Boxoffice-April.16.1979

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• APRIL 16, \rn

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION

liiiluihiig tht Stclisnal Ntxi P

'

lONAL RELEASE DATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 29th, 1979!

Contact your local

ALSTON/ZANITSCH

INTL FILMS, INC. 3

Sub-Distributor I

An Enêrtainmenl Event Destined

\o Make Motion Picture History!

m WERNER BRANDT PRESENTS

CLEVELAND

1r. Jay Goldberg .

)13) 851-9933

GEORGIA/ALABAMA

ARKANSAS

FLORIDA/LOUISIANA

MISSISSIPPI/TENNESSEE

DENVER/OMAHA-

DES MOI

SALT LAKE CITY

"r. Pat Halloran

NORTH CAROUNA

SOUTH CAROLINA

Mr. Bill Simpson

(704) 333-5193

1LADELPHIA

Mr. Terry Levene

(212) 787-6208

NEW ENGLAND Territory

Mr. Harvey Appell

(617) 482-4442

BUFFALO

Upper NEW YORK Stai

Mr. Ike Ehrllchman

(716) 854-6752 .

or (716) 852-0076

PORTLAND/SEATTLE

Mr. Gary Gibbs

(213) 467-9459

WASHINGTON, D.C.

MARYLAr"""""

Mr. Ross Wheeler

(202) 244-1500

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA

KFVJ MFYinn

am

WILLIE NELSON • WAYLON JENNINGS • LEON RUSSELL

AND A SUPPORTING CAST OF THOUSANDS

RESTRICTED €

rOUtRES ACCOMPANYING

RENT OR ADULT

^LfTON/ZiiMiTSCH liniiWiiTioiiiiLhLMt,lHC. Release

or contact JERRY ZANITSCH and EMMETT ALSTON: (213) 846-5594

and see them at Showarama, Crown Center Hotel, Kansas City, Mo.

-*^ APRIL 23-26

iflinON/ZilNITtCH iHTERMiiriOHilLhLMtjMC.

VEER HUNTER' BEST PICTURE;

FONDA. VOIGHT CLAIM OSCARS

RON SCHAUMBURG

By

Associate Editor

'The Deer Hunter," EMI-Universal's

devastating story of war's effect on a closely-knit

group of blue-collar workers, was

voted the best picture of 1978 during the

51st annual Academy Awards ceremony

April 9.

Michael Cimino. director of the film,

and Christopher Walken, who played the

supporting role of a young man driven to

suicide by the futility of war, also won

the Oscars in their respective categories.

In addition, "The Deer Hunter" was recognized

for its achievement in sound and

editing.

A film with a similar theme, "Coming

Home," earned top acting honors for its

stars Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. It also

garnered the Oscar for best screenplay written

directly for the screen.

Before the ceremonies, demonstrators outside

the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los

Angeles carried signs denouncing "The Deer

Hunter's" allegedly racist attitudes toward

the people of Vietnam. Thirteen arrests were

made after a thiown bottle disrupted the

otherwise peaceful protest. Five injuries

were reported.

"Heaven Can Wait." from Paramount,

which had been nominated for nine awards,

was cited for best art direction. Warren

Beatty, who had been nominated in three

categories— best director, best actor and

best screenplay—went home empty-handed.

Columbia's "Midnight Express" collected

two of the gold statuettes, one for Giorgio

Moroder's score and one for Oliver Stone's

screenplay adapted from another medium.

Columbia, distributors of Casablanca

Records, will profit by awards given to the

"Midnight Express" score and to the song

"Last Dance" from "Thank God It's Friday."

Woody Allen, whose somber "Interiors"

had been nominated in five categories, including

best director and best original

screenplay, failed to repeat the success of

last year's "Annie Hall."

The ceremony was noticeably smoother

and more restrained than in recent years.

Johnny Carson, in his first appearance as

emcee, handled his lines with finesse, displaying

the comic timing and delivery for

which he is famous.

Introduced by Howard Koch as "a national

treasure," Carson quickly pulled the

rug from under potentially politically minded

recipients

by taking a stand on every issue

from nationalism to seal-hunting.

The ceremonies, in fact, were remarkably

(Continued on page 5)

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

Vance Publishing Corp.. 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas

City, .Missouri 64124. Subscription rates: Sectional

Edition, J1500 per year, foreign. $25.00. National

Bjecutlve Edition: $26.00, foreign, $30.00. Single

'-'opy, 75c. Second class postage paid at Kansas City.

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

Robert DeNiro, second from right, heads the cast of the award-winning "Deer

Hunter," an EMI films/ Universal release.

Winners of Academy Awards for 1978

Best picture: "The Deer Hunter, an EMI

"

Films/ Michael Cimino Film Production,

Universal. Barry Spikings, Michael Deeley,

Michael Cimino and John Peverall, producers.

Best directing: Michael Cimino for "The

Deer Hunter,"

Best actor: Jon Voight in "Coming

Home."

Best actress: Jane Fonda in "Coming

Home."

Best supporting actor: Christopher Walken

in "The Deer Hunter."

Best supporting actress: Maggie Smith in

"California Suite."

Best foreign-language film: "Get Out

Your Handkerchiefs" (France).

Best original screenplay—written directly

for the screen: "Coming Home," story by

Nancy Dowd, screenplay by Waldo Salt and

Robert C. Jones.

Best screenplay—^based on material from

another medium: "Midnight Express."

screenplay by Oliver Stone.

Best cinematography: Nestor Almendros

for "Days of Heaven."

Best sound: Richard Portman, William

McCaughey, Aaron Rochin and Darrin

Kinight for "The Deer Hunter."

Best film editing: Peter Zinner for "The

Deer Hunter."

Best art direction: Paul Sylbert and Edwin

O'Donovan for "Heaven Can Wait," set

decoration by George Gains.

Best costume design: Anthony Powell for

"Death on the Nile."

Best original dramatic score: Giorgio

Moroder for "Midnight Express."

Best original song score/adaptation: Joe

Renzetti for "The Buddy Holly Story."

Best original song: "Last Dance," from

"Thank God It's Friday," music and lyrics

by Paul Jabara.

Best documentary feature: "Scared

Straight!", .\rnold Shapiro, producer.

Best documentary short: "The Flight of

the Gossamer Condor." Jacqueline Phillips

Shedd and Ben Shcdd. producers.

"

Best live-action short: "Teenage Father,

Taylor Hackford, producer.

Best animated short: "Special Delivery, "

Eunice Macaulay and John Weldon, producers.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT:

VISUAL EFFECTS

"Superman," a Richard Donner film, produced

by Pierre Spengler.

SPECIAL TECHNICAL AWARDS

Stephen Kodalsky, for special achievement

in sound, in the development of Nagra

recorders: Robert Gottschalk, for de-

(Continued on page 5)

April

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY

Published in Fi»e Sectional Editions

WILLIAM C. VANCE

Publisher

JOHN F. BERRY

Assoc. Publisher/National Sales Manager

CHARLES F. ROUSE III

Editor

BEN SHLYEN Executive Editor

MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Manaoer

HARVEY SHARP Circulation Director

GARY BURCH Equipment Editor

JONNA JEFFERIS Associate Editor

STU GOLDSTEIN Associate Editor

RON SCHAUMBUBG Associate Editor

G. GREGORY TOBIN Associate Editor

JIMMY SUMMERS Assistant Editor

RALPH KAMINSKY West Coast Editor

JOHN COCCHI East Coast Editor

ADMINISTRATIVE

VANCE HERBERT A. Chairman

B. JOHN ONEIL President

J. JAMES STAUDT Vice-President

Executive

C. WILLIAM VANCE Vice-President

Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas

City Mo. 64124. (816) 241-7777.

Western Offices: 1800 N. Highland, Suite 707. Hollywood,

Ua. »0028. (213) 465-1186.

Advertising sales: Glea Vernon

Eastern Offices: 1270 Sixth Ave., Suite 2403. EocktfeUer

CenUr. New York, 10020, (212) 265-6370.

Advertising sales: Jim Young

THE MODERN TUEATllE Section Is Included hi

one issue each month.

Atlanta: Genevieve (iunp. 166 Undbergh Drive. N.E.

30305.

Balthnore: Kate Savage, 3607 Sprmgdale, 21216.

Boston: Ernest Warren, 1 (>)lgate Road. Needham,

Mass. 02192. Tele. (617) 444-1657.

Buffalo: Edward h\ Meade. 760 Mahi St., 14202.

Tele. (716) g64-15SS.

tharlolte: Chas. J. Leonard Sr.. 319 Queens Rd.,

28204. Tele. (704) 333-0444.

Chicago: Frances B. Clow. 175 North Kenllworth,

Oak Park, lU. 60302. Tele. (312) 383-8343.

CmchmaU: Tony B. Rutherford. Box 362. Huntington,

W. V». 1510&. Tele. (304) 525-3837.

Cleveland: Elain* Fried, 3255 Grenway Rd. 44122.

Tele. (216) 981-3797.

UaUaa: Mahle Gutoan, 5927 Winton. 76206.

Denver: Bruce MarshaU. 2881 S. Cherry Way, 80222.

Ues Mohies: Chidy Vlers. 4024 E. Maple. 50317.

Tele. 266-9811.

Hartford: Allen M. Wldem, 30 Pioneer Drive. W.

Hartford 06117. Tele. 232-3101.

Indianapolis: Itobert V. Jones. 6385 N. Park. 4Br20.

Teie. (317) 251-5070.

Jacksonville: Robert Ckirnviall. 3233 College St..

32205. Teie. (004) 389-6144.

Louisviiie: Susan D. Todd. 8409 Old Boundary Rd.,

40291.

Memphis: Bill Miokus. 1188 Perkins Rd 38117. Tele.

(901) 683-8182.

Miami: Martha Lumraus. 622 N B. 98 St. 33138.

MUwaukee: Wally L. Meyer. 301 Heather Lane. Fredonla.

Wis. 63021. Tele: (414) 692-2763.

Mhineapolis: BUI Dlehi. St. Paul Dispatch. 63 E.

4th St.. SU Paul. Minn. 56101

New Orleans: Mary Oreenbaum. 2303 Mendez St.

70122.

Oklahoma City: Eddie L. Greggs. 410 South Bldg..

2000 Classen Center. 73106.

Pahn Beach: Lois Baumoel. 2860 S. Ocean Blvd., No.

316, 33480, Tele. (305) 588-6786.

Philadelphia: Maurie H. Orodenker, 312 W. Park

Towne Place, 18130. Tele. (215) 667-4748.

Pittsburgh; R. F. KHngensmlth, P16 Jeanette, WUktasburg

15221. Tele. (412) 241-2809.

Portland, Ore.: Robt. Olds, 1120 N.E. 61sl, 97213.

St. Louis: Kan R. Krause, 818A Longacre Drive,

63132. Tele. (314) 891-4746.

Salt Lake City: Keith Perry, 264 E. 1st South, 84111.

Tele. (801) 328-1641.

San Antonio: Gladys Candy. 619 Ctachmatl Ave. Tele.

(512) 734-5527. 78201.

San Francisco: David Van. UATC. 172 Golden Gate

Ave.. 94102. Teie: &28-3200.

Seattle: Stu Goldman. Apt. 404. 101 N. 46th St.,

98103. Tele. 782-5833.

Toledo: Anna Klhie. 4330 Willys Pkwy.. 43612.

Tucson: Gib Clark. 433 N. Grande. Apt. 5. 86705.

Washington: Virglnhi R. CoUler. 5112 Connecticut

Ave.. N.W. 20008. Tele. (202) 362-0892.

IN CANADA

Calgary: Maxine McBean. 420 40th St.. S.W., F3C

iWl. Tele. (403) 249-6039.

Montreal: Tom Cleary. Association des Proprletaires

de Chiema du Quebec. 3720 Van Home. Suite 4-6,

1138 1B8.

Ottawa: Garfield "WUlle" WUson, 768 Kahisford Ave.,

KJK 2K1. Tele. 746-6680.

Tiironto: J. W. Agnew, 274 St. John's Rd., M6P 1V6.

Vancouver: Jimmy Davie. 3245 W. 12, V6K 2R8.

Robert Hucal, 600-232 Portage Ave., R3C

OBI.

'/4e "Julie

e^'me mei&n. 7ôtuA& SneluA

SHOWMANSHIP LIVES!

In the April 9 issue, we carriecd an article announcing the

names of three exhibitors who will be honored at Show-A-Rama

22 as winners in the Boxoffice/Show-A-Ramo Honored Showman

Competition,

It is unfortunate that, when all was said and done, there

could only be one winner chosen in each of three categories: print,

radio-TV and off-site promotion. For in truth there were no real

losers among the 'nearly 60 entrants who submitted promotional

campaign material for award consideration.

The lengthy selection process was made even more difficult

by the surprising strength of the competition that prevailed in all

three contest categories. But it was a welcome challenge for the

panel of judges saddled with the responsibility of singling out just

three winners from so many deserving entries.

As a member of the selection committee, we found it exciting

and refreshing that, during a growing period of economic uncertainty

in our society, exhibitors are meeting head on the financial

adversity that threatens to wound if not cripple the entertainment

industry. It would be very easy for exhibition to flirt with

complacency, particularly in the wake of all the advance publicity

and national notoriety associated with the release of such film

extravaganzas as "Star Wars," "Superman," and others. Conversely,

it would be difficult, if not foolish, to pass up an opportunity

to capitalize on the potential profit of films of this genre

by planning and executing a local merchandising angle to tie in

with all the free national publicity.

Which brings us to the point. As exhibitors at the local level

are all too well aware, the vast majority of all film fare in release

today is dispatched to the first-run markets without all the advance

publicity and merchandising ideas that we commonly associate

with major releases. It is i'n situations like this where an

exhibitor's showmanship instinct bridges the gap between a picture's

prospects for failure and its potential for becoming one

of those talked-about boxoffice success stories. All three winners

in the Honored Showman Competition successfully bridged the

gap, appealing to the interest of their local patronage by building

timely and productive promotional campaigns around films that

from the outset were not expected to set the world afire.

The winning campaigns will be on display for all to see during

the entire week of Show-A-Rama, April 23-26.

The Honored Showman Competition is further proof that

showmanship not only lives but is still a viable source of fun and

profit in our industry.

'Deer Hunler/ Fonda,

Voighl Win Oscars

(Continued from Page 3)

hoc from the political grandstanding thai

has become so common in recent years. Recipients

of awards showed restraint, especially

considering the emotionally charged

subject matter of the top films.

Nancy Dowd. author of the story of

Coming Home," wished to share her award

with the women "for whom the war still

goes on." Jane Fonda, who has been an

activist

for a number of cau,ses over the past

decade, used sign language for part of her

acceptance speech to call attention to the

problems of the handicapped.

Fonda and Voight in "Coming Home."

There were no spectacular production

numbers this year, a factor which helped in

keeping the three-and-a-half hour telecast

from stretching out interminably.

Steve Lawrence and Sammy Davis Jr.

performed a medley of classic songs that

were never nominated for awards, and a

group of studio musicians called The Orchestra

offered an overture of themes from

the top nominated films.

A vast contrast in ages was apparent

throughout the ceremony. The youngest presenter

in Oscar history was Ricky Schroder,

8, star of MGM's current release "The

Champ." George Burns, 83, appeared with

lanky Brooke Shields, 14, to present Maggie

Smith with her award for best supporting

actress in "California Suite."

Robin Williams, meteoric young star of

"Mork and Mindy" who was recently signed

to play the title role in Robert Altman's

"Popeye," presented an honorary award to

animator Walter Lantz, who has worked

in the industry for over 60 years. Williams

exchanged one-liners with an animated

Woody Woodpecker, Lantz's hallmark creation.

Ray Bolger and Jack Haley, the Scarecrow

and the Tin Man from the 1939 version

of "The Wizard of Oz," danced onto

the stage to music from the film. As they

presented the award for best costume to

Anthony Powell for "Death on the Nile,"

they drew applause by referring to Universal's

recent remake, "The Wiz."

The telecast was dotted with surrealistic

touches. A man read one of Carson's jokes

111 Chinese, underscoring the global impact

ol the broadcast. Steve Martin, wearing his

trademark arrow-lhrough-the-skull, donned

a mask which made his head invisible to

viewers. And a clip from the Mu,seuni of

Modern Art's film archives showed eerily

distorted busses and cars driving along New

York streets.

Leo Jaffe, who has spent 50 years with

Columbia Pictures, was presented with the

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Audrey Hepburn presented an honorary

award to veteran director King Vidor, who

was nominated during the first Oscar presentations

in 1928.

A brief montage of film clips was a highlight

of the tribute to the 50-year career of

Laurence Olivier, who was presented with

his second honorary award from the academy.

Olivier, who was nominated this year

for his performance in "The Boys From

Brazil," also won an acting Oscar for

"Hamlet" in 1948. His acceptance speech

visibly moved Jon Voight, who mounted

year-old actor had surgery earlier this year

to remove his stomach and gall bladder.

Prior to that he had lost a lung to cancer

and had undergone open-heart surgery.

Wayne, who waved cheerily to the audience

as he ambled down tTie stairs, commented,

"Oscar and I both have something

in common. Oscar came on the scene in

1928. So did I. We're both a little weatherbeaten,

but we're still arouind and plan to be

around a lot longer."

Host of Honorary Awcnrds

Highlight Oscar Show

(Continued from Page 3)

\elopment of Panaflex film equipment;

Eastman Kodak, for technical achievement

in research and development of Eastman

color film.

SPECIAL HONORARY AWARD

WALTER LANTZ

Best known for his creation of the animated

film character Woody Woodpecker,

for over 60 years of service to the motion

picture industry as a film animator.

SPECIAL HONORARY AWARD:

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART,

DEPARTMENT OF FILM

For "e.xhibiting, cataloging and preservina"

the industry's film heritacie.


KING VIDOR

For outstanding film achievement and

contributions to the motion picture industry

over the past half-century.


LAURENCE OLIVIER

For "gracing the industry" with his work

and extraordinary achievements durimg the

past

50 years.

JEAN HERSHOLT

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Leo Jaffe, chairman of the board of Columbia

Pictures, for 50 dedicated years of

service to the industry.

Allied Artists Ind.

Files for Bankruptcy

NEW YORK—Citing financial troubles

associated with one of its films, "The Betsy,"

as a cause. Allied Artists Industries filed

a voluntary court petition here April 4 to

rcoiganize under Chapter XI of the Federal

Bankruptcy Act.

Under the terms of the petition. Allied

Artists Pictures, a wholly owned subsidiary

of the parent company, will be allowed to

remain in business, with court protection

against creditors, while a successful reorganization

plan is developed, according to Jay

Feldman, group vice-president for consumer

affairs for Allied Artists Industries.

The parent company had previously reported

a net loss of $3.2 million for the 39

weeks ended Dec. 29, attributing $2.6 million

to Allied Artists Pictures. AA Industries

reported that the picture company had

the dais shortly thereafter to accept the best

actor award.

approximately $14.3 in liabilities as of Dec.

29, of which $5.4 million had been due.

John Wayne's appearance to present the

award immediate

According

Artists Industries

to the

entered

court petition.

into production

Allied

best film received an

standing ovation from the crowd. The 71- and financing agreements on the "The Betsy"

because of the financial difficulties being

experienced by its motion picture subsidiary.

As a result, the parent company reports

it incurred substantial obligations, re

suiting in

cash-flow problems.

In its court petition, AA Industries said

"that its business and properties continue to

be valuable and that it is necessary that the

company continue as a viable entity without

interruption! in order that it may realize the

full value of its assets and business."

Allied's major film productions have included

"Cabaret" with Liza Minnelli, "Papillon"

with Steve McQueen and Dustin

Hoffman, "The Man Who Would Be King"

with Sean Connery and Michael Caine and

"The Betsv" with Laurence Olivier.

ABC Declares Dividend

NEW YORK—The board of directors

of American Broadcasting Companies Inc.

recently declared a cash dividend of 30

cents per share on ABC common stock, payable

June 15, 1979.

COMING SOON...

