithfield Ham & Products Co. 

The firm's James River Smithfield Barbeque—lean 

meat in a savory sauce flavored 

with genuine Smithfield ham— is a 

delicious, complete meal-on-a-bun. The 

product is ready in seconds; just heat and 

serve. The firm also offers a special film 

trailer to promote your concession area at 

intermission. 

Ham & Products Co. 

Smithfield 

P.O. Box 487 

Smithfield, Virginia 23430 

(804)-3S7-2121 

Western Service & Supply 

Western Service & Supply. Inc.. of Denver 

and Tucson, will be introducing their 

exclusive Wesco Stereo 100 theatre sound 

system at ShoWesT '79. 

The new system, already being tested in 

some markets, is providing theatres of up 

to 2,000 seat capacity with not more than 

one-quarter of one per cent total harmonic 

and/or intermodulation distortion at a 

minimum of 100 watts continuous power 

per channel. 

Western Service, represented at booths 

95 through 98 by Bob Tankersley. T. C. 

Costin, George Finkhousen and Steve 

Tankersley, will also be featuring Century 

projection equipment, Massey seats, Grosh 

drapes and the new Kintek sound processing 

equipment. 

Western Service & Supply 

2100 Stout Street 

Denver, Colorado 80201 

(303)-534-7611 

for information call toll free (800) 421-1256 

in California call collect (213) 321-5641 

14824 S. Main St., Gardena, Ca. 90248 

Kûr 32nd Ljear 

iimilHli: 

êruinq- the Uneatre ^naudtr^ 

'9 leutre 

"First in Automation" 

We will custom build automation 

to your specifications 

job too small 

No Job too big . . . No 

Corbons, Inc. Neumode 

Ballantyne 

ORC Lamps 

Dolby Sound 

Soundfold 

Cinemecconico Projectors 

Christie Irwin Seating 

Altec Theotre Sound Systems

^^f^^^^^m 

mkjfi ^^ ^^ 

oi Ins iluaiu which he values al between $55,000 

1(11 l'->7S iiuoine la.x purposes is $572.50. 

Is Sfegmoyer's Off Broadway Theatre 

World's Smallesf & Least Profitable? 

By GEORGE FINKHOUSEN 

Within this industry of ours is a most 

amazing spread of people. At one end of 

the spectrum are the corporate executives, 

commanding vast fleets of theatres and 

making multi-million dollar decisions. At 

the other extreme is the small, single theatre 

owner who is just trying to make some 

sort of livable return on his dollar. 

Recently. I had the pleasure of meeting 

a man who does not easily fit into any 

classification of exhibitor. He certainly does 

not deal in millions of dollars because his 

total theatrical seating capacity is a meager 

60 patrons. He certainly is not in this business 

to make a living because there has 

never been a year when he could claim to 

have made even the slightest profit. In fact, 

week in and week out he shows a loss, no 

matter how he books or promotes a film 

and regardless of how one figures the books. 

It takes wages from his job as a hospital 

orderly just to keep the theatre open. 

I'm referring, of course, to John Stcgmoyer: 

owner, manager, projectionist, concession 

attendent, usher, booker and father 

of the "Off Broadway Theatre" in Lebanon. 

Pa. 

John is the rarest of theatre men. He 

loves the theatre business more than money, 

The KNEISLEY Lamphouse to 

Remember when Equipping Your Theatre, 

XENEX" 

—writt far h*t ( 

• It's moderately priced, ruggedly constructed. 

Cleon styling. Complete reor instrument ponel. 

Access to interior through full hinged doors. 

Adjustable nose cone. Heavy duty igniter. 

• Horizontal lamp and 14 inch dichroic coated, 

glass reflector provide greater light pickup and 

excellent screen coverage. Focusing and beam 

controls provided. 

• Accommodates 1000 through 4000 watt Xenon 

Lamps for indoor and outdoor screens up to 

125 feet wide. 

• Magnetic arc stabiliiotlon properly positions 

arc tail flame around onode, increosing lamp 

life. 

• Blower cooled. Manual ignition and manual 

douser ore standard. Automatic ignition op- 

KNEISLEY H.EaUC COMPANY, P.O. BOX 4692, TOLEDO, OHIO 43620 

more than power, even more than personal 

comfort. He is a collector of rare films and 

a true showman. If even one patron shows 

up to see a film, John will go through the 

entire routine of non-sync music, stage 

ghting, light dimming, intermission—even 

popconi popping—to provide entertainment 

for that lone patron. 

Now 55 years old, John's movie madness 

began at the age of nine when he charged 

neighborhood youngsters a penny to watch 

a Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton film 

1 

during the Great Depression. 

I first ran into John when he wrote me 

about putting in stereo optical equipment 

in his theatre. By phone, we agreed that I 

would stop by Lebanon on my way home 

rom last fall's NATO convention to install 

a Dolby SVA system for him. Despite his 

having told me of the limited seating capacity. 

1 was not prepared for what I found. 

This was not your typical commercial 

theatre with filthy carpets, torn seat covers, 

water stained walls and a gummy, greasy 

snack bar. Here was a superb theatre in a 

man's home! It was spotlessly clean, freshly 

painted and equipped to the hilt with a 

brand-new screen and clean, modern projection 

and sound equipment. 

In short, it was a jewel of an intimate 

little theatre. 

The Dolby equipment had failed to arrive 

on time, so I spent the following 24 

hours getting to know John and the Off 

Broadway Theatre. I learned that John is 

willing to make nearly any sacrifice to have 

his theatre equipped with the newest in 

projection equipment. To him. "the show 

the thing." 

is 

The booth is very well equipped. The 

main projectors are A.V.E. Rangertone 

.V5mm units with xenon lighting. In addition, 

a Bell & Howell 16mm unit is permanently 

its 

installed on base and a .^5mm 

portable unit is available for supplemental 

use. His non-sync sound sources include 

recl-to-reel. 

cassette and cartridge tape players, 

in addition to a phonograph. 

The sound system consists of four channels 

of solid state amplification at 30-watts 

per channel. He now has a Dolby CP-50 

with the surround package and a D.C. exciter 

lamp supply. The stage speakers are 

.Sunn 15-inch music speakers with Electro- 

Voice mid-range horns. Three surround 

speakers are used in a triangular configuration; 

one on each side wall and one in the 

rear. These are 12-inch Sunn speakers. 

The screen is equipped with masking and 

color light curtains. It is masked at 7 x 10- 

lool lor "flat" pictures and 7 \ 14 foot for 

CincniaScoiK\ 


With an auditorium measuring just 22 x 

55-feet and a projection throw of 45-feet, 

the apparent screen size to the patron is 

larger than many shoebox auditoriums can 

achieve. 

It is obvious that John has not pinched 

pennies in his equipment. Even the concession 

area at the rear of the auditorium 

boasts a small Pinto-Pop popcorn machine, 

three kinds of canned soft drinks in a small 

refrigerator and a small selection of candy. 

The seats are a mix of old theatre chairs 

which have been cleaned, reupholstered and 

painted, and Danish modern-style divans 

and love seats. 

The booking policy is simple. The theatre 

is open weekends and Wednesday evenings 

with the mid-week show taken from the 

collection of "oldies but goodies" John has 

accumulated. Weekend shows are usually 

sub-run product from the major studios. 

Ticket prices for adults 12 and over is 

two dollars while those under 12 pay only 

a dollar. Other theatres in town charge up 

to $3.50 for admission. The exchanges collect 

a flat minimum fee fiom John, in addition 

to a small percentage. 

$40.20 Profit 

John estimates that he has between $55,- 

000 and $60,000 invested in the theatre. 

} His net loss for 1978 income tax purposes 

$572.50, although he admits making a 

is 

profit of $40.20 on "Pete's Dragon." Why 

does he do it? 

"Why does an alcoholic drink?" John 

replies, adding that there's a need for his 

theatre in the area. "The Astor, Colonial 

and State theatres have all been closed 

here. People still need this form of entertainment." 

Ironically, because John has this love of 

the theatre business, and because he wants 

his theatre to be as good as the best, he has 

placed his whole future in jeopardy. 

Some exchanges have told him that if he 

can afford such new sound equipment as 

Dolby, he can afford to pay higher film 

rentals. These exchanges have raised his 

rentals to a level he cannot pay. They fail 

to understand that his midnight to 8 a.m. 

job is paying for the equipment. 

The Off Broadway is not a profitable 

venture. It is a monument to one man's love 

of this business. Our industry will be measurably 

poorer if it fails to continue to provide 

room for the John Stegmoyers of this 

world.

The Hif^'hu'ay 39 dri 

projection equipment 

Drive-Ins Live at Pacific Theatres 

Soaring land prices, annoying localized 

censorship threats and the proliferation of 

multiplexed walk-in theatres have not killed 

off the drive-in business. Not by a long 

shot! 

Officials at Pacific Theatres, one of the 

world's largest circuits of outdoor installations, 

say growth projects are keeping their 

planning and construction staffs going days, 

nights and weekends. 

While land is hard to come by, zoning is 

difficult and competition for first-run product 

is severe. Pacific is plunging ahead in 

all its operating areas, including California, 

Arizona, the Northwest and Hawaii. 

Land acquisitions, acquired years ago, 

provided for future expansion in most Pacific 

locations. The current trend of "plexing" 

and "re-configuring" drive-ins is creating 

a new world for outdoor theatre patrons. 

