Boxoffice-May.21.1979

WASHINGTON
a mong the pack of area boxoffice openings,
first runs and revivals is Warner Bros,
release of "A Little Romance," starring
Laurence Olivier, produced by Yves Rousset-Rouard
and Robert L. Crawford and directed
by George Roy Hill, and playing at
five theatres. Appearing at 15 theatres is
"Firepower," starring Sophia Loren and
James Coburn, which was filmed partly on
location in Washington by Michael Winner.
"Dawn of the Dead," appearing in two
theatres, has no rating from the MPAA.
but the national distributor. United Film,
and the local distributor, Wheeler Film,
have urged theatre owners to admit no one
under 17.
Tiercial engagement started the next day at
nine theatres.
M. David Levy, owner and operator of
wo Washington area theatres, the College
Park and the Key in Georgetown, has taken
5ver the Charles Theatre in Baltimore. The
urogram policy will be repertory, revival
.eries and pseudo-neglected American and
oreign language first
runs.
Roth Theatres had a Mother's Day matilee
promotion of $5 admission for the enire
family, regardless of size, provided the
nether of the family purchased the ticket at
he boxoffice.
The Post's Gary Arnold: "If the price
loesn't turn out to be exorbitant, (I hope)
me of the local revival houses will consisder
he Howard Hughes package recently acluired
by Universal. The eight titles
include
Hell's Angels,' 'Scarface,' 'The Outlaw,'
'reston Sturges' 'Mad Wednesday' and 'The
'reshman,' starring Harold Lloyd."
"The Evictors," another horror story, has
een booked into the Ontario Theatre.
PITTSBURGH
The genera] membership meeting of
ATO of West Pennsylvania will be held
the Marriott Inn, Greentree, June 14.
unch and dinner are being offered. There
)XOFFICE :: May 21, 1979
be election of officers and members of quirer, in reviewing "Boulevard Nights,"
it finds to be "a movie in which Hollywood
the board of directors. This is the original
and oldest service exhibitor organization,
now in its 73rd year.
CINCINNATI
TJniversal held a tradcsneak of Peter Sellers'
version of the adventure classic
"Prisoner of Zenda" on May 14 at the Valley
Cinema.
A number of reissues are now on view
Saddles," "Coming Home" and Oh, God!"
Saddles, "Coming Home" and "Oh, God!"
Drive-ins unveiled "The Warriors," Roman
Polanski's "Forbidden Dreams," "Every
Which Way But Loose" and "Richard Pryor
—Live in Concert."
Columbia held a gala premiere of "Hanover
Street" on May 17 to benefit the American
Roger
friends"
Grooms
in the Cincinnati
reviewing
Enquirier
"Old Boy-
said,
Red Cross, District of Columbia chap-
ter. Included in the $30-a-person ticket were
"Talia Shire
as a young
gives
clinical
a bravura performance
psychologist limping
3 wine and cheese party hosted by Neiman away from a shattered marriage . . . But
Marcus at Mazza Gallerie, the 8 p.m. dispite beautiful and risk-taking performances,
screening at General Cinema's Jennifer Cinand
innovative and thoughtful direction,
a provocative script, 'Old Boyfriends'
5ma, and an after-theatre supper at The
Magic Pan. "Hanover Street's" area com- remains a quizzical, almost-made-it film."
Mid States again held Friday and Satiuday
evening sneak previews of Orion's "A
Little Romance" with Laurence Olivier and
Sally Kellerman. This was a "holdover" for
the sneak, of sorts, since the week before
the Kenwood and Studio had held screenings.
Northgate hosted the latest unreeling.
Advertising proclaimed that the additional
preview was for "those who couldn't gel
in" previously.
Avco's new comedy "A Very Big Withdrawal,"
was also sneaked Friday at Kenwood
Mall.
The Palace, a former RKO film house
that was reopened last October after restoration
and polishing to feature major live entertainment,
has been leased to a trio of new
investors. They are Dino Santangelo, Jules
Balkin, and Larry Dolan, and they plan lo
continue featuring live
entertainment.
PHILADELPHIA
Toe Adcock in the Philadelphia Bulletin, in
reviewing "The 5th Musketeer," says:
"There's a lot of fun in this movie for two
sorts of people—those who like romantic
lots of action adventures with swordplay
bill
Juccess of the NATO anti-blind bidding
and those who like
in the seems assured Pennsylvania
fancy millinery." But
Desmond Ryan in the Philadelphia Inquirer
leneral Assembly. Reintroduced after it
felt it suffered from "the usual dimwitted
arrangements and stilted dialogue that afflict
as held in Senate committee and thus
iUed last year, the measure is now Senate
films made for the widest possible in-
ill 702 and has the signatures of 26 senaternational
audiences."
)rs as sponsors, being in itself assurance
Glassboro (N.J.) Borough Council approved
f passage. The House last year favored the
an ordinance which may bring cable
roposal nearly unanimously, thus no probm
is expected there.
television to the area as early as this summer.
CATV Associates of Woodbury (N.J.)
was awarded the franchise to install the system.
Desmond Ryan in the Philadelphia In-
has reduced Chicano to the merely chic."
And Joe Baltake of the Daily News says it
is "the best 1961 movie made in 1979 . . .
I he plot is imitative of 'West Side Story.'
but willioiil the benefit of entertainment
Variety Club Women's Evening Group is
planning a Disco Evening at Emerald City
in June. Maxinc Orloff is in charge of tickets
for the charity event.
Janet Margolin was in town to meet the
press for personality interviews in connection
with her co-starring role in "The Last
Embrace," which opened at Budco's Regency
Theatre.
Pic's Fabulous Bonus Offer: