10
Fridav. October 15, 1976
University Daily Kansan
Movie buffs, films flow steadily
By DEB MILLER
Staff Writer
In a university town, the student population makes a definite difference in a theater owner's choice of movies. Golden Age films, as well as the musicals and Theatres in Lawrence, said this week.
"You can't ignore 22,000 people," Harwood, manager for 11 years, said. He said he tried to book major films as quickly as possible in the Lawrence Commonwealth Hall and the Varsity, Hillcrest 1-2-3, and Sunset Drive-2 please student movie drivers.
Although occasional blockbusters such as "Jaws" are big box-office successes, Harwood said, he prefers a steady flow of high quality films.
"A BLOCKBUSTER can run only so many weeks, and then it'll," he said. "The last movies that Harwood considered blocked because of 'Silent Movie' and 'Murder by Death.'"
Getting current major films as soon as possible for Lawrence theatruses involves booking the film far in advance and paying higher prices for the film, Harwood said.
For example, Harwood has already booked the new version of "King Kong," to open Dec. 17 in Lawrence. This is the national release date, Harwood said, which means the film will also open in major cities.
HOW FAR BEHIND Lawrence is in showing major films when compared with Kansas City and other larger cities depends on the terms of the contract for that film, he
A buying and booking office in Kansas City for Commonwealth Theatres negotiates ars for booking Lawrence each. Each night brought on a separate contract. Harwood said.
Major movie distributors prefer to release their best films near holidays and at the beginning of the summer, Harwood said. This causes occasional dry spells.
During dry spell, Harwood said, his theaters fill in with movies that ran in the summer that students might have missed. For example, within the next few weeks, "Longan's Run," a summer release, will be shown again in Lawrence.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE of filling in a dry feature shown recently in Lawrence.
Harwood estimated that on the average, 2,000 to 4,000 people attended Lawrence movies on a Saturday night. The number varies from film to film.
"I don't feel that the new discs in town are taking away from the movie audience," Harwood said. "If there's a movie on that people want to see, they'll go."
To accommodate the crowds, Harwood said, he has finished negotiations for a contract for Twin Theaters, two new movie theaters near your year near K-Mart, Stark and Iowa streets.
tarwood said that the quality of the film, not the rating, determined the size of the film.
HE SAID HE hoped to show more art films in the law in Lawrence. However, he added, not all art films are successful when shown to a general audience.
"For example, 'Grey Gardens,' the film shown by SUA last weekend, wouldn't have been economical to show at a Commonwealth Theatre," Harwood said.
At Sunset Drive-in, second-run films and exploitation films usually are shown, Harwood said. Exploitation films are often made or horror films, often R-treated, he said.
THE SIZE OF the drive-in movie crowd has increased for the last several years. Harwood said,
Other people involved in the movie business in Lawrence see the business not from an economic viewpoint, but from a personal one.
One of those people is Tin Zink, Turon sophomore, who records year as a at the Hillebrandt Center.
"The type of the crowd varies with the time of the week." Zink said.
After watching the crowds night after
night, he has become an authority on movie
tourists.
Matines attract senior citizens and children. Friday and Saturday night crowds consist mainly of students. Weeknights are for 18- to 30-year-old age group, Zink said.
KU STUDENTS like action movies with intelligence, such as "Jaws" and "Rocky."
Humorous movies in the Peter Sellers style are also popular, because students who have been studying need a chance to laugh, Zink said.
The popularity of a movie that runs two weeks often causes a snowball effect.
"If a movie isn't too well known, but it's good, words get around after the first few nights and the crowds start getting bigger," Zink said.
However, the weekend crowds are still the biggest.
---
THE OFFICIAL KU SPORTS CAP
CHEER THE HAWKS ON with the PECKER CAP
'4*0' at the game
but
only '4*0' at
THE STABLES &
---
THE SANCTUARY
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Monday-Friday---3 to 12 Foosball Wheels II
Saturday---9 to 12 Pinball Indy 800
Sunday---2 to 10 Pool
Mark Twain's Record Albums, Concert
Free Drawing Every Week. T-shirts, Record Albums, Concert Tickets
6 East 7th Street - Lawrence, Kansas
BRITCHES CORNER
843 Mass. 843-0454
"Contemporary Clothes for Men & Women"
For those upcoming Homecoming parties check out Britches Corner for contemporary fashions by: Oscar De la Renta, Potage and Roggs by Kreasandra.
Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6 p.m. Thursday. 10-8:30 p.m.
SINGLE MEN want to DATE more effectively? A DATING WORKSHOP has been developed. Come and hear details:
4:30 or 5:30
Tues., Wed., Thurs., or Fri.
Oct. 12, 13, 14, or 15
Room 224 Frasor
(KU students
over 18 only)
GO BIG BLUE
BEAT
OKLAHOMA!
HECK &
HARDTARFER
Realty, Inc.
• GENE HARDTARFER
EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT
Residence: 843-0215
601 Missouri / Lawrence, Kansas 66044 / Office: 843-5522
The pipe show lasts from 2 till 9:30 p.m., contest commences at 7 p.m.
A Pipe Smoking Contest & Exhibition of New Pipes
Friday, October 29, 1976 Over $200.00 in prize pipes!
930 Massachusetts
This is just a small sample of our selection.
Haas Imports
1029 Mass.
Acme ment are sex. BRIN
CL.
15 W
AD
to the
The
Wee
Fri
ER
FO
FOR
UL
111