Boxoffice-February.05.1979

"HARPER VALLEY"
TV UMBRELLA^
CAMPAIGNS OPEN
B
FEBRUARY 5, 1979
Week of
\pril25
Dallas
)l

The film caper oTthe year is starting
in NewYorifi and Los Angeles Feb.2...
making stops around the country Feb.9
t fv "^ /' r^6| K^ y ^^
DINODELAURENTIIS presents
A MICHAEL CRICHTON FILM
^~ ^^^3m^/j
starring
SEAN DONALD
CONNERY SUTHERLAND
and
LESLEY-ANNE DOWN
A JOHN FOREMAN PRODUCTION
Screenplay by MICHAEL CRICHTON based on his novel
Music by JERRY GOLDSMITH • Produced by JOHN FOREMAN
Directed by MICHAEL CRICHTON • A Famous Films N.V. Production
PANAVISION*^' TECHNICOLOR® [readth eJantambook ppijo^
I
THE
GREAT
TRAIN
ROBP
PG|PARENIALCUI0ANC[_SUGGESTE0-3S-
P
^United Artists

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of
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ing
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tablished
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ship
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eminent
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;
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advances
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merchandising, cable, video disc and cas-
sette, a sales to and foreign markets, hgve
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achieved
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production
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Commending
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carefully
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sponsible
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termed
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NATO's
I by-state
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bidding;
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court
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partment
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and
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FRIEDBURG TAKES OFFENSIVE
GREGORY TOBIN
By G.
Associate Editor
DALLAS — A. Alan Friedberg. peripa-
Ifetic
president of the National Assn. of Tlieatrc
Owners, spoke to about 500 industry
representatives Jan. 31 at a luncheon gathiering
during TEXPO '79. TEXPO is the
iSouthwest regional convention for motion
exhibitors sponsored by NATO of
Texas. It was held at the Hyatt Regency
Hotel here Jan. 30 through Feb. 1.
Reaction to the lengthy speech, which
covered several aspects of the contemporary
scene from the exhibitor's point of view,
was regarded as favorable. Friedberg modestly
acknowledged that the audience was
"enthusiastically responsive" to his comments.
Words of Praise
.After words of praise for the Texas exhibitors
group, the Boston-based Sack Theatres
president rehearsed what he called the
180 degree turnaround of the film industry
from a buyers' market of the late 1960s and
early '70s when several of the major film
production-distribution companies were losing
money to the sellers' market of today.
The sellers' market, he said, has resulted
from a "triple squeeze: Six companies who
control production in a kind of shared monopoly
cut back on film production from as
many as 500 films a year to as few as a
little over 100. They blind bid almost all
their films, frequently stipulating minimum
guarantees, advances, terms and play-
time all arbitrarily and unilaterally es-
and bearing no necessary relation-
to true value but only to their preposition
of power facilitated by
scarcity. And then along comes Uncle Sam
and says that you can't even try to mitigate
the effects of these twin evils by splitting.
"In the meantime," Friedberg continued,
"the distribution companies, bulging with
j
profits, with financing generated primarily
from internal cash flow, with guarantees and
from exhibitors, with pre or post
sales to television, with ancillary rights in
the enviable goal of making film
frequently, if not uniformly riskfree.
What they have done, simply put, is
to lay off the risk for the most part."
j
the pioneering efforts of
former NATO president Marvin Goldman,
Friedberg outlined NATO's "methodical,
orchestrated, constructive and re-
three-pronged attack" on what he
"the abusive trade practices con-
fronting exhibition."
plan of action includes a state-
legislative effort to eliminate blind
the filing of a test case in federal
in Virginia contesting the Justice De-
ruling against product splitting,
the encouragement of additional film
production "from whatever source, not the
least promising of which are such efforts
as those of United Artists Theatres, which
is considering three or four film projects."
BOXOFTICE :: February 5, 1979
"Exhibitors all over the coiinlry aie
climbing on the (anti-blind bidding) bandwagon,"
he said, as is the local and national
press. "The typical reaction of the legislator
or the man in the street when the blind bidding
process is explained to him is one of
sheer disbelief. To vote against legislation
eliminating blind bidding is getting to be
as unpopular and blasphemous as voting
against God, motherhood, country or apple
pie."
Of MPAA and its allies who have lobbied
extensively against NATO-backed measures
in state legislatures across the nation, Friedberg
said, "We have them on the run and
they are running scared."
He reminded the convention delegates
that NATO's effort does not demand the
passage of blind bidding legislation in all
50 states in order to win. "Somewhere considerably
short of 100 percent penetration,
distribution will have to capitulate," he said.
"We already have 15 percent and that is a
significant piece of distribution's pie. Double
that—30 percent—and you have a very
hefty bite indeed . . . We are much closer
to winning than a mere reading of numbers
out of context would indicate."
Virginia Test Case
In Virginia, NATO has brought a test
case in federal district court seeking a declaratory
judgment with respect to the legality
of non-predatory product splitting. "We
look forward to a trial and adjudication in
the next couple of months," the NATO
chief said.
On the subject of encouraging an increase
in the supply of product, he said NATO
commends Sir Lew Grade's new Associated
General which will distribute ITC product
in the United States and General Cinema
Corp., "for its courage in financing motion
picture production in an attempt to
alleviate the product shortage."
(Continued on page 8)
Tornado Hits Universal
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. — A
small tornado touched down on the
back lot of Universal Studios, according
to Frank Wright, West Coast publicity
manager.
The twister, which struck between
2:30 and 3:00 p.m. Jan. 31, destroyed
three permanent sets. New York Street,
China Street and Circle Drive, Wright
estimated damage at $1 million.
No injuries were reported, and no
crews were filming in the area at the
time. There was no immediate danger
to tourists, since the sets are not part
of the famous Universal Studios four.
Wright said the tornado did not affect
any of the $27 million studio and
office building construction which began
recently in the area.
'Midnight' and 'Heaven'
Golden Globe Leaders
In 36th Annual Awards
By RALPH KAMINSKY
West Coast Editoi
HOLLYWOOD—Columbia Pictures took
home seven and one-half Golden Globes to
monopolize the 36th annual Hollywood Foreign
Press Assn. awards ceremonies Jan. 27
with three other major companies cornering
the remaining prizes.
Casablanca FilmWorks. a relative newcomer,
shared the glory with Columbia,
having produced the night's best picture,
drama, winner, "Midnight Express" which
garnered six Globes, and "Thank God It's
Friday," out of which came the best song,
"Last Dance." words and music by Paul
'Heaven' Gets Three
Paramount's "Heaven Can Wait" accounted
for three Globes, winning as best
comedy or musical picture and giving stars
Warren Beatty the award as best actor in
that category, and Dyan Cannon as best
supporting actress.
Jane Fonda and John Voight gave United
Artists' "Coming Home" two Globes as best
actress and best actor in a drama. Fonda
doubled her honors, winning the nod as
world film favorite, along with John Travolta.
New World Pictures scored in the best
foreign film department with Ingmar Bergman's
"Autumn Sonata" winning.
"Midnight Express" winners were John
Hurt, best actor in a supporting role. Brad
Davis and Irene Miracle, both for best acting
debut, Giorgio Moroder, best original
score, and Oliver Stone, best screenplay.
Cimino Best Director
Universal Pictures got into the scoring
column with Michael Cimino, winner as the
best director for his work on "The Deer
Hunter." Universal and Columbia split a
Globe with a tie verdict for best actress in
a comedy or musical with Ellen Burstyn in
Universal's "Same Time, Next Year," and
Maggie Smith in Columbia's "California
Suite."
Chevy Chase as master of ceremonies for
the awards show in the Beverly Hilton Hotel,
took advantage of the fact that for the
first time in three years the proceedings
were not televised. His commentary during
the night ranged from the dignified to the
use of some one-syllable words that would
have required a bleeper if TV cameras were
operating.
Fonda, the only double winner, observed,
"I guess I'm back. But so is Ni.xon—only
I'm getting paid and he is not." Praising
everyone connected with "Coming Home"
she declared "I loved playing that woman.
She doesn't get a chance to be seen on the
screen very much."
(Continued on page 8)

:
'
Wilson,
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Published in Nine Sectional Editions
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Publisher
JOHN F. BERRY
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RON SCHAUMBURG Associate Editor
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RALPH KAMINSKY West Coast Editor
JOHN COCCHI East Coast Editor
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OBI,
FEBRUARY
Vol. 114
1979
No. 18
THE
Me Tuue e^ ine /y/&&en.
THE KERKORIAN CASE
SALE of two million shares of
Columbia Pictures stock to financier
Kirk Kerkorian, who already owns
47 percent of MGM, has triggered shock
waves of response throughout the industry.
The Justice Department acted to
block the move, fearful of an antitrust
violation, and NATO issued a resolution
against the sale, concerned that it will
lessen competition in a market already
wincing from a shortage of supply. The
purchase is now history, but its repercussions
will be felt for some time to come.
Kerkorian's move reminds some industry
veterans of those dark days before
the Paramount decree, when the court
ordered a breakup of the vertically integrated
companies. Back then it was common
for a film company to make its own
movie, release it through its own channels,
and show it on its own screens,
pocketing all of the profit and creating
a deadlock on competition.
NATO's resolution on the issue states
that the stock purchase is "contrary to
the public policy favoring competition
embodied in the antitrust laws and is
likely to reduce the already diminished
state of competition in motion picture
production and distribution."
On the other hand, Stephen Silbert,
Kerkorian's lawyer, stressed last week
that the purchase was a friendly one and
that Kerkorian has no plans to influence
pohcy at Columbia.
Skeptics may scoff at this declaration
of innocence, believing that a man who
invests over $48 million in a company
will have a decided interest in how well
that company operates. But so far the
evidence seems to indicate that no disaster
is imminent.
For one thing, Columbia refused to
support a similar offer from Bostonbased
General Cinema Corp., the nation's
largest theatre circuit. Their thinking
was clear: A GCC purchase would be a
step toward vertical integration, a move
the Justice Department would not look
favorably on. Rather than embroil themselves
in costly, drawn-out litigation,
Columbia refused the offer. Apparently
the Kerkorian buy is much less of a
threat, or it too would have been refused.
Another reassuring factor is a bylaw
in the rules governing the MGM board
of directors which prevents major stockholders
in other companies from retaining
their seats on the board. According
to Silbert, Kerkorian was "well aware"
of the bylaw and completed the purchase
fully realizing that he would lose his
vote with Leo the Lion. Silbert also stated
that the financier would not seek a seat
on the Columbia board.
As of last week the Justice Department
T^ctCiAe ynclui\
had taken no steps to divest Kerkor;n
of his holdings, even though such a p^
cedure could take as long as three yea
There seems to be no panic among If
government's trustbusters — yet, anyw?
Alan Friedberg, NATO presidet
stated recently that "nothing's changi'
in regard to the organization's posit:r
on the matter, observing that theai
owners will suffer through a decrease t
competition and a further shortage*
product.
:
Now that all the dust has settled, so i
things are clear: If Kerkorian intends
dominate two studios, he has lost soi
ground by knowingly ceding his seat i
MGM's board. Columbia is leery of i
antitrust violation, and proved its cii
cern by blocking the GCC move. It ai
limited Kerkorian by contract to a toi
holding of 25.5 percent of its stock-;
considerable amount, to be sure, but v
1'
necessarily a controlling one. And
Justice Department has hardly taken
|
the banner in a crusade against a m
nopoly-maker.
The trend toward incorporation I.
produced huge multinational companii
The more centralized these become, 1
less attention they pay to the needs
the individuals they serve. Such a decl:
is to be deplored; all that can reasonal;
be hoped is that with each successive
nancial takeover there is a parallel
commitment to increase service in p
portion to profit.
NATO's current "we'll sit and see" p
icy is the best one to adopt, under t
circumstances. There is no immedi;
threat, apparently, that either MGM
Columbia will cut back production 1
cause of the stock sale. The fact that t
studio has promised 20 pictures this ye
compared with 12 in 1978, alone gi'
reason to hope. On the other hand, thi
is no indication that things necessar
will improve because of it—the prodi
tion schedule was determined before K
korian made his move. But Columbia P
tures must have been a sound inve
ment; why else would a man pour o^
$48 million into it? Perhaps that in
self is cause for optimism.
It's too early yet to tell what will hi
pen, but the Justice Department's
volvement, coupled with Columbia's c
self-regulation and NATO's vital inter
in the matter, will create an atmosphi
of caution. The presence of these ma
watchful eyes means we can be assui
that nothing will change without thea
owners knowing about it and respond!
vigorously and with a strong comn
ment toward making their positi
heard.
We can only sit—and see.

'-
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(rom a Caribbci"n'\.'aT,r
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surprisingly emotional
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BOXOFFICE SPOTLIGHT
Sean Connery, Lesley-Anne Down Are Likely to Strike
Gold With United Artists' 'The Great Train Robbery
By RALPH KAMINSKY
West Coast Editor
HOLLYWOOD — United Artists began
pulling out all stops last weekend in its campaign
to promote the Dino De Laurentiis
presentation of "The Great Train Robbery,"
a John Foreman production that seems destined
to have a widespread appeal and is
certain to be an early leader in
the boxoffice
race.
The film, completed at just under $8
million, stars Sean Connery as a gentleman
thief who pulls off the first train robbery
In history—an exploit based on a real life,
fantastic heist in 1855 of a shipment of gold
to pay British troops fighting the Crimean
War.
UA opened the film In Los Angeles and
New York City Feb. 2 and within a week
plans to spread 350 prints nationwide in a
widespread release. Simultaneously with the
openings. UA sponsored a nationwide press
junket In New Orleans where media representatives
saw a screening of the film and
were able to interview two of the top stars
and the principal driving forces being the
making of the picture.
Connery Heads Contingent
Connery, coming from England for the
exploitation campaign, headed the UA contingent.
For him the New Orleans session
was a continuation of his appearances for
the picture. He already had gone to work
in New York, appearing on the Today
Show and other traditional media appearances.
The strikingly beautiful Lesley-Anne
Down, who plays Connery's mistress, already
had taped the Good Morning America
Show and is scheduled for appearances in
Boston and Toronto, among other cities.
Rounding out the contingent were producer
Foreman and Michael Crichton who
directed his own screenplay based on his
novel, a period thriller, "The Great Train
Robbery." Crichton says he wrote the novel
somewhat as a reaction to all of the sciencefiction
writing he had been doing. He
penned "The Andromeda Strain," "The Terminal
Man" and was writer and director
of "Westworld" and "Coma."
After "Westworld," Crichton says, he
plunged into extensive reading far from the
science-fiction field and in time came across
an account of the 1855 train robbery in
England. His novel became a period story,
rich in details of the Victorian age and dealing
with the fascination that people have
for trains— a mode of transportation that
was only 30 years old at the time of the
historic
heist.
the idea of robbing the train when he hears
Malcolm Terns, a pompous bank manager
In charge of the shipment, boast about
the intricate security measures taken to protect
the gold shipment.
Four keys used to lock the safe in those
days before combination locks become the
focal point of the adventure. Connery enlists
Donald Sutherland in a marvelous role
as a superior locksmith who cracks his
knuckles in delight as each new adventure
shapes up to obtain copies of the keys.
Down As the Mistress
Miss Ek)wn, who became familiar to
American audiences in the "Upstairs,
Downstairs" TV series, is deep into the
conspiracy as Connery's mistress, asssuming
four different roles to help the plot thicken.
Connery and Sutherland go after the keys
in three episodes that could stand by themselves
as short stories. In one, they sneak
into the home of banker Alan Webb, right
under the eyes of his wife and daughter to
filch a key hidden in the wine cellar. Aiding
and abetting is a disguised Miss Down luring
the butler away from the door to make
it all possible.
The last half-hour of the film takes place
on the train, with Connery doing his own
stunt work which requires him to crawl on
top of four cars as his train speeds through
the countryside. He ducks under low
bridges that nearly scrape him off the car
tops and climbs into the baggage car holding
the safe. It's a spectacular sequence,
loaded with suspense as Connery slips and
slides over the car tops back to his compartment
after the gold is successfully dropped
off to a henchman.
Then, with success seemingly assured,
Connery is arrested by a detective who has
been trailing him. He stands trial In a
jammed courtroom which goes wild with
laughter when he comments with wide-eyed
innocence that "I wanted the money" when
a pompous judge demands to have an explanation
of the
crime.
The film is dedicated to British cinematographer
Geoffrey Unsworth who died
shortly after making the picture. The picture
was shot entirely on locations in Ireland
where Unsworth used to great advantage
the Georgian brick of the cities and the
spectacularly green countryside.
CAST
Sean Connery
Donald Sutherland
Lesley-Anne Down
CREDITS
Produced by John Foreman
Directed by Michael Crichton
Released through United Artists
1
The Debonair I hief
Connery, a suave debonair thief with
knowing gleam in his eye and a cynical
a
til. to his eyebrow, becomes intrigued with
l'l(ip) Mii.Uciniind (iiiiiiiuil (
C'liiiin'iy cdiKudis Willi lunchni
February 5, 1979

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i
I
'
Friedberg Addresses
Dallas TEXPO Confab
(Continued from page 3)
Also. Friedberg attached the per capita
clause calling it "nothing more or less than
a transparent attempt by distribution to fix
the admission prices to be charged by exhibition.'"
"Pursuant to this view of the per capita
clause as incorporated in Buena Vista license
agreements and. most recently. Warner Bros,
license agreements for "Superman.' the executive
committee of NATO has directed me
to present a resolution to the board of directors
meeting in Scottsdale for its mid-winter
board meeting vigorously opposing and
condemning the insertion of per capita
clauses in film license agreement." he said.
Two other issues which he touched upon
were the Kirk Kerkorian tender offer for
Columbia pictures stock and the NATO
Audience Awards show. There are no new
developments in the former matter, but he
announced that Piere Cassette has been
signed to produce the network television
awards show. "The ballots (for the awards),
like All-star baseball ballots, (will be) distributed
in participating NATO theatres,
with the awards to be made in the course
of a professionally produced two-hour show,
to be aired sometime between the end of
September and February."
Friedberg then addressed himself, in turn,
to distributors and to exhibitors "At the
risk of being naive." he said, "I believe that
there are statesmen in our industry on both
sides of the table who can reason together
and arrive at mutually satisfactory solutions
to the problems which separate us, men who
can understand and appreciate the problems
and legitimate aspirations of their counterparts
... I am ready to talk, offering the
carrot, and to flight, using the stick. I seek
only what its fair and equitable."
Throughout his speech, the veteran exhibitor
took a tough but conciliatory tone.
Afterwards, he told Boxoffice, "This
speech is basically the same one I have been
giving to groups all over the country. I
speak whenever I can to whomever can get
results, even at the risk of alienating some
in exhibition. But I believe you've got to
give something to receive something."
Motion Picture Marketing
Signs Six Subdistributors
MARINA DEL REY, CALIF.—John L.
Chambliss. president and general sales manager
of Motion Picture Marketing, announced
today that the feature film distribution
company has contracted with subdistributors
in six major territories.
Selected Pictures will represent MPM in
the Cleveland and Pittsburgh territories. In
the Los Angeles exchange. Far West Films
will sub-distribute for MPM. .Southern Film
Distributing will handle the MPM product
slate in Memphis and New Orleans, while
Midwest Entertainment will represent MPM
in the Minneapolis exchange. In Boston and
New Haven MPM will be represented by
Gordon Films, while Clark Film Releasing
will sub-distribute in the Atlanta and Jacksonville
exchanges.
MPM's five picture slate for 1979 includes
"Forbidden Dreams," "Cemetery
Girls," "Sex Education," "Centerfold
Spread"" and "Night Coach Swingers."
Columbia, Casablanca
Share In Globe Glory
(Continued from page 3)
Of her world film favorite designation she
declared: "I'm proud. Very proud.
never thought of myself as No.
I've
1—when
you do you stop being brave."
Travolta, accepting his Globe from Fred
Astaire, turned modest, asserting "In your
wildest dreams did you ever think you'd
grow up and get an award from Fred
Astaire."
Astaire and Fonda were the first to stop
the show with standing ovations. Lucille
Ball, getting the Cecil B. DeMille award
and Gregory Peck who made the presentation,
also stopped the show, as did Henry
Fonda when he announced the best picture
award.
The biggest laugh of the evening came
during the presentations of television honors
when CBS-TV was awarded the best drama
Globe for its "60 Minutes." a news-magazine
show which seemed to be misplaced in
the best fiction drama category. Chevy
Chase accepted the award for CBS which
earlier had announced it rejected the nomination
and would shun the honor if it were
offered.
Others among the presenters were Richard
Harris and Ann Turkel. Dyan Cannon,
Franco Zeffirelli, Milos Forman, Carol
Burnett, Timothy Bottom, Sylvia Kristel,
Keir Dullea, Leslie Ann Warren, Perry
King. Linda Purl, Anthony Hopkins and
Jean Stapleton.
Performers singing the nominated songs
were Frankie Valli, Donna Summer, Jane
Oliver, Lisa Hartman and Jonelle Allen.
Top Film Companies
Sponsoring ShoWesT
LOS ANGELES—A blue-ribbon roster
of film companies is providing principal
sponsorships for ShoWesT '79. which convenes
Feb. 20-22 at the MGM Grand
Hotel, Las Vegas, with a record registration
of exhibitors and members of allied businesses.
Confirmed to date by ShoWesT general
chairman Robert W. Selig are American International,
Columbia, Crown International,
Paramount, United Artists and Universal.
American International and Columbia
will host 8 a.m. sit-down breakfast business
sessions on successive days, with top executives
from each company spearheading their
respective product presentations. AI on
Feb. 21 and Columbia on Feb. 22.
Universal and Paramount will sponsor
noontime luncheon programs on successive
days, with top echelon representation from
distribution and publicity-advertising. East
and West, for their separate affairs—Universal
on Feb. 21, Paramount on Feb. 22.
United Artists will host an evening cocktail
reception Feb. 21. Crown, celebrating
the 20th anniversary of its founding by
Newton (Tied) Jacobs, will host a reception
the next day where Jacobs will be specially
honored.
The convention finale Thursday night,
Feb, 22 will be ShoWesT's dinner gala entitled
"The Lion Roars Again." honoring
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 55 years of industry
achievements.
Merchandising Firm
Battles With Piracy
AMSTERDAM. THE NETHERLANDS
—Factors Etc., Inc., on behalf of itself, Box
Car Enterprises, Inc. and Paramount Pictures
Corp., has been granted an injunction
in the Court of Almelo, Dutch equivalent
of the U.S. District Court, against the merchandising
companies of B. V. Enschede
and H. De I^oper B. V. Zwaanshoek for
infringement of the Elvis Presley and "Saturday
Night Fever" licenses. The court
ruling is the first of its type in this country.
In the landmark decision, decided in a
president's judgment Dec. 29. 1978. the
court established in both cases an impor-
tant precedent, which is likely to be followed
in France and West Germany. This
decision insures that an artist or deceased
|
artist, through his personal representatives
or licensees, has the right to protect his
name and likeness.
Court Upholds Licenses
Factors Etc., Inc., one of the world's largest
mass merchandisers of celebrity products,
was awarded a similar judgment in the
United States by the U.S. District Court for
the Southern District to New York Oct. 12.
1977. in the case of Factors Etc., Inc. vs.
the Creative Card Company, when the court
prohibited Creative Card from . . . "manufacturing,
distributing or profiting from
souvenir merchandise bearing the name or
likeness of the late Elvis Presley." i
In its ruling, the Dutch court upheld
|
Factors' international licenses and rights to
utilize the name and likeness of the late I
singer and of "Saturday Night Fever." thus
prohibiting two of Holland's mass merchan-
dising companies from illegally selling mer-
\
chandise such as pictures, button badges
and posters.
Factors Etc.. Inc. has maintained a vigilant
enforcement network around the world,
filing suit immediately against any infringers
of properties owned by Factors. "We
spare no expense," Factors' President Lee
Geissler says, "if someone tries to use any
property that belongs to our company without
our permission."
One of the keys to Factors' international
merchandising efforts, according to Geissler,
is to develop respect within the industry for
properties which his company owns by discouraging
piracy.
February 5. 1979

fOR THE
RECORD
QLary Shapiro has been named to the new
position ot Columbia Pictures director
of promotional activities and field opciations,
reporting directly to Robert Cort.
vice-president and general manager of advertising,
publicity and promotion.
Randy Wicks has been appointed advertising
manager for Columbia Pictures, and
will act as coordinator for all advertising
campaigns and special projects.
Rafael de la Sierra has been elected a
vice-president of Warner Communications,
Inc., responsible for the planning and construction
of all new facilities for the company
and its divisions.
Jonathan L. Dolgen has been appointed
vice-president in charge of worldwide business
affairs for Columbia Pictures.
Dolgen
Burlage
Roger Burlage has been promoted to
Avco Embassy vice-president and will continue
to fulfill his duties as treasurer.
Avrumie Schnitzer has been promoted to
head film buyer for the Southwest division
of United Artists Theatre Circuit, handling
the Southern California, San Diego and
Phoenix areas.
Beranrd Korban has been promoted to
vice-president of West Coast advertising
for United Artists.
Bill Werneth has been named United
Artists' vice-president of West Coast publicity.
Warren Lieberfarb has joined Lorimar
Productions as vice-president. He will be
involved primarily in the feature film area
and East Coast production activities.
Shonfeld
Lieberfarb
Phil Shonfeld, assistant to the vice-president
and general sales manager at Warner
Bros., has been promoted to vice-president
of sales administration.
Gary J. Bordzuk has been named manager
of advertising and promotion for
United World's nontheatrical division.
Fred Nakamura was elected to the board
of directors of Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd.,
Tokyo. Nakamura is executive vice-president
and chief executive officer of Fuji
Photo Film USA.
Martin D. Payson has been elected senior
vice-president and general counsel of Warner
Communications, Inc. Payson was formerly
vice-president and general counsel.
Editor's note: Once again, gremlins have
crept into the magazine. The captions under
the photos of Frank Rutkowski and Troy
Bailey were inadvertently reversed in last
week's column. We apologize, yet again,
for any confusion.
Titles & Takes
"Autumn Sonata" (New World) has earned
more than $2.5 million since its limited
release. In 14 weeks at the Baronet in New
York City, the picture earned $393,411.
In 13 weeks at the Fine Arts in Los Angeles
the total was $153,315, and the Surf
in San Francisco took in $115,877 in 12
weeks. Other action: Ritz, Philadelphia, 12
weeks, $77,655; The Act, Berkeley, Calif.,
eight weeks, $55,733; the Biograph, Chicago,
$54,621; the Seven Gables, Seattle,
four weeks, $43,888, and the Fine Arts,
Palo Alto, Calif., eight weeks, $41,110.
Despite winter storms, "Ice Castles" (Col)
racked up $81,518 in 14 theatres over the
Jan. 19-21 weekend.
Bertrand Blier's "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs"
grossed $47,193 in its fourth week
at New York's Parts Theatre, topping the
fourth week figure set at the same house
by the popular "Cousin Cousine." The film
has grossed a total of $160,870 in its first
four weeks at the 568-seat theatre.
"Nosferatu, the Vampyre," a film by
Werner Herzog, grossed $320,000 in its
first week in 17 houses in Paris. The film
is being released worldwide by 20th Century-Fox
(with the exception of France
and Belgium).
RGV Films' feature "She Came to the
Valley" grossed $115,478 in eleven theatres
in its first week, playing in the Rio
Grande Valley area.
"The Innocent," a film by Luchino Visconti,
broke three-day records at the UA
Gemini 2 Theatre in New York with a
take of $33,458 in its second week. The
first week gross of $60,110 also set a
house record.
Screenwofld co?porafiSn
THE LEADING WORLDWIDE EXPORTER OF EROTIC FILMS
: This Main
; Course is
I Finger Lickin
: Greatl
^.,«„o««;»_E»»u-^
SCREENWORLD International Corporation
P.O. Box 69414, L.A. Calif. 90069 U.S.A.,
Tel: (213) 659-9230/659-3384
Cables: "SCREENIT"
Telex: 696294 SCREENIT LSA
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979

