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B0X0FFICE/AUGUST13, 1979<br />
The Business Weekly for Motion Picture Exhibition Published by Vance Publishing Corporation/Vol 1 1 5, No. 20<br />
Two positions<br />
created to fill<br />
Ladd's vacancy<br />
HOLLYWOOD— In a move that has been anticipated for<br />
several weeks. Sandy Lieberson and Ashley Boone have been<br />
named to fill Alan Ladd's shoes as head of 20th Century-Fox's<br />
feature film division The formal announcement was made<br />
Aug. 8 by Dennis C. Slanfill. chairman of the board and chief<br />
executive officer of the parent corporation.<br />
Lieberson. 43. has been appointed president of 20th Fox<br />
productions, and Boone. 40, has been named president of<br />
20th Fox distribution and marketing. Both activities are newly<br />
created divisions of Fox. Both men will report directly to Stan<br />
Cross confrontation<br />
James Brolin and Margot Kidder, as George and Kathleen Lutz, confront violent and unknown forces with the symbol of<br />
their religion before fleeing in terror in American International's "The Amityville Horror." See review on page 18.<br />
'Horror' all too realfor Lutzes<br />
By JIM ROBBI.NS<br />
East Coast Editor<br />
NEW YORK— Kathleen Lutz. the wife and mother in the<br />
family that was reportedly victimized by demonic<br />
phenomena in their Long Island home, doesn't intend to see<br />
"The Amityville Horror" and neither will her three children,<br />
at least not while she has any<br />
say in the matter. And it's not<br />
only because the picture is rated<br />
R.<br />
Stenches, chills, horrid facial<br />
blotches, and more. Although<br />
the experiences are still too harrowing<br />
to relive in a darkened<br />
movie theatre, they don't stop<br />
her and her husband. George,<br />
from undertaking a nationwide<br />
round of interviews in connec<br />
lion with the American International<br />
Pictures release. The film<br />
opened July 27 to strong<br />
business on about 700<br />
screens.<br />
"I believe in the movie. " said Lutz. who added he had "a<br />
severe headache that didn't go away for three days" when he<br />
saw a rough cut of the Stuart Rosenburg film. "It captures<br />
the emotions of what Kathy and I went through exactly<br />
right on. exactly how they happened."<br />
°- £ w o<br />
5 E<br />
uj a.<br />
It is because he agrees with the force of "The Amityville<br />
Record grosses<br />
HOLLYWOOD—"The Amityville Horror,"<br />
starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder, set a<br />
record breaking gross of $21,350,000 in the first 1<br />
days of its release in 868 theatres in the United<br />
States and Canada. The gross is the highest open<br />
ing figure ever amassed by an AI picture in its<br />
25-year history, according to Eugene Tunick, vice<br />
president and general sales manager.<br />
In its first three days in Chicago, opening Aug. 3,<br />
the film grossed $555,683 at 32 theatres. For the<br />
same three days in New York City the take was<br />
$750,991 at 96 theatres. In Los Angeles the same<br />
three-day total was $595,932 in 65 theatres.<br />
Horror" that the Lutzes are conducting interviews, arranged<br />
by AI's West Coast publicity people. Before the couple Iwho<br />
now reside in Southern California! arrived in New York<br />
where Mrs. Lutz appeared on "Good Morning. America."<br />
Lutz talked to media in Atlanta. Miami, and St. Louis. The<br />
following leg of the tour took place in Cleveland. Denver.<br />
San Francisco, Los Angeles,<br />
and San Diego. More dates will<br />
follow, according to AI.<br />
As for the Lutzes' financial<br />
gain from the film. Lutz said<br />
that if the film was "a complete<br />
success." his family would<br />
receive "a certain amount." He<br />
refused to be more specific, and<br />
said. "It was a very hard time<br />
for us. and to be here at all we<br />
have to be satisfied with the<br />
film, period." Lutz said his<br />
financial reward wouldn't be<br />
any more or any less "if we did<br />
or didn't" give interviews.<br />
But why dredge up such horrible<br />
events, some of which were left out of the book by Jay<br />
Anson because they were personally humiliating'' Mrs. Lutz<br />
said she hoped their efforts would lead to more research of<br />
pyschic phenomena.<br />
"There's more existing than you can see or touch," she<br />
said.<br />
z<br />
v m<br />
o w<br />
< m<br />
33<br />
fill.<br />
LIEBERSON, WHO JOINED Fox in April 1977, was<br />
previously vice president of European production In his new<br />
position, he will have responsibility for the production of all<br />
new 20th Fox films. He has been responsible for British and<br />
European based productions for the film company, including<br />
the company's recent boxoffice success, "Alien." Before join<br />
ing Fox. Lieberson was an independent film producer.<br />
Boone will be responsible for the worldwide distribution and<br />
marketing of all 20th Fox feature films to theatres as well as<br />
licensing of pictures to all other markets and forms of distribution.<br />
In his previous position. Boone was senior vice president<br />
of domestic marketing and distribution. He joined Fox in 1 972<br />
in the company's domestic sales department and. in the ensu<br />
ing years, held several senior sales and marketing positions<br />
within the feature film operation.<br />
IN ANNOUNCING THE management changes. Stanfill<br />
also confirmed that Alan Ladd Jr.. incumbent president of<br />
20lh Fox's film division, and his two top aides. Jay Kanter,<br />
senior vice president of worldwide production, and Garelh<br />
Wigan. vice president of worldwide production, will be released<br />
from their 20th-Fox contracts effective Oct. I. Stanfill said<br />
that ihe three studio executives would work on special projects<br />
at an off-studio site until their contracts ended.<br />
The announcement of Lieberson's and Boone's promotions<br />
puts an end to the rumors that have been building ever since<br />
Ladd and his two chief associates announced plans not lo<br />
renew their existing contracts with the film company. On July<br />
4 the trio made public their plans to go into independent pro<br />
duction within Warner Bros. Ladd. Kanter and Wigan were<br />
ordered by Stanfill on July 25 to leave the studio on involuntary<br />
vacations and were told they would be advised within a<br />
week on when they should return.<br />
Commenting on the studio's change in top management.<br />
Stanfill said. "The appointments of Sandy Lieberson and<br />
Ashley Boone reflect the confidence we have in our existing<br />
feature film management team."<br />
r<br />
V<br />
inside<br />
Industry briefs 2<br />
Up front 4<br />
Barometer 6<br />
Hollywood report 7-8<br />
Titles & takes 8<br />
Canadian news 10<br />
Midwest news 11-12<br />
Southern news 12-13<br />
Western news 14<br />
Eastern news 15-17<br />
Feature reviews 18<br />
Review digest 19<br />
Feature chart 20-21,23<br />
*\
Rank promises U.S.<br />
four features a year<br />
B> RALPH KAMINSKY<br />
West Coast Editor<br />
HOLLYWOOD—The United Kingdoms<br />
Williams, head of Rank Film Productions Ltd.<br />
The Dutch import also reveals something<br />
about Rank's uninhibited attitude toward<br />
American distribution. The film is being<br />
released hv the relative!) young company. The<br />
International Picture Show Co.. based in<br />
Atlanta.<br />
"THE INTERNATIONAL PICTURE<br />
Show is a small compart) and it's hungry."<br />
Williams said when asked about the choice of<br />
a relatively untried distributor. "We like Don<br />
Hall's attitude." he said of the head of TIPS.<br />
"We knew thev would nurse the picture ter<br />
ritory bv territory, and the way the picture is<br />
doing is proving our choice is paying off."<br />
The Atlanta company is in line to handle<br />
further releases as well, but Rank also will be<br />
open minded for deals w ith major distributors.<br />
In fact, one film, a remake of "The Lady<br />
Vanishes." is earmarked for one of the majors<br />
"It will need specialized handling and we're<br />
talking to an American distributor at the mo<br />
menl." Williams said.<br />
BUT DISTRIBUTION IS in the hands of<br />
another Rank subsidiary. Williams said, ex<br />
plaining that his tunction was to get Rank<br />
Films into the production of films planned for<br />
international markets.<br />
"We can't slay in little production; we can't<br />
make impressive pictures on low budgets."<br />
Williams said "The bottom line has become so<br />
high thai we're force"d to work on a higher<br />
level." That leads to the conclusion that Rank<br />
must make films that are suitable for distribu<br />
tion around the world, he said.<br />
Dormant for many years, and having pro<br />
duction confined to little pictures with appeal<br />
chiefly in the United Kingdom. Rank had<br />
lived with a tradition of a "small program."<br />
Williams said. "But we decided we couldn't go<br />
on at that level," and the result was that "we<br />
began to make noises in Cannes two years<br />
ago."<br />
FOUR OUT OF SIX of the<br />
new pictures<br />
Rank currently has going have been totally<br />
financed by Rank money, and although that<br />
will be the pattern for future pictures as well.<br />
Williams says he will not be averse to taking in<br />
partners for co productions when such deals<br />
seem attractive.<br />
"We're aiming at four pictures a year, pro<br />
vided we get the right properties and all the<br />
elements are to our satisfaction." he said.<br />
Aside from the story— the first and crucial<br />
element— there is the need to round up artists<br />
with international identification to fit the<br />
roles, he said.<br />
"It's difficult to get the one that works in a<br />
Rank Organisation, once a titan as a motion specific picture." he said But he said the cast<br />
picture producer, is moving back into the in "must have an international appeal." Then<br />
lernationa^ scene with a program that pro comes the need for "a very special director<br />
mises at least four features a year for U.S. ex<br />
hibitors.<br />
who can do something special with the script."<br />
Aside from "Soldier of Orange," Rank has<br />
"Soldier of Orange," made by Rank's Dutch four other films nearing release preparedness.<br />
company, has been receiving critical praise THE REMAKE OF "The 39 Steps." the<br />
and earning hefty boxoffice receipts since its first project under Rank's expanded program<br />
release earlv in the summer.<br />
and a film for which Williams takes "total<br />
"SOLDIER" IS INDICATIVE of Ranks<br />
determination to regain its place in the inter<br />
responsibility." will go into release either this<br />
month or in September. The film stars Robert<br />
national film market, according to Tony Powell. David Warner and John Mills.<br />
"We're very hopeful for the film here in<br />
America." Williams said "It has done very<br />
• ±*<br />
well overseas." The film opened last year in<br />
Italy. France. Israel and South America.<br />
"Eagle's Wing." an "unusual western with a<br />
mythical, classic story." will be ready about<br />
September. Williams said The release is confined<br />
to a territorial basis before spreading out<br />
nationally. The film stars Stuart Whitman.<br />
Martin Sheen and Harvey Keitel in conflict<br />
with Sam Waterston, who plays an Indian battling<br />
for survival.<br />
"THE RIDDLE OF THE SAND," star<br />
ring Michael York and Jenny Agguter, is<br />
about two young Englishmen on a sailing holiday<br />
who suddenly stumble across a plot for an<br />
invasion of England. The film is based on Erskin<br />
Childers' 1 903 book. It was "the first spy<br />
story ever written." Williams said.<br />
"The Lady Vanishes" stars Elliott Gould,<br />
Cybill Shepherd, Angela Lansbury and<br />
Herbert Lorn in a remake that will concentrate<br />
on the original film's comedy-thriller aspects.<br />
"It's a very good story," Williams said, "and it<br />
will be a thoroughly entertaining picture."<br />
Two other films are in production. One has<br />
Nicholas Roeg directing a feature still without<br />
a final title. Art Garfunkel. Theresa Russell<br />
and Harvey Keitel star in the story about two<br />
young Americans in Vienna who are involved<br />
in an affair that turns destructive from its intense<br />
relationship.<br />
THE OTHER FILM IS "Silver Dream<br />
Racing." in which British pop music star<br />
David Essex plays an ordinary young man<br />
who inherits a motorcycle and begins to dream<br />
of becoming a major racer Christina Raines<br />
with whom he falls in<br />
plays the American girl<br />
love, and Beau Bridges plays the villainous<br />
American racer who serves as a catalyst.<br />
Williams says that because of Rank's<br />
resurgence in production he is in the heady<br />
position of leading a company that is part of a<br />
conglomerate providing all the facilities a pro<br />
ducer dreams about. Rank owns Pinewood<br />
Studios outside of London. Williams' head<br />
quarters. Rank also has its own laboratories; it<br />
has its own European distribution unit and<br />
runs a string of theatres in the United<br />
Kingdom.<br />
"It's a boom time for Britain's technicians<br />
and studios." he said, referring to location<br />
shooting made easy by the availability of<br />
British crews.<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 97!
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979<br />
Kerkorian antitrust suit burning the midnight oil<br />
By RALPH KAMINSKY<br />
West Coast Editor<br />
LOS ANGELES— Kirk Kerkorian may<br />
have resigned from the MCjM board of direc<br />
lore and executive committee, but he still is a<br />
dominant figure in the company's operations,<br />
still draws an annual $50,000 salary as a consultant<br />
and attends the business meetings of<br />
the committee.<br />
MGM President Frank E Rosenfell<br />
brought out Kerkonan's current status while<br />
testifying in federal court here late at night<br />
Aug. 7 in the trial to determine whether the<br />
financier's 25 percent interest in Columbia<br />
Pictures Industries is a threat to competition.<br />
On the stand later, Kerkorian told of his<br />
activities with Columbia participating in<br />
discussions on the sale of the company's Ar<br />
Records division and the firm's program<br />
lista<br />
on film acquisition.<br />
Also testifying that night. Leo Greenfield.<br />
senior distribution vice president for MGM<br />
from 1<br />
975 '78. revealed his sharp disagree<br />
mem wiih United Artists' plans on the<br />
distribution of several MGM pictures. He also<br />
expressed ins opinion that MGM no longer is<br />
a major motion picture company Greenfield<br />
is now head of distribution for Associated<br />
Film Distribution<br />
Mil IIIRKF FILM company executives<br />
testified in an overtime session that ended at<br />
10 p. in at the order of Judge Andrew llauk.<br />
who declared he will keep the trial going every<br />
night, even until midnight, in an effort to<br />
bring it to a close bj Aug. 17.<br />
Rosenfell said he meets with Kerkorian at<br />
k-.isi mice ,i week to fill him m on all aspects "I<br />
MGM operations despite Kerkonan's new tics<br />
with Columbia. He also said Kerkorian 's<br />
strength as a major stockholder makes n<br />
"highly unlikely" that a new director could<br />
ever he elected it Kerkorian opposed the<br />
move<br />
Kerkorian spent W minutes on the stand.<br />
discussing occasions on which he met with<br />
t olumbia officials or engaged in phone calls<br />
about Columbia's tilm acquisitions<br />
Greenfield cued instances in which he had<br />
disagreed with UA distribution plans for<br />
MGM pictures He cued specifically I Vs<br />
plans to distribute "Uncle Joe Shannon," in<br />
which he saw a potential conflict because ol us<br />
similarity to MGM's "The Champ." Shannon<br />
deals wiih a down and out musician and a<br />
small boy, much like "I he Champ" involves a<br />
lalher and his young son<br />
GREENFIELD SAID he fell there were<br />
times DA signed up the heller theatres for us<br />
own product, leaving MGM pictures lor second<br />
and third choices in some cities.<br />
\s .in example he told of his experience<br />
with the handling of "Corvette Summer."<br />
which he wanted handled as a special film<br />
going out to a lew theatres initially Instead,<br />
he said. I A weni widespread with the picture,<br />
leading him to complain to MGM distribution<br />
executive Al Fitter thai "this is the way AIP<br />
and Crown International crappers are<br />
distributed."<br />
IN OTHER ACTION earlier in the week.<br />
Kerkonan's attorney revealed lhat Ihe finan<br />
cicr has promised never to vote his slock in an<br />
MGM Columbia merger. Among the early<br />
defense witnesses were Theodore Solomon.<br />
former NATO president and head of Gulf<br />
Theatres m New Orleans; Herbert Hur<br />
Stales<br />
witz, senior vice president of General Cinema<br />
( orp.; Charles J Weber, president of<br />
Lucasfilm Ltd., and Bernard E Goldberg, co<br />
owner of Golden Theatre Management Corp<br />
of New York.<br />
Each ol the early exhibitor witnesses<br />
expressed fears of possible cutbacks in com<br />
petition if Kerkorian continues holding his 25<br />
percent share of Columbia's slock But each<br />
conceded under cross examination lhat he has<br />
not seen any evidence of reduced competition<br />
nor any sign that it could eventually occur<br />
Last testimony entered in test of Ohio bid law<br />
By TONY RUTHERFORD<br />
Regional Correspondent<br />
In ending the witness portion of the legal<br />
challenge to Ohio's anti-blind bidding status,<br />
two exhibitors and an independent film consultant<br />
testified, and small portions of deposi<br />
tions from a number of film executives were<br />
read into the record.<br />
Called to testify July 23 was Paul<br />
Grossman, a booker/buyer for Cincinnatibased<br />
Mid States Theatres. Grossman said<br />
that blind bidding was no help in determining<br />
which films one should book because bid<br />
solicitation letters were often misleading or<br />
simply hype for a particular picture, thus forcing<br />
bookers to rely on a hunch or luck.<br />
VIEWING A FILM allows Grossman and<br />
others like him to use their acquired skills to<br />
determine which productions would be most<br />
suitable for screens in urban areas, rural situa<br />
tions. and even instances in which the<br />
audiences-on one side of town have different<br />
tastes from those on the other.<br />
Grossman said that bookers at a<br />
tradescreening could not always tell which<br />
films would be blockbusters but that the viewing<br />
at least alerted them to potential losers.<br />
He indicated that only one piclure—<br />
Universale "The Prisoner of<br />
Zenda"—had been delayed because of problems<br />
relating lo the holding of a tradescreen<br />
ing. "Zenda" opened nationwide on May 25,<br />
but Ohio exhibitors did not begin showing the<br />
production until June 15.<br />
CHARLES SUGARMAN, the Columbus,<br />
Ohio, operator of Cinema East, Cinema North<br />
1 & 2, and the temporarily closed Grove City<br />
Cinemas, followed Grossman to the stand<br />
Sugarman documented large losses suffered<br />
by himself under the blind bidding system,<br />
mainly unearned film rental from guarantees.<br />
Although exhibits illustrated his gains and<br />
losses—including the huge success of "Star<br />
Wars"— the amounts did not offset the debts<br />
caused by such pictures as "Nickelodeon," he<br />
said.<br />
Cross-examination of Sugarman attempted<br />
to prove that his theatre had played a substantial<br />
quantity of subsequent run product, which<br />
had also sustained losses. During later<br />
testimony. Sugarman established that those<br />
losses on second run product were not of nearly<br />
the scope or magnitude sustained on some<br />
first-run films.<br />
AT THE SAME TIME, further cross<br />
examination attempted to link a portion of<br />
Sugarman's losses not to the blind bidding<br />
system or product, but to a lack of customers<br />
at his theatres, his own business practices and<br />
even the locations of his cinemas in relation to<br />
his competitors.<br />
The final defense witness, Max Youngslein,<br />
a consultant from Beverly Hills who is involved<br />
in negotiations between independent producers<br />
and film distributors, discredited to an<br />
extent earlier testimony regarding the uncer<br />
tainty of a film's productive process.<br />
YOUNGSTE1N SAID the "majors" didn't<br />
just advance monies and then leave the pro<br />
ducer unchecked. Maintaining that there are<br />
sufficient controls both during filming and in<br />
post production to normally permit a<br />
tradescreening, Youngstein explained that early<br />
release dates were sometimes set to justify<br />
blind biddings—a process he says is unwarranted<br />
and is often used to sell bad films.<br />
Before closing its case, defense attorneys<br />
read excerpts of depositions recorded before<br />
the beginning of the trial, including those of<br />
Eugene Goodman. United Artists distribution;<br />
Burton Morrison, senior vice president of<br />
finance and administration for 20th Century-<br />
Fox Pictures; Herbert Robinson, vice<br />
president-general sales manager for Avco<br />
Embassy Pictures; and Sumner Redstone,<br />
president of Redstone Management and Northeast<br />
Theatre Corp., which has screens in<br />
Boston, Cincinnati and Toledo.<br />
GOODMAN SAID THAT United Artists<br />
already had a policy of tradescreening<br />
whenever possible. He detailed an experience<br />
with "The Champ," a film that was blind bid<br />
in other states but tradescreened in Ohio. Not<br />
only did the picture open in Ohio on the<br />
national date, but exhibitors there, after seeing<br />
the film, bid higher terms than those in other<br />
states.<br />
Goodman also explained his company's<br />
nationwide "open bid" policy in which bids are<br />
opened in branch offices, a procedure adopted<br />
before the enactment of the blind bidding<br />
statute.<br />
The selected portion of Morrison's deposition<br />
stated that 20th Century-Fox did not borrow<br />
capital on a per film basis, but rather as a<br />
general line of credit. He said the company<br />
had been so successful recently that credit had<br />
not been necessary.<br />
AVCO'S ROBINSON said that his company<br />
hardly blind bids pictures, holding<br />
tradescreenings whenever possible. However,<br />
he said, his concern was the requirement to rebid<br />
a picture until a successful bid was attained.<br />
Because Avco is a smaller company, Robinson<br />
questioned what could be done if no bids were<br />
received.<br />
Redstone's deposition contained an opinion<br />
that blind bidding artificially raised the price<br />
of films by not allowing exhibitors to exercise<br />
their own business judgements. Calling the upward<br />
pressure on ticket prices a direct result of<br />
blind bidding, he said the process led to high<br />
terms on pictures of which the commercial<br />
appeal could not be gauged.<br />
EARLIER, FEDERAL Judge Robert Duncan<br />
denied a motion by the State of Ohio for<br />
dismissal of the injunctive relief petition. At<br />
the culmination, Duncan said he would not<br />
hastily return with a decision, adding that a<br />
major portion of his deliberations would con<br />
sist of analyzing the mounds of conflicting<br />
testimony and deciding how much weigh!<br />
apportion to the testimony of respective<br />
witnesses<br />
September 13 was set as a deadline for sub<br />
mission of final briefs. C losing oral arguments<br />
will follow, probably either late in September<br />
or duing early October.<br />
to<br />
Although it is too difficult lo determine a<br />
date when a decision may be reached, a good<br />
estimate, according to one of the defense<br />
attorneys, is no earlier than November.<br />
THAT DECISION is most likely to be<br />
appealed no matter what side triumphs. In addi<br />
tion, the determination does not have to clear<br />
ly favor one side over the other. For instance,<br />
the ruling could retain portions of the statute<br />
while invalidating others.<br />
The appeal procedure would be to the Sixth<br />
Circuit Court in Cincinnati and then to the<br />
U.S. Supreme Court.<br />
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B0X0FFICE/AUGUST13, 1979<br />
We welcome your thoughts and comments on editorial issues and viewpoints expressed in<br />
BOXOEFICE, or on related subjects of your own choosing. ( orrespondencc should be<br />
addressed to: letter to the Kditor. BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City,<br />
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500 words. We reserve the right to edit all material for length and clarity.<br />
Internal discord sounds sour notefor exhibitors<br />
There are those among us who cling credulously to the comforting belief that the ap<br />
parent differences between the National Association of Theatre Owners and its West<br />
Coast outgrowth, the Theatre Association of California, will be resolved sometime<br />
soon and unification returned once again to the ranks of exhibitors.<br />
What fervent hopes there were for such an amalgamation, however, were instantly<br />
reduced to a faint flicker a fortnight ago when Bruce Corwin tendered his resignation<br />
as a member of NATO's executive committee, reportedly because of his firm objection<br />
to NATO's dismissal of a paid lobbyist in Washington. Corwin is the president of<br />
Southern California's Metropolitan Theatres circuit, a company whose chairman,<br />
Sherrill C. Corwin, was one of the inspirational forces behind the realignment of the<br />
national exhibitor association when it adopted its present organizational name in 1 966.<br />
The younger Corwin is also president of TAC.<br />
CALIFORNIA EXHIBITORS HAVE long championed for a full-time, profes<br />
sional NATO president and relocation of the national organization's headquarters<br />
from New York City to Washington. The controversy and vocal debate that resulted<br />
over this issue and its ensuing rejection by NATO executives was the principal reason<br />
that a majority of California exhibitors voted in 1 977 to secede from NATO and form<br />
an independent organization, TAC.<br />
There was growing speculation this past spring that the two exhibitor organizations<br />
might be drawing ever closer to reconciling their disagreements when William Kartozian,<br />
chairman of TAC, submitted a budget proposal u NATO outlining a more<br />
specific plan of action for a paid president and for relocation to the nation's capital. At<br />