A

BIGGER

and

BETTER

BOXOFFICE

BOXOFTICE April 16, 1979

has the

Flhnsthat

COISTACT

GEORGE ORPHANAKIS

Texas Area /Ohio Area 714-481-1266

SAM OETinGER

West Coast/Alaska/Hawaii 714- 481-1206

SKIP FEIHTECH

South 714-481-1206

BRUCE QUACREINBDSH

northeast 617-542-0227

JOHN INAL

Southeast 404-329-9003

ROGER MILLER

Midwest 816-931-2912

INORMAPi RATZ, ANDREW PFEFFER

Foreign Sales 714-481-1206

mt, AMERICAN CINEMA RELEASING

1^*****

nnwv

GOOD

GUYS

WEAR

BLACKS

TOIAL GROSS in 50% of U.S.

OATKS AKtA

Variety Conclave Is

Set for May 19-24

NEW YORK—The 52nd annual convention

of Variety Clubs International will be

held at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans

from May 19 to May 24, it was announced

by Eric D. Morley, president of the global

show business organization.

More than 1.000 delegates, representing

Variety Clubs in the United States, Australia,

Canada, England, France, Ireland,

Mexico. Puerto Rico, Israel and the Channel

Islands, will attend the convention.

Para, UA Enter Home Videocassette

Market; Rental System Is

Planned

CLEARING HOUSE

'

I

I

Henry G. Plitt

Overwhelming Choice

As Motion Picture Pioneer of 1979

The Foundation of the Motion Picture

onecrs selected Henry G. Plitt, nationally

known exhibitor

and circuit head, as

its Annual Pioneer of

the Year for 1979, it

was announced by B.

V. Sturdivant, president

of the charitable

organization.

The decision to

honor Plitt at the 41st

annual dinner was

unanimously approved

Henry G, PUtt

[,y the board of directors

at its meeting held recently in New

York.

Plitt was the overwhelming choice of the

search committee that was appointed by

Sturdivant to submit a candidate to the

board for the prestigious award. Sherrill

Corwin, who chaired the committee, praised

Plitt for his contributions to the motion

picture industry, and characterized him as

being eminently qualified for this honor.

On January 1, 1974, Henry G. Plitt, after

28 years of devoted service to the American

Broadcasting Companies, along with a

group of prestigious Chicagoans, purchased

the Northern Group of the American

Broadcasting Companies' Theatres which extended

from Michigan to California. At that

time he became its president and chief

executive officer.

of the spheres, according to Mel Richmond,

Under Plitt's leadership his circuit purchased

national promotion-exploitation director.

the remaining 258 ABC screens He said the "VisuaRama" sphere is flying

in eleven Southern states on October 27, around in several initial playdates in California

1978. latest This acquisition brings to a

and Texas. It was "highly effective"

total of over 400 screens, making the Plitt when unleased in a special sneak preview in

organization reportedly the largest independent

a theatre in the Westwood section of Los

theatre circuit in the country.

Plitt's civic interests are many. He served

Angeles.

as president of the United Cerebral Palsy

Assn. of Greater Chicago for three years

and initiated, organized and ran the Chicago

New Mexico 10th State

Telethons for UCP. He is a member of the

To Pass Bidding Law

executive committee of the State Street

Council; area chairman of the Amusement NEW YORK—New Mexico has become

Division of the City of Chicago's annual

the tenth state to pass the anti-

"Reach Out" program; instiumental in the

organization and first chairman of the Joseph

Jefferson Awards Fellowship of Chicago;

blind bidding measure.

Gov. Bruce King signed the bill into

law on April 3.

past chairman of the amusement diviblind

Fund; chairman

The bill, which becomes

House by

effective

a vote of

sion of the United Jewish

of the amusement division for Israel Bonds

July 2, passed the

and the 1969 amusement division honoree.

His many other interests include service

on the board of directors of the Will Rogers

Memorial Hospital. He also received the

Will Rogers Memorial statue for exceptional

personal endeavor of 1970-71. In 1972

Henry Plitt was honored as E.xhibitor of the

Year of the International Film Importers

and Distributors of America. (IFIDA) Plitt

served as chairman of the Metropolitan Crusade

of Mercy and the National Conference

of Christian and Jews for the amusement

division. He also has served on the executive

committees of the Girl Scouts USA.

Plitt is also a member of the Motion

Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, the

Friars Club, the Television Academy of Arts

and Sciences, the National Association of

Broadcasters, the Chicago Press Club, present

vice-president and life member of the

Variety Clubs International; co-chairman of

the Sunshine Coach committee (Western

hemisphere) and he was instrumental in

forming the VIP panel for the Variety

Club's telethon in Los Angeles.

He is also on the board of directors of

the Foundation of the Motion Picture Pioneers.

Avco Adds Dimension

To Horror Film Promo

HOLLYWOOD—Avco Embassy Pictures

has copyrighted a "VisuaRama" process

which it plans to use in theatres where it

shows "Phantasm," a camp-horror film in

which a flying silver sphere equipped with

deadly sharp daggers plays a dramatic role.

Avco figures on adding a "real-life" dimension

to the horror build up in the movie

by having one of the silver spheres suddenly

"fly" over the audience at the conclusion

of the picture.

A major special effects designer-manufacturer

in Hollywood will build a number

64-2 March 14. The senate passed it

34-1 March 6.

In Ohio, the trial testing of the blind

bidding law has been postponed because

the MPAA failed to provide

documents requested by the attorney

general of Ohio. A new trial date will

be set after a pre-trial conference

scheduled for April 19.

Governor's signatures are expected

soon In Tennessee, where the blind

bidding bill passed the House 84-4

March 29, and in Arkansas, where the

bill passed the house 70-15 March 29.

GREfiT

FILMS

FORfiLL

OF YOUR

CMiLDREN'S

MflTiNEE

PROGRfiMMiNG

At a flat price your

ttieater can afford.

In great profit

building plans.

Clioose from proven film

successes including . .

"OLIVER"

"TOM SAWYER"

"CHmY CHITTY BANG BANG"

"JACK AND THE BEANSTALK"

"HUCKLEBERRY FINN

"GODSPELL"

"1776"

"MAN AND BOY"

"MAN OF [A MANCHA"

"RUMPLESTILTSKIN"

"SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES

"HEIDI"

"HEIDI AND PETER"

"ALICE IN A NEW WONDERLAND

"INHERIT THE WIND"

"WEST SIDE STORY"

"MIRACLE WORKER"

"VISIT TO A CHIEF'S SON"

Bring the children back into

your theater.

Call Roger Doria collect.

Phone (215) 563-4415 or

write for free brochure.

He'll be glad to help you

plan your matinee schedule

Now.

CONSOLIDATED

PRODUCTIONS

INCORPORATED

1511 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19102

1979

Henry Winkler, Alan Manings Merge; LETTERS

Plan 5 f/7ms With $20 Mil Budget

HOLLYWOOD—Actor Henry Winkler

has merged his Fair Dinkum company with

writer-producer Alan Manings' Aiiwhit firm

with plans to produce at least five feature

pictures with overall budgets reaching toward

$20 million. The first film tabbed for a

shooting start in November.

Winkler, who also has feature fihii commitments

at Universal and 20th Century-

Fox, plans to star in three of the Fair Dinkum/

AUwhit releases. The two principals

will be executive producers on all of the

company projects.

In addition to the feature committment,

Fair Dinkum/ Allwhit also is eyeing television

projects that will run into the $4 to $5

million bracket.

'Stokes' First Feature

First feature to go before the cameras,

with a November start contemplated, is

"Stokes." A major star will be signed the

title role of a detective in an unconventional

police story to be filmed on Los Angeles

locations. No budget has been set for the

original screenplay by Norman Liebman.

The first feature with Winkler starring

will be "My Brother's Keeper," budgeted at

$6 to $8 million and slated for a start in the

spring of 1980. Winkler will portray a psychiatrist

in the feature scripted by Larry

Cohen to be shot on locations in Washington,

D. C, Pennsylvania and New York

City.

His next one will be a still untitled project

budgeted at $3 to $4 million to be written

by Carol Rober and directed by Jeff Bleckner

and set to shoot late in 1980.

His third feature will be "Animal Factory,"

budgeted at $5 million and set to

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begin shooting early in 1981 with a script

by Edward Bunker who will adapt his own

novel about an upper middle class youth

who is unable to cope when sent to prison,

and his relationship with an older inmate.

"Hellhound on My Tail," a screenplay by

Doug DeSoto. will deal with the life of

black blues singer and composer Robert

Johnson. Shooting on the $3-million project

is planned for the spring of 1980. Filming

will be in Alabama, Georgia, Nashville and

Chicago.

Celebs, Industry Leaders

Attend 'Champ' Premiere

NEW YORK—An audience of celebrities

and film industry leaders attended the invitational

preview of MGM's "The Champ"

at Loew's New York No. 1 April 1

The guests included the film's stars, Jon

Voight and Ricky Schroder, director Franco

Zeffirelli and producer Dyson Lovell.

"The Champ" began its regular engagement

in the New York area April 4 at

Loew's New York No. 1, the Astor Plaza

and 16 additional theatres.

Among the other preview guests were

Theoni V. Aldredge, Mikhail Baryshnikov,

Leonard Bernstein, Rudolph Bing, Claudette

Colbert, Diane von Furstenberg, Paul Mazursky,

Jan Miner, Allan Parker, Eric Pleskow.

Lady Maria St. Just, Preston Tisch,

Laurence Tisch and Emanuel L. Wolf.

MOM was represented by a contingent

of senior executives headed by Frank

Rosenfelt, president, and Richard Shepherd,

senior vice-president and worldwide head of

theatrical production.

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Jo the Editor:

Your articles on advertising problems

(

"Exhibs Hot About Ad Problems," March

12) brought to the fore many of the problems

with which the industry is faced.

However, there is one point which I

seldom see brought out, one that faces

practically every house around and one

which I feel should also be mentioned.

That problem is one of size—distributors

making available only six- and eight-column

newspaper ads.

Robert Cort states that studios "agonize"

over each ad, and many of the print ads we

see today are extremely well done. But Mr.

Cort should also realize that his painstaking

ads are going to be butchered up and

cut down due to the soaring newspaper

rates the exhibitors are also forced to pay.

Surely Mr. Cort and the others in his

industry are smart enough to realize that

exhibitors are not going to run full, threequarter

or even half-page ads on every

picture—and a small two- or three-column

ad with just the movie title and rating alone

won't properly "sell" a picture.

There are a few companies which prepare

cut-down versions of major feature

ads while trying to retain the quality factor

they agonized over. Our company relies

heavily on these slicks, not just for calendars

but for opening-day ads.

Perhaps if the distributors would start

preparing attractive, small ads they would

find more and more exhibitors willing to

put out that little bit extra— that push, that

money, that showmanship—for a first-class

local newspaper campaign.

And along the same line, the exhibitor is

not going to spend a lot of local newspaper

money to advertise three inches of credits

screenplay by, produced by, executive producers,

executive directors, etc., etc.

Three cheers for companies such as Universal

and Buena Vista. They are making

a good attempt to supply small ads which

retain creativity and quality.

Lately there have been few pictures that

really merit large local newspaper expenditures.

And as long as all we have is a title

and rating, why bother I'm still one of

those die-hards that will attempt to cut

down the size of large ads and still retain

the illustrations, the copy, the dramatics

the "zest" of motion picture advertising.

But the added cost of doing this is fastly

making this approach economically questionable.

Perhaps if the distribution companies

would supply smaller-sized, quality advertising

they would realize that exhibitors will

use good material when they get it.

Advertising Director

Allen Theatres, Inc.

KEITH F. JOHNSON

April 16, 1979

te.,

""^^H

fOR THE

RECORD

Alvin A, Weinroth has been appointed lo

the new position of personnel director for

National Screen Service.

United Artists has appointed Stuart Salter

to manage the Venezuela office, Bertrand

Devort to manage the Peru office and Richard

Guardian to manage the Dominican

Republic office.

James A. Sweeney has been named executive

vice-president and general manager

of the Standard Manufacturing operation of

Technicolor Inc. in West Springfield, Mass.

Joseph A. Fisher has been appointed executive

vice-president of Columbia Pictures

Industries.

Victor Kaufman was promoted to

J

senior

vice-president of Columbia Pictures Industries.

He retains his title of general counsel

and secretary.

Martin Grasgreen has resigned as director

for Quartet Films here and is now operating

theatres in Fort Myers. Fla. Succeeding

him at Quartet is Jeff Lewine.

Georg Eriksson, continental Europe sales

manager in London for Warner Bros., has

been named a vice-president of Warner

Bros. (Transatlantic) Inc.

Digby Davidson, Warner Bros.' Far East

supervisor based in Tokyo, has been named

a vice-president for the company.

James Gentilcore has been named vicepresident

and treasurer of Associate Film

Distribution.

George Justin has taken over as executive

production manager at Orion Pictures.

International Creative Management has

named David Raphael president of ICM

Film Marketing and Zeev Birger has been

promoted to director general of the Paris

office. Joseph Graham joins the division as

executive vice-president.

Robert S. Ferguson has rejoined Columbia

Pictures as a special consultant to Francis

T. Vincent, president and chief executive

officer.

Leanna Johnson Heath has joined the legal

affairs department of 20lh Century-Fox

as an associate production counsel, reporting

to Walter Swanson, senior production

counsel.

Giovanni Gentili F. has been named general

manager of Screen Gems-Columbia

Pictures of Brazil Inc., succeeding the late

William Hummel.

Alston/Zanilsch Plan

3-4 Films Per Year

BURBANK, CALIF.—Emmett Alston

and Jerry Zanitsch have announced the formation

of Alston/Zanitsch International

Films Inc. The company will produce three

to four films a year and will distribute them

as well as product from other independent

producers.

Alston, formerly with Four-Wall Distributors

and Taylor-Laughlin Film Distributors,

has designed ad campaigns for Paramount

and Universal as well as several independent

producers.

Zantisch, president and general sales manager,

formerly was director of advertising

for Mid-States Theatres in Cincinnati. Prior

to that he was general sales manager and

publicity director for Phil Borack's April

Fools Productions.

The company has four films ready for

release: "A Whale of a Tale," a deep sea

adventure starring William Shatner and rated

PC; "The Treasure of Emerald Cave,"

rated G; "The Beast & the Vixens," an R-

rated spoof of the Bigfoot myth, and "Willie

Nelson's 4th of July Celebration," a concert

presentation featuring music stars and filmed

in Dolby stereo.

Later this summer "The Devil's Mistress,"

horror-suspense picture starring Cesar Romero,

will be ready for release.

Alston/Zanitsch has completed its first

production, "Three Way Weekend," and

this summer will start shooting "Beaver

Fever," a satire on the disco craze.

Titles & Takes

Columbia's "California Suite" grossed

$43,653 in the first three days of release

in Austria and Italy. The Neil Simon hit

took in $25,541 at three houses in Vienna

and $17,112, a house record, at the Fiamma

Theatre in Rome.

"Superman" has passed the $110 million

mark in domestic boxoffice gross. As of

April 6, the film was being seen in 1,000

domestic engagements. Included in the

Easter season breakout arc 800 new bookings,

including a number of drive-ins.

Warner Bros.'"Boulevard Nights" posted

a seven-day opening week gross of $1,157,-

885 in 101 theatres. The Los Angeles

branch reported $599,732 in 39 theatres,

paced by the $83,148 in the State Theatre

downtown and $42,274 in the Vogue in

Hollywood. The film picked up $326,732

in 34 San Francisco theatres, including

$43,534 from San Jose's Capitol ozoner

and the Century 25A Theatre. In Dallas,

the film earned $157,798 in 21 theatres,

including figures of $16,748 in the Cinema

Park Drive-In and $7,897 in the Montwood.

"Carnivorous" and "Raw Meat" (United

Producers Distribution Organization) has

taken in $48,644 in one week. Total includes

$19,264 from three spots in Phoenix,

$6,804 in Bakersfield, Calif., $5,483 in St.

Petersburg. $6,333 in Fort Myers and $10,-

760 in two Tampa spots.

"Piranha" (New World), distributed overseas

by United Artists, pulled in $250,041

in Spain, including $74,509 from one theatre

in Madrid, and $175,532 from five

theatres in three weeks in Barcelona.

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FILM PROJECTS

Universals In God We Trust (or Gimme

That Prime Time Religion) will begin shooting

in Los Angeles April 16. Marty Feldman

is directing and starring in the script he cowrote

with Chris Allen. Louise Lasser. Peter

Boyle and Andy Kaufman also star in the

story about an innocent's initiation into

worldly ways. The Howard West-George

Shapiro production has West and Shapiro

as producers. Norman Herman is executive

producer.

Producer Pat Russell plans to produce,

write, direct and join in the financing of

Awakening. Story concerns a 16-year-old

who is in the process of becoming a woman.

SF Film Productions has announced the

title of its first theatrical feature: Starlog's

Intergalactic Picture Show. Picture is slated

for completion this spring. No distribution

commitments have yet been made.

Production got under way April 2 on

20th Century-Fox's comedy. Fatso. Dom

DeLuise, Anne Bancroft, Candy Azzara and

Ron Carey topline. Picture is the first time

since July 1978 that filming has taken place

at Fox's Century City lot.

The First Deadly Sin has been reactivated

on Columbia's production schedule. Columbia

has finalized a producing deal with Elliot

Kastner to bring the Lawrence Sanders

novel to the screen. Mann Rubin has been

signed by Kastner to write a new screenplay,

to be tailored for Marlon Brando.

Norman Jewison and Patrick Palmer will

co-produce Best Friends. Story concerns a

young couple who live together before eventually

deciding to marry. Jewison is also

directing. Joe Wizan and Barry Levinson

will be executive producers.

Universal has begun filming Mehin and

Howard. Jason Robards stars as Howard

Hughes. Paul LeMat is Dummar, a man

who claimed he gave Howard Hughes a

dime and a ride home.

Principal photography on Variety International's

Oil will commence July 30. Robert

Dillon is writing the screenplay from a

novel by Jonathan Black. Jack Poplin has

been set as art director.

A film comedy titled Jaws 3— People

will be produced by the Zamick Brown company

and National Lampoon, Inc. Picture

will be a spoof of the successful "Jaws" and

its sequel "Jaws 2." Richard D. Zanuck and

David Brown, who produced "Jaws," will be

executive producers. National Lampoon

chief Matty Simmons, who co-produced

"Animal House" with Ivan Reitman, will

be the producer. Production is scheduled for

fall.

After more than a year of preparation,

production will start late this year on Al-

12

ways Elvis. Picture is result of collaboration

between Jerry Weintraub, Col. Tom Parker

and the Presley estate. Filming will take

place at the Graceland mansion, and at the

Las Vegas Hilton and other key concert

sites.

Lorimar Films and literary agent Alain

Bernheim have reached an agreement

whereby Bernheim will function as executive

producer of theatrical film productions

that he will develop with Lorimar. First

Lorimar-Bernheim project will be The Good

Leviathan, story of the world's largest nuclear-powered

supertanker.

New World Pictures has dropped plans

to distribute Swim Team. The comedy has

no new distributor presently lined up.

Filming will begin in New York May 17

on the new Paul Mazursky romantic comedy-drama,

Willie & Phil. John Heard, Ray

Sharkey and Margot Kidder star.

Gary Busey, together with Jodie Foster

and Robbie Robertson, will star in Lorimar's

Carny. The dramatic feature will be set

against a background of a modern-day carnival.

United Artists will distribute.

Principal photography began March 26

on UA's A Small Circle of Friends. Brad

Davis, Daren Allen and Jameson Parker

star. Tim Zinneman is producing with Rob

Cohen as director.

Charlie Chan's Curse, a comedic look at

the famed detective and his number one

son, will be produced by Jerry Sherlock.

Production will begin in summer.

The Island will be made as a Zanuck-

Brown production for Universal with Michael

Caine starring. Film is based on a

novel by Peter Benchley, who will write the

screenplay. Filming will begin May 14.

ACQUISITIONS

Huddleston Co.: Rights to Dexter, written

by David Peckinpah. Burt Kennedy will direct.

Alive Enterprises: Original script of

Sykes and the Woman that Made Him.

Story concerns a teller of dirty jokes, written

by Paul Golding and Zalman King.

Carolyn Pfeiffer will produce.

Cinema Shares International: Rights to

Hollywood Man, for theatrical and TV markets.

Story concerns a filmmaker whose picture

is backed by the mob.

Salzburg Enterprises, Inc.; Non-theatrical

rights to Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. SEI

will also handle sales of the picture in

overseas markets.

