Boxoffice-August.06.1979

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BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 6, 1979
SAN ANTONIO
(continued from page 12)
series have won distinguished awards in national
competitions.
Bob Polunsky of the San Antonio Light
reviewed several films and wrote that it would
take a wooden Indian not to laugh at "Meat
balls." "This is a comedy that has no rhyme or
reason to it." he said. "But it's carefree enough
to relax the audience and corny enough to
make the audience laugh with abandon. The
only flaw is the raunchiness of a few situations
land language) that could offend some."
Among (he new film titles appearing on local
marquees are "The Double McGuffin," "The
Amityville Horror," "The Frisco Kid," "The
Wanderers," a double bill of "The 7 Brothers
Meet Dracula" and "Master of the Flying
Guillotine." a triple bill of "The Warriors,"
"Up in Smoke" and "Looking for Mr. Good
Bar," "The China Syndrome." Walt Disney's
"Unidentified Flying Oddball" and "The
Jungle Book." "Coming Home" on a dual bill
with "The Great Train Robbery," "Boulevard
Nights," "The Frisco Kid" plus "Crossed
Swords," "Hometown U.S.A." together with
"Sweater Girls," "La Muerte Del Soplon"
together with "Contrabando y Traicion,"
"Escape from Alcatraz" plus "High Plain
Drifter."
PALM BEACH
Dennis Daniels is the new United Artists
Thealre Circuit division manager in the area.
Daniels has been with the company for nine
years and previously served as division
manager in Indiana. Fred Elwell became
UATC's city manager, which includes the
Village Green sixplex and the Mall Cinema
fourplex. Jack Van Lloyd has been named to
succeed Pat Moore as manager at the Planta
tion. and Carol Barrett is the new manager at
(he Movies in Pompano.
City Manager Fred Elwell reported that an
unbelievable display is being prepared for the
opening of "The Muppei Movie" August 10.
A frog race is planned for August 1 1, spon
sored by Movies on the Green and World of
Sound. Bicycles and pinball machines are
among the many prizes.
Mall Cinema will open Universal'-.
"Dracula" on August 10. The theatre has arranged
a (ie-in wilh (he Wes( Palm Beach
Blood Bank. Anyone donating a pint of blood
will be admitied (o (he ihea(re wi(hou( charge.
On (he same day. a bike will be awarded for
(he bes( slogan pertaining (o (he conservation
of energy.
Adam Reamsnyder is (he new assistant
manager at Plitl's Plaza Twin.
George Romero, PiKsburgh writerproducer,
was a recent guesl speaker a(
Florida Adanlic University in Boca Raton.
Romero, whose latest film effort, "Dawn of
the Dead." is currently showing at local movie
houses, said "splatter films" are money in .the
bank. The follow up to lhe 1965 "Night of the
Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead," is helping
"pay the bills" for Romero's independent production
company. The Laurel Group. "Genres
are our way of keeping our company alive."
the tall, bearded 1960 Carnegie Tech graduate
told university buffs. Romero warned future
filmmakers to stay away from Hollywood as
long as they could. "Independents should s(art
uniting." said Romero. Romero plans to make
a movie in North Florida and Georgia nexl
spring. The preliminary title of the film is
"Knight." It will be about a motorcycle gang
that emulates the days of King Arthur's
Round Table.
Romero voiced his displeasure over the fact
that "Dawn of the Dead" is unrated. It pro
hibits him from selling rights to prime-time
TV. he said. He chose not to take an X rating,
the only one offered to him because of the
violence and blood depicted in the film.
"Dawn" isn't traumatizing, he insisted. "It's
not the kind of film that imitates reality. It's
pure fantasy. Outrageous." He likened it to a
roller coaster ride, a "funhouse experience "
HOUSTON
Two local actors, Betty Murphy and Ed
Geldhart, have been casl in Paramount's "Ur
ban Cowboy." which is being filmed at
Gilley's Club in Pasadena They will play the
parents of the star of the film. John Travolta.
The Houston city council has approved a
contract with Tormont Film Produclions Inc
to film segments of (he motion picture "Mid
die Age Crazy" at the Houston International
Airport. Under the terms of the contract, the
city will receive $500 a day from the film com
pany for the use of the airport. Councilmen
gave routine approval to the request wilh no
discussion. The movie, to star Bruce Dern and
Ann Margret, depicts a man's emotional crisis
as he approaches middle age. The film will be
directed by John Trenl, with Marty Krofft as
co-executive producer and a script by Carl
Kleinschmitt.
MIAMI
Miami actor Mai Jones has a good part in
the new Tommy Smothers made in England
movie called "There Goes the Bridge."