the time the proposal was issued, A. Alan Friedberg, president of NATO, expressed<br />
guarded skepticism about the feasibility of implementing such a plan. But he agreed to<br />
study the details of the proposal. "I was in favor of it when it was first considered and<br />
rejected," Friedberg said, adding that he still "favored the concept 6f a paid executive<br />
and an office elsewhere." Friedberg said that if it appeared the plan could be properly<br />
subsidized, it would be formally presented at the annual NATO convention to be held<br />
in late October in Los Angeles.<br />
REGARDLESS OF WHAT has transpired up until just two weeks ago between the<br />
two exhibitor organizations that might be termed encouraging, spurring many to conjure<br />
up designs on reconciliation and unity among the nation's exhibitor fraternity, it<br />
all seems academic now in view of developments surrounding Corwin's voluntary exodus<br />
as an executive member of the national organization's inner circle.<br />
The present feud between the country's two foremost exhibitor factions revolves<br />
around NATO's decision to dismiss Braun Communications Inc. as the organization's<br />
chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill.<br />
Braun was retained by NATO on April 20, primarily to<br />
serve as the exhibitor organization's influential voice among the nation's electorate and<br />
various governmental policymakers, against the passage of a new, higher federal<br />
minimum wage law.<br />
Corwin was particularly incensed because he personally—and TAC as a group—had<br />
strongly recommended that NATO adopt a serious lobbying effort at the federal level,<br />
and pushed Braun for the job. TAC reportedly contributed $5,000 of the $25,000 fee<br />
Braun contracted intially for its services.<br />
CORWIN WAS ALSO UPSET because Braun had just<br />
barely embarked upon<br />
what he referred to as a "massive campaign" that was to have combined the support of<br />
numerous businesses, including motion picture exhibition, in behalf of a legislative<br />
amendment establishing a special "learner's rate" that would lower the federal standard<br />
for minimum wage, applicable to persons entering the job market for the first<br />
time.<br />
Corwin said he had received no warning that NATO was dropping Braun's services<br />
in Washington. He first learned of the action, he said, in a letter from Friedberg. Corwin<br />
said Friedberg explained in the letter that he envisioned only a "minimum<br />
likelihood of success and the lengthy time frame dictated the propriety of aborting the<br />
formal campaign (opposing the federal government's attempt to increase the miminum<br />
wage)."<br />
DESPITE HIS VISIBLE antipathy to NATO's actions in the matter of Braun in<br />
particular and the role of a federal lobbyist in general, Corwin asserted that he would<br />
continue in NATO. His circuit. Metropolitan Theatres, is one of the few in California<br />
still<br />
paying dues to the national organization.<br />
"And we will continue doing it," he said. "I strongly believe in a national organization,<br />
and l will continue working with it."<br />
In the meantime, TAC reportedly is looking into the possibility of picking up the ball<br />
on its own and rehiring Braun to continue the lobbying effort in Washington on behalf<br />
of exhibitors across the country. If TAC can come up with the necessary financing, exhibitors<br />
throughout the United States will get a "free ride from us," Corwin said.<br />
"Braun has worked with us before on many issues, and we have extreme confidence in<br />
their ability."<br />
There is no question that exhibition needs a strong representative voice in<br />
Washington and elsewhere, one that can be heard loud, clear and often on the many<br />
issues affecting the retail arm of our industry. Whether it be a full-time lobbyist or a<br />
professional, full-time president with national headquarters in the nation's capital,<br />
exhibition must establish its place and make its position known among the country's<br />
influential lawmakers and other effectual forces.<br />
BUT OF EVEN GREATER long-range concern, exhibitors need to overcome their<br />
internal discord—be it nationally, regionally or even locally—and band together in one<br />
harmonious effort totally committed to the common objective of serving! protecting<br />
and furthering the growth of motion picture exhibition as a viable and lucrative entertainment<br />
form.<br />
The dichotomy that exists between West Coast exhibitors and their NATO counter<br />
parts elsewhere in the country only impedes this effort.<br />
Two factions pulling in<br />
unequal or opposite directions cannot hope to achieve the<br />
same objectives. Perhaps the time has come for exhibition to begin refortifying its<br />
forces before mounting a charge.<br />
In the well known words of the late American statesman John Dickinson: "By<br />
uniting we stand; by dividing we fall."<br />
The Business Weekly for Motion Picture Exhibition/Published by Vance Publishing Corporation/Vol 1 15/No. 20<br />
Published weeklv in one edition, except semi weeklv the<br />
first week in August and the second week in February<br />
Published b> Vance Publishing Corporation, 825 Van<br />
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THE SEQUEL<br />
TO THE MOST<br />
EXCITING<br />
AND<br />
SUCCESSFUL FILM<br />
EVER MADE ON<br />
MOTORCYCLE SPORT!<br />
vf -if*<br />
wsm<br />
m»**:-<br />
f<br />
jfe5 ^<br />
i ., I<br />
«• • ".,11,<br />
X. TV-*<br />
\&&fr<br />
Producer Director: DONALD SHOEMAKER<br />
Executive Producers: DAVID M. WALDEN & JAMES LCAVANAUGH<br />
Host: LARRY HUFFMAN Consultont: BRUCE BROWN Written by SAM MOSES<br />
A 4-WAY MOTOR SPORTS PRODUCTION<br />
INTERNATIONAL & DOMESTIC SALES<br />
PLEASE CONTACT<br />
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(213) 278-4661 Telex 194182 Answerback: FILM BVHL Cable Address: BARRISTER<br />
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NC. 1979
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
This chart records the performance of current attractions in the opening week of their first run<br />
engagements in the key cities listed. The most recent figures reflect <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Barometer's new<br />
reporting procedure and indicate the (olal number of theatre screens and the total gross, in<br />
TOP HITS OF THE WEEK ' T' 1 Marriage Do Us Part iFranklin Medial<br />
New York 1/47<br />
IntBi iduat runs, not an atera^e Listing, are 1 wiiin - The Amity ville Horror I All<br />
ed to openim; week figures on new releases otitv. Detroit 14/650<br />
Baltimore 3/68<br />
thousands of dollars, for each film (No. of screens/grossi t indicates that the gross covers a<br />
period less than seven days. J indicates more than seven days. All other figures are gross percenlages.<br />
based on average weekly theatre grosses, with 100 per cent reflecting an average gross.<br />
Kansas City 8/147 5. The Villain (Coll<br />
3. Why Not iNew Linel Denver 6/88<br />
New York 1/32<br />
4. Meatballs iParal 6 Breaking Away l20th Foxi<br />
Detroit 17/300 San Francisco 1/12<br />
CI<br />
" s =.<br />
Z _j rj<br />
2,<br />
*<br />
Alien i20th Foxl<br />
3/416 3/334 450<br />
790 6/113
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979<br />
hollywood<br />
film projects<br />
HAPPY BIRIHDAY. GEMINI, a com<br />
edy based on ihe cureem Broadway hn. is be<br />
ing filmed in Toronto lor release by Unned<br />
Artists. Heading the cast are Rita Moreno.<br />
Madeline Kahn. Robert Viharo. Sarah<br />
Holcomb. Alan Rosenberg and David Grant<br />
Rupert Hil/ig and Alan King will produce<br />
Maurice Silverstein and Durham Produc<br />
lions have set an October starting date for<br />
SHAH. Silverstein International will handle<br />
the worldwide sales.<br />
Lonmar Films has obtained screen rights to<br />
GOD PROTECT ME FROM \n<br />
TR11NDS, which will develop as a feature<br />
film to be produced by Terence F Deane Pro<br />
duction is tentatively scheduled for spring<br />
1 980.<br />
Joseph E<br />
Levine Presents. Inc. will go into<br />
production next on Paul Galhco's VERNA:<br />
L'SO GIRL. Pre production will start in<br />
September.<br />
SUM VII will be produced by Richard A.<br />
Roth for 20th Century-Fox. Marc Norman<br />
will write the screenplay.<br />
BURGERS, a comedy thriller set against<br />
the fast foods industry, will be produced by<br />
Lynmar Productions, with G. M. Cahill<br />
writing the screenplay.<br />
Joe Wizan and John Strachan have signed<br />
with Columbia for the production on THE<br />
JUGGLER AND THE JUDGE, a romantic<br />
comedy. The script is being tailored for<br />
Richard Gere.<br />
PARLOR GAMES, based on Robert<br />
Marasco's suspense novel, will be produced for<br />
Universal by Thurman Foster Co. Walon<br />
Green is writing the script for the<br />
psychological thriller about a secret love<br />
triangle. David Foster and Lawrence Turman<br />
will produce<br />
Orion Pictures plans to begin shooting in<br />
October I980 on SHARKEY'S MACHINE.<br />
Burt Reynolds will star. Plot concerns an<br />
Atlanta police defective trying to solve the attempted<br />
murder of a call girl who is linked to a<br />
Senator involved in a presidential campaign.<br />
Hank Moonjean will be the producer.<br />
Warner Bros, has concluded a deal with<br />
George Englund to produce ATLANTIC CI-<br />
TY. The picture will be adapted from Paul<br />
Erdman's forthcoming novel of the same<br />
name Principal photography is scheduled to<br />
begin in late 1 980.<br />
report ^i j<br />
I h e Dimension Pictures rel ea se<br />
SCREAMS OF A \M\IIR MGIII will<br />
open simultaneous!) in 80 theatres in the<br />
Charlotte, N.C.. area and 50 theatres in Mm<br />
neapolis and St. Paul on Aug. 10. The film will<br />
have more than 500 prints playing national!)<br />
in August<br />
LASER LADY, a science fiction comedy<br />
set in the 2 1st century, will be produced by Si<br />
Litvinoff and Harry N Blum, aiming at a<br />
Christmas 1 980 release.<br />
SEARCH FOR THE LOCH NESS<br />
MONSTER will be made by Stephen W.<br />
Sharmat's International Creative Finance<br />
Group and producer Peter Simons. Richard<br />
Chapman and Derek Tennant have written<br />
the screenplay, based on Dennis Meredith's<br />
book "Search at Loch Ness." Principal<br />
photography is scheduled to begin early next<br />
year in Tasmania. Australia, and second unit<br />
shooting is planned at Loch Ness. Scotland<br />
Kent Osborne's Starla Productions and Jeb<br />
Productions began filming July 23 on THE<br />
REBEL on locations at Hanford. Calif.<br />
Osborne will direct from his own screenplay:<br />
King Johnson is the producer.<br />
Principal photographv has begun on<br />
AIRPLANE!, a Howard W. Koch production<br />
for Paramount Pictures. A spoof on disaster<br />
movies, the film was written for the screen by<br />
Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams,<br />
who also serve as executive directors. Jon<br />
Davison is the producer: Abrahams N.<br />
Zuckers is directing.<br />
Principal photography on John Cassavettes"<br />
ONE SUMMER NIGHT began July<br />
23 in<br />
New York City. Written, produced and<br />
directed by Cassavettes for Columbia Pictures<br />
release, the film stars Gene Rowlands and<br />
marks the film debut of seven year-old Juan<br />
Adames. Also featured prominently in the cast<br />
are Buck Henry. Julie Carmen and Lupe Garnica.<br />
RUNNING SCARED, a chase film<br />
backgrounded in the I96l Bay of Pigs invasion<br />
attempt, began shooting Aug I as a<br />
Derek Powers production with Paul Glickler<br />
producing and directing and also writing the<br />
script with David O'Dell and Vicki Polon.<br />
John Saxon. Bradford Dillman and Pat Hmgle<br />
have been signed to star. Filming is set for<br />
eight weeks on locations in Miami and the<br />
Florida Everglades.<br />
Styron's new novel, will<br />
SOPHIE'S CHOICE, based on William<br />
be made into a motion<br />
picture by Marble Arch Productions,<br />
with president Martin Starger as executive<br />
producer. Alan J. Pakula will direct and will<br />
Norman Lloyd has been signed lo play a<br />
special tactical weapons man in Universal^<br />
III! Rl II RN 01 MAXWI I I SMART.<br />
Madolyn Smith will play John Travolta's<br />
wife and Dehra Winger will portray the<br />
wealthier of Travolta's Icvas love interests in<br />
Paramount s IRBW (OttBOY.<br />
began shooting July 2 in Houston<br />
Anthony Hopkins has signed lor the role of<br />
Dr Frederick Treves in Paramount's THE<br />
II EPHANT MAN, set to begin principal<br />
photography Oci 15. David Lynch is directing<br />
from the original screenplay by Christopher<br />
DeVors and Eric Bergren.<br />
Paul Lynde and Scott Baio will star in<br />
Rastars SKATETOWN. U.S.A., which<br />
began shooting July 16 in Los Angeles lor Col<br />
umbia Pictures Also featured are Ron Palillo.<br />
Maureen McCormick. Greg Bradford. Patrick<br />
Swayze. David Lansberg. Billy Barty. Denny<br />
Johnston. Bill Kirschenbauer. Harlene<br />
Winslon and Joe E Ross<br />
Sally Kellerman has signed for a starring<br />
role- in Time Life Productions' LOVING<br />
COUPLES, which began shooting July 30 on<br />
Southern California locations.<br />
Jim Bray, the amateur roller skating champ,<br />
has been signed to star as the male lead with<br />
Linda Blaire in Compass International's<br />
ROLLER BOOGIE, an Irwin Yablans pro<br />
duction of a Skaiekey picture.<br />
Beverly D'Angelo has signed for the female<br />
lead in HIGHPOINT, a romantic suspense<br />
story that began filming July 30 in Toronto.<br />
Rich Harris and Christopher Plummer are<br />
also starring in the film.<br />
Jack Kruschen has signed for PIRATES<br />
OF SANTA MARIA, to be produced by Sea<br />
Pines Productions on locations in the Caribbean.<br />
New York stage actress Pamela Payton-<br />
Wright has signed for a major role in Warner<br />
Bros GOING IN STYLE.<br />
Michael Monartv has a featured role in<br />
THE BURNING BOOK, a Silverscreen Internationa]<br />
production set to begin shooting in<br />
the fall in Montreal and Europe. Paul Almond<br />
will direct the drama set in England in the<br />
1520s. Roy Krost will produce and Robert<br />
Uecky is executive producer.<br />
Diane Lane will co-siar in the Rasiar pro<br />
duction of TO ELVIS WITH LOVE.<br />
Deborah Raffin stars in this true siory of a<br />
young girl's special relationship with Elvis<br />
Presley. Filming is sei to begin in Oct 16 in<br />
Banff. Alberta. Canada.<br />
Rene Auberjonois has been cast in the role<br />
of a stuffy political reporter in WHERE THE<br />
Bl HALO ROAM. Universal corned)<br />
ing produced and directed by<br />
Art Linson.<br />
Rue McClanahan has joined the casi of<br />
I II \ Is LIFE, being directed by Jerry Lewis<br />
in<br />
Florida<br />
Ma/urki has a cameo role in Melvin<br />
Simon Produ S \M M \RI \\ T, and<br />
will gel double exposure In way of a film clip<br />
from a 1444 RKO picture 'Murder My<br />
Sweet." in which Ma/urki played a role as<br />
Moose Malloy. opixisite Dick Powell as Philip<br />
Marlowe.<br />
II si s, [he unique new film produced by<br />
The Genesis Project, will be distributed by<br />
Warner Bros throughout most of the world, it<br />
was announced by Terry Semel. Warner's ex<br />
ecutive vice president and chief operating ol<br />
ficcr. and John Heyman. president of the<br />
Genesis Project The motion picture, the lirsi<br />
totally authentic story of Jesus to be brought<br />
to ihe motion picture screen, was hlmed en<br />
tirely on location in the Holy Land.<br />
assignments<br />
Broadway playwright David Mamet has<br />
been signed to write Ihe screenplay for<br />
Lonmar's THE POSTMAN ALWAYS<br />
RINGS rWICE Bob Rafelson will direct<br />
I red Carlin Productions has signed<br />
Cartoon A World, headed by Michael Allard<br />
and Jack Foster, to do the animation for BAR<br />
NAB\.<br />
James Barry will write the score lor TO<br />
ELVIS WITH LOVE for Rastar Films.<br />
Joe Ren/em will compose and conduct the<br />
musical score for FATSO.<br />
Michael Marguhes will be director of<br />
photography on Tony Bill's MY<br />
BODYGUARD, Melvin Simon production<br />
which began shooting in Chicago Aug. 3.<br />
Rudi Fehr has signed as film editor to super<br />
vise the foreign language version of Francis<br />
Coppola's APOCALYPSE NOW for his<br />
American Zoetrope Co.<br />
Carol Connors has written the lyrics for the<br />
song for THE ONION FIELD, soon to<br />
title<br />
be released by Avco Embassy Pictures.<br />
Don Perry Enterprises will handle the music<br />
production chores for THE FALL OF THE<br />
HOUSE OF USHER.<br />
Alex North has signed to score and conduct<br />
the music of CATTLE ANNIE & LITTLE<br />
BRITCHES, directed by Lamont Johnson<br />
and starring Burl Lancaster. John Savage and<br />
Rod Steiger in the King-Hitzig production.<br />
he<br />
(continued on page 8)<br />
Composer Fred Karlin is into various stages<br />
of development on three motion picture projects<br />
through his recently formed Fred Karlin<br />
Productions with which he hopes to turn out<br />
music -oriented films. LOCOMOTIVE, the<br />
first feature, will be a musical idea by Karlin<br />
and John Milligan. Next will be I CAN'T<br />
FORGET TOMORROW, and the third will<br />
be THAT MARVELOUS MUSIC<br />
MACHINE, for which Paul Gardner is<br />
writing the screenplay.<br />
Olivia Newton John will star in XANADU,<br />
an original musical fantasy for Universal Pic<br />
lures. The picture will be directed by Robert<br />
Greenwald from a screenplay by Richard<br />
Christian Danus and Marc Reid Rubel. Gordon<br />
will produce.<br />
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's FAME commenc<br />
ed principal photography in July in New York<br />
City under director Alan Parker. Alan Mar<br />
shall and David DeSilva are producing from<br />
an original screenplay by Christopher Gore.<br />
be co-producer with Keith Barish. Filming is<br />
planned for 1 980. Associated Film Distribution<br />
will release the film in the United Stales<br />
and Canada.<br />
casting<br />
Sunn Classic has signed Harvey Soline to a<br />
role in IN SEARCH OF HISTORICAL<br />
JESUS, now shooting.<br />
Denise Echhardt. 12. has been signed to<br />
round out the cast of five juvenile leads in<br />
Universale THE ISLAND, playing a role in<br />
which she is captured by renegades on a<br />
remote Caribbean Island.<br />
Mike Christy has been cast as an Army supply<br />
officer in OH, INCHON!, now shooting<br />
in Korea; Terence Young is directing.<br />
David Niven will co star with Burt<br />
Reynolds and Lesley-Anne Down in Paramount's<br />
ROUGH CUT. Don Siegel is direc<br />
ting and shooting began July 19 in London.<br />
|
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979<br />
HOLLYWOOD REPORT<br />
(continued from pace 7)<br />
acquisitions<br />
Bud >. orkm Productions has acquired THE<br />
FRANK ABAGNA1.E STORY, Abagnales<br />
book he wrote with Stan Redding. Stuart<br />
Rosenberg will write the comedy screenplay<br />
about real life escapades<br />
I nited Artists HAPP^ BIRTHDAY.<br />
GEMINI, now shooting in Toronto lor pro<br />
ducers Robert Hn/ig and Alan King, with<br />
Kuj Moreno. Madeleine Kahn and Robert<br />
Viharo starring and Richard Banner directing<br />
from his own screenplay.<br />
Robert Guenette Productions has optioned<br />
all media rights in IN I'Ol ( H, a book wril<br />
ten b> John Steinbeck about his experiences in<br />
\ leinam.<br />
Producer Mark L)a\ id Bisgeier, formei ex<br />
ecutive with Lorimar Productions, has ac<br />
quired film rights to YOUNG AR-<br />
CHIMEDES, Aldous Huxley's novel about<br />
the relationship between an Lnghshman and a<br />
young Italian peasant boy in the period bet<br />
ween the two world wars.<br />
Ping Pong Productions has acquired the<br />
rights to KIND \M\ Aldl SI. an original<br />
comedy screenplay written by Michael Carrazza.<br />
Producers lor Ping Pong Productions are T<br />
Castronova and Don Ciminelli. Shooting is<br />
J<br />
scheduled to start in late September Israel's<br />
winner of Best Cinematographer Award of<br />
1 978. Hanama Baer. has been set for Director<br />
of Photography<br />
Lorimar films has obtained screen rights to<br />
GOD PROTECT ME FROM \\\<br />
FRIENDS, to be produced by Terence F.<br />
Deane with a screenpaly by Philip Hersch,<br />
based on the novel by Gavin Maxwell. Filming<br />
is tentatively set for next spring on the<br />
story about a Sicilian peasant youth whose<br />
romantic ideas of injustice cause him to lead a<br />
Robin Hood type of life which ends tragically<br />
through treachery and betrayal<br />
Exclusive rights to the inside story of the<br />
SIO million robbery of Lufthansa Airlines<br />
have been obtained from sources at the New<br />
York Police Dept by Paul Burke and Stanley<br />
Kay's Media Productions. Under the title<br />
THE LUFTHANSA HEIST, the<br />
property<br />
has been sold by Martin Baum of Creative Artists<br />
Agency to Simon & Schuster and its auxiliary<br />
publisher. Dawd Obst Books, with the<br />
publishers paying Media an advance of<br />
SI 00.000.<br />
distribution<br />
Vvcol mbass) DEATH SHIP. S8.000.000<br />
Anglo Canadian suspense terror drama about<br />
a killer ship with no living persons aboard<br />
which appears on (he high seas, sinks a major<br />
cruise liner and then terrorizes the survivors<br />
Siarnng are George Kennedy. Richard Cren<br />
na, Nick Mancuso and Sally Ann Howes<br />
titles & takes<br />
Paraniount's MEATBM.I.S grossed<br />
SI 7.853. 1 82 in the first 1 7 days of its national<br />
release, based on reports from 853 theatres ol<br />
the 1.000 playing the film.<br />
SUMMER CAMP, released by Seymour<br />
Borde and Associates, grossed more lhan<br />
SI 25.000 in its first week in Minneapolis.<br />
THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS<br />
iGaumont/Sacis/New Yorkerl has grossed<br />
morethan S 1 1 0.000 in its first six weeks ol<br />
release at the 29u seat Cinema Studio I in New<br />
York.<br />
ROC'k. II, (he Roberl Charloff Irwin<br />
Winkler sequel (o "Rocky.'' has rung up a<br />
gross of S27.084.000 for more than 800<br />
iheaires 1 8 days, it was announced by Al<br />
in<br />
Fitter. United Artists senior vice president lor<br />
domestic sales.<br />
Warner Bros.' two current releases. THE<br />
MAIN EVENT and THE INLAWS have<br />
grossed a combined S5 1. 543.083. "Main<br />
Event" has taken in S30.970.860 in 886<br />
theatres and "In Laws" has grossed<br />
S20.572.223 in 583 theatres since opening<br />
June 1 5.<br />
Orangewood Films: NATIONAL LAM-<br />
POONS FRAI HOUSE, a Fraternal Pro<br />
ductions comedy slated for release in late<br />
August.<br />
Jad Films International. HARPER<br />
VALLEY PTA, for worldwide sales of the<br />
April Fools Productions feature. Jad previous<br />
ly had handled European sales of the film siar<br />
ring Barbara Eden<br />
IHL WANDERERS, an Orion Pictures<br />
release through Warner Bros., opened to very<br />
strong business in lirst wa\c engagements in<br />
five cities, where (he film posted a combined<br />
five-day boxoffice gross of S35I.767.<br />
Some of (he outstanding individual (heatre<br />
five-da) grosses for "The Wanderers' were.<br />
New York— Aslor Pla/.a, S48.I74; RKO<br />
86th Street. SI 9.037; Meadowbrook I. East<br />
Meadow. SI 5.487, and Cinema 46. Totowa.<br />
SI 3.373.<br />
Paramount s ESCAPE FROM<br />
ALCATRAZ grossed S27. 1 30.745 in the first<br />
38 days of its national release; 650 of the 750<br />
theatres playing the picture were reporting<br />
United Artists' MOONRAKER has grossed<br />
S3.3I3.IOO in its initial overseas releases in<br />
England. Holland and Soulh Africa. The film<br />
set a one-week record at London's Leicester<br />
Square Theatre with SI9I.I06 and hil<br />
S2.600.000 in four weeks at 1 1 houses in<br />
England. In South Africa the film grossed<br />
S733.600 in 43 theatres, a national record. In<br />
Holland. "Moonraker" grossed S979.500 in 40<br />
theatres in its opening week.<br />
ALIEN, from 20th Century -Fox. in its first<br />
— 4M4i<br />
1979 BUYER'S DIRECTORY<br />
The most complete buying directory<br />
available for the entire industry!<br />
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National Association of Theatre Owners<br />
TEitcuclopedfa<br />
jQ<br />
WtL^<br />
A<br />
GOING TO PRESS N EXT IVIONTH<br />
RESERVE YOUR ADSPACj/^/<br />
IF YOU SELL TO THE MOTION PICTURE THEATRE INDUSTRY, DON'T MISS<br />
THIS IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO REACH YOUR MARKET!!!<br />
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:<br />
Public Relations Department<br />
National Association of Theatre Owners<br />
1500 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10036<br />
[212] 7307420<br />
INITIAL DISTRIBUTIONAT THE<br />
1979 NATIONAL NATO CONVENTION<br />
BONAVENTURE HOTEL, LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 1<br />
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR CONVENTION REGISTRATION/RESERVATIONS YET<br />
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:<br />
Reservations Department<br />
National Association of Theatre Owners<br />
1500 Broadway. New York. N.Y. 10036<br />
[212] 730-7420<br />
HAVE YOU RESERVED YOUR BOOTH SPACE FOR THE 1979 MOTION PICTURE<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND CONCESSION INDUSTRIES TRADE SHOW<br />
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:<br />
Theatre Equipment Association<br />
1600 Broadway. New York, N.Y. 10019<br />
National Association of Concessionaires<br />
35 East Wacker Driw. Chicago, III. 60601<br />
[212] 246-6460<br />
1312] 236-3858
10<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
CALGARY<br />
C algary's downtown lowne Cinema Twins<br />
changed both of us programs after vcr> sue<br />
cessful runs "| very Which Way Bui Loose"<br />
linished a 29 week engagement and is off the<br />
screen and "The Deer Hunter" after 1 8 weeks<br />
is moving into another house. Marlborough<br />
Towne Square 3.<br />
Included in the features opening in Calgary<br />
this past weekend are "The Apple Dumpling<br />
Ciang Rides Again" at the Chinook. "The<br />
Frisco Kid" at Towne Red. "The Promise" at<br />
Towne Blue and "The Villain" at Uptown 2<br />
and Weslbrook 3.<br />
Don Rowland, manager of the Jewel<br />
Theatre in Stealer, Alberta, has left his posi<br />
tion and is now in business for himself.<br />
Phyllis Berck, coordinator, has announced<br />
a summer workshop co sponsored by Access<br />
Alberta and the National Film Board of<br />
Canada. This will be the second summer for<br />
such a workshop and will be available for<br />
