Boxoffice-May.21.1979

MINNEAPOLIS
grosses here took a
onc-lwo punch across
the key weekend period that saw moviegoing
badly bruised by the combination ol
Mother's Day and the Minnesota fishiny
opener.
Quite a contingent flew out of the 1 win
Cities headed for the Variety Clubs Inlernational
convention in New Orleans May
19-25. Among them were Mr. and Mrs.
Rodney Grubb, Mr. and Mrs. Don Palmquist,
Mr. and Mrs. Mel Goldstein, Mr. and
Mrs. Arnold Kramer, Mr. and Mrs. Mike
Winer, Mrs. Fritzie Haskell, Robert Klesath,
and Dr. Harold Lucas, who is head of
the Pediatrics Department at the Varicly
Heart Hospital here.
Frank Jtanotti, Universal branch manager,
is having some fun with two upcoming pictures.
They're "Yanks." set for the Skyway
III Theatre Nov. 2, and "The Jerk," the
Steve Martin comedy opening Dec. 21.
Zanotti says some have maintained Ihey
must be pictures about dentists! (Actually.
"Yanks" is a Vanessa Redgrave film dealing
with GIs in England in 1943 during World
War II.)
Four members of the
Paramoimt braiicli
offices here flew to Chicago May 16-18 for
a seminar on a variety of subjects. Making
the trek were branch boss Forrie Myers;
Joe Rosen, salesman; Bonnie Lynch, head
booker; and Gloria Voss, cashier.
Veteran exhibitor John Rohr has sold
his Marlow Theatre. Pine River, Minn.,
after 40 years. The new owmer is Gary M.
Cook. Buying and booking will be done by
the Jim Wilson Theatre Service . . . And
the Sky Blue Drive-In, Garrison, Minn.,
owned and operated by Don Wilcox, also
has joined the Wilson booking-buying ros-
"Manhattan," reported United Arlisis
branch manager Walt Badger, held firm
here in its second week. In St. Paul, after a
glowing review was printed there, the picture
actually pushed upward in Its second week
at the Cina Theatre and UA's The Movies
at Maplewood. At the same time. "Coming
Home." obviously profiting from its Oscars.
continued a prime liot-lickel ileni oiiV
and around the tcrrilory. with middle
smaller-market exhibitors ringing B;kI:
phone off the hook for dates.
Film Disi. Suit Filed
Against Allied Artsts
Canada Edition
From
MONTREAL— Somerville House, a Canadian
film company, has filed a multipleaction
suit for an undisclosed amount
against Allied Artists Industries of New
York.
Rosemary Christensen, head of Somerville,
said that the sitit stems from an alleged
breach of contract and for failure to account
for and disburse distribution revenues to
Somerville investors from two films, "The
Story of O" and "Zorro."
At the request of Somerville House, the
courts issued a seizure order against all
assets and properties of the distribution
company and its affiliated companies in
Quebec pending the outcome of the case.
"The Story of O" was released in 1975
and "Zorro" a year later.
New Organization Formed
From Canada Edilion
TORONTO—A mew organization, set up
Jack Ignatowicz, Columbia branch chief.
landed a total of seven key houses for
"Game of Death," which had a May along the lines of the Academy of Motion
2.'i
opening. There are five dates here and two Picture Arts and Sciences, has been formed
in St. Paul. This is noteworthy because kung to replace the annual Canadian Film
fu films usually land only a single actionhouse
date in each
Awards, organizers said recently.
Paul Heffert, interim co-chairman of the
city.
recently formed Academy of Canadian Cinema,
said that organizers recognized the
need to expand the film awards because of
the "explosive growth of the feature film industry
in this country."
Heffort, a composer, said that the awards
—for which the Etrogs are given—originally
had not been set up to handle feature
films and that nomimating and judging procedures
had become difficult.
He said that film-feature production grew
to more than $60 million in 1977 from $5
million in 1977. It is expected to reach $100
million this year.
The awards in the past have been made
in the fall, often before many of the nominated
films had been released imi the country.
For the past two decades, the awards
were sponsored by industry organizations.
Better Film Council
Salutes Fitzgerald
By BILL NICHOl.
Special
Correspondent
MILWAUKEE—Dean Filzgeiald. president
of Capitol Service Inc.. representing a
chain of theatres in the Milwaukee and
Madison areas, was the recipient of the
Man of the Year Award at the Better Films
and TV Council of Milwaukee Area's annual
luncheon May 9 at the Wisconsin
Club.
Seated al the head table were Eunice
Thessin. council president; Mary Stevens
treasurer; Karla Koskinen, scholarship recipient;
Mailene Cornelius, corresponding
secretary; Irene Fink, vice president and
program chairman; Fran Schmidtknccht, advisor
and a past president; Dean Alfred Solkonicki.
School of Speech, Marquette University;
Anastasia Essmann, recording secretary
and decorations chairman; and Richaid
Kite, president. Marcus Theatres Corp.
and guest speaker.
Fitzgerald was honored for his "outstanding
and continued support of the counsel."
Guest speaker Richard Kite commented
favorably on the MPAA's efforts to "protect
moviegoers" through its rating system.
"You people of the council are doing a
wonderful job in telling the public about
films, and I hope you can continue for
many years to come," he added.
Alfred Solkonicki. dean of Marquette
University School of Speech, complimented
the council for awarding the scholarship to
a Marquette student.
Entertainment was furnished by The
Choralaires from Wauwatosa East High
School.
The council's next meeting is scheduled
for June 4.
Theatres Sold in Hill City
HILL CITY, KAN.—Lawrence Delaney
has purchased the Midway Theatre and the
Riverside Drive-In from the Welty family
here. He took over the operation April I
Recent attractions were "Grease" at the
Midway and a double bill of "The Warriors"
and "Pretty Baby" at the ozoner.
When Buying or Selling in Wisconsin . . . Call Norton
149 School St.
Chilton, Wis. 53014
H
James
P. Norton
Theatre Broker
414-849-9718
J. P. Norton Real Estate, Inc.
BOXOFFICE :: May 28, MW-3