Program choice in the drive-in is 

now equal to that of the multiplexed walkins. 

From what the public once humorously drive-in. 

referred to as "passion pits" and "cow pastures" 

have emerged super deluxe showcases 

for outdoor viewing under totally 

different circumstances. 

Shooting for the "young marrieds" as 

more than 50 per cent of their market, officials 

at Pacific are building beautiful, spacious 

and stunning drive-in theatres with 

snackbars which equal any supermarket. 

They're also incorporating new sound and 

screen innovations. 

Regarding grosses, film distributors in 

Pacific's areas readily concur that the driveins 

do equally well or better than most 

walk-ins in any given competitive zone, 

especially in the summer months. Pacific's 

domain is largely in the temperate zone 

and winter does not destroy the boxoffice 

potential. 

The Cine-Fi radio sound system is wowing 

the West Coast, Pacific reports. Eliminating 

speakers on posts and providing highquality, 

low interference sound from the 

patron's car radio has brought new business 

and lavish comments from drive-in goers. 

Pacific claims. 

Now, with the long-awaited "containment 

screen" about to be unveiled, pictures on 

the screen can be directed and controlled 

within a defined perifery for the first time. 

Using the unique screen, nothing can be 

seen from the outside and, just as important, 

the screen image can be controlled inside, 

too. For the first time, a G-rated film can 

play at the same time with an R in a plexed

. . 

. . 

Pizza ovens, microwave ovens, modern fountain dispensers, walk-in Four entrance lanes, equipped with maintenance-free, tamper-proof 

refrigerators and plenty of counterspace are helping Pacific Thea- car counters, speed ticket sales while insuring accurate car counts. 

tre's per capita concession sales soar. Young marrieds are the target Pacific's domain is largely in the temperate zone and winter does 

market. not destroy boxoffice potential. 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the con- ^ ^ 

tainment screen will be its tremendous gain 

in light, Pacific spokesmen suggest. Traditionally, 

drive-ins have had problems getting 

a bright, well-defined picture, despite 

xenon lamps and other new light increasing 

devices. Ambience and competing lights 

from cars, signs and the moon fade the 

screen image. Pacific believes the containment 

screen may improve light gain as 

much as six to eight times. 

So, with optimism and confidence. Pacific 

reports that it is moving swiftly to increase 

its number of screens. With no babysitter 

expense, no parking fees and free admission 

for kids, the young married market 

is attracted to the drive-in. For many, it is 

the only way to enjoy an evening out at a 

modest cost. 

Pacific's giant screens (5,000 square feet 

and larger), lavish cafeteria-style snackbars, 

vastly improved radio sound, improved 

screen light and the containment of the 

picture 

all add up, Pacific believes, to a bright 

drive-in future. 

The Brightest Star 

55 ,000 lumens of open 

^ 

W 

shutter illumination! 

The Academy Award winning 

H-4500X 

JJ 

XENON Lamphouse System JWt 

Manufactured by . 

r ^ 

Ul^ Optical Radiation Corporation 

recommended by The 

EXPERTS 

. 

Western Service & Supply, Inc. 

2100 Stout St. • Denver, CO 80201 

(303)534-7611 

Efficient traffic patterns are established by 

running steel rails. The custom concession 

equipment is made by Sinicrope & Sons and 

includes Polar King drink dispensers. 

I THEATRE DESIGN EXPERTS I 

t^ . NEW THEATRE DESIGN IS 

^ . REMODELING THEATRES 4»f . DIVISION OR MULTIPLEXING THEATRES . SNACK BAR LAYOUT ^ 

. COLOR COORDINATION AND DECOR 

4I: 

. 

^ HARDTOP AND DRIVE-IN THEATRES j^ Over 35 years experience and more than 500 projects in the ^ past ten years 4^ Our know-how, experience and economies more than pay the 4»j- cost of ^ 

our services. 

j^ C0IV1PLETE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICE 

1^ OR 

j|l 

"^ 

M- CONSULTANTS TO YOUR ARCHITECTS IS 

P 

tf AND ASSOCIATES ^ 

^ 1420 Vance St., Suite 100 • luikewood, Colorodo 80215 

^ 

^ 

Telephone: (303) 238-6415 ^|^ 

BOXOFFICE :: February 19, 1979 27

, 

, 

— 

| 

; 

i 

| 

^^^^Sô^^ 

"^ 

at FILMS INCORPORATED! 

1 6mm Library of 4000 Titles 

rom Current Product to the Great Classics! 

I /unlimited aavanced bookings accepted 1/^ Date strips 

I 

28 

/Expert programming service [^ Coming attraction trailers at no charge 

iXevery print inspected |/^ Minimum shipping costs 

L/Children & senior citizen matinees 

I/Cartoons, short subiects, newsreels 

|/^ Research consultants available 

\^ 

Advertising matenal can be secured 

eS^rpv^^^' 

^:js^°^ :0\ess^00> 

h. P

On the other hand, solid state amplifiers 

and their individual components are plentiful, 

and these amplifiers require no maintenance 

beyond occasional cosmetic dusting 

for the sake of projection booth appearance 

and cleanliness. 

The electrical cost of operating a tube 

type amplifier system is up to ten times 

higher than an equivalent solid state system. 

The public is becoming increasingly soundconscious 

and demands better sound than 

grossly distorted tube amplifiers can provide. 

Unbelievable Advancements 

For these reasons, I am convinced that 

the best wired sound system for today's 

drive-in theatre is a solid state system providing 

at least two watts per channel and 

composed of very high quality amplifiers 

such as those used in high-power voice and 

music systems. 

The technological 

advancements made in 

solid state amplifiers in the past few years 

have been unbelievable. Many have come 

from companies other than those we in the 

theatre industry normally think of. The 

average retail price for amplifiers of high 

quality is usually between three and four 

dollars per watt of power. On a "per speaker" 

basis, this represents one of the best 

values you'll run into when installing a 

drive-in sound system. 

Radio Sound Systems 

I don't believe any article about drive-in 

sound systems, even if limited to wire types, 

can totally ignore the fact of radio sound 

systems. The radio field does exist and I 

know of installations that work extremely 

well. I know of others that are less than satisfactory. 

If you're in the process of designing 

or rebuilding a drive-in theatre, you 

must first decide between a radio field and 

a wired field. 

When investigating radio fields, make 

sure you get a "satisfaction guarantee." Unless 

you limit your purchase obligation to 

complete satisfaction, you stand to pay for 

something that you can't use because it 

doesn't work once it's installed. That isn't 

the way to make money on your investment. 

If you opt for a wired field, have the 

system designed around excellent solid state 

amplifiers with sufficient power to do the 

job right. 

In either case, you will be assured of a 

sound system that sounds good, has long life, 

low maintenance, and won't eat up your 

profits through repeated repair bills. 

^ 

e 

Prior to his affiliation with Dolby Laboratories, 

Finkhousen spent over 20 years in 

the technical areas of film and stage sound 

presentation. He is a member of the Society 

of Motion Picture and Television 

Engineers and the Audio Engineering Society. 

He resides in Tucson, Ariz., where he 

operates a consulting service for exhibitors 

and manufacturers and serves as regional 

sales manager for Western Service & Supply. 

Well light 

op your life! 

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, . including 

t 

NEW 

EQUIPMENT 

and 

DEVELOPMENTS 

^(TB B a"o"o~g'ysTryyBirrgTnsirginrirs'g"8irBT> 

Drive-in Theatre Mfg. Offers 

Boxoffice Security System 

The Electronics division of Drive-In Theatre 

Mfg. Co. recently introduced a boxoffice 

security system called the "BOS." The 

device is a ticket calculation and record 

keeping system which uses digital computer 

techniques to display the number of tickets 

sold and keep track of all transactions. 

The basic model (No. 20011) includes a 

ticket transaction display, remote counters 

mounted in a cabinet for ticket and car 

count, and ticket machine adapters for General 

Register ticket machine models MG, 

MGE. ST and STE. Model 20012 provides 

all of the above features plus a patron admission 

transaction display. If a theatre does 

not have a ticket machine, a push-button 

assembly is available as an option. 

The remote ticket counter advances by 

the number of tickets issued. Each operation 

of the ticket machine or push-buttoir assembly 

advances the remote car counter by 

one count. The patron admission display 

advises the patron of the dollar amount to 

pay. 

The ticket transaction display provides a 

7-inch high numeral which is visible for 

several hundred feet, allowing the tiansaction 

to be monitored from a remote location. 

The displayed numeral can be adjusted 

to remain visible from two to 20-seconds. 

The remote counter may be mounted up 

to 500 feet from the bo.xoffice in areas 

such as the managers office or the concession 

stand. This allows management immediate 

information regarding crowd control 

and concession food planning. 

The "BOS" system is designed for use on 

one lane entrance ramps. Additional systems 

are required for multiple lanes. The system 

operates on 120 volts at 60hz. AC. An installation 

and operation manual with wiring 

diagrams is included. 

Public Address System 

The firm also announced the introduction 

of a public address system (Model PA- 

IS) designed for emergency announcements 

and crowd control. 

The system connects to existing 8 or 16 

ohm speakers and operates on self-contained 

rechargeable batteries. It incorporates a 

solid state 15-watt amplifier, complete with 

microphone and coiled cord, in a compact 

enclosure designed for wall mounting. 

New products or services mentioned in this 

iimgazine are for injonuation purposes only. 

