Boxoffice-August.20.1979

10
ST. LOUIS
(continued from page 9)
director, was in town promoting his latest
effort, "The Villain," which he calls a "cartoon
with live actors." Needham at 48 is still a
macho character and likes bright clothing and
could compete with Sammy Davis Jr. in the
Needham lived
chain and rings department.
here for nearly 10 years in his youth, attend
ing Hadley Technical School. After his
parents were divorced, he moved to California
with his mother.
Ironically, he made his debut in the movie
stunt business in "The Spirit of St. Louis" in
which Jimmy Stewart played Charles Lindbergh.
Later, he replaced Richard Boone's
stuntman and in recent years has worked with
Burt Reynolds. For car crash scenes, he
prefers Ferraris because they can lake a lot of
punishment, although they are expensive to
wreck.
Needham operates a firm called "Stunts
Unlimited," taking stunt people from the
Screen Actor's Guild for training.
In reviewing "American Graffiti's" sequel.
"More American Graffiti," Frank Hunter of
the Globe-Democrat says that the simple
humor of the original is missing: "It's
interesting to see the principals all grown up;
DALLAS
Terry Graham, branch manager for
American International, is quite enthusiastic
over the success of "The Amityville Horror,"
which is doing quite well.
Graham returned recently from a southern
divisional meeting with Gene Tunic, vice
president and general sales manager, George
Royster, southern division manager, and Jimmy
Whiteside, administrative officer of branch
operations, all from Los Angeles. During the
meeting discussions were made of upcoming
product, which gave all the branch managers a
sense of pride with a good outlook about what
is to come from American International
Among those in attendance were Henry
Hammond, Memphis, Mamie Dureau. New
Orleans, Melvin Cook, Charlotte, Glenn
Simonds, Atlanta, and Jim Dixon of Jackson
ville.
Bennie Lynch of Grimes Film Booking is
pleased with the good grosses reported on
"For Richer, For Poorer," which opened in
two San Antonio houses.
Joe Joseph, "The Broker," closed another
deal this week, by leasing the I2l Drive In,
Lewisville, to Bob Boovy and JC. Mitchells.
Effective Aug. 3, the property is owned by
Weisenberg Theatres. Joseph will leave Dallas
on Aug. 23 for Las Vegas where he is to close
another leasing deal.
Bennie Lynch of Grimes Film Booking is
now handling Audubon Pictures' new release
"P.Talk," a soft "X" that is doing good
business. She also reports that "When the
Screaming Stops" did $1,400 in a midnight
show last week at the Shreve City Cinema,
Shreveport, La.
United Artists Corp. screened "Apocalypse
Now," starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen
and Robert Duvall, Aug. 6 at the Plitt screen
ing room.
Carolyn Whaley is the new employee in the
publicity department at Texas Cinema Corp.
Amos Fishback, southwestern general
manager of Special Event Entertainment,
opened their Dallas exchange Aug. I and
spent the week setting up a new office com
plete with new furniture.
the technique is outstanding, but it's difficult
to care as deeply about the matured characters
who romp through the rather pointless up
date." He called the acting tops throughout
but said he missed the free wheeling flavor and
spirit of the original
KANSAS CITY
Warner Bros, tradescreened the "Great
Santini," starring Robert Duvall, Blythe Dan
ner and Sam Shaw, at the Commonwealth
screening room Aug. 9. American Interna
lional tradescreened "Jaguar Lives" Aug. 1
4 at
Commonwealth.
"North Dallas Forty" and "More
American Graffiti." are playing to excellent
crowds. "Concorde— Airport 79," a sky
adventure, is another recent opener here.
Valeta McGhee of Commonwealth
Cooperative Advertising Department is leaving
to join Associated Film Distribution.
Bud LaMaster, advertising department of
American Multi Cinema, was in the hospital
the week of Aug. 6 for surgery. He returned to
work Aug. 1 3 after several days recuperating
at home, and we hope he is feeling better.