Nominating for Oscars Under Way LETTERS
HOLLYWOOD—The nominating process
lor I97S Oscar awards got under way Jan.
23 with the mailing of out-of-state ballots
to members of the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences. Ballots to California
residents went out Jan. 29.
The voters will select no more than five
achievements for nomination in each of
18 categories: best picture; best directing;
best art direction; best costume design; best
film editing: best original song; best original
score: best original song score and its
adaptation or best adaptation score; best
screenplay written directly for the screen;
best screenplay based on material from another
medium; best performance by an actor
and actress in a leading role, and best performance
by an actor or actress in a supporting
role; best cinematography; best
sound, and best short films, animated and
live action.
SEE Network's Firsi
Feature Is Released
HOLLYWOOD — 'Richard Pryor Live in
Concert," a videotaped version of the
comedian's stage act made during his nationwide
tour, will kick off the series of presentations
on the nation's screens by Bill
Sargent's SEE Theatre Network.
The Pryor show will be screened beginning
Feb. 2 in 60 markets nationwide,
Sargent said, with the Plitt Theatre circuit
showing the screen version in 100 of its
theatres in 50 markets. In Los Angeles the
film will be shown at Plitt's Century Plaza
Theatre and a house still to be selected on
Hollywood Boulevard.
The releasing pattern will have the film
screening in two theatres in each market at
the outset, later opening in multiple houses
across the country, Sargent said. In other
cities the Pryor feature is booked at the
Esquire in Dallas; the St. Francis in San
Francisco; the Roosevelt in Chicago, and
Inflight Programing Dept.
Restructuring Completed
NEW YORK—Inflight Services, the largest
supplier of airborne entertainment for
airlines, has completed a major expansion
and reorganization of its programing department,
according to Donald Havens, president
and chief executive officer.
In making the announcement. Havens
said that the department, headed by John
G. McMahon, executive director of pro-
10
Polls for nominations in these 18
categories close Feb. 9. Nominations for the
51st Annual Academy Awards will be announced
Tuesday, Feb. 20.
Ballots go only to the members of the
branch involved. For example, those for
the four acting categories go to the actors
branch members while those for the three
music categories go to members of the music
branch. All 3.529 voting members of
the Academy nominate films for the best
picture of the year award, and vote the
awards themselves in all categories in the
final balloting.
Total number of categories in the Oscar
balloting is 22, with the nominations in the
other four—documentary, features, documentary
short subjects, foreign-language
film and visual effects—made by committees.
graming, has been structured to meet the
changing marketing requirements of airlines
to prepare for the introduction of widescreen
video systems as an alternative to
film. All promotions have been made from
within the company, Havens added, pointing
out that the department now numbers
14 people, including film operations and
logistics.
ShoWesT Will Feature
Discussion ol Pay TV
LOS ANGELES—The competitive impact
of first-run motion pictures on pay
television will be one of the major topics
for discussion during ShoWesT '79, which
opens to a record registration of the nation's
exhibitors Feb. 20 at the MGM
Grand Hotel,
Las Vegas.
General chairman Robert W. Selig has
listed it in the program under the title
"Can We Meet the Threat of Pay TV—
As it Moves into Theatre First Runs?"
ald Phillips, New York, vice-president.
United Artists Pictures Pay TV, and Jeffrey
Rciss, New York, president of Showtime.
Moderator for the discussion will be
ShoWesT program chairman Bruce C. Corwin
of Los Angeles, president of the Metropolitan
Theatres circuit of Southern California
and president elect of Theatre Assn.
of California.
To the
Editors:
Just a note of praise for your article entitled
"Exhibition and Distribution Speak
Out on Blind Bidding" in the Jan. 15 edition
of BoxoFFiCE. It was in my opinion
one of the most informative, well-written
and worthwhile to date.
Of particular interest to me was the brief
history of the industry.
Again, thank you for an excellent article.
JIM FLORENCE
Mescop, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wis.
To the Editors:
As a lifelong film enthusiast and longtime
subscriber to Boxoffice, I must take
exception to the story on page 10 of the
Jan. 22 issue reporting "Take Down" to be
the initial non-Disney Buena Vista release
and the first to carry a rating other than G.
Among Buena Vista's 1958 releases were
the following: C.V. Whitney's "The Missouri
Traveler." starring Lee Marvin and
the late Brandon deWilde; "The Young
Land," with Pat Wayne; "The Story of
Vickie," an Ernst Marischka production
starring Romy Schneider, and, lastly, the
Henry Fonda-Susan Strasberg starrer,
"Stage Struck," which, if I recall correctly,
was one of, if not the last film produced by
RKO Radio.
Of course, all of the aforementioned
films were released before the current fihn
rating system was conceived. However, at
least in the case of "Stage Struck," the then
Catholic Legion of Decency awarded it a
B rating which, I daresay, was a "first" for
BV. Today, I'm certain it would be rated
A3 by NCOMP and PG by MPAA.
JAMES F. FOSTER
Minneapolis, Minn.
(Editor's note: See Ralph Kaminsky's
story, "Buena Vista's 'Take Down' Signals
Expansion of Distribution Policy," on page
7 of the Jan. 29 issue.)
Lorimar Productions Set
To Move to MGM Studios
the Palm in Detroit.
It will bring to the convention platform
In addition, Sargent said, his SEE Theatre
Network already has two other live
a select group of the nation's leading pay
performances completed. One is "Sammy TV proponents, led by Marc Nathanson of BURBANK — Lorimar Producions will
Los Angeles, president of Falcon Communications
and a former Teleprompter tion picture and TV operations at Metro-
establish permanent headquarters for its mo-
Stops the World," a filming of the stage
show starring Sammy Davis Jr. and Marian
Mercer, and "Ballet Gayne," the Aram
Corp. vice-president. With him to discuss Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, it was announced
pay TV's point of view will be Alan T. jointly by Frank E. Rosenfelt, MGM president
and chief executive officer; Merv Adel-
Khachaturian ballet filmed in Riga, Latvia.
Gilliand of San Jose, Ca., president of Gil
Sargent's system, he said, is to film a
Cable; Robert Johnson. Washington, D.C.. son, Lorimar chairman of the board, and
show during its stage performance, "curtain
director, pay television, the National Cable Lee Rich, Lorimar president. The move will
to curtain." Ticket prices he said, will be
Assn.; Jerry Levin, New York, chairman begin immediately and is expected to be
$4.50.
and chief executive officer of Home Box completed prior to May 1.
Office; David Lewine. Costa Mesa, Calif., Lorimar is one of the largest suppliers of
vice-president, TM Communications; Ger-
prime-time TV programs, with five and onehalf
hours of network shows, as well as
producing numerous miniseries and "Movies
of the Week," and six theatrical films during
1978.
The Lorimar move is being effected in
stages to allow for the clearing of space at
the MGM Studios, now operating at virtual
capacity with its own theatrical productions.
Lorimar will utilize MGM's production and
post-production facilities.
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979

THE PROMOTION AND MERCHANDISING
Send news of adyertising campaigns and publicity to STU GOLDSTEIN, MERCHANDISING EDITOR
Rick Easter, of Plitt Theatres' publicity department, sits atop the Articat Snov
mobile before it was given away at the climax of the "Ice Castle.':" promotion.
Salt Lake City Exploits Ice Castles'
With Personal Appearance of Star
A world premiere, preceded by a personal
appearance tour by star Lynn-Holly
Johnson combined with multiple tie-ins
to promote "Ice Castles" recently in Salt
Lake City. The result: "Ice Castles" registered
as one of the five top-grossing pictures
of the period ending Jan. 1
To help generate word-of-mouth excitement,
local stores and groups were contacted
to create tie-ins. Among the tie-ins,
Snelgrove Ice Cream Co. created an "Ice
Castles sundae" especially for the occasion.
A special Ice Castles Night was held by the
Salt Lake Golden Eagles Hockey Club to
further the publicity. But nothing could top
the publicity achieved when Salt Lake City
Mayor Ted Wilson designated the day of
the premiere as "Ice Castles Day" in Salt
Lake.
interviews. Taping also look place at
KUED-TV, Utah's major educational TV
station.
"Ice Castles Night" at the Golden Eagles
Hockey Game added yet another dimension
to the campaign. Special ads were run in
newspapers and on radio promoting the evening.
Prior to that, coupons had been distributed
which offered discounts on seats.
The coupons, offered from the ice cream
store, in turn entitled the ticket buyers to
discounts on the "Ice Castles sundaes."
Radio station KRSP was host for the
world premiere, giving out tickets, as well
as "Ice Castles" T-shirts, hockey game
tickets and "Ice Castles sundaes." Several
newspaper articles generated additional interest.
Members of the Utah Figure Skating
Club, plus other figure skating enthusiasts
throughout Salt Lake Valley, had become
aware of the picture and provided
word-of-mouth publicity.
the world premiere in a drawing held by
KRSP. Mayor Ted Wilson drew the winning
number and made the announcement
to the capacity crowd. All of these promo-
Star Lynn-Holly Johnson toured the city
Topping off the promotion, an Articat
in the midst of a snowstorm to do so some
snowmobile was given away at the night of
personal promoting. Accompanied by Stan
White of Columbia Pictures and Rick Easmnc
ter of Plitt Theatres, she visited with the
"r Mayor and received a copy of the proclamation
marking "Ice Castles Day." Johnson
toured radio station KRSP for several taped tional techniques, including a special screening
and press conference for high school
journalists, added up to an effective series
of merchandising tactics.
GUIDE
'Wiz' Screening Conquers
Language Barrier. Too
How do you conquer a language problem
between Canadians and Russians? Why,
show 'em "The Wiz," of course. That's the
way Allen Robinson of the Garrick Cinema
1 & 2 solved the problem he faced when the
Moscow Dynamos were scheduled to play
the Winnipeg Jets in hockey.
Robinson, along with Gary Clark of the
World Hockey Assn., arranged for the Dynamos
to attend "The Wiz," playing at the
Garrick I for New Years Eve. Both men
agreed that of all pictures currently in release.
"The Wiz" was the best choice for
the Moscow team to view since it was a
musical.
Seating was arranged so the players who
could speak English plus interpreters were
dispersed among the team to explain the
story line. With the team attired in typical
Russian fur hats, the event created quite a
stir among passers-by and patrons waiting
for the next show. The Dynamos gave full
cooperation with regard to signing autographs
and comments received from the
team on "The Wiz" were excellent.
Champagne & 'Suite'
Manager Philip Hacker of the Sherwood
Theatre in Stockton, Calif., staged a champagne
benefit premiere for "California
Suite." Sponsored by the Stockton Lions
Club, with proceeds going to the Stockton's
Children's Home, the theatre sold tickets
to the Lions at a theatre rental rate. The
Lion's Club, in turn, sold the tickets for
$7.50 each. After expenses, the Children's
Home was given $1,000.
To help promote the benefit, tickets were
sold at Miracle Music, March's Liquors and
Robbins Realtors. Each of the businesses
had a display that included one-sheets, stills
and a sign explaining details of the benefit.
Newspapers and radio stations also gave
full cooperation. The Stockton Record ran a
service announcement as did the SJ Week
and the Stockton News, all at no cost to the
theatre. Local radio stations ran community
service announcements giving details of the
benefit. In addition, Big Valley Cable TV
ran a series of service spots, again, at no
cost to the Sherwood.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Feb. 5, 1979

ceNa
Columbia Promotion
Is Too Successful
Cadwallader University does not exist!
The first great hoax of 1979 was uncovered
concerning the mythical Cadwallader as
.
part of a promotion for Columbia Pictures'^"'°
upcoming comedy release. "Fast Break,""'
starring Gabriel Kaplan.
Deluged by telephone calls to a special
Cadwallader hot line, requests for athletic
scholarships, academic credentials, entrance
applications and accredidation were so overwhelming
that Columbia, in the best interest
of the public, blew the whistle on its own
successful promotion.
Promoting "The Wiz" at the Sena Mall Theatre in New Orleans gave way to a
complete false front being painted on the theatre to attract attention. Additionally,
the lobby was decorated with -Wiz" alburns and huge lion pictures. A yellow
brick road was placed at various businesses in the city, with the person finding
the road receiving two free "Wiz" passes.
Warner Bros. Announces Winners
But It Isn't Real
Supporting the good matured stunt was
a "history of Cadwallader University" brochure,
alumni newsletter and special Cadwallader
stationery. T-shirts with Cadwallader's
Eagle Emblem were designed and
Columbia billed Cadwallader as the place
"where basketball's fast break originated 50
years ago." A press release awarding "honorary
degrees," a long-established practice
followed by many real-life academic institutions,
was issued to the national radio,
TV and press outlets.
Most believed Cadwallader was real—so
much so that Columbia decided to let the
public in on it. Bunkerville, Nevada, where
"Cadwallader" was to have been located, is
little more than a main street in the midst
of the desert. ^^ ,
"Fast Break," a Stephen Friedman/Kings jj,g,
Road Production, will open nationally be- •
ginning Feb. 16. Gabriel "Welcome Back.
kotter" Kaplan stars in the film along with
Harold Sylvester. Randee Heller. Michael
Warren, Marvin Washington and New Jersey
Nets basketball all-star forward, Bernard
King, in his motion picture debut. Jack
Smight directed the comedy feature for Columbia
release.
Lii;e liricn (h-ll). Eastern exploitation managei lot Wainer Bros, and Liz Canna.
promotion director lor Hudson Napkins, pose with some of the thousands of entries
received in a nationwide contest held in connection with "The Swarm." The winners.
Helen Neilson of New York. J. Thomas Wingberger of Baltimore and Frank
J. Pru.n- of Alameda. N.M.. each won a trip to Hollywood for two. Their vi.iits
include the Burbank Studios on the ageiula. where "The Swarm" conducted its
filming.
Tell Us About Your
Best Ad Campaigns
BoxoFFicE wants to know details about
your best advertising campaigns to promote
currently playing pictures. Tell us what
film you promoted and how, including any
media coverage you got as a result of the
promotion. Plenty of copy and photos are
essential to give other exhibitors the exact
story on your promotion strategies. The best
campaigns will be featured in Showmandiser
and all features we run will be candidates
for Showmandiser Citations.
We are also interested in your audience's
reactions to current engagements. Audience
response is vital information to all exhibitors.
What recent bookings have been successful
and not-so-successful? Send news of
your campaigns and audience reactions to
Stu Goldstein, Merchandising Editor, Boxoffice,
825 Van Brunt, Kansas City, Mo.
64124.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser

M ^J^olluwooci r\eport m
f
Escape From Alcatraz, starring Clint
Eastwood, has completed principal photography
at Paramount. Eastwood stars as
Frank Morris, the inmate who masterminded
a 1962 break from the escapeproof
penitentiary. Patrick McGoohan is
second-billed as the warden. Paramount
has returned to the studio following seven
weeks at Alcatraz. The institution, closed
since 196.3. was refurbished for filming at
a cost exceeding $500,000.
Principal photography has been completed
on Stone Cold Dead, Dimension release.
Richard Crenna. Paul Williams. Linda
Sorensen and Belinda Montgomery star.
Filmed by Ko-Zak Productions, producer
is John Ryan and director George Mendeluk.
The feature is slated for release later
this year.
Just Tell Me What You Want, Warner
Bros.' romantic comedy, began principal
photography Jan. 29 in New York. It is
the story of a self-made industrial tycoon
who is in total control of his complex
business life until his mistress of 15 years
abandons him. Ali McGraw and Alan King
star. Sidney Lumet is directing.
Jerome Hellman's production of Promises
in the Dark has completed filming for
Orion. It began lensing in mid-September
on locations in New York, Los Angeles and
at Culver City studios.
William R. Lasky Productions will make
The Man from Taurus, from Scharif
Michael's screenplay about the life of the
Apostle Paul. Lasky will debut as director
on the film.
Tri-Star Productions will begin shooting
in Atlanta on The Prize Fighter, starring
Tim Conway and Don Knotts. Lang Elliot
will produce and Michael Preece will direct.
Edward Pressman will produce The
Great and Near Great for Universal. William
Tepper is writing the script and starring.
Shooting is planned for early next
year in Miami, Las Vegas and the Catskills.
Paramount will film Little Darlings starring
Tatum O'Neal and Kristy McNichol,
making her film debut. Ron Maxwell will
direct the story of two young ladies facing
the problems of growing up. Script is by
Kimi Peck. Producer Stephen J. Friedman
plans to begin shooting in March.
Warner's No-Knife, starring Gene Wilder
and Harrison Ford, has completed
principal photography on location in Jenner,
Calif. The comedy adventure, which
began production Oct. 30, finished three
days ahead of schedule.
Principal photography has been completed
on Dimension Pictures' The Greatest
Battle. The feature stars Henry Fonda,
Helmet Berger, John Huston, Stacy Keach
and Samantha Eggar. It is slated for the
1979-80 release schedule.
Raymond Chow's Golden Harvest Group
has signed the Richard Graff Co. to a longterm
deal to handle all marketing of Golden
Harvest films in the U.S. and Canada
on a non-exclusive basis. Bruce Lee's last
film. Game of Death, will be the first film
involved. Other films include Roger Vadim's
Night Games, starring Jane Fonda
and Brigitte Bardot; The Shipkiller and
High Road to China, a $12,000,000 project
to be produced by Paul Heller.
ACQUISITIONS
Manson International: U. K. Distribution
arrangements for Tourist Trap and Fairy
Tales. Arrangements are with Michael
Baumohl's Production Associates (U.K.)
Ltd. of London. Deals have also been set
with other companies for Japan, Venezuela,
French Canada, Spain and Mexico.
S.A.M. Productions: Option taken on
Joe Campbell Is Single Again. Screenplay
is by Susan Woolen.
American National Enterprises: Rights
to a book being written by Kady Joost, a
22 year-old college student. Joost took a
2,600 mile solo journey along the Pacific
Crest Tiail from Mexico to Canada in a
six month odyssey that drew international
press coverage.
The Production Company: Love Let Me
Not Hunger, Paul Galileo's story about a
circus troupe stranded on the plains of
Spain.
Simcom International: Rights purchased
from Lone Star Releasing to Secrets, starring
Jacqueline Bisset. Simcom is a pay-
TV distributor based in Los Angeles.
FEATURE
CASTING
Jessica Lange has been signed to star in
Columbia's All That Jazz. She will portray
Angelique in a role that calls for no singing
or dancing. Lange will appear in the film
after negotiations with Dino De Laurentiis.
who agreed to terminate her seven year
contract after three years in effect.
Producer Michael Lobell has announced
three cast additions for UA's Corky. Newcomers
are Russell Horton, Linda Gillin
and Rick Petrucelli. Filming is under way
on location in New York.
Jean Marsh. Roberta Maxwell and Michelle
Martin have been set for roles in
The Changeling, starring George C. Scott.
Trish Van Devere and Melvyn Douglas
also star. Shooting taking place in Can-
is
ada by Chessman Park Productions Ltd.
Peter Ustinov will narrate Winds of
Change, Sanrio's restructured version of its
animated film originally produced as "Metamorphoses."
Three casting calls for United Artists' 10
will set Don Calfa playing a Bel Air neighbor
to star Dudley Moore, James Noble as
a Beverly Hills dentist and John Hancock
as Moore's p.sychiatrist.
Fee Waybill, lead vocalist of TTie Tubes,
has a supporting role in Simon, a Marquee
International Films feature. The Tubes will
also make a cameo appearance in the film.
Peter Miller, Sandy Ward, Allen Williams
and Wendell Wright have joined the
cast of The Onion Field.
Daniel Shorr and Mary Nel Santa Croce
have been cast in Wise Blood.
Tony Roberts has been signed to a starring
role in Just Tell Me What You Want.
Roberts plays the part of the head of production
for a picture company.
Tommy Lee Jones will star with Sissy
Spacek in Universal's Coal Miner's Daughter,
the story of country music queen Loretta
Lynn. Production is scheduled to begin
in early March on location in Kentucky
and Tennessee. Jones will portray Loretta's
husband Mooney.
Bill Lucking, Virginia Kiser, Burke
Byrnes, Nedra Volz, Owen Sullivan and
Art Kassul have been added to the cast of
10.
British actress Emily Bolton has been
signed to play a mysterious Brazilian contact
for James Bond in UA's Moonraker.
Bernadette Peters has the female lead
opposite Steve Martin in his first film,
The Jerk. A mid-March shooting start is
planned. Carl Reiner will direct.
Richard Ward and Michael Lipton have
joined the cast of Corky.
TECHNICAL
ASSIGNMENTS
Ralph Zucker has been named executive
in charge of production for Marciano, largescale
biopic about the world's only undefeated
heavyweight boxing champion.
Rocky Marciano. A search is currently
under way for a lead actor for the title
role. Production commences in early spring.
Robert Evans has assumed directorial
reins of Paramount's Players, starring Ali
MacGraw and Dean-Paul Martin. Former
director Anthony Harvey fractured his knee.
Universal has signed Deric Washburn to
write the remake of This Gun for Hire.
Tony Richardson has signed to direct and
David Foster will be executive producer.
John Barry will write and conduct the
score for Roger Vadim's Night Games, now
in editing at the Goldwyn Studios. Release
is slated for summer.
Elmer Bernstein will compose the score
for Breaking Away, 20th-Fox feature.
Lionel Newman. Fox vice-president, will
conduct the scoring, using 68 musicians.
Pyramid Entertainment has signed Marc
Bucci to write the score for Human Experiments,
starring Jackie Coogan, Ellen Travolta
and Aldo Ray. An early summer release
is planned.
BOXOmCE :: February 5, 1979 13

BOXOFFICE
BAROMETER
This chart records the performance of current ottractions in the opening week of their first runs in
the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs
are reported, ratings are odded and averages revised. Computotion is in terms of percentage in
relation to average grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as overage,
the figures show the gross ratings above or below that mark. (Asterisk * denotes combination bills.)
'^ At Last, At Last (EMC)

Takakura Series Seen
Al NY's Japan Society
NEW YORK—Ken Takakura. winner ol
all Japan's major best actor awards in 1977,
will make personal appearances at Japan
House to open the first retrospective of his
films outside Japan.
The eleven-film series entitled '"Ken Takakura:
Loyalty. Humanity, Strength" will be
presented from Feb. 7 through April 6 at
Japan House here.
Five of the films in the series are East
Coast premieres.
Ken Takakura is currently the most popular
film star In Japan. Since the mid-1960s
he has been the reigning superstar of the
Japanese yakitza (gangster) film genre, starring
in over 150 action films and revered by
millions as the ideal personification of the
20th century man of honor, carrying forward
into the modern world the traditional
Japanese virtues of .n,'"'' (loyalty and obligation)
and ninjo (humanity and compassion).
A 'New Hero Personna'
Takakura's major accomplishment has
been the creation of a new hero persona
which has consequently affected not only
the film styles but also the lifestyles of the
past decade.
Recently Takakura has successfully expanded
the scope of his roles beyond the
confines of the yakuza genre, and his performance
in Yoji Yamada's comedy-drama
"The Yellow Handkerchief" won him overwhelming
critical acclaim.
Takakura will be present for the openingnight
screening of "Hell Is Man's Destiny"
Wednesday, Feb. 7.
In this .vaA-«za-series film, directed by
Masahiro Makino in 1970, Takakura portrays
the traditional honest, loyal yakuza at
war with the new order of crass, dishonest
gangsters during the 1920s.
once you have entered the museum. Screenings
On Friday, Feb. 9 Takakura will be
will begin with an hour of Animation successful New York run in 1973. Gortner,
Delights, hosted by filmmakers John Canemaker
and Kit Layboume, and start with
joined by screenwriter Leonard Schrader at
who acquired the rights to the play after
the screening of "The Yakuza." directed by
seeing it on stage, is also producer of the
the classic "Gertie the Dinosaur" (1909) by
Sydney Pollack and co-starring Robert
film which was directed by Milton Katselas
Winsor McCay, one of the very first animated
shorts.
Mitchum. Takakura and Schrader will discuss
the film with the audience.
"Hardcore," starring George C. Scott and
from Medoff's screenplay.
At 2:15, Extraordinary Stories takes over.
will
written and directed by Paul Schrader,
'Yellow Ribbon' Basis for Film
Noyes
Filmmakers Tom Davenport and Eli
open Friday. Feb. 9 at Lowes State II, RKO
Yoji Yamada's "The Yellow Handkerchief"
86th Street and the Trans-Lux East theatres.
will host such films as Noyes and Claudia
Weill's "Bad Dog." Davenport's "Hansel & The A-Team production from Columbia
on Feb. 8 is a comedy-drama based
on the Pete Hamill article that inspired the Gretel, An Appalachian Version," Noyes' Pictures tells the story of a deeply religious
song, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon "Round the "The Fable of He and She" and Claude Midwestern business man who infiltrates the
Old Oak Tree."
world of pornography world to search for
Berri's "Le Poulet." Documentaries will be
shown starting at 3:30, with Peter Chermayeff
It was Takakura's portrayal here of the
his missing teenage daughter. In addition to
and Beverly Shaffer hosting such as Scott the film stars Peter Boyle and Season
released convict wondering whether his
wife's love has endured that lifted him out Shaffer's "Kevin Alec" and Peter and Jane Hubley. John Milius was executive producer
Chermayeff's "Cheetah."
with Buzz Feitshans as producer.
of the yakuza genre, proved his versatility, and made him Japan's best actor of the The Media Center for Children is a nonprofit
Paul Newman heads an international cast
year.
Robert Altman's "Quintet." a 20th Century-Fox
educational organization which has in
"The Red Peony: The Hanafuda Game"
on Feb. 16 is the story of star-crossed lovers
been testing films with children, through its
Children's Film Theatre project, for eight release which opens Feb. 9 at the
Embassy, Triplex, Beekman, Paramount and
from rival yakuza families.
years. The museum screening has been made other area theatres. Produced and directed
Takakura is joined by Junko Fuji, Japan's
possible by public funds from the New York by Altman. the film features performances
only female yakuza star.
Even the excitement of the fight scenes
characteristic of the yakuza genre sur-
by Vittorio Gassman, Bibi Andersson, Fernando
Rey. Brigitte Fossey, Nina van Pallandt
The and David Langton. screenplay
is
passed by Takakura and Fuji's
romantic sequences.
BROADWAY
JAMES CAGNEY will be seen in a fourpart
series, his first television interview
in years, on ABC-TV's "Good Morning
America," Tuesday, Feb. 13 through Friday,
Feb. 16. The show's host, David Hartman,
is the first to interview the Oscar-winning
star since Jack Paar in the early days of
television. The interviewing session took
place eailier this winter at Cagney's farm in
upstate New York. Some of Cagney's cronies—George
Raft, Pat O'Brien, Ralph Bellamy
and Jack Lemmon—will also be seen
on the shows.
•
The Variety Club of New York launched
its annual Wishing Well Campaign Feb. 2
in theatres throughout the metropolitan
area, according to Daniel R. Fellman, president
of Tent 35. The drive is being chaired
by Phil Sherman. New York regional manager
of Universal Pictures. Participating theatres
have Wishing Wells in their lobbies,
inviting patrons to pitch in quarters to win
a free pass. Canisters will be provided for
collections at candy counters and ticket
booths.
Approximately 250 theatres will lake part
in
the campaign, which will end in June. All
proceeds go to Variety's Heart Projects for
disadvantaged children. Managers of the
participating theatres will compete for six
television sets to be awarded to those setting
up the most decorative displays and raising
the largest funds.
Additional display material and information
are available from Variety Club. 1600
Broadway, Suite 605. New York Citv
10019. phone: 247-5588.
•
Media Center for Children is sponsoring
an afternoon of shorts at the American Museum
of Natural History Sunday, Feb. 18
at 1 p.m. The auditorium screening is free
State Council on the Arts and National Endowment
for the Arts.
•
Don Konny has been named vice-president
in charge of theatrical distribution of
Modern Talking Picture Service, it was announced
by Carl H. Lenz, president of Modern.
Previously the account executive in the
company's Chicago sales office, he joined
Modern 32 years ago as a film library manager.
He was also a field supervisor before
becoming an account executive.
Konny's new responsibilities include contacting
theatres and the short subject circuit
hookers throughout the country to promote
Modern's services. He will also work with
account executives in each sales office.
•
In the magazines: Seventeen for February
has chosen "The Deer Hunter" as its
movie of the month. The Universal release,
starring Robert De Niro, "packs a terrific
punch," according to entertainment editor
Edwin Miller. Also reviewed in this issue
are "The Lord of the Rings," "Ice Castles,"
"Once in Paris," "Stevie" and "King of the
Gypsies."
•
"The Innocent." the late Luchino Visconti's
last film, has become a celebrity event.
Recent attendees at the UA Gemini Theatre
include Gov. Hugh Carey and Anne Ford
Uizelli. Jacqueline Ona.'isis. Bess Myerson,
Jack Nicholson. Mike Nichols. Mr. and
Mrs. Michael Caine. Betty Comden, Art
Garfunkel, Virginia Graham, Marion Javits
and Greta Thyssen.
Described as a sensual epic of a diabolical
marriage, the Analysis Film Releasing
presentation stars Giancarlo Giannini. Laura
Antonelli and Jennifer O'Neill.
•
Openings: Columbia's "When You Comin'
Back, Red Ryder," starring Marjoe
Gortner, Hal Linden. Peter Firth and Lee
Grant, will open at the UA Gemini I and
II Friday, Feb. 9. The film is based on the
Mark Medoff stageplay which was named
one of the ten best of the year during its
(Continued on following page)
BOXOFTICE :: February 5, 1979 E-1

I
WASHINGTON
J^artin Zeidnian, Columbia branch manager,
and Philadelphia-based publicist
Linda Goldenberg had a preview screening
of •Ice Castles"' at the Pedas brothers Tenley
Theatre Saturday morning, Feb. 3. The
private preview was held for National Press
Club members, who met actress Lynn-Holly
Johnson at a reception following the showing.
Johnson stars as a young woman on her
way to the Olympics before her career is
interrupted by a tragic accident. "Ice
Castles" opened in ten area situations Friday,
Jan. 2 according to Zeidman, who had
the film tradescreened at the K/B Mac Arthur
where "California Suite" was the attraction.
Three circuits sneaked the film
Jan. 26 for one performance.
Ross Wheeler, Wheeler Film Co., tradescreened
"Silent Partner." starring Elliott
Gould. Susannah York and Christopher
Plummer. at the Motion Picture Assn. of
America Feb. L
Here from the West Coast for an invitational
screening of "The Glacier Fox" were
Ken Kawarai. managing director of Sanrio
Distributing Co.. and the director of the
picture. Koreyoshi Kurahara. The cocktailbuffet-preview
was Jan. 23 at the American
Film Institute. Wheeler will distribute "The
Glacier Fox" in this area.
John Colloca, Sunn Classic Pictures Eastern
regional director, now handles 40 percent
of the market for his company. Colloca's
two assistants are David Garbor and
Marc Halpern. both transferred from the
Boston branch before it merged with the
Washington exchange. They are setting playdates
for "The Bermuda Triangle" and
"Beyond and Back."
The French Cinema, a "stunning" film
festival, opened at David Levy's Key Theatre
in Georgetown Thursday. Feb. 1 and
continue through March 20. The open-
will
ing film was Abel Gance's four-hour silent
epic. "Bonaparte et La Revolution." The biographical
spectacle, by the 90-year-old
Gance. "the D.W. Griffith of the French
is screen." described by The Star's Tom
FILMACK IS
1st CHOICE
WITH
SHOWMEN
EVERYWHERE
Dowling as a "worthy selection to lead off
one of the most distinguished retrospectives
contrived." Among the French directors
represented are Rene Clair, Max Ophuls,
Maicel Pagnol. Jean Vigo, Jean Renoir.
Henri Georges Clouzot. Francois Truffaut
and Rene Clement.
Warner Bros." "Superman" expanded its
bookings into metropolitan Washington's
northern Virginia area: the Beacon on Richmond
Highway. Springfield Mall and the
Vienna Theatre in Vienna. An additional
local opening was at the Embassy Circle
where viewing is optimum, as it is shown
in 70mm and six-track Dolby stereo.
Jef Hyde at the Biograph Theatre in
Georgetown issued a call for area filmmakers.
The deadline for entry in the theatre's
ninth edition of "Expose Yourself" is March
9. The films can run no longer than 25
minutes and must be in 16mm. sound or
silent. The film competition is set for March
26 and 27. It is a project of the Biograph
Theatre Group, which is headed by Alan
Rubin and Leonard Porylis.
'Wanderers' Assoc. Prod.
Roots for Film Commission
TRENTON. N.J.—Fred Caruso, associate
producer of "The Wanderers." an Orion
picture to be released later this year, now
being partially filmed in New Jersey, has
offered his services as a consultant to the
New Jersey Motion Picture and Television
Development Commission.
Joseph Friedman, executive director of
the commission, which is involved in making
New Jersey a film production center,
said Caruso has been a "rooter" for the
commission.
A former high school teacher in Monmouth
County nearby and still making his
home in this state. Caruso was the executive
in charge of production for "King of the
Gypsies." which also was shot here.
Scenes were recently completed in the
Holland Tunnell and on the New Jersey
Turnpike for "The Wanderers." which is
being produced by Martin Ranshoff and
directed by PhilUp Kaufman.
The movie deals with a Bronx. N.Y..
youth gang in the 1940s.
ORDER FROM FILMACK
WHENEVER YOU NEED
SPECIAL FILMS
DATE STRIPr
CROSS PLUGS,
'merchant ADS,
SPECIAL announcements
FILMACK STUDIOS. INC.
BROADWAY
(Continued from preceeding page)
by Frank Barhydt, Altman and Patricia Resnick
is based on a story by Altman, Lionel
Chetwynd and Resnick.
•
On showcase: "Moment by MonienI," a
Universal Pictures presentation of a Robert
Stigwood production, began a special engagement
Friday, Feb. 2 at 58 theatres
throughout the New York-New Jersey area.
•
William C. Vance, publisher of BoxoF- ij
FiCE magazine, was in Manhattan for three I
days last week, meeting with top personnel
at major companies here to acquaint them
with the new editorial policies of this publication.
FIRST RUN
REPORT
(Average Is 100)
NEW YORK—The new policy for first
run listings for this city includes dollar
totals and" theatre dollar averages. Please
note that the figure in
parentheses following
the name of the theatre is the average dollar
figure for that house. The final
is
figure given
the total gross for that house the week.
New York
All About Gloria Leonard (Evart).
3rd wk. Eastworld (6.300) 10,700
World (8.000) 16.800
Autumn Sonata (New World). Baronet
(8,500). 16th wk 21.190
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs
(New Line Cinema), Paris (9.000).
6th wk 42,000
The Innocent (Analysis Film Releasing).
Gemini II (7.500). 3rd wk 65,500
The Last Wave (World Northal). 6th wk.
Beekman (8.000) 15.000
Paramount (9.000) 1 1.500
Max Havelaar (Atlantic). Plaza (8.400).
1st wk 10,000
Moment by Moment (Univ), Coronet
(9,650). 6th wk 18,500
Once in Paris (Once in Paris Co.).
68th Street Playhouse (5.000).
12th wk 9.000
On the Yard (Midwest). Cinema II
(6.000). 1st wk 15.000
Same Time, Next Year (Univ), Cinema I
(10.400). nth wk 16,000
Wifemistress (Quartet), Little Carnegie
(7,500), 3rd wk 34.000
Nationwide
Sound and
Projection Service
on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
Jersey Cily. N J 07305, Phone (2011
BOXOFFICE :: February 5. 1979

