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PCPERIEHCE<br />
fiE ULTIMATE ENCOUNTER<br />
ITHFEAR<br />
A MAJOR MOTION PKTURE<br />
> TERRIFYING,<br />
r WILL TOTALLY -<br />
(evasiate ^<br />
fou.<br />
riiiQuv/riuri<br />
APRIL 30, 1979<br />
PIERRE DAVID and VICTOR SOLNICKI present<br />
OLIVER REED and SAMANTHA EGGAR m DAVID CRONENBERG'S THE BRDOD w .h ART HINDLE<br />
and NUALA FITZGERALD HENRY BECKMAN SUSAN HOGAN CINDY HINDS<br />
,r;.«o. ,.^ A. A h. RAUin PRnklFNRFRR nmHiirpH hv Ri ailDF HERnUX exenitiue nmdurers VICTOR SOLNICKI and PIERRE DAVID
m<br />
AVAILABLE FROM 20TH CENTURY-FOX<br />
FOR SPRING AND SUMMER RELEASE.<br />
A man dreams of winning.<br />
A woman dreams of loving.<br />
A dreamer dreams of both.<br />
^^^jxmmj^<br />
Y,^^^^;^^^^5^^5j^I::SUSA^<br />
JACK WARDEN<br />
'" '"•<br />
A MICHAHL LOBHLL PRODUCTION<br />
DRHAMHR<br />
Produced by MICHAHL LOBHLL<br />
• D,rect«i by NOLL NOSSLCK<br />
wnttenbv JAMLS PROCTOR & LARRY BISCHOL • Music by BILL CONTI<br />
fpGl PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTtD >^S>\<br />
1979<br />
COLOR BY DeLUXE®<br />
TWENTIETH CENTURV-FOX
. . and<br />
Warner Isl Quarter<br />
Income Sets Records<br />
NEW YORK.—Warner Communications<br />
Inc. reported first quarter results that set<br />
records for any quartei in revenues, net income<br />
and earnings per share.<br />
Fully diluted earnings per share from continuing<br />
operations of $1.54 were 54 percent<br />
above the $1 reported last year, adjusted to<br />
reflect the recent four-for-three stock split.<br />
Income from continuing operations of $30,-<br />
818,000 for the first quarter rose 60 percent<br />
from $19,242,000 in 1978's first period.<br />
Revenues of $453,795,000 were 45 percent<br />
higher than the $312,497,000 in 1978.<br />
Commenting on these results, chairman<br />
the board Steven J. Ross stated, "Ex<br />
of<br />
;ly strong results trom Filmed Entertainment,<br />
as well as higher operatmg mcome<br />
from Publishing and Cable Communications,<br />
accounted for these record results.<br />
"Filmed Entertainment had by far the<br />
highest revenues and operating income for<br />
any quarter in the division's history. Theatrical<br />
results reflected the boxoffice successes<br />
of 'Superman' and 'Every Which<br />
Way But Loose." Revenues from television<br />
seiies were also sharply higher, with the<br />
network showing of 'Roots: The Next Generations'<br />
a primary factor. Theatrical films<br />
in television were below the record level<br />
of last year's first quarter.<br />
"The publishing division had record first<br />
quarter revenues and profits, with its royalty<br />
from the film 'Superman' responsible for<br />
these gains. Cable Communications showed<br />
higher revenues and improved operating income<br />
over last year, due to continuing gains<br />
in regular cable operations and lower losses<br />
from Qube."<br />
Tennessee, Washington<br />
Pass Blind Bid Ruling<br />
Tennessee and Washington became<br />
the eleventh and 12th states to pass<br />
anti-blind bid legislation.<br />
Gov. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee<br />
allowed the bill to become law without<br />
his signature, saying, "First, I am<br />
afraid it interferes too much in the private<br />
marketplace. Second, Tennessee<br />
moviegoers may find the best films will<br />
not be shown in our state as rapidly as<br />
they are in other places."<br />
The Washington measure, signed by<br />
Gov. Dixy Ray, takes effect 90 days<br />
after the legislature adjourns.<br />
In Indiana, the state legislature adjourned<br />
without taking any final action<br />
on proposed anti-blind bidding bill. The<br />
measure passed the House early in<br />
March.<br />
The Denver Senate has tabled its<br />
blind bidding bill, calling it "special<br />
interest legislation which does not affect<br />
the general public."<br />
Published weekly, eicept one Issue at ycai-end. by<br />
Vance Publishing Corp., 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas<br />
City, Missouri 64124. Subscription rates: Sectional<br />
Edition, JIS.OO per year, foreign, $25.00. National<br />
Executive Edition: $25.00, foreign, $30.00. Single<br />
copy, T5c. Second class postage paid at Kanaas Oty.<br />
Mo. BOXOFinCB Publication No. (USPS 062-260).<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: April 30, 1979<br />
'Entertainer of the Century Nod<br />
To Burns tiighlights Show-A-Rama<br />
By STU GOLDSIFIN<br />
Associate EdUoi<br />
KANSAS CITY—The annual Show-A-<br />
Rama conclave got under way here this<br />
week and 1,700 exhibitors registered<br />
George Burns—entertainer of the century<br />
for the four-day gathering. Starting off the<br />
proceedings Monday morning at the Crown<br />
Center Hotel were product reel presentations<br />
which featured Wayne Rogers and Tanya<br />
Crevier. Rogers discussed his new Atlantic<br />
Releasing Co. film, "Once in Paris," while<br />
Crevier, co-star of Intermedia Artists Film<br />
Corp.'s "Dribble" spoke of her role in the<br />
picture. Th's was followed by a seminar<br />
which Elmer Bills Jr. moderated, discussing<br />
the plight of small town theatres.<br />
Fonda at Screening<br />
Immediately proceeding this seminar, the<br />
United Motion Picture Assn. annual meeting<br />
was held with NATO President A. Alan<br />
Friedberg persent. Later in the evening<br />
came the first screening of the convention,<br />
at the Midland Theatre. After a welcome<br />
address from Joel Resnick, and the introduction<br />
of Peter Fonda, delegates viewed<br />
United Artists' "Wanda Nevada." Fonda<br />
stars in "Nevada" with 13-year-old Brooke<br />
Fonda and Robert Rcdli>rd; aiul the opening<br />
sequence of "Just You and Me, Kid,"<br />
starring George Burns and Brooke Shields.<br />
The Columbia-sponsored breakfast was interrupted<br />
with a "surprise" visit fiom an<br />
"electric horseman." as a real horse and rider,<br />
complete with "electricity," galloped<br />
through the ballroom.<br />
Topping off the breakfast was the appearance<br />
of George Burns, as he was<br />
awarded with the convention's "Entertainer<br />
of the Century" citation. Burns, accompanied<br />
by his famous cigar, thanked the assemblage<br />
for the award and added, "If you<br />
think 1 made it in this century, wait till you<br />
catch me in the next one, I'm already booked."<br />
The Burns Approach<br />
Burns went on to tell of his beginnings<br />
in show business, and especially his stand at<br />
a vaudeville house in Philadelphia. At this<br />
house was a waitress, Trixie, who Burns<br />
stated "would bring coffee up to your room<br />
if you asked for it." Burns went on<br />
to tell of how he "had coffee with Trixie"<br />
and then tossed her into his friend's room<br />
next door when the owner knocked. After<br />
his friend "had coffee," he threw Trixie<br />
back into Burns' room. "But by that time<br />
my coffee had gotten cold," Burns quipped.<br />
During the presentation of the award to<br />
Burns, a telegram from Bob Hope was read<br />
out loud, in which Hope complimented<br />
Burns for being "a comedian who has been<br />
born again .<br />
again , . . and again." As<br />
a surprise gift to the honoree, a giant cigar<br />
was eiven to Burns, carried into the room<br />
by the rest of the present— a bevy of 100<br />
bathing-suit clad models from a local modeling<br />
agency. Burns kept smiling as the girls<br />
paraded out one by one. His closing re--<br />
mark, "I'll see you in 42 more years,"<br />
was met by a standing ovation.<br />
Two seminars followed the Burns breakfast,<br />
one titled "Learning to Motivate<br />
Yourself," by Rick Chafen, and a theatre<br />
equipment seminar featuring Phil Batton as<br />
moderator with Chris Clark from Eastman<br />
Kodak and Al Boudouris from EPRAD as<br />
speakers. The discussion was met by an enthusiastic<br />
audience which had plenty of<br />
questions for the panelists.<br />
The Tuesday luncheon, hosted by Universal,<br />
featured Candy Clark, star of the company's<br />
upcoming "More American Graffiti."<br />
Also shown were trailers from "Dracula,<br />
targeted for a July 13 release, and the soon-<br />
Shields. To conclude the Monday activities,<br />
'79,"<br />
a "fun and games" party was held, countrywestern<br />
style.<br />
Various Universal VIPs were also introducto-be-released<br />
"Concorde—Airport<br />
The Tuesday agenda included a full mix ed to the delegates, including Universal<br />
of stars, luncheons and seminars. The morning<br />
began with a breakfast sponsored by Following the trade show, which began<br />
president Ned Tanen.<br />
Columbia Pictures. During this time, Columbia<br />
representatives previewed rough ed with a feature screening of "Breaking<br />
that afternoon, the Tuesday events conclud-<br />
footage of upcoming product, "Kramer vs. Away" at the Midland Theatre and a dinner<br />
Kramer," with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl and product screening, hosted by 20th Century-Fox<br />
at the Crown Center<br />
Streep: "The Electric Horseman." with Jane<br />
Hotel.
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
Published In Five Sectional Editions<br />
WILLIAM C. VANCE<br />
Publlslier<br />
JOHN F. BERRY<br />
Assoc. Publisher/National Sales Manager<br />
CHARLES F. ROUSE III<br />
Editor<br />
BEN SHLYEN Executive Editor<br />
MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Manajer<br />
HARVEY SHARP Circulation Director<br />
GARY BURCH Equipment Editor<br />
JONNA JEFFERIS Associate Editor<br />
STUART A. GOLDSTEIN Associate Editor<br />
RON SCHAUMBURG Associate Editor<br />
JIMMY SUMMERS Associate Editor<br />
KEVIN KIOUS Associate Editor<br />
RALPH KAMINSKY West Coast Editor<br />
JOHN COCCHI East Coast Editor<br />
ADMINISTRATIVE<br />
HERBERT A. VANCE Chairman<br />
B. JOHN ONEIL President<br />
JAMES J. STAUDT Vice-President<br />
Executive<br />
C. WILLIAM VANCE Vice-President<br />
Publication OHices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas<br />
aiy Mo. 64124. (816) 241-777.<br />
Western Offices: 1800 N. Uighlaud, Suite 707, UoUywood.<br />
Ca. 80028. (2ia) 465-1186.<br />
Advertising sales: Glen Vernou<br />
Eastern Offices: 133 E. 5Slh St., New York, iN.Y.<br />
lUK:i2, (212) 755-540O.<br />
Advertising sales: Jim Young<br />
TUB MOUEUN THE.\TltE Section is Included in<br />
one issue eacb montb.<br />
Atlanta: Genevieve Camp, 166 Lindbergh Drive, N.E.<br />
30305.<br />
Baltimore: Kate Savage, 3607 Springdale, 21216.<br />
Uustiin: Ernest Warren, 1 Colgate Koad, Needliam,<br />
Mass. 02192. Tele. (617) 444-1657.<br />
Buffalo: Edward t'. Meade, 760 Main St., 14202.<br />
Tele. (716) 854-1656.<br />
Charlotte: Chas. J. Leonard Sr., 319 Queens ltd.,<br />
28204. Tele. (704) 333-0444.<br />
Chicago: Frances B. Clow, 175 North Kenilworth,<br />
Oak Park, 111. 60302. Tele. (312) 383-8343.<br />
Cincinnati: Tony B. Uutberford, Box 362, Huntington,<br />
W. Vs. 45708. Tele. (304) 625-3837.<br />
Cleveland: Elainn Fried. 3256 (irenway ltd. 44122.<br />
Tele. (216) 091-3797.<br />
UaUas: Mable Guinan, 6027 Winton, 76206.<br />
Denver: Bruce MarshaU, 2881 S. Cherry Way, 80222.<br />
Ues Moines: Cindy Vlers, 4024 E. Maple, 50317.<br />
Tele. 266-9811.<br />
Uarttord: AUen M. VVldem, 30 Pioneer Drive. W.<br />
Hartford 06117, Tele. 232-3101.<br />
Indianapolis: Robert V. Jones, 6386 N. Park, 462^0.<br />
Tele. (317) 261-5070.<br />
Jacksonville: Itobert Cornwall. 3233 College St.,<br />
32206. Tele. (904) 389-6144.<br />
Louisville: Susan D. Todd. 8409 Old Boundary Bd.,<br />
40291.<br />
Memphis: Bill Miiikus, 1188 Perkins Rd. 38117. Tele.<br />
(901) 683-8182.<br />
Miami: Marsha Lummus. 622 N E. 98 St. 33138.<br />
Milwaukee: WaUj L. Meyer, 301 Heather Lane, Fredonla,<br />
tVis. 63021. Tele: (414) 692-2753.<br />
Minneapolis: BUI Diehl, St. Paul Dispatch, 63 E.<br />
4tti St.. St. Paul. Mhm. 55101<br />
New Orleans: Mary Greenbaum. 2303 Mendez St.<br />
70122.<br />
Oklahoma City: Eddie L. Greggs. 410 South Bldg.,<br />
2000 Classen Center. 73108.<br />
Pahu Beach: Lois Baumoel. 2860 S. Ocean Blvd., No.<br />
316. 33480, Tele. (305) 688-6786.<br />
PhUadelphla: Mauile H. Orodenker, 312 W. Park<br />
Towne Place, 10130. Tele. (215) 667-4748.<br />
Pittsburgh: IL F. Klingensmlth, F16 Jeanette. WUklnsburg<br />
16221. Tele. (412) 241-2809.<br />
Portland, Ore.: Itobt. Olds, 1120 N.E. 61st, 97213.<br />
St. Louis: Fan It. Krause, 818A Longacre Drive,<br />
63132. Tele. (314) 991-4746.<br />
Salt Lake City: Keith Perry, 264 E. 1st South, 84111.<br />
Tele. (801) 328-1641.<br />
San Antonio: Gladys Candy, 519 Clnchinatl Ave. Tele.<br />
(612) 731-6527. 78201.<br />
San Francisco: David Van, UATC, 172 Golden Gate<br />
Ave., 94102. Tele: 928-3200.<br />
Seattle: Stu Goldman, Apt. 404, 101 N. 46tb St.,<br />
98103. Tele. 782-5833.<br />
Toledo: Anna Klhie, 4330 WUlys Pkwy., 43612.<br />
Tucson: Gib Clark, 433 N. Grande, Apt. 6, 86705.<br />
Washington: VlrgUila R. CoUler, 6112 Connecticut<br />
Ave., N.W. 20008. Tele. (202) 362-0892.<br />
IN CANADA<br />
Calgary; Maxlne McBean, 420 40th St.. S.W.. F3C<br />
IWl. Tele. (403) 249-6039.<br />
Montreal: Tom (,'leary. Association des I'roprletalres<br />
de Cinema dii (Juebtc, 3720 Van Home, Suite 4-6,<br />
No. H3S llt8.<br />
Ottawa: Garfield "WUlie" Wilson, 768 Kahisford Ave..<br />
KJK 2K1. Tele. 746-8660.<br />
Toronto: J. W. Agnew, 274 St. John's Rd.. MOP 1V6.<br />
Vancouver: Jimmy Davie. 3246 W. 12, V8K 2U8.<br />
Winnipeg: llobert llucal, 600-232 Portage Ave., R3C<br />
OBI.<br />
APRIL<br />
Vol. 115<br />
i:B.~m<br />
979<br />
No. 4<br />
WBal^Me efi^ M^^iefv 'Rc^^SnJ^^<br />
OSCAR': WHAT PRICE GLORY<br />
UNIVERSAL EXECUTIVES no<br />
doubt are quite pleased by the<br />
double promotional victory afforded<br />
"The Deer Hunter" as a result of the recent<br />
Oscar presentations.<br />
While demonstrators outside the<br />
awards ceremonies marched with signs<br />
and placards and shouted protests accusing<br />
those connected with making "The<br />
Deer Hunter" of racist exploitation and<br />
taking a "Pentagon line," the Academy<br />
was busy inside honoring the film with<br />
Oscars for best sound, editing, best supporting<br />
actor, best director and, finally<br />
after nearly 3 hours and 20 minutes—its<br />
most coveted prize, best picture of 1978.<br />
"The Deer Hunter" has been the object<br />
of a steady stream of criticism before,<br />
during and since Oscar night.<br />
Though all of the controversy surrounding<br />
"The Deer Hunter" was not a<br />
part of the initial marketing plan for the<br />
picture, Universal execs hasten to point<br />
out the obvious advantages that can be<br />
gained from such a position.<br />
Universal apparently recognized early<br />
on the marketing obstacles that confronted<br />
the film's release and subsequent<br />
acceptance level by the public. It is still<br />
not certain whether "The Deer Hunter"<br />
will be more than relatively successful at<br />
the boxoffice because of inherent problems<br />
with informing the moviegoing public<br />
what the picture is actually about.<br />
According to Universal officials, "The<br />
Deer Hunter" was ready for release last<br />
October but was held back to concentrate<br />
on drawing the attention of Academy<br />
members (3,600 strong)—a deliberate<br />
strategy but not a totally uncommon<br />
practice among the major studios. The<br />
film was shown in Los Angeles and New<br />
York for the required one week in December<br />
in order to qualify for Academy<br />
Award consideration. Up until awards<br />
night, the picture had not shown in more<br />
than 80 theatres nationwide.<br />
It has been estimated that Universal<br />
spent between $250,000-$300,000 on trade<br />
advertising and promotion to bring<br />
Academy members to "Deer Hunter"<br />
screenings. According to a published<br />
story in a recent issue of Advertising Age,<br />
the studio reportedly managed to draw<br />
more than 90 percent of the voting members<br />
in the Los Angeles area to its screenings,<br />
which is believed to constitute a record<br />
in itself. "Yes, it was that important,"<br />
Universal senior ad vice-president<br />
Charles Powell was quoted in the article.<br />
"You can count on at least $2 million<br />
extra in boxoffice with the best picture<br />
award. Last year. United Artists' 'Annie<br />
Hair is estimated to have added some $10<br />
million with the award."<br />
We find Mr. Powell's recent commei;<br />
quite interesting in view of an address (<br />
made on the same subject earlier in 1(<br />
year before the Avertising Club of 1:<br />
Angeles. On that occasion, Powell, w(<br />
is also a vice-president of the Acadeif<br />
estimated that the six major studu<br />
would spend close to $1.8 million in Os.:<br />
ad spending this year, "an all-time hi<br />
because of lots of competition and no (.i<br />
film leading the pack," he said.<br />
As an Academy officer, howeii<br />
Powell said in his address that he did )<br />
see the annual studio campaigns in ii<br />
tradepress, some major newspapers n<br />
through direct mail as having an efl;<br />
on the outcome of the awards. "Sometv<br />
all of the advertising money spent to ;<br />
and buy an Oscar does not get the )t<br />
done," he said.<br />
"You can't buy an Oscar," Powell tit<br />
members of the ad club. "But whaty'i<br />
hope to accomplish with our advertL'i'<br />
is to create an atmosphere in which i<br />
Academy membership will want to e^<br />
the particular film and also be awano<br />
the public and critical acclaim . . . ber<br />
getting down to the serious busines;o<br />
marking their ballots."<br />
Through mid-April, "The Deer HunT<br />
had grossed $20.5 million in first-run n<br />
gagements at 500 theatres.<br />
It doesn't take the powers of a cl,ii<br />
voyant to recognize the value a best-ic<br />
ture Oscar—or, for that matter, any o;<br />
Oscar—holds for a studio or distribio<br />
in the form of added revenue throgi<br />
additional theatre bookings. Once-skt ti<br />
cal exhibitors are willing to pay high t<br />
tals and the theatres that have alrtd<br />
played the picture want to rebook it.<br />
All of the major studios, including ni<br />
versal, without question recognize h<br />
considerable profit potential attache t<br />
the Oscar in addition to the prestigtas<br />
sociated with winning, which is h;<br />
great sums of advertising dollars ir<br />
spent expressly for this purpose.<br />
The fact that Universal was abl t<br />
sucessfully best the other studios in lei<br />
concerted efforts to garner the ;o<br />
Oscars for their respective pictures iin<br />
dication enough, we believe, that a h- c<br />
time, effort and, yes, money, rm^tl<br />
through advertising and promotina<br />
dollars, was spent to influence the n'rr<br />
bers of the Academy on the merits, £ti£<br />
tic and otherwise, 6i "The Deer Hun;r.<br />
We concede that you cannot litetli<br />
buy an Oscar. But we would sure lil' t<br />
know how to properly classify all tos<br />
ad and PR dollars that are budgetedini<br />
allegedly spent for same.