children from 10 to 13 years of age. The pro<br />
gram is designed to introduce children to the<br />
world of filmmaking. The registration fee is<br />
SIO and because of a limited course it is on a<br />
first -come first served basis. One result of a<br />
questionnaire sent to parents of last year's<br />
students produced the information that<br />
youngsters had gained a greater appreciation<br />
of the art involved in the making of films. The<br />
course lasts two weeks.<br />
Actor Jack Duffy has been doing some<br />
filmmaking here for the past few weeks. His<br />
appearance in the Calgary Stampede parade<br />
was brief and then he moved on to Edmonton<br />
to lake a similar part in the Klondike parade.<br />
Further scenes were shot at Fort Edmonton.<br />
which along with our Heritage Park is a film<br />
maker's dream for a shooting locale. Duffy<br />
had his first taste of "white water" at Rocky<br />
Mountain House when he shot the rapids in a<br />
canoe. All these efforts were filmed by Kicking<br />
Horse Productions Ltd. under contract to<br />
the provincial government to produce a promotion<br />
film for Alberta.<br />
The new manager at Calgary's Towne<br />
Cinema is Lawny Lmd. who transferred here<br />
from Edmonton.<br />
At the July ink, meeting of the St. Albert<br />
city council it was resolved that the council intends<br />
to pass a bylaw to classify the St. Albert<br />
Drive-In Theatre as a designated drive-in<br />
theatre subject to the regulations of the<br />
Amusement Aci of the province of Alberta.<br />
The showing of Restricted Adult films is illegal<br />
under certain provisions of the act. But<br />
before any such bylaw can be passed the<br />
owner of the theatre must be given an oppor<br />
tunitj to appeal before the council and plead<br />
his cause An im nation was sent to the owner<br />
to appear at the council meeting on Aug. 7.<br />
The location of the council in considering such<br />
a restrictive bylaw was brought about by a<br />
group of irate citizens from the area of the<br />
cinema They complained that the noise from<br />
the drive in kept them awake at night and that<br />
the position of the screen made it very difficult<br />
to monitor the viewing of children when<br />
undesirable films were being shown.<br />
budget is set at between SIO million and $12<br />
million and "superstars" contacted for leading<br />
roles include (lint Eastwood, Marlon Brando,<br />
Paul Newman and George C. Scott.<br />
"We're kwking only for top names." said<br />
MediaVision head Mark Frostad "First,<br />
because a movie of this magnitude warrants it.<br />
Second, because we've never had an interna<br />
tional superstar in a Canadian feature before."<br />
MediaVision's vice president. Mike Mivtlle.<br />
purchased Ludlum's novel (which already has<br />
sold more hardcover copies than "The God<br />
father"! in mid May. but only revealed the<br />
details now. Said Miville. "We're not ashamed<br />
of the fact we want to produce a big. slick<br />
Hollywood product. That's what we're aiming<br />
for. We want to go into 70mm and Dolby<br />
Sound, like 'Alien' and 'Hair.' But we are still a<br />
totally Canadian team, and we'll give as much<br />
work to as many Canadians as we can."<br />
All interior scenes will be shot in Toronto.<br />
The rest will be filmed in the same locations as<br />
the novel—sites extending from Rome to<br />
Massachusetts.<br />
Christopher Plummer is to co-star with<br />
Richard Harris in "Highpoint," a $5 million<br />
comedy, which will also have Toronto actress<br />
Beverly D'Angelo (seen in "Hair"! in a co<br />
starring role. Filming begins July 30 in Los<br />
Angeles, and then moves to this city where<br />
one scene will be a jump from the world's<br />
tallest lower, the CN. by parachutist Bill Cole.<br />
Famous Players Ltd. has purchased the old<br />
Holt Renfrew building near its present head<br />
office. A new head office will be located here<br />
and will have three small cinemas in the rear.<br />
This vicinity already has 1 1 first run screens<br />
within a three -block area.<br />
Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau has<br />
been asked to accept a cameo role in "The Kid<br />
napping of a President." based upon Charles<br />
Templeton's top selling novel. Filming is to<br />
commence here in October, and the budget is<br />
expected to be $3 million to $4 million.<br />
"Lo»e on the Run" opened July 1 3 at the<br />
Fine Arts here, and will be featured at both<br />
the Vancouver and Edmonton film festivals in<br />
conjunction with Canadian Odeon theatres<br />
before commencing its commercial release.<br />
"Meatballs," the comedy shot in northern<br />
Ontario, is on its way towards becoming the<br />
most successful Canadian film ever made In<br />
800 U. S. and Canadian theatres, it grossed $6<br />
million in 2'A weeks, according to figures<br />
released by the Canadian Film Development<br />
Corp. Paramount reported that it grossed $1.5<br />
million in its first week in the New York city<br />
area, said to be a record for any film it has<br />
distributed.<br />
first run report<br />
CALGARY<br />
Alien iHVI Dl, Grand I, North Hill<br />
. 4ih wk<br />
Bloodline iParai. Market Mall I<br />
2nd wk<br />
I hi- Dark ir ^w World). Weslbrook I,<br />
Isl Wk<br />
Escape From Alcatra/ il'arai Palace<br />
3rd vvk<br />
Incoming Freshman il'Ri. Wcstbruik !<br />
2ndwk<br />
Excellent<br />
l<br />
xcelleni<br />
. Fair<br />
Excellent<br />
Fair<br />
I hi- Inlaws (WBl. Market Mall 4 & 6.<br />
3rd vvk<br />
f£ x client<br />
Lost and Found (Astral). Brentwood,<br />
Uptown I. 3rd wk<br />
Fair<br />
the .Main hunt iWBi. Palhscr Square I.<br />
3rd «*<br />
Excellent<br />
Moonraker (UA). (. algarv Place 2.<br />
2nd wit<br />
Excellent<br />
Nightwing lAstrall. Weslbrook 3. Grand 2.<br />
- nd wk Fair<br />
Phantasm i \sirali. Marlboro Square 3.<br />
5lhwk<br />
Fair<br />
Prophecy iParai. Palliser Square 2.<br />
3rdwk<br />
Good<br />
Scalpel lAstrall. Marlboro Square 2.<br />
I s ' »k Poo,<br />
EDMONTON<br />
Alien iBVFDl. Odeon I. Meadow lark.<br />
4thwk<br />
Excellent<br />
Bloodline iParai. Westmount B.<br />
- ndttk<br />
Excellent<br />
rhi Champ (MOM UAl. Londonderrv B.<br />
'««*<br />
Good<br />
The Dark iNew World), Plaza I. 1st wk Fair<br />
Death Game lAstrall. Jasper Red. Isl vvk Poor<br />
Escape From Alealra/ iParai. Capitol<br />
Square 3. 3rd wk<br />
Excellent<br />
GoMengirl lAstrall. Odeon 2. 1st vvk Good<br />
Incoming Freshman il'Ri. Towne Cinema.<br />
lsIwk<br />
Poor<br />
I he In-Laws iWBi. t apnol Square I.<br />
4lhwk<br />
Excellent<br />
Lost and Found lAstrall. Capilano, Rialio 2.<br />
-,rdwk<br />
Good<br />
Ihe Main Event iWBi. Westmount A.<br />
-,rdwk<br />
Excellent<br />
Manhattan lUAl. Garneau. 8ih wk<br />
Good<br />
MoonrakerlUAl. Paramount. 2nd wk .Excellent<br />
Nightwing lAstrall. Pla/a 2. Rialto I.<br />
2ndwk<br />
Fajr<br />
Ihe North Avenue Irregulars |BV|. Roxv.<br />
Istwk<br />
f- alr<br />
Prophecy iParai. Capnol Square 4.<br />
*lhwk<br />
Very Good<br />
Rocky II it \i. Capitol Square 2.<br />
4,h * k<br />
Silenl One iNew World). Varscona.<br />
2ndwk<br />
MONTREAL<br />
Excellent<br />
pair<br />
Alien IBVFD). York. 5th wk<br />
. . Excellent<br />
Bloodline iParai. Claremont, Loews 2.<br />
- nd wk Very Good<br />
Dracula (Univl, Atwater. 2nd wk . . Good<br />
Escape From Alealra/ ll'aral. Palace,<br />
Jrdwk<br />
. . .VeryGood<br />
rhr In-Laws tWBl. Loews 5.6th wk Very Good<br />
--H-BRnfflS^i^ffll<br />
Ihe Main Funl iWBi. the C mema<br />
Mil wk<br />
Good<br />
Manhattan iLAi. Place Ville Marie<br />
'"•>«*<br />
Very Good<br />
Moooraker [UAl, Loews<br />
1 . 3rd wk Excellent<br />
rhe Muppit Movie IBVFD), Place du Canada<br />
p 2nd "k Good<br />
Prophecy lD (Para). Loews 4. 4ih wk<br />
Good<br />
Rocky II |UA), Loews 3, 6th wk Very Good<br />
The Villain iColl, Cinema de Paris. Istwk lair<br />
French Language Films<br />
Au Dela du Bien El du Mai l( 'ariml.<br />
Pansien 3, Isi wk Good<br />
La Cam- Au\ Folks (UAl. I'ansien 2.<br />
I7ih wk<br />
Very Good<br />
I.e Ciel Peul Attendre (Paral. Pansien 5<br />
2<br />
-<br />
ruwk Very<br />
,<br />
Good<br />
La f.rande Altauuc du I rain d'Or lUAl.<br />
Champlain, I si wk (- air<br />
I.e Litre de la Jungle IBVFD). Le Dauphin<br />
,<br />
:,,d " k<br />
Lis Requms du Desert iCarim), Pansien I<br />
La «"!n, Vie Deianl Soi il'Ri. Pansien 4<br />
Lxcelleni<br />
G
'<br />
"<br />
Br«.ikmu<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
11<br />
'<br />
:ipul movie houses. Ii opened April 23. 1 42 1.<br />
a n h Constance Talmadge in "Lessons of<br />
_ove." Stage shows were for a time part of the<br />
Roosevelt programming Because oi a rapidly,<br />
.'hanging population in the Loop area,<br />
theatres, restaurants and stores have had to<br />
face a series of handicaps The Roosevelt was<br />
no exception ken Blcvvclt has served as<br />
manager since 968<br />
1<br />
According to Harold Klein, executive vice<br />
president of the Pint nationwide theatre chain.<br />
the lease on the Roosevelt had live years to<br />
run<br />
In Chicago's current filming business boom.<br />
the city's elevated trains will be serving as<br />
something more than conveyances to lake<br />
workers to and fro. "The Hunter," starring<br />
Steve McQueen, will be filmed on the "L"<br />
tracks for eight days as part of the sites<br />
selected in Chicago "The Blues Brothers,"<br />
starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. used<br />
j<br />
the "L" for one scene, and "M> Bodyguard''<br />
will he on the "L" for some of its scenes.<br />
Lour movies are being filmed in Chicago<br />
and Illinois, and it is estimated that both the<br />
i<br />
cilv and state will benefit from S7 million in<br />
i cash In addition, it means six months of<br />
i. steady work for local actors, actresses and film<br />
I crews, and it will generate S2I million in<br />
|<br />
economic activity. Besides "The Blues<br />
Brothers."' "The Hunter'' and 'My<br />
Bodvguard. " filming of "Ordinary People" will<br />
I lake place for 10 weeks.<br />
Credit for attracting this business to<br />
Chicago and other Illinois sites goes to Lucy<br />
Salenger. head of the state of Illinois Film Office,<br />
and to the Chicago Police Department,<br />
represented b> Li Dommick Frigo.<br />
Efforts are in motion to preserve the Egyp<br />
tian Theatre in Dekalb. III. It opened in 1 929<br />
with the movie "The Hottentots." and its<br />
30-by 70 stage was one of the theatre's top<br />
features. Special recognition has been given to<br />
the Egyptian for its unusual Art Deco ar<br />
chitecture. large siained glass windows and<br />
hugh pharaohs dominating the facade. At one<br />
time vaudeville acts were a big part of the<br />
entertainment, and more recently "Hair."<br />
"Company" and "Promises. Promises" were<br />
staged as specialties.<br />
Although the Egyptian closed for a lime in<br />
I977. it was later leased and used for a variety<br />
of civic entertainment programs, including<br />
children's theatre, fashion shows, western<br />
music and symphony concerts.<br />
In 1 978 the theatre was placed on the National<br />
Register of Historic Sites. However, ac<br />
cording to Barbara kummerfeldt.a member of<br />
Preservation of the Egyptian Theatre, there is<br />
doubt about the fate of this Dekalb landmark,<br />
kummerfeldl said. "We do receive financial<br />
aid in the form of grants and from other<br />
sources. But the theatre's roof is in a very bad<br />
slate, and unless we receive money lor repair.<br />
we cannot operate through this coming<br />
winter She " said that if financial support was<br />
not available, the thealre could be torn down.<br />
The title of Avco Embassy's "kiss in the At<br />
tack of the Phantoms" should be matching the<br />
popularity of a brand with a well known<br />
trademark, based on the promotional elTort<br />
which has been carried on during the past<br />
weeks. Ii1 a current campaign effort. Ralph<br />
Sullivan, manager of the Pint Cherry vale I.<br />
and Sharon Lemaire. assistant publicity director,<br />
are bringing the promotion to a close with<br />
a bunch of prizes lor a group ol children who<br />
will arrive in the theatre lobby in kiss<br />
costumes. Station WTVO will cover this ac<br />
liviiy, and the 'i Bird, the WYFE mascot, will<br />
serve as a judge Prizes include a phonograph,<br />
a selection of kiss albums, and necklaces and<br />
items that are identified with the kiss theme.<br />
The Nostromo space ship, the actual model<br />
used in "Alien." will be a special feature on<br />
display at the C hicago/Fest cinema segment.<br />
"Star Wars" returned to the news when<br />
Anthony Daniels, who plays C3PO. was in<br />
town Aug. 10 to help publicize the reissue of<br />
the attraction in Chicago theatres Aug. 17.<br />
And David Prowse. who plays Darth Vader, is<br />
coming in from London to add to the return<br />
engagement promotion. Boosting lor the<br />
reissue will continue in Minneapolis and Cm<br />
cinnati. At the same lime, plugging will stari<br />
lor "The Empire Strikes Back." the sequel to<br />
"Star Wars<br />
"The Muppet Movie" will open the doors in<br />
II of Pint's Chicago theatres at II am in<br />
stead of the normal time of 2 p.m.<br />
The Muppet promotion, which offers top<br />
prizes of lour trips to I isbon and four lo Lon<br />
don. represents the third major promotion tin<br />
ed up between Pint advertising/promotion<br />
director Jerry Bulger and Ron Burkhardl. who<br />
represented 1 05 Osco drug stores Past promotions<br />
have provided toys for needy children<br />
and lour trips to the Bahamas as pri/es to com<br />
penng moviegoers "The Muppet Movie." an<br />
Associated Film Distributors feature, is rated<br />
G.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
The Variety Club of Indianapolis Tent 10<br />
has donated a bus chassis to the Marion County<br />
Association for Retarded Citizens that will<br />
provide new life in future years of service for<br />
one of the association's buses. Although the<br />
bus has traveled almost 150.000 miles, inspection<br />
showed that the body of the bus was in<br />
good and serviceable condition and that only<br />
the chassis needed replacement. The Variety<br />
Club raised the funds to purchase a new<br />
chassis. The chassis cost S9.I00. which was<br />
SI 0.000 less than it would have cost to purchase<br />
a new bus. In the past the Variety CTub<br />
has purchased five buses and two vans lor the<br />
association.<br />
"Just You and Me, Kid," starring George<br />
Burns and Brooke Shields, played a second<br />
week of brisk business of an exclusive engage<br />
ment at the Georgetown and Carlyle theatres.<br />
George Burns' tremendous natural talent<br />
shines brightly as an ex-vaudevillian who<br />
teams up with young star Brooke Shields, as a<br />
runaway who seeks refuge in Burns' grand<br />
estate Audiences gave a warm reception to<br />
this enjoyable movie.<br />
Away," filmed at Indiana<br />
University. Bloomington. has been a tremendous<br />
success here in central Indiana. The<br />
heartwarming and joyous triumph of director<br />
Peter Yates has met with arousing approval<br />
from sold-oui hometown audiences. The<br />
movie transcends more than the mere conflict<br />
between college students and "lownies."<br />
rather it is an emotionally powerful film about<br />
the uncertainty of adolescence, and the need<br />
to believe in oneself. Yates warmly reminds us<br />
of the love and the pain, the pride and desolation,<br />
and the determination and frustration<br />
that are part of growing up.<br />
The audience, a mixture of l.U. students<br />
sporting T-shirts to let the world know it, area<br />
citizens curious about the film shot nearby,<br />
parents, alumni and young people alike stood<br />
anxiously in line. People came to "Breaking<br />
Away" for many reasons. "It got great<br />
reviews." said one couple. One proud father<br />
proclaimed. "My daughter goes to l.U." Many<br />
were curious to see the familiar landscape on<br />
the screen in a major motion picture and one<br />
girl simply stated. "I don't know." when asked<br />
her reason for attending.<br />
During the film frequent squeals and exclamations<br />
were uttered as the l.U. students<br />
saw one of their friends or a familiar landmark<br />
around campus. The audience watched atten<br />
lively and became more and more involved as<br />
the film progressed. At the conclusion of the<br />
culminating Little 500 bicycle race, the crowd<br />
errupted in a roar of applause, whistles, shouts<br />
and cheers.<br />
As they left the theatre, they were excitedly<br />
praising the unique and delightful film that<br />
captured for them forever their homeland and<br />
the memories of growing up.<br />
"North Dallas Forty," starring Nick Nolle.<br />
Bo Svenson and singer Mac Davis, in his film<br />
debut, opened Aug. 3 al Glendale. Loews<br />
Quad and Greenwood theatres.<br />
The Concorde— Airport '79 opened Aug. 3<br />
at Castleton Square. Eastgate and the Locus<br />
Ouad theatres.<br />
ST. LOUIS<br />
The ana is awakening from the midsummer<br />
doldrums with an influx of new films on the<br />
scene Nuk Nolle leads the parade in "North<br />
Dallas Forty." a football saga in which he<br />
plays a professional athlete adjusting to the<br />
end of his career. It is based on the best seller<br />
In I'eter Gent, a former split end with the<br />
Dallas Cowboy stunted author. It is on viewal<br />
IXs Peres 7, Jamestown Mall. Cypress<br />
Village. South Twin. Chesterfield and<br />
Nameoki in Granite City, III<br />
"The Cuncorde— Airport '79," which has a<br />
I'd rating, is Hying high ai Cross keys. Mark<br />
Twain. Northland and Cypress<br />
Aimed at the younger sit is United Artists'<br />
"Hair" in Dolby stereo al Ellisville. Cross<br />
keys. St. Andrews and Plaza Drive In.<br />
Also from United Artists, in an exclusive<br />
engagement at the Hi Pointe. is the unusual<br />
French film based on a stage play. "La Cage<br />
Aux Folles" (Birds of a Featherl<br />
\\ hat could be more bizarre than a Polish<br />
rabbi becoming a bible-toting cowboy in the<br />
wild West as portrayed by Gene Wilder in<br />
"The Frisco kid'.'" It is on the screens of 4<br />
Seasons. South County. Northland.<br />
Jamestown, South Twin and Hobday drive-ins<br />
and Nameoki, Granite City. III.<br />
More fun in the West is provided by "The<br />
Villain." which opened Aug. 3 at the Nor<br />
thwest. Chesterfield Mall. Halls Ferry 6.<br />
South Count) and Norlh Twin Drive In and<br />
66 Park In<br />
A special studio preview at Wehrenberg's<br />
Westport Cine listed only the stars. Alan Alda.<br />
Barbara Harris and Meryl Streep. and no title.<br />
probably because it might still be indefinite,<br />
having been filmed as "The Senator." changed<br />
to "Nothing Personal" and now "The Seduction<br />
of Joe Tynan." which still might not be<br />
final'<br />
first run report<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
Alien l20th Foxl. Midland I. 1 0th wk S7.657<br />
The ViniiMillt Horror lAli. 8 screens.<br />
Isl wk I47.I9I<br />
Breaking Away |20lh-Foxl, 8 screens. Isl wk. 22.020<br />
The Brood iSRl. Midland. 3rd wk<br />
.<br />
I.I00<br />
Drduila lUnivl. 6 screens. 3rd wk 19.000<br />
Escape From Alcatraz iParal, 3 screens.<br />
6th wk 6.583<br />
The Frisco Kid (WBl, 7 screens<br />
3rd wk<br />
Game of Death (Col), 2nd wk<br />
31.323<br />
Empire 3.704<br />
Fairyland D.I .3.383<br />
The In-Laws (WBl. 4 screens. 7th wk 20.624<br />
The Innocent ISRl. 1st wk.<br />
Metcalf<br />
4J60<br />
Seville 8.250<br />
Journey Through Death's Door iSunn Classic).<br />
8 screens. Isl wk. |3 da.l 46.000<br />
Just You and Me, Kid (Coll. 3 screens.<br />
2nd wk 17,380<br />
The Main Event (WBl. Glenwood.<br />
6ih wk 17.490<br />
Meatballs IParal. 7 screens. 3rd wk 28.263<br />
Moonraker lU Al. 3 screens. 5th wk 1 7.063<br />
In the midst of all the new film offerings is<br />
the return Aug. 15 of "Star Wars" in an area<br />
saturation. Forty prints will be in service dur<br />
ing the run which ends Sept. 4.<br />
(continued on page 1 2)<br />
The Muppet Movie lAFDl. 6 screens.<br />
6th wk. .<br />
23.956<br />
Rocky II iL Al. 7ih wk.<br />
Blue Ridge 10.710<br />
Ranch Marl 11.120<br />
Sirvani and Mistress (SRi. Fine Arts.<br />
1st wk. (6 da.l 1.748<br />
Unidentified Flying Oddball |BV).<br />
8 screens. Isl wk 38.487<br />
Van Nuys Blvd. ISRl. 5 screens, Istwk 15.700<br />
The Villain iColl. 6 screens. 2nd wk 39.787<br />
CHICAGO<br />
Alien 1 201 h Fox I. 7 screens. lOthwk $108,396<br />
La Cage Aux Folles iSRl. Cinema.<br />
3rd wk<br />
1 3.060<br />
Escape From Alcatraz iParal. 8 screens.<br />
6th wk 79.469<br />
Theln-LawslWBl. lOscreens. 7ih wk 141.080<br />
Just You and Me, Kid IColl, 12 screens.<br />
2ndwk 80.000<br />
The Main Event iWBl. lOscreens.<br />
5th wk 112.970<br />
Moonraker lUAl. lOscreens. 4th wk 154.000<br />
Rocky II (LAI. lOscreens. 7th wk .... 161.000<br />
The Villain IColl. I 7 screens. 1st wk 205.000<br />
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-Arn Or<br />
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Stack Platters Replacement Package Plan<br />
For the best at less, contact John or Mike<br />
Ringold Cinema Equipment Co.<br />
8421 Gravois Road* St Louis. Mo 6313«Phone 314-352-2020<br />
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PRODUCER OF SPECIAL FILMS FOR MOTION PICTURE THEATRES.<br />
(FREE<br />
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FILMACR STUDIOS, INC.<br />
1327 South Wabash Avenue. Chicago. Illinois 60605 312-427-3395
. .<br />
. . Polunsk)<br />
. . The<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
An armed robber) look place at the Poinl<br />
["riplex on the city's south side on a Sui<br />
night in mid July and an undisclosed amount<br />
of cash was taken The police are in<br />
vestigating.<br />
For the opening of the new movie<br />
"Dracula" at the Prospect Mall Cinemas on<br />
Milwaukee's east side, manager Jane Rehnger<br />
arranged to have a coffin placed on a piano<br />
doll) and then had it towed up and down the<br />
lakefront. Accompanying it were women<br />
"mourners" itheatre employees and their<br />
friendsi dressed in circa 1 800 costumes. Of<br />
course. Dracula was in the coffin and he<br />
would sit up now and then during the<br />
attention-commanding procession. A large<br />
poster, affixed to the coffin, invited the public<br />
to "come and see Dracula' at Prospect Mall."<br />
During its current run at the theatre, now in<br />
its third week, the coffin remains on display in<br />
the lobby where patrons are free to "try it out<br />
for size." The film has been doing good<br />
business.<br />
When comedian Stese Martin appeared for<br />
two evening stage shows at the Alpine Valley<br />
Music Theatre in East Troy, located about 30<br />
miles west of Milwaukee, he promoted his new<br />
film "The Jerk." It is scheduled to hit movie<br />
houses around Christmas. Movies are his top<br />
priority now. Martin told a local reporter, and<br />
he revealed that he and Carl Reiner have been<br />
kicking around a new movie idea for future<br />
production.<br />
New film due: Disney's "Unidentified Fly<br />
ing Oddball" at the Mill Road Fourplex on<br />
Aug. 4.<br />
Art Heling, local Al branch office manager,<br />
was sending out invitations to a special<br />
tradescreening in August of the R-rated<br />
"Seven" at the Centre Screening Room. 2I2<br />
W. Wisconsin Ave. Art tells BOXOFFICE that<br />
his new office assistant is Judie Gorman and<br />
that she was a former executive secretary for<br />
an executive vice president of another local industry.<br />
53 Auto Vu on Hiway 53 near Eagle River.<br />
Wis., had a contest for kids 1 4 and younger to<br />
count the spots on the dalmatians depicted in<br />
its newspaper display ad for Disney's "I0I<br />
Dalmatians." Contestants were to leave name,<br />
address and phone number along with the<br />
answer in a ballot box at the drive-in. First<br />
prize was a season pass. There were also second<br />
and third place prizes plus 25 other<br />
prizes. Paired with "I0I Dalmatians" was<br />
"The Love Bug."<br />
The Campus Theatre in Ripon. Wis., had a<br />
tie-in with Travel. Inc.. a local travel agency,<br />
in connection with the Saturday and Sunday<br />
matinee showings of Disney's "The Apple<br />
Dumpling Gang Rides Again." Given away<br />
were four tickets to Marriott's Great America.<br />
To be eligible, contestants were to register for<br />
the drawing at either the theatre or the travel<br />
agency. Four other prizes to be awarded were<br />
donated by Schultz's Family Store. The<br />
Disney film ran for a week, from July 27 to<br />
Aug. 2.<br />
Anne and Harlan Seaser donated use of the<br />
Walworth Theatre in Walworth for the<br />
screening of "I0I Dalmatians" and "The<br />
Champ" on Saturday afternoon Jul) 2 1 in<br />
behalf of the Delavan Community Fund.<br />
Tickets selling at S2 for adults and SI for<br />
children could be obtained at the theatre or on<br />
the special busses offering free rides from<br />
downtown Delavan. The rental of both films<br />
was also donated by the Seavers. An Afghan<br />
blanket was also awarded at the theatre as a<br />
"Sunshine Fair Grand Prize."<br />
The Starlite Outdoor Theatre at Sturgeon<br />
Ba) programmed a "tribute to John Wayne"<br />
with the screening of "Rooster Cogburn" and<br />
"The Shootist" on the final weekend in July.<br />
The theatre management donated 25 percent<br />
of the profits to the American Cancer Society<br />
Hi-Wa) lb Drive-In near Spuria. \\<br />
ar special offer for Jul) 4 and 5. The<br />
Gar) Muellers, who operate the ozoner. in<br />
vittd us patrons to then "first anniversary, in<br />
.-.<br />
business come help celebrate with us."<br />
John litis Associates, Chicago based<br />
publicity agency for Universal Pictures, issued<br />
a news release to Milwaukee contacts concern<br />
ing "The Concorde— Airport 79", a suspense<br />
drama at Northndge 5. Skyway I. Spring Mall<br />
3 and Starlite Outdoor I theatres.<br />
The Ford Theatre in Waterford. Wis., was<br />
closed July 6 -12 for vacation ... Donna<br />
Theatre at Sturgeon Bay. Wis. warned its<br />
patrons during the showing of "The Deer<br />
Hunter." that "due to the nature of this film,<br />
under 1 7 requires accompanying parent or<br />
adult guardian. There will be strict adherence<br />
to this policy."<br />
Sheboygan Press, a daily, continues us free<br />
movie pass promotion by inviting readers to<br />
"look for your name in the classified section."<br />
Currently the pass was good at Marc l & 2 for<br />
either "Rocky II" of "Just You and Me. Kid."<br />