PHILADELPHIA
Teleprompter cable TV subscribers throughout
Southern New Jersey now have a
new pay TV channel available for movies
and sports in Showtime, owned by Viacom
International, the nation's second largest pay
TV satellite network serving 240 cable
systems in 41 states. Showtime will be made
available by Teleprompter to more than
87,000 homes in southern New Jersey.
Motion Picture Associates Foundation announced
that its annual report for the fiscal
year are available for inspection by any person
who is interested in seeing it. Principal
manager for the foundation, which is supported
by those in the distribution phase of
the industry, is Joseph Engel.
Katharine Hepburn, who did the film
classic "The Philadelphia Story" in suburban
Bryn Mawr, Pa., is slated to return
there to do the Bryn Mawr story which will
be filmed on the campus of her alma mater,
Bryn Mawr College. The movie is about
Carey Thomas, one of the early fighters
for women's equality in higher education.
The Lyric Theatre, Asbury Park. N.J.,
adds a second feature to the regular single
film showing on Wednesdays, introducing
the new policy in adding "Bruce Lee and I"
to "Grease." The double feature on Wednesdays
is also introduced by the same owner
at his Baronet Theatre, also in Asbury
Park, where the picture policy is strictly X-
rated.
A "Capers Caper" was staged at the Periwinkle
Cafe during the lunch hour by Virginia
Capers, coming to town to promote
the Feb. 16 area opening of her "North
Avenue Irregulars." The party and the press
interviews that followed were arranged by
Lee Starkey, account executive at Elkman
Advertising Co. here, which handles the
promotion and advertising for Buena Vista
in this area.
The Atlantic City premiere for "The Wiz"
last week at Frank's Towne Four Theatre
was a benefit for the Students' Scholarship
Fund of the Atlantic City Children's Theatre.
Chris Miller, who co-wrote th; screenplay
for "National Lampoon's Animal
House" (and wrote the original novel) and
appeared in the film as Hardbar, made a
guest appearance this week at Lehigh University,
Bethlehem, Pa., which was open to
the public ... A week-long American Film
Festival, sponsored by the Educational Film
Library Association, will be held this week
at Gettysburg (Pa.) College, with all showings
open to the public . . . Somerset County
College, Branchburg, N.J., will sponsor
a series of six Saturday children's day programs,
including a selection of classic children's
films shown at
10 a.m. Groups of six
or more children will get a special rate.
The 1979 Variety Club telethon here was
broadcast live on WPVI-TV, beginning 10
p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 and continued nonstop
through 5 p.m. Sunday. Television personality
and former Variety Clubs International
president Monty Hall hosted the 19-
hour telecast, proceeds from which will go
to a number of programs in this tri-state
Delaware Valley area. Last year's telethon
gained national attention when it became
the first locally produced program of its
kind to exceed $1 million in pledges. Brightest
among the galaxy of stars who urged
viewers to "Give Till It Helps ... A Handicapped
Child" was 15-year-old Andrea Mc-
Ardle, a local resident who starred on
Broadway in "Annie." Dr. Melvyn E. Smith
was chairman of the TV extravaganza.
Colonial Is Purchased
By F.L. Morganthaler
HARRISBURG, PA.—The historic Colonial
Theatre in downtown Harrisburg,
closed for the past two years, has been
purchased by Frederick L. Morgenthaler
estate for $59,800.
A consulting engineer, Morgenthaler
has been playing a major role in advancing
the downtown renewal program here.
Morgenthaler indicated that he might
either renovate the theatre and reopen it,
or consider some other project at the site.
In any event, he considered it a good investment
in downtown Harrisburg.
While the theatre buHding itself dates
back to the 1830s, when it was the Wilson
Hotel, part of the building was razed in
1912 and was rebuilt as the Colonial Theatr;,
which opened as a motion picture theatre
with vaudeville show.
Its film days ended in 1976 when it was
closed down for lack of business.
Last October, a fire at the 1,500-seat
Colonial damaged the balcony section.
However, Morgenthaler says the theatre
is
in good shape from an architectural standfwint.
He said the theatre would need a new
electrical system, and there are some problems
that will have to be corrected in conne:tion
with violations found by the state
Department of Labor and Industry inspectors.
BALTIMORE
geveral new films opened here last week.
"Movie Movie," starring George C.
Scott, bowed Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the
Reisterstown Plaza, Ritchie Cinema and Timonium
Cinema . . . Friday. Feb. 2 two
pictures unreeled: "Ice Castles" at Cinema I,
Harford Mall, Jumpers, Northpoint Plaza,
Rotimda and Westview, and "In Praise of
Older Women" at the Campus Hills, Glen
Burnie Mall, Liberty, Northway, Patterson
and Rotunda.
Marty Zidman, Columbia branch manager
in Washington, visited Baltimore exhibitors
during the week of Jan. 12, according
to Fred Sapperstein, executive secretary
of NATO of Maryland.
At R/C Theatres Sheila Raub became the
new computer operator at the executive
offices on Mount Royal Avenue . . . Barbara
Smith joined the office in the same
capacity.
Ira Miller, former Schwaber World Fare
Cinemas general manager, is now American
International branch manager in Washington,
D.C. Miller said; "Previously I had
been a salesman for AIP before joining
Schwaber, and previous to my time at AIP
Music Makers Theatres dropped its price III. a former official of suburban Harristown,
Pa.
policy for its Middlebrook 1 & 2 in Ocean
Township, N.J. With the offering of "Foul He said he paid $89,500 to acquire the I worked for JF Theatres in Baltimore for
property from former state Sen. Edward ten years." Miller also is to be married May
Play" at one cinema and "Grease" at its
twin, the boxoffice calls for a 99-cent admission
M. Early, of Allegheny County in the Pittsburg
20.
area, who purchased the property only
F.H. Durkee Enterprises is presently
for all seats at all times.
the year before from the George W. Hunter
working out plans with an architect to erect
a hardtop triplex on the Northpoint Drivein
property, it was announced by Durkee
executive Fred Schmuff.
There were two innovative radio promotions
in the area recently: WLPL-FM and
Robert Kriger Advertising worked together
on a campaign for Paramount's "King of
the Gypsies." The station offered complimentary
passes to those donating new or
used toys to the Marine Corps Reserves
Toys for Tots program. $4,000 was collected
.. . The other promotion was put together
by WSID-AM in association with
MCA Records and Universal Pictures. In
touting "The Wiz," the station gave away
soundtracks and T-shirts in its Radio Ripoff
contest. These winners and other contestants
were then eligible to win the grand
prize of a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando,
Fla. When listeners picked up their
entry blanks at participating record stores
they received a $2 savings on the purchase
of the soundtrack. WSID ran over $4,000
in promotional announcements which, according
to Universal branch manager Steve
Turner, resulted in exceptional grosses at
the boxoffice.
When you plan to install your Dolby system,
call the service company with the most
Dolby system experience.
TECHNICAL SERVICES CORPORATION
P.O. Box 5150 • Richardson, Texas 75080 • 214-234-3270
ASC
STAR TREATMENT SERVICE
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979
E-3

.
.
. . . The
BUFFALO
J^ocky Horror" cult: Two people in the
lobby, their sexes obscured underneath
black and white greasepaint, smile
now and then to reveal gleaming white
fangs. Another customer arrives by wheelchair,
besieged by calls of, "Hello Dr.
Scott," from virtual strangers. For th; religiously
devoted fans of "The Rocky Horror
Picture Show" this is Saturday night
at the Granada Theatre.
They are the chief reason this B-grade
horror satire has been miraculously converted
into a weekend ritual of fun and fantasy
for viewers nationwide, and an unanticipated
boxoffice bonanza for producer
20th Century-Fox. "Rocky Horror" is now
the focal point of what can best be described
as a cult, drawing sell-out crowds of
costumed fans armed with shopping bags
full of props, from toilet paper to Teddy
bears.
ture in the Friday, Jan. 19 Gusto section
of the Evening News.
From Midwest Films comes "On the
Yard." a serio-comic prison-escape story
set in New York City. Among the featured
actors is Joe Grifasi, former Buffalonian
who also had a featured role in "Hide in
Plain Sight," made in Buffalo last year and
which will open at the Holiday Theatre
here Aug. 1.
"The Class of Miss MacMichael opened
in four theatres, the Eastern Hills. Seneca
Mall Cinemas. Holiday and Granada. Friday,
Jan. 26.
Among the pre-telethon activities of Variety
Club Tent 7 will be the third annual
hockey game sponsored by the Niagara
Frontier Police Athletic Assn. in Memorial
Auditorium with the Buffalo Sabres officiating
and an ice show scheduled between
periods, and The Big Skate, a giant skate-athon
scheduled for eight area roller rinks.
Proceeds will go to Telethon '79.
Newcomer Harry Hamlin, who plays Joey
Popchick in the "Dynamite Hands" featurette
in "Movie Movie," has ties in Buffalo.
The 27-year-old actor revealed that his roots
arc compounded of private schools, Yale
and old money—and that they are firmly
planted in Buffalo. His grandfather was
Chauncey J. Hamlin, the public-spirited attorney
whose good works included helping
BUX-MONT
Marquees—Signs
Horshom, Pennsylvania 19044
Call (215) 676-4444 or 675-1040
the Buffalo Museum of Science move out
of the basement of the Public Library into
a home of its own. His aunt and uncle still
live here. She is Martha Visser't Hooft,
painter.
"Halloween" was given a sneak preview
at the Holiday Two Jan. 27 at midnight.
Regular engagement started Friday, Feb. 2.
"Uncle Joe Shannon" started Friday, Feb.
2 at the Como 8 Theatre. Burt Young and
Doug McKeon are staired in this tear-jerker
about a down-and-out trumpeter and a
young kid.
Jim JMaisano has been appointed general
manager of the Holiday Theatres circuit by
owner Al Wright. He succeeds Joe Garvey,
who left to form his own advertising agency.
Maisano also will handle all advertising
campaigns for the six Holiday indoor and
The film now shows in 125 theatres nationwide,
(including one Phoenix, Ariz., the-
manager since the indoors opened in 1970
five drive-in theatres. He had been assistant
and prior to that served as Garvey's assistant
atre where it has played for three years
the Granada Theatre.
straight, seven days a week, continuously
at
from 2 p.m.) and boxoffice receipts arc
listed as well over $4 million. The movie
was the subject of almost a full page fea-
PITTSBURGH
The first of the Christmastime releases to
bite the dust here was "Slow Dancing
in the Big City," followed by "Moment by
Moment," now out of release, and "Oliver's
Story," now booked into second-run thea-
Allegheny County Commissioners plan to
censor scripts of filmmakers who want to
use county facilities as sets. The film outfits
must also pay for any modifications they
require and for legal costs incurred by the
county law department. The decision follows
an incident which saw a television
crew filming "Death Penalty," trying to use
courthouse space which was not scheduled.
The crew was removed from the building.
Theatre Candy Co. renewed the lease
their office and warehouse for a five-year
period. Knute Boyle reports that Rich Wendell
is completing his second year as manager
of Theatre Equipment & Service Co., a
division of Theatre Candy. Wendell succeeded
Derris "Jeff" Jeffcoat after the latter's
death in February 1977.
"Gone With the Wind" returned again
the University of Pittsburgh, shortly before
its scheduled national TV airing . . .
The
first of the three new stores occupying the
former Strand Theatre in Oakland has opened
.. "The Idol" and "Dune Buddies" are
.
headed for The Follies screen.
"Sasquatch"
. . .
John Majdiak is exploiting Film Ventures'
"Hometown U.S.A." and "The Dark" .
Columbia's "Lost and Found" was previewed
at the South Hills Village
remained on screen at dozens
of
theatres in the area including the Fulton.
on
"Ice Castles" opened here on a fiist-run
to
basis al the Bank, Denis, Mcknight. Cinema
World and Showcase West and East
latter outlets as well as the Chatham
opened "Movie Movie" . . .
Other area
theatres were showing "King of the Gypsies,"
"Oliver's Story," "National Lampoon's
Animal House," "A Wedding," "Heat
Wave," "Final Sin" and "Moonrunners
Lenny Hameroff, well-known Clearfield
County businessman, has purchased the
Rowland Theatie in Philipsburg and will
spend $250,000 or more in updating the
property. A resident of DuBois, he has
franchises for McDonald's fast-food service
in St. Marys, Clearfield and Philipsburg.
"Autumn Sonata," which came in after
Christmas, quietly took the grossing lead at
the Squirrel Hill . . . "Uncle Joe Shannon"
1
was on screen at the Bethel and the Quad
Cinemas, the latter in McKeesport.
In the mid-1930s special effects departments
were firmly established in all film
studios, with results well received for such
efforts as "Hurricane" and "San Francisco."
The latter picture, by W.S. Van Dyke, is to
be screened Saturday afternoon, Feb. 10 at
2;30 in the Museum of Art Theatre. The
next evening at 7:30, in the adjoining Lecture
Hall at Carnegie Institute, Gene Kelly's
"An American in Paris" (1951) will be exhibited.
For the Feb. 16 showing of Andy
Warhol's "Chelsea Girls" (1966), Ondine
herself will be present. Admission is $1 for
each such exhibition at CI.
in
Robert Elliott Lodge, 65, theatre owner
McConnellsburgh for 20 years, died Dec.
31. Born in Saxton, Pa., he was for a quarter
of a century associated with father William
Mark Lodge in operating the Fulton
Theatre there, later taking over ownership
until he retired. Survivors include his wife,
two daughters, a sister, a step-sister and
three srandchildren.
Temple U. Film Society-
Holds 'Member Preview'
PHILADELPHIA — The Cinematheque
and Film Society at Temple University's
Center City Campus screening Jan. 18 was
a Member Preview with a bonus program
free to all members of the society.
Nightly film showings take a $2 admission
with $1.50 tickets for members.
The new season opened with "The Romantic
Englishwoman" Jan. 19 with "That
Hamilton Woman" kicking off the film society
program Jan. 23.
In addition, two film series were launched
last month. A series of classic French cinema
started Jan. 24 with "Jenny Lamour,"
followed by "Orpheus" Jan. 30. Japanese
cinema started Jan. 28 with "Rebellion," a
Tohop Mifune Film.
CIIVERA9IA IS W SHOW
BrSliVESS VS ILUViUI TOO^
WTicn you come to Wuiklki,
don't miss tlic famous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
E-4

Sci-Fi Film Nighlmare
Has a Happy Ending
John Stanley
SAN FRANCISCO — "Nightmare in
Blood." which is currently in nationwide
distribution through Pacific Film Enterprises
of San Francisco, was a five-year ordeal
with a happy ending for Bay Area producers
John Stanley and Kenn Davis.
Began Work in 1973
Stanley, a writer-editor for the weekend
entertainment section of the San Francisco
Chronicle, and Davis, an artist for the same
paper, began working on their R-rated hornor
film in 1973, raising production capital
from local sources.
Stanley and Davis co-produced and cowrote
the film, with Stanley also serving as
director and Davis as cinematographer. After
principal photography in "74, they worked
part-time for the next three years to
raise additional funding and complete the
film.
"We set out to make a horror film," says
Stanley, "that would have all the trappings
of the commercial exploitationer, but which
would also have a specialized appeal to the
science-fiction, horror and fantasy groups
in America."
Film Explores Fandom
"Nightmare" is set in a horror convention
in San Francisco where the guest of
honor is Malakai, a film star specializing in
vampire roles. The film touches such areas
of "fandom" as comic books, censorship,
weird detective fiction and the Dracula cult,
walking a fine line between chills and satire.
Radio-film actor Jerry Walter plays a
different kind of vampire and Kerwin
shbuckler.
ippe
After talking to many Hollywood-based
distributors, the fledgling producers decided
they stood a better chance for exhibitional
success by releasing through Harper Paul
Williams of Pacific Film Enterprises.
"Nightmare" opened in July to good
trade and newspaper reviews and scored
well in initial bookings—one-week grosses
of $8,350 at the St. Francis and $6,500 at
the Lux in Oakland indicated running legs
that Williams was quick to exploit.
'A Respectable' Product
"Nightmare" has since played several exchange
areas and has gradually built a reputation
among drive-in and action house exhibs
as being a respectable product.
"So far," says Stanley, "we've been able
to play the film off with a minimum amount
of advertising or pre-selling. Exhibitors are
happy and Harper has several new exchanges
lined up for spring. He also anticipates
a busy summer in the L.A. and New
York areas. I'm only sorry our investors had
to wait so long for the worm to turn."
Stanley and Davis have also collaborated
on a private eye thriller, "Dark Side,"
which won an Edgar from the Mystery
Writers of America, and Stanley has written
the epic fantasy,
"World War III."
Michael Romanoff, etc."
Stanley and Davis are already scripting
the novel for independent production, possibly
through Bay Area sources.
"Film prospects for 'Bogart '48' look
promising," says Williams, who added he
was keeping a close eye on all the future
SAN FRANCISCO
Daramount's Seattle-Portland branch manager
Joe Vigil and botiker Jackie Rouleau
moved frorn San Francisco to Seattle
Jan 29. The new address is 975 John Street
270, Seattle, Wash. 98109. Telephone (205)
625-9433.
UATC's Reno district manager Lew
Bergstrom hosted special 3:00 a.m. showing
of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
for the huge cast of the MGM Grand's
"Hello Hollywood Hello" recently at the
UA Cinema 1-2.
Fred Kunkel, Film Ventures, brought
"Hometown USA" to town for a screening
at the JWA screening room Jan. 24.
Lou Lencioni creative booking award:
"Moment by Moment"/"In Praise of Older
Women."
Star in Alcohol Recovery
Film, Danny O'Brien, Dies
TUCSON—Danny O'Brien arrived in
Tucson 30 years ago with a BA degree, two
years' experience in law school, $200,000
and an Irishman's fondness for alcohol.
Twenty years later all he had left was alcohol.
But O'Brien was destined to become a
celebrity. He starred in the epic alcohol
recovery film "Tiger by the Tail," produced
by the University of Arizona Radio-TV-
Film Bureau, which was critically acclaimed.
The film showed O'Brien from the days
projects of ^Stanley and Davis. "These are Last September Danny uanny was -'--;"
admitted to
[he kind of young producers we need to Flower Square Nursmg Home, 'hen taken
support if we want good product in the to Kino Community Hospital last month
" where he died early this month.
f^,j^,j.g
Book Is Forthcoming
Their next book, "Bogart '48," will be
published this summer by Dell. It is a fictionalized
portrait of Humphrey Bogart
caught up in a mystery surrounding the
Academy Awards show of 1948. "The
book's more than a thriller," says Stanley
with a record of 280 arrests for intoxication.
But O'Brien drew up his Irish dignity
and, in the film, permitted himself to have
a try at drying out at a Tucson detoxification
center. When "Tiger by the Tail" was
released, Danny had been sober for over a
year.
THE ORIGINAL THEATRE SERVICE
7933 ELECTRA DRIVE / HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90046
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u
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Nationwide — on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
1501 Beach Street, Montebello, Calit 90640
Phone; (213) 728-7473
February 5, 1979
• New Theatre Interior Design • Curtain Controls
• Theatre Remodeling
• Stage Service
•
• Dropcry & Stage Repaii
Drapei7
•
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Screen Resurfacing
Multiplexing Theatres
•
• Screen Frames
Curtain Tracks
• 24 Hour Service

Hollywood
Co. as casting coordinator.
•
Ed .^sner will host "An Evening with Ed
Asner" Feb. 7 at the home of Fred Nicholas
in honor of his close friend, the late San
Francisco Mayor George R. Moscone who
was assassinated last November 7. Donations
of $100 will be used to contribute to
the George R. Moscone Family Memorial
Fund.
*
The Publicists Guild has nominated five
journalists for its annual press award to be
presented at the 16th annual Publicists
Awards kmcheon April 6 in the Beverly
Wilshire Hotel. The nominees are Arthur
Knight, Hank Grant, Tichi Wilkerson
Miles, Cecil Smith and Aleene MacMinn.
•
"Go for It," lyrics by Carol Connors and
music by David Shire, the theme song of
Columbia's "Fast Break," the basketball
comedy starring Gabriel Kaplan, will be distributed
as a single by Motown Records,
timed to the release of the picture.
*
"Agatha," Warner Bros.' mystery-romance
starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa
Redgrave, will open an exclusive run
at the Bruin Theatre in Westwood Feb. 9.
*
Paramount's "Escape From Alcatraz,"
starring Clint Eastwood, completed principal
photography at the studio one day ahead
of schedule with Don Siegel producing and
directing. The company shot for seven
weeks at Alcatraz, which was restored and
refurbished at a cost of more than $500,-
000.
*
Neil Simon will receive the Plitt Southern
Theatres annual Gold Star award for his
Happenings
sold his stock in Vidtronics to Technicolor
I^EIL ELLIOT, involved for eight years "comic genious and outstanding contributions
so he could return to production.
to the motion picture art." The Broad-
•
as East Coast liaison for the Los Angeles
International Film Exposition (Filmex),
way author turned Hollywood screenplay
Peter Starr Productions has moved into
has been named to the newly created writer will pick up his award during cereway
expanded headquarters at 1800 N. Highland
monies in February in Dallas. Past winners
Ave. The company recently producing its
include Frank Capra, Hal Wallas, Doris
feature "Take
post of executive assistant to director Gary
Essert. He previously had been associated
first film, It to the Limit, a
in Los Angeles with the Ellison/ Gartzman Day. Barbia Streisand. Marlon Brando and
Motorcycle Odyssey."
Paul Newman. Simon is hailed in part for
•
the smashing $28,814,000 grosses accumulated
in four weeks by Columbia's "California
Suite."
*
"Quintet," Robert Altman's film for 20th
Century-Fox and starring Paul Newman,
will open Feb. 9 at 15 flagship theatres in
Los Angeles.
•
Larry Woolner's Dimension Pictures reports
completion of photography on two of
its features, "The Greatest Battle," filmed
by Titanus Productions and starring Henry
Fonda, Samantha Eggar and John Huston,
among others, and "Stone Cold Dead," both
set for release in 1979-80.
*
Bantam Books has gone into a second
printing of 200.000 on Jeffrey Konvitz
"The Guardian." Konvitz currently is writing
and will produce "Gorp*." American
International's wild comedy set to begin
shooting in Georgia Feb. 5 with Joseph
Ruben directing.
•
Warner Bros, has completed shooting on
"No-Knife," starring Gene Wilder and Harrison
Ford. Location shooting in Jenner,
Colo., ended three days ahead of schedule
on the Mace Neufeld production directed
by Robert Aldrich.
•
Pacific Global Film Enterprises has
opened offices at 6605 Hollywood Blvd.
Richard Bernstein is president and Stuart
Needham is
production associate.
•
The Factor-Newland Production Corp.
has joined forces with veteran industry
executive Milton "Ted" Raynor to move the
company into theatrical features while con-
tinning to emphasize its involvement in television
production and the pay-TV and videocassette
markets. Raynor has been made
executive vice-president of FN. He recently
Principal photography has been completed
on "Goldengirl," an Avco Embassy
Pictures feature planned for a June release.
Plaza Theatre in Mammoth
A 'Very Special' Place
SAN FRANCISCO—The intimate 300-
seat Plaza Theatre, located in the Sherman
Plaza at Mammoth Lakes in northern California,
opened on schedule on Thanksgiving,
with "Goin' South." Greg Ziebarth of
Ziebarth Construction Corp., owner and developer
of the shopping center, and partner
Bruce Kassler, architectural designer,
awarded contracts to the Filbert Company
of Southern California last fall for equipping
and furnishing the new house along
with contributing certain design factors.
"We wanted the theatre to be very special,"
Ziebarth said, because the sophisticated
element attracted to ski resorts, demand
high quality presentation and luxurious
surroundings."
A variety of earth tones were selected
for the interior of the theatre to better contrast
the often bleak winter landscape. The
spacious lobby features an indoor boxofficeticket
counter for patron comfort when the
snow is high, and the Filbert-designed concessions
bar allows for quick customer turnover.
Lobby and auditorium aisle carpeting
is Bigelow Bagdad copper in the popular
Samarkand design.
The auditorium features a "front end"
drapery package in warm brown antique
satin, while the side walls, painted a soft
beige,
are made more interesting by the addition
of 5 x 8 feet acoustical panels of
gold, orange and brown Chatham fabric.
Seating is Massey Polaris Model with black
backs and dark brown upholstery, while the
10 x 24 screen is Technikote Pearlescent
XR-171.
A Ballantyne V.I. P. projection system
with Schneider lenses and an ORC Platter
system is installed in the projection room.
The speaker system is Altec's Voice of the
Theatre.
Business at the new Plaza Theatre has
been excellent, according to Ziebarth, who
expects an exceptional 1979/80 season.
ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT:
Design Construction Equipment Interiors
Filbert Company noo Flower St., Glendale. Calif., 91201 (213) 247-6550
Filbert Northwest 2503-152nd Ave. N.E, Redmond, Wa, 98052 (206)885-0200
CUVERitMA IS tX SHOW
BITSLVESS IX HiUViUI TOO,
Wlicn you come to Walkiki,
don't miss tlic fatuous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
February 5. 1979

Dinner Salutes USC's
Cinema Department
LOS ANGELES—A gala dinner benefit
in honor of the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the University of Southern Cahfornia's
cinema department, co-founded by
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences, will be held in the Los Angeles
Ballroom of the Century Plaza Hotel, Century
City Feb. 9.
The first university course in film studies,
"Introduction to the Photoplay," was offered
by use in association with the newly
founded Academy. That educational innovation
is being celebrated with a dinner to
benefit the cinema/ television department
and to launch the school's drive for new
facilities. The dinner will take place 50
years and three days following the first
lecture on film given as part of the university
liberal arts degree program. Among the
dinner committee are AMPAS president
Howard W. Koch and first vice-president
Fay Kanin.
NSC President Hosts
The president of USC and Mrs. John R.
Hubbard, University trustees Virginia Ramo
and Robert D. Wood, and dean of the
school of performing arts Grant Beglarian
are hosts of the gala which will celebrate
the long and close association of the university,
the Academy and the film industry.
In
1927, believing that close relationships
should be established with educational institutions,
the 36 founders of the AMPAS
formed a college affairs committee, which
included Milton Sills, Cecil B. deMille and
Douglas Fairbanks Sr. The first meeting of
the committee took place on May 24, 1927,
when members conferred with USC President
Rufus B. von KleinSmid regarding the
possibility of introducing motion picture
courses into the university curriculum. That
meeting led to USC being the foremost
among universities and colleges in educating
and training related to motion picture production.
"Introduction to the Photoplay"
was so successful that other universities,
among them Stanford and the University
of Iowa, requested the text of the lectures
for incorporation in their own liberal arts
programs.
D.W. Griffith a Lecturer
The lecturers in the USC course included
D. W. Griffith, Irving Thalberg, Ernst
Lubitsch, William Cameron Menzies, William
de Mille, Clara Beranger, M. C. Levee.
Douglas Fairbanks and Milton Sills. USC
professors Emory Bogardus and Karl
Waugh, dean of the college of liberal arts,
participated and critic Edwin Schallert, editor
of the department of drama, motion
WINNING TEAM—Tlie USC football
team spent New Year's Eve getting
ready for the Rose Bowl game by
attending a screening of American International's
"Force 10 From Navarone."
The action-adventure must have
inspired theh team to win, which they
did by beating Michigan 17-10. Pictured
above are fleft to right) Lynn
Cain, fullback; Charles White, AU-
American tailback; John Hamelin,
manager of Sanborn's University Cinema
near the USC campus, and Rich
Dimler, AU-American defensive tackle.
pictures and music, represented the Los
Angeles Times. "Introduction to the Photoplay"
was followed by courses in cinema
photography at USC and in 1932 the cinema
department was formed and offered the
first BA degree with a major in cinema ever
given in the United States.
'Equality
With Other Arts'
In 1928 Milton Sills wrote: "Without the
Academy the individual branches of our industry
would have found it very difficult to
establish relations with that other vast educational
branch of our community life, the
universities. The university is not merely a
prestigious institution. It educates and sends
forth people of every walk of life prepared
to meet the problems and conditions of their
particular lines
of work. The motion picture
has never had any college standing or recognition.
Through this Academy, if our plans
are realized, the motion picture will be
placed on an equality with other arts in
their cultural and social aspects."
Composer-conductor Patrick Williams
will score the music for "Breaking Away."
SALT LAKE CITY
^allas Farrimond of Film Brokers Inc. is
back after visiting California to attend
a Group I Films sales-distribution conference.
The Utah Motion Picture Assn. held its
first meeting here Dec. 7. Among other accomplishments
the group accepted the charter
by unanimous vote. Nancy Tullis was
chosen as ShoWesT representative, and a
golf tournament was set for Feb. 19. The
Retarded Children's Charity was adopted as
the organization's common cause; Mike
Place and Augic Nardoni were elected as
representatives of the charity. Ed Brinn will
be setting up a racquet ball tournament with
proceeds going to the retarded children.
Southwest Film Consort.
Holds Tribute to Games
TUCSON—The Southwest Film Consortium
held a day-long film symposium and
tribute to cinematographer Lee Garmes
Jan. 14 in the U of A Student Union complex.
The panel featured many noted speakers
including Linwood Dunn, president of the
American Society of Cinematographers (a
consultant on the new "Star Trek"); Jack
Harris, national coordinator for films and
video of the National Endowment for the
Arts; Adan Medrano, director of the Chicano
Film Festival in San Antonio, and Ed
Hugetz of the Southwestern Alternate Media
Project.
Climaxing the evening's segment was the
special memorial tribute to the mentor of
SFC, Lee Garmes, with the screening of his
cinematographic classic "Crime Without
Passion." The evening marked the premiere
showing of student films completed in last
fall's SFC workshop. Armouncement of the
Memorial Lee Garmes Scholarship was
made. A $2 donation was requested for the
evening session. Mark Headley, president of
Castle Productions, Tucson, is executive director
of Southwest Film Consortium.
PETERSON
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BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979 W-3

