Boxoffice-April.13.1970

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE EDITION • APRIL 13, 1970 

Including the Sectional News Pages of All Editions 

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/lie TuAe e^ ~the m&tten. HctuM yncLd^ 

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. . . See Showmandiser Section. 

George C. Scott, starring as the flamboyant tank commander Gen. Gcotge S. Patton jr., surveys 

the surrounding territory in this scene from "Patton." The 20th Century-Fox production 

was selected as the Blue Ribbon Award winner for March by members of the National Screen 

Council. Karl Molden co-stars as Gen. Omar N. Bradley 

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"^he Twelve Chairs Ron Moody/Frank 

Langelia/Dom DeLuise/Written and Directed 

by Mel Brool

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— 

OSCARS TO MIDNIGHT COWBOY/ 

SCHLESINGER, WAYNE, SMITH 

20th-Fox Wins Most Awards. 

Eight in All, for 3 Films; 

United Artists Has 3 

HOl.lÛOOn - Midnight Cowboy" 

and its dircvTt.H John Schlcsingor: John 

\\'.i\no. the oncoNcd sheriff of 'True Grit." 

and M.iggie Smith. British star of "The 

Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." emerged as the 

top winners in the 42nd annual Academy 

of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences presentations 

held Tuesday (7) night at the Dorothy 

Chandler Pa\ilion of the los Angeles 

Music Center. 

"Cowboy" Gamers Another 

"Cowboy," the story of a male hustler in 

New York, also won an Oscar lor W'aklo 

Salt for best screenpla\ based on material 

from another medium, giving the picture 

and its distributor. United Artists, three 

awards. 

Twentieth Century-Fox garnered the most 

awards, eight for three pictures, including 

Miss Smith's win for "The Prime of Miss 

Jean Brodie." The company's "Butch Cassidy 

and the Sundance K.id" won the best 

story and screenplay award for William 

Goldman: best cinematography award for 

Conrad Hall; best original score for Burt 

Bacharach. and best song. "Raindrops Keep 

Fallin' on My Head," for Bacharach's music 

and Hal David's lyrics. "Hello. Dolly!" 

received three awards with the presentation 

of best adapted score of a musical picture 

award to Lennie Hayton and Lionel Newman: 

best art direction award to John De- 

Cuir. Jack .Martin Smith and Herman Blumenthal, 

with set decoration by Walter M. 

Scott. George Hopkins and Raphael Bretton, 

and best sound award to Jack Solomon 

and Murray Spivak. 

Hawn and Young Honored 

Best supporting performances were won 

by Goldie Hawn. who made her motion picture 

debut as the giddy fiancee in Columbia's 

"Cactus Flower," and by Gig Young, 

the marathon dance operator in Cinerama's 

"They Shoi>t Horses. Don't They?" Columbia 

won in a second category also with the 

presentation of the best visual effects award 

to Robie Robinson for "Marooned." 

The Oscars to Wayne and Young represented 

the only wins for Paramount and 

Cinerama, respectively. Universal also received 

one with the Oscar to Margaret Furse 

for best costume design on "Anne of the 

Thousand Days." 

The ceremonies marked a first best actor 

award for long-time boxoffice champion 

John Wayne, who a year ago celebrated 40 

years of screen stardom. He was nominated 

once before in the best actor category, for 

"The Sands of Iwo Jima" in 1949. In accepting 

his award for the performance as 

the one-eyed sheriff in "True Grit," Wayne 

JOHN WAYNE 

wise-cracked, "If I'd known this. I'd have 

put on that patch 35 years earlier." Wayne 

had been out-and-out sentimental favorite 

to win this year. 

The Cinema V release. "Z," won two 

awards, one as the best foreign-language 

film and the other going to Francoise Bonnot 

for best film editing on that feature. 

"Z." made by Frenchmen under Algerian 

auspices, is an attack on the current military 

dictatorship in Greece. 

The Academy presented a special award 

to veteran actor Cary Grant for "sheer brilliance 

in the acting business." and highlighted 

the actual presentation, made by Frank 

Sinatra, with clips from Grant's films over 

the 

years. 

MAGGIE SMITH 

The coveted Jean Hersholi Humanitarian 

Award, given to the individual in the industry 

whose humanitarian efforts have 

brought credit to the industry, was presented 

to George Jessel. 

Winners in the best documentary films 

categories were— features: "Artur Rubinstein—The 

Love of Life": short subjects: 

"Czechoslovakia 1968." In the short subjects 

division, "The Magic Machines" won 

the live-action award and "It's Tough to Be 

a Bird" won the cartoon award. 

Academy president Gregory Peck presided 

and Bob Hope served in his traditional 

capacity as master of ceremonies. Eastman 

Kodak Co. again sponsored the show 

over the ABC network. 

Academy Awards for 1969 

Best picture: "Midnight Cowboy." A Jerome Hellman-John 

Schlesinger production. United Artists. Jerome 

Hellmon, producer. 

Best director: John Schlesinger for "Midnight Cowboy." 

Best actor: John Wayne in "True Grit," a Hal Wallis 

production. Paramount, 

Best actress: Maggie Smith in "The Prime of Mi^s 

Jean Brodie," 20th Century-Fox Productians, Ltd., 

20th Century-Fox. 

Best supporting actor: Gig Young in "They Shoot 

Horses, Don't They?", o Chortoff-Winkler-Pollack production. 

ABC Pictures presentation, Cinerama. 

Best supporting actress: Goldie Hawn in "Cactus 

Flower," Fronkovich Productions, Columbia, 

Best foreign-language film: "Z," a Reggone- 

O.N.C.IC. production (Algeria). 

Best screenplay—based on material from another 

medium: "Midnight Cowboy." Screenplay by Waldo 

Solt. 

Best screenplay—written directly for the screen: 

"Butch Cassidy ond the Sundance Kid," story and 

screenplay by William Goldman. Campanile Productions, 

20th Century-Fox. 

Best film editing: "Z," Froncoise Bonnot. 

Best cinemotography: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance 

Kid." Conrad Hall. 

Best visuol effects: "Marooned," Robie Robinson. 

A Frankovich-Sturges production, Columbia. 

Best ort direction: "Hello, Dolly!", John DeCuir, 

Jock Martin Smith ond Hermon Blumenthal. Set decorotion: 

Walter M. Scott, George Hopkins and Rophoel 

Bretton. A Chenoult production, 20th Century- 

Fox. 

Best costume design: "Anne of the Thousand 

Days," Margaret Furse. A Hal B. Wallis-Universal 

Pictures, Ltd. production, Universal. Hal B. Wallis, 

producer. 

Best original score for a motion picture (not a musical): 

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Burt 

Bocharoch. 

Best score of o musical picture (original or adaptation): 

"Hello, Dolly!" Music adapted by Lennie Hayton 

and Lionel Newman, 

Best song (original for the picture): "Raindrops 

Keep Fallin' on My Head," from "Butch Cassidy and 

the Sundance Kid" Music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics 

by Hot David. 

Best sound: "Hello, Dolly!", Jack Solomon and 

Murray Spivak. 

Best documentary feature: "Artur Rubinstein 

The Love of Life," a Midem production. Bernard 

Chevry, producer. 

Best documentary short subject: "Czechoslovakia 

1968," Sanders-Fresco Film Makers for United States 

Information Agency. 

Best short subject (cartoon): "It's Tough to Be a 

Bird." Walt Disney Productions, Buena Vista Distribution 

Co. Word Kimball, producer. 

Best short subject (live action): "The Magic Machines." 

Fly-by-Nlght Productions, Manson Distributing. 

Joan Keller Stern, producer. 

SPECIAL AWARDS 

Jean Hersholt Humanitorian Award: George Jesse!. 

Honorary Award: Cary Grant 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970

. . 

Miss. 

Obscenity Law 

Hit in High Court 

WASHINGTON—The 50-year-old Mississippi 

obscenity law "should be declared 

unconstitutional on its face," the Supreme 

Court was told by an exhibitor urging it to 

review and reverse a split lower court ruling 

upholding of "The Fox" as an obscene 

movie. 

ABC Mid-South Theatres also charged 

that Jackson, Miss., police officers violated 

the Constitution when they seized the film 

after its first showing in the city, and arrested 

the manager of the Paramount Theatre 

and the projectionist without any kind 

of arrest and search warrants, and without 

a prior hearing on the obscenity question. 

The review petition also stated the same 

procedure was followed by city authorities 

in seizing a print of "Candy" from ABC 

Mid-South in January 1969, two months 

after the incident was appealed. The threeman 

federal district court panel, in a twoone 

decision, also ruled that the movie was 

obscene, which finding also is being challenged. 

Furthermore, the brief pointed out, 

"The Fox" was held not to be obscene by 

another Federal District judge in Mississippi 

shortly after its seizure in Jackson. 

The appellants charged the state obscenity 

statute "is vague and overbroad and violates 

the right of free expression guaranteed . 

under the First and Fourteenth amendments 

to the Constitution." 

The arrest procedures also were clearly 

violative of the Constitution, they alleged, 

especially since "no judicial determination 

of whether the film was obscene was made 

prior to said seizure, and there was no hearing, 

either adverse or otherwise, in this 

regard before any magistrate prior to such 

seizure," contrary to findings by the Supreme 

Court and other tribunals. 

The ruling that the film is obscene flies 

in the face of Supreme Court and other judicial 

decisions, the exhibitors contended. 

The lower court decision, they told the high 

court, "is unsupported by the decisions of 

this court, and is in direct conflict with recent 

decisions of this court as well as other 

federal 

courts." 

Budd Rogers Distributing 

'Rebel Priest' Feature 

NEW YORK — Filmvideo Releasing 

Corp. has announced the appointment of 

Budd Rogers as producer's representative for 

"Rebel Priest," a feature film written and 

produced by Maurice H. Zouary. TTie picture, 

photographed in widescreen and black 

and white, will be ready for release and will 

play about 25 initial premiere situations in 

theatres across the country by mid-April. 

Rogers will arrange all matters of distribution 

for the film. 

"Rebel Priest," rated G by the MPAA. is 

a medieval/ 20th Century story, cast in both 

16th Century splendor and utilizing strikingly 

similar contemporary footage. It effectively 

presents the parallels of the foundations 

of economic, political and religious protests 

of the Middle Ages and conditions then. 

Compromise Pay TV Bill 

Given NATO Support 

FCC Fines Broadcaster 

For Obscene Language 

Commu- 

WASHINGTON—The Federal 

nications Commission has ordered Eastern 

Education Radio, licensee of WUHY-FM, 

Philadelphia, to pay a $100 fine for "indecent" 

programing, in a step expected to 

lead to a court decision spelling out the 

FCC's authority in the regulation of obscenity 

and the establishment of guidelines 

as to what is illegal language. 

The action charges "indecent" programing 

on a tape recorded interview with Jerry 

Garcia, California rock group leader, and 

alleges that Garcia "used various patently 

offensive words as adjectives, introductory 

expletives and as substitutes for 'et cetera.' " 

FCC authority in the area of obscenity 

and in the presentation on television of motion 

pictures which might be considered obscene—has 

been of major concern ever 

since FCC Chairman Dean Burch appeared 

before a Senate subcommittee last December, 

when it was made evident that a test 

case would be necessary. 

In 

the action against the Philadelphia station. 

Commissioners Robert T. Bartley. 

Robert E. Lee and Robert Wells were in 

the majority, with Burch concurring and 

Kenneth A. Cox concurring and dissenting 

in part. Commissioner Nicholas Johnson dissented, 

stating, "I believe no governmental 

agency can punish for the content of speech 

by invoking statutory prohibitions which are 

so broad, sweeping, vague and potentially 

all-encompassing that no man can foretell 

when, why, or with what force the commission 

will strike." 

The FCC said the issue is whether a station 

can present interview shows where "patently 

offensive expressions are used," and 

it noted that if the FCC has the authority 

to forbid such programs it must act to prevent 

widespread usage because "the speech 

involved has no redeeming social value, and 

is patently of tensive, by contemporary community 

standards." 

It also noted that "there is no judicial 

and administrative precedent" for the case 

and the matter can only be definitely settled 

by the courts. 

Buhse Elected to CPI 

Board of Directors 

NEW YORK—Howard H. Buhse, chairman 

of the executive committee of Hornblower 

& Weeks-Hemphill. Noyes. has been 

elected to the board of directors of Columbia 

Pictures Industries, it was announced by 

chairman of the board A. Schneider. 

Buhse also serves on the boards of Armstcd 

Industries, Ceco, EDP Resources, National 

Aviation and Republic. 

WASHINGTON—Rep. John D. Dingell 

(D., Mich.) has shelved his bill calling for 

a ban on pay television and has come up 

with a compromise proposal which would 

allow the Federal Communications Commission 

to authorize very restricted pay TV. 

The bill, now being circulated among 

committee members, is viewed as being so 

restrictive that it would, in effect, halt attempts 

to establish pay television. 

George G. Mead, Washington representative 

for the National Ass'n of Theatre Owners, 

has given the measure full support and 

stated that it bans the objectionable features 

of pay TV with the exception of providing 

rate 

regulation. 

Major provisions of the bill are: 

1. A five-year ban on the showing of 

sports events in a community when it had 

been telecast live. (The FCC order authorizing 

pay TV calls for a two-year ban.) 

2. A feature film could not be shown on 

pay TV more than one year after its release. 

(The FCC order provides for two 

years.) 

3. Not more than 45 per cent of pay TV 

programing in a 24-hour period and not 

more than 60 per cent in prime time could 

be given to feature films and sports events. 

4. Pay TV stations would be required to 

broadcast pay TV programs at least eight 

hours a day. (The FCC order requires 28 

hours a week of free TV.) 

5. There could be no commercials at 

any time on a pay TV station. 

6. No station on the air when the bill is 

enacted could engage in pay TV, except 

through a special FCC waiver upon proof 

that it would be in the public interest. 

7. No program that is part of a regularly 

broadcast series of programs with related 

content could be aired over pay TV. (The 

FCC order bars pay TV airing of program 

series with interconnected contents.) 

Gruenberg Named Captain 

Of 20th-Fox Sales Drive 

NEW YORK—Jerry Gruenberg. Midwest 

district manager for 20th Century-Fox, 

has been appointed captain of the domestic 

sales drive in Fox's $200 million worldwide 

sales "Salute to the Zanucks." Peter 

S. Myers, vice-president in charge of domestic 

distribution, made the announcement 

and said that Gruenberg will pinpoint sales 

and bookings domestically for the second, 

third and fourth quarters of this year. 

A bonus plan will be put into effect for 

each of the quarters, the remaining periods 

of the 16-month drive. The goal is more 

than 25 per cent above the records for 

film 

rental for any similar period in Fox's history. 


The most 

spectacular 

happening 

in the history 

of the Festival! 

Week- long 

TV, radio 

and newspap^ 

Premiere coverage 

throughout the South! 

Thousands 

of tourists 

will line the 

streets fof/^ 

the Premier 

motorcade! 

1/ 

4 

multuous^j 

city-wlde.^^ 

welcome for 

INGRID 

BERGMAN 

and 

STIRLING 

SILLIPHANT! 

Unique 

World Premiere 

amid flowering 

dogwoods 

and colorful 

pageantry! 

^ 

COLUMBIA PICTURES Presents 

UVGBW 

ANTHONY BERGMAN 

/^T It \T\T 

in n STIRLING SILUPHANT -GUY GHEfJV PRODUCTION ^ y*^ 

QIMN 

TZ WEAVER KATHEMNE CRAWEORD 

• 

^ 

Ji^ViQk 

in the SprinsSâin 

sJrZTSiwphant 'T,cZr^:sz-' „.T^j:^„n . 6uy%VJn 

• 

stiTnl'^siiiiphant W 

nn/nr. P:isnatftc/nn^

AIR to Take Over U.S. Disfribution 

Of Commonwealth United Films 

HOI I N WOOD— Amcricm Inicmalioiiul 

Pn:lllrc^ will h.initic U.S. Ihcatrical disiribution 

of Commonweallh United Entertainment 

films under terms of an agreement 

announced here Friday (3) by Samuel 

Z. Arkoff. .MP chairman: James H. 

Nicholson. .MP president, and Oliver Unger. 

CW division chief executive officer. 

The agreement involves 43 films. 27 of 

which are now in release, including Peter 

Ustinov's "Viva NJax!" and the Peter Sel- 

Icrs-Ringo Starr topliner. "The Magic Christian." 

which is in initial release dates. 

Sixteen Ready for Release 

The 16 films not yet released are completed 

and ready for release. These, plus 

"Viva Max!" and "Magic Christian," represent 

a total investment of S3() million. 

"The man.igcments of Coniinonucalth 

and .\merican Iniernational have for a long 

time been studying the possibility of a resumption 

of our prior business association 

which w;ls a most profitable one in the past 

when .\merican International released 'The 

Pawnbroker," 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and 

other films." Ungcr said. 

".As a result of an in-depth analysis of 

several companies' distribution patterns and 

operation, we felt it would result in a far 

more effective and economical operation 

if our pictures were distributed through 

American International." he added. "We 

are most cognizant of the profound changes 

that are currently being made in the distribution 

of motion pictures and that with 

this new distribution arrangement our films 

would achieve the maximum potential." 

Nicholson and .Arkoff stated: "We are 

most proud to handle this lineup of product 

which is one of the most important 

groups of films of any company in the indusli^. 

These new releases will in no way 

affect AlP's present production and release 

schedule, but will augment it at a time when 

Hollywood has been affected by a lull in 

production. This is extremely important. 

since a steady flow of top boxoffice films 

to the nation's theatres is a vital stimulus 

to 

the industry." 

Large Variefj Upcoming 

The 16 films awaiting release include "Venus 

in Furs," starring James Darren and 

Barbara McNair; "Battle of Neretva." starring 

Yul Brynner. Orson Welles and Sylva 

Koscina: "Julius Caesar," starring Charlton 

Heston. Jason Robards. John Gielgud. Richard 

Johnson. Robert Vaughn, Richard 

Chamberlain and Diana Rigg; "The Cannibals 

Among Us," starring Britt Ekland 

and Pierre Clementi: "Tarn Lin." starring 

Ava Gardner and Ian McShane; "Dorian 

Gray," starring Helmet Berger and Richard 

Todd: "The Promise." starring Ian McKellen 

a.nd Susan Macready: "Legion of the 

Damned." starring Jack Palance and Curt 

Jurgens; "Strangers at Sunrise," starring 

George Mo.ntgomery and Deana Martin; 

"Triangle," starring Ray Danton. Dana 

Wyntcr .inJ I'.uil Rich.irds: "That Lady 

From Peking." starring C arl Betz and Nancy 

K.wan; "The Savage Season." starring 

Ron Harper. Diane McBain and Victor 

Buono; "F-reelance," starring Ian McShane 

and Ga\le Hunnicult: "Count Dracula." 

starring Christopher l.cc and Herbert Loin, 

.ind 'Tiki riki" and "Anna Karenina." 

Paramount Promotes 

Yablans to Veep 

NLW YORK.— I-rank Yablans has been 

appointed vice-president, domestic distribution, 

of Paramount 

.^^r*- 

.^^ 

Frank Yablans 

Pictures, it was announced 

by Stanley 

R. Jaffe. executive 

\icc - president and 

chief operating officer 

of the company. 

"We are delighted 

to make this appointment 

in recognition 

of the outstanding job 

Frank Yablans has 

done since becoming 

general sales manager in January," Jaffe 

include Mike Nichols' "Catch-22." starring 

Alan Arkin; "Darling Lili." Julie Andrews 

and Rock Hudson: "The Out-of-Towners," 

Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis: "On a 

Clear Day You Can See Forever." Barbra 

Streisand: "Norwood." Glen Campbell, and 

Otto Preminger's "Tell Me That You Love 

Me Junie Moon." Liza Minnelli. 

Prior to his association with Paramount, 

which began in June 1969. Yablans was 

vice-president and general sales manager of 

Sigma III after serving in important sales 

positions with Warners and Buena Vista. 

New Lippert Houses Set 

For Virginia and Utah 

SAN FRANCISCO — With the purchase 

of property in Richmond. Va.. and sites in 

the Valley Farm Shopping Center in Salt 

Lake City. Utah. Robert L. Lippert Theatres 

continues a major expansion program that 

totals 113 theatres of less than 1.000-seat 

capacity. Since the first of the year. Lippert 

has acquired 26 theatres. 

A four-plex project is being erected on the 

Salt Lake City site, each building seating 

300 persons. The new complex is 90 per 

cent completed and Lippert has set a July 

15 opening dale for the four houses. 

The acquisition of two acres of property 

in the Virginia capital will provide for the 

erection of twin theatres, with 500 and 600 

seat capacities. Opening is due in August. 

Loew's Net Earnings 

Up for Six Months 

stated. "We are confident that with the 

product on hand he will lead our sales organization 

to the greatest summer in Paramount's 

history." 

Releases by Paramount this summer will 

NFW YORK—Loew's Theatres, Inc., announced 

that net earnings for the six months 

ended February 28 reached $19,008,600, 

equal to $1.32 per share after deduction 

for income taxes of $12.SS7.()()0. Net earnings 

for the second quarter ended February 

28 were $9,119,500 equal to 64 cents per 

share. 

The comparable six-month period last 

year showed earnings (before extraordinary 

item) of $13,844,100 equal to 97 cents 

per share and an extraordinary item of $4.- 

977,700 equal to 35 cents per share resulting 

from profits realized on sales of Control 

Data Corporation stock, showing total 

net earnings of $18,821,800 equal to $1.32 

per share, after deduction for income taxes 

of $11,758,000. Net earnings for the second 

quarter last year were $8,695,900 equal 

to 61 cents per share. 

The net earnings for the six months ended 

February 28 were solely due to 

the hotel, theatre, tobacco and their related 

operations while the net earnings (before 

extraordinary item) for the comparable period 

last year, in addition, included gains on 

security 

transactions. 

On Nov. 29, 1968. Lorillard Corp. was 

acquired by Loew's Theatres, Inc. No earnings 

of Lorillard are included in net earnings 

of Loew's for the last year's first quarter 

ended Nov. 30, 1968. 

Gross revenues for the first six months and 

for the current quarter amounted to $342,- 

859,000 and $170,212,000 respectively, as 

compared with $215,063,000 and $172,- 

465,000 for the same periods last year. 

Pro forma earnings per share on a fully 

diluted basis (assuming holders of warrants 

issued Nov. 29, 1968 would apply the 6% 

per cent debentures at par as payment of 

the current exercise price of $35 per share) 

would be $1.09 for the six months ended 

February 28, and 53 cents for the current 

quarter. 

Fred Koontz Jr. Is Named 

UATC Eastern Ad Head 

NEW YORK—United Artists Theatre 

Circuit announced the appointment of Fred 

Koontz jr. as director of advertising and 

publicity for the Eastern division of UATC. 

Prior to his current assignment, Koontz 

was divisional manager in charge of theatre 

operations for UATC in the state of Connecticut, 

with headquarters in Darien. He 

has been associated with theatre management 

and promotion for the past 13 years, 

and has received numerous industry citations 

and awards. He is currently on the 

executive committee of the National Ass'n 

of Theatre Owners of Connecticut. 

Koontz, 32, lives on Post Road, Darien, 

Conn. A veteran of service with the U.S. 

Navy, he is an alumnus of Mitchell College, 

New London, Conn. 

8 BOXOFFICE ;; April 13, 1970

the garden ofsensuality 

blossonns 

eco 

breakin 

Eastman color- running time 80 min. 

profits 

STATE THEATRE 

BOSTON 

2nd week 

114,1 

7,1 

III 00 

III LOO 

HILITE 

30THEATRE 

AURORA, ILL, 

Nl CINEMA 

NEWYORLilO, 

f3,4oaoo 

2,4oaoo 

weekend 

2nd 

weekend 

3rd 

weekend 

5,600.00 

III 

.00 

Distributed by CINEX INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTORS INC, 

251 West 42nd Street NewYork, N,Y, 10036 524-6654

UMC Lists 12 Films 

For Release by June 

M:\\ NOKk— LMC I'lLltiiLN will have 

12 new ic.iiure iilnis rc.idy lor release by 

June, it was announced by Sidney Glazier. 

UMC's president. All 12 films were started 

w.thin the past !(< months and almost all 

arc complfied or \or\ near completion at 

this moment. 

Now in the last weeks of shooting is 

"Salem Come to Supper." a Gothic suspense 

film starring Trevor Howard. Liv Ullmann. 

Per Oscarsson and Max von Sydow as 

Salem. Laslo Bcncdek is directing in Copenhagen 

vsith .Mel Ferrer as producer for 

UMC. "The Only Way." starring Martin 

Potter (of Fellini's "Salyricon") just finished 

last month and is now being scored. Bert 

Christiansen directed. 

Soinc (.'«>-Produced or .Acquired 

Of the 12 films, some were wholly financed 

and produced b\ UMC. some coproduced 

w.ih other firms and a few acquired 

in a finished state for release by 

UMC. a division of Universal Marion Corp. 

The other features are as follows: "Quackser 

Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx." 

starring Gene VV.ider and co-starring Margot 

Kidder, and directed by Waris Hussein; 

"The Twelve Chairs," written and directed 

by Mel Brooks, starring Ron .Moody and 

co-starring Frank Langeila and Dom De- 

Luise; "First Love," starring Maximilian 

Schell. V'alentina Cortesa and John Osborne. 

and directed by Maximilian Schell; "May 

Morning" starring Jane Birkin and John 

Steiner, and directed by Ugo Liberatore; "A 

Bullet for Sandoval," starring Ernest Boignine 

and George Hilton, and directed by 

Julio Buchs; 

"The Gamblers," starring Don Gordon 

and Suzy Kendall, written and directed by 

Ron Winston; "The Milky Way," starring 

Pierre Clemenii. M.chel Piccoli and Delphine 

Seyrig, and directed by Luis Bunuel; 

"The Bird With the Crystal Plumage." starring 

Suzy Kendall, Tony Musante and Eva 

Renzi. and directed by Dario Argento; "Eva 

—Too Young. Too Soon." starring Selveig 

Andersson. and directed by Tirgny Wickman; 

"Glenn and Randa." starrig Shelley 

Plimpton, Steve Curry, Woodrow Chambliss 

and Garry Goodrow. and directed by J m 

McBride. 

New Deals Made Abroad 

All are in English except for Bunuel's 

"The Milky Way." and all are in color. 

Glazier just returned from a European 

trip, during which he concluded a number 

of production, distribution and financing arrangements 

with companies in England, 

Italy and Scandinavia, "We have great 

hopes for the immediate future." he said, 

"and our current plans include intensified 

expansion of our co-production and co-financing 

and co-distribution agreements with 

established companies," 

10 

Watching Trend of Bills 

To Tax R and X Films 

NIA\ ">()KK - 

I egisi.ilmcs ihnniylunil 

the country seem to be concerned with .i 

trend of various bills to prevent obscene 

films from being shown in a particular area. 

Lawmakers lia\c been proposing measures 

in a number of states and cities !o tax R 

and X-rated liliiis, alihouyh no widi.' acceptance 

has been gaiued. 

Barbara Scott, attorney for the Motion 

Picture .^ss'n of .America and that group's 

expert on censorship matters, reports 'about 

five ca.ses prcsenlly" pending action. Some 

were introduced into state legislatures last 

\ear. including North Carolina and Texas, 

but these died when no action was taken 

before the session closed. 

Even more attempts may be made at 

this 

type of legislation, according to Miss Scott, 

if it were not for the fact that hte only such 

taxation measure taxation based on the MPA 

rating of a film that has been passed to date 

has been declared unconstitutional. The 

Chatham CoLinly. Georgia (Savannah) 

Council voted for such a law, but it later 

was overturned as a violation of constitutional 

rights by a local court there. 

Miss Scott said, "We are hoping the precedence 

of that case will discourage similar 

action in other parts of the country." 

Industry observers point out that whether 

or not lawmakers choose that particular 

method as a way of making it rough for 

presentation of mature film fare, it would 

seem clear that many communities and 

states seem to feel it necessary that some 

law be passed to prevent certain types of 

motion pictures from being shown. 

Bill Proposed in Seattle 

SEATTLE—A bill was recently introduced 

here by Loretta Nimmerrichter. a 38- 

year-old mother of two. to tax motion pictures 

rated X, from which 17-year-olds 

and younger are barred. She said, "I know 

this bill sounds like it was introduced by 

a little old woman who wears a long dress 

and is against sex. But you know me. I'm 

not like that at all. I'm for gambling, sex, 

anything that you have in mind. But I'm 

tired of my children not being able to go to 

a movie." 

Cybernetics Films Division 

For Back Office Details 

NEW YORK—Cybernetics International 

Corp., worldwide computer peripheral and 

services company, has formed a division to 

consolidate the film distribution functions 

and other "back office" services for the motion 

picture industry, it was announced by 

E. W. Housh, president. 

The new operation, known as the Cybernetics 

Cinema Exchange Division, will apply 

the latest computer management techniques 

in centralizing and handling back office 

services for American film companies in 

Europe, Housh said, 

"Overseas, these services will include the 

physical control, handling and shipment of 

prints, a regionalized print inspection service 

and the processing of orders for trailers 

and accessories," he added. 

Rank Reports Big Gain 

In Half Year's Net 

LONDON — Rank Organization, Ltd., 

last week reported a rise in net income for 

the 26-week period ended January 10, to 

$17.5 million, or 24.2 cents per share, compared 

to $13.9 million, or 18.9 cents per 

share, for the same period a year ago. Sales 

were up to $168 million from the previous 

year's $154. .S million. 

The group's Rank-Xerox division reported 

a profit of $39 million, up from $27 

million a year ago, and Rank's share of this 

profit amounted to $13.7 million, compared 

to $9.9 million last year. Rank-Xerox sales 

increa.sed to $169.6 million from $131 million. 

John Davis, chairman of the board and 

chief executive officer of the Rank Organization, 

again predicted that earnings for 

the fiscal year, which ends June 30. would 

show a "further substantial increase, which 

will be achieved by an increase in profits 

of our non-Xerox activities coupled with the 

continuing growth of Rank Xerox at a high 

level." Davis further stated, "I am confident 

we should show over the next few years an 

overall growth of at least 25 per cent annually-" 

The Rank Organization includes divisions 

in film production, distribution, theatre operation, 

film equipment and film processing, 

the Rank-Xerox division (jointly owned 

by Xerox Corp, of New York and Rank), 

an advertising films division, celluloid products, 

data systems, radio and television 

equipment and hotels. 

John Leo Appointed Aide 

To Fanfare's President 

HOLLYWOOD—John Leo has been appointed 

assistant to the president of Fanfare 

Films, it was announced 

by Joe Solomon, 

president. Leo 

will be involved in all 

areas of the company's 

operation with 

primary responsibility 

for advertising publicity 

and exploitation. 

In announcing the 

appointment S o 1- 

omon noted "current 

and future activi- 

''""•' 

^*" 

ties at Fanfare dictated a broadening of 

our management and the addition of Mr. 

Leo will provide us with the additional marketing 

talent which I believe we need." 

Fanfare Films currently is distributing 

"The Gay Deceivers" and will go into distribution 

May 27 with "The Losers." 

Leo was director of West Coast advertising 

and publicity for Avco Embassy pictures; 

prior to his Embassy association he 

held various executive posts at UA including 

exploitation manager, director of worldwide 

publicity and director of roadshow 

campaigns. 


Warner Bros. Launches 

Student Film Project 

NEW YORK.—Warner Bros, and the National 

Entertainment Conference, a group 

of 450 colleges and universities, have set 

plans in motion which would provide programs 

in professional training, education 

and entertainment for the nation's colleges 

and universities. 

With more than 500 U.S. colleges now 

offering film courses, the project will provide 

for NEC member schools to utilize the 

services, facilities and products of Warner 

Bros.; to hold annual film workshops with 

WB technicians assisting: to set up a student 

film festival offering prizes of up to 

$500, and to provide summer job scholarships 

with WB at the Hollywood studios and 

in the New York home office. 

The plan also includes a lecture series by 

WB producers and directors, study films 

dealing with the film industry, study guides 

written especially for the project and traveling 

exhibits. It also will enable NEC schools 

to rent 16mm films from WB. 

Aquarius Releasing, Inc., 

Formed by Terry Levene 

NEW YORK—A new distribution 

company, 

Aquarius Releasing, Inc., has been 

formed, headed by Terry Levene. In addition 

to 35mm theatrical distribution at the 

local and national levels, the company is 

setting up a 

nontheatrical division to service 

the college on-campus market, and already 

has sent a catalog listing its features to 500 

colleges across the country. 

Among the company's initial releases are: 

"The Scavengers," a Civil War action 

drama, produced by R. W. Cresse; "Starlet," 

produced by David F. Friedman: "Hot 

Spur," a western revenge story, also produced 

by Cresse: "Trader Hornee," produced 

by Friedman, and "Love Camp 7." 

Aquarius also recently completed negotiations 

for the distribution rights to "Charlie's 

Big Romance," a classic starring Charlie 

Chaplin and Marie Dressier. 

The company will be headquartered in the 

Selwyn Theatre Bldg., 229 W. 42nd St. 

Altura to Hold Premiere 

Of Controversial 'Nun' 

NEW YORK.—Clem Perry and Altura 

Films .have announced the American premiere 

this spring of Jacques Rivette's controversial 

"The Nun" (La Religieuse). Based 

on the 1760 novel by Denis Diderot, the 

film was shown at the 1968 New York 

Film Festival and had to surmount attacks 

in France and contractual difficulties here 

before a release could be cleared. 

"The Nun" was banned as a film by the 

French government for almost two years, 

when the Church raised objections. The 

French intellectual and artistic community 

succeeded in lifting the ban. Anna Karina 

plays a 19-year-old girl who, forced to join 

a convent, seeks to rescind her vows and 

leads herself into 

ultimate destruction. 

Sex, Sadistic Films Cause Industry 

$52 Million Loss Yearly: Lippert 

HOLLYWOOD — Present-day 

Hollywood's 

obsession with se.x and sadism could 

well cost the industry $52,000,000-a-year 

in revenues by forcing out of business an 

estimated 5,000 low-grossing movie houses 

in the country. 

Theatre chain magnate Robert L. Lippert 

further charges that the studios and independent 

producers are committing a form of 

"financial suicide" by turning out millions 

of film miles of "putrid junk" that does not 

have a total audience market. 

"The 5,000 low-grossing houses figure is, 

I believe, a conservative estimate," Lippert 

declared. "There may be at least 2,000 more 

that average $200-a-week in film rental fees 

as opposed to the real large exhibitors and 

those in the $l,000-a-week category." 

Lippert, however, said these 5,000 theatres 

are located for the most part in "churchoriented, 

civic-minded communities" and 

that the "sensual-savage" films being produced 

currently keep the majority of these 

citizens away from the boxoffice. 

"These people are not the trend followers," 

Lippert adds. "They may be the silent 

majority the politicians talk about. They are 

conservative by nature and their film tastes 

were dictated years ago when movies were 

truly family affairs. They demand acceptable 

movies." 

Theatre Buys Approved 

For ABC. Loew's, NGC 

NEW YORK—The acquisition of four 

theatres by three circuits has been approved 

by Judge Palmieri of the U.S. District Court 

here, who also granted vacation of application 

for six other theatres. 

ABC Companies. Inc., was authorized to 

complete acquisition of the 477-car Jet 

Drive-In Theatre and the 485-car Montgomery 

Drive-In, both in Montgomery, Ala. 

Loew's Theatres, Inc., was given the green 

light for purchase of the 910-seat Holiday 

Theatre in Canoga Park, Calif. 

NGC Theatres Corp. filed a stipulation 

with the court to vacate two 1966 and two 

1967 orders which permitted them to build 

one house each at Ro'ckford, III.: Lincoln, 

Neb.: El Paso, Texas and San Rafael, Calif. 

NGC also was allowed to withdraw its 

application to construct a twin in Houston 

(825 and 850 seats') and a hou.se in Austin, 

Texas. Palmieri approved the building of a 

550-seat theatre at Logan, Utah. 

Kettner Corp. Joins IFIDA 

NEW YORK— Kettner Corp. has joined 

the International Film Importers & Distributors 

of America, Inc., it was announced 

by IFIDA co-executive directors Paul Sawyer 

and Myron Saland. Designated as members 

of IFIDA's board of directors are president 

Jackson E. Dube and executive vicepresident 

Benton N. Barry. 

Lippert said he reached the $52,000,000- 

loss by figuring that the $200-a-week rental 

fee for 5,000 houses means $l,000,000-aweek 

for 52 weeks. "That also means 20 

per cent of the gross admissions in the 

U.S.," he added. "A very staggering and 

significant loss if it is allowed to come 

about." 

Pointing out that "the Walt Disney people" 

cannot "do the job alone." Lippert 

urged producers to concentrate on low-budget 

films that would be acceptable to 

"audiences 

who want to be entertained—not 

shocked." 

"It's true that, while the costs of production 

are met by the returns from the big 

first runs, it is the steady dribble of money 

from these low-grossing houses that provides 

the profit 'cream,' " Lippert stated. 

"Soon the market will be sated with sex 

films and they will have surely lost their 

jaded audience by then. They certainly can't 

be booked into the small, provincial houses 

because surveys show the audiences for these 

theatres automatically reject them. 

"And your audience for the sex and slush 

movies is not that big anyhow. So once the 

thrill wears off where will that leave the 

movie industry and the people in it—out 

on a limb they sawed off themselves, I 

guess." 

Medford Will Distribute 

'The Birth of a Nation' 

NEW YORK— Medford Film Corp., a 

sub-distributor for Joseph Brenner Associates, 

which has been set up to produce and 

distribute films, announced its forthcoming 

product. President William "Billy" Fine has 

acquired D. W. Griffith's classic "The Birth 

of a Nation" (1915) for distribution in the 

West. 

Other Medford releases will be: "How to 

Succeed With Sex," which had a dual world 

premiere in New York on Friday (10): 

"Love Object," a romantic drama: "Heat," 

starring Isabel Sarli and Armando Bo, who 

also directed: "The Loving Touch," a psychological 

suspense drama starring Joanne 

Meredith and Lawrence Montaigne: "Juan 

Diego From San Diego," produced by Sam 

Diekele: "A Question of Insanity," produced 

by Sam and Jerome Katzman: and "Sunshine 

Baby," a story of drug use among 

youth, scheduled as a summer release. 

Saal Gottlieb Appointed 

To Cinema V Sales Post 

NEW YORK—Saal Gottlieb has been 

appointed an Eastern sales executive of 

Cinema V Distributing, it was announced 

by Donald S. Rugoff. president of Cinema 

V and of Rugoff Theatres, Inc. 

Gottlieb, formerly Eastern division manager 

for MGM, joins Jim Hendel, Lou Formato 

and Morris Lefko of Cinema V's sales 

department to work on all product. 

BOXOFFICE ;: April 13, 1970 11

Klein's Avanf-Garde 

'Mr. Freedom' Bows 

NEW YORK— In an interview here, 

producer-director 

William Klein proved to be 

as unwonveniional as the avant garde films 

he makes. He was m town for the American 

premiere of "Mr. Freedom," a political s.iiire 

in which the characters arc likened lo 

puppets. Grove Press is distrihutini; the 

spoof as part of its repertory program of 

international award winners. Criticism ol 

"Mr. Freedom" has not bothered Klein. 

who admits that his film is "not marred b\ 

subtlety." as he quoted an admirer. The 

production, made in France, is intended as 

an outrageous satire and as an indictment 

against world politics. 

Pinned down for a description. Klein 

called his effort a political statement done 

as satire, or a movie comic strip. The dialog, 

he pointed out. is largely taken from 

direct quotations of international political 

figures such as President Nixon and Soviet 

Premier Brezhnev. Klein. 42. is an American 

(New York born) who has preferred 

to live in Paris for the past 20 years. He 

has studied the French manner of copying 

American styles and has incorporated this 

into "Mr. Freedom." Another Klein film 

recently released here by Grove Press is 

"Float Like a Butterfly. Sting Like a Bee." 

based on the exploits of Muhammad All 

(formerly Cassius Clay). "Butterfly" was 

held up in litigation for four years, while 

Klein's "Polly Magoo" has been tied up 

with distribution problems for three years. 

Klein is currently doing post-production 

on two Algerian-made films. One, tentatively 

called "Class War or Race War" or 

"Mother Country," deals with Eldridge 

Cleaver and the Black Panthers. The second 

is a sort of Eastern "Woodstock": a 

documentary on the 12-day Pan African 

Cultural Festival. Grove Press may be the 

.^merican distributor on these and on 

Klein's next film, to be shot stateside. 

Cambist 

Chris Parcio Joins 

As Ass't Gen. Sales Mgr. 

NHW YORK— Chris Pardo has joined 

Cambist Films as assistant general sales 

manager, it was announced by Lee Hessel. 

Cambist president. Pardo formerly was with 

Cinemation Industries. 

The appointment is the first step in an 

expansion program resulting from the boxoffice 

success of "The Minx," and the preparation 

of the upcoming release, "Relations." 

according to Hessel. 

ABC Declares Dividend 

NEW YORK—Leonard H. Goldenson. 

president of American Broadcasting Companies, 

Inc.. announced that the board of 

directors declared the second quarterly dividend 

of thirty cents (30 cents) per share 

on the outstanding common stock of the 

corporation, payable June 15, to holders of 

record on May 15. 

James Gray Joins Hallmark 

For Special Exploitation 

HOI.I /S \\()C)n — James Gray, former 

manager of the State Theatre in Washington, 

Iowa, and champion 

among smalltown 

showmen in 

Kroger Babb Associ- 

James Gray 

.ites" 1969 "Uncle 

Tom's Cabin" 

national 

showmanship conifsi. 

joined Hallmark 

of Hollywood effecii\e 

Monday (6), it 

was announced by 

Hallmark president 

Kroger Babb. 

.After a period of briefings in the Hallmark 

home office here. Gray will take to 

the road to expand Hallmark's list of agents 

and \o h.iiijlc special exploitation assignments. 

Gray was one of the three lop winners 

" 

in the "Uncle Tom's Cabin contest which 

last year attracted entries from 1.300 theatremen 

nationwide. He was chosen from 

among the seven thealremen brought here 

for the contest finals during Hallmark's 

December convention. The three top winners 

were each awarded $1,000 U.S. Savings 

Bonds and plaques from Hallmark. 

N. Lee Tracy Announces 

Seven New Executives 

NEW YORK—N. Lee Tracy Associates, 

an international film production company, 

has added seven members to its staff as 

part of the company's expansion efforts, 

according 

to Benson Green, executive vicepresident. 

The appointments include the following: 

Jaime Ibran. new vice-president and general 

manager of the Los Angeles office: Alan 

Alch. film director, also to be based in Los 

.Angeles; the British producer-director team 

of Maggie Randall and Brian Mindell. who 

are moving to New York; George Alch, new 

head of production in the London office; Ed 

Kleban. producer-production head of the 

New York office, and Newell .Alexander, 

creative director-producer in Dallas. 

Crown Int'l to Release 

'Cindy and Donna' 

LOS ANGELES—Newton P. Jacobs, 

president of Crown International Pictures, 

announced that his company has acquired 

worldwide distribution rights to "Cindy and 

Donna." which will go into release May 20. 

Debbie Osborne and Nancy Ison star as 

two sisters caught in a modern situation 

where one knows all the questions and the 

other all the answers, with Tom Koben and 

.Max Manning in top supporting roles. The 

color film was directed by Robert Anderson 

and produced by Robert and Terry Anderson. 

Support the Will Rogers Hospital and 

O'Donnell Memorial Research Laboratories 

throughout the year. You will be helping a 

worthy cause. 

Plaza Int'l to Release 

24 Films This Year 

Ni:W YORK— Plaza International Corp., 

a new motion picture theatrical and television 

dislribulion-prodiictiiui organization, 

has been formed here and will release this 

year 24 new feature films, acquired through 

United Cineworld. Announcement of formation 

of the company and its initial plans 

was made by Sig Shore, president and chief 

executive officer; Aaron J. Katz, chairman 

of the hoard, and Harold Golden, vicepresident 

for television. 

The company also has entered into an 

agreement with Walter Manlcy and Ivan 

Reiner to produce three color films: 

"Garden on the Moon." novel by Pierre 

Boulle. an adventure story of an international 

space race, to be filmed later this year in 

Japan and Florida in association with Walter 

Lourie. 

"The Blood Red Car," original story of 

automobile cultists of the 1920s and their 

deadly speed games, to be written for the 

screen by Reiner. 

"The Love Maker," contemporary comedy 

dealing with a 19-year-old genius who invents 

a machine which induces people to 

lail in love, to be filmed from a screenplay 

by Julian Barry. 

In addition to the production and distribution 

of theatrical features, Plaza will develop, 

produce and distribute programs to 

CATV and for home video use. 

Shore formerly was chief executive in 

charge of motion picture and TV investments 

of the Norris Grain Co.. privately controlled 

conglomerate which owns the majority 

interest in Ivan Tors Films of Hollywood 

and Ivan Tors Studios of Miami. 

'Man From O.R.G.Y.' Has 

Premiere in New York 

NEW YORK — Cinemation 

Industries' 

spoof of sex and nudity. "The Man From 

O.R.G.Y." (in "The Real Gone Girls") had 

its world premiere on Friday (3) at the 

Forum Theatre. A Jerry Gross Presentation, 

the comedy is based on the "Man From 

O.R.G.Y." series written by Ted Mark, with 

16 printings to date and sales exceeding 

$12.5 million. 

The film stars Robert Walker, Steve Rossi 

and Slappy White and female impersonator 

Lynn Carter. 

General Cinema Units Up 

To 174 in 30 States 

BOSTON — General Cinema Corp. 

brought its number of theatres up to 174 in 

30 states with the opening on March 25 

of the Meadowdale Cinema I and II 

in Carpentersville (Elgin), 111. Louis Michael, 

division manager for the area, is 

supervisor of the twin houses, managed by 

Aldage Prevost. Cinema I's seating capacity 

is 795 seats, while Cinema II has space for 

553. 

12 BOXOFFICE April 13. 1970

Thomas and Crenna Join 

In Production Venture 

HOLLYWOOD — Danny Thomas 

and 

Richard Crenna have entered into an exclusive 

agreement to jointly develop and 

produce projects for television as well as 

theatrical release. 

Having just completed the starring role in 

Dino de Laurentiis' "The Devil's Backbone" 

and now before the Columbia Pictures cameras 

for Mike Frankovich's "Doctors' 

Wives," Crenna will, concurrent with his 

continually active acting career, first produce 

Thomas' new television series, "Make 

Room for Granddaddy," which will debut 

on ABC-TV next season. He also will direct 

some episodes. Thomas will be executive 

producer. 

Through their respective independent 

companies, Danny Thomas Productions and 

Crenna's Pendick Enterprises, they will develop 

television series, spin-offs, films for 

television and films for motion pictures, as 

well as special projects for both media. A 

number of properties are now in various 

stages of development, including two original 

screenplays and a recently published novel. 

The new partnership, a company name 

for which is still to be decided upon, will 

headquarter at Paramount Gower in Hollywood. 

Ronald Jacobs will be associated 

with the new company as a production executive. 

Cannon Group Acquires 

'Innkeeper' Film Rights 

NEW YORK—The Cannon Group has 

acquired the motion picture rights to "The 

Innkeeper," an original story by Joe Koenig, 

it was announced by Dennis Friedland, 

chairman of the board, and Christopher C. 

Dewey, president. 

Koenig, 24, has been a reporter for several 

New England newspapers, and is now 

managing editor of Front Page Detective and 

Inside Detective magazines. He has been 

signed to write the screenplay for summer 

production by the Cannon Group. 

An occult thriller, "The Innkeeper" of the 

title is the leader of a coven of spiritualists 

who begin practicing their macabre rituals 

on the guests of their roadside establishment. 

Promotion Supplement 

For 'Airport' Pressbook 

NEW YORK—Universal Pictures has 

created an attractive, special promotion 

supplement to complement its "Airport" 

pressbook. The eight-page illustrated booklet 

outlines the multi-million dollar promotional 

campaign undertaken by the company 

on behalf of the Ross Hunter production 

for Universal. It is one of the most 

significant of its kind ever undertaken by 

a motion picture company. 

The campaign includes a $1,000,000 promotion 

with General Electric, featuring 

full-page color advertisements in Life magazine 

and a national television schedule for 

60-second spot commercials on "The Tonight 

Show" and "The Today Show." 

Edith Head, who designed the costumes 

for "Airport," has created a unique clothing 

line called "The Airport Look" which 

is being merchandised in more than 50 

major department stores throughout the 

United States by the Trevira Fabrics Division 

of Hystron Fibers. "The Airport Look" 

is also being marketed through a special 

multi-million dollar promotion with Associated 

Merchandising Corp., including daily 

and Sunday newspaper advertising, special 

in-store displays and fashion shows hosted 

by Miss Head. 

Additional tie-ups for the film have been 

arranged with Bantam Books, who have 

published a special "Airport" movie edition; 

American Tourister Luggage; nationally 

known hairstylists Seligman and Latz, 

and Decca Records, who have captured the 

sounds of "Airport" in an exciting soundtrack 

album. 

Berggren's Duties Expand 

As Wil-Kin Executive 

ATLANTA— E. H. "Um" Geissler, vicepresident 

and general manager of Wil-Kin, 

'*, 

Inc., announced that 

the responsibility for 

executive operation of 

^ 

that company was being 

turned over gradually 

to Glenn M. 

rry^ 

Berggren. The change 

. ^ is 

being made on a 

^^ 'sl^^'*^ programed basis so 

h|^VkVT 

that by the end of the 

^l^k^^F^^^ current calendar year 

Berggren will be re- 

Glenn M. Berggren ,po„;,ble for all phases 

of the operation. 