Their appearance does not necessarily constitute 

endorsement by Boxoffice or The 

Modern Theatre. // further information 

about any of these products is desired, 

simply fill in the Reader's Service card on 

pages 39 and 40. 

Boost boxoffice gross with EPRADGALAXY. 

SCXiNDSURROUNDSTEREOOPTiCALSYSTEiVI 

^^^ 

... featuring exclusive 

Sound Processor 

Eprad Galaxy is unique in the world of 

theatre sound. The first and only stereooptical 

total system designed for brilliant 

"sound surround" reproduction. 

Eprad Galaxy System Shown Here is Yours 

Complete with . . 

• StarScope 4 multi-channel optical sound 

processor module, 

•Star 4 power amplifier module with four 

power amplifiers. 

• Monitor speaker module with VU loudness 

indicator meter, 

• DC exciter lamp supply module, 

• Trim, compact rack. 

• Tapedeck furnished by customer but 

installed by Eprad at the factory, 

(Eprad StarScope sound processing modules 

are available individually in a variety of 

models to match sound reproduction needs 

of any theatre,) 

Eprad StarScope 4 heart of the - 

system 

is unsurpassed for producing the "new 

- 

sound" with vibrant, audience-pleasing excitement, 

Sound that literally moves with the 

action on your screen, Sound so pure, crisp, 

compelling and true to life it is keeping 

patrons coming back for more in over 100 

theatres nationwide. 

The Eprad Galaxy System with StarScope 

4 will play back glj stereo and monaural 

optical soundtracks Dolby 

. 

processed and those with special surround 

effects recorded on the soundtrack. 

Galaxy is yours completely assembled, 

wired and tested. To install, simply hook up inputs 

and outputs, align split solar cells in soundhead 

and equalize auditorium speakers. 

Doesn't Eprad Galaxy with StarScope 

belong in your theatre? Please write us or 

call today for complete information. Or, 

contact your Eprad dealer. 

= F> MrJ A - 

INCORPORATED 

Sold and Leased Internationally 

Thru Selected Theatre Supply Dealers 

Box 4712 / Toledo, Ohio 43620 

(419) 243-8106 © 


Magna-Com 65 Projection Lens 

Is Improved by Mult-i-Coating 

The multi-coating of all lens elements for 

greater light transmission efficiency is a 

product improvement recently announced 

for the Isco Magna-Com projection lens, an 

attachment that further enlarges the projected 

picture for wide-screen picture projection 

lenses. 

Automated 

CONSOLE 

Multi-coating the four-clement Isco optical 

device practically eliminates light loss. 

reportedly providing 99 per cent effective 

light transmission, a level of efficiency never 

before obtainable. Isco, specialists in designing 

and manufacturing projection 

lenses 

of all types, is a subsidiary of Jos. Schneider 

GmbH & Co. of West Germany. 

When coupled to a prime lens, the Isco 

Magna-Com 65 enlarges the picture size 

for large-screen presentation by shortening 

the focal length. The Magna-Com 65 can 

now be used with Cinelux-Ultra or Cinelux- 

Xenon prime lenses ranging from as small 

as 55mm focal length to 150mm. resulting 

in more than a 15 per cent wider angle of 

projection. A 55mm prime lens plus a 

Magna-Com 65 yields a combined focal 

length of only 35mm for 1.85 wide-screen 

applications. Wide-screen 16mm applications 

are also available. 

Isco theatre projection lenses are distributed 

by Schneider Corp. of America. The 

multi-coated Isco Magna-Com 65 is available 

through most theatrical equipment 

dealers. 

Theatre Data Forms Available 

For Developing Photo Stories 

Theatre Data Forms are available from 

The Modern Theatre, 825 Van Brunt 

Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri 64124, for 

those exhibitors or owners building new 

theatres or remodeling their present facilities. 

Drive-in and indoor theatre owners 

who feel they have a unique theatre or design 

are invited to write for the forms which 

are used for developing showcase stories. 

If you wish, you may write your own 

detailed story and submit it along with 

black-and-white photographs which help illustrate 

the text. Photos will be returned 

only upon request and the publisher has the 

right of final 

approval. 

Unprecedented Performance, Reliability, Serviceability 

from XeTRON 35mm Automated Projection Console. 

OualPro* Xenon, Automation, Sound • Modular Construction 

Totally Wired • 1000, 2000, 3000 & 4000 Watts • illuminated 

Controls* Slide-Out IREM Power Supply • Accepts 

most popular Pro)ectors • Pictured witfi Cmemeccanica V5 

Projector, C-55PTA Sound and Maxi-Automation. XeTRON 

Products Div., Carbons, Inc., 10 Saddle Rd., Cedar Knolls. NJ 

07927. Phone (201) 267-8200. Dealers located coast-to-coast. 

•Quality Proven Componenis 

XeTRON 

>t Division of CARBONS. Inc. 


Complete Concession 

Centers 

Butler-Proctor 

Planned-Built-Equipped 

Installed 

Call or Write 

^rot'twr 

^B^LgH Distributed by Proctor Distributing Co 

^^^^H 2335 S Inco Denver Colo (300) 934 5455 

iliXibiitiH«| i-«. 

Super Gold 

Buttery-Flavored 

Popcorn Topping 

Tni>i9i 

MPER 

Gold 

I) [|> 

[|l 

JiiJ 

'^ SmmImC 

T 

'e^MC&iie. 

In-Theafre Boutique Merchandising 

Seen as Profifable, Emerging Trend 

By GARY BURCH 

What exhibitor wouldn't want to participate 

in a growing concession merchandising 

trend that is part of an expanding million 

dollar industry? Especially when that trend 

promises large dollar returns from small 

initial investments and the chance to presell 

films to his audience. 

The trend, of course, is the concession 

boutique—offering your captive patrons 

the opportunity to buy such film-related 

products as posters, T-shirts, buttons, dolls, 

stuffed toys, soundtrack albums and so on. 

Enter "Movie Madness" 

In a carefully conducted test campaign. 

National Screen Service launched its initial 

"Movie Madness" retail merchandising program 

in 211 selected theatres last June in 

conjunction with the opening of Paramount's 

"Grease." Sales of "Grease" T- 

shirts, posters, a "movie flier" version of 

the Frisbee, combs, heat transfers and lapel 

buttons of star John Travolta grossed $250,- 

000 in 211 theatres where "Grease" was 

playing. 

Seymour Kaplan, NSS' corporate vicepresident 

believes that "the patron accepts 

the theatre as a new market place for 

Movie Madness merchandise /rum Paramount's 

"Grease." Such impulse items are 

movie-related merchandise. It's a natural 

market place." 

NSS president Burton Robbins pointed of high profit potential to each theatre 

out that "for the first time, exhibitors are bcNoni its normal concession income. 

How to butlef up an 

selling everywhere, but are exhibitors getting 

their fair share of the pie? 

able to participate in what has become a 

major profit area in the motion picture 

business." He observed that exhibitors can 

now participate in the profits which have 

been going to moviemakers and manufacturers 

of the film-related items. 

Movie Madness represents NSS' totally 

new merchandising concept of completely 

packaged, in-theatre retailing. Inspired by 

and related to a specific motion picture, the 

program adds an entirely different source 

32 

Aiiolht'r jiiip jirndiKi jroni 

Now used and preferred in thousands 

of locations. Super Gold" 

makes popcorn taste just like "topped 

with butter" — yet saves you 

money! 

For more information, contact 

your local distributor or: 

TV Time Foods, Inc. 

P.O. Box 7306 

Chicngo, Illinois 60680 

Phone. '312) 743-8600 

The Popcorn Train is the only popcorn 

carrier that holds a popcorn bucket and 

a drink cup in one convenient package. 

So even/ sale is two sales. Colorful 

posters and mobiles available. 

For more information about the 

money-making Popcorn Train 

j^'** 

contact Dixie, Marathon, 

Vg. 

2A5 American Lane, 

1^ Greenwich, CT 06830. 

PPr- (203] 552-4183. 

DISCie/MaRaTHON 


', 

paign 

j 

the 

'• 

$500,000 

: 

half 

As part of its copyrighted Movie Madness 

program, National Screen offers each 

participating theatre a six-foot merchandise 

display, an animated trailer hcialding the 

display in the lobby, promotional mobiles 

and film-inspired merchandise. 

The Movie Madness logo is a permanent 

part of the display but the upper half is 

removable, making changes of poster and 

picture titles easy. The display case measures 

less than five-feet and can easily be 

placed inside most refreshment stands, enabling 

boutique sales to be handled by regular 

personnel. 

Future Films Slated 

A "Superman" Movie Madness campaign 

is currently in progress and the boutique 

program will be conducted in the future 

with such films as "Lord of the Rings," 

"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," "The 

Muppet Movie" and "Star Trek: The Motion 

Picture." 

The "Superman" Movie Madness cam- 

is supported by 504 theatres across 

country and has grossed in excess of 

in just over a month. Roughly 

of that total is profit for the individual 

exhibitor, Kaplan said. 

In-Theatre Merchandisingd 

!' 

dm:, P"! 

"Wc have 16 men in the licld contacting 

participating theatres once a week to make 

sure we replace the items that are sold out," 

Kaplan said, pointing out that the entire 

program is set up so theatre owners don't 

have to think. "We leave him free to do his 

job. which is running the theatre, and we do 

ours, which is making Movie Madness a 

success for both him and us." 