Paramount: Motion picture rights to

Dre.ss Gray current novel by Lucian Truscott

IV. Richard Roth will produce. Gore

Vidal will script the screenplay. Plot concerns

a West Point cadet and his investigation

into the murder of a fellow cadet-

FEATURE

CASTING

Playwright-screenwriter Adolph Green

will debut in films in Warner's Simon.

Lensing is under way in New York.

Lee Grant will play the judge in Universal's

Little Miss Marker. Picture is now

shooting with Walter Bernston directing.

Six children from Appalachia have roles

as Loretta Lynn's brothers and sisters in

Coal Miner's Daughter. Film is now shooting

in Nashville after four weeks of production

in Kentucky.

Director Samuel Fuller will play the

commander of the Armed Forces Defense

Control Center in Los Angeles in 1941.

is Picture a Universal-Columbia co-production.

Angle Dickinson, Lome Green, Jeff East

and Barry Morse are in the cast of Klondike

Fever. Shooting began last month on

location in British Columbia.

Rod Hasse will play the title role of

Captain Avenger. The Captain is a fictional

TV hero who is never seen in the picture

except on a TV set as part of a commercial.

The film-within-a-film is an MGM-United

Artists comedy.

Marlene Tracy has been signed for an

important role in The Woman Inside. Filming

is now under way in Los Angeles. Joan

Blondell and Dane Clark star. Joe Van

Winkle is directing from his own screenplay.

Sid Levine is producing.

Scatman Crothers has taken a role in

Scavenger Hunt, The Melvin Simon production

is being directed by Michael Schultz.

Gary Parker, Royce Clark, David Gray

and William Sanderson are in the cast of

Universals Coal Miner's Daughter.

Matt Clark, Everett McGill, William

Newman, Emmett Walsh and Barry Corbin

have been cast in Brubaker. Filming began

April 9.

Don Porter is co-starring in The Last

Resort. Cash Baxter is directing.

Tybee Brascia has signed for a role in

The Baltimore Bullet. Robert Ellis Miller is

directing.

Lee Anthony has been cast in a co-starring

role in Vision Associates' Waiting

Room. Lee Bobker is directing.

TECHNICAL

ASSIGNMENTS

Robert Altman has signed to direct Paramount's

Popeye. Robin Williams will star

the Robert Evans production.

in

Alfredo Diaz and Ignacio Mendez will

write the musical score for Guyana, Crime

of the Century. Shooting is under way in

Mexico City.

Carol Connors, whose "Gonna Fly Now"

was the hit song from "Rocky," has been

signed to write the title song for Rocky 11.

Bill Conti is writing the score.

Dave Grusin will write the score for Norman

Jcwison's . . . And Justice For All.

BOXOFFICE :: April 16, 1979

THE PROMOTION AND MERCHANDISING

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

General Cinema Corp.

Enlists Amtrak's Aid

To tub-thump "The Great Train Robbery,"

General Cinema Corp.'s Thomas

Mall in Phoenix arranged a natural tie-in.

Manager Ray Gibbs called the director of

promotion for Amtrak in San Francisco

and told him of his plan: He would advertise

their railroad in a promotion if Amtrak

would give away two tickets from Phoenix

to San Francisco, round trip. Amtrak

agreed.

Free Room, Too

Gibbs also contacted Holiday Inn in San

Francisco, and they agreed to supply the

winner with a room for three days and

nights. General Cinema's Division Mgr. arrainged

for a free pass to the circuit's San

Francisco theatre.

In addition, radio KOPA was utilized to

handle "Train Robbery" advertising and

also furnished a safe to display in the theatre

lobby. A key to the safe was given to

anyone who came to the station and asked

for one. The winner with the lucky key

won the trip to San Francisco, courtesy of

General Cmema and Amtrak

FRLL "RIVALS" VACATION— Trolley

Square Theatres in Salt Lake City

awards their free trip to Hollywood as

part of a "Rivals" campaign. Stewart

Petersen, star of "Rivals" also will accompany

the winners on their trip. Pictured

are the prize winners, along with

Stewart Peterson. World Entertainment

Corp. vice-president Howell Malham is

iecond from right.

GUIDE

Free-Throws and Rim Shots at Ogden-Perry

Santa Rosa Cinema manager and employees ready to shootout for "Fast Break."

"The Great Basketball Shootout" proved to be a real success in Ft. Walton Beach.

To promote Columbia's "Fast Break,"

Ogden-Perry initiated a "Great Basketball

Shootout" at the Santa Rosa Cinema in Fort

Walton Beach, FJa. Manager Tony Bruguiere

first contacted Athletic Attic in Samta

Rosa Mall and arranged for a donation of

"Fast Break" T-shirts. The shirts were silk

screened by Athletic Attic with "Santa Rosa

Cinema presents" over the "Fast Break" art.

Athletic Attic gave 45 of these shirts to Santa

Rosa Cinema at no charge. Cinema employees

started wearing the shirts two weeks

prior to opening day and continued through-

a basketball. Newspaper ads for "Fast

Break" included an invitation to come out

to Santa Rosa on Friday and Saturday

nights to compete in the "Great Basketball

Shootout" and win passes to "Fast Break."

Five in a row proved too difficult so the requirement

to win a pass was finally reduced

to two out of three. Even at two out of three

not very many passes were won but a lot of

people tried and it provided a great deal of

promotion for "Fast Break."

Boosting 'Norma Rae'

Northeast Theatre Corp.'s promotion director

Gary Goldstein initiated ad campaigns

for "Norma Rae" in three markets.

Ini Worcester, Mass., the Showcase Cinema

ran a

Ladies' Matinee. This included a contest

on station WORC, which ran hourly.

Twenty-five actual giveaways took place for

two days, as female listeners were asked to

call in and "tell what they would fight for."

The winner received two tickets to the La-

out the engagement. The remaining shirts

dies' showing a "Nomia Rae" T-shirt.

were used in a radio promotion.

Total spot value: $720.

Santa Rosa continued to generate excitement

"Extra"

for "Fast Break" with the "Great Bas-

ketball Shootout" on opening weekend. Cinema

In Cincinnati, WKRC-TV's

show, a noontime interview program, also

employees made a basketball back-

promoted a "Ladies' matinee." For five days

board complete with rim and net. The backboard

was set up on the outside of the the-

Rae" and were asked to identify a selected

viewers were shown a film clip of "Norma

atre and a nine inch nerfball was used for

star. The first ten callers with the correct

answer received two tickets to the showing.

The total value of this campaign exceeded

$1600.

In Pittsburgh, Showcase Cinema East received

$1800 worth of advertising with a

"Kix Pax" giveaway. Station WXKK awarded

a "Norma Rae" T-shirt as part of the

prize package on an hourly basis. Each giveaway

resulted in two mentions for the film,

with the Showcase Cinemas East and West

included in all promos.

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: April 16, 1979

13

BOXOFFICE

BAROMETER

This chart records the performance ot current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in

five listed. the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than engagements are not As new runs

are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentoge in

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

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

BOSTON

Dartmouth College is sponsoring the annual

Dartmouth Film Award, with the

main attraction being Lillian Gish.

The Brattle Cinema's silent film festival

will run from April 15 through May 12

with ten programs spotted throughout the

period.

Dave Titleman has been named district

manager for Associated Film Distribution,

covering Boston, New Haven, Buffalo

and Albany.

The first four pictures scheduled are

Firepower." "Escape to Athens," "The

Muppet Movie," and "Love and Bullets."

Ben Cammack. Universal branch manager,

sponsored a screening of "The Senator"

at the Motion Picture Screening Room

April 11.

Pike Productions Boston, with studios in

Watertown, has been signed by Damon International

Pictures to create the American

theatrical trailer for Nino Manfredi's new

film "In Between Miracles."

John Markle, Columbia Pictures publicity

director, welcomed Randall Kleiser, director,

upon his arrival in Boston. Kleiser held

auditions and tests for boys and girls 16

years old and under, for parts in his new

picture, "The Blue Lagoon."

Barker Roger Lockwood was pleased to

announce that 24 new members have become

members of Vaiiety Club during the

past month.

United Artists public relations duo Ellen

Lewis and Mark Rosenthal teamed up with

Sack Theatres' Chris Lamonte and The

Real Papers' lohn Hanc for a dynamite promotion

coinciding with the opening of United

Artists' " The Great Traim Robbery." A

"robbery" movie quiz appeared in the paper

and entrants were eligible to win a trip to

Florida via the "Auto-Train" and hotel accommodations

at Disneyworld, four dinners

at Victoria Station Restaurant and one

of 30 passes to "The Great Train Robbery."

Public response was "terrific."

WASHINGTON

Tames Pierce, Buena Vista newly appointed

branch manager, was transferred here

from Buena Vista's Cherry Hill, Mass.

office where he was serving as salesman.

J.J. Pugh, owner-operator of the Coswcll

Drive-In at Appomattox, Va., has signed

up Harley Davidson's Independent Theatres

for the booking-buying servicing of his

drive-in.

Dan McClafferty, former manager of the

Molitch Film Service, has been promoted

to terminal manager of the Molitch Highway

Film DeHvery. John Hinners was

named manager of the Molitch Film Service


and Timony Teagan, who has been manager

of Highway Film Delivery, will return

to the home office at Burlington, N.J.

Howell Owens, Roth Theatres bookkeeper,

retired April 6.

Franco Zeffirelli,

"The Champ," visited the city on his promotional

tour for the remake of the King

Vidor classic. This was the Italian director's

first trip to the U. S.

director of MGM-UA's

capital.

Variety Tent 11 and WOMPI of Washington

will cooperate in a major fundraising

activity for charity, according to Dick Dacey,

assistant chief barker, and Jane Klutz,

president of WOMPI.

Universal's "Buck Rogers in the 25th

Century" opened in nine area theatres

March 30. The KB management scheduled

for the same playdate a revival of the 1939

original "Buck Rogers," starring Buster

Crabbe, at the KB Rosslyn in Rosslyn, Va.

Charles T. Jordan, Warner Bros, branch

chief, set up a screening of "Boulevard

Nights" at the MPAA April 5.

BALTIMORE

JJext year may be the last for the Maryland

Board of Censors since, under "sunset

statutes," it must show state lawmakers it

is worth its $95,000 annua! budget. State

Sen. Howard Denis of Montgomery County

calls

the board a "dinosaur" which has outlived

its usefulness ... In a related story,

Mrs. Barbara G. Gamse of Mount Royal

was named to the censor board by the governor.

She replaces Charles J. Harrison of

Baltimore in the $4,500-a-year post.

Several promotional screenings of Avco

Embassy's "Murder by Decree" were held

in the Tape-Ability screening room. James

Mason, who plays Dr. Watson in the film,

was in town working on "Faith Healer" at

the Mechanic Theatre but was unable to attend

any of the showings.

Variety Tent 19 held its annual oyster

roast April 8. The affair benefitted the pediatric

wing at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Lou Cedrone, film critic for the Evening

Sun, writes: "The power people may not

be happy about it, but Columbia is ecstatic

with the reception their 'China Syndrome'

has leceived. The film is an airtight thriller,

one of the best you will see this or any other

year. It moves without sag and when it is

over you feel sapped, zapped and maybe a

little uneasy because the film is decidedly

anti-nuclear power."

Opening April 6 were "The Promise" at

the Perring Plaza, Security Mall and Jumpers

cinemas and "The Champ" at the Campus

Hills, Cinema, The Movies, Pikes and

Ritchie theatres.

"Get Out Your Handkerchiefs" premiered

March 21 at the Playhouse in

Charles Village.

Sumner Redstone Hurl

In Arsonist's Blaze

By AVERY MASON

(Special

Correspondf-nt)

BOSTON, MASS.—An arsonist torched

two luxury hotels, the Copley Plaza, and

the Sheraton Boston early March 29.

A Boston film chain head and a Warner

Bros, branch manager were in critical condition

at City Hospital with burns, while

actor Brad Davis and crew shooting "Circle

of Friends" in the city, escaped.

An 18-year-old former bus-boy, Julio

Valentin Rodrigues, told police he set fire

to the two hotels because the Copley refused

to hire him after he quit.

Sumner Redstone, who heads the Northeast

Theatre Corp.'s 130 theatres, was

plucked from a ledge on the third floor of

the Copley plaza by fire-fighters and was

treated for severe burns of both legs and

right arm. Doctors said Redstone suffered

burns on 35 percent of his body.

Also in critical condition with burns over

60 percent of his body was Roger Hill,

branch manager of Warner Bros. Boston

office.

Randall Kleiser, director of "Grease" in

Boston on a talent search for Columbia's

"Blue Lagoon," escaped uninjured.

The fires created what fire commissioner

George Paul said was potentially "the most

tragic fire situation in Boston since the

Coacanut Grove fire" in which Buck Jones

lost his life.

Actor Brad Davis, in for shooting of

"Circle of Friends" in Boston, escaped from

the Copley Plaza.

Edward Lider Acquires

Seekonk Twin Drive-In

By ALLEN M. WIDEM

Regional Correspondent

FALL RIVER. MASS.—Edward Lider

has acquired the Seekonk Twin Drive-In,

Seekonk, Mass.. for undisclosed terms from

Northern Entertainment Inc., a TMS operation.

Lider, whose interests include the Fall

River Center Twin Cinemas as well as the

Eddys Theatres, Boston, and New Hampshire

underskyers, has assigned David Silva,

who has been helming the local plex, to

supervise the latest corporate acquisition.

Initial double-bill at the Seekonk under

the Lider banner was 20th Century-Fox's

"Magic" and "Legend of Hell House."

The Seekonk is now offering radio sound,

replacing the previous in-car speakers.

Meanwhile TMS has shifted Robert Rand,

who had been manager at the Seekonk Twin

Drive-In, to managership of the company's

newly-reopened Elizabeth Theatre, Falmouth.

MOVIE PROGRAMS

^.llJJ.IlJ.lillî'Ml^ll.lililli

E-1

CLEVELAND

^he Homestead Theatre reopened April 3

as the Landmark Theatre. Dennis Berman

is the new owner-manager of the completely

renovated building. WZZP Radio

celebrated by treating

to the film '•Roiierball."

1,000 of their listeners

The Cleveland International Film Festival

announces that Peter Falk will appear at the

Cedar Lee Theatre May 3. His film, "A

Woman Under the Influence," will be

screened at 7:30 and will be followed by

a question-and-answer session.

Frank Capra will be in the audience for

the screening of his own "Ifs a Wonderful

Life" May 10. Following the movie, Capra

will be introduced by Dr. Louis Giannetti,

professor of English and film at Case Western

Reserve, for a question-and-answer session.

Excerpts from critics: Emerson Batdorff

said of "The Passage"; "Bad as it is, it

does not incite Anthony Quinn to fits of

ham. Usually when Quinn is mired in a

movie like this, he overacts ferociously in

self-defense."

The Variety Theatre has been leased for

rock shows and movies by Dan Frano and

Jon Baruth. The first film was Led Zeppelin's

"The Song Remains the Same" and

next will

be "The Pink Floyd Movie."

Learn the MOVI€ AD

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and why leading circuits and Independent theatres across the

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are using our service.

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CINCINNATI

âny of the area drive-ins have reopened,

and to "celebrate" the Enquirer's

Tom McElfresh unveiled a tongue-in-check

article detailing eight rules for underskier

patrons. His article began with ". , .

drive-ins, you see, don't like me. When I

took girls to the drive-in they wanted to

watch the movie. When, later, I took my

kids to the drive-in, they didn't." Among

his

rules:

"If at all possible, go in the daytime.

There's a certain peace and quiet then.

"Learn to lip-read and take earplugs,

since there's an even-money chance the

speaker you choose to park near will produce

sound at inaudible or painful levels.

"Do not plan on the kids sleeping through

the gory and/ or sexy parts. They will sleep

through the cartoons, previews, and in fact,

everything e.\cept the gory and/or sexy

parts.

"Take money. Don't plan on this as a

cheap date,' One dollar a carload days aie

gone, and the concession stands operate on

the railroad dining car principle: You're a

captive audience.

"Don't plan on getting home before the

small hours. The movie the kids want to

sec, but sleep through, will be first. The

intermission will be endless, and the movie

you want to see, but can't stay awake

through (though the kids do) will not start

before midnight.

"Do not take ficldglasses and park in one

of the darker back rows. A discreet periscope

is a better choice, if that's what you

go to the drive-in to see.

"Pack a very special first-aid kit, which

includes snacks, wine, a long novel (for

intermission), a backgammon board, some

citronella, and someone to talk to.

"If God had meant for people to go to

drive-ins he wouldn't have invented cheap

motel rooms."

Trade screenings: Universal's "Walk

Proud." a contemporary love story set

against the background of a street gang,

starring Robby Benson, was screened at the

Studio. Same company also showed "The

Senator," starring Alan Alda and Barbara

Harris, along with a 13-minute promo reel

for "Dracula."

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E-2 BOXOFFICE :: April 16, 1979

FIRST RUN REPORT

New York

The Boll Jar i

\\lvi). C iik'Mki 1 (10.400),

3rd wk 7,000

The Champ (MGM-UA), IS theatres,

1st wk 295,000

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Coronet

(9,650). 9th wk 37,165

The French Detective (Quartet), 68th

Street Playhouse, 4th wk 14,295

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs

(New Line), Paris (9,000), 6th wk. 12.000

Hair (UA), Ziegfeld (19,000),

4th wk 83.000

The Innocent (Analysis), Plaza (8,400),

8th wk 18,465

Cinema (5,000), 6th wk 10,340

Picnic at Hanging Rock (Atlantic),

Little Carnegie (7,500), 6th wk. . . 10,000

The Promise (Univ), Radio City Music

Hall (156,000), 5th wk 335,000

Real Life (Para), Cinema 2 (6,000),

5th wk 10,000

Remember My Name (Lagoon), Cinema

Studio I (5.000), 4th wk 5,000

Your Turn, My Turn (Gaumont/New

Yorker), Cinema Sutdio 2,

10th wk 2,000

Boston

Agatha (WB), Cheri IL 5th wk 125

The Bell Jar (Avco), Paris, 1st wk 200

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ),

Cinema 57 U, Circle I 600

The China Syndrome (Col), Chestnut

Hill I, Cinema 57 1, 3rd wk 1,000

The Deer Hunter (Univ). Charles L

Hardticket, 8th wk 800

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (New

Line), Orson Welles L 3rd wk 250

Hair (UA). Cheri L 2nd wk 500

Halloween (Compass), 5th wk 400

The Innocent (Analysis), Exeter,

3rd wk 800

Murder by Decree (Avco), Circle L

Charles IH, 2nd wk 150

Max Havelaar (Atlantic), Orson Welles

III, 1st wk 100

Norma Rae (20th-Fox), Pi Alley,

4th wk 135

The Psychic (SR), Pi Alley U, Circle III,

1st wk 200

The Warriors (Para), Saxon, 9th wk. . . 130

Buffalo

Agatha (WB). 1 theatre, 3rd wk 50

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

(Univ), 2 theatres, 1st wk 130

The China Syndrome (Col), 3 theatres,

2nd wk 190

The Deer Hunter (Univ). 1 theatre.

5th wk 300

Fast Break (Col). 4 theatres, 1st wk. ... 100

Hair (UA), 3 theatres, 1st wk 100

Halloween (Compass), 1 theatre,

8th wk 225

Heaven Can Wait (Col), 1 theatre,

5th wk 100

Norma Rae (20th-Fox). 2 theatres.

3rd wk 175

i ht North A>ciiiie Irregulars (BV),

2 Ihcalics, 7tli wk 100

Richard Pryor—Live in Concert (SEE),

1 theatre, 4th wk 160

Same Time, Next Year (Univ), 1 theatre.

7th wk 100

Superman (WB), 2 theatres, 15th wk. . . 100

Take Down (BV), 2 theatres, 1st wk. . . 75

The Warriors (Para), 1 theatre, 7th wk. 100

Cincinnati

Agatha (WB), Showcase, 4th wk 150

The Brink's Job (Univ). Showcase,

6th wk 150

California Suite (Col), Carousel,

I4th wk 200


2nd wk 600

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Tri County,

5th wk 900

Every Which Way But Loose (WB).

4 theatres, 15th wk. 275

Fast Break (Col), 4 theatres, 2nd wk. . .600

Hardcore (Col), Showcase, 7th wk 225

Ice Castles (Col), Kenwood, 7th wk. . . .250

It's Not the Size That Counts (SR),

2 theatres, 5th wk 50

Murder by Decree (Avco), 3 theatres,

1st wk 450

National Lampoon's Animal House

(Univ), Showcase. 35th wk 225

Norma Rae (20th-Fox), Showcase,

2nd wk 475

The North Avenue Irregulars (BV).