Skye Seis $15 Million<br />
Budget for 4 Projects<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Veteran motion picliuo<br />
consultants Max E. Youngstein and Robert<br />
T. Skodis have formed Skye Productions as<br />
a new film production company with $15.-<br />
000.000 already budgeted for four movie<br />
projects.<br />
Youngstein will serve as president of the<br />
new company and Skodis will be executive<br />
vice-president in charge of production. Under<br />
their arrangement each will be able to<br />
continue operating their own individual consultant<br />
firms, Youngstein with Max E.<br />
Youngstein Enterprises, and Skodis his Cine<br />
Enterprises.<br />
Youngstein's life-long experience in the<br />
motion picture industry includes key execute<br />
positions with major film companies as<br />
well as his individual work in film production,<br />
distribution and marketing.<br />
Skodis was executive vice-president and<br />
general manager of Cinemobile Systems, the<br />
company that pioneered a vast technical<br />
revolution in location filming. From there<br />
he formed International Producing Associates,<br />
an international consulting and management<br />
company that was involved with<br />
2S films in less than five years, including<br />
"The Long Goodbye," "A Fistful of Dollars."<br />
"Swashbuckler" and "The Domino<br />
Principal."<br />
The first project to begin filming for Skye<br />
Productions will be "Macho." a drama<br />
about illegal aliens in the Chicano communit\<br />
of Los Angeles. The film will star Lorenzo<br />
Lamas and will be directed by his<br />
father Fernando Lamas who wrote the original<br />
screenplay with Jerold Boyd.<br />
The others will be "The Bribe." an adventure<br />
drama dealing with events in the<br />
a true story about a boy who murdered his<br />
mother and is freed on a legal technicality<br />
and goes to live with his father.<br />
WB Pays $5,000 Reward<br />
To Film Piracy Spotter<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Warner Bros, meant<br />
what it said when it offered a $5,000 reward<br />
to any employee who helps get a<br />
conviction in a film piracy case.<br />
The studio has paid out the award to<br />
Jan Bagge, a salesman in its Stockholm,<br />
Sweden, office.<br />
Bagge discovered a video cassette of<br />
"Dirty Harry" playing without authorization<br />
in a youth center in Stockholm. He<br />
traced the tape to a customer who rented<br />
films from Warners and other U.S. distributors.<br />
The suspect was convicted of film<br />
piracy Dec. 22, 1978.<br />
Warners made its standing $5,000 offer<br />
m December, 1976, after Jack Valenti,<br />
MPAA president, called attention to the<br />
piracy<br />
problem.<br />
AA Bankruptcy Would Be a 'Stigma<br />
On Film Industry, Says Creditor<br />
By JOHN C()C( HI<br />
East Coast Editor<br />
NEW YORK—Driving Allied Artists out<br />
of the film business would be a stigma on<br />
the industry, in the opinion of Samuel M.<br />
Sherman, a creditor and the president of<br />
Independent-International Pictures of East<br />
Brunswick, New Jersey.<br />
While not personally attacking president<br />
Emanuel L. Wolf, Sherman feels that management<br />
(of the company) as a whole leaves<br />
something to be desired. There are complex<br />
problems with no simple answers possible,<br />
he feels.<br />
On Friday, March 23, a creditors' meeting<br />
was held at the Holiday Inn at 440<br />
West 57th St. here. Allied Artists Pictures'<br />
senior officers, its independent accountants<br />
and outside attornies met with the major<br />
creditors and asked them to cooperate with<br />
the company or it would be forced into a<br />
Chapter XI situation.<br />
Orderly Payment Plan<br />
A committee representing some 200 creditors<br />
was formed by majority vote to work<br />
out an orderly payment plan.<br />
At first. Herb Hauser of Diener/Hauser/<br />
Bates advertising agency, was named as head<br />
of the creditors' group. Described as a major<br />
creditor, he relinquished his position<br />
with the group when the company actually<br />
did go into Chapter XL<br />
Hauser formed a splinter group, while<br />
attorney Harris Levin of Levin and Weintraub<br />
assumed the titular position of creditors'<br />
representative.<br />
During the meeting, AA's vice-president<br />
Mid-East, ba.sed on a novel by David Tallman<br />
in charge of finance, Julio Proietto. had<br />
and set for production in the fall; made a proposal that a plan could be for-<br />
"Cabero," a love story and action adventure<br />
mulated to satisfy the creditors.<br />
yarn, with Howard Rayfiel's screenplay When such a plan was not forthcoming.<br />
based on the novel "Lie Down in Me" bv<br />
Andrew Jolly; and "Cold Fury," based on<br />
BOXOFHCE April 30, 1979<br />
AA wcnl into Chapter XI to avoid any<br />
lawsuits. According to Sherman, the company's<br />
problems are so overwhelming that<br />
even this may not help.<br />
Restructuring Is Best<br />
If the company were to be liquidated and<br />
the film assets sold off, creditors may only<br />
realize ten cents on the dollar. However, a<br />
restructuring could result in a return of most<br />
or all of the outstanding debts.<br />
In Sherman's opinion, the only AA executive<br />
with a solid film background is Andrew<br />
P. Jaeger of Allied Artists TV Corp. This is<br />
evidenced by the fact that the television<br />
subsidiary was constantly solvent until<br />
theatre<br />
losses put even this division in financial<br />
difficulty.<br />
"Creditors are trying to force the liquidation<br />
of the company to get its assets. I am<br />
totally against this," asserts Sherman.<br />
Economical measures and a new approach<br />
to production and distribution can make<br />
AA healthy again, he believes. Further, he<br />
will fight anyone who is trying to put the<br />
company out of business. That, he reasons,<br />
will put a stigma on film investments in the<br />
future and will surely hurt the independent<br />
companies.<br />
Sherman states that he is owed at least<br />
$300,000 by AA due to the television sale<br />
of a number of films. He points out that the<br />
largest single creditor would have to be the<br />
Walter Heller Co. of Chicago, to which<br />
is due more than $2 million.<br />
The films in the 1-1/ AA deal are "The<br />
Gun Riders" (released theatrically as "Five<br />
Bloody Graves"), "The Fakers" ("Hell's<br />
Bloody Devils"). "Vampire Men of the Lost<br />
Planet" ("Horror of the Blood Monsters").<br />
"Man With the Synthetic Brain" ("Blood of<br />
Ghastly Horror") and others.<br />
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Backstage at the Academy Awards<br />
By RALPH KAMINSRY<br />
V/est Coast Editor<br />
LOS ANGELES—As usual, the attentiongetters<br />
when<br />
Hunter"'<br />
"It<br />
told<br />
is<br />
wasn't<br />
the<br />
a political<br />
intended<br />
pickets charged<br />
film.<br />
as a political<br />
"The<br />
film.<br />
Deer<br />
It's<br />
at the 51st Oscar presentations had an anti-war film," he asserted.<br />
Voight revealed that he absorbed much of<br />
their moments: Actor Bud Cort. for instance,<br />
showed up in a formal tuxedo—but<br />
wearing bright green sandals.<br />
In the press room, where the exultant<br />
winners faced the media, the fireworks centered<br />
around best director Michael Cimino<br />
and Christopher Walken, best supporting<br />
actor in "The Deer Hunter,'" Jon Voight<br />
and Jane Fonda, award winners for best<br />
actor and actress, respectively, who were<br />
naturally high on "Coming Home" as a<br />
"better picture."<br />
"I liked "Coming Home" but I"m glad I<br />
beat him,"" Walken said, responding to a<br />
question about his feelings on winning his<br />
Oscar over Bruce Dern.<br />
Fonda Was Frank<br />
Fonda"s frankness went even further. She<br />
declared fervently: "I wanted to win. I really<br />
wanted to win."" She said she had been "living<br />
with this picture for eight years. The<br />
film needed to be done. What the people are<br />
getting out of it is what 1 want them to get.<br />
The young are saying they are beginning to<br />
understand about Vietnam.""<br />
While Cimino and Walken expressed surprise<br />
at the protest picketing outside the<br />
Music Center, Fonda declared, "I know<br />
some of the people out there. They fee!<br />
"The Deer Hunter' portrays a racist view.<br />
They"re protesting because we haven"t learned<br />
the lessons from the war. 'The Deer<br />
Hunter' didn't help us learn the lessons of<br />
the war," she asserted, adding that she believed<br />
the film expressed a "Pentagon point<br />
of view."<br />
"Pickets I was really unaware of them,"<br />
Cimino said. "Tm puzzled,"" he responded<br />
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his understanding of his character and of the<br />
Vietnam war from his close association with<br />
Fonda and her husband, social activist Tom<br />
Hayden, at whose home he spent much time<br />
in discussions and analysis of the script.<br />
But all was not war and debate.<br />
Case of Deja Vu<br />
Maggie Smith, winner of the best supporting<br />
actress Oscar for her role in "California<br />
Suite" confessed that the entire evening was<br />
a severe case of deja vu.<br />
Her role in the movie is that of an actress<br />
arriving from England, checking in at the<br />
Beverly Hills Hotel to prepare for an Academy<br />
Awards ceremony at which she was one<br />
of the nominees for best actress honors.<br />
Parts of the movie were actually filmed at<br />
last year's Oscar ceremonies.<br />
In real life she found that she was repeating,<br />
step by step, everything she did in<br />
the movie, she said. "It was such a strong<br />
feeling coming here tonight," she observed.<br />
Among other reactions:<br />
'Still in Shock'<br />
Paul Jabara, best original song for "Last<br />
Dance" in Thank God It's Friday": "I'm so<br />
excited I'm still a little in shock ... It took<br />
two months to write it ... I locked Donna<br />
Summer in the bothroom and played the<br />
cassette ten times—and she said she loved<br />
it."<br />
Giorgio Morodor, best original score: "I<br />
waited ten years for someone to give me a<br />
chance to write a score."<br />
Oliver Stone, best screenplay adapted<br />
from another medium: "It started as a very<br />
small project. I didn't expect it to win<br />
awards ... I felt the book was eventful material,<br />
so I altered it radically."<br />
'Intergalactic' Is Planned<br />
For Summertime Release<br />
NEW YORK—SF Film Productions' first<br />
release will be "Starlog's Intergalactic Picture<br />
Show.'" No distribution commitments<br />
have been set at this date, however.<br />
"This being SF's first film, we are aware<br />
that our track record in movies is not likely<br />
to encourage the kind of distribution deal<br />
that we know the movie is worth," said<br />
publisher/producer Kerry O'Quinn. When it<br />
is finished, we will hold highly restricted<br />
screenings and let the product sell itself.""<br />
Wade Williams, one of the producers, will<br />
handle distribution deals. Don Dohler and<br />
Dave Ellis are heading the finishing production<br />
activities.<br />
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Court Consolidates<br />
Nine Antitrust Suits<br />
.SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—Dan Harkins,<br />
president of Harkins Amusement Enterprises,<br />
has announced that his and eight<br />
other antitrust suits have consolidated and<br />
will be tried together in Texas.<br />
Harkins, an exhibitor in Phoenix and<br />
Scottsdale, said that the suit, in which he is<br />
a plaintiff, will be combined with similar<br />
cases in Arizona, Florida, Texas, California,<br />
Georgia and Utah in the Southern District<br />
of Texas for pretrial proceedings.<br />
The transfer order was filed April 3 by a<br />
judicial panel in Washington, D.C.<br />
The antitrust complaints deal with artificially<br />
high rental ceilings and reduced competition<br />
for films by major distributors.<br />
Specifically, the complaints allege such<br />
illegal<br />
acts as blind bidding, moveover, preferential<br />
treatment to large theatre circuits,<br />
bid rigging, sham bidding, price fixing, splitting,<br />
block booking and unreasonable clearances.<br />
A Timesaving Effort<br />
Harkins said the court moved for a consolidation<br />
of pretrial proceedings to prevent<br />
inconsistent rulings, duplicate evidence and<br />
to save everyone"s time.<br />
Major distributors argued that consolidation<br />
should not be allowed because of the<br />
different markets involved in each case and<br />
because of inconvenience to<br />
parties and witnesses.<br />
The court found that each case shared<br />
certain common facts,<br />
particularly regarding<br />
the manner in which the film distribution<br />
decisions are made in the industry.<br />
Lear, Univ Sign Pact;<br />
:<br />
'Religion' Is First<br />
HOLLYWOOD— Universal Pictures has<br />
|<br />
signed a<br />
multi-picture deal with TAT Communications<br />
Co. for Norman Lear to write,<br />
i<br />
produce and direct original motion pictures<br />
j<br />
under a non-exclusive arrangement.<br />
Lear"s first project will be a comedy.<br />
,<br />
"Religion,"" starring Martin Mull and Fred<br />
Willaid, stars of TATs TV series, "Fernwood<br />
2Night/ America 2Night." The script<br />
will be written by Lear and Alan Thicke,<br />
who was producer and head writer on<br />
"2Night.""<br />
For Thicke, the assignment will be his<br />
first venture into motion pictures. For Lear,<br />
the Universal deal marks a return to motion<br />
pictures after an eight-year absence.<br />
Among his films he adapted and produced<br />
Neil Simon"s "Come Blow Your Horn,"<br />
produced "Never Too Late""; produced and<br />
wrote "Divorce: American Style"'; produced<br />
and co-wrote "The Night They Raided Minsky's,"<br />
and produced, wrote and directed<br />
"Cold Turkey," his debut as a theatrical film<br />
director.<br />
"Religion" will be the second TAT film<br />
production, following "Blue Collar." which<br />
also was a Universal release.<br />
April .^0. 1979
Two Aussie Releases<br />
To Circulate in U.S.<br />
BEVERLY HILLS. CALIF—As a direct<br />
of their exposure in the Austrahan<br />
result<br />
Film Festival in New York last November,<br />
two Australian pictures have been placed<br />
with American distribution companies and<br />
will be released this it spring, was announced<br />
today by Sam Gelfman. president ol<br />
the<br />
Australian Films Office here.<br />
•The Night the Prowler." directed by<br />
Jim Sharman from a screenplay by Nobel<br />
Prize-winner Patrick White, has been acquired<br />
by International Harmony Inc.<br />
Stuart Shapiro, who heads up International<br />
Harmony, has devised a special release<br />
pattern for "The Night the Prowler," similar<br />
to the one used for "The Rocky Horror<br />
Picture Show" which also was directed by<br />
Sharman.<br />
"Newsfront," which won eight of a possible<br />
13 Australian Film Institute Awards<br />
and was the first Australian film ever invited<br />
to the New York Film Festival, has<br />
been acquired for American distribution by<br />
New Yorker Films.<br />
The company plans a Memorial Day release<br />
in New York. Boston and Washington.<br />
Pioneer Dinner Honoring<br />
Plitt Set for Los Angeles<br />
NEW YORK—The annual Pioneer of the<br />
Year dinner will be held on Monday. Oct.<br />
29 in Los Angeles, it was announced by<br />
B.V. Sturdivant. president of the Foundation<br />
of the Motion Picture Pioneers.<br />
The dinner-dance, attracting the top executives<br />
in the motion picture industry, returns<br />
to the Los Angeles Ballroom of the<br />
Century Plaza Hotel after a most successful<br />
affair in New York last October when Dr.<br />
Jules Stein, founder of MCA Inc.. was feted.<br />
This year's affair honors Henry G. Plitl.<br />
president and chief executive officer of the<br />
Plitt Theatre Circuit. Plitt joins other past<br />
honorees such as Adolph Zukor. Jack L.<br />
Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck. Ted Ashley,<br />
Leonard Goldenson, Cecil B. DeMille. Wil-<br />
Iiam R. Forman. H.H. "Hi" Martin. Nate<br />
J. Blumberg, Samuel Z. Arkoff, James Nicholson,<br />
Barney Balaban, Harold R. Mirisch.<br />
Spvros Skouras, E. Cardon Walker and<br />
Sherrill C. Corwin.<br />
MOTION PICTURES RATED<br />
BY THE CODE & RATING<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
The following feature-length motion pictures<br />
have been reviewed and rated by the<br />
Code and Rating Administration pursuant<br />
to the Motion Picture Code and Rating<br />
Program.<br />
The American Gang (World Northal)<br />
Thj Apple Dumpling Gang Rides<br />
Again (BV)<br />
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (WB)<br />
C.H.O.M.P.S. (AI)<br />
Game of Death (Col)<br />
Th; In-Laws (WB)<br />
A Little Romance (Orion)<br />
Love on the Run (New World)<br />
Manhattan (UA)<br />
(Note: The R rating was sustained after<br />
an appeal by Woody Allen)<br />
Nocturna (Compass)<br />
Racquet (Cal-Am)<br />
Running (Univ)<br />
Something Shoit of Paradise (AI)<br />
Winter Kills (Avco)<br />
The Yank (Univ)<br />
'Dreamer' Debul Aids<br />
Ailing Young Bowler<br />
HOLLYWOOD—-Dreamer." 2()th Cenlury-Fox<br />
feature about the dreams of a<br />
young man seeking to win the national pro-<br />
Icssional bowling championship, had its premiere<br />
at Newhall, Calif., the hometown of<br />
a young bowler whose life is closely paralleled<br />
in<br />
the movie.<br />
The piemiere April 26 sought to raise<br />
funds to help finance a serious eye operation<br />
for 19-year-old Tim Roderick, who recently<br />
bowled a perfect 300 game but who<br />
faces possible blindness.<br />
Almost A Pro<br />
Roderick has been close to a professional<br />
bowling career despite a series of physical<br />
setbacks. At an early age he underwent<br />
surgery to remove one of his kidneys. Several<br />
years ago both his kneecaps were injured<br />
in an auto accident. In .lecent months<br />
his eyesight has deteriorated to the point<br />
where blindness is threatened.<br />
Fox officials decided to premiere the<br />
film at the Newhall Plaza Theatre in the<br />
historic community near Los Angeles' northern<br />
border when Mrs. Lee Turner, operator<br />
of the Newhall Bowling Center, contacted<br />
the studio and suggested the benefit screening.<br />
"Dreamer" opened April 27 in flagship<br />
theatres throughout the Los Angeles area.<br />
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BOXOFFICE ;: April 30, 1979
. . . Got<br />
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
. .<br />
Sally Field Leads Blue Ribbon Pack;<br />
'Murder and 'Fast Break' Hit Bottom<br />
By STU GOLDSTEIN<br />
Callj Field came on strong for the March<br />
Blue Ribbon award, riveting her way to<br />
the number one slot, and trampling over<br />
such names as Fonda, Alda and Redgrave<br />
in the process. Practically all of the comments<br />
received this time around credited<br />
Sally Field as the primary reason for "Norma<br />
Rae"s success. The big majority of NSC<br />
voters rated her performance in this effort<br />
at nothing less than terrific.<br />
Second place honors went to Buena Vista's<br />
"North Avenue Irregulars." This pictiire<br />
is pleasing a lot of people and members indicated<br />
that this is a true "family film"<br />
one that kids will enjoy and adults won't<br />
have to be bored with, either. With third<br />
place "honorable mention" was Universal's<br />
"Same Time, Next Year," which apparently<br />
did an honorable job of bringing tears,<br />
laughter and sentiment to the screen.<br />
Now for the not-so-big ones. Warner's<br />
"Agatha" came in ne.xt with generally good<br />
comments, but few votes from the National<br />
Screen Council. "Murder by Decree" came<br />
up with just a few paltry nods and even<br />
less commentary. In last place was Gabe<br />
Kaplan with his "Fast Break" all but forgotten<br />
by members.<br />
NORMA RAE (20TH-FOX)<br />
The best, and not to mention, the most<br />
honest and believable, film about a contemporary<br />
woman released in years. Let's<br />
hope Academy voters treat Sally Field with<br />
respect. If talent emergen the past should<br />
be forgotten. Oscar-caliber performance.<br />
William D. Kerns. Lubbock Avalanche<br />
Journal. Lubbock. Tex. . . . The best and<br />
most committed. David Sterritt, The Christian<br />
Science Monitor, New York . . . Field's<br />
performance is warmly fiery and immensely<br />
likeable.' Nevart Apikian, The Post-Standard.<br />
Syracuse, NY.<br />
An inspiration. Field and Liebman are<br />
superb. James L. Limbacher, Dearborn,<br />
Mich. ... A human, unsentimentalized<br />
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News<br />
film.<br />
—Don Leigh McCulty. Clarksburg, W. Va.<br />
... A triumph for Saliy Field. Bob Pate,<br />
Jacksonville (Fla.) Journal . . . Sally Field<br />
. . . First-rate drama. Field is a revelation.<br />
automatically becomes the frontnmner for<br />
next year's Best Actress Oscar. Joe Leydon.<br />
Shreveport (La.) Times.<br />
KWAX-IM. Eugene. Ore. ... A true story<br />
full of chuckles.— P«i// Gebhart, Cleveland.<br />
Puts slapstick back in style. A nifty afternoon<br />
for both young and old.—Doug Smith,<br />
Courier-Express, Buffalo. N.Y. . . .<br />
Good<br />
cast and a true story. Best Disney since<br />
"Freaky Friday." James K. Loutzenhiser,<br />
Kansas City Film Critics Circle ... I can't<br />
believe I'm actually voting for a Disney<br />
film. This has to be the first time since<br />
"Mary Poppins" that I haven't been insulted<br />
by the gross simplicity and sugar of<br />
Disney films. But this one is just plain fun.<br />
— Terry Flynn, Mann Theatres, Amarillo,<br />
Tex.<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars<br />
"Puts .slapstick back in style"<br />
Hooray— another film I<br />
can take my kids<br />
to without worrying about language and sex.<br />
—Tony De Haro, KMBC-TV. Kansas City<br />
... A happy surprise for children, and<br />
adults, too. Joan E. Vadeboncoeur. Herald-American.<br />
Fun for all!<br />
Syracuse . . Mike Bernard, Northeast Theatres, Presque<br />
Isle, Maine ... If you really want entertainment,<br />
you will enjoy "North Avenue<br />
Irregulars." Ralph L. Smith. Examiner-<br />
Enterprise. BartlesviUc. Okla.<br />
SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR (UNIV)<br />
by Mathis and OViver.—Wendeslaus Schulz,<br />
Star Theatre, New Orleans . . . Being a<br />
romantic at heart, I loved the nostalgia of<br />
two former lovers having a clandestine<br />
meeting each year. Aileen J. Kandyba,<br />
Legion of Mary. Kansas City, Kan. .<br />
No contest! Jim Schrader, Amherst Bee.<br />
Buffalo, N.Y.<br />
Great pacing, great fun, great movie.—<br />
Tom Leathers, The Squire, Kansas City . . .<br />
Man Alda's screen presence is sensitive,<br />
compelling and powerful. A touching, wonderful<br />
movie. Martin Meredith. Dallas<br />
. . . Strong writing and the Alda-Burstyn<br />
charm give "Same Time" a narrow edge<br />
over some remarkably strong competition.—<br />
Don Braunagel. Detroit Area Film Teachers<br />
choked up and teary. Shouldn't be<br />
missed by those who appreciate a really superior<br />
Holywood product. George H. Bell,<br />
Salem, Ore.<br />
AGATHA (WB)<br />
Redgrave and Hoffman turned in classic<br />
performances. Captured the spirit, if not the<br />
complexity, of a Christie whodunit. Steve<br />
Dawson. KCMO-TV, Kansas City ... Excellent<br />
cinematography added to the appeal<br />
ot this film. Paul Hatch, Hatch Theatres.<br />
Wolleboro. N.H. clever use of<br />
lighting keeps the viewer feeling like a<br />
peeping tom" and enjoying every minute<br />
ot ,t. Mary Pat Conway, Downtown, Inc.,<br />
Kansas City.<br />
The plot of "Agatha" may be sloppier<br />
than Christie would have allowed in her<br />
own mysteries, but the film more than compensates<br />
for this with stunning performances<br />
b\ Redgrave and Hoffman. Hauntingly accurate<br />
evocations of the 1920s.^ Richard<br />
Fieedman, Newhouse Newspapers. New<br />
Yoik . end of the dream should be<br />
the public understanding and accepting<br />
"Agatha" as a stylish piece of cinema. But<br />
it seems as though this most deserving film<br />
will not be much laureled. Perhaps its title,<br />
like "Norma Rae's" is a turn off—^/ Shea,<br />
WaSO Radio. New Orleans.<br />
THE NORTH AVENUE<br />
IRREGULARS (BV)<br />
Hilarious!—M>77/(' Parker. WOMPl,<br />
Charlotte, N.C. ... A fun picture that had<br />
us all laughing right from the opening gun.<br />
— W.E. Fletcher, Liberty Theatre, Seward,<br />
Alaska . . . When a film is so funny that the<br />
laughter brings tears to my eyes, then it's<br />
truly a funny film. Mike Moskoviiz.<br />
Warm, witty and painfully honest. A rare<br />
case of accurate stage-to-screen translation.<br />
— Walter Beamon, Evening Independent.<br />
St. Petersburg. Fla. . . . Good fun with a<br />
fine cast.—yo/i/i P. Recher. NATO, Baltimore,<br />
Md. . . . Good grief! For the first<br />
time, I recommend every film on your list.<br />