Miami freelance photographer Joachim
Schuppe got a great assignment from Albany
International to shoot subsidiary operations in
England and Europe for the firm's annual
report.
Variety Children's Hospital here is $60,000
richer thanks to a bequest from the estate of
Roy Cannon of Fort Myers, Fla. Variety executive
vice president William H. Coleman
says the foundation has raised more than $1
million in the past three years. Variety
Children's Hospital is the welfare project of
the local Variety tent.
There are several replacements under con
sideration for the film industry consultant's
job that became vacant on July 12 after the
sudden dismissal of Philip Hamersmith, accor
ding to metro Mayor Steve Clark.
Hamersmith was discharged from his
Sla-year post in a letter from Clark, who said
he iHamersmilh) used the mayor's letterhead
"without consultation" in a fiery, five-page let
ter Hamersmith wrote to Gov. Bob Graham.
Hamersmith "fussed at" the Govenor and
Secretary of Commerce Sid Levin for going to
Los Angeles to lure filmmakers to Dade County
without letting him know about it.
Hamersmith said that Tallahassee was trying
to shoulder Dade out of the film picture.
Hamersmith. who also is in public relations,
had served as film industry consultant to the
mayor's office.
The mayor has said he considers the consul
tarn post an important one; he needs to keep
the mayor and the county in touch with what
is going on in the film industry.
Miami Beach is reportedly thinking about
hiring its own film consultant. Mayor Leonard
Haber of Miami Beach, reportedly wants to
hire movie producer Aaron Beckwith. a
former New Yorker now living here, for
$10,000 a year plus expenses to work as a lobbyist.
The mayor wants the Beach's Tourist
Development Authority, not the city, to retain
Beckwith. and his plan faces some opposition.
CHARLOTTE
Correction Depl.: In the July 16 issue of
BOXOFFICE. we inadvertently listed "Alien" as
playing at the Eastland Mall; it should have
been Park Terrace (Plitt Theatres). Also, our
apologies to Harold Duckett (WB) for incor
rectly spelling his last name in the July 16
issue.
Gas station operators may be harassed by
long lines al their pumps, but movie theatre
operators are simply delighted by the lines that
are growing coincidemally at their boxoffice
windows. The longer the gas lines, it seems,
the longer the movie lines, or to put it another
way. the closer to home American's are forced
to stay, the more eager they become for near
by alternative diversion— especially lhe
movies
New pictures on the marquees "The Mup
pet Movie" IAFD|. Capri 1; "Breaking Away"
(20th Fox), Manor; "The Villain" (Col),
Charlotlelown Mall 3.
Screenings at Car-Mel: 'North Dallas For
ty" (Para). "Yanks" lUniversali
From (he desk of Eddie Marks of Stewart &
Everett Theatres: Paul Jones (Riverside I & 2,
Danville, Va.l retired this week after 50 years
in theatre management and was given a retire
menl luncheon al the Charcoal Steak House
in Danville, atlended by his friends. In lieu of
his retirement, managerial changes were
necessitaled. Gary is now in charge of all three
screens in Danville
Bob Jones is now city manager with respon
sibility for 4 screens in Wilson, N.C. Bob
Johnson has assumed management duties a(
(he Gold Park Cinema I 2 in Wilson. Jeff
Smi(h has replaced Bob James as (he manager
of the Center in Salisbury.
The Duncan Theatre in Union, SC. has
been shuttered after several years of declining,
frustraling business. Amazingly, when news
got out thai (he local (healre was closing.
13
business was good for (he Friday Saturday of
operation, and a parade of mothers brought
(heir cameras (o lake pictures of their children
in front of the theatre that would be no more
Mitch Freeman, manager of the Cinema l
& 2 in Forest City, N.C., married Judy Har
rington recently.
first
run report
CHARLOTTE
Alien QOth huxl. Park Terrace.
7th wk $128,397
lhe Apple Dumpline t.jnu iBV). 2 screens.
1st wk 12,908
Bloodline tParal. C harlottetown Mall 3,
2nd wk 22,891
Escape Krom Alcatraz iParal.
C harkvttetown Mall 2.3rdwk 45,532
lhe h-Lawa tWBl, Park Terrace 2.
4th wk 41,030
The Main Event |WB). South Park I,
3rd wk 64,271
Moonraker lUAl. Eastland Mall I. 2nd wk 52.089
NightwinglColl. 2 screens. 2nd wk. 15,215
Players tPara). Eastland Mall 3. 5th wk . 25,029
Prophecy (Para), Tryon Mall 1, 4th wk 32,966
Rocky II lUAl. C apri I. 4th wk 74.1 17
Gulf states will add 35 new screens
NEW ORLEANS—George
Solomon,
general manager of Gulf States Theatres of
New Orleans, has announced that construe
tion has begun on a number of new screens
and that plans call for construction to start immediately
on others to add 35 new screens to
the Gulf States circuit.