4 theatres. 6th wk 350

Quintet (20th-Fox), Studio, 2nd wk. ... 150

Richard Pryor—Live in Concert (SEE).


Same Time, Next Year (Univ).

Showcase. 7th wk 225

Superman (WB), 3 theatres, I5th wk. . .800

The Warriors (Para), Showcase,

7th wk 275

Cleveland

Agatha (WB). 2 theatres, 4th wk 90


2nd wk 375

The Deer Hunter (Univ), World East,

World West, 5th wk 500

FILMACK IS

1st CHOICE

WITH

SHOWMEN

EVERYWHERE

Fast Break (Col), 6 theatres, 1st wk. . .220

Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (SR),

Cedar Lee, 2nd wk 135

Halloween (Compa.ss), 7 theatres,

3rd wk 370

Hardcore (Col), 1 theatre, 5th wk 80

The Last Wave (Northal), 2 theatres,

2nd wk 80

The Last Wave (Northal), 2 theatres,

2nd wk 60

The North Avenue irregulars (BV).


The Passage (UA). 6 theatres, 1st wk. . . 55

Same Time, Next Year (Univ),


Superman (WB), 5 theatres, 15th wk. .

00

. 185

Columbus

Agatha (WB), Continent. 4th wk. 175

The China Syndrome (Col). 4 theatres.

2nd wk 495

The Deer Hunter (Univ). Northland.

5th wk 570

Fast Break (Col), 4 theatres, 1st wk. . . .340

Halloween (SR), Raintrce, 8th wk 120

In Praise of Older Women (Avco),

Raintrce. 2nd wk 80

The North Avenue Irregulars (BV),


Richard Pryor—Live in Concert (SR),

Continent, 5th wk 500

Same Time Next Year (Univ),

Continent, 5th wk 350

Superman (WB), 3 theatres, 15th wk. . .240

They Went That-a-Way and Thata-Way

(SR), 1st wk 180

New Haven

Bread and Chocolate (World Northal),

York Square Cinema. 3rd wk 200

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ).

Cinemart I. Milford Cinema II.

1st wk 500

The China Syndrome (Col). Cinemart II,

Milford Cinema I, 3rd wk 235

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Showcase II,

4th wk 315

Drive-In Massacre (SR), Milford Twin

Drive-In 1. 1 st wk 200

Halloween (Compass), Showcase IV,

3rd wk 250

Hair (UA), Showcase I, 1st wk 750


Showcase 111. 3rd wk 285

Same Time. Next Year (Univ).

Showcase V. 8th wk 65

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E-3

Spotlight on New England

HARTFORD

pitman's "A Perfect Couple" was sneak

previewed at the SBC Management

Corp. Cinema City 4 and Perokos Elm 2.

MGM's "The Champ" was sneak-previewed

at the Redstone Showcase Cinemas 6.

NEW BRITAIN

Qolumbia's "The China Syndrome" drew

this response from critic Peter R. Holroyd:

" 'The China Syndrome' is suspenseful,

and holds the attention throughout its

length,

and. of course, because of the foundation

of its subject matter, it inevitably

raises some questions."

NEW HAMPSHIRE

'[he addition of two screens to the General

Cinema Corp. Nashua Mall Cinemas 2

has been completed. The circuit implemented

a daily matinee policy, charging $1.50

for first shows.

Cable Co. of Manchester has disclosed

plans to introduce Home Box Office

movies to Queen City cable antenna television

customers later in the year.

NEW HAVEN

âve Brown lined up local League of Women

Voters-sponsored showings of "Swiss

Family Robinson" at the Edmond Town

Hall Theatre, Newtown.

General Cinema Corp.'s Milford Cimemas

2 had a WPLR-Radio promotion tie-up for

midnight showings of UA's "The Last

Waltz." Same plex is pitching sale of discount

VIP tickets for business firms.

RHODE ISLAND

^he Cranston Drive-In, Cranston, was first

in the state to resume operations for

the 1979 season. The underskyer doublebilled

Paramount reprises, "Foul Play" and

"American Hot Wax," charging $6-per-carload.

20th Century-Fox's "Norma Rae." the

new Sally Field starrer, had Friday night

sneak previews before start of regular schedules

at the Mann Theatres" Warwick Cinema,

General Cinema Corp.'s Lincoln Mall

Cinema and American Multi Cinema's

Swansea 4.

SPRINGFIELD

gpringficid Mayor Theodore E. Dimauro is

expected to appoint an advisory committee

to determine the need for cable antenna

television for the largest municipality

in western Massachusetts.

Radio spot advertising for the Springfield

Plaza and Agawam Twin Cinema got an

honorable mention in the airinual merit

awards competition sponsored by the Advertising

Club of of Western Massachusetts.

VERMONT

Qanmett News Service's Bernard L. Drew

had little regard for "Fast Break":

"The film could have been titled 'The Bad

News Bears Grow Up and Become Ethnic

and Reach for the Net.' You've seen it all

before ... It has been directed by lack

Smight with little distinction and written

by Sandor Stern with no distinction at all."

The Jarvis circuit said that if a patron

did not like "The Brink's lob" after he or

she had seen the first 25 minutes, the Showcase

3 would refund admission money in

full with no questions asked. Not one refund

was given after the first 25 minutes.

NEW

YORK

THE MOTION PICTURE BOOKERS

CLUB held a luncheon April 5 at Rosoff's

to honor the retirement of Ettie Ritterman.

A booker with Warner Bros, for

the past 25 years, Ettie is also the sister of

Max Fried of the Bookers Club.

Jeanne Moieau arrives here April 16 for

Ihe opening of a week of French Film Previews

presented at Carnegie Hall Cinema,

April 16-24. by the French Film Office/

Unifrance Film. She will appear at the theatre

that night at 8 p.m. to introduce her

second film as a director. "L'Adolescente"

("The Adolescent"), which she also co-produced

and which stars Simone Signoret.

Edith Clever. Francis Huster and Laetitia

Chauveau.

Also arriving will be Alain Jessua, director

and co-producer of "Les Chiens" ("The

Dogs") and Etienne Perier. director and coproducer

of "Un Si Joli Village" ("Such a

Lovely Village"), both films to be shown

April 19.

•

Count Vladimir Dracula, in the person

of George Hamilton, appeared in daylight,

belying all legends to the contrary, in front

of the Plaza Hotel's Pulitzer Fountain. Accordiing

to the plot of the new "Love at

First Bite," Dracula and manservant Renfield

(Arte Johnson) are staying at the Plaza

while the count searches for his love, fashion

model Cindy Sondheim (Susan Saint

James). The American International comedy

opened on Friday the Hth, naturally, at

showcase houses.

Horror of a more serious kind. George

A. Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." creeps

into 60 Flagship houses April 20. Written

and directed by Romero and produced by

Richard P. Rubinstein, the film— now

breaking boxoffice records in both Italy and

Japan under the title "Zombie"— /,v a sequel

to the classic "Night of the Livint; Dead"

(1969).

GCC Expects $650 Million

In Revenues During 1979

BOSTON — General Cinema's president

Richard A. Smith expects revenues to exceed

$650,000,000 in 1979. the sixth consecutive

year of higher earnings.

First quarter revenues of $150,814,000

and net earnings of $4,908,000, or 90 cents

per share, were reported against revenue for

the same period last year of $130,014,000

and net income of $3,658,000, or .66

cents per share.

There is a good chance the board will

consider a dividend increase in September,

he said.

BUFFALO

publicity resulting from the crippled Three

Mile Island nuclear power plant in

Harrisburg, Pa. resulted in renewed interest

in Columbia's "The China Syndrome," at

the Boulevard Mall, Thruway Mall and

Seneca Mall cinemas. A group of about 45

students from the Buffalo Anti-Nuclear

Group demonstrated April 1 near the nuclear

reactor at the University of Buffalo's

Main Street campus, and flyers warning of

nuclear dangers were distributed by the

group's members at the theatres showing

the film.

Blatt Bros.' Park Drive-In was opened

for the season by general manager Bob

Kowal with "Sasquatch," "Beyond Atlantis"

and "Creature With Blue Hands."

Goaded by the demolition of the Century

Theatre, a State Univeisity of Buffalo architecture

student is beginning an effort to

establish a historic preservation district in

downtown Buffalo. "We're beginning to put

together information now," said Mark

O'Connor, who is adding to data compiled

earlier by architect John D. Randall, one

of the major forces behind the saving of

the Prudential Building. "I

got so upset that

they tore down the Century Theatre. I

could see it happening to all sorts of buildings,"

said O'Connor.

PHILADELPHIA

The first 100 patrons attending the opening

of "The Bell Jar" at the suburban Budco's

Bryn Mawr (Pa.) Theatre, received free

copies of Sylvia Plath's novel.

Music Makers Theatres reopened its

Eatontown (N.J.) Drive-In for the new season

with "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"

plus "Heroes."

Hamilton Township's cable television

franchise was awarded this week to Hamilton

Cablevision Inc.

Lee Bruer, director of the

Mabou Mimes

theatre company, conducted a lecture/

screening of "B-Beaver Animation" at the

Walnut Street Theatre Film Center here.

E-4 BOXOFFICE :: April 16, 1979

Son Francisco MmkUi \n Dum i

\ ,,,i : n,^ ,1,^,

(Avcr.igc UL-ckl\ grosses) "'111 "Is 70

The Bell Jar (Avco), Surl (3,300) . . 4,07y

ôrina Rac (20ili-lo\) 2 iIk.uios

Boulevard Nights (WB), "iid 2nd wk. wk 250

Scrra (1 1,500) 7,977

The North Avenue Irregulars (BV)

Geneva DI 3 (5,400) 6,547

"* 'h«âtres 7th wk 120

Buck Roger in the 25th Century Ihe Pavsage (UA) Mheatics Istwk 90

(Univ), 1st wk.

^'»"'"e lime. Next Year (Univ), Cooper,

Coliseum (7,400) 12,797 ^^^ "^^ 140

Stonestown 1 (4,050) 14,743 Superman (WB), Century 21, 16th wk. 270

St. Francis 2 (5,200) 10,718

Geneva DI 2 (5,400) 5,335

'r.SS'"r»r '""': ':"°"" 5, 700

Days of Heaven (Para), Regency 11

âke Down (BV), 5 theatres, 5th wk. . . 90

JT^

^>'^*" ^^""."^

^"'O 1 WO-Doy SpectaCUlOT

(7.200), 6th wk 5,594 HOLLYWOOD—Tent 25 of Variety

The Deer Hunter (Univ). Alexandria Club of Southern California will expand

I (10,800), 6th wk 22,936 i's annual fund-raising telethon into a two-

Despair (New Line), Lumiere

Hollywood

Happenings

gCREENWRITER-PRODUCER Ernest

Lehman will meet with film criticism

and film history classes at Dartmouth College

April 23-24 to screen two films he

wrote and participate in discussions with

student screenwi iters. His visit will be part

of the Visiting Artists Program of the Motion

Picture Academy. Screened will be

"Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "Sweet

Smell of Success."

•

Screenwriter-director Richard Brooks will

be the featured speaker at the annual Marvin

Borowsky memorial lecture in writing

for the screen at 8 p.m. April 23 at the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

He will speak on "Original Writing,

Adaptation Writing, Rewriting, and Rewriting

for the Screen."

Robert L. Lippert Opens

Offices at Historic Pier

SAN FRANCISCO—Robert L. Lippert

Theatres recently established mew offices at

Pier 32, the only Embarcadero pier designated

as an historical landmark by the State

of California. The 1 0.000-square-foot space

has been completely remodeled in early

1900's motif with much wood and period

furniture in keeping with the site's history.

Robert L. Lippert Jr., company president,

says 'he has placed the emphasis in "people

space."

In other Lippert developments, Morton

Dyksterhuis, former UA branch mainager in

San Francisco, was appointed head film

buyer for Northern California. Carmen Bonacci,

formerly city manager for Lippert in

Denver, was named head film buyer for

Southern California and is based in newly

refurbished offices at the circuit's Americama

Six cinemas in Panorama City.

Guy Ford, Mordecai Schreiber and Sarah

Radclyffe are producing "The Tempest."

PETERSON

THEATRE

SUPPLY

455 Bearcat Drive

Times Square Park

Salt Lake City, Utah 84115

801-466-7642

NEW EQUIPMENT—Herbert Farmer

(right), a professor of cinema

at use, stands beside the new ORC

V4500 Xenon consoles, complete with

70mm optics, that will operate in conjunction

with Century 70/ 35mm projectors

at the Norris Theatre on campus.

John Wilmers (left), director of

technical services at the Filbert Co.,

supervised the installation of the new

equipment. The console features optical

system combined with a xenon bulb

that operates in a vertical position,

which greatly increases bulb life.

HONOLULU

Qonsolidated Amusement Co.'s long-time

theatre organist Johnny De Mello, 75.

died after a lingering illness. Famed

throughout Hawaii as the dean of theatre

organists, he was a theatre mainager, a musician

and composer and was one of the

artists who started The Organ Society of

Honolulu.

Beginning in the eariy silent movie days

when De Mello played the accompanying

music at the Empire Theatre on Hotel

Street, he became the regular theatre organist

for such places as the Palace Theatre in

Hilo, the Princess, downtown Honolulu and

Waikiki No. 3. As he said once, the pipe

organi and music were his greatest pleasures

of life. He composed "Hilo After Sundown,"

which became his theme song, was the host

of a radio show and recorded an album

some years back.

A promotional evening performance of

United Artists' "Hair" at Royal Marina

Theatre No. 2, where it opened recently,

was handled by one of Honolulu's popular

radio stations.

KKUA.

EMC Films' "The Silent Partner" was

previewed at Varsity Theatre March 31.

Golden Harvest has given up releasing its

films at Queen Theatre, where lu-Clan Theatres

has reverted to films for adults only.

Chinese films from Golden Harvest are still

being shown in their mid-town outlet.

Aca

I

having

. "Superman"

. . "The

April 3 'Champ Day'

In Palm Springs, Ca.

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF.— Mayor Russell

J. Bcirich declared Tuesday, April 3 as

"Champ Day" here, in honor of the West

Coast benefit premiere of MGM's "The

Champ," the Franco Zeffirelli film starring

Jon Voight. Faye Dunaway and Ricky

Schroder.

Funds from the premiere at the desert

city's Camelot Theatre will go toward the

construction of a St. Francis of Assissi

Church in the Catholic parish of Indian

Wells. Zeffirelli, an architect as well as a

filmmaker, has also designed the replica of

a 13th century church in San Damiano,

Italy. Until it is completed, Father Raymond

Bluett will continue to conduct services in

the Crocker National Bank, using a deposit

table as an altar.

Motion picture stars and celebrities, as

well as Palm Springs social leaders, attended

the sold-out premiere and the reception

that followed.

LOS ANGELES

JJewly created Movie Time Films, formed

by Richard Ellman and Miles Spector,

has acquired worldwide distribution ot

"Blood and Guns," starring Orson Welles

and Thomas MiHan, from executive producer

Edward S. Shaw. The film deals with

the Mexican revolution and was shot on

locations in Spain and Italy with Giulio

Petroni directing.

Actors and other film fclli who are members

of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni and

Associates will hold their annual brunch

June 3 at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio

City, according to president Tony di Milo.

DENVER

ind Radioparallax

Theatre Systems Inc. of Los Angeles

is taking over the Flick Theatre in

Denver from Commonwealth Theatres. The

Flick was first opened by Bill Pence in the

Laramer Square section of the city and was

transferred by Pence to Highland Theatres

several years ago.

Following the funeral services for Emma

Jenefor of Warner Bros, it was determined

that there were some extremely heavy financial

burdens left to Emma's family.

Members of the industry arc trying to help

in meeting those financial obligations and

are asking that anyone so inclined send a

check made payable to Charles Thompson

and mail to Warner Bros., Suite #302, 88

Steele St., Denver, Colo. 80206.

Mr. and Mrs. George Hyde are taking

over the Range Theatre, Saratoga, Wyo.

from Mr. and Mrs. Art Zeiger. Hyde has

been in exhibition for a number of years,

managed theatres in the Denver area

and in Laramie, Wyo. tor a number of

years. The Zeigcr's will devote their time

to other business interests which they have

in

the town of Saratoga.

Rocky Mountain News reviewer William

Gallo refers to "The Champ" as a superior

tear-jerker. Gallo goes on to say "This is,

in fact, a superior weeper, a good old-fashioned,

three-hanky movie about loyalty, sell

sacrifice and redemption."

Visiting the exchanges to set datings were

Mike Fade of Plitt Theatres in Los Angeles;

Don Swales, Playhouse Theatre, Aspen,

Colo.; Neal Lloyd. Westland Theatres, Colorado

Springs, and Dominic Linza, Isis Theatre

in Aspen.

'Fox' Runs Strong in Colo.

DENVER — According to Sherman

Woods, president of Film Brokers, "The

Glacier Fox" grossed over $400,000 during

the first four weeks of its Denver area run.

_

TUCSON

projectionists for Syufy's Tucson 5 Drivc-

In are in a hassle over non-union, inexperienced

employees being hired.

Round One of "The Champ" belled April

6 at Oracle View quad .

Deer Hunter"

also bowed April at Buona Vista 2

6

swooped into DeAnza

Drive-In and Park Mall 4 on the same day.

Bringer-baclter: "National Lampoon's

Animal House" at Showcase and Tucson 5

Drive-In. Holdovers include "Boulevard

Nights," "Same Time, Next Year" and

"Phantasm."

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Personal Conviction, Energy Bring

Special Spirit to WECs 'Rivals

OAKLAND—The World Entertainment

Corp. release "Rivals" began with promising

basics: a screenplay by Kieth Merrill

and direction by Lyman' Dayton, whose

name is synonymous with family em'tertainment.

Executive producer of the film and World

Entertainment Corp. president J. Louis

Dalli Gatti brings to the project a personal

conviction and energy matching that of the

film's young hero.

"We have a responsibility to do more

than entertain." Delli Gatti declares. "A

World Entertainment release will give

moviegoers something solid to take away

from the film when the house lights go up."

"I believe I can bring audiences exciting

films that have both color and substance."

Delli Gatti. the father of six, said.

With a vibrant approach to today's youth

in mind, casting director Ben Lokey chose

veteran aotor Stewart Peterson for the starring

role. Peterson, known for his roles in

"Pony Express Rider," "Seven Alone,"

Film Critic Bill O'Reilly

To Address the RMMPA

DENVER—Herman Hallberg will preside

at the Rocky Mountain Motion Picture

Assn. luncheon April

17. at the Continental

liiokcr.

I he speaker will be

~.^m

lîll O'Reilly, movie

I*;* ^ HV critic of Channel 7,

'^;y

^^^^ ^^^

^^T,."*^^ ..^^^

Bill O'Re.lly

with a title. "I Call

'Em Like I See 'Em."

United Artists is be-

ing honored, and with

John Dobson and Ron

^.^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^.^^

Reservations may be made by calling

Mann Theatres, (303) 321-3737.

WOMPI Committee Action

LOS ANGELES—WOMPI International

has announced the members of the 1979-80

nominating committee. They are: Gladys

Nelson, Kansas City (chairman); Amalie

Gantt, Charlotte; Dorothy Reeves, New

York; Anne Dillon, Jacksonville, and Elsie

Parish, Dallas.

session is an intensive four-month course of

The organization also announced its com-

study in film and video production designed

mittee chairmen for the year, as follows:

Anna Power, Louisiana, membership; Tillie

Spadaro, San Francisco, finance; Dorothy

Reeves, Missouri, by-laws; Myrtle Parker,

North Carolina, Will Rogers; Romayne

Hoffman, Los Angeles, publicity; Lois Ann

Boyd, Memphis, extension; Mary Brannon,

Georgia, industry; Adelaide Guggenheim,

Los Angeles, bulletin; Mary Hayslip,

Kansas City, historian, and Lee Nickolaus,

caring and sharing.

"Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Against

a Crooked Sky," has led a life parallel to

the film's protagonist, adding rare credibility

to the part.