Geissler, for the past several years, has 

had to spend more and more of his time on 

theatre construction and acquisition, and 

will concentrate his activities in that area 

in the future. 

Berggren. formerly in charge of the theatre 

products division of Kollmorgen Corp., 

has been with Wil-Kin as director of new 

project development for the past 18 months. 

'Laughing Woman' Debuts 

In Washington, D. C. 

NEW YORK—"The Laughing Woman," 

an Audubon Films release of a Radley 

Metzger presentation, had its world premiere 

at the Trans-Lux Playhouse in Washington, 

D.C. on Wednesday (8). The color 

drama, directed by Piero Schivazappa. explores 

the relationship between a man and 

the woman he kidnaps and enslaves. The 

stars are Philippe Leroy and Dagmar Lassander. 

NGP Film Retitled 

"What Are We Going to Do Without 

Skipper?" is the final title of the Abby 

Mann production for National General, 

which started filming Monday (6) in Hollywood. 

The "Skipper" of the title refers to 

the lead character played by Robert F. Lyons 

who stars with Richard Thomas in the 

contemporary drama. 

MOTION PICTURES RATED 

BY THE CODE & RATING 

ADMINISTRATION 

The following feature-length motion pictures 

have been reviewed and rated by the 

Code and Rating Administration pursuant 

to the Motion Picture Code and Rating 

Program. 

Any picture whose rating was listed as 

^ 

on the previous bulletins issued by the Code 

and Rating Administration may now automatically 

be considered to be rated GP. 

Title PIttrlbutof RoUng 

Adam and Eve (*) (AIP) GP 

Adam at Six A.M. (NGP) 

GP 

Brotherly Love (MGM) 

[r] 

Cannon for Cordoba (* *) (UA) GP 

Cindy and Donna (Crown) 

Daddy, Darling (Cinetex) 

Guess What Happened to 

Count Dracula (Merrick) 

How to Succeed with Sex (Medford) 

The Lady of Monza (Tower) 

(x) 

(x) 

GP 

(x) 

[r] 

Miss Jessica Is Pregnant (Brenner) [r] 

Scratch Harry (Cannon) 

Shame, Shame, Everybody 

Knows Her Name (J.E.R.) 

Sign of Aquarius (Cinar) 

They Call Me Mister Tibbs (UA) 

24-Hour Man (AIP) 

[r] 

[r] 

[r] 

GP 

[r] 

(*) Released prior to November 1, 1968, but rating 

requested. 

{**) This rating supersedes the rating listed in Bulletin 

No. 69. 

'Call Me a Cop' Marks First 

Four Star Int'l Feature 

HOLLYWOOD—"Call Me a Cop," an 

original story by Walter Kempley, will 

mark the entrance of Four Star International. 

Inc., into feature motion picture production, 

it was announced by Bud Groskopf, 

vice-president in charge of motion 

pictures. 

Martin B. Cohen has been signed to produce, 

Hal Fimberg and Ted Sherdeman will 

write the- screenplay. Production is scheduled 

to begin in September on location in 

New York and Los Angeles. 

"Call Me a Cop" will be distributed by 

Four Star-Excelsior Releasing Corp. 

Loew's Books Cinemart Film 

HOLLYWOOD — Currently running a 

group of sexploitation pictures successfully, 

Loew's circuit out here will hook Hollywood 

Cinemart's "Love Me Like 1 Do" into 

the Crest and Picfair. Among top grossers 

were "I Am Curious (Yellow)" and "Without 

a Stitch." Bookings are set for Baltimore 

and Boston. Ed Howe is the national 

representative for Great Empire Films, the 

distributors. 

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

This departmental featnre appears in 

the Showmandiser Section of this issoe. 

BOXOFnCE :: April 13, 1970 13

^Mf(wM

NY Senate Considers 

Affirmative Defense 

ALBANY—The bill proposed by Sen. 

Edward J. Speno (R-Nassau) providing an 

"affirmative defense" for projectionists and 

other employees of a theatre where alleged 

obscene exhibitions or performances are 

given, providing they have no part in booking 

same and have no financial interest, died 

in the assembly last year after winning a 

one-sided victory in the upper house. 

An identical proposal recently cleared the 

senate, with only two negative ballots. It was 

forwarded to the lower chamber and the 

state AFL-CIO and State Projectionists 

Ass'n. lATSE, apparently wished no changes 

made. Assembly Codes Committee Chairman 

Prescott Huntington first took the position 

in 1969 that the bill be "tightened next year" 

so that "responsibility for violations could be 

fixed." 

Academy-McLarty Acquires 

NFS' Mars Productions 

BUFFALO—The sale of Mars Productions, 

207 Delaware Ave., formerly known 

as Holland-Wegman Productions, to Academy-McLarty 

Productions has been announced 

by Niagara Frontier Services, parent 

company of Mars. NFS has sold all the 

assets of Mars Productions to Academy- 

McLarty but has retained ownership of the 

six-story brick building at 207 Delaware 

Ave., which once housed the Mars Motel. 

The sale price of the assets, including all 

the equipment, has not been disclosed but a 

spokesman for Academy-McLarty said the 

price was "in the medium six-figure bracket." 

Academy-McLarty. which specializes in 

making educational, industrial and commercial 

films in the U.S. and abroad, is 

moving its operations from its present quarters 

at 20 Mesmer Ave. to the new acquisition. 

Niagara Frontier announced earlier this 

month that it was phasing out its Mars Productions 

operations as part of an economy 

move. NFS acquired Holland-Wegman, 

which has been producing commercial films 

for business and industry, in 1967. Shortly 

thereafter, it purchased the Mars Motel 

building where Holland-Wegman was located. 

Franz E. Hartnian is president of NFS, 

which was formed in 1959 through a merger 

of Mcllarty Films of Buffalo and a Syracuse 

studio which specialized in the production of 

highly technical training films. 

Cinema Lodge Golf Meet 

Slated for June 18 

NEW YORK—The 20th 

annual Cinema 

Lodge film industry golf tournament will be 

held on Thursday (June 18) at the Briar Hall 

Golf & Country Club at Briarcliff Manor, 

N.Y., it was announced by Ted R. Lazarus. 

Cinema Lodge president. Martin Levine, 

executive vice-president of Brandt Theatres, 

again serves as chairman for the tournament. 

Ethnic Film Showings Are 

Set for Loew's Theatres 

BUFFALO — Loew's theatres in the 

Northeastern division are going to experiment 

with ethnic shows starting Tuesday 

(21). The films will be presented as a new 

policy one day each month in these cities: 

Buffalo—Polish, Tuesday (21), and Italian, 

May 19; Providence—Italian, Tuesday (21), 

and Greek, May 5; New Haven— Italian. 

May 5, and Jewish, May 19; Waterbury 

Italian, Tuesday (21). 

In discussing the new policy. Northeastern 

division manager William J. Trambukis said. 

"After making extensive area surveys, it is 

disclosed that thousands of ethnic group 

members have been periodically viewing 

their native films at various neighborhood 

theatres and/ or vacant building lofts because 

a change of community projects, parking and 

urban renewal has forced the discontinuance 

of this policy." 

"It is the belief of Loew's that we can 

offer ethnic films in our fine, first-run 

downtown theatres," continued Trambukis. 

"after using extensive advertising-publicity 

campaigns." 

Trambukis declares that Loew's Eastern 

general manager D. A. Cohen has hailed 

this new policy and is in close contact on it 

himself, along with Loew's special events 

director N. J. Matsoukas. 

The new progra.m was kicked off at a 

recent division managers meeting in Rochester, 

which was hosted by Frank Lindcamp, 

Loew's manager in Kodak Town, and 

chaired by Trambukis. 

General Bradley Honored 

By Hemophilia Foundation 

NEW YORK—General of the Army 

Omar N. Bradley. U.S.A.. the only living 

five-star general, was honored Wednesday 

night (1) by the National Hemophilia Foundation 

for his work with the physically 

handicapped. He was given the organization's 

first Crystal Award at the dinner held 

in the Grand Ballroom of the New York 

Hilton. 

Serving as honorary chairman of the event 

was Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century-Fox 

chief executive officer and chairman of the 

board. Hosting the evening was the noted 

nationally syndicated columnist and radio 

personality Bob Considine. while Senator 

Barry Goldwater was the principal speaker. 

General Bradley recently served as senior 

technical adviser for 20th Century-Fox's 

"Patton." Frank McCarthy, producer of the 

film, also attended the festivities. 

Hylan Cinema Is Begun 

NEW YORK—Construction has begun 

on the Hylan Cinema on Hylan Blvd.. Staten 

Island, for a July opening, it was announced 

by Meyer Ackerman and Sanford Grecnberg 

of .Ackerman Enterprises. Part of the Bohack 

Shopping Center, the 1,000-seat house will 

feature the most modern projection and 

sound equipment. This will be the second 

Ackerman theatre on Staten Island, where 

the Lane Theatre is in operation. 

$1 Million Is Asked 

In Anti-Trust Suit 

PITTSBURGH-A $l,000.f)00 

anti-trust 

suit was entered in federal district court 

Friday ii), with the plaintiff, Warren Enterprises, 

charging that top movies are monopolized 

by RKO-SW Theatres and Associated 

Theatres. Greater Pittsburgh Drive- 

In Theatres, twin theatres on Route 30 in 

North Versailles Township, claim losses totaling 

$330,000 because the defendant circuits 

allegedly received preferred contracts 

from the film distributors, who also are defendants. 

Ernest, 

Floyd and Martin Warren, brothers 

and owners of Warren Enterprises, seek 

an injunction to stop alleged unfair practices, 

plus triple damages of $990,000. attorney 

fees and court costs. The suit charges 

the film distributors with refusing to allow 

Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In Theatres to bid 

for first-runs in the Pittsburgh area and of 

"manipulating" available dates in favor of 

the two large theatre circuits. Film distributors 

also are accused of requiring bids from 

Greater Pittsburgh but not from the circuit 

theatres. 

The two large circuits were charged with 

pressuring for preferential treatment by refusing 

to show films once they had appeared 

at Greater Pittsburgh and by refusing to 

offer bids on movies on which Greater Pittsburgh 

was allowed to bid. 

The Warren brothers assert that these discriminatory 

practices have been going on 

for years with the consent of seven major 

film distributors. 

Special 'Marooned' Shows 

For NY Area Boy Scouts 

NEW YORK—Boy .Scouts in the New 

York metropolitan area have been invited by 

Columbia Pictures to see the spectacular 

film "Marooned" at special reduced rates 

their neighborhood showcase theatres. 

Gregory Peck. Richard Crenna, David Janssen, 

James Franciscus and Gene Hackman 

are starred in the exciting Frankovich- 

Sturges production, which was nominated 

for three Academy Awards. 

To be eligible, the Boy Scout must appear 

at his local theatre in uniform or present 

proper scout identification. The special rate 

will be in effect for the length of the film's 

engagement, which is now entering its second 

week at Columbia Showcase Presentation 

Theatres in New York City, Westchester, 

Nassau and Suffolk counties. 

Additionally, Boy Scouts who earned the 

Space Exploration Merit Badge in 1969 have 

been invited to see "Marooned" free as 

guests of their local 

at 

area theatres. Columbia 

has been working closely with the Boy 

Scouts of America, Greater New York 

Council, to arrange the special admission 

policy. 

Produced by M. J. Frankovich and directed 

by John Sturges, "Marooned" is the 

exciting story of three astronauts unable to 

return to Earth following an extended space 

voyage. Lee Grant, Nancy Kovack and 

Marietta Hartley are co-starred. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 E-1

— 

— 

& 

— 

— 

'Woodstock' 700 in 

New York Debut; 

'Airport' Hefty 280 at Music Hall 

NIU 'VOKK.—

^^^H

! 

BROADWAY 

ÂVID N\ FITZNER, advertising and publicity 

vice-president of ABC Pictures 

Corp., left for l.os Angeles Thursday (2) for 

nieetiniis on "Too l.ate the Hero." He ;ilso 

attended the Academy .Xwards pres:.>ri ition. 

• 

Stanley Schneider, presithnt oj Coliiinhia 

Pictures, returned to the home office 

after a serie.t of meetings with MV.ff Coast 

executives, tt'hile in Hollywood, he attended 

the Academy A wards. 

• 

Isidor Fink, formerh with National 

Screen Service, has been appointed controller 

of Allied Artists Pictures, according 

to Emanuel I.. Wolf, president and hoard 

chairman. At one time, he was associated 

with the Schenley organization. 

• 

Len Kaizman has been named as the 

new assistant to Rohiri Rosen, production 

in€maf;er of Cinema Center h'ilnis. Most iccently 

the producer of CBS-TV's "Hawaii 

Five-O" series. Katzman succeeds Bill Finnegan. 

who has since joined the Burt Kennedy 

Organization as a producer . 

• 

The Motion Picture Bookers Club nl 

New York will hold its Academy Awards 

Sweepstakes Luncheon Thursday (16) at 

Rosofrs. President Ronald Lesser announced 

that critic Judith Crist would be the 

guest of honor. Richard Magan of Paramount 

will serve as luncheon chairman. The 

sweepstakes winner will be announced 

and a check will be presented to the Will 

Rogers Hospital from a drawing. 

• 

Due to its overwhelming reception. 

"Woodstock" opened at a secotui theatre 

Wednesday (I), the Trans-Lux West, while 

continuing to do great business at Trans- 

Lux East. Michael Wadleigh. who directed 

the film and co-produced with Robert Maurice 

for Warner Bros., arrived here from 

Dallas, where he attended the SMU Film 

Festival. 

• 

After a week of home office meetings 

with Columbia executives Robert Ferguson. 

Norman Jackter and Marion F. Jordan, producer 

Charles H. Schneer flew to Rome for 

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the world premiere of his thriller. "The Executioner." 

Subsequently, Jordan, an executive 

vice-president, left for Sydney, Australia, 

for personnel meetings in that country 

and the I'ar Fast. .-Xcconipanied by Maitin 

Bl.iu. director of intcrnalional ad\crtising 

and publicity, Jordan was joined in Syilney 

by CX^nald F. McConsilic. \ icc-prcsitlcnt 

and sales manager. 

Irving Allen, producer of Cohinihia's 

"Cromwell," arrived in New York Wednesday 

(S) from London enroiilc to Los Angeles. 

• 

Susannah York arrived here Thursday 

(9) for a week of publicity activities on 

MGM's "Brotherly Love," in which she 

stars with Peter OToole. A special midnight 

actors' preview of the film was held 

Monday (13) at the Paris Theatre for the 

casts and crews of all the stage attractions 

on and off Broadway. Broadway producers 

and managers also have been invited. The 

drama debuts Wednesday {\5) at the Paris. 

Harold B. Gores to Speak 

At Audio-Visual Forum 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 

Audio-Visual 

Education Forum, meeting in Washington, 

D.C.. July 20, will feature Harold B. 

Gores, president. Educational Facilities Laboratories, 

New York City, as its luncheon 

speaker. The announcement was made by 

conference chairman Harry Burke, supervising 

director. District of Columbia Educational 

Media Center, as part of a general 

invitation to educators interested in instructional 

technology. 

The A-V Education Forum meets annually 

during the National Audio-Visual convention 

and exhibit, which is being held this 

year at the Sheraton-Park and Shoreham 

hotels, Washington, D.C.. July 18-21. The 

forum meeting and luncheon is set for July 

20 at the Shoreham Hotel. 

The conference theme, "Media in ihc 

'70s," also will be the subject of the keynote 

address to be given by Dr. Howard 

Hitchens, executive director of the department 

of audio-visual instruction (DA VI), 

Washington, D.C. Further conference highlights 

include presentations by Ronald Sutton, 

education director, American Film Institute, 

Washington. D.C. on visual literacy 

and teaching strategies involving studentproduced 

materials; William Richardson, 

Montgomery County Public Schools. Maryland, 

computer-assisted instruction, and 

staff members of ETV's famous program 

for preschool education, "Sesame Street." 

"In selecting the conference theme, the 

speakers and the subject," said Burke, "we 

expect to stimulate thinking about the ways 

in which the already proven and practical 

communications media and technology can 

be put to greater use in providing quality 

in education, as well as to look ahead at 

the methods and techniques which will be 

developing during this decade." 

Forum registrants include audio-visual 

directors in schools and colleges, school librarians, 

curriculum specialists and others 

from all parts of the country wishing to keep 

abreast of events in the continually developing 

field of cumnuinicalions media and 

technology. The one-day session provides 

an oppiirtunily to visit the more than 2.S() 

exhibits of the National Audio-Visual convention 

as well as to attend the lorum program. 

The registration fee for the A-V Education 

Forum, which includes the forum 

limcheon July 20 and admission to the 

A-V exhibits July 19-21. is $\5. if paid in 

advance, or $18 at the conference. 

Additional details on the conference program, 

including advance registration forms 

and hotel reservation forms, may be obtained 

by writing to: The A-V Education Forum, 

c/o The National Audio-Visual Ass'n, 

3150 Spring St.. Fairfax. Va. 22030. 

Special Projects Firm Is 

Appointed by Warners 

NEW YORK— Daniel Stern, vice-president 

of advertising and publicity, worldwide, 

of Warner Bros., has announced the appointment 

of Harper Rosenfeld Sirowitz as an 

agency for special projects for Warner Bros. 

Initial assignments are for creative and research 

planning for promotion and advertising 

of several new pictures. 

Stern also said that special creative and 

research assignments on various forthcoming 

Warner Bros, films have been given to Jack 

Tinker & Partners, New York; Wyse Advertising 

of Cleveland and New York, and 

E. E. Spitzer, New York. 

Deny Temporary Restraint 

For Tropic of Cancer' 

NEW YORK—Federal Court Judge 

Frederick Van Pelt Monday (6) denied a 

temporary injunction in the ca.se of Tropic 

Film Co. against the Motion Picture Ass'n 

of America and Paramount Pictures, involving 

the film rating of "Tropic of Cancer." 

Tropic Film Co. is an independent 

Swiss company formed by producer-director 

Joseph Strick for production of the picture. 

The company's lawsuit charges MPAA. 

Paramount and the National Ass'n of Theatre 

Owners as co-conspirators in restraint 

of trade. 

ABC Films Ups Alexander; 

To Helm Continental Sales 

NEW YORK—James Alexander has 

been appointed continental sales manager, 

ABC Pictures Corp., effective at once, it 

was announced by Larry Newton, vice-president 

in charge of worldwide sales for ABC 

Pictures Corp. 

Alexander, formerly European and Middle 

East sales manager for Warner Bros., will be 

headquartered in Rome and will start immediately 

on the sales campaigns for "They 

Shoot Horses. Don't They?", "Jenny," "Too 

Late the Hero" and "Song of Norway." 

E-4 BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970

Not just 

great projection 

...but 

great projector! 

With such Century innovations as CINE-FOCUS*, double 

dissolving shutters and our UVIR-2® band pass light 

filters, Century Projectors continue to win persistent acclaim 

as "the superlative best" for picture quality. Witness, 

for example, the recent specification of Century 

CINE-FOCUS Projectors as standard equipment by Ultra- 

Vision. 

But don't overlool< the Century Projector itself. A great 

projector. A great value. A proven mechanism perfected 

to perform for a lifetime — trouble-free, virtually maintenance-free. 

Fewer moving parts in a simple projector design 

hold stress and wear to a minimum. Precision components 

such as oilless bearings and glass hard steel 

gears assure smooth, quiet, vibration-free operation, 

year-in, year-out. Plus Century's continued innovations in 

hi-fidelity sound reproduction — such as ANAPFET, 

ANASOL, and all-transistor sound systems. Quality 

throughout. Value throughout. That's Century. And always 

sharper, brighter pictures, hi-fidelity sound — finest quality 

in every respect with Century. 

Whether it's a Century CINE-FOCUS Projector or a standard 

Century Projector, you make your finest theatre equipment 

investment when you specify Century. There is 

nothin g comparable — foreign or domestic! 

Century Projection and 

Sound Equipment — 

proven best by actual test! 

See your Century Dealer or write: 

ENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION 

New York. N.V. 10019 

J. F. Dustnan Company 

12 East 25th St. 

Baltimore, Maryland 21218 

Joe Hornstein Inc. 

341 West 44th Street 

New York, N.Y. 10036 

Capitol Motion Picture Supply Co. 

630 9th Avenue 


Atlas Theatre Supply Company 

1519 Forbes Avenue 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 

Albany Theatre Supply Co. 

443 North Pearl St. 

Albany, New York 12204 

Blumberg Bros. Inc. 

1305-07 Vine Street 

Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 E-5

. 

BUFFALO 

yy.iiiuii of \iirii'l> lent 7 held ihe annual 

KaMor party at 

the Children's Rehahilitatit>n 

Center and it was a huge success. 

Chairman of the event was Virginia Bogges. 

\da Dine was publicity chairman and Mar- 

.>rie Sehaefer was the Easter bunny. One ot 

the features of the occasion was the appearance 

of Jay Ciando'f the Great" Boyar. who 

perlormed teats of magic, much to the delight 

of the kiddies, .-\bout 50 children attended 

the affair, {"aster baskets packed with gills 

were distributed to the children. Ihe Rehabilitation 

Center is the Variety Club's principal 

charity. 

JerT> 

R. C;?*>rgc. National Theatre .Supply 

branch manager, is back at his desk after 

attending the Hastern division sales meeting 

m New >ork City at the City Squire. Jerry 

is enthusiastic about his company's plan 

for 1970 and prospects for increased business 

in the exchange area, as well .is Ihroughoul 

the country 

Sam C;andell opened his Canandaigua 

Drive-In. Canandaigua. celebrating his 2()th 

vear of operation with outstanding anniversary 

programs, bands, giant searchlights, etc. 

Gandell is one of the most popular exhibitors 

in western New York and. of course, is a 

prominent member of NATO of New York 

State. 

Sidney J. Cohen, president of NATO of 

New York State and owner and operator of 

the Sheridan 1 and the soon-to-be-ctrmpleted 

Sheridan 2. was the host for a party for the 

blind, organized by the Women of Temple 

of Beth Zion and staged in the Projectionists 

Hall at 498 Pearl Si. Tuesday (7). Ken Kavanagh. 

business agent of the operators union. 

donated the operators. There were refreshments 

and Cohen arranged to screen "Funny 

Girl" for his guests. These parties for the 

blind were originated by the late Harry Altman 

at the Town Casino and it looks like 

Cohen is going on with the famous annual 

parties. 

Brian Byrnes acted as chairman of the 

general membership luncheon of the Variety 

club Monday (6) when, following a brief 

business session, the Variety Clubs International 

convention in San Juan in June was 

discussed and the Tent 7 delegates instructed. 

Dewey Michaels is local information officer 

for the conclave. He can be reached at 853- 

9580. 

Macy Cohen has opened the Transit 

Drive-In near Lockport lor the season and 

Lee F'ried has inaugurated his 1970 programs 

at the Orleans Drive-In in Albion . . . 

The Van Buren ozoner in the Dunkirk- 

Fredonia area has started the season . . . Sidney 

Cohen, the new owner of the Orleans 

Drive-In, has made extensive improvemcnis 

in the property. 

Eddie Jauch, who recently retired as head 

of the local 20th Century-Fox exchange 

booking department, now is enjoying life as 

a gentleman farmer at his residence up the 

lake shore near .Angola. He declares he 

misses the hectic career of a booker. 

Karl l.ynge, managing director ol Ihc 

.Martina triplex al Main and Chippewa 

streets, arranged to have "Moniquc" (Sibylla 

K.a> ) meet patrons of the Backstage 1 heat re 

.liter performances Wednesday. March 25. 

1 vngc also .irranged to h.ive Ihe star of the 

\\co I'nih.issN prodiiclion inlcrviewed at 

W FBR and WWOL and WKBW-IA . Much 

publicity for the feature was garnered 

through Miss Kay's appearance. 

Two juveniles were arrested Sunday. 

.\lar\;h 29. after about 300 youths disrupted 

the program in the Center I heatre. 580 Main 

St.. by breaking glass, spraying chemical irritants 

and threatening patrons. The trouble 

.ipp.uently started .it the refreshment booth 

when a dispute o\cr service led to the breaking 

of the glass display case. The two youths 

were petitioned to family court. 

Veteran Visits Buffalo 

For 'Patton' Promotion 

BUFFALO—When Joseph P. Garvey, 

managing director of the Holiday 1 and 2 

theatres on Union Road heard that Charles 

H. Kuhl, the victim of the General George 

S. Patton jr. slapping incident in real life, 

was alive and well and working, he immediately 

went to the phone and after some delay 

was able to contact Kuhl in South Bend. 

Ind. He invited him to come to Buffalo to 

do some drum-thumping for the 20th Century-Fox 

production "Patton," now being 

shown at Holiday 2. 

Kuhl consented to visit Buffalo. He was 

met at the airport by Garvey, who arranged 

a schedule of interviews on radio, TV and 

with newspapers. So successful was the stunt 

that 20th Century-Fox is considering using 

Kuhl in other cities where "Patton" is premiering. 

After picking up Kuhl at the airport. 

Garvey took him to the theatre where he had 

arranged a special screening for nuns. Kuhl 

was introduced following the screening and 

discus.sed his experiences. The next day, 

Garvey took Kuhl on a tour of TV stations 

and visits 

to the local newspaper theatre editors. 

He arranged an interview by WBEN- 

TV in the lobby of the theatre and these 

shots, in addition to photographs from the 

motion picture, were used on the TV news 

programs that day at 6 and 1 1 p.m. 

The following day, Kuhl was interviewed 

on the "Dialing for Dollars" live program on 

WKBW-TV. From 1 1:30 a.m. to noon, Kuhl 

was taken to Niagara Falls, where he appeared 

on a live radio luncheon program 

originating in Schraft's motel dining room. 

He then was taken on a tour of the American 

and Canadian sides of the Falls. That same 

afternoon. Kuhl returned to Buffalo for interviews 

on WEBR, WYSL and WWOL 

radio stations. 

Garvey arranged with the Bartlett Buick 

Agency to supply a car for Kuhl's use while 

he was in town and even sent along a chauffeur. 

Stories and art landed in the principal 

Buffalo newspapers outlining Kuhl's experiences 

at the time of the slapping episode. 

ALBANY 

^creurial weather changes, including an 

unexpected five-inch snowfall, thunderstorms 

and torrential rains, followed the 

Faster weekend opening of drive-ins. High 

winds and bright sunshine also were in the 

atmospheric pattern. The snow storm caused 

a removal problem lor some o/.oners. However, 

traditional spring weather and temperatures 

arrived and proved to be welcome. 

Spring and fall are always a gamble for 

.lircr operations in the exchange district. 

A proposed film, to be made by Carlo 

Ponti. dealing with highjacking of airliners, 

is being opposed by Congressman Samuel S. 

Stratton (D-.Amsterdani). He sent telegrams 

to Secretary of State William C. Rogers and 

to Secretary of the Treasury David Kennedy 

urging strong action, if necessary, by customs 

officials to deny, permanently, permission 

for the entry of the Ponti feature if it is 

made. The picture would be based on the 

actual highjacking of a TWA plane from 

the West Coast to Rome. 

Various types of catchy 

copy spotlighted 

exhibitions of "The Kremlin Letter" . . . 

Boston-based General Cinema presented 

"The Virgin Soldiers" and "Castle Keep" at 

the Super 50 Drive-In, Ballston Spa. and at 

the Auto-Vision. East Greenbush . . . Fabian's 

State held over "The Adventurers." 

The Academy Awards presentation ceremonies 

Tuesday (7), telecast here by WAST, 

drew columns of publicity in all categories, 

both before and after the occasion. The annual 

affair generates excitement, despite the 

doubts expressed by some critics who think 

the promotion is "overdone." At least some 

segments of the public apparently disagree. 

PITTSBURGH 

TJex Kantner, Cinema 22 projectionist, was 

named winner of the quarterly drawing 

of National Screen Service, the prize being 

$50 in cash and "a crack at up to $10,000 

or a travel trailer." Ed "Ace" Abel of the 

Crafton Theatre drew the winner at the 

NSS branch office Wednesday (1). The contest 

encourages the speedy return of film 

trailers from theatres after use. 

David Brown, one of the oldest in service 

in the film industry here and in many recent 

years Buena Vista office manager-booker, 

has retired. He was in delicate health much 

of last year after suffering a heart attack 

but returned to his job after convalescing. 

Dave enjoys the friendship of every person 

in this business here and in the Mideast and 

in many decades past he served long years 

with Paraniount and with United Artists as 

booker and head booker. One of the original 

1 1 members of the Variety Club, the No. 

1 tent organized 43 years ago here, he carries 

a gold life-membership card in Variety 

Clubs International. Always cheerful and 

accomniodating, he served exhibitors well 

and faithfully for upward of a half-century. 


at the same time performing all-out for the 

film distributor of his affiliation. We wish 

Dave many years of good health and happiness 

in his retirement. 

Friends of Dave Brown will honor him 

Friday evening (17) at the Variety Club, 

516 Grant St. Here is everyone's opportunity 

to say "good job, well done" to Dave, 

probably the most respected personality in 

the Mideast motion picture industry. Exhibitors 

and their wives are invited, as are 

all members of the trade. Buena Vista, 

where Dave had served so faithfully for so 

many years, is hosting this great family 

night at Variety Club Tent 1. 

Projectionists at both the circuit houses 

and at the independent theatres in the city 

area have gotten together on a new wage 

agreement. E.xhibitors negotiated for many 

months with lATSE Local 171 before deals 

were made which increased wages for projectionists. 

Manos Theatre, Jeannette, featured the 

Grand Old Opry on stage for two performances, 

sponsored by the Jeannette Fire Department 

... If the Pittsburgh Symphony 

Society raises $4,000,000 by mid- 1 971, 

foundations will put an additional $7,000,- 

000 into the orchestra's coffers. With the 

Penn Music Hall functioning late in 1971 

as a center for the symphony and other performances, 

a new dimension will be added 

to the Golden Triangle, which hasn't been 

so golden in many recent years. 

Gabe Rubin, veteran theatre owner here 

and in recent years owner of the pro ba.sketball 

Pipers, had another disappointing floor 

year, losing maybe as much as $350,000 

this season. Yet, he cannot lose, say the 

sports enthusiasts and money people. If the 

ABA-NBA merger includes the Pipers, Gabe 

could own an expansion franchise in the new 

league, estimated to be worth $3.8 million. 

If the Pipers are eliminated, he will receive 

$1,000,000. Gabe heads the Nixon Theatre, 

the city's only legitimate house, now offering 

roadshow movies, and the Fair Ground 

Drive-In. 

Sam Milberg, Paramount salesman for the 

past year and a half, was notified that his 

job was to be terminated at the end of April. 

A salesman of much pride who has spent 

28 years in the film field, he is well remembered 

in the trade with RKO here from 

1947 to 1956, when the company folded. 

Later, he was with UA here and with 20th 

Century-Fox. Then, for eight years he resided 

in Houston. Tex., where he was a circuit 

'buyer-booker, returning here and to 

Paramount in the summer of 1968. Pete De- 

Fazio, branch manager, will handle all sales 

here after Sam leaves the company payroll. 

Mrs. Toni Dozzi is Buena Vista's new 

booker. She had been Larry Seidelman's 

branch secretary and had moved into the 

booking desk last summer when Dave 

Brown was absent due to a heart attack . . . 

Chester DeMarsh, circuit exhibitor of Grove 

City, is again vacationing in Florida. 

M. J. Frankovich was executive producer 

for Columbia's "The Looking Glass War," 

written and directed by Frank R. Pierson. 

PHILADELPHIA 

^înner in the first-quarter drawing in National 

Screen Service's "Trailer Cash- 

In" contest is Clinton Brumbley of the Delmar 

Drive-In, Delmar, Del. Brumbley's 

prize of $50 automatically doubled to $100 

because the trailer was returned within the 

72-hour period specified in the contest 

rules. The Delmar Drive-In is a part of the 

George .Schwartz Theatre circuit, Dover, 

Del. 

Universal is breaking "Tell Them Willie 

Boy Is Here" in its multiple runs Wednesday 

(15). It will open in 15 area theatres. 

Ben Zinimerman, a district manager and 

advertising man for A. M. Ellis Theatres, is 

recuperating in suburban Lankenau Hospital 

from a hernia operation. 

The films that were really making it big at 

local boxoffices last week were 20th Century-Fox's 

"Hello, Dolly!", "Patton" and 

"M*A*S*H"; National General Pictures" 

"The Boys in the Band" and "A Boy Named 

Charlie Brown," and Columbia's "Cactus 

Flower" is doing fantastic in its neighborhood 

sub-runs . . . Incidentally, there's another 

X picture in town— "Monique"—currently 

at the World and Bryn Mawr Theatres 

. . . Over at MGM, Ruth Goldstein, 

who was secretary to Ed Gallner for many 

years prior to his retirement, is switching 

back to the advertising department as Don 

Davidson's secretary. When Eddie left, she 

moved over into the MGM sales department. 

Columbia's "The Liberation of L. B. 

Jones," starring Lee J. Cobb and local 

actress-singer Lola Falana, has been undergoing 

an extensive screening program at the 

Top-of-the-Fox screening room. The picture 

is due to open at the Fox Theatre sometime 

early in May. 

Jerry Esbin, Columbia district manager, 

and Jerry Levy, Columbia branch manager, 

have returned to their home exchange from 

a sales meeting held in Miami, Fla. They 

both have glowing reports on the co-mpany's 

future product . . . Columbia branch executives 

are pushing hard on their current 

"Torch of Leadership Sales Drive," which 

honors the company's head, Stanley Schneider. 

The local branch office is decorated with 

signs and posters about the event and all outgoing 

business mail bears stickers with the 

slogan "Columbia Leads the Way Into the 

70s." The drive started in late March and 

runs through June 25. 

Rose Gold, over at the local United Artists 

exchange, just returned from a twoweek 

Florida vacation that ended on such 

a sour note that she swears she needs another 

vacation just to settle down again. 

Seems she and her husband got caught up 

in the current air traffic controllers' "sickout." 

The plane they were taking on their 

return from Miami was held up eight and 

. . . The 

one-half hours. She says her husband says, 

"Next time we'll take the car" 

Paramount economy moves were really felt 

at the local exchange. Seems the home 

office decreed that all advertising secretaries 

must go. So, personable Sylvia Nemo, secretary 

to advertising-publicity man Harry 

Schmerling, found herself out of work. Her 

former boss is trying hard to get her placed 

with another film exchange. Now, how 

many bosses do you know with that much 

concern for their workers? 

Warner Bros.' youth-oriented "Woodstock," 

filmed at the recent New York State 

hippie gathering, was simultaneously pressscreened 

in New York City; Washington, 

D.C.; Orlando, Fla.: Boston, Mass.: Dallas, 

Tex., and Toronto, Canada. The special invitation 

list included college newspaper editors 

and columnists. According to the local 

WB exchange, among the attendees were 

students from the University of Pennsylvania, 

Temple University, Drexel University, 

Rutgers, Villanova, St. Joseph's College 

and just about every other Delaware 

Valley college. The film, which originally 

had enough footage to run over seven hours, 

has been cut to a mere three hours and four 

minutes and was enthusiastically received 

by the local campus crowd and has been 

receiving plenty of space in their newspaper 

editorial columns. 

National General Pictures' local office 

boasts they are about to break the biggest, 

best schedule of film product available. It 

includes "The Cheyenne Social Club," starring 

James Stewart and Henry Fonda, set 

for a multiple opening June 24: "A Man 

Called Horse," starring Richard Harris 

(also set to bow June 24), and "Grasshopper," 

which co-stars Jim Brown and 

Jacqueline Bisset. TTie company's "The 

Boys in the Band" is currently doing excellent 

business at the Midtown . . . Recent 

NGP bride Christina Somers is back on the 

job following her honeymoon in Montreal 

and southern Illinois. Her husband Albert is 

a Q/ 3 in the Navy. 

Embassy Theatre Burns; 

Evidence Indicates Arson 

READING, PA.—The Embassy Theatre, 

745 Penn St., once hailed as Reading's "Million 

Dollar Showhouse." was damaged by a 

fire of "suspicious origin" Monday, March 

16. 

It is believed that the fire started at the 

rear of the stage, spread to ceiling tapestry, 

which dropped onto the seats. The fire occurred 

two weeks before the theatre was 

scheduled to change hands and the new owners 

see little likelihood that the movie house, 

originally opened in 1931, will be reopened. 

At the time of the blaze, the Embassy was 

still under lease to Fabian Management 

Corp. 

nnja 

mW^H 

Theatre 

Service 

The nation's finest 'or 40 years 



3310 South 20th Street, Philadelphia. Penna 19145 

Phone: (215) HO 7-3300 (Pa.) 

(609) 963-2043 (N. J.) 

BOXOmCE :: April 13, 1970 E-7

WASHINGTON 

^hf Xiiu'rii'iiii I'iliu Inslitulv's April program 

ha.s iloiibled its Ircqucncy of film 

shovMngs. Japanese cinema was shown from 

SunJa\ (4) ihroii^h Sunday (12) to follow 

Osaka's Hxpo '71) opening and lo coincide 

wiih the annual Cherrx Blossom Fesiival. 

"New Directions," the program for the following 

week, includes recent films which 

have not been shown here. Press showings 

were scheduled in the AFI screening room 

— for the 17 features: First week "Ikiru." 

"Alone Across the Pacific." "Ugeisu Monogatari," 

"Harp of Burma." "lokyo Olympiad," 

"Sansho Bailiff." "She A: He." "Double 

Suicide" — and "Woman in the Dunes": second 

week "The Chronicle of .A. M. Bach," "Lc 

Viol." "David Holzman's Diary." "Je 

TAime." "The Path Home." "China Is 

Near," "Hugs and Kisses" and "Everyihinj; 

for Sale." .i.s well as selected short films, the 

work of young American directors sponsored 

by AFI. 

Olto F.bert, head of MGM's area sales 

office, said he is trying to make one of the 

"best showings" in his company's len-film 

spring sales drive, which will continue 

through June. Exhibitors received invitations 

from division manager Sidney Hckman to 

come to Philadelphia to a product-reel 

showing of new releases Tuesday (14). Ebert 

will head the local contingent. 

Joe Brcchcen, Buena Vista branch manager, 

returned to his duties after a week's 

vacation. Harry Howar. salesman, was host 

during Brecheen's absence to district manager 

Lawrence Terrell, who came down 

from Philadelphia with his wife and son. 

Gertrude Epstein, booker, said the rerelease 

of the Disney classic "Fantasia" will open at 

Don King's Key Theatre Wednesday (15). 

Bill kumins, Warner Bros, district manager, 

came from the home office for a threeday 

visit with branch manager Ben Bachc. 

Marie Hancock, Universal staffer, was 

another vacationer, according to Alex 

Shimcl, branch manager. 

Bobby Coldhamnier had two of his 

situations 

damaged by the recent windstorm. 

The screen of the Winchester Drive-In and 

the marquee on the Plaza Theatre, both in 

Winchester, Va., were blown down. 

Nathan Shor's new Aspin Hill Twin Theatres 

1 and II have been completed and will 

open in the immediate future. They are in 

the .Aspin Hill Shopping Center, located at 

the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and 

Aspin Hill Road. Wheaton, Md., according 

to Shor, who for several years was Universal's 

salesman and more recently assistant 

E-8 

to Harley Davidson, president. Independent 

Theatres. Shor als had interest in the 

building ol Rockville's Pike Theatre. 

Catherine Iturlmi, United .Artists office 

manager, will le.ive lor a two-month visit in 

Europe Monday (20). Emelyn Benfer. head 

booker, and other office personnel will 

"pilch in" and perform Miss Burton's duties 

until she returns . . . Frank I.opez. who went 

to U.A's bookkeeping department when the 

MGM exchange dissolved, has retired Irom 

the industry. 

WOMPIs issued in\itations lo a "ch.impagne-mect-and-greel" 

party at the Variety 

Club's headquarters for Saturday evening 

(18). Recipients of the cordial invitations 

were branch managers, theatre owners and 

every girl who works in the motion picture 

industry, according to president Doris Sims 

of Wheeler Films. Two new members are 

Jane Klotz, Independent Theatres, and T)onna 

Liftman, National General Pictures. 

WOMPl's eighth annual dinner for installing 

the new officers to be elected Tuesday (14) 

is scheduled lor June 27 at the Marriott 

Twin Bridges. 

Herbert Schwartz, National 

General division 

manager based here, tradescreened 

"Tarzan's Deadly Silence" at the K/B 

screening room Friday afternoon (10). 

Drive-In Permit Okayed; 

Plan Family-Type Films 

GEORGETOWN. DEL.—A request 

for 

a zoning change which would permit construction 

of a drive-in north of Laurel on 

U.S. 13 has been approved by the planning 

and zoning commission of Sussex County. 

Midway Enterprises, owned by Richard 

H. Derrickson of Rehoboth Beach, requested 

the change on 15 acres of land from residential 

to business to be used for a familytype 

theatre. The proposed theatre would 

accommodate 412 cars. 

Complex to Open in 1972 

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. — Century 

Twenty-One, the $5 million motel-restaurant, 

theatre and shopping complex on 

Route 17 at 1-64, planned by developer 

Donald Pollard of Virginia Beach, is scheduled 

for completion in mid-1972. The theatre 

will have 750 to 

1,000 seats. 

Cinecom Theatre Delayed 

SCRANTON, PA.—Construction work 

on Cinecom Corp.'s 

Birney Plaza Shopping 

Center theatre, Moosic, was delayed temporarily 

to permit the architect to coordinate 

some last-minute details with the contractor. 

The target opening date is not expected to be 

changed. 

April Opening Is Planned 

WHITE SULPHUR .SPRING.S, W. 

VA.—An early April opening is planned 

for a new motion picture theatre located in 

the building that formerly housed the U. S. 

Post Office on East Main Street. The facility 

is being constructed by A. W. "Buddy" Cook 

jr. 

BALTIMORE 

Qwner Lawrence Perry opened the New 

Horn Theatre Wednesday (I) on a 

seven-day-a-wcek basis. The house was 

closed during midweek under the former 

management. Perry said midweek business 

was showing a profit. 

Meyer I.cvcnthal, Carroll Theatre owner, 

is up and around, having recovered from a 

recent heart attack . . . Edward Kimpel, 

Rome circuit executive, is back at his desk 

after a successful operation which kept him 

in the hospital three weeks. 

Irwin Cohen, R C circuit president, was 

away Wednesday (8) to visit Manassas, Va., 

where the circuit's first mini-theatre is under 

construction. The house will scat 200 and 

Irwin says it will be in operation by mid- 

June. 

Al Zlatin, Variety Club president, announces 

the Variety Club's first topless 

luncheon, to be held Thursday (3). Call 

837-0173 for rservations. The limit is 200 at 

the downtown Gentleman II. 

Kenneth Ridenour, owner, Hager Drive- 

In, was in town Friday (3) and visited the 

R/C circuit offices . . . Joe Bernhcimer, 

buyer-booker; Jim Ross, new salesman, and 

Herb Schwartz, National General district 

manager, were in town Friday (3) for a 

meet-and-greet-the-area-exhibitors 

session. 

The Royal Theatre, a landmark of the 

city, operated by Jack Fruchtman, president, 

JF circuit, will close to make way for area 

urban renewal . . . Harold Grott, Harlem 

manager, visited the State Office Bldg. Monday 

(6) to pick up his 1970 motion picture 

operator's license. 

Roth Adding Auditorium 

At Montgomery Theatre 

SILVER SPRING, MD.—Paul Roth, 

president of Roth Theatres, announced the 

construction of a second auditorium at 

Roth's Montgomery Theatre in the Gaithersburg 

Square Shopping Center. Gaithersburg, 

Md. The two-auditorium complex, to be 

known as Roth's Montgomery 1 and 2, will 

have a capacity of approximately 1,000 

persons. 

Architects for this new facility, scheduled 

lor an early summer opening, are Bagley & 

Soule of Chevy Chase. DANAC Real Estate 

Investment Corp. of Rockville, Md., is the 

builder of the new auditorium, which will 

be Roth Theatres' tenth unit opened in the 

past four years. A second boxoffice is being 

added and the parking, lobby, refreshment 

and rest room facilities also are being enlarged. 

Roth said the new construction "enables 

us to keep pace with the growth of the community 

and to serve it better by offering the 

broadest possible range of motion picture 

entertainment." 

General manager of the firm is Ned Glaser. 

who serves as building coordinator. 


NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTEiR 

Four Saluted by PG 

For Industry Skills 

HOLLYWOOD— Producer Hal B. Wallis, 

comedian Bob Hope, publicist Emily Torchiu 

and columnist Amiy Archerd were 

honored at the Publicists Guild's seventh 

annual awards luncheon Friday (3) at the 

Century Plaza Hotel. 

Archerd received the Guild's Press 

Award; Wallis, the Motion Picture Showman 

Award, and Hope, the TV Showman 

Award. Phyllis Diller accepted for Hope, 

who was unable to attend. Awards were 

presented by Richard Burton, Anthony 

Quinn and Jack Lemmon. 

Miss Torchia was honored with the Les 

Mason Award, voted by the Guild membership 

in recognition of "best projecting the 

image of our publicists redounding to the 

benefit of our guild." Jacqueline Bisset presented 

the award. 

Guild awards committee chairman Max 

Weinberg opened the program and Henri 

Bollinger, Guild president, presided as host 

of the event. Comedian-actor Godfrey Cambridge 

entertained and Elizabeth Taylor 

made a brief appearance. 

Columbia Pictures Using 

Synctrol on Location 

HOLLYWOOD—Synctrol, the new Columbia 

cableless sychronized sound-camera 

system, is in use on location for the first 

time on Columbia Pictures' "Kane," E&R 

Production's Sidney Poitier starrer, now 

filming on location at Marysville, Calif. 

Invented by Hal Landaker, assistant head 

of Columbia's sound department, with the 

help of the company's camera department, 

the new system requires only a two-man 

crew and can operate on a sound stage or on 

location "with equal facility," according to 

a Columbia spokesman. 

The system is said to eliminate the need 

for constant supervision, reloading, resynchronizing 

and the tangle of sound cables in 

use under current systems. 

College Aids Funds Drive 

LOS ANGELES—Columbia College, motion 

picture and TV school located in Los 

Angeles, is donating staff and production 

facilities for the March of Dimes for the 

production of a series of public service spots. 

it was announced by Ernest M. Baumeister. 

president of the college. 

NGC HONORS PUBLICIST—Pete Latsis, third from right, receive a lifetime 

silver theatre pass marking 25 years' service with Los Angeles-based NGC 

Theatre Corp. from Nat D. Fellman, company president. At the luncheon 

(clockwise) were Alan Bamossy, district manager; Darrel Presnell, home office 

publicist associate; Harold Wyatt, district manager; Edwin Stuart, assistant to the 

president; Ernest Sturm, assistant director of theatre operations; William H. Thedford, 

vice-president and director of theatre operations; Latsis; Fellman, and 

William Hertz, Southern California division manager. 

Benjamin Berke"/ Honored 

By UJWF Photo Division 

HOLLYWOOD—Benjamin Berkey of 

Berkey Photo was guest of honor when the 

photography division of the Los Angeles 

United Jewish Welfare Fund held its annual 

dinner-dance Saturday (11) at the Friars 

Club in Beverly Hills, it was announced by 

James K. Levitt, chairman. 

Berkey, president 

and board chairman of 

the company, one of the nation's largest 

processors of motion picture films, was 

awarded the "Max Ponder Memorial Humanitarian 

Award." 

The United Jewish Welfare Fund conducts 

its own yearly regular drive and the 

Israel Emergency Fund for humanitarian 

purposes here, nationally and overseas, including 

Israel. 

Dick Brockway Is Editing 

'The Yin & the Yang' 

HOLLYWOOD—Producer Ian 

Ross has 

named Dick Brockway editor of "The Yin 

& the Yang," a Ross Films production, and 

Brockway has begun editing the film's Hong 

Kong-lensed footage at Edit Rite. 

"The Yin & the Yang" stars James Mason, 

Burgess Meredith, Irene Tau and Jeff 

Bridges. Meredith is director. 

in 

Twentieth Century-Fox expressed interest 

distribution. 

Films on Arts Draw 

Sellout Audiences 

HOLLYWOOD—While the dollars are 

rolling in on the campuses due to the 

overwhelming demand of various segmented 

audiences for films on the arts, whether they 

are documentary or shorts, the various cultural 

groups are reaping the rewards, while 

some theatres which could handle them as 

audience builders sit on the sidelines. 

The latest in the coin-building parade is 

"Civilization," a color film series of 13, 

with each one running 53 minutes. Lord 

Clark of Saltwood, who once lectured here 

at UCLA, is featured in the film and, due 

to the overwhelming demand for tickets, 

six 

screenings of Friday night programs are 

scheduled. The first five were sold out within 

four days of the scheduled presentation 

of the series. The sellout audience also will 

attend screenings at the Los Angeles County 

Museum of the Arts where a premiere was 

held. Tickets are sold in series. 