Lucky readers claim the pass at the newspaper<br />
office.<br />
Writing that "Meatballs" is not a subtle<br />
movie, "but it has charm that leaves you with<br />
a chuckle as well as a bell) laugh." Journal<br />
film critic Damien Jacques sa)s that the film is<br />
being called the "Animal House of 979."<br />
1<br />
Although it's made b) the same director and<br />
same writers. Damien warns that "the same<br />
people who laughed at 'Animal House' ma)<br />
not do so at "Meatballs.' " "Animal House"<br />
came at its audiences with a sledgehammer,<br />
"thwacking viewers over the head with a<br />
steady stream of vulgarities and outrageous<br />
improbabilities." he pointed out. "Meatballs"<br />
is a "much softer film with some warmth and<br />
poignance slipped between the gags."<br />
ST. LOUIS<br />
(continued from page 1 1)<br />
Tom Simon, division manager of General<br />
Cinema Corp. and well known publicity director<br />
in this area, will be heading for the West<br />
Coast where he has been promoted to regional<br />
director for GCC and will have headquarters<br />
in Beverly Hills. Mike Bat) . a veteran at 30 of<br />
the GCC organization, will be the new division<br />
manager here. Formerl) at the Grandview<br />
Theatre where he started. Mike is<br />
presentl) manager of the Northwest Plaza. He<br />
began his association with the circuit 10 vears<br />
ago.<br />
KANSAS CITY<br />
Aug. 3 brought several new mosiestotown.<br />
Among them were "The Concorde— Airport<br />
'79." "More American Graffiti" and "Parts:<br />
The Clonus Horror."<br />
"North Dallas Fort)" was screened at the<br />
Fine Arts Theatre Aug. I. One moviegoer said<br />
that it was a good movie but that one should<br />
be prepared for locker room language.<br />
The board of Variety Club Women held the<br />
August board meeting at the Women's City<br />
Club Aug. I. The next board meeting will be<br />
in September and the date will be announced.<br />
Hal McClure, Commonwealth Theatres,<br />
was recentl) presented with a ruby ring in<br />
recognition of his 25th year with Com<br />
monweallh. Dale Stewart, president, made the<br />
presentation.<br />
Dick Hill, Western division manager for<br />
Warner Bros., visited the Commonwealth of<br />
fices Aug 2.<br />
Stese Durbin and Exhibitor's Services have<br />
been named as distributors of Key International<br />
product in the St. Louis Kansas City<br />
areas. The assignment was announced by Pat<br />
Halloran. president of Key International.<br />
Denver. Key International has "Sweet Creek<br />
County War" and "Three Wa> Weekend" in<br />
release. The compan) also is readying "The<br />
Man Who Loved Bears" for an October<br />
release.<br />
DALLAS<br />
R. S. Films, 6060 N. Central Expressway,<br />
Dallas, has now added the New Orleans area<br />
to their bojMng territory of Film Ventures<br />
Productions. The films will be shipped from<br />
New Orleans and only the booking and office<br />
work will be handled in Dallas. They have also<br />
taken over the distribution of American<br />
Cinema's "Force of One." Another of their<br />
new films ready for booking is "Good Guys<br />
Wear Black."<br />
Columbia is pleased with the exceptional!)<br />
good business all over the state with "The<br />
Villain."<br />
20th-Centur> Fox will have a three week<br />
saturation of the reissue of "Star Wars" open<br />
ing on Aug. 1 7. The picture w ill then be taken<br />
out of release indefinitely<br />
Paramount held a tradescreening Jul) 3 1 in<br />
the Plitt Screening room of their latest film,<br />
"North Dallas Forty," a comedy set in the pro<br />
football arena based on the best-selling novel.<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
The recentl) reopened Kelly Drive-In<br />
Theatre is being made use of during daytime<br />
hours as an aluminum recycling center. The<br />
drive-in is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.<br />
to 4 p.m. for the collection or aluminum cans<br />
which are purchased al 23 cents a pound.<br />
"About the only reason to see 'Just You and<br />
Me. Kid' is George Burns, which isn't bad as<br />
reasons go." wrote Ron White as the Spectator<br />
the Express-News. "Burns almost makes a<br />
in<br />
badh written, directed and acted movie into<br />
entertainment. If nothing else. 'Just You and<br />
Me. Kid' is a tribute to the power of a seasoned<br />
performer confident of his own talents even<br />
when the rest of the show is crumbling about<br />
him. The film's opening— the best part of the<br />
movie, ma) be because Burns is the only one<br />
on screen— pla)s with Burns' image of a<br />
vaudevillian unstuck in time. Once in a while<br />
we get to hear Burns sing an old ditty in that<br />
Brillo Pad voice of his that certainl) can't be<br />
called good but which is still entertaining. But<br />
there's not enough of Burns in the film. If only<br />
Just You and Me. Kid.' could have been Just<br />
'"<br />
Me .<br />
wrote. "Few folks might call the film a<br />
blockbuster, but that's literally what it is. It's a<br />
tightly written, well-acted, carefully-scripted<br />
character study about prison life. All it lacks is<br />
action, and 'action' in this case could have<br />
been another word for violence."<br />
Organizers of the San Antonio Cinelesmal<br />
hase been buss soliciting entries. The festival<br />
will accept 1 6mm<br />
and 35mm film, threefourths<br />
inch and one half inch \ideotape and<br />
slide programs produced b> Hispanics or<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
relating to the Hispanic community in the<br />
United States<br />
Persons submitting slide presentations<br />
must supply their own projection<br />
equipment and be present at the festival to<br />
present their programs. The deadline for<br />
receiving all entries was Jul) 1 5.<br />
The dates for this year's festival are Aug.<br />
24 25. There will be no entrance fee this year<br />
due to donations from several festival patrons.<br />
Cinelesmal is reputed to be the only one of its<br />
kind in the country and enjoys wide community<br />
support as an annual cultural and artistic<br />
event in San Antonio In the short three year<br />
histor). the festival has been attended by over<br />
16.000 people and has received more than 200<br />
film and video entries. For more information,<br />
contact Adam Medrano. Cinelesmal. Oblate<br />
College of the Southwest. 285 Oblate Dnse.<br />
San Antonio. Texas. 782 1 6. (512(736-1685.<br />
ATLANTA<br />
Are vou dismayed at the rising cost of motion<br />
pictures A writer for a special piece in<br />
the Journal-Constitution has come to your<br />
relief with a chance to see high quality pictures<br />
without paying a lot of money. It is suggested<br />
to first read the fine print on the movie<br />
ads. Many theatres have matinees and<br />
weeknight showings. Here are some other suggestions:<br />
George Ellis and his son. Michael, who<br />
. . For more unusual films<br />
operate the Film Forum Peachtree and the<br />
Film Forum Ansley. show mainl) foreign<br />
films and feature the "Rocks Horror Picture<br />
Show" at midnight. The main features at the<br />
Ansley and midnight shows are "60 percent<br />
foreign films with the remainder American<br />
classics." Both theatres charge S2.50 and discounts<br />
are available . Atlanta Public<br />
library is a free movie freak's paradise. The<br />
Central Library has three series and each<br />
branch has its own schedule for distributing<br />
the programs .<br />
check out IMAGES (Independent Media Artists<br />
of Georgia. Etc. Inc.l which sponsors<br />
Thursday and Frida) screenings of independent<br />
films.<br />
Harry and Esther Clark spent some time in<br />
Atlanta last week greeting a number of exhibitors<br />
and other film folk in their new Atlanta<br />
quarters at 382 Northlake Quadrangle<br />
Parkway. 30084. The new phone number is<br />
491-7766. TheClarks. of Jacksonville, manage<br />
to make it to Atlanta when it is "plasdate<br />
time" in the motion picture business, and<br />
things start stirring in Atlanta branch<br />
manager Lew is Owens' territor)<br />
Pete Howell of Ace Film Distributors Inc.<br />
screened "Up Your Ladder" at the Century<br />
Center Screening Room.<br />
Bob Polunsk) reviewed several films in the<br />
San Antonio Light and wrote that "The<br />
Amity ville Horror." "capitalizing on a real-life<br />
event that became a major news item. "opened<br />
at two theatres, the Northwest Six and Century<br />
South Six. "The film is based on a best<br />
seller about a New York famil) who found<br />
strange happenings in their new home. The<br />
movie version showcases the talents of Rod Atlanta from Salt Lake City suffering from a<br />
Steiger las the priestl. James Brolin and bad dose of jet lag. He proved that he was<br />
Margot Kidder. The) compete with the ghosts<br />
and some unusual special effects, but it makes<br />
read) when trainer Joe Hornok kept all of his<br />
a movie that fits the theme of horror on<br />
toda)'s screens." . wrote that<br />
"Just You and Me, Kid" is strict!) for George<br />
Burns fans. "He's got plenty of them, so that's<br />
OK. But anyone looking for a corned) film for<br />
any other reason will be disappointed." Concerning<br />
"Escape From Alcatraz." Polunsk)<br />
Hank, the canine star of •CHOMPS."<br />
prosed he was a trooper when he arrived in<br />
appointments. Hank is not spoiled. Hornok<br />
MAKE<br />
MONEY!<br />
Advertise<br />
in<br />
Yourself<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>'s<br />
MARKETPLACE
Rov<br />
But<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979<br />
13<br />
says Ifis diet consists ol food thai can be<br />
bough) anywhere. Hnrnok saved Hank from<br />
the dog pound jiiJ has owned him for seven<br />
vears<br />
Hunk worked in Georgia on "The Million<br />
Dollar Deliverance," in which his role con<br />
sistedol biting a soldier's leg, Homok also was<br />
represented in the movie b> two skunks<br />
"They're erne when they're descented," he<br />
says. Hank has roles in "The Long Goodbye,"<br />
starring Elliott Gould, and "Mr Ricco."<br />
Atlanta-based Fuuua Industries Inc.. which<br />
includes the Martin Theatre Circuit based in<br />
Columbus. Ga.. has reported second quarter<br />
earnings of SI 8.300.000 or SI. 4 1 cents per<br />
share, up from S8. 700.000 or 66 cents for the<br />
same period in 1 978. Quarterly ^i^ increased<br />
from $425 million last year to S547 million in<br />
the 1 979 period. For the first half, earnings<br />
were $28.5 million or S2.I8 per share com<br />
pared with SI 3 million or 98 cents per share<br />
for the 1 978 period. Sales rose from $771<br />
million to $1 billion for the half.<br />
JACKSONVILLE<br />
It looks like American International has<br />
another winner in "The Amityville Horror."<br />
Jim Dixon, local branch manager for Al. says<br />
the picture grossed S308.000 in its first three<br />
days of release on 4 1 screens in the Florida ter<br />
ritory. The picture received some fantastic<br />
publicity when the Florida Times Union<br />
featured a hall page article on the real<br />
"haunted house" in Amityville. The article<br />
states that the horror didn't end in 1976 when<br />
George and kaihy Lutz grabbed the kids and<br />
fled their Long Island dream house that supposedly<br />
had become a nightmare in just 28<br />
days. They left some spooks of their own<br />
behind to haunt the next owners, the notorie<br />
ty generated by the Jay Anson bestseller and<br />
the long anticipated film has attracted hordes<br />
of thrill seekers, vandals, psychics and assorted<br />
weirdos to the house. "The Amityville<br />
Horror" is packing them in at the Neptune 3.<br />
Orange Park 5. Midway Drive-In and Fox<br />
Drive-In theatres.<br />
The death of C.H<br />
"Buck" Robuck on July<br />
28 saddened his many friends Buck died of a<br />
heart attack at his home in Logan* ille. Ga..<br />
where he went to live upon retirement from<br />
United Artists 10 years ago. Buck, who was<br />
well known in both the Florida and Georgia<br />
territories, had a film career that spanned 40<br />
years. He worked for such companies as Eagle<br />
Lion. Selzmck. Columbia. PRC and United<br />
Artists. In 1951. he was transferred to<br />
Jacksonville to open up a one man office for<br />
United Artists.<br />
Harley Bellamy, manager of Kent's Plaza<br />
Tw in Theatre, reports he w ill be losing five of<br />
his employees who are leaving for college.<br />
One. David Speigle. his doorman-usher, has<br />
been accepted by New York University where<br />
he is taking up the cinema as his major.<br />
Bellamy further reports that during one of<br />
Jacksonville's recent afternoon storms, a freak<br />
thing happened at the Plaza when one of his<br />
front lobby glass windows blew out. landed on<br />
the sidewalk, but did not break. Wind pressure<br />
build-up from the lobby doors across from the<br />
"indestructible" window was blamed for the<br />
freak accident.<br />
VVOMP1 president, Mary Ellen Boyd, an<br />
nounces the following committee chairmen<br />
for the 1979-80 year: community service.<br />
Susan Howell, industry service. Julie<br />
Williams: finance. Sandy Easley: publicity.<br />
Fay Weaver; yearbook. Linda Vespi; Will<br />
Rogers. Phil Eckert; bylaws. Mary Hart; and<br />
sunshine. Sheila Temple.<br />
Susan Howell has returned to work part<br />
time at Clark Films after having been on<br />
maternity leave. Susan and Lenny became the<br />
proud parents of Matthew Leonard, born on<br />
June 16.<br />
Duval Teachers United sponsored an<br />
"Honor the Children Day" on Aug 3. and<br />
showed a free movie. "Huckleberry Finn." for<br />
all school-aged children and accompanying<br />
adults ,ii Plitt's Edgewood and Regency<br />
Theatres<br />
The WOMPls have made a<br />
$25 di<br />
to the Florida Lung Association to help thai<br />
organization raise funds to sponsot camper<br />
ships to "Sunshine Station." a camp for<br />
children with respirator) diseases<br />
Kent's St. Johns Twin Theatre has a new<br />
manager. John Kissane. who comes to then]<br />
after lour years with the Springs Theatre in<br />
Ocala. John started as an usher with Wometco<br />
and has progressed through the ranks<br />
Columbia Pictures held a sneak preview of<br />
its newest release. "Hot Stuff." at the Regency<br />
Twin Theatre on July 27 and reports that it<br />
was received with great gusto. "Hot Stuff<br />
opened Aug. 3 at the Regency Twin, Orange<br />
Park 5. Royal Palm, Northside and Fox<br />
Drive In theatres in Jacksonville and the<br />
Royal Park in Gainsville.<br />
In the Jacksonville Journal's "Lively." the<br />
magazine of entertainment, movie reviewer<br />
Mike Clark gave excellent reviews of 20th<br />
Fox's "Breaking Away" and Columbia's "The<br />
Villain." and Paramount's "North Dallas Forty."<br />
Clark describes "Breaking Away" as a<br />
"touching, humorous depiction of a real<br />
passage of life. It describes what happens as<br />
high school students must decide between col<br />
lege and blue collar work. There is practically<br />
no fault in this movie. You can tell by watching<br />
the audience." . . . "The Villain" is<br />
another entertaining family film by the master<br />
of the summer success, director Hal Needham.<br />
who directed "Smokey and the Bandit" and<br />
"Hooper." It's a loving take-off on Roadrun<br />
ner cartoons and has something for everyone.<br />
stales Clark.<br />
Pictures screened this week were "Swim<br />
Team" and "Lady in Red." New World Piclures;<br />
"The Great Santini." Warner Brothers;<br />
and "Shame on the Bixby Boys," New World<br />
Pictures.<br />
The WOMPI's wish to welcome a new<br />
member. Suzy Peacock, who is assistant<br />
cashier for Universal Films.<br />
Fave Lynn is the new booker at Avco Em<br />
bassy Pictures. She replaced Wendy Vestal,<br />
according to Randy Rovins. local branch<br />
manager for Embassy . ins also reports<br />
that he has "Kiss in the Attack of the Phantoms"<br />
booked to break in the Jacksonville<br />
market on Aug. 24 with a radio tie in and a big<br />
newspaper and television campaign. Embassy<br />
also screened "City on Fire" for local ex<br />
hibitors on July 19.<br />
Jacksonville area entertainment costs drop<br />
ped in June, giving the consumers a<br />
leisuretime break although inflation marched<br />
on in other sectors. These facts are according<br />
to a column apearing in the Florida Times<br />
Union. Leisure and recreation costs fell 0.1<br />
percent in June. Entertainment costs in the<br />
five county area of Duval. Baker. Clay.<br />
Nassau and St. Johns counties have increased<br />
by only 1.2 percent in the first six months of<br />
the year compared w ith the national rate of in<br />
crease of 6.6 percent. Two drops in local prices<br />
were instrumental in causing the moderation<br />
in recreation inflation. Prices of bicycles show<br />
ed a marked decline and area shops cut prices<br />
on some phonograph records. Other electronic<br />
items remained unchanged in price for several<br />
months.<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
Notes from Filmrow: Jean Caudle is a new<br />
employee at Avco/Embassv . She was previous<br />
ly employed by Warner Bros, on the West<br />
Coast and by Galaxy Pictures.<br />
Ed McLaughlin, Columbia Pictures branch<br />
manager, has returned from the Wesi t oasi<br />
re nee,<br />
( ongratulations on his new<br />
position -is branch manager ol \vcol\ mbassj<br />
Orslej was a bookei at Paramouni r<br />
for the p.isi 10 years<br />
New pictures on the marquees; "The<br />
Amityville Horror" lAmencan International!<br />
al I'ryon Mall I and "Game of Death" IC ol<br />
umbiai al I'ryon Mall II.<br />
Catherine (lupin. Charlotte Observer<br />
movie critic, said of The Amityville Horror'<br />
"Because the screenplay of Sandor Stem's<br />
follows the book so closely, the action in<br />
Amityville' is told in slow paced diary fashion<br />
ion the third day the flies came ...on the<br />
fourth day. the toilets overflowed with black<br />
goo l"<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
Milton Aufdemorte, president of Gulf<br />
States Theatre Owners Service Inc.. has an<br />
nounced that he has purchased all outstanding<br />
shares of Gulf States Theatre Owners Service<br />
Inc.. and is new sole owner of the corporation.<br />
He has terminated the operation of his other<br />
company . Film Booking Service, as of Aug. I<br />
He has also announced acceptance of the<br />
resignations of Alice Baker and Carl Mabry as<br />
board directors and appointed Constance<br />
Aufdemorte vice president and Mildred Bin<br />
secretary treasurer, both to serve in the capaci<br />
ty<br />
of directors of the board.<br />
Columbia Pictures welcomes three addi<br />
lions to their office staff: Kim Barbot. contract<br />
clerk and biller: Rich Boynton. salesman; and<br />
Rory Bruer. booker for Memphis territory<br />
Universal trade-screened "Yanks" at the<br />
Robert E. Lee Theatre.<br />
Paramouni Pictures' "Sunburn." starring<br />
Farrah Fawcett Majors, is scheduled to open<br />
in the New Orleans area on Aug 17 at the<br />
Elm wood Cinema. Kenilworlh Cinema and<br />
Chalmette C inema<br />
The Women of the Motion Picture Industry<br />
had an outgoing officers party at the summer<br />
home of chairman Shirley Eagan in<br />
Mandeville. La.<br />
Richard Dodds in his review of<br />
"Nighivving" had this to say: " "Nightwing'<br />
could possibly have been trashy fun if it hadn't<br />
taken itself so seriously . the screenplay is<br />
filled with sanctimonious mumbo jumbo that<br />
drags in sacred American customs, oppor<br />
tunistic white men and even touches on the oil<br />
shortage ["here is abundant scenic<br />
photography, however, to lessen the tedium,<br />
plus some lilting melodies h\ Henry. M<br />
Reviewing "Breaking Away," Frank<br />
Gagnard remarks, "the film m.iv be the<br />
sentimental inspirational 'sleeper' ol the sum<br />
met li has the popular ingredients an appeal<br />
ing young cast, a coming ol age siory in which<br />
innocence and industry and homey virtues<br />
triumph, a superbly tooled production and<br />
laughs. No eye gouging or Russian<br />
roulette—not even a broken heart "<br />
MIAMI<br />
Col. Robert Pcntland Jr., who has been<br />
described by some as the most generous man<br />
in Florida, died July 29 in Miami. He was ihc<br />
man who donated more than SI million to<br />
Variety Children's Hospital, as well as giving<br />
S2.S million to the March of Dimes. S I million<br />
to the Umversiiv of Miami Children's Cardiac<br />
Hospital here and $400,000 to the Old Spanish<br />
Monastery in North Dade County.<br />
In 1 965. when Variety Children's Hospital,<br />
his favorite charity, needed money, he found<br />
ed Benefactor's C lub. The requirement for<br />
membership was a S50.000 donation to the<br />
hospital He was a lifetime chairman of Varie<br />
ty. a trustee of the University of Miami,<br />
founder of the Orange Bowl Committee and<br />
past chairman of the March of Dimes.<br />
Recently "Dawn of the Dead" was shown at<br />
the Parkway Theatre and in 10 other movie<br />
houses in Dade and Broward counties It did a<br />
pretty good business, and according to Bill<br />
Cosford of the Miami Herald scared children<br />
"witless."<br />
HOUSTON<br />
Dennis Quaid, a former Houstonian. is currently<br />
appearing in "Breaking Away" which is<br />
currently at the Bnargrove 3. Shamrock 6.<br />
Festival 6. Soulhmore 6. Northwood 6 and<br />
Southway 6.<br />
In his reviews, Eric Gerber of the Houston<br />
Post wrote that "Just You and Me. Kid" "is<br />
just oldster George Burns and youngster<br />
Brooke Shields and not much else. It is not a<br />
bad movie so much as not a movie at all.<br />
Rather, it is a talky . one set play let fleshed out<br />
w ith a few exterior scenes." ... "If somewhere<br />
it is decreed that every cinema season must<br />
have its sleeper, then this summer's surely<br />
must be Breaking Away.' " wrote Gerber<br />
"This virtually unheralded film from director<br />
Peter Yates and writer Steve Tesich is the<br />
most unquestionably satisfying 'small' film of<br />
its kind since Joan Silver's 'Between the<br />
Lines.'<br />
first run report<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
Alien i20th-Fo\i. Park Terrace I.<br />
8th wk<br />
SI.U.973<br />
The \ppk Dumpling Gang Rides Again iBVi.<br />
2 theatres. 2nd wk 21.929<br />
Bloodline (Parai. C harlcoltetown Mall 3.<br />
3rdwk 28.184<br />
Escape from Alcalra/ iParai. Charlottetown<br />
Mali:. 4th wk 49.90S<br />
The In laws (WBl. Park Terrace 2.<br />
5th wk 48.357<br />
House of Crazies iSRi. Trvon Mall I<br />
Istwk 4.471<br />
Jus] Sou and Me. Kid iC oil. Souih Park 2.<br />
Bill Simpson of Simpsons Distributing Islvvk 7.084<br />
Corp. reports excellent grosses on "House of The Main Event iWBi. Sjouih Park I.<br />
Crazies" and "Fists of Fury Part I " and due to 4th wk 73.815<br />
good grosses in Charlotte, he received addi Meatballs iParai. Eastland Mall 3. Istwk 2U.47U<br />
nonal bookings in North and South Carolina.<br />
MoonrakiriL Ai. basiland Mall l.3rdwk 65.529<br />
Simpson also expects to break soon with<br />
"When the Screaming Stops."<br />
Pruphecv iParai. Trvon Mall I. 5lh wk 35.676<br />
Rocky II lUAl. Capri I.Slhwk 83.334<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
Alkni2UihFo\i. Loews 2.4th wk<br />
S6.62I<br />
A Little Romance (Orion WBl. Lakeside I.<br />
Istwk 4.749<br />
Dracula lUnivk 1st wk<br />
Plaza 3 9.030<br />
Sena Mall<br />
IU.804<br />
Hitler iSRi Loews I. Istwk 5.938<br />
Ihc In Laws iWBi. Lakeside 2. 5th wk 1 1.188<br />
The Innocent iSRi. Lakeside 3. 3rd wk 6.237<br />
Just \nu and Me. Kid iC oil. Pla/a 4.<br />
Istwk 7.113<br />
Mastir Killer iSRi.Orpheum. 5 days 4.710<br />
Pruphecv iPan. Loews 3. 5lhwk 6.833<br />
Rocky II iL Ai 3 screens. 5th wk 42.000<br />
PINKSTON SALES & SERVICE - MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT<br />
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AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR MANY MANUFACTURERS<br />
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14 BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979<br />
HOLLYWOOD<br />
Fay Kanin, newly elected president of the<br />
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science,<br />
spent the first week in August lecturing in<br />
Brussels at a six week seminar for Belgian film<br />
makers. She screened "Friendly Fire," for<br />
which she wrote the script and co produced<br />
with Marble Arch Productions.<br />
James Frawley, director of "The Muppet<br />
Movie," has formed his own motion picture<br />
company, Maya Films Ltd , and has begun<br />
reading scripts.<br />
Milos Forman has won the David di<br />
Donatello Award as best director of a foreign<br />
film for "Hair," and composer Gait MacDer<br />
mot was honored as best sound track com<br />
poser for adapting, arranging and conducting<br />
the musical score of the United Artists release.<br />
Publishing rights to historian Bruce Tor<br />
ranee's "Hollywood: The First 100 Years,"<br />
have been obtained by the Hollywood<br />
Chamber of Commerce and a release of the<br />
book has been set for November. The book<br />
will contain several hundred rare photos trac<br />
ing Hollywood's development from pioneer<br />
days to today.<br />
Australian stuntman Grant Page will set<br />
himself on fire in an effort to heat up interest<br />
in Avco Embassy's "City on Fire." He will be<br />
performing his "human torch" stunt on his<br />
lour to Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Buf<br />
falo and Washington, plus other cities as they<br />
are added to the junket. Page was stunt coor<br />
dinalor on the Sandy Howard/Astral Bellevue<br />
Pathe production.<br />
James Frawley, director of "The Muppet<br />
Movie," has been scheduled by Marble Arch<br />
Productions to go on a promotional tour for<br />
the movie to New York. Philadelphia,<br />
Chicago and Washington.<br />
For his performance in American Interna<br />
tional's "Love at First Bite," George Hamilton<br />
has been inducted into the Count Dracula<br />
Society's Hall of Fame. The formal induction<br />
took place Aug. 5 at the organization's annual<br />
meeting at the University Hilton Hotel.<br />
Hamilton interrupted his promotional tour for<br />
the picture to accept the honor.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
Alan Aaronson and Dana Augustine are the<br />
new bookers at Associated Film Distributors.<br />
Augustine was previously a booker at 20th<br />
Fox where he has not yet been replaced.<br />
Bob Coley, division manager for United Ar<br />
tists. visited the local branch and various ex<br />