"The role was really written for me," Peterson

says, referring to Academy Awardwinner

Kieth Merrill's script. "We both

grew up on a ranch, both love hard work

and the out-of-doors, and both have a strong

family feeling," Peterson noted.

Most of his film earnings have gone into

his parents' home in Wyoming.

Screen newcomer Dana Kimmell plays

Brook, the love interest, and acting veteran

Philip Brown is the slick city rival.

Production on "Rivals" went smoothly.

Though several night sections were filmed

ini a part of Los Angeles that had erupted

recently in street violence, the necessary

scenes were carried off without a hitch.

Peterson did his own bareback stunt-'riding

in the film. Having grown up on a ranch,

he learned the skill, which he also demonstrated

in "Pony Express Rider."

SAN FRANCISCO

'\Aôody Townsend, 20th-Fox branch manager,

was in St. Louis April 5-6 for a

district and division managers meeting.

John Coombs, for the past couple of years

local film buyer/ booker for Cinerama/ Blumenfeld

theatres, has been transferred to the

Cinerama home office iin Los Angeles.

Cinema West Services, Dan Tocchini.

Florence McCann and Richard A. Gambogi.

have a new address: 199 Petaluma

Blvd. North, Petaluma, Calif., 94952.

The S. F. Examiner's Stanley Eichelbaum,

dean of local theatre and movie critics, has

announced he's taking a year's leave of absence

in June.

3 Scholarships Available

For Denver Film Institute

DENVER—The Western States Film Institute,

1629 York St., Denver, announces

the availability of three scholarships for

an upcoming apprenticeship session. This

Marshall Brickman is directing "Simon"

from his own screenplay.

to provide the serious student with those

skills needed for advancement in a media

career.

The scholarships are valued at $625 with

two other grants of $250 to be awarded

on the basis of financial need.

An open meeting for those interested in

the program will be held at the institute

April 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton head

the cast of "American Gigolo," a Freddie

Fields production directed by Paul Schrad-

WESTWARD

DOUGH!

OR

howDOgou

COVERA

Wagon

The wild, wild West. Land of

hope and opportunity to thousands

of courageous settlers. But. if it

weren't for the dollars of thousands

more Americans taking stock in their

country, there might never have

been a West to go west to.

You see, money raised from the

sale of government securities

helped us purchase the Louisiana

Territory from the French. Other

securities helped buy the states of

California. Nevada. Utah, western

Colorado and most of New Mexico

and Arizona from Mexico. Even

settlement of the Oregon Territory

was made possible through the

issuance of United States securities.

Today, you can still take stock

in your country's growth by buying

U. S. Savings Bonds.

Just sign up for the Payroll

Savings Plan where you work.

There's no easier, safer way to save

or help your country. After all,

U. S. Savings Bonds are still a great

way for you to go West. Or East,

North and South.

Now E Bonds pay 6% interest when held

to maturity of 5 years (4'^% the first

year). Interest is not subject to state or

local income taxes, and federal tax may be

deferred until redemption.

Take .

.stock

in^êrica.

W-4 BOXOFFICE :: April 16, 1979

Martin Theatres Appoints

Three New Vice-Presidents

C H A R L O T T E

Quinton Green

COLUMBUS. GA—Three new vicepivsidents

have been appointed to the executive

roster of the

Martin Theatre Companies,

according to

an announcement by

Frant; L. Brady, president

of the Columbus,

Georgia - based

corporation. The three

men are Quinton

Green, John McKin-

Icy and Mike Patrick.

Quinton Green, 47,

âs been with Martin

since 1948 and has served in the capacity of

theatre manager in various cities in Georgia

and Alabama. He has worked in the

film booking office in Atlanta and was a

district manager in Virginia for eight years.

Green was transferred to Columbus in 1977

and named concession advisor for the Martin

circuit.

John

McKinley,

52, entered the theatre

business in 1948

with Wil-Kin, Inc,, a

theatre equipment and

supply house in Atlanta,

He is a native

of Greenville, S,C.

and attended Clemson

College at nearby

Clemson. McKinley

joined Martin Theatres

in 1972 as concession

supervisor and then shifted to his

present position of technical and construction

supervisor.

^^

^&)m, |H

L- ^ C

Mike Patrick

Mike Patrick, the

youngest of the trio

28, began work for

at

Martin Theatres in

1969 while attending

Georgia State Univcrsity

in Atlanta. He

''-'>' transferred to

olumbus Col lege

where he graduated

with a degree in economics.

His duties

with Martin included

managing theatres, work in the home oftice

accounting department, city manager of all

Columbus theatres and district manager for

four years. His present title is diiector of

special projects.

John McKinley

Piano's Theatre Reopens

PLANO, TEX.—The Cameo Theatre

was reopened here by Plitt Southern Theatres.

The opening feature is "The Deer

Hunter." the Oscar-winning Vietnam

drama starring Robert De Niro.

The Cameo is located in the Dallas Shopping

Center. The 800-seat theatre was

originaUy opened in December of 1970 and

closed after a few years when a Piano

population explosion did not materialize.

In the ensuing nine years, the predicted

boom offured, and Plitt officials now anticipate

a greater turnover at the theatre.


John R. McClure and personnel, of Charlotte

Film Company, held a tradescreening

of ••Tourist Trap," which stars

Chuck Connors and Jocelyn Jones, before

a very receptive audience, Charlotte Film

had much success distributing ••Halloween"

in this area, aind intends to use the same

format of exploitation—extensive TV, radio

and newspaper advertising.

Top grosses of the week: •The China Syndrome"

at the Charlottetown Mall aind Eastland

Mall, ••Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"

at Charlotte Mall, '•Richard Pryor—

Live in Concert" at the Village, ••The Deer

Hunter" at Eastland Mall and "The Exorcist"

at Tryon Mall,

Screenings at Car-Mel: 'Tourist Trap"

from Charlotte Film. "Walk Proud" and

•'The Senator" from Universal and ••Old

Boyfriends" from Avco Embassy,

Doris Grimsley has severed her connections

with Plitt Southern Theatres, previously

ABC, and is now working for Eddie

Marks of Stewart and Everett Theatres as

his ••girl Friday,"

New pictures on the marquees: ••Ruck

Rogers of the 25th Century" at Charlottetown

Mall, •'Hair" at Southpark. '•Beyond

the Door, Part 2" at Capri and Thunderbird

Drive-In, ••The Champ" at Eastland Mall,

•Watership Down" at the Manor and ••The

Promise" at Eastland Mall.

Catherine Chapin, Charlotte Observer

movie critic, reviewed ••Hair" and wrote,

••Replacing the stage version's pounding

rhythm is a very slick, inventively staged

movie. With the free-foim choreography

of Twyla Tharp and the disarming charm

704.333.9651

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of Lreat Williams as tribe-leader Berger.

the film has something to recommend."

"Jeff" Wayne, son of Faye and Harry

Wayne of Wilkin Inc., is the new booker at

American International,

Frank Jones, bearded disciple of Southern

Booking, was tendered a cocktail party by

••Erv" Melton in the Car-Mel screening

room before a group of 40 invited guests

The occasion was Frank's recording of his

popular "Preacherman" dialogue, which will

be used in a new movie in which the ••bearded

disciple" will appear. The film is still in

the blueprint stage.

"Richard Pryor— Live in Concert" is really

getting bread in the boxoffice everywhere

it plays, according to Eddie Marks of

Stewart and Everett Theatres. It is the same

blue routine used by comedian Pryor on; his

records and tapes, and the scads of adults

are flocking to see it, knowing exactly what

they are coming to see. They are also enjoying

the film immensely and leaving the

theatre feeling they got their money's

worth.

Eddie Marks also sends along this tip to

theatres: ••The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

played three late shows in Stewart and Everett

Theatres, and did a tremendous business.

But theatres should beware, because the

money is in the picture if the crowd can

be controlled and absolute bedlam is avoided

to some degree, while still allowing the

patrons to have a good time with their antics

of mimicking what they see on the

screen. After two weeks of SRO business

and near chaos, Stewart and Everett's Wilmington,

N.C., management threw in the

towel.

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NEW ORLEANS

Hs usual, the Academy Awards prompts

return of features which have been

the

nominated. "Coming Home," with eight

nominations, opened for an exclusive showing

at the Lakeside Theatre; "Midnight Express,"

six nominations, at the Joy's Cinema

City, and "The Buddy Holly Story," three

nominations, at the Joy's Cinema.

"National Lampoon's Animal House" after

a run of 34 weeks at the Lakeside Theatre

has moved over to the Joy's Cinema

City.

Ned Tannen, president of Universal Pictures;

Walter Mirisch, producer of "Dracula,"

and Kevin Gunthcr, head of publicity,

flew into town March 23 for a special

screening at Gulf States Theatres of a 12-

minute promotional reel of the feature

"Dracula."

The Southeastern NATO Convention will

be held at Mobile, Ala. May 5-7. The Louisiana-Mississippi

NATO has been invited

and WOMPl will handle registration of

these guests and will

receive a percentage of

all advance registrations. WOMPI will also

assist the Ladies of Variety at the forthcoming

International Convention to be held

at the Fairmont Hotel, May 19-24.

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(Average Is 100)

New Orleans

Agatha (WB), Lakeside, 3rd wk 275

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Robt. E. Lee,

5th wk 600

HaUoween (PR), Loews State,

2nd wk 300


(Univ), Lakeside, 33rd wk 100


Orpheum, 4th wk 900

Same Time, Next Year (Univ), Lakeside,

7th wk 150

Superman (WB), Lakeside, 9th wk 450

The Warriors (Para), Loews State,

1st wk 175

ATLANTA

Qeorgia Theatre Co., the Atlanta-based

film circuit, has announced additions to

locations in Atlanta, Gadsden, Ala., and

Brunswick, Ga. The two existing Lenox

Square Theatres will become a quad and a

part of the extension to the existing Lenox

compound this summer. Gus Gallant is the

manager of the theatres. The Gadsden Mall

Twin, managed by city manager T.J. Presley,

is scheduled to become a triple. The

Atlanta Twins, managed by Betty Black in

Brunswick, is scheduled to become a triplex.

Women in Films and the Atlanta Arts

and Crafts Guild will sponsor a series of

three films April 25-28 entitled "Films by

Women of the South." The series will be

held at

the Chastain Arts and Crafts Center,

135 W. Wleuca Rd. N.W,, at 8 each evening.

A variety of films, ranging from documentaries

to theatrical, will be shown.

Doug Ouderkirk, 20th-Fox's Southeastern

PR director, has returned from an extensive

Florida tour beating the drums for Robert

Altman's "Health," a comedy starring Carol

Burnett, Lauren Bacall, James Garner and

Glcnda Jackson, and three other releases,

"A Perfect Couple," "Nosferatu" and

"Dreamer." Doug is also impatiently waiting

for the baseball season to open so the

Filmrow athletes can get on with their practice.

Michael Parver Associates issued invitations

to Phipps Plaza I for a special showing

of Dino de Laurentiis' "Hurricane"

April 1 1 . Starring

in the Famous Films Production

are Jason Robards, Mia Farrow,

Max von Sydow, Trevor Howard and Timothy

Bottoms and introducing Dayton Kane.

Norm Levinson, executive vice-president

of Cobb Theatres, has aninounced that Joe

Lee has been promoted to vice-president and

film buyer for the circuit. He replaces Joe

Harper, who has advanced with the company

as vice-president in charge of the company's

Caribbean operations.

S-2


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6:00 P.M.


TILT PREVIEW—Attending the invitational preview of Rudy Durand's

"Tilt" in Houston March 30 were (left to right) Ken Mj^rshM, an actor in the f.to;

Melvin Simon, the producer; Brooke Shields, star of ''Tdt"; Rudy Durand, the

SwrtTr-d^rector producer, and Bill Wray, the composer. The regular engagement

of "Tilt" started April 13 at the Meyerland. Northline, Greenspomt, Almeda

and Town & Country

HOUSTON

theatres.

it is difficult for them to absorb boxoffice

losses from unpopular movies for which

they are forced to pay large rentals months

in advance.

grooke Shields and Charles Durning, stars theme of the film is blunt: "Children can

of "Tilt," were on hand for the world be a drag. The film's fairly courageous m

invitational preview of the film at the Woodlake

III. "Tilt" is the story of a 14-year-old and director Francois Leterrier treats it in

tackling such a potentially touchy DALLAS

subject

pinball wizard, played by Shields, who takes a refreshingly off stride manner."

gill Baxter, accountant for United Artists

on the champ, played by Durning. It opened Marquee changes include: "The Champ." Theatre Circuit's Rowley division,

its regular rum April 13. Bill Wray, who "Fiiepower." "A Perfect Couple." "The closed the ledger on his work at UA April 6

wrote several of the film's songs, performed Plague," "The Promise," "Wifemistress," after 35 years and 7 months in the same

with his band at a party after the screening, "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," "Evictors,"

"Hair." "Movie Movie" and "The ready to enjoy a little of that relaxed feel-

firm. It hardly seems true, but Baxter is

and the stars and writer-director Rudy Durand

stayed on hand for the press interview. Passage."

ing he has heard so much about from former

co-workers. 'We extend best wishes to

The two-day premiere was sponsored by

Paramount's "Urban Cowboy," starring

Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture

Assn. of America.

Bill in his retirement.

John Travolta, aims to begin shooting June

4 at Gilley's Club, a country-western bistro Bob O'DonneU and Sara Murray have

in nearby Pasadena . . . Stage director moved their offices from 6060 N. Central

Eric Gerber of the Houston Post in his

review of "Hair" said, "Just a hunch, but

I think the good reviews that 'Hair' has

been eliciting spring from a sense of relief

that the film isn't the embarrassment everybody

half expected it to be." Concerning

"Your Turn, My Turn," Gerber said the

"Go Modern...For AH Your Theatre Needs"

Adiran Hall screened his film "The Feasting

of Panthers" at the University of Houston

drama department, then discussed the production

with the invited audience.

"Rituals" has been receiving extra promotion

pushes by producer James Drury.

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Tex. Legislative Committee

Approves Blind Bidding Bill

AUSTIN. TEX.—The Senate Economic

Development Committee April 2 approved

the blind bidding bill of Bexar County Sen.

John Traeger by a vote of 5-0. Traeger's

bill. SB820. would outlaw blind bidding in

which movie distributors require theatre

owners to bid on rental rights to new movies

months before the pictures are ready for re-

The bill passed with a minimum of discussion

and before Jack Valenti. president

of Motion Picture Assn. of America, had

an opportunity to speak.

Traeger told the committee that more

than 75" percent of the state's movie theatres

are independently owned, and most are

small town operations. The lawmaker told

the committee that blind bidding works an

economic hardship on these businesses, since

to 5641 Yale Blvd.. Suite 125. Dallas,

75206. The telephone number, 691-6375,

remains the same.

Word was just received of the April 4

death of Joe Hackney, long-time owner of

the Plaza Theatre in Canton. Before gomg

into business for himself in Canton. Joe

was with Jefferson Amusement Co. He is

survived by his wife and two sons, Don

Hackney and Dr. Michael Hackney.

Dorothy Barbosa has retired from Plitt

Southern Theatres after three years of temporary

work and 15 years as a permanent

employee. She leaves with no regrets, only

with anticipation of more time to onjoy life

with her husband, children and grandchildren.

"Murder by Decree," playing at the Esquire,

was reviewed by Philip Wuntch of

the Dallas Morning News, and he said.

Murder by Decree' is " good, well-polished

fuin that handily combines several Victorian

legends. In a word: Strong footsteps in the

fog, with Dr Watson almost out-racing Mr.

Holmes."

Marquee changes: "The Champ" at Inwood.

Promenade II and Northtown 6, and

"Firepower" at Valley View Cinema, Irving

Mall Cinema. Town East Cinema and Highkind

Park Village. Both films opened April

6.

S-4


.200

Minnea|>olis

(Average is 100)

AgaJha (WB), Park. 5th wk 125

The Bell Jar (Avco), Skyway III,

1st wk 150

The Brink's Job (Univ), Hopkins,

7tii wk 55


(Univ), four theatres, 1st wk 345

The China Syndrome (Col), Cooper,

Southdalc, 3id wk 380

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Mann,

6th wk 260

Every Which Way But Loose (WB),

Northtown, Southdale, 15th wk. .... 110

Fast Break (Col), three theatres,

4th wk 120

The Glacier Fox (Sanrio).

FIRST RUN REPORT

five theatres,

5th wk 45

The Great Train Robhery (UA), Cameo,

8th wk 120

Hair (UA), Skyway II, 1st wk 290

Halloween (Compass). Brookdale East,

Edina II, 9th wk 135

Murder by Decree (Avco), four

theatres, 5th wk 90

Mustang (Cannon), Suburban World,

Varsity, 1st wk 80

Norma Rae (20th-Fox). Edina I,

3rd wk 310


Northtown. Shelard Park. 7th wk. ... 100

The Passage (UA), three theatres,

1st wk 85


Skyway I, 8th wk 80

Superman (WB), Brookdale,

Southtown. 16th wk 210

Take Down (BV), The Movies at

Eden Prairie, 5th wk. 35

Kansas City

The Bell Jar (Avco), Embassy,

1st wk 200

The Brink's Job (Univ). Antioch,

Mctcalf, 7th wk 70


(Univ), 6 theatres. 1st wk 395

The China Syndrome (Col), 3 theatres.

3rd wk 355

Circle of Iron (Avco), 5 theatres,

2nd wk 85

Days of Heaven (Para), Fiir.e Arts.

6th wk 130

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Ranchmart.

5th wk 370

Every Which Way But Loose (WB),

3 theatres. 1 5th wk 200

Fast Break (Col). 5 theatres. 5th wk. ... 1 35

The Glacier Fox (SR), 6 theatres,

3rd wk 90

The Great Train Robbery (UA),

Seville, 8th wk 1 20

Hair (UA). Midland. Oak Park,

1st wk 100

Hardcore (Col). Valley View.

8th wk 75

BOXOFFICE April 16, 1979

Rushmore 3 Opening

A Rapid City Event

RAPID CITY, S.D. — A tremendous

amount of publicity was given to the open-

Inside Jennifer Welles (SIO, laiiyland,

j„g ^f the new Rushmore 3 Cinema here

1 St wk 125

operated by Commonwealth Theatres.

The Last Wave (SR), 8 theatres,

j^g Commonwealth group who traveled

1st wk 105

f^Qj^ Kansas City were Dale Stewart, presi-

Mag Wheels (SR). 3 theatres, jgnt: Dick Orear, chairman of the board;

1st wk 120 Doug Lightner, vice-chairman, and Jack

Murder by Decree (Avco). 7 theatres,

Poessinger, director of advertising.

2nd wk 140

Traveling in from Denver were Marvin

Norma Rae (20th-Fox), 3 theatres, Goldfarb of Commonwealth, Ronnie Gise-

3rd wk 175

ûrt and John Dobson of United Artists,

The North Avenue irregulars (BV),

gjêrm Wood of Film Brokers and Bruce

Young, senior district manager of Common-


The Passage (UA), 6 theatres,

wealth.

1st wk 75 'Y\\c theme for the opening was "Your

The Psychic (SR). Midland. Touch of Hollywood." The theatre was

completely blacked out with the doors bc-

3rd wk

1 50


j^g protected by a goldribbon made up from

Empire, 8th wk 50 70mm film which had been painted gold.

Same Time, Next Year (Univ), djî^^ Qrear and the mayor of Rapid City

Glonwood. 6tih wk 165

^^^^ jj^g ribbon with gigantic scissors five

Take Down (BV), 6 theatres,

fggj jr, length. The cutting of the ribbon

1st wk 115

illuminated the theatre both inside and out.

The Warriors (Para), 3 theatres, ^^ (ê crowd filed into the lobby a 50-

8th wk 90 piece band came marching from the auditorium

into the lobby. They played, of

course, "There's No Business Like Show

Chicago Business." Three beauty queens, one from

Agatha (WB). 4 theatres, 5th wk 225 each of the Rapid City high schools, led

Autumn Sonata (NW), Biograph, the procession followed by 16 baton twirl-

^.

16th wk

200 ers.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ). Champagne was served the 800 VIPs in

13 theatres. 1st wk 350 the lobby while the band serenaded with

The China Syndrome (Col). 11 theatres. themes from Hollywood hits in the past.

