Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 19

Chicago Tribune, Friday. December 23, 1977 Section 2 7, MOTION PICTURES 1 st. Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1 st. Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1st. Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1st.

Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1st. Run Chicagoland 1 si I i 1 ft yfh i a I I 9 1 I I "ME OF THE BEST PICTURES OF THE YEAEir TIME MAGAZINE a'The Goodbye Girl' is a joyous comedy just what the doctor ordered. Neil Simon makes feeling good legal. GENE SH ALIT, NBC-TV "Richard Drey fuss is merely sensational in Neil Simon's The Goodbye IRV KUPCJNET, CHICAGO SUN TIMES People Mike Nussbaum prefers to direct his energies here FROM WHERE he sits which at the moment is the fashionably modern living room of his 27th floor Lincoln Park home Mike Nussbaum is enjoying "the best of all possible worlds." "I'm happy here," says Nussbaum, his distinctively large dark eyes peering out from behind aviator glasses, "I can pick and choose the parts I want. I can direct.

Young playwrights send me their plays. I'm doing things I never dreamed I could do." All this explains why Nussbaum, a successful director and talented actor, is not anxious to trade in his local theatrical clout for a crack at the big time. "It would take years outside Chicago to develop the reputation I have here," continues the 53-year-old mustachioed former exterminator. (He eased into acting years ago, killing insects by day and community theater audiences by night.) "If you want fame, you have to go to Hollywood or New York. But if you just want good, satisfying work you can find it here," says Nussbaum, adding that ever since he turned his hobby into a full time career he's had so much fun "I feel like I'm retired." The current source of Nussbaum's gratification is "Lunching," a new play by Alan Gross, which he directs.

The show, which opened this month at the Body Politic, concerns two married couples in their 30s "who discover that growing up is not what they thought it would be. Even though they have the things they want, their lives are not so fulfilling," he says. The message, couched in comedy, makes for a play Nussbaum believes has potential for "great commercial success." ANOTHER RECENT endeavor, "1947," a new play by Jay Robert Nash, in which he costarrcd, proved far less fruitful. The show, which depicts the final days of Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, and Bugs Moran, folded this month, less than a week alter it opened at the Village Theater. "It had potential," says Nussbaum, "but there were a lot of problems.

A big factor was the time pressure of converting the Village from a movie theater to a playhouse at the same time we were putting together a new play. "Nash hasn't given up, though. He says this was only round one and there are 14 more to go." Meanwhile, suddenly finding himself with a lot of unexpected free time, Nussbaum. is hoping to do some television commercials. These, along with industrial films and voiceovers, have been his most dependable source of income in the unpredictable theatrical life.

Chicagoans may know him best as the funny fellow in the Northwest Federal Savings Loan Association commercials. His face, if not his name, has gained national fame, too in a Scope mouthwash spot and in a United Airlines bit with Mean Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers. WHEN HE FIRST turned professional, Nussbaum did fear that he wouldn't find steady work. "Most of the good parts go to out-of-towners." "Dreyfuss is charmingly, abrasively funny. DAVID ANSEN, NEWSWEEK Mr 5 -'7 Tnbunfl Pholo Dy ban buslt "If you want fame, you have to go to Hollywood or New York," says Mike Nussbaum.

"But if you just want good, satisfying work you can find it here." There were a couple of lean years, but then, the way Nussbaum humbly sees it, two things happened. He "got lucky" and he got older, reaching the "age of greatest demand." His stage roles, which resulted in six Jefferson award nominations, included major roles in such productions as "The Good Doctor." "Loot." "Jumpers." "Steambath." and "El Grande de Coco-cola." He worked with Chicago playwright David Mamet when both were actors and appeared in four of Mamet's plays. Besides "Lunching," Nussbaum has several other directing credits, including "Under Milk Wood," which won a Joseph Jefferson Ensemble award, and "The Lesson." GIVEN A CHOICE, Nussbaum says he would rather direct. "I love the control the director has over the show," and he adds with a smile, "I love the hours." Nussbaum says the state of theater in Chicago has never been better. "Mamet had a lot to with that.

He created an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. Now every small theater is doing new plays by local writers." There's no shortage of talented young people in Chicago who could meet the challenge, according to Nussbaum. The deficiency, he says, is with audiences. "You see the same people at every theater." Success has not spoiled Mike Nussbaum. He's as down to earth as any businessman who has raised three children and been married, to the same woman for 30 Fran Zell nor GDC Ifi MOTION PICTURES 1st.

Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1st. Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1st. Run Chicagoland MOTION PICTURES 1st. Run Chicagoland "Classic Eastwood furious and funny" Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times A RAY STARK PRODUCTION OF A HERBERT ROSS FILM NEILSIMON'S THE GOODBYE GIRL' RICHARD DREYFUSS MARSHA MASON and introducing QUINN CUMMINGS as Lucy Written by NEIL SIMON Produced by RAY STARK Directed by HERBERT ROSS Music Scored and Adapted by DAVE GRUSIN Song" Goodbye Girf Written and Ferformed by DAVID GATES a RASTAR Feature Prints by MGM Labs 1 Now AvaPabte in Paperback From Wiamer Books. rpDTMWTsiwMWMrasTOga 1 SNcwAvailabteOTLI(tTa Records iiniMTiiocK)U)iirittiiit WATER T0V.TR DIANA Homewood CEERSRCCX CINEMA Deerfield Downtown MERCURY Elmwood Park ORLAND SQUARE Orland Park NOW PLAYING AT THESE THEATRES OLD ORCHARD MT.

PROSPECT CINEMA UA CINEMA Oakbrook Skokie Mt. Prospect SPECIAL SHOWINO SPECIAL SHOWINO SOUTH NORTHWEST NORTHWEST 7QMM SURHOUNO STEREO WHY-, tSeductioHtfAnttj 1 aose ENCOUNTERS OTHC THMDKMO KIT' II 145-J: rx 1 -A SO XI It ft JOHN TRAVOLTA SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER I I 0 i H'. -M. COLuNT oo 6.30-po ii ft ALSO "A TOUCH OF LOVE MARQUETTE br.to JAWS Unc OO TMC PCtK 9, 12:05, 3:10, 6:15, 9:25 MM MM MM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMfl STARTING JAN. 6th, thru Jan.

9 MON. ANNETTE HAVEN "'Sr'- 0 MATfNEI OAJir aio 1H6-30 AT. MO4.2O-1O.10 rv. i "TELEFON" i WHERE -MORE COIJPLtS ATfNO THAU AW OTHER THFATEfl wpeauno to AFLuttr couples the 4555 bracket AS WELL AS TO COUPLES IN THEIR JO CHARLES BRONSON IfcE RE MICK BRIGHTON IQOKING FOB MR. GOODBAR KM Hot Tomorrow Opfi 2:00 BtGGEDY AHNE ND AHDY Caflooni NOW PLAYING NORMAL IUI! tt THUDS IWKII OiEAfcON IK) "SMOKEY SEVEN DELIGHTFUL DREAMS plus Ok "PIPE DREAMS' ONIYIPQ) I (Ml Un) A Wan Oo'i 600 til THE M-WAT (X) AOA.T8 LOOP GRANADA JNLYl C4IIUL ONLY1 CHICAGO WATER TOWER LAKE SHORE LUNA HYDE PARK COLONY SUBURBS UlllMAII CICASUKC h.v.m ADULTS COMMODORE SUPER 3-D ANDY WARHOL'S "FRANKENSTEIN" 30 8 15-1000 1 7V' HAInUf A Cfin 60c in wnn "THE BODYGUARD" -JAWS OF THE DRAGON" DEERPATH Lake Forest CORONET Evanslon GLENCOE Giencoe 5 lnmrtmOl I 'M UttnM OaV Pl LOGAN (PaiMnnCKumtl.M ii irt M'iWurf QEOnr.e jt Ufl UuUI OfiMOQt III 1 10 HOUtH MOOHt 7:00.

8 15 (PU) PICKWICK ELK GROVE CINEMA PROSPECT Park Ridge Elk Grove Village Mt. Prospect HINSDALE BERWYN OGDEN 6 VILLA PARK Hinsdale Berwyn Naperville Villa Park GLEN WESTERN-LINCOLN PARAMOUNT Glen Ellyn Chicago His. Hammond, Ind. I "SPY WHO LOVED ME" JAWS' THE CAR! CLINT EASTWOODfitfTHE GAUNTLET" LOCKE Willed ty MUM 8U1UR and DENNIS SKRYACK PiorJuced by ROBERT OAIEY Dnetled Dy MI ASM Music JERRY FILM fprcSi-0 PAHAVlStOlf'COIOthyDCmXf patio M.00 M.25TIFFIMWS'",1.25 "YOU LIGHT UP MY Tonlghfi THE Nlflhl to OO OUT TO A MOVIII 5 50 "JAWS" 45 "KING WOODS FORD CITY DEERBROOK GOLF MILL NORRIDGE YORKTOWN! (G) Suggested for GENERAL audiences. (PG) Parental guidance suggested some material may not be suitable lor pre-teenagers.

(R) RESTRICTED Persons under 17 not admitted, unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian. MtOn.w 8KM Sry NlMI l-liM I i MOVIE RATING GUIDE A SERVICE OF FILM-MAKERS AND THEA-TER3 Under th Motion Picture Code ol SeH-Regulatlon. DOWntOWfl wwuumcoi lccmiciu linca muiiiuyo kuinuaiu SEE ADDITIONAL MOVIES ON FOLLOWING PAGE tine view nuLiniitiHUUK lini.iiln iviall Hiutrt iiar iiurai- ki azu i TlnleyParK Bollngbrook Matteson Calumet City Gary, Ind. (X) Persona under 18 not admitted. Printed reader service by THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE i.