ENTERTAINMENT
The University Daily KANSAN
February 10, 1984 Page 6
Midnight-movie mania pales with overexposure
By MELISSA BAUMAN Staff Reporter
Meatloaf again?
Yes, Meatloaf and the other characters from the "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" will return to Lawrence next week after a 10-month absence.
But this cult movie has not been the only thing missing from Lawrence midnight movies recently.
Late-night, rowdy audiences packing sold-out theaters have also lacking, and for this reason local theaters have shown fewer midnight movies in the past year, said Rance Blann, city manager of the Common wealth Theatres.
FROM OCTOBER 1982 to September 1983, 30 midnight movies played during the first six months. However, only nine midnight movies were shown in the last six months.
"We have found that we haven't been doing as much business on them, and we think maybe we overexposed the midnight movie here." Blann said.
The types of midnight films the local theaters show are usually X-rated movies, concert films and cult films. Blann said.
This trend may be confined to Lawrence, however. American Multi Cinema reported that their midnight movies were doing better than ever.
But, because a limited number of these movies existed, the audience soon became tired of them
"Midnight movies work in a very strong youth market," said Bob Martin, assistant division manager of AMC in Kansas City, Mo. "My experience has been that anytime you're in a college market, they're successful."
Martin said that college towns have a lot of competition for the midnight crowd because campus organizations run movies.
"But it's been my experience that
people want to get off campus,' he said.
TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT show films on campus, University Film Society and Student Union Activities, report that together they are drawing an average audience of about 300 each weekend.
Tim DePaepe, president of UFS, said that because they were on campus, they were more accessible to students, and they could reach their audience through fliers.
Martin also said that midnight movies were not as popular in the Midwest as they were elsewhere in the country because people tend to go to bed earlier in the Midwest.
UNQUESTIONABLY, "ROCKY HORROR Picture Show" is the most popular midnight movie. "The Song Remains the Same" by Led Zeppelin and "Pink Floyd the Wall" also draw large crowds.
DePaepe said that UFS also tried to show midnight movies with a bizarre appeal. He said science fiction, in particular, attracts viewers.
"All That Jazz," for instance, doesn't draw a midnight crowd. The midnight crowd is the hard-core groupie-type following," he said.
SUA MIDNIGHT MOVIES also tend to be more on the bizarre side, according to Jim Colson, SUA film chairman. "Mad Max" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" tended to have a cult following and did well on campus, he said.
"I think we're facing a national changing trend, and I think there's fewer people coming to see the movies because they have more access to them at home." Colson said
Whether the decline in attendance at Lawrence theater midnight movies is due to audience burn-out, cable television and video cassette recorders, the price of a tickets, or competition from movies on campus, Blann said he planned to show more midnight movies in Lawrence next fall.
Members of Pilobolus Dance Theatre use combinations of dance troupe will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at Hoch Auditorium as and gymnastic movements to form individual scultures. The part of the KU Concert Series.
Pilobolus to use athletic dance in concert
By the Kansan Staff
Pilobolus Dance Theatre is not just another modern dance company — it is more than that. Pilobolus is a contemporary troupe known for its originality, humor and unique choreography.
The dance company will return at 8 p.m. Thursday for a KU Concert Series performance in Hoch Auditorium. Pilobus first performed in Hoch Auditorium during the 1978-79 season.
THE REPERTORY COMPANY named themselves after a fungus, Janet Hamburg, associate professor of dance, so there is a sense that the dance moves and grows.
Hamburg said that this was a good introductory concert for someone who had never watched a dance company perform. She said
that these people should find the dancers' movements similar to athletic movements.
The Pilobolus dancers use a combination of gymnastics and vivid imagination to inspire themselves and the audience. Each dance piece molds men and women together as they balance on each others backs, necks, hips and intertwine arms and legs to form sculptural chains.