3rd wk 350 The Hollywood theme was carried out

The Deer Hunter (Univ). Esquire. with a display of spotlights, director's chairs

4th wk 500 and a plat-board spelling out "Rushmore

Fast Break (Col). 5 theatres, 6th wk. . .150 Mall—Scene 1." A huge cake which fea-

Hair (UA). 1 1 theatres. 2nd wk 350 lured the Commonwealth Theatres logo was

Hardcore (Col). 6 theatres, 6th wk 150 served to the group by the Rapid City beau-

Murder by Decree (Avco), 4 theatres.

ty queens. A brochure was distributed listmg

4fh wk 150 all of the attractions booked into the triplex

Norma Rae (20th-Fox). 6 theatres, for the summer season.

175 Additional publicity was generated by

5,h wl;

Richard Pryor—Live in Concert, a police escort that was granted to each VIP

Roosevelt, 9th wk 200 on the way from the hotel quarters to the

Same TimcNext Year (Univ). theatre. The media was well represented

3 theatres Sth wk 1 25 with live TV and radio coverage. Each of

Superman (WB). 8 theatres, 15th wk. .

the Rapid City newspapers devoted a full

The Warriors (Para). 3 theatres. 8th wk. 225 page to covering the event.

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^^hen Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda and

Michael Douglas were in Chicago recently

to promote "The China Syndrome,"

they mentioned to Chicago Tribune columnist

Aaron Gold that while this movie is an

entertaining thriller, it also serves as a warning

to the American public of what could

happen. Now, with the nuclear plant leak

in Pennsylvania, there are profuse comments

everywhere in the area. But Jack

Brodsky, a Columbia Pictures vice-president,

told the Tribune, "The events at Harrisburg

are so serious that it would be inappropriate

for anyone involved with the film to

comment on it." It is interesting to recall

that on July 29. 1976. the Tower Ticker

column in the Tribune reported in connection

with "The China Syndrome": "Several

government agencies are pulling strings like

ciazy to keep Mike Gray's new screenplay

from becoming a movie. It's about a nuclear

power plant that's about to explode."

Columbia Pictures' lineup for 1979 shows

an almost orchestrated bit of organization.

"The Fifth Musketeer" is the big number

for April. "Hanover Street" and "The Ravagcrs"

highlight May. And, looking ahead

into June, there will be openings of "Lost

and Found," "Nightwing," a suspense/mystery

movie based on Martin Ciuz's best

seller, and "Game of Death," Bruce Lee's

last film. ^

Tlie "invasion" of cable television into

suburban Oak Park appears to be becoming

stronger. The Oak Park Village Board

of Trustees asked the village attorney to

begin contract negotiations with Cablevision,

a New York-based firm. The indications

at this time point to approval of a

contract giving Cablevision a non-exclusive

franchise for up to 30 years. When cable

television first became a topic for consideration,

a number of exhibitors felt strongly

about opposing it. Now the response is

rather tepid and a random poll finds most

exhibitors with the feeling that cable TV

will be injurious primarily to television.

They believe that the over abundance of

noisy, musical commercials which mar programming

on TV will prompt many people

to uphold cable television.

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Now that Paramount Pictures' arrangements

for the launching of "Hurricane"

have been completely finalized, basic campaign

plans are in work for four new films.

Set for June breaks are "Players," "Escape

From Alcatraz" with Clint Eastwood as

the star, "Prophecy" with Talia Shire and

Robert Foxworth, and "Bloodline," which

is based on the novel which has been on

the bestseller list.

Virgil Jones, who heads up the Chicago

area office for The International Picture

Show Co., is working on plans for an early

opening of "The Visitor." He is also working

on "Soldier of Orange," which made an

unusually good showing in its first openings

in Seattle, Wash, theatres.

John Bischof, general manager of the

Kohlberg Theatre Circuit properties, said

"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" deserves

special mention as a spring success based

on big business done at their Brighton,

Meadows and Lawrencewood theatres.

Dave Schatz, president of Chicago Used

Chair Mart, and his crew just returned

from Louisville, Ky., where they completed

extensive chair work for Monarch Theatres,

headed by H. Switow. Chicago Used Chair

Mart has been working rather extensively

in Southern territory, and especially in Florida.

This was actually a stroke of luck in

view of the especially bad winter weather

in the Midwest. It seems rather apparent

that Schatz is casting a favorable eye on

headquartering in the Florida area.

"The Champ," a new United Artists film,

opened with early patron interest. And advance

screenings of scheduled arrivals promise

a sound spring season for UA. Optimism

seems to run rather high for a new Woody

Allen film, "Manhattan." The film is logically

set in New York City, and the stars

are Allen and Diane Keaton. Due here next

is "Last Embrace" with Roy Scheider, who

was a star in "Jaws" (I and 2), and Janet

Margolis, last seen in "Annie Hall." Late

May brings "Voices," which stars two people

in their first starring roles. Michael

Ontkean and Amy Irving.

Avco Embassy's name has been prominent

in many marquees recently with such

films as "Murder by Decree," "The Bell

Jar" and "Watership Down." Now spots on

radio and TV, and prominent ads in newspapers

are bombarding movie-goers. April

and May arrivals include "Old Boyfriends"

and "Phantasm." "Old Boyfriends" is categorized

as one of Avco Embassy's most important

films this season. As a special note

of interest, Alan Stem was the producer.

THEWTRE EQUIPMENT

Evervlhing for the Theatre"

339 No. CAPITOL AVI., INDIANAPOLIS, IND

He is the son of Mike Stern, a prominent,

veteran exhibitor in this territory. April 6

marked the opening of Avco Embassy's

"Circle of Iron." The film, directed by

Richard Moore from an original story by

Bruce Lee and James Coburn, stars David

Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Roddy McDowell,

Eli Wallach and Christopher Lee.

"Autumn Sonata" business exceeded the

expert opinion of Biograph Theatre owner

Larry Edwards in its exclusive 16-week run.

Now this movie, which has been nominated

for two Academy Awards, has moved for

an extended run into the 400, Davis, Hinsdale,

Homewood, Wilmette and Town theatres.

"Autumn Sonata" marks the first time

Ingmar Bergman, director, and Ingrid Berman,

the star, have worked together. The

film is released through New World Pictures.

Larry Edwards has now booked "The

Duellists" for an exclusive showing at his

Biograph. "The Duellists" made its local

debut in 1977 at the Chicago International

Film Festival. It has had a brief run in

Los Angeles and New York City before reappearing

here.

It is noted that because of the long run

of "Autumn Sonata" at the Biograph, this

movie house is now recognized as a "prime

first-run movie house." According to initial

plans, the Biograph was to be operated as a

revival theatre. After "The Duellists" the

Biograph will present another first-run film,

the latest feature by Francois Trauffaut.

Word of the death of Sidney C. Goltz on

April 2 was received. Goltz was a member

of Local 110.

Members of the Women's Variety Club

were fortunate in having an opportunity to

sponsor a horse show as a benefit for Variety

Club charities. The show, which was

organized and staged by Jan Peterson of

Abbott Theatre Equipment Co.. was a fourday

event which took place in the Yorktown

Shopping Center.

The world premiere of "Good Luck, Miss

Wyckoff" was held April 13 at the Near

North Carnegie. This will be an exclusive

first

run.

"The Innocent." which ofwned for a first

exclusive run at the Near North Cinema,

was called a "tremendous" success in the

first week by Barbara Sapstein of the Brotman

Theatres organization. This was a

cheerful note to pass on to owner Oscar

Brotman. who underwent surgery at Northwestern

Memorial Hospital.

W. N. Drive-In Theatre Co. has leased

the Crystle Lake Drive-In from th; Kohlberg

Theatre Circuit. Bill Jones is manager,

and Jerry KuehnI of the Griever organization

will he doing the booking.

Rod Stewart's May 1 and 2 concerts are

booked into the Uptown Theatre here. It is

noted that it's the only "small" auditorium

Stewart is playing on his American tour.

The Uptown, now owned and operated by

Rabiela Enterprises, operators of Spanish

language movie houses, has 2,500 seats.

BOXOFFICE April 16, 1979

EPRAD

MINNEAPOLIS

JJed Tanen, picsident of Universal Studios,

and producer Walter Mirisch were in

Minneapolis March 30 to host personally a

screening of a ten-minute "Dracula" promotional

reel. A question-and-answer period

followed the screening, held in the Plitt

Skyway Screening Room. The event was

well-attended by local exhibitors and the

reel was warmly received. "Diacula" breaks

nationwide on Friday, July 13.

ing they intended to boycott not only involved

theatres but the soft drink as well.

As March ended, word came from the UA

circuit's home office in New York: Remove

the commercial from all our Minnesota

screens.

"The China Syndrome" heie—as just

about everywhere else— plainly profited

from the hubbub involving the Harrisburg,

Pa. nuclear power plant. Pickets appeared

at local power company offices,

many carrying signs proclaiming "No

China Syndrome Here." Grosses for the

picture held firm in the Twin Cities in its

third week. At the Plitt Palace Theatre,

Superior, Wis., grosses jumped $1,000 over

the preceding week, and at the Cine 2 in

Mankato, Minn., the third-week figure was

$700 ahead of the second stanza. Local

newscasts and news stories made constant

reference to the " 'China Syndrome'-like

Ray Vonderhaar, Tentilino Enterprises,

Alexandria, Minn., was in town to line up

product for the circuit's drive-in in Worthington.

Minn. But on the night of April 1,

Worthington had three and a half inches of

snow! Opening was delayed, but Minneapolis-St.

Paul area drive-ins reopened April

6. Even though temperatures were only in

the 20s and 30s.

the reopening was dictated

by area schools' weeklong vacation period,

April 8-14.

Tom Viste, American International

branch manager here, announced that Frank

White has joined the AI branch crew as

salesman. White, from Omaha, has been in

the business eight years. He began at the

United Artists branch in Des Moines.

A bill prohibiting the showing of obscene

movies at Minnesota outdoor theatres is

winding its way through the legislative

process. In a letter to the Minneapolis

Tribune, Pastor Jonathan Law of the United

Methodist Church in Thief River Falls,

Minn., urged a version of such a law that

would make exhibitors strictly enforce age

limits prescribed by the movie code. The

code would require that a barrier be placed

around the theatre making it impossible to

see the screen from anywhere outside the

theatre itself, "except from an airplane or

helicopter." Pastor Law added: "I can already

hear theatre owners complaining that

Early in March, the United Artists Theatres

houses in the Twin Cities began run-

to erect such barriers is impossible or too

expensive. Well, I've just seen such a barrier

around an outdoor theatre in Indiana,

ning a big-screen commercial for Dr Pepper.

The result was howls of protest from

so I know it can be done."

many cash customers plus scorching comment

in the local press. The St. Paul Dispatch

printed letters from moviegoers say-

Filmrow visitors: Sid Heath, Flame Theatre,

Wells, Minn.; Dave and Bob Ross,

Ross circuit, St. Cloud, Minn.

Tom Viste, American International branch

chief, has set a May 4 territorywide saturation

for "California Dreaming." with 50

prints working. And Dean Lutz, Avco Embassy

branch boss, has a trio of films on

tap: "Old Boyfriends," breaking in late

April; "Phantasm," May 11, and "Winter

Kills." May 18.

Meanwhile, Viste decided to hire a new

secretary at the AI branch. He placed an

ad in the Minneapolis morning and evening

and Sunday papers. He contacted five different

employment agencies. He contacted

the Minnesota School of Business. He contacted

the Minnesota State Employment

Service. Then he sat back, waiting for an

array of hopefuls from whom he could pick

and choose. How many applicants showed

up Not one!

Engler Theatres Inc., Hopkins, Minn., is

making available to all of its employees a

way to quit smoking. The Twin Cities

circuit is giving Water-Pic One-Step at a

Time cigarette filters to any employee who

requests it. And why The Englers respond:

"Simple. We're concerned about our employees'

health."

The Country Cinema Drive-In, Gettysburg.

S.D., previously owned by Ben

Fowler, is now being run by Mrs. Don

Bowden.

I

I

I

WURlTf^

Potts 3 and 5

Stack Platters

Lynn Kulbeik is the "new face" at the

Paramount branch here. She's actually doing

an encore. Lynn previously worked at

the Paramount branch, leaving there in

December of 1972. Now she's back as a

biller Filmrow visitors: Dan Peterson,

. . .

State Theatre, Brookings, S.D.; Gene

Grengs, Hollywood, Eau Claire, Wis.; Ray

Vonderhaar, Tentilino Enterprises, Alexandria,

Minn.

ST.

LOUIS

The Japanese-made documentary "The Glacier

Fox," aided by a TV campaign,

opened Friday, April 13, at Halls Ferry,

Des Peres, Ronnie's, Cinerama 4, Avalon,

South Twin and Webster Groves. In Illinois,

it is playing at Petite, Collinsville, BAC's

Plaza Twin, E. St. Louis and their houses

in Roxana and Centralia.

Crown's answer to "American Graffiti,"

"Van Nuys Blvd.," begins a wide multiple

Wednesday, April 18. Aimed at the youngei^

set, it proclaims that "the greatest cruisin'

in the land takes place on the street where

it all began." Filmed of course in sunny

California, its cast includes Bill Adier,

Cynthia Wood, Dennis Bowen and Melissa

Prophet.

Neil Blatt is the new branch manager at

20th-Fox, succeeding Luis Benavides who

was transferred to the Atlanta office.

Mid-America Theatres is presenting a

"one for the money, two for the show" offer

during the month of April at 12 of their

houses, in designated a special newspaper

coupon good for one admission with the

purchase of one paid adult admission Monday

through Thursday when presented at

the

boxoffice.

Cinema-Art Classics Shown

From South Edition

SAN ANTONIO—St. Mary's University

will present programs of cinema-arts world

classics during April which are open to

the public at no charge. Each program begins

at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Mary's Continuing

Education Center auditorium with brief

comments by an educator specializing in

the film's material. The Minnie Stevens Piper

Foundation is funding the cinema-arts

seminars.

Cl l

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Ballantyne-Strong-Hanovia

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LINCOLN

por the past several weeks Commonwealth

Theatre's Plaza in Lincoln has been

capitalizing oni the rapidly growing cult classic.

the "Hair" opening, and moving three

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

blocks over to the Cinema for an additional

Dean Zieltlow of Commonwealth in Lin-

week's run. Smith hosted a sneak preview

coln anticipates an indefinite stay for the

film which lights up the silver screen every

Friday and Saturday evening at midnight.

The phenomenon warranted a story in the

entertainment section of the Lincoln Journal,

complete with photographs of the patrons

in costume as they attend the film.

"Superman" has moved from the Cooper/Lincoln

to the Plaza 1 for an indefimdte

stay, while Clint Eastwood's "Every Which

Way But Loose" is still continuing its

Christmas run.

Replacing "Superman" at the Cooper/

Lincoln is "The China Syndrome" which is

doing great. Academy Award contender

"The Deer Hunter" opens at the Plaza on

Cinema 1 & 2 is closing out "National

Lampoon's Animal House" again! The ever

popular campus spoof ran 18 weeks from

last year and was brought back again for its

current run which is nine weeks. Gabe Kaplan's

"Fast Break" is leaving the State for

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of "The Champ" March 30. Opening date

was April 6.

Commonwealth Theatre district manager

Darrel Maness has been promoted to Eastern

division manager, with Web Meredith

now taking over the district.

At the Dubinsky Brother's Stuart Theatre,

"Ice Castles" is currently in its sixth

run week with the end looming sometime

in April. Its replacement will be "Richard

Pryor— Live in Concert" followed by the

animated full-length film, "The Roadrunner."

TOR^^^^^ """'-

BOX 626 C/

OMAHA, NE 68101

HIB

KAHSAS CITY

Linda Ryan, who worked at Warner Bros.'

Kansas City branch a year ago or fo ago,

and who left to return to her home in California,

has now returned here to work for

the Associated Film Distributors who are

new in town. Laurie (Hansen) Mulcahy, who

foimerly worked at New World Pictures until

they closed their Kansas City office, is

also to be found at Associated Film Distributors.

Susie Higgins, formerly of United

Artists here, has also acceptsd a position

there effective April 9.

Chester Smith, manager of Commonwealth's

Twin Lakes Theatres Wichita,

in

Kan. visited the home office of Commonwealth

Amusement Corp. recently. "Smitty"

plans to retire in the near future.

Earl Douglass of Commonwealth spent

April 4-5 in Denver on business.

WOMPl members please remember your

d;mes for Dimes for Will Rogers and turn

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your money in to Virginia Kelly of Dickinson

Theatres, chairman of the Will Rogers

committee.

Variety Club International Tent #8 will

not have an April meeting due to the Show-

A-Rama convention this month. The May

meeting will be announced later.

Carla Wilson, formerly of American International,

has accepted a position with

the United Artists office here. Her spot at

American International is being filled by

Dorothy Collins, formerly of American Multi

Cinema's Midwest division.

MILWAUKEE

attending the conference on cinema and

language held the last week in March

at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

were two European filmmakers. Chantel

Akerman and Babette Mangote.

April 6. replacing "The Glacier Fox" after

Some strong competition has been given

a highly successful run.

to local movie houses by Movie Systems

& 2 and

cooperation

Inc.. 1200 E. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee. The

ûring the recent national sales meeting in company has begun to advertise its film

Bruce Smith of the Cinema 1

the State theatres, working in

with Lincoln's radio station KIMS and Godfather's

Puerto Rico, Jay Peckos, branch man-

offerings in the local press. "Take your fam-

was

Pizza, gave away 750 tickets to conager

of Columbia Pictures' Kansas City ily to the movies for 38 cents," the

branch office, was the winner of an unusual

headline over a display ad which stated:

prize. Miss Hotstuff came riding in "Over 40 movie specials and sports events

test winners to see the gala premiere showing

of "Hair" the evening preceding the

scheduled opening.

on a Moto Becane Mo-Ped Bike and was are going to be broadcast by Home Box

month. you're subscriber,

presented to Jay as a door prize. Jay was Office this If a

jubilant until he was told the bike was the each would cost you less than 38 cents to

biing into your homo for the whole family

prize. Seriously, he was delighted with the

bike, which is now being shipped to Kansas

enjoy. If you don't subscribe, take a look

to

at the list and see what you're missing this

City from Puerto Rico. When it arrives

Jay is warning everyone to stay off Broadway

weekend alone."

until he has had some practice riding

In Beertown recently to promote "Murder

the new bike.

by Decree" was the director. Bob Clark, 37.

Clark, who now resides in Toronto, said

he was on a tour throughout the Midwest

to make an inspection of theatres where the

movie was playing. The director of a previous

horror-thriller, "Black Christmas,"

Clark pointed out that four of the movie's

principals, Christopher Plummer, Donald

Sutherland, Susan Clark and Genevieve Bujold,

are all of Canadian origin. The movie

was filmed in Canada and Britain.

Capitol Court Cinema had a tie-in with

the Capitol Court Merchants Assn. April

3 for a "special one-day showing for Senior

Citizens and Ladies" of the feature film,

"That's Entertainment." Admission was

50 cents with a special coupon that was

available at all Capitol Court stores.

Mid-America Releasing Co., headed by

Rick Rice, is setting up an advertising budget

approximating $.50,000 for the launchfng

of "The Silenl Partner." This means the

news media, radio and TV will be alerting

people to the Chicagoland opening on May

4. "Silent Partner" is the winner of six

Canadian film awards, including best feature

film. "Winter months, including

March, are generally our slow months. But

bids are, coming in at a rapid pace for 'Silent

Partner." said Rice. Meanwhile, subruns of

"Halloween" are still keping this movie ac-

April 16, 1979

. . and

Canada's Third Art House

Opens Doors in Edmonton

EDMONTON—Edmonton is now only

Ihc third city in Canada, after Montreal

and Toronto, to have a full-time art movie

theatre, according to Linda Bcath, who

along with partner Bob Hiiber operate New

Cinema Enterprises" Varscona Theatre.

They first opened Canada's first fulltime

art movie house in Toroireto and began

to distribute foreign, Canadian and older

films to film societies. Now they have leased

the Varscona and. with the permission of

owner Canadian Odeon. painted the candy

coimter salmon pink, put bamboo curtains

in the washrooms and started a policy of

showing art movies exclusively.

The one-year experiment is a radical departure

from "the American dream," says

Beath. She estimates only I percent of the

population that goes to movies at all go to

so-called art films.

"Everyone else wants to show 'Star

Wars,' " she says. "The level of film literacy

is terribly low in Canada."

