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NORTHWEST HERALD Section B Friday, August 16,1985 Page 3 r IS •»#«#•»»•••<• + *•»* l a d . < • » . . « • » • » » » « Tropical Itch Scorpions Rum Barrels ROUTE 120 liwW HcHENRY MMIM and for MICRO COMPUTER CENTER and APPLE COMPUTERS so Is... • Consumer rebates on ALL APPLE- COMPUTER systems • A ONE MILLION DOLLAR sweepstakes program • FREE APPLE T-Shirts (while quantity lasts) Hurry in TODAY for details on these exciting programs & see for yourself how Apple Computers set the pace in word processing, spreadsheet analysis, graphics ft data control. Find out about the thousands of pro­ grams available for education, business ft recreation. Yes, today you can be the proud owner of an Apple Computer at substantial savings. You might also become one of Apple's lucky "Sweepstakes Winners"! IIC SYSTEMS STARTIMAT *845M •AfterRebate « IMS Apple Computer Inc. Apple and the Apple lego registered trademarks at Apple Computer Inc. Airthoriiad Dealer Entertainment :R CENTER Sine. 846 S. Randall Road St. Charles, IL 60174 (312)584-9808 Classic movies. people with old 16mm or 35mm film prints, or a collection of old movies on tape. They decide to go into the distribution business, but have inferior equipment. "You have to be set up professionally to do a good job," Dolven said. "There's a lot of junk out there. You get third, fourth and fifth generations a lot." Generations refers to how many steps removed from the original film or tape a copy is. Any copy made from the master or original is considered to be first generation. Any copy made from that copy is considered to be second generation and any copy made from a second generation copy is considered to be third generation, and so on. Each generation represents a drop in quality from the one preceding it. According to Dolven, problems with copy quality is not always the fault of the supplier. In the case of small, one-man operations, a supplier can get a month or more behind in his orders and not have the time to double-check the quality of each copy he sends out. Dolven said he even knows of one supplier that just turns the machines on before he goes to bed and the machines automatically make the copies while he sleeps. The biggest obstacle to getting quality video tape copies at this time is the quality of the film print most suppliers have to work with. Dolven said in many cases a copy may not be that good, but it may be the best available. Based on FIMGA's rating system, many times customers have to settle for what are considered "acceptable" copies, he added. "If you can distinguish who the actors are and get good sound (that's an acceptable copy)," Dolven explained. "I want a picture I can see, 1 can enjoy, and know who is who." While some major studios have started to come around, Dolven said many of them are just sitting on their stock pile of original prints. He can't understand why all the studios have not already gone into the video tape business themselves, or at least sold the rights to their original prints to established video tape suppliers. But he hopes they will do so soon. Of the few titles that have been released by the major studios, Dolven said the quality is "like night and day," compared to what was previously available. The problem is that a premium cost usually accompanies the improved quality. A case in point is "Gorfe With the Wind" and MGM studios. MGM has recently begun advertising a collector's edition of the movie classic on video tape. It claims that each frame of the original film print was re- colored before being transferred to tape. Dolven says a purchaser has to pay for that improved quality. The two-tape set sells for about $89, compared to an average $30 to $35 cost for most feature films, although those are generally shorter length films. Many people may still wonder why anyone would buy a tape for $35, when so many stores and clubs are renting them for just a few dollars. (Continued from page IB) Fans of the "oldies" will argue that many stores are reluctant to carry the older movies, because they don't feel they will rent as well as the current box office hits. Most video stores must buy the copies of the tapes that they rent out. and only have limited storage space. These economics force the store owners to keep only the fastest-renting movies' on hand. Dolven explained that, while a current movie title may be rented from a video store five or six times in one week, an old title may only be rented three or four times. He