Boxoffice-August.06.1979

16 BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 6, 1979
CINCINNATI
Northpark Cinema 6, Lexington, Ky., has
been sponsoring weekly children's matinees.
Admission is 50 cents plus a coupon obtainable
at other Mid States Theatres or mer
chants throughout the Northpark Shopping
Center. Mark Johnson is manager of the
theatre
Dale Stevens wrote in the Cincinnati Post
regarding Universale "Dracula ": "Langella is
a marvelous Count Dracula and gives the kind
of stylized performance which brings Oscar
nominations It is a fine blend of art. fright
and fun."
The revived Emery Theatre celebrated its
first anniversary July 27. Operated by
members of the American Theatre Organ
Society, the house which had been used spar
ingly for the past 25 years, was revitalized by a
combination program of vintage "classic" motion
pictures and an organ concert on the
magnificent Wurlitzer that once sat in the
now razed Albee. A return engagement of
""Creature From the Black Lagoon" and "It
Came From Outer Space" in "original deep
vision 3D" highlighted the festivities.
Scioto Breeze Drive-ln, Portsmouth, Ohio,
received a major face lift before opening this
year. Chakeres Theatres completely
automated the booth using Eprad equipment,
installed a new sound system, remodeled and
revitalized the restroom and concession areas,
blacktopped the driveways, and repainted the
screen. Ray Barrett is the manager/operater at
the outdoor complex.
"Moonraker" continues an impressive
engagement at both Showcase Cinemas as
well as the Dixie Gardens and Oakley drive
ins. Meanwhile. Al's "The Amityville Horror"
kicked ofl July 27 at the two Showcases and at
the Academy and Florence outdoor screens.
Florence, Northgate, Times and Tri-Counly
each held special preview showings of Universal's
"More American Graffiti" on July 27.
CLEVELAND
The future of creative filmmaking is safe
and secure. Donna Chernin, Plain Dealer
movie critic, found three young men in a soda
parlor wearing Tshirts with the Freudian
symbols of Id. Ego and Super Ego. Her
curiosity piqued when she learned that they
were making a movie.
The embryonic Spielberg of the trio was
Sheldon Gleisser. an Ohio State University
junior who is majoring in filmmaking. Sheldon
works in a photography studio and ushers at
Loews Cedar Center Theatre a few times a
week to earn capital to produce his films. They
are shot in the streets and homes of his friends
who supply the talent. The budgets run about
$80.
Gleisser uses his imagination and the innovation
of youth to produce these films and
incorporates such clever devices as writing the
credits in .halk on the street . . . and his endings
are completely unpredictable. An
average film lasts about 20 minutes and takes
about two to three months to shoot. The films
are in 8mm.
Paula Jamrock, John litis Associates
publicity agency for Universal in Cleveland,
will visit Cleveland on her tour with Candy
Clark for "More American Graffiti." which is
slated for an Aug. 1 7 opening In connection
with the tour there will be numerous exploita
lion screenings. Jamrock will also slop here
while on tour with Sylvia Kristal for "The
Concorde: Airport 79."
Jerry Jorgensen. Columbia's branch
manager, was host for a screening of "When a
Stranger Calls." Marring Charles Durning.
Carol Kane and Colleen Dewhurst. James
Ryan. Universal, held a special screening at
Loews Village Theatre of "Yanks," starring
Richard Gere. Willian Devane. Vanessa
Redgrave and Lisa Eichhorn. "The Amityville
Horror" from American International was
screened, and Gordon Bugie, branch manager
of Ave© Embassy, screened "City on Fire,"
starring Barry Newman, Susan Clark, Shelley
Winters, James Franciscus, Ava Gardner and
Henry Fonda.
Variety Club's "Night at the Races" was a
huge success. Trophies were presented for
many of the races and especially pleased was
Bill Anderhall (20th-Fox) as his mother, Elsie
Rossler, who was visiting here, did the honors
for the second race as did Mrs. Mike Mooney
for the fourth race.
"Breaking Away" will open in August at
multiple theatres and "Star Wars" will open in
saturation at approximately the same time.