Fred Bachman Retires 

PHOENIX. ARIZ.—Long-time Valley 

theatreman Fred Bachman. manager of the 

Palms Theatre, has retired after 45 years in 

the entertainment business. Projectionists Local 

294 honored him with a special breakfast 

at the 300 Bowl Friday, March 20. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 W-1

Membership Approves 

70 Writers Contract 

LOS ANOLLLS — I 

he l''7i) Writers 

Guild screen and TV film conlraci demands 

were cnlhusiastically approved by more 

than 350 ol its membership al a meelinj; 

held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Negotiations 

with the production companies started 

Wednesday (S) at 10 a.m. at the Ass'n of the 

Motion Picture and TV Producers offices. 

guild officials said. 

Also on the agenda was the approval of 

a constitutional amendment shortening to 

48 hours the time period within which a 

strike call may be voted. Ballots were being 

counted, with the results promised within 

the week. 

Co-chairing the discussions of the negotiation 

demands were John J. Furia jr. and 

Ranald MacDougall. 

Ed Howe to Head National 

GEF Ad-Pub-Exploitation 

HOLLYWOOD—Ed Howe, until recently 

a long-lime Columbia Pictures national 

field exploiteer in the roadshow division. 

has taken temporary leave of his press agent 

berth with the Ringling Bros, and Barnum & 

Bailey Circus in New York City. Howe rejoined 

the famed Ringling press staff recently 

after an absence of several years 

but for health reasons now will not cover 

the entire 1970 national road tour. He is 

slated to rejoin the circus during its summer 

and fall tour in the Western states. 

During this time. Howe is now associated 

with Great Empire Films in Hollywood as 

national director of advertising, publicity 

and exploitation. The first of several major 

releases set for 1970 by GEF is the much 

publicized "Love Me, Like I Do," now booking 

into key major situations 

nationally. 

Howe is the son of the late famed showman 

M. D. "Doc" Howe who, until his 

death, was the long-time general manager 

of Boston's Shubert Theatre and at one 

time national exploitation manager al 20th 

Century-Fox and general booking manager 

for Fanchon & Marco. Son Ed also is a 

veteran showman and has held many positions 

in the film industry and other entertainment 

media. 

Katharine Ross Is Named 

As Co-Star in 'Fools' 

SAN I kANClSCO— Producers Robert 

H. Yamin and Henri Bollinger have set 

Katharine Ross to co-star with Jason Robards 

in "Fools," now in production in San 

Francisco for release by Cinerama Releasing 

Corp. 

This marks Miss Ross' first production 

since "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 

though she still has a film to be released 

here, "Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here." 

In "Fools" she portrays the wife of a millionaire 

industrialist who begins a love affair 

with a former horror-film star, played 

by Robards. 

Tom Gries directs from the original 

screenplay by Robert Rudelson. 

[^ns^ iTali^ COTS'" 

HOI 1/1 WOOD—William H. Thcdford. 

vice-president of theatre operations. Nation 

General Theatres Corp.. and president 

Uilliani H. Thedford, left, vice-pre.sidcnl 

of National General Theatres 

Corp. theatre 

operations and president 

of NATO of Southern California, drawing 

the winning name of theatre projectionist 

for the NSS trailer return 

cash drive. Fred Weimar, right, is N.SS' 

Los Angeles branch manager. 

of NATO of Southern California, selected 

the name of Trenton Kiltie, projectionist of 

the Bishop Theatre, Bishop. Calif., in a 

drawing to determine the quarterly winner 

of the National Screen Service "Trailer 

Cash-In" contest for Southern California, 

Arizona and Nevada. 

Fred Weimar, National Screen Service 

branch manager, Los Angeles, selected 

Thedford as the "neutral" person to break 

open the first-quarter ballot box in this exchange 

area. He selected at random the 

name of Kittle at the Los Angeles office. 

Kittle not only received the $50 first prize 

but inasmuch as this particular trailer was 

returned within 72 hours to the NSS exchange, 

he won an additional prize of $50. 

Nationally, the finals' winner, to be selected 

in the final quarter of the year, will 

receive a house trailer as a grand prize. 

The contest is being conducted in 18 

NSS branches throughout the country. 

Charles Hudgens to NGP 

As San Francisco Mgr. 

NEW YORK—Eugene Tunick, executive 

vice-president and general sales manager of 

National General Pictures, has announced 

the appointment of Charles A. Hudgens as 

San Francisco branch manager succeeding 

Don Fuller, resigned. He will report to Ray 

McCafferty, Western division manager. 

Hudgens most recently was branch manager 

for Warner Bros, in San Francisco. He 

joined the motion picture industry in 1941 

and worked in various branch sales posts 

with 20th Century-Fox and Paramount before 

joining Warners. He is married and a 

veteran of the Air Force. 

In-Person Appearance 

For Southcenter Bow 

SL.AITLE— Uniled's new Southcenter 

Theatre, featuring "Topaz," held a gala 

opening Wednesday (I), 

with nuisic, glamor, 

lights, free perfume for the ladies and John 

I'orsythe. the star of the movie, in person. 

Firms that contributed to making the 

Southcenter such an outstanding theatre 

were thanked publicly in the newspapers and 

included: D. I.. Anderson, concrete: Fife 

Mfg. Co.. millwork: Kirschiing Bulldozing 

& Excavation; Insulation Co. for sound and 

rigid insulation; McDonald Miller Co., airconditioning 

and engineering; National 

Blower, sheet metal and structural steel; 

Pease & Son, plumbing; Pacific Hardware, 

hollow metal doors and frames; Pfieffer 

Glass Co.. aluminum doors, frames and 

glass; Rainier Asphalt; Rushforlh Construction: 

Statewalls Systems for piaster-dry walls 

and painting, and Washington Electric and 

S. F. Burns, theatre equipment. 

Ariz. Costume Institute 

Honors Cinema Designers 

PHOENIX—The Arizona Costume Institute 

of the Phoenix Art Museum paid 

tribute to motion picture designers for their 

contribution to fashion at a gala $50-perhead 

benefit party Saturday (11) at the 

Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. 

Producer Ross Hunter and star Dana 

Wynter were co-commcntators at the costume 

review, 

which depicted motion picture 

designs by 20 great names. Featured were 

costumes from motion picture studios, costume 

houses and private collections, including 

works of Adrian, Irene, Walter Plunkett, 

Cecil Beaton, Orry Kelly, Howard Shoup, 

Vittorio Nino Novarese, Helen Rose, Renie. 

William Travilla, Dorothy Jeakins, Jean 

Louis, Donald Brooks. Theodora Van Runkle, 

Irene Sharaff, Bill Thomas, Donfeld, 

Moss Mabry, Ray Aghayan and Edith Head. 

Honored in the audience were ten designers, 

past winners of 15 Oscars and 63 

nominations, who flew from Los Angeles 

to attend the party. Included were; Howard 

Shoup, Vittorio Nino Novarese, Helen Rose, 

Renie, William Travilla, Dorothy Jeakins, 

Donfeld, Moss Mabry, Ray Aghayan and 

Edith Head. 

Special guests at the annual benefit were 

30 students of costume design from the 

University of Arizona and Arizona State 

University. 

'Bloody Mama' to Open 

In New View, Star Lite 

HOLLYWOOD—American 

International 

Pictures' big-scale drama, "Bloody Mama," 

starring Shelley Winters, has been booked 

into the New View TTieatre in Hollywood 

and the Star Lite Drive-In in El Monte for 

an exclusive-run engagement beginning Friday 

(17), it was announced by Leon P. Blender, 

AlP senior vice-president in charge of 

sales and distribution. 

The picture also stars Pat Hingle, Don 

Stroud and Diane Varsi. 

W-2 BOXOFFICE ;: April 13, 1970

^ - 

v 

CROSS 

ANEW 

THRESHOLD 

'" 

r 

into.:. 

Horror House 

STARRING 

FRANKIE JILL DENNIS GEORGE '^°^^;^ 

AVALON HAWORTH PRICE SEWELLwYNTER" 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SCREENPLAY 8 DIRECTED Br MUSIC 

a TIGON BRITISH FILM production 

• 

TONY TENSER M ICHAEL ARMSTRONG REG TILSELY • .n American international reuase :i 

COLOR GP 

Am 

. ,J Siffi^ 

hM 

BORIS KARLOFF 

CHRISTOPHER 

LEE 

IN 

CitlUMLSOltf 

MARK EDEN-BARBARA STEELE-MICHAEL GOUGH 

miNIAWETHERELL-iMTDAVIESl COLOR 

DIRECTED BY SCREENPLAY BY | _ 

VERNON SEWELL-MERVYN HAISMAN and HENRY LINCOLN 

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER PRODUCED BY 

GERRY LEVY -TONY TENSER 

• LOUIS M. HEYWARD 

^ A TIGON BRITISH -AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL production 

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' 

AlPl 

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Z' Again Most Rewarding First Run 

In LA With 530 13th Week at Regent 

LOS ANGELES—First runs kept up a 

healths grossing pace at area boxoflices, 

especially those films entered in the Academy 

Awards contests. One of these. "Anne 

of the Thousand Days." jumped from a 

310 percentage to 480 at the Beverly 

and "The Boys in the Band" and "Woodstock." 

widely contrasted films, surpassed 

the 500 mark by several points apiece. "Z" 

. 

again had the area's best percentage, this 

time 5.10. as it played a l.^th week at the 

Regent. 

(Average Is 1001 

Beverlv— Ann« of the Ttiousond Doyt (Univ), 

4lh wV 480 

Bruin—M-A-S-H 20th. Fox), 7th wk 385 

Ccniur* Pictor Without o Stitch (5R), 10th wk 130 

Chinoie— Hello, Dolly! iOth-Fox), I6th wk 215 

Cinc-Ciene^— Jenny CRC), 7th wk 150 

Cir>emo— Th« Stewardesses 1SR\ 33rd wk 200 

Cineromo— Point Your Wogon (Poro), 22nd wk .220 

Crest— Zobriskie Point (MGM), 3rd wk 170 

Egyptian Marooned (Col), 17th wk 145 

Four StOf The Mogic Christian (CUE). 1 0th wk .160 

Gronodo— The Damned ,WB), 9th wk 150 

HolPywoi^d Pacific— Airport (Univ), 3rd wk ...,410 

Loews— The Liberotion of L. B. Jones (Col), 

3rd wv. 160 

Notionol— The Boys in the Bond (NGP) 2nd wk 510 

Pontages— Potton i20thFox|, 7th wk 240 

Picwood— A Boy Named Chorlie Brown (NGP) 

„ 3rd wk 340 

Pix. UA— The Adventurers (Pare), 2nd wk .. 480 

Plozo— Putney Swope iSR), 11th wk 250 

Regent— 2 5R 13th »k 530 

Villoge— The Kremlin LeHer (20th-Fox), 5th wk . 75 

Vine— The Molly Moguires Poral 4th wk 65 

Vogue— Whot Do You Soy to a Naked Lody? 

(UA), 3rd «k 160 

Wilshirc— Woodstock (WB), 2nd wk ! ! 520 

'Airport' Still Breaking All 

Records at Denver Webber 

DLN\ HR— .Another good business week 

for 90 per cent of the Denver exhibitors 

saw "Airport" continue its house recordsmashing 

grosses at the Webber for a thirdweek 

350. 

Aladdin—Potton !20th-Fox), 5th wk 225 

Centre—M'A'S'H (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 250 

Century 21—Marooned (Col), 3rd wk ... 200 

Ct»errv Creek, Villo Italia—The Adventurers 

(Poro), 2nd wk ... 285 

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Phone: (213) 654-0880 

Continenloi- Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 16th wk . .250 

Cooper— Point Your Wagon (Poro), 23rd wk ...300 

Denver— Scream and Screom Again (AlP); 

i 

Destroy All Monsters 2nd wk 100 

Esquire- The Mogic Christian (CUE), 9th wk . . . .125 

Paramount. Arvada Plaza—A Boy Named Charlie 

Brown (NGP), 3rd wk 265 

Towne— Zobriskle Point (MGM) 275 

Vogue—Without o Stitch (SR), 4th wk 165 

Webber— Airport lUniv) 3rd wk 350 

"The Adventurers' Triples 100 

First Week in Seattle 

SKATTLH— "Fantasia" proved that Disney 

has a timeless appeal by returning to 

the Music Box with a fantastic 400. Among 

films appearing here for the first time, "The 

Adveniurers" proved to he the boxoffice 

giant, scoring .'00 as it opened at the Seattle 

7th Avenue. "Patton" doubled average in 

a fourth week at the Paramount. 

Blue Mouse—The Ballad ot Coble Hogue (WB), 

2nd wk ' 

, . 80 

Coliseum—The Kremlin Letter (20th-Fox), 2nd wk . 60 

Fifth Avenue— Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 7th wk .135 

Paramount— Patton (20th-Fox), 4th wk 200 

Seoffle 7th Avenue—The Adventurers (Para) ... .300 

Town—The Minx (SR), 4th wk 100 

Uptown— The Damned (WB), 3rd wk 90 

Arnold Nemiroff Dies 

Following Heart Attack 

LOS ANGELES—Arnold Nemiroff, 43. 

of Sherman Oaks, Calif., director of business 

affairs for network programming for Universal 

Studios, died at Valley Doctors Hospital. 

North Hollywood, Wednesday (I) 

following a sudden heart attack. 

Nemiroff joined the legal department of 

MCA TV in New York in 1959, moving to 

Los Angeles in 1964, where he continued 

activities in the area of feature film packages 

for network and syndication sales. He 

also was involved in negotiations for Universal's 

"World Premiere" motion pictures 

for TV. He was a graduate of CCNY. 1948, 

and Harvard Law .School, 1951. 

Nemiroff is survived by his wife Jean; 

a daughter Barbara. 12; a son Edward, 9, 

and a sister. Mrs. Rosalyn Silverman of 

New York. 

LOS ANGELES 

^îlliam H. Thedford, vice-president and 

director of theatre operations announced 

that Willy Van Rossum. secretary 

in NGC Theatre Corp.'s booking department, 

has been awarded a silver theatre pass 

in recognition of her 25 years of service 

with the company. 

Syd Lehman and Harry Rackin of Exhibitors 

.Service will do the buying and booking 

for the Villa Glen Theatre in Glcndale. 

which opens the latter part of April. Jay 

Phillips is the owner-operator. 

Agnes Kranz, widow of Charles Kranz, 

Uirmer independent exhibitor in the Los 

Angeles area, died March 27. 

I>an Foster, NGC salesman, was promoted 

to branch manager, succeeding Carl Smiley, 

who is now the MGM branch manager . 

Andy Hccderick will be the new office 

manager and booker at the NGC exchange, 

succeeding Bert Pollard. 

Campbell Melklcjohn, veteran theatreman 

and former manager of the Egyptian Theatre, 

who took over the running of the Meralta 

Theatre in Culver City two years ago. reports 

that theatre (a former distress house) 

has now become a most successful house. 

Meiklejohn took over the operation, with 

co-worker Tom Culver, for Jim Allen and 

Merritt Stone, who also own the Palms 

Theatre in West Los Angeles. 

SAN FRANCISCO 

J^ 

R. "Reek" Feliziani, city division manager 

for Roy Cooper Theatres, has been 

elected president of the Catholic Entertainment 

Guild of Northern California. He will 

serve through 1970-71. Other elected officials 

include vice-presidents Gene Jones and 

Bill Boland; treasurer Pete Vigna; recording 

secretary Ralph Clark; financial secretary 

Jess Wright; sergeant-at-arms Al Camillo. 

and chairman of the board J. Earl Henning. 

Other members elected to the board 

are Arnold Lavagetto. John ftowles. James 

Mooney. John O'Leary. Ugo Fratto, Gene 

Newman and Joseph Flanagan. Chaplain is 

Father Richard S. Knapp. 

As scheduled, "Hair" reopened its local 

run Friday. March 27. at the historic Orpheum 

Theatre on Market Street. Opened in 

1927 as the Pantages, featuring films and 

vaudeville, the spacious house was designed 

by B. Marcus Pritica and decorated by Anthony 

Heinsbergen. When the beloved 

O'Farrel Street Orpheum was closed in 1929, 

its policy was moved to the Pantages and 

the house's name then was changed. Beginning 

in 1952. the Orpheum was for 

many years the city's Cinerama house. The 

"Hair" company abandoned its original 

plans to create a new entrance on Hyde 

Street, using instead the ornate Market Street 

entry. A row of small trees is used to obstruct 

the view of subway construction immediately 

in front of the theatre and bright 

colors have been applied to much of the 

structure in this area. 

Columbia Pictures will make a film in 

Ireland titled "levers." 

CARBONS, Inc. \ ' *^ 

''âu. fee m^xc — *?t'^ in C/ic 

Box K, Cedar Knolls, N.J. 

0o^' 

in Canfomio—B. t. Shearer Company, Los Angeles— Republic 3-1145 

B. F. Shearar Company, San Francisco—Underbill 1-1816 

Wettem Theotrieol Equip. Co., San Franclieo—861-7571 

la Arizona—Theatrical Supply Company, Phoenix—254-0215 

in Colorado—National Theotr* Co., Denver—825-0201 

In Utah—L and S TkoMn Supply Co., Solt Lake City—328-1641 

W-4 


Not just 


. . . but 

a great projector! 

With such Century innovations as CINE-FOCUSt, double 

dissolving shutters and our UVIR-2'S' band pass light 





Vision. 

But don't overlook the Century Projector itself. A great 




hold stress and'wear to a minimum. Precision components 












nothin g comparable — foreigR or domestic! 





CENTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION 

New York, N.Y. 100t9 

Western Theatrical Equipment Co. 

187 Golden Gate Avenue 

Son Francisco, California 94102 

John P. Filbert Co., Inc. 

1100 Flower Street (P.O. Box 5085) 

Glendale, California 91201 

Phone: (213) 247-6550 

Western Service & Supply, 

2100 Stout Street 

Denver, Colorado 80205 

Inc. 

Pembrex Theatre Supply Corp. 

1100 Flower Street 

Glendale, California 91201 

& S Theatre Supply Co. 

214 East First South Street 

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 

Pacific Theatre Equipment Co. S. F. Bums & Co., Inc. 

142 Leaven-vorth Street 

San Francisco, California 94102 

2319 2nd Avenue 

Seattle, Washington 98101 

BOXOFTICE :: April 13, 1970 W-5

. . Al 

SEATTLE 

John lorsjihi'. tilni and TV star, was 

brought to town hy Korm.in and Linited 

Theatres lor the opening of his latest movie. 

"Topaz." at the grand opening of the new 

l.2lH)-seat. SSOO.OOO Souihcenter Theatre 

in Tukwila. south of this city. 

Ben llunnuh. who heads Northwest Di- 

\erMtied liniertauiment. had the good fortune 

to win a brand new 1970 green Thun- 

. . .Mack 

dcrbird at a raffle held by the Ladies of 

the Eagles' Auxiliary in Enumclaw . 

Mihill and Don Faraar. Forman buyers for 

all of the West Coast, were in town for the 

opening of the Southcenter Theatre. 

John Dobson, United Artists Corp. regional 

manager from Denver, was in town 

for the Southcenter opening and sales 

meetings. 

. . . 

Tom .Mojcr. who owns theatres in Portland 

and Salem, was in town with other outof-town 

visiting dignitaries for the Southcenter 

opening Ted Day is the new 

student booker at Universal. 

Fumian and United arc in the process of 

remodeling the Midway Drive-In. The old 

theatre, which had been called the first in 

the Northwest, has been razed and the new 

structure, featuring an asbestos screen, will 

accommodate more than 1.000 cars and 

also will have a 6.000-square-foot playground. 

Plans call for a reopening later 

this month. 

A special invitational screening of "Zabriskie 

Point" was held Monday afternoon 

(6) at the Ridgemont Theatre. Refreshments 

were served in the lobby to the audience. 

who had enthusiastically viewed the controversial 

and provocative film. Walter von 

Hauffe. .MG.M West Coast advertising manager 

and publicist, was up from San Francisco 

for the event and led a discussion after 

the film was shown. 

"M'A'S'H" (20th 

Century-Fox) opened 

at the Coliseum and has received good re- 

. . . "Zabriskie Point" 

views . . . "Patten" (20th-Fox) continues to 

come on strong in iu run at the Paramount 

. . . "Midnight Cowboy" reopened Wednesday 

(8) at the Town, following the Academy 

Awards 

Wednesday (8) at the Ridgemont 

opened 

for a 

four-week minimum run. exclusively for a 

first week, with Renton Cinema coming in 

for the second or third week . . . "Z" (Cinema 

V). distinguished by the fact that it 

was the foreign film winner at the Academy 

Awards, opened Wednesday (8) at the U- 

iu;,f:iH; 

(1325 5. WABASH 

CHICAGO ftOSOS 

W-6 

ToS MOLLi 

MiillllEES 

„ SLUCOIIKEgYl 

^"^ Sbowmen Are Using 

'"^l^CKS 3 In One 

TRAILERETTES 

1. Can ht used as a prevue service 

2. (jn be nsed as cross plug trailer 


I>istrict's \arsity Theatre . . . "The Lawyer" 

(Paramount) opened Thursday (9) at the 

Blue Mouse. A special midnight pajama 

party was held Saturday (4) at the Blue 

Mouse, with free admission to all wearing 

PJs. "The Lawyer" was the feature movie 

and the affair was held in conjunction with 

"Airport (Universal) opened 

Radio KOI. . . . 

Friday (10) at the Cinema 1. Ronton. 

A 

special showing was held Thursday (9) to 

benefit the Renton High choir's trip to Expo 

'70 in Japan as a representative of the state 

of Washington. 

The Aurora I)rive-In, 1.1500 Aurora .Ave, 

N.. was rohhcd Faster Sunday afternoon by 

an armed man. Some $150 in cash was 

taken. Police said a man wearing a hooded 

jacket and carrying a revolver knocked on 

the theatre office door, which was opened 

by an employee. Robert D. Gessel. who was 

forced at gunpoint to fill a paper bag with 

money . . . "Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here" 

is the first-run feature at the Harvard Exit 

The local production of 

on Capitol Hill . . . 

"Hair" will open at the Moore Theatre Saturday 

(18). Cast members made a presentation 

of a bunch of daisies and the first two 

tickets to Secretary of State A. Ludlow 

Kramer. 

DENVER 

Qriice Young, manager for the local district 

of Commonwealth Theatres, has announced 

several changes in the area. Ted 

Jastoroff. for many years manager of the 

Eagle Theatre. Chadron, Neb., Is retiring. 

His post will be filled by Alvin Tesicka, 

who formerly managed the Pines Drive-In 

and State Theatre in Rapid City. Mike Rosencutter 

has been transferred from the Pawnee 

Drive-ln. North Platte, Neb., to manager 

of the Pines Drive-ln, Rapid City. 

Steve Shenek has been transferred from the 

Missouri Theatre in Columbia. Mo., to the 

managing post of the Pawnee Drive-ln, 

North Platte. Jim Townley has been appointed 

manager of the Bluffs Theatre In 

Scottsbluff. Neb., while Shelby Bourne has 

been appointed city manager in Scottsbluff. 

In town to set dates were George Fick, 

Village Theatre. Steamboat Springs; George 

Kelloff. Star Drive-ln. Monte Vista; R. L. 

Stanger. Lake Estes Drive-ln. Estes Park; 

Milton Boehm. Cover Theatre, Fort Morgan; 

Don Swales. Wheeler Opera House. 

Aspen; Paul Allmeyer. El Grande Theatre. 

Granby. and Vern Peterson and John Lindsey. 

Evergreen Theatres of Colorado, 

Loveland. 

Arrangements for the Rocky Mountain 

Motion Picture Ass'n Forward Look meeting 

have been finalized. The meeting will 

start Tuesday. May 26. with a luncheon and 

workshop, while Tuesday night is booked 

for a 'Girl's Night Out" while the men attend 

the Golf Calcutta. Wednesday. May 27. 

will have the golf tournament at Park Hill 

Country Club, followed by a cocktail party 

and a dinner dance with entertainment. 

Tickets will be on sale shortly and can be 

secured from Fllmrow personnel. 

Jack Michclelli has resigned from Paramount 

Pictures to take the post of branch 

manager of Favorite Films of California. He 

succeeds Jack Felix, who resigned from 

United Artists' 

Favorite Films recently . . . 

John Dobson traveled to Seattle . Childress, 

formerly with Paramount In Oklahoma 

City, has transferred to this city where 

he will be handling the sales In the local 

branch. 

License Denial to Close 

Two Seattle Theatres 

SEATTLE—The New Paris and RIvoll 

theatres were scheduled to be shut down 

when the city council denied Michael Greenfield's 

application for licenses for the theatres. 

The New Paris has been Seattle's only 

burlesque house and the Rivoli shows exploitation 

movies. Some council members 

objected because both allegedly have shown 

total nudity. They also acted on the basis 

of police complaints that a long succession 

of owners have been listed by the theatres, 

making It difficult to determine responsibility 

for operation. 

Maurice Kadlsh. Greenfield's attorney, indicated 

intention to appeal in federal court. 

The attorney said he would oppose the city 

council's ruling because it violated constitutional 

rights and the council is not empowered 

to act as a censoring body. 

Washington U. Presenting 

Jean Renoir Film Series 

SEATTLE— "Jean Renoir In 

Retrospect" 

will be the subject of the University of Washington's 

spring film series. The nine Renoir 

films, made from 1932 to 1961, will be 

shown on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. in the HUB 

auditorium and at H p.m. in the health sciences 

auditorium. 

The series opened Tuesday (7) with "Boudu 

Saved From Drowning." continuing with 

"Toni" and "A Day in the Country" Tuesday 

(14); "Grand Illusion" Tuesday (21); 

"La Marseillaise" Tuesday (28); "Rules of 

the Game" May 5; "The Diary of a Chambermaid" 

May 12; "Picnic on the Grass" 

May 19. and "The Elusive Corporal" May 

26. 

Series tickets are available at the university's 

office of lectures and concerts. 3937 

15th Ave. N.E, 

SPOKANE, WASH.—A twin theatre is 

tentatively slated to be included in the proposed 

29 Pines Shopping Center at 29th 

Street and Perry, it was announced by a 

spokesman for the Residential Property 

Owners Ass'n. 


GREAT EMPIRE FILMS presents 

LETÊ ME LIKE I 

STARRING * PETER CARPENTER • DYANNE THORNE • PAUL FLEMING 

WRITTEN. PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY J. VAN HEARN MUSIC BY EISA SINGMAN 

DB 

NERCESIAN PRODUCTIONS 

901 SHERMAN ST. 

DENVER, COLORADO 80203 

(302) 825-4864 

HOLLYWOOD CINEMART 

7048 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. 

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. 90028 

(213) 465-7924 

GOLDSTONE FILMS OF CALIFORNIA 

CARMEL CORMACK 

988 MARKET STREET 

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. 94102 

(415) 673-1855 

BOXOFFICE April 13, 1970 

W-7

I 

at 

StarUng on SUNDAY MAY 3. 1970 

M-G-M STUDIOS, CULVER CITY. CALIF. 

THtDAVIDWEISZCO. 

presents a 

ic auction 

OF THE COUNTLESS TREASURES 

ACQUIRED FROM M-G-M STUDIOS 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER is streamlining its operation and no longer requires for current 

production the warehouses overflowing with motion picture treasures that have been in many 

of the great films of the past 45 years. 

32 daily and evening Auction sessions starting Sunday, May 3, 1970, to Wednesday, May 20, 1 970. 

AN UNPRECEDENTED INVENTORY OF THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF MOTION 

PICTURE MEMORABILIA EVER ASSEMBLED including: 

STAGE 27 - Sun., May 3 through Wed., May 6 

SPHCTAC ULAR COLLECTION OF FRENCH PERIOD 

Furniture and An Objects, Empire — Louis XV — Louis 

X\T, Salon Sets. Sofas. Chairs. Signed Commodes. Chests. 

Desks, Mirrors. Crystal Chandeliers and Sconces. 

AMERICAN COLONIAL and Victorian, including Belter 

Sofas and Chairs, Bronze, Marble, Porcelain Statuar>', 

GRECO-ROMAN Chairs, Benches, Chaises, Tapestries. 

Rugs. Paintings, ORIENTAL Furniture and Art Objects. 

STAGE 15 - Wed., May 6 through Sat., May 9 

AMERICAN & ENGLISH FURNISHINGS, Bedroom 

and Dining Room Suites and Occasional Pieces, Secretaries. 

Garden Furniture and Statuary. Paintings. Prints, Graphics. 

Tiffany-style Chandeliers. Pianos, Organs, Musical 

Instruments, Contemporars' furnishings and Ornaments. 

Clocks, Lamps, AMERICAN, ORIENTAL AND EURO- 

PEAN Bric-a-brac and Ornaments. Screens. Ship Models. 

STAGE 30 - Sun., May 10 through Wed., May 13 

AMERICAN COLONIAL Tables, Chairs, Sofas, Postmaster 

Desks, Brass Beds, School Desks, Teester and Sleigh 

Beds, Dressers. Cobbler's Benches. Country English Oak 

Tables, Chests. Roll-top Desks, PROVINCIAL AND 

COLONIAL ARMOIRES. Gothic Chests, Carved Captains 

Chairs. Windsor Chairs. Hall trees. Mirrors. Consoles, 

Refrectory Tables. Maple. Pine, Oak Chairs, Tables, Stoves, 

Coffee Grinders, Oak China Cabinets, Coach Lamps. 

LOT 2 - Thurs.. May 14 

150 TRUCKS. Pickup to Dump trucks — Vi tracks — 

SHERMAN TANK — Automobiles — Trailers — Buses 

— Station Wagons — Roman furniture and objets d'art Statuary — Western and Wicker Furniture and Props — 

Gambling Equipment — Portable Dressing Rooms — Light 

Fixtures — Restaurant and Store Equipment — Antique 

Trunks. Complete authentic standard gauge STEAM 

LOCOMOTIVE AND COACHES FROM 1870. 

LOT 3 & 5 - Fri., May 15 and Sat., May 16 

MAGNIFICENT PADDLE WHEEL STEAMER ("Cotton 

Blossom") featured in the motion picture "Show Boat." 

Harbor and Nautical 

— Movie Set boats — Furnishings and props used in the 

making of the picture "KISMET." 

equipment — Wind and Wave machines 

— Western and Church furniture — Boats, Canoes 

250 COACHES English. Coronation. Stage — Surrey 

— Hansom Cab Western Wagon — Fire Engine — 

Roman Chariots — Western Gear. etc. 

A Selected Group of STAR WARDROBE, Sun., May 17 

The most magnificent costumes from the greatest M-G-M 

films worn by the most famous stars in motion picture 

history. Period wardrobe from such all time great movies 

as "MARIE ANTOINETTE." "CAMILLE, "BEN 

HUR," "MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY," "THE GREAT 

ZIEGFELD," "WIZARD OF OZ" and "MEET ME IN 

ST. LOUIS," etc., etc. 

STAGES 7 & 8 - Mon., May 18 and Tues., May 19 

WEAPONRY — AN INCOMPARABLE COLLEC TION 

of approximately 1.000 Antique and modern rifles and hand 

guns — Roman armor — Swords — Spears — Bows and 

Arrows — Shields — Historic Military Head Gear. AN 

UNDUPLICATED COLLECTION OF EXACT MODEL 

REPLICAS of Miniature Racing Cars — Ships — Planes 

— Locomotives — Trains and Tanks. 

CLASSIC ANTIQUE AUTOS dating from 1894. 

THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of other individual items 

and objects too numerous to list, used in memorable films 

made by the Studio, famous for its authenticity. 

Daily Exhibition from Sat., Apr. 25 tliroiif;h Fri.. May 1. 

(10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) Daily auction se.^sion.': commencini; 

Sun. May S, 1970. Exhibitions and Auction at 

M-G-M Stuilios, Culver City. California. 

Commemorative illustrated catalog (Approximately 400 

pages) $10.00. The net proceeds from the sale of this catalog 

will be donated to the Motion Picture and Television 

Relief Fund for support of its work. 

Because of our limited space, catalog is required as admission 

for two people to attend any or all exhibition sessions 

and auction sessions. Order catalog by mail or coupon below, 

or purchase at M-G-M Studios. Box Office. Washington 

Blvd., Culver Citv. California. Catalog available April 10, 

1970. CATALOGS LIMITED! 

ORDER CATALOG NOW! 

out coupon and enclose $10.00 check or money order payable to 

Fill 

David Weisz Co. to receive postage paid catalog necessary for admission. 

PLEASE PRINT 

Sale 

f- >gf 

under direction of 

IsfJ^ 

DAVID WEISZ CO. 

T t 930 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90035 

JW- Phone 655-4300 

Mail to M-G-M Auction, P.O. Box 2810, Culver City, Calif. 90230 

W-8 BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970

Goodbye, 

'M*A*S*H'TopsKC 

First Runs at 1,000 

KANSAS CITY—Boxoffice reports were 

generally lower in the week under review, 

although the "top five" held their positions 

and "M' A*S*H" continued to pull recordbreaking 

crowds to the tune of a secondweek 

1,000 per cent. Also playing to wellabove-average 

business were "Airport," 850, 

"Patton," 500, "The Adventurers," 435, and 

"Hello, Dolly!", 400. A double-bill, "The 

Murder Clinic" and "Kill Baby Kill," registered 

a below-average 80 per cent at the 

Boulevard and 63rd Street drive-ins. 

I 

(Average Is 100) 

Boulevard, 63rd Street The Murder Clinic 

(SR); Kill Boby Kill (SR) 80 

Capri Point Your Wagon (Paro), 21st wk 300 

Embassy I, II Zobriskie Point (MGM), 2nd wk .150 

Empire — Patton (20th-Fox), 5th wk 500 

1 

Empire 3, 4, Ranch Mart 1 The Adventurers 

(Para), 2nd wk 435 

Fine Arts The Magic Christian (CUE), 

8th wk Not Available 

Glenwood Mr. Chips (MGM), 

16th wk 150 

Glenwood II Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 16th wk .400 

Metro 1, Towne 4 The Bollad of Coble Hague 

(WB), 2nd wk 

Metro 3, Parkway One, Towne 1 M*A*S'H 

1 00 

(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 1,000 

Midland Airport (Univ), 3rd wk 

Plaza Anne of the Thousand Days 

850 

(Univ) Not Available 

Roxy Marooned (Col), 3rd wk 200 

Towne 2 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Col), 

15th wk 

Towne 3 The Kremlin Letter (20th-Fox), 

200 

2nd wk 75 

Street Violence Starts 

In the Home: Borgnine 

CHICAGO— Ernest Borgnine, who talked 

about "The Adventurers" during a visit here, 

also made a personal appearance at a sneak 

preview of "Too Late the Hero." Borgnine 

does not have a role in the latter film but he 

was pinch-hitting for Robert Aldrich, who 

wasn't able to make the Chicago scene. 

In press sessions, Borgnine said: "I'm glad 

actors go out and plug pictures. They don't 

necessarily have to be in them. But if they 

do go out, they can start the comeback trail 

for Hollywood. Plus. I can see the picture 

and give Bob Aldrich an honest opinion on 

how the audience reacted." 

In saying he is mad at people who blame 

movie violence for violence in the street, 

Borgnine stated: "When I was a boy, I used 

to go around with guns (the wooden kind) 

and swords. I think violence is a sign of the 

times and is not that influential. We've got a 

bunch of kids with warped minds and sick 

minds because their parents haven't used the 

Golden Rule on their children — which 

means' use a big stick. I'll probably get a lot 

of letters if you say that." 

Students to Pay Theatre 

For Acts of Vandahsm 

LAKE ZURICH, ILL.—The junior class 

of Lake Zurich High School has taken the 

responsibility of providing restitution for the 

damage done to the Arlington Theatre when 

they attended the movie "Oliver!" on a field 

trip February 18. 

Dr. William Bach, high school principal, 

said the damage was done to 

the theatre interior 

when 150 students, mostly juniors, 

attended the movie as part of their English 

class work. Most of the damage, he said, 

was caused when a number of items were 

taken from the theatre. Bach said the junior 

class handled the matter themselves and prevailed 

upon guilty members to return the 

items. The class took enough money from its 

treasury to repair the damages, plus labor. 

Theatre manager Donald Knapp stated 

that appropriate restitution has been made 

and struck a positive note when he commented 

that he was impressed by the number 

of students who called to apologize for the 

action of their fellow classmates. 

"We don't like group punishment," Bach 

commented, "but the group took it upon 

themselves since they could have stopped 

this when it started. They found out what 

massive passive action can do." 

He said he thought an important lesson 

was learned by the youths regarding individual 

involvement when they see something 

happening that should be halted. 

Mid-America Unveils 

North Twin Drive-In 

KANSAS CITY—Chairman of the board 

Lu Vaughan and president Martin Stone of 

the Kansas City-based Mid-America Cinema 

Corp. hosted a pre-opening screening at the 

new 1,600-car North Twin Drive-In, Riverside, 

Wednesday night (8). The two-screen 

drive-in is located on U.S. 71 at 50th Street, 

one-quarter mile south of T29, and is the 

first twin-screen airer north of the river in 

metropolitan Kansas City. 

The entrance-way is accentuated by an 

eight-foot, lighted plexi-glass arch and the 

1,300-foot entrance drive is outlined by 

mushroom lighting. Twin boxoffices with 

four cashiers keep four lanes of traffic moving. 

With different films featured on each 

screen, the patron decides on the picture of 

his choice at the time he passes the boxoffice 

Ȧ two-story, air-conditioned building 

houses the projection booth, rest rooms and 

the refreshment center, which has four serving 

lanes. Just to the west of this area is a 

children's playground. These facilities are 

centrally located between the two theatres. 

Ample parking is provided on 34 ramps 

spaced 40 feet apart. Speaker posts are 

spaced 20 feet apart. Electric in-car heaters 

make it possible to operate the drive-in 

year-round. 

The North Twin's viewing area is in a 

natural amphitheatre and the entrance is 

located on one of the highest ridges in 

Platte County. The ridge affords a panoramic 

view of the North Kansas City area. 

Feature attractions for the pre-opening 

screening were "True Grit," "The Sterile 

Cuckoo" and "Once Upon a Time in the 

West" at North Twin I and "The Love Bug," 

"Parent Trap" and "Firecreek" at North 

Twin IL 

BURLINGTON, VT. — Construction 

nearing completion on a twin theatre complex, 

to be operated by the SBC Management 

Corp. 

One theatre will contain 320 seats, the 

other 230. 

is 

New 'Anti-Smut' Law 

Passed in St. Louis 

SI. LOUIS—The controversial anti-obscenity 

bill aimed at banning "Hair," "Oh, 

Calcutta!" and similar performances in St. 

Louis which, in addition to banning nudity 

on St. Louis' stages, prohibits persons under 

18 from attending plays or movies rated as 

"adult" or "for mature audiences," was 

signed into law by Mayor Alfonso J. Cervantes. 

The measure was passed by the board 

of aldermen March 20 by a vote of 16-11. 

Cervantes said after signing the bill. 

"Basically I abhor censorship but the bill 

has become a symbol of public rejection of 

growing permissiveness which condones 

smut, sacrilegious attacks against religion 

and desecration of our nation's flag. 

"Let me forcefully emphasize that my approval 

of this bill does not automatically ban 

the presentation of the musical play "Hair,' 

which gave rise to this ordinance. Only the 

courts can make this decision." 

The mayor added that one provision alone, 

that barring persons under 18 from adult 

movies, "makes this bill worthy of my signature 

regardless of the remaining content of 

the measure. 

"In the final analysis, each and every one 

of us—and not government—must determine 

our own moral standards," the mayor 

said, "but in this era of protest, I think it is 

time for those of us who are sick and tired 

of theatrical filth and bad taste to stand up 

and declare that the growing permissiveness 

threatens the moral fiber of our families, our 

city and our nation." 

Violation of the ordinance can bring fines 

up to $500 or imprisonment of up to 100 

days or both, plus revocation of licenses of 

any business whose manager or owner is 

convicted under the law one or more times 

within a two-year period. 

Editorially, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat 

proclaimed that presentation of "Hair" 

should be ostracized "but not by passage of 

a censorship act such as the board of alderman 

adopted." The measure, the Globe said, 

"was not needed; nor will it likely keep the 

show away from the city. The more censorship 

laws we put on the books, the more 

hazard we create for constitutional freedoms. 

Such censorship nostrums can be extended 

to extremes of social dictatorship. Sufficient 

protest by respected and proper spokesmen 

is more likely to do the job than more law. 

If concerted effort were made by religious 

elements of the community, as well as the 

thousands of parents who deluged the aldermen 

with their antagonism for 'Hair." it 

probably would not be offered at the American 

Theatre. It is now tentatively set for 

showing here sometime during the 1970-71 

season." 

theSstre equipment 

"Everything for the Theatre" 

339 No. CAPITOL AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, INO. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 C-1

. . Exie 

. . Dick 

. . 

.Ms.i. 

KANSAS CITY 

The Million Piclure Ass'n ol Cucitcr Kanv.iN 

C ii\ board of directors and committee 

chairmen held a luncheon meeting 

at the Wishbone Restaurant Monday (d) 

and approved an amendment to the b\laws 

to be voted by the general membership. The 

amendment reads; "The outgoing president 

shall automatically serve for one year as an 

active and voting member of the board of 

directors. After this one year, he will revert 

to the same normal status of a regular 

member and will be eligible to be elected b> 

the membership to serve as a member of the 

bi>ard. He also will be eligible to be appointed 

to the board by the directors in case of a 

vacancy. .Ml past presidents who are now 

serving on the board as ex-officio board 

members will no longer serve in this capacity, 

but will be eligible to be elected lo the 

board by the membership or be appointed 

to serve by the board of directors in case of 

a vacancy." Martin Stone, bylaws committee 

chairman, presented the amendment. 

The annual picnic of the .\1P.A is scheduled 

for June S at the Glenwood Lake in 

Overland Park. Kas.. where the family event 

was held last year. The committee under the 

leadership of Ralph .Xmacher and Jerry 

Ireland 

plans to have more activities for the 

children and belter attendance by the entire 

local 

film industry. 

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry 

Drake, operators of the Drake Theatre. Bolivar, 

who are celebrating the beginning of 

their 41st year in the theatre business. 

Bob Ash, former operator of the Pastime 

Theatre and Pageant Drive-In. Medicine 

Lodge, Kas.. has taken over the operation of 

the Anthony Theatre and the Star Vue 

Drive-In, .Anthony, Kas. The theatres were 

formerly owned by Mrs. Hazel Droz and 

the change in ownership was effective Monday 

(6). Ash will reside in Medicine Lodge. 

FINER 

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PROGRAMS • HERALDS 

INDOOR & DRIVE-IN THEATRES 

THEATRICAL ADV. 

CO. 

24001 SOUTHFIELD ROAD 

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN 4t075 

lio»ard rhnia.s, I'liomas I ii[u Distribuluig 

Co.. iciunicd lo Kansas City last week 

after a trip lo .St. Louis to work on "Minx" 

Mary Hayslip left 

and other product . . . 

Thursday (9) for a trip lo Las Vegas with a 

Shnners" group. Mrs. Hayslip was due lo 

return lo the office Monday (13). 

Mrs. Chuc (Josephine) I'.ldcr, wife of 

Par.imounl Pictures' salesman, who has been 

in the hospital over a week now. underwent 

surgery Friday (10). We hope she soon will 

be fine and can return home before long. 

Bcv Miller, Mercury Films, was in Dcs 

Moines last week conferring with various 

Don Walker, Warner Bros, ex- 

circuits . . . 

ploiteer. was in Des Moines last week to 

set up an opening of "Woodstock." which 

opens there Thursday iM)) al the Capri The- 

•itre. 

Peggy Nichols, Columbia Pictures ledger 

clerk, has been transferred to the Dallas 

branch office. Peggy begins Monday (13) 

in the cashier department. She has been with 

Columbia Pictures here for two and a half 

years. 

Vern Watklns, Commonwealth Theatres 

film buyer, returned to work last week after 

spending several days in the hospital . . . 

Sherri Holt began working in the Commonwealth 

Theatres booking department last 

week. Sherri is new to the industry and is 

from Bonner Springs, Kas. 

Dick Conley, Fox Midwest Theatres district 

manager, is back at work after a hospital 

visit for a checkup . Fryer, 

Nevada, was in last week. His son Wayne 

now is out of military service and is managing 

the theatre. Wayne announced that 

the Trail Drive-In at Nevada opened Saturday 

(4). 

Bernie Evens, United Artists exploiteer, 

was in .St. Louis last week working on subrun 

breaks of "Midnight Cowboy" which 

opened Wednesday (8). and "Women in 

Love" . . . Doc Dean, out-of-town salesman 

for UA, was in Kansas City last week conferring 

with Ralph Amachcr. branch manager 

at the local office. 

R. C Kramer, operator of the Plaza Theatre. 

Greenfield, was the winner of $50 in 

the first quarter trailer "Cash In" drawing 

held by National Screen Service. Martin 

Stone, local exhibitor, drew the winning 

coupon. The next drawing for the contest, 

which runs for one year, will be held July 

1. 

Calvin Communications Co. is still making 

changes. In the near future, head offices 

and part of the sound department will be 

moving to the recently purchased building 

on Pershing Road . . . Connie Burr. Calvin 

Products, and her husband have returned 

from a trip to Bemidji. Minn., where they 

attended the funeral of Mrs. Burr's brotherin-law. 

He had lived here with his brother 

and Mrs. Burr . Davis. Calvin 

Products, is sunning in Arizona, although 

we are told her husband is there on a job. 

so he is mostly working. 

.\llied Artists screened "Liid ol the Road" 

Wednesday (S) at the Commonwealth 

screening room . at Comnionweallh. 

Avco I-nibassy screened "The Swimming 

Pool" Thursday (9) and MCiM screened 

"Brotherly Love" Friday (10). 

R

^^^^^^^^^^^B VIlj^H 

^^ 

W-i\

. . 

— 

ST . 

LOUIS 

piM-vNiKiimciilN oi Arthur Lnicrpriscs" theatre 

m.in.ii;i.Ts incluJc: Howard Harris, 

who moves from Ihe Shenandoah to the 

Maplewix>d Theatre; Robert Quinn. from the 

Maplewood to vacation and relief managing, 

and Bud Crane, from weekend management 

of the now-closed Rio Iheatre and relief 

management lo the Shenandoah Iheatre . . . 

Frank Stern, veteran staffer in .Arihur'.s accounting 

department, has returned to the 

department following a two-\ear absence in 

other employment. 

Joe Simpkin.om of the Chase-Park Plaza 

Hotel. Simpkins earned the award in recognition 

of "his outstanding service to the 

people of St. Louis and for his deep personal 

concern for Israel." Some of the charitable 

organizations, in addition to Variety, in 

which Simpkins has been prominently active, 

include: Jewish Federation, City of Hope. 

Dismas House. Jewish Hospital and Herbert 

Hoover Boys Club. 

Variet> Tent 4 presented a jumbo-sized 

check in keeping with the jumbo amount 

S72.500, representing a large portion of the 

proceeds of its recent telethon—to Father 

THE 

REED 

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Can be dropped or thrown from Car 

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New Improved and stronger "break-o-woy" Hanger 

Arm (easily replaced in field) minimizes damage 

fo Speaker Gise wlien run over. Junction heads. 

Also repair ports for other mokes, cords, theft 

resistont cobles, volume controls. New Cone/ 

Mechonisms, etc. Foctory re-monufocturirw of your 

old Cone/Mechonlsms. 

Write for brochure otkJ part3 catalog. 

REED SPEAKER CO. 

Box 732, Edgemont Branch 

Golden, Colo. 80401 

Areo code 303 238-6534 

WHY M OTION PiaURE SERVICE CO.? 

C-4 




• TRAILERFTTES • DATE STRIPS 

MOTION FIGURE SERVICE 

Ceroid I. Korski, Pre*. 

CO. 

125 Hyde St.. Son Fponcisco. Colif. 94102 

Robert P. Slattery, executive administrator 

of Our I ady of Grace Child Center, the 

club's annual gift for operating the "Variety 

Club Children's World," Tent 4's main project. 

The presentation was made by chief 

barker Leon Neuman and fund-raising chairman 

Joe Simpkins at a special luncheon at 

the center Friday (.?). In addition to the major 

gift, a specially designed Variety Club 

Sunshine Co.ich valued at more than $12,- 

000. for transporting wheel chair-bound 

youngsters, was presented to Dr, William 

Bradley, superintendent of the children's 

unit of Marshall State School and Hospital, 

Marshall. .More presentations will be made 

to screened applicants for children's aid until 

the entire proceeds ol the telethon Crusade 

for Forgotten Children have been allocated 

to best serve children's charities. 

Fans of Jack Benny, film star whose violin 

virtuosity is limited in some minds to his 

familiar rendition of "Love in Bloom," were 

treated to a pleasant surprise Saturday evening 

(11) at Powell Hall when Benny, as 

guest soloist appearing with the St. Louis 

S\mphony at a benefit performance, played 

Sarasate's Ziegunerweiscn and the first 

movement of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. 

Concert tickets were at 

regular prices, 

with donors paying premium prices invited 

to meet the star at a posh champagne supper 

in the Powell Hall foyer following the 

8:30 p.m. concert. 

Mrs. Pat G. O'Maley Dies; 

Patricia Ellis in Films 

KANSAS CITY—Mrs. Patricia Gene 

O'.Maley, a Kansas City housewife who appeared 

in more than 40 motion pictures under 

the screen name of Patricia Ellis from 

1932 to 1941. died of cancer March 26 at 

the Research .Medical Center at the age of 

49. Memorial services were held March 29 

at McGilley Midtown Chapel. The body was 

cremated. 

The former film star, who jokingly referred 

to herself as "queen of the B pictures 

for Warner Bros.." ended her acting career 

after her marriage in 1941 to George T. 

O'Maley, a Kansas Citian who met her when 

she was acting in "Louisiana Purchase" on 

Broadway. O'Maley is president of Protecton 

Security Systems, Inc., a subsidiaiy of 

Interstate 

Securities. 

Among leading men she co-starred with 

in films were George .Arliss. Joe E. Brown, 

Douglas Fairbanks jr.. Dick Powell and 

William Demarest. She was usually cast as 

the ingenue in films such as "The St. Louis 

Kid," "King's Vacation," "Romance on the 

Run" and "Melody for Two." In 1932 she 

became a "WAMP.AS Baby Star." 

In addition to her husband she leaves a 

daughter Molly, 21, a student at the University 

of Missouri—Kansas Citv: a brother 

Eugene G. O'Brien jr., Detroit, and a sister, 

.Mrs. Volney F. Morin. Hollywood. 

"Welcome to the Club" features Brian 

Foley and Marsha Hunt for Columbia. 

Rivoli Theatre Updating 

Is Nearing Completion 

From North Central Edition 

HASTINGS, NEB.—A complete remodeling 

of the lobby and foyer of the Rivoli 

Theatre is under way and will be completed 

in Ihe near future, according to ownerni.inager 

Fred Teller. 1 he theatre is remaining 

open during the construction work by 

Hupf and Hahn, Stewart Plumbing and 

ABC Electric. 

The theatre doors, formerly recessed, are 

being moved to the sidewalk and the boxoffice 

is being relocated in the outer lobby. 

A new concession stand will be built and 

there will be a lobby art gallery, as well as 

a waterfall and planter area. 

There will be a new rest area in the foyer, 

doors are being installed at the opening of 

each aisle and the stairway to the basement 

will be closed off. New carpeting is being 

laid in the lobby and foyer and restrooms 

are entirely new. 

"We believe this will make the Rivoli one 

of the outstanding theatres in the state." 

Teller said. 

Youth-Operated Theatre 

Scheduled for Shuttering 

COLFAX. ILL.—The Octavia Theatre, 

organized and operated under the Octavia 

Youth Foundation for the past two seasons, 

will close after Sunday (26). Further increases 

in costs and decline in attendance 

have forced this decision. 

The situation has occurred in spite of the 

fact that the theatre has been playing the 

best films it can buy. Recent features have 

included "True Grit." ".A Time for Killing," 

"The Maltese Bippy," "The Extraordinai^ 

Seaman" and "The Guns of the Magnificent 

Seven." 

Donations of money by local businessmen 

and help by young people during the past 

two years have been appreciated, as has 

advertising donated by Al Boyce and the 

cooperation of the Colfax Press, 

Keen Heads Sioux Falls 

Cinemas for Midcontinent 

From North Central Edition 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—William Keen, 47, 

a veteran of 15 years in the theatre business, 

has been named city manager by the Falls 

Midcontinent Theatre Co., succeeding AIdagc 

Prevost. 

Midcontinent has three theatres in Sioux 

Falls: The Hollywood, Cinema and K-Cinema. 

As city manager. Keen will be in charge 

of these showhouses. He came here from 

Marion. Ind.. and over the years has managed 

theatres in Hillsboro. Mount Carmel 

and Springfield. 111. Mrs. Keen will join 

him as soon as suitable housing is found. 

Florissant Cinema Opens 

"FLORISSANT. MO. — Anhur Enterprises' 

Cross Keys Cinema in Cross Keys 

Shopping Center, Highway 140 and New 

Halls Ferry Road, opened to Ihe public 

Wednesday, March 18. iManager of the theatre 

is Roger Abeln. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 13, 1970

Not just 


...but 


With such Century innovations as CINE-FOCUS'?, double 

dissolving shutters and our UVIR-2? band pass light 





Vision. 




















proven best by actual test I 




Mid-Continent Theatre Supply Corp. 

1800 Wyondotte Street 

Kansas City, Missouri, 64108 

Phone; (816) 221-0480 

Abbott Theatre Equipment Co., Inc. 

1309 South Wobosh Avenue 

Chicago, Illinois 60605 


Indianans Feel Powerless to Oppose 

'Adult' Films Under Court Rulings 

PI MNFIFl.D. IND — •Somclhing ol a 

war ma\ be in (he offinj: hut so far town 

have any ordinance against it. know 

. . . 

. . . instead of all these . . . liberals,' Lind 

RECTIFIER SUPPLIES 

adult than what most neighborhood theatres 

1 I 

don't have the legal mind it would lake to 

offJL'ials arc taking a waii-and-scc attitude make an ordinance that wouldn't end up 

toward the new t\pe of fihn fare being oflercd 

being a w.istc ol lime if ii went to court.' 

h> the Cinema-West Theatre." writes he said. 

sJaff reporter Norm Bess of the Indianapolis "Nothing can be done, Lind said, until 

News in connection with the "fine art" offerings 

the high court stops protecting obscenity 

of the Cinema-West. 

"by using the word "freedom" to cover al- 

"The bared bosom has shown up on the most anything' a person inighl want to do 

screen and the town hasn't buzzed this or sec. 

way since those teachers wore arm bands " "What we really need is a conservative 

at the high school as a war protest. The 

theatre, on busy U..S. 40 in the heart of added. 

downtown, reopened two weekends ago after 

"Toon said. 'We've told the people we'll 

being closed for remodeling. The movie try to help them in any way we can. But, 

house, formerly called the Prewitt. had operated 

about all we can do right now is just hope 

as an inoffensive, poorly attended it will go out of business through lack of 

family-type movie house. 

attention.' 

"But when it reopened, ihc m.irqucc ".At one showing last weekend—the place 

shouted "Fine .Arts for .Adults Only" and a is open only on weekends—there were only 

whole new thing in film entertainment had seven persons in the audience. And. a couple 

arrived in Plainficld. a community maybe of them may have been Plainfield policemen 

more religious than most. A sizeable delegation 

who have been asked by the town board to 

of townspeople showed up at the literally 'keep an eye on things.' Toon also 

town board meeting the other night wondering 

questioned the wisdom of opening 'such a 

if the town fathers could do anything. place' in Plainfield 'when people who want 

.Apparently they can't, said town board that sort of thing' are only a ten-minute 

president Herod Toon. Melvin Lind of Danville, 

the town attorney, is of the same opin- 

on U.S. 40 on Indianapolis' west side. 

drive away from the very adult Art Theatre 

ion. 

"The Crosby Corp.. which operates the 

"Lind said it would be virtually impossible 

Art Theatre, also operates the theatre here 

in view of Supreme Court rulings on and the Village Cinema at Brownsburg. 

what is obscene—almost nothing—to draft which also reopened recently after remodeling 

with what is billed as 'fine arts films.' 

an ordinance against such films that would 

stand up in court. 'I know they show similar "Boh Hearly. a spokesman for Crosby 

films over in .Marion County that show the Corp.. indicated there is a difference between 

the "art film' per se and the 'fine arts 

most lewd stuff imaginable but they don't 

film' where the viewer doesn't 'se' as much. 

" 'Some of these movies have been shown 

on TV and that isn't what 

^^^mz^=^ 

I would consider 

an art movie. We might play some R-rated 

Lee ARTOE 

movies once in a while but everyone does 

that.' He indicated the films will be more 

POWER 

show but not quite up to what the pure art 

theatre patron demands for his money. 

"Hearly said he didn't think either Plain- 

Start BOXOFFICE coming . . 

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THEATRE 

STREET 

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^°^N STATE IIziPNOrZII 

NAME 

POSITION 

BoXOffice — THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

lield or Brownsburg "was ready for anything 

like' pure art. 

"Taven Sims, owner ol the Talsad Advertising 

Agency. Indianapolis, that handles 

.ids for the theatres, said many of the films 

are European and can be purchased cheaply. 

Some are in a foreign tongue with English 

subtitles. He said he hadn't seen the 

films but he didn't ihink there were any 

nude scenes in them. 

"But. a reviewer of last weekend's offerings 

lor the Plainfield newspaper wrote that 

the coming attractions for this weekend 

showed 'half-nude women in love scenes unlike 

anything ever shown in the downtown 

area.' 

"Police Chief Lee Miller is philosophical 

about the new theatre. "I don't think we 

have too much to worry about. They've only 

had five or six people in there at a time. The 

first night there were six people in the audience 

and three of them were policemen.' 

"Miller was one of the first-nighters. He 

said there were no nude scenes. 'I didn't 

consider it obscene but I understand that 

they are getting progressively more bold 

on what they show. Don't get me wrong 

now. I don't condone it. I'm just not going 

to get excited. As you know, there is nothing 

we can do about it anyway because of 

the Supreme Court rulings.' 

BBB Survey Explores 

Attitudes on Pornography 

FORT WAYNE. IND.—The Fort Wayne 

Better Business Bureau decided to make a 

survey of public opinion regarding pornography 

and conducted its telephone calls between 

6 and 9 p.m. on a recent Monday and 

Tuesday. A total of 978 calls were made and 

of these. 476 persons gave responses, including 

187 males and 289 females. What did 

they find out from this study? 

Of the 476 respondents who cooperated, 

367 or 88 per cent said they did not think 

residents of Fort Wayne would tolerate or 

permit the sale of obscene or pornographic 

literature in local retail stores. 

Approximately the same number (376) 

the sale of pornography should 

said they felt 

not be legalized. The survey also sought to 

determine the extent in volume of "pandering 

advertisements" sent through the mail 

and to learn what percentage of the local 

citizenry knew how to get it stopped. 

They learned that 17 per cent of the respondents 

had received matter through the 

mail which they considered to be obscene. 

However, a large number did not know they 

could cooperate with the post office to halt 

such mailings. 

Kelly Upped by Prisma 

OLNEY. ILL.— Pat Kelly, a native of 

Mexico. Mo., has been appointed manager 

of the local Frisina theatres, succeeding Bill 

King. Pat has been with Frisina for a number 

of years and has managed theatres for 

the circuit in Mount Carmel, Hillsboro and 

Taylorville before coming to OIney. He and 

his wife Bonnie Jo have found housing in 

Noble. 

" 

C-6 


Family Films Available 

If Families Will Attend 

CHICAGO — Underscoring one of the 

problems confronting some theatre managers, 

Lerner Newspapers staffer Larry Blasko 

reported the difficulties encountered by 

Pat Ricciardi, owner of the Admiral Theatre, 

3936-42 West Lawrence Ave., Chicago, 

as 

follows: 

"Last August, the Admiral Theatre. Lawrence 

and Pulaski, remodeled and opened 

as a 'family" theatre. For five months thereafter, 

it lost its shirt. Now the Admiral Theatre 

runs films in which the actors and actresses 

lose their shirts—and a great deal 

else—and is out of debt. And that, according 

to Pat Ricciardi, is the paradox of the 

times. 

"The neighbors and local civic groups 

have been loudly protesting that the theatre 

is running nothing but (exploitation pictures) 

and have been demanding to have it 

run 'family entertainment.' 

"Ricciardi said he'd love to run family 

entertainment, if only families would haul 

themselves to the theatre to be entertained. 

Besides, he said, Tm tired of people telling 

me what to do, what to eat, what to wear 

and what to see.' 

"Ricciardi said that the people who now 

patronize his theatre are not degenerates, 

as according to the Victorian myth, but business 

types and neighborhood people. 

"He said that his theatre is showing nothing 

that isn't shown elsewhere in Chicago 

and he adds that now that he caters to the 

adults-only crowd, he no longer must repair 

50 or so slashed seats a week or scrub 

pornographic graffiti off the washroom 

walls. 

"However, Ricciardi said he's going to 

give the neighborhood one more try at the 

request of Aid. Anthony Laurino (39th). Beginning 

in April, he's going to try to borrow 

the money necessary to book such family 

films as 'Cactus Flower." 'Funny Girl,' 'Oliver!' 

and the rest. 

"Then, he said, he'll know if the families 

will 

patronize family entertainment." 

Addison Board Gives OK 

For Theatre Construction 

ADDISON, ILL.—The village board has 

cleared the way for the construction of a 

movie theatre on Lake Street by passing an 

ordinance providing for the rezoning of the 

property for such use. In approving the site. 

the board agreed that the new theatre was 

sorely needy for the village and should be 

built as quickly as possible. 

Gust Fredrickson is planning to build a 

theatre-office complex and allow a Florida 

firm to handle the operation of the movie. 

Wrile 

m\hm 

lor detail' 

1325 S. WABASH 

CHICAGO 60505 

fte tHillf 

illllfiiS 

Smart Showmen Are Using 

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CHICAGO 

^he Lake Thealrc in suburban Oak Park, 

with the sponsorship of the local chamber 

of commerce and other area civic 

groups, is presenting children's movies free 

of charge every Saturday morning. 

. . . Oscar 

The 17 theatres here which participated 

in the showing of the Dr. Martin Luther 

King jr. film grossed .$150,000 

Brotman proudly announced that the Brotman 

and Sherman theatres, all six of them, 

grossed $49,885. 

"2001: A Space Odyssey" is having a return 

at the Cinestage, the Edens 2 and the 

UA Cinema 150. All three theatres are 

equipped with the best six-track magnetic 

stereophonic sound in the country. 

Jack Eckhardt, division manager for Cinemation 

Industries, 203 N. Wabash, is working 

on the opening of "Female Animal" in 

the metropolitan area. The movie just concluded 

a first successful run at the Michael 

Todd Theatre in the Loop. It was fortunate 

for Jack that he had business here to keep 

him from doing his usual commuting in 

the Midwest. He was paid a visit by five 

grandchildren, as well as his brother Bill 

Eckhardt, unit manager for 20th Century- 

Fox. 

Downtown movie houses made a concerted 

effort to fit in Eastertime film fare of a 

varied nature. The result is that the Chicago 

Theatre is featuring "The Adventurers""; 

"M*A*S*H"' is at the United Artists; "Airport" 

at the Oriental; "Patton" at the Bismarck; 

"The Liberation of L. B. Jones" at 

the Roosevelt; "Halls of Anger" at the 

Woods, and "The Honeymoon Killers" at 

the McVickers. The current big grosser, 

"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" continues 

at a lively clip at the State Lake Theatre. 

Northbrook's No. 1 booster of sports for 

WRITE- 

The Exhibitor Has His Say 

TO: 

BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd.. 

Title 

Comment 

Days of Week Played 

Exhibitor 

Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

youngsters is ABC-Great States vice-president 

Ray Fox, whose son John was just 

named outstanding player of the Northbrook 

team. John has 90 hockey games to 

his credit. With teammates. John went to 

the U.S. national tournament playoffs in 

Portland. Ore., March 27-29. 

Jack Clark, president of NATO of Illinois, 

announced that the first shipment of the 

annual exhibitors" booking book is due to 

be in the mail in April, assuming the printer 

keeps his promises. 

Paramount publicist Bill Schaefer said, 

with fingers crossed and bated breath, they 

set up a multiple-run booking of "True 

. . . 

Grit" for Friday (10). The 40 theatres participating 

joined Paramount Picture people 

in assuming John Wayne would be a winner 

when the Academy Awards were presented 

Schaefer and Ed Seguin, advertising 

and publicity director for ABC-Great States, 

already are submerged in campaign plans 

for Paramount's big summer release, "Catch 

22." It will open at the United Artists Theatre 

in the Loop in late June. 

Joe Kennedy, Bob Stockmar and Art Ro- 

.senthal of United Artists are "touring" the 

Kerasotes circuit to wrap up all the Kerasotas 

theatres in connection with the United 

Artists Week Playdate Drive. It is hoped 

that every one of the important Kerasotes 

screens will be showing a UA film diiring 

the drive period, June 28-July 11. 

Charles 'VVolk and his children took advantage 

of the final winter weeks by going 

to Sun Valley for one of their favorite 

sports—skiing . . . "Women in Love" opens 

(Continued on next page) 

MM gM MM 

mW#l 

YOUR REPORT OF THE PICTURE YOU 

HAVE JUST PLAYED FOR THE 

GUIDANCE OF FELLOW EXHIBITORS. 

Company 

Theatre 

Service 




1322 South Wabasn Avenue 

Chicago, III. 60605 

Phone: (312) 922-0679 

Theatre 

Weather. 

— Right Now 


CHICAGO 

(Coniiniicd Ironi preceding page) 

for a first run at the UA Cinema 150 and 

the Fdcns 2 Wednesday (15) , . . Herman 

joined Dare Enterprises . . . 

George Levitt, Continental Distributing 

branch manager here, returned from reserve 

duty in the Army . 

20th Century-Fox publicist, is 

Gordon. 

vacationing 

in the \irgin Islands. 

Sam kupluii. head of Continental Distributing 

m this area, was in Detroit where theatres 

are opening with An Hlephant Called 

Slowly" and "Hero Killers" . . . National 

General Pictures publicist John Butkovich 

I 

NEWS... 

White it's 

HOLLYWOOD 

NEW YORK 

Hot! 

WASHINGTON 

and 

ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN 

^, 

Youyi Relish the 

Style in 

It Is 

Which 

Served 

Every Week in 

BOXOFFICE 

Nationally Extensht , . . 

. . . Locally Intemhe 

J 

arranged for preview screenings of "A Man 

Called Horse" at the McVickers Theatre. 

He was joined by Sanford Howard, producer, 

and Clyde Dollar, historian on Sioux 

Indian culture. Special guests inckKlcd 700 

members of the Inter-Collegiatc Broadcasting 

Systems, who were in town for a con- 

\ention. 

George Dmcker. a member of the Variety 

Club ol Illinois and owner of the Wax Museum 

in Old Town, returned from Tokyo 

where he opened a museum in the Tokyo 

Tower. The highlight of Drucker's trip to 

Japan was his marriage there to Vicki Crawford. 

They were wed atop the Tokyo observation 

tower by a Shinto priest in typical 

Japanese tradition. They even wore Japanese 

garb. 

Bill nubin.skv's River Lane Drive-In reopened 

for the 1970 season Friday (10). 

Joan Braver. H&E Balaban secretary, was 

welcomed back at work following her accident. 

The cast on her foot will be part of 

her wearing apparel for a few more weeks 

... As a gimmick in connection with the 

showing of "Cherry, Harry & Raquel" at 

their Loop theatres, Oscar Brotman and 

Leonard Sherman are servicing all Loop 

restaurants with cocktail napkins as a reminder 

of the movie. 

Condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Dave Schatz 

on the death of Mrs. Schatz" sister Mrs. N. 

Tanenbaum. 

Kermif Russell is now devoting all his 

time to UM Film Distributors activities . . . 

Allan Press and Andrew Arliskis of Avco 

Embassy spent a few days in Springfield 

setting up opening dates for "The Swimming 

Pool" and "Monique" in Kerasotes 

Brotman and Sherman have 

Theatres . . . 

remodeled their Tivoli Theatre in suburban 

Downers Grove. The entire floor has been 

replaced and brand new seats have been installed. 

They also have started to remodel 

their Lake Shore Theatre. An area for serving 

free coffee is involved in the plans. 

Chicago Used Chair Mart, headed by 

Dave Schatz. installed 1.200 Heywood- 

Wakefield chairs in the Marshall .Square 

Theatre, where John Rossen is manager. 

Theatres playing "All the Loving Couples" 

have been sending in very enthusiastic 

reports about especially good grosses. Of 

the 30 theatres involved in the multiple 

booking, 15 said they are holding the movie 

over for another two to three weeks. Meanwhile, 

five additional theatres have booked 

the film, according to Kermit Russell of 

UM Film Distributors. Kermit had more 

good news when he received nice business 

reports from theatres showing "Last of the 

Ski Bums" and "The Best of Laurel and 

Hardy." 

The Women's Variety Onb is set for a 

sixth casino party, "A Night at Lake Tahoe," 

Friday (17). Barkers from Tent 26 

are again assisting the ladies in this benefit. 

Mrs. Lester Grand and chief barker Bill 

Margolis head an 18 member committee 

made up of Joan Bourdcaux, president of 

the women's group. Jerry Lipow. Herb 

Kraus. Herb and Linda Martinez. Bea and 

Carl Russo. Penny Mandusich, Joe Rehak. 

Barbara and Cieorgc Regan. Andy Nickols. 

Bob Gedman. Henry Pliit. Jack Greenberg, 

Henri Bourdcaux and Hank Markbreit. 

Monies will go to the Variety Club Research 

Center at La Rabida Hospital. 

W'ally Heim, Midwest supervisor of advertising 

and publicity for United Artists 

Corp.. hosted a screening of "Halls of 

Anger." 

Vic Bernstein and his staff at American 

International Pictures sighed with relief and 

took deserved bows for making good on 

providing prints to .^0 Chicagohuul theatres 

which had booked "Scream and Scream 

Again." With difficulties posed by the big 

snowstorm, the drastic cut in airline services, 

as well as the postal strike which 

lasted here for several days, AIP people 

came through for the scheduled opening 

dates. 

Variety Club of Illinois took a block of 

100 tickets for Tent 26 members to attend 

the opening baseball game between the Chicago 

Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies 

Tuesday (14). Andy Nichols of H&E Balaban 

has details for procuring tickets. 

Henry Plitt and Robert Flannery are honorary 

chairmen of the Edwin Silverman 

memorial fund. The fund will be turned 

over to La Rabida Sanitarium. 

Bene Stein is the new chairman of the 

1970 theatre collection drive. This post formerly 

has been held by Ralph Smitha, managing 

director of the Essaness organization. 

Smitha's activities have reached such proportions 

that he was compelled to relinquish 

the job this year. 

Select Films, headed in this area by Sam 

Seplowin. has moved to Suite 306. 32 W. 

Randolph St. 

Milton Siegal and Morris Thacker, who 

were members of Local 110, died. 

The World Playhouse has been doing 

booming business with "Coming Apart," 

the first movie produced by Dan Davis. 

Get-well wishes will be welcomed by Belle 

(Mrs. Irving) Mack, recuperating at home 

. . . Also, get-well wishes to Sadie (Mrs. 

Sam) Palais, who was reported to be progressing 

nicely at St. Luke's Hospital. She, 

too, might be home at this time. 

Ozoner Expansion Planned 

MERRILLVILLE, ILL. — The Y&W 

Drive-In on South Broadway reportedly will 

be expanded. Planned is a new "satellite" 

theatre—a screen and parking space for 800 

autos—in an area separate from but adjoining 

the older drive-in, 

1.200 cars. 

which accommodates 

The novel "When the War Is Over" will 

be brought to the screen by Marshal] Backlar 

and Leo Rost for Columbia. 

i 

C-8 


Albert Weis Building 

Theatre in Atlanta 

ATLANTA — Filmrow exchanges have 

been notified by the Savannah-based Weis 

Theatres that the circuit is constructing a 

475-seat de luxe film playhouse in Atlanta's 

Broadview Shopping Center on Piedmont 

Road. The new theatre, to be named the 

Broadview, is to have an entrance fronting 

on the shopping center's vast parking area 

but the auditorium proper will occupy square 

footage that formerly housed the King Department 

Store. 

May 27 has been announced as the Broadview's 

opening date by Sidney Katz, managing 

director for Weis in Atlanta. 

The Broadview will be the circuit's fourth 

theatre in this metropolitan area. Last week, 

it was announced that the circuit had purchased 

the 900-seat Peachtree Art Theatre 

from pioneer art exhibitor Melvin Brown. 

Katz said that Weis will take over the Peachtree 

July I and will remodel and refurbish it 

and change the name to Colony Cinema hefore 

it reopens. 

Weis" first theatre investment in Atlanta 

came Aug. 1. 1968. when the circuit purchased 

the 900-seat Capri Cinema and 400- 

seat Fine Art Cinema located in the Buckhead 

section, a suburb of Atlanta, from 

John and Ruth Carter. 

President of the Weis circuit is Albert 

founder of the organi- 

Weis, son of the late 

zation. Weis also has seven theatres in Savannah 

and several others in Georgia, including 

one of the state's finest drive-in 

locations in Macon. 

NSS Atlanta First Prize 

Goes to David V. Gould 

ATLANTA—David V. Gould, a projectionist 

at the Sewart Air Force Base Theatre 

No. 1 at Smyrna, Tenn., won the .S50 first 

prize offered in the first quarter of the National 

Screen Service Trailer Cash-In Contest 

for accounts in the Atlanta trade territory. 

Briefly, the concept of the ""Trailer Failer 

Campaign" is to focus attention on the importance 

of having the exhibitor return NSS 

trailers immediately after using them. 

The drawing was held in the office of 

Stewart D. Harnell, NSS branch manager, 

who enlisted the aid of E. E. Whitaker, 

vice-president in charge of operations for 

the Georgia Theatre Co., who drew the coupon 

bearing Gould's name. The coupon 

covered the trailer for "My Side of the 

Mountain." 

All exhibitors using NSS film trailers supplied 

by the company are eligible to compete, 

using an official entry coupon supplied with 

each film trailer furnished by NSS to the 

exhibitor. This coupon is to be filled out by 

the manager or projectionist and enclosed in 

the film trailer container when the trailer is 

returned to the local NSS branch serving the 

theatre. 

"National Screen is willing to spend a 

great deal of money to demonstrate the importance 

of returning trailers and has hit 

Wally Kemp, Dr, Foy Lisenby to Be 

Main Speakers at Arkansas Conclave 

HOT SPRINGS, ARK.—Addresses by 

W. R. ""Wally" Kemp and Dr. Foy Lisenby 

of the State College of Arkansas will feature 

business sessions of the 51st annual NATO 

of Arkansas convention to be held here at 

the Majestic Hotel May 4-6. 

Kemp is to be the guest speaker on ""Employees 

and Employee Relations"' at Tuesday, 

May 5, luncheon. Doctor Lisenby will 

be heard at the Wednesday, May 6, breakfast 

as he discusses "Talk Movies Up." 

Convention activities open Monday, May 

4, with a tournament starting at 10 a.m. at 

the Belvadere Golf Club. Registration for 

convention follows at noon at the hotel and 

upon the idea of the "Trailer Failer Campaign," 

" Harnell explained. ""It gives exhibitors 

a chance to win prizes every 13 

weeks and an opportunity to vie for $10,000 

in cash and prizes to be awarded in 1970 for 

merely being prompt in the return of trailers." 

All other entries in Atlanta's first quarter 

contest will be forwarded to the NSS home 

office in New York, where they will be 

eligible for the grand prizes: first, a compact 

travel trailer sleeping four persons or $1,000 

cash; second prize, $500 in cash; third prize, 

$250 in cash. 

Samuel Kipnis Gives Up 

On Dupont Plaza Cinema 

MIAMI— Because the public stayed away 

in droves from the 180-seat Dupont Plaza 

Cinema, Samuel Kipnis, 83. has closed it for 

third and final time. He admitted that his 

""wholesome family entertainment"—everything 

from W.C. Fields to the Bolshoi Ballet— 

just didn't catch on. 

He says he feels "terrible" about it but 

people ""just don't want to see that kind of 

films any more." He took an ad in local 

newspapers to announce his decision to close 

his theatre with ""Tonight We Sing."" 

Kipnis, who came to this country from 

Russia penniless in 1903, built up a fortune 

with a corrugated . paper manufacturing 

business. He owns a library of 400 films 

ranging back to the 1930s, from 15-minute 

quickies to two-hour extravaganzas. He has 

40 Laurel and Hardy films and his most 

recent importation was Russia"s ""Ivan the 

Terrible."" 

He charged $1 admission to the Cinema. 

passing the money along to the Variety Children's 

Hospital, the project of Variety Tent 

33 of Miami. Noted for his generosity. Kipnis 

is said to have given away about $200.- 

000 from his vast fortune. 

On some days his movies were shown to 

as few as five patrons; sometimes he sat 

alone in the theatre to watch. He says he 

may look for a theatre in another area and 

perhaps take over an adult movie house 

and convert it. 

Monday's events will be concluded with a 

twilight barbecue and country music hoedown 

at the Majestic Lodge on Lake Hamilton. 

In addition to the Tuesday luncheon fcaiiiring 

Kemp's speech, the day's program 

includes dinner that evening at the Majestic 

and a fun and entertainment session. 

Members pay $10 per couple or $7.50 

single for the convention registration fees, 

while the prices for nonmembers are $15 for 

men and $10 for women. 

Don Novak of the Maico Twin Cinema, 

Jonesboro, is publicity chairman for the 

NATO of Arkansas convention. 

Film Obscenity Law 

Passed in Memphis 

MEMPHIS—After a year of hearings and 

investigations, the city council passed into 

law on final reading an ordinance designed 

to protect those under 18 years of age from 

viewing obscenity on Memphis theatre 

screens. 

The vote was 11-0. with two council 

members absent. 

Seventeen theatres agreed to show films 

in advance of openings to the Memphis 

Board of Review. If three members of the 

five-member board think the film should 

not be seen by patrons under 18, the theatre 

manager is to be notified. If the manager 

disagrees with the board"s majority 

opinion and proceeds with public showing 

of the film, the board has powers to seek 

a court injunction. 

Attorneys pointed out that any citizen 

has the right to seek an injunction against 

the showing of a film but the city council 

felt the Board of Review would be continually 

alert for obscenity in films. 

The ordinance permits married couples 

to see any R or X-rated films providing one 

of the married partners is over 18. 

The board says it will try to preview 

most M pictures, since patrons under IS 

years of age aren't admitted to see X or R 

pictures 

anyway. 

Franklin, Tenn., House 

Undergoing Renovation 

FRANKLIN, TENN.—A complete renovation 

is under way on the Franklin Theatre, 

closed March 15 for a minimum of two 

months to allow workmen ample time to 

make all the needed installations and changeovers. 

New seats, carpets, drapes, screen and 

booth equipment are being installed in addition 

to enlargement of the auditorium. A 

new lobby, with new concessions and boxoffice 

facilities, and a new marquee also are 

parts of an updating program being supervised 

bv manager Harold Weldon. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 SE-1

ATLANTA 

p"!" Sniiih, \\ .irncr Bros. Soiithc;istern field 

rcproscni.itivc. returned from the Miami 

area after p.iriicip.iting in the premiere 

of AVoodstock" ai Florida State Theatres' 

Coral Theatre in Coral Gables. Also on hand 

to assist was Paul B. Ross of WB's New 

York headvjuarters publicity staff. Smith and 

Ross worked with Coral manager Pat Sangell. 

FST's advertising and publicity director 

Harry Margolesky and division manager 

Cecil .McCilohan. "Woodstock." a threehour 

fihn, is being presented at the Coral at 

S3. 50 and S4 on a grind policy. 

.Vtlanla's new Film Building on Spring 

Street, jusi a stone's throw from Filnirow. is 

getting a I lock of new tenants. Leading the 

parade was Specialty Film Service, followed 

bv Craddock Films, whose president Gordon 

Craddock is one of the partners in the 

building. N. G. "Buddy" Ashurst, who is 

married to one of Gordon and Marilyn 

Craddock's daughters, is superintendent of 

the eight-story building. Among the new 

tenants and others who will move in during 

the next .^0 days are R. C. Cobb Booking 

offices, 

Leonard Allen, freelance advertising 

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and public relations representative. Modular 

Cinemas of America; WOMPI president 

Esther Osley's Exhibitors Service Co., E. 

William .Andrew's Southern Independent 

Ihealies .Agency, Harry Clark f-ilni Releasing 

Co. and Jack Vaughan Production.s. 

Shirley Jones, screen and stage star and 

now the star of ABC-TVs "The Partridge 

Family," was a special guesi at the 1970 

Education Funds kickoff breakfast for the 

American Cancer Society. Fulton and Dc- 

Kalb county units, Wednesday (1) at the 

Royal Coach Inn. Miss Jones shared honors 

with the 

featured speaker. A. Hamilton l.etl.in. 

M. D. 

Ihomas A. Vort jr., chief doorman at 

Martin's 1.2()()-scat downtown Riallo Theatre, 

has been promoted to assistant to managing 

director Burcn A. Eidson. 

Mrs. Susan Jones Bryant, who has many 

friends on Filnirow from the days when she 

was associated with United Artists. Columbia 

and Warner Bros., became the mother of 

a second son. The new arrival has been 

named Robert Michael. 

Sle\e Cucich, Southeastern ficldman for 

Paramount, returned from Memphis, where 

he conferred with Tom Donahue, Paramount 

exchange manager; Elton Holland, 

.Malco Theatre's city manager, and Watson 

Davis, Malco advertising manager, about 

the forthcoming engagement of Paramount's 

"The Lawyer." 

Milt Lett, manager of Rice Broadcasting 

Co.'s WJRJ-TV. independent UHF station, 

hosted a luncheon honoring Atlanta Filmrow 

field representatives and other clients in 

the station's conference room. Among those 

present were Ralph During, 20th Century- 

Fox: Tom Smith, Warner Bros.; Sam Hart, 

American international; Steve Cucich, Paramount: 

Michael di Gaetano, Cineraina Releasing; 

Jerry Martin, MGM; Jim Edwards, 

vice-president and advertising director. 

Storey Theatres: Steve Buck, managing director, 

Walter Reade's Atlanta: George 

Shep. manager of Eastern Federal Corp.'s 

Coronet, and Ann Smiley, president of the 

IMP Ad Agency. Cucich won a Polaroid 

225 Land Camera kit in the drawing at the 

luncheon. 

Trade and press screenings at Columbia's 

. . . 

Filnirow Playhouse: "Tarzan's Deadly Silence," 

National General Pictures; "The Adventurers," 

Paramount; "Cycle Savages," 

.American International, and "Venus in 

Furs," Commonwealth The Atlanta 

Film Building screening room unreeled: 

"Miss Jessica Is Pregnant," distributed by 

Jack Vaughan Productions; "Trader Hornee," 

Jaco Productions; "Unfaithful Wife," 

.Allied Artists, "Love Me Like I Do," SpecialiN 

Film Service. 

Siclt List: Mrs. J.ick Rigg, wife of the 

president of Specialty lilm .Service, is undergoing 

tests at St. Joseph's Infirmary; Frank 

Lowry, United Artists salesman, is having 

tests in DeK;ilb General Hospital; R. M. 

Kennedy, Birmingham theatre operator, is a 

patient in thai city's University Hospital: 

Charles Crute, who owns and operates the 

Madison and Lyric indoor theatres and the 

Whileburg Drive-in at Hunlsville. Ala., is 

undergoing treatment in that city's Crestwooii 

Hospital. 

VMiliani Heineman, retired sales executive 

of United Artists, has acquired the U.S. and 

Canadian rights to Cannon's "Guess What 

We Learned in School Today?" The film, 

produced by David Gil and photographed, 

directed and edited by John Alvidsen from 

Eugene Price's original screenplay, will be 

distributed in this territory by Craddock 

Films. Heineman is the father of Marilyn 

Craddock of the distribution firm. 

Mrs. Joe Hewell Is Named 

Films Council President 

ATLANTA— Mrs. Joe J. Hewell was 

elected president of the Metropolitan Atlanta 

Better Films Council at its last ineeting, held 

the May meeting. 

Delegates to the national convention, to be 

at the Memorial Arts Center. 

Other new officers: Mrs. G. H. Brodnax 

lil, first vice-president; Mrs. W. E. Lewis, 

second vice-president: Mrs. T. C. Moseley, 

recording secretary; Mrs. K. E. Johnson, 

corresponding secretary; Mrs. M. D. 

Doenges, treasurer, and Mrs. Mike Carmichael. 

auditor. These officers will be installed 

at 

held in Detroit May 5-7, also were elected. 

They were Mrs. J. C. Horton and Mrs. Mike 

Carmichael, with immediate past president 

Mrs. Whitehead as an alternate. Former 

president Mrs. Helen Shell, who is secretary 

of the National Federation, also will attend 

the national convention. Other members of 

the Atlanta films council have signified intentions 

of going to the Motor City for the 

events. 

Preceding the election of officers, council 

members toured the High Museum of Art, 

dedicated to the memory of the 122 Georgians 

killed in the 1962 Orly Airfield crash on 

the outskirts of Paris. The council's own 

meeting, following the election of officers, 

was terminated abruptly by a fire drill held 

at the Memorial Arts Center. 

Columbia's "Loving" is a hard-hitting 

story of infidelity viewed from the inside 

of a modern marriage. 

in Georgio—Rliodes Sound & Projection Service, Sovannah—355-1321 

CARBONS, Inc. I— ' Box K, Cedar Knolls, N.J. 

^^ 

in Florida—Joe Homstein, Inc., 273 W. Flagler St, Miami, Fla. 

FRanklin 3-3502 

in Virginia—Perdue Motion Pictures, Roonoke—366-0295 

SE-2 BOXOFTICE :: April 13, 1970

\$- 

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CROSS 

ANEW 

THRESHOLD 

Horror House 

STARRING _ _ 

FRANKIE JILL DENNIS GEORGE jî^RK 

AVALON HAWORTH PRICE SEWELL wynter 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SCREENPLAY & DIRECTED BY MUSIC 

TONY TENSER 

• 

COLOR 

BY MOVttlAH 

A TIGON BRITISH FILM PRODUCTION ^. 

IVI ICHAEL ARMSTRONG REG TILSELY • m American international release «!

Lowery Boss of Year 

For Charlotte WOMPI 

(. M\Kl (,)! II 1 r.mk K>\m-i\ o\ the 

Carolin.i Bookini; Service v\as honorcJ .is 

•Boss i>i the ^c.ir" .11 ihc .innii.il WDMIM 

Bosses I iinche.m \\ednesil.i\. M.irch l.s. .ii 

Ihe Cily tliih. 

The avN.ird is presented to the lilni iiulustry 

employer who has been most cooperati\c 

in moral support of WOMPI activities and 

who has the highest individual merits as ;i 

bovs. l.owery's selection was in.ide by .1 

panel of local business and club women from 

nominees m.ide in letters submitted by 

WOMPI members. Ihe selection committee 

consisted of Mrs. Viola Belue. Altrusa and 

North Carolina Council of Women's Civic 

Organizations: Mrs. Margaret Williams, 

president of .Amity Business and Professional 

Women's Club, and Carole Gray, club 

editor of the Charlotte News. 

WO.MPI president Joan Brown presented 

l.owery with an engraved trophy which is 

awarded on a rotating basis. 

The theme of the luncheon was "This Is 

Your Life." Centering around Lowery, who 

was born under the sign of Gemini, the program 

included a thumbnail sketch of his life 

and \\ork in the film industry. Zodiac signs 

in gold and black were featured as decorations 

and the attributes of each sign were 

read, along with the names of WOMPI 

bosses born under that sign. Entertainment 

was by the Sweet Adelines quartet. 

Increasing Involvement 

Ahead for Coca-Cola Co. 

ATLANTA—J. 

Paul Austin, president of 

the Atlanta-based Coca Cola Co., revealed 

March 24 that his firm has "geared up. paid 

our admission dues and will stir up the 

pigeons" in solving pollution, education and 

nutritional problems. 

J. Paul .Austin told the Kcsurgens Atlanta 

Civic .Service Club that the time is past when 

American business can be "solely dedicated 

to making a buck but it also must have 

social consciousness." 

Austin termed it "paying social rent." 

Coca-Cola, he said, intends to gel into 

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private education at all levels as have other 

national private tirms. In addition, the soft 

drink lirm is testing a tasty nutritional drink 

m Brazil .md will market it first in India, he 

said. Ihe Indian postal office is the only 

agency or tirm that reaches more persons in 

India than di-es the Coca-Cola Co., Austin 

pointed oul. 

Finally, he told his listeners. Coca-Cola 

has finalized 

plans to purchase Aqua-Chem. 

a firm which is involved in manufacture of 

machinery to do away with and prevent 

water and air pollulioii. and his company is 

prepared to make signilicant contributions in 

this field. 

MIAMI 

^rthur Fiorman, presidcni of F&B/Ceco 

Industries. Carlstadt. N. J., spent several 

days here during the first week in April. 

Among items on his Miami business calendar 

were signing a lease for a new headquarters 

building for F&B/Ceco of Florida 

and signing a contract for a new film, starring 

Vincent Price and Mickey Rooney, to 

be made in Florida. Fiorman was to fly to 

Chicago Sunday (5) for the NAB Convention 

where SOS Photo-Cine-Optics and 

Bardwell & McAlister. divisions of the company, 

were exhibiting. Tuesday (7) he was to 

be in Los Angeles for opening of the new 

F&B'Ceco Editing Center and to be present 

at the first public demonstration of the Cecomobile. 

his company's "studio on wheels." 

Belle Barthe, an entertainer noted for 

salty humor, was honored by her PROPS 

show business pals Wednesday (I) at a 

luncheon show in the Bon Vivant Room of 

the Plaza Hotel. Proceeds of the luncheon 

went to the PROPS scholarships fund. 

The three-hour Warner Bros." documentary, 

"Woodstock," is under fire. A round of 

activities for the Miami world premiere was 

scrubbed after local authorities called the 

lilm "dirty" and banned the opening night 

program. Then someone, in the dead of 

night, propped a ladder against the outside 

wall of the Coral Theatre and swiped the 

6x9-fool sign for the Woodstock Festival 

movie. 

Footings and foundations for Wometco's 

new Patio Theatre are being poured and the 

house will be opened formally in November. 

It's at the rear of Wometco's 163rd .Street 

Shopping Center. Although the theatres are 

adjacent, they won't be operated as twins: 

e.ich will have its own lobby and entrance. 

As with each new theatre built, the Patio 

will feature improvements. For one thing, it 

will be pollution free. Its Xenon lamps. 

2.500 watts, will use no carbon arc. When 

carbon is used, fumes are drawn out of the 

proje;tion room and into the outside air. 

There will also be more room (about the 

width of a theatre aisle) between rows of 

seats than in most theatres. 

Bryan Boy, producer arriving from Acapulco, 

.Mexico, checked in at a local motel 

to study a story script. 

Two More Cines Open 

In North Carolina 

KANNAI'OI IS. N.C. — An automated 

Trans-Lux Inflight Cine theatre was opened 

here in the Zayre Shopping Center 

March 24 and another presented its initial 

screen program March 27 in the Spoon 

Plaza Shopping Center in Burlington. These 

atklilions bring to six the number of such 

.^.SO-seat Cines opened since mid-January, 

an average of a new theatre every 12 days. 

Two more Cines are to be opened in this 

state within the next two months, raising 

to seven the number which will be operating 

in North Carolina alone, 

Trans-Lux Corp. and Inflight Motion 

Pictures arc joint owners of the circuit. 

Eugene Picker, president of the Entertainment 

division of Trans-Lux, and David Flexer, 

president of Inflight, states that 1 I more 

Cines are in various stages of construction. 

Class Student Services 

Adds 8 Units to Circuit 

From Eastern Edition 

ROCKVILLE, MD. — Class Student 

Services. 414 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, 

through its wholly owned subsidiary. Holiday 

Theatres, has purchased a circuit of 

eight motion picture theatres in Florida. 

They include theatres in West Palm Beach. 

Riviera Beach. Homestead and a movie 

house under construction in the Midway 

Mall, a Miami shopping center. 

With this acquisition. Class' ownership of 

motion picture theatres is expanded to 11. 

The company previously purchased the 

three-theatre Dawson-Weinstock circuit in 

Pennsylvania. 

Daniel D. Richard, president of Class, 

said that the company plans eventually to 

establish leisure learning centers at the theatres 

to provide new sources of profits during 

daytime. 

Class recently acquired other companies 

in the leisure-time field, including Historic 

Tours. New York travel firm. It also has an 

agreement to purchase the White's Ferry 

Aqua Club on the Potomac River in Montgomery 

County. 

Lancaster. S.C.. 

Hyatt 

Open After Renovation 

LANCA.STER. S.C. — New carpeting. 

sound equipment and heating have been installed 

as part of the general renovation of 

the Parr Theatre, which has been reopened 

by owner James H. Hyatt as the Hyatt Cinema. 

One of the most attractive features of the 

updating is the new snack bar, which was 

pictured in the Lancaster News shortly before 

the theatre reopened with "The Computer 

Wore Tennis Shoes." 

TYLER, TEX.—Mrs. C. L. Merritt, formerly 

manager of the MacArthur Drive-In 

at Orange, is the new manager at Tyler's 

Apache Drive-In. Her husband also has 

transferred to the Apache as snack-bar manager 

with Ogden Foods. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13. 1970

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Charlotte, North Carolina 28208 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 

Joe Hornstein Inc. 

759 West Flagler St. 

Miami, Florida 33130 

Tri-State Theatre Supply Co. 

151 Vance Avenue 

Memphis, Tenn. 38103 

Phone: (901) 525-8249 

Hodges Theatre Supply Co., Inc. 

2927 Jackson 

New Orleons, La. 70125 

Wil-Kin Theatre Supply, Inc. 

301 North Avenue, N.E. 

Atlanta, Georgia 30308 

SE-5

JACKSONVILLE 

Mi-» hliKid hu.s been iiddvd lu the manajicruil 

r.lnk^ ol locil llorida State Theatres 

units, all at the as>iist;»nt-manat;er level, 

including Melvin Martin at the l-'loiida 

Ro.-king-Chair. Robert Moon at the Rogene\ 

RiK-king-

JOBS is breaking up 

that old gang of mine 

The old gang, guys who dropped out, got 

strung out, guys who hung out with no place 

to go but trouble. They went to work, thanks 

toJOBS. 

JOBS, that's Job Opportunities in the 

Business Sector. A program of the National 

Alliance of Businessmen. The gangs have 

started to die, the guys have started to live. 

JOBS has turned over 300,000 hard core 

unemployables into manpower. Given guys 

their first good break. Of course it isn't 

perfect. Of course it could be better. But 

it's working. 

The National Alliance of Businessmen was 

formed by American business communities 

to help solve the critical problem of hard core 

unemployment. Business provides the jobs and 

does the hiring and training. Government finds 

the people and pays the extraordinary training 

costs through special contracts. 

Funds forthe new JOBS '70 contracts are 

available right now. So, if you're an employer for 

a business or nonprofit organization, do 

yourself a favor. Call your local 

National Alliance of 

Businessmen. 

JOBS 

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advertising contributed for the public good 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 SE-7

. 

. . George 

. 

. 

— 

— 

— 

— 

MEMPHIS 

list hours botore it was scheduled to open, 

J 

the Danish film, "Without a Stitch" 

was prohibited by Criminal Judge Perr\ 

Sellers, who issued an injunction alter three 

slate prosecutors said the tilm was obscene. 

Manager Bill Kendall switched to "The 

Rape" at the Ciuild and business went on as 

usual. .'XtiorncNs for the theatre have appealed 

the "Stitch" ruling. 

Kdward P. Doheriy, partner in Exhibitors 

Ser\ices lor 2} years, no longer is associated 

with the comp.my. "I have disposed of my 

mleresi in this partnership with Grover 

\Sra\ to Charles .Vrcndall," Doherty said. 

.•\rendall will continue to operate the firm 

along with Wray. 

AVOMI'I nu-mbcrs have decided to help 

I adies of \ .irielv with their ruminage s.ilc. 

president Margaret Irby announced . . 

Lois Evans, chairman of the WOMPI nominating 

comniitice, announced these nominations 

for 1970-1971 officers: Mai Carper, 

Columbia, president: Catherine Gibson, 

Malco, first vice-president: I.urlene Carothers. 

United Artists, second vice-president: 

Martha Sappinglon, Malco. corresponding 

secretary; Biliie Long. Film Transit, recording 

secretary, and Betty Hall, Film Transit. 

treasurer. 

The Plaza had a packed auditorium. 

more than 1,100 orphans and other worthy 

children, for the screening of "A Boy Named 

Charlie Brown." Lurlene Carothers was 

WOMPI chairman for the event. 

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Automated Park Lane 

Makes Tulsa Debut 

TULSA—The Park Lane, this city's newest 

motion picture theatre, made its debut 

Friday, March 27, at 51st Street and Sheridan 

Road in the Park Lane Shopping Center 

with the showing of Richard Burton 

and Genevieve Bujold in "'Anne of the 

Thousand Days." 

Owned and operated by General Theator, 

which also owns the Circle Theatre at Admiral 

Place and Lewis Avenue, the Park 

Lane is unique among Tulsa theatres in that 

it has automated projection equipment. The 

new theatre replaces the Tulsa, which was 

displaced by urban renewal, and is being financed 

through the Small Business Administration 

benefit loan program. Interim financing, 

according to the Tulsa Daily World, 

is by the Guaranty National Bank. 

James McKenna, president and general 

manager of General Theator, said that cost 

of construction and equipment for the 896- 

seat theatre was $485,000. The lobby is constructed 

large enough to handle a full house 

of waiting customers while a full house is 

seated. Seats have three inches of padding 

on the back and, at the rear center, a row 

of seats was left out to provide room for 

wheel chair patrons. 

The concession stand is operated from 

three complex serving stations. The Park 

Lane has an indoor boxoffice and is designed 

to handle both roadshows and other 

long running films. Its automated projection 

equipment can show 35mm or 70mm 

films. The 65x25-foot screen is adapted by 

use of masking to accommodate a Todd-AO 

picture 56 feet wide, a CinemaScope picture 

48 feet wide or a regular widescreen picture 

37 feet wide. 

The Park Lane was designed by the Tulsa 

architectural .firm of Whiteside, Schultz & 

Chadsey and is constructed at the north end 

of the center, situated just west of Lum's. 

The shopping center is owned by Ed Cohen, 

Frank Moskowitz, a realtor, and George 

Wickersham, a contractor. Contractor for 

the theatre was Tulsa Builders. 

Danny Wolfenbargers Take 

Over Two Purcell Units 

PURCELL. OKLA.—Management of the 

Canadian Theatre and Sky Vue Drive-In was 

assumed Wednesday (1) by Mr. and Mrs. 