"Same Time" is best of a very good lot.<br />
Ed Blank. Pittsburgh Pre.ss.<br />
Good acting by Burstyn and Alda overcomes<br />
this stagy production. Good title song<br />
Agatha<br />
"Complexity of a Christie whodunit"<br />
April 30, 1979
IJ<br />
; March<br />
!<br />
Hollywood<br />
>V ^J^oituwood r\eport m<br />
f<br />
MARCH PRODUCTION STARTS<br />
BUTTERFLY PRODUCTIONS<br />
The Last Resort. Filming began<br />
March 5 in Key West, Fia., on this adaptation<br />
of Darwin Porter's novel, "Butterflies<br />
Heat." Story concerns a young hustler.<br />
a murder suspect on the run who finds refuge<br />
with a wealthy once-famous fashion designer.<br />
Cash Baxter is directing a cast that<br />
indudes Matt Collins, Eartha Kitt, Tom<br />
Ewcll, Barbara Baxley and Don Porter. The<br />
screenplay was written by George Edwards<br />
and Tony Crechales. Jerry B. Wheeler is<br />
producer.<br />
FALCON INTERNATIONAL<br />
PRODUCTIONS<br />
Omar Muktar— Lion of the Desert.<br />
Anthony Quinn stars as the great Bedouin<br />
hero who, at the age of 70, almost singlehandedly<br />
fought the mechanized Italian invaders<br />
in the Middle East. Filming began<br />
March 3 in Libya. Other lensing locations<br />
will include Rome and London. Moustapha<br />
Akkad is producing and directing. Also topping<br />
the cast are Oliver Reed, Irene Papas<br />
and Raf Vallone. The screenplay was written<br />
by H.A.L. Craig.<br />
FILMFAIR INC.<br />
The Baltimore Bullet. Shooting began<br />
March 1 in Los Angeles on this action<br />
comedy involving two pool hustlers on the<br />
road. Filming is also scheduled for New<br />
Orleans. Starring are James Coburn, Omar<br />
Sharif, Ronee Bfakley and Bruce Boxleitner.<br />
Others in the cast are Jack O'Halloran, Calvin<br />
Lockhart, Michael Lerner, Robert<br />
Hewes, Marco Rodriguez and Jon Ian Jacobs.<br />
Robert Ellis Miller is directing.<br />
Screenplay is by John Brascia and Robert<br />
Vincent O'Neill. Brascia is producing and<br />
William D. Jekel and Norman G. Rudman<br />
arc executive producers.<br />
KLONDIKE FiLM PRODUCTIONS<br />
Klondike Fever. Filming began March<br />
^26 in British Columbia on this feature starring<br />
Rod Steiger, Angle Dickinson and<br />
iLorne Green. Peter Carter is directing from<br />
\a screenply written by Charles Israel and<br />
iMartin Lager. Gilbert Taylor is producing.<br />
^Harry Allan Towers is executive producer.<br />
!Others in the cast are Jeff East, Barry<br />
'Morse, Robin Gammell, Lisa Langolis,<br />
Sherry Lewis, D.D. Winters, Michael Hogan<br />
and Gordon Pinsent.<br />
LEVINE-VAN WINKLE PRODUCTIONS<br />
The Woman Inside. Gloria Manon plays<br />
jthe male and female roles in this story about<br />
fi Vietnam veteran who undergoes a sex operation<br />
to become woman. Filming began<br />
5, with lensing also scheduled for<br />
and San Francisco. Also in the<br />
::ast are Joan Blondell, Dane Clark, Luce<br />
i Morgan, Marlene Tracy and Joe E. Ross.<br />
Joseph Van Winkle is directing from his<br />
own screenplay. Sidney H. Levine is producing<br />
and Thomas L. Marshall is executive<br />
prodLiccr.<br />
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
Captain Avenger. Filming began March<br />
26 in New York on this story starring John<br />
Ritter and Anne Archer. Ritter plays a<br />
struggling New York actor and Archer is the<br />
career girl who falls in love with him. Rod<br />
Rasse plays the title role, portraying a fictional<br />
hero who is seen only on a television<br />
set as part of the commercial that advertises<br />
the movie-within-a-movie. Also in the cast<br />
are Bert Convy, Jane Halleran, Rick Podell<br />
and Anita Dedgler. Martin Davidson is directing<br />
from an original screenplay by A.J.<br />
Carothers. The Stephen Friedman/ Kings<br />
Row production is being produced by Friedman.<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Little Darlings. Tatum O'Neal and<br />
Kristy McNichol are the little darlings of<br />
the title, two young ladies facing the problems<br />
of growing up. The Kings Row production<br />
began shooting March 26 in Madison,<br />
Ga. Ron Maxwell is directing from the<br />
screenplay by Kimi Peck and Dalene<br />
Young. Stephen Friedman is the producer.<br />
RANK RECORDED PICTURE CO.<br />
Illusions. Art Garfunkel, Theresa Russell<br />
and Harvey Keitel head the cast of this<br />
feature which began principal photography<br />
March 19. Lensing is taking place in Vienna<br />
with filming also set for London, Morocco<br />
and New York. Nicholas Roeg is directing<br />
from the screenplay by Yale Udoff. Jeremy<br />
Thomas is the producer.<br />
SKYRING LTD.<br />
The Hard Way. Patrick McGoohan and<br />
Lee Van Cleef have the lead roles in this<br />
contemporary thriller set in Ireland. Shooting<br />
began March 5 in and near Dublin and<br />
at the National Film Studios of Ireland.<br />
McGoohan plays a mercenary contract-killer<br />
who tries to retire in his native Ireland. His<br />
former employer, played by Van Cleef, insists<br />
that he do one more job. Michael Dryhurst<br />
is producing and directing from a<br />
screenplay by Richard F. Tombleson. John<br />
Boorman is executive producer.<br />
20TH CENTURY-FOX<br />
The Empire Strikes Back. Mark Hamill,<br />
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and others<br />
"<br />
from the original "Star Wars cast went to<br />
work March 5 on this continuation of the<br />
science fiction hit. Shooting on the Lucasfilm<br />
feature is taking place in London. Others<br />
in the cast are Anthony Daniels, Kenny<br />
Baker, Dave Prowse, Pater Mayhew and<br />
Billy Dee Williams. Irv Kershner is directing<br />
the screenplay written by Leigh Bracken<br />
and Larry Kasdan. George Lucas is executive<br />
producer, Gary Kurtz is producing.<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
A Small Circle of Friends. Brad<br />
Davis, Karen Allen and Jameson Parker arc<br />
starring in this feature on which shooting<br />
began March 26 in Boston, on location at<br />
Harvard University. Also in the cast are<br />
John Friedrich, Shelly Long, Doug Llewelyn,<br />
Gary Springer, Nan Martin and Harry<br />
Caesar. Rob Cohen is directing from a script<br />
by Ezra Sachs. Tim Zinnemann is the producer.<br />
UNIVERSAL<br />
Coal Miner's Daughter. Shcxiting has<br />
been underway since March 3 on location<br />
in Kentucky and Tennessee on this biography<br />
of country-western singer Loretta Lynn.<br />
Sissy Spacek stars in the title role about the<br />
girl who rose from abject poverty in Appalachia<br />
to become the most honored star of<br />
the country music world. Also in the cast<br />
are Tommy Lee Jones. Beverly D'Angelo,<br />
Levon Helm, Gary Prahi Parker and David<br />
Gray. Michael Apted is directing from<br />
Thomas Rickman's screenplay. Bernard<br />
Schwartz is producing.<br />
The Jerk. Comedian Steve Martin stars<br />
in the title role as the jerk who gives from<br />
rags to riches in this comedy being directed<br />
by Carl Reiner. Script is by Martin, Reiner,<br />
Carl Gottieb and Michael Elias. Filming<br />
began March 19 in Los Angeles on this<br />
Aspen Film Society production. Also in the<br />
cast are Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams,<br />
Jackie Mason, Maurice Evans, Mabel King,<br />
Richard Ward, M. Emmet Walsh, Carl<br />
Reiner, Dick O'Neil, Frances E. Williams,<br />
Bill Macy, Ren Wood and Hamilton Camp.<br />
David V. Picker and William McEuen are<br />
producing.<br />
Little Miss Marker. Producer Jennings<br />
Lang began filming March 23 in Los Angeles<br />
on this remake of the classic story<br />
about a little girl who is left with a crusty<br />
bookie as a "marker" for her father's gambling<br />
debt. Walter Matthau stars as Sorrowful<br />
Jones, the bookie. Julie Andrews portrays<br />
an heiress who fronts a gambling operation<br />
to regain the estate her father lost.<br />
Starring as Miss Marker is Sara Stimson.<br />
Also heading the cast are Tony Curtis, Lee<br />
Grant and Bob Newhart. Walter Bernstein<br />
is directing from his own screenplay.<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Altered States. Filming began March<br />
23 in New York, with locations also set for<br />
Boston, Los Angeles and Mexico on the<br />
film version of the book by Paddy Chayefsky.<br />
Story deals with a scientist who enters<br />
an incredible world when he experiments<br />
with mind-altering drugs—and a love that<br />
becomes a lifetime to a man teetering on<br />
the edge of an uncharted experience. William<br />
Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban and<br />
Charlie Haid top the cast. Ken Russell is<br />
directing from Chayefsky's script. Howard<br />
Gottfried is producer. Daniel Melnick is<br />
executive producer.<br />
jBOXOFTICE :: April 30, 1979
BOXOFFICE<br />
BAROMETER<br />
This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first runs in<br />
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs<br />
are reported, ratings are added and averages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to overage grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as average,<br />
the figures show the gross ratings above or below that mark. {Asterisk * denotes combination bills.)<br />
^<br />
hb^—<br />
jll
csr HOUSE Utim .<br />
IS FOREVER!<br />
THE NATION'S ff^ CULT MOVIE NEVER DIES!<br />
CHECK THESE GROSSES<br />
APRIL ll-TO-17<br />
mi Am<br />
5 D.I. MINNEAPOLIS RUN MARI,<br />
ALL D.I. s HOLDING 2nd WEEK SEVENTEEN, IS<br />
($2100 TOTAL ADVERTISING) ScL'^tu-<br />
»^.5!JiU^<br />
^_--, HER TH<br />
THEATRE<br />
LUCKY TWIN D.I.<br />
COON RAPIDS D.I.<br />
FLYING CLOUD D.I.<br />
CORALL D.I.<br />
ROSE D.I.<br />
TOTAL:<br />
ALSO CHECK THIS<br />
GROSS |S YET<br />
8,103 TO<br />
M04C0ME!<br />
5,123<br />
7,288<br />
10,102<br />
$36,620<br />
UNPRECEDENTED 5 WEEK<br />
WINTER ENGAGEMENT:<br />
REDWOOD D.I.-SALT LAKE CITY<br />
2/7-13 3,439<br />
2/14-20 3,818<br />
2/21-27 2,000<br />
2/28-3/6 2,355<br />
3/7-13 2,395<br />
TOTAL: $14,007<br />
CAN A MOVIE GO TOO FAR<br />
USr HOUSE in LEFT<br />
WARNING! nOT RECOmmEnOED for PERSOHS OUER 30!<br />
NOW AVAILABLE WITH A COMPLETELY<br />
NEW CAMPAIGN!<br />
NEW PRINTS — NEW PRESS BOOK<br />
NEW RADIO T.V. — AND —<br />
—<br />
THEATRICAL TRAILER<br />
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL —<br />
A.I.P.<br />
EXCHANGE FOR DATES<br />
IN NEW ENGLAND • JUD PARKER FILMS • BOSTON, MASS. • 617-542-0744<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979 E-1
New York<br />
mm^r-^^^r:^^!'mwmwK''j<br />
FIRST RUN REPORT<br />
All About Gloria Leonard (Evart),<br />
World (9.000). 14th wk «.170<br />
Fedora (UA). Cinema Studio I<br />
(5.000). 1st wk 22.750<br />
The French Detective (Quartet). 58th<br />
Street Playhouse (5.000). 6th<br />
wk 10-525<br />
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (New<br />
Line). Paris (9.000). 18th wk. .<br />
15.000<br />
. .<br />
The Innocent (Analysis)<br />
Plaza (8.400). 10th wk 15.615<br />
Cinema III (5.000). 7th wk 9.345<br />
Just Like at Home (New Yorker).<br />
Cinema Studio II (4.000).<br />
1st wk 8,500<br />
Love on the Run (New World).<br />
Coronet (9.650). 2nd wk 25,075<br />
Old Boyfriends (Avco). Sutton<br />
(9.300), 4th wk 14,520<br />
Picnic at Hanging Rock (Atlantic).<br />
Little Carnegie (7.500). 8th wk, 7.000<br />
.<br />
The Promise (Univ), Music Hall<br />
(156,000), 7th wk 410,000<br />
Real Life (Para), Cinema II. (6,000),<br />
7th wk 9.950<br />
Hartford<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
(Univ), 3 theatres, 3rd wk 250<br />
The Champ (MGM-UA), Showcase III,<br />
2nd wk 150<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), 3 theatres,<br />
5th wk 250<br />
Days of Heaven (Para), Cinema City<br />
I, 8th wk 50<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Showcase<br />
V, 6th wk 300<br />
Halloween (Compass Int'l), Showcase<br />
VI, 5th wk 200<br />
Hair (UA). Showcase I, 3rd wk 450<br />
Hurricane (Para), Showcase II,<br />
1st wk 400<br />
Little Blue Box (SR), Art Cinema.<br />
1st wk 225<br />
Love at First Bite (AIP). Showcase<br />
IV, 1st wk 200<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox), Cinema City<br />
II, Elm II, 4th wk 175<br />
Picnic at Hanging Rock (Atlantic<br />
Releasing), Atheneum Cinema,<br />
2nd wk<br />
The Psychic (Group I), 3 theatres,<br />
115<br />
1st wk. 250<br />
Cleveland<br />
Ashanti (WB), 2 theatres. 1st wk 160<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
(Univ). 5 theatres. 2nd wk 260<br />
The Champ (UA). 5 theatres. 1st wk. .<br />
.280<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), 6 theatres,<br />
4th wk 290<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), 5 theatres,<br />
7th wk 435<br />
Every Which Way But Ix)ose (WB).<br />
1 theatre, 16th wk 165<br />
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (SR).<br />
Cedar Lee, 4th wk 85<br />
E-2<br />
Fa.st Break (tol). d ihcatics. Vd wk.<br />
Hair (UA), 6 theatres, 2nd wk<br />
Halloween (SR). 7 theatres. 5th wk. .<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox). 3 theatres.<br />
4th wk<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars (BV),<br />
2 theatres, 8th wk<br />
Superman (WB), 4 theatres, 1 7th wk.<br />
Buffalo<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
(Univ). 2 theatres, 2nd wk<br />
,180<br />
The Champ (UA), 3 theatres,<br />
200<br />
1st wk<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), 3 theatres,<br />
4th wk 200<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), 1 theatre.<br />
7th wk 300<br />
Fast Break (Col), 5 theatres. 3rd wk. .<br />
100<br />
.<br />
Hair (UA), 3 theatres, 3rd wk 100<br />
Halk>ween (SR), 1 theatre, 3rd wk. ... 200<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox), 2 theatres.<br />
4th wk<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars (BV).<br />
2 theatres. 9th wk.<br />
Richard Pryor—Live in Concert (SEE),<br />
.175<br />
100<br />
1 theatre, 6th wk 100<br />
Superman (WB), 2 theatres, 17th wk. . .100<br />
The Warriors (Para). 1 theatre,<br />
9th wk 85<br />
Baltimore<br />
The Champ (UA). Cinema II,<br />
3rdwk 100<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), Glen Burnie<br />
Mall, Westview, 6th wk 55<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Patterson II.<br />
Towson. 9th wk. '70<br />
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (SR).<br />
Playhouse. 5th wk 150<br />
Hair (UA), Cinema I, 4th wk 100<br />
Hurricane (Para), Westview I. 2nd wk. 30<br />
Murder by Decree (Avco). Liberty I.<br />
4th wk 30<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox). Westview III<br />
5th wk. 70<br />
New Haven<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
(Univ), Cinemart I, Milford II,<br />
3rd wk 225<br />
The Champ (MGM-UA), Showcase I,<br />
2nd wk 165<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), Cinemart<br />
II, Milford 1, 5th wk 225<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ). Showcase<br />
IV. 6th wk 275<br />
Hair (UA). Showcase III, 3rd wk. ,. 400<br />
Halloween (Compass Int'l), Showcase<br />
V, 5thwk 200<br />
Hurricane (Para), Showcase II,<br />
1st wk 350<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox), York Square<br />
Cinema, 1 st wk 250<br />
A Perfect Couple (20th-Fox), Whitney,<br />
2nd wk. 100<br />
Blind Bidding Battles<br />
Begin in New England<br />
By AVERY MASON<br />
BOSTON—Battles in the exhibition war<br />
against blind bidding in the New England<br />
area are shaping in the states' legislatures.<br />
And what looks like a win for the exhibs is<br />
in Maine, where the bill passed the house<br />
124-10 and passed the senate unanimously<br />
on voice vote. At press time it was awaiting<br />
the governor's signature<br />
In Massachusetts a hearing was held April<br />
18 at the state house with A. Alan Friedberg,<br />
president of NATO, TONE and Sack<br />
Theatres, squaring off against Jack Valenti,<br />
president of MPAA, before the legislature's<br />
committee on commerce and labor.<br />
Valenti said that 52 percent of the major<br />
studio films shown in Massachusetts last<br />
year were blind bid. Without blind bidding,<br />
he claimed, there would be higher production<br />
costs, fewer films produced and possibly<br />
higher ticket prices.<br />
Friedberg said he would reduce ticket<br />
prices at Sack Theatres 10 percent if blind<br />
bidding is ended, and that he would expect<br />
other exhibs to follow suit. Friedberg cited<br />
"Slapshot" as an example of blind bidding<br />
problems. The film, he said, turned out to<br />
be unpopular and unprofitable partly because<br />
of obscene language.<br />
"A theatre owner," he said, "had no idea<br />
prior to the viewing that it contained language<br />
that would be considered offensive<br />
to most communities. The distributor describes<br />
his product in the most favorable<br />
terms. Every picture is an epic. In cases<br />
of films containing violence and graphic<br />
sex. prior screening would allow an informed<br />
decision to show or not to show, based<br />
on community tastes,"<br />
Friedberg asked the committee, "Have<br />
you heard of any other business that requires<br />
the businessman to buy a product<br />
without seeing it first"<br />
In an editorial published the following day<br />
in the Boston Herald American, the newspaper<br />
called on majors and exhibs to "end<br />
the war." The editorial said in part: "Jack<br />
Valenti, front man for the film industry,<br />
might be correct in calling the current brawl<br />
between movie distributors and theatre<br />
owners in this state a 'war' and a "vile,<br />
squalid quarrel about profits, about money.'<br />
"But he's dead wrong in claiming that the<br />
moviegoing public has no interest in the<br />
issue, because the money he's talking about<br />
is theirs. For that reason, if no other, Massachusetts<br />
ought to decree an end to it.<br />
either by legislative action or a court injunction."<br />
ITOA Seminar Cancelled<br />
NEW YORK—The Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of America .seminar scheduled for<br />
April 30-May 2 has been cancelled.<br />
A source close to the organization indicated<br />
the cancellation was due to "a lack<br />
of cooperation by the distributors."<br />
No word has been given on whether the<br />
seminar will be rescheduled.<br />
BOXOFHCE :: April 30, 1979
NEW<br />
YORK<br />
HRCHER WINSTEN. New York Post<br />
film critic, was the guest at the Academy<br />
Awards Luncheon of the Motion Picture<br />
Bookers Club of New York April 24<br />
at Rosoffs. He analyzed this year's award<br />
ceremonies, as have such critics as Andrew<br />
Sards, Judith Crist and Kathleen Carroll in<br />
past years. Peter Bogdanovich and Ben<br />
Gazzara made surprise appearances.<br />
•<br />
The Eastern Tennis Assn. and Paramount<br />
Pictures hosted a reception and press conference<br />
at the Paramount offices here April<br />
18 in connection with the new film "Players."<br />
Arthur Ashe. Bill Talberl and Barbara<br />
S. Williams presided at the reception and<br />
scenes from the film, which stars Ali Mac-<br />
Graw. Dean-Paul Martin and some of the<br />
f;rcatest tennis players in the world, were<br />
.screened. Wine and cheese were served.<br />
•<br />
Home office employees of Columbia Pictures<br />
and guests attended two special screenings<br />
of "The China Syndrome" over the<br />
weekend April 28-29 at Loews State IL The<br />
screenings stem from a desire to increase<br />
employee participation in the company's<br />
activities and successes.<br />
•<br />
The Japan Society opened its Japan Today<br />
film series, "Three Decades: Postwar<br />
Japanese Society Through Film." April 27<br />
at Japan House. An address by Donald<br />
a leading authority on the Japanese<br />
Richie,<br />
cinema, was followed by a screening of<br />
Akira Kurosawa's "No Regrets for Our<br />
Youth" (1946). A reception in Richie's<br />
honor capped the evening.<br />
•<br />
The Brazilian "Colonel Delmiro Gouveia,"<br />
produced and directed by Geraldo<br />
Sarno, has been substituted for "A Breach<br />
in the Wall" in the Museum of Modern<br />
Art's New Directors/New Films Series.<br />
Rubens De Faico stars in the title role as<br />
one of the first South Americans to rebel<br />
against imperialist Europe in this century.<br />
It is being shown at the Museum on April<br />
30 at 8:30 p.m. and May 1 at 6 p.m.<br />
•<br />
No particular observance was planned for<br />
the closing of the Easter show at Radio City<br />
Music Hall, featuring Universal's "The<br />
Promise," on April 25, although it is the<br />
last presentation of its kind at the famed<br />
Show place of the Nation. According to director<br />
of publicity Patricia Robert, it was<br />
decided that a repeat of last year's "farewell"<br />
would not be in order.<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
^odemCinema 35 release. "Listen to<br />
This," a short subject on the development<br />
of talking pictures, is available upon<br />
request, on free loan, through the Bell System<br />
and Modem Talking Picture Service,<br />
New Hyde Park, New York 11042. As a<br />
period touch, the Larry Keating production<br />
is being projected in the original 1;33 to 1<br />
aspect ratio and includes scenes featuring<br />
stars of the '20s.<br />
Charles T. Jordan, Warner Bros, branch<br />
chief, invited e.vhibitois to a tradcscrcening<br />
of Irwin Allen's "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure,"<br />
at the Motion Picture Assn. of<br />
America screening room. April 24.<br />
Marty Zeldman, Columbia branch manager,<br />
screened for exhibitors and special<br />
guests "The Fifth Musketeer," at MPAA<br />
April 26.<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Qeorge Ball, a veteran of 52 years in the<br />
industry, is retiring from 20th-Fox here<br />
after 50 years. After working for Harris<br />
Amusements as an office boy, and the Educational<br />
Film Exchange as assistant shipper,<br />
he joined Fox Film Corp. and served in<br />
shipping, posters, booking and sales. For<br />
many years he has been the branch sales<br />
manager here, having declined the branch<br />
manager's post many times.<br />
Twentieth-Fox is withdrawing branch<br />
operations heie as have most film distributors<br />
in the past decade. Pittsburgh now becomes<br />
a sub-branch area with Philadelphia<br />
headquarters under Lou Korte, former local<br />
20th-Fox branch manager. UA and Paramount<br />
still have small offices in Ernest<br />
Stern's Robert Fulton building, and how<br />
long they will continue in sub-branch operation<br />
is a topic of discussion by exhibitors in<br />
the tristate ai^ea.<br />
Avenue Theatre, DuBois, a leading stage<br />
and movie house for more than 50 years<br />
under Albert P. Way, will come under the<br />
wrecker's ball this summer.<br />
Arthur M. Stern, 51. of the Associated-<br />
Cinemette family, died April 16. Interment<br />
was made here April 20 in Beth Shalom<br />
Cemetery. A son of Gizella and the late<br />
Norbcrt Stern, who pioneered drive-in theatres,<br />
he is survived by wife Betty, son<br />
Mark, brother Ernest and Mrs. David Barkan.<br />
Regarding George Romero's "Dawn of<br />
the Dead." which was produced here. Donald<br />
Miller of the Post-Gazette said. "It is<br />
too long, simple, boring ... the real point<br />
in the picture seems to be to see how far<br />
its makers went to make a low-grade horror<br />
flick<br />
horrible."<br />
FILMACK IS<br />
CHOICE<br />
1st<br />
WITH<br />
SHOWMEN<br />
EVERYWHERE<br />
Music Hall Is Reborn;<br />
Extravaganza Planned<br />
NEW YORK— America's most famous<br />
show palace has a new name to go with its<br />
new old look.<br />
Now known as the Radio City Music Hall<br />
Entertainment Center, the huge theatre is<br />
currently undergoing a 30-day facelift which<br />
will restore the Art Deco splendor it displayed<br />
on its opening night over 46 years<br />
ago.<br />
The original companies arc at work replicating<br />
original carpet and wall designs.<br />
Many of the original Art Deco furnishings<br />
and other artifacts will also be restored.<br />
A live extravaganza, described as "the<br />
most elaborate stage production ever presented<br />
in New York." will open May 31.<br />
The production will feature 100 performers.<br />
1,000 costumes and original music.<br />
The Rockettes, restored to a force of<br />
36, will be featured.<br />
The spectacular, named "A New York<br />
Summer—a Magical Celebration," will play<br />
through Sept. 5 and is designed for family<br />
entertainment.<br />
Top musical performers and attractions<br />
be featured Thursday evenings.<br />
will<br />
The Galactic Laser Experience will be<br />
presented Fridays and Saturdays at 1<br />
p.m., beginning June 1.<br />
A live musical production of "Snow<br />
White and the Seven Dwarfs" will be presented<br />
for a month beginning Oct. 18, followed<br />
by a Christmas stage show running<br />
from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.<br />
Motion pictures will be presented "from<br />
time to time," according to Robert F. Jani,<br />
president of Radio City Music Hall Productions.<br />
Musical classics will be presented Monday<br />
through Friday mornings, and a children's<br />