hibitor accounts Aug. 2.<br />
. .<br />
"La Cage Au\ Folks" is a United Artists<br />
release about which Herb Caen wrote: "The<br />
film to see in town right now . . . earthy yet<br />
poignant humor . it should run for<br />
months." The film is now playing the 4 Star.<br />
Respective grosses for the first three weeks of<br />
the engagement are Sll.500, $15,422 and<br />
$17,921. which is a house record. As in Los<br />
Angeles and New York, the grosses have been<br />
building each week.<br />
"I Am My Films," a biographical film on<br />
Werner Herzog that includes film clips from<br />
his movies as well as an extended interview<br />
with the German director, played at the York<br />
Theater Aug. 3 along with his film "Slroszek."<br />
"Wacky double bills" submitted by<br />
customers in a contest at the U. C. Theatre.<br />
Berkeley, included: "The Poseidon<br />
Adventure'T'Watership Down." "All the<br />
President's Men'VA Thousand Clowns."<br />
"Elephant Walk'T'Rabbit. Run," "Who'll<br />
Stop the Rain^'T'The High and the Mighty,"<br />
"Beach Blanket BingoT'Woman in the<br />
Dunes." and "Cyrano de Bergerac'T'Pinocchio."<br />
"Bambi "/"The Deer Hunter" was the<br />
most frequently submitted program<br />
TUCSON<br />
"Mr. Tucson," Roy Drachman, tells of his<br />
early
IHMNM1<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
NEW YORK<br />
The bitter controversy over the shooting of<br />
"Cruisin'." the film in progress starring Al<br />
Pacino as a cop investigating murders in<br />
homosexual circles, has quieted down since<br />
the initial protest two weeks ago In the pro<br />
cess, director William Friedkin and producer<br />
Jerry Weintraub have captured enough free<br />
national publicity to earn a strong opening<br />
next year. That, some say, was their intent jn<br />
the first place, increased costs due to produc<br />
lion delays notwithstanding<br />
Gay rights demonstrators, who say the<br />
movie will create "inflammatory and ex<br />
plosive" reaction in their community, urged<br />
boycotts of the businesses used in the Green<br />
with Village location shooting, walked onto<br />
sets and disrupted shots, and marched<br />
1.000 strong chanting. "C'ruisin' must go" lJu<br />
ly 25. 26).<br />
All three New York dailies— the Times, the<br />
News and the Post— reported in-depth on the<br />
protests, and some commented on the<br />
arguments in editorials or columns One com<br />
ment came from Mayor Edward Koch who<br />
refused the gays' demand to revoke "Cruisin s"<br />
pemit to film. A forum was conducted in the<br />
pages of the Soho Weekly News and the<br />
Village Voice, which originally called attention<br />
to the film's subject matter via columns<br />
by gay affairs reporter Arthur Bell<br />
Stories are circulating that the "C'ruisin"<br />
filmmakers sent a page of the script to Bell,<br />
who. finding the depiction of gay life objectionable,<br />
urged nonviolent and violent disruption<br />
of the shooting. The attendant uproar, it<br />
is believed, would help add boxoffice dollars to<br />
the originally dim prospects of a film based on<br />
an unsuccessful book brought to the screen by<br />
a director and an actor who have not had a hit<br />
in several years.<br />
Also shooting in the Big Apple: "Fame."<br />
director Alan ("Midnight Express"! Parker's<br />
first film made in the United States, is under<br />
taking principal photography for the story set<br />
in Manhattan's High School for Performing<br />
Arts. It concerns the effects of eight<br />
youngsters trying to make it professionally in<br />
music, dance and drama.<br />
The MGM presentation (to be released in<br />
the United States by United Artistsi is produced<br />
by Alan Marshall and David DeSilva from<br />
an original screenplay by Christopher Gore.<br />
John Cassavetes' "One Summer Night"<br />
began location shooting at the end of July<br />
The Columbia film pairs Gena Rowlands as a<br />
former showgirl and gunman's moll who reluctantly<br />
befriends a boy (Juan Adamsl whose<br />
family dies in a gangland shooting.<br />
Credits include executive producer Sam<br />
Shaw and cmematographer Fred Shuler. and<br />
cast Buck Henry, Julie Carmen and Lupc Gar<br />
nica.<br />
International Harmony has announced thai<br />
"Rust Never Sleeps" will begin an exclusive<br />
engagement at the Palladium on E. 1 4th<br />
Street on Aug. 1 5. Featuring rock musician<br />
Neil Young in concert, the film will be screen<br />
ed 13 times during the five-day period. Tickets<br />
went on sale through Ticketron last week<br />
The distributors are aiming for an Aug. 29<br />
start for theatrical run in the metropolitan<br />
area. The Bernard Shakey film opened in Los<br />
Angeles and drew nearly $85,000 in us first<br />
week.<br />
Meanwhile, the album of the same name<br />
has entered the top 20 in all major national<br />
sales charts Young is reportedly remixing "In<br />
to the Black" for the singles market.<br />
Another film relying heavily on a rock<br />
act—"Rock n' Roll High School"—opened<br />
Aug. 3 at the 8th Street Playhouse. The New<br />
World release places American punk rock<br />
group I he Ramones in Vmce Lombardi High.<br />
a Southern California high school filled with<br />
students who hate to sludy<br />
There is a soundtrack album on Warner<br />
Bros.' Sire label, and various record stores in<br />
the Greenwich Village area near the 8th Street<br />
theatre have erected window displays linking<br />
the film and the LP. according to New World.<br />
The movie, which made $10,784 in the first<br />
weekend, is being aimed at the young rock 'n'<br />
roll audience<br />
the) must have wanted a T shirt very badly<br />
On a sticky and rainy afternoon, the kids<br />
began lining up at least two hours before the<br />
doors were scheduled to open Aug. 3 for<br />
United Artists Theatres' new fourplex in the<br />
Bronx. In honor of the recently completed<br />
renovations of the old 2,000-seat UA Inter<br />
boro. the Tremont Avenue theatre handed out<br />
free yellow shirts to the first patrons to enter.<br />
The facility is highlighted by the single pro<br />
jection room serving all four theatres and<br />
equipped with devices enabling one projectionist<br />
to unreel all four films at the same time.<br />
Joseph Kelly. UA vice president, who installed<br />
more than 400 theatres in his 20-year career,<br />
designed the projection room, which runs<br />
down the middle of the four piece, pie-shaped<br />
structure.<br />
The new theatre was hailed as an important<br />
step in the increased revitalization of the<br />
predominantly Irish Italian neighborhood ad<br />
jacant to the Throgs Neck Bridge Attending<br />
the ribbon^utting ceremony were Bronx<br />
borough officials including president Stanley<br />
Simon and ex-president and current Congressman<br />
Mario Biaggi. From UA Theatres in<br />
addition to Kelly: division manager Mel<br />
Stewart. Mill Daly, vice president and general<br />
manager. Daly's assistant . Saul Schreiber. and<br />
publicist Herb Pickman.<br />
Salah Hassanein, UATC president,<br />
reportedly stopped in to check on the opening<br />
day activity long before the guests arrived.<br />
Hassanein was one of the many exhibitors<br />
who look part in a trip to Europe furnished by<br />
Sir Lew Grade. Toward the end of July, the<br />
exhibs boarded the Queen Elizabeth II. and<br />
sailed lo London, where ihey spent a few days<br />
conferring with Grade, whose latest wellpublici/ed<br />
project is "Sophie's Choice." The<br />
guests were ihen flow n back via ihe Concorde.<br />
hrench director Coline Serreau was in New<br />
York Aug. 5-10 to meet the press in connection<br />
with her film, "Why Not!." entering its<br />
fourth week at the Pans. New Line Cinema<br />
hopes the Robert McNeil presentation will be<br />
opening there in the nexi six to eight weeks.<br />
American International Pictures sneak<br />
previewed "Something Short of Paradise"<br />
Aug. 2 before a full house at the Beekman<br />
Theatre. The contemporary romantic comedy<br />
links comedian David Steinberg, in his first<br />
leading role, with Susan Sarandon, who in re<br />
cent roles has portrayed a prostitute ("Pretty<br />
Bab>"( and a gypsy ("King of the Gypsies"!.<br />
Ihe catchline lor the James G Gutman<br />
Lester Berman production as it appeared in a<br />
daily newspaper ad was. "Love isn't<br />
blind. ..just a little nearsighted!" Al said the<br />
picture will open in an East Side art house in<br />
September or October.<br />
Directed by David Helpern Jr. and written<br />
by Fred Barron, the Samuel Z. Arkolf presen<br />
lation also stars Marilyn Sokol and Jean<br />
Pierre Aumoni.<br />
AFD's "Ihe Muppet Movie" recently<br />
hit<br />
(he nullion^lollar mark alter six weeks in the<br />
New York area. That covers three weeks in<br />
five theatres and then three weeks in eight<br />
theatres.<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
The Mlii'i- kt-ith Theatre's historic Beaux<br />
Arts, white sione facade of five fronts, located<br />
al 15th and G streets NW. across from the<br />
Treasury Department in the White House<br />
precinct, is about lo be razed, along with the<br />
1,900.seal theatre and the ornate white stone<br />
eight story building.<br />
A $60 million office shopping complex is to<br />
be constructed on the site by the Oliver T.<br />
Carr development company. The 68 yearold<br />
theatre was built for motion picture and<br />
vaudeville entertainment. The last efforts for<br />
showing motion pictures there were made a<br />
year ago by exhibitor Don King, president of<br />
the Town Theatre Group.<br />
An editorial in The Washington Post con<br />
cerning the theatre's demolition said, in part:<br />
"There is a value to preserving the city's<br />
history in sione. but there is also a value to<br />
providing for the city's economic future."<br />
Alexandria I able vision, the cable TV com<br />
pany that the city council of nearby Alexan<br />
dria. Va.. selected, expects to be operative by<br />
1981 The award was made after Alexandria<br />
Cablevision assured the council of its ability to<br />
fund the $6.5 million system and begin local<br />
programming and service to apartments and<br />
private residents in 18 months.<br />
Marty Zeidman, Columbia branch<br />
manager, tradescreened "When a Stranger<br />
Calls" July 31 and "American Success Com<br />
pany" Aug. 2 at the Motion Picture Associa<br />
lion of America's screening room. Both<br />
releases are for fall distribution. The stars in<br />
"When a Stranger Calls." named by Zeidman<br />
in his invitation are Charles Durning. Carol<br />
Kane and Colleen Dewhursl and starring in<br />
"American Success Company" are Jeff<br />
Bridges. Belinda Bauer and Ned Beatty.<br />
Don Ritchie has been named manager of<br />
Redstone Theatres' Queens Chapel Drive In.<br />
Ritchie formerly was manager of the Laurel<br />
Theatre al Laurel. Md., and also of the Elk<br />
Theatre at Elkton. Md. The Boston based cir<br />
cuil has two other drive-ins in this area, the<br />
Mount Vernon and the Lee Highway.<br />
R. Wade Pearson, president of NATO of<br />
Washington, is back al his duties as director of<br />
Neighborhood Theatres Northern Virginia<br />
division, after serving as chairman of the mid<br />
Atlantic regional NATO conference al<br />
Virginia Beach. Md.. July 15 17.<br />
Other NATO members in attendance from<br />
here were: Paul Roth, president of Rolh<br />
Theatres and a past president of NATO;<br />
R ichard Olson. The Washington Star; Thomas<br />
Camarda. The Washington Post; Roy<br />
Tompkins, Neighborhood Theatres. Northern<br />
Virginia division; Harman Martin, formerly of<br />
Alexandria Amusement Co.. and son Philip:<br />
Glen Norris. president of Glenoris Corp:<br />
Harley Davidson, president of Independent<br />
Theatres; Douglas Potash, United Artists<br />
branch manager; Ned Glaser. Roth Theatres;<br />
Samuel N Wheeler and son Ross. Wheeler<br />
Films; Bob Rackensberger. Alliance<br />
Distributing Co.; and Seth Hurwitz. manager<br />
of the Ontario Theatre.<br />
Ihe Ontario Theatre's screen is the largest<br />
in the city . Manager Seth Hurwitz told Boxoi-Fic t<br />
his triple admission feature programs at $2.50<br />
per person were doing "incredibly well."<br />
Grosses reached $9,300 the week the Ontario<br />
programmed "Dawn of the Dead." "Frankenstein"<br />
and "The Car."<br />
15<br />
"John Denver: Energy Conservation," a<br />
new 35mm sound and color short subject. 4 Vi<br />
minutes long, presented by the U.S. Depart<br />
ment of Energy, is available on free loan to<br />
theatres across the country. Requests should<br />
be sent to ModcrnC inema 35. 2323 New<br />
Hyde Park Road. New York 1 0042<br />
Dan O'Bannon, screenwriter of the horror<br />
movie "Alien." while here as a special guest of<br />
the science fiction convention, explained thai<br />
he had desired to create movie monsters on a<br />
new plateau, to put new demons into public<br />
consciousness and to speak directly to the un<br />
conscious—carnivorously— so the audience<br />
would have a feeling of primal evil. O'Bannon<br />
said he had written his script "unisex " Ridley<br />
Scotl. the director, and rewruers created male<br />
and female characters. They determined thai a<br />
woman, played by Sigourney Weaver, would<br />
be warrant officer Ripley and the last person<br />
lo face the monster, which. O'Bannon said,<br />
pleased him. "Alien." a 20th Century Fox<br />
release, is in its 1 1 th "smash hit" week, playing<br />
the Uptown and saven other area situations.<br />
Fredell Pogodin, Universal publicist based<br />
at the Cherry Hill. N.J.. office, accompanied<br />
star Sylvia Kristcl here to plug "Concorde—Airport<br />
79" on July 27 The feature<br />
opens Aug. 17<br />
Movie openings in this exchange area in<br />
eluded 20th Fox's "Breaking Away" and<br />
United Artists' "Wanda Nevada" on Aug. I.<br />
Other features, which unveiled later thai<br />
week, were: Warner Bros' "Beyond the<br />
Poseidon Adventure." Universale "More<br />
American Graffiti" and Paramount* "North<br />
Dallas Forty."<br />
®See Bud Orton or Joe Testa al<br />
The American International release "The<br />
Anutyville Horror." which debuted July 27 in<br />
12 area theatres, is a "Ho Hum Horror." and.<br />
wrote the Post's movie critic Gary Arnold.<br />
"Being presold, the film version should do a<br />
good business until the news about the lack of<br />
thrills gels around."<br />
"Apocalypse Now" is scheduled lo<br />
premiere in the Washington exchange area<br />
Oct. 5. Douglas Potach, United Artists branch<br />
manager, screened for exhibitors the "long<br />
awaited much bally hooed" film at the Motion<br />
Picture Association of America on Aug. 6.<br />
The 139-minute feature stars Marlon Brando.<br />
Robert Duvall. Martin Sheen and Denis Hop<br />
per. Duvall is a native of nearby Alexandria.<br />
Va.. where his parents still reside.<br />
"The Great Saniini." in which Duvall slurs.<br />
produced by Hollywood's Charles Pratt lor<br />
Bing Crosby Productions, was previewed<br />
recently at MPAA by Defense Department officials.<br />
Producer Pratt was here from the West<br />
Coast. Bernard Baruch. acting chief of the<br />
department's audiovisual division told Bovn<br />
Fit E that the department gave assistance in<br />
the picture's filming, such as ihe use of Marine<br />
installations at Parris Island. S.C.. and ihe use<br />
of air craft. Duvall's nexi picture will be<br />
"Angelo My Love." which he expects lo pro<br />
duce and direct from his original script.<br />
American International, which is<br />
celebraling us 25th year, sneaked "Something<br />
Shorl of Paradise" at General C mema's<br />
Jenifer II Aug 2. The feature's commercial<br />
release is scheduled for Oct. 26. Ira Miller.<br />
Al's branch manager, said his company's cur<br />
rent entry. "The Amityville Horror." is "the<br />
hu of the summer." "Meteor" will unreel Oct.<br />
19.<br />
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& Supply, Inc.<br />
179 Portland St<br />
Boston, MA 02114<br />
(647) 3674)500
they<br />
WB),<br />
. ...<br />
16 BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
Rod -Singer was in town for media inter<br />
views to help promote the opening of "The<br />
AmityviUe Horror" at the Budco Regency<br />
Theatre and other area houses.<br />
Wayne Agnex. night manager ai the Budco<br />
Orleans 4 Theatres in the Northeast secuon of<br />
the cit> . was held up b> a man wearing a paper<br />
bag over his head and was robbed of SZiOO.<br />
He told the police he had been earning<br />
receipts to a bank across the street from the<br />
theatres when he was approached b> the man<br />
and robbed at gunpoint shortly after midmghL<br />
Dale Schneck, film cntic for the Calf<br />
Chronicle. Allentown. Pa_ says. This latest<br />
"Dracula' finally gives moviegoers something<br />
sink their teeth into." William<br />
they can really<br />
Wolf. Asbury Park iNJ I Press, is less<br />
enthusiastic, seeing it as "part adventure story<br />
part horror yarn, but it isn't very scary."<br />
Richard Slovak. Atlanta City iN J. t Press. says<br />
the movie "rests on a solid foundation: spien<br />
did acting and creepy sets"<br />
The New Jersey Motion Picture Comnus<br />
son was host for a special, preopenmg inula<br />
tional showing of "The ArmtyMDe Horror."<br />
which was filmed on location 01 nearby Toms<br />
River. N J., at the Essex Green Cinema 111 in<br />
West Orange. NJ State officials. Celeste<br />
Holm. 'AmityviUe* producers Roland Safand<br />
and Elliot (ieisingcr. and Sidney Kmgsky.<br />
commission chairman, were among the<br />
distinguished guests in attendance.<br />
General Cinema's Echelon Cinema in the<br />
Echelon Mall. Voorhees. NJ . rs offering a<br />
summer film festival, including free admission,<br />
every Tuesday morning at 10. sponsored by<br />
the mall merchants "That's Entertainment"<br />
starts off the festival, followed by "The Deep."<br />
Douglas k. Keating, Philadelphia Inquirer.<br />
sees George Burns as "the best pan of the<br />
movie"' in reviewing "Just You and Me. Kid."<br />
which he says has "little charm." . . . Joe<br />
Baltake. Philadelphia Daily News, calls 11<br />
"dull wined, fkai and unamusing TV-style<br />
humor " Bob Sokotsky. Philadelphia<br />
Bulletin, says it's not "a bad move, it's just<br />
that an awful lot of people have worked terribly<br />
hard to approach mediocrity ."... Bill<br />
Wine. Courier Post. Camden. N J_ says the<br />
movie's "problem stems from the lack of<br />
anything else of substance or quality besides<br />
iGeorgei Burns himself."<br />
Donna Baum. handling the pubuciiy and<br />
promotion for Paramount Pictures in the area,<br />
was hostess for the preview showing of "North<br />
Dallas Forty " at Budco Goldman I Theatre in<br />
center citv<br />
General Cinema's Quaker Bridge 4 Theatres<br />
m the Ouaker Bridge iN J.i Mall, provided free<br />
passes to see "Dracula" for all those donating a<br />
pint of blood to the Mercer County Regional<br />
Blood Center. He was pan of a community<br />
effort to spur blood donations to help ease a<br />
curreni blood shortage.<br />
The suburban Yeadon iPa 1 Movie Theatre<br />
rs widely known for its SI admission policy.<br />
free coffee, doughnuts, popcorn and 10-cent<br />
sodas But this week, for the showing of "The<br />
Champ." owner Ida Freidman lopped herself<br />
in treating the customers kindly. Brransf of<br />
the movie's sad ending, she's at the door hand<br />
ng patrons free tissues to w»r their eyes as<br />
they leave.<br />
Joe Baltake, Philadelphia Dairy News, finds<br />
"The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again" a<br />
"delightful comic valentine to the land of "but<br />
tons and bows.' ~ But BUI Wine. Couner Pom.<br />
Camden. N.J . sees it as "an ordinary.<br />
uninspired product >on like movie.*<br />
Philadelphia Daily News, in promotional<br />
deals arranged by Donna Baum. Paramount s<br />
publicity and promotion expert here, in a ran<br />
dom drawing for "Meatballs." is giving away<br />
25 albums of the movie score. 1 5 T-shirts and<br />
15 baseball caps. For "North Dallas Fony."<br />
40 winners wiU be selected at random to<br />
attend the preview of the movie at the Budco<br />
Goldman I Theatre<br />
Its 200-foot tower is almost finished and<br />
Monmouth Cablevision Associates, Wall<br />
Township. N.J., has promised area residents in<br />
West Belmar and East Belmar. NJ .<br />
will<br />
The company has<br />
have cable TV by early fall.<br />
also been granted the franchise to operate in<br />
Manalapan Township<br />
William Wolf, Asbury Park IN J.I Press,<br />
reviewing "The In Laws," said. "Although (he<br />
film keeps stretching credulity, 11 delivers ihe<br />
laughs again and again."<br />
t.ioo's Restaurants, locally based fasl (nod<br />
hamburger food chain, is sponsoring a sum<br />
mer film festival offering free admission for<br />
famines. Held by the Philadelphia Department<br />
of Recreation, screenings are at the various<br />
neighborhood playgrounds and recreation<br />
centers throughout the city, the 60 to<br />
90-minute shows are offered daily throughout<br />
August. Each film program includes ihree to<br />
five films, predominantly vintage comedies<br />
and snorts documentaries. The first week of<br />
the film festival featured selected short sub<br />
jects starring Abbott and Costello. great<br />
scenes from famous disaster movies, and<br />
animated canoons.<br />
WASHINGTON<br />
(continued from page 15)<br />
Samuel Z. Arkoff. AI board chairman and<br />
president, was here as the surviving member<br />
of the 1954 B-piclure duo. With his late part<br />
ner. James Nicholson. Arkoff explained dur<br />
mg interviews, they made pictures to please an<br />
audience— the youth market— that were not<br />
an. Nevertheless, the American Film Institute<br />
and the Museum of Modern Art in New York<br />
are showing an American International Picture<br />
Festival.<br />
The Star's critic Tom Dow ling had this to<br />
"When the AFI shows<br />
say about the festival:<br />
self avowed schlock I feel obliged 10 support<br />
the effort, if only because the program seemed<br />
an antidote to that institutions^ occasional<br />
tendency to pomposity . . Definitely not art<br />
Possibly not even entertainment. And. no. I<br />
can't teU you how any of them turn out. or<br />
even why they bothered to make them. Thai<br />
pan youll have to find out on your own.<br />
Anyway, for once the AFI has no where 10 go<br />
but upon the tacky commom touch from. I'm<br />
pulling for them."<br />
Among the film presentations are I Was a<br />
Teenaee Werewolf." "Bucket of Blood."<br />
"Beach Party." "What's Up Tiger Lily." "The<br />
Wild Angels." "Bloody Mama" and many.<br />
many more.<br />
Arkoff said that Nicholson was "great at<br />
lilies" and recalled "How to Stuff a Wild<br />
Bikini" as a "classic Nicholson title."<br />
Area summer film fare consists of a wide<br />
range of offerings Paramount's "North Dallas<br />
Forty" and another new release. 20th<br />
Century Fox's "Breaking Away." seem to<br />
have "revived that salutary form of screen<br />
writing in which every crucial conflict is ade<br />
qualely resolved and every conflicting view<br />
point is adequately—and sometimes elo<br />
quently—expressed," wrote the Posts film<br />
critic. Gary Arnold<br />
The Washington Star film critic. Tom<br />
Dowling. agrees that these two features are<br />
"superior" motion pictures and that Nick<br />
Nolle, star of "North Dallas Forty." is the<br />
"mast exciting" actor in the American film in<br />
dusirv.<br />
Dan Stern, who plays one of the 9 yearolds<br />
in "Breaking Away," was a recent visitor,<br />
granting interviews while visiting his family.<br />
Stern is a native of Chevy Chase, Md.. and<br />
graduated from Bcthesda Chevy Chase High<br />
School in 1975.<br />
L'niversal's "More American Graffiti," to<br />
quote critic Gary Arnold, "succeeds in making<br />
a blithe mockery of Hs predecessor, American<br />
Graffiti' 13 W. L. Norton, the young<br />
writer director, has contrived to be relentlessly<br />
commercial while showing off his film culture<br />
10 and flashing his old counterculture ID."<br />
Warner Bros.' "Beyond the Poseideon<br />
Adventure." Irwin Allen's sequel to his hit<br />
disaster drama, which he directed from a<br />
screenplay by Nelson Gidding. is the current<br />
attraction in eight situations<br />
A new Disney farce, "The Apple Dumpling<br />
Gang Rides Again.' stars Tim Conway and<br />
Don Knotts. "The sequel is content," Arnold<br />
wrote, "to deepen the ruts carved by us<br />
predecessor, a laborious, charmless exercise in<br />
juvenile comedy." It is a first run at nine<br />
peripheral houses.<br />
The new "Dracula," starring Frank<br />
Langella. released by Universal, had grosses<br />
for the first week in this exchange area, on 22<br />
screens, thai reached S277.2I6 and in<br />
Metropolitan Washington on eight screens.<br />
SI40.0I3. The second week, dropping slightly.<br />
the exchange area's grosses (22 screens!<br />
amounted to $227,218, whereas, in<br />
Metropolitan Washington leight screens),<br />
$110,199.<br />
BUFFALO<br />
first run report<br />
NEW YORK<br />
The AmityviUe Horror I<br />
AI p. 93 screens.<br />
1st wk $1,911,221<br />
Breaking Awav (20th Fox). 5 screens.<br />
3rd wk 114.598<br />
La Cage Au\ Folks |UA), 68lh St. Playhouse.<br />
12th wk 33.716<br />
Dracula lUnivi. 64 screens. 3rd wk 355,149<br />
Escape From Alcatraz iParal. 6 screens.<br />
I 10.017<br />
6ih wk.<br />
The Frisco Kid (WB). Cinema l.4ihwk. 17.761<br />
Meatballs iPara). 5S screens. 5th wk 159.463<br />
Moonraker lUAI. 29 screens.<br />
5th wk. 494.886<br />
The Muppet Movie lAf Dl, 8 screens<br />
6th wk I." 000<br />
Peppermint Soda iMew Yorker). 57th St. Playhouse,<br />
3rd wk. 38.035<br />
Rock) II lUA), 22 screens. 7th wk 384,335<br />
LI Super iNew Yorker!, Cinema Studio II.<br />
6ih wk 9.487<br />
fill Marriage Do Ls Pari iFranklin), Plaza.<br />
.<br />
2nd wk 39,002<br />
The Tree of Wooden Clogs INew Yorkerl.<br />
Cinema Sludio I. 9th wk.. 12.780<br />
\Nhv Noll INew Line). Paris. 2nd wk 35.011<br />
BUFFALO<br />
r<br />
from the marquee to the screen<br />
Alien (20th-Fox), I screen. 9ih wk $6,000<br />
Ihe Apple Dumpling Gang Kides \imim 1BV1.<br />
4 screens. Isl wk 13.400<br />
Bloodline IParal. 3 screens. 4lh wk 11.000<br />
Dracula lUniv), 3screens, 2nd wk 15.000<br />
Lscape From Alcalraz IParal. 2 screens,<br />
Slhwk 8.100<br />
The In Laws 1 2 screens. 5lh wk 1 5.200<br />
lust You and Me. Kid iColl, 2 screens.<br />
2ndwk 6.800<br />
The Main LvenllWBl. 2 screens, 5th wk . 12.100<br />
Meatballs iParal. 4 screens. 2nd wk 36.300<br />