NSS markets the boutique to any theatre 

willing to give the program as much interest 

as they do any other financial aspect of 

their theatre. Exhibitors buy a basic supply 

of items for $300 but are not bound to continue 

the program once they start. 

NSS initially supplied 36 posters, 24 

childrens T-shirts, 12 adult T-shirts, 100 

buttons and 48 pieces of "Krypton" in the 

basic "Superman" package. 

While few exhibitors have any problL-iii 

with excess merchandise at the end of i 

film's engagement, Kaplan suggests that 

leftover items are easily sold when offered 

as a premium with more conventional concession 

items. 

Kaplan stressed that the display should 

be placed in the theatre's heaviest traffic 

area. "Movie Madness is doing well in both 

small and large situations," he said, "but it 

all depends on the support of the individual 

theatre. We can tell from a theatre's sales 

if they have the display in the wrong location." 

Kaplan estimates that Movie Madness 

cutomers range between 10 and 25 years 

Design your own food service setup witli 

Serv-0-Ramic^ 

r,.,„..«y 

A « r\k 

All metal 200 Series. All metal. Stainless steel on top 

and front. Any piece of Manley equipment goes with it. 

Use moist heat or dry heat units. Or, a combination of both. 

Formica 300 Series. Beautiful, colorful Formica pattern 

Is mounted on heavy-duty marine plywood. Any piece of 

Manley equipment fit 

;;

While there are no exact figures on per 

capita spending for movie related products, 

Kaplan asserts that such products do not 

detract from normal concession sales. "We 

did extensive initial testing to see if Movie 

Madness would take sales from regular concession 

items by setting up a control group 

and a test group of theatres. Concession 

sales did not vary significantly in either 

group." 

Virgin 

Territory 

"If anything. Movie Madness increases 

all areas of theatre income. It's a great presell 

for coming attractions because it is 

placed in the lobby 30 to 35 days ahead of 

the film; it adds excitement and builds 

traffic to the concession area, and, of 

course, it provides the exhibitor with an 

additional source of revenue." 

The concession merchandising trend has 

been described by some industry sources as 

"virgin territory" and "an untapped market." 

It shows all the signs of continuing 

and expanding to the benefit of exhibitors 

everywhere. 

"Why should retail stores keep cashing 

in on the movies and not the exhibitor?" 

Kaplan concluded. 

Server 

Americas most 

experienced 

manufacturer of 

POPCORN 

SERVING 

EQUIPMENT 

Butter Servers 

For more than 25 years Server craftsmen 

have been designing, developing 

and building butter and popcorn warming 

and serving equipment. The colorful 

and attractive units below will enhance 

the appearance of your concession 

area and boost your sales of popcorn. 

Growth of Factors Etc. 

Is Proof of Potential 

Just a few years ago. Harry Geissler and 

his son Lee, colorful Delaware entrepreneurs, 

were selling T-shirts from the back 

of a truck. 

Today—with a little help from "properties" 

like Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Sly Stallone. 

"Star Wars." "Saturday Night Fever," 

Andy Gibb and Elvis Presley—the Geisslers' 

firm, Factors Etc., Inc. is recognized as one 

of the world's largest merchandising companies. 

Billion 

Dollar Industry 

The Geisslers are among the leaders of 

America's newest and most lucrative billion 

dollar industry. 

It was Farrah Fawcett-Majors, with swimsuit 

and smile, who turned things around 

for the Geisslers. Early in 1977, Harry put 

up $300,000 to purchase her T-shirt rights. 

By October, he had earned millions 

enough to pay to Farrah's agent over $400,- 

000 in royalties as well as purchase merchandising 

licenses to "Star Wars" and 

"Rocky." 

Heat Transfers 

Factors' primary source of revenue has 

been from the sale of "heat transfers." The 

company also manufactures such items as 

buttons, badges, caps, jewelry, keychains 

and posters, and implements promotional 

programs like "The Star Wars Fan Club." 

Factors has offices in New York, Beverly 

Hills, London, Hong Kong and headquarters 

in Bear, Del. Major international distribution 

centers are located in Paris, Mexico 

City, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, Edmonton, 

Canada; Johannesburg, South Africa; 

Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. 

Automatic 

Fully automatic . . . dispenses up to 45 

servings of warm butter per minute. Variable 

heat thermostat keeps butter at desired 

temperature. 

Manual 

Manually operated pump . . . dispenses up 

to 30 servings per minute. Variable heat 

thermostat keeps butter at proper temperature 

and consistency. 

Server Products Inc. 

Popcorn Server 

TInermostatically controlled hot air 

and insulated walls keep popcorn warm 

and crisp . . . holds enough pre-popped 

corn for approximately 100 standard 

servings. 

^J, 

Display Tray 

Holds up to 35 24 oz. containers of 

popcorn at desired temperature. 

Infra-red heating element keeps popcorn 

warm and delicious. 

NSF approved. 

For full color brochure on popcorn 

serving equipment, write 

Server Products, Inc., P. O. Box 249, 

Menomonee Falls, Wl 53051. 


Reiiuction in Harvested Acres 

Decreases Popcorn Production 

Popcorn growers produced 398 million 

pounds of shelled popcorn in 1978, according 

to the Crop Reporting Board of the 

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. This is eight per 

cent less than the previous year's 432 million 

pounds and 35 per cent less than was 

produced in 1976. 

The decline from 1977 resulted from a 

nine per cent reduction in harvested acres. 

Indiana and Nebraska growers accounted 

for about 65 per cent of U.S. production 

in 1978. Changes from a year ago ranged 

from a 55 per cent decline in Kansas to a 

12 per cent increase in Indiana. 

The 1978 popcorn ciop averaged 2,827 

pounds per acre or 39 pounds more per 

acre than in 1977. Growers field-shelled 

93 per cent of the harvested acreage compared 

with 82 per cent a year earlier. Yellow 

varieties amounted to 94 per cent of 

the total production, up from 89 per cent 

in 1977. 

Wet weather throughout most of the corn 

belt during the spring delayed land preparation 

and planting, the board reports. However, 

most growers in Indiana had seed in 

the ground by mid-June. Late plantings 

caused plant development to lag over previous 

years, but good weather conditions 

during the fall allowed the crop to mature. 

Some areas of Kansas, Ohio, Kentucky and 

Tennessee experienced drought conditions. 

Coin Operated Drink Dispenser 

Is Introduced by Jet Spray 

A visual display twin-flavor beverage dispenser 

that reportedly delivers a portioncontrolled 

cold drink the moment the correct 

coinage is inserted has been introduced 

by Jet Spray Corp. 

yeruice 

Lônarutuiated ^no l/UeS^ 

on 

its 

îttk Ljear of Service to tin 

1 1/ lotion f-^îcture ^ndustru 

The Success of ShoWesT '79, with over 1,500 

registered delegates and a sellout exhibit 

and tradeshow, can be attributed to an effective 

convention committee comprised of executives 

from the three co-sponsoring organizations: the 

National Association of Concessionaires, Theatres 

West and the Theatre Equipment Association, 

in addition to the enthusiastic support of 

all exhibitors. 

Ogden, with over 50 years experience as leaders 

and innovators in the entertainment field, 

has regional offices and distribution centers 

across the country. 

Take advantage of our proven promotion, 

point of purchase and merchandising techniques 

for maximum per capita sales and 

profits. Take advantage of our purchasing 

power — year after year, for example, we're one 

of the world's top purchasers of soft drinks. 

Take advantage oip our expertise in such importo'nt 

areas as planning, design, finance and onsite 

inventory controls. 

For more information, visit us at booths 14 

and 15 at ShoWesT '79 or call Mel Berman, 

Senior Vice President, at (201) 964-9400. It 

could mean the difference between profit and 

loss. 

OGDEN FOOD SERVICES ^ 

1435 Morris Averiue, Union, N J 07083 '^^ 

Called the Twin Jctvend model VTJ3, 

this coin-operated visual display beverage 

dispenser dispenses a standard six-ounce 

drink in as little as three and one-half seconds. 

The unit's unitized transparent twin 

bowl of virtually unbreakable Le.xan resin 

holds a total of 192 vendable six-ounce 

drinks (96 drinks per side). 

Dime and nickel coin slots are conveniently 

located on the unit's front panel. The 

dispenser can be set from five cents to 75- 

ccnts at increments of five cents and it features 

a coin return button to reject slugs 

and badly bent coins. It also comes equipped 

with Jet Spray's Jetset solid state timer 

which allows the drink size and coinage 

requirements to be easily adjusted. 

For more information, use the Reader's 

Service card on pages 39 and 40. 

Product Improvements Made To 

Star Mfg. Co. Hot D09 Steamers 

Star Mfg. Co. of St. Louis, Mo., recently 

announced a new product improvement to 

its 35ST Cleaner Stcam-er II and model 

35S Steam-ro Jr. Star's most popular hot 

dog steamer now has the exclusive "Patent : 

Applied For" HDJT (Hot Dog Juice Tray) I 

available as an option. 

' 


The HDJT virtually eliminates cleaning 

of the water pan, the firm reports. Designed 

to catch meat juices and drippings, this removable 

tray keeps the water pan free from 

contaminants, extending clement life. The 

design of the tray also reportedly creates a 

pattern of steam that heats hot dogs 35 per 

cent faster. 

