Boxoffice-May.21.1979

'
WASHINGTON
Woody Allen's "Manhattan," a United
Artists' release, brought record-breaking
grosses to the Pedas Circle Theatres'
Avalon in its first week. The 708-scat
twin theatre grossed $49,617 during llupreiniere
week. Moviegoers' attendance,
furthermore, broke the house record foi a
single Saturday with a take of $12,045. Ilie
film had a four-theatre unveiling May 2.
George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." ;i
Wheeler Film release playing at two Pcd:is
Circle theatres, Dupont and Tenley, is ilo
ing "exceedingly good business," accoiiling
to Charlie Costolo, district manager for llie
circuit's eight houses and 12 screens.
Marty Zeidman, Columbia's branch manager,
screened "Hot Stuff" for cxhibilois
and special guests at the Motion Piclinc
Assn. of America screening room May 24.
The stars are Dom DeLuise, Suzanne I'leshette,
Jerry Reed and Ossie Davis.
William Zoetis. 20th Century-Fox brantli
manager, arranged a press screening of "Al
ien" at the Pedas Uptown, in Dolby, May
24. The sci-fi horror film opened at Ihc
Uptown the following day.
Fritz Goldschmidt, Avco Embassy branch
chief, sneaked "Skyline" at Neighborhood
Theatres' State Theatre in McLean, Va.,
May 11. The film will not go into general
release until early fall, according to head
booker Mary Ellen Romich. Avco Embas
sy's "Phantasm" will unreel in 95 thealres
in this exchange June 8. Reports of the
film's performance throughout the country
have been "phantastical."
The Variety
Club and WOMPI of Wash
ington will co-host a dinner dance al (lie
Bethesda Officers Club July 3. Chief barker
John Broumas is back at his Showcase
Thealres after attending the Variety Club
Internationa! convention in New Orleans
May 19-25.
Price Enterprises, headquartered at Vii
ginia Beach. Va.. announced its takeover o\
the Hampton Drive-In at Hampton. Va..
effective May 9.
John Obert, a 25-year veteran of the
'' Clark Service, ded recently. Obert bad retired
as manager of the film shipping com
pany. which has been renamed Molileli
r-'ilm
Service.
Edward W. Cockrell Jr. has been nameil
program planner for the American Film
Institute Theatre. Cockrell fills the vacancy
made by Michael Clark, who resigned to
accept the position as film critic for the
Detroit Free Press.
Recent movie openings include: Peler
Bogdanovich's "Saint Jack," in one theatre;
"Game of Death." Bruce Lee's last film, in
area theatres: and United Artists' release
"Voices" in West End Circle and area
thealres.
Janet Margolin, a recent visitor here to
promote United Artists' "Last Embrace." in
which she plays femme fatale opposite Roy
Scheider. said she likes the job she did in
the film. Uniquely primed at the age of .V5.
it has been 17 years since Frank and Eleanor
Perry cast Margolin as Lisa in "David
and Lisa." Jomathan Demme directed the
new romantic murder thriller, which was
his first feature since "Citizens Band."
R. I. Obscenity Statute
Ruled Unconstiluional
PROVIDENCE— I he Rhode Island Stale
Supreme Couit has ruled unconstitutional
the state's obscenity statute, used in 1978 to
raid a "Private Parts" erotic art show.
The ruling was issued in the matter of
challenge brought by D & J Enterprises
Inc.. owner/ operator of stores selling books,
magazines and films containing sexual
themes.
The suit's defendants were the state attorney
general and the police chiefs of Providence
and West Warwick.
The high court said that the state legislature
had included in its definition of "patently
offensive sexual conduct" behavior
which a jury might not find patently offensive.
The statute, therefore, is too broad,
the court commented.