ANE Acquires Rights
To Wilderness Tale
SALT LAKE CITY— R. V. Coalson.
chairman of American National Enterprises,
announced that ANE has acquired the motion
picture rights to the story of the adventures
of Kady Joost, whose 2,600 mile
solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail
from Mexico to Canada attracted worldwide
attention.
Kady completed her six month odysscy
in October. 1978. The journey was undertaken
both as a personal challenge and as a
move to stir public support for wildlife
preservation. Her novel concerning the
journey should be ready for publication in
the
spring.
.ANE has also acquired tie-in rights to the
book and plans to produce a feature motion
picture based on Joost's experiences.
Joost, a 22-year-old college student, overcame
70 mile-an-hour winds in the desert
and 50-foot snow drifts in the mountains;
a broken back; nightmares; attempted
rape, and the theft of her supplies.
George Gale, who heads ANE's production
facilities in Hollywood, stated, "Kady's
story is one of the rare true adventures
which would be difficult to duplicate even
in the most vivid imagination of a screenwriter.
It will be interesting to work on a
picture where the telling of actual occurances
provides all of the excitement and
drama necessary to build an entertaining
two-hour movie."
ANE, which currently has an inventory
of 40 feature films emphasizing outdoor adventure,
expects Joost's story to be their
first using name stars and directors.
SEATTLE
g»b Pamell of Parnell Film Distributors,
Inc. is back at his desk after visiting
California to attend a Group I Films salesdistribution
conference.
Seattle-Portland Film Exchange under
branch manager Candacc Manning had a
tremendous opening with "Halloween" at
SRO's Cinerama theatre Jan. 17. The film
continued a second week. They also have
an early date for their "No Time for Breakfast"
at United's Varsity.
"Voices" MGM-UA. Jan. 25. all at the
Jewel Box on Filmrow.
Sneak previews have been Buena Vista's
"Take Down" at the Northgate Jan. 18;
Columbia's "Lost and Found" at the Renton
Village Jan. 19; Universal's "Same Time.
Next Year" at the UA Cinema 150 Feb. 2.
and "The Great Train Robbery" at the Varsity
from United Artists also Feb. 2.
Other Jewel Box screenings in the eveings
have been "Movie Movie" from Warner
Bros. Jan. 24. and from Pacific International,
"Across the Great Divide," Jan. 25.
Warner Bros, also screened "Tilt" at the
Cinerama Theatre Jan. 26. Meanwhile Columbia
screened "Hardcore" at the Uptown
Jan. 30 and "Fast Break" at the same spot
Feb. 1.
Major new opening this past week was
"Movie Movie" at the UA Cinema 150 in
downtown Seattle.
Phoenix Film Office Aids
Production of TV Movie
PHOENIX—The Phoenix Motion Picture
Coordinating Office is handling preproduction
liaison with city departments
and completing all location scouting for
Hollywood-based Marty Katz Productions'
two-hour CBS-TV film. "City Spurs." which
plans shooting here in early spring, announces
motion picture coordinator Dina
Bachelor.
The script for the country-western with
music about blue-collar construction workers
and their life-styles in the milieu of
Phoenix bars has been written by Arizona
writer Jeb Rosebrook. Rosebrook wrote the
feature film "Junior Bonner," which starred
Steve McQueen.
'Wild Wild West' TV Film
Under Way at Old Tucson
OLD TUCSON. ARIZ.—"The Wild.
Wild West Revisited." an updated version
of the popular western series, began filming
Feb. 5 at Old Tucson.
Robert Jacks is producing the two-hour
television movie for CBS-TV. Robert Conrad
and Ross Martin are returning in their
roles as sercret service agents James West
and Artemus Gordon.
Thunder Media, Inc., which is now also
in .Seattle, has been busy in the Portland
area where they have numerous successful
promotions on behalf of Disney's re-release
of "Pinocchio," Paramount's "Oliver's Story,"
and "King of the Gypsies."
Paramount, under branch manager Joe
Vigil, opened its Seattle-Portland branch in
Suite 270, 975 John St., in Seattle Jan. 29.
Recent screenings have been: "In Praise
of Older Women," Avco Embassy. Jan. 18;
"Agatha," Warner Bros. Jan. 22; "California
Dreaming," AIP, Jan. 23; "Hometown
USA," Film Ventures, Jan. 24, and

,
reminded
I
Dennis
CHICAGO
rjppermost in the news has been the violent
weather conditions in the Chicago
irea. Exhibitors have been very concerned
iince in most areas grosses have suffered.
The critical weather was also the source of
much inconvenience to industry members
vvho had to depart from crippled O'Hare
Airport for West Coast sales meetings.
A case in point: 20th Century-Fox publicist
Larry Dieckhaus was booked on what
would be a flight involving but a few hours
Jan. 14. When he finally got a plane which
had to be routed via Albuquerque. N.M.
and San Francisco, he missed screenings of
important new product such as "Perfect
Couple," "Quintette" and "Butch and Sundance:
the Early Days." Larry did arrive
in time to see "Breaking Away," which will
this spring be opening in theatres aroimd
the country.
"Breaking Away" will world premiere in
Bloomington, Ind., in April of this year. It
is scheduled to open in conjunction with
the Little 500 Bicycle Race, an annual event
in Bloomington.
"Norma Rae," another new 20th Century-Fox
movie, is expected to receive considerable
exposure here during personal
visits by Martin Plitt (who directed "Conrack"
and "Sounder"), Sally Field, Beau
Bridges
and Ron Leibman.
Louis Marks of
M & R Amusement Co.
reported that despite some good movies
which arrived for holiday season entertainment,
business was "seriously hurt" by the
heavy snow which fell in the Chicago area.
But he said "Beyond and Back" seemed to
bring people out, regardless of the weather.
Exhibitors are keeping their fingers
crossed for such current new openers as
"Ice Castles," "Caravans," "Same Time,
Next Year" and "Movie Movie."
"Moment by Moment" was the big disappointment,
according to many exhibitors.
Some expressed the opinion that Travolta's
drop at the boxoffice in "Moment by
Moment" could mean that his success
started and perhaps ended with "Saturday
ijr
Night Fever." They added that they are
of the quick flash of success
Stallone experienced with "Rocky."
Hutchins was promoted to district
Iji manager for Plitt Theatres, Inc. In this new
Ijipost, Dennis will be handling the chain's
'
Southwestern area theatres. He had served
as a theatre manager for five years and
most recently he was involved in cooperative
advertising . . . Sharon LeMarre will
TECHNICAL SERVICES
ASCCORPORATION
PO Box 5150
SERVING THE NATIONS E«HIBITOHS SiNCt 19j;
TOTAL BOOTH SERVICE, SOUND,
PROJECTION, PARTS. INSTALLATION
AND MAI NTENAN CE
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THEATRE EQUIPMEI '
"STAR TREATMENT SERVICE'
now be handling cooperative advertising under
the direction of Jeriy Bulger, director
of promotion and publicity.
Because of winter storms, the Variety
Club of Illinois had to move the installation
dinner from Jan. 17 to Jan. 31.
One of the four theatres in the General
Cinema Yorktown complex had to close
for a short time because of a small fire.
Scott Nono, who has served as Indianapolis
booker for Paramount Pictures, has
moved ove; to Capitol Records in Chicago.
Theatre Organ Heard
Again-In Restaurant
INDIANAPOLIS. IND.—During the
last
several decades, some 32 Indianapolis theatres
that had pipe organs were shuttered
and their instruments disposed of. But now
this city again has an organ, which first
saw the light of day in the Oakland (Calif.)
Paramount Theatre in 1931. It is the centerpiece
of a new eating establishment, the
500-seat Paramount Music Palace, which
caters to pizza lovers and organ music fans.
The palace opened Tuesday, Jan. 30, reviving
memories of past organ recitals in various
theatres and halls.
Gene Gladson, local theatre buff, who
1976 published a book, "Indianapolis
in
Theatres from A to Z," reported that all
of the organs in local houses had disappeared.
He said a 16-rank Wurlitzer at the
Circle Theatre was removed in I960. The
organ from the Indiana Theatre has been
placed in storage, and the Rivoli organ was
used for parts for other instruments
throughout the country. A buyer from
Orange County. Calif., bought the organs
out of the Loews, the Circle, and the Ohio
theatres at the same time, and shipped them
back to California.
The organ now in Indianapolis service is
one of the largest in the country, being a
four-manual 42-rank instrument. This compares
with a huge Wurlitzer in Radio City
Music Hall, which has 50 ranks.
FILMACK IS
CHOICE
1st
WITH
SHOWMEN
EVERYWHERE
Rivoli Adult Theatre
Denied 1979 License
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.—Fred Armstrong,
city controller, has upheld a Jan.
4 decision by Indianapolis city license manager
Chuck Gcbuhr not to grant a 1979 license
to the Rivoli Theatre, an adult movie
house at 3155 E. Tenth St. Charles Chulchian,
owner of the theatre, had appealed
Gebuhr's ruling to Armstrong, and said he
will appeal the most recent decision to the
license review board, and, if necessary, he
will take the issue to court.
Armstrong earlier had heard testimony
from Indianapolis police vice officers that
they had arrested ten men inside the theatre
for obscene conduct during three visits last
November. In addition, neighborhood complaints
about the theatre were also aired.
Chulchian has filed a suit in Federal
Court here seeking to block the license
revocation, but Chief Federal Judge William
Steckler ruled Chulchian has not exhausted
all his legal remedies before turning
to the Federal Court. Chulchian has
amended his complaint to the Federal Court
in an effort to have the city's obscene conduct
ordinance ruled unconstitutional.
The Near East Side Community Organization
claimed the X-rated films at the Rivoli
have lowered property values and added
to the moral decline of the neighborhood.
Four Youths Are Arrested
For Vandalizing Drive In
LEBANON, IND.—Four youths, ranging
in age from 14 to 16, who were runaways
from the Indiana Methodist Children's
Home, have been arrested, while a
fifth is still being sought, in connection with
an estimated $3,000 worth of vandalism to
the Sky-Vue Drive-In on Lebanon's northwest
side. The children's home is about two
blocks from the drive-in.
Police said the culprits entered the theatre's
concession-projection building Jan. 22
and smashed windows and machinery, and
scattered paper goods throughout the building.
A resident living nearby noticed moving
figures in the building and called poHce.
The theatre is operated by the mayor of
Lebanon. Robert Campbell.
ORDER FROM FILMACK
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SPECIAL FILMS
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NOUNCEMENTS
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ish Avenue. Chic
BOXOmCE :: February 5. 1979 C-1

INDIANAPOLIS
phe Theatre Owners of Indiana have again
this year introduced to the Indiana
State Legislature a proposed Senate Bill No.
348 which would prohibit blind bidding for
motion pictures in the state of Indiana. The
bill has been introduced by Sen. Marlin Mc-
Daniel of Richmond and Sen. Patrick Carroll
of Bloomington. Proponents of the bill
believe Senate Bill No. 348 has a much
better chance of passage this year than last
since more legislators now are more familiar
with blind bidding as it applies to motion
Indianapolis Feb. 9 at the Castleton
Square 2, Lafayette Square 3 and Regency
2 theatres. The title song is sung by Johnny
Mathis and Jane Oliver.
The Rivoli Theatre of this city has been
having problems in securing a renewal of
a city license. This adult movie house is
operated by Charles R. Chulchian, who had
appealed a previous decision for non-renewal
to City Controller. Fred L. Armstrong
who has upheld the decision for nonrenewal.
Armstrong cited arrests for obscene
conduct at the theatre and complaints
from neighborhood residents as a basis for
denial of a license for the Rivoli. Meanwhile
attorneys for the theatre owner filed an
amended complaint in a federal court suit
against the city of Indianapolis which seeks
to have the obscene conduct ordinance declared
unconstitutional. The suit seeks a
HADDENZS
THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY
DRIVE IN
RADIO SYSTEMS
THE ONLY DEALER
WITH EXPERIENCED,
24 HOUR MAINTENANCE IN THE
KENTUCKY/ INDIANA AREA
(502) 896-9578
3709 HUGHES ROAD, LOUISVILLE, KY. 40207
hearing before Federal Judge William E.
Steckler. The original suit, filed earlier this
month, charged the renewal denial violated
Chulchian's First Amendment rights. Chulchian
said Armstrong's decision will be appealed
to the License Review Board, the
final administrative step possible. Any further
action after that must be taken in court.
ST. LOUIS
pictures.
per George C. Scott fans there is double
Friends of Ray Thomas were saddened pleasure in "Movie Movie," which
opened January 31 at Lewis & Clark.
to learn of his death Jan. 28. Ray will be
remembered as a sales representative for Woods Mill, Sunset and BAC Fairview
several film distributors, the most recent for Heights, 111.
Avco Embassy before his retirement for reasons
of health. Ray made many friends "Uncle Joe Shannon" will debut Feb. 9
throughout Indiana and when in good at Ellisville. Halls Ferry, Ronnie's 6 and
Cinema 4.
health was an active supporter in Variety
Club and the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital.
Anthony Quinn and Dominique Sanda
Ray several years ago was a patient at
Will Rogers and was star in "The Inheritance" at South County,
a living testimonial
to the outstanding work done at
St. Andrews. Hi Pointe, Jamestown and
this facility.
Chesterfield Mall.
BiU Daurelle of W.D. Releasing is back
after visiting California to attend a Group Universal's "Same Time, Next Year"
bears out the fact that you don't have to
1 sales-distribution conference.
be married to celebrate happy anniversaries
"Same Time, Next Year," a Mirisch-Mulligan
with someone else's spouse. The romantic
Production for Universal, will open in comedy begins an exclusive engagement
at
the Creve Coeur Feb. 2.
The George Barrie-Brut production "The
Class of Miss MacMichael" sounds like
Britain's answer to "Welcome Back, Kotter,"
The wide multiple showing opened
Feb. 2 with Glenda Jackson and Oliver
Reed featured in the classroom comedy.
A St. Louis County officer was successful
in halting the attempted robbery of Paul
Schultz. manager of the Halls Feriy 6 Cine.
when he was approached by a lone gunman
while about to make a deposit early one
morning at the Lewis and Clark Mercantile
Bank. Officer Frank Durell came upon the
scene while in his patrol car and the robber
fired at him. They exchanged shots, with
the officer chasing the suspect on foot. He
fled without taking any money, escaping
across a field.
CIJVERA91A IS m SHOW
BUSUVESS LV HAWAII TOO,
When yoii conic to Wuikiki,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel. f
THEWTRE EQUIPMENT
"Everything for the Theatre"
339 No. CAWTOL AVE.. INDIANAPOLIS, IND
FIRST RUN
REPORT
(Average is 100)
Kansas Ciiy
Across the Great Divide (PIE),
6 theatres. 2nd wk 370
Brass Target (UA). 3 theatres,
5th wk 55
Bread and Chocolate (SR),
Watts Mill, 5th wk 150
California Suite
(Col),
3 theatres, 5th wk 250
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),
4 theatres, 5th wk 445
Force 10 From Navarone (AI),
5 theatres, 5th wk 90
In Praise of Older Women (Emb),
6 theatres, 1st wk 220
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA),
4 theatres, 5th wk 115
King of the Gypsies (Para),
3 theatres, 5th wk 80
The Lord of the Rings (UA),
Embassy, Watts Mill, 5th wk 150
Moment by Moment (Univ),
3 theatres, 5th wk 85
Oliver's Story (Para),
4 theatres, 6th wk 85
Superman (WB), Empire, Glenwood,
6th wk 245
Up in Smoke (Para), Trail Ridge,
17th wk 75
The Wiz (Univ), Midland, 12th wk. ... 40
Chicago
Autumn Sonata (MW), Biograph,
6th wk 300
Beyond and Back (SR), 20 theatres,
1st wk 475
Bronson Lee, Champion (SR),
Roosevelt, 2nd wk 225
California Suite (Col), 14 theatres,
5th wk 225
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),
10 theatres, 6th wk 250
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA),
7 theatres, 5th wk 200
Moment by Moment (Univ),
3 theatres, 5th wk 100
Superman (WB), 10 theatres,
5th wk 250
Watership Down (Emb), 6 theatres,
1st wk 400
J;mies Bridges will adapt "The World
According to Garp" for the screen and will
direct the feature set to begin shooting next
year.
RCilon all
Nationwide
Sound and
Projection Service
brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
7620 Gioss Pomi Road, Skokie. Ill 60076
Phone (312) 478-6591
Februarv 5. 1979

Hollywood Is
Getting the Message:
Film Audiences Want Most to Laugh
CHICAGO—Gene Siskel, critic for the
Chicago Tribune and member of the National
Screen Council, offered a retrospective
look at cinematic humor as we move
into the final year of the decade. His insights
appear below:
The most important thing that may be
said about the current state of film humor
brainless, light-as-a-feather entertainments.
Therefore, with audiences of all ages eager
to howl and film financiers ready to back
"Heaven Can Wait"
feather entertainment
is that rarely befoie have Hollywood executives
been so eager to finance comedies. The
most successful movies today are escapist,
light-as-acomedies.
the bottom line is: It's up to the
writers and directors to make us laugh.
And who on the big screen is making us
laugh today? Well, the history of '70s American
film comedy may be summed up in five
words: Woody Allen and Mel Brooks. They
are the true masters, and when their careers
are over, they undoubtedly will be
ranked with the giants of their genre: Chaplin,
Keaton, the Marx brothers and Laurel
& Hardy.
The essential Mel Brooks film is also his
biggest hit—"Blazing Saddles" (1974), the
uproarious western sendup best known for
its revisionist campfire scene.
But there is more to Brooks' humor than
breaking taboos. All of his films since "Blazing
Saddles" have been built on his great
love affair with the movies he saw as a
child.
In the last year of this decade. Brooks is
hard at work on his seventh feature film,
"The History of the World, Part I." a series
of vignettes of great moments in history.
This marks the first time in five years that
Brooks isn't making a genre movie.
^jjf
"
The comic filmmaker who has grown the
most during the decade is, of course,
Woody Allen, who like Brooks, is a Brooklyn-bom
Jew. The essential Woody Allen
film, and also his most popular, is "Annie
^ Hall," the first comedy in 40 years to be
awarded the Best Picture Oscar. At the decade's
end Allen was widely quoted as saying
serious movies were more important
than comedies. His serious. Ingmat Bergman-like
"Interiors" did find a considerable
audience, but Allen's remarks unnecessarily
denigrate "Annie Hall," which, even
by Allen's own admission, was a serious
film—a serious comedy.
Allen has said he "had a point to prove"
in "Annie Hall" and that the point was the
truth of his last speech in the film. In
narration he sums up his attitude toward
human relationships. "There's an old joke,"
he says. "A man tells his psychiatrist, 'Doc.
you got to help me. My brother thinks he's
a chicken.' The doctor says. 'Why don't
you have him put away?' And the man
says. 'I would, but we need the eggs.' That's
how I feel about relationships," Allen concludes
in the film. "They're irrational, crazy,
and absurd; but we keep going through
them because we need the eggs."
Brooks and Allen are our two best comic
filmmakers working today, but they are not
the only ones. As a matter of fact,
the bestselling
comedy in history was made last year
and not by Brooks or Allen.
It's "National Lampoon's Animal House,"
which, at year's end, has grossed a staggering
$102 million, or four times as much as
"Annie Hall."
"The new Mel Brooks"
The people behind "Animal House" are
all in their late 20s or early 30s and have
their comic roots in either the National
Lampoon humor magazine, the "Saturday
Night Live" TV show, or our own Second
City school of humor. If there is going to be
a "new Mel Brooks." he or she probably
will come out of this group.
So far the smart money is betting on John
Lard-s. the 28-year-old director of "Animal
House." whose next project is a comic remake
of the 1957 sci-fi film "The Incredible
Shrinking Man." But Landis' remake stars
Lily Tomlin and is called "The Incredible
Shrinking Woman." It seems that Landis is
following Brooks' lead by affectionately
poking fun at the films that entertained him
as a child.
"The reason I'm making the film." he
says, "is because if you go up to someone
on the street and tell them you're making
'The Incredible Shrinking Woman' with Lily
Tomlin, they say, 'Ah-hah' and laugh; that's
why."
Trend Toward Silliness
This trend toward silliness is pitched
mostly at young people, who. happily for
Landis and Company, are the most avid
filmgoers. But persons over. say. 40 do not
have to fear their funny bones won't be
tickled as we move into the 1980s.
One of the most prolific film comedy
writers of the '70s has been Neil Simon,
whose last original film script. "The Goodbye
Girl," was his best. Simon's films feature
older actors and are pitched at older
audiences. "The Cheap Detective," with the
likes of Peter Falk and Eileen
Brennan, just
doesn't make it with young audiences. Also
popular with older audiences are the come-
The "Pink Panther" series -making
it with young audiences.
dies of Blake Edwards, who of late has been
making very successful "Pink Panther"
films.
After discussing Brooks. Allen. Simon,
and the National Lampoon School, there
isn't much to talk about in film comedy.
Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby are the most
popular black comedians, but suffer under
the prejudice that films with predominantly
black casts are boxoffice risks. A little discussed
but enormously profitable line of
comedy in the '70s has been the sex-film
spoof, the most profitable of which has been
an X-rated version of "Alice in Wonderland."
Action
Comedies Profitable
Also cheap but profitable are actioncomedies
like "Death Race 2000," a car
crash flick, made for teen-agers. Burt Reynolds'
"good old boy" movies, including such
huge hits as "Smokey and the Bandit" and
"Hooper." also fall into the action-comedy
category. Hollywood will continue to finance
Reynolds in that kind of film as long
as he wants to make it. Lately Reynolds has
been saying that he would like to make films
with more substance.
So much for what is on the screen.
What's missing is funny films created by
women (with Elaine May's marvelous "A
New Leaf" and "The Heartbreak Kid" being
two notable exceptions) and films featuring
comedy teams. It's likely that the
movement to get more women into writing
and directing movies will result in a few
comedies, but to date the seriousness of the
women's movement understandably is producing
more serious movies.
Social Comedy in Short Supply
That social comedy is in short supply also
may be due to the audience's taste. The
audience that made "Animal House" and
"Up in Smoke" monster hits, the audience
that laughs at food fights and potheads. isn't
likely to care for a comedy full of ideas.
No. the jokes that are selling best in the
movies today are the "whoopee-cushion" variety.
Come to think of it, maybe it's time
for a
reissue of Mel Brooks' campfire scene.
Gordon MacRae will portray the chief
of flight operations in "The Pilot."
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979
C-3

Cancer is often curable.
The fear ofcancer
is often f^tal.
)
Some people are so
afraid of cancer they won't
go to the doctor when they
suspect something's wrong.
Or even for a routine checkup.
They're afraid the doctor
will "find something'.' ,
This fear can prevent them •
\ f
from discovering cancer
in the early stages when it is
most often curable.
There are over
3,000,000 people alive today
who have had cancer.
If that surprises you, it shouldn't.
Cancer is highly curable.
-^U^ J-
5 p American Cancer Society S SPACE COmHIBUTF.D BY THE FTOUSHER AS A fVMJC SBRVICE
C-4
BOXOFFICE :: February 5. 1979

MIAMI
16-year-oId
J^
youth has been arrested after
allegedly making several phone
threats to blow up the Pussy Cat Theatre
on Biscayne Boulevard and 78th Street in
Miami. The caller said that unless Tempest
Storm and Brandy Wine, strippers at
the X-rated film and stage theatre, person-
taining $105 disappeared after police
stopped the wrong person. The youth
of the Pussycat, where the entertainers
perform between showings of X-rated
movies. The youth has admitted the crime
and has been released to the custody of
million, but the police do not think the
caller would have planted a bomb.
The first two or three times, the police
had to stop the show in order to bring the
bomb squad and dogs into the theatre.
Griffith has said he answered several of
the calls himself.
The North Miami Board of Adjustment
this past week tabled a request to open
a theatre in the 127th Street Shopping
Center after learning there was no way to
ban X-rated movies there. Jerry Geraldi,
who moved to table the request, said he
believed attorney Si Chadroff's statement
that the proposed Biscayne Twin theatres
would not show X-rated movies, but the
owners might sell out.
According to Geraldi's motion, the application
will be reconsidered if the city
council passes an ordinance allowing theatres
showing G-, PG- and R-rated films to
operate in highway commercial districts
and theatres showing X-rated films to operate
in the light industrial district.
The art deco-style Cinema Theatre on
Miami Bea:h got another reprieve— this
time 36 days—the other day, although
wrecking crews already have destroyed
some irreplacable murals and part of the
stairway. The demolition crew had already
the delay is to give MDPL a further opportunity
to come up with a financial entity
with the experience and resources to
operate the building. Alterations planned
by Brandt would redo the lobby, creating
two small stores such as those that presently
line Washington Avenue. Brandt said he
would leave the interior as is, but League
members say the lobby cannot be altered
without making future renovation attempts
far more difficult.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Simone will be saluted
Feb. 12 as King and Queen of Hearts
by the Var-iety Children's Hospital Women's
Committee.
Al Ruddy, here from Hollywood, has
been introduced to local residents at social
functions he has attended as a producer of
"The Godfather" and "The Longest Yard."
Martin Theatres Plans
To Buy Six Cinemas
RALEIGH, N.C. — Martin Theatres of
Columbus, Ga., has reached an oral agreement
to purchase six independently owned
movie houses in the Raleigh-Cary area, a
local theatre executive said Jan. 23.
Sanford "Sandy" Jordan, area manager
ally delivered $3 million from the theatre
to him—he would bomb the theatre. The
for the Georgia-based theatre chain, said
youth was picked up when
NEW
he bicycled
OFFICE—The
to a
staff of the recently
his company plans to take over the Terrace
tool
in box is was filled
(left with the money.
to right) the in Cary.
Pictures
some blocks away where he thought a
branch
opened
New
Columbia
Orleans
and Fitzgerald twin cinemas in Raleigh and
Regency Twin
tree
gray
Eunice Peeples, Nancy Coplin, Geralyn
Jordan would not discuss the purchase
Instead, while police watched nearby, he
picked up the box filled with
Gaudet, Bill
shredded
Vaden, Sissy Miranda, price because the contracts had not been
newspapers and Roxanne a
St.
bottle of alcohol
Roniain
for
and Michelle signed.
Hubbard. Seated is Jeff Lee, branch The acquisitions would give the Martin
extra weight. A previous drop set up by
manager.
to failed a con-
police catch him when bag
circuit ten theatres in Raleigh and Cary,
making it the biggest theatre operator in the
begun dismantling about 50 feet of lobby Martin owns the Valley Twin theatres
area.
at Crabtree Valley Mall and the Village
called after that to say if he didn't get in the 1235 Washington Ave. building that
Twin in Cameron Village Shopping Center
all the money he was really going to blow lies within a district the state presently is
up the place, said Leroy Griffith, owner considering for National Landmark designation.
here.
The Miami Design Preservation The company owns 250 other theatres in
League, a 1,000 member group that nominated
Southern states.
ten.
the district, was negotiating with the The Terrace Twin, in Colony Shopping
Cinema's New York owners to halt alterations
Center on Six Forks Road, is owned by Wilsion.
at least until the state's Feb. 8 deciliam
Rawls of Raleigh. The Fitzgerald the-
Landmark designation would provide atres—the Screening Room and the Sound
tax incentives for historic renovation on Stage—and the Regency theatres are owned
the building.
by Lou and Dick De Angelis, who also operate
his parents pending Juvenile Court action.
Police have said that up to 20 extortion
telephone calls have been made to the
theatre—on Sept. 25, Dec. 23 and this
past week, with the amount of money Robert Brandt, spokesman
Amedeo's restaurants here.
for the Brandt
demanded escalating from $500,000 to $3 family, which owns the building, has said
FILMACK IS
1st CHOICE
WITH
SHOWMEN
Alert Coble TV to Expand
Services in Raleigh, N.C
RALEIGH, N.C. — Alert Cable TV of
North Carolina Inc. hopes to expand its
service by the first of March.
Alert received a Federal Communications
Commission construction permit last week
to build an "earth-receive" station at its
Garner offices.
The station will allow Alert to offer several
new services including an entertainment
package with first-run, uncut movies and a
sports package from Madison Square Garden.
Alert serves Garner, Cary and Apex, all
Wake County towns.
Regional manager James T. McHugh said
Jan. 19 he hopes to begin the new service
by March 1.
ORDER FROM FILMACK
WHENEVER YOU NEED
SPECIAL FILMS
DATE STRIPS,
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.SPECIAL AN-
Inouncements
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979

. . . "Same
. . "California
. .
. .
. . . Terry
. And
ATLANTA
^radepress screenings have perked up.
Steve Newton reports for Century
Cinema on Tullie Circle: "Sweet Creek
County War," Warner Brothers . . "Real
.
Life," Paramount Pictures . . . "The Psychic"
and "Home Town, U.S.A.", Chappell
Releasing . Dreaming,"
American International . . . "Killian's Witness,"
New World Pictures of Atlanta.
Screened at Films Incorporated Preview
Center were "The Brink's Job." Universal
Pictures . . . "Ice Castles," Columbia Pictures
. . . "Movie Movie," Warner Brothers
Time Next Year," Universal
Pictures.
Marquee changes: Only three new films
are on the horizon. Akers Mill, Greenbriar
Mall Twin, AMC Omni 6. Parkaire Mall
Twin, Cobb Center 4. South DeKalb Mall
Quad, Brannon Square Twin, Northlake,
AMC Tower Place 6, Mableton Triple and
seven drive-ins; "Good Guys Wear Black"
er Place 6 and attracted an audience that
was pleased and tittilated with the George
Scott and Trish Van Devere doubleheader.
They are playing Tower Place, Westgate,
Cobb Center and Parkaire theatres.
Norman Schneider, who owns and operates
the Canton Corners Twin Cinemas in
Marietta, Ga., has bought the Snellville
Cinema from George Shepp, who formerly
was associated with the Eastern Federal
Circuit, Atlanta as manager of the chain's
Cherokee Theatre (now a music hall). Howard
(Doc) Hopwood is doing the buying
and booking for the three theatres.
During the January meeting of the At- Larry Bryggman ha
lanta WOMPIs, the nominating committee co-starring role in ".
was elected. Members are: Mary Brannon, All."
chairman, American International; Esther
Osley of The International Picture Show
Co., and Fentress Carr. The WOMPIs plan
another "Meet and Greet" luncheon March
21 at the Films Incorporated Screening
Room. John Stembler, past chief barker of
the Variety Club, and Stewart Harnell, the
present chief barker, were present at the
meeting to discuss with the WOMPIs what
they can do to help with the Variety Club
Telethon to be held on WXIA-TV, who will
handle the programming March 10 and 11.
James Dixon, assistant to AIP Branch
Manager Glenn Simonds, has been promoted
and transferred to a similar position in
Jacksonville. He replaces Richard Lewis,
who resigned to accept a position with
AMC in Jacksonville. Dixon had been with
AIP in Atlanta for five years and his many
friends in Atlanta wish for him the best of
good fortune. Meanwhile, Simonds is casting
about for a new assistant.
Susan Jo Jackson, formerly with New
World Pictures of Atlanta, has resigned to
matriculate in the University of Georgia
is a long list of Atlanta actors of the psychological
thriller, who have been carrying
the film as a credit on their resumes
since the picture was completed around
Covington, Ga., back in 1975. The film
did play a "World Premiere" in shopping
a
center in Covington, but was at a dead end
as far as distribution.
Avco Embassy Pictures finally picked up
the film and it has been getting playdates in
Nashville, Huntsville and Miami and set
up an "Atlanta Premiere" with showings at
the Lakewood and Omni theatres and four
drive-ins.
been signed for a
Justice for
FIRST RUN
REPORT
(Average Is 100)
New Orleans
California Suite (Col), Plaza, 5th wk. . .350
Force Ten From Navarone (AI), Plaza,
5th wk 100
Keoma Avenger (SR). Loews, 1st wk. . . 100
The Lord of the Rings (UA), 5th wk. . .300
National Lampoon's Animal House
(Univ). Lakeside, 24th wk 600
Nurse Sherri (SR). Loews, 1st wk 200
Oliver's Story (Para). Plaza,
Robert E. Lee. 5th wk 100
Paradise Alley (Univ), Lakeside,
5th wk 200
Sasquatch (SR). Lakeside, 2nd wk S
The Wiz (Univ), Orpheum, Sena Mall,
5th wk 300
NEW ORLEANS
in Athens. Kathy Pittman is the new face in
with Chuck Norris as John T. Booker the accounting department of New World
.
AMC Tower Place 6, Westgate, Cobb Center
and Parkaire. "Movie Movie," starring Clark Releasing Co. to accept a position
Leseureur has resigned from
George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere with United Artists and Sherry Cole is a
.
Joseph Pess, Columbia PR man. was in town
Mableton Triple. Perimeter Mall. Southlake.
Greenbriar Twin. Miracle Twin, Rosment.
new clerk in the UA accounting depart-
workiing with Jeff Lee, local branch
manager, and Irene Mexic, Star Advertising,
on advance publicity for "Ice Castles"
well Village Twin, Suburban Plaza Twin,
Too bad the producers of "Scalpel," a
Walt Disney's "The Love Bug."
picture made in Georgia, by Joseph Weintraub
starring Robby Benson and Colleen Dewhurst.
Warner
and John Grissmer, ran up against
Bros, staged a sneak preview An ice skating telethon is being
of
the old
"Movie Movie"
bugaboo of independent filmmakers—they
couldn't find a distributor. There for the Easter Seal Organization. A
Jan. 19
planned at the
at the AMC Tow-
Lake Forest Ice Skating rink
preview
of "Ice Castles" was held at the Lakeside,
Oakwood and Plaza cinemas Jan. 26.
On the heels of the successful engagement
of the motion picture "The Wiz," the
Broadway production of the play is scheduled
to open at the Theatre of Performing
Arts May 30 . . . Cheech and Chong, whose
movie "Up in Smoke" is currently playing,
are also scheduled for a personal appearance
at the Theatre of Performing Arts.
"Superman" has finally arrived in New
Orleans and from all indications of opening
week, he will be here for quite a while.
Paramount screened "Days of Heaven"
Feb. 1 at the Sena Mall Theatre.
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WOMPI members at the January closed
meeting elected Earline Dupuis (chairman),
Anna Power and Imelda Giessinger,
to the nominating committee. It was also
voted and passed at the January meeting
that the New Orleans Club would institute
a Will Rogers project to be headed by Will
Rogers chaiiman Earline Dupuis.
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SE-2 BOXOFFICE :: Fcbruarv 5, 19791