added that more stores are now "starting to find that there is a market (for the old movies)." The reason people collect tapes of old movies is the same as any other hobby. They hold a special joy or attraction for them. "If you get involved in movies, like anything else, it can take over your life," Dolven said. "I've always been a movie nut, ever since I worked as an usher in Chicago. I'll go to a theatre and go from one show to another. I still go to Chicago sometimes and watch movies from 9 a.m. to midnight, going from one theatre to another." Dolven recalled that he really got heavily-involved in movies when he worked as a traveling salesman selling sewing machines. He spent a lot of time on the road in small towns, with little to offer for entertainment at night. His grandfather warned him to stay out of the "bawdy houses" and bars during those lonely nights, and take to either being a bookworm or movie goer. Dolven said he had always enjoyed movies, and his life on the road merely provided him the perfect opportunity to see new movies every night, as he traveled around the country. Dolven said that, while he loves the old serials, westerns and gangster pictures, he enjoys many of the Current releases too. "I just want to be entertained," he explained. "To be taken out of everyday life and all its problems. When John Wayne is on that horse or in a foxhole, I'm right there with him." As far as FIMGA members go, Dolven said they really don't fit any ohe profile. FIMGA's membership is made up of people of all ages, with occupations ranging from truck drivers to lawyers, to pilots to factory workers. Dolven did say that most of the club's members are in their 30's and 40's. The one thing that is certain about FIMGA's members is that their efforts are helping to insure that many classic works of art are preserved. Many early films, shot on acetate film, are slowly deteriorat­ ing and are in danger of being lost forever. Unlike film, video tape does not deteriorate, and will last virtually forever, with proper care and barring excessive use. FIMGA is headquartered at 1050 Cedar Crest Drive, Crystal Lake, 111., 60014. Anyone interested in joining FIMGA, or desiring more informa­ tion can contact Dolven at that address. Finally! An intelligent alternative to network Tears For Fears has top album and no. 2 single LOS ANGELES (UPI) - The top 20 pop singles, based on Billboard's survey of sales and broadcast play: 1. The Power Of Love -- Huey Lewis & The News 2. Shout -- Tears For Fears 3. Never Surrender -- Corey Hart 4. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Mo­ tion) -- John Parr 5. Freeway Of Love -- Aretha Franklin 6. We Don't Need Another Hero -- Tina Turner 7. Summer Of '69 -- Bryan Adams 8. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free -- Sting 9. Every Time You Go Away -- Paul Young 10. What About Love?--H&art 11. Who's Holding Donna Now -- Debarge 12. Cherish -- Kool & The Gang 13. Don't Lose My Number -- Phil Collins 14. You're Only Human (SeCond Wind) -Billy Joel 15. Invincible--Pat Benatar 16. You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) -- Dead Or Alive 17. Money For Nothing -- Dire Straits 18. Pop Life -- Prince & The Revolution 19. Freedom -- Wham! 20. Dare Me -- The Pointer Sisters LOS ANGELES (UPI) - The top 20 albums, based on Billboard's sur­ vey of sales and broadcast play: 1. Songs From The Big Chair -- Tears for Fears 2. Reckless--Bryan Adams 3. The Dream Of The Blue ̂ Turtles -Sting 4. No Jacket Required -- Phil Collins 5. Brothers In Arms -- Dire Straits 6. Born In The U.S.A. -- Bruce Springsteen 7. Theater Of Pain -- Motley Crue 8. The Power Station -- The Pow­ er Station 9. Greatest Hits Vol. I & II - Billy Joel 10. Invasion Of Your Privacy -- Ratt 11. Whitney Houston -- Whitney Houston 12. Around The World In A Day -- Prince & The Revolution 13.7 Wishes-Night Ranger 14. Be Yourself Tonight -- Eurythmics 15. Heart -- Heart 16. Make ItJBig--Wham! 17. Like A Virgin -- Madonna 18. World Wide Live -- Scorpions ^19. Secret Of Association -- Paul 20. Boy In The Box -- Corev Hart LOS ANGELES (UPI) - The top 10 Country and Western singles, based on Billboard's survey of sales and broadcast play: 1. Real Love -- Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers 2. Love Is Alive -- The Judds 3. She's Single Again -- Janie Fricke 4.1 Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me -- Rosanne Cash 5. Modern Day Romance -- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 6. Used To