Danny Wolfenbarger, who have leased the 

projjerties from Levi Metcalf. 

The Wolfenbargers came to Purcell from 

Shattuck, where they have managed a theatre 

and drive-in for several months. Danny 

will continue to supervise the management 

of the theatres in Shattuck. while actively 

managing the theatres here. 

Both Wolfenbargers are graduates of 

Sentinel High School at Sentinel. Jolene is 

the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sullivan, 

who operate a commercial trucking 

business in Sentinel. Danny began his theatre 

career while still in high school, working 

at the Rex in Sentinel. He has worked 

in every phase of exhibition, his experience 

including work in theatres in Sentinel, Shat- 

tuck and Oklahoma City in this state and 

Lubbock in Texas. 

He said that the rating system of the Motion 

Picture Ass'n of America will be enforced 

at the Purcell theatres. He added that 

a student discount plan to all patrons 13 

years old and older (up to the time they have 

finished school) will be available. 

The Canadian Theatre schedule calls for 

a first show at 7:30 p.m., Monday through 

Thursday; two complete shows Friday-Sunday, 

starting at 7:30 p.m., and a Saturday 

matinee at 2 p.m. Admission is $1.25 for 

adults, $1 for students with a discount card 

and 50 cents for children 12 and under. 

Third Screen Opened 

At San Pedro Airer 

SAN ANTONIO—Opening of the San 

Pedro Outdoor Theatre's third screen was 

to be held Friday (10). 

Completion of the third screen, which 

has a 800-car capacity brings the San Pedro's 

three-screen capacity to 2.100 cars, 

making the theatre the largest outdoor facility 

in South Texas, according to John L. 

Santikos, president of Santikos Theatres. 

Santikos said the movie complex's name, 

now known as San Pedro Twin, will be 

changed to the San Pedro Outdoor Complex 

with the present screens designated San 

Pedro East and West and the new screen 

becoming San Pedro South. 

The present entrance to the theatre complex 

on Bitters Road has been expanded to 

100 feet and will serve all three screens, 

while the present West Avenue entrance will 

serve patrons attending the west screen only. 

In addition to the San Pedro Outdoor 

Complex, Santikos Theatres operates the 

Olmos Theatre and the Century South, 

four-theatre complex. 

GIFT FOR A PRESIDENT—C. J. 

Latta, president of Variety Clubs International, 

fries on the genuine Texan 

hat presented to him by Charles E. 

Darden, chief barker of Dalla.s Variety 

Tent 17. The presentation was made 

at a dinner given in honor of Latta 

at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel Wednesday 

night, March 25, when the International 

president was in Dallas on his 

tour of U.S. tents. 

Webb Newcomb Again 

President of UTOO 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Webb Newcomb, 

who served as president of the United Theatrc 

^^^^^^ 

Owners of Okla- 

ÛrV^^tL —I handle of Texas during 

the 1969-1970 

term, was re-elected at 

the organization's re- 

L cent convention held 

^g. 

here at the Skirvin 

f. 

Newcomb's 

^Mli m '^^'''^'- 

inflbAâ 

dustry affiliation is 

H^^^H with 

Newcomb Thea- 

^^^^^ ires of Oklahoma City. 

Webb Newcomb 

^|^^^ re-elected were 

Volney Hamm and H. S. McMurray, vicepresidents; 

J. L. McKenna, secretary, and 

Bill Turk, treasurer. 

Horace Clark, who served two terms as 

UTOO president preceding Newcomb's first 

term, was again elected chairman of the 

exhibitors organization hoard of directors. 

Richard King Joins AM-C 

To Book for Texas Units 

DALLAS—Richard M. Durwood, vicepresident 

of American Multi-Cinema, Kansas 

City, Mo., announced the appointment 

of Richard King to handle the booking and 

buying for the circuit's Texas theatres. 

King has been National General Pictures 

branch manager here since 1968. Prior to 

that, he was assistant branch manager for 

Warner Bros., Detroit, from 1965 to 1968. 

Before joining Warner Bros., he worked in 

the booking and buying department of Video 

Theatres in Oklahoma City. 

King will assume his new duties late in 

this month at offices here at American 

Multi-Cinema's district headquarters. 

King is the second film company exchange 

manager to join the booking department of 

American Multi-Cinema this year. Tom 

Bailey, former MGM manager in Kansas 

City, joined the company in January and is 

booking for the Midwest district. 

Arizona SAG Organizes 

Coordinating Committee 

From Western Edition 

PHOENIX—Members of the Screen 

Actors Guild in Arizona have taken the first 

step toward formally organizing the motion 

picture jurisdiction in that state, forming an 

"Arizona SAG Coordinating Committee" at 

a meeting in Tucson attended by more than 

70 actors. 

Charles Henderson was elected chairman 

of the seven-man committee, other members 

of which are Jason Clark, vice-chairman; 

Frank Kennedy; Burke Rhind; Charles Joe 

Samsill; Joan Smith, and Daniel Zapien. 

SAG executives James Nissen and Ken 

Orsattis, from Hollywood, presided over the 

meeting which dealt with many matters of 

interest to Ariswna actors. Also attending 

from Hollywood were SAG members Bill 

Burton and Allen Gibbs, who acted as sergeants-at-arms. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 13, 1970 SW-1

. . 

! 

DALLAS 

Jnivrsiate ni.magcnicnt changes were much 

in ihc news here during the early days 

of this month. It all started when Bill D. 

Risener. manager of the Inwood Theatre, 

was promoted to the circuit's home office 

staff of general office controller Bill Curtis. 

A few days after Raymond Willie. Interstate 

executive vice-president and general manager, 

announced the new assignment for 

Risener. a 25-year Interstate veteran, the 

new Inwood manager was announced as Ted 

Steinherg. manager of the Dallas Palace. 

To fill the Palace vacancy left by Steinberg's 

transfer. Lynn Harris, the circuit's 

city manager here, announced that R. J. 

Narowitz was being brought here from 

Hurst, where he has been managing the 

Bel-Air Theatre. All three of the men involved 

in these Interstate promotions began 

their industry careers as ushers— Steinberg 

at the old White Theatre on Forest Avenue 

and Narowitz at the Hollywood Theatre in 

Fort Worth. It's only the fourth theatre 

move in a quarter of a century for .Steinberg. 

"Birth of a Nation," 1915 production by 

D. W. Griffith, has returned to Dallas for 

another of its numerous reruns— this time 

at the Delman Theatre. Although still a silent 

picture, as far as dialog is concerned, it has 

been revised so it now includes sound effects 

and background music performed by a 

100-piecc 

orchestra. 

American Airlines stewardesses Bert Pe- 





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trie and Karen Woodburg were pictured in 

the Wednesday (1) Dallas Morning News 

holding a sign reading "Academy Awards 

Sweepstakes Special!" The sign indicated 

that two round trips lo HolKwood via AA 

Astrojet would be part of the grand prize 

in the Dallas .Academy Award Sweepstakes 

in addition to $')()() cash. In our next issue 

we should have the names of the Dallas 

winner of those highly desirable prizes in 

the contest sponsored by American, the 

Dallas News and eight movie circuits—Arcadia. 

General Cinema Corp.. Interstate. 

Loew's. Mcl.endon. United Artists Theatre 

Circuit. Texas Southwest and Trans-Texas 

Theatres. The contest clo.sed Sunday night 

preceding the Tuesday (7) Academy Awards 

announcements and ballots were collected 

Monday from the 50 Dallas area theatres 

participating in the Sweepstakes. 

SMU Sponsors Screen 

Festival in Dallas 

DALLAS—The American Fihii 

Institute's 

fourth regional screening program was part 

of the Screen Generation Film Festival 

which took place here April 2-5 under the 

joint sponsorship of the Meadows School 

of the Arts of Southern Methodist University. 

The festival itself was under the direction 

of Bill Jones of the SMU faculty, who 

said that about 300 had preregistered for 

the event, then an additional 150 arrived 

when the festival opened Thursday (2). 

Among directors here for the festival was 

Michael Wadleigh, director of Warner Bros." 

"Woodstock." which is showing at the Preston 

Royal Theatre. Wadleigh made a special 

appearance Sunday afternoon from 6 to 

7:30 p.m. in McFarlin Auditorium, an event 

which Jones opened to the public. 

Most of the festival's activity took place 

in the Bob Hope Theatre, where Robert 

Altman, director of 20th Century-Fox's 

"M*A*S*H." answered questions about the 

theme and production of the war comedy. 

The American Film Institute's regional 

screening program is designed to familiarize 

nontheatrical exhibitors with the range of 

films available from distribution sources and 

is a part of the AFI Fducation Department 

program to facilitate the flow of quality 

films from distributors to educational and 

other nontheatrical users. 

Seventeen feature films and 46 shorts 

were shown to the invited festival audience 

and were not open to the general public. 

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Previous AFI-sponsored regional screenings 

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Boston and Denver. Within the next 

year or two, the Institute wiall carry out 

similar programs in cities across the country. 

In each community, the programs will 

be organized and implemented by local organizations 

working closely with the AFI 

and cooperating nontheatrical ilislribiilors. 

Interstate to Construct 

Three in Dallas Area 

DALLAS— Plans to build two indoor twin 

theatres and a single screen indoor unit, all 

to be operated by Interstate Theatres in the 

Dallas area, were announced here by Herbert 

D. Wcitzman, senior vice-president of 

Henry S. Miller Companies. Dallas realtors, 

who handled the land acquisition for the 

three 

sites. 

Total cost of the three projects was placed 

at more than $l'/2 million by Wcitzman. 

The single screen project will be first on 

the construction list and scheduled for a 

March 1971 opening. Site of the $500,000 

structure will be the Preston Valley Shopping 

Center, where the 850-seat theatre is 

to "follow the design and dimensions of 

the Medallion Theatre opened last fall by 

Interstate at Northwest Highway and Skillman." 

"Interstate points with a great deal of 

pride to the Medallion in its design concept 

and execution," Weitzman explained 

to the Dallas Morning News. "It is one of 

the circuit's handsomest theatres. The Spring 

Valley structure will be just as handsome. 

just as luxurious and just as comfortable." 

The Spring Valley theatre, which will contain 

14.620 square feet of space, is designed 

by Jack H. Morgan, who also designed the 

Medallion. 

Sites of the indoor twins will he the 

Carrollton Square Shopping Center in 

Farmer Branch and the Broadway Square 

Shopping Center in Mesquite. These two 

sets of twins will be of identical size— 17,- 

500 square feet. In each set, one side will 

seat 700 patrons and the other 400. Each of 

these theatres is to cost about $550,000. 

Completion dates for the Farmers Branch 

and Mesquite theatres are in early 1971. 

When all three of these projects are 

completed. Interstate will have 14 theatres 

open in Dallas County. 

Theatre Opening to Aid 

Mental Health Centers 


NAPA. CALIF.—A date has not yet 

been set for the opening of the $500,000 twin 

theatres at 1637 Imola West but advance 

tickets are available. For $5 per ticket, 

patrons will see two top movies, an exhibit 

of works by local artists and enjoy refreshments. 

Proceeds from the opening will be used by 

the Napa County Mental Health Ass'n to 

sponsor a community hospital club for 

former mental patients and to aid the creative 

living center. 

SW-2 BOXOFFICE :: April 13. 1970

ir 

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3. A sore that does not heal. 

4. Change in bowel or bladder 

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5. Hoarseness or cough. 

6. Indigestion or difficulty 

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7. Change in size or color of a 

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If a signal persists for 2 weeks, 

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Because many cancers are curable 

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OKLAHOMA CITY 

fjarrj McKoiiiia ,iiul Mrs. 1 ois Scotl. ihc 

able parincrNhip h.iiulling American Internalional 

Pictures releases in 

Ihe Oklahoma 

trade territory, have announced acquisition 

of new product. They are taking over 

the 4.*; pictures formerly being handled by 

Commonwealth United of Dallas. McKenna 

.uul Mrs. Scott, of course, will handle these 

pictures for only the Oklahoma territory. 

The McKenna. Scoll parlncrship has been 

working as an effective team since it was 

formed in 1956. 

Ed Harris, Columbia exchange manager, 

w.is in Miami. F-'la,, three days for a com- 

. . . 

pan\ sales meeting. At this meeting he got 

the comforting assurance from Norman 

Jackter. company sales manager, that Columhia 

has no intentions of closing the 

Oklahoma City exchange. The new.s was 

happily received by the local Columbia staff, 

which had seen friends at several other 

Oklahoma City exchanges lose their jobs 

here or get transfers when offices were 

closed Jerry Malone. Columbia salesman, 

said that he so seldom sees another 

film salesman on the road that it gives him 

a 

tinge of loneliness. 

Mrs. F. L. (Marie) Norton reported that 

her husband Fielding has recovered nicely 

from what had been pronounced a critical illness. 

However, he is not yet ready to assume 

his regular duties in and around their Caldwell, 

Kas., drive-in. Mrs. Norton said that 

their new screen tower should be completed 

in ample time for the scheduled May 1 

opening of the airer. 

George Jennings, owner and operator 

of the 81 Drive-In between Duncan and Comanche, 

is planning to reopen his theatre 

May 8. This is a much later opening date 

than usually observed. 

Bill PadgeJt, who followed M. T. Sands 

in the theatre business in Clayton six years 

ago, is building a drive-in to accommodate 

250 cars. It will be called BLB Drive-In, the 

letters standing for Bill, his wife Laverne and 

their daughter Brenda. 

A heavy snowfall Saturday (4) put the 

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il.impers on grosses in most all drive-in 

(hcaires in the state. Totals were only fractions 

of what wmiKI li.ivc been normal business. 

It was a real pleasure for your reporter 

(Athel Boyler of the Bosier Booking Agency) 

to note that Danny VVollenbarger has 

leased the Canadian Theatre and Skyvue 

Drive-In in Purcell from Levi Mclcalf (see 

separate story elsewhere in this section). 

Danny is an up-and-coming iheatreman and 

only 21 years old. He .started coming into 

my office at the age of 14 with hisûncle 

and in-laws while they were in the picture 

business in .Sentinel. During his high school 

years he worked for Fox-lntcrmountain at 

a couple of locations in Colorado. After finishing 

high school, he worked in Lubbock, 

Tex., at the Fox (new 8()0-seater). He left 

Fox-Intermountain, after attaining the rank 

of assistant manager, to take over the Shattuck 

Theatre Dec. 1, 196S. He and Jolene 

were married May 24, when he was 20. 

Two 6-Unil Complexes 

Planned in Phoenix 


PHOENIX—Research and Development 

Properties, a Phoenix-based firm, has announced 

plans to construct two six-theatre 

complexes in the Phoenix area. The exact 

sites of the complexes, which are to be located 

in new regional shopping centers, will 

be made public when the major tenants in 

the centers release this information. 

One of the complexes will be located in 

northwest Phoenix and the other southeast 

of the city in the Mesa/Tempe area. These 

two areas are major growth regions and both 

complexes will be near major freeways. 

Construction of the centers and theatres is 

expected to commence later this spring, 

with a late 1970 or early 1971 opening 

planned. The movie houses will provide a 

wide variety of film fare, suitable for varied 

audiences. 

Quadplex Unit Announced 

For Tucson Shop Center 


TUCSON, ARIZ.— Plans have been announced 

for a four-theatre complex in the 

Montery Village Shopping Center, located at 

Speedway and Wilmot, Tucson, Ariz. According 

to shopping center manager David 

DeConcini. the theatres will open in late 

fall this year. 

The four auditoriums will each have approximately 

300 seats. Cinemeccania projection, 

Irwin seating and Perdue automation 

will be featured. 

Located conveniently to both the rapidly 

growing suburban area of Tucson and the 

expanding campus of the University of Arizona, 

the four-theatre complex in the Montery 

Plaza Center will make it possible to 

show films of interest to varied audiences. 

The complex is being designed .so that two 

additional theatres can be added. 


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Olclahoma Theatre Supply Co. 

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BOXOmCE :: April 13, 1970 SW-5

. 

. . Jerome 

Tercar, GST to Build 

Baytown Indoor Twin 

UA1 lUWN. 11.\. Icic.ii I hcitrcs .iiul 

Gulf States Theatres have announced plans 

to build a twin indoor theatre here in the 

Bay Pl.iza Shopping Center. 

The new Bay Plaza facility will have two 

auditoriums, each with a 4()0-palron capacity. 

To he fully automated, with a common 

lobby and central concession stand, the twin 

theatres will be buill in the southeast corner 

of the shopping center. Details were made 

available by C. J. "Jim" Bailey of Bay 

Plaza and Robert H. Park, presideni ot 

Tercar. 

Tercar and Gulf .Stales operate the Brunson. 

Decker Port and Colonial theatres in 

Baytown. Rufus Honeycutt is the circuit's 

district representative. 

Honeycutt said ground-breaking ceremonies 

at Bay Plaza are expected within 

30 days and it is hoped that the twin ihea- 

operation by Thanksgiving. 

ti^s would be in 

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BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 SW-7

Firsi Israeli Eniry 

For HemisFilm 70 

S.\N AMOMO— hr.icl has L-nlcrcd a 

leaturc film in HemisFilm '70, intcrnalioiial 

film fcsiiNal scheduled lo he held here June 

IS-21. The Israeli entry. "Siege," marks the 

first time Israel has participated in the festival. 

The Rev. Louis Reile. S. M., director of 

HemisFilm and director of cinema arts at 

St. Mary's University, said a number of 

countries have replied to invitations to enter 

the festival's feature film category. Included 

are Sweden, France. Mexico. Italy, Colombia, 

Spain, Cire,it Britain, West Germany 

and Czechoslovaki.i. In addition, a number 

of film companies within the U.S. have expressed 

interest. 

In the 1969 HemisFilm there were more 

than 50 qualifying films from Germany. 

Russia. Yugoslavia. Japan. Canada, Mexico. 

France. India and the U.S. 

HemisFilm is sponsored by the International 

Fine .Arts Center of the Southwest 

and co-sponsored by St. Mary's and Cinema 

\ri theatres. 

During an awards night ceremony June 

21, Hemi trophies will be given in nine categories— 

best director, actor, actress, photographer, 

feature film, commercial, short films 

up to M) minutes in length, fcaturctlcs running 

M to ?i') minutes and industrial films. 

"Cantinflas" (Mario Moreno), .Mexico's 

internationally known comedian, will be 

present at this year's awards night to receive 

the festival's top award. 

In a separate ceremony, St. Mary's will 

grant "Cantinflas" the academic title "Scholar 

of the .-Vcademy." 

The academy is made up of persons who 

have achieved distinction in their various 

disciplines and who have been publicly recognized 

for their contribiilions to academic 

and community pursuits. 

Howard Skinner Managing 

Immokalee, Fla., Kent 

From Southeastern Edition 

IMMOKALEE, 

FLA.—Howard Skinner 

has taken over the management of the Kent 

Theatre and is running U.S. -made films on 

Fridays and Saturdays. Spanish-language 

films are booked for the other nights, when 

Robert Ayala is in charge. 

Skinner has originated a matinee at 1 

p.m. each Saturday and a midnight Saturday 

show in addition to the regularly scheduled 

shows. 

SAN ANTONIO 

Jl^ police sciireli was under way here for 

bandits who robbed the El Charro 

Drive-ln. Three youths, who had hung 

around all evening, drew knives soon after 

9 p.m. and took Sil from Robert Garcia, 

cashier at the El Charro. 

Most of the hit movies of the past few 

weeks were held over at local theatres in 

. 

. . 

anticipation of a resurgence at the boxoffice 

following the announcement of the Academy 

Award winners Tuesday (7). The all-time, 

long-run champion right now is "Butch 

Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," which is 

going strong in its 20th week at the Century 

South four-theatre complex. The film has 

also been shown at the Aztec and Cinema 

. . "Cactus 

I and II in North Star Mall 

Flower" was in its fifth week at the Woodlawn 

after a series of earlier showings at the 

Aztec . Only three new films were scheduled 

to open in San Antonio, Allen Funt's 

"What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?" at 

the Majestic and the double bill of "One 

Step to Hell" and "Collision Course" at the 

Texas. 

A monthly big free show for youngsters 

will be held at the downtown Texas and 

the suburban Woodlawn theatres with admission 

being six Pepsi Cola bottle caps. In 

addition to the feature picture, there are 

color cartoons and free 

prizes. 

Join the Widening Circle 

Send in your reports fo BOXOFFICE 

on response of patrons fo pictures 

you show. Be one of the many who 

report 

to— 

THE EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

A Widely Read Weekly Feature of Special Interest 

Address your letters to Editor, 

"Exhibitor Has His Say," 825 

Van Brunt Bird., Kansas City, 

Mo. 64124. 

BOXOFFICE 

Always in the Forefront With the News 

SW-8 BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970

'Airport' Up to 675 

In Mill City Second 

MINNEAPOLIS — Easter vacation for 

students was translated into hefty grosses 

at virtually all first-run situations and the 

breathtaker continued to be "Airport" at 

the Cooper Cinerama Theatre. After opening 

with an unprecedented 650. the movie 

filmed in part at the Minneapolis-St. Paul 

International Airport — soared to an 

astounding 675 in its second week. Local 

interest in the picture is at a point past fever 

pitch: Crowds the opening weekend turned 

into throngs which in turn developed into 

near mobs, with more than 2.000 turned 

away the first Saturday afternoon. Area 

police were called out to handle the torrents 

of humanity—and would-be patrons were 

parking cars as far as a mile away. The theatre 

was running at total capacity, its second 

week figure buoyed by extra performances. 

The picture is on a grind basis. Meanwhile, 

"M*A*S*H" bowed at the Gopher 

with a rousing 400 and repeated that figure, 

almost to the penny in its second week. 

In an opening that didn't get published due 

to the postal strike, "Pussycat, Pussycat. I 

Love You" was a weak 1 10 at the Lyric. 

However. "Zabriskie Point" followed it into 

the Lyric with a nifty 220. Even stronger 

was "Fuego." which came into the Suburban 

World with a 240. 

"Patton" continued to excite plenty of 

word-of-mouth, all favorable, and sailed to 

a 340 in its fourth week at the St. Louis 

Park. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance 

Kid" held at 130 in its 26th week at the 

State, where it'll go a 27th in the hope it 

will garner some Oscars and a new lease on 

life. Keep in mind. "Butch" is a film that 

was due to play and depart just before 

Christmas. 


Academy— Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 15th wk .175 

Cinema II, Uptown—Jenny [CRO, 3rd wk 130 

Cooper Cinerama Airport (Univ), 2nd wk 675 

Gopher M*A'S*H (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 400 

Lyric—Zabriskie Point (MGM) 220 

Mann—Cactus Flower (Col), 9th wk 125 

Orpheum—They Shoot Horses, Don't They? 

(CRC), 5th wk 125 

Rialto— I Am Curious (Yellow) (5R), 27th wk ..215 

St. Louis Park Patton (20th-Fox), 4th wk 340 

State— Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 

(20th-Fox), 26th wk 1 30 

Suburban World— Fuego (SR) 240 

Vk'orld—Z (SR), 4th wk 250 

Metcalfe Calls Meeting 

On Low-Grossing Theatres 

DES MOINES—NATO of Iowa president 

.Roy H. Metcalfe has announced a 

special meeting to be held Monday (20) at 

10:30 a.m. in the Varsity Theatre. 25th 

Street and University Avenue. Des Moines. 

Discussion will deal specifically with the 

problem of low-grossing theatres. Roger 

Dietz, Columbia Pictures Des Moines 

branch manager, will be present to answer 

any and all questions regarding Columbia's 

low-grossing theatre plan. 

All Iowa and Nebraska exhibitors, members 

and nonmembers, are invited to attend 

this meeting. Metcalfe stated. 

Filming of Warner Bros.' "The Voyeur" 

has been completed in London. 

Exhibitors Claim They Must Book Sex 

Films or Lose Money on Family Shows 

By BILL NICHOL 

MILWAUKEE — The recent "rash" of 

adult-only movies has prompted exhibitors 

throughout the country to "begin taking inventory." 

as one industry spokesman put it. 

In showbusiness, it used to be said that "if 

it goes over in Milwaukee, it'll go over anywhere." 

But Milwaukee area exhibitors, in 

common with patrons and nonpatrons. are 

finding it difficult to come up with an agreeable 

solution. 

"I'll admit that some of the current pictures 

leave very little to imagination." said 

one exhibitor at a recent informal meeting, 

"but let's face it. Times are changing. And 

who's doing all the complaining? A woman 

called me the other day and told me 1 ought 

to be ashamed to run that picture. 

"I asked her if she had seen it and she 

said she and her husband had—but only because 

a neighbor who also had seen it called 

it the filthiest movie she had ever seen 

and that we should see it. if for no other reason 

than to verify that fact. Yesterday I met 

her husband on the street and I asked him 

point blank what he thought about the picture. 

He said he liked it. 

Film Not for Youngsters 

".As a matter of fact." the theatre owner 

continued, "that patron told me he and his 

wife were forced to agree that the picture 

told it like it is but that they dreaded the 

possibility of teenagers seeing it." 

During the little chat, the exhibitor said 

he had the rare opportunity of bringing up 

a number of problems that confronted the 

average theatre owner. For example, he 

said he asked the patron outright what he 

would do under the circumstances. 

Seldom Go to Movies 

"Well, I'm not in your line of business." 

said the patron, "but I can well understand 

your predicament. The wife and I are in our 

50s now, so naturally we don't go to the 

movies very often and neither do many 

friends in our age bracket. What's more, 

even if some of those movies on TV are old. 

we like 'em and don't have to go out of the 

house to see them. Quite obviously, it's the 

younger generation yojj are concerned with. 

In my business we are continually running 

surveys to keep abreast of public demand 

and I presume you people do the same." 

"I told him my patrons' age brackets ran 

from the small fry. teenagers, to perhaps 

somewhere around 30. The bulk of them, 

however, no older than about 25," explained 

the exhibitor. "But I stressed the fact 

that I had to depend on the teenagers." 

"That's understandable." said the patron. 

"When the wife and I were dating, we'd go 

to the movies at least twice a week—usually 

Sunday and Wednesday nights. But in 

those days, they didn't have the kind of 

pictures they're complaining about. Still. 

I would imagine the age bracket was about 

the same. People marry and settle down. 

Thev don't attend as manv movies. But I'll 

say this much, any red-blooded man, I 

don't care how old he is. will get a 'kick' 

out of some of these sexy pictures the theatres 

are playing. The trouble is, he's got 

a guilty conscience and won't admit it. The 

wife, on the other hand, feeling that she is 

responsible for maintaining the moral standards 

around the house and the community 

as well, if she belongs to a club or two, joins 

others in demanding the elimination of sex 

and violence pictures. .And anyway, we're 

good church people. Wouldn't look right if 

we were to confess that perhaps with the 

changing times we ought to allow nature to 

take its course." 

"He said a mouthful." commented another 

exhibitor at the table. "Ninety per 

cent of the complaints I get are from the 

women! Then they go to the aldermen and 

the aldermen in turn put pressure on the 

Motion Picture Commission. So. between 

the women, the commission and our city 

fathers, we're really in the middle. Play an 

average family picture and it dies at_the 

boxoffice. Run something like 'Russ Meyer's 

Vixen' and you are in trouble." 

"Sex has been with us since Adam and 

Eve," volunteered another theatre owner. 

"And yet. I would hesitate to discuss some 

of the material you even find in the Bible, 

especially at a women's group meeting. The 

bad part of it all is, kids approaching maturity 

are unable to get the proper send-off 

that will prepare them for adult problems. 

They don't get the right sort of information 

at home. A lot of people don't want the 

schools to provide it. so they have to pick 

it up from older and experienced people." 

"Sad but true." said the third exhibitor 

(each one determined to remain anonymous). 

"But here's one for the books. A 

friend of mine recently told me of an incident 

that bears out your reference to the 

Bible. This friend's brother, a newly wed, 

devout churchgoer, complained that he and 

his new wife 'had a rough time of it.' He 

said he had talked it over with other boys 

at the office and found most of them had 

the same experience. We've all been through 

it." declared the exhibitor. "Perhaps it's the 

mystery of it that causes some unhappy reactions 

later on. Still, nobody's going to 

show the newlyweds how to act. But I'll bet 

if they ever allow a movie to portray things 

as they really are and permit patrons of any 

age to see it, the producer and exhibitor 

have got it made." 

Mike Drew's recent articles in the Mil- 

(Continued on next page) 

LOXOFFICE :: April 13. 1970 NC-1

— 

. 

. . The 

Exhibitors Claim They Must Book Sex 

Films or Lose Money on Family Shows 

iConiinucd Ironi preceding page) 

vvaukcc Journal then came up lor Jis.-UNsion. 

Mike is a film critic and \seni lo Hollywood 

for material to appear in the Journal's 

Green Sheet. In Mike"s candid opinion. 

Hollywood's grinding out more sc\ pictures 

because ol small-budget requirements 

and fantastic returns. 

In his articles, Mike brings out a number 

of interesting facts. He said thai at one studio, 

a house-cleaning turned up a dozen producers 

and directors who hadn't made a 

movie in years. Only at the Disney Studios, 

he said, are there a goodly number of 

films now being produced which are aimed 

directly at the \ounger audiences. Strangely 

enough, he says, most of the pictures are 

low-budget compared to the millions heretofore 

thrown into a movie. "What's more, 

no big-name stars are in them," he said. 

Since it is common knowledge that a Disney 

picture always appeals to the yoimgcr 

generation, parents gladly sent their little 

ones to a theatre playing the films without a 

glance at the picture's rating. But. when it 

comes to a picture like ".Midnight Cowboy," 

for example, that's something else again 

evaluationwise. 

Mike says sex in movies is here to slay 

and most studios are hopping on the band 

wagon. At one studio. Russ Meyer, known 

as "king of the nudics," has been upped to 

major studio status. "Everywhere, moviemakers 

talked of "Easy Rider,' which was 

produced at an estimated half-million dollars 

and is expected to bring in arouml S.10.- 

000,000. " Mike related. 

"Well, there are some might\ good family 


THE CHOICE IS BETTER , 



• TRAILERETTES • DATE STRIPS 


Gerald L. Korslii, Prcs. 

125 Hyde St, Son Francisco, Calif. 94102 

pictures coming up soon, too," said one ol 

the exhibitors, "but it's a safe bet they won't 

pay out. I know my audience. We exhibitors 

are really in the middle. Why should we 

run pictures for those who won't attend'.'" 

.Also mention was made of the quiet sur- 

\ey being conducted by an obscure Presidenli.il 

commission. Here, according lo the 

exhibitors, was a worthwhile project that 

appeared to offer some hope for the langledup 

status of the average theatre owner. 

"Hope," said one of the showmen, "providing 

that they obtain a good cross-section of 

the thealregoing public and tell the truth." 

.According to information already leaking 

out, the poll will be able to come up with 

the meaning of today's social climate. For 

example, what offended yesterday may not 

be offensive today. It is the shift in public 

morality over the years that the commission's 

investigation seeks to assess, which 

eventually, perhaps, may reduce the restrictions 

on teenagers who currently are prevented 

from seeing adult-rated films. 

Lastly, the conversation got around to 

the long-awaited decision to be handed 

down by the Supreme Court relative to the 

constitutionality involved in the showing of 

certain pictures. Here, the showmen were 

in general agreement that the freedom, 

guaranteed in the Constitution, granted the 

right to every citizen of deciding whether 

or not he or she might attend a certain movie. 

And. since their very inception movies 

were termed both entertaining and educational, 

it follows that movies of the future 

will serve the same purposes. That was the 

conclusion at which the exhibitors arrived, 

according to the report. 

BUY OR RENT 

CONCESSION EQUIPMENT 

Monual or Coin-operated 

k You Name It ir 

WISCONSIN VENDOR SALES 

RIPON, WISCONSIN, 54971 

Start BOXOFFICE coming . 

3 years for $15 (SAVE $6) 

D 2 years for SI2 (SAVE $2) D 1 year for $7 

n PAYMENT ENCLOSED D SEND INVOICE 

THEATRE 

These rates (or U.S., Canada, Pan-America only. Other countries: $10 a year. 

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BOXOFFICE~THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

Luxurious Updating 

For Estherville Unit 

i:si 111:K\ 11 I 1 . IOWA - Ihe Ciraiui 

Theatre here, closed since I'ebruary 24, was 

reopened Thursday, March 26. Robert I-ridley. 

Des Moines, owner of Ihe Grand and 

2.^ other theatres in the state, said the Grand 

eventually will be remodeled to make it 

"oi\i: of Iowa's luxury theatres." 

Fridley. who closed the movie house becaU'.e 

of poor patronage and a high overhead, 

said he leels r.stherville "has all ol 

the possibilities ol being a good theatre 

town and it is up to us to give the community 

a first-class theatre that will warrant its 

business." 

"Our plan is to include Estherville's 

Cirand Theatre as one of the luxury theatres," 

Fridley explained. He said new seating 

is to be installed at his theatre in Spencer 

in May and in the Kstherville facility 

shortly thereafter. Also planned is redecoration 

of the auditorium, improvements in 

the 

lobby and remodeling of the rest room area. 

An impressive number of outstanding attractions 

have been booked for the showhouse. 

DES MOINES 

Mat Nathansoii, 2()th 

manager, was in 

a routine visit. 

Century! ox division 

town from Chicago on 

Exhibitors visiting the local exchanges 

were Irwin and Sarge Dubinsky. Lincoln, 

Neb.; E. C. Lund, Viborg, S.D.; Jack Compston, 

Forest City and Decorah, and Carl 

.Schuanebeck, Kerr circuit. Knoxville. 

Robert Flatt, Paramount's Omaha booker, 

has resigned to enter business with his 

father. Nora Patterson, booker's stenographer, 

has moved up into that position. 

Mrs. David Taffae, president. Variety 

Women, returned recently from a Palm 

Springs vacation with her family. 

Kurt Noacli, former assistant manager at 

the Paramount Theatre here and the Capitol 

Theatre in Grand Island, Neb., has been 

promoted to city manager of five Cobb 

theatres in Tuscaloosa. Ala. 

A familar idiom, "M*A*S*H' is a 

smash!" David (iold of 20th-Fox and Tri- 

States reports it has broken records in the 

Strand Theatre at Waterloo and it came 

close to the house record for the Ingersoll 

here. 

Tri-States reports that plans are completed 

and construction is anon for the twin 

theatres in Sioux City, with an August opening 

scheduled . Capitol in Sioux City 

closes its doors Wednesday (22) because of 

urban renewal. 

FORT WORTH—Construction on a fourtheatre 

complex in the Felix Mart Center 

has been started by E. Hoyle Graham & 

Associates, Dallas shopping center developers. 

NC-2 BOXOFFICE :: April 1.1. 1970

'*fV 

l^:A 

'•n 

CROSS 

ANEW 

THRESHOLD 

^ °f Termor' 

into... 

Horror House 

STARRING ^^ ,—. ^ ,^ m^ .«^ ^ 

FRANKIE JILL DENNIS GEORGE mark 

AVALON HAWORTH PRICE SEWELLwynter 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SCREENPLAY 8, DIRECTED BY MUSIC 

s TIGON BRITISH FILM production ^m 

TONY TENSER- MICHAEL ARMSTRONG- REG TILSELY- AN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL RELEASE wl 

COLOR 

\^^ i\_jgm . 

0^ uwo?, 

SSS.-*!^ 

BORIS KARLOFF 

CHRISTOPHER 

LEE 

^ 

MARK EDEN-BARBARA STEELE- MICHAEL GOUGH' 

' 

(wr^^Tini.r.ip.'G GUfST STAR r~" 

VIRGINIA WETHERELL-RUPERT DAVIESrcoLOR 

VERNON SEWELL- MERVYN HAtSMAN and HENRY LINCOLN 

AOOITIWIAL MATEBIAL BY EXECIlTiVE PRODUCER PBOOUCEO BY 

GERRY LEVY-TONY TENSER 

• LOUIS M. HEYWARD 

J TIGON BRITISH -AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL production 

fFvl#r?=!fe \i^jîm» ^^ 

^^ AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL ^' 

release 

CONTACT YOUR American International exchange 

' 1970 American International Prctures, Inc. 

MILWAUKEE 

Ed Gavin 

212 West Wisconsin Ave. 

Milwaukee 3, Wiiconsn 

OMAHA 

Izzy Sokolof 

1508 Davenport Street 

Tele.: (402) 342-1161 

MINNEAPOLIS 

1000 Currie Ave., North 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 

Tele.: (612) 333-8293 

Rmm^ Maiuoer: Ben Lomler ®

. . . Gay 

. . Dan 

! 

MINNEAPOLIS 

îrport" K ihc l;ilk ot ihc rcyioii and ihc 

Koss Hunter prodiiciion. dcspjlc a soso 

welcome from the local crilics. is moppinj; 

up at the Cooper Cinerama Theatre. 

The picture was filmed in large part at the 

Minneapolis-St. Paul IniernationnI Airport, 

with plenty of local citizenry used as extras. 

This may account for the literal stampede 

occasioned by the picture's opening. The 

theatre grounds, a vast highway region usually 

best described as virtualK limitless, was 

in no time clogged, the area resembling a 

fairgrounds. Some 2.()(H) were turned away 

for a single performance and suburban police 

cars were summoned to maintain control. 

Of the three local critics, one gave it a 

"fair" rating, one an "average to good" and 

the third had yet to get around to see the 

pii-'iure as it began its second week. 

"M'A'S'H" is assured of a long, long 

run at the Gopher. Overflow crowds marked 

its opening, while the surprise strength 

of "Ration" at the St. Louis Park continued 

Kathy Phillips, who 

to elesate eyebrows . . . 

departed the Warner Bros, branch where 

she was a booker, about a month ago. will 

become a stewardess for Northwest Orient 

Airlines. 

The postal .strike was "murder" on several 

branch offices here, while the walkout 

lasted. Particularly hard hit. of course, was 

the National Screen Service branch. There, 

crews turned to the phones more than ever. 

while trucks, parcel delivery services and 

all other means available were employed to 

fill the void left by the stalled mails. Every 

branch noted that the mail stoppage brought 

film rental checks to a screeching halt. Ninety 

per cent of film rentals arc collected via 

the 

mails. 

Harry Goldman. Cinerama Releasing 

Corp. division manager, was in town from 

Herb Andres, manager with 

Chicago . . . 

28 years of service at the Hollywood Theatre 

in North .Minneapolis, retired . 

With so many long-run attractions on local 

first-run screens, several film-releasing 

branches are up to the wall. With prime 

first-run product, some of which was supposed 

to be on screens here months ago. 

they have no houses available. 

FINER 


Ask Your Supply Dealer or 

Write 


26 Seroh Drivt Formingdal*, L. I., N. Y., 1173S 

, . 'Paint Your 

Herb Marline/, N.iikiii.il Cieneral Pictines 

C'eiur.il division manager, was in town 

March }\ Irom Chicago . 

Wagon." the first 7()mm roadshow-type 

presentation to play in St. I', ml and current 

at the Norsiar Iheatrc there, has had a very 

warm reception. Evening performances in 

the 7()l)-scat house are consistent sellouts, 

as are weekends . Houlihan. Paramount 

Midwest division manager, was here 

lorn Detroit on branch business. 

Filnirow visitors: Irancis Cannon, Tioga 

Theatre. Tioga. N.D.: Doug Ingals, Time. 

Pepin. Wis.; Jim I-'rascr. Chief and .Auditorium. 

Red Wing: Jim McKnight. Prague. 

New Prague: Ken Mickelson, Metro, Pine 

Island: Jud King. Dells. Dell Rapids, S.D.: 

I3ick Sager. Gem. New Richmond. Wis., 

and David Chvatal. State. Spring Valley. 

C;e(>rgc C;raii.slroin, veteran St. Paul exhibitor 

and partner with Ted Mann in several 

St. Paul Loop theatres and owner ol 

his own Highland and Grandview Line Arts 

theatres in the capitol city, continues abed 

at Midway Hospital. St. Paul, with visitors 

very much welcome . . . Harry Green, general 

manager of Midcontinent Theatres, is 

recovering from a stay at Abbott Ho,spital 

here, where he underwent treatment for a 

kidney stone. 

All of Filnirow and the iiukistry here 

mourned the death of Bill Donald, United 

Artists city salesman. Donald was extremely 

well-known across the territory, which he 

long had covered as a salesman. Among his 

survivors is his son Mike, formerly with 

Ct)mmonwcalth United when it maintained 

a branch here. 

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" 

has now played 26 weeks at the State here 

and in St. Paul the 26 weeks represents the 

longest run ever of any film in the Loop. 

Previous record holder was "The Robe," 

which ran 25 weeks at the World there late 

in \95^ and early in 1954. 

-Some of the fun of "Airport" comes from 

watching the audience instead of the screen. 

Since it was filmed in part here, using hundreds 

of local citizens as extras, all want to 

see themselves on the screen. The amusing 

part is that it's not unusual for as many as 

six to ten different persons to point to the 

back of a particular head and exclaim, 

"Thai's niel There I am! !" 

"Ben-Hur," the MGM reissue which 

bowed in 60 key locations across the territory, 

got off to a rousing start in each situation. 

Branch reaction to the figures: "We 

arc more than satisfied." 

. . . 

Phil Jamagin, formerly head booker and 

office manager at the United Artists branch 

here, has been promoted to city salesman 

Paramount branch hooker Lee Campbell 

returned from a week's vacation at 

Panama City. Fla.. where he enjoyed swimming, 

deep-sea fishing and just plain resting 

.. . Joe 

Carriere, Grand Theatre, Hallock, 

is back from wintering in California 

Mower, State Theatre, Worthinglon. 

returned from six weeks spent in Florid.i 

Rod Hansen, l.akeview Drive-In. 

. . . 

Mitchell. S.D.. is hack from a month in 

An/ona. 

Mrs. Joe Rosen (Joe is Paramount branch 

city salesman) is off to Hawaii as chaperone 

for a trip won by the St. Louis Parkettes. a 

group of young girls from suburban St. 

Louis Park who constitute a highly trained 

musical and chcerleading pt)mpon girl 

Chris Kolling. daughter of Dick 

unit . . . 

Kolling, is now cashiering at the Slate Theatre 

Ron Greeley. Kim-Hi Drive-In. 

. . . Kimball, and Cinebuff. Bulfalo, is off to 

Wyoming on a ski trip. Ironically, Greeley 

also manages the Powder Ridge Ski resort 

at Kimball—but the snow is always slippier 

on the other fellow's hills! 

Brandt's Martin Levine 

Receives Special Award 


NHW YORK—The election of new officers 

for 1970-71 and the presentation of a 

special award to Brandt Theatres executive 

vice-president Martin Levine highlighted 

the March 19 meeting of Cinema Lodge, 

B'nai B'rith, it was announced by Ted Lazarus, 

president, and Carl M. Levine, program 

chairman. 

Ted Lazarus has been renominated as 

president of Cinema. In a new position, Carl 

Levine has been nominated to serve as executive 

vice-president. 

Vice-presidential nominees include Walter 

Brecher, W. Stewart Cahn, Leonard Kaufman, 

Herbert Morgan, Robert Schwartz and 

Jerry Sunshine. 

Nominated for treasurer is Stuart Kolbert 

and Donald Freeburg will again serve as 

secretary. 

The award to Levine, a former Cinema 

president, was made by Harvey Piatt, the 

executive secretary of District No. 1. 

Dewayne Foust Manager 

Of Updated Voris Theatre 


TWIN FALLS, IDA. — The remodeled 

Voris Theatre was reopened recently under 

the managership of Dewayne Foust. who 

bought the movie house from the Bowen 

Theatre Co., Burley. 

Foust has put a new brick veneer on the 

outside of the building and has repainted 

inside and out, as well as installing new 

seats and carpeting in the auditorium. He 

said that as soon as the new sign was delivered, 

the name would be changed to the 

Frontier 

Theatre. 

"II people will support my theatre, if I 

can show a gross profit, I can run first-run 

movies," Foust stated. "If not, I will have 

to show second-rate features. I don't want 

to do that." 

ncii 

Theatre 

Service 




1322 South Wabasn Avenue 

Chicago, 111. 60605 

Phone: (312) 922-0679 

NC-4 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13. 1970

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BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 NC-5

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BOXOFHCE BAROMETER 

(Pint Run Reports) 

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

ABOUT PICTURES 

FEATURE BOOKING CHART 

FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST 

up, up, and away. 

The inflationary balloon keeps filling. 

With air from an overheated economy. 

Help deflate the balloon. 

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You help your people with a new fringe benefit; systematic savings. 

You help your country better manage its debt financing. 

Need more convincing? 

America's sixteen largest companies (and 40,000 others) have Payroll Savings Plans. 

Nine of the sixteen have over 60% employee participation. 

Before you join them, get the whole story. 

Have your secretary write Director of Sales, The Department of the Treasury, 

Savings Bonds Division, Washington, D.C. 20226. 

©€>: 

The U.S. Covernmeni does not pay /or this adverlisemenl. Il is presented as a public service in 

cooperation with The Department of the Treasury and The Advertising Council. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13. 1970 

NC-7

LINCOLN 

Jrwin l)ubin!iky and his son .S.iri;c were in 

Sioux City lo cht^k the progress ot the 

circuil's first twin theatre. They also spent 

some time in Marshalliown and Des Moines. 

where the tamily has movie theatre operations. 

I'ete Durham told his former boss Wall 

Janeke in a long-distance call .Satiirda> night 

(4) that he's hcen scheduled lor his first 

regular duty assignment in the Marines out 

at the hig California base. Camp Pendleton. 

Pete and his family arc living temporarily in 

I.awion. Okla.. while he takes some aildil.onal 

training at Ft. Sill ... A snow report 

from his son and daughter-in-law in Philadelphia 

around Wednesday (I) and the 

neeessiiv for attending several meetings here 

combined to convince Wait Jancke that he'd 

not ir\ to make the opening Cincinnati Reds 

baseball game and a trip to Philadelphia 

now. 

Sam Guldfein died Sunday (5) after being 

ho.spiialized at the Lincoln Veterans Hospital. 

He was the father of William Gold 

fcin. assistant manager at the State. 

Recent Filmrow visitors included Ed Cohen. 

Columbia, and Bill 

. . State both of Omaha 

. 

Lyons. Buena Vista, 

Theatre patrons 

saw a sneak preview of "The Cheyenne 

Social Club" Friday (3) and liked it. reports 

manager Gene Buhrdorf. 

Henry Fonda, a star of "The Cheyenne 

Social Club" and native Nebraskan, is volunteering 

his services as a narrator for a 

film being produced by the Stuhr Museum 

in Grand Island. Called "The Land of the 

Prairie Pioneer." the 17-minute feature film 

is scheduled for completion by Thursday 

(30). The outdoor museum at the Stuhr historical 

complex includes the Grand Island 

house where Fonda was born. 

Michael Gaughan, Cooper's district 

manager 

for Nebraska, is just waiting for a sign 

that spring temperatures are here to stay 

so that he can plant the new rose bushes 

ordered and delivered for the family garden. 

The rose enthusiast reports the new 

bushes on hand this spring should increase 

the total in the Gaughan garden to about 

50. If he should be asked. Mike would tell 

you he enjoys working with roses more than 

he does the lawn . . . Walt Jancke's lawn 

was given its spring meal of fertilizer over 

the weekend (4-5). That's why the wind 

started blowing in the afternoon, he suspects, 

and spread the grass-growing stuff all 

over the block. 

Clarence Nichols, veteran doorman at the 

Varsity, had to undergo a second operation 

in Providence Hospital and is on the critical 

list. Nichols. 76. entered the hospital 

originally to have his appendix removed. 

The industry locally was in an Academy 

Awards mood and sharing it with the public 

before and after the Tuesday (7) nationally 

televised presentation ceremony. Local 

sêns were offering the nine nominations: 

They Shoot Horses. Don't They?" at the 

NC-8 

Stuart; "Goodbvc, .\lr. Chips" at the Cooper 

Lincoln: ".Midnight Cowboy" returned 

lo the State Wednesday (8): "The Sterile 

Cuckoo" was at the S4th and O Drive-In. 

and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid " 

was at the suburban Jovo. 

Cooper Ihcatres Knterprisc here was cooperating 

with Radio KIOR in an Academy 

.Award selection contest and with all other 

movie hou.ses and Radio KETV in Omah;i 

.And the Sunday Journal and Star weekh 

magazine featured an article by movie critic 

Holh Spence m which she asked if there 

is an Oscar age gap. She suggested shouting 

and grumbling will follow the presentations 

and the latter will be louder if it follows the 

trend in recent years. In her opinion, the 

motion picture industry has swept forward 

in outlook but the industry decision makers 

— the Academy—remain static. The article 

claims the membership of the Academy of 

Motion Picture Arts and Sciences resembles 

the population of Sun City's retirement village: 

The average age of this motion picture 

group is far over 50 but more than 50 per 

cent of the country's population is under 

35 and the majority of the movie-going public 

comes from the younger ranks. This is 

why. she writes, what is palatable for those 

including Academy members is bound to 

be different from what the younger audience 

wants—and vice versa. She suggests 

representation and voting rights in the Academy 

should be accorded the same balance. 

"M*A*S*H," next offering at the downtown 

Stuart, is in its third week at the Dubinsky's 

Astro Theatre in Omaha. If the 

Stuart run follows the trend which Irwin 

Dubinsky is predicting for the Astro, the 

picture could be around town for eight or 

ten weeks. 

Struve Enterprises Plans 

Fox Theatre Remodeling 

BEATRICE, NEB.—The Fox Theatre, 

purchased recently by Struve Enterprises. 