Standard Features 

Paul Williams Named President 

Of AIco Dispensing Systems 

Paul Williams is the new president of 

Alco Dispensing Systems, the recently acquired 

division of Alco Foodservice Equipment 

Co. Williams had been with Eaton 

Corp. for 15 years before the dispenser 

division was purchased by Alco. 

Coca-Cola Distribution Begins 

In People's Republic of China 

Coca-Cola became the first American 

consumer product available in the People's 

Republic of China when it went on sale 

there last month. The agreement grants the 

Coca-Cola Co. the sole privilege of selling 

cola drinks in the Chinese market. 

Standard features include stainless steel 

construction, a six quart water pan, a convenient 

front drain, humidity control for 

the bun section and removable swing-up 

lids. A powerful 1,000 watt, immersiontype 

element heats water fast, and the adjustable 

thermostat provides accurate temperature 

control. 

The 35S Steam-ro Jr. has a load capacity 

of 130 hot dogs and 30 to 40 buns. The 

unit measures 18-inches wide. 15-inches 

front to back, and 16-inches high. Total 

wattage: 1,000 watts, 120-Volt A.C. only. 

U.L. and N.S.F. approved. 

For more information, use the Reader's 

Service card on pages 39 and 40. 

1979 Impulse Snack Catalog 

Available from Gold Medal 

The 1979 Gold Medal impulse snack catalog 

lists a number of new concepts, new 

equipment and new features for fast foods, 

impulse snacks and other theatre concession 

9 BOLD MEDAL 

operations. 

• • • • • • • • • • • •^^ 

•• THE RETURN •^ 

*£ of the ! 

g 

I GOLDEN PROFITS t| 

starring 

g• Genuine James River Brand # 

• Smith!ield Barbeque - • 

Bring throngs of hungry customers into your drive-in concession stand with 

the No. 1 

show-stopper -James River Smithfield Barbeque. Lean meat in a savory 

sauce flavored with genuine Smithfield ham. A delicious, complete meal-on-abun. 

Ready in seconds; just heat, serve. 

Boost check averages and customer satisfaction with James River Barbeque. 

Earns better profits for you than hot dog and hamburger sales. For the best box 

office reviews, serve the best-genuine Smithfield Barbeque. 

And to promote your foodservice at intermission, use our special film traUers. 

For more information, write: 

Smithfield Hain& Products Co. 

p. O. Box 487 Smithfield, Virginia 23430 

Cornado^ 

TheNewBoxoffice 

Sensation 

More sales, less expense, more 

French sugar waffles trom a new three 

mold, "Eze-Off" extractor, French Twists. 

Mexican Ice, powdered Italian Ice mix and 

Frying Saucers, a high profit cinnamon 

topped fried dough, are among the items 

featured. 

Also included are seven improved "Disco" 

model poppers with a new corn heat 

freshener feature, a U.L. approved cotton 

candy machine, compact popcorn wagons 

and carts, hot dog rotisseries and popcorn 

bars. 

The catalog is free to all exhibitors. For 

more information, use the Reader's Service 

card on pages 39 and 40. 

profit . . . happier customers — all 

when you pop "Live". Gold Medal 

Poppers, like the Cornado Popcorn 

Bar (shown), merchandise your 

product better and help you sell 

more. And the Cornado features the 

Accumeter Oil Pump to help you 

save popping oil. 

4', 5', and 6' models — 28 ounce 

and 36 ounce kettles. Built better to 

give you years of trouble-free service. 

Gold Medal, the nation's leading 

producer of popcorn poppers ... 44 models to 

choose from. See your Gold Medal distributor or write 

Free catalog 

Gold Itcdal Funfoods 

GOLD MEDAL PRODUCTS CO. 

BOXOmCE :; February 19, 1979 37

ab&ui PEOPLE j 

Personnel Changes Announced 

At American Seating Co. 

David Poncis 

Donald Mitchell 

Kenneth M. Book, vice-president and 

general manager of the AmSeCo division of 

American Seating Co., recently announced 

that David E. Powers has joined the firm as 

marketing manager of the entertainment 

seating division. He also announced that 

Donald A. Mitchell has been promoted to 

marketing director of public seating products. 

Powers will be responsible for the administration 

of sales in the entertainment 

of AmSeCo production. A graduate of 

lines 

Northwestern University, Powers has successfully 

spent his entire career in the area 

of sales. His most recent employment was 

with Hcywood-Wakcfield after being associ- 

and PBODUCT 

atcd many years with Irwin Seating. 

Mitchell's new duties include management 

responsibility over all public seating, 

in the educational and amusement markets. 

Prior to his promotion, Mitchell was manager 

of international marketing. 

A graduate of Hope College, Holland. 

Mich., Mitchell has been with American 

Seating since 1964 when he started as a 

sales 

trainee. 

Ogden Names Michael Barnes 

Vice-President of Marketing 

Michael A. Barnes was recently elected 

vice-president to the newly created position 

of marketing manager for industrial and 

recreational food service for the Ogden 

Food Service Corp. 

Kintek Name Replaces Colortek 

To Avoid Color Hue Confusion 

John Mosely recently announced that 

Colortek, the stereo optical film sound 

system utilizing snaJve tracks in addition to 

a standard monophonic Academy track, has 

changed its name to Kintek. The name 

change was made to prevent confusion of 

the new soundtrack format with abandoned 

formats previously proposed which used 

color hues to generate sound. 

American/Dixie Sales Names 

James Bolton as president 

James M. Bolton has been named president 

of the American/ Dixie Sales Co., a 

division of American 

^^^^^ Can Co. The division 

^^^^^^\ has been expanded to 

M 

include sales and mar- 

W _^ I ket development re- 

' 

"^ r sponsibility for the 

î ,v sale of the firm's con- 

^^^1 - ^^^ - sumer products. Other 

added responsibilities 

^B Ik ^^^ 

^^^^^~ ^^^1 

include customer serv- 

^^^^ ^^ ^^^" warehousing f u n c- 

Jaiiies Bollon tions. 

American/ Dixie Sales is the selling arm 

for Dixie cups and plates, napkins, towels, 

tissue, cartons and food wrap. 

Bolton, commenting on his new responsibilities 

said, "American Can Co. is committed 

to improving its access to the consumer 

and important away-from-home markets 

while upgrading the effectiveness and 

efficiency of its 

distribution system." 

Super-V Corp. Receives Award 

At Greater Miami Film Fest 

The Philadelphia-based Super-V Corp., 

manufacturer and distributor of the Super- 

Vision lens, recently received the Gold 

Medal Award for technical achievement at 

the Greater Miami (Fla.) Film Festival. 

Alphabetical Index of Advertisers 

Area! Theatre Products 

Ballantyne of Omaha 

BeveliteAdler 

Big Three Theatre Group 

Canrod Hanovia, Ballantyne, 

Strong 

Butler Fixture & Vfg 

Butterful, Inc 

Conrad Hanovia 

Christie Electric Corp 

Cinema Radio 

Ciro Equipment Corp 

Cretors, Inc 


Drive-ln Theatre Mfg. Co 

22 Harry Melchsr Enterprises 25 

n National Ticket Co 12 

23 Norman and Friddell 10 

Odell Concessions 5 

Ogden Food Service 36 

11 Optical Radiation Corp 19 

32 Perdue Motion Picture 

3° Equipment 23 

11 Projected Sound, Inc 20 

3 Prokote 20 

29 PVO International 7 

5 Reed Speaker Co 6 

33 Schneider Corp. of America .... 18 

32 Selby Industries, Inc 16 

21 Server Products, Inc 35 

Econo 

Pleat 

Eprad, Inc 4, 25, 

Filbert 

Films 

Co 

Incorporated 

Mel Glatz & Assoc 

Gold Medal Products 

Alan Gordon Enterprises 

Hugin Cash Registers, Ltd 

Irwin Seating Co 

Kintek 

(formerly Colortek) 

Kneisley Electric Co 

LocRad, 

Manley, 

Inc 

Inc 

The Marble Co., Inc 15 

10 Sign Products 

30 (Rapid Change Letter Co.) 8 

28 Smithfield Horn & Products .... 37 

28 Soundfold Internationol 12 

27 Spatz Paint Industries 6 

37 Star Mfg. Co 9 

8 Electric Strong H 

13 TEA 17 

26 Technikote Corp 29 

15 TV Time Foods, Inc 32 

24 Weldon, Williams & Lick 7 

23 Western Service & Supply 27 

34 Xetron Products Div. 

22 (Corbons Inc.) 31 


BoxorriCE bookincumde 

. Four 

°s 

An interpretive analysis oi lay and tradepress 

>gularly. Symbo 

BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All lilms are 

except Iho 

:ated by (b&w) 

white or (® and b&w) lor color end black & white. Motion Pictu) (MPAA) rating: 

audiences; PG all ages admitted (parental guidance suggested); El— restrict I 

17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian; x — persons 

Broadcasting and Film Commission, National Council of Churches (BFC). For 1 

FEATURE CHART. 

12eview digest 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

++ Very Good; + Good; — Foir; — Poor; = Very Poor. ft is toted 2 pluses, = as 2 minuses. 

