
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 20, 1990                   TAG: 9007200067
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Chris Gladden
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THEATERS LOWER THEIR TICKET PRICES

Rising prices are to be expected these days, including the cost of movie tickets. So it's unusual when ticket prices drop. But that's what's happening at the Terrace and Towers theaters.

The reason is a change in ownership. Neighborhood Theaters, based in Richmond, bought the two theaters from the Canadian-based Cineplex Odeon last month.

The economically troubled Cineplex Odeon has been in the forefront of price increases. When the chain hiked New York City prices to $7, even the normally resigned city slickers began to grumble.

The Cineplex Odeon prices in Roanoke reached $5.50 for evening shows and $3.50 for matinees. Now they've been dropped to $5 and $3, in line with Neighborhood's other theaters.

\ Mea Culpa. Last week in a movie review of "Ghost," I reported that the movie was rated R. I must have been the victim of a poltergeist or something. Actually it's rated PG-13. Patrick Swayze takes his shirt off a lot more than Demi Moore, which is more acceptable to the ratings board and to a lot of women I know, if not to leering male movie reviewers like you-know-who.

\ Speaking of "Ghost." It appears that the supernatural is beginning to materialize more and more in the second half of the summer movie sweepstakes.

Now playing are "Ghost," a love story that extends into the beyond; "Ghost Dad," a Bill Cosby comedy about a wreck victim whose spirit returns to look after his children; and "Arachnophobia," a movie about monster spiders. On the horizon are "Flatliners," the story of med students who investigate life after death and "The Exorcist III," the continuing saga of demonic possession.

\ This summer so far has proved to be particularly rewarding for parents seeking entertainment for their youngsters. So far we've had "Jetsons: The Movie," "The Adventures of Milo and Otis" and "The Jungle Book" - all rated G. Upcoming is Disney's "Ducktales: The Movie" starring Donald Duck, his nephews and Uncle Scrooge. It will carry a G rating also.

While I cannot admit rapture over "Jetsons" or eager anticipation for "Ducktales," I feel gratified that there is a surplus of movies that at least lack the potential to warp younger minds.

by CNB