She prefers going totally with an art theatre

experiment because experience has

shown commercial theatres do not generally

hold a loyal following when they try to

sandwich Walt Disney between Max Ophuls

and Wernor Herzog.

The new Varscona Fine Arts Theatre

opened its doors March 16 with a showing

of Ingmar Bergman's "Autumn Sonata."

But it was not an entirely new departure for

the Varscona. Located near the University

of Alberta campus, the old Varscona once

had a policy of showing an occasional foreign

film.

Hassling Off the Screen

Is as Bad as That on It

From Middlewest Edition

ST. PAUL—For "The Warriors," Paramount's

gang-war action-adventure, there's

been as much hassling, tussling and suspense

off the .screen as on it. And in St. Paul,

the picture got caught up in a case of nowyou-see-it,

now-you-don't . nowyou-see-it-again.

"The Warriors" opened Feb. 16 at The

Movies at Maplewood and The Movies at

Cottage Grove, and in Minneapolis at the

Skyway Theatre. The Maplewood and Cottage

Grove multi-screen complexes are

operated by United Artists Theatre Corp.

The Skyway is part of the Plitt theatre circuit.

Grosses Through the Roof

In each city, boxoffice action went right

through the roof. And the Twin Cities

weren't exceptions. Grosses at almost all of

the picture's openings were dynamite. But

then came explosive action of a different

sort.

Violence was reported in connection with

the showing in Boston, a shooting was reported

at a Palm .Springs, Calif., drive-in

playing "The Warriors," and in Oxnard,

Calif., a knifing death occurred.

Paramount, going through the ritual of

denying the movie was the cause of these

outbursts, nevertheless moved quickly to

(Continued on following page)


put

CALGARY

prices in both Calgary and l:dmonton theatres

were raised from S.^.V.*! to $4..'i0

for the film "The Deer Hunter," although

just who instigated Ihc move is somewhat

hazy. Barty Carnon. publicity manager for

Universal Pictures of Canada, was in Edmonton

and said there were two reasons

for the admission increase. "The first is that

the exhibitor feels the film warrants a higher

price because of its high caliber. The

second is the running time of the film. Due

to the three-hour running time, the staff

must come in for an earlier start and stay

later for the last show, which means paying

overtime." Carnon also said the decision to

increase prices for the film was left up to

each individual theatre showing it. Advertising

director for the Towne Cinema in Edmonton.

Bob Corless, said the increase was

requested by Universal Studios because of

the length of the film. It is a sad fact of life

that the majority of films being shown in

Canada are from the U.S.. and consequently

the sagging Canadian dollar has a big bearing

on film exhibition here.

The Saskatchewan Film Classification

Services reviewed a total of 30 films during

the month of February. There were two in

the General category, 16 in the Adult group,

four classified as Restricted Adult and the

remaining eight were in the Special X class.

Almost half of the features, 14, were tagged

with warnings. Several films have the warning

"not suitable for children": "Aguire,

Wrath of God," "Avalanche," "Conversation

Piece" and "Same Time, Next Year."

Two movies have "language warning": "Providence"

and "The Brink's Job." "Violence

warning" must be carried by "Murder by

Decree" and "Jack the Ripper." Two

warnings were put on "The Warriors":

"language and violence warning" and "not

suitable for children." "The Deer Hunter"

has "language and violence warning." Four

features carry "scenes warning": "Party

Swappers." "Last Survivor," "Girls Who

Do" and "Blue Ecstasy." Four films are also

listed as "no drive-in theatre": "Party Swapper,"

"Giris Who Do," "Blue Ecstasy" and

"Bathhouse Girls."

The last in the Shirley Temple film series

was shown at the Edmonton Provincial

Museum March 25 under the auspices of

the Department of Alberta Culture. The

feature was "Dimples," made in 1936 and

co-starring Frank Morgan,

A federal election has been called by

Prime Minister Trudeau for May 22. With

so much talk of restraints by the other political

parties, the outcome of the election

could have some effect on the motion picture

industry, both in the field of exhibition

and production.

Andy Russell, Alberta naturalist and

author, showed his film "Grizzly Country"

to Calgarians March 22 in the Jubilee Auditorium.

The screening was sponsored by the

Alberta Wilderness Assn., the National and

Provincial Parks Assn. of Canada and the

Sierra Club of Alberta.

April is a very busy month for the National

Film Theatre in Edmonton's Citadel

Theatre, with some unusual films booked in

to the first two weeks. Included in the array

are "Der Hauptdarstellcr/The Main Actor,"

made in Germany in 1978 under the direction

of Reinhard Hauff and starring Mario

Adorf and Vadim Flowna. It was in German

with English subtitles. In the masterpieces

of Japan series a double feature is

being screened: "Musuko No Seishun/

Youth of a Son" produced in Japan in 1952

under the direction of Masaki Kobayashi,

and "Seppuku/Harakiri" made by the same

director in 1962. Both features run with

English subtitles. The "best of world cinema"

series is showing two films: "La Notte/

The Night" directed by Michelangelo Antonioni,

produced in Italy in 1960 and

starring Jeanne Moreau and Marcello Mastroianni.

and "Zorba the Greek" produced

in Greece and U.S. in 1964 under the direction

of Michael Cacoyanis and starring

Anthony Quinn and Irene Pappas. The series

on childhood and aging is showing "Goodbye

Mr. Chips," starring Greer Garson and

Robert Donat and directed by Sam Wood

in Great Britain in 1939. Another British

film to be offered is in the "artists in conflict

with society" series. It is "Isadora," directed

by Karel Reisz in 1968 and starring

Vanessa Redgrave and Jason Robards. With

selections like these it's no wonder the National

Film Theatre is so successful.

In keeping with the religious atmosphere

of Lent, the Pleiades Theatre in Calgary's

Planetarium screened "The Song of Bemadette"

March 25. And a Calgary clergyman

is offering a series of ten films to be shown

during Lent in the downtown W.R. Castell

Central Library. The Rev. William McColley,

pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian

Church, feels that screening the religious

movies in the library during the noon hours

will attract a number of people who might

not make the effort to go to a church. The

films were produced in Switzerland in 1955

by Dr. Francis Schaeffer. a philosopher and

theologian.

Guy Thorne Dead at 83

From Middlewest Edition

SANDSTONE. MINN.—Guy Thorne,

83. an exhibitor for 51 years at the Vogue

Theatre, died March 10.

During his career Thorne played violin

in many pit orchestras in many theatres

throughout the Midwest. Later he formed

his own orchestra, but was forced to discontinue

playing professionally following an

ear operation.

Thorne and his wife Dorothy supplied

violin and piano background music to silent

films playing in the Vogue.

Filming began Feb. 5 in Atlanta on

"Gorp." a comedy about far-out antics at

a summer camp.

. .Very

Calgary

Agatha (WB), Calgary Place.

2nd wk.

Vjr\ Ciood

Autumn Sonata (PR), Uptown.

1st wk Fair

The Brink's Job (Univ). Westbrook.

4th wk

Fair

FIRST RUN REPORT

The Buddy Holly Story (Astral).

Marlboro Square. Odeon,

2nd wk

Very Good

Day.s of Heaven (Para). Towne Blue.

2nd wk

Fair


Towne Red. 12th wk Excellent

The Great Train Robbery (UA).

Chinook. 4th wk

Excellent

Hardcore (Astral). Grand.

Westbiook. 2nd wk

Excellent

The Lord of the Rings (UA).

Market Mall. 12th wk Fair

Midnight Express (Astral). Grand,

Westbrook. 2nd wk

Murder by Decree (Amb),

Very Good

Palliser Square. 5th wk Excellent


Palace. 1st wk Excellent


North Hill. 5th wk Excellent

Sasquatch (PR), Marlboro Square,

Odeon. 3rd wk.

Fair

Superman (WB). Calgary Place.

13th wk.

Excellent

Watership Down (PR). Brentwood.

6th wk

Good

The Warriors (Para). Palliser Square,

5th wk

Excellent

Edmonton

Agatha (WB). Wesfmount.

2nd wk Excellent

The Brink's Job (Univ), Odeon,

Plaza. 3id wk Very Good


Capitol Square. 4th wk Excellent

Hardcore (Astral). Capilano. Rialto.

2nd wk Excellent

Murder by Decree (Amb). Garneau,

5th wk.

Excellent

Sasquatch (PR), Avenue, 2nd wk Good

Superman (WB), Paramount,

1 3th wk Excellent

Winnipeg

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Garrick,

2nd wk

Excellent


Northstar, 14th wk Very Good

Fast Break (Astral). Convention

Centre, 2nd wk.

Good Guys Wear Black (PR).

Excellent

3 theatres. 1st wk Excellent


Metropolitan, 3rd wk Excellent

Halloween (Astral). Odeon,

5th wk Excellent

Hardcore (Astral), Garrick,

3rd wk

Excellent

K-2

ih : "KJ ()t iIk K3I1«>. il \i ( o\o\\\

7lh uk V-iv G>uk1

The Marquise of O (PR) Festival

Kt v\k

Good

Murder by Decree (Amb). Northstar.

7th wk Very Good


Garden City. 2nd wk Very Good


Grant Park. 6th wk Excellent

The Warriors (Para). Polo Park.

7th wk Very Good

Vancouver

Abba the Movie (WB), Stanley,

1st wk Good

Agatha (WB), Capitol 6,

4th wk Very Good

The China Syndrome (Astral),

Odeon, 1st wk. Excellent

The Deer Hunter (Univ), Vogue.

2nd wk. Excellent


Downtown. 14th wk Very Good

Fast Break (Astral). Coronet,

2nd wk

Good


Capitol 6, 6th wk Very Good

Murder by Decree (PR),

Vancouver Centre, 8th wk Good


(Univ), Coronet,

30th wk

Above Average


Park Royal. 1st wk Very Good


Park. 8th wk

Superman (WB), Capitol 6,

14th wk

The Warriors (Para), Capitol 6,

7th wk

Ottawa

Good

Good

Good

Agatha (WB), Little Elgin,

4th wk

Very Good

The China Syndrome (Astral),

St. Laurent, 1st wk. Excellent

The Deer Hunter (Univ). Elmdale.

2nd wk Excellent

The Great Train Robbery (UA).

Elgin, Cinema 6. 6th wk. Good

.

Hardcore (Astral), Somerset,

4th wk

Good

Murder by Decree (Amb),

Capitol Square. 7th wk Good

Norma Rae (BVFD). Place dc Ville.

2nd wk

Excellent


Rideau. 2nd wk Very Good


St. Laurent, 5th wk Good

Superman (WB), Nelson.

Cinema 6. 15th wk Good

Joseph Ruben is directing "Gorp" from

a script by producer-screenwriter Jerry

Konvitz.

Hassling Off the Screen

Is as Bad as That on It

(Continued from preceding page)

itself at arm's length from the film, which

it is distributing (though it did not produce

it). Paramount informed theatres that the

studio would pay salaries of security guards

it urged be posted in movie houses during

tract terms for many movies, the studios

;

take a healthy bile of the boxoffice money {

—but also agree to pay anywhere from 50

to 70 per cent of advertising for the film.)

UATC Was Angered

This move apparently angered the United

Artists circuit, even though there were clear

indications that contract terms for "Warriors"

would be adjusted to compensate for

the advertising pull-out. It was plain that

Paramount was trying to divorce itself from

its own picture, putting all responsibility

for its showing on individual theatres.

The UA home office flashed the word

to its chain of theatres: Paramount has

broken the contract, so yank the movie.

Both The Movies at Maplewood and The

Movies at Cottage Grove immediately did

so . . . after the showings for Friday, Feb.

23. the start of the movie's second rousing

week. Large ads appeared in the St. Paul

papers that day. proclaiming "start of a

second week!"

But those arriving the next day at the

Maplewood found "Warriors" gone. In its

place, customers found the Clint Eastwood

film. "Every Which Way But Loose." At

Cottage Grove, the replacement picture was

"Death on the Nile."

Meanwhile, the Skyway in Minneapolis

continued to play "The Warriors" to lusty

ticket action. There had been no incidents

of violence in either city. Maplewood manager

Jim Madvig said: "We had no trouble

at all. We did sensational business. But when

instructions came from our home office,

we immediately replaced 'Warriors.'

A few days later, new instructions came

from UA to Madvig: You can put "Warriors"

back on the screen at Maplewood.

So the movie reappeared locally. But on

instructions from Paramount, ads were altered

considerably. The original ads carried

such lines as "they outnumbered the

cops five to one." Current toned-downed

ads merely announce the presence of the

movie.

Grosses Surprised Many

Grosses posted by "The Warriors" surprised

almost all in the industry. Rated R

and populated with a no-name cast, "The

Warriors" was viewed by most in the film

industry as "a piece of cnid." a flick aimed

solely at what used to be called "the leatherjacket

crowd."

Though most theatres reported audiences

"on the weird side," incidents of violence

were isolated. Ed Gulberg. Plitt Theatres

representative, said: "No. we've had no unusual

incidents. And we never for a moment

considered yanking the picture."

BOXOFFICE :: April 16. 1979

the run of "Warriors."

And it also informed theatres it would

no longer participate in what's called "co-

op advertising" for the movie. (Under con-

y

Buller's 'Hair' Grows

On Chicago Film Fans

Middlewe

CHICAGO — "Hair" was the big news for

the week. United Artists' publicist Ellen

Davis and her assistant Dennis Kuczajda did

an effective job on advance promotion for

the Midwest premiere at the McClurg Court

Theatre.

According to early figures following initial

openings, "Hair" business will be substantial.

Michael Butler, a scion of one of Chicago's

most affluent families, nurtured the

stage production of "Hair" when he was

considered a middle-aged hippie.

Ten years later, as a mature hippie, he

was present at the opening to witness audience

reaction; the audience was noisily responsive

and applause was generous.

Milos Forman, Czech-born director, was

especially satisfied with audience response.

He said here that there had been some opposition

to his doing "Hair."

Forman paid special tribute to Chicago.

He noted that his first American success,

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," drew

its initial important acclaim at the Chicago

International Film Festival.

Gene Siskel. Chicago Tribune movie critic,

gave the film version of "Hair" four

stars. He wrote, "It's much better than the

original play. The film version is much better

because it's a more artful experience."

Siskel said also, "Forman's 'Hair' is a

declarative statement that there are not two

sides to the issue of personal freedom."

Exhibitors generally agree that the film

is a winner. But there are some exhibitors

in this group who expressed the opinion

that the raucous segments of the film could

result in a reversal of the irresponsible existence

which took place in

the '60s.

But if there is widespread agreement with

a youthful cashier in one of the theatres, a

turn to a "revolution" more to the right is

questionable. Her enthusiastic statement:

" 'Hair' is the greatest movie I've ever seen.

I hope that type of existence goes on and

on!"

One more note about opening night:

When the audience exited the theatre, the

floors and aisles were littered with empty

popcorn cartons and pop cans and cups

just like the park which was the habitat of

the "Hair" group.

Associated Film Network

Of Ad-Pub Agencies Set

From East Edition

NEW YORK—Don Barrett, director of

marketing for Associated Film Distribution,

announced today the appointment of

Terr Korban to the post of director of

media planning and cooperative advertising

for the newly formed film distribution company.

Korban comes to AFD from AIP

where she worked for three and a half years

in the media co-op department.

At the same time Barrett and Korban

jointly announced a network of 22 ad-pub

agencies who will be servicing the AFD

account.

V A N C O U V E R

Qrahani Adams and Roberr Gibson of noon and Cable 12 in the evening, fealLired

Canfilms planed in from Calgary to attend

an audio-visual convention at Robson entirely to the picture. As a consequence

all four leads in a 90-miniUe show devoted

Square which was sponsored by the University

of British Columbia. They also visited were ringing off the hook the next day.

phones at the Odeon office and the theatre

The

the local Canfilms office to discuss operations

of the company with the staff.

Theo Ross has added yet another account

to his booking and buying chores. The latest

is the Sliammon Drive-In, a native Indianowned

and operated project in Powell River

which has been counseled by Liomel Courchene

since opening several years ago. It

opened for the 1979 season April 1.

Fred Izon of the Cassidy Drive-In reportedly

broke a leg while -holidaying in Honolulu,

but is mobile enoiigh to get the

ozoner open on schedule.

Several of the attendees to the Motion

Picture Theatre Assn. of British Columbia

convention took the opportumity to combine

business with pleasure and stayed over for

several days. Dr. Lyon Appleby was busy

setting up playdates for his 100-Mile House

Theatre and visiting with old friends in

Vancouver's suburbs. Hy Seely and daughter

Laurie of the Yukon Theatre in Whitehorse

spent several days just enjoying the

beautiful spring weather and the profusion

of early spring flowers.

Vintage film buffs were happy to see the

reopening of the MacMillan Planetarium

museum and entertainment complex in Kitsilano.

The theatre reopened with screenings

of "Queen Christina," followed by

"Elizabeth and Essex," with programs set to

run through to early summer.

As the newspaper strike commences its

sixth month several important picture openings

had to resort to reliance upon TV and

radio campaigns.

"The Deer Hunter," the first film to ever

play Vancouver at a $5 admission fee,

opened at the Vogue March 16 after an intensive

radio and TV campaign. There was

some slight opposition to the price at the

boxoffice and the opening as a consequence

was a little soft. Audience reaction and consequent

word-of-mouth was cxceptioinally

good and the picture built steadily. The second

week received a terrific push via a

radio review and commendation by Les

Wcdman over CHQM. He summed up the

film by saying "this picture far surpasses

"The Best Years of Our Lives' . . . which

received nine Academy Awards, the same

rumber 'The Deer Hunter' is nominated

for." It was left to Pia Shandel of CKVU-

TV to give it the best in-depth review, however.

In a 15-minute trailerized look at the

picture she summarized it with the words

"incredible, magnificent, awe-inspiring."

Unplanned, but nevertheless the best

placed preopening promo that any picture

has received locally preceded the opening

of "The China Syndrome." which opened

March 23 in the Odeon. The Merv Griffin

show, which plays over Cable 4 in the after-

film opened in Vancouver at the Odeon,

Dunbar, Eraser, Westminster Mall, West

Vancouver Odeon, Haida, Victoria and Hillcrest

Drive-In im Langley, all in areas

reached by the broadcast. Grosses were excellent

in every situation, the picture was

held throughout and it looks set for a long

run in the keys.

Council Fears Domination

Of Canadian Films by U.S.

TORONTO—Canadian film production

is high but concern is being expressed that

U.S. interests are gaining control of Canadian

films.

"The government capitulated to American

interests by stripping the (Federal Film)

Policy of measures aimed at controlling

American market domination, and caused

an exhilaration among the American distributors

which couldn't have been equalled

if the policy had been written at head offices

in New York," said Sandra Gathercole,

past chairman of the Canadian Council

of Filmmakers.

One Canadian co-production, "Running,"

has been sold to a U.S. distributor and the

agreement includes the rights to Canadian

distribution.

A U.S. film producer says there is one

main reason why an increasing number of

films are being made in Canada; Money.

"Americans are not co-producing Canadian

films because they love Canada," he

said. "It's cheap to work here. Keep it that

way, and the money will stay. Change it,

and goodbye, Canuck."

The Canadian Film Development Corp.

says it hopes international productions will

help the Canadian film industry flourish,

allowing it to produce films at a lower cost

for the Canadian market.

Producer William Marshall says that a

film financed for more than $350,000 must

gi-oss $1.5 million to break even.

Other Canadian producers say that even

if there were funds to make films for only

the Canadian market, they could not define

how to make such films reflect the country's

culture.

SEE's Sargent Files Suit

From East Edition

NEW YORK—Bill Sargent has filed suit

against Steve Blauner. executive producer

of the Special Event Entertainment (SEE)

network's production "Richard Pryor—Live

in Concert," charging breach of contract.

The suit was filed in response to a complaint

filed by Blauner, who sued SEE

for failing to pay $50,000 allegedly due him

after completion of the filming.

Sargent's suit "denies specifically" owing

the amount to Blauner and charges that the

filmmaker disrupted business relationships

with Pryor.


Sell . . . and

Sell

Scores of busy little messages

go out every week to a tremendous

audience-and they get a tremendous

response!

Every exhibitor is

busy—buying,

selling, renting, hiring. All this is

made easier and more profitable

with the classified ads in Clearing

House each week.