The Texas Cinema Corp. has sold the
Bruton IV Theatre, Dallas, to CJH Theatres
Inc. Joy Houck of New Orleans is president of
the corporation.
Texas Cinema Corp. will continue to do the
buying and booking for this new corporation.
CJH Theatre Inc. will do its own account
ing and paying of all bills from offices in the
Bruton Terrace, 451 Bruton Terrace. Dallas,
75227.
MIAMI
Dade County's Council of Arts and
Sciences this week recommended that $25,000
from the tourist resort tax be given to the
Greater Miami International Film Festival.
The grant would go toward paying for theatre
rentals and related expenses.
Mrs. Louise Wolfson, wife of Louis
Wolfson II, one of the officials of Wometco, is
serving her second term as president of the
Council of International Visitors in Miami
NEW ORLEANS
Local actor Matt Borel has the film lead in
"Screams of a Winter's Night," a new lowbudget
horror film that opened at several area
theatres and drive-ins. It is going into national
release after test engagements in several small
Louisiana and Texas towns where grosses
were very good, according to a local represen
tative of the film. The film was shot entirely in
Natchitoches Parish.
Paramount's "Bloodline," starring Audrey
Hepburn, was shown at a Hunger Projects'
Benefit recently at the Sena Mall Theatre.
In his review of "The Muppet Movie,"
Richard Dodds writes, "Not everything in
The Muppet Movie' works, but it's still a happy
feeling that remains when the film is over. The
spirit behind these famous puppets is so infec
tiously good humored that even the occasional
clinker of a joke passes painlessly."
AFD's "Love and Bullets," starring Charles
Bronson, Jill Ireland and Rod Steiger, opened
at the Kenilworlh Cinema. Elmwood Cinema
and Loew's State Triplex Aug. 17.
HOUSTON
The cast and crew of Paramount's "Urban
Cowboy" being filmed at Gilley's Club in
Pasadena, took a one respite because of
illnesses caused by the rains and flooding that
struck Houston. John Travolta, the star of the
movie, said that he was not feeling good in
general. Jim Bridges, the director, had a high
fever and actress Debra Winger was off the set
for four days because of a viral infection.
Benji, with his owner, trainer and producer,
was in the local area to promote "Toys for
Tots." Joe Camp of Mulberry Square Produc
tions Inc., which has headquarters in Dallas,
has made several Benji films. His latest
without Benji is "The Double McGuffin."
Bruce Dern is making his temporary home
here in River Oaks while here filming "Middle
Age Crazy." Dern still keeps up his hobby of
running despite the heat and is out about 4:30
a.m. for a few miles.
"North Dallas Forty," which was partially
filmed with a number of local actors, is being
seen at the Galleria I & II, Gaylynn 2,
Memorial 2, Northoaks, Gulfgate 3 and
Northline 2.
"Star Wars' " super characters David
Prowse, who is seen as Darth Vadar, and
Anthony Daniels, who appears as C3PO, were
visitors in the city with 20th Century Fox's
Pat Dwyer and publicist Molly Smyth.
JACKSONVILLE
"Hot Stuff" opened at Orange Park. Regency,
Royal Palm Northside and Fox Drive In
theatres. Stan Franklin, Times Union staff
writer, said in a review of "Hot Stuff" that it
"may be the funniest picture to come to
Jacksonville this summer." Dom DeLuise,
Jerry Reed, Suzanne Pleshetle, and Luis
Avalon star as detectives who set up a fencing
operation to aid a burglary task force in
Miami. Says Franklin, "The plan the detectives
use to round up the criminals is so funny
it doesn't matter that it's impossible." This film
is Dom DeLuise 's directing debut, and he has
taken advantage of the sight gags he does so
well to make a laugh packed film that is
nothing but good natured entertainment.
