Boxoffice-September.03.1979

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spotlight on new england
B> ALLEN M. WIDK.M
Regional Correspondent
In what is a first for [he six state region. In
lersiaie Theatres of New England circuit is ol
feting SO percenl-off coupons through Sept
18. Ads say: 'Buy a ticket at your favorite In
[erstate theatre for any ol our Great Summer
Movies and receive a 50 percent oil coupon
lor our Great hall Attractions It's easj
The Burlington (Vt.l Drive-In, part of the
Merrill G. Jams holdings, had a one night
"Dusk to Dawn" show— a bit rare for that
region of New England—composed of "Ken
lucky fried Movie." "The Groove Tube."
"The C hoirboys" and "Rag Doll."
V\ hile many a drive-in across t he region has
by Richard Ireedman. Newhouse News Sei
vice "At a time when Hollywood seems to
think that all Americans under the age ol 15
are members ol street gangs, it's refreshing to
come across a movie like 'Breaking Away
"North Dallas Forty," another Paramount
release, was called "by far the most thoughtful
and gripping entry in the current rashol sports
movies." hv Richard Ireedman. Newhouse
News Service, in a dispatch to the Springfield
iMass.i Newspapers
In Providence. Michael Janusonis. Journal
Bulletin Newspapers, said "filings aren't
always what thej seem A perfect example is
the film North Dallas Poriv.' which is being
advertised as a rowdy, bawdy story about a
couple of swinging I
players However, this fine film, based on
Peter Gents revealing novel, is much more
Nineteen year old Jimmy Davidson said he
going to name his son frank N. Tuner and
is
then complained about the decreasing
audience quality "I here are no longer any
women in corsets or VW buses lull of people
dressed just like the characters doing bus of
dialogue No one knows how to do the 'Time
Warp' (one ol the film's dance numbers that
the crowd copies in the aislesi very well
around here
Davidson, who has seen the film lb limes,
also expressed ania/emenl at the film's Cincinnati
reception "It s amazing this movie ever
made it between the wall that separates On
cmnaii Irom the rest ol the world Cincinnati's
not friendly to tranvesiites " Another
'
moviegoer, Irevah. said the film was "better
than disco
Writer Irani/ agreed indicating. "It's moreactive
than disco, and at $2 a ticket, more
economical, loo
But getting a ticket is another matter, too. A
sell oul for the midnight showing at the
Skywalk occurs at 9 p.m each dav And it's
BOXOFFICE/SEPTEMBER 3, 1979
cheer provoking movie about growing up on
the wrong side of the tracks." said Doug Smith
of the Courier Express. "Not only does it raise
a lot of common concerns, it provides
responses to a lot
of Ihem and never forgets
Ihat first and foremost a movie should be
entertaining "
Jeff Simon, The News film critic, wrote:
"Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now' is
probably one of the greatest films ever made, a
film as monumental as us ambitions. Unued
Artists is planning to release 'Apocalypse
Now' nationally in October, bul that's a pity.
Ihe film is too great lor the slow release pat
tern thai usually denoles fear of audience
rejection and ihe desperate hope of media
hvpe rescue."
Sidney J. Cohen, president of NATO of
New York State and the Sheridan Drive In
Theatres, is serving on the honorary commit
tee for the 4 1st annual "Pioneer of the Year"
been charging $5 per carload, the Valley
dinner to be held Oct. 29 at the Century Plaza
Drive In. Naugatuck. Conn., went the opposi
been that wav foi almost a year.
Hotel. Los Angeles This year's honors will go
than a drunken revelry
lion one better, charging $4 per carload for a
to Harry G. Pint, president of Pliti Theatres.
double Paramount program composed ol Richard frccdman, Newhouse News Ser
BUFFALO
"Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever." The vice, said: "In a rapidly changing world,
John Dwyer in The News: "The Con
it's
special price was applicable foi "Bargain comforting to know that some things remain Variety Hub Women of Buffalo Teni 7 will corde— Airport '79' exceeds the other three
Nights" (Monda) and ruesday).
the same — like the driveling imbecility ol the
stage a "Variety of fashions Show" Sept. 15 at 'Airport' films in several ways. It's the
'Airport' movies I he latest of these air
noon in the Aud Club of Buffalo Memorial dumbest, the most expensive, and has the sappiest
dialogue and ihe most unbelievable situa
Holdover ads lor Warner Bros.' "A Little borne soap operas is "Concorde— Airport "79.' Auditorium
Romance." at the Sampson & Spodick Lincoln
tions of the lot.