READ • USE • PROFIT BY—

Classified

Ads

in

BOXOFFICE

Greatest Coverage in the Field—Most Readers for Your Money

Four Insertions for Price of

Three

BOXOFFICE :: April 16. 197

BOXOFFMCE BOOKINCUiDE

JONNA JEFFERIS, Bookinguide Editor

An interpretive analysis of lay and Iradepress reviews. Running time is in parentheses. The plus and

minus signs indicate degree ol merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. Symbol O denotes

BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All films are in color except those indicated by (bdw) for black &

white or (0 and b«Sw) for color and black & white. Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings: [g —general

audiences; PG— all ages admitted (parental guidance suggested); [Rj— restricted, with persons under

17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian; iX.i— persons under 17 not admitted.

R«Tiewa assignad **N" page numbers will be found in the Notional (front) aection o! BOXOFFICE.

H Very Good; + Good; ± Fair; -

IÊVIEW DIGEST

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX

REVIEW DIGEST

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX ++ Very Good; ^ Good; ± Foir; - Poor; = Very Poor.

5085 4^lce Castles (113) D Col 1- S-79 PG

5091 If It Fits (60)

"i": Marshall/Erdcr 2- 5-79

5091 In Praise of Older Women

'108) A«co 2- 5-79 E

5094 Quintet (117) F-D

5090 Innocent, The

+

o

Ji

I

•I'M {S 1,

i

111

III

1^

ml

an

m

ijii

111!

iM

m

. . Sex

Mar

ALLIED ARTISTS

Stuntrock

Grant Pasc Moniqu

Margaret Gerard

MISCELLANEOUS

HOLLYWOOD INT'L

Come Under My Spell

Date

(84) Sex D.. Dec 78

Lusty Princess (S2) ..Sex C. Jan 79

The Ne« Erotic Adventures of

Casanova Part 2 ..Sex D.-feb79

.

m Always Ready 0. 79

.

QUARTET FILMS

Wifemistress (101) ..

Marcello Mastroiaruil.

AntonclU

Rel,

Date

D. .Jan 79

ANALYSIS FILM RELEASING

ATLANTIC RELEASING

Max Havelaar (165) ..Hi-C

La Jument Vaoeur

Picnic at Hanging Rock

(110) Sus-C

BACKSTREET-BEEHIVE-

HOLLYWOOD INT'L

Lust Flight 200O

(78) Sex C-t

Vlrkl Cllrk. Pat Mannine

FRED BAKER FILMS, LTD.

Just Crazy About Horses

(93) Doc.Di

The Black Goddess Jan 79

INDEPENDENT ARTISTS

When the Screaming Stops

.

(94) Ho*r

The Black Six (90) ..Ac-D.

Viiices: .lohn BeliLshi.

WeissmuUer jr.

he Night, the Prowler

(90)

Kerry W

Ruth Cracknel

Men Forever (90) ..CM ay 79

INT'L PICTURE SHOW

The Billion Dollar Hobo

(96)

Land of

No Return

Mel Torme, Willi;

Where Time Began

(90)

.SF.. Sept 78

ROCHELLE FILMS, INC

Drive-ln Massacre

D. .June 78

(88) .......

Ada

(85) CB Hustlers C..June7S

Tiffany Jones. John Aldertnan

iona (82) C-D..July78

Steele.

Fiona Itichmond, Anthony

Victor Splnettl , . „

Thirsty Dead (96) Sept 78

Rock Fever (98) ..Apr 79

Wade Nichols, Jeanle Sanders

Ir. Jeckyll's Dungeon of Dcath^

^^

(91)

Saint

SANRIO FILM DISTRIBUTION

The Great Balloon Adventure

(89) C-Ad..Feb79

Katharine Hepburn

The Glacier Fox

(90)

.Feb 79

Winds of Change

(87)

Nutcracker (100)

BEEHIVE PRODUCTIONS

Carnal's Cuties

(76) Sex C. Apr 79

Pat Manning. Janet Sands,

Frisco King. \Yilllani Margold

Curves Ahead!

(78)

Sex C. .June 79

The Lady Wants

Sex C July 79

CAPRICAN THREE, INC

Vampire Hookers

(83) Sex C-

Jnhn Carradlne. linice Pi

Sex C. Oct 79

Kenneth More ^ ,,. .

They Went That-a-Way and Thata-Way

(100) C. Oct 78

Tim Conway. Chuck McCann

The Magic of Lassie

(100) DW..0ct78

James Stewart. Mickey Rooney.

Pernell Roberts, Stephanl "' Zlmballst

JAGUAR-BEEHIVE

Disco Dolls in Hot Skir

(95) Se

Serena. Leslie Bovee

KEY INT'L FILM

Sweet Creek County War

(98) ,--;,TS

lilrbard F^'an, Albert Salmi

Three Way Weekend

(85) .^Sex C.

Don Illego. Jody Olhava

Bar Maid

My Swedish Cousins

Lip Service

Love Thy Neighbor .

Pleasure Cruise . .

Girls Prison

The Pro Shop

Wall Street Walker .

Turned-On Girl ...

Sweet Taste of Joy

Secretaries Spread

Sex Freedom in

Marriage

Sex

CARIBBEAN FILMS WEST

Made

Up the Chastity Belt C

Our Miss Fred C.

So Sad Ahout Gloria . ..Ac-Sus.

Teenage Pony Girls Sex.

Moonshine Girls Sex.

Gail Palmer's Hot Summer in the

City

Sex.

Carol Connors. Georclna RpplOn

Gall Palmer's Candy Goes to

Hollywood Sex C. Dec

Carol Connors. I'lhn l.'-slle

CINEMA 5

Viva Itallal (87) C July 78

Vlttorlo Ca^wman. Topnazzl

Ugn

COUGAR RELEASING, LTD.

loe Panther (93) .... Ad. Sept 78

Prlan Keilh. Ulrardo Monlalban

Legend of Sea Wolf

(90) Ad..Sept78

Chuck Connnr!. Barbara Rach

Astral Factor (93) . . . Sus. Nov 78

Bike Sommcr, Robert Foxwnrlh

Poopsie (95) C,.Dk78

Rrrfihla l/oren. Marcello MMtn.lannl

FIRST ARTISTS RELEASING

Sterie (102) B-D..Seot78

(Jlenda Jackson. Mona Wa-shboii

FIRST INT'L PICTURES

Dracula Sucks

(108) Sex-Ho-C-D..Fcb 79

Jamie Glllls, Annette Haven

Opinions on Current Productions ÊATUkE REVIEWS

od here are in color, unless otherwifie specilied as black and white (bdw). For story synopsis on each picture,

seo reverse side.

„ Romantic

A PERFECT COUPLE PG co.edy-^Dr.,.

20th Century-Fox 107 Minutes Rel. Apr. '79

1

The coui-se of true love never runs smoothly, of coui'se, 1

especially in the movies. When you make a comedy about

a plain "Marty"-Uke couple, who seem to be mismatched

from the very beginning, there are ample opportunities

for complications. Producer-director Robert Altman and

his co-scripter Allan NichoUs have taken some ordinary

incidents and given them a modern twist, added generous

portions of rock and classical music (even creating a new

gi-oup for the former) and come up with a most appealing

film. Marta Heflin appears to be out of her element

as an inhibited young woman who is one of the singers,

the others being rather far out. As her would-be sweetheart,

Paul Dooley has an easier task of creating a member

of a large Greek family under the thumb of its

patriarch. Blending of the two cultm-es forms a nice balance

thi-oughout. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

is seen mider the direction of Tom Pierson. NichoUs

has a small role as a computer date. Standout work is

contributed by most of the cast. Language, situations and

a brief nude shot account for the PG rating. The Lion's

Gate film is in Lion's Gate 8-Track Sound and DeLuxe

Color, with Panavision lenses. Could be a sleeper.—John

Cocchi.

Paul Dooley, Marta HefUn, Ted Neeley, Titos Vandis,

Belita Moreno. Henry Gibson, Heather MacRae.

c.

}Y°

. . It's

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Programs

THE STORY: "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (Univ)

In 1987. NASA space pilot captain Gil Gerard is frozen

into a state of suspended animation by a sliower of

meteorites. He awakens 504 years later aboard the flagship

of the Di-aconian Dynasty, which is controlled by

king Joseph Wiseman. Unaware of Earth's fate, Gerard

is questioned by princess Pamela Hensley and evil aide

Henry Silva. On Earth, Gerard discovers that a holocaust

ended civilization as he knew it and a new generation

lives in a Federal Dii-ectorate, near what was once

Chicago. Colonel Erin Gray, commander of the city's

defenses, doesn't like Gerard, but he is befriended by

scientist Tim O'Connor, di-one Felix Silla and a computer,

Theo (voices of Mel Blanc for the latter two).

Although he's thought to be a spy, Gerard attempts to

convince Earth that the Draconian peace mission is a

prelude to an invasion of the planet. At a ball, he teaches

Hensley to do a 20th Century boogie. Hensley falls under

Gerard's spell and even Gray melts. Gerard sabotages

the Draconian space fleet and saves Earth, winning

Gray's love as well. Silva and Hensley escape.

EXPLOITIPS:

The camp approach would be best for adults. For kids,

just let them know when it's playing.

CATCHLINES:

The Original Space Man. Buck Rogers Swings Back

to Earth and Lays It on the 25th Century.

THE STORY: "Firepower" (Associated Fitai)

Research chemist Richard Roberts is blown to bits,

prompting brother Paul Garcia to take revenge on the

Mafia don he believes responsible. Roberts' beautiful

widow Sophia Loren thinks wealthy and powerful George

Touliatos is guilty. The govermnent wants the latter for

tax evasion and other crimes and persuades racketeer Eli

Wallach to help in retm-n for immunity from prosecution.

Wallach contacts bounty hunter-florist James Cobm-n

to do the job, he in turn enlisting the aid of bank

robber O. J. Simpson. On Antigua, Cobm-n makes contact

with Loren, an old flame, who has accepted an offer of

protection from Touliatos. Loren, however, is playing

along with secm-ity chief George Grizzard, who allows

'

Touliatos to be caught by Cobui-n. Simpson is killed m

the process. When Touliatos is assassinated, Cobm-n realizes

that someone else is really the millionaii-e—doctor

Anthony Fi-anciosa. He manages to snare Franciosa with

the help of the latter's mistress, Loren. Latter, Loren

meets yet another rich man, Victor Mature, charming

him with her respect and love of wealth.

EXPLOITIPS:

Forget the plot. It's the action, stars and scenery which

will sell. Tie-ins with stores for a simulated fireworks

display could help.

CATCHLINES:

The Caribbean Is the Setting for a Star-Studded

Thriller . Firepower—Starpower—Actionpower

Adventmepower—Lovepower.

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THEATRE ..._ __ _

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THE STORY: "A Perfect Couple" (20th-Fox)

Through a computer dating service, Paul Dooley and

Marta Heflin get together. Their common interest is music:

she's a singer with Ted Neeley's rock outfit, Keepin'

em Off the Streets, and he's from a large Greek family

which appreciates the classics. His sister Belita Moreno

is a cellist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dooley's father Titos Vandis runs the family with a

strict hand, while Heflin lives in a freewheeling atmosphere

in a converted loft with the group. Singers Heather

MacRae and Tomi-Lee Bradley are lesbians and Steven

Sharp is gay. although he has impregnated Bradley.

Neeley rules them in a non-restrictive way. Complications

drive the couple apart. Heflin has a date with Allan

Nicholls but Dooley breaks it up and gets hurt in the

process. Dooley's family discovers him in bed with Heflin

and they again break up. After a strange encomiter with

kinky Ann Ryerson, Dooley joins Heflin's gi'oup on tom\

After retui'ning home, he learns that Moreno—who had

wanted to move in with pianist Mona Golabek—has died.

Disowned, Dooley finally gets back with Heflin as the

Philhai-monic and Streets perform in concert.

EXPLOITIPS:

Tie in with the Capitol Records albiun.

CATCHLLNES:

What Do You Do When Everything Between the Two

of You Seems Wrong Fall in Love.

THE STORY: "Phantasm" (Avco)

In the cemetery adjacent to Morningside Mortuary in

Oregon. Bill Cone is making love to lavender-clad Kathy

Lester when she stabs him to death. She is actually the

alter ego of Angus Scrimni, a tall and sinister-looking

demon who occupies the premises. Cone's brother Bill

Thornbm'y attends the funeral with ice cream man Reggie

Bannister. Another brother, Michael Baldwin, watching

nearby, observes Scrimm's incredible strength.

Strange events occur and Baldwin is pursued by dwarf

demons when he investigates the mortuary and encounters

caretaker Ken Jones, into whose skull a silver

sphere imbeds itself to drain out his blood. Cone is

reincarnated but dies again during a chase. Thornbury

is almost stabbed to death by Lester before he, too, penetrates

the secrets of the mortuary. The brothers and

Bannister discover another dimension, in which the

dwarves are held as slaves. Using weapons and cunning,

the brothers Im'e Scrimm to a deep shaft which is sealed

up with the demon in it. Later, Baldwin is told by Bannister

that Thornbm-y died in an auto accident and what

he encountered was a dream. But Scrinmi has Baldwin

attacked.

EXPLOITIPS:

Mention the Special Jury Prize won at the 7th Festival

Internationale D'Avoriaz-Du Film Pantastique in France.

CATCHLINES:

If This One Doesn't Scare You, You're Already Dead.

THE STORY: 'Robin" (Starbeam)

Maryland lawyer Lee Dorsey tells of his affair with

allm'ing Monica Tidwell, a nude model he happens upon

in Bob Donatelli's art class. Dorsey is enjoying his freedom,

since his wife is away caring for her ill mother.

Unknown to him, Tidwell is running from pimp Ronald

Hibbard, who mistreats the girls he has working for him.

The affair starts casually, but soon Dorsey and Tidwell

are making love. She has to put off student Louis Senesi,

who makes a face mask of her and keeps in his room a

dummy in her image. Dorsey plans to desert his wife and

childi-en and take off with Tidwell. She indicates that

this might be a good idea, mi til Hibbard shows up to

demand her return to his table of girls. In departing,

she winds up dead in a cemetery. A flashback reveals

that her death was caused by crazed antique dealer J.

Wesley Clark. Dorsey, saddened over her death but relieved

of the responsibility of a new life, tm'ns down an

invitation from bar waitress Janney Lee.

EXPLOITIPS:

Mention the original music while playing up the new

star angle.

CATCHLINES:

A Love Story With a Gothic Ending.

BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April I

6750

'

Gh,

lATES- 50c per word, minimum S5.0O CASH WITH COPY. Four conseculiv insertions for price of three.

additional to cover cost of

'using a words include SI.O

allowed.

Vhen

,andling

Boxoliice No. ligur* 2 addilional and

replies. Display Classified, $38.00 per Column Inch

preceding publication dale. Send copyy an-' and — answers

CLOSING DATE:

BOXOFFICE, 825

to Box Numbers to

H „ y i-^.. „_ ,.,24 NOTE: be

Bulky

pressbooks, posters, etc. will not

HELP WANTED

EXPERIENCED MANAGEH/OPEHATOR BURLAP WALL COVERING DRAPES.

elded by Luxury Theatres, Portland, $1.10 per yd.. Home retardant. Quantity

Oregon. Salary commensurate with ex- discounts. Nurse & Co.. Millbury Rd., Oxlord,

Mass. 01540. Tel (617) 832-4295.

.Tience No limit to opportunity ior admcement.

Send resume and references

, Luxury Theatres, 919 S.W. Taylor 35/70 CENTURY 11 heads, soundheads,

tc. Altec A-4 and A-7 speakers. TECO,

ireet, Portland, Oregon 97205.

ox 706, Matthews, NC. (704) 847-4455.

"StTN: MGRS. & ASSTS. in New England,

edslone's Showcase Cinemas in Worcesr

& W. Springield need management vice, reasonable rates. Your old ticket

TICKET MACHINES repaired. Fast ser-

^ho want to grow to join the nation's — 1 machine worth money. We trade, buy and

ircuil' Top salary— company-paid penions—major

medical & dental—talk to about our rebuilts. Save money. J.E.D

sell ticket machines. Try us first. Ask

jhn Lowe, (413) 733-5134

Service Co., 10 Woodside Dr., Grafton,

NEED MORE MONEY Why n

Massachusetts. (517) 839-4058.

ilents and know-how to sell screen ads SPECIALS: Slero surround sound

1 vour local banker, auto ctealer and $4696.00; New Westrex projector and

usiness friends $200.00 minimum comiission

paid per sale. We'll show you

dhead; $3245.00; Plotter Film Trans-

$2995.00; Xenon Lamp console, from

ow and handle all details (ad maieup. $2300.00. Other Fantastic bargains. Buy or

Im production, billing, etc.). Write; Theae

Time Clock, P. O, Box 597, Sarasota,

lease. RANGER THEATRE SUPPLY, 1801

North 69th Streot, Scoltsdale, Az. 85257.

33578. 30 years In the business.

la. J.JJ/0. ju jc-ito .ii L..g ^.^.^...www.

(602) 945-0503.

SERVICE ENGINEER with Altec or RCA

xperience needed lor the Philadelphia RADIO SOUND ior DRIVE-IN THEATRES

nd surrounding areas. Send resume to ncludes transmitter and backup unit,

$1,995.00. Available from manufacturer.

oxolfice, 4244.

Call for further information. In Florida.

EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES available

(813) 748-1717; out ol stcte, (800) 237-9457

ir assistants and manager-trainees. North

arolina. South Carolina and Georgia. ONE ONLY new 6500 watt X-Cel

me of nation's leading theatre circuits. xenon bulb with warranty. 1/2 pric

ompetiUve salaries offered, excellent $990 00. Call (704) 933-3153

inge benelits. Written resumes only. Dlision

Office, General Cinema Theatres, ENTIRE CONTENTS of former Jerry Lew-

;.

•167 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. Curtains, chairs. Simplex booth, conession.

$30K. Negotiable. (203) 423-1274.

A FEW GOOD theatre managers needi:

to meet demands of rapid expansion. SIMPLEX SUPERS and E7's, rebuilt, $750;

lUst have heavy experience in advertisig

and promotion. Excellent concession relco and Cinemecconica 35/70 machines,

RCA and Simplex soundheads, $800; No-

nd miscellaneous income commissions. Xenons, carbons, lamphouses, lenses,

)in a progressive company. Send resume bases, parts you won't find elsewhere.

.: Kurt Noack, Operations Manager, Cinelex

Corporation, P. O. Box 1207, Marshall, Equipment Co., 6750 N.E. 4th Ct., Miami,

One year warranty. International Cinema

exas 75670.

FL 33138 (305) 756-0699.

35MM PORTABLE SALE — Norelco FP3,

$1,995; DeVry XD, $1,695; Holmes type 8,

$995; Tokiwa T-60, $2,150. All in stock now

:gh volume unit in Suburban Detroi'

riion. Advancement opportunity, e>

nt salary benelits. in and Apply o

ence to: Cloy Reed, General Cin

leatres, 29584 W. Seven Mile Rd.,

onia, Mich. 48152. (313) 476-8814.

quel opportunity employer.

POSITIONS WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

CASH for one-sheets, posters, lobby card

•ts, stills, pressbooks, trade magazines,

jming attraction slides, annuals, trailers,

c, etc. (any quantity—older the better!)

artinez, 7057 Lexington Ave., Los An-

!l6s, CA 90038.

CASH PAID for one sheets, 22c each

bbies, 5c per set; stills, 7c each. Poster

"

udio of Nyack, Box 838, I Terrace D

facie, NY 10960. (914) 358-5406.

Calif 91609, Pho

WANT TO BUY 1-sheets, bulk lots only

—520,00, 100—$45. Send C.O.D. io:

5ller, 752 Murray, Elgin, IL 60120. Nc

SERVICES

INDOOR THEATRE MUSIC programming

today's

^ audiences, today's movies and

y's theatres. C & C Music Service,

BOOKS

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Manual. $10.50 prepaid, check or

-der. Wesley Trout, Box

Editor.

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Who reads Boxoffig

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Key people in Exhibition:

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projectionists

Key people in Distribution:

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managers, bookers and publicity people

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Key people in Production:

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Recognize your soles prospect

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• Auflil lUireaii ot Cir,

Publislier's Statement fo ending Uecomher 31, 1978

Boxoffice-April.16.1979

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