Blue -- Sawyer Brown 7. Have I Got A Deal For You -- Reba McEntire 8. Drinkin' And Dreamin' -- Way- Ion Jennings 9.1 Fell In Love Again Last Night --The Forester Sisters 10. I Never Made Love (Til I Made It With You) - Mac Davis By Vernon Scott UPI Hollywood Reporter It doesn't take an intellectual to conclude that network TV is a low­ brow medium intended for the low­ est common denominator. It may be vouchsafed, too, that fewer educated, discerning viewers are tuning in the likes of "Miami Vice," "Dallas," "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Fall Guy." * Fortunately, there are alterna­ tives for a citizen with an IQ higher than 60. PBS, often repetitive, sometimes dull and occasionally pretentious, is one. Another is the Arts and Entertain­ ment Network, a cable programmer that reaches 14 million subscribers involving 2,100 cable systems. Any network prime time series claiming only 14 million viewers doubtless would be uncoupled quick­ ly. But ratings are of no moment to A&E, as the Arts and Entertain­ ment Network, has come to be known. Less than a year and a half old, A&E has already made a small dent in network viewing. Not as great as M-TV, to be sure, but unlike the M- TV addicts, A&E viewers can read. This alternative entertainment network is financed by The Hearst Corporation, ABC Video Enter­ prises and RCyV Cable, the latter two apparently supporting a project in competition with their own net­ work interests, ABC and NBC. A&E president Nickolas Davatzes states his company's case succinct­ ly: "We are committed to provide quality entertainment on a continu­ ous basis even if it means an audi­ ence smaller than those of the tradi­ tional networks. "The real benefit of cable pro­ gramming is to provide a complete spectrum of information, cultural events and entertainment to view­ ers. Not just three or five alterna­ tives, but 20 or more so the individ­ ual viewer can become his own programmer. "We have to develop networks that have their own identifiable genre, so viewers will know exactly where to go for what they want to see." More than 40 percent of the shows oo A&E are provided by the United Kingdom, somewhat less than 40 balance from countries around the world. A&E shuns news, talk shows, roundtable discussions and such for­ mats that abound on PBS, CNN and other cable networks. It focuses di­ rectly on entertainment. The biggest current A&E hit is "Temko," a BBC series based on true accounts of Englishwomen im­ prisoned in Asia by the Japanese during World War II. The fictional­ ized story unfolds in 30 one-hour episodes. Another hit is "The Hot Shoe Show," a 10-episode history of the dance from ballet to break dancing. There are two new series sch«l- uled for the fall, the more intriguing of which is "The Borgias," a -10- episode BBC drama of Pope Alexan­ der's life. The other is a rerun'of Larry Gelbart's "United States," including eight episodes which were canceled during its abortive net­ work run five years ago. "We seek cultural shows but not culture with a capital 'K,"' said Davatzes, an urbane New Yorker who makes his home in Westport, Conn. "We are seeking entertain­ ment with a capital 'E.' "Beethoven can be entertaining, and dramatic series can be thought- provoking. We understand we are involved in a small market but wjth a discerning audience. We're not trying to be 'sociologically upscale.' "We'd be very happy if viewers tuned us in two or three times a week. That's all you need to have a successful cable operation. Viewers don't have to watch TV every night. "I'm on the business end of A&E. What surprised me, most when . I came into TV was that 85 percent of new network shows failed but the nets still made a profit. In any other business an 85 percent failure rate would be catastrophic. "We all understand the market for The A-Team' and 'Laverne & Shirley' is large. Our programs are designed for a certain level anc| focus of viewer interest that is a great deal smaller, people who want to be engaged in thought-provoking entertainment that goes beyond smashing cars. "For instance, beginning Sept. 23 we start a 12-part BBC series, Dick1 ens' 'Pickwick Papers.' And in Oc* tober we have a Bolshoi ballet spe^ cial of 'Swan Lake' with Gepe,Kelly as host. "It is sparkling entertainment, shows that cannot be found off prime time networks. Once viewer* know where to find us, I'm sure' we'll capture our share of the Amer­ ican audience." IftCRQ COHPUT 22 Crystal Lake Plaza Crystal Lake, IL 60014 (SIS) 488-2223