I 

II 

.2 Ec 

s 

1 

I I ll 

!;C92 Across the Great Divide (103) 

OD-Ad 

F 5-79 El 

Always for Pleasure (58) 

Doc 

Blank 5-7S 

5071 Attack of the Killer 

Tomatoes (86) Noll- 

6-78 

Ho- 

CM . Square Produc 

PG 

5065 Autumn Sonata (97) 

World 10- 9-78 PG 

World 9-11-78 PG 

5045 Bad News Bears Go to Japan, The

REVIEW DIGEST 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX >tv,r,Go.d; n^:

'ON 

|»H

p 5 

iif.il 

5!^£ss-:S3; 

Ill 

liilisrîi 

sB 

^Hi 

? s. 

^1" 1= I 

id 

ill 

§s :« 

||

.Hi-D. 

, 

. 

(87) 

Oct 

Nov 

Mar 

. 

May 

' 

BOXOFTICE BooHnr„„cIo 

' 

' 

' 

. Dec 

ANALYSIS FILM RELEASING 

APRIL FOOLS FILMS 

Harper Valley PTA 

(97) 

ATLANTIC RELEASING 

Madame Rosa (lOS) D. Apr 78 

Bonjoi 

"" 

Amour (90) ...D..Ju 

ic at Hanorng Rock . . .Oct 78 

Havelaar (165) . 

Jan 79 

Jument Vapeur 

BACKSTREET-BEEHIVE- 

HOLLYWOOD INT'L 

LdSl Flioht 2000 

(78) Sex C- 

VIckl (Jllrk. I'at Mannliic 

FRED BAKER FILMS, LTD. 

Just Crazy About Horses 

(93) Doc. Dec 78 

The Black Goddess 

BEEHIVE PRODUCTIONS 

Carnal's Cuties 

„'76' Sex C A 

Pat Manning. Sands. 

Janet 

King, WUllam .Maigold 

Curves Ahead 

(78) 

.Sex C. 

The L*dy Wants a 

Trams 

Dirty Deadlines 

(74) 

Super Jocks (90) Mav 7R 

R«tless (90) D May 78 

Raquel Welcli. J,.l,nson 

rtlcliard 

fy""" May (93) 78 

Almost Human (90) Ju 

The Naked Woman (91) ju 

Iiavld llemmlncs Vndipa n'lii 

Submission (90) 

.' 

ju. 

Franco Nero. I.lsa Gnslonl 

Free Spirit (88) ....R-D. Ju, 

Racfiel Itoherls. Krir Porter 

CAL-AM ARTISTS 

Sunset Cove (87) Ac Ai 

. . 

Goodbye Franklin Hijh 

One Man Jury 

(103) Cr-D 

Jack PiiLnnce. (Tirli MItoh 

CAPRICAN THREE, INC. 

Death Force (96) Ac 

vampire 

John 

fan 

Hookers 

Sex 

'nice 

C-D. 

Falrlia 

CARIBBEAN FILMS WEST 

Up the Chastity Belt C 

Our Miss Fred . r 

So Sad Aliout Gloria Ac-Sus' 

Teenage Pony Girls ..." Sex 

Moonshine Girls .... sex' 

Palmer's . Hot Summer ih. In 

City 

Adventurf 

Candy (85) Sex May C 78 

Parol Ciinwir^, fieorctoa Spelvln 

Gall Palmer's Candy Goes to 

p"'''ir«"» Sex C. Dec 78 

rarni f.mnor!,. .Inhn Leslie 

CINEMA 5 

Dear Inspector 

(105) My 

Annie Clrardr.l I'hllli 

Viva Italia! (ff7) 

Vlltorlo Cassman. Ilgo 

COUGAR RELEASING, LTD. 

loi Panther (9J) Ad Sept 78 

Lâ'en^ 0?^ JJIir"" ''""•'"•» 

f») Atf..Sept78 

„ 

Oluck (onnors. Bach 

Barljara 

^S.?' 1"^°' "" • Sui..N( 

Bike Sommpr, Robert Koiworth 

•ôsle (95) C. Dec 78 

Sophia Ixiren. 

Maatrxilarail 

Marcello 

MISCELLANEOUS 

(101) . . , . 

. 

EMC PRODUCTIONS 

At Last At Last 

OMNI PICTURES 

Wolfman 

"" Datei Rei. Date 

Ho-Ac. . Feb 79 

(1&3) Sex C-D May 78! The Devil's Clone 

"--^- 

Sex .Aug Tails (90) C. 78 (96) AcSus 79 

riie Wonderful Wizard of 

Feb 79 

FIRST ARTISTS RELEASING 

Stevie (102) B-D . . Sepf 78 

(ilenda Jackson. Mona Washbourne 

FIRST INT'L PICTURES 

Dracula Sucks 

(108) Sex-Ho-C-D..Feb79 

Inmlc Cillis, Annette llaien, 

Serena. .Inhn Hnlmes 

FLORA RELEASING 

The Demon Lover (80) May 78 

Bandits (87) May 78 

HOLLYWOOD INT'L 

Come Under My Spell 

(84) . Sex D..Dec78 

ty Princess (82) .Sex C .Jan 79 

The Ne> Erotic Adventures of 

INDEPENDENT ARTISTS 

When the Screaming Stopi 

Sex C Mar 

(94) Ho-F. 

JAGUAR-BEEHIVE 

Disco Dolls in Hot Skin 

(95) Sex 

KEY INT'L FILM 

Sweet Creek County War 

(98) W-C 

Richard Bgan, Albert Salml 

Three Way Weekend 

(85) Sex C. 

non Diego. Jody Olhara 

LIMA PRODUCTIONS 

Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio 

(75) Sex C Mar 78 

Teenage Seductress 

Sex D. Mar 78 

MUSTANG-BEEHIVE 

Carnal Encounters of the Barest 

Kind (88) Sex-SF. Apr 79 

NATIONAL AMERICAN 

Cominj Attractions C. Sept 78 

Kill Murray, Buddy Hackett, 

Mlst.v Itowc, Howard Hessemsn 

NEW LINE 

Gizmo! (79) 

Bronson Lee Champion (86) . 

Despair (120) 

hlrk Bog.irde 

ike a Turtle on Its Back 

(90) C-D 

Bemadette Lafont 

Jive (81) 

Robert Downey 

Autumn in Germany (116) . 

Revenge of the Streetfighter 

(90) 

(Tilba 

Sept 78 

Sept 

Oct 78 

NMD FILM DISTRIBUTING CO 

The Carhops (88) June 78 

The New Adventures of Snow White 

(76) July 78 

QUARTET FILMS 

IVifemlslress (101) . 

Maroello Mastroiannl. 

AntonelU 

ROCHELLE FILAAS, INC. 

Drive-In Massacre 

(88) D. June 78 

Jake Barnes. Adam Lawrence 

CB Hustlers (85) C. June 78 

Tiffany Jones, John Alderman 

Fiona (82) C-D. .July 78 

Klona Richmond, Anthony Steele, 

Victor SplnettI 

Thirsty Dead (96) Sept 78 

Rock Fever (98) Oct 78 

Dr. Jackyll't Dungeon of 

0"tli (91) Nov 78 

SANRIO FILM DISTRIBUTION 

The Great Balloon Adventure 

(89) C-Ad..Feb79 

.:illiarine Hepburn 

The Glacier Fox 

(90) 0D-D.Feb79 

Winds of Change 

(87) An-M-F..July79 

Nutcracker (100) . . . An-M . 

79 

computer Game Sex. June 78 

?3f Maid Sex. June 78 

My Swedish Cousins .. .Sex. .June 78 

Lip Service Sex. .June 78 

Love Thy Neighbor Sex. .June 78 

Pleasure Cruise Sex. June 78 

Girls Prison 

Sex. .June 78 

The Pro Shop . . . Sex. .June 78 

Wall Street Walker Sex.. July 78 

TurnedOn Girl . Sex. July 78 

Sweet Taste of Joy Sex.. July 78 

Secretaries Spread Sex. July 78 

Sex Freedom in 

Sex . July 78 

S.J. INTERNATIONAL 

Lunatics and Levcn ...CHiyTS 

Marcello Mastrolirail. Haudla Mori 

The Bananas Boat C. . May 78 

Hayley MDI.'i, Doug McOure 

Eagles Attack at Dawn Ac. .June 78 

STUDIO FILM CORP 

The Alpha Incident (85) . . . . Mar 78 

Ralph Meeker. St.ifford Morgan 

•Inhn Goff. Buck Flowers 

Johnny Mar 79 

Hor5t BucWioIi 

The Capture of Bigfoot 

(95) May 79 

Richard Kennedy, Katherine Hopkins 

Stafford Morgan, John Goff 

The Maggots Aug 79 

nils Young. .Tohn Goff, 

Kalherlne Hopkins 

21st CENTURY 

Three Fantastic Supermen ..June 78 

The Obsessed One July 78 

Jllalc Panday. Tracy Parrlsh 

The Tormented Aug 78 

.''trila rarnaclna. (Tirts Avram 

Snuff Box Connection ..Ac. Sept 78 

X""!! Fu Ac Sept 78 

WORLD NORTHAL 

Bread and Chocolate . .C-D. July 78 

in Manfrodl, Anna Karlna 

All Things Bright and Beautiful 

(94) C-D. July 78 

ilin Alilorton. (Villn Blakely 

The Last Wtvt 

(106) My.D..0ct78 

nichard rhamberlaln 

Teresa the Thief C-O . 

78 

lea Vltll 

COMING RELEASES 

ALLIED ARTISTS 

North Dallas Forty 

, 

''eifO'-a 

Apr? Nick Nolle 

William Holden, Marllie Keller 

Full Moon in August 

Stuntrock May 7 Joseph Bottoms 

Grant Page, Monique van dc \'cii Fraternity Row (101) 0. 