THE E.O. CORPORATION
Presents
EARL OWENSBY in LIVING LEGEND
Also Starring GINGER ALDEN
With WILLIAM T. HICKS-JERRY RUSHING-TOBY WALLACE-KRISTINA REYNOLDS-GREG CARSWELL
MAGGIE LAUTERER-MAURICE WILLIAMS-DAVID ALLAN COE and THE SKWYDRO-HEEGIE BAND
Produced by EARL OWENSBY-Directed by WORTH KEETER-Written by TOM MclNTYRE
Original Soundtrack by ROY ORBISON-Director of Photography DARRELL CATHCART
DO DOLBY STEREO -Wide Screen Color by DELUXE 'Xs^ValUt' TszT.^^^^^^^^^

Tucker,
I
^
CHARLOTTE
PALM BEACH 1
theatre on an extended run prior to "Halloween."
This is the film's premiere in the
Carolinas. John R. McClure, Charlotte
Booking, who has the distribution rights on
ITerman Stone, executive with Consolidated
QIaude J. Schlanger, president of Budco j;
"Halloween" in the Carolinas, will break
Theatres and president of Theatre
Theatres, will soon be moving to his
with 47 prints in all the keys March 2.
Owners of North and South Carolina, was
new home in Boca Raton.
interviewed on prime time on both the NATO appointed 1979 committee chairmen
recently, and Charlotte was represent-
Director / author / playwright/ producer
,
morning and evening news. The topic of discussion
was blind bidding, which Stone ed by three luminaries. They are: Conven-
Josh Logan, his wife Nedda, daughter Su- .
san and son Tom, who performed at the
,
called an injustice to the exhibitor. The tion awards, Charles B. Trexler (executive
Society of Four Arts Jan. 16. were houseguests
of Mary Lee and Douglas Fairbanks
Theatre Owners organization is working relentlessly
at the capitol in Raleigh, N.C., president, vice-chairman, Herman A. Stone
with Stewart & Everett Theatres); regional
at their home, the Vicarage, where a dinner
was given in the Logans' honor. Among
to pass legislation siinilar to that in South (executive with Consolidated Theatres); special
membership service, Sam W. Craver
Carolina, which requires a screening before
those attending was Rose Kennedy, mother
bidding can take place.
(executive with Consolidated Theatres).
|
of former president John Kennedy. i
Jerrj' Theimer, executive with Piedmont Bobby Benefield (Avco Embassy) announces
they have moved from the third
According to Danny Lamp, Budco Cen-|
Theatres, announces the acquisition of the
tury Twin manager, school children havel
following theatres: The Hub and Stra.nd. floor in the Northwestern Bank Building to
been arriving by the busload to attend"
Georgetown, S.C: the Hub, Gaffney, S.C; Suite 484 and will retain the same telephone
matinee performances of Universal's "The '
the Star, Greensboro, N.C., and the Center number. (704) 375-9827.
Wiz."
Theatre and the Farm Drive-In, Lenoir,
Trish Hammil has resigned from Southern
Booking, moving to Piedmont Theatres.
N.C. Theimer announces more theatres are
Jerry Lewis has been running all around
in the blueprint stage.
the city trying to find a home in which to
She will be succeeded by Vicki Benefield
shoot one of the scenes for his upcoming
There is only one new film on the marquee
this week, "The Class of Miss Mac-
Tar Heel Films. Good luck to both!
movie. "Hardly Working." Joseph Proctor,.
Notes from Southern Booking: On Jan. 33-year old producer of the film and former
investment banker, recently spoke at
Michael." at the Charlottetown Mall III.
26 the fourth auditorium of the Hickory
Screening this week at Car-Mel: "Mistress
of the Apes." Variety Pictures; "Five Glenn Hill, manager couldn't wait to start ter plans to produce four more films. "The
Hills-Florence opened with "Superman." the Chamber of Commerce meeting. Proc-
Days From Home," Universal; "Hardcore," money-making in the new addition. The Awakening," which will star Julie Christie,
Columbia; "Silent Partner," Simpson's Distributing
Co., and "California Dreaming," thing in it but seats, so Glenn decided to others not yet titled. Although "Hardly i
problem was that the theatre had every-
another film titled "The Gig" and still two
American International.
try a Disco Night, using theatre non-sync, Working" was written with Denver in]
special hghts, and so on ... he sold it on mind, Proctor sees Palm Beach County as;
"The Exorcist" was screened at the Miniradio,
charging $2 a head. In two nights he an ideal setting for the story. "Instead of
Cinema, Rock Hill, S.C. . . . "Ice Castles"
picked up plenty of bread. All that "green" talking about the Denver Broncos we talk
(Columbia) had a sneak preview at the
and no film rental. Good thinking, Glenn! about the Miami Dolphins," he says. Production
is scheduled to encompass upwards
South Park I.
Top grosses of the week: "Superman,"
Donny Hyatt, Lancaster, S.C. set special
of 60 Palm Beach County locations and
Charlottetown Mall II and Tryon Mall
school showing of "Romeo and Juliet" Jan.
II;
shooting is to begin Monday, Feb. 19.
15-19.
"California Suite," South Park I; "The
"Lovers and Other Strangers" opened'
Wiz," Capri I; "Halloween," Manor Theatre.
a new client, the College Park Cinema in Theatre with Frank Logan as its star. Lo-.
Southern Booking is pleased to welcome Jan. 17 for a six-week run at the Oakland
Charlie Hunsuck, United Artists branch Wilksboro, N.C. which will be managed by gan has had major roles in over 30 major;
manager, screened "Voices," an MGM production,
at Car-Mel before an enthusiastic dith.
Me." "Tony Rome" and "Black Sunday."
Eddy Knight and his assistant Doug Sud-
films including "Somebody Up There Likes'
audience. This picture is a potential boxoffice
hit— all you could hear were raves
Al Viola was in town from New York The Tyrone Theatre, Tyrone Shopping,
for a confab with Bob McClure of Variety Center. St. Petersburg, which has under-,
around Filmrow.
Films discussing plans on a new picture in gone many changes since it was built in
"Halloween" is in its fifth week in the the making. Viola was star and producer 1965, recently became an "art" house offering
the city foreign films and alternative
Manor Theatre and still doing a fantastic of "Preacherman," which amassed fantastic
business, due to the astute showmanship of grosses and is known in the business as a film fare. Fourteen years ago. when it was
young manager Robert Hall, who did such "sleeper." Incidentally, "Preacherman" is
first built, it was the first new moviehouse
a fine job on "Magic" which played at the playing now as a combo with "Thunder in St. Petersburg in 35 years. It is part of
Road" (United .\rtists release).
the Wometco Miami-based chain. Though
it was new for its time it now is the only
FLORIDA THEATRE
single-screen moviehouse in the city. In
1974 the theatre was subleased to Mini
EQUIPMENT
1
Theatres of Miami, who transformed it into
& SUPPLY CO., INC.
lOOKING SERVICESS^
an X-rated motion picture theatre. Poor
"IVERVTHINC YOU NIED FOR YOUR THEATRE' 230 S. Tryon St., Suite 362, Chorlotte, N.C.
business and pressures by the currounding
1%feN.E. 149th St. •N.Miai " ''^""
Frank Lowry " . . . Bill Cline
community forced Wometco once again to
Phone: (704) 377-9341
take control. It then became a $l-at-all-
Tel: (3051
times
family film house.
704.333-9651
crs
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Phone • |4Q4| 934-9333
Projection Service
brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
BOXOFFICE :: February
SE-4
.'>. 197'

'lancelotoftheLake'
SlaledloOpenFeslival
SAN ANTONIO—"Lancelot of the
Lake," a feature film by Robert Biesson,
will start the parade of films from around
the world at the 13th annual international
film festival, Hemisfilm '79 Feb. 5 at CEC
Auditorium at St. Mary's University.
Features Variety of Fare
Hemisfilm '79 will be held Feb. 5, 6
and 7 and will feature long films, short
films, animated films, documentaries and
more' from such countries as Venezuela,
Australia, China, France, England, Uruguay
and the United States.
At 7 p.m. each evening, there will be a
"warm-up" screening. The name of the film
or films to be shown will net be announced
in the regular program and will start at
8 p.m. with no admission charge.
The International Fine Aits Center of the
Southwest, sponsors of the annual film festival,
is a not-for-profit organization "devoted
to the cultural enrichment of the
southwest community."
Harvey C. Allen, Famous
Theatre Architect. Dead
DALLAS—Funeral services foi Harvey
C. Allen, 91, widely known theatre architect
and builder, were held Saturday, Jan.
20 in Vernon, Tex.
He died Jan. 17 in Austin.
Allen moved to Lamesa in 1923 from
Turkey, Tex., and maintained his architectural
offices in Lamesa until he moved to
Austin about two years ago.
During his years in Lamesa. he became
known throughout the Southwest and Midwest
for the great number of structures he
designed and built.
He was a specialist in motion picture
theatre design and construction and over
the years, and designed numerous theatres
for the Noret, Frontier and Blankenship
chains, ranging from the huge elaborate
movie palaces of the 1920s and '30s to the
recent multiplex units in
the larger cities.
In summer 1978 he was honored by the
Theatre Historical Society of America for
his contribution to theatre design.
DALLAS
JJobby Benson, star of Columbia's new release
"Ice Castles," was scheduled to
be in town Jan. 31. for promotional interviews
with area news media.
James P. Prichard of New World Pictures
here is happy with the highly successful
run of "Halloween" which opened before
Thanksgiving and is still running in
five of the eight theatres in which it opened
in Houston. New World is now getting ready
for an April 21 statewide break of "Harper
Valley PTA."
Richard Peterson, salesman at Dai-Art,
reports that the eleven days of grosses of
"She Came to the Valley," which opened
in the Valley, exceeded $72,000. The film
is about Pancho Villa's invasion of the
Texas towns back at the turn of the century.
Bob Bowers, regional sales manager for
Universal, held a regional sales meeting in
his office Jan. 24 with branch managers
Bob Taylor. New Orleans; Charles Hudgens,
Memphis; Mike Dunn, Des Moines;
Bob O'Donnell, Variety Club of Texas
chief barker, revealed in a newsletter to club
members that in 1978 "a total of $336,000
was disbursed (by Variety) to nine charities."
"Last year, I believe, can go down as
one of the biggest years in Tent 17 history."
This year, he said. Variety of Texas will
take on an additional charity which will be
known as the Variety Club Limb Bank
which will be handled separately through
the Dallas Rehabilitation Institute. It will
furnish electronic limbs to children born
without limbs or who have lost limbs
through accidents. The chief barker also announced
the first event for the year: The
Eric Morley luncheon at Loew's Anatole
Hotel Feb. 13. On that day 12 new busses,
the result of last year's telethon, will be
dedicated.
Tradescreenings: Plitt Screening Room
had "Voices." UA; "The Great Train Robbery,"
UA; "California Dreaming" AIP;
"Hometown USA," McCrary & Associates,
and "The Fox Affair," Grimes. Twentieth
Century Fox Screening Room had "Which
Way Do We Dig?", Crump, and "Frankie
and Johnnie," Crump. Medallion Theatre
had "Lost and Found," Columbia, and the
Valley View Theatre screened "Take
Down," Buena Vista.
Misty Pickett, formerly with Dai-Art, has
moved from distribution to exhibition. She
is now with Noret Theatres.
Greoge Pratt, formerly with National
Screen Service, is now with George S. May
International Management Consultants.
Steve Miller, Kansas City; Ken Durbin. St. Pratt will be based in Dallas as executive
Louis, and Dan Snyder, Dallas. Also in attendance
from the Dallas sales and account-
regions and Canada. He left Friday. Jan. 26
consultant covering East and Central U.S.
ing office were Ed Harris, John Williams. to spend two weeks in Chicago.
Bob Lee, John Trickett and Tom Ludlow.
Paramount tradescreened "The Secret
Life of Plants." the film version of the
best-selling book, directed by an Academy
Award winner, with music and lyrics by
Stevie Wonder.
Southwestern Theatre Equipment announced
the addition of Bob Hornberger
to staff, effective Jan. 29. Hornberger was
formerly with ASC Service, and will continue
to reside and work in this area. Bob
(Continued on following page)
"Go Modern...For All Your Theatre Needs'
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SALES & SERVICE
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Stifflirt 6 Strricr
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2200 YOUNG STREET DALLAS, TEXAS, 75201 • TELEPHONE 747-3191
UTSA Students Schedule
New Film Series for Spring
SAN ANTONIO—The University of
Texas-San Antonio student representative
assembly announced the four movies to be
shown during its spring film series. They
are free and open to the public.
The movies will be shown in the humanities-business
building in continuous showings
from 12:30 to 10 p.m. The first film
in the series was shown Jan. 25 and was
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Smarter Brother."
Other films in the series: Feb. 22, "The
Other Side of Midnight"; March 8, "I Never
Promised You a Rose Garden," and
April 12, "Silent Movie."
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979
Pinkston Sales & Service
MOTION PICTURE EQUIPMENT
Complete Sales Service or Repair
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR MANY MANUFACTURERS
Ed Cernosek
2017 Young St.
Dallas, Tex. 75231
Jim Fritz
214-741-1637
or 741-1638
SW-1

audiences through television and education-
\
SAN ANTONIO
phe \>oodlann 1 cV 2, which most recently
had been operated by Texas National
Theatres, has been closed. One screen regularly
featured Spanish-language films while
the second screen had English-language features
. . . The downtown Empire Theatre,
which had been in operation for a number
of years, has been closed.
Herbie the Love Bug and Happy the
Clown apeared at a Love Bug party held
at the Northwest Six at noon Saturday, Jan.
27. The Wait Disney comedy opened Friday.
Jan. 26 at the Northwest Six. Century
South and UA Cine Cinco. A child-sized,
2, is now slated to open Feb. 26. The theatre
complex will be operated by United
Artists Theatres which currently operates
the UA Movies 4 in South Park Mall and
UA Cine Cinco in the Windsor Park Mall.
The heyday of movies, the 1930s, was revived
Sunday, Jan. 28 for two days at the
Olmos Theatre. Two vintage films of that
era were shown as a double feature for
those who relish films from Hollywood's
golden past. "The Women" was screened at
7 p.m. and "42nd Street" at 9:30 p.m., both
Sunday and Monday. There was a special
Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. with "The
Women" being shown followed by '42nd
Street" at 5:10 p.m.
New film titles appearing on local marquees
and titles of films returning for additional
playing time included "In Praise of
Older Women," "Last House on Dead End
Street," "The Class of Miss MacMichael,"
"The Love Bug," "Oliver's Story." "Count
Dracula and His Vampire Bride." "Gente
Violcnta" and "Terremoto en Guatemala."
HOUSTON
Waylon Jennings appeared in concert at
the Summit and is scheduled to sing several
songs at Gilley's Club for the upcoming film
"Urban Cowboy" which will be filmed there
in March.
The Deer Park Parks and Recreation Department
sponsored a Laurel and Hardy
film festival in the Deer Park Community
Center. In addition to the movies featuring
the two comedians, there was a Laurel and
Hardy lookalike contest.
Film titles appearing here for the first
time and films returning for additional
playing time included "The Class of Miss
McMichael," "Midnight Express," "Dogs,"
"Love and Death," "Everything You Wanted
to Know About Sex." "The Women,"
"42nd Street," "Dracula." "Nosferatu,"
"Emmanuelle," "Joys of a Woman." "Girl
Friends" and "Legacy."
"Hollywood on Trial," a documentary
about the HUAC purge of suspected communists
in the movie industry, was sched-
uled for showing at the Rice Media Center
Feb. 5. Alvah Bessie, screenwriter and a
member of the "Hollywood Ten" sentenced
to prison, is to be there in person to discuss
Special film showings included "Gims ot
his experiences after the screening.
Navarone," "The Day of the Jackal" plus
"Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" at Trinity
University; "That Darn Cat" at the Las
Palmas YWCA; "Las Abandonadas" DALLAS
at the
Mexican Cultural Institute; "To Fly" at the
Institute of Texan Cultures; "The Adventures
of Robinson Crusoe" at the Humani-
(Continued from preceding page)
ties-Business Bldg of UTSA, and "Monkey Mortensen and Jim Mustard feel the addition
of Hornberger will be a tremendous
Business" at the Loftin Student Center, San
Antonio College.
asset to Southwestern, not only in sound
and booth service, but also in sales and
other aspects of the industry. They also feel
that this is another step towards making
Southwestern a more available and complete
supplier for Texas and surrounding
driveable replica of The Love Bug will be
on display in the Northwest Six for the full producers from Paramoimt will conduct states. Hornberger can be reached through
run of the movie. Happy the Clown distributed
open auditions for the film "Urban his residence in Dallas (214) 436-8979 or
500 Love Bug balloons to the children Cowboy" at Gilley's Club in Pasadena. Pri-
through the Houston office (713) 654-1461
attending the opening feature of the movie. marily needed are men and women ages 19 v/hich answers 24 hours.
to 25. No acting experience is necessary, but
The UA Ingram 6, which was scheduled
be opend in the Ingram Park Mall Feb.
people with a rodeo background are being
sought.
to
NEH Awards University
Grant to Develop Picture
SAN ANTONIO—The National
Endowment
for the Humanities has awarded the
University of Texas-San Antonio a $19,856
grant for the development of a script for a
film on San Antonio.
The NEH's division of education programs
presented the funds to the university's
research center for the arts, a part of
the college of fine and applied arts, for the
project, "San Antonio: A Portrait of an
American City."
Art Prof Is Director
Alvin Martin, UTSA instructor of art
history, is project director. The script will
be completed later this month.
It will be for a 16mm, 28-minute color
documentary on the history and culture of
San Antonio as reflected in its architecture.
Martin, through the research center for
the arts, is in the process of applying for
NEH and other sources to
funds from the
produce the fihn.
When completed, the film will be distributed
to both national and international
1702 Rusk Avenue
Houston, Texas 77003
(713) 654-1461 -Office
(713) 931-0748 -After Hrs.
al outlets.
The script for the film will incorporate
research from four new courses on the city
of San Antonio offered at UTSA during
the 1978-79 school year. The courses are
funded by a $50,000 pilot project grant
from the NEH and sponsored by the research
center for the arts.
Bob Mortensen
Don Waggoner
YOUR TOTAL THEATRE SUPPLY DEALER
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BOXOFFICE :: February

. •
(Mostly,
'
: films
•
them
Tucker,
eorge Ellis Opens
Second Art Theatre
^rom Southeast Edition
ATLANTA—George Ellis and his son
Michael were not ready to open the second
art theatre, the Film Forum-Ansley, on the
announced scheduled date (Jan. 15). They
now are shooting for Feb. 5 as an alternate
date for the gala opening.
"There was so much we wanted to do,"
said Ellis, "including a total renovation of
the
lobby and a thorough overhauling of all
of the equipment. We simply couldn't get it
all done in time."
Wants 'Greater
FlexibiBty'
Pinning George down as to how the two
theatres will differ leaves him guessing.
he feels having two houses will give
'him greater flexibility. For example, if a
film, especially a first-run film, is doing
well at Film Forum-Peachtree, he can hold
u it over, while continuing to bring different
to Ansley. In general, there will be
jmore premieres at Peachtree (Ellis has
''
sponsored more than 40 premieres at Peachtree
in the past year), but he hesitated to
tag the Ansley as a strictly second-run or
revival
house.
Ellis will continue to show "The Rocky
Horror Picture Show" at midnight every
Friday and Saturday at the larger Peachtree
(369 seats versus 174 at Ansley). The
Ansley plans to show a midnight movie
every night.
In 1966 Ellis and some fiiends formed
an art theatre (99 seats on Spring Street)
which struggled. To survive, he resorted to
showing skin flicks, but the law cracked
down and Ellis was forced to clean up or
pull out. Having no financial recourse, Ellis
sold.
Then George and Michael Ellis leased the
compact 174-seater known as Ansley Mall
Cinema and operated it for seven years successfully
until he was forced to give up his
lease through a foreclosure.
"We are continually, constantly feeling
our way with the Atlanta motion picture
public," he reflects. "Right now I can recognize
about 90 percent of the people who
come to the theatre. They range in age
from young to old, but they are obviously
people intent on finding good films. Once
they come, we seem to be able to retain
as pretty active patrons. I will bet
that 20 percent of our audiences first came
to the Festival."
He adds, with a smile: "What I'm doing
is, to me, on the same level as presenting
a new play. I bring a new film by a great
artist to Atlanta almost every week."
Wometco Enterprises
Declares Dividend
MIAMI—The Wometco Enterprises, Inc.
board of directors declared a regular quarterly
cash dividend of 15 cents on Class
"A" stock and S'/z cents on Class "B"
stock, payable March 9, 1979 to stockholders
of record Feb. 23, 1979.
The dividend declaration marks the 80th
consecutive quarterly dividend paid since
Wometco first became a public company
in April, 1959. Shares outstanding as of
Jan. 1, 1979 totaled 8,515,579.
The board also announced that Wometco"s
1979 annual shareholders meeting will
be held April 30 at the company's Byron-
Carlyle Theatre in Miami Beach. All stockholders
of record as of March 7, 1979 are
invited and will be entitled to vote at the
meeting.
Wometco Enterprises, Inc. is a leisuretime
company with major business interests
in television broadcasting, CATV/STV,
Coca-Cola bottling, automatic vending and
entertainment.
Albert Reynolds Acquires
Two Properties in Dallas
DALLAS—Albert H. Reynolds, executive
vice-president of the Meadowbrook Corp.
and president of NATO of Texas, recently
announced the purchase of an entire city
block on the southern edge of the business
district in downtown Dallas.
The property lies between South Central
Expressway and Interstate 45.
The purchase involved two tracts of land.
One tract was acquired from Plitt Southern
Theatres (formerly ABC Interstate Theatres)
and included the Forest Avenue Cinema
and the Forest Avenue shopping center.
The other tract was acquired from the
first Church of Redemption in Dallas.
Plans for upgrading existing improvements
and commercializing the remaining
unimproved property is scheduled to start
immediately.
The transactions were handled by the Bill
Wright Realty Co. and Saul Medvine Realty
Co.
The amount of money paid for the properties
was undisclosed.
NATIONAL
Changeable Letters
lO-in. $2.40
I2-in $3.10
I
/ I
17-in $5.30
24-ln $8.00
Other sixsB
proportionately low
^
OKLAHOMA CITY
•[Tie fifth week of "The Lord of the Rings"
at the Westwood Theatre saw more
grosses than any previous week other than
the first. United Artists reports that Saturday,
Jan. 20 was the biggest day since opening.
Bin Crosby of the Little River Drive-In
in Wright City, flew in with his wife and
daughter for the screening of United Artists'
"The Great Train Robbery." But due to the
snow and ice storm, however, they had to
abandon their plane here and drive home.
Bruce Westbrook, Oklahoman and Times
reviewer, conducted an interview with
"Rocky" co-star Burt Young. Young said
"Rocky's" success helped lead to his own
writing and acting effort in the soon-to-bereleased
"Uncle Joe Shannon."
Columbia's "Ice Castles" was sneaked at
the Northpark Theatre.
Holiday attractions are slowly fading
away here and in Tulsa, leaving screens
open for new product. New titles in Oklahoma
City include Pacific International Enterprises"
"Wilderness Family Part 2," Avco
Embassy's "Born Again," Warner Bros.'
"Movie M,ovie" and the Buena Vista reissue
of "The Love Bug." Tulsa has "Wilderness
Family Part 2," "Movie Movie" and "The
Love Bug."
Exhibitors Warned by Ad
From New England Edition
NEW HAVEN—In an unusual development,
the following advertisement appeared
in the local papers.
TO THE MOVIEGOING PUBLIC
AND THEATRE OWNERS
Local 273 of the lATSE, AFL-CIO is a
bona fide labor organization, still in existence,
chartered for over 50 years to represent
projectionists as the exclusive bargaining
agent in the greater New Haven area.
Any persons dealing with the Independent
Projectionists, Local 273 are doing so at
their own risk. The independent is not authorized
to speak for or bind lATSE Local
273. Please do not be confused by any
claims made by the independent using the
name of Local 273.
fl^^B Sound and
Projection Service
|
on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
4508 Bibb Blvd . Ga 30084
Phone (404) 934-9333
AC^TECHNICAL SERVICES
/TlJ^^CORPORATION
PO, Box 5150
• Richardson. Texas 75080
SERVING THE NATIONS EXHIBITORS SINCE 1937
TOTAL BOOTH SERVICE, SOUND,
PROJECTION, PARTS, INSTALLATION
AND MAI NTENAN CE
aaocuet mamo'- 2i4-234-3270
_TMEATr--
"STAR TREATMENT SERVICE
Hard baSced enamel on V4" Masonite/hardboard
resista weather and abuse. Clamp hooka with bronze
spring hold letter to any track (deacribe when ordering).
Lettera atoy put, ore easy to change, eaay
to read, available in a choice of colors. Available at
your theatre supply dealer. Sample on request. Ask
for
literature.
Prkts sub/ect
to change.
NATIONAL DEVICES CO.
NATIONAL CHANGEABLE LETTERS DIV.
1535 16th St. Denrer, Colorado 80202 (303) 892-1072
CIIVERA9IA IS tS SHOW
BITSUVESS UV HAWAII TOO^
f
\\'hen you come to Waiklki,
don't miss the famous Don I lo
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel.
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979 SW-3

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eople you know...
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BOXOFFICE :: February 5. 1979
MILWAUKEE
J^rt Heling, branch manager for American Donnelian Sr. of Winter. Wis., who remodeled
International, hosted a trade showing
it as a theatre. It remained in the lam-
ily's hands until this year."
of "California Dreaming" at the Centre
Screening Room Tuesday, Jan. 23. The often
The management of the recently remod-
Cinema
hilarious but tender and sometimes sad eled Norton's 1 in Chilton, Wis.,
story of a Midwestern youth who decides to is inviting its patrons to "register for a free
seek a career in Southern California stars vacation (over 18) or a free annual pass
Glynnis O'Connor and was directed by John (under 1 8) ... no purchase necessary."
Hancock.
The free vacation consists of "deluxe accommodations
for two, including private
beach and boat, nearby golf, shops and
parks." The vacation location is in Door
Milwaukee's Winter Festival, with both
indoor and outdoor entertainment provided
over two consecutive weekends, Jan. 26-28
and Feb. 2-4. included the showing of
Columbia's "Ice Castles" in the Milwaukee
Auditorium. It was unreeled at the Cinema
and Comedy Stage in Plankinton Hall where
other films that were shown during both
weekends included: "The Train Robbers,"
1973 release starring John Wayne; "Whatever
Happened to Baby Jane," 1964 film
with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and
"Brian's Song," with James Caan. There
were also a variety of cartoons and comedies
with W. C. Fields, the Marx brothers
and the Three Stooges.
"Ice Castles" was previewed by members
of the Better Films & TV Council of the
Milwaukee Area at its January meeting held
at the Mayfair Theatre. Despite the unseasonably
cold weather, more than 100 members
and their guests attended the screening
and meeting.
Moviegoers are undoubtedly so pleased
with the remodeled Norwood Theatre, now
renamed Cinema North, that the local
weekly newspaper. The Bee of Phillips,
Wis., devoted nearly a half-page of news
space saluting its opening. Beneath the headline,
"Norwood reopens doors as Cinema
North," are four photos. The largest shows
the theatre's entrance, described as "the
latest new front in downtown Phillips. Another
photo was taken inside the auditorium
showing the "new seats, carpet and furnishings
for the newly decorated theatre." Two
other photos are of the "modern lobby and
food service area which has plenty of room
to serve customers."
The story which accompanies the photos
says, in part: "Seating for 320 people has
been installed and sound curtains are being
hung on the walls to improve the acoustics.
The lobby has been enlarged and a centrally
located concession and ticket stand with
natural wood counters and sides was installed.
An art deco painting discovered
under the old wallpaper by contractor Dennis
Dahl during his remodeling was restored
by Sharron Howlett. This unique painting
features a draped nude with a panther and
covers most of the back wall of the lobby.
The painting was reportedly done in 1937,
when the theatre first opened, by an itinerant
from Chippewa Falls who worked his
way around the state decorating lobbies. A
similar, but moie polished work, done by a
Minneapolis firm, is painted in the lobby of
the Park Falls Theatre. The theatre was
originally constructed as an automobile
agency. In 1936 it was purchased by John
County.
Scotsland Cinemas at Oconomowoc,
where "Superman" has been playing, had a
tie-in with a local merchant, Snyder's Fine
Clothes. A large photo of Superman in a
display ad in Lake Country Reporter was
topped with the headline, "The 80th Supersale"
and the accompanying text told of a
three-week-long clothing sale. In a corner
of the ad was the special announcement:
"See the movie 'Superman' at Scotsland
Cinemas now." James Gudmundson operates
the Scotsland Cinemas and is on the
board of director of NATO of Wisconsin
and Upper Michigan.
Theatre Lessee Files
Suit After Police Raid
MILWAUKEE—During a
police raid on
the Uptown Theatre on the near northwest
side Nov. 3, as previously reported here,
nearly 60 persons were arrested, many accused
of possessing small amounts of marijuana.
Now, according to a story in the Sunday
Journal, the young man who leases the theatre
at 2323 N. 49th St. for his weekend
film promotions has filed charges in
federal
court that he was "illegally beaten and arrested"
during the raid.
William Meier, 20, also charged that the
police action was unconstitutional.
Two city building inspectors had conducted
an inspection of the theatre while
police were staging the raid and "no building
code violations were found," the young
showman pointed out.
The raid and inspection occured between
9:30 and 1 1 p.m. while several hundred
young people were at the Uptown.
"During this time period," Meier said,
"generally all of the patrons were conducting
themselves lawfully and peaceably and
were not in violation of any criminal laws."
He charged in his suit that police refused
to show a warrant when he inquired why
they were entering the theatre, and that he
was choked by policemen who carried him
toward the theatre door.
His head, he contends, was "smashed
through glass."
The suit requests a court order which
will prohibit further unconstitutional police
action against both Meier and the patrons
at
the theatre.
Five policemen are named in the suit
which asks for $950,000 in damages.
NC-1