Under rigorous quality control, it is exactly as
And yet there is a lurid
in New Haven, were primed with an illuslra had as us predecessors "
Variety Club Tent 7 of Buffalo will have its fascination in this flying soap opera. It's more
lion ol Laurence Olivier and the words "The For L As "Americalhon," Freedman had annual presentation dinner in the Hotel than two hours long, and I musl confess il
Word Is Getting Out George Ro> Hill's this response:
'Americalhon,' nseli
Statler
is a
on Oct. 14. when representatives of the didn't seem so."
delightful new film is finding its audience. It distinctly none lass act, with all the chaos hui
various children's institutions supported by
took some tune for the public 10 catch up with none ol the freshness we expect ol a movie Variety will be present to receive checks.
the critics who loved it, but it's thai was evidently made upas it plods along " Myron Gross. Jack Chmell and Bill Shields are
happening
assisting chief barker Ed Paniano in Redstones file
Paramount \ "Meatballs"
"Breaking Away" got an all out endorsement
in the New Haven Register. Irom Bob
arrangements
got sound
response Iront film critic Jeffrey Lyons.
Limicke
WFSB-TV. Hartlord: 'Zany. cra/y
'Breaking Away combines the un Jerry Idelstcin is the new chairman ot the $12 million suit
' " pretentious writing
antics I like 'Meatballs Jim Adams.
and consistent acting ol an telethon sieenng committee and Will Mebane
Manchester iN.H.l Union Leader,
'American Graffiti' with the fanciful drive ol a of WKBW TV will be the general telethon
said: "It's
the same idea as Animal House.' onl> a sum "Rocky." Modest and moving. Us golden chairman for 1980
for fire injuries
mer camp is used as the setting and it even
moments occur more often and the final im
pact is
features some of the same
more satisfying . it is a blading good Variety Tent 7 is $500 richer as a result ol
By AVERY MASON
situations
Janice Trecker. West Hartlord News, was
time—sharp and clear, lunny. original, and Dewey Michael Night, held recently
all
at
Speaul Correspondent
supremely
not impressed with the same
executed by a cast ol relative begin Melody Fair, thanks lo Lew and Jeff Fisher.
distributor's
nets."
BOSTON—Sumner G Redstone, operator
"Bloodline." saving. "Like 'The Belsv.'
A general membership meeting of men and ol Redstone Theatres, Northeast Theatre
"Bloodline" is basically a pulp properly in fancy
Warner Bros.'
dress. All the elegance in the world cannot
"The Frisco kid" drew this
women of Tent 7 has been announced for Corp.. who was injured in a fire al the Copley
observation
conceal the shoddy
from Malcolm L Johnson,
construction of the nar
Hart Sept. 10 al 7:30 p.m. in the club rooms. The Pla/a hotel in Boston on March 28. which
lord
rative. nor the emotionless calculation in us
Couranl: "But alas, this movie is not go purpose is to ratify a proposal made by the look two lives, and Ins wife have filed a SI2
use ol sex and violence ."
mg to make it with the public. Noi comic, not crew regarding the capital fund campaign of million damage suit againsi ihe hotel, the John
dramatic, with too little emotion and no nar
Children's Hospital
Hancock Realty Development Corp and
rative drive, it is merely another tailed
Hotels ol Distinction
2IH h- fox's "" Breaking Away" was endorsed Western."
The Holiday Theatres complex in Redstone. 56. is asking S3 million from each
Cheektowaga was robbed of S600 by two ol the three corporations lor a total ol v
Horror' etiquette." I rant/ wrote
young men. one armed with a revolver, on million, and his wile. Phyllis
"It lakes
G Redstone, is
a
CINCINNATI
lot ol preparation, il you want 10 do
Aug. 27.
asking loi SI million Irom
it nghi
each
New films on locals screens include "The and In m with
Redstone charges in his sun
the lolks ai l)i Purler's casilc
that "as a resuli
"'Unidentified Flying Oddball' is a
Seduction of Joe Tynan" at lour Mid States You
much of ihe defendant's
gel dressed foi the occasion— black
negligence ihcl was caused
is
better
cinemas. "Breaking Away" at the two very chic, along Willi glitter, makeup and
young audience movie than Us unsuf lo suiter bums and othci personal injuries."