Moonraker iLAI. I screen. 4ih wk 4.8UO<br />
and everything in between<br />
9S2 Otmo. N.W.<br />
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A Theatre Square at 665 Main St. was<br />
dedicated Aug. 3 as a start of the Theatre<br />
District's first "summer season." Mayor Grif<br />
fin and other government officials and civic<br />
leaders turned out for the ribboncuttmg<br />
ceremony The Theatre District Association<br />
arranged for entertainment and sidewalk sales<br />
from 1 1 a.m. to I p.m. each Friday.<br />
"Punks at war with themselves, with<br />
adolescence and with society is old hat.<br />
especially when combined with rock 'n' roll."<br />
said Bob Groves in reviewing "The<br />
Wanderers" in the Courier Express.<br />
"The Kids Are Alright," featuring The<br />
Who. opened July 27 at the Boulevard and<br />
Thruway Mall cinemas. "The Grapes of<br />
Wrath" (1940) and "In Old Chicago" (1937)<br />
wrapped up the 24 film 20th Century Fox<br />
festival at the Rivoli Theatre on the same day<br />
Doug Smith in the Courier Express wrote:<br />
*'<br />
The Muppel Movie' is just that, a witty,<br />
amiable pairing of the Cloth Menagerie" with<br />
the whole spectrum of humanity. Goodness<br />
and right prevail in one of the cleanest movies<br />
to appeal to all ages within memory."<br />
The Muppet Movie lAFDl. 3 screens,<br />
2nd wk 42.000<br />
Rockv II lUAI. 2 screens. 6th wk 9.200<br />
[lie Villain (Col). 2 screens. 1st wk .13.800<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
Alien I20lh Fox). 3 screens. 9ih wk .<br />
$18,400<br />
Ihe Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Aguin 1BV1.<br />
Manor l.Istwk. ...2.900<br />
Bloodline (Paral. 4th wk.<br />
Bank I 4.700<br />
Showcase Wesi .1 4.500<br />
Dracula lUnivi, Isl wk.<br />
Kings Couri 15.000<br />
Showcase Wesi 13.000<br />
Lscape From Akalraz iParal. 5ih wk<br />
l-uhon 1 .5.700<br />
Showcase 5.9O0<br />
Easi I<br />
The In Laws 1WB1, Bank I, 6lh wk.<br />
Bank 2 3.800<br />
Manor 2 6.200<br />
Just You and Me, Kid (Col), Squirrel Hill,<br />
Isl wk 5.700<br />
Ihe Vlain Lvent 1WB1. 3 screens. 5th wk. 24.400<br />
Moonraker iL Ai. 3 screens. 4th wk 24.500<br />
Rocky II (LAI, 6ih wk.<br />
Chaiham 14.750<br />
Showcase Las! 14,000<br />
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BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
spotlight<br />
By ALLEN M. WIDEM<br />
Regional Correspondent<br />
Moving into the final weeks of the summer<br />
of 197°, exhibitors across the six slate New<br />
England region have more or less adjusted to<br />
the energy crunch, and no markedly drastic<br />
fluctuations in attendance caused strictly by<br />
the gasoline shortage in any given area have<br />
appeared. The shortages may have had some<br />
impact, tertainly, in the initial weeks, but, by<br />
and large. New England exhibition has<br />
emphasized bargain pricing and other trade<br />
building gimmickry designed to remind a<br />
potential patron thai Iheatregoing can still be<br />
a bargain<br />
Vlelvin Simon Productions' "The Runner<br />
Stumbles," starring Dick Van Dyke and<br />
Kathleen Quinlan, had sneak previews across<br />
the territory before regular openings Good<br />
sized advance advertising was accorded, too,<br />
for lilies such as Al's "The Amity vil!e<br />
Horror." Paramounfs "Meatballs," Warner<br />
Bros.' "The Frisco Kid." Associated Film<br />
Disiributing's "The Muppet Movie," Film<br />
Ventures' "The Dark" and Buena Vista's "The<br />
Apple Dumpling Ciang Rides Again."<br />
Interstate Theatres of New England<br />
redesigned daily newspaper ad logos for its<br />
Ihree soulh central Connecticut units, the<br />
Say brook and Madison Cinemas and ihe Clinton<br />
underskyers. An artist's sketch has been<br />
substituted for previously used conventional<br />
typeface.<br />
The region's film critics had varying<br />
response to new product. Bob Eimicke. New<br />
Haven Register, reviewing Universale<br />
"Dracula." said. "The latest movie incarnation<br />
of Dracula. which has John Badham directing<br />
Frank Langella as the blood thirsty Count, is a<br />
bold misrepresentation of ihe power of<br />
folklore and spectacle."<br />
Reviewing New World Pictures' "Saint<br />
Jack." Richard Freedman. Newhouse News<br />
Service, said. "If 'Saint Jack' at least had some<br />
poetic atmosphere us lack of a plot might not<br />
matter, but it is as devoid of cinematic poetry<br />
as it is even of comic strip action."<br />
20th-Fox rereleased "Young Frankenstein,"<br />
the Mel Brooks farce, across the territory and<br />
backed it with teaser television spot advertising.<br />
Summertime promotion: John Baranski got<br />
a good media play with an innovative stunt at<br />
the Village Cinema in Suffield. Conn. The<br />
theatre, marking its first successful year with a<br />
99 cents admission at all times policy, had a<br />
promotion involving a giveaway of 52 free<br />
passes. Area press broke with photos of the<br />
proud exhibitor and a recipient.<br />
Perakos Theatres Associates' Plainville<br />
Drive In ad copy carries the line. "Minutes<br />
on new england<br />
From Your Doorstop— I 84, Exit 34," on a<br />
daib basis.<br />
Air-Line Drive-In, Chicopee, Mass., which<br />
has a dusk-to-dawn Friday and Saturday show<br />
(consisting Of "Jaws." "The Brink's Job,"<br />
"Heroes" and "Paradise Alley") came up with<br />
an ad line that's increasingly rare: "Special for<br />
the Kids I irsi al 8:45: Cartoon Festival!"<br />
Merrill G. Jarvis, wbo heads the northern<br />
Vermont Merrill Iheatre Corp. circuit,<br />
brought back 20th Fox's "The Rocky Horror<br />
Picture Show" for I 1:30 p.m. showings on a<br />
recent Friday and Saturday at the Flynn<br />
Theatre, Burlington Separate admission was<br />
charged "Late late" shows are commonplace<br />
in much larger population centers Jarvis,<br />
innovator that he is, went along with local<br />
scheduling because, he decided, Burlington is<br />
Vermont's largest municipality and contains a<br />
good sized college age crowd. Only through<br />
experimental scheduling, he reasons, can a<br />
modern-day exhibitor develop tomorrow's<br />
young adult audience.<br />
The Springfield (Mass. I City Council has<br />
rejected a proposal by Michael Kalsounakis<br />
and William O'Connell to convert the Grand<br />
Theatre in the Indian Orchard district to a<br />
discotheque. The governing body voted<br />
unanimously to table indefinitely the application<br />
for the special use permit.<br />
Wallace Plumb, who owns the cinema<br />
building, told a council session that motion<br />
pictures with disco music, such as<br />
Paramount's "Saturday Night Fever," had<br />
failed to spark complaints from churches or<br />
businesses in the immediate vicinity. Attorney<br />
Thomas J. O'Connor, himself a former<br />
Springfield mayor, coordinated testimony of<br />
the si/able oppostion bloc, arguing, in effect,<br />
that the site, which is near two major<br />
churches, would prove a bad choice for a<br />
disco.<br />
Nearby Ware, Mass., once home for four<br />
motion picture theatres, may become a film<br />
outlet again. The long-shuttered. 450-seat<br />
Casino Theatre, owned by Western<br />
Massachusetts Theatres Inc., is to be remodeled<br />
as a prelude to reopening, according to Betty<br />
Wheeler, an officer of WMT. The Casino was<br />
closed down several years ago after a fire.<br />
John Tavone has indicated he will be shift<br />
ing operational policy of the Palace Theatre.<br />
West Warwick, R.I., from a combination<br />
film/burlesqueon stage policy to something<br />
unusual for a building essentially a cinema<br />
outlet: Rock 'n' roll, country and western concerts.<br />
The theatre has a seating capacity of<br />
900.<br />
Joseph Summo, assistant manager al Loews<br />
Paradise Triplex. Bronx. NY. has been promoted<br />
to manager of Loews New Rochelle<br />
Twin<br />
Houses under construction<br />
for Berkley County Theatres<br />
By VIRGINIA R.COLLIER<br />
Washington Correspondent<br />
WASHINGTON. DC-Robert Goklhammer.<br />
owner-operator of the Berkely County<br />
Theatre Corp.. a fast growing motion picture<br />
circuit in this exchange territory, has taken<br />
over the food concession from Ogden Foods,<br />
the Philadelphia based company. Further<br />
more, indicating an economic upswing of<br />
great significance. Goldhammer's circuit of<br />
theatres has under construction a triplex and<br />
two new twin complexes, as well as twinning<br />
the Plaza hardtop, a 750seater. in Win<br />
Chester. Va.<br />
The new triplex in Frostburg. Md.. is near<br />
completion. Cinema I will seal 350 persons.<br />
Cinema 2. 200. and C inema 3. 100 A Sept. 21<br />
opening is planned<br />
A newly constructed twin iheatre. Plaza I<br />
& 2 in Charleslown. W. Va.. is scheduled for<br />
an Oct 19 debut. Each auditorium will have<br />
275 seats.<br />
The twin complex in Oakland. Md.. Cinema<br />
I and Cinema 2. will have a seating capacity<br />
for 275 viewers in each theatre. Dec. 21 is the<br />
target dale for the gala Christmas premiere.<br />
Cinema Technology of Norrislown. N.J.. is<br />
supplying and installing the equipment for the<br />
Berkely circuit's new multi theatre complexes.<br />
The theatres are located in middle to upper<br />
middle income suburbs, and will be showing<br />
product released by the majors and also by<br />
independenl companies.<br />
Film Playhouse<br />
in Princeton<br />
draws crowds<br />
PRINCTON, N.J. -Nearly SOU film<br />
buffs<br />
crowded the Princeton Playhouse here on a re<br />
cent Thursdav night for a gala reopening of<br />
the theatre as an alternative cinema in<br />
Princeton Officials of Princeton University,<br />
which owns the Playhouse, billed the reopen<br />
ing as a lest of local interest in other lhan first<br />
run Hollywood-type movies<br />
The fans paid a one lime nostalgic 40 cents<br />
apiece to see "The Awful Truth," the C ar><br />
Grant comedy that christened the theatre's<br />
original opening on Dec. 9. 1937. Among<br />
those in attendance were Freddie Fox, the<br />
former movie critic of The Daily Princelonian.<br />
Ihe university student publication, who<br />
reviewed "The Awful Truth" in 1937. and<br />
Mmnella Birch, the young woman who sold<br />
tickets on the theatre's opening night.<br />
William W. Lockwood Jr., a veteran<br />
organizer of the summer and winier film series<br />
presented at McCarter Theatre here, has been<br />
engaged by the university to run ihe<br />
Playhouse as an alternative cinema.<br />
Lockwood plans a mixture of domestic and<br />
foreign films, revival of modern and vintage<br />
classics.<br />
The second run films will lake up ihe entire<br />
schedule until mid September while<br />
Lockwood lines up the "alternative" films and<br />
awaits the return of moviegoing university<br />
students After the showing of the PG rated<br />
version of "Saturday Night Fever," Lockwood<br />
will buy some well known double features to<br />
lure summer crowds. Admission will be $2.50;<br />
the 40 cents was a one time playback<br />
Current plans call for the 1,240 seat<br />
Playhouse lo be demolished as part of a SI0<br />
million expansion project in center city's<br />
Palmer Square sponsored by Princeton<br />
University. The alternative cinema would con<br />
tinue until the iheatre is knocked down.<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
George Tice, president of NATO of<br />
Western Pennsylvania, and several board<br />
members attended the public hearing on Penn<br />
sylvania's anti-blind bidding bill (SB 7021<br />
before the Commonwealth's House Committee<br />
on Business and Commerce Aug. 8.<br />
Eastern Pennsylvania NATO was also<br />
represented.<br />
The world premiere of U As "The Fish That<br />
Saved Pittsburgh" will be a major event Nov.<br />
I at the Gateway Theatre.<br />
"Rocky II" and "Moonraker" are the<br />
runaway boxoffice leaders hereabouts, and<br />
coming on strong is "Dracula."<br />
The progressive Manos Theatres circuit,<br />
which has headquarters in Greensburg, Pa..<br />
will open a five screen cinema at the Indiana<br />
Mall, which is about a mile and a half from<br />
downtown Indiana. Pa. The pioneer exhibi<br />
lion company owns and operates the Manos<br />
and Indiana theatres in Indiana, and also has<br />
the Super 422 Drive-In.<br />
A lease was signed with the Zamias Con<br />
struction Company, which is building the en<br />
tire Indiana Mall. Don Woodward, general<br />
manager for the Manos circuit, says that the<br />
new five screens and their modern<br />
auditoriums and equipment will be opened by<br />
Christmas.<br />
Cinema l-ll-lll at the Warren Mall, a<br />
Manos circuit operation, will be opened Aug<br />
29 in Warren Pa. Ted Manos. president of the<br />
Manos companies, said that construction<br />
work has progressed, equipment is at hand and<br />
that the opening dale will be met.<br />
" "The Amity title Horror' makes you want<br />
to scream, less from fear lhan from annoyance."<br />
said Ed Blank in the Press. "It isn't<br />
scary, just dumb."<br />
17<br />
Redstone Management Showcase Cinemas,<br />
which has headquarters in Boston and is<br />
presently expanding operations through an additional<br />
50 screens, has given more specifica<br />
lions regarding its new eight screen project in<br />
McCandlcss here on ihe 32 acre site of the<br />
former Twin Oaks Golf Course.<br />
There will be parking for 1.800 cars. 4.000<br />
seals will be divided among eight<br />
auditoriums— two lo be equipped with Dolby<br />
sound and one with 70mm projection<br />
facilities; all projection will be automated. In<br />
memory ol the populai golf course, one hole<br />
will be kept as a pari of the extensive land<br />
scape.<br />
Construction of Showcase North, added to<br />
Redstone's established five screens al both<br />
Churchill and Robinson, will give the corpora<br />
lion 18 screens here by the end of 1979.<br />
Redstone's outlets are located throughout<br />
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut,<br />
Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois.<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
Sheldon Wigod, who had to close his New<br />
Mayfield Repertory Cinema in Little Italy lasl<br />
winier because of lack of funds, reports that<br />
business this summer has been better than<br />
ever. "We've had lines on many weekends."<br />
Wigod said. "We turned people away from the<br />
old 1930s pictures like 'Grand Hotel' because<br />
we've been so crowded. When ii comes to old<br />
movies, the 1930s and ihe 1940s are in; the<br />
1950s are out."<br />
Wigod is planning his fall and winter series<br />
now. He said he just wishes business can be<br />
good when the North winds blow.<br />
Thirteen Greater Cleveland performers<br />
have been signed to appear in the $5 million<br />
film "Those Lips, Those Eyes." the United<br />
Artists film to be shot here starting Aug. 14.<br />
All were recruited by Cleveland's David Lee<br />
Talent Management Agency. Talent was audi<br />
tioned on tape and sent to the studio's casting<br />
director.<br />
Frank Langella. star of the film, is looking<br />
for a house in the country here with a swim<br />
ming pool to rent for his slay in Cleveland. It<br />
is rumored that he is ready to part with up to<br />
$3,500 per month for it.<br />
In town for the screening of United Artists<br />
"La Cage Aux Folles" Aug. I were Randall<br />
Hemming, manager of the Akron Civic<br />
Theatre, and his administrative assistant. Bob<br />
Corbit. They were looking over the film as a<br />
possibility for the mini foreign film festival<br />
which the center will present Sept. 6.<br />
Hemming said that their moviegoing<br />
audience loves double features and that they<br />
show (hem one night only and some are<br />
preceeded by old time vaudeville acts, an old<br />
lime organist and even bank night. All are extremely<br />
popular and are drawing crowds al the<br />
Civic Center. The audiences like suspense<br />
movies and comedy; only family type films are<br />
not well-accepted.<br />
Also screened recently was "American Sue<br />
cess Company" from Columbia, and two critic<br />
screenings by Bruce Stern of "Beyond the<br />
Poseidon Adventure" and "North Dallas Forty."<br />
Tony Mastroianni, critic for the Cleveland<br />
Press, wrote of "Dracula." "When Frank<br />
Langella played the title role in Dracula' on<br />
Broadway recently, he emerged as a matinee<br />
idol of the old school .<br />
now stars in<br />
a new and big budgeted version of the old tale.<br />
He exudes that same sense of a prince of evil<br />
with romantic and sensuous overtones. Bui<br />
the results are not quite the same. This is a<br />
Dracula' that tries to be all things . . roman<br />
tic. sophisticated, horrifying, suspensful and<br />
mysterious. It is not so much filled with effects<br />
as it is stuffed with them."<br />
New on the marquees this week: "The<br />
Villain" at 10 theatres. "Beyond the Poseidon<br />
Adventure" al seven theatres. "Dracula" at<br />
five theatres and "North Dallas Forty" at six<br />
theatres. Special screenings at theatres were<br />
"The Concorde— Airport 79" and "Breaking<br />
Away" on Friday evening. "The Muppet<br />
Movie" also opened this week at five theatres.
475<br />
18 BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR<br />
( \S[<br />
George Lutz<br />
James Brolm<br />
Kathleen Lutz<br />
Margot Kidder<br />
lather Delaney<br />
Rod Steiger<br />
Father Bolen<br />
Don Siroud<br />
b'otlwr Ryan<br />
Murray Hamilton<br />
Amy Natasha Ryan<br />
CREDITS<br />
L xecuth e /'milliter Samuel Z. Arkoff<br />
Producers Ronald Saland. Elliot Geisinger<br />
Director Sluart Rosenberg<br />
Screenpla)<br />
Sandor Stern<br />
Based on the book b)<br />
.Jay Anson<br />
An American International release, rated R.<br />
Murrnr Suspense, II7 min., mm in release. Aspect<br />
ratio, I.X5. Movielab Color. Release *7«04.<br />
Margot Kidder, as Kathleen Lutz, is a bit<br />
shaken by the thought of a mass muder in the<br />
lovely old home she and her husband James<br />
Brolm are about to buy. To console her. Brolm<br />
says. "Houses don't have memories."<br />
"The Amity ville Horror." based on a supposedly<br />
true story, is ripe with all the special<br />
effects of a good, of fashioned haunted house<br />
story. And a house thai blows icy draughts<br />
and foul smells, and makes members of the<br />
clergy dizzily nausealed. must have plenty of<br />
memories—bad memories.<br />
turns out, the house's original owner<br />
As it<br />
had connections with Ihe Salem wiich trials<br />
and executions. And then in 1 974. a young<br />
man killed his parents and four brothers and<br />
sisters in the house. (The R rating is traceable<br />
more to ihe bloody recreation of the shotgun<br />
murders than to the gentle lovemaking scene<br />
between Brolm and Kidder.<br />
In 1<br />
the Lutzes move into the serene<br />
looking Dutch-style house in an affluent long<br />
island village near the water Within 2S days.<br />
the live member family lied with only ihe<br />
clothes on then hacks and a pel dog. Thej had<br />
about all they could stand, what with swarms<br />
of flies that came and went, doors and win<br />
dows with minds ol then own and a black red<br />
slime that seeped from the walls and sums<br />
The film's subplot revolves around the ef<br />
Ions ol Rod Steiger as a priest who tries to<br />
alert his skeptical colleagues of the cloth (Mur<br />
ray Hamilton. Don Siroud and John Larchl ol<br />
the devil's presence at the bouse Everj lime<br />
he tries to call the Lutzes. the phone hums his<br />
hand and the line fills with sialic.<br />
Aside from Steiger, who is struck blind<br />
presumably bv the force. Brolm is the most<br />
devasiaied by the horror. His temper shortens,<br />
he slops bathing and he becomes obsessed<br />
with keeping his ax perfectly sharpened<br />
Brolm and Kidder are quite convincing in<br />
their parts, although Sleiger could have lurried<br />
in a less overwrought performance. Michael<br />
Sacks and Helen Shaver are very good as the<br />
Lutzes' friends, and Shaver is an asset to a<br />
bone-chilling scene near ihe end when they<br />
uncover the horror in ihe basement.<br />
It's nol really imporlanl whether audiences<br />
will lurn out because of the house ol -horrors<br />
thrills or because they read Jay Anson's best<br />
selling book The point is. "Horror" opened<br />
stronger than Al's previous hit "Love at First<br />
Bite." and it stands a good chance of drawing<br />
steady business from summer fright<br />
fans—Jim Robbins.<br />
Rod Steiger plays Father Delaney, a Catholic priest who tries to help the deviled Lutz family, in<br />
"The Amitwille Horror."<br />
MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI<br />
CAST<br />
A Universal release, rated PC Comedy- Drama, 1 1<br />
min., mm in release. Aspic! ratio, 1.85. 35mm<br />
Dolby stereo with Surround. Panavision,<br />
Technicolor, Release #7913.<br />
%<br />
If audiences can grasp the structure of<br />
"More American Graffiti." they should enjoy<br />
it. But whether they are willing to make the effort<br />
is<br />
Steve Bolander<br />
Ron Howard<br />
another question, because they<br />
Laurie Bolander<br />
Cindy Williams<br />
customarily prefer movies that have ordinary<br />
John Milner<br />
Paul Le Mat beginnings, middles and ends. This should be<br />
especially true for audiences expecting a normal<br />
sequel to the simple, universal "American<br />
Debbie Dunham<br />
Candy Clark<br />
Terry the Toad Charles Martin Smith<br />
Graffiti."<br />
CarolRainbow Mackenzie Phillips<br />
Little Joe<br />
Bo Hopkins<br />
CREDITS<br />
"More American Graffiti" intercuts among<br />
Producer<br />
Howard Kazanjian<br />
four stories that take place on successive New<br />
Director B. W. L Norton<br />
Year's Eves from 1964 to 1967. It begins with<br />
Screenplay B. W. L. Norton about five minutes of Paul Le Mat's story in<br />
1964. As John Milner. he is still racing hot<br />
rods, but he's now competing on professional<br />
dragstrips intead of Main Street.<br />
The film then skips ahead one year to<br />
Charles Martin Smith's story. Terry the Toad<br />
Terry (Charles Martin Smith) and Debbie (Candy Clark) laugh it up before he leaves for Vietnam<br />
in "More American Graffiti."<br />
is now in Vietnam trying desperately to find a<br />
way to get home, even if it involves a selfinflicted<br />
wound. After several minutes it is obvious<br />
that he's the same bumbler as before, if a<br />
little wiser, and we skip ahead to the next<br />
story which is unfolding on New Year's Eve<br />
1966.<br />
In (his story Candy Clark, as Debbie, is involved<br />
with the hippie culture of San Francisco.<br />
She is making a living as a topless dancer<br />
to support her boyfriend, a loser of a rock<br />
musician.<br />
The fourth story, which takes place on New<br />
Year's Eve 1967. involves the domestic quarrels<br />
of Steve and Laurie, played by Ron<br />
Howard and Cindy Williams. They are having<br />
the same arguments they had in high school,<br />
but now the arguments involve their marriage,<br />
home, children and careers. After a few<br />
minutes with Steve and Laurie, the story<br />
jumps back lo 1964 for a few minutes with<br />
John Milner on Ihe drag strips.<br />
It is at this poinl thai the confusion sets in.<br />
and audiences will probably start scratching<br />
their heads and wondering who mixed up the<br />
reels. The confusion is heightened by the appearance<br />
in the 1964 story of Cindy Williams,<br />
who is pregnant with the twins we had just<br />
seen as 3-year-olds in the preceding scene, and<br />
Charles Martin Smith, who talks about leaving<br />
for Vietnam, where we had just seen him<br />
three scenes before.<br />
A few minutes later ihe story changes to<br />
Vietnam and then to Candy Clark in San<br />
Francisco, and so on. It finally becomes ap<br />
parent that the rest of the film is going to be<br />
like this and lhal one might as well give in.<br />
On top of all that, there are constant<br />
references to occurrences that have happened<br />
in ihe past when considered in ihe context of<br />
each particular story, bul haven't happened<br />
yet within the actual movie. And each story<br />
filmed in the style (hat is appropriate for its<br />
setting, just as the original "American<br />
Graffiti" was filmed in the style of a low<br />
budget American International drive-in<br />
feature.<br />
is<br />
For example, the Vietnam segmenis are<br />
filmed in a grainy, television documentary<br />
style and presented on a square. TV-shaped<br />
screen. And the San Francisco scenes are<br />
presented in split-screen and multiple images<br />
that move back and forth and around the<br />
screen, a frantic, experimental approach (hat<br />
was popular for a time in the late '60s.<br />
But it's still a good, enjoyable movie, once<br />
the shock of realizing it's nol going to be nor<br />
mal wears off. It's just as funny and<br />
understated as the original film, and it's not as<br />
depressing as the closing biographical sketches<br />
from the original movie would lead one to expect.<br />
Throughout the film, the character lhat<br />
shows the most growth is Terry. Charles Martin<br />
Smuh plays (he boy who has gone from (he<br />
wimpy, perpetual follower to a cynical leader,<br />
of sorts. We see. through him. the disillusion<br />
mem of a nation faced with what many considered<br />
a "greal adventure" that wasn't really<br />
so great after all. and certainly wasn't an<br />
adventure.<br />
Bui if (he movie belongs lo anyone, i('s probably<br />
Cindy Williams, who demonsira(es a<br />
fine comic talent by merely reacting to whal<br />
goes on around her. Her portrayal of the conservative<br />
housewife, whose low-key panic<br />
grows as she accidentally becomes involved in<br />
her younger brother's college riot, could<br />
almost be a complete movie of its own Bui<br />
ihen lhat's probably also true of at least iwo of<br />
the other stories.<br />
All ihe major characters are back, including<br />
Mackenzie Phillips. Bo Hopkins and Harrison<br />
Ford, who returns in an uncrediied. brief per<br />
formance as Bud Falfa. now a traffic cop in<br />
San Francisco. Everyone is present except<br />
Richard Dreyfuss. who is dismissed with a<br />
quick "He's in Canada" from Ron Howard.<br />
It's a very funny, enjoyable movie that even<br />
manages lo be optimistic despite its subject<br />
matter. But whether the chances taken with<br />
the format will be worthwhile remains to be<br />
seen. It all depends upon the audiences' patience<br />
and willingness to accept something out<br />
of the ordinary.—Jimmy Summers.