Margaret Gerard 

Peter Fox. Gregory Harrlaoo 

The Shape of Things to Come . SF. Seven Nights in Japan 

Jack I'alance, Carol Lynley 

Michael York 

American Gigolo 

Lauren Hutton 

Prophecy 

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL Talla Shire, Robert Foiworth 

Meteor June 79 The Hurricane 

Scan tonnery, Natalie Wood. 

Timothy Bottoms, Jason Robards, 

Henry Fonda. Treior Howard 

Mia Farrow, Trevor Howard 

Defiance 

lan-Mlchael Vincent, .iosepli 

Campanella. .\rt Carney. Theresa 

Satdana 

C.H.O.M.P.S 

Valerie Bertlnelll. Wesley Eure. 

I'cmrad Rain 

20TH-FOX 

The 

, 

Humanoid 

Perfect Couple . . R-C-D Apr 79 

IHchard Kiel. Barbara Paul 

Bach 

Dooley, Marta HeHin. 

The Amityville Horror 

Ted Neeley, Henry Gibsnii 

.lames Brolin. Margot lien 

Kidder. 

SF-Ho..Hay79 

Itod Stelger, Murray Hamilton Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto 

The Visitor 

Dreamer June 79 

•I"hn Huston, Shelley Winters Tim Mathesnn. Susan Blakely 

Glenn Fnrd 

Butch and Sundance: the Early 

Days W.. June 79 

Tom Berenger, William Kalt 

AVCO EMBASSY 

A Man, a Woman and a Bank . 

Donald Sutherland. Brooke Ai 

Goldengirl 

James Coburn. Susan Anton, 

Leslie Taron, Robert Cnlp 

Winter Kills 

Elizabeth Taylor, Jeff Bridges, 

John Huston, Anthony Perkfns 

BUENA VISTA 

The Apple Dumpling Gang 

Rides Again 

Tim ronway. Don Knotta 

The Black Hole 

Ma.\lmlllan Schell. ,\nthony 

Perkins, Robert Forste: 

The Spaceman and King Arthu 

Dennis Diigan, Jim Dale, 

Kenneth More, Ron Moody 

COLUMBIA 

Paradise 

Paul Newman 

All That Jazz dm 

Roy Sdielder, Ann Relnking 

Freestyle 

Susan Oark 

Power 

Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon. 

Michael Doiiglja 

Just You and Me, Kid C 

„('eo.'^f Bums, Brooke Shields 

Nightwing 

Stephen Macht. Nick Man'ciiso 

Ashanti 

Michael " ' 

Paine. Peter'ustiiiov; 

William Holden. Hex Harrison 

The Thief of Bagdad 

Terence Stamp. Peter Cstlnm' 

CROWN INTERNATIONAL 

Burnout 

tllir 79 

Mark Schneider. Rohert Louden 

The Pom Pom Girls. Part II 

Coach, Part II 

Gym Teacher 

The Malorettes 

Lovely But Deadly 

Stuart Taylor, Jill Lansing 

. 

D'MENSION 

Down in Flames Apr 79 

Swap-Meet 

79 

Stone Cold Dead June 79 

Hiiliar.l Cienna. Williams. 

Paul 

l.iiKi.i .Sivrenson, Belinda Montgnmcrv 

Solitary Confinement July 79 

Naked Paradise Aun 79 

Nio"' Creature 

.Oct 79 

' 

. 

NEW WORLD 

Disco High CM 

Car Wars Ae-C 

"ac-D 

The Lady in Red 

Battle Beyond the Stars . 

sf" 

Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round 

the Old Oak Tree ... r.d 

PARAMOUNT 

Rough Cut Apr 7 

Burt Reynol*. Jacqueline Bl'sset 

Escape From Alcatraz June 7 

CJtnt Eastwood. Patrick McOoohan 

Nine to Five e. 

Jane PbnA 

St. Petersburg Cannes Express 

Iiille Christie. Donald Sutherland 

The Rose DM. 

Bette Midler. Alan Bates 

Bruhaker 

Robert Bedford 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Apocalypse Now War D . 79 

Marlon Brando. Robert Duvall, 

Martin Sheen. Dcnnia Hopper 

James and Jane 

James Caan. Genevieve Bujold 

Wanda Nevada C-Ad. 

Peter Fonda, Brooke Shields 

Last Embrace R-Sus-D.. 

Roy Schelder, Janet MargollD. 

Marda Rodd. Christopher Walken 

Roger Moore. I/ils Chiles, 

Michel Lonsdale, Richard Kiel 

Manhattan 

Woody Allen. Diane Keaton. 

Michael Murphy Marlel Hemingway 

Rocky 1—Redemption 

1 

aivester Siallone. Talla Shire. 

Burt Yoimg. Burgess Meredith 

•JNIVERSAL 

Gang! Apr 79 

It. tihv Benson, Sarah Holeomb 

Battlestar 

Gallactica SF- Ac. May 79 

Ixjrne Greene, Ray Milland. Richard 

Hatch, Dirk Benedict 

The Incredible Shrinking 

Woman 

SF-C..Dec79 

Lily Tomlln 

The Lonely Lady b. . 

Susan Blakely 

The Senator 

Alan Alda. Kfelvyn Douglas. 

Barbara Harris 

Little Miss Marker 

ter Mitthau 

Legacy 

Katharine Ross, Sam Eailott. 

Roger Daltrey 

Resurrection 

1 lluislMi. Sam .Sliepard 

IHincr's Dauahter B-D. 

. Spaeek, Tommy Lee Jones 

ARNER BROS. 

Little Romance Apr 79 

aurence (lllvler. Sally Kellerman 

Beyond the Poseidon 

Adventure July 79 

Michael Calne. Sally Field, 

Tolly Savalas. Peter Boyle 

Main Event Aug 79 

Barbra Streisand, O'Neal, 

Rjan 

Paul Sand 

The In-Laws Ac-C..Aug79 

Peter Falk. Alan Arkln. Nancy 

Diissaiilt. Arlene Oolonka 

The Squeeze Sus-C. 

Stacey Keach, Lino Ventura 

rir

THE PROMOTION AND MERCHANDISING 

GUIDE 

Send news of advertising campaigns and publicity to STU GOLDSTEIN, MERCHANDISING EDITOR 

'Bell Jar' Promotion 

Involves Dept. Stores 

torial layout on actress Marilyn Hassett in 

the magazine's January issue. Avco Embassy 

Pictures and Mademoiselle magazine 

have teamed up for a major advertising and 

promotional tie-in on the Hassett-starring 

film "The Bell Jar." which Avco will release 

in March, according to Herman Kass. 

vice-president, advertising and publicity. 

Six-Page Advertising Section 

In its March issue, Mademoiselle will 

feature a six-page advertising section involving 

the May Co. and Avco Embassy. 

It will be devoted to "The Bell Jar" and 

feature Ms. Hassett in apparel from six 

nationally known designers. The entire 

issue of the magazine will be aimed at women 

in key business positions and represents 

a natural tie-in with the film. The late 

Sylvia Plath, author of the book upon 

which the picture is based, served as a guest 

editor for Mademoiselle in the late 1950s. 

In addition to the magazine promotion. 

Mademoiselle is tied in with over 600 department 

and specialty stores around the 

country, with a select group of editors traveling 

from city to city during the months 

of March and April to introduce various 

"management style" attire. This promotion, 

in such stores as the May Co. Emporium. 

Dayton's, Hudson's, Famous Barr and 

others, will also feature in-store displays 

for "The Bell Jar." In a number of these 

stores, actress Hassett and director Larry 

Peerce will appear in person. 

Avco Embassy is also planning a full 

schedule of premiere and national press 

parties with Ms. Hassett, Peerce and other 

available stars from the film scheduled to 

attend. 

'Snatchers' Radio Tie In 

Pays Off in Nashville 

Bob Sokol. Loews Theatres city manager, 

arranged a radio-station sponsored preview 

showing of United Artists' "Invasion of the 

Body Snatchers" at Loews Crescent. 

WLAC-Radio provided some ninety 30- 

second spots (valued at more than $1,500), 

in support of the promotion. 

The Nashville Tennessean ran a colorart 

break on the attraction opening day. 

Multi-Campaign Hypes 'Wilderness 

Ogden-Perry's Charles Cinema in Lake 

area merchants, the posters were placed 

in the windows of many different stores. 

The theatre's attention was then turned 

towards the media, which included a favorable 

review of the picture in a new local 

weekly. The Lake Area Guide. Exposure 

on local radio stations included station 

KLOU giving 30 free commercials in exchange 

for thirty passes. KLOU made a major 

giveaway out of the passes and constantly 

announced chances to win passes to the 

Charles Cinema. This amounted to an ad- 

Charles, La. used a series of promos to tubthump 

ditional 30 free commercials when each of 

Following on the heels of a four-page edi- 

Pacific International's "Wilderness the passes was given away. 

Family Part 2." Promotional window cards Toplining the promotion, Charles Cinema 

were distributed, and with the consent of allowed Pete Jones, a local taxidermist, to 

'Born Again Screening 

Aided by Direct Mail 

Tony Bruguiere, manager of the Santa 

Rosa Cinema in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 

promoted his recent engagement of "Born 

Again" with a massive direct mail campaign. 