ferably
Showcase complexes. Star Wars"
cute
on
American title suggests." said Ihe sun stales.
nine sunglasses And. ol course, drag. Last
\s a result ol the injuries
indoor screens and six outdoors, and the weekend llic best COStume was
News
a shoo
movie critic John Dwyer "lis an sustained, Redstone has suffered and will sul
in lor
reissue combo ol "Grease" and "Saturday the guy in the wedding gown "
English made film by Disney vviih [he sunny fer great pain ol body and anguish of mind, his
Night I ever" playing ai three indoor and lour
"Il lakes a lot of participation, loo II von
and precise original title of 'King Arthur and earning capacity has been unpaired lor a long
the
outdoor screens
want to enjoy the film, vou have
Spaceman.' Why they didn'l leave n al period ol nine and Ihel has been obliged lo
lo realize
that is a
thai it isn't going lo conic Irom
question probably hesi answered by expend large sums ol money lot medical care
simply listen
Jim Irani/ of the (. incinn.ui I nquirer mg to the words and songs vou
some witless Hack in the Hollywood studios" and attention."
won't he able
recently penned a lengthy pictorial feature on lo hear hall ol ihem because llic audience has
Redstone was hospitalized ai Boston City
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show." which has
Without explanation, ihe
Us own lines and responses, almosl as
Internal Revenue Hospital and ,ii Massachusetts General
if [ he
been playing lor 411 weeks ai the Skvvvalk. He had
Service
auditioned jusi to see it." Irani/
on Aug. 21 postponed lor up lo 30 Hospital lor several months.
said
began the article by noting a young woman
days an auction of [he Rivoh
He ihen
Theatre. The His wile is asking damages
issued a lisi ol iiems
because "as a
lor potential
who had seen
building
the film three limes However. viewers paper hats lo wear when il lams on
was seized bv the IRS months ago for result ol injuries sustained bj her husband
I rani/ quickly reminded us ihat many the screen because water pistols and
nonpayment of $3,622 in employment taxes, Ishel has been and will be deprived ol liei
spray hoi
Kockv Horror" fans would consider
another lien demands SI6.680 lor city property husbands services, society and comfort,
her a lies permit the "rain" to enter the cinema, rice
"fledgling" because at "three screenings
taxes
you're lor the wedding scene, loasi to loss when and loan from Manufacturers & Traders companionship, relations, affection and
jusl getting started
frank N Purler lilts a glass
Trust
and
Company Meanwhile, movies continue consortium."
a lightei or
Yet in "purple eyeshadow and a motorcycle match lo accompany the song " lo be shown nightly
Ihe lues in ihe Copley Pla/a were
I here's a Light
helmet, she was catching on quickly to Rocky
discovered al 1:03 a
Burning
m \noiher series ol lues
at the Frankenstein Place
Toni DiDoii.u.i ol Buffalo was first runner was discovered at ihe Sheraton Boston, several
up in Transv ue Pictures' nationwide "Summer blocks away al 2:2(> a in
from the marquee to the screen
Affair" talent search to find a singer lo sing Redstone occupied a corner room on the
the theme song of Transv ue's newest release. third floor of the ( opley. near where Boston
DiDonala was the local winner of a contest Fire Commissioner George Paul said "the first
held by radio station WPHDFM and pro and mosl serious lire started." About 1.900
moled by Ld Meade, publicity representative persons fled ihe hotel. 69 were taken lo
for local distributor Frontier Amusement hospitals.
Corp.
I wo persons died after the lire: Roger Hill,
The winner was Deborah Mosley of film distributor, on May 17. and Patricia
W'ZGC FM in Atlanta She was flown to the \lulcahv. April 3. Redstone was reported lo
Burbank Studios in California to record nave bums over St) percent ol his body.
and everything in between
"Don't Wake Me Up Tonight."
The suit was filed
952 Olrowo, N.W
29525 Ford Rood
Grand Rapidi, Michigan 4950} RING&LD
in Middlesex Superior
Court. Julie \ Rodrigues, IS. former huslxiv
Garden City. Mickaja. 411 3J " 'Breaking Away' is a marvelously al both hotels was arrested and charges in
P»o««: (616) 454-U52 Thaatra Equipment Company rkc.t (313) 522-4654
thoughtful, entertaining and. in the long. connection wuh ihe lues