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979 19<br />
An interpretive analysts of lav and tradepress rei'iewi Listing* coiw<br />
current re\iens regular/) Motion Picture Ass'll tMPAAi ratings<br />
G—general audiences; PG—alt ages admitted (parental guidance atg<br />
gesied); R—restricted, with persons under 17 not admitted unless at<br />
compacted by parent • >r adult guardkin. X—persons under 1 7 not admitted<br />
See Feature Chart tor iftvj t\pe Ke\<br />
s
I Re<br />
Marring<br />
(ODi<br />
starring<br />
90<br />
starring<br />
I Am<br />
20 BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979<br />
i< Action, Adventure, tAni<br />
The ke\ to letters and combinations thereof indicating story type<br />
Animated. tBi Biography: 'C > Comedy, (CM) Comedy<br />
I i (Ad)<br />
with Music: (Crf Crime: tD) Drama. tDM) Drama<br />
with Mush. {Doc) Documentary: (F) Fantasy: fFCt Filmed Concert: fFPi Filmed Play, tfin Historical: (Hoi<br />
Horror. tMi Mu\ual: (Me/ol Melodrama, (My My stery Outdoor. tPol) > . Political. il Romantic: (S)<br />
Spectacle: tSexJ Sex: (S) (Science I iction, (Spy)Spy Drama. (Sus) Suspense, tit t Western: (War) It ar Drama<br />
Current releases are listed in this section for only three months Number in parenthesis following film title is<br />
studio production number Symbol '-• denotes Bo\()l I Kl Blue Ribbon Award All films listed are in it 'lor<br />
unless otherwise noted as h&w (black and white). * (asterisk) denotes combination bills, Dolln stereo format<br />
abbreviations (D-35) 35mm Stereo, tD7U) 70mm stereo: (D-35S) i>mm stereo with Surround: tD I )<br />
unknown Dolby format.<br />
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL<br />
90.13 Wilshire Bl»d.<br />
Beverlv Hills. (alif. 94)211<br />
..'i : SMIS-Mim '<br />
l.-l II<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Sunnwdt, Ac D 17908 1. 100 mm. Marring Joe> Travolta.<br />
John Lansing. Stacv Pickrcn. Taha Balsam. Andv Rubin.<br />
Joan Darling<br />
June<br />
CH.O.M.P-S., AcG )7903i. 89 mm., starring Wesley Eur*.<br />
Conrad Bain. Lam Bishop. Valeric Bertmelli. Chuck Mc<br />
Cann. Red Buttons. Hcrmionc Baddefcv. Jim Backus<br />
July<br />
The Amiivville Horror, Sus (79041. starring James Brolm.<br />
Margot Kidder. Rod Steiger. Don Stroud. Murray<br />
Hamilton<br />
August<br />
l)i Tumi. Ac R 179061. starring Jan Michael Vincent.<br />
Theresa Saldana. Art Carney. Dannv Aiello. Fernando<br />
Lope^<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Mcttor, Ac D starring Sean Connerv. Natalie Wood. Karl<br />
M.i Men Martin Landau. Brian Keith<br />
Something Short of Paradise, CD |79I h. starring<br />
Susan Sarandon. David Steinberg.<br />
Corp, C (79 1 7), starring Michael Lembeck. Phillip Casnoff.<br />
Dennis (J/uaid. David Huddleston.<br />
ASSOCIATED FILM<br />
12711 Ventura Blvd.<br />
Studio Chy, Calif. 91604<br />
(2131 760 J02K<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
L scape to Athena, War C Ad. \02 mm starring Roger<br />
Moore. Tellv Savalas. David Niven. Stephanie Powers<br />
June<br />
The Muppel Movie, CM. 98 mm. starring Jim Henson's<br />
Mupneis (D35S. 70)<br />
August<br />
Love and Bullets, Ac D. starring Charles Branson. Jill<br />
Ireland. Rod Steiger. Stroiher Martin<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Treasure of the Piranha, Ad D. starring Lee Majors.<br />
Margauv. Hemingway. James Franciscus. Karen Black<br />
November<br />
Arabian Adventure. Ad D. starring C hnstopher Lee. Peter<br />
Cushing iD 35S|<br />
The Muppet Movie, CM. 95 mm., starring Jim Henson's<br />
Muppets iRc release. D-35S. 70l<br />
ATLANTIC RELEASING<br />
8500 Wilshire Blvd.<br />
Reu-rlv Hills, Calif. 90211<br />
(213)659.7210<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Picnic al Hanging Rock. M\ D, 100 min . Rachel<br />
Roberts, Anne Lambert<br />
June<br />
Dark Star. SI 85 mm starring Brian Narelle. Dre Pahich<br />
release)<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Nickel Street, Marring Ralph Waiie. Donald Moffal<br />
October<br />
Boardwalk, starring Lee Sirashcrg. Ruth Gordon.<br />
I a Jumenl \ apeur, Marring Carole Laure<br />
AVCO EMBASSY<br />
66(11 Romaine St.<br />
los Angeles, < alif. 9(H) mi<br />
(213)462 7211<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
W inter Kills. Sus D (7907). 97 mip Marring Jell Bridges.<br />
John Huston, ton) IVrkms. Sterling Havden, Eli Wallach.<br />
Dnrolhv Malonc<br />
June<br />
Goldengirl, D (7908). 119 mm. starring James (. ohum.<br />
Susan Anton. Robert Clllp. Leslie Caron, Curl Jurgens.<br />
Harrv Ciuardmo. ID 35S)<br />
Rudolph and Lroslv's Christmas in Julv, An. 97 mm . with<br />
voices bv Red Buttons. Ethel Merman. Mickev Roonev.<br />
Alan Scus. Jackie Vernon. Shellev Winters. Paul Frees<br />
August<br />
City on Fire, Sus D (791 1 1. 106 mm . siarring Henr> Fonda.<br />
Ava Gardner. James Franciscus. Barrv Newman. Susan<br />
Clark. Shellc) Winters. Leslie Nielsen<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
A \ t 1 \ Bit W itluii.iM.il. 1 1 mm.,<br />
starring Donald<br />
Sutherland. Brooke Adams. Paul Ma/ursky.<br />
The Onion Field, D, 126 min.. starring John Savage. James<br />
Woods. Franklin Seals. Ronnie Cox.<br />
JOSEPH BRENNER<br />
570 Seventh Aw.<br />
Nen York. N.V. I00IH<br />
(212)354-6070<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
.Mannequin. Sex D. 98 mm., starring Nadine Perles. Elton<br />
Frame. Alain Schwartz. Albane Reeves iRe releasei<br />
Submission. Sex D. 108 mm . starring Franco Nero. Lisa<br />
Gastom.<br />
Infra Man, SF. 90 mm iRe release)<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Almost Human, Ho, 91 mm .<br />
Milian. Anita Strindberg<br />
Henr> Silva. Tomas<br />
Free Spirit, starring Eric Porter. Jeremy Kemp. Bill<br />
Travers. Rachel Roberts. Heather Wright.<br />
Autopsv, starring Mimsy Farmer. Barry Primus. Ray<br />
Lovelock. IRe release)<br />
BUENA VISTA<br />
500 S. Buena Vista Drive<br />
Burbank. Calif. 91505<br />
(213)841-1000<br />
Now in Release<br />
June<br />
* 1 1 Dalmatians, An ( (56). 74 mm (Reissue)<br />
'Footloose Fox, OD [392), 29 mm<br />
August<br />
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. C W (1971. 89<br />
mm., starring Tim Conway. Don Knotts. Tim Matheson.<br />
Kenneth Mars. Elyssa Davalos. Jack Elam.<br />
Unidentified Flying Oddball. C (198). 93 mm., starring Den<br />
nis Dugan. Jim Dale, Ron Moody. Kenneth More<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Snowball Express, C (254). 93 min., starring Dean Jones.<br />
Nancy Olson. Harry Morgan. Keenan Wynn. (Reissue)<br />
December<br />
The Black Hole 1199), starring Maximilian Schell. Anthonj<br />
Perkins. Robert Forster. Joseph Bottoms, YvettC Minneuv.<br />
Ernest Borgnme (D-35S. 70i<br />
CARIBBEAN FILMS WEST<br />
6315 Hollywood Blvd.<br />
Hollywood, ( alif. 90028<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
fhv Erotic<br />
\dunturis of Candv.<br />
Candv Goes to llollvnund.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
November<br />
Fantasy w orld.<br />
December<br />
tropic of Desire.<br />
CINESHOWCASE<br />
2211 Broadoai. Ste. 5t<br />
V» ^nrk. N.V. 10024<br />
1212)580-7662<br />
Now in Release<br />
June<br />
Jack iht Kipptr. Sus D<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
^11 I ilth W.<br />
V« York. N.Y. 10022<br />
(212)751-4400<br />
Now m Release<br />
May<br />
Hanoi er street. R War-D (79015). 109 min. starring<br />
Christopher Plummet Harrison Ford. Leslie Anne Down<br />
tD 35S. 70i<br />
June<br />
Nightwing, M\ Ho 1HOOOI1, 106 min., starring Stephen<br />
Macht. Nick MartCUSO, David Warner. Kathrvn Harrold<br />
July<br />
Lost and found, I D 179019), 116 mm, starring George<br />
Segal Glenda Jackson. Maureen Stapleton<br />
Just Vou and Me, Kid, C (80003), starring George Burns.<br />
Brooke Shields.<br />
Game of Death, Ac, 10 mm starring Bruce Lee. Gig<br />
Young.<br />
The Villain, C W (80004), 93 mm .<br />
Ann Margret. Arnold Schwarzenegger<br />
August<br />
Kirk Douglas.<br />
Hoi Stuff. C (800071. 103 mm., siarring Dom DeLuise.<br />
Suzanne Pleshctte. Jerr> Reed. Louis Avalof. Ossic Davis<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
. . . And Justice for All, C D. starring Al Pacmo. Jack<br />
Warden I ee Strasbtrg. John Forsvthe<br />
November<br />
Kramer vs. Kramer, C D. starring Dustin Hoffman, Mer>l<br />
Streep. Jane Alexander. Howard Duff<br />
December<br />
The lliiint Horseman, CD. starring Robert Redford.<br />
Jane Fonda, Willie Nelson. Valerie Perrine.<br />
COMPASS INTERNATIONAL<br />
9229 Sunset BM„ Ste. 818<br />
Los Angeles, Calif. 90069<br />
(213)273 9125<br />
Now m Release<br />
July<br />
Noclurna, Ho-CM. 83 mm. starring Yvonne De Carlo.<br />
John Carradme. Nai Bonet.<br />
August<br />
Tourist Trap, Ho D. 85 mm., starring Chuck Connors.<br />
Jocelvn Jones.<br />
Fyre, D. 87 mm. starring Lvnn Theel. Allen Goorwitz.<br />
Assault on Precinct 13, Cr-D. 91 mm., starring Austin<br />
Stoker. Darwin Josten. Laurie Zimmer. Martin West. (Re<br />
release)<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Roller Boogie, starring<br />
Linda Blair<br />
Halloween, HoSus. 93 mm., starring Donald Pleasence.<br />
Jamie Lee Curtis (Re releasei<br />
CROWN INTERNATIONAL<br />
292 S. La Cienega Blul.. Ste. 306<br />
Beverlv Hills, Calif. 9021<br />
(213)657-6700<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Malibu High, v <<br />
Ta>k>r. Katie Johnson. Tammv Ta>k>r<br />
July<br />
mm, starring Jill Lansing. Stuart<br />
Van Nuys Blvd., Ac-C. 93 mm., starring Bill Adler. Cynthia<br />
Wood. Melissa Prophet. David Havward. Dennis Bowen.<br />
Dana Gladstone<br />
Terror, Ho. 86 mm., starring Caroline Courage. John<br />
Nolan. Sarah Keller.<br />
August<br />
Satan's Slave, starring Michael Cough. Martin Potter. Can<br />
dace Glendennmg.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Sextette, CM. 9| mm. starring Mae West. Timothy<br />
Dalton. Dom DeLuise, Ringo Starr, George Hamilton.<br />
Alice Cooper.<br />
'The Pom Pom Girls/The Van Malibu Beach.C (Combination<br />
Re release)<br />
'Dracula's Dog Crater Lake Monster Land of the<br />
Minotaur. Ho F (Combination Re release)<br />
DIMENSION<br />
9000 Sunset Blvd.<br />
Los Angeles. C alif. 90069<br />
(213)278-6844<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
Naked Paradise, Sex starring Laura Gemser, Annie Belle,<br />
Al C liver. Susan Scott<br />
Swap Meet, Sex C. 86 mm, starring Ruth Cox. Jonathan<br />
< pries, Dehi Richter. Dan SpectOf, Cheryl Rixon<br />
Scteams of a Winter Night, Ho. 92 min,, starring Gil<br />
Glasgow, Patrick Bvers. Robert Bradlev. Man ( ox<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Mck Carter In Prague, \«l 98 min., starring Josef Lepvmia.<br />
Olga Schoberovo<br />
October<br />
Stone Cold Dead, D, y (' mm. starring Richard C renna.<br />
Paul Williams. Linda Sorenson. Belinda Montgomer)<br />
EMC FILM<br />
1125 \.F. 125 St.<br />
Miami. Fla. 33161<br />
(305)895 5511<br />
Now m Release<br />
May<br />
The Last Straw. War D. 103 min.. starring Philippe Noiret.<br />
Rorm Schneider<br />
At Last. Al Last, Sen C. 103 mm., starring Fdwige Fenech.<br />
Carroll Baker tRc release)<br />
June<br />
The Silent Partner, Ac D. 103 min . starring Elliot Gould.<br />
Christopher Plummer. Susannah York, Celine Lorne^<br />
Black (libra. Sex D. starring Laura Gemser. Jack Palance<br />
Convention Girls. Melo. 97 mm., starring Nancv Lawson.<br />
Anne Seward iRe release)<br />
Naked Rider, Ac. 96 mm iRercleasci<br />
The Melon Affair. Sex C .<br />
July<br />
Love Clinic, Sex C<br />
FILM VENTURES<br />
310 V San Vicente Blvd.. Ste. 200<br />
Los Angeles, Calif. 90048<br />
(213(6594545<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
103 mm. iRe release)<br />
H.G. W>uV The Shape of Things to Come. SF Ad. 90 mm.<br />
starring Jack Palance. Carol L>nle>. Barry Morse.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Cardiac Arrest,<br />
November<br />
Sus. 90 mm., starring Max Gail.<br />
Klondike Fever, Ad. starring Rod Steiger.<br />
Lome Greene. Angie Dickinson. Jeff East<br />
G. G. COMMUNICATIONS<br />
820 Statler Bldg.<br />
Boston, Mass. 02116<br />
(617)542-9633<br />
Now in Release<br />
August<br />
Summerdog, D. 90 min.. starring James Congdon.<br />
Elizabeth Eisenman<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Legend of the Northwest, D. 83 mm<br />
October<br />
The Adventures of Pinocchk>, An. 90 min.<br />
The Little Mermaid, An. 71 min<br />
Going Coconuts, 93 mm., starring Donn> Osmond. Mane<br />
Osmond.<br />
Dunderklumpen, An. 96 mm<br />
GROUP 1<br />
9200 Sunset Blvd.<br />
Los Angeles, Calif. 90069<br />
(213)550-8767<br />
Now m Release<br />
August<br />
Parts—the Clonus Horror, SF. 100 mm., starring Peter<br />
Graves. Keenan W>nn. Dick Sargent. Tim Donnelly iTest<br />
Datesi<br />
Sev and Violence, SF. 100 min . starring Maria Lanener.<br />
John Allen. Cvnihia O'Neill. Susan Grev (Test Datesi<br />
L'FOs Are Real. Doc D. 97 mm<br />
Take All of Me, R-D. 91 mm., starring Richard Johnson.<br />
Pamela Vincent. Maria Bell. Leonard John (Re release)<br />
Living Nightmare, D. 90 mm., starring Alice Trent. Anne<br />
Carter. Jeff Lmder. Gregg Short<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Day of Fear, D. 98 min.. starring Cynthia Moss, Amy Mar<br />
im Ginny Gregson. Vince Albert (Test Dates)<br />
Red Neck County, D. 92 nun . starring Shelley Winters<br />
I eslie I ggams. Michael Christian. Dub Taylor.<br />
November<br />
Snapshot, Sus-D. 90 min.. starring M.ir\ [\aiiv Anne<br />
Mason. David Michaels<br />
HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL<br />
1044 S. Hill Si.<br />
Los Angeles. Calif. W0I5<br />
12 1.II 749-2067<br />
Now in Release<br />
August<br />
Always Read*. 85 nun . starring John Holmes, Joyoc<br />
Rolh<br />
INDEPENDENT ARTISTS<br />
5 1 1. nid, in Ave.<br />
Haddonlkld. NJ. 0S0J3<br />
(6091 795-6000<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
\\ hen Iht- ScrtaminE Stops. Ho K 94 mm
8U<br />
starting<br />
starring<br />
\2<br />
10<br />
starring<br />
starring<br />
starring<br />
I<br />
Starring<br />
starring<br />
I<br />
""<br />
V<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 1 3, 1 979<br />
INDEPENDENT-INTERNATIONAL<br />
22> Route Either*<br />
fast Brunswick. NJ. liKXIr.<br />
12011 uvuix:<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
fbr Grant ReaM,Sei t 83 min starrtngSue I onghurst<br />
JXe-rekMsel<br />
July<br />
Dirts BihiV Mure. Sen I S4 mill Marring Shai<br />
( mdmllj 2IHMJ, si 89 •> starring<br />
iRc refeasd<br />
I hi Bin, b lube, Scvt K.' nun .<br />
ickuci<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
i itherinc I rtuidl<br />
Jo) Wilson 'K.'<br />
rccMKE Models, ses I) 'Jii nun starring Rjc Sperling<br />
October<br />
I hi Bonk lube Strikes \|Min. Scs l 86 mm. slatting<br />
Maiun OsllCX<br />
In Search of Uraemia. Sus SS min starring t hrislophci<br />
Lev<br />
(Re release!<br />
INTERNATIONAL HARMONY<br />
630 Ninth Ave.<br />
New Volt, M.Y. 10036<br />
(212I5K29I33<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
"J" Men Fomcr, C. 90 min . starring Phil Procter.<br />
kusi Never sleeps. M FC. 100 min.. Marring Neil Young.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Cocaine ( nwbms. Sus D. 90 mm. starring Jack Pa la nee.<br />
Tom Sullivan. Andy Warhol<br />
KEY INTERNATIONAL<br />
8000 I. Girard An-, Me. 412<br />
Doner, Cob. MZ3I<br />
(3031 755-7666<br />
Now m Release<br />
July<br />
Three W ay W erfcend. Sex C . mm. starring Dan Diego.<br />
Jody Lee Olhava. Blake Parnsh<br />
Willie V-konS 4th ill Jul> Celebration, M FC. 90 mm..<br />
starring Willie Nelson. Way Ion Jennings<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
The Man W h- Lowd Bean.. Ac-Dot. 90 mm. narrated by<br />
Henry Fonda<br />
The Sweet Creek Coat) War, ^ [> 87 mm., starring<br />
Richard tgan. Albert Salmi. Nua Talhoi. Slim Pickens<br />
LONE STAR<br />
6515 Sunset Blvd.. Ste. 203<br />
Hofh-wood. Calif. 90028<br />
)2 1 31 463 3175<br />
Now m Release<br />
May<br />
Secrets, D. 86 mm .<br />
starring Jacqueline Bissct. Robert<br />
Powell. Shirle> Knight. Per Oscarvson iRc releasei<br />
The Bandits, Ac D. 90 mm . btarnng Robert Conrad. Jan<br />
Michael Vincent.<br />
August<br />
The ( omebaci,, Sus Ho D. 100 mm, starring Jack Jones.<br />
Pamela Stevenson. David Do>le<br />
Kill ihi (.olden Goose. V I) B9 mm.. Marring hd Parker.<br />
Bong Soo Han.<br />
Commg Releases<br />
September<br />
The I hinda Connection, Ac D. 88 min., starring Dan<br />
Pastonni. June Wilkinson<br />
October<br />
The Great Monkey Rip-OfT. C. 91 1 min .<br />
I<br />
Alan Hale<br />
Fee. l.o*e, D. 90 mm., starring Man Greene. Nona Jane<br />
1 mi. Steven Nicholson<br />
November<br />
My Bo>s Are Good Boss. C D. 94 mm., starring Ralph<br />
Meeker. Ida Lupino. David Doyle<br />
Gum That Loters Play, ^i<br />
min.. starring Joanna Lumle>.<br />
Jcrem> Lloyd. Penny Brahms.<br />
MARTIN FILMS<br />
405 Park Ate.<br />
New *ork. N.Y. 104)19<br />
(2121 581-801<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
She's 17 and Anxious, Sex D. 84 mm . starring Ann Kuster.<br />
Nadja Tiller. Cal Voglcr<br />
Read>. Willing & Able, Sex C. 83 min. starring Ingnd<br />
Steeger. Chris Shubert. Monica Rohde<br />
High Rolling in a Hot Corvette, Ad-C. 8> min.. starring<br />
Joseph Bottoms. Greg Ta>lor. Jud> Davis<br />
MONARCH<br />
8500 WiMnn Blvd. St« 5M<br />
Betcrl) HilK. ( alif. W2I<br />
[21 I] 652-9900<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Boys "i tin slums. l> starring Rita rushingham<br />
June<br />
i iiLiiiinlle in iVnwrica, Sex D. starring I aura Gcmsei<br />
Mtitcfeathers, 4 starring \^*n Knott*, Ron ( alhoun<br />
July<br />
King id Kong Island, starring Brad II. mis Man l awrence<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Degradation ol ERtaauelle, (tarring<br />
October<br />
1<br />
I<br />
aura Gcmsei<br />
lodgli Gn; (Perils oi Pau l.ingi, starring ^ illie ( hu. One<br />
Hung Lo<br />
NEW LINE<br />
853 Kruadwas<br />
Vh York, N.N. looot<br />
(2121674 7460<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Slave of (he t annibal God. Ac Ad. 85 mm .<br />
•\ndress<br />
June<br />
Down H Dirts. C . I 1 5 nun ,<br />
Ursula<br />
Nino Manlrcdi.<br />
July<br />
Whs Not! (Porquoi Pas). R C. 93 mm. starring Sam\ Frcy.<br />
August<br />
The Last Romantic Tout, RC. 92 mm. starring Dayle<br />
Haddon<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Like a Turtle on Its Back. R D. 95 mm., starring Bernadctic<br />
La font<br />
October<br />
Sta) as > mi Are, R-D. 100 nun .<br />
NEW WORLD<br />
1 1600 San Vicente Blvd.<br />
Los Angeles. C alif. 90049<br />
(213)820*733<br />
Now m Release<br />
May<br />
mm .<br />
Natassja Kinski.<br />
Saint Jack. D. I starring Ben Gazzara Denholm<br />
Elliott. Peter Bogdanovich. George La/enby<br />
June<br />
Lp from the Depths. Ho Sus (195l, 95 mm., starring Sam<br />
Bottoms. Susanne Reed. Virgil Frye.<br />
The Brood. Ho 1 1 9 1 1. Starring Oliver Reed. Samantha Eg<br />
gar. Art Hindle<br />
I he Kids Are Alright. M FC. 106 mm., color and b&w.<br />
starring The Who. Steve Martin. Ringo Starr. ID 35Si<br />
July<br />
The Lady in Red, Or D. 100 mm . starring Pamela Sue Mar<br />
tin Robert Conrad. Louise Fletcher<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
The Green Room, D. 94 mm, starring Francois Truffaut.<br />
Nathalie Baye<br />
NEW YORKER<br />
16 W.6lst St.<br />
New York, N.N. 10023<br />
(212)247-6110<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Newsfront, Hi D. I min . color and hicw. starring Bill<br />
Hunter. Gerard Kennedy<br />
.lust Like at Home. C D. 108 min.. starring Anna Karma<br />
June<br />
I I Super, t I). 90 mm.<br />
The Tree of Wooden Clogs, Hi D. 185 mm<br />
July<br />
Peppermint Soda. ( I) 97 mm<br />
August<br />
Woy/eck. D. 82 nun<br />
'Orchestra Rehearsal. D. 7: mm<br />
* Ihe Making of Don Gioianni. Doc. 27 mm.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
\gainsl the Grain. I)<br />
October<br />
Ihe Marriage of Maria Braun. D. 120 mm<br />
November<br />
Don Giovanni, DM. 180 mm d)l ><br />
NMD<br />
25U « . 5th SI.<br />
Sin >nrk. S.\. 1001")<br />
(212)581-8011<br />
Now m Release<br />
May<br />
The Carhops, C. 88 min . starring kirn Karl, Livi I an<br />