MINNEAPOLIS
1
porrie Myers, Paramount branch manager,
was hospitalized recently for
eye surgery after it was discovered he was
suffering from a detached retina. The potential!)'
serious affliction apparently was
detected in time to prevent far-reaching
damage. Myeis was allowed to return home
three days later—and two days after that.
he was at his desk, though on a limitedhours
basis.
Jim Payne, Midwest Entertainment, Inc.,
is back at his desk after visiting California
to attend a Group I Films sales-distribution
conference. During the meetings, Payne
screened portions of four of Group I's 1979
releases and heard an addiess by company
Group Fs production plans for the next 18
months. Among the pictures screened by
Payne were "The Psychic." starring Jennifer
O'Neill; "The Plague." with Kate Reid:
"Charlie and the Hooker." and "The Best"
with Gloria Guida. Jack Leff. Group I
general sales manager, hosted the sessions,
which weie held at the Century Plaza Hotel
in Los Angeles.
Walt Badger, United Artists branch boss,
set "The Great Train Robbery" for a Feb.
9 bow at the Apache Chief. Cooper Cameo
and The Movies at Burnsville here, and at
The Movies at Maplewood and the Cina 4
in St. Paul.
Jack Ingnatowicz, Columbia branch chief,
is delighted at the performances of "Cali-
fornia Suite" and "Ice Castles" in their
And at Universal,
branch manager Frank Zanotti announced
these dates foi the widely acclaimed "The
Deer Hunter": Feb. 23 at the Mann Theatre
here and at The Movies at Maplewood in
St.
Paul.
Filmrow visitors: Ron Maier, Mac Theatre.
Mobridge, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Hoeffert. Seneca Theatre, Seneca, S.D.
His many friends all across the territory
were deeply saddened by the death of Roger
Dietz. prominent theatre figure in this territory.
Dietz. who succumbed after a
lengthy battle with cancer, had been a Columbia
branch manager in both Minneapolis
and Des Moines. Prior to that, he had been
a booker at the Paramount branch here. He
later became a partner with Sim Heller and
operated the Rialto and Rapids Theatres in
Grand Rapids. Minn., and a drive-in there.
He was buried Jan. 19 in Grand Rapids,
with several Twin Cities film-business figures
making the lengthy drive in inclement
weather to attend the services, among them
Marvin Mann and Jim Payne of Midwest
(Sound and
Projection Service
Nationwide — on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
7620 Gross Po- i Road. Skokie, III 60076
Phone (312) 476 "igi
Entertainment; Jack Ignatowicz. Columbia
branch manager; Stan McCuUoch, who
heads the booking-buying service bearing
his name, and Tom Visti, formerly with
Columbia. Survivors include Dietz's wife
and three daughters.
During his visit to Filmrow. e.xhibitor
Ron Maier of the Mac Theatre in Mobridge.
S.D., told friends he's very excited
about plans to
attend the ShoWesT convention
in Las Vegas Feb. 23.
Film Bureau Brings
$8 Million to Ohio
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Film Bureau,
which promotes moviemaking in the state,
is three years old this month. During its
short life, it reported that films made in
the state brought more than $8 million in
money spent, with 1977 being the most
productive at $5.5 million. This figure was
determined by the activities of EMI-Universal
Pictures, which made much of "The Deer
Himter" in the Cleveland area.
During 1978, the filmmaking boost to the
Ohio economy totaled $2.6 million. Mari
Barnum, bureau manager from its inception,
said the agency has actively pursued
commercials in the state, which has been
used as a site for a range of advertising
products, from Lemon Valley lemonade to
McDonald's hamburgers. She said about 50
commercials were shot in Ohio last year.
The Ohio Bureau has had its share of
disappointments. Ohio lost out to Hollywood
for the filming of a TV movie by
Ross Hunter, "The Best Place to Be." Another
disappointment for inability to use
an estate in Bratenahl for "A Wedding"
made by Robert Altman. and the same
estate for filming the TV movie "Eleanor
and Franklin: The White House Years."
Both were lost to Chicago.
The big news for 1979 is that filming
will start about March 26 for "Brubaker."
the prison drama starring Robert Redford.
The company will be housed in Columbus
for about four months. Several other projects
are pending, said Ms. Barnum.
FIRST RUN
REPORT
(Average Is 100)
Minneapolis
Autumn Sonata (New World).
Edina II. 5th wk 135
Brass Target (MGM-UA),
Academy. 5th wk 15
California Suite (Col), 3
theatres.
5th wk 165
The Class of Miss MacMichael (Brut).
4 theatres, 1st wk 135
Every Which Way But Loose (WB).
3 theatres. 5th wk 195
Force 10 From Navarone (AD.
Apache Chief, Orpheum, 5th wk. ... 30
Ice Castles (Col). Skyway I. 6th wk. ... 125
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA).
Cooper, 5th wk 130
King of the Gypsies (Para),
3 theatres, 5th wk 55
The Lord of the Rings (UA).
Edina I, 10th wk 135
Magic (20th-Fox). Cooper Cameo.
10th wk 110
Moment by Moment (Univ),
Brookdale East, Southdale. 5th wk. . 40
National Lampoon's Animal House
(Univ), Skyway II. 24th wk 200
Oliver's Story (Para). 3 theatres,
6th wk 40
Superman (WB). Brookdale. Southtown.
6th wk 420
Watership Down (Emb), Yoiktown.
11th wk 40
The Wiz (Univ). Mann. 12th wk 30
Fate of Raintree Cinemas
Remains Undetermined
From Mideast Edition
COLUMBUS—The Raintree Cinemas
remains closed, although some reports have
circulated that the triplex would soon reopen.
Informed sources indicate that nothing
has yet been determined regarding the
fate of the theatre, formerly operated by
Glenn Ackerman.
Bankruptcy proceedings have not yet
been initiated nor has a buyer been located
for the complex.
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February 5. 1979

. . No
ALL OF THESE
PRACTICAL
SERVICE
DEPARTMENTS
APPEAR REGULARLY
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in
ADUNES AND EXPLOITIPS
BOXOFHCE BAROMETER
(First
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FEATURE BOOKING CHART
•
FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST
& ALPHABETICAL INDEX
•
REVIEWS OF FEATURES
•
SHORT SUBJECT CHART
•
SHOWMANDISING IDEAS
In All Ways the Best
SERVICE THAT SERVES!
'Dribble' Debul Hits
Snag at Iowa Theatre
DES MOINES—Grauman's Chinese Theatre
is the place where hundreds of actors
over the years have placed their feet and
hands in wet concrete to assure their places
in Hollywood history.
Iowa was about to compete, or at least it
looked like it for a while. The producers of
"Dribble." which premiered in Cedar Rapids
Friday, Jan. 26, planned to stage a similar
publicity stunt.
Jerry Martin, a publicity agent for Intermedia
Artists Film Corp., asked the Cedar
Rapids city council to allow his company
to tear out a square of sidewalk in front
of the Iowa Theatre and pour new concrete
that afternoon, and have the actors go to
it.
He also asked that the company be allowed
to place a giant spotlight in front of
the theatre for the occasion as an added
touch of Hollywood hoopla.
The problem was, Martin forgot to ask
the theatre manager if he had any objection
to the wet concrete gimmick. He did.
Leonard Wood, the house manager, said
he was not going to let anyone tear up the
sidewalk, world premiere or not.
Wood thought it was an unfortunate situation
since unfortunately there are rooms
under there as the building runs under the
sidewalk.
"Dribble," which was filmed here and in
Cedar Rapids last summer, is about a women's
basketball team.
Members of the Iowa Cornets, the
state's women's professional team, appear
in the movie as well as a number of local
residents who were extras.
Despite the fact the "world premiere"
was held in Cedar Rapids, it also opened
in Des Moines the same night.
The film company plans to delay nationwide
distribution until sometime this spring.
Martin said pro basketball star Pete
Maravich, "probably the only one in the
movie who has a name anybody would recognize,"
could not attend the premiere.
Vermont May Extend Cable
From Eastern Edition
MONTPELIER — The Vermont state
legislature, is considering a proposal that
would extend cable television service into
areas of communities not now served. Under
terms of the measure submitted by state
Rep. Norman Reed, D-Hartford, a group of
at least 25 persons could petition a CATV
company to expand its service if the company
already serves a portion of the community.
CUVERANA IS Vi SHOW
BUSLVESS Wi HAWAII TOO^
When you come to Waikiki,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel
reeftowers»eix;ewater i!?"
f mm
DES MOINES
£|veryone seemed to be having problems
with weather recently. At Burlington
16 inches of snow on top of ten or 12 they
already had, virtually closed the town. Jim
Maus of the theatre there says the town's
equipment broke down so the white stuff
cannot be removed. Carol Stern at the Central
States Theatres home office couldn't
get even one out of three cars to start due
to cold, blowing snow. Theatre attendance
was, of course, minimal.
The new Cinema III at Cedar Falls opened
Dec. 21 and has been doing well with
"The Lord of the Rings."
Cathy Robertson tied in with a local music
store for free "Up in Smoke" albums to
give away . longer with the CSTC
home office is Nancy Torode of the drivein
booking department.
Starting at Paramount Jan. 15 was John
Slama, new booker. Slama previously was
the manager of the Forum IV Theatres
here.
Rod Reeves from the Varsity in Ames
and Howard Cooley and his wife from Oskaloosa
were in town recently on film business.
Lensing Begins in Woods
On 'Capture of Big Foot'
GLEASON, WIS.— Production is under
way here on "The Capture of Big Foot,"
according to Studio Film Corp. head Bill
Rebane. Principal photography began Jan.
8 and is continuing on location in the Wisconsin
north woods.
A 'Sympathetic' Treatment
The script, by Rebane and Ingrid Neumayer,
is described as "fast paced and action-filled."
"It is the first fully dramatic
feature based on the legendary creature,
removing itself from the documentary approach
taken by other films," a Studio Five
official said. "It is also the first time on film
that any attempt to understand the creature's
emotions has been made, and presented
in a sympathetic fashion."
Plans at the present time call for development
of a television series based on the picture,
and a novel, to be published by Dale
Books of New York, which will hit the
stands in March, prior to the release of the
film.
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979 NC-3

How we sweetened
the melting pot.
-«
1-^—'-'• -; - '»r% 1

FIRST RUN
RiPORT
(Average Is 100)
Cincinnati
Target (UA). Showcase, 5th wk
lifornia Suite (Col), 4 theatres,
5th wk 500
Every Which Way But Loose (WB).
6th wk 600
Force Ten From Navarone (AI),
Showcase, 5th wk 225
Praise of Older Women (Emb),
5th wk 325
fasion of the Body Snatchers (UA),
Showcase. 5th wk 275
ing of the Gypsies (Para), Showcase,
5th wk 225
he Lord of the Rings (UA), Studio,
Tri-Coiinty, 5th wk 400
(Midnight Express (Col), Valley,
13th wk 225
loment by Moment (Univ), 3 theatres.
5th wk 325
Wational Lampoon's Animal House
(Univ), 26th wk 325
Oliver's Story (Para), 3 theatres,
6th wk 300
Superman (WB), 3 theatres. 6th wk. . . .900
Up in Smoke (Para), 17th wk 250
Watership Down (Emb), 3 theatres,
10th wk 250
The Wiz (Univ), Showcase. 12th wk. . . 175
Cleveland
Autumn Sonata (SR). Cedar Lee.
4th wk ]75
Brass Target (UA). 2 theatres, 4th wk. 140
California Suite (Col), 6 theatres,
4th wk 255
The Class of Miss MacMichael (Brut),
5 theatres, 1st wk 220
Every Which Way But Loose (WB).
5 theatres. 4th wk 450
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA).
6 theatres, 4th wk 145
King of the Gypsies (Para), 5 theatres.
4th wk 90
The Lord of the Rings (UA). 6 theatres.
4th wk 105
Moment by Moment (Univ), 5 theatres,
4th wk g5
Superman (WB), 5 theatres, 5th wk. ... 625
The Wiz (Univ), Colony, 1 1th wk 140
Burt's Theatre in Toledo
Given Restoration Funds
TOLEDO, OHIO—The Ohio Historic
Site Preservation advisory board has approved
a grant of $10,000 for the second
phase of restoration of Burt's Theatre in
downtown Toledo. The grant must be
matched by the owners, the Toledo Repertoire
Theatre. Burt's Theatre was added to
the National Register in November. 1977.
Total remodeling and restoration costs are
estimated at $1.6 million. The theatre was
built in 1897 with Venetian-Gothic architecture.
BOXOmCE :: February 5, 1979
75
CINCINNATI
Jay Goldberg, president of JMG Film Co.
in Cincinnati, has recently returned
from a trip to Los Angeles where he conferred
with the presidents of Trans-Vuc
Pictures and Dimension Pictures. Goldberg
also attended the New World Pictures convention
at which plans for 1979 were unveiled.
Ten productions will be released,
with Goldberg touting two in particular
"Starcrash." which New World exec Roger
Corman feels will be the biggest film he
has ever produced, and "Rock 'n Roll
High." which takes the zaniness of "National
Lampoon's Animal Hou.se" and combines
outstanding music (negotiations are
underway with Paul McCartney and the
Bee Gees).
JMG Films will be representing Trans-
Vue Pictures in this area. Their spring/
summer schedule includes "The Wild and
the Dirty" and "Summer Affair." "The Wild
and the Dirty" is a western featuring famous
"heavy" Gilbert Roland. Trans-Vue topliner
Herb Schlosberg feels the time is ripe
for oaters to return. Their other release.
"Summer Affair." is a romantic melodrama
about the sexual awakening of a teenage
couple.
At Dimension Pictures Goldberg spoke
with Lawrence Wollner. Dimension's first
1979 release will be "Hollywood Swap
Meet" set to open in this region May 2-8.
Preparations are already underway for
the April 11-17 re-release of April Fools'
"Harper Valley PTA." New TV. radio and
newspaper ads will be utilized for the oneweek
saturation playoff. Over 250 theatres
are slated to unreel Mrs. Johnson's (Barbara
Eden) saga of socking it to Harper Valley
hypocrites. This will be the largest number
of prints in use for a saturation in the
64-year history of JMG. Substantial
amounts will be spent in each market on
video exposure.
Nineteen-year-old Lynn-Holly Johnson,
co-star of Columbia's "Ice Castles." toured
the town's media and performed during intermission
of a Cincinnati Stinger's hockey
game Jan. 24. Mid State's Irene Firestone
co-ordinated Holly's appearance. "Ice
Castles." the story of a young girl from a
small Midwestern town who dreams of competing
in the Olympics, opens Feb. 9 in
Cincinnati.
C.J. Ruff Film Distributors held tradescreenings
of "The Hitter" (Ron O'Neal,
Sheila Frazier and Adolph Caesar) Jan. 23,
and "Beyond the Door Part 2" (John Richardson.
Daria Nicolodi, Ivan Rassimov)
Jcui. 30.
Dates have been set for the regional
breaks of three Universal productions, including
the eagerly awaited "The Deer
Hunter." TTie romantic comedy "Same Time.
Next Year." toplining Ellen Burstyn and
Alan Alda. will open Feb. 9 at the two
Showcase complexes. On Feb. 16 William
Friedkin's "The Brink's Job" featuring Peter
Falk. Peter Boyle, Warren Oates and Gena
Rowlands goes on screen also at Showcase
Erhinger and Springdale.
Backed by a four or five day TV campaign
prior to the opening. "The Deer
Hunter." which seems to be an odds on
favorite for a best picture Oscar, will open
Feb. 23. Although as of this writing the two
Cincinnati situations are unnamed, the film
will play the Northland (Columbus). Glendale
(Indianapolis) and Dabel (Dayton).
Hoping to cash in on the hoopla of Academy
Award nominations. New World's "Autumn
Sonata" starring Ingrid Bergman and
Liv Ullmann will go on screen Feb. 14 in
the Queen City day-and-dating at the Hyde
Park and Esquire theatres. Jay Goldberg
said the release coincides with Oscar nominations
since there are "high hopes" Miss
Bergman will receive a best actress nomination
for the picture. "Autumn Sonata"
also opens Feb. 16 at the Drexel. Columbus,
and Turfland Cinema, Lexington, Ky. Feb.
23 the St. Albans Cinema, near Charleston,
W. Va.. is scheduled to play the film.
20th Century dropped its
repertory policy
effective Jan. 25. "The Psychic." a first-run
product, opened there Jan. 26.
JMG Film Co. recently tradescreened
"Love and the Midnight Auto Supply," a
light comedy with an emphasis on action.
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. . IS
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DETROIT
T evin Film Distribution of Southfield announced
the opening of "Get Out Your
Handkerchiefs" at the Towne Theatre. Oak
Park. Jan. 31. This new line feature has had
phenomena! record-breaking engagements
in New York.
A kiddie matinee of "Mysteries From
Outer Space." with William Shatner of
"Star Trek" fame will break in the city
Feb. 10-11; state break is Feb. 24-25.
Suburban Detroit Theatres has plans for
a new cinema complex in the Bloomfield
area. There will be three movie houses, for
a total seating capacity of between 800 and
900. Suburban has about 30 screens in a
dozen buildings in Detroit suburban areas,
and hopes for opening of the new complex
early next fall.
A Special Distinguished Service Award
was presented by the Royal Oak Jaycees to
Robert F. Anthony, co-owner of the Main
Theatre, Royal Oak, for his outstanding efforts
to bring clean, wholesome motion picture
entertainment to the tri-county area on
a consistent basis. The Main Theatre, a 750-
seat independent, has had a policy of only
G or PG first-run films for a number of
years and regularly cooperates with the
Jaycees on various projects. The award was
given at a special banquet in Royal Oak last
week. The theatre also has a policy of special
reduced fare admissions for students
ages 12 through 15.
Clark Theatre Service advises that as of
Jan. 23 they will no longer represent the
following theatres: Cinema, South Lyons
Northcrest; Rochester and Cabaret, Southfield.
Vera Phillips, Boxoffice correspondent,
has retired after nearly 20 years of service.
Just last year she retired from Avco Embas-
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sy Pictures and service of close to 40 years
as an active filmite, from clerk to office
manager in both distribution and exhibition.
Dennis Glen of C.J.
Ruff Film Distributors
is back after visiting California to attend
a Group I Films sales-distribution conference.
Levin Film Distribution is very pleased to
announce the acquisition of three highly
exploitable films from Cinema Shares:
"Bruce Lee-The Man, The Myth," "School
Days" and "Gonzilla of Monster Island."
Also from Dimension Pictures: "Ruby"
starring Piper Laurie, "Cheering Section,"
"Bad Georgia Road" and "Scalpel," previously
titled "False Face."
CLEVELAND
The town's media have been agog all week
with the visit of Lauren Bacall to the
Cleveland Play House, where she was interviewed
on her new book "By Myself."
She addressed a capacity crowd and was
very outspoken concerning her life and autobiography.
There were two autograph parties
for Ms. Bacall on Monday and both
were jammed.
Jonathan Forman, director of the Cleveland
International Film Festival, was in
New York viewing possibilities for the May
festival at the Cedar Lee Theatre. He stayed
two days and viewed "Get Out Your
Handkerchiefs," "The Innocent." "Once In
Paris." "The Last Wave." "On the Yard"
and others.
Thomas Mihok, United Artists branch
manager, screened "Voices" this week at
the Brainard screening room. Mihok reported
that "The Great Train Robbery"
will open at multiple houses Feb. 9.
IVIorrie ZyrI, Selected Pictures Corp.,
screened "Home Town U.S.A.", Jan. 24 in
ihe Brainard Place Screening Room. It is a
new picture from Max Baer, who previously
produced "Macon County Line" and
Ode to Billy Joe."
FILMACK IS
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Ohio Ordinance Limits
Drive-In Screen Sex
CLEVELAND—Emerson Batdorff. entertainment
editor of the Plain Dealer,
wrote a column recently commenting on
the status of Ohio drive-in theatres. The
state government has passed a ruling ordering
drive-ins to mask their screens, preventing
them from being visible from streets
and highways. His report is reprinted below:
For some tim;,
people driving by certain
drive-in theatres have been confronted with
sex scenes 40 feet high and 60 feet long
clearly visible from the road.
This is known as second-hand sex and
people have been complaining.
When offending screens are situated in a
city or village, outraged motorists can complain
to the lawmaking body of the locality
in hopes of having a law passed making
such displays illegal. Such a law would force
theatre owners to mask the offending screen
from the road. Sometimes no such law is
passed in spite of complaints.
Passing motorists who were given sexy
views on screens in unincorporated areas
had not even a chance to complain. The
state of Ohio had no provision for masking
screens. State law prevails in unincorporated
areas.
Gov. Rhodes recently signed into law,
effective next spring, a measure that at
least gives motorists and others someone to
complain to. Beginning in March, township
trustees will be able to force a coverup under
certain conditions.
The law as first presented would have
required a physical fence between the screen
and the road if the township trustees so
ruled. The measure would have affected
any drive-in theatre no matter what sort
of picture was being shsown, if there were
complaints.
The National Assn. of Theatre Owners
Ohio figured this was going far beyond
in
argu-
the need of the situation and made its
ment known. An accommodation was made.
The law signed by the governor takes into
account the complaint that innocent theatres
would be affected if all had to cover
up. The law as signed requires a shield,
"either tangible or intangible." and it will
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SUongsville,
.
ipply oaly to a theatre showing an X-rated
ir obscene film.
Gene King of Columbus, executive direcor
of NATO of Ohio, said he did not know
)f any theatres that were members of the
jrganization that showed films of that na-
:iire.
The organization, however, apparently
cared that controls might be extended to
nhcr drive-ins. so it worked to make the
-equired barrier "either tangible or intanjible."
King explained that an architect and the-
tic'e nothing." he said. "When their view is
toward the screen, all they see is a glow."
or date. It's worse to buy tickets for a late
show in advance, go to dinner, and then return
to find that the show for which you
think you hold tickets has been sold out.
Now comes the ultimate affront—using
a Walt Disney movie to exploit children.
At a holiday matinee showing of "Pinocchio"
at the Warren Cinema, those arriving
as early as 15 minutes before the show
found themselves strolling up and down the
aisles searching in vain for seats together.
Some families left. Some broke up, taking
individual seats in various locations of
the theatre. Right through the first five
minutes of the film adult voices were barking
"Shut up and sit here!" and children's
voices were wailing. "But I want to sit with
you!"
Even after all seats had been filled,
groups of families were standing in the lobby
forlornly clutching tickets they thought
had entitled them to seats.
If those automatic ticket-splitters can't be
taught to count, exhibitors should find a
human being who knows the way to 500 (or
however many scats there are to sell) and
who can inform ticket purchasers when only
scattered seating is left.
And for any clerk who knowingly sells a
ticket for which there is no vacant seat . .
well, his nose ought to grow at least a foot.
Six X-Rated Films Seized
From 3 Columbus Theatres
COLUMBUS—Police confiscated six a
'Superman' Creators
Hurt by Bad Timing
CLEVELAND— liming is everything.
Cleveland's Glenville High School produced
three nationally known persons at about the
same time.
Benny Friedman, the super quarterback,
was one. His fabulous career at Glenville
and later at the University of Michigan
came too soon for him to take advantage of
Nationwide
Sound and
Projection Service
brands.
on all
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
20338 Progress Dr Ohio 44136
.
Phone (216) 238-9555
filed.
"There's obviously a demand for 'Deep
Throat' and The Devil in Miss Jones.'
Young said, pointing out that they have
been seen by thousands of persons in the
say has acted in good faith.
past seven weeks without any public out-
Schuster was invited to the New York
and Washington premieres of the current
"Superman" film. Siegel was unable to attend
for health reasons. They both attended
Robert Moriarty. who owns the other
two houses did not think the confiscated the Hollywood opening in style. They are
cry. "If there had been public complaints,
we'd do something about it."
atre owner in Salem, Jack Vogel, had invented
a system of quartz lights that effectively
keeps people from seeing a drive-in showing them. Lt. Harry Dolby of the city Similarly, Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster
charges against those held responsible tor
bailers of today.
screen from the road.
police vice squad said the seizures followed created "Superman" while still students at
"When they are driving by and not lookins
in the direction of the screen, they no-
the propriety of the showings of the films $138. Subsequently others have garnered
complaints and inquiries by citizens about Glenville and then sold off their rights for
and the advertising for them.
millions from their creation.
The films taken were "Deep Throat" and Jerry wrote the character and Joe was the
Drive-in owners also have an interest in
artist.
"The Devil in Miss Jones" from the World The strip appeared in Action Comics
making sure that the general public does
Theatre. 2159 N. High St., "Meter Maid" and within one year it was a big success. It
not se'e its movies without paying. King
and "Hellen Bedd" from the Garden Theatre.
1187 N. High St.. and "Mortgage of pers and the boys received small payment.
was then syndicated by McClure to newspa-
said.
The law as signed by the governor also
Sin" and "Cathy's Graduation" from the
Their financial plight was compounded by
would be complied with by a new type of
personal and health problems. Schuster's
Paris Theatre, 1291 Parsons Ave.
screen invented on the West Coast. By an
eyesight became severely impaired while
Vice officers viewed the films at the
arrangement of planes on the reflecting surface,
"the pictures may be seen only in the
drawing the strip. Out of work, he sold his
World and Garden theatres and found them
possessions and moved in with his parents.
to be possibly obscene, obtaining a search
Siegel's wife, who was the model for Lois
area occupied by paying customers. That,
warrant from Municipal Judge James Pearson
after the judge himself viewed the films.
Lane, recalls similar trauma. She says,
however, costs $25,000 and up, he said.
"We "had a baby, other medical problems
Judge Pearson also signed the search warrant
enabling police to confiscate the Paris
and no money. The milk was not delivered
Stop Overselling Tickets,
and the diaper service quit for non-payment."
The Siegels were forced to accept
Theatre films, but planned to view them at
Detroit Column Complains
DETROIT—A column in the Free Press
a later date. Police had also viewed the
menial work to survive. In the meantime,
recently commented on the problem of overselling
the house. The observations follow: Dennis Young, manager of the World, jj^g^., ji^gy appealed to Action Comics for
Paris offerings.
the success of Superman was all around
This business of movie exhibitors' overselling
the house has got to stop.
and showed them later the day of the raid. They decided to publicize their plight and
managed to obtain new copies of the films
justice and even instituted law suits.
It's bad enough to be out for an evening He said in August of 1978. police confiscated
"Behind the Green Door" and "Resur-
staged a press conference, aided by the Car-
and find that you can't sit with your friends
rection of Eve." but no charges were ever
toonists Assn. of America. The organization
appealed to Warner Communications,
which now owned Action Comics, and finally
the men were awarded annuities of $20,-
000 year. Siegel and Schuster are very grateful
to Warner Communications, who they
films obscene. "If somebody wants to pay given screen credit but they do not benewatch
what- fit financial way from the movie.
for it, he ought to be able to
ever he wants, if he's an adult."
Lt. Dolby said the next step in the crackdown
against obscene films would be to
seek an order in common pleas court enjoining
the theatre operators from showing
the films. He said police acted in accordance
with a local law that bans the showing
of obscene films, based on three criteria issued
by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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ME-3