Deshler, Neb., from National General 

Corp.. will retain the familiar "Fox" name, 

at least for the time being, by arrangement 

with NGC. The new owner has reduced adult 

admissions from $1.50 to $1.25 and concession 

prices are being lowered. 

Extensive remodeling and redecorating of 

the Fox Theatre is planned, probably "beginning 

in May. Included will be a new' concession 

stand and recushioning of the seats. 

Also, seats will be repositioned to provide 

more leg room, reducing the capacity of the 

auditorium somewhat. 

Under the new operating policy, which 

will continue if there is adequate public 

support, films suitable for children will be 

shown on weekends at either the Fox or the 

Holly, also owned by Struve Enterprises. 

The latter theatre also has been undergoing 

remodeling, including recarpeting, nevv 

.screen, new projectors and repositioning of 

the seats. Burlap side walls have been added 

in the auditorium to provide belter acoustics. 

L&M Twin Unils Set 

For May 15 Opening 

.'torn Control Edili-.n 

CHICAGO—May 15 is the date set by 

L&M Management lor the o|iening of its 

new West Plaza Cinema 1 and 2 at 2200 

West Galena Blvd. in the West Aurora 

Shopping Plaza. Cinema 1 will offer seating 

lor 630. while 450 .seats will be installed 

in Cinema 2. All seats will be installed by 

Ideal Sealing Co. 

Bob Bachman, vice-president and general 

manager of L&M, said the new structures 

will be done in semi-colonial style. Special 

features comprise an island hoxoffice in the 

lobby, a 35-foot concession counter and a 

parking lot for 200 cars, independent of the 

parking area serving the shopping center 

proper. The projection equipment will be 

fully automated. 

Bob Nelson has been appointed city manager 

of the new theatres, which give L&M 

Management 17 hardtops and drive-ins in its 

operation. 

While Hans Teickert of Chicago is doing 

the interiors. Bob Mall & Associates, architects, 

and Arnold Lies Construction Co., 

contractors, are Aurora firms. 

Rivoli Theatre Planning 

More Updating in 1970 

HASTINGS, NEB. — Remodeling will 

continue to be a chief order of business at 

the Rivoli Theatre in 1970, just as it was 

in 1969, according to manager Fred Teller 

jr. The property was purchased in 1967 and 

remodeling or planning for it has been in 

progress most of the time since. 

The auditorium was completely remodeled 

in 1969, including respacing of the seats 

to give patrons more leg room. This move 

reduced seating capacity by about 100. 

"We reupholstered the seats." Teller said, 

"using new material. We used foam rubber 

lor the backs and for the seats and we repainted 

throughout." 

The next phase, to come in 1970. is to 

remodel the lobby and foyer area completely. 

The plans are elaborate but the details 

have not been worked out fully as yet. 

"When we are finished, we will have one 

of the most modern theatres in out-state 

Nebraska," Teller declared. 

'Without a Stitch' Ruled 

Obscene in Rhode Island 

From New England Edition 

PROVIDENCE — The Danish import, 

"Without a Stitch," has been declared obscene 

by a Rhode Island Superior Court 

judge who said its sole design is to "titillate 

the sexual desires of the viewer." 

Judge Joseph Weisberger granted the 

Providence Bureau of Licenses its request 

for an injunction forbidding the Columbus 

Theatre to show the film. 

The judge, who attended a private screening, 

added: "The movie is utterly without 

any literary, artistic or scientific merit and 

holds no legitimate interest for any special 

group in the community." 


'Patton' 500 in Fourth 

Week in Cincinnati 

CINCINNATI — "Patton," playing its 

fourth week at 20th Century, led the Easter 

parade of first-run films, registering 500, 

which was 25 points above the preceding 

week's gross percentage. "Anne of the 

Thousand Days,"" the new attraction at the 

Valley, and "Z,"" in its fifth frame at the 

Times Towne Cinema, each grossed 400. 

Other new films included "The Kremlin 

Letter,"' 150 on a multiple run, and "Pussycat, 

Pussycat, I Love You,'" which rated 50 

at two theatres. 

. . 


Albee The Adventurers (Para) 275 

Beacon Hill, Covedole Pussycot, Pussycat, 

Love You (UA) 50 

I 

Cine Carousel Goily, Gaily (UA), 2nd wk 250 

International 70 Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 

15fh wk 275 

Kenwood Morooned (Col), 2nd wk 300 

Six theatres The Kremlin Letter (20th-Fox) ....150 

Studio Cinemas Midnight Cowboy (UA), 

35th wk 225 

Times Towne Cinema—Z (SR), 5th wk 400 

20th Century Patton (20th-Fox), 4th wk 500 

.400 

Valley Anne of the Thousand Days (Univ) 

'Airport' Solid 500 in Debut 

At Suburban Detroit Theatre 

DETROIT— "Airport"" jetted into the 500 

range in its first week at the suburban 

Northland, while the near-by Americana 

enjoyed 330-type business with the 14th 

week of the roadshow "Hello, Dolly!'" The 

Mercury, with "Patton" as its big drawing 

power, grossed 200 in a third week with 

the World War II film. 

Adams, Palmer Park—. . . tick . , . tick . . . 

tick . . . (MGM), 5th wk 70 

Americona Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 14th wk. 

Cinderella, Summit Two Roses and a Golden 

Rod (SR) 60 

Five theatres Marooned (Col) 100 

Fox— Bora Bora (AlP), 3rd wk 90 

Mercury Patton (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 200 

Northland Airport (Univ) 500 

Six Mile I Am Curious (Yellow) 

(SR), 30th wk 170 

Judge Delays Decision 

In Akron Film Seizure 

AKRON — Summit County Common 

Pleas Judge L. A. Lombard! has delayed for 

at least two weeks a decision on whether 

Akron police had a right to seize a film, 

"Siv—A Swedish Girl," from the Astor 

Theatre last November. 

Aaron Moses, Cleveland, and Harvey 

Keith, Stow, owner and manager, respectively, 

of the theatre, were indicted last November 

on two counts each of displaying an 

obscene film. Their attorney, Bernard Berkman 

of Cleveland, filed a defense motion to 

suppress the evidence, which consisted of 

the film itself. He argued that the police 

illegally seized the film because they had no 

search warrant and because they had not 

first obtained a judicial determination that it 

was obscene. 

Judge Lombardi gave Berkman a week to 

file his arguments in writing and granted 

Assistant Summit County Prosecutor 

Stephan Gabalac another week to file a 

written answer after hearing Lt. George 

Mullin, head of the vice squad, and Chief 

Police Prosecutor Carl Reed describe the 

circumstances of the seizure. 

NATO of Michigan Salutes Preminger 

For His Confributions 

DETROIT—Theatre owners attending the 

51st annual convention of the National Ass'n 

of Theatre Owners of Michigan March 24- 

25 at the Sheraton-Plaza Hotel here were 

welcomed by Mayor Roman S. Gribbs. 

Milton H. London, president of NATO of 

Michigan, presented Otto Preminger with a 

plaque reading: "Testimonial of tribute for 

distinguished contribution to motion picture 

arts. Presented with appreciation and esteem 

by NATO of Michigan at their 51st annual 

convention," 

Urges More Meetings 

Preminger suggested that producers should 

meet more often with exhibitors and distributors 

to establish a better understanding 

of the needs of each. What is needed now is 

pictures produced under the $40,000 bracket, 

Preminger stated. He emphasized that if one 

produces and exploits good films, they will 

have good results. The public is still interested 

in the media and Preminger spoke of 

many of the movies he had made — "Stalag 

17," "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie 

Moon" (which will be shown May 1 1 at the 

Cannes Film Festival) and others. Incidentally, 

only two American films will be shown 

at the Cannes Film Festival. The other is 

"M*A*S*H," the first movie produced by 

h,s younger brother Ingo. 

NATO president Eugene Picker addressed 

the convention, as reported last week in Boxoffice, 

and NATO vice-president B. V. 

Sturdivant was the featured speaker at the 

March 24 Showmanship Luncheon. 

Basing his speech on Dr. Milton Eisenhower's 

report on violence and crime, 

Sturdivant stressed that crime in the lobby 

and not on the screen is the greatest peril to 

movies. He mentioned instances from all 

parts of the country where rowdyism is running 

rampant, forcing entrance, raiding 

snack bars, taking whatever is wanted and 

leaving without interference. He noted that 

both hardtops and drive-ins had been 

wrecked by vandals in recent weeks in many 

parts of the country. 

Night Grosses Off 

Said Sturdivant, "Crime and violence on 

our streets are the most powerful and unwelcome 

allies that entertainment has ever 

known. Some theatre owners estimate night 

grosses off as much as 33 per cent." Houses 

have been forced to close because of uncontrolled 

rowdyism. He spoke of many instances 

of robbery resulting in injury and 

even death to attendants, cashiers, etc. 

Speaking of the Eisenhower report, Sturdivant 

declared that unless crime is curbed, 

the national crisis will deprive us of our way 

of life as we have always known it. "Our 

enemies are within—not without," he said. 

"Soon all doors in America may need to be 

bolted and windows barred. Armed guards 

may be a necessity for public safety around 

apartments, hotels, etc." 

There may be need of arms and devices in 

to Industry 

civilian-owned cars and armed guards for 

business districts may be deserted. Some 

public transportation, Sturdivant continued. 

Neighborhoods will have civilian armed patrols 

at night, by the block system, and central 

$20,000,000 has been allocated for anticrime 

assistance. Sturdivant urged the mot,on 

picture industry to take up the crusade 

to fight crime as they did in World War I. 

"It was one of our finest days when the 

NATO executive committee adopted a resolution 

in Chicago January 8," Sturdivant 

noted, "that the talent and facilities of our 

industry be offered to the Department of 

Justice in the battle against crime. The 

American Judicature Society, the American 

Bar Ass'n, the Justice Department, the tradepress 

and executives must become as one 

entity. NATO's biggest contribution will 

come in providing technical know-how to 

educate the public on the threat of crime 

and narcotics. It"s the responsibility of every 

showman to use all at their disposal—screen, 

posters and all occupational media— to alert 

the public to this serious threat to our lives. 

There already are 96,000 posters now out 

featuring Charlie Brown on the subject of 

narcotics."" 

Oscar A. Brotman, vice-president of 

addressed the convention, 

NATO of Illinois, 

his speech based on a humorous story about 

a pair of green alligator shoes and titled 

"Without a Stitch."" His opening comment 

was that it was a well-known fact that 

NATO of Michigan was one of the most 

active and productive NATO organizations 

in the U.S. Brotman has bought a theatre 

in St. Joseph, Mich., so he may become officially 

a member of Michigan NATO. 

Must Try New Ideas 

Brotman reflected that exhibitors must 

revamp their sell, analyze their old habits 

and try magnetic new ideas. He gave an 

example of the same feature playing two 

different situations. One had mediocre exposure 

and mediocre results, while the 

competition went all out and outgrossed 

pictures that were even better. 

"Put the power behind the features, not 

behind the candy counter," urged Brotman. 

"Get out and quit being a purveyor of hot 

dogs."" Presold pictures are not presold, he 

pointed out. Millions are tired of TV and 

radio confinement, with only fair choice, 

and are waiting anxiously to be coaxed back 

into the theatre. They are tired of tripe in 

all forms. The public does not care who 

wrote, produced or starred in the picture today 

nor what the cost. Over 50 per cent do 

not read the amusement page, Brotman said. 

But coming and going from work, they hear 

car radios. There is a vast silent 30-to-60 

age group, disenchanted with TV and radio 

and wanting clean family pictures. 

No one can any longer predict what the 

results of a picture will be by preview, Brotman 

noted. "Our ads," he said, "need new 

chemistry in the specialized market of today." 

BOXOFFICE :; April 13, 1970 ME-1

DETROIT 

l^rs. Delort-s Lent has cng.iited Clark 1 hcatro 

ScFMce ol Oak Park to handle the 

buying and booking for her Dundee Theatre. 

Dundee. 

At a meeting ol the governor of the state. 

Mayor Gribbs and the city council, the 

mayor proposed an increase in income tax 

for residents and a five per cent excise tax 

on anuisemenis and admissions. This is still 

in the discussion stage hut stands a good 

chance of passing. 

A testimonial wire from Dick Graff was 

read as N.\TO ol Michiiian honored Pete 

Rosian. retiring from Paramount to assume 

a post with Personal Film Service in Cleveland. 

Pete has not missed a Michigan NATO 

convention since 1951 and accepted the 

plaque with humor and humbleness. 

Women of Variety sponsored a fashion 

show luncheon Tuesday. March 24, running 

concurrently with NATO's Showmanship 

Luncheon. The highly successful event was 

a benefit for Children's Hospital. Academy 

.Award-winnini; dcsisner Edith Head and the 

Delivery Charges Up 

For Mich. Theatres 

DETROIT— .Milion H. London, president 

of NATO of Michigan, announced that 

PEP Lines Trucking Co. has been granted 

a rate increase by the Michigan Public 

Service Commission as of Sunday (5). The 

trucking firm, in a letter to London apprising 

him of the higher rates, attributed the 

rise to increased labor costs, payroll taxes, 

equipment and supply costs. 

Film and package deli\ery charges are increased 

between eight and ten per cent under 

the new tariff and there is a 20 per cent 

increase in trailer delivery charges— from 29 

cents to 35 cents per trailer. 

The minimum delivery charge has been 

raised from $6 per week to $6.75. 

A copy of the letter from PEP Lines 

Trucking Co. and the new schedule of delivery 

charges were sent by London to 

NATO of Michigan members. 

inrviiTs 

II32SS. WABASH 

CHICAGO 60»05 

One 

t>oy 

Seryicel 

Write 

for 

Samples 

ME-2 

TuB MOLLV 

MAIlUlEES 

, mtimm\\ 

^"^ Showmen Are Using 

"IJÂCKS 3 In One 

TRAILERETTES 


2. Gui be used as cross plug trailer 


PROGRAMS • HERALDS 

INDOOR & DRIVE-IN THEATRES 

THEATRICAL ADV. 

CO. 

24001 SOUTHFIELD ROAD 

SOUTHFIELO, MICHIGAN 4807S 

world-famous designer Baron Vincent Von 

Berg were in attendance. Miss Head was 

honored for her "distinguished contribution 

to the worlds of entertainment and high 

fashion." 

. . . 

N.'VrO of .Michigan convention events: 

National CicnLT.il Pictures hosted a premiere 

of ""The ChcNcnne Social Club" Tuesday 

evening, March 24. at the Adams Theatre 

The same evening featured a cocktail 

party in the Founders Room, hosted by 

Union Carbide Corp. and National Projector 

Carbons dealers, as well as a Nightclub 

Party honoring Coca-Cola and L&L 

Concession. The entertainment was most 

enjoyable, featuring comic Frankie Rapp, a 

well-known entertainer in these parts, and 

magician Larry Thompson. The music was 

by Zan Gilbert, local talent . . . Mrs. V. 

Phillips of Sun Theatre, Williamston, won 

the TV . . . The Wednesday, March 25, 

Celebrity Luncheon was held in the Grand 

Ballroom of the Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel. 

Emcee for the occasion was the quickwitted 

weatherman lor WWJ-TV. 

M. R. Christensen Dies; 

Industry & Civic Leader 

DETROIT—Martin R. Christensen, 78, a 

leader of western Michigan exhibition, died 

recently as the result of a heart attack which 

occurred while he was working in his yard 

at his home in Muskegon. Christensen 

started as manager of the Michigan Theatre, 

Muskegon, in 1914, later taking the same 

post at the Regent, and then assistant to the 

late P. J. "Pete" Schlossman, leading exhibitor 

of the area. Upon the latter's death in 

1950, Christensen became manager of the 

Schlossman Theatres circuit, later renamed 

Muskegon Theatres. He retired in March 

1969. 

Christensen was a leader in both industry 

and civic affairs and a member of many organizations. 

Among his posts were those of 

unofficial "Mayor of Western Avenue," the 

Elks Citizen of the Year (1961), executive 

board of the Timber Trails Boy Scouts 

Council and advisory board of the Salvation 

Army. 

Survivors include his wife Gertrude; a 

son Robert, and a daughter. 

Summer Opening Planned 

For LOOO-Car Drive-In 

DETROIT—A new drive-in, the first in 

the area in about 15 years, is in the picture 

for the Tri-Cities area in Norton Shores, a 

suburb of Muskegon. Located at U.S. 31 

and Pontaluna Road, construction is to begin 

early this summer and opening is scheduled 

for the summer months. 

Capacity will be 1,000 cars and the screen 

will be largest in the area. There will be a 

kiddie-land with all the usual features and 

the drive-in will be equipped with electric 

heaters. 

Operation will be handled by Steve Eisner, 

owner of the 104 Drive-In in Spring Lake. 

MPAA Initiates CARA 

Fellowship Program 

fr.irn Wu-.turn Edition 

HOLLYWOOD — The Motion Picture 

Ass'n of America has initiated a program of 

fellowships for the Code and Rating Administration, 

Eugene G. Dougherty, administrator, 

has announced. It is anticipated 

that the 12-month tenure program will be 

renewed each year, he said. 

The first appointees are Stephen Farber, 

26, and Estelle Changes, 29. They will function 

as full-time members of Dougherty's 

staff at CARA. 

Farber graduated from Amherst College 

magna cum laude in 1965 and received an 

M.A. in English under a Woodrow Wilson 

Fellowship from UC, Berkeley, in 1967. He 

received his M.A. in Theatre Arts at UCLA 

last month. His thesis was on violence in the 

American film and he taught a UCLA extension 

course on the same subject last 

year. He has written articles on films for a 

number of publications, including the Washington 

Post, Film Quailerly, Sight and 

Sound and the Hudson Review. 

Miss Changes received her B.A. in English 

literature at UCLA in 1962, later 

taught in the Los Angeles public schools, 

attended English Graduate School at UC, 

Berkeley, and taught English at Berkeley 

High School. She enrolled in the graduate 

division of the Motion Picture Department 

at UCLA in 1968 and currently is completing 

her studies under a UC grant. She recently 

was program assistant to George 

Stevens jr. at the American Film Institute. 

CCF Names Ashley Boone 

As Executive Aide 


NEW YORK—Milton Goldstein, senior 

vice-president of Cinema Center Films, announced 

the appointment of Ashley Boone 

as his executive assistant. Boone, formerly 

associated with Sidney Poitier's E and R Productions, 

previously worked for Cinema 

Center as director of international advertising, 

publicity and promotion, from Februai7 

1968 to August 1969. 

Clyde D. Wixom, 80, Dies 

DETROIT — Clyde D. Wixom, retired 

house manager of the Adams Theatre in 

Detroit, died recently at the age of 80. 

Wixom is survived by a son and two daughters. 

Marcella Schreiber Dies 

DETROIT—Marcella Schreiber has died 

at the age of 57. She was the wife of Raymond 

Schreiber, owner and operator of 

Detroit's Colonial Theatre. 

Civic Theatre in Old Strand 

BATTLE CREEK, MICH.—Plans are 

under way for preparing the old Strand 

Theatre as the new home of the Civic Theatre. 

Spearheading the project is the newly 

organized Civic Theatre Guild. 

BOXOFHCE :: April 13, 1970

iM 

!3^4.

. . Antique 

! 

CLEVELAND 

Tatcil news Irom \arict\ C luh lent t>: It > Frank .Muslu has von 0.ir\ sale and happy 

again at Purdue and looking lorward to 

•in inMl.ition and is worked thus: "Gala 

Champajine Prevue . Show and the Indianapolis 500. Frank's daughter 

Sale." And isn't that a switch in the product? Diane plays the bassoon in the '.All-City 

In case you put your invitation away (loo Band." 

carefully), here's the gist of it: The prevue 

From Jim F'ilz (Universal sales) comes 

will he held 1 uesday (14) at Stouffers Somerset 

Inn. .^550 Nonhfield Rd.. at 8 p.m. 

word that the Film Bldg. group will be represented 

at Lakeside Hospital during the 

Tarrff is SI 2.50 a couple. Dress is informal. 

1 

middle of May by an 1 -year-old young lady 

Guests are invited. 

who is a friend of several of the group. The 

This is a prevue to the .\ntinue Show to 

\oung lady will be treated to open heart 

be held at the Somerset Wednesday and 

surgery. Blood type is A-negalivc. Three (or 

Thursday (15-lh). Only 100 tickets available 

lour) \ears ago the Variety Club did some 

and they're showing a quarter-million dollars 

radio, etc.. promotion for a couple of cases 

worth of stuff. .And there'll he champagne 

with \er\ happy results. IhcN're all siill 

and canapes, plus entertainment by strolling 

going strong. 

players (to be listened to). For anything 

more, get in touch with .Mickey Kraus. Jack Earlier this spring. Irene Lymon. daughter 

Kaufman or Leonard Mishkind. 

of the man who rungs the Stales Film Co.. 

came back from a trip to Europe, very 

J. D. H'atkiiLs (Modern Theatres) took 

proudly bringing her father a gift, a very 

his usual contingent to the opening baseball 

expensive, very dressy hat. Lytnon was very 

game. 

proud of said hat and when three or four of 

what has come to be considered as the 

scourge" of the Film Bldg. disarmingly said 

FINER PROJECTION-SUPER ECONOMY 

;o him. "That's a very nice hat you've got 

on," he was pleased with the compliment 

and said thanks and then he felt that cold 

Payne .Avenue wind hit his uncovered head 

•ind saw his admirers sailing down Payne 

Avenue with his hat. Now he knows that, 

really, "pride goeth before, etc." 

Considering that nothing has brought a 

si,>p to the weekly (almost) burglaries, how 

could a hat be safe'? The\ told Lymon thes 

needed just such a headpiece. Mostly they 

seem to "need" a couple of electric typewriters, 

adding machines and the like. To- 

Ask Your Supply Dealer or Write 

day's story was one about a needy one who 


didn't have to jimmy (or crowbar) the door. 

26 Sarah Drivi Formingdolc, L I., N. Y., 11735 

Had a key. 

Mary Jane Hillenbrand (Universal) took a 

RC/I 

Theatre 

\acation March 23. She sure didn't miss the 

cold weather. 

Service 


Condolences to Dave Richoux. branch 


A Division ot RCA 

manager. Universal, whose father died in 

5121 W. 16ist Street 

kite March in New Orleans. 

Cleveland. Ohio 44142 

Phone: (2161 267-2725/6 Miss Mollye Davis, who has been in the 

WRITE—

Not just 


. . . but 


With such Century innovations as CINE-FOCUS'^, double 

dissolving shutters and our UVIR-2?' band pass light 





Vision. 

But don't overlool< the Century Projector itself. A great 





















NTURY PROJECTOR CORPORATION 

New York. N.Y. 10019 

General Theatre Equipment 

1628 Central Parkway 

Cincinnati, Ohio 4S210 

Phone: 721-6686 

Hadden Theatre Supply Co 

1909 Emerson Avenue 

Louisville, Kentucky 40205 

BOXOFFICE ;: April 13. 1970 

Jones Projector Co. 

2727 Sixth St. 

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 447.21 

Moore Theatre Equipment Co. 

506 Lee Street (P.O. Box 782) 

Charleston, West Virginia 25323 

Phone (304) 344-4413 

Ohio Theatre Supply Co. 

2108 Payne Avenue 

Cleveland, Ohio 44114 

Theatre Equipment Co. 

21735 Fenkell neor Lohser 

Detroit, Michigan 48223 

Phone: 255-4520 

ME-

Ohio 

Smut' Bill Is 

Temporarily Shelved 

CUILMBLS H^>ll^c.lppr^nc^.l k'Si^lalion 

lo ciirh ihe flow of pornographic nuilerials 

will be delayed in ihe Ohio Senate 

until after the May 5 primary elections. The 

hill is in the Senate Judiciary Convniitiec. 

which IN extensively rewriting the houseoriginated 

propiisal. 

Amendments to the bill, which divides the 

problem of smut peddling by establishing 

separate standards for adults and minors, 

were brought before the senate committee 

just before a recess. The senate floor action 

on the bill is not expected, however, until 

the leg.slaliire reconvenes May 18. 

Smce I-'ebruary I9(i9, the Ohio l.egislaiiirc 

has been wrestling with the problem of obscenity 

legislation. Rep. Robert .A. Manning, 

.\kron. last year introduced a bill in the 

house, where it was pa.ssed 82-0 some ten 

weeks later. Ever since then, the Senate Judiciary 

Committee has been trying to do 

what even the U. S. Supreme Court has shied 

away from—define obscenit\ and determine 

that if something isn't obscene to adults, is it 

harmful to minors? 

The Senate Judiciary Conimiltcc has 

adopted four amendments and is believed 

working on a fifth, after approving a subcommitlee 

report recently. The subcommittee 

spent five months working on the bill and 

said it had "attempted to be more specific" 

in defining what is harmful to minors and 

obscene to adults, while remaining within 

"the confines of constitutional rulings." 

"The intention is to protect juveniles from 

matter which, though not obscene from an 

adult point of view, is nevertheless unsuitable 

for juveniles." said .Sen. Paul E. Gilmore, 

Tiffin, who chaired the subciniimitiec. "This 

would be because it has a primary appeal to 

their prurient, scatalogical. morbid or shameful 

interests without making a redeeming 

contribution to their knowledge, morals or 

welfare." he explained. 

In attempting to define what is obscene 

for adults. Gilmore said it 

wasn't the "intent 

to "treat all things as obscene." " He explained 

that the intent ""was to condemn 

those things where the principal effect is to 

exacerbate sentience, loathing or lascivious 

desire by presenting a graphic view of the 

physical or intimate things of life and inviting 

the reader or viewer to welter in the details." 

Gilmore said that the committee is aware 

GORONARC 

that "'in the end. the final decision will ultimately 

rest with juries and the courts." He 

said one or more challenges of the bill could 

be expected if it is enacted into law by the 

Ohio legislature. The bill is patterned after 

.1 New "^'ork law that has been held constitutional 

by the U. S. Supreme Court. 

One of the amendments lo the house bill 

would exempt niolion picture projectionists 

Irom prosecution lor showing an objcction- 

.ible 

film. .Some committee members pointed 

out the dangers of moving too rapidly into 

Ihe largely uncharted area of defining what 

is obscene. 

Benson Wolman. Columbus, executive director 

of the American Civil Liberties Union 

of Ohio, objected to the bill because it does 

not spell out the criteria to be used in judging 

what is i>bscene or objectionable. He said 

possibly teachers could be prosecuted under 

the bill 

for conducting sex education classes 

that some parents might find objectionable. 

Phil Church Named Prexy 

Of Ohio Cable TV Ass'n 

COLUMBUS—Phil S. Church. Bellefonlaine, 

has been elected president of the Ohio 

Cable TV Ass'n for the coming year. William 

Randies. Zanesville, was elected vicepresident. 

Leo Hoarty, Toledo, was reelected 

secretary-treasurer. Members of the 

board of directors are: J. Tennent Hoey. 

Chillicothe; Jack Rubens, Marion; Richard 

Gessner, Massillon: Oscar Bker, Piqua; Larry 

Whitehead, Marietta; Ray Joslin, Findlay; 

Earl Shoup, Wooster; John Nowak, 

Shadyside, and Paul Snyder, Coshocton. 

Donald Taverner, president of the National 

Cable TV Ass'n, said the industry 

must maintain a united front in the face of 

threatened copyright fees and various local 

and federal controls. He said there should 

be fewer mandatory regulations and more 

elective decisions. He said Congress and the 

Federal Communications Commission have 

been made well aware that CATV system 

operators are concerned for their existence 

and security. 

Nemaha Drive-In Is Sold 

SABETHA, KAS.—Ernie Block has sold 

his Nemaha Drive-In to Ernest Petry of 

Sabetha. Petry is in the insurance business. 

After 49 years in the motion picture industry 

as film salesman and exhibitor. Block 

is retiring to enjoy a much slower pace and 

a well-earned rest—at least for a while. 

CARBONS 

Low Prices ... Long Lasting ... Top Satisfaction 

7s—8s—9s— 10s—13.6—^nd negatives 

PLUS: 7x20; 8x20; 9x20 and negatives 

available from your nearest distributor 

Indwwdenl Thotrt Supply Aniferson EnniiMtring Sales 

2750 E. Houston 517 S. Er»»y 

S»n Antanie, Teas 78202 Dallas, Texas 75201 

WEST COAST THEATRE SERVICE 

ME-6 

National Distributor 

909 N.W. mh S». Phon* 227-2932 Portlond, Oregon 97209 

laqulrles Invited Concerning Distribution Rights 

Enright, Thomas Buy 

Salem Auto Theatre 

Ul'ILLl ONIAlNi:. OHIO— Alter 20 

years of successful operation, Guy Spangler 

has sold the Salem Auto Theatre, located 

at the intersection of Routes b8 and 296 

north of Urbana. New owners are Paul Enrighl, 

Cincinnati, and Larry 'Ihomas of West 

Virginia. Ihe drive-in has been renamed the 

Champaign Auto. 

Enright is associated with 20th Century- 

Fox in Cincinnati. Thomas, formerly with 

20th Century-Fox. has relocated in Uibana 

lo manage the airer. 

Phoned Bomb Threats Mar 

Ohio Showings of 'King' 

COLUMBU.S— In the Akron area, all but 

47 of the 1,150 seats in the Summiti Mall, 

Akron, were full for the March 24 showing 

of "King: A Filmed Record . . . Montgomery 

to Memphis." However, only a few 

hundred showed up at Loew's State Theatre 

in Cuyahoga Falls, an Akron suburb. 

The Palace Theatre at Canton reported a 

near capacity crowd for the showing. 

At Youngstown. three area theatres had 

a total audience of 1.044. far from a sellout 

and somewhat disappointing. The three 

houses showing the film were the Paramount, 

downtown Youngstown; the Boardman 

Plaza, and Loew's Eastwood Mall, both 

of the latter in shopping center locations. 

In Dayton, the Kon Tiki and Loew's 

Downtown, with a combined total capacity 

of 3,135 seats, reported a total of 1,808 

paid admissions for both houses. Failure to 

reach the projected total capacity of 3,135 

was blamed on lack of proper promotion 

and advertising and vague rumors of possible 

violence, according to a writer in the Dayton 

Daily News. 

It was said the 935-seat Kon Tiki had to 

turn away over 100 patrons, who were sent 

downtown to Loew's where there were 2,200 

seats available. Some 873 patrons went to 

Loew's Downtown. 

A telephoned bomb threat interrupted the 

film in Springfield, where some 500 patrons 

were evacuated for a search. No bomb was 

found. A similar incident was reported in 

Cincinnati an hour before the film was due 

to start and no bomb was found there, 

either. 

Al Boudouris Is Invited 

To Apollo 13 Launching 

TOLEDO. OHIO—Al Boudouris, president 

of EPRAD, accepted an invitation to 

attend the Apollo 13 launching at the John 

F. Kennedy .Space Center in Florida, scheduled 

for Saturday (11). 

EPRAD is a manufacturer of theatre 

equipment, as well as other electro-mechanical 

equipment and automation systems for 

industrial and business use. Boudouris. a 

former Navy pilot in World War II, is an 

electrical engineer and an officer of TESMA 

and TEDA. 


The college 

contribution 

There are two ways to look at it. 

There's the contribution the colleges 

make to business. 

That's crucial. 

Business employs about 42% of all college 

educated people. It uses their brainpower 

and skill in developing new products 

and methods. It fills management posts. 

In the other direction, there's the 

contribution business makes to colleges. 

The colleges welcome it. They need all 

the funds they can get. They're helping 

to prepare leaders for management, 

but the cost of this preparation— the whole 

cost of education— is going up sharply. 

If business wants college talent, it must 

keep colleges in business. It can help 

finance their need for classrooms, 

facilities and especially teachers. 

In this light, your aid-to-education 

program is an aid to your company. 

is a twoway 

street 

>.'!, 

S 

! 

SPECIAL TO MANAGEMENT-A new booklet 

of particular Interest if your company has 

not yet established an aid-to-education 

program. 

Write for: "THE RATIONALE OF CORPO- 

RATE GIVING," Box 36, Times Square Station, 

New YorK, N.Y. 10036. 

College is 

Business' Best Friend 

COUNCIL FOR 

FINANCIAL 

t'J AID TO 

tUUCATlON 

Published as a public service in cooperation with The Advertising Council and the Council for Financial Aid to Education. 

OuTTO 

BOXOFFICE ;: April 13, 1970 ME-7

. . Pat 

CINCINNATI 

The nivrcuriul 

post-Hasler week weather ol 

snow, he.ivy rains and extremely high 

winds caused some damage to drive-in signs 

and fences in this area. So tar, there have 

heen no refH>ris ol serious damage to towers 

and screens. Most all seasonal drive-ins will 

he opening ahout mid-.-\pril. with the majority 

playing weekends only until the 

weather settles down tî gentle spring 

breezes, rain showers and. hopefully, some 

Minshine. 

Twin minis. Cinema I and Cinema 11. and 

Cinema III Drive-In at White Sulphur 

Springs. \V. Va.. arc now under construction 

and are scheduled for completion hy the end 

of the month for owner A. \V. Cook. Cook 

also has under construction twin minis. 

Cinema I and Cinema II. with 100 sc.its 

each, at .Man. W. Va.. which are scheduled 

for completion in about six weeks. Tri-State 

Theatre .Services will book and buy. 

Lee Robb, office manager for Interstate 

Iheatre .Services, h.is n.'luriKHl Imm ,i 

spring vacation. 

slioil 

Mel Meyers, Columbia .issislant branch 

in.in.iger, attendcvi .1 coinp.iin s.iles iiiceling 

in Miami. Fla. 

. . . 

. 

lom Fisher, National Ihealre Supph 

branch manager, has returned from a company 

meeting in St. Louis The Plaza 

Theatre Drive-ln, Lancaster, reopened 

Wednesday (8). after renovations, playing 

"I'asN Rider." Halloran. Buena 

Vista division manager, and .kMry Ciruenberg. 

20th Century-Fox Midwest district 

manager, visited the film colony. 

Kxhihitors in 

town included Waller Dilles. 

St. Alban.s. W. Va.: J. C, Weddle. I.awrenceburg. 

Ind.: Kentuckians Bud Hughes and his 

son William. McKee: Glen Peters, Richmond; 

Marshall Mahaffey, Beattyville; C. 

W. Combs. Hazard, and Howard Shcllon. 

Vanceburg. 

Ohio exhibitors in town to book and buy 

included Larry Thomas, Urbana; Bob Mc- 

Lain. Lebanon; John Hevvit. Bethel; Russ 

Nagelspach. Sidney, and Skip Vassenoff. 

Columbus. 

Radio WZIP's recent Variety Club Heartline 

auction netted nearly $2,500 for the 

Children's Heart Clinic at General Hospital. 

About 100 souvenirs of country and western 

stars were auctioned off. including a Johnny 

Cash harmonica lor $75. Buck Owens' stage 

coat and other apparel brought $\i5. Top 

prize was Porter Wagoner's guitar, which 

lelched ,'(1225. The V.uiely Club received the 

.uiction idea from an Atlanta radio station, 

which started this type of promotion several 

years ago. 

Dick Shovelton Updating 

The Colonial Theatre 

Fruni Eostcfn Edilion 

PHOENIXVILLE, PA. — Richard T. 

Shovelton, 640 Nutt Rd., a franchise consultant, 

has been the manager of the Colonial 

Theatre since January. During that 

lime he has made extensive repairs and endeavored 

to place in effect a more rigid 

enforcement of admission restrictions. 

Among improvements at the theatre are a 

new and brighter screen, cleaner rest rooms, 

improvements to the air-conditioning and 

heating equipment and more courteous treatment 

of customers. 

A former serviceman who was stationed at 

Valley Forge General Hospital, Shovelton is 

married and the father of one son. 

Charles D. Lurgio Dies 

TOLEDO, OHIO—Charles D. Lurgio, 77. 

for 40 years a motion picture projectionist 

[or various theatres in Toledo, retiring in 

1957, died recently in Bay Pines Army 

Hospital, St. Petersburg. Fla. His wife Pearl, 

a son, a daughter and a sister survive. 

Translation for Paleface. 

"Don't waste time with old-fashioned 

way sending message. 

BEST way to 

SELL used equipment, find 

HELP, SELL 

or BUY theatres, is with 

BOXOFFICE CLEARING HOUSE 

You get year-round service." 

tÂTES: 25c per word, minimum $2.50, cash with copy. Four tonsecuti.e insertions for price of three 

BOXOFFICE, 825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

Please insert the following ad times in the CLEARING HOUSE 

Classification 

(Enclosed is check or money order for $ Blind ads 50< per insertion extra) 

ME-8 BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970

A 

A 

They 

'Woodstock' at 1,000 

Tops Big Boston Week 

BOSTON—Easter business was big here 

despite a sneak storm which left seven 

inches of snow in the streets. New, big 

fihns abounded and theatregoers had a series 

of decisions to make as to what to see 

first amid all the plenty. Most of the college 

crowd thronged to Cheri One to see "Woodstock" 

and that festival picture wound up 

its first week wkh a glorious 1,000—or ten 

times an average week at Cheri One. 

"M*A"S*H" also got a big play from the 

younger crowd, good for an 800 first week 

at the Charles, while "Fellini Satyricon" 

packed Cheri Three for performanL;e after 

perroi-mance and a 700 first frame. Also at 

700 stood "Hello, Dolly!" after the Easter 

business was counted, the percentage coming 

in the roadshow's third week at the 

Saxon. Also in the supergrossing class 

ranked "Airport," playing a 600 second 

week at the Paramount. 


Abbey Loving (Col) 250 

Astor The Boys in the Bond (NGP), 2nd wk 400 

Charles—M*A*S*H (20th-Fox) 800 

Cheri One Woodstock (WB) 1 ,000 

Cheri Two They Shoot Horses, Don't They? 

(CRC), 6th wk 400 

Chen Three Fellini Sotyricon (UA) 700 

Circle Potton (20th-Fox), 4th wk 400 

Gary Morooned (Col), 2nd wk 150 

Music Hall The Adventurers (Para) 275 

Orpheum King of the Grizzlies (BV) 125 

Paramount Airport (Univ), 2nd wk 600 

Pans Cinema Zobriskie Point (MGM), 4th wk. .250 

Saxon— Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 700 

West End Cinema Monique (Embassy), 2nd wk. . .300 

'Charlie Brown' Keeps No. 1 

Place on New Haven List 

NEW HAVEN— It 

was another triumphal 

week for "Charlie Brown" and "They Shoot 

Horses, Don't They?", these two popular 

features ranged 1-2 as New Haven holdovers. 

"Charlie Brown" scored 175 in the 

second inning at Showcase Cinema 1 and 

"Horses" posted 150 in a sixth at companion 

Showcase 11. Several of the new pictures 

climbed as high as 125. the level of secondweek 

"Marooned" at the Whalley. 

Cinemort Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 15th wk 125 

College Whot Do You Soy to o Noked 

Lady? (UA), 3rd wk 70 

College Street Cinema The Damned 

(WB), 4th wk 90 

Crown, Westville, Whitney, Bowl 

The Kremlin Letter (20th Fox) 1 25 

Lawrence The Art of Marriage (SR) 125 

Milford Cinema, Strand, Post King of the 

Grizzlies (BV) 

Milford Drive-in Scream and Scream Agoin 

(AlP) 

Paramount Jenny (CRC) 

, 100 

125 

100 

Princess We Are All Naked (SR), 2nd wk 125 

Roger Sherman Anne of the Thousond Days 

(Univ), 2nd wk 80 

Showcase Cinema I Boy Named Charlie 

Brown (NGP), 2nd wk 175 

Showcase Cinema II They Shoot Horses, Don't 

They? (CRC), 6th wk 1 50 

Showcase Cinema III—Z (Cinema V), 6th wk. . . 90 

Whalley Marooned (Col), 2nd wk 1 25 

'Charlie Brown' 'Dolly!' 200 

As Holdovers in Hartford 

HARTFORD—The town had six newcomers 

and all registered briskly enough but 

the double average business was recorded at 

Cinema 1, where "A Boy Named Charlie 

Brown" was in a second week, and at the 

Elm, playing the third week of "Hello. 

Dolly!" "The Adventurers" showed the most 

boxoffice power among the new films, run- 

DISTRICT MANAGERS MEET— Redstone Theatres held an annual meeting 

of district managers in Boston, conducted by circuit heads Edward and Sumner 

Redstone. Top, left to right: Sam Feldman, area coordinator and construction 

supervisor; Bill Towey, district manager, Milan, III.; Walter Franko, district manager. 

New York; Harry Schneider, district manager, Michigan; Phil Klein, district 

manager, Ohio; Mike Henry, district manager, Kentucky; John P. Lowe, district 

manager, Massachusetts and Connecticut; Larry Nason, district manager. New 

England drive-ins; Ben Casamassa, district manager. New Jersey; and Joe Sommers, 

district manager, Maryland. Front row, left to right, Arthur Dovner, auditor; 

Robert DiLeo, home office, accounting; Alex Castoldi, concession department 

head; Bemardine Shapiro, purchasing agent; Manuel Lima, area coordinator; 

Jerome Magner, comptroller; and Gerry VingI, auditor. 

ning up 175 at the Burnside and Newington. 

Art Cinema The Scavengers (SR); 

Foil Guy (SR) 125 

Berlin Cine II, Monchester, Pike—s-The Kremlin 

Letter (20th-Fox) 125 

Burnside, Newington The Adventurers (Para) ...175 

Central, Cinema II Anne of the 

Thousand Days (Univ), 2nd wk 75 

Cinema I Boy Named Charlie Brown 

(NGP), 2nd wk 200 

Cinerama Marooned (Col), 2nd wk .....120 

Cine Webb—Z (Cinema V), 3rd wk 100 

East Windsor Drive-In King of the Grizzlies 

(BV) 100 

Elm— Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 200 

E M Loew's, East Hartford, Hartford 

Caressed (SR); The Gomes Men Ploy (SR) .150 

Pans (Cinema I Shoot Horses, Don't They? 

(CRC), 6th wk 125 

Paris Cinema II Butch Cossidy and the 

Sundance Kid (20th-Fox), 26th wk 75 

Rivoli— The Minx (Cambist), 2nd wk 150 

Huge Strand in Portland 

To Become Parking Site 

PORTLAND — The Strand Theatre, 

where a young singer named Rudy Vallee 

ushered, is going to be torn down to make 

room for a parking lot. 

Built in 1911. the Strand at one time was 

called "The Big Nickel," the price of admission, 

and reputed to be the largest motion 

picture theatre in New England after 

its capacity was increased to 2.500 in 1918. 

During the 1930s and 1940s, the Strand was 

widely known for its vaudeville bills as well 

as a well supported film house. 

The advent of television, however, proved 

to be the undoing of the theatre. 

TONE to Elect Oificers 

In Boston This Month 

Boston—Carl Goldman, executive 

secretary of the Theatre Owners of New 

England, has scheduled the organization's 

annual meeting and election of 

officers for Wednesday (29). 

The meeting will be convened at 

10:15 a.m. that day at Nick's Restaurant 

in Boston. 

NE Industry Honors 

For Angelo Lombard! 

NEW HAVEN—The National Ass'n of 

Theatre Owners of Connecticut participated 

in an all-industry salute March 26 to Angelo 

Lombardi. newly appointed Philadelphia 

branch manager for Warner Bros, pictures. 

Lombardi. who was New Haven branch 

manager for many years, was guest-of-honor 

at a Kaysey's Restaurant luncheon. 

The arrangements committee was headed 

by Sam Germaine, former American International 

New Haven branch manager. Other 

members of the committee were Herman M. 

Levy, Mort Katz, David Titleman, Robert 

Spodick. Leonard Sampson. Max Hoffman, 

Charles Oelrich. Bill Decker. Sperie P. 

Perakos and James Darby. 

WBZ-TV No Longer Reviews 

X Films Exploiting Sex 

BOSTON—WBZ-TV. which programs 

three films from NBC-TV. Monday, Tuesday 

and Saturday nights and has film reviewer 

Pat Collins on each night following 

the news, has decided it will not review any 

X-rated films exploiting sex. 

In a broadcast editorial. Win Baker, general 

manager of the Grotip W station, said 

the policy restriction covers "the X-rated 

category of films which features an explicit 

treatment of sex in modern society. 

"WBZ-TV doesn't advocate censorship in 

the arts. But. in publicly reviewing this type 

of film, we feel we are giving them undue 

attention and respectability they hardly deserve," 

Baker said. 

Only those X-rated films with 

"some special 

merit" will be reviewed, he pointed 

out. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 NE-1

— 

Selling Theatres as Entertainment 

Centers Is Pressing Industry Need 

By ALLEN M. WIDEN! 

HARTFORD—Somehody somewhere in 

this business of motion picture exhibition 

at some time must have bemoaned the jack 

of nuahlN releases the >ear round and. to be 

sure, somebody somewhere must have countered 

with the essentially sound argunienialion 

that. "Well, we've got pictures .ind 

we've got pictures but we sure don't have 

top p.ctures." 

.And isn't the showing of top pictures the 

name, the only name, of the game? 

Sperie P. Perakos. vice-president and general 

manager of Perakos Theatres Associates. 

New Britain. Conn. -based, family 

owned-and-operated circuit of Connecticut 

showcases, got to talking about product 

and product promise and pkuoff the other 

day. 

He was in an expansive mood, this mildmannered, 

knowledgeable executive, back 

from a few weeks in the Mexican sun with 

his wife Nikki (they went South to see to 

-South .American rights to the Sperie Perakosproduced 

".Antigone." starring Irene Papas 

and filmed in Greece several years ago). 

For one thing. Perakos (his dad Peter G. 

at 82 is dean of active exhibitors in New 

England) told us that the picture, not the 

star, per sc. is what's selling nowadays and 

the trend, well entrenched, isn't about to do 

an about-face. 

The Perakos family came up with a $125.- 

()()() bid—an all-time high, incidentally, in 

Hartford— for 20th Centurv-Fox's "Hello, 

Dolly!" 

A lot of money in any exhibitor's life. 

to be sure, but a sum to be expended for 

product, top. potentially promising product. 

It is the feeling of Sperij Perakos and. not 

so surprisingly, 

of many other executives in 

exhibition, that distribution should not be 

continually faulted for failure of so-called 

"surefire" attractions to click ai the boxoffice. 

He contends that, all too often, it's a 

matter of individual apathy, disregard, disinterest 

in the delicate atmosphere of sellinu 

—of wearing out shoe leather, seeking out 

promotional tie-ups and the like that will 

have some form of impact where it counts. 

at the hoxoffice. 

He's not speaking, mind you. of any given 

exhibitor or group of exhibitors. Sperie 

Perakos grew up in this business and he's 

not about to score his fellow laborers in the 

vineyard for inattention. Rather, he would 

Titfi 

nUliLT 

XfilHIBES 

sauce !(';'[§'•' 

^'°^ Showmeo Are Uiing 

"l^CKS 3 In One 

TRAILERETTES 

II. ^- 

,-,:. 

Can be used as a prcvue service 

jllm ifi' H J 2. Can be used as cross plug trailer 

I32SS. WASASH 

CHICAGO 60S05 


like to see an acceleration, .in escal.ilion. if 

you will, of inter-industry effort, geared to 

selling the motion picture theatre as a center 

of community entertainment. 

This activity, in itself, will only reflect in 

bettered industry imager). 

"We're selling an image." he insists. "Yel, 

really, how man\ of us seek to improve, to 

enhance our own theatre or theatres' image'.' 

How many of us drop by at the local newspaper 

office and talk to the editor about 

what the movie house in the town really 

means'.' How many of us have taken the time 

to volunteer to address high school groups, 

college classes, et al, on the value of the 

motion picture as a mass means of communications?" 

At the same time, Perakos knows all too 

well what it means to come up against a 

blank wall. 

"Sure," he says, "I've talked with newspaper 

editors and never gotten a break. 

'No' Not a Deterrent 

"But a turndown, a polite 'Thank you. 

but no . . 

.' 

doesn't deter me from trying 

to talk with that same newspaper editor 

again. If not at the office, then over a cup 

of coffee. The local newspaper is tremendously 

influential in forming habits—habits 

that include, most certainly, moviegoing. 

As exhibitors, we can't afford to ignore the 

press. 

"What most exhibitors fail to realize," 

to his mind, "is the obviousness of some 

news falling into the editor's modus operandi— 

i.e.. tipping off a city desk on something 

that's happening. I'm not so much concerned 

about the theatre name being mentioned 

as the theatre being remembered as a 

friend of the newspaper by the editor alerted 

to something significant." 

And how does all the foregoing become 

applicable to top pictures'.' 

•Take 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.' 

We 

played it. with considerably strong success, 

at the Elm, West Hartford. We moved it to 

Cinema One, East Hartford, at just about 

the time the movie came up for Academy 

Award nominations. 

Quick to Alert Press 

"John D'Amato, our metropolitan Hartford 

division manager, is not a lazy man. 

He got on the phone, called the newspapers. 

We got some breaks because we alerted 

the press. This is not to say that we wouldn't 

have gotten the breaks but the presence of 

an alert man. like D'Amato. assured the 

Cinema One of just one break that helped 

our image." 

Sperie Perakos. in exhibition since the 

1930s, feels that a lot of so-so hoxoffice response 

can be corrected, provided the theatre 

manager himself gets out to promote. 

"Top promotion means top effort; we've 

got to push, push, push!" 

To the traditional theatreman's complaint 

about so-called "orphan" release periods, 

when there's not a big-scale effort on the 

distribution charls. Pci.ikos answers thai 

more intensive perusal of availahiliiies can 

make a distinct difference. 