THE PROGRAM INCLUDES "Molly's Not Dead," a 1978 work commissioned by the American Dance Festival; "Scribble," a 1963 solo work choreographed and performed by Peter Mater, a member of the company; "Stabat Mater," a 1983 work funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and "Day Two," a 1980 work choreographed and directed by Moses Pendleton, one of the founders of the dance company.
Another unique aspect of the company is that they choreograph their pieces collectively when possible.
"Day Two," the final piece performed
includes partial nudity and will be performed immediately after an intermission.
Jackie Davis, director of the KU Concert and Chamber Music Series said, "The company's philosophy is certainly not one of exhibitionism or scandal. The sheer asexuality of the Pilobolus style makes the intimate, clinging and intertwining compelling rather than shooing. The pieces are bold and confident, heighten the tension and passion in the dance, thus the pieces are tasteful, not titillating."
THE AWARD WINNING company has also been featured on the PBS series "Dance in America" and played to sold-out houses for four weeks at the ANTA Theatre in New York.
Company members who will be performing at KU are Tim Lattie, Carla Parker, Jorl Perkins, David R. Bruno and Peter G.
This performance is part of the 1894 University Arts Festival and is funded by the Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.
Dorothy returns to Oz in new Disney film
By the Kansan Staff
Disney studios will present a new large-scale fantasy adventure of the film that put
Dorothy will make a return trip to the land of Oz starting Feb. 20, when filming begins in London for a sequel to the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz."
Michael Russell, publicity head for Walt Disney pictures, said the movie, titled "Oz," will be based on two of the six Oz short stories by Frank Baum. "Oza of me" and "Land of Oz."
Baum wrote written seven Oz stories, the first of which was "The Emerald City of Oz." The second was "The Wizard of Oz."
The movie is again set in Kansas, where Dorothy is having recurring nightmares as her family tries to recover from the extreme storm that took her to the land of Oz.
DOROTHY RETURNS to Oz in search of
her friends, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow. On her travels, she meets a series of new characters that will be inspired and imaginative as the originals, Russell said.
The search for the "perfect" Dorothy began last August with open-call auditions for girls aged nine to 12. The auditions were held in six American and two Canadian cities.
Russell said that after viewing thousands of resumes and conducting hundreds of interviews, Fairuza Balk, a nine-year-old American-born Canadian, was chosen to play the role.
Balk got the part on her natural ability to communicate her character to an audience, Russell said. Although Dorothy seemed much older when Judy Garland played the part, the character in the original story was actually 9 years old.
The actors signed to play the leading characters will be announced later this week. Russell said that "Oz" fans should expect some big surprises.
Fairuza Balk
'Terms' to be endearing favorite at Oscars
BOX-OFFICE RECEIPTS for "Terms of Endearment" augur well for multiple nominations. It has earned more than $65 million and is still going strong.
But if Oscars were given for box-office success alone, "Return of the Jedi" would win everything in sight. George Lucas' final segment of the 'Star Wars' trilogy has earned $250 million.
HOLLYWOOD — In a week's time the Academy奖 nominees will be announced for the 56th annual Oscar presentations and one picture stands out above the field.
The favorite to win the most nominations, as voted by the 4,000 academy members, is "Terms of Endearment," a comedy-drama of a mother-daughter relationship with plenty of laughs and tears for all.
"Terms of Endearment" will, without doubt or argument, win nominations for best actress for Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. Jack Nicholson is a sho-in for best supporting actor.
It was favored by the New York film critics. The Los Angeles movie critics voted it best picture, actress, director and supporting actor.
It itromped home with a Directors Guild nomination.
"Terms of Endearment" was a big winner at the Golden Globe Awards; it won best picture, actress, screenplay and supporting actor.
Other pictures in the running for Oscars are
overlong film about the Mercury astronauts.
Bv VERNON SCOTT
United Press International
INTER-VARSITY CHRISTIAN Fellowship will meet to discuss "Inter-Varsity at the University of Kansas" at 6:30 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union. Former North Carolina IV staff member Don Bryant will speak.