program of films will be offered beginning<br />
in the fall.<br />
The Wurlitzer organ will be restored for<br />
use by concert choirs and performers.<br />
An exhibit displaying 47 years of Music<br />
Hall history will be set up in the Grand<br />
Lounge.<br />
Jani indicated the hall would also be<br />
available for companies and organizations<br />
for meetings.<br />
ORDER FROM FILMACK<br />
WHENEVER YOU NEED<br />
SPECIAL FILMS<br />
DATE STRIPS,<br />
CROSS PLUGS,<br />
MERCHANT ADS,<br />
SPECIAL AN-<br />
NOUNCEMENT!<br />
FILMACK STUDIOS, INC.<br />
>0605 312-427-3:<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979
Spotlight on New England \<br />
I<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
The downtown Paramount, long the flagship<br />
of the sizable Western Massachusetts<br />
Theatres Inc. circuit, is suddenly in the<br />
news as focus of several ambitious projects.<br />
The long-shuttered cinema (its 2.600-plus<br />
seats make the theatre still one of the largest<br />
single-standing film outlets in the New<br />
England states) may be "home" for a nonprofit<br />
corporation-sponsored series of live<br />
cultural attractions, backed by the Springfield<br />
Civic Center Commission. WMT<br />
spokesman Ronald Goldstein has indicated<br />
that he hopes to reopen the Paramount with<br />
selective film programs. The Paramount,<br />
lamentably enough, is sole remaining downtown<br />
theatre; everything else gave way to<br />
urban renewal, attrition and conversion to<br />
other commercial purposes.<br />
Retired educator. Mrs. Muriel E. Anderson.<br />
68, died. She was long active with the<br />
Springfield Motion Picture Council and was<br />
a member of the Springfield Committee for<br />
Improvement of Mass Media and the Human<br />
Relations Commission.<br />
I\EW BRITAIIS<br />
The Perakos Plainville and Southington<br />
drive-ins, major central Connecticut<br />
underskyers, opened for the 1979 season.<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
\X7ami weather has finally returned,<br />
No<br />
less than three underskyers are offering<br />
Sunday "flea markets": the Clinton,<br />
Danbury and Milford Twin. The region's<br />
going price structure carries a charge of<br />
$8-per-space for vendors (or dealers), 99<br />
cents per carload (regardless of number of<br />
passengers) and 50 cents, walk-in admission.<br />
The snack bar is open all day.<br />
HARTFORD<br />
Independent exhibitor Leonard Paul and<br />
associates resumed film programs at<br />
the Central Theatre, West Hartford, after<br />
a several-week lapse. Admission has been<br />
boosted from the previous 99 cents to $1.50.<br />
The Central's disco operations—a first for<br />
Connecticut exhibition—are scheduled on<br />
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HADDEN r^<br />
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weekends only (matinees and evenings after<br />
regular film showings). The theatre, for<br />
many years the sole cinema outlet in West<br />
Hartford, was previously under other circuit<br />
banners, including then-Warner Bros.<br />
Theatres, Hartford Theatre Circuit, and<br />
ABC Theatres.<br />
RHODE ISLAISD<br />
applications were being accepted through<br />
May 7 for the 16th annual Rhode<br />
Island Community Film & Video Competition,<br />
to be held the last week in May. Any<br />
film or tape produced in Rhode Island or<br />
by Plantation State residents is eligible. The<br />
competition office can be contacted at 277-<br />
2877, Providence.<br />
WORTH JERSEY<br />
J^oboken, which has not had a motion picture<br />
theatre for many years, will have<br />
two very shortly, according to Victor Orjelick.<br />
who plans to open the Hoboken Cinemas<br />
1 and 2 on the first floor of Bernard<br />
Kenny's office building at First and Hudson<br />
streets. Construction on the Twin Cinemas<br />
has already been completed, and installation<br />
of projection equipment and seating is presently<br />
taking place. The opening will follow<br />
immediately thereafter. According to Orjelick.<br />
the two theatres together will seat a<br />
total of 500 patrons.<br />
The Sanford in Irvington, closed for the<br />
past two months, was recently reopened.<br />
Operated by Fred Fleischer, who acquired<br />
the 1235-seat house last November from<br />
Paul Peterson, the theatre reportedly has<br />
been closed due to a lack of film product.<br />
Fleischer reopened with a double-bill of<br />
"Same Time. Next Year." plus "House<br />
Calls." With the reopening of the Sanford.<br />
and the recent reopening of the Chancellor<br />
Theatre as an X-rated film house. Irvington<br />
now has three motion picture theatres in<br />
operation, including the Castle, which is<br />
operated by Ed Steinberg.<br />
The FrankUn in Nutley, operated by Jack<br />
Infald for the past 14 years, remains closed,<br />
as it has been for more than a month. The<br />
50-year-old house, which seats about 1,000.<br />
is expected to reopen soon, however, under<br />
new management.<br />
UA's Colony in Livingston, normally<br />
operated as a subsequent-run, neighborhood<br />
house, has begun a first-run film policy.<br />
The new policy began with a two-week<br />
run of "Same Time, Next Year," which was<br />
followed by the "The Deer Hunter," now in<br />
its fourth week.<br />
(General Cinema recently reopened their<br />
Palace in Orange after that theatre had<br />
been closed for over a month. The Palace<br />
had been closed twice last year for a total<br />
of about three months.<br />
The Livingston Drive-ln in Livingston<br />
and the Route 3 Drive-In in Rutherford<br />
have been reopened by General Cinema for<br />
the new season. Also reopened is the Morris<br />
Plains Drive-ln in Morris Plains, now operated<br />
by Cinema Management. The Morris<br />
Plains ozoner had undergone several ownership<br />
changes in<br />
recent years.<br />
Tom River, located along the South Jersey<br />
shore, has a new film theatre, the Cinema<br />
Alley Twin, recently opened by Earl<br />
Wilford. Total seating capacity of the new<br />
twins is 650. Prior to opening his own theatre,<br />
Wilford had been associated with several<br />
independent exhibitors in the North<br />
Jersey<br />
area.<br />
Industry veteran Bill Waldron Sr. recently<br />
celebrated his 92nd birthday, making him<br />
one of the oldest, active members of the<br />
in theatre industry North Jersey. Bill, who<br />
resides in Montclair, managed numerous<br />
theatres in the 1930s and '40s in the Essex<br />
County area, and at one time was city<br />
manager of Montclair. For the past several<br />
years, he has been serving as a cashier at<br />
Paul Peterson's Clairidge in Montclair. He<br />
has been continuously active in the industry<br />
for the past 73 years.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
Cam Geffen, who has dedicated 40 years of<br />
his life to helping handicapped children,<br />
was honored as Man of the Year by Variety<br />
Club of Buffalo, Tent 7, on April 28 at a<br />
dinner in the clubroom.<br />
Bill Hebert of Frontier Amusement<br />
Corp., a film buying and booking firm, has<br />
been given the Award of Merit, the highest<br />
award that can be bestowed on a district<br />
committeeman, "for outstanding service to<br />
youth of this community." The award, in<br />
the form of a bronze engraved plaque, was<br />
presented at a dinner at the First Presbyterian<br />
Church March 24.<br />
A Hollywood production company is<br />
looking for a few bit players and screamers<br />
to be used in a full-length, low-budget horror<br />
movie to be filmed in Rochester in<br />
August. Frank LaLoggia and his company<br />
will shoot the film, tentatively titled, "The<br />
Anti-Christ."<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
about a dozen demonstrators marched into<br />
the offices of Universal Film Exchanges<br />
last week to protest the distribution<br />
of the Academy Award-winning "The Deer<br />
Hunter." The group's leader said they objected<br />
to the movie because "it presents an<br />
inaccurate, racist version of the war."<br />
Chuck Markus, manager of the LaSallc<br />
Theatre, was honored April 18 as "Mr-<br />
185th Street" at the annual awards banquet<br />
of the East 185th Street Businessmen's Assn.<br />
at the Lithuanian Community Center. Markus<br />
was also presented with a proclamation<br />
in recognition of his long<br />
community.<br />
to<br />
the<br />
BOXOFFICE April 30, 1979
|<br />
UCT HOUSE JiitLEn .<br />
IS FOREVER!<br />
THE NATION'S .^ICULT MOVIE NEVER DIES!<br />
CHECK THESE GROSSES<br />
APRIL lMO-17<br />
nil Am<br />
5 D.I. MINNEAPOLIS RUN MARI,<br />
ALL D.I. s HOLDING 2nd WEEK SEVENTEEN, IS<br />
($2100 TOTAL ADVERTISING)<br />
heJfhPJvORS<br />
THEATRE<br />
LUCKY TWIN D.I.<br />
COON RAPIDS D.I<br />
FLYING CLOUD D.I<br />
CORALL D.I.<br />
ROSE D.I.<br />
TOTAL:<br />
ALSO CHECK THIS<br />
^"^^^^ IS YET<br />
8,103 TO<br />
M04C0ME!<br />
5,123<br />
7,288<br />
10,102<br />
$36,620<br />
UNPRECEDENTED 5 WEEK<br />
WINTER ENGAGEMENT:<br />
REDWOOD D.I.-SALT LAKE CITY<br />
CAN A MOVIE GO TOO FAR<br />
mi<br />
TO AVOID<br />
FAINTING<br />
KEEP RB>EATING,<br />
IT'S ONLY A MOVIE<br />
\ .MY A MOVIE<br />
\ ..OMIY A MOVIE<br />
A ..OHIY 4 MOVIE<br />
n ..OHLY» MOVIE<br />
' .MY J MOVIE<br />
i<br />
2/7-13 3,439<br />
2/14-20 3,818<br />
2/21-27 2,000<br />
2/28-3/6 2,355<br />
3/7-13 2,395<br />
TOTAL: $14,007<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979<br />
W-1
No One But Cameramen See Unveiling<br />
Of Robeson's Star on Hollywood Blvd.<br />
By<br />
RALPH KAMINSKY<br />
West Coast Editor<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The public never had a<br />
chance.<br />
ing from the store fronts to the street.<br />
But few if any of them ever got a glimpse<br />
of the celebrities that showed up for what<br />
must have been the largest-ever gathering of<br />
Hollywood notables for a star planting. Sidney<br />
Poitier, Jackie Cooper, Marsha Hunt,<br />
Brock Peters, Henry Wilcoxon, Paul Robeson<br />
Jr.. Mayor Tom Bradley, State Senator<br />
Diane Watson, City Councilwoman Peggy<br />
Stevenson plus a handful of television performers<br />
were all on hand.<br />
Reverse Thinking<br />
But reverse thinking on somebody's part<br />
had all the celebrities delivering their<br />
speeches to the bald store fronts and to the<br />
commemorative star. With their backs to the<br />
fuming fans, the speakers extolled the memory<br />
of the great actor, singer, lawyer, athlete,<br />
author and humanitarian.<br />
Getting the full impact of their remarks<br />
were the mass of television cameramen and<br />
news photographers who jammed around the<br />
speakers' platform, completely cutting off<br />
the view of the few spectators who could<br />
see the stand. The vast majority of fans<br />
could only shout "Louder!" in frustration.<br />
because loud-speakers were aimed at the<br />
buildings and not the crowd.<br />
A Crowded Shambles<br />
The actual unveiling of the star turned<br />
into a crowded shambles as the photographers<br />
elbowed everyone out of the way to get<br />
a closeup of Robeson's name.<br />
Marsha Hunt, who recalled her friendship<br />
with the singer, expre.ssed pleasure that his<br />
star was placed next to the one honoring<br />
her. "I'm proud he is a next-door neighbor,"<br />
she said. But the jam of photographers<br />
pushed her away and she never saw her<br />
"neighbor" in the light of day.<br />
Wilcoxon. elbowed away by the camera<br />
bearers, stood disconsolately on the platform<br />
from which hardly anyone had heard him<br />
speak. He finally worked his way through<br />
the crowd to the unveiling site, but too late<br />
to see the star emerge from its covering.<br />
Jackie Cooper, who had protested an<br />
earlier decision not to<br />
grant Robeson a star,<br />
declared that "Today is a great day for<br />
actors and a great day for all Americans."<br />
Mayor Bradley congratulated the many at<br />
the ceremony who had "fought to have his<br />
W-2<br />
star placed in the Walk of Fame," and lauded<br />
Robeson as "a great humanitarian, a<br />
fighter for human justice and a fighter for<br />
peace."<br />
Hollywood<br />
Happenings<br />
JJANSON & SCHWAM has been signed<br />
by producers Blake Edwards and Tony<br />
Adams as international publicity, promotion<br />
and advertising consultants on Edwards'<br />
new picture<br />
"10" for Orion Pictures.<br />
*<br />
Joan Tewkesbury and producer<br />
Director<br />
Michele Rappaport are on an eight-city tour<br />
ballyhooing Avco Embassy's "Old Boyfriend."<br />
Their tour will take them to Washington.<br />
D.C., Baltimore, Boston, Detroit,<br />
Chicago, St.<br />
Louis. Seattle and San Francis-<br />
Phyllis Stewart and Phyllis Quinn were<br />
talent bookers for the sixth annual "Spring<br />
Spectacular" telethon of Variety Club Tent<br />
25 hosted by Monty Hall and telecast from<br />
the ABC Entertainment Center beginning<br />
at 10 p.m. April 28.<br />
•<br />
Writer M'ichael Blankfort moderated a<br />
panel consisting of screenwriters Fay Kanin,<br />
Wendell Mays^and Oliver Stone in an informal<br />
discussion with screenwriter Richard<br />
Brooks when he was the featured speaker<br />
at the fourth annual Marvin Borowsky Memorial<br />
Lecture in Writing for the Screen<br />
April 23 at the Academy of Motion Pictrre<br />
Arts and Sciences.<br />
•<br />
Producer-director Lawrence Foldes has<br />
been named acting chairman of the membership<br />
committee of the Academy of Science<br />
Fiction. Fantasy and Horror Films.<br />
*<br />
Edward Shaw Productions has completed<br />
post-production on "Blood and Guns," starring<br />
Orson Welles and Thomas Milian in a<br />
turn-of-the-century action-adventure feature<br />
dealing with the Mexican revolution. The<br />
film was made in Spain and Italy. Movie<br />
Time Films will distribute the feature.<br />
George Hamilton won the 1979 Mrs. Ann<br />
Radcliffe Cinema Award of the Count Dracula<br />
Society for his appearance in American<br />
International's "Love at First Bite." Christopher<br />
Lee won a special cinema award lor<br />
his lifetime career.<br />
PORTLAND<br />
a bill to outlaw blind bidding has been<br />
passed by Oregon's House of Representatives<br />
and comes to a Senate vote this<br />
month. Ted Mahar, film critic for the Oreeonian,<br />
devoted his April 15 column to the<br />
problems faced by Portland's two major<br />
first-run theatre companies. Luxury The-<br />
Hundreds of fans showed up for the dedication<br />
Senator Watson delivered a state senate<br />
owned by Tom Moyer, and Favorite<br />
atres,<br />
of a star to the late, great Paul Robe-<br />
resolution marking the occasion and an-<br />
Theatres, owned by Larry Moyer, Tom's<br />
son on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of nounced that the senate had proclaimed the<br />
brother.<br />
Fame, but the only ones able to see the day as Paul Robeson Day in California.<br />
Mahar suggests that the elimination of<br />
ceremony and hear the speeches were the Councilwoman Stevenson also presented a<br />
blind bidding will bring about "the removal<br />
photographers and TV cameramen.<br />
city council resolution, and Sidney Poitier<br />
an of onerous element of gambling." He<br />
knew<br />
that a faster turnover of films will<br />
hundreds of spectators crowding into the him. I loved him and I miss him all the days<br />
occur "if a theatre doesn't have to play a<br />
The ceremony took place April 9 with<br />
writes told the few who could hear that "I<br />
area. Police roped off two lanes of the street of my life."<br />
loser for 12 weeks to fulfill a contract." If<br />
the bill .passes, Oregon will be one of a<br />
accommodate the people who made a<br />
to<br />
huge U-shaped mass of spectators, extend-<br />
dozen states to forbid blind bidding.<br />
Portland's Third International Film Festival<br />
ended in early April with the Movie<br />
House, a co-sponsor of the Festival, "just<br />
about breaking even," according to manager<br />
Robert Bogue. About half of the films<br />
were shown at the Movie House and half<br />
at the Northwest Film Study Center. "We're<br />
very happy with it, but next year I think<br />
we'll have more comedy and lighter films,"<br />
said Bogue. "We had a few many serious<br />
films this year."<br />
Portland has a new neighborhood newspaper,<br />
published by the people who run<br />
the Clinton Street Theatre, where re-runs<br />
are played at the lowest cost in Portland<br />
(recently raised to $1.50), and where no<br />
one expects to make a profit. The paper,<br />
titled The Clinton St. Quarterly, is free.<br />
Much of its first issue, spring 1979, is devoted<br />
to praising small neighborhood enterprises<br />
and condemming industrial and<br />
real estate development that is harmful to<br />
neighborhoods.<br />
The sixth issue of Luxury Theatre's newsletter<br />
"Showbiz" came out as a special,<br />
news-filled Easter issue. News tidbits include:<br />
Dave Wood, manager of the Eastgate<br />
Tri-Plex, won the concession contest and<br />
a trip to Hawaii, with Martin Jones, South<br />
Salem Drive-In manager, winning second,<br />
and a tie between Gayla Prout, Gresham<br />
Quad, and Bud McKay, of the Coeur<br />
D'Alene, Idaho Tri-Plex, for third place.<br />
Jerry Lewis, former Foster Road Drive-In<br />
manager, has been transferred to the main<br />
office as building superintendent; Don Farrar,<br />
from Commonwealth Theatres in the<br />
Midwest, has joined Luxury Theatres as<br />
film booker for Idaho and Washington. The<br />
Everett is now tri-plex and the Crossroads<br />
in Bellcviie is a quad; new managers include<br />
Lowell Wheller at the Hazel Dell, Walt<br />
Reed at the Everett, Steve Guffey at the<br />
Foster Road Drive-In, Vince Redman at the<br />
Village, Carol Bettin at the Irvington, Claus<br />
Kryck at the Town, Virgil Tolcr at the<br />
North End Eugene and Lynn Moore at the<br />
Motor Vue.<br />
Alan Arkin heads the cast of "Simon," a<br />
Think Tank Productions comedy about life<br />
in relation to computers.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30. 1979
;<br />
Napa<br />
1 virtually<br />
i<br />
Niro,<br />
'<br />
j<br />
John<br />
Olds and John Coombs were hon-<br />
by a jam-packed roomful of friends<br />
at farewell party at Orontes April 19. Both<br />
have taken new jobs in the Los Angeles<br />
j<br />
ored<br />
DENVER<br />
T arry and Laiiie Allen together with Boyd<br />
Scott of Allen Theatres in Farmington,<br />
N.W., were in town to visit with distributors<br />
and to confer with Sam Duncvitz of Exhibitors<br />
Booking Service, who handles the<br />
buying and booking foi the account.<br />
forthcoming releases. Guest speaker for the<br />
day was Bill O'Reilly, who is the film critic<br />
for Channel 7. John Roberts has been elected<br />
president of the association and will be<br />
taking over the reins effective July 1.<br />
James Whiteside, assistant general sales<br />
manager of American Internation, and Tom<br />
Philibin, district manager, were in town to<br />
cunfer with Lew Kolocheski and to call on<br />
iliL- circuit accounts.<br />
Stan Dewsnup has taken over the operation<br />
of the Century Theatre and Arrow<br />
Driven-In, Lamar. Colo., from former owner<br />
Dan Wolfenbarger. Bob Spahn of United<br />
Enterprises will handle the buying and booking<br />
for the new acquisitions. Dewsnup also<br />
operates theatres in Delta, Montrose and<br />
Craig, Colo., and also in Price. Utah.<br />
Columbia division manager Sheila De-<br />
Loach was in town conferring with branch<br />
manager Ken Newbert and branch personnel.<br />
Columbia screened the action-packed<br />
Bruce Lee picture "Game of Death" at the<br />
Century screening room.<br />
Patty Marks, branch manager for Mid<br />
America Releasing, has prepared a new release<br />
schedule listing all of the product<br />
available from her organization and is soliciting<br />
the outlying accounts through the<br />
mail<br />
service.<br />
weekend was a boxoffice dud. So was the<br />
opening week of "Hurricane."<br />
Bob Vallone has accepted the position of<br />
assistant to the general manager at UATC.<br />
Jim Gallagher Jr. takes his place as district<br />
manager of Monterey-Santa Cruz theatres.<br />
All UATC district managers for the Western<br />
states attended a meeting at the chain's<br />
Golden Gate Avenue headquarters April<br />
24-25.<br />
The regular monthly luncheon of the<br />
Rocky Mountain Motion Picture Assn. was<br />
held the Broker Restaurant. It was designated<br />
The Warfield Theatre was closed temporarily<br />
April 19 for renovations to stage<br />
its<br />
as United Artists day at<br />
and John facilities. The theatre reopens May 4 with<br />
Dobson and Ronnie Giseburt of United the showing of United Film Distributor's<br />
Artists showed trailers and discussed their "Dawn of the Dead."<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
^he social event of the season was Francis<br />
\\<br />
Coppola's 40th birthday celebration in<br />
Valley. Among the 1,500 guests were<br />
a Who's Who of various aspects<br />
of the film industry including Robert De<br />
George Lucas, Alan Ladd Jr. (distri-<br />
bution) and Gary Meyer (exhibition).<br />
area.<br />
Art Silver has been named vice president<br />
for domestic operations, publicity and public<br />
relations for Dennis Davidson and Associates.<br />
The international firm has recently<br />
expanded its operations to the United States<br />
opening offices in Beverly Hills. Presently<br />
Silver will be handling "All Quiet on the<br />
Western Front," the new Nicholas Roeg<br />
film "Illusions" with Art Garfunkle and<br />
all activities of The Who including "The<br />
Kids Are Alright," which New World will<br />
distribute.<br />
Kortozion Urges Support<br />
Of Youth Work Programs<br />
SAN FRANCISCO — Theatre operators<br />
in the state are being urged to get behind<br />
student work experience programs, not only<br />
to maintain but also to expand the opportunities<br />
for youths to enter the job market<br />
in their first work experience opportunities.<br />
Hiring of students<br />
was urged by William<br />
F. Kartozian, chairman of the board of the<br />
Theatre Assn. of California. In a letter to<br />
all association members, Kartozian pointed<br />
out that the theatie industry relies extensively<br />
on the work experience programs conducted<br />
by school districts with the aid of<br />
the California State Department of Education.<br />
Kartozian pointed out that such programs<br />
"have proven to be of great benefit<br />
to employers and students." He expressed<br />
concern over "the growing number of problems<br />
in maintaining these programs at sufficient<br />
strength to satisfy the needs of all<br />
students who wish to<br />
participate."<br />
FIRST RUN<br />
REPORT<br />
San<br />
Francisco<br />
(Average weekly grosses follow theatre)<br />
The Bell Jar (Avco), Surf (3,300).<br />
3rd wk $ 4,029<br />
Boulevard Nights (WB), Geneva (5,400),<br />
4th wk 3,193<br />
Brutal Justice (Aquarius), St. Francis I<br />
(5,200), 1st wk 2,507<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ),<br />
3rd wk.<br />
Coliseum (7,400) 4,408<br />
UA Stonestown 1 (4,040) 6,606<br />
St. Francis 2 (5,200) 6.585<br />
Geneva 2 (5,400) 1.481<br />
The Champ (MGM-UA), Metro 1<br />
(10.200). 2nd wk 6.838<br />
The China Syndrome (Col) Coronet<br />
(14.900). 5th wk 31.645<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Alexandria 1<br />
(10,800), 8th wk 26,485<br />
Despair (New Line), Lumiere (3,850).<br />
4th wk 5.283<br />
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs<br />
(New Line). Clay (4.100).<br />
10th wk 7.589<br />
Hair (UA), Regency I (9,600),<br />
3rd wk 15,208<br />
Hurricane (Para), Royal (9,960)<br />
1st wk 16.608<br />
The Last Wave (World Northal). Bridge<br />
(4,200), 4th wk 8,014<br />
Love at First Bite (AIP), 2nd wk.<br />
Alexandria 3 (4,500) 7,987<br />
Metro 2 (2,700) 3.313<br />
Geneva 3 (5,400) 3,437<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox), Plaza 1 (6,200),<br />
6th wk 3,810<br />
Phantasm (Avco), 3rd wk.<br />
Balboa 1 (4,200) 2,624<br />
Warfield (13,500) 9,286<br />
The Promise (Univ), UA Stonestown II<br />
(4,050), 2nd wk 4,812<br />
Real Life (Para), Ghirardelli (6,000),<br />
3rd wk 3,498<br />
Same Time. Next Year (Univ),<br />
Cinema 21 (8,600), 10th wk. ... 5,824<br />
Wifemistress (Quartet), Stage Door<br />
(4,600), 4th wk 6,958<br />
Bill Lanese Advertising celebrated its first<br />
anniversary April 27 with cocktails and<br />
open house at its offices at 605 Market St.<br />
A saturation booking of Paramounfs 'Up<br />
in Smoke" for midnight showings Easter<br />
BOXOmCE :: April 30, 1979<br />
W-3
iHlllilHMI<br />
TUCSON<br />
Tucson Film Commission is conducting a<br />
Film Location Scouts contest in whicli<br />
Tucson citizenry will submit their favorite<br />
shooting locations for $150 first, $100 second<br />
and $50 third prizes. Contest concludes<br />
May 1; awards by May 15.<br />
Projectionists at Syufy's Tucson 5 Drivein<br />
are engaged in a struggle with Syufy Enterprises<br />
of San Francisco, theatre owner,<br />
over automation. Modern equipment is the<br />