Yearlong 'Rocky' Exhibitor
Has Discovered a Bonanza
BELMAR. N.J.— Between 50.000 and
(lO.OOO people have seen "The Rocky Horror
Picture Show" at the Belmar Cinema
here since it opened last Memorial Day,
according to William Franz, co-owner ol
the theatre which has hit a bonanza with the
cult movie, which shows every Friday and
Saturday for two screenings at midnight and
2 a.m. But instead of waiting for a celebra
lion this Memorial Day to mark its firs!
anniversary, Franz arranged an early celebration
by bringing in an acting troupe from
the Exeter Theatre in Boston to present a
live version of "The Rocky Horror Picliire
Show."
Not only is the $3 admission a boon lo
the boxoffice, but Franz finds the cult movie
brings in a lot of plusses. Mementos of the
film are for sale in the theatre's lobby and
selling briskly are such items as "Rocky
Horror" mirrors, T-shirts, posters, buttons,
songbooks and candy "Rocky Horror" lips
made out of marzipan.
In addition to the after-dark show, Bel
mar Cinema will occasionally add a Sunday
2 p.m. matinee for "The Rocky Horror
Picture Show" to accommodate the high
school and college students largely attracted
lo the film, who arc unable to take the lale
night hours.
Franz has a midnight following developing
as well on Sunday nights for another
cult cinema he started showing earlier this
year. The Sunday midnight attraction is a
double bill of the feature "Eraserhead" and
a film by "De Vo." During regular hours,
the Belmar Cinema operates with first-run
product, currently presenting the exclusive
area showing of "Superman." The theatre i<
located in
the Belmar Mall.
NEW
YORK
pHE WILL ROGERS New York kick-off
rally will be held June 12 at Will
Rogers Institute in White Plains. A screening
of the 1979 Will Rogers trailer starring
Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees
will be followed by cocktails and a garden
kmcheon. At 1:30, the Variety Club of New
York (Tent 35) will dedicate a plaque to
commemorate the establishment of a Limb
Bank for children at the Burke Rehabilitation
Center, under the direction of Dr. Peter
Stern. Plaques will also be dedicated in
memory of Ned E. Depinet and Russell
Downing.
From 2 to 4 p.m.. there will be a
discussion on "Asthma-Bronchitis-Emphysema"
by Lester B. Mayers. MD. supervisor
of the pulmonary rehabilitation unit at
the Burke Day Hospital; Charles E. Bredin,
MD. director of the pulmonary medicine
department at Burke Inpatient Hospital; and
Renee Schlesinger. director of physical therapy
at the Day Hospital.
•
The Ritillo Theatre film house on 42nd
Street and Broadway will become a 499-
it seat legitimate theatre, was announced by
Brandt Enterprises. The Lyric Theatre on
42 nd Street is also due for a restoration lo
legitimate enterprises,
both houses expected
to he operating under their new formats in
the fall.
•
Irwin Allen's all-star "Beyond the Poseidon
Adventure" opened May 25 at Flagship
Theatres throughout the metropolitan area.
Manhattan houses participating in the showcase
are Cinerama I. Beekman, Murray Hill
and RKO 86th Street. Allen produced and
directed the Warner Bros, release from Nelson
Gidding's screenplay, based on a novel
by the late
Paul Gallico.
•
Showcases include "The Prisoner of Zenda."
a Universal release of a Walter Miriscli
Production, starring Peter Sellers, which
opened May 25. Also. "Manhattan." "The
Dark." "The Champ." "The Exorcist." "The
Deer Hunter." "Love at First Bite." "Hair."
"The Silent Partner." "Hanover Street."
'Battlestar Gulactica." "Dawn of the Dead"
and "Winter Kills."
FOR SALE:
DRIVE-IN THEATRE SCREEN
WITH TOWER
SURFACE DIMENSION 120' x 60'
INTERLOCKING STEEL PANELS
CAN BE LAID DOWN IN WINDSTORM
CONTACT: Mr. Michael Mittleman
Harborside Park
711 Branch Avenue
Providence, Rl 02940
Tel: (401) 272-8000 Ext. 135
BOXOFFICE :; May 28. 1979
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