The Camellia Cinema in McComb, Miss,
will become a fourplex; one auditorium will
have 276 seats and the other will have 168, bringing
the total seating capacity to 848. The
theatre lobby will be completely redone to
double the existing size, including an enlarged
concession area and new restroom areas.
There will also be a large game room off the
lobby, including a number of the newest game
machines available. Two of the auditoriums
will be equipped with Dolby stereo. The construction
work is being done by Sherman Contractors
of McComb, Miss. Plans for the new
additions are to be ready by Thanksgiving.
THE BATTLEFIELD CINEMA in
Vicksburg, Miss., will become a sixplex. Plans
are to add four 100-seat auditoriums to the
now existing twin cinema. This will bring the
seating capacity of the Battlefield to 1,000.
Dolby stereo will be installed in two of the
auditoriums. In addition to the four new
screens, a game room will be included.
A fourplex is slated to begin construction
soon in a shopping center mall in Natchez,
Miss. The new cinema will feature the
ultimate in luxury and comfort, and will be
furnished with rocking chair seats, Dolby
stereo, a game room, large lobby and concession
areas. This will bring to seven the number
of screens for Gulf States theatres in Natchez.
The Trackside Cinema in Bogalusa. La., will
become a fourplex. Two 100-seat auditoriums
and a game room will be added to the existing
twin cinema. Plans are to double the size of
the lobby with a larger concession area, and
Dolby stereo is to be installed in one or two
auditoriums. Construction is to be finished
before or by Easter 1 980.
THE TWIN CINEMA in Pascagoula.
Miss., is to become a fourplex. Two new
auditoriums are to be added—one will seat
220 and the other will have a seating capacity
of 100. Construction is to be completed for an
Easter opening.
Construction is to start soon for a new
fourplex cinema in Greenville. Miss. The new
cinema will be in the Greenville Mall and will
have a seating capacity of 650. One
auditorium is to seat 250, one 200. and two
FLORIDA THEATRE
EQUIPMENT
& SUPPLY CO., INC.
IWRvmiSC. VOI Ml DIOR YOl H IHl UKI
1 ST U'tlh SI • V Miami Ha.. H1H1
Tel: 944-4470
I
other additions with 100 seats each. The
cinema will be equipped with Dolby stereo,
rocking chair seats, a game room, and a
spacious lobby and concession area. Plans are
for an Easter opening.
Negotiations are under way for a site in
Lake Charles, La., which would be used for a
fiveplex cinema. The seating capacity will be
1,290.
A NEW FOURPLEX cinema is planned
for the Saw Mill Square in Laurel, Miss. The
seating capacity for the four new cinemas will
be 650. The new cinema, now planned for an
Easter opening, will feature luxury and comfort
with rocking chair seats, Dolby stereo, a
game room, and spacious lobby and concession
areas. Gulf States operates the Northside
Twin Cinema in Laurel.
The Vista Village Cinema in Opelousas,
La., is to become a fourplex. Two 1 50 seat
auditoriums with Dolby stereo are to be added
to the twin cinema. Plans are for a Christmas
completion.
CONSTRUCTION IS NOW under way
for an eightplex cinema in the Bon Marche
Shopping Center in Baton Rouge, La. This
will be the first eightplex cinema in Louisiana.
The new cinema will have a seating capacity
of 2,014: two auditoriums of 412 seats each,
three auditoriums of 220 seats each, one with
190 seats and two with 170 seats each. The
lobby will consist of two concession stands
and a game room. The theatre will be equipped
with the latest in automated projection
equipment, including Dolby stereo in two of
the auditoriums. The cinema is being con
structed by the Hearn Construction Company
of Baton Rouge. Current plans are for a
Christmas opening. Gulf States operates the
Showtown Twin Drive-In Theatre in Baton
Rouge.
Gulf States says that by adding the new
auditoriums and the new cinemas in the small
towns the circuit will be able to bring more of
the finest and the most current movie fare to
those areas. Gulf States currently operates 1 12
indoor and drive-in screens in Mississippi,
Louisiana. Alabama and Texas.
DRIVE-IN
THEATRE
SCREENS
'The Quality Tower that never
has had to be replaced."
GENE TAYLOR
& D Fabrication
and Erection
Co.
Post Office Box 3524
Shawnee, Kansas 66203
913-631-9695