reason, says Syufy, for cutting down projectionists'<br />
hours and hiring of non-union<br />
employees for less than prevailing wage<br />
rate. Projectionist Local 415, affiliated with<br />
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage<br />
Employees, fears a similar situation for its<br />
63 members if Syufy wins the struggle.<br />
Syufy claims that only a few minutes are<br />
now needed for a projectionist to rethread,<br />
and denies charge it is profiting from the<br />
saving. Projectionists (two at Tucson 5 involved)<br />
also allege that show quality suffers<br />
from inexperienced employees.<br />
Films for teens were included at Columbia<br />
branch in Tuson Public Library's programs<br />
during April and the first part of<br />
May.<br />
PETERSON<br />
THEATRE<br />
SUPPLY<br />
455 Bearcat Drive<br />
Times Square Pork<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115<br />
801-466-7642<br />
nual fund-raising "Day at the Races" April<br />
22 at Hollywood Park, with a special race<br />
named after the organization. The group<br />
held its regular monthly meeting April 17<br />
at the Smoke House in Toluca Lake with<br />
self-hypnosis expert Nancy Spicer as the<br />
guest speaker.<br />
Billy Wilder's "Fedora," a United Artists<br />
release, opened in Los Angeles at Mann's<br />
Westwood Theatre April 20. The film stars<br />
William Holden, Marthe Keller and Jose<br />
Ferrer.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY<br />
Qal Elertson, manager of the Center Iheatre,<br />
has begun a policy of providing<br />
live entertainment from area high schools<br />
Saturday evenings before the film begins.<br />
Stage performances last approximately 30<br />
to 45 minutes before the 8 p.m. showtime.<br />
The Hyatt Hotel has contracted with<br />
United Artists for a sixplex theatre to be<br />
constructed as part of a $39-million building<br />
in downtown Salt Lake.<br />
Talking Pictures has just completed postproduotion<br />
on its feature "Savage Water."<br />
Western; Cine Laboratories in Denver will<br />
process the 35mm prints.<br />
Debut of 'Shroud' Aids<br />
Orthodox Church Fund<br />
Don Dodds (left), manager of the<br />
Cine Capri Theatre, talks with Socrates<br />
Ballis, producer of Andros Films'<br />
"Mystery of the Sacred Shroud."<br />
PHOENIX—About 600 guests gathered<br />
at Plitt's Cini Capri Theatre in Phoenix for<br />
a recent benefit filming of "Mystery of the<br />
Sacred Shroud" for Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox<br />
Church, with a champagne reception<br />
following.<br />
The Shroud, the controversial burial cloth<br />
of Jesus Christ, was recently exhibited in<br />
Turin, Italy, and for the first time the Roman<br />
Catholic Church permitted a production<br />
Talking Pictures has just purchased Western<br />
International Pictures to handle domes-<br />
Termed "Christeindom's most holy relic"<br />
company to film the holy relic.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
tic and foreign distribution of its product. by the late Pope Paul VI. the sacred shroud<br />
"^he Sweet Creek County War" has been<br />
All past and future projects will be released has been accorded approval by many worldwide<br />
theologians and scientists who believe<br />
under Western's bainoier.<br />
named one of the three finalists in the<br />
its images to be unmistakably those of<br />
Western Writers of American Golden Spur<br />
E. W. "Bud" Willoughby, Salt Lake police<br />
chief, says filmmaking downtown costs correspond directly to the scriptures in sup-<br />
Christ. Currently collected data appear to<br />
awards competition. J. Frank James, author<br />
of the screenplay, will be honored with the<br />
the city "nothing," since film crews must port of its authenticity.<br />
other two finalists at the Hilton Hotel in<br />
provide<br />
THEATRE—<br />
their own police officers. "Whatever "Mystery of the Sacred Shroud" is an<br />
Boulder, Colo., June 26.<br />
costs are incurred, the producers have to Andros Films production narrated by Richard<br />
Burton. The film is the recipient of the<br />
Mel Brooks' 'Blazing Saddles," now in cover," he says. "That includes the loss of<br />
rerelease by Warner Bros., opened in a revenue to parking meters which are Film Advisory Board's "Award of Excellence."<br />
multiple Los Angeles run at 51 theatres including<br />
Mann's Westwood and the Pix in<br />
blocked off."<br />
Hollywood.<br />
Girls Friday of Showbusiness held its an-<br />
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BOXOFTICE :: April 30, 1979
. . . "Coming<br />
, . . "The<br />
. . . "The<br />
. . "The<br />
. . Toco<br />
. . "The<br />
. . "Hair."<br />
MIAMI<br />
Hunter Todd, former Atlanta filmmaker<br />
J<br />
who directed the first Greater Miami<br />
International Film Festival in November,<br />
resigned recently as the festival's executive<br />
director. Todd said he planned to resume<br />
a career of motion picture production, distribution<br />
and marketing. The announcement<br />
came after weeks of speculation that festival<br />
directors—dismayed by a $150,000 debt resulting<br />
from the first festival—would fire<br />
him. Stephen Quade, chairman of the festival<br />
board, said that the festival's backers<br />
"truly regret the loss of Mr. Todd's experience<br />
and expertise." Quade said there would<br />
be a festival this year directed by John<br />
Baratte. No budget or date has been set.<br />
EMC Film Corp.. a Miami-based independent<br />
national distributor, has joined with<br />
the producers of the "The Silent Partner"<br />
for its release in the United States. M.A.<br />
Ripps, president of EMC, said that "the<br />
joint venture will allow the producer of the<br />
film to walk away with all the profits out<br />
of the distribution of the film which are<br />
ordinarily eaten up by major companies'<br />
overhead." "Silent Partner" is an independently<br />
produced film that won six Canadian<br />
Film Awards this year, including<br />
Best Feature Film.<br />
Charles Rogers, manager of the Miracle<br />
Theatre in Coral Gables, has been cited for<br />
performing "miracles." He has sold ten<br />
weeks of Merchants Shows featuring free<br />
first-run films. The campaign is designed to<br />
increase sales in the Coral Gables area.<br />
A different merchant sponsors the showing<br />
each week.<br />
Filmmaker Jerry Lewis completed the<br />
shooting of his film "Hardly Working"<br />
throughout the greater Miami area and has<br />
announced he will shoot two more films in<br />
the area. Shooting will begin in July on<br />
"That's Life," described as a senior citizens'<br />
"Animal House." The other film is to be<br />
a sequel to "Hardly Working."<br />
"Hurricane." a film that was four years<br />
in the making, opened April 12 in south<br />
Florida theatres.<br />
New Wave Productions, a film collective,<br />
came to Miami recently to film scenes in<br />
the Art Deco district. The group is nonprofit<br />
plans to use the and Deco footage<br />
to obtain more funding grants. The film will<br />
be called "The Art Deco District" and will<br />
help them promote the arts.<br />
ATLANTA<br />
Employees at 20th Century-Fox gave<br />
branch manager Dan Coursey a retirement<br />
party at the Century Center Hotel<br />
which was attended by friends and associates.<br />
Kip Smiley, an official of the Georgia<br />
Theatre Co. and longtime friend, also gave<br />
a goodbye party for Coursey. Patrick L.<br />
Pade, who was assistant to Coursey for<br />
about a year, was his successor. Pade resigned<br />
from the company at the end of<br />
March and moved to Los Angeles, where<br />
he went to work for Far West Pictures.<br />
Pade's successor, Luis Benavides, the St.<br />
Louis branch manager, took over the Atlanta<br />
branch in<br />
early April.<br />
The WOMPI chapter lecently held a<br />
Tupperware party at the Georgia Theatre<br />
Co.'s conference room. The members also<br />
assisted the Atlanta Variety Club in raising<br />
more than $100,000 for the club's charities.<br />
The annual Meet and Greet Party was held<br />
at Films Incorporated Screening and the<br />
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members signed up quite a few new members.<br />
.<br />
. . .<br />
Marquee changes: "California Dreaming."<br />
Mableton Triple, Town & Country<br />
Twin, Westgate Triple and North 85 Twin<br />
Drive-In. South Expressway D-I and South<br />
Expressway Drive-In Akers<br />
Mill and Loew's Tara "Blazing Saddles,"<br />
started recently at multiple theatres<br />
Home," AMC Tower Place<br />
6, North DeKalb Twin, and Greenbriar<br />
Mall Twin . Hill, (99 cents), "Moment<br />
by Moment" . . . Rialto, "The Watts<br />
Monster" . . . Phipps Plaza, "The Exorcist"<br />
Champ," Cobb Center Four. Lenox<br />
Square, National Four and Perimeter<br />
Mall .<br />
Passage," Cobb Cinema,<br />
Loew's 12 Oaks Twin and South DeKalb<br />
Mall Quad Psychic," South De-<br />
.<br />
Kalb Mall Quad, Suburban Plaza Twin,<br />
Parkaire Mall Twin and Westgate Triple<br />
Bell Jar." Cinema 75. North<br />
DeKalb Twin and Rhodes.<br />
Wometco Isl Quarter<br />
Earnings Up 40 Cents<br />
NEW YORK—Wometco Enterprises<br />
Inc. has estimated that first-quarter primary<br />
per share earnings should reach approximately<br />
40 cents, a 21 percent increase over<br />
the record 33 cents earned in the comparable<br />
period of 1978.<br />
Addressing a financial meeting in New<br />
York City. Wometco executive vice-president<br />
Richard F. Wolfson said net income<br />
will be about $3.4 million, compared to<br />
$2.8 million last year. This includes an after-tax<br />
gain of $130,000, or 1.5 cents per<br />
share, from the sale during the quarter of<br />
Wometco's wax museum operation in<br />
France.<br />
Revenues in the quarter will reach approximately<br />
$64 million, a 14 percent increate<br />
from the $56.1 million in the firstquarter<br />
of 1978.<br />
Wometco also announced that it has sold<br />
a drive-in theatre in Puerto Rico that will<br />
add 4 cents a share to company earnings<br />
in the second quarter. This is in addition<br />
to the 7 cents a share in the second quarter<br />
from the sale of Wometco's minority interest<br />
in the Norfolk Coca-Cola Bottling<br />
Co., previously announced.<br />
Additionally, Wometco reported it has<br />
sold its domestic bottled water division,<br />
whose plants in Miami and West Palm<br />
Beach produce Aquaroyal water. The selling<br />
price was not announced; however, the<br />
company noted that the sale price was approximately<br />
at the carrying price of the<br />
business.<br />
Sale of the drive-in theatre and water<br />
business follows Wometco's intention of divesting<br />
of those businesses that do not meet<br />
the company's growth policy.<br />
Miami-based Wometco Enterprises has<br />
primary leisure-time business interest in<br />
television broadcasting, subscription TV/<br />
CATV. Coca-Cola bottling, automatic vending<br />
and entertainment. Company shares are<br />
traded on the New York Stock Exchange<br />
(symbol WOM).<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979
,<br />
year<br />
1<br />
showing<br />
:<br />
makes<br />
'<br />
tiis<br />
; interest<br />
HOUSTON<br />
Ctan Waterman, prize-winning underwater<br />
photographer, presented a free lecture<br />
and film at the University of Houston at<br />
Clear Lake City recently. Waterman directed<br />
the underwater photography for the<br />
movie "The Deep." has won the Jacques<br />
Cousteau Award as diver of the year and<br />
was named underwater photographer of the<br />
at the International Underwater Film<br />
Festival.<br />
Brooke Shields was in Houston for the<br />
of "Tilt" recently. She will also be<br />
seen in two films yet to be released: "Wanda<br />
Nevada" and "Just You and Me, Kid."<br />
"Tilt" is her second film since making her<br />
debut in "Pretty Baby."<br />
;<br />
Dayton Ka'ne, the young Hawaiian who<br />
his acting debut in "Hurricane" currently<br />
at the Meyerland 3, Guifgate 2,<br />
Northline 2, Greenspoint 5, Baybrook Mall<br />
4, Loews Saks 2 and Loews Town & Country<br />
3, was in town to promote the film. His<br />
next role will be in another Dino De Laurenfilm,<br />
"Shark Boy of Bora Bora."<br />
the Museum of Fine Arts ... At the Rice<br />
Media Center films booked included "Last<br />
Year at Matienbad," "Gizimo," Disney's<br />
"Light in the Forest," "On the Waterfront,"<br />
"L'Aventura," "Blue Collar," "The Point,"<br />
"Little<br />
Big Man" and "In Cold Blood."<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
gen Perso, manager of the Central Fox 3,<br />
operated by Santikos Theatres Inc., reports<br />
that the marquee of the theatre fell<br />
when a support cable snapped. The mishap<br />
caused about $25,(K)0 damage to the sign.<br />
No one was injured, although two ushers<br />
attempting to chawge the sign had the daylights<br />
scared out of them.<br />
Auditions are to be held in San Antonio,<br />
as well as in other Texas cities for two films.<br />
One is for a youngster to play Michael<br />
Caine's son in "The Island," an adventure<br />
film to be shot this summer. The Universal<br />
Pictures film will be directed by Michael<br />
Ritchie and based on the soon-to-bc-published<br />
novel by Peter Benchley. And a girl,<br />
ten to 12 years of age, is being sought for<br />
the starring role in "The White Lions," a<br />
G-rated movie starring Michael York which<br />
will be filmed in Dallas.<br />
"<br />
Marquee changes: "The Champ at Century<br />
South and Plitt Southern Wonder;<br />
"Firepower"; "The Promise," and the X-<br />
rated, controversial film "Debbie Docs Dallas"<br />
at the Fredericksburg Road and Lackland<br />
Drive-In theatres.<br />
Specially Designed for Drive-In Theatres<br />
Eric Gerber in his review of "A Perfect<br />
Couple," said that it was a "kind of etude for<br />
Robert Altman— a slight piece to practice<br />
his ability to tell a simple lighthearted story<br />
after his recent devotion to profundity<br />
(Quintet, Three Women) and social sprawl<br />
(Nashville, A Wedding). Those who complain<br />
about Altman's esoteric and eccentric<br />
approach to moviemaking should find this<br />
romantic comedy about a mismatched<br />
couple much more accessible—which is not<br />
to say this is a good film." Gerber said that<br />
the rock group seen in the film produced<br />
music that wasn't anything special and that<br />
the film suffered accordingly. Gerber also<br />
said that "Tilt" was "Rudy Durand's first<br />
time to direct and that it showed. This story<br />
of a girl pinball whiz is an ungainly and<br />
awkwardly staged film with dark, brooding<br />
photography and long melodramatic takes<br />
that, on the whole, are embarrassingly inappropriate<br />
for the casual nature of such<br />
material. About the only thing of possible<br />
is Charles Durning's scenery-chewing<br />
portrayal of 'Whale,' an obese bar<br />
owner. Durand used a sound track of original<br />
rock tunes and slapped it onto the film<br />
rather helter-skelter. More often than not,<br />
the music is not in tune with the dramatic<br />
thrus' of the scene and comes across as a<br />
radio somebody is playing too loudly and<br />
at the wrong time."<br />
Local marquee changes: "Glove," "Great<br />
American Cha.se," "Hurricane," "Servant<br />
and Mistress," "Tilt," "Love at First Bite,"<br />
"Hometown, U.S.A.," "Once in Paris," "A<br />
Star Is Born" with Judy Garland plus<br />
"Auntie Mame," "Median" with Maria Callas,<br />
the double bill of "Cat and Mouse" and<br />
"Dear Inspector," "Watership Down," "Animal<br />
Farm," "Never on Sunday" and "Mustang."<br />
Special film showings included "Winifred<br />
Wagner" and "Jonathan," a 1970 vampire<br />
tale from Germany in Brown Auditorium of<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979<br />
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JACKSONVILLE<br />
^he Florida Times Union, Jacksonville<br />
Journal and Jacksonville theatres held<br />
their annual Academy Awards contest with<br />
five first prize winners to receive an annual<br />
guest pass for two to one of the Jacksonville<br />
theatre circuits. Five second prize winners<br />
will win six-month passes and five third<br />
prize winners will receive three-month<br />
passes. Winners will be announced later.<br />
Recent tradescreenings held in the AMC<br />
screening room have been "Walk Proud."<br />
"Boulevard Nights," "The Senator," "Acting<br />
Out," "Game of Death" and a slide<br />
presentation on "The Alien."<br />
New films opening around the area are<br />
"The Bell Jar," "The Champ," "A Perfect<br />
Couple," "The Promise," "Malibu High"<br />
and dauhic "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."<br />
Joe Kennedy, Southern division manager<br />
for United Artists, Walter Johnson, UA<br />
branch manager, and Larry Terrell. UA<br />
PICS<br />
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salesman, attended a UA sales meeting in<br />
Ft. Lauderdale March 19-23. It was reportedly<br />
a very upbeat meeting, with Eastern<br />
division and home office officials in attendance.<br />
United Artists" latest product reel<br />
was screened and enthusiastically received.<br />
Charles Jones, Southern division manager<br />
for 20th Century-Fox, attended a sales<br />
meeting in St. Louis April 5-7 where a<br />
screening of "Alien" was presented. The<br />
screening was met with great anticipation<br />
among those attending.<br />
PALM BEACH<br />
^Turder by Decree," Avco Embassy, showing<br />
locally at Cross County 8, was reviewed<br />
by Bob Michals of the Palm Beach<br />
Post. According to Michals, "John Hopkin's<br />
screenplay offers a refreshing mew slant to<br />
the famed detective and his noble companion<br />
Watson, which more than compensates<br />
for any over-fictionalization of the Ripper<br />
legend. Christopher Plummer, the 27th in<br />
an incredibly distinguished line of actors to<br />
attempt the part, is by far the most appealing."<br />
George Peppard, currently being seen in<br />
his film "Five Days From Home," was here<br />
at the Breakers Hotel discussing his plans<br />
for two new pictures he will produce, "Gambler's<br />
Luck" and "White Tiger." Peppard<br />
recently completed work on "From Hell to<br />
Victory."<br />
Cross County 8, American Multi Cinema's<br />
first eightplex, is still awaiting the<br />
opening of the marny stores in the new Cross<br />
County Mall. Located on the corner of Military<br />
Trail and Okeechobee Blvd., the theatre<br />
houses a total of 2.128 seats, boasts one of<br />
the largest concession stands in the state of<br />
Florida and the latest in Christie equipment.<br />
The eight screens are also equipped to be<br />
operated from four booths. Attending the<br />
recent opening of the theatre were Tom<br />
Velde and Jay Shapiro of Kansas City;<br />
Wayne Clark, manager of Century Advertising<br />
in St. Petersburg; Don Knight, Southeast<br />
division operations manager, and his<br />
assistant, Noel Kendall, both of St. Petersburg;<br />
and Ron Eiben, south Florida district<br />
manager. Ft. Lauderdale. Dick Westerling<br />
is the manager of the Cross County 8.<br />
Sally Field, star of "Norma Rae," which<br />
is currently being seen at Century Cinema,<br />
Twin City Cinema and Delray Square and,<br />
according to the theatres' managers, is more<br />
than holding its own. has been performing<br />
in "The Rainmaker" in the area for several<br />
weeks. Ralph Bluemke. entertainment editor,<br />
wrote of "Norma Rae." "A great deal<br />
deserves to be said for Sally Field, the moppet-faced<br />
actress who comes into full bloom<br />
in the title role in this film. 'Norma Rae'<br />
is a most welcome movie about the triumph<br />
of the human spirit amidst intolerable injustice.<br />
(Director Martin Ritt) has an ear and<br />
eye for atmospheric detail concerning life in<br />
the South."<br />
Four More Screens in Texas<br />
ARLINGTON, TEX.—A movie<br />
theatre<br />
will be developed on a two-and-a-half-aore<br />
site adjoining the Forum 303 Shopping Mall<br />
here by Alpert Corp., developer of Forum<br />
Mall, and American Multi Cinema, the<br />
Kansas City-based multi-cinema operations.<br />
Stan Durwood, president of American<br />
Multi Cinema, said the new movie theatre<br />
will contain six movie screens with the ability<br />
to accommodate 1,800 moviegoers. According<br />
to Durwood, construction of the<br />
theatre, which is estimated to cost approximately<br />
$1 million, should begin during the<br />
summer with planned opening in the summer<br />
of 1980.<br />
Alpert will lease the land and building to<br />
American Multi-Cinema, with Alpert Corp.<br />
acting as developer of the project. The new<br />
cinema is a part of a 120-acre planned development<br />
surrounding the Forum Shopping<br />
Center.<br />
2200 YOUNG STREET • DALLAS, TEXAS, 75201 • TELEPHONE 747-3191<br />
BOXOFFICE ;: April 30, 1979
(Average Is lOU)<br />
Chicago<br />
Agatha (WB). Water Tower, 7th wk.<br />
The Bell Jar (AE), Water Tower.<br />
Bruce Lee Fights Back From the<br />
Grave, 3 theatres, 1st wk<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ)<br />
14 theatres. 3rd wk<br />
The Champ (UA). 8 theatres,<br />
2nd wk<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), 1<br />
theatres, 5th wk<br />
Circle of Iron (AE), 7 theatres,<br />
2nd wk<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Esquire,<br />
6th wk<br />
Hair (UA), 10 theatres, 4th wk<br />
Hurricane (Para), 10 theatres,<br />
1st wk<br />
The Innocent (AN), Cinema,<br />
2nd wk<br />
Love at First Bite (AIP), 10 theatres,<br />
2nd wk<br />
Love on the Run (SR), Carnegie,<br />
1st wk<br />
A Perfect Couple (20th-Fox), 3 theatres.<br />
2nd wk<br />
The Real Bruce Lee (SR), 6 theatres . . .<br />
Superman (WB). 5 theatres. 17th wk. . .<br />
The Warriors (Para), 2 theatres,<br />
10th wk<br />
Wifemistress (SR), Carnegie,<br />
1st wk<br />
Kansas Cify<br />
Ashanti (WB), 3 theatres, 2nd wk 130<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
(Univ), 6 theatres, 3rd wk 220<br />
The Champ (UA), 3 theatres.<br />
2nd wk 190<br />
The China Syndrome (Col). 3 theatres,<br />
5th wk 225<br />
Days of Heaven (Para), Fine Arts,<br />
8th wk 155<br />
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),<br />
Metro North, Ranchmart, 17th<br />
wk 155<br />
Fast Break (Col), Brywood, 7th wk. ... 70<br />
Firepower (Associated Film), 3<br />
theatres, 2nd wk 95<br />
Hair (UA), Midland, Oak Park.<br />
3rd wk 110<br />
Hurricane (Para). 6 theatres, 1st wk. ... 100<br />
Love at First Bite (AI), 6 theatres,<br />
1st wk 355<br />
Murder by Decree (Avco), Embassy,<br />
4th wk 110<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fox), 3 theatres,<br />
5th wk 90<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars (BV).<br />
Blue Ridge, Ranchmart, 9th wk 135<br />
The Promise (Univ), 4 theatres,<br />
2nd wk 195<br />
Same Time, Next Year (Univ),<br />
Glenwood, 8th wk 130<br />
The Warriors (Para), Empire,<br />
10th wk. 65<br />
HRST RUN REPORT<br />
Minneapolis<br />
Agatha (WB), Park, 7th wk 80<br />
The Bell Jar (Avco), Skyway III,<br />
3rd wk 70<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
gud LeMaster, formerly assistant advertising<br />
coordinator with the Swope Advertising<br />
Agency, has joined the Midwest division<br />
of American Multi Cinema's advertising<br />
department. And the new receptionist<br />
at AMC is Donna Palatas. who is also<br />
new to Filmrow.<br />
Kim Stephan of Los Angeles recently<br />
joined the staff at the local Warner Bros,<br />
office as a clerk.<br />
'Phantasm" (A\ Embassy) opened<br />
April 20 at a number of theatres and is<br />
reported to be a super spooky movie.<br />
The WOMPIs held their April 17 meeting<br />
at Sue Hawiey's house. The business meeting<br />
followed entertainment. Mary Jane Silver<br />
announced the slate of the nominating<br />
committee. Their choices of officers for the<br />
new year are: president, Patty Poessiger;<br />
vice-president. Marge Herr; recording secretary,<br />
Maricllc Calon; corresponding secretary,<br />
Evelyn McCutcheon, and treasurer,<br />
Nancy Krandal. Installation of the new<br />
FILMACK IS<br />
1st CHOICE<br />
WITH<br />
SHOWMEN<br />
EVERYWHERE<br />
(Univ). 4 theatres. 3rd wk 135<br />
The Champ (MGM). 3<br />
officers will take place in June.<br />
theatres,<br />
2nd wk 215 The Variety Club Women Tent 8 held a<br />
The China Syndrome (Col), Cooper,<br />
Southdale, 5th wk 290<br />
luncheon meeting April 18 at the Women's<br />
City Club. A nominating committee for selection<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ). Mann,<br />
of officers was chosen for the new<br />
8th wk 210 year. The committee is composed of Mary<br />
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),<br />
Lightner, Bernice Powell. Kathy Joehnck,<br />
Northtown, Southdale, 17th wk 85 Ruby Meyers. Ruth Klein and Marielle<br />
The Great American Chase (WB),<br />
Calon. The installation luncheon will be held<br />
June 27 at the Alameda Plaza.<br />
3 theatres, 1st wk 90<br />
Hair (UA), Skyway II, 3rd wk 270<br />
Halloween (Compass), Brookdale East,<br />
Edina II, 11th wk 110<br />