Mary Ann Shaugnessy, trainee from the
coast who spent last winter in the Cleveland
Fox office, has been transferred to the San
Francisco office.
Excerpts from Donna Chernin's reviews in
the Plain Dealer: " 'Just You and Me, Kid' is a
movie of considerable promise and little
pretense. Leonard Stern, who has written and
directed television plays, tries his hand at film
directing for the first time. It shows. Long
pauses between laugh lines give the film a
leaden quality.
"Exclusive at the Cedar Lee Theatre. 'No
Time for Breakfast' is a splendid film, an
upbeat story that is, more than anything, a
positive affirmation of life and living."
X ads disappear
from newspapers
in Delaware city
WILMINGTON, Del—The X-oriented
advertisements calling attention to the show
ing of X-rated motion pictures disappeared
overnight in the pages of the News and Jour
nal, morning and evening newspapers -here.
Limit on such advertising for
"sexploitation" movies were set by the News-
Journal Publishing Company.
The details of the new policy were set out in
a letter from Jack Skinner, director of advertising
for both papers, that was mailed to the
managements of all local area theatres. Advertising
for both papers are sold in combination.
The policy, which became effective immediately,
applies to films that have either
received an X rating from the Motion Picture
Association of America, or have been described
by their producers as "X-rated." Illustrations
will be banned from ads for the X films.
Skinner told the theatre managements, adding
that even the titles of the films will be subject
to editing "if deemed necessary by the
newspaper." If a movie title appears offensive.
Skinner continued, the papers will substitute
the phrase "Call theatre for title and times." in
the advertisement.
The new policy also requires that the line
"Adult Only" appear in all ads lor X films. "A
single and tasteful X will be displayed where
appropriate." Skinner said. The new guidelines
do not restrict the size of the ads.
"I don't think our readers expect Playboy
type advertising." Skinner said. The new
policy "is in the best interest of the majority of
our readers." he added. Skinner said the curb
on X film ads is a policy many newspapers in
the United States have adopted, notably the
New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
For the edition of Saturday. July 14— the
first day that the new policy went into effect—Cinema
273 located in nearby Newark.
Del., was the only advertiser affected. With a
headline: Two Adult Features." the
newspaper listed only the title and cast leads
for "Sweetheart." The other half of the ad
stated. "Call Theatre for Name of Show."
first run report
BUFFALO
Alien l20th Foxl. I screen, 8th wk $8,200
Bloodline (Paral. i screens. 3rd wjc 13.000
Dracula lUniv). 3 screens. 1st wk 22,900
Escape From Alcatraz iParal. 2 screens.
4th wk 9.100
tscape to Athena (AFDl, I screen.
Istwk 1,200
The In Laws |WB), 2 screens, 5th wk 19,100
Just You and Me, Kid IC'oll. 2 screens
Istwk 9.500
The Main tvent (WB), 2 screens. 4th wk 1 3,500
Meatballs IParal. 4 screens. 1st wk 66,600
Moonraker (UA1. 4 screens, 3rd wk 15,000
The Muppet Movie (AFDl, 3 screens. 1st wk 54,900
Rocky II (U A), 4 screens, 5th wk 20,000
DETROIT
The Amitviille Horror (All. 14 screens,
Istwk $650,000
The Frisco Kid iWBl. 1 1 screens,
Istwk 125,000
The In-Lavvs IW BL 7 screens, 7th wk $ 1 00.000
Meatballs (Paral. 17 screens. Istwk 300.000
Moonraker (UAI. 14 screens. 5th wk 90.000
Rockv II (UAI. 7 screens. 7th wk 80.000
The Villain IC oil. 1 5 screens. 2nd wk 1 75.000
PITTSBURGH
Alien I20ih Foxl, 3 screens. 8th wk $19,300
Bloodline (Paral. 3rd wk.
Bank 2 4,500
Showcase West 3 5,500
Escape From Alcatraz (Paral. 4th wk.
Fulton I 4.800
Showcase East 1 6,500
The In-Laws IWBl. Bank 1 , 5th wk 5,000
The Kids Are Alright (NWi, Kings Court.
3rd wk 3.500
A Little Romance (Orion WBl, Manor 2.