"This implies booking juggling." he admits. 

"For example, a theatre that's played 

siriclh 

Hollywood for years finds that nothing 

strong is available for, say, a few weeks. 

Why not take a chance on an independent 

distributor's release or a foreign film? Not 

just any film, either. But a picture the exhibitor 

knows instinctiveh will appeal to 

his normal audience." 

Perakos is not one to second guess. "I 

hale the Monday morning quarterbacks in 

this industry the guys who say, "See. I told 

you the picture would flop!' 

"Why can't we have more industry boosters?" 

he ponders. "People who'll go out of 

their way to be helpfully critical when talking 

about a picture and its performance? 

I meet a guy over Monday coffee and he 

says, 'Well, you flopped over the weekend!' 

"I give him a smile and then I give him 

the knife: 'Why don't you talk up the business?" 

I ask him. There's a blank stare. 'Why 

don't you single out something that"s good 

about something and tell somebody sometime?' 

This stops 'em all the time." 

The Perakos theatres, situated in key 

Connecticut cities, have experimented with 

their policy on price: an 85 cents charge 

has been offered on weekdays at the circuit 

flagship, the Palace in downtown New 

Britain, and elsewhere, strictly in the interest 

of boosting the hoxoffice take. 

May Yield Extra $50 

"We're not expecting overnight miracles 

in this, either." he insists. "But if we get an 

extra S50 out of the approach, why. I think, 

we"re ahead of the game. And we're reminding 

people in New Britain, for example, that 

the Perakos Palace is concerned and doing 

something about spiraling inflation. 

"When we say "top" picture. I think it behooves 

every last one of us to look at our 

product lineup with awareness of our own 

local situation—how many potential moviegoers, 

how much are they willing to spend? 

Price has a lot to do, especially with communities 

containing relatively fixed-income 

families, in the building of response to the 

point where we can truthfully say we do 

have a 'top' picture. 

"I'm told that the roadshow situation 

looks bleak for 1970 and beyond. Because of 

the lack of proper story material, the spiraling 

economy that holds back the multi-million 

dollar developments. .So, I ask myself, 

what happens to the Elm after "Dolly!" What 

tlo we put in? 

Will Discover Formula 

"We"ll look over the booking charts now 

and we"ll come up with a workable formula 

— a formula incorporating the pertinent 

facts of audience appeal, of price, of staying 

power—and go for a picture that may or 

may not be necessarily "top' but certainly 

"top" potentially. It'll take selling, it'll take 

aggressive, imaginative selling but 1 think 

our organization can do it. We've done it 

before. The future doesn't scare us." 

The main thing, to his mind, is for exhibition 

to stop the timorous tempo, the 

lagging, dawdling steps, and to look into 

itself for corrective measures when needed. 

NE-2 

BOXOFFICE ;: April 13, 1970

' 

f

! 

BOSTON 

The Massachusclts Equipment Co.. with 

engineer Joe Testa supervising the job. 

has inst.iiled new Kneislex Xenon lamps and 

rectifiers in Ksquire Theatres' new Garden 

Cinema, adding to the throughout-autoniation 

of Bostons newest theatre. 

I>a>id I.andaii of American Iniernation.il's 

bookini; dep.irtnient (and going through a 

sales training course) is spreading the word 

to announce the arrival of a 6-pound. S- 

ounce son. David and his wife Ellen have 

chosen Seth .•Mien as the new arris al's name 

. . . Harvey Appell, American International 

branch manager, has set up a 6.'i-theatre 

saturation booking for May 5 for release of 

the company's new comedy-horror. "The 

Dunwich Horror." starring Sandra Dec and 

Dean Stockwell. 

Julian Rifkin, past president of the Nation.il 

Ass'n of Theatre Owners and chairman 

of th.it organization's board of directors, 

has been elected to the planning board 

for his home town of Cohasset. Rifkin. who 

is head of the Rifkin circuit, also is a past 

president of Theatre Owners of New England. 

Hatlon Taylor, Embassy's front man in 

Boston, is anticipating plenty of activity on 

Winchester Street with the arrival of the first 

print of Joe I.evine's latest. "Sun Flower," 

starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. 

The film is due for release in early 

June and reports are that it's going to he a 

record-breaker. 

This will be the third season tor the motion 

picture industry to he represented in 

the Boston's Park & Recreation department 

Softball league. Roger Mintz of National 

Film .Service (268-6558) and Harry Buttle 

of National Screen Service (542-4476) are 

organizing the Filmrow team and urge anyone 

interested in trying out to get in touch 

with one of them at once. Roger and Harry 

are optimistic about assembling a powerful 

film industr\ 

its 

outfit and absolutely confident 

that all participating will have a summer of 

good fellowship and fun. 

The Wake Lp America Committee. 

Bostt)n chapter, has announced plans for a 

RCil 

Theatre 

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Next Critchley Move 

Awaits Court Ruling 

1)LKK^. N.H. II i: c L s. SLiprcmi.- 

Court rules that the controversial film. "I 

Am Curious (Yellow)," can be shown in 

this 

countr>'. "I will give instructions (to legal 

coimsell to sii.- those who prosCLiiieil me." 

Donald Critchley. owner of the Plaza Cinema 

here, has declared. 

CntchlcN and C:nema Hnterprises of New 

Hampshire, ol whi.h he is the principal official, 

were recently lined a itMal of 51.000 

by Judge Cie.iige tirjnnell in Dcrry District 

Court under New Hampshire's obscenity 

law for show'ng the film. 

In addition. Judge Grinnell. who saw the 

movie, ordered the l.lni seized by Dorry police 

chief Kenneth Bisbee. 

Since that time. Superior Conn Justice 

John W. King, formerly governor of New 

Hampshire for three terms, who became a 

national figure during his regime by signing 

a bill creating the New Hampshire Sweepstakes, 

the country's only legalized lottery 

at the lime, has twice turned down Critchley's 

court action for return of the film. 

Due to the fact that Rockingham Cmiiits 

Superior Court in Exeter, originally scheduled 

for the hearing, was not in session 

at the time. Justice King conducted the 

hearing in Hillsborough County Superior 

Court in Manchester, where he rejected the 

film exhibitor's request for a temporary injunction 

and restraining order, thereby denying 

return of the film to Critchley. 

At an Exeter court hear.ng. Justice King 

decided that "no irreparable damage" was 

being done to Grovj Press. In:., the distributing 

company to which Critchley sought 

to return the film, because Grove Press 

had other copies which could be shown 

elsewhere. 

Justice King also refused to quash obscenity 

charges against Crit.hley even 

though his defense claimed New Hampshire's 

obscenity law is unconstitutional and 

that private citizens are not authorized to 

prosecute when police are hesitant to take 

action. In the Derry case, private citizens, 

including clergymen, protested the film and 

the ministers picketed the theatre but local 

police did not interfere with the movie 

showing until a complaint was lodged by 

the protesting clergymen against the movie. 

Following his last futile legal move to regain 

the film. Critchley stated that he is 

^ WATCH PROJECTION IMPROVE ^^ 

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losing some S 10.000 a week by the ban on 

his showing of "I Am Curious," It was then 

that he declared he would "sue his prosecutors" 

if the U.S. Supreme Court permits 

the showing of "I Am Curious" in this country. 

Movie Case Judge Praised 

By Union Leader Editor 

MANCHESTI-.R. N.H.—A front page editorial 

in the Manchester Union Leader has 

praised Judge George Grinnell of Derry 

District Court for his decision in an obscenity 

case involving the showing of the 

controversial Swedish film. "I Am Curious 

(^ cilow), " at the Plaza Cinema in Derry. 

Pointing out that Judge Grinnell "had the 

advantage of being right on the scene." the 

Union Leader editorial, signed by publisher 

William Loeb. added; 

"The tragedy is that so many appellate 

judges, far divorced from the scene of the 

alleged obscenity, take a very detached, 

theoretical and unrealistic view of the situation. 

"The results are often tragic and ridiculous. 

"The appellate judges in many jurisdictions 

in the United Stales really seem to 

have adopted such an unrealistic attitude 

that the result is that they hold NOTHING 

obscene. Their opinions, therefore, in most 

of these cases are about on the level of 

that of the drama critic for the Boston 

Globe, who testified in the Derry case. 

"This newspaper predicts that if the appellate 

courts do NOT show some common 

sense in this matter, what will happen is 

that there will be repressive legislation and 

repressive activity by the American public, 

which is offended by the present filth and 

will NOT tolerate it or endure it indefinitely." 

HARTFORD 

gernie and Sy Menschell have promoted 

Ann Rogers, assistant manager at the 

Pike Drive-In for the past eight years, to 

manager of the Berlin Cine I and II complex, 

succeeding Robert Delude, resigned. 

Howard Williams jr. (his dad Howard sr. 

is a New Britain projectionist), replaces 

Ann at the drive-in. 

Three bandits held up Ray Tucker, manager 

of the Tolls Newington. and got away 

with $800 in receipts . . . Richard J. Wilson, 

SBC Management Corp. division manager, 

is experimenting with a Sunday 5 p.m. performance 

of Columbia's "Marooned" at the 

Cinerama; this is in addition to the regular 

2 p.m. showing. Children under 15 are 

charged $1.25. 

^ Shopping Center Theatre 

^^^^ From Central 

Edition 

EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. — A multimillion-dollar 

complex of apartments, homes 

and a shopping center is being planned for 

a 115-acre tract of land adjoining Sunset 

Hills Country Club west of here. A motion 

picture theatre is to be included in the project. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

The general openniK of most of the drive-ins 

in the Manchester area was heralded 

by the Manchester Union Leader in one advertising 

layout under the caption: "Welcome 

Spring by Attending Manchester's 

Leading Drive-In Theatres." Included in the 

ad display were the Sky-Ray Drive-In. Hooksett, 

featuring "Scream" and "House of 

Usher"; Manchester Drive-In. with ". . . tick 

. . . tick . . . tick . . 

." and "Welcome to 

Marlowe County." and the Bedford Grove in 

Bedford, offering "Hell's Chosen Few." "The 

Hellcats" and "Fireball 500." Despite an 

Easter Sunday storm which dumped from 

three to six 

inches of new snow through the 

state, creating hazardous driving conditions, 

the Pine Island Drive-ln opened in 

Manchester Wednesday (1) to join the above 

group of early starters. Initial attractions at 

the Pine Island Drive-In were "The Undefeated" 

and "The Boston Strangler." 

The House of Representatives lost no 

time, when a special session of the Legislature 

convened, in barring the possibility of 

a sales or income tax being considered at 

the session. As a result of the action, it will 

take a two-thirds vote of all elected members 

of the House to allow either of these 

broad base taxes at this session. Meanwhile, 

the Senate passed a resolution which would 

grant the Legislature broader taxing powers. 

A recent reporl by the Department of Employment 

Security showed that New Hampshire's 

total estimated employment had decreased 

by 150 workers to 9,150 or }.\ per 

cent of the work force. The department said 

factory workers and some up- 

the recalls to 

swing in construction activities were reflected 

in the jobless decrease. 

The documentary film of the life and 

work of the late Martin Luther King jr., 

was cancelled for a March 24 showing at 

the Strand Cinema in Manchester and transferred 

to St. Anselm College in Manchester, 

where the civil rights advocate, comedian 

Dick Gregory, was scheduled to speak on 

the same date. The announcement was made 

by W. Wright Danenbarger. chairman of the 

Manchester King film committee. 

Boston Theatremen Show 

Indifference to TV Films 

BOSTON—Exhibitors here seem no longer 

concerned about films on television, despite 

the fact that Boston stations are now 

screening a record weekly total of 26 films 

in prime time. Most exhibitors feel that 

since the majors have been making youthoriented 

films, such as "Midnight Cowboy," 

"Easy Rider," "M*A*S'H," "Woodstock" 

and many others in the same vein that theatres 

can more than compete with TV appeal. 

On the other hand. TV stations, 

which at 

one time strove to break away from film 

programs in favor of locally originated programs, 

now are going back to heavy schedules 

of feature films. Channel 56, UHF station, 

has just purchased a package of 200 

^fE-6 BOXOFFICE :; April 13, 1970

MGM, RKO and WB films for showing 

at 8 p.m. on a Sunday-through-Friday basis 

and on Saturday nights. Channel 56 offers 

two movies on Saturdays, the first at 9 a.m. 

and the second at 10:30 p.m.. making a 

weekly total of eight films in prime time 

when combined with its Sunday-Friday 

schedules. Channel 23, the other UHF 

station, has eight prime t!me films per week; 

on the commercial VHF stations, there are 

nine films in prime time every week. 

WNAC-TV has three feature films, the ABC 

network Sunday night film, the Monday 

night film and a picture from their film library 

on Friday nights at 9. WHDH-TV has 

films from its library on Wednesdays at 9, 

and CBS-TV's Thursday and Friday night 

films. WBZ-TV has three from NBC-TV 

Monday, Tuesday and Saturday nights. 

Despite all this, Easter week gave exhibitors 

here record-breaking picture business 

as new films, "Airport," "Woodstock," "The 

Boys in the Band," "M*A*S*H," "Loving," 

"Zabriskie Point" and "Fellini's Satyricon" 

opened. Film exhibitors here are fortunate 

that they have one of the biggest youthoriented 

markets in the nation, with some 

30,000 college students, who are all tremendously 

interested in films with every college 

giving courses in 

films. 

Salem Paramount Will Be 

Razed in Urban Renewal 

SALEM, MASS.—As casually as though 

closing for the night a theatre which would 

be open the following evening, staffers at 

the Paramount on a recent Tuesday cut 

the house lights and ended four decades of 

entertainment at the theatre which had cost 

$1 million to build. 

Ironically, Harold Hunt of Lynn, the 74- 

year-old projectionist who operated machines 

in the booth from the time the Paramount 

was opened, missed its final night. 

He was away—attending a funeral. 

The Paramount itself will be razed soon, 

as the urban renewal plan must have the 

site for redevelopment. 

Other staffers who had served the Paramount 

long and faithfully, plus a few paying 

customers were present for the showing of 

"Midnight Cowboy," which closed the 

theatre. 

The manager on the final evening was 

Timothy O'Connell of Washington Street, 

who had managed the Paramount in its 

final two years. He started at the movie 

house as an usher in 1956, then moved up 

to assistant manager. He was promoted to 

manager when Jim Fields left that job to 

go with the Redevelopment Authority. 

Assisting O'Connell in the last night's operation 

of the theatre were Susan Phelps, 

the cashier; Klaus Saggerer at the door and 

Priscilla Remond, concessions. News that 

the theatre was closing had reached them 

the preceding evening, according to the 

Salem News, which gave the old theatre 

a final feature by staffer John Cowe. 

Produced by Carlo Ponti, "Zabriskie 

Point" is Michelangelo Antonioni's first 

film to be made in the U,S. 

VERMONT 

n proposal by Sen. T. Garry Buckley ol 

Bennington for an amendment to Vermont's 

sales tax law, which would have increased 

the state's amusement tax from 3 

to 5 per cent, has been killed by the Legislature. 

"Topaz," shown at the Strong Theatre in 

Burlington, again had particular interest to 

Vermont moviegoers because its famed director 

Alfred Hitchcock was in this area 

some years ago to produce the motion picture, 

"The Trouble With Harry." Sinje that 

time, other major films have been made 

partially or entirely in the Green Mountain 

State. 

Frank Manchel, English professor at the 

University of Vermont and an authority on 

motion pictures, was a guest of students at 

Utica (N.Y.) College during their annual 

"Encounter" program. His topic was the 

film as an art form. Topics covered during 

Dr. Manchel's three-day visit dealt with the 

importance of motion pictures in intellectual 

and cultural lives and the ways blacks have 

been treated in films and the motion picture 

industry. Illustrative films shown included 

"Birth of a Nation," "Portrait of Jason," 

W. C. Fields and Charlie Chaplin productions. 

Dr. Manchel also gave two public 

lectures on "The Black Man in Film" and 

"Man and His Movies." 

Unemployment in Vermont rose to 4.5 

per cent in February, the highest point since 

January 1968, it has been reported by the 

Department of Employment Security, which 

said joblessness was mostly in the trade 

and service industries. The department said 

the state's unemployment was then estimated 

at 8,400 persons. 

A letter signed by a couple, two married 

women and a man, all from South Burlington, 

has been sent to the Burlington Free 

Press, stating an indoor theatre movie was 

"very good" but, unfortunately, there were 

some disturbances by a few boys. It was 

charged that teenage boys were "openly 

smoking, drinking and making remarks 

which they thought were funny." Their 

letter added; "How they got the beer into 

the theatre is beyond us. There certainly 

was more than one bottle apiece as the 

empty bottles on the floor also caused a disturbance. 

When reported, the manager did 

nothing about it during OR after the show. 

Is it now permitted to smoke and drink at an 

indoor 

theatre?" 

Maria Von Trapp of Stowe, 65-year-old 

mother of the famed singing family depicted 

in the film, "Sound of Music." is recovering 

at Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington 

from injuries received in an automobile 

accident in the area. She suffered a 

broken arm and fractured ribs. 

The fourth entry in the newly established 

Lane Film Society Series in Benedict Auditorium 

at the University of Vermont in 

Burlington Friday (3) was the film, "The 

Silence," which has been called by critics 

"Ingmar Bergman at his most powerful." 

Ingrid Thulin and Gunnel Lindblom are 

starred in the film, which won the Swedish 

Academy Best Film Award in 1963. The 

Burlington showing was part of a Bergman 

Festival sponsored by the Lane Series in 

cooperation with the UVM Students Ass'n. 

Films which recently proved to be popular 

enough for extended runs in Burlington included 

"Midnight Cowboy" at the Strong 

Theatre, with a two-dollar admission tag, 

and "The Reivers" at the State, where the 

adult admission charge was the same but 

one dollar for youngsters under 12. 

Veterans organizations lost their Vermont 

fight to help slow down a national movement 

for celebration of Veterans Day and 

Memorial Day on Mondays when a bill, 

which, if Gov. Deane C. Davis signs it, 

would bring this state's legal holidays into 

compliance with federal law, as well as plans 

adopted by 42 other states, was approved 

by the House of Representatives. Under 

the measure Monday holidays would be declared 

for Lincoln's birthday, second Monday 

in February; Washington's birthday, 

third Monday in February; Memorial Day, 

last Monday in May; Columbus Day, second 

Monday in October, and Veterans Day, 

fourth Monday in October. No changes in 

dates would be made in Vermont for the 

observance of Independence Day, Bennington 

Battle Day, Christmas or Labor Day. 

Stowe Scene of Initial 

Vermont Screen Workshop 

STOWE, VT.—Vermont's first screen education 

workshop was held here April 2-4 

with an attendance of approximately 200 

student filmmakers and their sponsors. The 

State Department of Education, the Lamoille 

South School District and the Stowe School 

were in charge. 

The purpose of the workshop, as explained 

by Mrs. Elise LaTaille. chairman of the 

workshop committee, was to acquaint the 

young people with the latest techniques of 

filmmaking. 

The student filmmakers were exposed to 

the best in filmmaking in the U.S. and 

abroad and made their own films on the 

spot under guidance and criticism of professional 

filmmakers and producers. Commercial 

firms issued equipment for use by 

the 

students. 

Chicopee Theatre Changes 

Name to Paperback Cinema 

CHICOPEE, MASS.—The name of the 

Chicopee Cinema has been changed to 

Paperback Cinema and given a new policy 

stressing the slogan "Recent Motion Pictures 

—Nothing Cut But the Price!" 

The initial attraction was "Butch Cassidy 

and the Sundance Kid," a 20th Century-Fox 

release. 


' 

once-proud 

— 

ROUNDABOUT NEW ENGLAND 

Fripiril de corps— is it gone liom ihc lexicon 

of motion picture distrihuiion and cxhlhition? 

Has the New 

Breed— i.e., the Johnny-and-J 

a n e-Come- 

By 

1 .ilely to the indusir>"s 

ranks— in its apparent 

rush to scale 

^ the heights of career 

Oj^^^flft V s 11 c cess overlooked 

. 

>w]^^H|^^^ aimo- 

^^^^^Hr 

sphere oi pride-in-pcr- 

^^^r lonnlnj;. of professionalism? 

Allen M. Wideni 

The older generaapplying 

itself to lion Mill assiduoiislv 

the 

trials and tribulations of making a buck will 

readily admit that too many of the newcomers 

in the industry, be they in New 

England or elsewhere across this burgeoning 

.America, look too long and longingK to the 

clock and less and less to the element of 

performing their tasks with alacrity and 

aplomb. 

Must Feci Product's Glamor 

The oldtimers—and there are men in the 

exhibition ranks in New England well inlo 

their 70s, some in their 8()s— maintain thai 

unless the newcomers in our niidsi start remembering 

that they're selling one of the 

most glamorous products the world has ever 

known, the industry will suffer irreparably. 

Manpower recruitment is. at best, a sometime 

thing for New England exhibition. 

Circuits arc expanding and this in itself is 

a fine reflection of industry 

progressiveness. 

But when it comes to finding manpower 

willing to 

forget the inevitable licking of the 

clock-on-the-wall. the execuiise echelon, in 

effect, is shaking its head. 

Thirty years ago the prospect of working, 

in a tuxedo, in the local showplace was the 

very epitome of a dream for a high schooler. 

Many of the men ranking high in 

today came out of those ranks. 

Not Buying Film Careers 

ALLEN M WIDEM 

exhibition 

As for today, the young lads whose predecessor 

counterparts flocked to exhibition 

employment simply are not buying careers 

in motion picture theatres. The feeling, on 

the part of those circuit executives who'll 

comment, holds that the industry itself simply 

hasn't paid enough attention to manpower 

recruitment. 

One executive remarked that getting a 

young lad for the minimum amount of 

money is no problem. Scheduling of working 

hours is certainly something else again. The 

youngsters don't especially relish working 

nights, weekends or holidays. 

"' 

itomated thea

Airport 

Quebec Airers to Be 

Operating by Summer 

MONTREAL—A fair niimber of projects 

for building drive-ins in Quebec province 

already have become reality and for the 

first time in the history of the movie industry, 

Quebec film fans will be able, as of this 

summer, to see movies at drive-ins. As 

nearly as can be determined, there is a 

strong possibility that as many as 12 driveins 

may be in operation by summertime. 

Up to the present, according to officials 

of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Quebec, 

the department in charge of operations 

of the movie industry, 12 permits have been 

awarded. 

Emilien Morrissette and Paul Latraverse, 

respectively president and secretary of the 

consulting committee on cine-parks, the 

drive-ins will be located around the city of 

Montreal; at Boucherville, St. Eustache, 

Chateauguay, St. Mathieu on Montreal 

Island proper, at Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, and 

the others away from the Montreal area at 

Bromont, St. Ambroise. Montmagny, St. 

Georges de Beauce, Victoriaville. Drummondville 

and Rimouski. 

According to government officials, plans 

already have been drawn in most cases and 

work is expected to start very shortly. It is 

possible that by June 24 a number of driveins 

will be in operation. 

It is felt that the drive-ins will be able to 

operate during a minimum period of five 

months a year, from May to September, inclusively, 

although some of the operators are 

said to feel that they can operate at least 1 

months a year by offering heating systems. 

It is conceded that drive-in operators are 

taking a calculated risk but they feel that 

even with a season of five months, if 

weather conditions are good, they can operate 

at a profit. 

Industry Members Assist 

Career Guidance Center 


HOLLYWOOD—Industry representatives 

manning the motion picture careers booth at 

the Career Guidance Center, sponsored by 

the Los Angeles County Superintendent of 

Schools, were Roy Regan and Hardin 

Southall, Columbia; James Harris and Lucille 

Akana, Universal; Jerri Bachrack, 

Warner Bros.; Douglas Hecox and Patricia 

Beaver, Disney, and Jack Carlson, Ray 

Singley, Larry Brown. Robert Apodaca, 

Leonard Gershman and John Pavlik, Ass'n 

of Motion Picture and TV Producers. 

Eastland Screen Slashed 

By Destructive Vandals 

TORONTO—Vandals caused considerable 

damage when they broke into the Eastwood 

Theatre here on a recent weekend. 

Using a tire iron and knives, they slashed 

the screen, valued at $2,000, to shreds. 

Just a month ago, several thousand dollars 

worth of musical instruments were stolen 

from a storeroom in the Eastwood 

Theatre. 

'Airport/ The Adventurers Gross 

Best as Toronto First Runs Thrive 

TORONTO—With most first-run houses 

booking holiday attractions, business reached 

the highest level of 1970. "Airport" set 

the pace in its second week at the Carlton, 

with "The Adventurers" at the Imperial, 

"M*A*S*H" at the Hollywood and "Woodstock" 

at the Uptown 1 topping the new 

bookings. "The Boys in the Band" in its 

opening week at Uptown 2 and "A Boy 

Named Charlie Brown." second week at 

Hollywood North, also reported heavy business. 

Capri The Reivers (Emp) Fair 

Carlton Airport- (Univ), 2nd wl< Excellent 

Dominion Cinema The Kremlin Letter 

(20th-Fox) Very Good 

Eglinton Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 

15th wk Very Good 

Fairlown Anne of the Thousand Days 

(Univ), 2nd wk Excellent 

Glendale 2001: A Space Odyssey 

(MGM), 94th wk 

Good 

Hollywood (North) A Boy Named Charlie 

Brown (Emp), 2nd wk Excellent 

Hollywood (South) M«A*S*H (20th-Fox) ..Excellent 

Hyland Pussycat, Pussycot, I Love You (UA) ..Poor 

Imperial group The Adventurers (Para) . . . .Excellent 

International Cinema—Z (C-P), 9th wk Good 

Towne Cinema Zabriskie Point (MGM), 3rd wk. Good 

University Potton (20th-Fox), 3rd wk Very Good 

Uptown — 

\ Woodstock (WB) Excellent 

Uptown 2 The Boys in the Band (Emp) . . . .Excellent 

3 Uptown They Shoot Horses, Don't They? 

(IFD), 8th wk Excellent 

Uptown Backstage 1 Futz (Astral) Good 

Uptown Backstage 2 Femme infidele (C-P) . . . .Good 

Yonge What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? 

(UA) 

Good 

York t Cactus Flower (Col), 14th wk Excellent 

York 2 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice 

(Col), 1 4th wk Excellent 

Yorkdale Cinema The Last Grenode (IFD); 

Christian The Magic (Astral) Good 

Montreal Grosses Show Strength 

Under Impetus of Holidays 

MONTREAL — Boxoffice returns generally 

were higher at leading Montreal 

movie houses in the week under review as 

it featured attractive new films brought in 

for the Easter business. Movies with the 

classification of "18 years and over"—that 

is, films stressing sex—again were the gross 

leaders. "Red," a locally made film, made 

its debut at the Capitol and brought in 

"excellent" results. 

Alouette Potton (20th-Fox), 4th wk Good 

AtwGter Cinema 1 (Univ) Good 

Atwoter Cinema II Butch Cassidy and the 

Sundance Kid (20th-Fox), 18th wk Good 

Capitol Red (SR) Excellent 

Cinema Place du Canada Bob & Carol & Ted 

& Alice (Col), 15th wk Good 

Cinema Place Ville Marie The Boys in the 

Bond (Emp) Excellent 

Cinema Westmount Square M*A"S*H 

(20th-Fox) 

Elysee (Resnais) More (SR), 12th wk 

Good 

Good 

Elysee (Eisenstein) Les Pbtres du Desordre 

(SR), 2nd wk Good 

Kent Cactus Flower (Col) Good 

Loew's The Adventurers (Pore), 2nd wk ..Excellent 

Palace Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (Univ) . . .Good 

Parisien L'Initiation (SR), 10th wk Excellent 

Snowdon Cherry, Horry & Raquel (SR), 6th wk. Good 

Van Home The Magic Chriitian (Astral) Good 

Vendome—Z (SR), 21st wk Good 

Westmount Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), I 7th wk. . .Good 

York The Domned (WB), 6th wk Good 

"Anne,' 'Airport' Establish 

House Records in Winnipeg 

WINNIPEG—Easter holiday week saw 

business here booming to its highest point 

since Christmas. The buoyancy extended 

throughout the list and house records were 

set at King's with "Anne of the Thousand 

Days" and the downtown Garrick with 

"Airport." Also rated at "excellent" were 

"The Adventurers." "A Boy Named Charlie 

Brown" and "M*A*S*H," all newcomers, 

and holdovers "Butch Cassidy," "Hello, 

Dolly!" and 'They Shoot Horses, Don't 

They?" 

Capitol The Adventurers (Pora) Excellent 

Downtown Scream and Scream Again 

(Astral)- Destroy All Monsters (Astral) Good 

Gaiety The Damned (WB), 2nd wk Average 

Garrick I Butch Cassidy and the Sundance 

Kid (20th-Fox), 20th wk Excellent 

Gorrick II Airport (Univ) Excellent 

Grant Pork Goodbye, Mr. Chips (MGM), 

2nd wk Good 

King's Anne of the Thousond Days 

(Univ) 

Excellent 

Metropolitan A Boy Nomed Charlie Brown 

(Emp) 

Excellent 

North Star I— Hello, Dolly! (20th-Fox), 

4th wk Excellent 

North Star 11 They Shoot Horses, Don t 

They? (IFD), 4th wk Excellent 

Odeon—Marooned (Col) Good 

Park Putney Swope (SR) Average 

Polo Park—M*A*S*H (20th-Fox) Excellent 

Towne Marry Me! Marry Me! (C-P), 

2nd wk Average 

Sir George Williams Has 

Unique Cinematic Project 

MONTREAL—Created in January 1968 

by its present director Dr. Serge Losique, 

the Conservatory of Cinematographic Art 

of Sir George Williams University has as its 

principal aim the objective of increasing the 

tremendous interest in film as an art form. 

Now in full swing, the conservatory presents 

specialized film programs, as well as lectures 

by noted filmmakers and historians. 

' 

Canadian Student Film Festival, 

The first 

organized in September 1969, highlighted 

films from across Canada. Due to the tremendous 

success of the event, this festival 

is scheduled to be held annually. 

A film library consisting of 2,000 films, 

with an additional 300 on loan from the 

Cinematheque Francaise in Paris, has been 

established. Already the collection has attracted 

the interest of many other institutions 

to which it has loaned motion pictures 

for special showings. 

A member of the World Union of Film 

Museums, the conservatory is the only Canadian 

correspondent of the two leading museums 

of cinema in the world—Cinematheque 

Francaise and the George Eastman 

House. 

A D. W. Griffith festival was presented 

recently at Sir George Williams University. 

Nine rarely seen films were screened, including 

those in which W. C. Fields, Walter 

Huston and Tyrone Power played their earliest 

roles for the pioneer American director. 

Donations in support of this unique film 

project should be forwarded to Sir George 

Williams University, 1435 Drummond St., 

Montreal 107, Que. 

Free 'Lawyer' Screening 

TORONTO—Paramount hosted a free 

midnight screening of "The Lawyer" Friday, 

March 20. at the Hollywood Theatre here, 

the Capitol in Winnipeg and the Orpheum 

in Vancouver. It was reported immediately 

that enthusiasm and response from the invited 

law students in all three situations was 

far beyond expectation. 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 K-1

TORONTO 

IIii inl'orniul requvl trom inmic star Jack 

Ll-iuiuoii lo ihc Canadian Film Development 

Corp. has been turned down just as 

infonnally. The request was lor "S.HXl.OOO to 

make a movie titled Koich." " The proposal 

was that the film was to he made in Canada 

this coniini; simimer and was to star Frcdiic 

\!areh. 

Ralph llk-kliii. 47. drama critie lor the 

IVlejir.im. li.is died here alter a long illness. 

Rohi-rt 

lighthouse, general sales manager 

for Paramount here, attended a district sales 

meeting 1 uesday, March .'I. in Philadelphia. 

1 his meeting, c.dled by Bert Ohrentz. international 

general sales manager, and Frank 

Yablans. domestic general sales manager for 

Paramount, was held to bring the home office 

and field staff closer together. These 

meetings are to be held for this purpose at 

different locations on a regular basis in the 

future. 

The Canadian Film Co-Operalive here has 

received a S.ÔOO grant from the Canada 

Council to help make asaiiablc lor distribution 

prints of the work of independent, noncommercial 

Canadian filmmakers. 

The Paramount head office here reports 

that "The .•\d\entLirers""—despite many adverse 

reviews—is doing tremendous business 

all across Canada. The film opened simultaneously 

in 17 locations across the country 

March 25 and all have reported outstanding 

grosses. In this city alone, where it is playing 

at the multiple Imperial group, including 

the Yorkdale. Golden Mile and Runnymede. 

the gros-scs exceeded S78.000 for the first 

five days. Montreal and Vancouver already 

are matching the figures of "The Odd 

Couple." which was reported to be over 

530.000 in each situation. 

Ontario may extend film censorship to 

include 

electronicall) videotaped movies, according 

to Hon. James Auld. minister ol 

tourism and information. Auld told the 

provincial legislature that officials of his 

department, which includes the theatres 

branch headed by censor O. J. .Silverthorne. 

.ire discussing possible legislation with ihe 

.illorney geiier-iTs dep.iriiiiciii. The extension 

uould .lUlhorize Siiverlhorne lo censor videotaped 

movies being shown on TV screens 

at Cinema 2000 in this city. Earlier, a 

Liberal MPP predicted that censorship ol 

movies will soon become impossible because 

of technological advances that will 

allow individuals to play videotapes on home 

TV sets. 

With local first-run houses enjoying the 

best business thus far this year, naturally 

ihere were few new bookings. However, 

"World .Safari" had a multiple opening ai 

the Willow, Donlands, Mount Dennis and 

three other Premiere locations. Two Columbia 

heavy-grossers of the past season— "Oliver!" 

and "Fimny Girl"—continue to do fairly 

well in multiple runs at Odeon suburban 

houses here. "Ben-Hur" and "In Search of 

the Castaways" also are playing multiple 

runs. 

General Sound projection equipment 

nnakes the most of your image. 

— and maintains it with 

regular servicing. 24-hour 

emergency duty. 

Canada's Theatre Supply House 

Oeneral Sound! 

AND THEATRE EQUIPMENT LIMITED 

Branches Across Canada 

NFB bookings included "Blake" at the 

Hollywood, "North" at the Odeon Humber. 

"Cosmic Zoom" at the Odeon Danforth. 

"The White Ship" at the Beach and Parkdale, 

"60 Cycles" at the Uptown 3 and 

"King Size" at the Odeon Hyland. 

"The Sicilians," 20th Century-Fox suspense 

drama, has become the second highest-grossing 

nonroadshow film ever to play 

in France. 

Directors Are Chosen 

By NATO of Michigan 

Froiii MidcQbt Edition 

DFTROIT — The annual membership 

meeting of NATO of Michigan was held in 

the Normandy Room at the Sheraton-Cadillac 

Hotel Wednesday, March 25. 

Fleeted directors were: Irving Belinsky. 

William Brown, Robert Buermele, Joe Busic, 

William Clark, John Dcnibek, Lewis 

George, Nicholas Cieorge, Adolph Cioldberg, 

M. F. Gowthorpe, Milton Herman. William 

Jenkins, Saul Karp. Richard P. Kline, Norman 

Ladouccur. Jack D. Locks, Milton 

London, Louis Mitchell, Del Ritter, Leon 

Serin, Charles Shafer, Richard Sloan, Alden 

Smith, Lyle Smith, Wayne Smith, Orlando 

Spangnuolo, Edward Stuckey and William 

Wetsman. 

Named honorary members were Samuel 

H. Barrett, Ray Branch and Carl Buermele. 

Officers will be elected at a later meeting. 

Behind-the-scenes business covered in the 

meeting concerned briefing, pay TV, admission 

taxes, censorship and classification and 

wages. This was followed by a general discussion. 

The meeting was preceded by a breakfast 

in the Town Room and was followed by a 

social 

hour and the Celebrity Luncheon. 

Thompson Is Exec. Ass't 

To Henshaw at CCF 


NEW YORK—Robert C. Thompson has 

been appointed executive assistant to Jere 

Henshaw, vice-president in charge of production 

for Cinema Center Films, effective 

immediately, it was announced by Henshaw. 

Thompson, who joined Cinema Center in 

July 1968, will concentrate on the development 

of new motion picture projects and inproduction 

and post-production activities. 

In his previous post as assistant to Henshaw, 

Thompson functioned in the areas of talent 

coordination on the company's feature pictures. 

Thompson has served as talent coordinator 

on new projects and motion pictures 

for television at Universal City Television, 

where he began his industry career in 1969 

after receiving an MFA degree from UCLA. 

Canadian TV Station Ban 

On X Movie Ads Confusing 

From Mideost Edition 

DETROIT—Advertising of films given an 

X rating will be rejected under a new policy 

being adopted by CKLW-TV. Generally considered 

as one of the four VHF stations of 

the Detroit market, CKLW-TV is actually 

located in Windsor, Ont. 

This circumstance is expected to lead lo 

some confusion, inasmuch as the Canadian 

ratings, which will be the standard used, 

occasionally differ on a particular film. 

Station manager R. J. Buss indicated acceptance 

of the new policy by the industry. 

"The exhibitors are not particularly disturbed. 

They understand our reason for 

doing it," he said. 

K-2 BOXOFFICE :: April 13. 1970

V/ 

CROSS 

ANEW 

THRESHOLD 

is} 

V' .« 

mm 

into. . 

Horror House 

STARRING ,_. ^^ ^- _^ ^_ -_ ^— 

FRANKIE JILL DENNIS GEORGE mArk 

AVALON HAWORTH PRICE SEWELL wynter 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SCREENPLAY & DIRECTED BY MUSIC 

A TIGON BRITISH FILM PBODuciiON ^^ 

TONY TENSER- MICHAEL ARMSTRONG- REG TILSELY-.n American internationalrele.se «I 

COLOR 

GP 

ANq 

!

— 

— a 

MONTREAL 

gi'viu-s ol .1 loiihcuming 20th Century-Fox Warner Bros, locally, said he docs not think 

tilni will be shot here on the "Expo that Quebec province will have the same 

Islands," with interiors in the British and problem as in Ontario and that the film will 

French pavilions and the Biosphere (the former 

United States Pavilion). The featuretion 

here. 

be given an over-14-years-ol-age classificalength, 

futuristic mystery film is tentatively The classic Laurel and Hardy comedies oi 

called "Kyle" and will be produced by the 

the l"-).H)s .nid '4()s ha\c been dubbed in 

British div.sion of the company. I'he city 

French and are being reissued for the Quebec 

market. Fle\en titles have been re- 

executive committee has agreed to the use 

of the ".Man and His World" location, guaranteeing 

20lh-Fox that no other commercial 

leased, with the French soundtracks carrying 

a slight English accent. The deal was handled 

by Criterion Pictures, with distribution 

feature-length film will be made there until 

May 1972. .According to reports, there are 

by .Sovereign to a new French-speaking generation 

of movie fans. 

stix)ng possibilities that the grand premiere 

will take place in this city. 

Warner Bros.' "Woodstock," which has 

Manchester Publisher Has 

been awarded an "18-years-or-over" classification 

in Ontario, apparently will not have Enthusiasm for 'Patton' 

From New England Edition 

the same fate when it is shown here about 

mid-May. .According to a comment made 

MANCHESTER, N.H.—A front page 

in 

editorial in the Manchester 

a local newspaper, .Archie Cohen, who 

Union Leader, 

heads 

signed by publisher William Loeb, has expressed 

the hope that some theatre in New 

Hampshire will soon be showing the recently 

released "Patton." 

REDUCTIONS 

The editorial added: 

"This attempt to portray the controversial 

lOîTi from 3j''ini 

World War II general, who has sometimes 

COLOR or BLACK and WHITE 

been described as the greatest military tactician 

of the century, is something that is 

* From any type of color print. well worth seeing. It is not just another 

Printed and developed on our premises. 

The publisher of New Hampshire's largest 

movie. It is a memorable experience." 

newspaper did not find the film entirely 

* Complete 35mm & 16mm modern 

satisfactory, however, because the leading 

lab. All facilities. 

actor, George Scott, "to this viewer, did not 

* Film scratches removed, waxing, old come across. It seems to us that he overdid 

dry films rejuvenated, new films the Patton role." 

vacuumate treated against wear and 

In spite of this and other lack of "certain 

tear. 

quality" in the Patton movie, Loeb said he 

* UNSQUEEZED 16mm "flat" prints would repeat that "this is a movie you 

made from 35mm CinemaScope films. should not miss." 

In the same edition, the Union Leader 

* "Personalized one stop service for the 

published a lengthy article by Mrs. James 

film distributor." 

W. Totten, General Patton's daughter, a 

resident of Boston's North Shore, which appeared 

in the Hamilton-Wenham (Mass.) 

QUEBEC FILM LABS 

265 Vitre St W. (514) 861-5483 

Chronicle. It was her review of the film, 

which told 

MONTREAL, 

how she went to see the film at a 

QUEBEC 

Boston theatre with a chip on her shoulder, 

expecting another attack by liberals on her 

distinguished father, but came out of the 

movie quite enthusiastic. 

HAVING TROUBLE? 

WANT TO MODERNIZE? 

Try our reasonable prices! 

Ground-Breaking for Two 

COMPLETE EQUIPMENT Cinecom Corp. Twin Units 

IN STOCK AT ALL TIMES 

From Central Edition 

AND REPLACEMENT PARTS GALORE! TERRE HAUTE, IND. — Ground was 

BEST THEATRE SUPPLY REG'D 

broken at 9:30 a.m., March 12, for a 600- 

4810 Soint Denii Street, Montreal, (Ju«. 

seat theatre, to be constructed at the north 

Phone: Victor 2-67«2 

end of Meadows Shopping Center. Morris 

Landsbaum, developer, who has worked 

with Cinecom Corp. on plans for the new 

structure, said a second ground-breaking 

Stage Curtainsceremony 

would be conducted the following 

Tracks and Motor Control. 

week for 

Flomc 

a similar theatre in the 

proofing and 

Plaza North 

cleaning 

Used Theatre Chairs 

Shopping Center. 

Rebuilding of theatre choirs 

(On The Spot)—SpotlighH. 

Arthur Arveson, head of operations for 

NOEL ,'NFOUSSE 

Cinecom, said the new movie houses will 

2423 Not.x Dom* St. 

be 

Eost Montreal — 

named Meadows Cinema and Plaza 

Phone: 524-5543 

North Cinemas. 

Fuji Expo 70 Exhibit Is 

Showing Muhiscreen Film 

.MUNIRLAL— Ihc only Japanese pavilion 

with foreign participation at Osaka's 

Expo '70 is showing a Canadian film— 

sort of "son" of famed l.ibyrinth of Fxpo 

'(i7— to packed houses every day at the Fuji 

Group exhibit. The multi-image lilni was 

shot in eight countries by the Canadians who 

helped create the film lor the Montreal fair. 

considered a novelty in movie-making three 

years ago. 

"Montreal was a breakthrough and this is 

a retinement," said Donald Brittain of Montreal, 

loaned by Canada's National Film 

Board to serve as writer and director for the 

Fuji film. 

The Fuji Group pavilion, which has as its 

theme "Message to the 21st Century," calls 

the film "a tour of the human spirit dealing 

emotionally and paradoxically with man 

the best and worst of creatures 

the best and worst of times." 

living 

Brittain said the Japanese sent men to 

Labyrinth in Montreal to look it over. Then, 

Gait-based Multiscreen Corp. of Canada was 

selected as filmmaker for Fuji. 

The film, dealing with human compassion 

as opposed to technology, contains such 

scenes as police chasing a sniper and hooded 

members of the Ku Klux Klan marching 

around a blazing cross, while part of the 

screen shows a restless Negro child in bed. 

"We learned at Montreal that a film 

could be deep and people would still understand 

it," said Brittain. 

He added, "The Fuji people were worried 

that this film was a little too deep for 

Expo '70 audiences. But I'm told that most 

of the audiences coming to Expo now consist 

of country people. Yet they stay and 

watch the show— at the rate of 25,000 a 

day. They're getting something from it." 

William Shaw of Multiscreen Corp. 

adopted the complicated projection system 

for the film, which uses 70mm film in such 

a wav that it amounts to 210mm. 

Theatre Committee Looks 

For Movie Facility Site 


NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. — The 

theatre committee here is searching for a 

site for a proposed movie facility. Plans for 

construction and site selection were discussed 

at a meeting at the Manchester College 

Union. The committee has asked individuals 

with site suggestions to contact 

chairman Jack Williams or Lindy Lybarger 

at Indiana Lawrence Bank & Trust Co. 

Estimated cost for a lot and building was 

$40,000. The proposed 40x1 00-foot structure 

would house 300 persons. 

Jules Larochelle Moves 

To New Montreal Offices 

MONTREAL—Jules Larochelle. Boxof- 

FiCE Montreal correspondent, is now occupying 

new offices at 1434 St. Catharine 

Street West, Montreal 107, Quebec. 

The new location is more in the center of 

motion picture industry activity and should 

prove to be of benefit to all concerned. 

in 

K-4 BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970

Not just 


...but 


With such Century innovations as CINE-FOCUS'S, double 

dissolving shutters and our UVIR-2? band pass light 

filters, Century Projectors continue to win persistent acclainn 




Vision. 





hold stress and'wear to a minimum. Precision components 












nothin g comparable — foreigR or domestic! 




See your Century Dealer or write- 


New York. N.Y. tOOI9 

General Sound and Theatre Equipment, Ltd. 

7 Banigan Drive 

Toronto 17, Ontario 

Phone (416) 425-1026 

Branches throughout Canada 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 K-5

OTTAWA 

ô the surprLsi- ol m.in\ rcMdcnl>. ihc 1 .iiuoiis 

Pl.iNcrs Capitol did not close down 

on ihe .innounocd date lor conversion into 

a new cinema-business complex, although 

nearly all of the sireei-lroni shops had 

mo\ed to new locations. Wintry weather, 

including a blizzard, continued into April 

and manager Jack Critchley received notice 

of further bookings from the company's 

head office, one of them being "M*.\"S*H.'" 

He also conducted a sneak preview of "I he 

Ballad of Cable Hogue" during the second 

week of "Ihe Damned." Ihe patrons kepi 

coming. 

F.rnic \\iirrcn. manager of the dual t-lgins 

and also district supervisor lor 2()lh Century 

Theatres, escaped Ihe tail end of winter by 

flying to Florida for part of his delayed 

vacation. He returned in time for the Academy 

.Awards. 

The Odeon Mall finally got .1 l,iiiiily-l\pc 

feature. "Born to Buck." and manager Bruce 

Holden arranged continuous performances 

starting at noon for the benefit of juveniles 

and their parents in place of usual showings. 

Ihe picture also played the recently reopened 

.Auto-Sky Drive-ln, again managed 

by Brian Jones, a former president of the 

Ottawa Theatre Managers .Ass'n. now headed 

by Jack Critchley. The monthly meeting was 

called for Wednesday (8). 

Melro-Goldwyn-Mayer used the local 

press to announce details of its auction in 

California of many lots of historic value 

which had accumulated in its studio, consisting 

of props and costumes from old-time 

productions. 

Morris Berlin, owner of theatres over the 

years, tied in with "Hello. Dolly!" at the 

Nelson for a full-page splash in the Citizen 

for the ninth anniversary of his Towne 

House Motor Hotel, adjacent to the Nelson. 

The newspaper display had liberal space for 

promotion of "Hello, Dolly!" 

A bylaw was approved by the Ottawa 

Civic Board of Control which will enable 

WRITE— 

The Exhibitor Has His Say 

TO: 

BOXOFnCE. 825 Van Brunt Blvd., 

Title 

Comment 

Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

the nuinicip.iliiv to license .ind collect fees 

for lotteries and bingo games under a new 

provincial act but will ask the Ontario government 

for larger revenue from such operations. 

Bingo has been flourishing here in 

recent months to the dcirimcnl of theatre 

patronage. 

(;cort;c Delanvy once more has readied 

the opening o\ his Skylark Drive-In at Gananoque, 

Ont.. for after-Easter patronage, this 

time in uncertain weather, with a third feature 

added on Saturday and Sunday nights. 

Locally, the two Odcon ozoners. the Queensway 

and Aulo-Sky. bravely announced a 

five-feature owl show for a Sunday night. 

the first of the sea.son. 

Holdovers included: Cinema 2. •Buich 

Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 22nd week; 

Elgin, "Bob cS: Carol & led & Alice," and 

Cinema 1, "Cactus Flower," both for a 15th 

week; Nelson. "Hello, Dolly!", ninth week; 

Somerset, "Airport," third week, and for a 

second week. Elmdale. "Anne of the Thousand 

Days." and Regent, "The Adventurers." 

Small 16mm Theatres Seen 

As Specialized Area Need 


HOLLYWOOD — Creation of m a n y 

"mom and dad" storefront I6mm theatres 

in ghetto and so-called "inner-city" sections 

of slum areas is being investigated by several 

ethnic groups concerned with small 

businesses. These include the Inter-Racial 

Economic Group and the Black Economic 

Union, both with offices in Los Angeles. 

Operation of these theatres deep in the 

heart of major cities, where the price of 

bussing to out-of-the-ghetto locations is almost 

the cost of the price of admission to 

smaller theatres, is seen by the spokesman 

for one of the groups as an added income to 

film companies which already have 16mm 

prints on hand which have been paid for 

by the plane companies for use as entertainment. 

YOUR REPORT OF THE PICTURE YOU 

HAVE JUST PLAYED FOR THE 

GUIDANCE OF FELLOW EXHIBITORS. 