Hurricane (Para), 3 theatres, 1st wk. ... . 120<br />
Murder by Decree (Avco), Apache,<br />
Hopkins, 7th wk 60<br />
Norma Rae (20th-Fo.\), Edina I.<br />
'Syndrome' Wriier Noi<br />
Surprised by Accident<br />
CHICAGO— "Everyone seemed astonished<br />
at the coincidence that the accident at<br />
5th wk 225<br />
The Perfect Couple (20th-Fox),<br />
Three Mile Island happened eleven days<br />
Hopkins, Yorktown, 2nd wk 30<br />
after the movie was released. But we were<br />
not."<br />
The Promise (Univ), Cooper Cameo,<br />
Movies at Burnsville, 2nd wk 125<br />
So declared Michael Grey, who wrote the<br />
Richard Pryor—Live in Concert<br />
screenplay for "The China Syndrome."<br />
(Bill<br />
Sargent), Skyway I, 2nd wk 380 Grey spoke to a group at the Oak Park-<br />
Superman (WB), Brookdale, Southtown,<br />
River Forest High School. Grey told his<br />
audience. "We knew the accident was going<br />
18th wk 245<br />
to happen. We knew it because of the meticulous<br />
research we had done over the<br />
years."<br />
Grey explained that he had gone to Three<br />
Mile Island on assignment for Rolling<br />
Stone magazine. He reported: "What we<br />
found when we got there was a confirmation<br />
of our worst fears. These plants are<br />
the products of some of our most brilliant<br />
engineers. The problem is. the whole thing<br />
is just too big. Knowing what we know<br />
about human beings, we know that it's just<br />
impossible not to have something that big<br />
without a mistake happening somewhere.<br />
"If an engineer makes a mistake on a<br />
new airplane, all you're going to do is kill<br />
the test pilot. But with nuclear plants, we're<br />
all test pilotsl"<br />
ORDER FROM FILMACK<br />
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FILMACK STUDIOS, INC.<br />
BOXOFFICE Apr MW-1
.<br />
CHICAGO<br />
L & M Amusement Co. is adding a second<br />
screen to the Starlite Drive-In in the<br />
Kankakee. III. area. This will give the circuit<br />
eleven drive-in screens and eight indoor<br />
screens.<br />
Following "Love on the Run," the current<br />
feature at the Biograph Theatre, there will<br />
be another exclusive first run presentation:<br />
"Thief of Bagdad" and "Four Feathers."<br />
This Korda Films reissue is handled<br />
through Kina International.<br />
Virgil Jones, head of International Picture<br />
Show Co. operations in this area, met up<br />
with two other company managers who were<br />
formerly in Chicago—Fred Bunkleman and<br />
John Pilmaier. International Pictures is arranging<br />
to bring two of its newest films to<br />
Chicagoland theatres—"The Visitor" and<br />
"Soldier of Orange." The latter named<br />
movie has. according to boxoffice figures,<br />
been playing to maximum business since its<br />
opening Jan. 5 at the Egyptian Theatre in<br />
Seattle. Wash.<br />
In announcing that a third screen will add<br />
to the Bel-Air activity June 8, Louis Marks<br />
of M & R Amusement Co. said. "With the<br />
good product coming along for the summer,<br />
there should be enough to support three<br />
screens in each of our properties." M & R<br />
had some months ago had third screens<br />
added to the Twin and Double outdoor<br />
theatres. Marks said when they started<br />
booking first runs two years ago. they discovered<br />
that business was doing equally<br />
well in drive-ins and indoor theatres. He<br />
added that this proved to be true despite<br />
the two- to three-mile distance between an<br />
outdoor and indoor theatre.<br />
Marks said. "Each theatre has a different<br />
type audience, but we have found that they<br />
all seem to appreciate the same kind of<br />
movie." The M & R measuring stick for<br />
determining what draws audience appeal:<br />
results in 12 drive-ins and ten indoor theatres.<br />
Marks advised that to date M & R<br />
has set up bookings for such films as United<br />
Artists' "Moonraker," Paramounl's "Escape<br />
From Alcatraz" and Columbia's "Nightswing."<br />
Rick Rice, head of Mid-America Releas-<br />
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ing Co.. said $60,000 has been put into the<br />
launching of "Silent Partner" via newspaper,<br />
radio and TV advertising. The film is<br />
opening here May 4.<br />
Even though Pat Riccardi is still in the<br />
midst of recovering from a recent heart attack,<br />
he continues to make certain that his<br />
Admiral Theatre is in tip-top condition. He<br />
has just had the lobby and lounges completely<br />
renovated.<br />
There appears to be a difference in<br />
opinion<br />
as to how a film should be advertised,<br />
according to the amusement pages in the<br />
Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-<br />
Times. While the Tribune accepted Oscar<br />
Brotman's ad for "Wifemistress," new film<br />
at the Near North Carnegie, it was stipulated<br />
that the listing could not include the<br />
full title; it had to be either "Wife ." . or<br />
". . . Mistress" so as not to offend those<br />
with delicate senses. The Sun-Times, however,<br />
carried the ad in full title, and it was<br />
apparently assumed that most grownups<br />
reading the complete title could handle the<br />
connotations—if any.<br />
The S. B. Greiver booking organization<br />
will on May I move from 32 W. Randolph<br />
St. to 203 No. Wabash Ave.. Chicago. 111.<br />
60601. The telephone number will remain<br />
the same: (312)236-2090.<br />
When Avco Embassy's "Phantasm" arrives<br />
in the Chicagoland area in May. it is<br />
hoped grosses will at least approximate the<br />
figures reported by Milwaukee area theatres.<br />
This first break showed $100,000 for<br />
the first week.<br />
Wm. Lange & Associates will be handling<br />
openings of "Nothing but the Night" for<br />
Alligator Films. Christopher Lee and Peter<br />
Cushing are the stars. Lange has arranged<br />
for a May 4 opening of "Dawn of the<br />
Dead," a United Film release which is a<br />
sequel to "Night of he Living Dead." With<br />
cult activities entering greater prominence<br />
these days. "Dawn" should provide some<br />
information for pondering. The film, also by<br />
George Romero, has been a winner in its<br />
first showings in Pittsburgh theatres.<br />
The Lange organization has placed "The<br />
Class of Miss McMichael" into 15 Chicago<br />
area theatres starting May 11. Included in<br />
the booking is the brand new Woodfield 3.<br />
American International has been working<br />
with Casablanca Records for the May 1<br />
opening of "California Dreaming." In a joint<br />
effort, the promotion gives listeners a record<br />
album featuring the film's music. AI<br />
staffers are rejoicing over boxoffice figures<br />
for "Love at First Bite," starring George<br />
Hamilton. Critics were far from generous<br />
in talking about this film and stars were<br />
minimal. But patron response, which puts<br />
money in the boxoffice coffers, has been<br />
big.<br />
Blanche Weiner has joined the growing<br />
office of Associated Film Distribution Corp.<br />
as secretary to Elliott Slutzky.<br />
Fihnmakers within the State of Illinois<br />
have until May 1 to submit the results of<br />
their efforts in the areas of animation,<br />
drama, documentary and experimental film<br />
production. A jury will make selections for<br />
prizes. On the basis of jury opinion, two<br />
top awards of $500 each will be made in<br />
the film competition.<br />
The Gateway Theatre, long operated by<br />
Plitt Theatres, Inc.. will close under current<br />
ownership. But it will continue to serve the<br />
neighborhood as a movie house. It has been<br />
purchased by the Polish National Alliance,<br />
and the Gateway will be operated as a Polish-language<br />
theatre.<br />
It was admitted, with regret, that business<br />
for "A Perfect Couple" did not make a<br />
splash in its introductory showing. But what<br />
promises to be effective promotion could<br />
brighten the film's prospects considerably.<br />
A contest with 12 trips to the Bahamas<br />
as prizes represents cooperative publicity<br />
action between Plitt Theatres, the Bahamas<br />
Tourist Bureau. A & P Tours of Skokie and<br />
the Osco Co. on behalf of "A Perfect<br />
Couple" exploitation.<br />
Jerry Bulger, Plitt advertising/ promotion<br />
manager, said the project provides some of<br />
the most extensive free advertising ever accorded<br />
in relation to a new film arrival.<br />
The contest is featured in 97 Osco stores.<br />
Osco has spent a minimum of $12,000 in<br />
point-of-purchase material, and. in addition<br />
to the no-cost advertising in food sections<br />
of the stores, there are cross plugging ads,<br />
also free, in the Chicago Tribune and the<br />
Chicago Sun-Times. A basic purpose of the<br />
contest is to find six of Chicagoland's "perfect<br />
couples."<br />
Jack Clark, acting on behalf of the newly<br />
organized Theatre Owners of Illinois, reminds<br />
exhibitors that a new Illinois blind<br />
bidding bill is being discussed by many of<br />
the<br />
leading circuit operators throughout the<br />
state. He expresses the opinion that a successful<br />
attempt in Illinois to pass legislation<br />
similar to Ohio's could probably do it for<br />
the country. He said. "It has been two years<br />
iince we passed the House and were dumped<br />
in a Senate committee."<br />
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Qon't tell me those Oscars don't make a<br />
difference!" It was Walt Badger. United<br />
Artists branch manager, talking. And he had<br />
just scanned the grosses posted by "Coming<br />
Home" in the wake of best-performer<br />
Academy Awards for the picture's co-stars,<br />
Jon Voight and Jane Fonda. Ticket action<br />
in both Minneapolis and St. Paul for "Coming<br />
Home" found it topping most of the<br />
first-run product—and Badger also pointed<br />
to Fargo. N.D., where grosses ballooned.<br />
"A month ago. it frankly would have been<br />
different to get a date for the picture."<br />
Badger said. "Now. I can hardly keep up<br />
with the calls!"<br />
Meanwhile, Universal branch manager<br />
Frank Zanotti echoed Badger's words regarding<br />
the awards. "The Deer Hunter"<br />
boxoffice action either held rock-firm or<br />
(in its augmented run) pushed upward.<br />
"There's simply no question about the impact<br />
of the awards on the moviegoing public."<br />
said Zanotti. "The ticket-buyers definitely<br />
respond to Oscar winners—and as best<br />
picture plus its other honors. 'Deer Hunter'<br />
is reaping that reward."<br />
Henry G. Plitt, president and chief executive<br />
officer of the Plitt theatre circuit, has<br />
been chosen Motion Picture Pioneer of the<br />
Year by the board of directors of the Foundation<br />
of the Motion Pictuie Pioneers.<br />
Foundation president B.V. Sturdivant announced<br />
that Plitt is to receive the award<br />
at the 41st Annual Motion Picture Pioneers<br />
Dinner to be held this fall. Plitt heads a<br />
circuit of more than 400 screens, is a muchdecorated<br />
veteran of World War II, is an<br />
enormously civic-minded individual and is<br />
active in many facets of the film industry.<br />
Earlier winners of the honor include Cecil<br />
B. DeMille. Adolph Zukor, Dairyl F.<br />
Zanuck, Jules Stein and many others.<br />
The Easter vacation period coincided this<br />
year with the Academy Awards, and that<br />
was a double plus for the prime winners<br />
"Coming Home" and "The Deer Hunter."<br />
Warner Bros.' "The Great American<br />
Chase," a collection of cartoons, was slotted<br />
for the school's-out period—and it performed<br />
very well at two outlying situations but<br />
came up short in its lone downtown date,<br />
the Academy Theatre. There's a growing<br />
feeling along Filmrow that downtown Minneapolis<br />
increasingly is unable to support<br />
most pictures on an exclusive basis. The<br />
exceptions seem to be action pictures and<br />
such items as the current smash, "Richard<br />
Pryor—Live in Concert."<br />
Pictures that jumped during the Easter<br />
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vacation period: "The Champ," "Hair" and<br />
"Superman."<br />
Warner Bros, branch boss Dick Malek set<br />
tv/o saturation campaigns. "Blazing Saddles"<br />
was slotted for an April 27 opening with<br />
15 screens in the Twin Cities—and 75 prints<br />
working across the entire territory. And<br />
"The Exorcist" is set for a May 25 spread<br />
with some 60 prints territorywide.<br />
"Hurricane" bowed in Minneapolis-St.<br />
Paul on Thursday, Apiil 12, because—it was<br />
reported—Producer Dino De Laurentiis is<br />
superstitious and didn't want his $22-million<br />
picture to open on a Friday the 13th. But it<br />
seems a black cat was already in waiting:<br />
"Hurricane" grosses were anything but<br />
lusty-gusty. Apparently the Paramount studio<br />
itself isn't superstitious: On its release sheet<br />
is "Meatballs"—done by the producers of<br />
•Animal House"—and it's set for a Friday,<br />
July<br />
13 break.<br />
The Paramount branch store here is now<br />
equipped with a computer terminal system<br />
and a New York team of equipment instructors<br />
came in April 26. All branch records<br />
will be stored in a computer data bank, and<br />
they can be called up via the local keyboard.<br />
They'd better be careful with the "erase"<br />
button!<br />
Filmrow visitors: Jeff Logan, Roxy Theatre,<br />
Mitchell, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence<br />
Schnabel. Ashley, Ashley. S.D. Tentilino<br />
Enterprises, Alexandria, Minn., purchased<br />
the Fergus Theatre and the Fergus drive-in<br />
theatres from veteran circuit owner Ben<br />
Berger.<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
premiere benefit performance of United<br />
J^<br />
Artists' "The Champ" at the Centre<br />
Cinema Twins was held April 5. The RSVP<br />
event which began with cocktails and dinner<br />
at the Marc Plaza Hotel, raised more<br />
than $20,000 ($100 per couple and $500<br />
per table of ten) for two charities, the City<br />
of Hope, which supports research for numerous<br />
childhood diseases, and the Milwaukee<br />
Athletes Against Childhood Cancer,<br />
which supports pediatric cancer research at<br />
the Milwaukee Children's Hospital.<br />
Ben and Steve Marcus donated the proceeds<br />
of the dinner to the City of Hope,<br />
and Richard Kite of the Marcus Theatres<br />
Corp. also announced the Centre Theatre<br />
expenses were being absorbed by the corporation<br />
with all proceeds from ticket sales<br />
going to the charities.<br />
"The Champ" is currently in its second<br />
week at Movies Northridge, Spring Mall<br />
Triplex, Capitol Court Twins and Scotsland<br />
Cinemas.<br />
Owners of vidcocassette machines will<br />
now be able to see "Citizen Kane," "The<br />
French Connection," "The Sound of Music"<br />
and other films by borrowing them from the<br />
Milwaukee County Federated Library System.<br />
This service, supported by a Federal<br />
!<br />
Libraries Services and Construction Acts<br />
grant, will provide about 60 individual programs<br />
and several series on various subjects<br />
for which two interchange^tble video-cassette<br />
formats will be available, the BETA-2 ;<br />
the VHS-2.<br />
The appointment of Truman Schroeder<br />
and Michael Ogrodowski as assistant vicepresidents—film<br />
division, Marcus Theatres<br />
!<br />
Corp., has been announced by Richard L.<br />
Kite, corporation president.<br />
Schroeder joined the Marcus chain in<br />
1945 when it was in its infancy, and in<br />
addition to managing many theatres, was<br />
director of advertising. He is now responsible<br />
for scheduling films in Appleton,<br />
Green Bay, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Neenah,<br />
Oshkosh, La Crosse, Chippewa Falls,<br />
Menomonee and Ripon.<br />
Ogrodowski has been with the Marcus<br />
Theatre Corp. for eight years, beginning in<br />
the operations divisions as a theatre manager<br />
upon graduation from the UW-Milwaukee.<br />
He was transferred to the film<br />
division assisting in the acquisition of films<br />
when there were just 30 theatres rather than<br />
the current 80 theatres that are all in Wisconsin.<br />
He will now schedule films at the<br />
company's Milwaukee, Madison and Racine<br />
theatres.<br />
In the summer of 1976, the Milwaukee<br />
Public Museum conducted scientific investigations<br />
on Ellsmere Island, 750 miles from<br />
the North Pole. A film of the expedition<br />
has been awarded an honorable mention<br />
in the 21st American Film Festival, to be<br />
held May 28 through June 2 in New York<br />
City.<br />
Walt Blaney, manager of the Cinema<br />
Twins in Menomonee Falls, reports continuation<br />
of its long-running "Showtime for the<br />
Senior Citizen," with attendance "holding<br />
at the 400 mark." Says Walt: "Doughnuts,<br />
coffee and a good show makes for an en<br />
joyable day for the senior citizen."<br />
Walt tells <strong>Boxoffice</strong> about the extra<br />
promotional deals that have kept his theatre<br />
busy: special show for the Catholic Knights<br />
Insurance Co., "Three Stooges Follies"'<br />
special show for a new merchant in town.<br />
Union Prescription Co.; a benefit show for<br />
the "Lighting Aires," a drum and bugle<br />
corps, with the feature film "Yours, Mine<br />
and Ours," and a special screening of a film<br />
made in Menomonee Falls back in 1939<br />
called "Menomonee Falls on Parade."<br />
Rivoli Theatre in Cedarburg was again;<br />
for the fourth consecutive year, used by th«<br />
Knights of Columbus Cedarburg Counci<br />
4520 for its fourth annual Cedarburg-Graf'5<br />
ton Easter show. No tickets were required.<br />
Children were given free candy after attending<br />
either of the two matinee showings, 1<br />
and 3 p.m. Film fare was "Charlotte's<br />
Web." A large display ad in the local weekly<br />
listed over 40 "merchants who have helped<br />
to make this show possible."<br />
First run films coming to Milwaukee:<br />
"Battlestar Galactica," on May 18 to Spring<br />
Mall, Skyway, Northridge and 24 Drivein;<br />
"Voices," on May 25, to Souihtown, and<br />
Northridge.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979!
'<br />
LilSF HOUSE iStLEn .<br />
IS FOREVER!<br />
THE NATION'S ,^1 CULT MOVIE NEVER DIES!<br />
CHECK THESE GROSSES:<br />
APRIL ll-TO-17<br />
njiAni<br />
5 D.I. MINNEAPOLIS RUN IvIARI,<br />
ALL D.I. s HOLDING 2nd WEEK SEVENTEEN, IS<br />
($2100 TOTAL ADVERTISING) JYjNf^PJENR^^^<br />
THEATRE<br />
LUCKY TWIN D.L<br />
COON RAPIDS D.L<br />
FLYING CLOUD D.I. 5,123<br />
CORALL D.I. 7,288<br />
ROSE D.I. 10,102<br />
TOTAL: $36,620<br />
GROSS |s YET<br />
8,103 TO<br />
6,004 COME!]<br />
CAN A MOVIE GO TOO FAR<br />
TO AVOID<br />
FAINTING<br />
KEB> REPEATING,<br />
IT'S ONIY A MOVIE<br />
( ..ONLY A MOVIE<br />
1 ..ONLY A MOVIE<br />
i| ..OKIY A MOVIE<br />
"\ ..
amsmi<br />
Calgary<br />
Abba the Movie (WB). Market Mall 5,<br />
1st wk Excellent<br />
Agatha (WB). Calgary Place 1<br />
5th wk Fair<br />
The China Syndrome (Astral). North<br />
Hill. Westbrook, 1st wk Excellent<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Towne Red.<br />
2nd wk Excellent<br />
Fast Break (Astral). Grand 2, Marlboro<br />
Square 1. 2nd wk Excellent<br />
CJood Guys Wear Blacli (Can-film),<br />
Marlboro Square 2, Odeon I,<br />
1st wk Excellent<br />
The Great Train Robbery (UA).<br />
Chinook, 6th wk Excellent<br />
Hardcore (Astral), Grand 1.<br />
4th wk Very Good<br />
Midnight Express (Astral).<br />
Westbrook 1, 22nd wk Good<br />
Murder by Decree (AFD). Palliser<br />
Square 1. 7th wk Very Good<br />
Norma Rae (BV). Uptown 1.<br />
Westbrook 2. 2nd wk Excellent<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars<br />
(BV), Palace. 3rd wk Excellent<br />
Same Time, Next Year (Univ).<br />
Odeon 2, Uptown. 7th wk Good<br />
Superman (WB), Calgary Place 2.<br />
1 5th wk Excellent<br />
The Warriors (Para). Palliser Square 2.<br />
7th wk Excellent<br />
Watership Down (New World Mutual).<br />
Brentwood. 8th wk Good<br />
Winnipeg<br />
Bnck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ),<br />
Kings, Park, 1st wk Very Good<br />
The Champ (MGM-UA). Metropolitan,<br />
1 St wk Excellent<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ). Garrick I.<br />
4th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),<br />
Northstar [, 16th wk Very Good<br />
Fast Break (Col), Convention Centre,<br />
4th wk Very Good<br />
Hair (UA), Colony, 1st wk Very Good<br />
Halloween (Astral), 7th wk., Odeon,<br />
7st wk Good<br />
Hardcore (Astral). Garrick II, 5th wk. Good<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars (BV).<br />
Garden City. 4th wk<br />
Very Good<br />
Murder by Decree (AFD), Northstar II.<br />
9th wk Good<br />
Same Time, Next Year (Univ),<br />
Grant Partk, 8th wk<br />
Good<br />
Wifemistress (PR), Festival,<br />
I st wk Average<br />
Toronto<br />
Agatha (WB), Eglinton. Towne.<br />
6th wk<br />
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Univ),<br />
Fair<br />
8 theatres, Isl wk Excellent<br />
The China Syndrome (.Astral), 6 theatres,<br />
.3rd wk Excellent<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Varsity.<br />
7th wk<br />
Excellent<br />
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),<br />
Imperial, 15th wk Good<br />
Fast Break (Astral), 3 theatres,<br />
4th wk<br />
Good<br />
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (Saguenay),<br />
International. 7th wk Good<br />
Hair (UA). University. 1st wk. . . .Excellent<br />
Norma Rae (BVFD), Hollywood,<br />
4th wk<br />
Very Good<br />
The Passage (UA), Imperial. 2nd wk. Good<br />
A Perfect Couple (BVFD), Uptown,<br />
1st wk Fair<br />
Richard Pryor—Live in Concert (IFD).<br />
Elgin. 2nd wk Good<br />
Superman (WB). Hollywood. Imperial,<br />
16th wk<br />
Fair<br />
Voices (UA). Uptown<br />
Good<br />
The Warriors (Para). Imperial.<br />
8th wk<br />
Good<br />
Edmonton<br />
Agatha (WB). Westmount B, 4th wk. Good<br />
Autumn Sonata (New World).<br />
Varscona. 2nd wk Fair<br />
The China Syndrome (Astral),<br />
Mcadowlark, Rialto 1, 1st wk. Excellent<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ), Towne<br />
Cinema, 2nd wk Excellent<br />
Fast Break (Astral), Odeon 1, Plaza 2,<br />
1st wk Excellen-t<br />
The Great Train Robbery (UA), Capital<br />
Square 3, 6th wk Excellent<br />
Fast Break (Astral). Odeon 1. Plaza 2,<br />
1 st wk Excellent<br />
Hardcore (Astral). Capilano, Rialto 2,<br />
4th wk Excellent<br />
Murder By Decree (AFD), Garneau,<br />
7th wk Good<br />
National Lampoon's Animal House<br />
(Univ). Jasper Blue. 34th wk Good<br />
Norma Rae (BVFD). Odeon 2. Plaza 1.<br />
2nd wk<br />
Excellent<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars (BV).<br />
Londonderry A. 1st wk Excellent<br />
Superman (WB). Paramoimt.<br />
15th wk Excellent<br />
Montreal<br />
Agatha (WB). Avenue. 6th wk<br />
The Champ (UA). Loews 1.<br />
Good<br />
1st wk Excellent<br />
The China Syndrome (Astral). Atwatcr.<br />
3nd wk Excellent<br />
The Deer Hunter (Univ).<br />
Place du Canada, 4th wk Excellent<br />
Hair (UA), York, 1st wk Excellent<br />
Halloween (Astral), Cinema dc Paris,<br />
8th wk Very Good<br />
Love in Concert (Int). Palace. 3rd wk. Good<br />
Murder by Decree (AFD), Claremont,<br />
5th wk<br />
Good<br />
Norma Rae (BVFD). The Cinema.<br />
3rd wk<br />
Very Good<br />
The North Avenue Irregulars (BV).<br />
Van Home. 6th wk Good<br />
The Promise (Univ). Bonaventurc,<br />
1st wk Good<br />
The Silent Partner (LRB). Lows 5,<br />
11th wk<br />
Good<br />
Superman (WB), Loews 3,<br />
1 6th wk VeryGood<br />
The Warriors (Para), Loews 2,<br />
8th wk Very Good<br />
French Language Films<br />
Au-Dela du Bien et du Mai (Carim),<br />
Le Dauphin. 4th wk<br />
Good<br />
La Cage aux Folles (UA). Parisien 1.<br />
2nd wk<br />
Excellent<br />
LTnvasion des Profanateurs (UA).<br />
Berri, 3rd wk. Fair<br />
Moaurs Cachees de la Bourgeoisie (Para),<br />
Parisien 2. 1st wk Very Good<br />
Mort sur le Nil (Para). Parisien. 2.<br />
1 6th wk Very Good<br />
Pain et Chocoiat (Univ). Carrefour.<br />
1 st wk Very Good<br />
La Proie de PAutostop (Carim).<br />
Parisien 5. 3rd wk Good<br />
TORONTO<br />
Quadrant Film.s' next project is to be<br />
"Nothing Personal." a feature film<br />
about the annual seal hunt. This film is to<br />
have a budget in the $3.5 to $4 million<br />
range, and heading the cast will be Suzanne<br />
Sommers, star of the "Three's Company"<br />
TV series. The co-star is expected to be<br />
Donald Sutherland.<br />
The format for the annual Canadian Film<br />
Awards may be changed. Its organizers are<br />
now attempting to form an Academy of<br />
Canadian Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.<br />
Responsibility for the awards has passed<br />
from organization to organization for several<br />
years, and last year they were held as<br />
part of the Festival of Festivals in this city.<br />
Under the proposed new set-up. however,<br />
actors, directors, producers, writers, cameramen<br />
and others would pay individual<br />
memberships, and each would have a vote<br />
for most of the awards which would be<br />
presented in February.<br />
Actress Brooke Shields, star of "Pretty<br />
Baby," is coming to this country to head<br />
the cast of "Sweet Justice," a $4-million<br />
outdoor adventure which is due to be lensed<br />
in Alberta or British Columbia this July.<br />
This film is the first of three productions<br />
to be undertaken by Toronto accountant<br />
Richard Norton. It will be recalled that<br />
Shields" "Pretty Baby" was denied screen^<br />
ings in this province by the Ontario Censor<br />
Board.<br />
Canada's National Film Board has won<br />
its third Oscar in two years. "Special Delivery."<br />
made by board animators Eunice<br />
Macauley and John Weldon. was named<br />
Best Animated Short Subject. The short is<br />
all a series of lines that continually reform<br />
to make chairs, tables, people, houses, cars<br />
and so on.<br />
The Canadian As.sn. of Motion Picture<br />
Producers (CAMPP). a voluntary association<br />
of feature film producers, have named<br />
their officers and directors for 1979. With<br />
William Marshall as president, Halmers<br />
Adams will serve as treasurer and Samuel<br />
K-2 BOXOFFICE April 30. 1979
I<br />
Marquis<br />
I<br />
1<br />
I James<br />
Jcphcott as secretary. David Pcrlnuittcr,<br />
Ronald Cohen, Claude Heroux and Victor<br />
Solnicki will serve as vice-president.<br />
The following members have agreed to<br />
specific responsibilities by accepting chairmanship<br />
of the following CAMPP committees:<br />
Canadian distribution, Ronald Cohen;<br />
certification and APFQ liaison, Joseph<br />
Beaubien; Canadian Broadcasting Corp.,<br />
Michael Peacock; Canadian film awards,<br />
Jon Slan; copyright, taxation, dues and<br />
levies, Chalmers Adams: film festivals and<br />
foreign marketing. Robert Lantos; international<br />
co-productions and securities commissions,<br />
David Perlmutter; immigration,<br />
Samuel Jcphcott; liaison with the Union of<br />
Film Craftsmen, David Main; membership,<br />
Victor Solnicki, and Ontario government,<br />
William Marshall.<br />
The annual general meeting was March<br />
16 in Toronto. The directors' meeting was<br />
April 2. The association has approximately<br />
80 members across Canada who are responsible<br />
for about 90 percent of the independent<br />
feature film production. This year,<br />
CAMPP members expect to exceed $100<br />
million in production budgets on Canadian<br />
feature films.<br />
''Murder By Decree," the Anglo-Canadian<br />
Sherlock Holmes mystery, has grossed<br />
$1.5 million at Canadian boxoffices in ten<br />
weeks, and of this amount $500,000 comes<br />
from its run in this city. As well, the film<br />
has earned $4 million in its<br />
U.S. run.<br />
novel by W. A. Canaway.<br />
"Sweet Justice" is to be directed by Richard<br />
Marquand, whose latest effort, "The<br />
Legacy," is currently a boxoffice hit in<br />
Europe. It is to be released on this continent<br />
by Universal Films, and will open this fall<br />
in<br />
1,100 theatres on the East Coast.<br />
Films have two further produci<br />
tions set for the year. One of these will be<br />
"The Yermak of Transfer," a $6.6 million<br />
action-adventure which will have a major<br />
international cast and director, to be announced<br />
this summer. This will also be an<br />
Anglo-Canadian co-production, to be produced<br />
by Antony Rufus Isaacs and John<br />
Trent. Richard Norton will be executive<br />
producer. Details concerning the third coproduction,<br />
to be filmed later in the fall<br />
with a $3 million budget, will be released<br />
later.<br />
de B. Domville. government film<br />
commissioner, has announced the appointment<br />
of Francois N. Macerola as deputy<br />
government/ Film commissioner effective<br />
April 2. Macerola joined the National Film<br />
Board in 1971 and, in 1976. became director<br />
of French production. Prior to that appointment,<br />
he headed the NFB's commercial<br />
section of the distribution branch for<br />
two years.<br />
Toronto's<br />
18-Theatre Cineplex Goes<br />
After Diverse Fragmented' Audience<br />
AGNEW<br />
By J.W.<br />
Toronto Correspondent<br />
TORONTO—Cineplex, the worlds largest<br />
collection of cinemas under a single<br />
roof, officially opened in this city April 19.<br />
Termed a "jewel box," the bold new concept<br />
in motion picture theatres could well<br />
set a pattern far into the next century, and<br />
could revolutionize the business itself.<br />
Located in Eaton Centre, the seating in<br />
the various cinemas ranges from 60 to 1 30,<br />
for a total of 1,600 seats. Canadian motion<br />
picture magnate Nat Taylor and lawyer and<br />
producer Garth Drabinsky—two of the<br />
principle partners in this project—displayed<br />
proudly a model of their brainchild in a<br />
restaurant meeting prior to the opening.<br />
Most Ingenious<br />
"Nobody really has an idea of what we're<br />
going to do," stated Taylor. "It's the most<br />
Ingenious thing I've ever done and when I<br />
tell you that the movies are 75 years old<br />
and that I've been in this business for 60<br />
years, you know I mean what I say.<br />
"There are pockets of moviegoing interests<br />
not being catered to, say 20,000 to 30,-<br />
000 people pockets, and we're going after<br />
them," added Drabinsky. "We can do that<br />
much better than a big movie theatre which<br />
has a substantial overhead and a less flexible<br />
Richard Norton, president of Marquis policy."<br />
Films, has confirmed a July start date Taylor is a pioneer in the field of twin<br />
for "Sweet Justice," an Anglo-Canadian coproduction.<br />
Brooke<br />
cinemas, and his Elgin in Ottawa has been<br />
Taylor promised<br />
International film star operating as such since 1942.<br />
Shields to headline the cast. The budget<br />
that when things really get rolling,<br />
is<br />
there will be "something for everyone" at<br />
for this film is $4 miUion, and it is based<br />
upon "Declaration of Independence." a Cineplex.<br />
its Basically, policy will be to attract audiences<br />
interested in first-class foreign-language<br />
films not usually available locally,<br />
and" good Hollywood films that, for one<br />
reason or another, are not successful at the<br />
boxoffice the first time around, but nevertheless<br />
are worth seeing.<br />
Opening attractions will<br />
include "Tree of<br />
the Wooden Clogs." the Cannes prize-winner<br />
from Italy; "The Shout" from Britain;<br />
"Newsfront" from Australia; "Queen of the<br />
Gypsies" from Russia; "Rain and Shine"<br />
from Hungary and "Purple Taxi," an Italian-French-Irish<br />
co-production. All will be<br />
dubbed in English, as will 80 percent of the<br />
films that will be shown at Cineplex.<br />
Booked Yiddish Films<br />
Taylor has also booked four Yiddish<br />
films, some of them made 40 years ago; also<br />
some Canadian films now on their second<br />
round, and first-nms for such films as "The<br />
Rubber Gun," made in Montreal, and films<br />
made under the auspices of the American<br />
Film Institute.<br />
"If we have an important and popular<br />
film." Taylor told Sid Adilman of the Star,<br />
"we can screen it in. say. three of our theatres<br />
on the weekends and then pull it out<br />
of two of them Monday to Thursday and<br />
repeat the triple theatre showings on weekends.<br />
If you've got 100 seats and you get 1,-<br />
000 people a week, you can make money.<br />
If you've got 500 seats and get 1,000 people,<br />
you'd go broke."<br />
Central Computerized <strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
Cineplex will have staggered starting<br />
times from noon until 10 p.m., on a reserved<br />
performance basis. Ticket sales will<br />
be by a central computerized boxoffice, but<br />
tickets are only available on the day of performance.<br />
"You have to leave after the show because<br />
we need to have time to clean the<br />
theatre for the next audience." Taylor said.<br />
Instead of the total 1.600 seats, Taylor<br />
commented, "we could have put m 2,000,<br />
but, instead of having seating wall to wall,<br />
separated by an aisle, we have all the seats<br />
in the centre where no one will feel crowded<br />
near the walls. People prefer to go into<br />
a smaller room. We didn't<br />
we built jewel boxes."<br />
build shoe boxes;<br />
Cineplex will have a total staff of 58,<br />
spread over three shifts. Soon after its opening,<br />
a quadraphonic sound system will be<br />
installed in some of the cinemas. All of the<br />
cinemas will operate with rearscreen and<br />
with 16mm prints.<br />
"This is not a new idea," Taylor admitted,<br />
"but certainly cheaper, and with no<br />
loss of picture to<br />
the customer."<br />
Ticket prices were originally expected to<br />
be pegged at $3 per person, but this may<br />
not hold true. "It all depends on what we're<br />
presenting." Taylor stated. "For a threehour<br />
movie such as 'Tree of the Wooden<br />
Clogs' we could go higher. All I'm saying<br />
is that our prices will be competitive."<br />
Nat Taylor pointed out that the theatres<br />
with the highest occupancy-per-seat rate<br />
locally were his Uptown Backstage twin<br />
cinemas, seating 184 and 144 each.<br />
Market for Any Picure<br />
"There's a market for any picture." Taylor<br />
stated. "It doesn't matter that audiences<br />
aren't big; they're fragmented. That's it!<br />
We're going to cater to fragmented audiences."<br />
At the present time, between 300.000 and<br />
400,000 people go through the Eaton Centre<br />
each day. "But," commented Garth Drabinsky,<br />
"with 750.000 people a day expected<br />
to go through Eaton Centre when the<br />
addition is completed, we aim to draw much<br />
of our audience right there. In a 70-seat<br />
theatre, if we have 40 people for a matinee,<br />
we're doing 70 percent capacity.<br />
"We're going to make mistakes, be sure<br />
of that," added Taylor, "but it certainly<br />
sounds exciting, eh"<br />
Michael Lembeck. Phillip Casnoff. Dennis<br />
Quaid. Richard Beauchamp and Glenn<br />
Super star in<br />
"Gorp."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979<br />
K-3
wmmm<br />
Creators Feared Oscar Would Bypass<br />
Their 'Small Potatoes Animated Film<br />
MONTREAL—National Film Board animators<br />
John Weldon and Eunice Macaulay<br />
were thrilled to be flying off to the Acadeiny<br />
Awards in Hollywood, where their<br />
seven-minute film "Special Delivery" won<br />
an Oscar for Best Short Animated Film.<br />
But, being animators, they doubted the<br />
Academy Awards would hold a candle to<br />
Zagreb.<br />
Every second year about 400 of the<br />
world's most gifted practitioners trek off<br />
to Yugoslavia's beloved Zagreb International<br />
Animation Film Festival.<br />
And Zagreb is a city so in love with the<br />
world's animators that even the mayor<br />
this greets serio-comic crew with adulatory<br />
speeches in the town square. At last year's<br />
festival, the NFB's "Special Delivery," subtitled<br />
in Serbo-Croation, walked away with<br />
first prize.<br />
Black-Humor Piece<br />
The black-humor piece was the only Canadian<br />
film nominated in any category this<br />
year. But its creators didn't expect to be<br />
noticed at the high-stakes Oscar event.<br />
"Oh we're very small potatoes," says Mrs.<br />
Macaulay, diving into her purse for a cigarette,<br />
only to remember she's recently renounced<br />
the weed.<br />
A shy, gray-haired, Lancashire-born woman,<br />
she has worked in film animation in<br />
England and Canada on and off for the last<br />
30 years while raising a family. In 197.^<br />
she joined the NFB as animation supervisor.<br />
The job entails working on every production<br />
coming out of the film board's esteemed<br />
animation department—from supervising<br />
painters and tracers to doing backgrounds,<br />
then carefully checking every frame of each<br />
film.<br />
The job has also meant that until "Special<br />
Delivery," Mrs. Macaulay never got an<br />
up-front credit on a film.<br />
"You see, I've always been pulled in four<br />
or five directions at once." she explains.<br />
Notion Led to Film<br />
The film came about when fellow animator<br />
Weldon, a bearded, gnome-like young<br />
man with a manic laugh, told her about a<br />
crazy notion that came to him on the way<br />
to work one winter morning.<br />
What if. he wondered, you forgot to<br />
shovel the front walk and the postman<br />
tripped and broke his neck What do you<br />
do with the body<br />
It was one of Eunice's rare slack periods<br />
at the film board, so together they wrote<br />
the story and created the unusual animation<br />
involving a background that is redrawn for<br />
each frame.<br />
It was the first time the two had worked<br />
so closely together, and the result is seven<br />
minutes of Thurberesquc domestic paranoia,<br />
starring henpecked husband Ralph<br />
Phelps.<br />
It seems to have struck a universal chord.<br />
The film has already been translated into<br />
six languages and is currently getting wide<br />
play in North American and European<br />
movie theatres. It's particularly popular in<br />
the Scandinavian countries and Germany.<br />
Eunice recalls that when Weldon went on<br />
stage in Zagreb to accept the award, the<br />
audience of Yugoslavians called out: "Oh<br />
it's look, the mailman."<br />
Short-Legged Characters<br />
"My characters have short legs like me,"<br />
says Weldon, displaying the animator's honest<br />
mirth about the peculiarities of the human<br />
body.<br />
A winner of the Canadian Mathematical<br />
Congress Prize during his high school and<br />
university days, Weldon started his working<br />
life as an actuarial trainee in a Montreal insurance<br />
company.<br />
He quit to write and draw a comic book<br />
called Pipkin Papeis. It lasted all of one<br />
issue, but it was enoirgh to get Weldon a<br />
foot in the door at the NFB in 1970.<br />
WINNIPEG<br />
TJeviewer Martin Knelman questioned the<br />
"justification of making 'Hair' now, as<br />
it seems to be a very distant curiosity" and<br />
"a trident dirge to the innocent sacrificed in<br />
Vietnam." Opening week was above average<br />
but unsatisfactory.<br />
Morly Walker of the Tribune described<br />
"The Champ" as a "tearjerker in the classic<br />
Hollywood tradition" but said that "the plot<br />
buckles under any rational scrutiny." He<br />
questions director Zeffirelli's involvement in<br />
"such a mawkish project." Opening week<br />
was excellent.<br />
Walker criticized the censored print of<br />
"Wifemistress," cut as shipped from the<br />
Ontario censor board. Manitoba Film Classification<br />
has been removed, to the movie's<br />
detriment, but it still is "good fun in a pedestrian<br />
style."<br />
"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" is a<br />
"low-budget loser" with "plastic sets, borrowed<br />
costumes and dialogue full of dreadful<br />
one-liners and embarassing double cntredres."<br />
Business was strong in two suburban<br />
houses.<br />
CALGARY<br />
T^ulti-talented Michael Show was in Edmonton<br />
recently to present some of<br />
his works of art including a night of films<br />
at the National Film Board Theatre. Included<br />
in the movies being presented was<br />
"Wavelength," winner of the grand prize al<br />
the 1967 Brussels International Experimental<br />
Film Festival. Filmmaking is only one<br />
of Snow's achievements; he also is a pamter,<br />
sculptor, photographer and musician. Born<br />
in Toronto, he moved to New York in 1963<br />
with his wife Joyce Weiland, who directed<br />
"A Far Shore," a story of the life and death<br />
of another Canadian artist, Tom Thomson.<br />
Presently some of his works, including<br />
films, are on tour of Europe.<br />
Alberta's Motion Picture Censor Board<br />
screened a total of 36 feature films in the<br />
month of March. There were 17 foreign<br />
films (films made in the U.S. are not considered<br />
foreign films in Canada) of which<br />
12 were in the Chinese language. All had<br />
English subtitles.<br />
One feature, "Disco Summer," has an<br />
alternate title— "Summer Night Fever." Of<br />
the 36 pictures, nine were placed in the<br />
Family group, five in the Adult category<br />
and ten in the Adult Not Suitable for Children<br />
classification. The remaining 12 were<br />
classed as Restricted Adult.<br />
On April 4 Calgarians were treated to a<br />
selection of films about writers in a program<br />
co-sponsored by the National Film<br />
Board and Calgary booksellers. This National<br />
Book Festival helped promote Book<br />
Week in Calgary.<br />
The Calgary Film Society gave two programs<br />
to its members. On April the International<br />
Series presented "The Wedding" in<br />
the Jubilee Auditorium. This is a Polish<br />
picture, produced in 1972 under the<br />
direction of Andrzej Wajda. April 8 saw<br />
the final screening in the Specialist Films<br />
surrealist films at the Boris Roubakine Theatre<br />
on the University of Calgary Campus.<br />
The film was "If," directed by Lindsay Anderson<br />
and produced in 1969 in Great Britain.<br />
The Department of Alberta Culture carried<br />
on with its free films in the Provincial<br />
Museum with the first offering in a Film<br />
Biographies series on the screen April 4.<br />
This was Larry Parks powerful "The Al<br />
Jolson Story" made in 1946. On April 8<br />
the Epic Film Series continued with "Cleopatra,"<br />
the 1963 version directed by Joseph<br />
Mankiewicz and starring Richard Burton,<br />
Elizabeth Taylor and Rex Harrison.<br />
Children Get Their Chance<br />
To Handle a Movie Camera<br />
MONTREAL—Children watch movies,<br />
talk about movies and pretend they're acting<br />
in<br />
movies. But rarely do they have a chance<br />
to stand behind a camera and make their<br />
own.<br />
Enfilm '79, North America's first<br />
international<br />
film festival of Super-8 films produced<br />
by and for children, promises to give<br />
more than 1,000 .schoolchildren their first<br />
experience at doing just that.<br />
"This won't be a festival for big-shot<br />
filmmakers or critics," Andre Lafrance. director<br />
of the festival, said in a recent interview.<br />
"It's mainly for the kids, and<br />
increase the public's interest of what film<br />
is all about."<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30. 1979
BOXOFFiCE BOOKMNCUIDE<br />
JONNA JEFFERIS,<br />
Bookinguide Editor<br />
An interpretive analysis of lay and trodepress reviews. Running time is in parentheses. The plus and<br />
minus signs indicate degree ol merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. Symbol tj denotes<br />
BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All films are in color except those indicated by (bSw) for black &<br />
white or (© and biw) for color end black 6 white. Motion Picture Ass'n (MPAA) ratings: [G]— general<br />
audiences; PG— all ages admitted (parental guidance suggested); [ft]— restricted, with persons under<br />
17 not admitted unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian; !X— persons under 17 not admitted.<br />
Reviews assigned "N" page numbers will be found in the National (front) section of BOXOFFICE.<br />
I^EVIEW DIGEST<br />
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX<br />
ii Very Good; + Good; — Foil Poor; = Vei7 Poor. roted 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.<br />
Across the Great Divide (103)<br />
OD-Ad PIE 2- 5-79 El<br />
Aoatha (104) D WB 2-19-79 PG<br />
Ashaiiti (117) Ac-Ad WB 4-23-79 H<br />
Attacic of the<br />
Killer Tomatoes (86) Ho-C<br />
M ..Four Square Productions 11- 6-76 PG<br />
Autumn Sonata<br />
(97) D New World 10- 9-78 PG<br />
Avalanche (91)<br />
Ac-Sus New World 9-11-78 PG<br />
3+1-<br />
6+4-<br />
1+2-<br />
5080 Battlestar Gallactica (125)<br />
SF-Ac Univ 12-11-78 PG<br />
Bell Jar, ....Avco 4- 2-79 E]<br />
5101 The (112) D<br />
5099 Bermuda Triangle, The<br />
(93) Doc Sunn Classic 3-19-79 El<br />
Beyond and Back (91)<br />
5057<br />
Doc Sunn Classic 9-11-78 g]<br />
5068 Big Fix. The<br />
(113) MyC-D Univ 10-23-78 PG<br />
Black Pearl, The<br />
5067<br />
(96) Ad-D Diamond 10-23-78 PG<br />
Blackout (90)<br />
5058<br />
Ac-Sus New World 9-11-78 H<br />
5063 Born Again<br />
(110) B-D Avco 10- 2-78 PG<br />
Bottom Line, The 5085 (93)<br />
C Silverstein 1- 8-79 H<br />
5103 Boulevard Nights (102)<br />
Ac-D WB 4- 9-79 H<br />
5061 Boys From Brazil, The<br />
(124) SF-Sus-D ..20th-Fox 9-25-78 H<br />
5087 Brass Target (Ul)<br />
Sus-D MGM-UA 1-15-79 PG<br />
5084 Brink's Job, The (IIS)<br />
Cr-C Univ 1- 1-79 PG<br />
5105 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century<br />
(88) Ad-F Univ 4-16-79 PG<br />
+<br />
1+<br />
1+<br />
1 + 2-<br />
4+5-<br />
1+2-<br />
2+4-<br />
7+1-<br />
1+2-<br />
3+2-<br />
4+3-<br />
4+4-<br />
3+4-<br />
Caddie (107)<br />
D ....Australian Film Office 1-8-79<br />
5107 California Dreaming<br />
(92) C-D Al 4-23-79 H<br />
5086 California Suite (103) C ... Col 1- 8-79 PG<br />
5074 Caravans (123) Ad-D Univ 11-13-78 PG<br />
5108 Champ, The (121) D MGM-UA 4-23-79 PG<br />
5088 Children of Sanchez, Tlie (115)<br />
Lone Star 1-15-79 H<br />
5100 China Syndrome, The<br />
(122) Sus-D Col 318-79 PG<br />
5092 Circle of Iron<br />
(102) F-Ac-Ad Avco 2- 5-79<br />
5093 Class of Miss MacMichael, The<br />
(92) C Brut 2-12-79 B]<br />
5070 Comes a Horseman<br />
(118) W-D UA 10-30-78 PG<br />
5069 Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride<br />
(87) Ho Dynamite 10-30-78 Bl<br />
+<br />
+±<br />
5097 Dark, The<br />
—D—<br />
(92) SF Film Ventures 3- 5-79 E<br />
5058 Days of Heaven<br />
(95) D Para 9-11-78 PG<br />
5061 ^Death on the Nile<br />
(140) My Para 9-25-78 PG<br />
5080 Deer Hunter, The (183) D . Univ 12-11-78 H<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April 30,
wm<br />
i<br />
REVIEW DIGEST<br />
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX ++ Very Good, H Good; ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor.<br />
1 il i<br />
the summary H is<br />
I .11 <<br />
oted 2 pluses.<br />
5085^1" Castles (113)<br />
.Col S-79 PG<br />
5091 If It Fits (60)<br />
Doc Marshall/Erder 2- 5-79<br />
In 5091 Praise of Older Women<br />
(108) D Avco 2- 5-79 H<br />
5090 Innocent, The<br />
(119) D Analysis 1-29-79 El<br />
Invasion of the Snatchers<br />
5083 Body<br />
(114) SF-Sus UA 1- 1-79 PG<br />
5079 It's Not the Size That Counts<br />
(86) Sex C Brenner 12-11-78 (B<br />
74 2-<br />
1+1-<br />
4+4-<br />
2+<br />
6+1-<br />
1+3-<br />
Rain and Shine (98)<br />
C New Yorker 12-18-78<br />
5100 Real Life (99) C Para 3-19-79 PG<br />
5104 Remember My Name (94)<br />
D Lagoon 4- 9-79 H<br />
5096 Richard Pryor—Live in Concert<br />
(77) C-Doc SEE 2-26-79<br />
5106 Robin (100) Mclo ...Starbeam 4-16-79<br />
5089 Run After Me—Until I Catch You!<br />
(91) C Silverstein 1-29-79<br />
5081 King of the Gypsies (U2)<br />
.Para 12-18-78 H
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1= I I<br />
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SJ5<br />
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11 11<br />
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eii^<br />
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:|1
Iliilj.-rt<br />
Feb<br />
• '<br />
'<br />
.<br />
'<br />
•<br />
•<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
ATLANTIC RELEASING<br />
Max Havelaar (155) ..Hi-D.<br />
La Jument Vapeur<br />
Picnic at Manning Rock<br />
(110) My-D.<br />
'<br />
j<br />
.<br />
Date<br />
Dale Rel.<br />
79 NEW YORKER FILMS<br />
ANALYSIS FILM RELEASING The Little Mermaid (71) An<br />
Northwest<br />
Jan in<br />
Peppermint Soda<br />
Leoend of the<br />
Newsfront (110) Hi-<br />
(R3) An.. Apr 79<br />
Dunderklumpen (96) ..An.. June 79<br />
The Tree of Wc<br />
(175) .<br />
Woyzeck . .<br />
BACKSTREET-BEEHIVE-<br />
HOLLYWOOD INT'L<br />
Lust Flight 2000<br />
(78) Sex CD.<br />
FRED BAKER FILMS, LTD.<br />
Just Crazy About Horses<br />
(93) Doc. .Dec 78<br />
The Black Goddess Jan 79<br />
BEEHIVE PRODUCTIONS<br />
Carnal's Duties<br />
(76) Sex C. .Apr 79<br />
rat Manning. Janet Sands,<br />
Frisco King. William Margold<br />
Curves Ahead!<br />
(78) Sex C. .June 79<br />
The Udy Wants a<br />
Tramo Sex C. July 79<br />
Dirty Deadlines<br />
(74) Sex C. Oct 79<br />
CAPRICAN THREE, INC.<br />
Vampire Hookers<br />
(83) Sex C-0. Ju<br />
Jnhn rnrrndlne. Rrnre Falrhain<br />
CARIBBEAN FILMS WEST<br />
Gail Palmer's Candy Goes to<br />
Hollywood Sex C. .(<br />
rami C.nrH.rs. Ji.hu Leslie<br />
HOLLYWOOD INT'L<br />
Come Under My Spell<br />
(54) Sex D.. Dec 78<br />
Lusty Princess (82) .Sex C. Jan 79<br />
The New Erotic Adventures of<br />
Casanova Part 2 ..Sex D 79<br />
.<br />
I'm Always Ready ... Sex C. Mar 79<br />
INDEPENDENT ARTISTS<br />
When the Screaming Stops<br />
(94)<br />
Ho-F.<br />
The Black Six (90) .Ac-D.<br />
Me.^n" Joe Greene. Carl B<br />
INT'L HARMONY, INC.<br />
Shame of the Jungle „ - . <br />
(S9)<br />
An-C..Sept78<br />
Vuices: John Belushl. Johnny<br />
Weissmiillcr jr.<br />
The Night, the Prowler . „ „<br />
(90) C-D..M<br />
Kerry Walker. Rnth Cracknel<br />
-J" Men Forever (90) ..CM<br />
Rust Never SI<br />
(100) ...<br />
Nell Youne<br />
INT'L PICTURE SHOW<br />
The Billion Dollar Hobo<br />
(96) C. Sept 78<br />
Land of No Return<br />
(85) Ad . . Sept 78<br />
Mel Torme, William Shatner<br />
Where Time Began<br />
(90)<br />