^|
Twyman Films Opens
AV Center in Dayton
DAYTON—With the completion of the
Twyman Presentation Center, a professional
audio-visual screening and presentation facility.
Dayton now has become the home of
the city's large auditoriums and theatres
and the smaller conference and meeting
rooms. As a multi-faceted facility, the center
was designed for use by moderate-sized
groups interested in putting on virtually any
kind of presentation.
Based in Dayton for over 40 years. Twyman
Films is a national distributor of motion
pictures. In 1977 Twyman opened additional
offices in Los Angeles and New
York. Locally. Twyman Films also specializes
in audio-visual equipment rental
and professional services.
The Twyman Presentation Center is designed
very much like a commercial movie
theatre. Total seating capacity is 54. and
each seat is equipped with a desk-top. which
folds out from under the seat.
A professional theatre sound system
equipped with Dolby has been installed for
top-quality sound.
Remote controls located in the projection
booth and at the front of the theatre make
it possible for a complete show to be run
either by the presenter or by someone in
the booth.
Across the entire back of the theatre runs
the glass-enclosed projection booth. The
projection window itself is 15 feet wide so
even the most elaborate of multimedia
presentations and equipment can be accomodated.
The booth houses a 35mm projector
for special showings of feature length
theatrical motion pictures.
Zoning Amendment Would
Restrict Adult Theatres
COLUMBUS—Franklin County Commissioners
here favor a proposed amendment
to the county zoning code that would
restrict areas where adult entertainment businesses
could operate. However, public
hearings are required before the proposed
amendment can go into effect, a procedure
that will take at least 90 days.
The hearings must be held by the Mid-
Ohio Regional Planning Commission, the
Franklin Coimty Rural Zoning Commission,
and the county commissioners. The
latter have asked the county prosecutor to
study the proposed amendments to see if
they are lcg;illy correct.
The new regulation would prohibit adult
businesses from being located within 500
feet of residentii; areas, churchs, schools,
or other places I'rjt youth are likely to
congregate. It would also b: n any new
adult entertainment enterprises rom operating
within 1,000 feet of an exist. ''
one. The
proposed regulation is
'
patlcrne after a
Columbus city oidinance designed to prolecl
property values from decline.
Classic Films, Live Acts
Pay Off at Emery Theatre
CINCINNATI— Although two •'classicoriented"
repertory cinemas have recently
either closed their doors or switched to a
sponse," a decision has been reached expanding
the week-end combination of classic
movies and a live theatre organ serenade
to permanent weekly status.
"We put on a show each weekend at the
Emery," Baun said, adding that Marilyn
Libman, organist on Fridays and Saturdays,
"attacks" the keys of the instrument, impressing
the audience with her musical expertise.
Each Sunday a rotating roster of
performers plays the organ, which was
formerly the heart of the now demolished
Albee Theatre.
Vintage film fare on the largest (flyable)
theatre screen in Ohio includes "To Have
and Have Not" (Humphrey Bogart), "Lost
Horizon" (Ronald Colman) and "Yankee
Doodle Dandy" (James Cagney).
Beginning March 2, a chapter of the Republic
serial "Zorro's Fighting Legion" will
be shown prior to the weekly feature. Later
in March, "Moon River Memories" returns
as Rudy Wright. Cecil Hale, Bill Myers and
Lee Erwin (at the organ) re-create in person
history's longest running radio program.
As for competition from commercial
operations? "We can survive them all,"
Baun advises. "Our payroll is zero."
Volunteers are the back-bone of this trip
down memory lane. "Stop by and we'll put
you to work." Baun said.
He's hopeful, too. that in the spring (or
sometime before) renovations will be completed
in the outer and inner lobbies of the
house which sat basically "dark" for 25
years. However, the auditorium interior is a
different case, since restoration would be
extremely expensive. "We'll just keep the
lights dim," the personable Baun noted.
Meanwhile, the Emery may soon become
Cincinnati's answer to Radio City Music
Hall. Negotiations are underway for initiation
of vaudeville-styled stage shows to
complement the organ concerts, serial and
vintage films.
The cost is a mere $1.75 (an extra 50
cents will buy you a box seat ticket).
It just goes to show that the showmanship
of a bygone era is not dead; it's alive
and well at the Emery.
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Projectionist for 30 Years
Never Really Liked Films
MIDDLETOWN. OHIO—Les Francis,
86. was in show business for more than 30
years. But now that his career is over, he
admits he never really liked movies much.
"It's like working in a candy store. You
do it long enough and you lose interest in
candy," said Francis.
Francis spent his time, not on the screen,
the most comprehensive A-V outfitters within
different format, the American Theatre Organ
Society's Emery Theatre project is gaining
the 60 minutes" air travel of Dayton.
Ohio.
momentum.
but behind the projector in many of this
The Presentation Center, conceived by Fred Baun, who is in charge of the dayto-day
city's theatres from 1930 to 1963.
operation of the majestic 2,000 seat
Alan P. Twyman. president of Twyman
Films. Inc.. was built to a void between palace, advises that due to "excellent re-
He worked from 1916 to about 1930 for
Armco Steel here, then joined his brother
fill
in the projection booths. At one time, as
many as six movie houses were operating
here.
He spent much of his career at the Paramount
TTieatre, which had a seating capacity
of about 2,200. He said the theatre
drew large crowds from 1931 to 1963 when
it was razed by the owners.
"It was a fine theatre," said Francis. "It
had the best air conditioning and was modern
in all respects. A very beautiful theatre
and a very beautiful building, too.
"I think tearing it down was one of the
worst things they could have done downtown."
He still can recall the biggest hits that
came to the theatre and the lines that waited
to see them.
He has memories of big bands playing to
packed houses and the weekly Mickey
Mouse shows, as well as the traveling variety
shows and live dramatic shows.
"And they had the finest organ," Francis
said. "I can remember taking my grandson
Mickey down there on Saturday when the
maintenance man would let him play the
organ."
When the Paramount closed in 1963,
Francis also closed out his career in the
projection booth.
He seldom goes to see a movie anymore,
but he is definite on why many movie theatres
closed.
"It was all the fault of television," he
said. "They began making weak movies,
not quality films, and the public just won't
pay the price."
Victory Needs Subscribers
To Keep Programs Alive
DAYTON, OHIO—The Victory Theatre
in downtown Dayton will abandon its 1979-
80 theatre series unless it has 1,500 season
subscribers by March 1. said Kent Anderson,
director of the financially troubled
landmark, who said cancellation would
mean the end of live programming at the
Victory. (It also shows films on occasion).
Anderson said the "Magnificent Seven"
theatre series lost $70,000 last year, and is
expected to lose $34,000 this season, with
the deficit made up by donations and Victory
Theatre Assn. memberships. However,
the upcoming season will cost $120,000. and
Anderson doesn't want to book the series
unless 1.500 subscribers make a commitment—not
payment—at this time.
led Danson and Lee Weaver have been
added to the cast of "The Onion Field."
ME-4 February 5, 1979

. .
:i
lom
'Rocky Horror' Taken
Off Screen in W. Mass.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—A western
Massachusetts phenomenon of sorts
weekend after weekend scheduling of midnight
showings of 20th Century-Fox's "The
Rocky Horror Show" at the Redstone Theatres'
Showcase Cinemas 8—ended as
abruptly as it began.
The Springfield newspapers reported
that while the complex seemed to have
enjoyed the midnight turnout. "The management
seemed unable to deal with the
audience participation. The security guard
paced the back of the theatre throughout
the film."
Melissa Brown of The Morning Union
continued: "And apparently one fan had
door by the guard.
"Too bad.
"If the theatre management would just
relax and watch the movie, they'd see that
this kind of fun is harmless and good natured.
and that being part of 'Rocky Horror'
is what the movie is all about.
"A spokesman for the theatre refused to
comment on audience behavior during the
film. Another spokesman subsequently said
the film, which has been screened weekend
nights at midnight, will no longer be
shown there."
At another point in her story, Ms. Brown
remarked, "Is it possible that the audience's
responses have traveled from city to
city where 'Rocky Horror' is appearing?
Is this a kind of underground theatre experience?
Indeed, the audience reactions
seemed to be like a play-within-a-play."
RKO-SW Chain Turns Over
Hctmden House to Redstone
NEW HAVEN—The RKO-Stanley Warner
circuit has turned over management of
the first-run Cinemart 2, in the Hamden
Shopping Center, to Redstone Theatres,
bringing latter circuit's screens in metropolitan
New Haven tonight, a record high
for any circuit locally.
Terms were not disclosed. The agreement,
in effect, ended direct RKO-SW ties
to New Haven exhibition. At one point,
the RKO-SW and predecessor circuits—
Stanley-Warner, Warner Bros, occupied a
major niche in the first-run bracket here.
Redstone holdings include the Showcase
Cinemas 5, Orange, and the Milford Drivein,
Milford.
'Movie Movie' Is Screened
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—Warner Bros.'
"Movie Movie," the George C. Scott-Trish
Van Devere starrer, was sneak-previewed
Jan. 19 at the Redstone Showcase Cinemas.
BOXOFFICE February 5, 1979
BOSTON
Ji^egotiations are still under way for the
purchase of the Wilbur Theatre here.
Sack Theatres is considering operating the
legitimate house. Mayor Kevin White has
made the revival of the theatre district one
of his top priorities . . . Sack Theatres also
is touting "The Deer Hunter" which is due
on the screen of the Charles Cinema
Wednesday, Feb. 9, with ticket prices of
$4 and $5 for reserved seats.
Regal Films sent out specially engraved
invitations to exhibitors for a screening of
Regal's 1979 feature program. The screening
took place Thursday, Jan. 25 at the
Park Square Screening Room, with a cocktail
party following the show.
tor, set up a heavy advance promotion for
"Ice Castles." Four tradescreenings were
held Jan. 15-18 at the Park Square Screening
Room. Star Robbie Benson made a
personal appearance at a $25-per-ticket
showing Jan. 27 whereat T-shirts, posters
and drawings were presented to all guests.
On Feb. 24 there will be another special
screening at the Sack Pi Alley Cinema,
sponsored by Max Factor cosmetics.
Larry Jackson, longtime manager of the
Orson Welles complex in Cambridge, has
resigned that post and moved ot California
to begin production on several projects of
his own. Jackson was also chief of Boston's
Institute of the Contemporary Arts
and an active participant in the Boston
Arts program.
Nick Russo announced that his G. G.
Communications has "Duncan's World,"
based on the novel by Helen Copeland, for
national distribution. Special screenings
will be scheduled in the near future.
Ellis Gordon of Ellis Gordon Films is
back at his desk after visiting California
to attend a Group I Films sales and distribution
conference. During the meetings.
Gordon screened portions of four of Group
I's 1979 releases and heard an address by
company president Brandon Chase. Jack
Leff, Group I general sales manager, hosted
the sessions which were held at the century
Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
The area now has another major entertainment
event. Brooks McCarty, organizer
of the Newport Film Festival, has found a
"Skip Tracer" from G.G. Communications
had its U.S. premiere Wednesday, Jan.
16 at the Orson Welles Cinema .
Sunn
. .
Classics' "The Bermuda Triangle" opened
the same night at the Sack Saxon and 40
suburban theatres, with half-page advertisements
heralding the event in the Boston
newspapers.
Area screens had plenty of holdovers:
"The Wiz," "Autumn Sonata," "The Brinks
Job," "California Suite," "King of the Gypsies,"
"Interiors." "Superman," "Moment
by Moment" and "Every Which Way But
Loose."
MAINE
gone too far. He came dressed as Dr. The Off-The-Wall Cinema in Cambridge
Frank N. Furter—white make-up and a had a program titled "Magic Movies" which
bouffant wig, and a long cape which opened
is made up of ten cartoons, some dating The Lincoln Cinema in Lincoln is contin-
to reveal a garter belt, corset, fishnet back to the 1920s, including foreign-made uing what must be labeled an innova-
hose and high heels. He got up to sing and
tive and business-building pitch on a smalltown
cartoons. The management reported that
dance along with Frank's opening number,
perfectly mimicking the words and is being held for a second week.
business was so good that "Magic Movies"
similar-sized
level, worth
communities
emulating
but
not
also
only
in larger
in
cities. On Sundays, the cinema has what it
gestures, only to be escorted out the back
John Markle, Columbia publicity direc-
calls "Sunday family night." charging $5
for "Mom and/ or Dad & Kids." The policy,
for example, was offered for playdate of
MGM-UA's "International Velvet," Tatum
O'Neal starrer, which carries a PG rating
from MPAA.
The K Cinema in Millinocket is providing
24-hour, recorded phone information service.
So, too, are the University Cinemas,
Maine Coast Mall, Ellsworth.
Still more impressive-looking changes
have been made in newspaper ad logos for
Cinema Center Circuit's Brewer Cinema
Center 4, Brewer; Bangor Cinema, Bangor,
and Orono Cinema, Orono. Prominent in
the "new look" are street locations, phone
numbers, and feature film starting times.
Holdover attractions in Maine included
20th Century-Fox's "Magic," Warner Bros.'
"Superman" plus "Every Which Way But
Loose," Paramount's "Oliver's Story" plus
"Up in Smoke," United Artists' "Invasion
of the Body Snatchers" plus "Comes a
Horseman," Columbia's "California Suite"
and Avco Embassy's "Watership Down" .
New state's right X product included "Wild
Wives" and "Love Under 16."
Maine may not, at first glance, seem like
a promising base for a filmmaking enterprise.
However, Acadia Film Center, situated
in Northeast Harbor, is marking its
first aimiversary and, to date, has chalked
up an impiiessive documentary record. Latest
completed project is "Shinto," a 48-
minute, 16nim color film detailing the history,
artifacts and living institutions of ancient
winter home for his series. It will be called
Japanese religion, interwoven with
Japanese landscape, on commission for the
Film Festival and is to
the New England
be held at the Wellesley Community Playhouse
New York-based Japan Society. Forty-nineyear-old
in Wellesley. The works of Fellini,
Truffaut, WertmuUer and other European
David Westphal. a key figure in the
filmmakers will be featured at Friday and
Saturday evening showings.
the film department at Brandeis University,
Waltham, Mass.
Acadia organization, was formerly head of
NE-1

Libedy
I
FIRST RUN
REPORT
Boston
Autumn Sonata (New W orld),
Charles 11. 12ih wk
The Bermuda Triangle (Sunn). Saxon.
1st \vk
The Brink's Job (Univ), Cheri 11.
7th \vk
California Suite (Col). Cheri 111.
Chestnut Hill 11. 5th wk
The Class of Miss MacMichael (Brut).
Charles 1. 1st wk
Everj Which Way But Loose (WB).
CiVcle 11. Paris. 5th wk
Interiors (U.^). Exeter. 18th wk
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA).
•
Pi Alley 1. 5lh wk
King of the Gypsies (Para), Beacon Hill.
5th wk
The Lord of the Rings (UA). Cheri I.
10th wk
Midnight Express (Col). Charles 111.
5th wk
Oliver's Story (Para). Chestnut Hill 1.
Pi Alley II, 6th wk
Rubber Gun (Indie). Nickelodeon,
1st wk
Skip Tracers (GG. Comm),
Orson Welles I, 1st wk
Superman (WB), Circle I, Cinema 57 11
6th wk
The Wiz (Univ), Cinema 57 I, 13th wk.
Hartford
Autumn Sonata (New World),
Atheneum Cinema, 5th wk
90
The Bermuda Triangle (Sunn),
13 theatres, 1st wk
.200
Brass Target (MGM-UA), Cinema
City 111. Elm II, 5th wk
California Suite (Col), Cinema
.115
City I, Elm I, 5th wk
.200
The Class of Miss MacMichael (Brut),
3 theatres, 1st wk
,235
Every Which Way But Loose (WB).
Showcase II, 5th wk
.165
Praise of Older Women (Emb),
In
3 theatres, 2nd wk
.185
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA),
Showcase III, 5th wk
300
The Lord of the Rings (UA),
Showcase V, 4th wk
175
Moment by Moment (Univ),
Showcase VI, 5th wk
Oliver's .Story (Para), Showcase
.150
IV,
5lh wk
.175
Pizza Girls (SR), Art Cinema,
2nd wk
.175
New r'3ven
Autumn Sonata (New J
York Square Cinema, 5th wk.
The Bermuda Triangle (Sunn),
9 theatres, 1st wk
NE-2
.100
.200
California Suite (Col), Cinemart
Twin, Milford 1, 5th wk 235
Every Which Way But Loose (WB),
Showcase IV, 5lh wk 175
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
(UA), Showcase 11, 5th wk 275
The Lord of the Rings (U.^),
Showcase 111, 5th wk 165
Moment by Moment (Univ), Cinemart
Twin I, Milford II, 5th wk 135
Oliver's Story (Para), Showcase V,
6th wk 175
Superman (WB), Showcase I, 6th wk. .
.300
RHODE ISLAND
JJew World Pictures' Ingmar Bergman attraction.
"Autumn Sonata." went into
a record-shattering second month at the
Midland Cinema in the Midland Mall, Warwick
sparking newspaper ads asserting,
"fourth dramatic week!" The year-end, holiday
season bookings continued to demonstrate
considerable staying power, with
holdover bloc encompassing such titles as
Universal's "Moment by Moment" plus
"National Lampoon's Animal House,"
Paramounfs "Grease" plus "Oliver's Story"
plus "King of the Gypsies," Avco Embassy's
"Watership Down," Columbia's "California
Suite," Warner Bros.' "Superman"
plus "Every Which Way But Loose," United
Artists' "The Lord of the Rings" plus "Invasion
of the Body Snatchers" and MGM-
UA's "Brass Target."
New product from the state's rights distributors'
X-rated roster included "Anita,"
"Close to the Bone." "Sex World," "Jade
Pussycat," "A Veiy Natural Thing," "Homer"
and "Taint Hot."
Avon Repertory Cinema, in-town Providence,
brought back United Artists'
"Help!", the Beatles 1965 release, as companion
feature with sub-run booking of
Paramounfs "Foul Play" ... The Cable Car
Cinema. Providence, brought back UA's
"The Last Waltz," charging a dollar admission
Monday through Thursday . . . The
Coventry. Coventry, with sub-run slotting
of Paramountt's "Heaven Can Wait,"
charged $1.25 for Monday and Tuesday admission.
Redstone Showcase Cinemas 5. Seekonk.
ran teaser ads ahead of Warner Bros.' "Agatha."
the Dustin Hoffman starrer.
Gish Girls Star in 'Hearts'
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — Comstock-
World's 1918 release "Hearts of the World,"
starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish, was
screened as a free attraction at the Central
Square Branch Library.
ntfMjnSound and
Nationwide
Projection Service
on all brands.
RCA Service Company, A Division of RCA
43 Edwacd J Hart Rd Industrial Park,
,
Jersey City. N J 07305. Phone (201)451-2222
NEW BEDFORD
fleneral Cinema Corp.'s
North Dartmouth
Mall Cinemas 4 played state's rights,
G-rated "Hansel and Gretel," at 1 and 3
p.m. weekend matinees, charging $1.50 for
all seats . . . Holdovers in southeastern
Massachusetts included Universal's "Moment
by Moment," Warner Bros.' "Superman"
plus "Every Which Way But Loose,"
Paramounfs "King of the Gypsies," (Columbia's
"California Suite" and United Artists'
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
Lockwood & Friedman's Cinema 140
twin, now on a $1.50 admission policy
(ads say, "All seats always"), ran teaser ads
for upcoming bookings of United Artists'
"The Lord of the Rings" and Avco Embassy's
"Watership Down."
The in-town State Cinema seems to be on
a permanent policy of double-features^
something unusual nowadays. What's more,
there is a "ladies' night" (Mondays) and
men's nighf (Wedn.-sdays) in effect with
markedly reduced pricing. "Bargain matinees"
are listed as $1.50 for adults (to 2
p.m.) and there's a dollar tab for childrea
and senior citizens.
Paramount's "Willie Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory." 1971 release teaming
Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson and Peter
Ostrom, was screened as a free attraction
on a recent Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.,
by the New Bedford Free Public Library.
SPRINGFIELD
Tn a rather unusual turn of events for western
Massachusetts exhibition. "The
Grateful Dead" was slotted
into the Springfield
Plaza Twin the same week the live
i
enteitainment troupe performed one evening
at the downtown Springfield Civic Center.
Newspaper ads for the plex were captioned,
"Welcome Grateful Dead!" Equally significant,
"guaranteed" seating—normally applicable
for only live performances in this
region—was in effect for the Springfield
plex showings. Admission was $3 for adults
and $2 for children under age 12 for the
PG-rated attraction.
MGM's "Ivanhoe," 1952 release toplining
Robert Taylor with Elizabeth Taylor, was
shown as a free attraction on a recent
Thursday at 7 p.m. by the East Springfield
Public Library Branch.
Continuing attractions across western
Massachusetts included Warner Bros."
"Superman" plus "Every Which Way But
Loose," Universal's "Moment by Moment,"
United Artists' "The Lord of the Rings"
plus "Invasion of the Body Snatchers,"
Paramount's "Oliver's Story" plus "King
of the Gypsies," Columbia's "California
Suite" and Avco-Embassy's "Watership
Down."
Run-of-the-papcr teaser advertising preceded
the area bow of Brut Pictures' "The
Class of Miss MacMichael."
BOXOFFICE ;: February 5, 1979

. . 20th
Brooklyn,
as you
giow.
When you start to
work, it's easy to spend
your whole paycheck.
And that's a good
reason to join the
Payroll Savings Plan
and buy U.S. Savings
Bonds.
Because Bonds grow
with you. So while you're
working hard doing your
job, Savings Bonds
can be working hard
doing their job. And that
job is making money for
you.
Bonds can help
cultivate your dreams.
Whatever they are. A
college education, down
payment on a newhouse,
or a long-aw aited
vacation. Even a retirement
nest egg.
Put U.S. Savings
Bonds to work for you,
storing away the fruits
of your labor.
Plant the seeds of
your future today. You'll
be surprised what they
can grow into.
E Konds pay 6% interest when held
to maturity of 5 years (4'/2"o the first
year) . Interest is not subject to state or
local income taxes, and federal tax may
he deferred until redemption.
^'W' ' ^^f
. stock ;
in^^erica.
BOXOFnCE :; February 5, 1979
HARTFORD
TTniversal's 'Smokcy itnd the Bandit" continues
to demonstrate surprisingly
strong appeal through its umpteenth reprise
scheduling since its initial release. Latest
booking was into the State Theatre,
down in Jewett City. 99 cents was the
charge for all seats, all times.
.
The Jacques Tati 1953 French comedy
classic, "Mr. Hulot's Holiday," was shown
at the University of Hartford's Auerbach
Auditorium on a recent Friday night. Admission
was free and open to the public,
with seating preference accorded U of H
students Century-Fox's "Silver
Streak" (Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh) was
screened as a free Friday night attraction
by the Greater Hartford Community College.
Admission was open to the public.
Columbia's "California Suite" got passing
grades indeed from Janice Trecker of
the West Hartford News: "Neil Simon fans
should be delighted with the latest screen
appearance of the popular playright's
work, and even non-addicts will have to
admit that 'California Suite' provides a lot
of laughs." Ms. Trecker suggested a fulllength
film for Michael Caine and Maggie
Smith, who appear in one of the four major
segments. "A whole movie with them."
the critic commented, "would be truly delicious."
United Artists' "Invasion of the Body
Snatchers" got this response from Patrick
Farrell, Hartford Advocate: " 'Invasion' is
not only thoroughly frightening, but it's
frightening because it's also the most polished
piece of storytelling since 'Chinatown.'
This may be a pity. Most people will
be so unnerved they'll go home busily trying
to scoff away its images. And the horror
cultists who should be relishing the
skill of the picture are probably already
too hooked on the 1956 original to admit
a remake can be just as good."
NEW BRITAIN
twentieth Century-Fox's "Magic" was held
for a fourth week at the Kensington
The Menschell Berlin Cines 2 are emphasizing
"Low prices both cines!" in ongoing
newspaper advertising. There is a 99 cents
charge in effect Sundays, Mondays and
Tuesdays, with tab listed as $1.50 Wednesdays
through Saturdays.
CIJVERAMA IS Wi SHOW
BISLVESS LV HAWAII TOO^
VVTien you come to Waikikl,
don't miss the famous Don I lo
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel .
#
REEF* WAIKIKI TOW-ER OF THE REEF
REEFTOW-ERS • EDGEWATER
General Cinema Corp. came up with
something rather unusual for Warner
Bros.' "Superman," playing at the Naugatuck
Valley Mall Cinemas 4. The circuit
scheduled special 10:15 a.m. showings. Normally,
area cinemas begin screening time
after the noon hour.
VERMONT
jyjajor openings across Vermont included
Paramount's "King of the Gypsies" and
Avco Embassy's "In Praise of Older Women."
Holdovers were United Artists' "The
Lord of the Rings," 20th Century-Fox's
"Magic," Warner Bros.' "Who Is Killing
the Great Chefs of Europe" plus "Girl
Fi lends" plus "Every Which Way But
Loose" plus "Superman," Avco Embassy's
"Watership Down" and Columbia's "California
Suite."
The redoubtable Merrill G. Jarvis, president
of Merrill Theatre Corp., offered to
run special showings at the downtown Flynn
Theatre, Burlington, of "The Lord of the
Rings" for school groups as scheduled.
EMCO CATV, Inc. started operations of
its cable television system in East Middlebury,
providing eight channels and wideband
FM-stereo reception.
Bernard L. Drew, Gannett News Service,
reviewing Paramount's "Oliver's Story" in
the Burlington Free Press called the sequel
to "Love Story" an embassarrment, "neither
realistic nor tasteful." He had little to admire
about in "Magic," saying, "As soon as
I heard (Anthony) Hopkins speak and had
to watch Burgess Meredith's frenzied and
hopeless efforts at looking and sounding
Jewish—oy!—credulity immediately disappeared.
If you stop believing in the fancies
of something like 'Magic' in its first 15
minutes, then where is there to go?"
Blind Bid Bill Introduced
HARTFORD — Connecticut Ass'n of
Theatre Owners president Sylvia Stieber indicated
at BoxoFFiCE presstime that a
measure to outlaw blind bidding would be
introduced into the state legislature by State
Sen. Clif Leonhardt, a Democrat representing
West Hartford and Farmington.
JS^ WATC H PROJECTION IMPROVE WITH ^^
TcCHMIKOTE
^ " SCREENS ^
^OO XRL I© XR-171 S
PEARLESCENT
O MATTE S
LENTICULAR
^O HILUX
!$ METALLIC
WHITE
TECHNIKOTEcoRP
63 Seabnng St ,
S
NY 11231 1212)624 6429
NE-3

Paste this inside your medicine cabinet.
T
Cancer's seven
warning signals
1. Change in bowel or bladder habits.
2. A sore that does not heal.
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge.
4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere.
5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
6. Obvious change in wart or mole.
7. Nagging cough or hoarseness.
If you have a warning signal, see your doctor
American Cancer Society
BOXOFFICE :: February 5. 1979

Heroux, Beaubien Join
To Produce Projects
MONTREAL—Two of the leading figures
of the Canadian film industry, Denis
Heroux and Joseph F. Beaubien, have joined
forces to produce a series of international
productions during 1979.
These include the new Claude Lelouch
film. "An Adventure for Two," starring
Catherine Deneuve; English and French
feature films and television mini-series based
on the Canadian classic, "The Plouffe
Family"; a major, international film to be
shot in September, and a movie on the adventurous
early life of novelist Jack London,
based on "Smoke Bellew," his dramatic
account of the Klondike gold rush.
Heroux and Beaubien were in Los Angeles
in January to finalize negotiations for
the last two projects. In addition, they will
be negotiating with various companies for
the distribution of "Jigsaw," the film starring
Angle Dickinson and Lino Ventura
which was shot in Montreal last fall. The
French version, "L'Homme en Colere," is
being distributed in Europe by United Artists
and will open in Paris March 14.
Both Heroux and Beaubien will maintain
policy for interim financing which was involved
in financing Canadian feature films
in
the past year.
The Varscona May Become
An Art Cinema House
EDMONTON—Plans are underway to
turn the Varscona Theatre at 10907 82nd
Ave. into an art cinema house.
Sam Binder, district manager of Canadian
Odeon, says nothing had been signed
yet but a verbal agreement has been made
between the chain and New Cinema Enterprises
Corp. Ltd. of Toronto to book for-
|.
eign and art films into the theatre by the
end of this month. "We're waiting to hear
from them before making any final agreements."
says Binder.
Linda Death of New Cinema said, "We
haven't signed anything with Odeon but
right now it looks like we'll be getting it."
One of the conditions laid down by New
Cinema was that it would have complete
control over bookings and handle the publicity
and advertising, she added.
Jules Dassin's "Dream of Passion" with
Ellen Burstyn and Melina Mercouri had
been already booked for Jan. 27 when "In
Praise of Older Women" was to finish its
run. Ingmar Bergman's "Autumn Sonata"
with Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullmann is
scheduled next.
New Cinema runs the Festival Theatre
in Toronto as well as booking foreign,
retrospective and Canadian films to film
societies and theatre groups in other cities.
If the company does take over the Varscona,
theatre-goers will be offered espresso
coffee and a variety of healthful snacks instead
of the traditional pop and candy.
"We'd like to turn it into a real honestto-goodness
art house," says Binder who
notes that the Varscona had at one time
done a modestly thriving business as a
showcase for foreign and art films. "We
really had it rolling until 'The Sound of
Music' came in 1967 and knocked it out
for two years. After that we lost the art
audience."
The Mad Trapper Isn't Dead
At Least Not for the Screen
CANMORE — The Mad Trapper is not
yet dead— at least as far as the silver screen
is concerned.
The movie about Albert Johnson, who
was pursued by RCMP on a mammoth
chase through the northern wilderness in
their own production companies, but will
work together as equal partners in the upcoming
projects.
Director-producer Heroux heads Cinevideo,
Inc., which, among others, recently the 1930s, back on track, according to
is
co-produced "Violette Noziere," chosen by film producer Bohdan Wowk.
the New York Times as one of the ten best Production of the film, starring Oliver
films of 1978. As a director, he was responsible
for three of Canada's leading boxoffice
Reed, was set to begin locally last November
when financial problems halted the project
hits, "Valerie," "LTnitiation" and "J"ai mon
Voyage."
Beaubien was legal counsel in charge of
at the last minute. Reed and other actors
had already moved to the area and crews
had nearly completed several sets.
The production company, Granicus
business affairs for eight years at the Canadian
Film Development Corp.. where he Films of Saskatoon, had also run up an
was also responsible for administering the estimated $300,000 in bills locally when the
creditors, including
films made under Canada's co-production movie shut down. Several local
treaties with France. Italy, the United
motel and hotel owners, tradesmen
Kingdom, Germany and Israel. Before leaving
the CFDC in early 1978, he drafted the
and merchants have been concerned about
getting paid, particularly since the local productio~n
office closed down two months ago.
The company, however, has attempted
assure the to creditors that the production
is halt only temporary and that the movie
22. The letter also stated that the movie will
begin shooting next Oct. 22 after three
weeks of pre-production in the area.
Granicus officials were unavailable for
comment on whether Reed will still be aval
able with the revised schedule.
CEVERA9L% I9» IS SHOW
BUSLVESS L\' ILtW.UI TOO^
Wlien you conic to WaikikJ,
don't miss the famous Don Ho
Show ... at Cinerama's
Reef Towers Hotel.
World Film Festival
Announces 1979 Dates
MONTREAL — The third World Film
will still go ahead.
The latest letter from Wowk announced
that private financial backing had been obtained
from American and Canadian banks
and that the bills would be paid before Jan.
Festival will be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 9,
1979, according to a recent announcement
from festival officials. The festival is considered
in the front ranks of international film
events because of its competitive section
and its International Film Market.
First-Rank
Festival
The Festivals Commission of the International
Federation of Film Producers
Assn. has accredited Montreal as the only
first-rank competitive festival in the Americas,
ranking it with the Cannes Festival.
The Montreal Festival 1979 will have the
following categories: Official competition,
hors concours section, Canadian cinemas,
Latin American cinemas, presence of Italian
cinema, recent television masterpieces and
homages: "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow's
Cinema." Except for the homages
all section, will categories reflect motion
picture production tendencies of the 12
months preceding the festival.
For feature-length films, prizes will be
awarded for the Grand Prix of the Americas,
best actress and best actor. There will
also be two Jury's Prizes, the nature of
which will be determined by the jury. And
for short films, prizes awarded will include
the Montreal Grand Prix for the best short
film and the jury's Prize for the second best.
The International Press award for the
best Canadian film presented out of competition
will be conferred by accredited journalists
at
the festival.
All festival screenings will take place at
the five-screen Le Parisien complex, which
has a total capacity of 2,500 seats. The International
Film Market will be held at the
Comples Desjardins.
10,000 Professionals
The organizers of the festival expect the
festival and the International Film Market
to attract more than 10,000 professionals
from the film industry. The cultural attraction,
the immense potential permitting the
development of a large film market and
Montreal's geographic location are all considered
major drawing cards for the event.
European. American and other distributors
and producers were reportedly very impressed
by the success of last year's festival
and should be reUirning to Montreal in even
greater numbers for the 1979 festival.
BOXOFFICE :: February 1979
Krl