Instead of having to pay for a franchise 

Company.. 

— Right Now 

and take a chance on their funds being dissipated 

in interest payments, the ethnic 

mom and dad. folding chair theatres give 

them an opportimity to become showmen. 

I'unds are available for bank guarantees 

from the IRE and BEU as evidence of good 

faith. 

Fulton Mini Theatre; 

62nd Associated Unit 

From Eostcrn 

Edition 

PiriSBURGH—The Fulton 

Mini Theatre 

opened recently as the 62nd unit of Associated 

Theatres, which had headquarters in 

the Robert Fulton Bldg. here. Seating more 

than 250, with wall-to-wall carpeting and 

with green and gold decor featured, this 

city's first mini-theatre, as such, occupies a 

former dark and unrented storeroom at the 

corner of the Fulton Bldg. and adjoining the 

entrance to the Fulton Theatre, facing the 

Sixth Street bridge. 

Although the Fulton Mini Theatre policy 

will be first-run generally, the opening offering 

was "Anne of the Thousand Days," 

which moved out of the Fulton as a carryover. 

.Associated Theatres, mostly located in this 

exchange area, has units in Ohio, Florida 

and New York, 

Lakeside Airer Pledges 

A Change in Film Policy 


KANSAS CITY, KAS.—Edward Ross, 

president. Lakeside Drive-In Theatre Corp., 

indicated at a hearing in the Wyandotte 

County District Court Tuesday, March 31, 

that he intended to stop showing films that 

could be considered objectionable or obscene. 

Wyandotte County Attorney Frank D. 

Menghini had filed a suit Saturday, March 

28, seeking to close the theatre. He alleged 

the drive-in was showing "obscene" movies 

and that he had received complaints about 

the films being shown at the Lakeside Drive- 

In, 91st and Leavenworth Road. 

The prosecutor asserted that the theatre's 

management, weekly since May 27, had 

caused notices to be placed in newspapers 

advertising motion pictures rated X and that 

the films "portrayed obscene and depraved 

acts," Menghini added that young persons 

witness the films from outside the grounds 

of the theatre and that on five previous occasions, 

the Wyandotte County District Court 

had found that films shown were "obscene, 

offensive to public morals, peace and health 

and that they constituted a common nuisance." 

At the hearing on the temporary injunction, 

it was agreed that Menghini would 

move to dismiss the proceedings if the policy 

of showing questionable films was discontinued. 

Days of Week Played 

Exhibitor.. 

K-B 

Theatre . 

Weather. 

District Court Judge Leo J, 

Moroney said 

the matter would be heard again June 29, 

at which time it would be determined if the 

theatre had abided by its agreement, 


LEARN 

m 

SUCCESSFUL SHOWMEN 

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PROMOTE GOOD WILL, 

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ATTENDANCE, 

AND INCREASE PROFITS 

lOXOFflCt 

IN 

mumnn 

CHOCKFUL OF BUSINESS BUILDING IDEAS 

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In All Ways FIRST with the MOST of the BEST 

BOXOFFICE :: April 13, 1970 

K-7

. 

WINNIPEG 

py>pile ihc naiionvMilc uprising in the ilic i>pcning ol Famous l'l,i>crs-\\ cslcrn's 

United States, where 13 states have twin Northstar Cinemas saw Bill Novak appointed 

manager of the new twin; l.ou Tri- 

taken court action aijainsi the ilistribuiors of 

"1 Am Curious (Yellow),'" Manitoba has meer is now the manager at Novak's former 

become the third Canadian pro\ince to pass post at the Metropolitan; Herman Thorvaldson 

is the new chief at the Gaiety, moving 

the film after Quebec and Ontario gave approval. 

The i'ittl Swedish production opens 

from suburban Pi>lo Park, and Bill Inge is 

in mid-April at the downtown Gaiety at 

at Polo Park. 

what is described as "a higher-than-usual admission 

price." International Film Distributors 

of Toronto have the Canadian release llic C;ui.ii.li.m Picture Pioneers annual curling 

The Maiiiloha-Suskalchcwan division of 

rights. 

lionspiel saw the Henry Morton Memorial 

I'he rvccnl Greta Garbo Film Festival at rri>phy captured by the Bob Sweetland rink 

the suburban Odeon-Morton Park Cinema. (with Jim Brega. Al Laubenstein and Harry 

with films provided by MGM for the twoweek 

showing, included "Mata Hari," "Ca- 

Irophy won by the Fou Trimeer foursome 

Prygrocki) and the Jacob Miles Memorial 

mille." "Queen Christina." "Grand Hotel" (including Bud Prygrocki. Ernie Barlow and 

and "Ninotchka." 

Ciord Guiry). Respective runners-up were the 

Recent managerial changes resulting from Sid Bermack and Max Shelton rinks. 

Fleischer 

dating back to 1916 

Records 

and other related material 

pertinent to Fleischer's career. 

Given 

To AFI's Feldman Library The Charles K. Feldman Memorial Library 

at the Center for Advanced Film Stud- 


BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. — Director 

ies at Greystone in Beverly Hills has been 

Richard Fleischer has presented some original 

records of his father, pioneer film car- 

motion picture related industries to support 

established through gifts of individuals and 

toonist Max Fleischer, to the newly founded 

the research program of the center. The library 

will house a basic collection of books 

Charles K. Feldman Memorial Library of 

the American Film Institute in Beverly Hills, on film history, criticism, technique and 

Calif. 

other aspects of cinema in the U.S. A special 

The collection of important papers and emphasis is placed on the oral history program 

of the library through its research and 

original documentation includes 15 original 

patents assigned to Max Fleischer (he held recorded data of significant figures in the 

over 20 during his career) for various methods 

and devices in producing motion pic- 

film industry. 

It also will have a special collection program 

that will concentrate on collecting and 

tures, a collection of original photographs 

preserving the personal papers and other 

records of outstanding U.S. filmmakers. This 

Tu6 MOLLi ^"^^ 

primary 

Showmen 

source material is necessary to the 

Are Using 

MIGHIESS "JJWACKS advancement of film history research. Photographs, 

scripts, production records, letters 

3 In One 

sodcfiiiev) 

and correspondence all are included in the 

TRAILERETTES 

category of original documentation. 

1. Can be 

Max Fleischer 

used 

was born in Cracow, 

as a prevue Poland, 

in 1883 and was raised and educated 

service 

2. 

iwiim Can be used as cross plug trailer 

1335 S. WABASH 

in the New York City school system. He became 

the youngest employed cartoonist in 

ICHICAGO 3. 

60S05 Can be used as advance trailers 

Start BOXOFFICE coming . . 

3 years for $15 (SAVE $6) 

D 2 years for $12 (SAVE S2) D 1 year for $7 

n PAYMENT ENCLOSED Q SEND INVOICE 

THEATRE 

STREET 

These rotes for U.S., Conado, Pan-America only. Other countries: $10 a yeor. 

ADDRESS 

TOWN STATE ZIP NO 

NAME 

POSITION 

BoXOffice — THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 

825 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124 

the U.S. in 1900 when, at the age of 17, 

he created a cartoon strip, "Little Elmo," 

lor the Brooklyn Daily I'agle. 

Fleischer entered the cinema field during 

World War 1 when General Pershing commissioned 

him to create the first Army training 

films at Ft. Sill, Okla. Fleischer went on 

to create the successful cartoon series "Out 

of the Inkwell," "KoKo the Clown," "Betty 

Boop," "Popcye the Sailor' and "Screen 

Songs With the Bouncing Ball." He produced 

full-length feature films such as "Darwin's 

Theory of Evolution" in cooperation with 

the Museum of Natural History and produced 

and directed, in 1923, "The Einstein Theory 

of Relativity," which was supervised personally 

by Albert Einstein. His first fulllength 

feature cartoon was "Gulliver's Travels" 

and he followed that with "Mr. Bug 

Goes to Town." 

Fleischer made the first talking animated 

cartoon experiment with Dr. Lee DeForest in 

New York in 1925 and in 1933 participated 

in the first telecast experiment from Madison 

Square Garden. Max Fleischer (now 86 

years old) and his wife currently reside in 

Southern California. Director of the American 

Film Institute George Stevens jr. accepted 

the Fleischer collection from Max 

Fleischer's son Richard Fleischer. 

Seek Special Use Permit 

For L004-Car Maui Airer 


WAILUKU, HAWAII—Sanford Langa, 

attorney, and Harry Rice, architect, presented 

plans Tuesday, February 3, for a 

1,004-car drive-in planned for a site near 

Waikapu. The two men made their presentations 

before the Maui County Planning 

commission, which was holding a public 

hearing on the promoter's request for a 

special use permit. The permit is required 

from the state land use commission before 

the theatre can be constructed in the agricultural 

zone. 

The architect said that the land is owned 

by A&B and at present is covered with 

keawe trees. The proposed site is near the 

intersection of Waiko Road and the new 

Wailuku By-Pass Highway, scheduled to 

start construction this month. 

Rice said the theatre will feature a Cinerama 

curved screen 52 feet high and 122 

feet wide and the most modern sound equipment. 

Planning Director Howard Nakamura said 

that his staff would check into the effect 

that the new county dump site, which is in 

the same vicinity, might possibly have on 

the drive-in operation. The planning commission 

has 15 days before it must make a 

recommendation to the state agency, which 

has jurisdiction over the special use permit 

required. 

James Emerson, one member of the group 

proposing the theatre, said that plans were 

to complete the drive-in when the new highway 

goes into operation. Without the highway, 

access to the site is too difficult for 

operation, he said. 

Maui has been without a drive-in since 

Maui Community College took over the site 

of the former operation in Kahului. 


• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS 

• ALPHABETICAL 

INDEX 

• EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY 

• FEATURE RELEASE CHART 

• FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST 

• SHORTS RELEASE CHART 

• SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS 

• REVIEWS OF FEATURES 

• SHQWMANDISING IDEAS 

BOXOfflCf 

THE GUIDE TOiBETTER BOOKING AND B U S I N E S S - B U I L D I N G 

Promotes Return Showing 

Of 'Gone With the Wind' 

Tommy Reynolds, manager of the Cinematex 

Colonies Theatre in San Antonio, 

Tex., went all out for the return showing 

of the film classic, "Gone With the Wind." 

Reynolds had a display in the arcade of the 

Cinematex of authentic reproductions of 

Civil War era Atlanta newspapers and photographs 

never before seen in San Antonio. 

Another promotion used by Reynolds was 

the running of a picture from the film in one 

of the daily newspapers. The picture showed 

Hattie McDaniel and Vivien Leigh and 

asked if the movie patrons of the city could 

remember what Miss McDaniel said when 

Miss Leigh talked about her waist size. The 

first 50 persons who responded with the 

correct answer were offered two tickets to 

see the film. Patrons were asked to telephone 

their responses into the theatre. 

Reynolds also scheduled early matinees 

over the long Easter weekend, with admission 

prices for students and adults only 75 

cents. Regular admission prices began at 

2 p.m.. with three daily showings scheduled 

at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Local 

Sportsmen Aid Texas Manager 

In Promotion for The Outdoorsman' 

l:.\liihits composed of material loaned by local sportsmen decorated the snack bar 

of the Chief Drive-In in Austin, Tex., during the showing of "The Outdoorsman." 

WUAB-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, televised 

a program on fashions from 

Warner Bros.' "The Damned." The program 

was arranged by Elaine Fried. 

Cleveland publicity representative for 

Warner Bros. From left to right in the 

picture: a model from the Higbee Co.; 

Bob McLean. WUAB-TV host; Ann 

Anabel, fashion editor for the Cleveland 

Plain Dealer, and Lili Adler, fashion 

editor for the Cleveland Press. "The 

Damned" is playing at the World East 

Theatre in Cleveland. 

Lloyd Nelson, manager of the Chief 

Drive-In Theatre in Austin, Tex., arranged 

what has been termed "a bad weather promotion 

that paid off handsomely for boxoffice 

gross and snack bar profits" on hehalf 

of "The Outdoorsman." 

The promotion was set up first by contacting 

the local, bass clubs. In turn, they 

furnished mounted game fish, deer, birds 

and other mounted animals from other local 

clubs. They also gave the film's playdate a 

tremendous amount of publicity in area 

clubs which covered all of the surrounding 

territory. The exhibits made from the material 

loaned by the clubs were displayed 

in the snack bar of the Chief Drive-In one 

week in advance of the film's playdate, and 

remained there throughout the engagement 

of the picture. These exhibits reportedly 

created a lot of interest for the entire family. 

In addition, free prizes of rods, reels, 

baits, etc.. were given away to patrons. The 

local Mercury Outboard dealer displayed his 

complete line of outboard motors, plus a 

completely rigged fishing boat, at the theatre. 

According to Glyn Morsbach. general 

supervisor of Trans-Texas Drive-In Theatres, 

"This promotion was played up in the 

newspaper, on radio and at the local sportsman 

clubs. All in all, it sure helped the boxoffice 

and snack bar sales, even with all the 

bad weather we were having at the time." 

Woodstock Free Store 

Opens in Manhattan 

The Woodstock Free Store, where all 

merchandise is free, has opened at 200 East 

59th Street, Manhattan, two blocks from 

the Trans-Lux East theatre where "Woodstock." 

the Warner Bros, motion picture, is 

in its premiere engagement. The store is 

open daily, except Sundays, from 11 a.m. 

to 7 p.m. 

All items in the store relate to the film, 

"Woodstock," including heralds, buttons 

and candles. Soft drinks are also distributed 

free. 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: April 13, 1970 — 55 — 1

— 

Aids Engagement of 101 Dalmatians 

By Staging Spotacular Contest 

Business on "UU Dalmatians" in its playdates 

at the twin Harkvvav Theatres in Kansas 

City. Mo., was substantially boosted by 

a two-way "Spotacular" contest conducted 

by Geoffrey Goodfriend, manager of the 

theatres. 

The first phase of the promotion drew 

attention b> piquing the general curiosity as 

to how many spots there are on a Dalmatian. 

The spot contest was announced by 

a flyer handed out lo patrons at the theatre 

beginning three weeks in advance of the 

March 11 opening. The Wyandotte Humane 

Society joined in by mailing 1.000 ol the 

flyers to persons on its list well in advance 

of the contest. 

The contest was open to any youngster 

up to 12 years of age. Entrants were invited 

to bring their pets and their spot counts to 

the theatre at 12:.^0 p.m. on March 14. 

The winner proved to be Amy Seferovitch, 

12, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Seferovitch. 

The pet. BIaz, obliged his young 

mistress with 636 spots, the speck type. The 

count was verified by Earl Young of the 

Wyandotte Humane Society and Dr. Wayne 

Bradley of the Leawood Animal Hospital, 

serving as contest judges. 

Geoffrey Goodfriend, manager of the 

Parkway Theatres, awards first prize 

in the "101 Dalmatians" contest lo 

Amy Seferovitch. Her pet. Blaz. won 

the "Spotacular" with 636 spots. 

As first prize, young Miss Seferovitch 

will be given a birthday party for herself 

and 20 young friends, including tickets to 

a matinee at the theatres and ice cream and 

cake for all at Allen's Drive-In Restaurant 

near the Ward Parkway Shopping Center 

where the theatres are located. 

Goodfriend added considerable depth to 

the penetration of the contest by persuading 

the Country Squire, the area's weekly newspaper, 

to use a picture of the contest winners.. 

The contest, being held at the theatres just 

prior lo the opening matinee time, also drew 

much attention to the Buena Vista release 

from the shoppers at the center and especially 

from those attending the theatre. 

In the second phase of the contest, all 

youngsters were invited to register for a 

free puppy. Ten first prizes were awarded, 

each including a puppy Ironi the .Animal 

Haven, a month's supply of Alpo dog food 

and a I')isneyland soundtrack album from 

the picture. Ten second prizes also were 

awarded, each including a pair of tickets 

to the theatre and a soundtrack album. 

The theatre was given a special front for 

the occasion with special signs mounted 

atop the marquee, a lobby poster announcing 

the contest and a display board of stills 

from the picture. Cross-plug posters were 

posted at the drive-in restaurant. 

"The contest was a good example of what 

can be done to properly promote a worthy 

attraction. The effort is in line with our 

general thinking that if a picture is worth 

playing it is worth promoting. Goodfriend 

took the opportunity to build a promotion 

aimed at the best possible prospects for 

this feature," said George Kieffer, director 

of advertising and public relations for American 

Multi-Cinema. Inc.. operator of the 

theatres. 

Boost 'Airport' With 

Varied Promotions 

Universal Pictures has kicked oft a tie-in 

promotion with the New York Daily News" 

classified advertising section spotlighting 

Universal's action drama "Airport," currently 

playing in New York at Radio City 

Music Hall. 

To be eligible to win tickets to "Airport," 

readers must send a postcard to the paper, 

then watch for their names to appear in 

the Daily News' classified listings. 

The News publicized the "Airport" promotion 

with special run-of-the-paper advertisements; 

radio spots on WPIX-FM; posters 

on all delivery trucks, and with an extra 

special "Airport" display at the News' booth 

at the National Employment Agency Show 

in the New York Hilton Hotel this month. 

Also, Universal and Bantam Books have 

launched an extensive promotional tie-up 

designed to publicize the film and the special 

"Airport" paperback movie edition. 

In addition to featuring color photographs 

of four of the film's stars on the back cover 

of the paperback—Burt Lancaster, Dean 

Martin, Jean Seberg and Jacqueline Bisset 

Bantam has mailed a special "Airport" promotion 

piece created by Universal to its 5,- 

000 dealers throughout the United States, 

Bantam has also distributed a special 

11x14 streamer which promotes the book 

and the film and contains space for theatre 

imprints, as well as a quantity of floor displays 

to its many outlets. 

Ambitious Campaign 

Backs 'Marooned' 

C'ohinibi.i Pictures is currenlly embarked 

on one of the most ambitious and extensive 

merchandising programs in its history 

on behalf of Academy Award nominee 

"Marooned," the Frankovich-Sturges production 

now beginning general release engagements 

in all major markets. 

Columbia field men have been coordinating 

the far-reaching program in which the 

company is involved in merchandising tie-ins 

in five major areas: Philco-Ford, A&P, 

Oinega Watches, Bantam Books and Rcvell 

Toys, 

The tie-ins, involving contests, ticket 

giveaways, in-store displays and posters, and 

extensive all-media advertising, have been 

timed to coincide with the local openings 

of "Marooned." 

Philco-Ford, builders of the authentic Mission 

Control sets used in the film, will participate 

via a special "Gala Night at the 

Movies" sponsored by local Philco dealers. 

Lucky customers will win pairs of tickets 

for the film at their local theatres. Philco- 

Ford is advertising the promotion in newspapers 

and on radio, in addition to in-store 

posters, window cards and color stills, 

A&P, with more than 4,500 supermarkets 

across the nation, is participating with its 

own space-oriented campaign. Keyed to the 

theme "Jane Parker Donuts are out of this 

world," A&P is organizing contests with 

space-age prizes— including "Marooned" 

tickets—as premiums. Specially prepared 

supermarket window cards, streamers, and 

point-of-sale displays, as well as "Marooned" 

heralds in shoppers' grocery bags, are being 

utilized over a two-month period in connection 

with local engagements. 

Omega, through its 4,400 major franchises 

from coast to coast, is selling unique 

NASA-approved Astronaut watches as worn 

by the astronauts in the film. Omega has 

prepared a special two-column cooperative 

ad which can be used locally to stimulate 

sales. Key ad copy reads: "Omega, the first 

watch on the moon, co-stars in 'Marooned.' " 

Appropriate theatre and jeweler copy 

follows. 

Bantam Books, publisher of the "special 

paperback movie edition" of Martin Caidin's 

novel "Marooned," will announce the film's 

arrival in various ways, including book store 

window displays, point-of-sale displays, 

color stills and one-sheet posters. Additionally, 

truckside posters heralding the 

Bantam Book and the local engagement of 

"Marooned" will be employed. 

Revell Toys is offering lucky moviegoers 

five authentic space suits as worn by the 

stars of "Marooned," a Cessna airplane, a 

power boat, and 250 pairs of tickets. The 

company is advertising the promotion in 

the trade and consumer publications in the 

toy and hobby field, and special-interest 

periodicals. In addition, posters, window display 

cards and other display items are available 

to hobby retailers. Other Revell tie-ins 

are under way in behalf of the film in Europe, 

Latin America and the Far East. 

'Be 

te n 

->rp' 

• S 

V 

w h' 

— 56 — BOXOFHCE Showmandiser :: April 13, 1970

. . . "Patton" 

. . George 

'Patton' (20th'Fox) Is Acclaimed 

March Blue Ribbon 

Award Winner 

By MARY JO GORMAN 

TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX'S epic roadshow, "Patton," was chosen by National 

Screen Council members as the Blue Ribbon Award winner for March. The film, 

starring George C. Scott in the title role, has a "GP" rating from the MPAA and an A2 

from the NCO. The biographical drama has grossed a solid 367 per cent of average 

business in first-run playdates in key cities. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, portrayed in the 

production by Karl Maiden, acted as senior military advisor. 

BoxoFFicE reviewed "Patton" in its issue Superb in every way! Gory, profane and 

of February 9 (in addition to a feature re- violent—but that's what war is. George 

view January 26), stating in part: "Despite Scott should get the Academy Award for 

current semantic quibbling among antiwar this performance.—Mrs. Henry F. McGill, 

protestors over "hero" and 'war hero' in 

particular. Gen. George S. Patton jr. fits 

the category lock, 

stock and ivory-handled 

pistol. In the "middle America' sense, and, 

indeed, in an historic sense, Patton was a 

true American hero of World War II. In 

creating a film biography of the famous 

tank commander, 20th Century-Fox has 

produced one of the best of the genre; it 

holds up well as both historical record and 

fine entertainment. George C. Scott portrays 

Patton skillfully and unforgettably, 

giving one of his best performances; irascible 

and violent, flamboyant and profane. 

Colorful and outspoken, Patton is 

presented on a Dimension 150 and De 

Luxe Color screen in all his own glory 

following his military campaigns in North 

Africa. Sicily and across France and Germany. 

The character of the man Patton- 

Scott pervades all and, in the workmanlike 

direction by Franklin Schaffner, the story 

line and the selling ('A Salute to a Rebel'). 

20th-Fox has wisely stressed the person 

over the grand scale of war . . . Production 

values throughout are excellent." 

On their ballots. NSC members commented 

as follows: 

Gen. George S. Patioii jr George C. 

Scott 

Gen. Omar N. Bradley . .Karl Malden 

. . 

Capi. Chester B. Hansen. Stephen Young 

Brig. Gen. Hobart Carver Michael 

Strong 

General Bradley's Driver . . . Cary Loftin 

Capt. Richard N. Jenson . .Morgan Paull 

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel 

Karl Michael Vogler 

General Patton s Driver . . . Bill Hickman 

First Lt. Alexander Stiller 

Patrick J. Zurica 

'Sgt. William George Meeks James 

Edwards 

Col. Ga.ston Bell Lawrence Dobkin 

Producer 

Frank McCarthy 

Director Franklin J. Schaffner 

Screen Story and Screenplay by 

Francis Ford Coppola, 

Edmund H. North 

Based on Factual Material from 

"Patton: Ordeal and Triumph" by 

Ladislas Farago 

and 

"A Soldier's Story" by Omar N. 

Bradley 

The Cast 

Phoenix Academy Parents Ass'n, Atlanta 

... A wonderfully well-done picture of a 

man.—Harold N. Hubbard, Citizen-News, 

Los Angeles . 

Production Staff 

C. Scott is remarkable 

in "Patton." The devastating film 

surely will cop next year's Oscar for Scott. 

Impressive war scenes and topnotch directing 

skills make "Patton" very real.—Bill 

Kitchen, Ottumwa Courier. 

"Patton" is really not for the youngsters, 

but it is such a well-made movie, an historical 

document plus that impossible combination—a 

film about war which satisfies 

both hawks and doves—that it should be 

recommended for all but the wee ones. 

Carole Kass, Richmond Times-Dispatch 

makes U.S. history live, and 

right now a little U.S. history is welcome. 

Dick Osgood. WXYZ-TV, Detroit . . . 

"Patton" is by far the best this month, and 

likely to be the measuring stick for all military 

films in the future.—Bob Freund, Fort 

Lauderdale News. 

"Patton" is a fine screen portrait of a 

man whose like we probably will never see 

again. George C. Scott is superb.—Dave 

Mclntyre, San Diego Evening Tribune. 

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur 

Coningham 

John Barrie 

Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl . .Richard Muench 

Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law 

Montgomery 

Michael Bates 

Lt. Col. Charles R. Codman 

Paul Stevens 

Maj. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith 

Edward Binns 

Third Army Chaplain . . .Lionel Murton 

Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Tniscoit 

John Doucette 

Soldier Who Gets Slapped. Tim Considine 

Willy 

Abraxas Aaran 

Tank Captain 

Clint Ritchie 

Music by 

Jerry Goldsmith 

Director of Photography 

Fred Koenekamp 

Film Editor Hugh S. Fowler 

Assistant Directors 

Associate Producer 

Eli Dunn, 

Jose Lopez Rodero 

Frank Caffey 

Filmed in Dimension 150 

Color bv 

De Luxe 

BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: April 13, 1970 — 57 — 

iiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiHi 

MOROCCAN CHILDREN IN RABAT SALUTE PATTON 

(GEORGE C. SCOTT) AND AN AIDE (MORGAN PAULL) 

AFTER SLAPPING A BATTLE-WORN PRIVATE IN SICILY. 

PATTON (SCOTT) LOSES HIS MILITARY COMMAND 

THE VICTORIOUS SEVENTH ARMY ARMORED UNITS 

AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF BRITISH FORCES IN MESSINA 

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 

This award Is given each month by the 

National Screen Council on the basis of outstan(Jing 

merit and suitability for family 

entertainment. Council membership comprises 

motion picture editors radio and TV lilm 

commentators representatives of better films 

councils civic, educational and exhibitor orlanizatioiu.

BOXOFFICE 

BAROMETER 

Tkti chart rKordi the performance of current ottractioni in the opening we«k of their first rum in 

the 20 key cities checked. Pictures with fewer than five engagements are not listed. As new runs 

ore reported, ratings ore added and overages revised. Computation is in terms of percentage in 

relation to normal grosses as determined by the theatre managers. With 100 per cent as "normal," 

the figures show the gross ratings above or below that mark. (Asterisk * denotes combination bills.) 

/JM

IUUKIN6UIDE 

An IntarpraHv* anatfit of lay and tradaprou ravlawi. Running Hrn* li In paranthMM. Th« plut and mlnui 

•ism Indlcet* d*gr«* of marit. Llitlngj cov«r currant ravlawi rvgulorly. iQ li for ClnomaScopa; igj PonavUlon; 

S Tochnlrama; ($i Othar onomorphlc procanti. Symbol U danotot BOXOFFICI Blue Ribbon Award; ® Color 

Fhefegraphy. Motion Plctur* Au'n (MPA) rotlngi; gi—Sanarol Audlanco*; H —Motur* Auditncn (partnfal 

dlKrotlon advltod); B — Raitrlctad, wifh partem under 16 not admlttfd unitu accompanlad by parant or 

•dull guardian; ct—Panoni undar 16 not admlttad. Notlonol Catholic Offlct (NCO) ratings; A1 — Unobloctlanobla 

for Gonarol Potronaga; A2— Unob|tctlanabla for Adulti or Adolctnt

REVIEW DIGEST 

AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX • very Good, - Good, ^ Foir; - Poor; = Ver> Poor In the summary t! ij rated 2 pluiei, — as 2 miniuet 

ti 

1"

Feature productions by company In order of releose. Running time In parentheiM. (9 ii tor Cinemascope; 

® Ponovision; >J Technlromo; f Other onomorphic processes. Symbol u denotes BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon 

Award; © Color photography. Letters and combinations thereof indicate story type—(Complete key on next 

page.) For review dotes ond Picture Guide page numbers, see REVIEW DIGEST. 

Feature 

ALLIED ARTISTS % U 

chart

, 

C 

Ac. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

W. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

OThe Executioner D 

FEATURE CHART 

COLUMBIA 

OCutle Kmo (105) D. 004 

Burl l.dneuter. Pitrirk O'N'ml 

OTIiank You All Very Much 

(106) D..005 

SanOf (ftonls. lu UrKellai 

OLkI U( Vour Oiuilitirs 

(102) C..003 

(l)rHte(iher Plummff. Sunnnah York 

Otnd Riidcn (100) Ad 006 

Arim( I>>bl. Tril) ganlas 

©The Girl 

OTh( Comic (94) CD 012 

mrt Van Hrkf. MIehfle let 

OBob i C««l & Ted t Alice 

(104) C.OIO 

N>Ulle Wood. Robert Dilp 

Filihftill 

©Act of Consent (9B) .. D 007 ©The Magic 

J«iii« MMon, Helen MIrren 

©Mirooned (134) -f) Ad 

a-«orT Peek. Rkturd Crenna 

OVirtin Soldien. The 

,"6> ^ D .018 

Lrnn SedEnre. Hprel Bennett 

©Tilt Looklni Glass Wir 

'UW t> 

D..005 

CTirts Jooea. Pu Degennark 

©Tilt Liberation ot I. B. Jones 

'104) 

D..020 

©Machine Gun McCain D 

©A Walk in the Soring Rain 

' ) D 

.Anthony Qiilnn. It^trld BerEmn 

3The Mind of Mr. Soanes F 

Terenrr Stamp. Robert Vaiijhn 

©Strangers at 

3The Reckoning (log) q 

Xlm) ffllllm'on. RachH Roberts 

©The Dubious Patriots 

Trmy (\iTlU. rharlw Br

PARAMOUNT 

I U 

FEATURE 

CHART 

OThose Daring Young Men In Their 

Jaunty Jalopies (130) ® Ad 6S34 

Tony Curtla. MlrelUa Dare

F 

D 

D 

I 

j 

Hank 

Mle 

Doc 

, 

Rcl 

Ollt 

AQUARIUS FILMS 

Mjrntij Coupii (97> Doc Feb 70 

AUDUBON 

CBIick on Whitt (89) D 10-fi9 

\'!*a ;vir.)«T? TffTJf drtW 

BOXOFFICE INTL 

'^Thc S«r«l Sex Lilts of Romfo «"rf 

Juliet (96) Sn C J>n 70 

Clil> (SS) Mtio Jan 70 

Sji-jm Slr".irt M. K r\jni 

CWMkend Loipw 

(88) S«« C. Frt70 

\ If l-.'K-f rhrU Milhls 

Nlttd Pu'tuil (73) Slni Rofrii 

OWilbur and the Baby Factory 

(92) Ac C May 70 

"Wild. Free and Hungry 

195) Ac D May 70 

CAMBIST FILMS 

OTlie Min« (87) Sex D Not 69 

Jn Srerlini R.'t>frt RMui 

' 

Positions of Love 

(75) Sn D ..MirTD 

lutvl Sarll 

CANNON REL. 

Amrrican Resolution 2 

(801 Doc 9-15-69 

(Kllm Or\>tip. Ine ) 

Findo and lis (82) 

. 

Feb 70 

>-V-i:'" K'i'"^m. John Kllzmlllrr 

HOLLYWOOD STAR PICTURES 

©Free Grass (83) Ac Oct 69 

Klchanl Rrvimr. lfiK< T:imlilin 

©Is This Trip Really Necess.iry? 

(84) C. Apr 70 

IVrer DiirsiM. Man in Mllli-r 

©Violent Breed (84) Ac Jul 70 

Rn T..rn. I/il-; Marklp 

MAGNA PICTURES CORP. 

©Willie McBean and His Maoic 

Machine (94) 6917 Oct 69 

\nl Made Puppet Fantasy 

High Infidelity (102) 6918 Nov 69 

rialre Bloom. Monica VlttI 

Impossible on Saturday 

(120) 6919 Nov 69 

Robert Hfrsch. Niisga A.

Opinions on Current Productions 

ÊATURE REVIEWS 

Svmbul £1 denotes color; ;c CinemoScope. jp, Ponavislon; £ Techniramo; ig) other onomorphic processes. For story synopsis on each picture, see reverse side. 

WOODSTOCK 

r^ Musical Doc 

Warner Bros. (964) 184 Minutes Rel. Mar. '70 

For the past few months, everyone remotely comiected 

with Warner Bros, has been predicthig "Woodstock" 

would be one of the company's greatest hits. To say that 

this has been justified seems like an understatement, because 

"Woodstock" is a rare experience and may just be 

one of the biggest moneymakers of all time. The threeday 

rock festival that amazed the world for its peacefulness 

has been caught in spirit on film. The special effects 

employed by director-co-producer-co-cinematographer 

Michael Wadleigh are fascinating to behold; every camera 

trick ever devised is used and, seemingly, a few that no 

one ever thought of before. The effects are such that the 

performers do tend to get dwarfed at times, but most of 

them contribute forcefully enough to overcome this. Scoring 

highly are: Joan Baez, who tells of her husband's 

jail experiences and sings an anti-war song; Counti-y Joe 

and the Fish; Joe Cocker; and Sha-Na-Na, who do a 

hilarious takeoff on the rock 'n' roll classic, "At the Hop." 

Intercut with the acts, which are presented in whole for 

the most part, are shots of the audience. Towards the 

end, the film takes on more of a documentary approach 

with an emphasis on the crowds at play and the townspeople's 

reactions to them. 

Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Country Joe & tbe Fish, Arlo 

Guthrie, Crosby- Stills-Nash & Young, Richie Havens. 

BROTHERLY LOVE 

MGM (7018) 

112 Minutes 

r^ 

Drama 

Rel. Apr. '70 

After several title changes, MGM's drama of a man's 

unnatm-al love for his sister comes to the screen as 

"Brotherly Love." Formerly titled "The Same Skin," the 

British production is entirely the creation of the late 

James Kennaway. He did the screenplay from his own 

play ("Country Dance") and novel ("Household 

Ghosts"). In what used to be called a bravm-a perfoi-mance, 

Peter O'Toole is exceptionally fine as the 

baronet who is content to dissipate his life away as long 

as sister Susannah York is near. Miss York is fine as the 

more rational of the eccentric pair, loving her brother 

but in love with her estranged husband, Michael Ci-aig. 

In MetroColor, the drama is played against the lovely and 

rugged farm lands of Scotland and Ireland. That the 

film is much too long at 112 minutes may comit against 

its chances generally, but the O'Toole-York names should 

provide some marquee weight. Although R-rated. there 

is a definite playing down of nudity and the basic theme. 

Aside from the coarse language, the situations have been 

handled with some restraint. J. Lee Thompson directed 

I except for O'Toole 1, with Robert Emmett Ginna as producer 

of the Windward-Keep-MGM production. 

Peter O'Toole, Susannah York, Michael Craig, Harry 

Andrews, Cyril Cusack, Judy Comwell. 

THE DREAMER 

i" 

E HîZ' 

Cannon Releasing- 86 3Iinutes Rel. Apr. '70 

Filmed in the beautiful countryside of Safad in the 

north of Israel, "The Dreamer" functions on two levels, 

first as an eloquent portrait of the loneliness of old age 

and secondly as a youthful love story. The film succeeds 

very well in the former case, catching the frustrations 

and bitterness of those forced to live out their lives in a 

home for the aged. In itself, this seems to be an argument 

against growing old, unless occasional simple pleasures 

are enough to make life worthwhile. The casual love affair 

between the shy youth who works at the home and 

a gii-l he meets somehow isn't as effective. The Israeli 

locations and dialog, translated via English titles, should 

provide a ready-made audience in markets with large 

Jewish populations. Elsewhere, art houses should be able 

to attract customers with its tender theme. In the lead. 

Tuvia Tavi is a personable if colorless youth, while Leora 

Rivlin has little to do as his love interest. Elderly Berta 

Litvina steals the show and whoever cast her should take 

a deep bow. Ami Artzi produced with Dennis Friedland 

and Christopher C. Dewey as executive producers. Dan 

Wolman wrote and directed the film, which has a lovely 

and quite touching score by Gershon Kingsley. Distributor 

indicated that a few cuts would earn a GP rating, 

making it suitable for family trade. Color by Movielab. 

Tuvia Tavi, Berta Litvina, Leora Rivlin. 

ropor 

colW 

21? 

iSlCS. 

., 5 If 

THE GAMES 

fT-n Sports Drama 

20th-Fox (G05) 97 Minutes Rel. May '70 

An international cast and locations lend flavor to "The 

Games," based on Hugh Atkinson's novel of competitive 

runners. While foot racing may not be a sport of major 

interest to the American public, the film has enough marquee 

strength and colorful backgrounds to do fairly well 

in the regular market. There is no main story line, the 

plot consisting of events in the lives of competitors in the 

Olympics marathon race in Rome. The race provides an 

exciting climax to the multiple episodes that precede it 

and shows how men push themselves beyond endurance 

for victory. Each of the main characters has personal 

reasons for winning, and suspense builds nicely as four 

participants all show potential. Erich Segal's script creates 

sympathy for Charles Aznavour, the former record 

holder, now middle-aged and attempting one last win. 

Aznavour cops acting honors, followed by Stanley Baker 

as a hardnosed former racer tm'ned coach. Young Athol 

Compton is interesting as the Aborigine contender and 

Ryan O'Neal and Michael Crawford show lots of boyish 

enthusiasm. O'Neal's wife Leigh Taylor-Young is in for 

an extended luncreditedi scene with him. In Panavision 

and DeLuxe Color. Michael Winner directed the Winner- 

Lester Linsk production. 

Stanley Baker, Michael Crawford, Ryan O'Neal, 

Charles Aznavour 

A LONG RIDE FROM HELL 

Cinerama Releasing (104) 

94 Minutes 

Fd] 

Western 

Rel. March '70 

This Italian-made western, starring Steve Reeves in his 

first such role, is an action-packed, albeit heavily brutal, 

addition to the Cinerama Releasing Corp. schedule which, 

properly sold, should do good business in the action market. 

As directed by Alex Burks, the film abounds in 

brawls, escapes, cruelty and screams of agony, all combining 

to effectively overshadow the rather poor quality 

of the English dubbing. The muscular Reeves, of "Hercules" 

fame, is excellent as the ranch owner wrongfully 

sent to prison, from which he escapes to seek retribution. 

Also standing out in the cast are Franco Fantasia, as 

Reeves' mm'dered yomiger brother, and Wayde Preston 

as the master villain, Mayner. Other cast members, mostly 

Italian, carry off their portrayals with aplomb. Reeves 

collaborated on the screenplay with Roberto Natale, basing 

it on the novel, "Judas Gun," by Gordon Shirreffs. 

The Italian S.P.E.S. color photography by Enzo Barboni 

makes good use of parched landscapes and dust and is 

varied impressively thi'ough employment of zoom lenses. 

Carlo Savina's musical score provides a fm'ther plus 

factor. 

Steve Reeves, Wayde Preston, Dick Palmer, Franco 

Fantasia, Silvana Venturelli, Lee Burton, Ted Carter. 

THE WILD PUSSYCAT 

Crown International 

86 Minutes 

Horror-Sex Drama 

B&W 

Rel. Apr. '70 

Providing the elements of sex and tragedy in a story of 

vengeance and hatred, this Greek production by Aiista 

Films will be of interest primarily to sexploitation houses. 

Filmed in black and white by cameraman James Costa, 

the picture needs the sex scenes and at least a modicum 

of the inordinate brutality to make up for the lack of 

color interest. English dubbing is adequate. Pi-oduced by 

James Paris, with Dimi Dadira directing from a story by 

John Giotti, the pictm'e casts Gizella Dalli as the vengeful 

sister of a yomig unsophisticated girl who has been 

driven to her death by a panderer portrayed by Dean 

Byron. Miss Dalli plays both sides of the sex bed, with 

equal skill as a lesbian or as the female temptress who 

entraps Byron, then subjects him to such indignities that 

he is di'iven to insanity and death. Byron does well with 

his role and his death scene is packed with emotion. All 

of the Greek actors and actresses, clothed or unclothed, 

are handsome and carry off their roles creditably. Another 

plus factor for the pictm-e is the somid track, jazzy 

with 1968 tmies. 

Gizella Dalli, Dean Byron, Kathy Impro, Vivian 

Virna, Jonathan Drake, Paul Dillon. 

The reviews on these poges moy be filed for future reference in any of the following ways (I) In any standard three-ring 

loose-leaf binder; (2) individuolly, by company, In any standard 3x5 card Index file; or (3) in the BOXOFFICE PICTURI 

GUIDE three-ring, pocket-size binder. The latter. Including o year's supply of booking and dolly record sheets, 

may be obtained from Associated Publications, t25 Von Brunt Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64124 for SI.SO pottage paid. 

4282 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide ;: April 13, 1970 4281

Charles 

. , From 

Michael 

. , A 

FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adlines for Newspapers and Programs 

TIIK STORY "Tho Ganies' (20th-Fox) 

Four iiu-n in diffeieiit parts of the slobt' find tUemselves 

preparing for international competition during the Roman 

Olympic.*;' 26-mile marathon race. In Enpland, 

brash Harry Hayes i Crawford', a milkman who 

easily outdistances competition, is tutored by Bill Oliver 

(Stanley Baker', Once a champion himself, Oliver is now 

lame aiid embittered and sees in Harry a chance at glory, 

American Scott Reynolds cRyan O'Neal' fancies himself 

a ladies' man and prime athlete, too, Australian promotere 

Jijn iJeremy Kemp' and Charlie iReg Lye' discover 

a fleet-footed Aborgino, Sunny Pintubi lAthol Compton), 

whom they bet on in their own beach races. Col. Pavel 

Vendek i Aznavour', 41. the Czech champ, is 

persuaded by his government to enter the Olympics for 

propaganda pui'poses, Scott has just shattered Pavel's 

old record for six-mile races and is instrumental in having 

Sunny compote: latter meets pre.iudice. In gruelliiig 

heat, the marathon is rim, Scott, relying on pep pills, 

runs into a monument: Harry is pushed too far by Oliver 

and cant make it. Simny edges out Pavel to win, 

EXPLOITIPS: 

The international cast and location filming are good 

factors to work with. Make sports tie-ins, 

CATCHLINES: 

Is Playing the Game Really More Important Than 

Winning? , The Best Selling Expose of International 

Sporting Events, 

jN1. 

r of I 

THE STOUV Woodstock" (WB) 

The events at the Woodstock Mu.sic Festival at White 

Lake. N.Y,, in August 1969, are documented with an equal 

proportion of performers to spectators. The crowds begin 

to congregate, some 400,000 in all. as the platforms 

are built and facilities installed. Richie Havens is the 

fust to go on. followed by Joan Baez, who sings the antiwar 

"Joe Hill." The two do two numbers and Sha-Na-Na 

parodies an old rock 'n' roll song. "At the Hop." complete 

with an exaggerated twist. Rain doesn't stop the 

proceedings for long, as Joe Cocker sings and a mudsliding 

contest gets underway. Gabe Pressman interviews 

the Festival's organizers. Arlo Guthrie arrives to perform, 

as do Crosby-Stills-Nash & 'young and 10 Years 

After, Next on is John Sebastian: Country Joe & The 

Fish do a singalong, "Next Stop, Vietnam," after which 

the food problem becomes acute and the kids take to nude 

bathing. Santana performs "Soui' Sacrifice" in a kaleidoscopic 

triple screen effect and Sly and the Family Stone 

do "Higher," The man who cleans portable toilets is interviewed 

(with subtitles! and Max Yazger, owner of 

the land on which the thiee-day Festival is held, speaks. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

A look at the above program should provide plenty of 

names for exploitation. Should have wide appeal. 

CATCHLINES: 

Woodstock — Three Days of Peace and Music . , , No 

One Who Was There Will Ever Be the Same, Be There! 

THE STORY: •A Long Ride From Hell" (ORG) 

Rancher Steve Reeves and his younger brother. Franco 

Fantasia, set off to find a band of thieves who stole an 

entire herd of horses from the brothers' ranch. Reeves is 

ambushed by his "friend," Wayde Preston, whose gang 

then steals gold from a train. Reeves and Fantasia are 

sent to the penitentiary for the robbery, and Fantasia 

dies as a result of brutal treatment. Reeves escapes and 

goes in search of the bandits, encountering prison guards 

and bounty hunters on his trail. He finally learns where 

the gold is hidden and. after a long and violent battle. 

succeeds in destroying the bandits. The gold then is loaded 

and ready to be turned over to the law and Reeves rides 

off to a new future. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Play up Reeves' appearance in his first western role. 

Hold a male physique demonstration on stage for young 

men of your town, or a contest to name 15 of the films 

in which Reeves has appeared. 

CATCHLINES: 

His Revenge Produced a Massacre . , , They Tui'ned a 

Man Into a Wild Beast Thirsting for Revenge, 

C 

I 

THE STORY: "Brotherly Love" (MGM) 

Hilary Dow 'Susannah York) lives on a farm in Perthshire, 

Scotland, with her aiioring brother. Pink (Peter 

O'Toole', also known as Sir Charles Ferguson, 11th Baronet, 

Pink is addicted to drink, drugs and Hilary, who is 

estranged from husband Douglas (Michael Craig), Since 

Douglas' departme as manager, the Ferguson fann has 

become run down. Highly eccentric. Pink isn't sure he 

wants to sell to prospering Brigadier Crieff 'Harry Andrews), 

Douglas does his best to reconcile, but Hilary 

prefers him to be less inhibited and more forceful. At a 

country dance for a local political candidate. Hilary accuses 

ex-maid Rosie (Judy Cornwell' of an affair with 

Douglas. Actually, policeman Jock (Brian Blessed) fathered 

Rosie's expected child. After a night of nymphomania, 

including Jock, Hilary decides to return to Douglas. 

Her a(imission of promiscuity sends Pink off in a rage 

and he blows off an ear dm-ing a duck shoot. Hilary realizes 

that this was done to keep her with him. Pink tells 

his sister of his real love for her: Hilary and Douglas 

send him to an asylum, 

EXPLOITIPS: 

The names of Peter O'Toole and Susannah York should 

liu-e customers: play up O'Toole's remarkable portrayal, 

CATCHLINES: 

See What Brotherly Love Is Really Like , , , A Brother 

and Sister — Wild. Unpredictable. Were They Really 

Lovers? 

THE STORY: "The "Wild Pussycat" (Crown Int'l) 

Nick 'Dean B>Toni. a panderer with no moral scruples, 

gets rid of Vera 'Kathy Impro' and brings In 'Vivian Virna, 

Impro kills herself in front of a car, but leaves behind 

a diary which her sister Nadia iGizella Dalli) reads. The 

diary tells of the cruelty of Byron and Dalli decides to 

give him a taste of his own medicine in revenge for the 

death of her sister. Luring him to her room, Dalli drugs 

him, then chains him to the wall. Through a two-way 

mirror. Byron sees her copulating with several men and 

finally with Vima, To complete her cruel revenge. Dalli 

starves Byron and then emasculates him with a razor. 

After an attempt at sex relations which he can no longer 

IJerform. Byron staggers out of the house, insane, and 

goes to his death. 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Use a huge cat with immense eyes 'the symbol in the 

film) as a cutout in the lobby, with a caption underneath. 

Place girlie pictures aroiuid the display. 

CATCHLINES: 

The Cat Knows All, Sees Everything and Meows in - 

Terror . , 'When You Do Her Wrong, Watch Out for the 3i d 

Terrible Sister. 

"' 

D 11 

hlldt 

THE STORY: 

"The Dreamer" (Cannon) 

'This is a love story, not really of youth, but of the affection 

between an elderly woman and a young helper at 

the home for the aged where she resides.) Ely (Tuvia 

Tavii is the dreamer, caring for the aged in the ancient 

city of Safad in Israel and yearning to be an artist. Most 

fond of him is Rachel Finkelstein 'Berta Litvina), whom 

he accompanies into the market places each day. Stein 

'Shlomo Bar-Shavit', manager of the home, has problems 

with ancient fixtures and with the sometimes uncooperative 

residents, A band hired to entertain doesn't 

impress the old people, who prefer the bad violin playing 

of one of their own members. One day, Ely meets a girl 

'Leora Rivlin), the granddaughter of a recently deceased 

resident. They begin dating, although at first Ely is shy. 

Soon the pair sleeps together and he does a nude sketch 

of her. At a sociable, Rachel is chided for losing Ely's 

affection, since he is no longer too attentive. Realizing 

a change in Rachel's normally cheerful attitude, Ely is 

forced to decide. His responsibility to the old people and 

his fondness for Rachel overcome his love for the girl, 

EXPLOITIPS: 

Jewish groups will take this film to their hearts and 

special screenings should be held with them in mind. 

CATCHLINES: 

A Lyrical Tapestry of a Film — A Work of Rare Beauty 

And a Poetic Love Story . Deeply Moving Tale 

of the Young and the Elderly — Their Love Story, 

BOXOFFICE BookinGuido :: April 13, 1970

I any 

ATES: 25c per word, miniinum

A MOTION PICTURE THE MAJORS 

CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE!!!! 

A BOLD FILM 

A BOLD MAN 

A BOLD STORY 

I 

A MEDIEVAL/ 

TWENTIETH CENTURY 

STORY 

WRITTENsPRODUCED BY MAURICE H. 

DIRECTED BY HANS KYSER 

ZOUARY 

A FILMVIDEO SCREEN CLASSIC PRESENTATION 

DISTRIBUTED BY BUDD ROGERS 

CABIE 

BUDDROCERS. NEW YORK 

1270 Avenue of Americas-New York 10020-Circle 7-3945

Boxoffice-April.13.1970

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