Sept 78<br />
Kenneth More<br />
They Went That-a-Way and ThaVl-<br />
a-Way (100) C 0ct78<br />
Tim Comvay. Chuck McCann<br />
The Magic of Lassie<br />
(100) C-DM..0ct78<br />
James Stewart. Mickey Rooney.<br />
Pernell Roberts, Stephanie Zlmballst<br />
CINEMA S<br />
Viva Italia! (87) C. .July 78<br />
Vl'Inrlo Cassman. ('ko Togna:!Zl JAGUAR-BEEHIVE<br />
Disco Dolls in Hot S<br />
(95)<br />
Sex C. Sept 78<br />
Serena. Leslie Bovei<br />
CINEMA SHARES<br />
Jacob Two-Two Meets the<br />
Hooded Fang<br />
(80) F-C-D..Scpt7S<br />
Alex Karr;is. Stephen Rosenberg KEY INT'L FILM<br />
Sweet Creek County War<br />
Point the Finger of<br />
(98) W-C.F<br />
Rl.'hard Bgan. Albert Salmi<br />
Shaolin Death Squad<br />
hree Way Weekend , .<br />
Fists of Bruce Lee<br />
„ ,.<br />
(85) Sex C. Mar 79<br />
(99)<br />
Don nieeo, Jody Olhava<br />
COUGAR RELEASING, LTD.<br />
loe Panther (93) Ad.. Sept 78<br />
hrlan Keith, Itlcard" Montalban<br />
Legend of Sea Wolf<br />
(90) Ad.. Sept 78<br />
Chuck Connors, Barbara Bach<br />
Astral Factor (93) ....Sus..Ni<br />
Elke Sommrr. Robert Foxworth<br />
Poopsie (95) C..Det78<br />
Sophia l/iren. Marcello MastmlannI<br />
FIRST ARTISTS RELEASING<br />
Stevie (102) B-p..Sept78<br />
(TItnda Jackson, M<br />
FIRST INT'L PICTURES<br />
Dracula Sucks<br />
(108) Sex-Ho-CD.<br />
G.G. COMMUNICATIONS<br />
The Adventures of Pinocthio<br />
(90) An .Oct 78<br />
MUSTANG-BEEHIVE<br />
Carnal Encounters of the Barest<br />
Kind (88) Sex-SF..Apr79<br />
NATIONAL AMERICAN<br />
Coming Attractions C. Sept 78<br />
mil Murray, Buddy Hackett,<br />
Misty Kowe, Howard Hesseman<br />
NEW LINE<br />
Gizmo! (79)<br />
Bronson Lee Champion (86)<br />
Despair (120)<br />
(90) C-l<br />
liemadettc Ufont<br />
live (81)<br />
Dcjwney<br />
Autumn in Germany (116)<br />
Revcnne of the Streetfijhter<br />
(90)<br />
Sept 78<br />
Sept 78<br />
. . Oct 78<br />
Orchestra Rehe;<br />
(70) ...<br />
Against the Gr<br />
Don Giovanni<br />
NMD FILM DISTRIBUTING CO.<br />
The Carhops (88) •<br />
i"" '*<br />
e New Adventures of Snow While<br />
(76)<br />
J'rt»78<br />
OMNI PICTURES<br />
Wolfman (101) .<br />
The Devil's Clone<br />
(96)<br />
(3UARTET FILMS _ , ,„<br />
Wifemistress (101) D. Jan 79<br />
JIarcello Mastroiaiml. Laura<br />
AntonclU<br />
The French Detective<br />
(93) Ac-D Apr 79<br />
Dewa<br />
and<br />
(i|)lier<br />
Son<br />
Heed<br />
ROCHELLF FILMS. INC^<br />
Fiona (82) C-D..July 78<br />
Fiona Richmond, Inthony Steele,<br />
Victor Splnettl<br />
Rock Fever (98)<br />
Thirsty Dead (96) Sept 78<br />
*Pf "<br />
Wade Nichols, Jeanle Sanders<br />
Dr. Jeckyll's Dungeon of Death<br />
(91) .,„ A'^^g<br />
Saint ... a Woman A ...<br />
a Devil (90) Apr 79<br />
The Driller Killer (90) ....Apr 79<br />
SANRIO FILM DISTRIBUTION<br />
The Great Balloon Adventure<br />
(89) C-Ad..Feb79<br />
Katharine Hepburn<br />
The Glacier Fox<br />
(90)<br />
Ooc-D..Feb79<br />
Winds of Change<br />
(87)<br />
i.M-F..July79<br />
Nutcracker (100)<br />
SIX PICTURES<br />
Computer Game .<br />
Bar Maid<br />
June 78<br />
My Swedish Cousins .. .Sex. .June /5<br />
Lip Service Sex.. June 78<br />
Love Thy Neighbor . . . Sex. June 78<br />
Pleasure Cruise Sex.. June 78<br />
Girls Prison Sex. .June 78<br />
The Pro Shop Sex.. June 78<br />
Wall Street Walker ... Sex. .July 78<br />
Turned-On Girl Sex..Juy7S<br />
Sweet Taste of Joy ... Sex. .July TZ<br />
Secretaries Spread ... .Sex. .July 78<br />
Sex Freedom in<br />
, , .<br />
Marriane Sex.. July 78<br />
STUDIO FILM CORP.<br />
The Alpha Incident (85) ....Ma<br />
Ralph Meeker, Stafford Morgan,<br />
.lohn Ooff, Buck Flowers<br />
(95) M'» '9<br />
Richard Kennedy, Katherlne Hopkins.<br />
Stafford Morgan, John Goff<br />
The Maggots Aug 79<br />
Otis Young. .lohn Goff.<br />
Katherlne Hnnklns<br />
The Obsessed One July 78<br />
Ir I'lindav. Trary Parrlsb<br />
The Tormented Aug 78<br />
Stella rartmclna. fhrls Avram<br />
Apr 79 Snuff Box Connection ..Ac. Sept 78<br />
Kung Fu Ac. Sept 78<br />
COMING RELEASES<br />
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL<br />
Jan-Michael Vincrnt. Jusepli<br />
Camp.'Uiella, Art farney, Ther'<br />
Saldana<br />
C.H.O.M.P.S<br />
••<br />
Valerie Bertinelli. Wesley Eu<br />
The Humanoid<br />
Kk-hard Kiel. Barbara l!.icb<br />
The Amityville Horror<br />
.lames Rrolln. MarsM Kiddfi,<br />
The Visitor<br />
John Huston, Slielle;<br />
Glenn Ford<br />
AVCO EMBASSY<br />
A Man, a Woman and a Bank .<br />
Iionald Sutherland, Brooke Ad<br />
Goldengirl<br />
James Cobiirn, Susan Anton,<br />
Leslie Caron. Robert Culp<br />
The Fog<br />
Hal Holbrinik, Adrieimc B.arbe:<br />
Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Cintis<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
The Apple Dumpli Gang Ri(<br />
Again (100) i-m<br />
Tim Conwav, Don Knotts<br />
The Black Hole Dec 79<br />
MaNlmllian Schell. Anthony<br />
Perkuis, Robert Forster<br />
Unidentified Flying Oddball<br />
llcnnis Ducan, Jim Dale.<br />
Kennclh More. Ron Moody<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Kramer vs. Kramer<br />
Diistin Hoffman, Meryl Strccp<br />
... And Justice tor All C.<br />
All That Jazz .<br />
Freestyle<br />
Susan Clark<br />
Just You and Me, Kid .<br />
George Burns. Brooke Slui<br />
Nightwing<br />
Stephen Maclit. Nick Mam<br />
The Thief of Bagdad<br />
Terenee Stamp. Peter Usti<br />
The Electric Horseman .<br />
R.ihert Redford. J.ine For<br />
Willie Nelson. Nicholas C<br />
Hot Stuff ..<br />
Hum DeLulse. Suzanne PI<br />
Jeriy<br />
Reed<br />
COMPASS INTERNATIONAL<br />
Double Negative ..<br />
Geraldlne Fltzseralil. Michael<br />
Sarrazin. Susan (lirk, Anthony<br />
Perkins<br />
CROWN INTERNATIONAL<br />
Bill Adler. Cynthit<br />
Coach. Part II<br />
The Malorettes .<br />
NEW WORLD<br />
Disco High<br />
Car Wars<br />
The Lady in Red<br />
Battle Beyond the Stars .<br />
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round<br />
the Old Oak Tree<br />
ilriek<br />
MeGoohan<br />
Rough Cut .••"„.•:"<br />
Burt Reynolds, Jacqueline Bissct<br />
North Dallas Forty<br />
Nick Nolte, Mac Davis,<br />
Bo Svenson, Charles Durntng<br />
Full Moon in August<br />
Joseph Bottoms<br />
American Gigolo •••••••<br />
Lauren Button, Richard Gere<br />
Prophecy<br />
Talia Sblre, Robert Foxworth<br />
•<br />
Starting Over<br />
Burt Reynolds, JUl Clasburgh,<br />
randice Bergen, Charles Durning<br />
Sunburn Vi.' '.' ' '<br />
Farrali Fawcett-Majors, Charles<br />
GrodUi<br />
20TH-FOX<br />
Dreamer<br />
W,',",''<br />
Tim Matbeson. Susan Blakely<br />
Butch and Sundance: the Early<br />
Qays W. .June 79<br />
om Bcrenger. William Katt<br />
Nosferatu<br />
SF-Ho..0ct79<br />
Isabelle Adjanl, Klaus kinski,<br />
Nine to Five C<br />
Jane Fonda<br />
St. Petersburg Cannes Express ...<br />
Julie Christie. Donald Sutherland<br />
The Rose "M<br />
Belte Midler. .Man Bates<br />
Robert Redford, Yaphet Kottn<br />
Breaking Away •<br />
Dennis Christopher, Dennis Qj<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Hide in Plain Sight (MGM) June 79<br />
James Caan. Jill Elkeiiberry<br />
Apocalypse Now War D. .Da79<br />
. . .<br />
Marlon Brando. Robert Duvall,<br />
Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper<br />
James and Jane ••••<br />
James Caan. Geneiieve Bujold<br />
Wanda Nevada ••.,.,• •'-'*°-<br />
Peter Fonda, Brooke Shields<br />
Moonrakcr<br />
Roger Moore. Lois Chiles.<br />
Michel Lonsdale. Richard Kiel<br />
Rocky II •,:•„",.•<br />
Sylvester Stallone. Talia Shire,<br />
Buit Young. Burgess Meredith<br />
The Johnson County War<br />
Kristofferson<br />
UNIVERSAL<br />
Walk Proud ,•,•,'<br />
Robbv Benson, Sarali Holcomb<br />
The Lonely Lady "<br />
Susan Blakely<br />
The Senator<br />
Alan Alda. Melvyn Douglas,<br />
Barbara Harris<br />
Little Miss Marker . . . . .<br />
. -^<br />
Walter Matthau, Julie Andrews,<br />
Sara Stimson,<br />
Bob Newhart<br />
Katharine' Ross, Sam Elliott,<br />
Roger Daltrey<br />
• •<br />
Resurrection<br />
Fllen Burstyn, Sam Shepard<br />
Coal Miner's Daughter •°-D<br />
Si«v Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones<br />
The Concorde—Airport '79<br />
liohert Wagner, Alain Delon,<br />
"<br />
s.Kan Blakely, George Kennedy<br />
1941<br />
Hamilton<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
An Arabian Adventure June 79<br />
riirlsloiiher<br />
Lee<br />
'Td"en!ur'e''°"''°" Ad.. July 79<br />
Mi,hael ralue. Sally Field.<br />
Tellv Savalas. Peter Boyle<br />
ff^i„ Event C. Aug 79<br />
liarhra Streisand. Ryan O'Neal.<br />
ThT'lna^ws<br />
Ac-C..Aug79<br />
Peter Fnlk. .Man Arkln. Nancy<br />
Dussault. Arlene Oolonka<br />
The Squeeze Sus-L.<br />
StJicv Keach, Lino Ventura<br />
First Blood<br />
Al Pncino<br />
Heart Beat<br />
SIssv Spacek. Nick No t^e<br />
Just Tell Me What You Want C<br />
.<br />
All MacGraw. Alan King<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April 30. 1979
i<br />
•<br />
Opinions on Current Productions ^EATUkE REVIEWS<br />
od hero are in color, unless otherwise speciiied <<br />
/). For story synopBis on each picture<br />
A LITTLE ROMANCE P«<br />
^""'''^<br />
Warner Bros. (79801) 108 Minutes Rel. May '79 „<br />
First of the Orion Pictui-es releases througli Warner ''y K<br />
Bros, is an extremely charming little picture about two "<br />
yomigsters, about 13, who fall in love and go to great<br />
lengths to express it. Everything is kept within PG<br />
bounds, so the whole family can enjoy the film, although<br />
parents may have to explain a few things to impressionable<br />
children about life and love. Laurence Olivier, continuing<br />
his recent dialect parts, is a French pickpocket<br />
who befriends the children in the Fi-ench and Italian<br />
settings. The young leads are Diane Lane and Thelonious<br />
Bernard, both bright and resoui-ceful. Although they appear<br />
at first to be overly intellectual, they prove to be<br />
very winning in their mutual affection. Sally Kellerman<br />
and Arthur- Hill are good as the girl's parents and Ashby<br />
Semple is fine as Diane's enthusiastic friend. Broderick<br />
Ci-awford portrays himself in what may be the funniest<br />
and most revealing manner that any actor has ever allowed<br />
himself to be used. George Roy Hill directed the<br />
Pan Arts production on location. Allan Burns adapted<br />
the script from Patrick Cauvin's novel, "E=MC2, Mon<br />
Amoui-," and Yves Rousset-Rouard and Robert L. Crawford<br />
produced. Georges Deleioie's score is just right. Panaflex<br />
lenses and Technicolor printing were used.—John<br />
Laurence Olivier, Sally Kellerman, Thelonious Bernard.<br />
Diane Lane, Arthur Hill, Broderick Crawford.
FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Programs<br />
THE STORY: "Hurricane" (Para)<br />
In the 1920s, Navy captain Jason Robards is governor<br />
of the Samoan island of Pago Pago. Long separated from .<br />
his wife, he welcomes the arrival of his daughter Mia ""'''<br />
Farrow from Boston. She romances ensign Timothy<br />
Bottoms, but is attracted to Dayton Ka'ne, a clerk for<br />
Robards until the native's father dies and he becomes<br />
chief of his tribe. Prejudice against the islanders is evident<br />
at the ceremony in which Ka'ne becomes chief. Farrow<br />
stays on his island of Alava and visits with doctor<br />
Max von Sydow and priest Ti-evor Howard while having<br />
an affair with Ka'ne. Because PaiTow won't marry him,<br />
Ka'ne decides to go thi-ough with his arranged marriage<br />
to Ariirau Tekurarere. However, Tekm-arere commits suicide<br />
on a coral reef rather than submit to a ceremony to<br />
determine her virginity. Robards tries Ka'ne for this<br />
pagan ritual and sentences him to four- years. Ka'ne<br />
escapes from sadistic sergeant James Keach, is recaptured<br />
and then aided by Farrow. Keach drowns as a result.<br />
Ehiring a hurricane. Farrow and Ka'ne head for his<br />
island. Robards and his crew follow them. All drown except<br />
for the lovers.<br />
EXPLOITIPS:<br />
Elektra Records has the soundtrack album and Bantam<br />
Books is publishing the paperback edition.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
There Is Only One Safe Place—in Each Other's Amis.<br />
O''
:<br />
write:<br />
mmmmmmmm^mm<br />
andling replies. Display ClassUied, $38.00 per Column Inch. No<br />
Hi londay noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answert<br />
^aa Brunt Blvd., Kansas Citv, Mo. 64124. NOTE: Bulky resumes,<br />
arworded unless accompanied by auiiicient postage.<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
EXPERIENCED MANAGEB/OPEHATOR<br />
3eded by Luxury Theatres, Ponlond<br />
Oregon. Salary commensurate with exlerience.<br />
No hmit to opportunity lor adancement.<br />
Send resume and references<br />
3 Luxury Theatres, 919 S.W. Taylo.<br />
Ilreet, Portland, Oregon 97205.<br />
ind<br />
EXCELLENT OPPOHTUNITIES availabl<br />
or assistants and manager-trainees, Norti<br />
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia<br />
One ol nation's leading theatre circuits<br />
Competitive salaries oUered, excellent<br />
ringe benefits. Written resumes only. Di-<br />
'ision Office, General Cinema Theatres,<br />
'967 Cobb Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339.<br />
T<br />
MANAGER FOR TRIPLEX in beautiful<br />
St suburb. $13,500 starting salary<br />
:-. -rienced person. No booking or<br />
'.^T Replies held in confidence.<br />
-<br />
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR for L.A. based<br />
•<br />
Coordinate advertising proi:'';;n<br />
publicity and art department.<br />
.T';-:rtrt^ experience preferred. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>,<br />
Call coUe<br />
,612) 544-0163.<br />
THEATRE MANAGER wonted for twin<br />
t:inema in Denver metropolitan area with<br />
!3eneral Cinema Corp. Salary, concession<br />
Irommission, theatre rental commission<br />
Imd many cTword programs including<br />
xjnus Need manager immediately due to<br />
:)romotions. For interviews call Dennis<br />
vfohaney at (303) 343-4200.<br />
ROAD SHOWMEN to sell this year's<br />
jreat attraction. 11 you are well regarded,<br />
Veil established with cm impecable repuwont<br />
you and you need this.<br />
3oxofiK 4254.<br />
IMMEDIATE OPENING for experienced<br />
heatre manager or will train qualified<br />
ripplicont. Excellent Secrltle location. Salary<br />
commensurate with experience. Send<br />
esume to Theatre Manager, 2319 2nd Avelue,<br />
Seattle 98121.<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
THEATRE MANAGER AVAILABLE: Sales<br />
Ihmker with the ability to get results. 15<br />
years experience with top movie circuits.<br />
;Call: Peter Daniels at (201) 429-9815 or<br />
231 Montgomery Street, Bloomfield,<br />
'NI 07003.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
CASH for one-sheets, posters, lobby card<br />
sets, stills, pressbooks, trade magazines,<br />
coming attraction slides, annuals, trailers,<br />
etc., etc. (any quantity—older the better!)<br />
Martinez, 7057 Lexington Ave., Los Angeles,<br />
CA 90038.<br />
CASH PAID for one sheets, 22c each;<br />
lobbies, 35c per set; stills, 7c each. Poster<br />
Studio oi Nyack, Box 838, 1 Terrace Drive,<br />
Nyack, NY 10960. (914) 358-5406.<br />
TOP DOLLAR PAID for stills, posters<br />
lobbies, etc., from silent to present. Eddie<br />
Brandt's Saturday Matinee, Box 3232,<br />
North Hollywood, Calif. 91609; Phone (213)<br />
EDUCATION, INSTRUCTION<br />
pressbooks,<br />
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE<br />
poste<br />
BURLAP WALL COVERING DRAPES,<br />
$1.10 per yd., flame retardant. Quantity<br />
discounts. Nurse & Co., Millbury Rd., Oxford,<br />
Mass. 01540. Tel (617) 832-4295.<br />
35/70 CENTURY IJ heads, soundheads,<br />
tc. Altec A-4 and A-7 speakers. TECO,<br />
-ox 706, Matthews, NC. (704) 847-4455.<br />
TICKET MACHINES repaired. Fast service,<br />
reasonable rates. Your old ticket<br />
machine worth money. We trade, buy and<br />
first. sell ticket machines. Try us Ask<br />
about our rebuilts. Save money. J.E.D<br />
Service Co., 10 Woodside Dr., Gralton,<br />
Massachusetts. (617) 839-4058.<br />
RADIO SOUND for DRIVE-IN THEATRES<br />
$1,995 00. Availabfe' from m^a'nul^ictut^r<br />
Call for further information. In Florida,<br />
(813) 748-1717; out of state, (800) 237-9457.<br />
ENTIRE CONTENTS oi former Jerry Lew<br />
is. Curtains, chairs. Simplex booth, con.<br />
cession. $30K. Negotiable. (203) 423-1274.<br />
SIMPLEX SUPERS and E7's, rebuilt, $750;<br />
RCA and Simplex soundheads, $300; Norelco<br />
and Cinemecconica 35/70 machines.<br />
Xenons, carbons, lamphouses, lenses,<br />
bases, parts you won't find elsewhere.<br />
One year warranty. International Cinema<br />
Equipment Co., 6750 N.E. 4th Ct Miami.<br />
FL 33138 (305) 756-0699.<br />
35MM IPORTABLE SALE — Norelco FP3<br />
$1,995; DeVry XD, $1,695; Holmes type 8<br />
MORE MONEY Sell screen ads $995; Tokiwa T-60, $2,150, All in stock now<br />
local banker, auto dealer, etc. International Cinema, (305) 756-0699.<br />
inimum $200.00 each sale. We'll<br />
'U how<br />
16MM MINI<br />
and handle all details (ad<br />
THEATRE SPECIALS— Pai<br />
ebuilt JAN projectors with separate<br />
., film, billing, etc.). Write P. O.<br />
am<br />
lifier, speaker,<br />
Solrasota, Tla. 33578. 30 years<br />
changeovers, lenses, ca<br />
in<br />
'les, built for performance, $1,095. Inter<br />
ational Cinema, (305) 756-0699.<br />
XENON BONANZA—Strong Lumex 2000<br />
watt factory rebuilt, like new, $2,995;<br />
Strong 900 watt, 1600 watt, 2500 watt. XeiTon<br />
900 watt, 1600 watt and 2000 watt<br />
ORC 1000 watt and 1600 watt Many others<br />
to choose from at tremendous savings<br />
Call International Cinema, (305) 756-0699<br />
CENTURY BOOTH—Model C projectors.<br />
Century soundheads and bases, $2,995,00<br />
RCA booth, Brenkert BX-lOO projectors,<br />
RCA soundheads, bases and Brenkert<br />
lamps with 6-tube rectifiers. Scope and<br />
regular lenses. $1,99500. Cretors sladiumtype<br />
popper. Citation model, good condition,<br />
$695.00, (817) 939-1918 or (817) 778-<br />
2935.<br />
MANIEY AHISTOCRAT popcorn machine;<br />
BX-60 projectors; SH-1000 soundheads plus<br />
bases, rectifiers and Enarc lamps. Ben<br />
Johnson, Lakeview Drive-In, Bumside, KY.<br />
42519, (606) 561-4544.<br />
SUPER SIMPLEX heads, extra Super<br />
parts- One pair Mirrophonic soundheads<br />
complete with motors. Model 7400 (ideal<br />
tor stereo optical sound). Altec power<br />
amplifiers, 60 and 120 watt, brand new,<br />
$295.00. 21/2 hr. attachment capacity lor<br />
16mm projectors. Send 50c for photo. J.<br />
Dolan Projection Units, 13605 Valeric St.,<br />
Van Nuys, CA 91405.<br />
SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR, 1/4 HP, 230V,<br />
3-phase, 50/60 Hz, $200. MBC, Box 425,<br />
Bayside, NY 13361.<br />
EQUIPMENT WANTED<br />
WE PAY good money for used equip<br />
lent. Texas Theatre Supply, 915 S. Ala<br />
10, San Antonio, Texas 78205.<br />
PROJECTORS, soundheads, lamphous<br />
lenses. Cinerama, Vistavision, parts, si<br />
plies, what have you. International Cii<br />
ma Equipment Co,, 6750 NE 4th Ct., 1<br />
ami, FL 33138, (305) 756-0699<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE CONSTRUCTION<br />
SCREEN TOWF.HS INTERNATIONAL: Ten<br />
Day Screen Installation, (817) 642-3591.<br />
Drawer Roger Texas P. s, 76569.<br />
THEATRE SCREENS painted<br />
CLEflfiinG HOUSt<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
WORLD'S LARGEST THEATRE broke<br />
JOE JOSEPH, Box 31406, Dallas 75231. (214<br />
363-2724.<br />
THEATRE IN OPERATION—Miller Thea<br />
tre, 900 seats, 3 store rooms with 2nd floo<br />
ollice space All tented, (/17) 248-7193. 543<br />
Lindbergh Way, Lew istown , Pa. 17044,<br />
300 SEAT DUDOOH; Deluxe 3-bedi<br />
B, Virginia, IL 62691. (217) 452-7531<br />
300 SPEAKER dnve-in theatre in beai<br />
ful beaches of Moorhead City, NC Terir<br />
available (919) 346-4855 after 6,<br />
IOWA THEATRE, Sheldon, Iowa. 700<br />
seats, two good shop Box rentals. 151<br />
Wayne, Nebr 68787. (402) 375-1280, or<br />
Box 1026, Le Mars, Iowa 51031. (712) 546<br />
5240.<br />
THEATRES FOR LEASE<br />
1050 CAR DRIVE-IN in Evansville, In<br />
diana. Must be an experienced operatoi<br />
and financially able. Contact Joe Nicko<br />
lick, P.O. Box 5365, Evansville, Indianc<br />
47715, (812) 422-8526.<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE OR LEASE<br />
MODERN THEATRE 1720 seat capacity<br />
Available for Film or live entertainment.<br />
Interested parlies apply to: PO Box 152<br />
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18703.<br />
IOWA, one indoor 350 seats;<br />
in 15 acres. Sell or lease. Sw<br />
545-7015.<br />
INDOOR THEATRE for sale or lease.<br />
Will redecorate and equip for responsible<br />
buyer or lessee. Marvin Morgan, 1016 Maple<br />
St., Duncan, OK 73533. (405) 255-5136.<br />
THEATRES WANTED<br />
or drive-ins wanted<br />
to lease or buy in up-state New York<br />
Please send information to: Edwin Coffin,<br />
Jr., 47 Alexander St., Utile Falls, New<br />
York 13365.<br />
CHAIN IS SEEKING motion picture theatres<br />
for sale, lease or rent in major cities.<br />
Please send informcrtion to <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4208.<br />
DRIVE-INS AND/OR INDOORS wanted<br />
by principal, buy or lease. Florida, Texas.<br />
F. Pavick, 4450 Fortieth Ave., N., Apt.<br />
D-5, St. Petersburg, FL 33714. (813) 527-<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
BUILD ATTENDANCE with real Hawaim<br />
orchids. Few cents each. Write Flowrs<br />
of Hawaii, 570 S. Lafayette Place, Los<br />
THEATRE MONTHLY CALENDARS, week<br />
schedules, passes, labels, etc. Write for<br />
samples, prices. Dixie Lltho, Box 882, Atlanta,<br />
GA 30301.<br />
SERVICES<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
TOPS IN THEATRE SEATING upholstering<br />
anywheie— seat covers made to order<br />
and sell theatre chairs. Chicago Usea<br />
Chair Marl, 2616 W. Grand Ave., Chicago,<br />
111- 60612 (312) 235-1111.<br />
SPECIALISTS IN THEATRE SEATING.<br />
New and rebuilt theatre chairs lor sale.<br />
We buy and sell old chairs. Travel from<br />
coast to coast. Seating Corporation<br />
New York, 247 Water Street, Brooklyn,<br />
of<br />
N. Y, 11201. Tel. (212) 375-5433 (revefse<br />
charges).<br />
SlOO REWARD! Need 200 to 2,000 theatre<br />
chairs, any condition but rebuildable.<br />
Know of a theatre closed We need phone<br />
number or owner's name. Will remove oil<br />
floor and transport. At present we have<br />
250 American Bodilorms completely rebuilt.<br />
Red metal, red upholstery. (816) 523-2904,<br />
496-55UV. Mission Seating, 8320 Word P = :kwoyPloza,<br />
Kansas City, MO 64114.<br />
HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD, 600 extra wide<br />
thickly padded self-risers, good condition,<br />
off floor in northern Wisconsin, $15.00<br />
each. (715) 339-2196.<br />
RECONDITIONED used chairs. On-location<br />
refurbishing, installation and staggering.<br />
Sewn seat covers, all makes. We<br />
buy used sealing. Frost Seating, 80 Copeland<br />
St., Quincy, Mass. 02170. Tel. (617)<br />
298-7070.<br />
THEATRE REMODELING<br />
ASCO Auditorium Services Companv<br />
Theatre refurbishing—designing—acoustical<br />
wall covering—seal refurbishing—custom<br />
seat covers— screeiis, frames, main act<br />
curtains, black masking conversion systems.<br />
Materials and labor supplied. Call<br />
(617) 769-6680. Endicott St., Bldg 25, Norwood,<br />
Mass. 02062.<br />
BOOKS<br />
TROUT'S SOUND-PROJECTION Maintenance<br />
Manual. $10.50 prepaid, check or<br />
money order. Wesley Trout, E(<br />
575, Enid<br />
FILMS FOR RENT<br />
I6MM XXX FILMS lor any area in the<br />
world. Our trailers and posters are Iree.<br />
'Our service made us the best." Call<br />
(216) 779-7136.<br />
FILMS FOR SALE<br />
35mm FILMS—outright sale. Titles from<br />
1933-1956, many In the Public Domain.<br />
Classics, Westerns, comedies. Prints In<br />
excellent condition. List Iree. W.M.P., Box<br />
7195, Kansas City, Mo. 64113.<br />
Inleraalional Blockbusters: SALAHEDDIN<br />
AYYOUBl and REVOLTED PALESTINIAN.<br />
Worldwide rights: Rinafilm, Box 116031,<br />
Beirut, Lebanon.<br />
BINGO CARDS DIE CUT: 1-75, 1500 combinations<br />
in color. PREMIUM PRODUCTS,<br />
New<br />
16MM CLASSICS. Illustrated catalog<br />
339 West 44th St., York, N.Y. 10036, 50c Manbeck Pictures, 3621-B Wakonda<br />
(212) 246-4972.<br />
Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321.<br />
INDOOR THEATRE MUSIC programming<br />
for today's audiences, today's movies and<br />
today's theatres. CSC Music Service<br />
(815) 397-9295.<br />
FILMS WANTED<br />
WANTED 35mm entertainment feature<br />
ms for Canadian market. Rights purchased<br />
or will distribute on percentage<br />
a<br />
5. Send particulars to <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, 4139.<br />
WE PURCHASE Mexican distribution<br />
ights to American-made motion pictures.<br />
^lease send pressbooks and asking prices<br />
o Bill Starr, American and Mexican Proiuctions.<br />
Inc., 1925 Martha, Harlingen,<br />
BOXOFFICE :: April 30, 1979
LEARN<br />
SUCCESSFUL SHOWMEN<br />
MERCHANDISE PICTURES,<br />
BOOST THEIR THEATRES,<br />
PROMOTE GOOD WILL,<br />
BUILD<br />
ATTENDANCE,<br />
AND INCREASE PROFITS<br />
IN<br />
CHOCKFUL OF BUSINESS BUILDING IDEAS<br />
In All Ways FIRST with the MOST of the BEST