Four weeks before opening day, Bruguire 

made his first mailing to all the 

churches within fifty miles of Santa Rosa 

Cinema. His letter stressed the fact that it 

was an opportunity for the congregations 

of these churches to make a positive statement 

about the type of movies they wanted 

to see. A very good review of "Born Again" 

from New Wine, a Christian magazine, 

was included. The pastors were urged to 

recommend the movie to their congregations. 

In the second mailing, Bruguiere set up 

a special screening and invited all the pastors 

in the area to be his guest. The screening 

was held a week before opening in order 

to give the pastors a chance to pass along 

their recommendations to their churches 

before opening day. At the screening, each 

person was given a printed folder containing 

quotes about "Born Again" from reviewers 

on both a national and regional 

level. 

This direct mailing campaign reached the 

target market of "Born Again" and was conducted 

at no cost to Santa Rosa Cinema 

other than postage. 

display a set of animals in the lobby of the 

theatre. The animals were provided at no 

charge, except for small promotional signs 

along with the taxidermist's works. Young 

people attending "Wilderness Family Part 

2" especially enjoyed the display. 

The combination of the lobby display, 

free radio spots, window displays and newspaper 

write-up amounted to an effective job 

of merchandising by the Charles Cinema, 

managed by Jules Courville. 

The Grand Thcalic. part of the Coiuluonweallh 

circuit in Grand Island. 

Neb., staged a "lunch bunch" Saturday-afternoon 

matinee which attracted 

a huge turnout. This ad. rim a few days 

in advance of the showing, told about 

the free lunch movie marathon. The 

program ran for five hours, with seats 

priced at $l.2.'i. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 19, 1979

Free 

| 

ALL OF THESE 

PRACTICAL 

SERVICE 

DEPARTMENTS 

APPEAR REGULARLY 

in 

'Wiz Weekend' In 

Cincinnafi 

Redstone's Showcase Cinemas combined with SliiUiiu \ Dtpaiuntiu Siou mid 

WLW Radio to award a "Wiz. Weekend." WLW's Jim LaBarbani awaided fîand 

prize and actual costumes from the film were on display at the store. 

ADLINES AND EXPLOITIPS 

BOXOFHCE BAROMETER 

(First 

Run Reports) 

FEATURE BOOKING CHART 

• 

FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST 

& ALPHABETICAL INDEX 

• 

REVIEWS OF FEATURES 

• 

SHORT SUBJECT CHART 

• 

SHOWMANDISING IDEAS 

In 

^fl Ways the Best 

SERVICt THAT SERVES! 

Dynamite Corp. Gives 

'Best Promo' Prize 

Rick Parr. Manager of the Broadacres 

Cinema in Hattiesbiirg, Miss, was awarded 

a $100 prize in January for his late-1978 

promotion of "Count Dracula and His Vampire 

Bride." The prize was awarded by the 

producer of the picture. Dynamite Entertainment 

Corp. of New Yoik to the manager 

in the New Orleans territory who staged 

the best advertising campaign for the picture. 

Parr's promotional techniques included 

converting the theatre into a Transylvanian 

graveyard, complete with employees and 

customers participating in various activities. 

Aiea newspapers covered the event and 

$600 worth of free radio advertising was 

given the theatre by WXXX and WHSY, 

two prominent stations in Hattiesburg. 

j 

Bookstore, Radio Tie-in 

Garners . . Advertising Best Ad Campaigns 

For their promotion of Avco-Embassy's BoxoFFiCE wants to know details about 

"Born Again," the Jackson Mall Cinema in your best advertising campaigns to promote 

Jackson, Miss, came up with a series of currently playing pictures. Tell us what 

showmandising ideas. Kicking off the busy film you promoted and how, including any 

media coverage you got as a result of the 

schedule. Manager George Prichett cross- 

promotion. Plenty of copy and photos are 

plugged the picture with posters and trailers 

at Jackson Mall Cinema and Ellis Isle Twin 

Cinema. 

Further promotion included arrangements 

with Jackson Mall's leading bookstore for a 

Watergate display. Window displays at the 

bookstore included various books about 

Watergate figures, including stacked copies 

of "Born Again" and a banner poster with 

playdate information. A religious bookstore 

in the area was also contacted and they 

agreed to display the Bantam book and an 

accompanying poster. 

During the first and second weeks of the 

playdate, Jackson Mall tied-in with three of 

the local radio stations and held a super 

pass giveaway. This amounted to $500 

worth of free ad time from WJDX, $300 

worth from WYLG and $250 air time from 

WJQS. During the third and fourth weeks, 

lie-ins amounted to over $400 worth of no- ( 

cost air time. 

'Wolfman' Ads Scheduled 

Stewart and Everett Theatres are advising 

their managers of the promotions scheduled i| 

for Earl Owensby's "Wolfman," which is i' 

opening March 2. Among the campaigns 

for "Wolfman" are a hard-hitting TV cam- 

. 

paign, set by Stewart and Everett's ESCO „» 

ad agency, trailers and posters. All Stewart 

and Everett Theatres booked to play "Wolf- ll 

man" were sent a giant 11 -foot high poster, 

which is on display at selected theatres' 

lobbies. 

Tell Us About Your 

essential to give other exhibitors the e.xact 

story on your promotion strategies. The best 

campaigns will be featured in Showmandiser 

and all features we run will be candidates 

j 

for Showmandiser Citations. 

We arc also interested in your audience's 

reactions to current engagements. Audience 

response is vital information to all exhibitors. 

What recent bookings have been successful 

and not-so-successful? Send news of 

your campaigns and audience reactions to 

Stu Goldstein, Merchandising Editor, Boxoffice. 

825 Van Brunt. Kansas City, Mo. 

64124. 

\ 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 19, 19791

Ift'S: SOc per word, rniniTnnm $5.00 CASH WITH COPY. Foxir conaecutiTO insertions Jor price 

jf ree. When using a Boxoiiict. No. figure 2 additional words and include $1.00 additional, to 

•0, cost of handling replies. Display Classified, $38.00 per Column hich. No commission 

Sliced CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers 

10 )x Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124. 

CL^flfilDG HOUSt 

HELP WANTED 

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE 

THEATRES FOR SALE 

^NAGERS and City Managei 

r mall, growing Midwest cir 

r n knowledge desired. We 

del ior the right showman. 

ly benehts. Repl y Boxollic 

"IPEHIENCED MANAGERS needed by 

no nal circuit for theatre expansion in 

Chigo area. Group insurance, Pension 

ea: incentives, bend resume, relerences 

OT.photo to Boxoffice, 4209. 

:'RE ON THE MOVE and we need 

ad Managers and Supervisors who 

w< to move ahead with a zooming compa 

Openings now in Alabama, Georgia 

Si Florida. Good salary, concession 

conission, hospitalization. Rush resume, 

re. it snapshot, salary required to; Dick 

Ecy. Cobb Theatres, Suite A, Eastwood 

M, Birmingham, Alabama 35210. 

TICKET MACHINES repaired. Fast service, 

WORLD'S LARGEST THEATRE I 

reasonable rates. Your old ticket JOE lOSEPH, Box 31406, Dallas 75231 

machine worth money. We trade, buy and 363-2724 

DRIVE-IN sell ticket machines. Try us first. Ask 

THEATRES in Lemmo 

and Bowman, ND Show good ne 

about our rebmlts. Save money. I.E.D 

Spearflsh, (605) SD. 642-4857 

Grafton, 

Service Co., 10 Woodslde Dr., 

189, 

Massachusetts. (617) 839-4058 

DRIVE-IN THEATRE, Schuylkill County, 

RADIO SOUND for DRIVE-IN THEATRES 

location on busy Bt. 61 16 

acre commercial property, refinished 

PA. Excellent 

newly ncludes transmitter and backup unit, $1,- 

dual sound system, 56P 

95.00 Available from manufacturer. Co!: 

screen, 

speakers, stand. ir 

concession Property or further information. (901) 376-4000^ 

excellent condition. Call CM. Detweiler 

Inc. (717) 345-4475, Ask for Bernie 

COMPLETE SIMPLEX 

iD,,.y, 

' Noreico, Simplex, p 

n. Excellent salary 

qualified person. Send 

-- 

ificalions to Boxolf '4210. 

ED MORE MONEY? Are you a theatre 

aqer who needs another $200,00 per 

l' Have you successfully sold Christicrpen 

ads and parties in your theaelling 

screen ads to your local bcnk- 

3uto dealer etc. . . . Write to Theatre 

Clock Co., P,0. Box 597, Sarasota. 

33578 and well show you how. Do it 

CPERIENCED 

and able 

oxoffice. 421 

^liable. 

WERIENCED 

SERVICE 

D work for 

Canada, Mr

KM LOWD OOETZE5 

5£OE POLE LOVED AONE6. 

Audiences started cheering Goetze's Caramel Creams be 

fore Rudolf Valentino was making love to Agnes Ayres in 

The Son of the Sheik. And since that time, our original 

Caramel Creams have been receiving nothing but rave 

reviews. Of course, the sequels — Licorice Caramel 

Creams, Chocolate Caramel Creams and Peanut 

Butter Creams — have also been box office hits 

So make sure that Goetze's receives star billin; 

We move. You make money And that's some 

thing worth applauding. 

Goetze's Candy Co., Inc. • 3900 E. Monument St 

Baltimore, Md. 2I20S • (301) 342-2010

^h^C|

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