9th wk 3.000
The Main Event |WB|. 3 screens. 4th wk. .20.100
Manhattan (UAI. Squirrel Hill. 12th wk 3.500
Moonraker lUA). 3 screens. 3rd wk 27.700
Prophecy (Paral. Showcase West 2. 5th wk.. .2.000
Rockv li IUAI. 5th wk.
Chatham 12.800
Showcase East 4 15.000
NEW YORK
The Amitviille Horror (All, 93 screens.
1st wk. (4da.l $1,337,000
Bloodline IParal. 6 screens. 4lh wk 90.623
Breaking A*av lUAI. 5 screens.
2nd wk 113.877
La Cage Aux Eolles (UAI. 68th St. Playhouse.
Ilth wk . 32.700
Dance oi Death (Paral. D.W. Griffith.
2nd wk 6.500
Dracula lUnivl. 64 screens. 1st. wk 654,759
Escape From Alcatraz IParal. 7 screens.
5th wk 131.923
The Frisco Kid iWBl. C inema I. 3rd wk 19.921
The In-Lavvs (WBl. 7 screens. 6th wk 1 18.717
The Main Event (WBl. 33 screens. 5th wk 146.846
Meatballs (Paral. 75 screens. 4th wk 406.344
Moonraker IUAI, 29 screens.
4ih wk 541.942
The Muppet Moiie lAFDl. 8 screens
5th wk 135.821
Peppermint Soda I New Yorkerl. 57th St. Plai house.
2nd wk 39.598
Rocki II (UAI. 22 screens. 6th wk 460.655
El Super (New Yorkerl. Cinema Sludio II.
Sth ivk 10.020
Till Marriage Do Is Part iFranklin). Plaza.
Istwk 47.220
The Tree of Wooden ( logs iNew Yorkerl.
Cinema Studio I. Sth wk 12.484
The Wanderers (Orion WBl. 7 screens.
2nd wk 100.038
Whv Not! tNew Linel. Pans. Isi wk 32.145
f FRONTIER
AMUSEMENT.-CORP.
505 P I SI. BUrFALO, NY.
Buyers and BooKers, serving leoding
exhibitor* in Buffalo, Albony ond Pittsburgh
BILL HEBERT (716)854-6752 CRAIG CLARK
BALTIMORE
Alien l20lh Foxl. Westview III. 6th wk $6,000
The Amitviille Horror (All. 1st wk.
Patterson 1 9,800
Towson 23.000
Westview II 35.000
Dracula lUnivl. 3rd wk
Senator (3 da.l 7.300
Westview 1 10.000
Escape From Alcatraz IParal, Liberty I
6th wk 3,320
The French Detective (Ouarlell, Playhouse.
4th wk 2.700
The In-Laws (WBl, Liberty II. 6th wk 3.819
Meatballs IParal. Patterson II,
1st wk. (3 da.) 3,200
Moonraker (UAI, Cinema 11, Sth wk 8,100
Rocky II (UAI. Cinema I, 7th wk 7.200
The Wanderers (Orion WBl. Super 170 Dl.
Istwk 7,000
CLEVELAND
Alien 120th Foxl. 6 screens, 5th wk $30,320
Bloodline IParal, 4 screens. 3rd wk 14.743
Escape from Alcatraz IParal. 5 screens,
4th wk 24,056
The In-Laws (WBl, 5 screens, 6th wk 31.967
Just You and Me, Kid IC'oll. 6 screens.
Istwk 20.588
The Main Event iWBl. 5 screens. 5lh wk. .20.883
Manhattan (UAI. World East. World West
9th wk 8.355
Meatballs (Paral. 8 screens. 2nd wk 95,007
Moonraker (UAI, 6 screens, 4th wk 35.827
Rockv II IUAI. 7 screens. 6th wk 29.852
setting it
straight
"DraculaV first week New York gross was incorrectly
reported as $93,850 in the July 30
issue. The correct figure is $931,850.
DETROIT
20th Fo\ previewed "Breaking Away" at
the Americana Theatre.
I
nited Artists tossed a "Moonraker" disco
the swank
party with radio station WNIC at
Oscar's Disco.
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