"The Concorde—Airport '79" opened at
the Regency. This film was reviewed by Stan
Franklin, also, in the Times-Union: It looks
like this won't be the last one of the series, as
producer Lang said in the interview with
Franklin, "I have a lot of ideas for future Air
ports.' As long as they are successful no one
will je wanting to call it quits."
"North Dallas Forty," starring Nick Nolle
and Mac Davis, opened at the Orange Park
and Expressway Theatres. According to Stan
Franklin, the movie remains close to the book,
written by Peter Gent, and "deals, for the first
time 1 can recall, with the professional football
player as a business commodity . . . It's a fine
film, tough and cynical but at the same time
entertaining, a rare combination." Nick Nolte
plays a wide receiver for the North Dallas
Bulls, and singer Mac Davis is their "wise-old
bird" quarterback. This is Davis' first movie,
and says Franklin, "he looks like a natural."
Also opening were "Dracula," starring
Frank Langella, at the Town & Country and
St. Johns, and "Unidentified Flying Oddball"
at the Plaza. Normandy. Neptune and Blan
ding Drive-In.
Denise Fields of Warner Bros., is on vaca
lion, relaxing at home ihis week. Another
Warner Brothers employee, Bea Barrow, will
be entering the hospital next week for surgery.
BOXOFFICBAUGUST 20, 97S
,
Another promotion will be taking Dor
,
Evans from the local office of United Artist: J'
Pictures as film buyer, to a sales position ir
UA's St. Louis office.
Filmrow was saddened this week lo learn o
the death of Mrs. Annie Capps of Atlanta
mother of Bob Capps, local buyer for AMC
Film Management Inc., who died as a result ol
an automobile pedestrian accident Aug. 3.
Congratulations to newlyweds, Mr. & Mrs
Nick Lewis, who were married in a family
ceremony on Aug. 4. Nick is a local film buyer
for AMC Film Management Inc. and Mrs.
Lewis is the former Marsha Howard.
Randy Renins, Avco Embassy branch
manager, has jusl returned from a business
(rip to Pensacola and a meeting with Sid Pink
at the Florida West Amusements office in
Milton. Fla. This week he is headed to Atlanta
to work with the new branch manager at the
Avco Embassy office there. He reports thai
Avco is looking forward (o (he release in late
February 1 980 of "The Fog," directed by John
Carpenter, who also directed "Halloween." He
also reports that he expects the screening print
to be in soon.
Walter Powell of New World Pictures in
Atlanta was in town this week to visit
(continued on page 1
4-screen complex
now being built
in Richmond, Va.
Construction has begun on a new multi
auditorium theatre complex in Richmond
Va., it was announced by Fred Curdts. via •
president of Fairlane/Litchfield Theatres head
quartered in Easley, S.C.
The complex will contain four theatres will
each theatre offering a different feature attrac
tion. The starting times will be staggered sc
that each feature presentation will start at <
different time.
The auditoriums will feature varying
decors. Specially treated fabrics will cover tht
walls of each unit, which also will includt
plush form-fit chairs for maximum comfon
and a large wall-to-wall screen.
A spacious lobby with a modern concessior
area will adjoin the auditoriums. A centra
projection area will contain individual sounc
and projection systems for each theatre Tht
projection systems will feature the latest ad
vances in motion picture equipment, including
Dolby sound, which will be installed in one oi
more of the auditoriums.
A 24-hour automated information centei
will handle phone inquiries pertaining to tht
films that are playing, showtimes, ratings, etc
The information will be available by calling i
special number that will trigger a recording
containing the relevant information.
The theatre complex will be surrounded by
a large paved and lighted area designed so thai
the entrance to (he theatre will be only a shorl
distance from the patrons' cars.
Fairlane/Litchfield, headed by A. Foster
McKissick, president, and Fred Curdts, vice
president, is a diversified corporation with ac
tivities centered in the Southeast. The theatre
division consists of more than 60 screens
located in the Carolinas. Georgia. Alabama
and Florida.
FLORIDA THEATRE
EQUIPMENT
& SUPPLY CO., INC.
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