Grosses Follow Improving Weather,
'Animals
VANCOUVER Mode ing veath«r
and general seasonal conditions led to an
upswing at the boxoffice. "National Lampoons
Animal House" in its 22nd week was
again Excellent, bringing the total Excellents
to four. But there were the losers too.
as "Brass Target." "Moment by Moment"
and "Caravans." all in their fourth weeks,
coi'ld only reach Fair.
Capitol—Force
4th wk
; X, .
Capitol—^In Prmse of Old
8th wk
Capitol—
Regain Excellent Perch
irone
(AFD)
Women (Ast
aJjl^^oT^King oi the Gypsies (Para), ^^^^^^^
Cap'- -'-Superman ,WB), 5th wk Excellent
Cars- National Lampoon's Animal House
(Univ) 2^d .vk Excellent
Coronet—Moment by Moment (Univ) 4lh wk Fair
Downtown—Every Which Way But Loose (WB),
Odeon—CalUomia Suite (Astral) 4!h wk ExceUenl
Vancouver Ce
.... Lord of the Rings (UA),
Stanley—Caravans
.Very Good
Oliver's Story (Para),
wk.
9th
Vancouve
.-—
wk.
5th
Vogue—
'Miss MacM' Opens Class With Good
But Can't Compete With Clint, Clark
OTTAWA — "Superman" and "Every
Which Way But Loose" continue to lead all
Ottawa theatres with Excellent ratings. "The
Lord of the Rings," "Invasion of the Body
Snatchers" and "California Suite" are close
behind with Very Good ratings. United Artists"
"Brass Target" opened this past week
with Good response, as did "The Class of
Miss MacMichael."
Capitol Square 1—B^ass Target (UA), 1st wk. Good
Cafitol Square 2, Cinema 6—Force 10 From
NavOTOne (AFD), 5th wk _ .....Fair
Capitol Square 3—King of the Gypsies (Para),
Sfh wk Fair
,
Elain—The Lord of the Rings (UA),
5th wk.
, Y'"''^ ^S°'^
Elmdale—The Silent Flute (Astral), 1st wk Fair
Little Elgin—The Class of Miss MacMichael
"^—^
(AFD),
Cin
6th wk
Place de Ville 1, Cmen
But Loose (W3), 5th
Place de Ville 2—Invas
(UA) 5th wk
[ace du Canada—CoUiornia Suite (Astral
Place Vilie Mane—King'of the Gypsies
Good
4th
•Ith
The Cinema—Brass Target (UA) wk Good
York—Caravans (AFD), 4lh wk
Good
French Lanuage Films
Berri—^I^ Maladiction de la Panthere Hose
ry Good
Champiain—Les Dents de la Met 2 (Univ)
...Good
5th
Le Dauphii1—Senate d'Automne (N
10th wk
1— ry Good
Parisian Brillantine (Para),
4th wk.
Porisien 2—Ruby (C-P), 2nd wk
Parisien 3—One Two Two (Par.
Parisien 4—Mort Sur le Nil (Par
4th wk.
Parisien 5—L'Ange Gardien (IFD), 4th wk Good
'Caravans' Premieres With Excellent
While 'Oliver' Goes Down in Smoke
WINNIPEG — "Caravans" opened very
strong, but business was generally down, except
for the continuing Excellent performances
of "Superman." "California Suite"
and "Every Which Way But Loose." Kid
pics "Magic of Lassie" and "Pinocchio'"
were just Above Average. "Oliver's Story"
and the long-running "Up in Smoke"
dropped.
Capito!—Invasion of the Body Snatchers (UA),
4,h wk Excellent
Convention Centre—The Magic ol Lassie (PR).
4th wk Good
Downtown— Getting Into Heaven (PR); Country
Girl (PR) 1st wk Average
Garrick 1—The Girls of Madame Claude (IFD),
2nd wk Average
Gcmck II—California Suite (A.v-a.),
^ ^_^
4th
-Moment by Moment (Un
Metropolitan-Superman (WB), 51h wk.
NorthstoY 1—Every Which Way But Loose
(WB), 4ih wk ,
Northstar II—Caravans (Univ), Ist wk
Odeon—The Boys From Brazil (BVFD),
4th
-OUv
5th
C ALG ARY

The Edmonton Film Society screened another
of its International Series Jan. 15
in the SUB Theatre on the University
of Alberta campus. The film "King Lear"
was produced in USSR in 1971 under the
direction of G. Kozintsev. This adaption of
Shakespeare was done by Boris Pasternak,
ih; music by Shostakovich and starred Yuri
Yarvet.
There's Work in Toronto
For Star-Struck Extras
TORONTO — George is a 40-year-old
Toronto office worker who decided it was
time to try something different. So on his
day off he got on a bus with a group of
other people and went to a movie location
where they worked as extras.
"I suspect most people are dying to do
something like this, but they're afraid to
be embarrassed," said George, who did not
want his last name used. "I've crossed the
40-year threshold and if people want to
think I'm crazy, that's fine." But after a
day of delays and little action, he found it
was less exciting than he had expected. Not
everyone, though, is disillusioned by the
work. Arlene Segal, a 40-year-old teacher's
aide, was an extra at the same movie. "The
Brood" by David Cronenberg.
"I do it because I love it, but I sometimes
think my family gets more vicarious
ing for extras.
VANCOUVER
The latest Vancouverites to escape the cold
weather for holiday trips to Hawaii
were Canadian Motion Picture Pioneer
president Jim Baldwin, of the Columbia in
New Westminster, and Dene Joyal, 16mm
booker at CanFilms. Dene returned to a
burst of renewed booking activity as mining
camps all over geared up for a busy
spring, particularly Cassiar Asbestos at Cassiar,
which ended a long strike.
The latest film group to arrive in town is
headed by Art Carney and Mike Farrell of
television's "M*A*S*H." They started work
immediately on "Letters From Frank,"
which will be lensed here and in Victoria
for Paramount release.
Almost every branch of the entertainment
industry felt the impact of the added competition
from the ski slopes, which have
been experiencing a bonanza caused by the
recent cold snap. Cypress Bowl, Grouse and
Seymour Mountains catered to 30,000
schuss-boomers a week, more than in any
month for the last three years.
Not feeling the pinch however were thc
art houses. Odeon's Varsity was screening
"Autumn Sonata," dubbed by one commentator
as "The Battle of the Bergmans
where everyone wins," and "Bread and
Chocolate" was showing at Famous Player's
West End Denman Place. Both went into
a second month after excellent business at
both houses.
Shooting on "The Changeling," which
had stopped to give George C. Scott and
Trish Van Devere a breather over the holiday
season, resumed with three days shooting
at the Orpheum.
TORONTO
producer-director Martin Rosen is currently
visiting major cities across Canada
as part of an elaborate promotional campaign
to launch "Watership Down" in this
country. The film has already broken boxoffice
records in England and Sweden. The
Premier Operating promoted a midnight
showing Jan. 13 of "The Rocky Horror
Picture" Show" at the Willow which attracted
much attention and an overflow audience
of extremely enthused teen-agers. However,
plans for a second Saturday midnight
screenina were cancelled.
written
by a Canadian.
"I instantly thought it would make a
fabulous film. It's a very castable story, and
I think it can command attention in a major
way." Duke said that he had considered
establishing a company like FilmFive before,
but "the timing was never right."
Shooting is expected to begin on Th-
Birds of Prey" in
thj fall.
Film Is Too Horrible
For North York
TORONTO—'The Rocky Horror Picture
Show" is just too much of a horror show for
North York. The Willow Theatre cancelled
scheduled Saturday night screening of
the bizarre film of because pressure from
police, fire and bylaw enforcement officials
in
the borough.
The pressure stems from the wild screening
of the film Jan. 13, when more than
900 youths, some wearing construction hard
hats and painted faces, smashed beer bottles,
drank openly, lighted candles and rolled
in the aisles.
"These kids have formed some kind of
a cult," a police spokesman said.
Police Staff Supt. Jack Reid met yesterday
with North York fire officials and by
law enforcement officers to discuss possible
dangers in repeat performances of the bi-
pleasure out of it than I do," she says.
zarre
is New World-Mutual Pictures
ritual.
of Canada.
distributor here
Last September, Mrs. Segal took her family
performance
The officials then told the Willow Theatre
hire ten off-duty
to watch her two-second Rosen was in this city Jan. 9-12; Montreal
Jan. 13-16: Winnipeg Jan. 17; Edmon-
policemin under a senior officer—at a cost
manager he would have to
in "I Miss You Hugs and Kisses."
"I'm star struck. I get the greatest kick
ton Jan. 18, and Calgary Jan. 19. "Watership
of more than $700—to maintain order the
out of meeting big names on a movie set."
next Saturday.
19 at the York,
Down" opened Jan.
She is not alone.
Fairview and Finch in this city, backed by Police said the manager decided that was
"People are just dying to learn the movie
Star offering a trip to England
too expensive and cancelled.
jargon and get in for some experience and
via British Airways, a trip to the "Wa-
a contest in the
tership Down" location and a visit with
The off-duty policeman hired to keep
order the weekend before could not handle
He
a little fun," says Peter Lavender, whose
Film Extra Services co-ordinates about 6,-
Richard Adams, plus double passes to see the situation. reported that people put
000 extras in the city.
I'ghted candles in their hard hats.
the film.
Since Toronto is becoming a center for
The film has made a huge impact at the
movies, television and commercials in Canada,
the demand for extras here is growing.
The Variety Club of Ontario (Tent 28)
planned a grand opening of its new clubrooms
Roxy Theatre on Danforth Avenue over the
past three years, even though it failed in its
Mircon Promotions is one of the agencies
in the Westbury Hotel Jan. 20. En-
initial run.
in the city that finds work for extras. For tertainment was provided from noon until At the Roxy, where the patrons are frisked
$40 people can have their pictures taken midnight with John Gilbert's "Parade of
to make sure they don't bring in bottles
and put into a Mircon catalogue that is
and dope is not unknown, the crowd roars,
Stars."
shown to agents and casting directors look-
stomps and dances its way through the
movie. Many in the crowd claim they have
Canada's newest
ilm pioduction compa-
ny, FilmFive Inc. , is off and running. Its
first project is to be "The Birds of Prey."
based on the international bestseller by
John Ralston Saul, and with its $10 million
budget it will be the most expensive feature
film yet to be made in this country. Fibn-
Five's president is director-producer Darryl
Duke, whose "The Silent Partner" continues
to do well at the boxoffice. Duke is
hopeful that "The Birds of Prey" will be
successful in the international market. He
told Bruce Blackadar of the Star that he
was very "excited" when he read "The Birds
of Prey." and didn't realize that it had been
seen the movie more than 50 times.
Starring singer-actor Tim Curry as Dr.
Frank N. Furter, the film tells the story of
a transvestite from the planet Transexual.
'Bye . . . See You Monday'
Has Begun in Montreal
NEW YORK—"Bye ... See You Monday,"
a Franco-Canadian co-production
starring Carol Laure, Miou-Miou arid
Claude" Brasseur. has started shooting in
Montreal, it has been announced by Norbert
Auerbach, United Artists senior vicepresident
and foreign manager. United
Artists will distribute in France, Belgium
and Switzerland.
Based on Roger Foumier's novel "Moi,
Mon Corps. Mon Ame, Montreal," the film
is based on a screenplay by Fournier and
Maurice Dugowson.
BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1979
K-3

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^ple you know...
and want to
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Publisher's Statement for 6 mos. ending June 30, 1978
:(»>:
u L
^
BOXOFFICE :: February 5. 1979

, UA
BOXOFFiCE BOOKMNCUiDE
An interpretive analysis of lay and tradepreoa reviews. Bunning
Is in parentheses The plus and
minus sions o4 IJstings i
signs indicate degree oj merit. Listings cover current reviews regularly. Symbol
t/^
BOXCFFICE Blue Ribbon Award. All iibna are in color except those indicated by (b&w) io
Molior Picture Ass'n (MPAA)
Wm \2im\N
ratings: SI—general audiences; PG—all ages admitted
dance suggested); H—restricted, with persons under 17 not admitted unless accompo DIGEST
. .
or adult guardian; (g)—persons under 17 not admitted. National Catholic Oflice lor Motion " lotion Piclu Pictures ^ ^^i^^^^^l^^mmmmmmmmm^^m^^^m^^^
(NCOMP) ratings: Al—unobieclionable ior general patronage; A2—unobjectionable lor adults
lescents; A3—unobjectionable for adults; A4—moraUy unobjectionable lor adults, with resc
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX
B—objectionable in_part for all; C—condemned^^Broodcaating and Film Commission, National Council
of Churches (BFC). For listings by company, see FEATURE Ct
H Very Good; + Good; - Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor. H is rated 2 pluses, — as 2 minuses.
I
IS
25
I E
"^
i i ^
%S
5033 All Things Bright and Beautiful
(94) CD World Northal 6- 5-7S B|
Always for Pleasure (58)
Doc Les Blank 6- 5-7S
5171 Attack of tlic Killer Tomatoes (86)
Ho-CM ..Four Square Productions 11- 6-78 PG
2+
2-fl-
1+1-
Dossier 51 (108)
D
Gaumont/New
5056 Dream of Passion, A
(110) D
5053 Driver, The
(91) Ac-Sus-
12-18-78
. ... Emb 9- 4-78
20th-Fox 8-21-78
A3 -H- + ++
5065 Autumn Sonata
(97) D New World 10- 9-78 PG A3
9+
5057 Avalanche (91)
Ac-Sus New World 9-11-78 PG B
Erotic Adventures of Candy, The (85)
Sex C Caribbean Films West 9-25-78
1+
5083 Every Which Way But Loose
(114) Ac-cm WB 1- 1-79 PG B
4+3-
5051 Eyes of Laura Mars (103)
Sus-My-D Col 8-14-78 IB C
7+2-
S045 Bad News Bears Go to Japan,
The (92) C
.Para 7-24-78 PG A3
5+3-
Bad Penny (80) Sex
C Chuck Vincent Productions 9-25-78 ±
1+1-
5080 Battlestar Gallactica
(125) SF-Ac Univ 12-11-78 PG ±
5057 Beyond and Back
(91) Doc Sunn Classic 9-11-78 EH A3 +
SOf^B Big Fix, The
(113) My-C-D Univ 10-23-78 PG A3 #
Wednesday (125) C-D WB 8- 7-78 PG B +
5050 Big
5067 Black Pearl, The
(96) Ad-D Diamond 10-23-78 PG A2 +
5058 Blackout (90)
Ac-Sus New World 9-11-78 H ±
BIODdbrothers (116) D WB 10- 9-78 [IB #
5066
1+2-
2+5-
8+1-
4+1-
3+
Faces of Love (90) D . . New
5062 Far Shore. The
Yorker 10-16-78 A3 +
(104) D Bauer Infl 9-25-78 H ++
Fiona (82) Rochelle 5074 Sex C 11-13-78 ±
5025 Five Days From Home
(109) Ac-D Univ 5- 8-78 PG + —
5082 Force 10 From Navarone (118)
War-Sus-D AlP 12-18-78 PG A3 + +
5048 Foul Play (115)
R.My-C Para 7-31-78 PG A3 -H- tt
2+1-
5+1-
5063 Born Again (110) B-D Emb 10- 2-78 PG A3 :t
5C85 Bottom Line, The
(93) C Silverstein 1-8-79 +
5061 Boys From Brazil, The
(124) SF-Sus-D 20th-Fox 9-25-78 e A3 -
5087 Brass Target (111)
Sus-D MGM-UA 1-15-79 PG A3 -f
5+2-
4+3-
5028 Fox Affair, The (95)
Ac-Sex- D Panther Productions 5-15-78 —
5026 Free Spirit (88)
R-D Joseph Brenner 5- 8-78 PG +
5045 Bread and Chocolate
(111) C-D World Northal 7-24-78 B ++
Brink's Job, 5084 The (118) Cr-C ...Univ 1- 1-79 PG ±
5038 Buddy Holly Story, The
(113) B-DM Col 6-19-78 PG A3 -f
—G—
Geisha. A (87) D New Yorker 7-10-78 ff
Gentleman Tramp, The (80) B-Doc
(© and b&w) ..Tine Productions 6- 5-78 SI ++
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs
(108) C-D New Line 10-16-78 C -H ±
2+
++ 10+
5042 Girl Friends (88) D WB 7- 3-78 PG B + tt
5037 Go Tell the Spartans
(114) War D Emb 6-19-78 B) A4 ff +
Caddie (107)
D Australian Film Office 1-8-79 H tt +
5086 California Suite (103) C Col 1- 8-79 PG A3 + + tt tt
5074 Caravans (123) Ad-D Univ 11-13-78 PG A3 + ± -f ±
5037 Cat From Outer Space, The
(104) C-F BV 6-19-78 Bl Al + + -f ± +
5044 Cheap Detective, The
(92) C-My Col 7-17-78 PG A3 ++++++++ +
Chess Players, The
(135) D Creative Films 7-10-78 A2 ++ ± ff +
5088 Children of Sanchez, The
(115) D Lone Star 1-15-79 E ± + fj-
10-3O-7S PG A3 ± ± -H- +
5070 Comes a Horseman (118) W-D .
± 5+3-
+ 6+1-
+ 10+
H 8+1-
5069 Goin' Coconuts (93)
My-CM Inter Planetary 10-30-78 PG + ±
5068 Goin' South (101) W-C Para 10-23-78 PG A3 + ±
5040OGrease (110) CM Para 6-26-78 PG B ff ++
5071 Great Brain, The
(90) C-D Inter Planetary 11- 6-78 gj +
5079 Great Georgia Bank Hoax, The
(87) C WB 12-11-78 PG + +
5037 Great Smokey Roadblock, The
(90) Ac-C Dimension 6-19-78 PG ±
Green Room, The
(94) D (No Distrib.) 10-16-78 + +
2+1-
5+1-
9+2-
1+1-
4+
5069 Count Dracula and His
Vampire Bride (87) Ho Dynamite 10-30-78 (B -f —
—H—
5035 Damien—Omen 11
(106) Ho-D 20th-Fox 6- 12-78 B) B
5058 Days of Heaven (95) D Para 9-11-7S PG A3
5035 Dear Inspector (Reviewed as "Dear Detective")
(105) My-R-C Cinema 5 6-12-78 PG A3
•^Obiy Death on the Nile
(140) My Para 9-25-78 PG A3
5060 Deer Hunter, The (183) D Univ 12-11-78 H B
5072 Halloween
(93) Ho-Sus Compass 11- 6-78 El B + ±
5034 Harper Valley PTA
(97) C April Fools 6- 5-78 PG + +
5041 y Heaven Can Wait (101) F-C . .Para 7- 3-78 PG A2 + ++
5035 High-Ballin' (100) Ac-D AlP 6-12-78 PG + ±
5039 High Rolling (90) C-Ad-D ..Martin 6-26-78 PG ± +
5049 Hooper (97) Ac-C-D WB 8- 7-78 PG ++ +
B
(80) Hot Honey Sex D Magnum 10-30-78 ±
5048 Hot Lead and Cold Feet
(90) W-C BV 7-31-78 83 Al + ±
3+
9+1-
3+1-
2+1-
8+1-
1+1-
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Feb. 5, 1979

.Analysis
P.
REVIEW DIGEST
AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX H very Good; ^ Gcod; ^ Foir; - Poor; = Very Poor rated 2 pluses, — as 2 i
5
»-
i
K I
t-
S
o
"I"
cr°
2 S
s z
a-
t Is -.Ell
1 lli|lt= "
1 llll'lt.^"
S'J65 l:c Casliss (113) D Col 1- 5-79 PG
S090 Innocent, The (119) D 1-29-79
5052 Interiors (99) D UA 8-14-78 PG A4
5046 Inlernaliona! Velvet
(126) D MGM-UA 7-24-78 PG A2
5053 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (114)
SF-Sus UA 1- 1-79 PG B
5079 It's Not the Size That Counts
(S6) Sex C Brenner 12-11-78 B
H + 1(-
+ 2+
+ # -H- ++ ++ 10-f
++ ± tt ± ± 8-1-3-
Rain and Shine (98) C ..Ne,v Yorker 12-18-78
5089 Run After Me— Until I Catch You!
(91) C Silverstcin 1-29-79
5076 Pun for the Roses
(93) D Kodiak 11-20-78 PG
—K—
5GS1 King of the Gypsies
(112) D Para 12-18-78 g)
5078 Same Time, Next Year
(119) R-C-D Univ 11-27-78 PG + +| ±
4915 Scalpel (Reviewed as "False Face")
(95) Sus-D Emb 12-20-76 PG B ++ ± +
5072 Secrets (90) R-D Lone Star 11- 6-78 + ± ±
Sensual Encounters of Every Kind (75)
Sex C Film Makers 1- 8-79 ® +
Sex World (90) Sex C Essex 1- 8-79 (g) +
507T Silent Witness. The (57)
5059 Last Survivor, The
(90) Sus-Ho-Ad United Producers 9-18-78 B ± -
5065 Last Wave, The (106)
My-D World Northal 10- 9-78 PG A3 ± +
Like a Turtle on Its Back
(90) C-D New Line 10-30-78 + H +
5076 Lord of the Rings, The
(131) An-F-Ad UA 11-20-78 PG A2 4- -f +f
1+2-
4+1-
Doc-D Independents Int'l 11-13-78 PG +
+
+
-
ff
5064 Skateboard (93) Ac-D Univ 10- 2-78 PG B +
5055 Slave of Love, A
(94) Hi-C-D Cinemas 9-4-78 A3 ++ H H
(90) 5081Slithis SF-F Davis 12-18-78 PG ±
5075 Slow Dancing in the Big City
(101) DM UA 11-20-78 PG A2 + ± +
5064 Somebody Killed Her Husband
(95) R-My-C Col 10- 2-78 PG A3 ± ± ±
5064Stevie (102)
B-D First Artists 10- 2-78 PG ff ± H
1+1-
5+2-
4+4-
5+1-
5C84Superman (142) Ac-F-Ad WB 1- 1-79 PG A2 ++ ++ ff
—M—
5075 Magic (106) Sus-D 20th-Fox 11-20-78 Bl B -)- -f -)-
5049 Magic of Lassie, The
(100) C-DM ..Infl Picture Show 8- 7-78 H Al -f ± -f
5054 Matter of Love, A
(88) Sex D ....William Mi.hkin 8-21-78 E +
50S9Max Havelaar (165) Hi-D ..Atlantic 1-29-79 + +
Maya Deren Retrospective
+
(90) Doc-D Grove Press 6-19-78
5073 Message From Space
(105) SF-Ac UA 11-13-78 PG ± -f -f
5047 Midnight Express
(120) D Col 7-31-78 C + ± ++
E
5086 Moment by Moment (105) R-D ..Univ 1- 8-79 H C _ - -
5077 Movie, Movie (105) C
(© and b&w) WB 11-27-78 PG + - ±
+ 5+1-
± 6+3-
50S9 Sweet Creek County War, The
(98) W Key Int'l 1-29-79 PG - - +
5090 Take Down (107) C-D BV 1-29-79 PG + +
5050 Team-Mates
(84) C Indcpendent-lnt'l 8-7-78 ±
5051 Texas Detour
(92) Ac-D Cinema Shares 8- 14-78 E ±
5070 They Went That-a-Way and That-a-Way
(100) C Int'l Picture Show 10-30-78 PG + ±
5055 Tinlorera (91)
Ac-D United 9- 4-78 E ±
—N—
5043 National Lampoon's Animal House
(109) C Univ 7-17-78 EC + -f -f
5053 Nea (101) Sex C Libra 8-21-78 C + ± +
—UV—
5082 Uncle Joe Shannon (115) Melo ..UA 12-18-78 PG
5^60 Up in Smoke (85) C Para 9-18-78 E C
3+4-
* 4+2-
5062 No Time for Breakfast
(100) D Daniel Bouria 9-25-78 + +
5056 Norseman, The (90) Ac-Ad .. AlP 9- 4-78 PG A3 ± ± ±
5062Violette (123)
D Gaumont/Ncw Yorker 9-25-78 E A4
5087 Oliver's Story (90) R-D Para 1-15-79 PG A3 -f -f ±
5054 Oily Oily Oxen Free
(89) C-Ad Sanrlo 8-21-78 -)- + ±
5088 On the Yard (102) D Midwest 1-15-79 H + ± ±
5074 Once in Paris . . .
(100) C-D ...Once in Paris Co. 11-13-78 + H +
5063 Paradise Alley (110) D Univ lO- 278 PG A3 -f -f ±
Perceval (137)
C-Ad Gaumont/Ncw Yorker 10-3t-7S A2 ± + ±
5052 Piranha (95)
Ho-Sus New World 8-14.;.
,
5078 Promise, The
9.
—WXYZ—
5067 Watership Down (97)
An-Ad-D
Emb 10-23-78 PG A2 ff +
5059 y Wedding, A
(125) C-D PG B ± -f 20th-Fox 9-18-78
5077 Where Time Bejan
(90) SF Picture Show 11-27-78
Int'l
+ ff +
H ± ff
5366 Who Is Killing the Great Chefs
of Europe? (112) R-C-My ..WB 10- 9-78 PG A3 ff H ft
5088 Wifemistress (101) D Quartet 1-15-79
4. + +
(98) Melo Univ 11-27-78 P : + + ±
Pussycat Ranch (96)
Sex-W-C Bunnco 1-8-79 i:
+ 5+2-
ff 5+2-
3+1-
3+1-
1+1-
5060 Wild Geese, The
(132) Ac-Ad AA 9-18-78
5087 Wilderness Family Part 2 (105)
OD-Ac PIE 1-15-79
5076 UWiz, The (133) M-F Univ 11-20-78
Woman's Torment, A (85) Ho-Sex-
D D.F.S. Enterprises 9-25-78
Women New Yorker 10-16-78
(94) D
Wrong Move, The
(103) D Bauer Int'l 12-18-78
5090 Your Turn, My Turn (95)
C-D Gaumont/New Yorker 1-29-79
E B H ± ±
ROXOFTK^F. Rooltinaiiidp
1+
4+1-
4+1-
2+
1Q7Q

•ON
m
MIX
1
<
1

MISCELLANEOUS
Rel. Date
ANALYSIS FILM RELEASING
Indian Summer Noi /S
Charleston Dec /8
The Innocent Jan 79
ATLANTIC RELEASING

Opinions on Current Productions
All films revK-wed here are in color, unless otherwise specilied as blacl

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspapers and Program^
THE STOKY: "In Praise of Older Women" (Emb)
Middle-aged Tom Berenger recalls his early sex life.
As a young boy dming World War II, he foimd solace
in an older woman, and since then his love life has re- (
volved around women. He smuggles women into camps
in Austria in 1945 and is initiated by an older woman
there. In Budapest in 1949. he has an affair with Karen
Black after b^ing imsuccessfiU with a seventeen-year-old
virgin. Biack's best friend, MarUyn Lightstone, is attracted
to him. In 1956 he gets involved with Susan Strasberg.
They are revolutionaries, but are subdued by Soviet tanks.
His political illusions are shattered and she sends him to
Canada. In Montreal in 1959, after many months in
refugee camps, he begins his affair with frigid jom-nalist
Alexandra Stewart. They part when she returns to Paris.
Later he has affair with aggi'essive Helen Shaver.
The film ends with Berenger declaring that the adventui-es
of a middle-aged man will be another story. Then
he meets a woman in an elevator and decides to leave the
cnuntry with her.
EXPLOITIPS:
Emphasize the Karen Black name and the Playboy
Magazine article. The bathtub scene ad will entice audiences.
CATCHLINES:
The Story That Tm-ned On Millions of PLAYBOY
Magazine Readers in October!
GLIMPSES . . .
Just Crazy About Horses
•'"'^^^ "" "°"^^
Fred Baker Films 93 Minutes Rel. Dec. '78
Tim Lovejoy, obviously enthralled with horseraising,
has detailed what it means to own horses,
to raise horses, to appreciate horses. Tammy
Grimes is his narrator, with Peter Stein the chief
photographer. It's a poised, professional job tm'ned
out by a dedicated filmmaker. Lovejoy shares producer,
director and writer credits with Joe Wemple.
Victor Kanefsky co-directed. The team reflects considerable
promise for the immediate years ahead.
Narrator: Tammy Grimes.
The Wedding Camels
Turkana Tribal Study;
English Titles
MacDougrall Films 109 Minutes Rel. Dec. '78
The meticulousness that is traditionally bound
up in anthropological attractions is evident in this
study of a semi-nomadic tribe in African Kenya,
where bartering young brides for cattle Is very
much a way of life and economy. David and Judith
MacDougall, the filmmakers, have obviously put
much effort into their screen treatment of a particular
phase of 20th-century lifestyle. They share
producer-director credits.
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THE STORY: "Circle of Iron" (Emb)
Jeff Cooper sets out on a quest to find the Book of
Enlightenment. Cooper comes upon David Carradine, a
blind man playing a bamboo flute. Carradine defeats
eight thugs and Cooper seeks to join him, only to have
Carradine disappear. The music of the flute leads him on
and Cooper comes upon a cave of monkey men, headed
by Carradine. The two fight, and Cooper wins his first
trial. Cooper then meets Eli Wallach, who is standing
in a barrel of oil in order to dissolve his genitals and thus
i
reach perfection. Cooper next meets a Turk Carradine),
who sends Cooper his beautiful wife Ei-ica Creer.
She makes him break his vow of chastity and when he
awakes, he finds her crucified. Cooper comes upon the
blind man again, and the two fight off a horde of horsemen.
Cooper then meets the panther man (Carradine).
Theii- fight ends when the panther man flees. Cooper
again meets the Tm-k and defeats him. The Tm-k gives
Cooper directions to the monastery where Christopher
Lee, the keeper of the Book, lives. From the book. Cooper
learns the ultimate truth: that it is he, himself, in which
all things reside.
EXPLOITIPS:
Get martial arts schools and organizations to join in
special events to ballyhoo the opening of the picture.
CATCHLINES:
Bruce Lee's Ultimate Vision!
THE STORY: "Across the Great Divide" (PIE)
While eluding pm-suers, gambler Robert Logan encounters
two orphans. Heather Rattray and Mark Hall, ages
12 and eight. They want to go to Salem, Oregon, to
claim their inheritance, a 400-acre plot of land. They
must cross the rugged snow-covered Rocky Mountains to
get there. The children distrust Logan at first, but later
warm up to him and realize that he is their major hope
of succeeding. Blackfoot Indians stop the children, but
Logan is on friendly teims with them and teaches the
childi-en to respect rather than fear them. Logan fights
off a grizzly bear. Later, he must deal with a cougar
Ju, which attacks him. A coyote pack chases Rattray until
;ju! Logan saves her. The grizzly attacks the Indian camp,
• but Logan traps it in a teepee which he sets afire. The
childi-en then leave in a canoe that is toppled in the
rapids, and Logan again saves them. Later, this imlikely
trio outwits a gi'oup of bullying hunters before continuing
their jom-ney to Oi-egon.
EXPLOITIPS:
Play this up as an outdoor adventm-e film for the whole
family. Use radio and TV spot ads. PIE has a strong promotional
campaign for this film.
CATCHLINES:
In 1876 They Crossed the Rockies-^wlth Hope and
Corn-age They Clung to Their Dream! ... An Epic Outdoor
Adventure Pilrn!
• CLEARING HOUSE for
Classified Ads
• SHOWMANDISER for
Promotion Ideas
• FEATURE REVIEWS for
Opinions on Current Films
• REVIEW DIGEST for Analysis
of Reviews
POSITION ..._..

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\\fednesday,Tliiirsday&Itiday
FEBRUARY 7,8&9
MervGriffinShow
SALUTES COLUMBIAPICTURES
GRE^ STARS AND SCENES FROM ITS GREAT FILMS
WEDNESDAY
Dustin Hoffman
Donna Summer
Harrison Ford
Hal Linden
Justin Henry
and from the theatrical
cast of "Annie"
Annie, Sandy &
Daddy Warbucks
Join Merv and his special guests (in order of appearance)
THURSDAY
George Burns
George Segal
Frank Capra
Robby Benson
Lynn-Holly Johnson
Marvin Hamlisch
Melissa Manchester
FRIDAY
Jack Lemmon
Michael Caine
Jacqueline Bisset
Gabriel Kaplan
New York, WNEW-TV 8:30 P.M. Feb. 7-8 & 9
Ltw Angeles, KTTV 9:00 P.M. Feb. 7-8 & 9
Check TV listing for time and channel in your area.