inger.<br />
1 in. \d.i mint s oi Smw w hiie. I 7f> min ,<br />
1 iijL-u.iiii Ingrid ^ an Bergen<br />
June<br />
Mane<br />
Smoke) and the Holwin (.ang. v l» ^ min i la<br />
James Keach, Stanley l ivingsion<br />
July<br />
IIom to Sore w nh t.iris. s.'v t 82 i starring Ron<br />
Osborne I arr) lacobs<br />
OMNI PICTURES<br />
2h''> ( umhcrlantl l'ark»a>. StC. \<br />
\llanla (.a. »"1<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
\\ iillnian. Ho. ill mm. starring I all OwCftfby. Knstina<br />
Reynolds. I ii I inad> Sni Rancer. Maggie Laulerei<br />
Julian Motion, HcletK<br />
1 1. -I<br />
ORANGEWOOD PROD.<br />
I Kill) N. Highland, Ste. 414<br />
HollvHood. Calif. 91H)28<br />
1213)464 7297<br />
Now in Release<br />
June<br />
I angerine. Sex Sus. 80 nun<br />
July<br />
rrathouse. S2 mm<br />
Devil's (.arden.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Pink Champagne, Sex Sus<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Gulf & Western Pla/a<br />
New Yofk, N.V. 10023<br />
1212)3334647<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Real Life. ( 1 1 287i. 99 mm . starring Albert Brooks. Charles<br />
Gnxlin<br />
June<br />
Players, R AcD 1 1 230k 120 mm. starring Ah MacGra*.<br />
IX-an Paul Marun<br />
Prophetv, Ho-Sus (Il82i. 102 mm., starring Talia Shire.<br />
Robert Foxworth |D-35S|<br />
Escape From Alcatra/, Sus Ad Il256(. 112 mm . starring<br />
Clint Eastwood.<br />
Bloodline, My-Sus il 170). 1 16 mm., starring Audrev Hep<br />
burn. Ben Gazzara. James Mason. Claudia Mori.<br />
July<br />
Meatballs, C . starring Bill Murrav<br />
August<br />
North Dallas Fort}, C D 18773). starring Nick Nolle. Mac-<br />
Davis. Bo Svenson. Charles Duming<br />
Sunburn. Sus^ (1318). 102 mm., starring Farrah Fawcetl<br />
Majors. Charles G rod in. Art Carney.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Starting Over 112391. starring Bun Reynolds. Jill<br />
Clay burgh. Candicc Bergen. Charles Duming. Ausnn<br />
Pendleton. Mary Kay Place<br />
French Postcards<br />
December<br />
(1235). starring Mane France Pisier<br />
Sijr Irek—the Motion Picture, SI Ad. starring William<br />
Shatner. Leonard Nimoy. De Forest Kellev. James I>x)han.<br />
Cicorge Takei. Nichollc Nichols<br />
American Gigolo. D. starring<br />
ton<br />
Nijinskv, starring<br />
Browne.<br />
QUARTET<br />
60 1.42 St.. Ste. 3301<br />
New York, N.\. 10017<br />
(2121867-9780<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
Richard Gere. Lauren Hui<br />
Alan Bates. George De La Pena. Leslie<br />
Dracula and Son, Ho-C, 87 min.. starring Christopher Lee.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
Rape of Lose, l><br />
November<br />
\ Simpk Story.<br />
December<br />
Whv Shoot the leacher<br />
ROCHELLE<br />
16300 W . Nine Mile Rd„ Ste. 1 10<br />
Southfield. Mich. 48075<br />
(313) 557-5024<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Dr. JeckvU's Dungeon of Death. Ho Mclo. siarring James<br />
Mathers<br />
July<br />
Rock Few, Cr-D. 98 nun .<br />
Sanders<br />
A Saint . . . a W oman ... a Devil, 90 mm .<br />
Fields. Pam Serpc.<br />
w jdc Nichols. Jcanie<br />
starring Joanna<br />
i<br />
DniUt Killer, Ho 90 min.. starring JimmieLairo<br />
Man l.j\r.i l)j\<br />
Coming Releases<br />
December<br />
21<br />
irolyi<br />
Ihe Divine Mr. J, CM B5 min starring Bette Midler<br />
SANRIO<br />
1930 ( eniurv Park Weal, Ste. 402<br />
I<br />
os \ogeles. ( Jhl 90067<br />
ttlJl 5524T525<br />
Now in Release<br />
August<br />
Winds id ( hange. Xn M I<br />
i stinot 'i I<br />
S<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
nun ii.irfjii.il bj Petei<br />
Ihe Great Balloon Adventure. ( Ad. 84 mm. starring<br />
Katharine Hepburn<br />
October<br />
Ihe Glacier Fox. Doc D, 92 nun .<br />
iRc releasei<br />
November<br />
narrated by Arthur Hill<br />
Nutcracker Fantasy, Puppet An M. SI min.. wnh VOWCS bv<br />
Michelle Lee, Melissa Gilbert. Lurlcnc Tuttle, Christopher<br />
Lee. JoAnne Worlcj Dick Van Patten. AvaGabor, Ritddy<br />
McDowall<br />
STUDIO FILM<br />
t.liason. Wise. 544.15<br />
(7ISI S73 .l0«Jh<br />
Now in Release<br />
June<br />
[Be Alpha Inddinl. SI 0, 1> nun .<br />
Marring Ralph Meeker.<br />
Stattord Morgan. John Cjoff. Ocorgc "Buck" f- lower. C arol<br />
Nc»ell<br />
July<br />
I'hi- ( aplurt- of Bigfoot, f\C Ad. ^2 min.. '.tarring Richard<br />
Kennedy . Kathcrinc Hopkins. SlalTord Morgan. John Gofl<br />
TENAHA TIMPSON<br />
Iniiii S lliuhland. Sic. 414<br />
M..llM>....d. i ihl ''""><br />
(2IJl46472 l «7<br />
Now in Release<br />
June<br />
l.tpps & McCain, Sex C. 87 mm<br />
Vou to Death. 62 mm.<br />
August<br />
I lira Vt oman, Sc* C. 81 mm iRc Releasei<br />
TRICONTINENTAL<br />
333 Avenue nt the Americas<br />
Se» York. S.\. IltUM<br />
12121989-3330<br />
P.O. Bin 443U<br />
Berkeles.t alii. 94704<br />
(415154)13204<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Death ot a Bureaucrat. (- . 87 min.. b&u. siarring Salvador<br />
Wood. Silvia Planas<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Ihe Battle of Chile-Part III.<br />
20TH CENTURY-FOX<br />
Bus. 900<br />
Beurls Mills, C alii. 90213<br />
(213)2772211<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
OAEen, SI Sus (033371. 1 17 min .<br />
Doc. 90 min.. hiv.<br />
starring lom Skerritt.<br />
SigourrW) Weaver. Veronica Cartwrighl. Vaphet Kollo<br />
ID-3SS. 7(ii<br />
Dreamer. I) 105362). ^0 nun. siarring Jim Malheson.<br />
Susan Blakely. Jack Warden. Richard B Shull<br />
June<br />
Butch and Sundance: the farl> l)a>s, C W \dl0S339l<br />
I<br />
mm .<br />
August<br />
starring lorn Berenger. W ilium kail<br />
III<br />
Breaking A»as, CD 1053641. 100 nun .<br />
siarring Uenms<br />
Christopher. Dennis Quaid, Jackie Larlc Haley. Dan Sicm,<br />
Rohvn Douglass. Han Bochner<br />
Coming Releases<br />
October<br />
I una, D. siarring Jill t layburgh.<br />
Asalanche Express, Sus Ad. starring Lee Mars in. Robert<br />
Shaw Linda I vans. Mavimihan Schell. Horsi Buchol/.<br />
Mike c onnors. Joe Namath<br />
Susferatu Ihe Vampire, Sr Ho 1053431. 106 min.. starring<br />
Klaus Kinski. Isabelle Adjani. Bruno Cian/. Jacques<br />
Dufilho<br />
December<br />
Health, t I) starring Glenda Jackson. Carol Burnett. James<br />
Garner Lauren Bacall. Paul Dooley. Donald Moffal.<br />
Henrv Gibson.<br />
The Rose. DM. Marring Belle Midler. Alan Bales. Frederick<br />
Forrest. (D 35S. 701<br />
All That Ja/r, DM. siarring Rov Scheidcr. Ben Vereen<br />
\nn Reinking<br />
(continued tin page 2}
Kansas<br />
22<br />
BOXOFFICEMUGUST 13, 1979<br />
RATES: 50 c per word minimum S5 00 CASH WITH COPY Four consecutive insertions lor price of<br />
ihree When using a Boxollice No figure 2 additional words and nctude Si 00 additional to cover cost<br />
ot handling replies Display Classified. S38 00 per Column Inch No commission allowed CLOSING<br />
DATE Monday noon preceding publication date Send copy and answers to Box Numbers to BOXOF<br />
FICE 825 Van Brunt Blvd diy Mo 64124 NOTE Bulky resumes pressbook posters etc<br />
.<br />
will not be forwarded unless accompanied by sufficient postage<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
THEATRE DISTRICT MANAGER lor growing Calitomia<br />
motion picture chain Musi have complete knowledge ot<br />
all phases ot exhibition Local relerences required<br />
employee benefits Please send complete resume and<br />
relerences to BoxoMce 4278 All replies w
Re<br />
I<br />
BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 13, 1979 23<br />
on the move<br />
Phyllis Bagdadi has been named story<br />
editor for Melvin Simon Productions. She has<br />
been director of development lor Mona Moore<br />
& Associates, a motion picture and television<br />
development company.<br />
William iYlahan has been named to the new<br />
ly created position of vice president and chief<br />
financial officer of the Wrather Corp. Most<br />
recently he was vice president and controller<br />
of American Investment Co. of Si<br />
Louis.<br />
Kelly Welles has been named executive<br />
director of creative advertising for Paramount<br />
Pictures motion picture division, a newly<br />
formed unit of the company Completing the<br />
unit's staffing are Don La Fontaine, executive<br />
director of visual services, and Sid Eisenberg,<br />
national director of advertising. Welles<br />
previously was vice president, creative directoi<br />
with Gordon & Shorn Advertising<br />
Robert Wong has been appointed to the<br />
new position of director of finance and plann<br />
ing for ABC Pictures International Inc.. it was<br />
announced by Robert Dinsmore. director of<br />
operations. ABC Pictures International, to<br />
whom he reports.<br />
Gill Champion has been named West Coast<br />
director for new projects development for the<br />
Producer Circle Co. Before joining the company<br />
in 1976 he was a principal in a New<br />
York casting company.<br />
Dawn Steel has been named vice president,<br />
merchandising and licensing for Paramount<br />
Pictures, it was announced by Michael D.<br />
Eisner, president and chief operating officer.<br />
Reene Sehisgal has been appointed Last<br />
Coast story editor for Warner Bros . n u.is an<br />
nounced by Diane Sokolow, Warner's vice<br />
president. Last Coasi production. Lor the past<br />
six years. Schisgal has been storv editor lor<br />
Dustm Hoffman's SweetWall Productions.<br />
Herb Jellinek has been promoted to vice<br />
presideni of production for ABC Entertainment<br />
and ABC Motion Pictures He had been<br />
vice president of production for AB( I<br />
since July 1977.<br />
Marilyn Lisberg has left her position with<br />
Lilmways Motion Pictures to become the new<br />
director ol development of feature films and<br />
television movies for Ron Samuels Productions.<br />
J. C. Scott has been named director of<br />
creative affairs for the Edward S. Feldman Co.<br />
to coordinate various motion picture and<br />
television development activities. She formerly<br />
was assistant to the head of the literary depart<br />
ment of International Creative Management.<br />
Before that she was production coordinator<br />
for George Stevens Jr. on the American Film<br />
Institute's "America at the Movies."<br />
Ronald L Stein has been named director of<br />
audio visual services at the Burbank Studios.<br />
Paul Birmingham has been named ex<br />
ecutive vice president of the nontheatrical and<br />
educational distribution division of Para<br />
mount Pictures, moving over from his post as<br />
senior vice president of studio administration.<br />
Worth Keeter has been promoted to assis<br />
taut to the president of the E 0. Motion Pic<br />
lure Company Inc. Kceter's promotion, which<br />
becomes effective immediately, was announc<br />
ed by company president Earl Owensby.<br />
Buena Vista Distribution has named Irene<br />
Robinson branch manager in Denver. She<br />
began with Buena Vista in 1958 as a cashier<br />
and moved through various sales department<br />
|H)sinons to become assistant manager in<br />
1976.<br />
Preston Fischer has been named to the new<br />
ly created position of vice president of<br />
theatrical and TV film production for Dick<br />
Cla k Cinema Productions. He was with<br />
Trans Atlantic for the last three years, and<br />
was involved in the production of six motion<br />
picture features.<br />
Robert Molson has been appointed as a<br />
regional film buyer for General Cinema Corp.<br />
Theatres. Molson, who assumed his new<br />
duties July 27, was head film buyer for Roth<br />
Theatres in Washington. DC, for the past 1<br />
years. He is headquartered at GCC's Los<br />
Angeles office.<br />
Lewis Goldstein named<br />
Eastern sales manager<br />
NEW YORK— Lewis Goldstein, 31, has<br />
been named Eastern regional sales<br />
manager for Boxon-ICE He succeeds Jim<br />
Young, who retired in July<br />
A native of Brooklyn, NY., Goldstein<br />
resides in Manhattan and will headquarter<br />
in the Vance publication offices at 133<br />
East 58th St.<br />
His territory will include New York,<br />
New England, Pennsylvania, Delaware,<br />
Maryland and Eastern Canada<br />
Goldstein joins BOXOFFK t from B.M.T.<br />
Publications, New York, where he was<br />
director of advertising sales. He holds a<br />
B.A. degree in business administration<br />
from New York University.<br />
(ill C hampion has been named West Coast<br />
director for new project development for Producer<br />
Circle Co. He joined the company in<br />
1976.<br />
C. Joseph La Bonte has been named presi<br />
dent of 20th Century-Fox Enterprises, it was<br />
announced by Dennis C. Stanfill. In this<br />
newly-created position. La Bonte will be<br />
responsible for the supervision of Aspen Skiing<br />
Corp., Pebble Beach Corp. and Coca-Cola<br />
Bottling Midwest.<br />
Arthur Leese has joined Columbia Pictures<br />
Corp. Ltd. in London as company secretary.<br />
Leese joins Columbia from United Artists.<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
(continued from page 21)<br />
21 ST CENTURY<br />
1650 Broadway Sle. 1003<br />
Vh York, N.Y. 10019<br />
(212)541-4722<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Fist of Fun Part II, Ac. 92 mm., starring Bruce Li. Lo<br />
Leih. Tt Fung.<br />
October<br />
The Obsessed One, Ac. 78 mm., starring Male Panda>.<br />
Trac> Parnsh. Sally Savalas.<br />
November<br />
The Three Faniaslic Supermen, Ac, 95 min ,<br />
Kendall. Brad Harris. Nick Jordan.<br />
December<br />
starring Tonv<br />
The Tormented, Ac. 86 min.. starring Stella Carnauna.<br />
Chris As ram. Lucretia Love<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
729 Seventh A*e.<br />
New York, N.Y. 10019<br />
(2121 575-3000<br />
Now m Release<br />
May<br />
La Cage Au\ Folks, C. 99 mm,, starring<br />
Michel Serrault<br />
Ligo Tognazzi.<br />
•j Manhattan, C (79087). 93 mm., b&w. starring Woody<br />
Allen. Diane Keaton. Michael Murph>. Manel Hem<br />
mgway<br />
Wanda Nevada, Ad -CD. starring Peter Fonda. Brooke<br />
Shields<br />
Last Fmbrace. Sus-D i7906li. 102 mm. siarnng Ro><br />
Scheider, Janet Margolin. Marcia Rodd. Christopher<br />
Walken.<br />
June<br />
Moonraker, Spy Ac (79129), 126 mm. starring Roger<br />
Moore. Lois Chiles. Richard Kiel. Michel Lonsdale. Cor<br />
mne Clcrj (D-35S. 70)<br />
Rocky II.D(79I37). 1 19 mm., starring Sylvesler Stallone.<br />
Talia Shire. Bun Young. Burgess Meredith. Carl Weathers<br />
[D-3SSI<br />
August<br />
Americathon, C. starring Peter Riegert. Harvey Korman.<br />
Fred Willard. Zane Bu/by. Nancy Morgan. John Rittcr<br />
Apocalypse Now, War D l77l3h. 139 min.. starring<br />
Marlon Brando. Robert Duval. Manm Sheen. Dennis Hop<br />
per<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Rich Kids, starring Kathryn Walker. John Lithgow. David<br />
Setby. Terry<br />
October<br />
Kiser.<br />
Hamster of Happiness,<br />
Fo\es>, starring Jodie Foster. Sally<br />
November<br />
Kellerman<br />
The Fish That Sated Pittsburgh, starring Stockard Chann<br />
ing. Meadowlark Lemon. Julius Irving<br />
.<br />
Sarah Holcomb<br />
July<br />
102 mm., starring Robby Benson,<br />
Dracula. Ho D (7914). starring Frank Langella. Laurence<br />
Olivier. Donald Pleasence, (D-35S)<br />
August<br />
More American Graffiti, CD (7913). starring Paul Le Mat.<br />
Ron Howard. Cindy Williams. Candy Clark. Charlie Mar<br />
tin Smith<br />
The Concorde— Airport "79, Sus |79I5). starring Alain<br />
Delon. Susan Blakely, Robert Wagner. George Kennedy<br />
The Seduction ol Joe Tynan (79161. 107 min.. siarnng<br />
Alan Alda. Meryl Streep. Barbara Harris. Rip Tom.<br />
Mehyn Douglas<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Legacs. |79I7|. 100 min.. starring Katharine Ross. Sam<br />
Elliott' iDU)<br />
National Lampoon's Animal House, C |78I7), 109 mm..<br />
starring John Belushi. Tim Matheson. Donald Sutherland.<br />
Johm Vernon iRe releasei<br />
November<br />
Running i7919i. 103 mm. starring Michael Douglas. Susan<br />
Anspach.<br />
Yanks (79181. 120 mm., starring Richard Gere. Vanessa<br />
Redgrave. William Devane.<br />
December<br />
1941. C. starring John Belushi. Dan Aykroyd. Lorraine<br />
Gary. Murray Hamilton.<br />
The Jerk. C, starring Steve Martin. Bcrnadetie Peters.<br />
VALIANT INTERNATIONAL<br />
4774 Melrose A»e.<br />
HollvMood, Calif. 90029<br />
1213)665-5257<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Lips of Land Blue, Sex D. 105 mm .<br />
starring Senu Bergei<br />
June<br />
One Way at a Time, Sex C, 75 mm., starring Lauren<br />
Doniinque. Rocky Racoon.<br />
Cissy's Hot Summer, Sex D. 90 mm., starring Candice<br />
Royalle. John C Holmes.<br />
Star of the Orient, Sex Sus D, S7 mm., starring Suzi Wong.<br />
Billy D. Williams<br />
Midnight Passion, Sex Sus. 85 min.<br />
July<br />
The Child, Ac Sus. 90 mm. starring Laurel Barnett. Rosalie<br />
Cole iRe release)<br />
August<br />
Brides' Initiation, Sex D. 80 min<br />
Lo*e Secrets, Sex D. 80 min.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
Lrica's Hoi Summer, Sex Sus. 64 mm (Reissue)<br />
Behind Locked Doors. Sus. 80 mm.<br />
October<br />
Young Swingers, Sex C, 80 mm<br />
November<br />
\ oung and W ild. Ac-Sus, 90 mm<br />
December<br />
Fmanuelle in Hollywood, Sex C<br />
Fmanuelle in L.S.A., Sex C,<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
75 Rockefeller Plaja<br />
Ne» York, N.Y. 1U0IM<br />
(2121 484-«(M)«<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
A Lillle Romance lOnonl. C (798011. 108 min.. starring<br />
Laurence Olivier, Sally Kellerman.<br />
Hooper, Ac< D 17871 ll. 97 mm. starring Burt Reynolds<br />
IRe release!<br />
Beyond (he Poseidon Adienlure, Ad Sus 1798041. I 14 nun<br />
siarnng Michael Came. Sally Field. Telly Savalas. Pelcr<br />
Boyle. Jack Warden, Shirley<br />
Jones. Karl Maiden.<br />
June<br />
Knighl. Slim Pickens. Shirley<br />
The In-Laws, A.C-C 1798 161. 103 rain., siarnng Peler Falk.<br />
Alan Arkin. Nancy Dussaull. Paul Lawrence Smuh. Fran<br />
Drescher<br />
The Main Eraat, C D.|79806|. I 12 mm. starring Barbra<br />
Streisand. Ryan O'Neal. Paul Sand. Patti O'Arbanvillc.<br />
Knstine DeBell<br />
July<br />
The Wanderers lOnonl. D (798071<br />
The Frisco Kid. I' W |7980S|. 122 mm., siarnng Gene<br />
Wilder. Harrison Ford. Paul Lawrence Smith. Val Btsoglio.<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
JeMis 1798201<br />
October<br />
The Great Sann'ni 1798081. starring Robcn Duvall. Blylhc<br />
Danner<br />
10 lOnonl. R<br />
Now in Release<br />
July<br />
Imaders From Mars. SF, 82 mm., starring Helena ( ancr.<br />
Arihur Iran/. Leif fcrickson. Jimm> Hunt (Reissue!<br />
Crawling K>e. SF. 81 mm., b&w. starring Forrest Tucker.<br />
Janet Munroe. Jennifer Jaync iReissuel<br />
Helter Skelter Murders, Ho. 83 mm., b&w. starring<br />
Charles Manson. Debbie Duff. Garry Donovan (Reissuei<br />
August<br />
Hideous Sun Demon, 74 mm., starring Robert Clarke. Nan<br />
Petersen<br />
(Reissue!<br />
Kronos. Destroyer of the Universe, SF. b&w. starring Jeff<br />
Morrows. Barbara Lawrence. John Emery (Reissuei<br />
WORLD NORTHAL<br />
Dag Hammarskjold Pla/a<br />
New York, N.Y. 10017<br />
(212)223-8181<br />
Now in Release<br />
May<br />
Garden ol Beauty. 92 min,. starring Florence Carrol.<br />
Marion Game. Jenny Arasse<br />
June<br />
My Main Man From Sioney Island, DM. 90 mm, starring<br />
Richard Davis. Edward Stoney Robinson. George Englund.<br />
Gene Barge<br />
July<br />
.<br />
Teresa (he Thief, CD. 1 1 1 min starring Monica Villi,<br />
Carlo Dellc Diane. Stefano Sana Flores. Isa Danieli.<br />
The Master Killer. Ac D. starring Lui Chia Hui.<br />
August<br />
Friday the I3fh, siarnng Peggy Feury<br />
The Orphan, starring Joanna Miles. Stanley Church. Donn<br />
Whythe, Mark Owens.<br />
I<br />
Lo»e You Bruce Lee,<br />
Coming Releases<br />
September<br />
The 5 Deadly Poisons.<br />
Go Mamma Go.<br />
October<br />
No Time for Breakfast, D. 100 mm . starring Annie Girar<br />
dot. Jean Pierre Cassel. Francois Perner. Isabelle Huppert<br />
(Re releasei<br />
The American Game, Doc. 85 mm.<br />
November<br />
The Mighty Peking Man.
REPUBLIC<br />
- PICTURE<br />
A DIVISION OF REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES<br />
44<br />
GHOST OF THE RED WITCH"<br />
Now in Pre-Production