ON CAMPUS
TRUMAN LOWE, painter and sculptor, will speak about his "Yahara River Shelters" at 3 p.m. in the gallery of the Art and Design Building. A reception will be at 2 p.m. and a dinner will be at 6 p.m. at the Charles Curtis Hall Dance at Haskell Junior College.
OPENING RECEPTION for Landfall Press
Opening reception to 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
at Kelowna gallery, 524 Seventh St.
"Yentl," Barbra Streisand's period musical; "Tender Mercies," a plaintive film of a washed-up singer, and "The Big Chill," a low-key comedy-drama about a reunion of college friends. "Return of the Jedi" is another possibility, as is "Educating Rita."
FOR THE FIRST TIME in many years, the
speculation is evoking the most
speculation in Hollywood
In addition to MacLaine and Winger (who are not bosom buddies), the favorites are Bonnie
THE PTERODACTYL EGG, a science fiction and fantasy magazine, is accepting short stories and art work for its next issue. Call Ray Dillinger at 864-5736 for more details.
*A RENOIR VALENTINE* : a speech by Jeanne Stump, associate professor of art history, will be at 5 p.m. in the Spencer Museum of Art auditorium. A film, "A Day In The Country" will follow.
But if Oscars were given for box-office success alone, "Return of the Jedi" would win everything in sight. George Lucas' final segment of the "Star Wars" trilogy has earned $250 million.
Julie Walters has a chance for her performance as the lower-class English girl with big ambitions in "Educating Rita."
TODAY
Bedelia as the race car driver in "Heart Like a Wheel," Jane Alexander, the devastated mother in "Testament," and Meryl Streep in "Silkwood."
UNDERGROUND ART SHOW will run through tomorrow in the main gallery of the Art Gallery.
Vernon Scott
"ISLAMIC REVOLUTION at the Turn of the Century," a speech by A.A. Sachedna, University of Virginia professor of religious studies. It was 7 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Union.
Best-actor nominees are less sharply defined although there were some outstanding performances in 1983.
SIGMA GAMMA RHI Sorority will sponsor a Beauty Extravaganza from 1 to 4 p.m. in the auditorium.
TGFJ, sponsored by the St. Lawrence Catholic Center will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at 1631 Crescent
Duvall as the washed-up singer in "Tender Mercies," Tom Conti as the peripatetic poet in "Reuben, Reuben" and Richard Farnsworth as the aged train robber in "The Grey Fox."
THE THREE DESERVING actors are Robert
THE SUNDAY EVENING Gathering at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries will begin at 6 p.m with worship "A Walk Through the Old Moment" led by Jeno Hickey and Brad Baker.
Sam Shepard has a chance for his performance as Chuck Yearen in "The Right Stuff" and so do Albert Finney as the over-the-hill Shakespearean and Tom Courtney as his assistant writer. Michael Caine is a possibility for playing the sodden professor in "Educating Rita."
Many Hollywoodians were shocked Miss Streisand was not nominated by the Directors Guild of America for its award this year and speculate whether it will hurt her Oscar chances.
UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY Club will meet
in the Sunflower Room of the Union
Cafeteria
All three drew critical praise, but of the trio, only Duvall is assured of capturing a nomination.
Chances are four of those directors will be nominated for Oscars with a lingering possibility that Miss Streisand will be rewarded for "Yentl."
The directors nominated James Brooks for "Terms of Endearment," his first movie; Lawrence Kasdan for "The Big Chill"; "Bruce Beresford for "Tender Mercies"; Philip Kaufman for "The Right Stuff" and Sweden's Ingmar Bergman for "Fanny and Alexander."
SUNDAY
She did, however, win the Golden Globe award (or best director for "Yentu," which she also published) and the Emmy Award.
It is unlikely Bergman will win an Oscar nomination inasmuch as "Fanny and Alexander," a baroque film about a brother and sister living under an iron fisted stepfather, qualifies only for best foreign language film.
BLOOM COUNTY
BY BERKE BREATHED
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