I .^05^

BUFFALO
Toe Garvey, manager of the Holiday Theatre
complex since it opened, left that
position Friday, Dec. 29 to form his own
advertising agency. Garvey is the only manager
the Holiday has had. It opened in
1970 with two 818-seat auditoriums and
since has been expanded to include four
_^00-seat screening halls at the rear of the
big complex, which also takes in the Aerohead
and Holiday Showcase restaurants.
The Holiday is owned by Alvin B. Wright
Jr. Garvey is a well-known and highly respected
member of the industry, having
worked for several years as manager of
the Granada Theatre, when it was owned
by the Schine organization and subsequently
other independent operators. He plans to
work from his home at 1455 North French
Rd., North Tonawanda, and will specialize
in both indoor and outdoor theatre advertising.
A 17-year-old youth. Joseph L. Page Jr.,
was slain with a single shot from a small
caliber pistol in the Downtown Cinema Theatre
early Sunday morning, Jan. 7. The incident
took place during an all-night movie
program. Witnesses said Page and his assistant
became involved in a verbal altercation
before the shooting. They told police
the assailant calmly walked back to his seat
after shooting Page, picked up his coat and
walked out of the theatre. Police had no
solid leads as to
the identity of the slayer.
" 'Brass Target' presents an interesting
hypothesis on the death of General George
S. Patton and has its share of action and
thrills, but plays fairly fast and loose with
history, raising more question than it
answers," said Bob Groves in his Courier-
Express review.
Ed Pantano was offic'ally installed as
chief barker of the Variety Club of Buffalo
at joint installation ceremonies of the
men and women's groups Saturday, Jan. 13
in Santora's La Stanza Restaurant on Niagara
Falls Boulevard. Other new officers
installed were Pat Corey, first assistant; Joe
Crimi, second assistant; Tom Million, property
master, and Myron Gross, dough guy.
Sue Mason was sworn in as president of
the Variety Club Women, a.ssisted by Maryann
Mazzella, first vice-president; Rose Marie
DiPaola, second vice-president; Joan
Ross, treasurer; Marie Newman, recording
secretary; Cleo Verolini, financial secretary,
and Karen Million, corresponding secretary.
Pat Corey was chairman of the event.
Clarence A. Hill. Industry
Pioneer, Dead at Age 82
NEWARK, N.J.—Clarence A. Hill, 82,
former Millburn mayor and film industry
veteran, died December 12 at Overlook Hospital
in Summit, N.J.
Over the years Hill was associated with
Universal Studios, Samuel Goldwyn Productions
and Fox Film Corp. He retired in
1963 as manager of the 20th Century-Fox
branch operations in the U.S. and Canada.
He also represented the entire motion
pictuie industry in labor negotiations. Previously,
he served as mayor of Millburn
from 1942-54 and was a member of the
township committee and was active in many
civic affairs. He was a member of the Motion
Picture Pioneers and an Army veteran
of World War I.
Ticket Prices in Philly
Reach $4 for 'The Wiz'
PHILADELPHIA—For the second time
ever in Philadelphia, the admission price to
a major movie exceeded the customary boxoffice
ceiling of $3.50. The ticket increase
to $4, with $2 for children, which was first
instituted for the current showing of "The
Wiz" at Budco's Midtown Theatre, has now
been matched for "Superman" at the Fox
Theatre.
William Milgram, head of the Milgram
Theatres circuit, explained that the theatre
spent $32,000 on new projection and sound
equipment for "Superman," and is able to
show it in full Dolby four-track stereo
sound. He also pointed out that "this is a
$40 million picture—an event! I think people
will pay the price, and they'll be satisfied
with what they see." Milgram said he
expects "Superman" to be the biggest picture
that has played the Fox Theatre since
"The Godfather."
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Budco 61st Street Ozoner
Runs Afoul of Neighbors
PHILADELPHIA—Change in picture
policy at
Budco's 61st Street Drive-In Theatre,
the only open-air facility within the city
limits, also brought with it a change in attitude
on the part of the neighbors. The flagship
of the six drive-in theatres in the area
still operated by the locally based Budco
Quality Theatres chain, problems started
cropping up when the 61st Street lot switched
from its normal summer showings of
first-run movies to the X-rated triple features
to warm up the cold weather months.
Caused Six Accidents
In the past month, police claim, there
have been at least six traffic accidents as
motorists shift into low gear on the six-lane
stretch in front of the drive-in in order to
get a peek at the theatre's screen which sits
on a ten-foot high ridge. A police officer
had to be dispatched to the drive-in to keep
traffic moving at a normal 45-mph clip
after the rash of accidents.
The stopping by motorists also brought
protests from D'Agata Trucking Co., a 24-
hour trucking agency located across the
street from the drive-in. The company
charged that people park their cars in front
of the trucking company's driveways, bottling
up the truckers who wanted to start
their late-night cross-country treks.
Other Businesses Angered
Dennis Coren, whose drain-cleaning establishment
parking lot is also across the
street, said he and other area businessmen
are planning to ask the district attorney's
office to do something about the "public
nuisance."
"When they showed G-rated pictures,
everything was okay," Coren said. "No one
stopped to see them without sound." Tom
Snyder, who manages the 61st Street Drive-
In, also said he was unhappy about people
watching the movie from the road. Now
that police are patrolling the street, Snyder
said he hoped the watchers will be coming
in and paying the $3 admission instead of
freeloading from the outside,
'Different Crowd' in Winter
Snyder said the only drive-in theatres in
the area which stay open in the winter run
X-rated films. "It's a different kind of
crowd you get in the winter." he said. "You
know, we give them in-car heaters, but
that's not really enough." In an effort to
get back the regular crowd over the
holiday season, Snyder said they are booking
in "Midnight Express" and other firstrun
films. "We just like to keep open and
make some money," he added.
€IJVERi%Mi\ IS Vi SHOW
BITSLVCSS Vi HAWAII T,
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WTicn you come to Waikiki,
don't miss the famous Don I lo
Show ... at Cincnuua's
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E-6
BOXOFFICE :: January 22, 1979