SHOWEST 2007 NAMES
J. WAYNE ANDERSON AND MARY ANN ANDERSON
“SHOWESTERS OF THE YEAR”

NEW YORK – ShoWest has named J. Wayne Anderson, Chairman of R/C Theatres and his wife Mary Ann Anderson, Vice President and Executive Director of The National Association of Theatre Owners as “ShoWesters of the Year,” it was announced today by ShoWest Co-Managing Director, Mitch Neuhauser. The award presentation will take place at the Opening Ceremony of ShoWest on Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 in Le Theatre des Arts of Paris Las Vegas.

The “ShoWester Award” each year honors an individual, or as is the case this year, individuals, who have throughout their careers demonstrated a dedication to the betterment of the exhibition industry and its causes. Last year Peter Brown received the “ShoWester of the Year” Award. Previous recipients have included Stephen Marcus, T.G. “Teddy” Solomon, Phillip Harris, III, Kurt Hall, Michael Campbell, Raymond and Joseph Syufy, Bruce Corwin, Jerome Forman, Bill Kartozian, George Kerasotes, Barrie Lawson Loeks, Lee Roy Mitchell, Sumner Redstone and Paul Roth.

“It is with the greatest of pride and admiration that ShoWest singles out both Wayne and Mary Ann Anderson for their tireless and unequalled efforts and contributions on behalf of the motion picture theatre industry,” noted Mitch Neuhauser. “Their true love for the industry is known by all who know them and this is clearly evidenced by their selfless dedication and commitment to ensuring that moviegoers, not just nationwide, but worldwide, have the ability to experience a motion picture experience unlike any other. If there is a battle to be fought or a cause to be championed by the industry, you can always find Wayne and Mary Ann on the frontlines. I am proud to call them my friends and colleagues and we are simply delighted that they have agreed to accept this prestigious honor this year.”

J. Wayne Anderson began his career in Exhibition in 1966 while stationed at Camp Pendelton, California in base special services, where he oversaw the base movie theatre operations of 33 theatres. In 1968, he was responsible for managing and operating the first military base theatre in Vietnam, located in Da Nang. He started his career with Maryland-based R/C Theatres in 1970 when he began managing the circuit’s Stonewall venue. The following year he was promoted to district manager, a position he retained until his 1976 promotion to R/C Theatres Vice-President of Operations.

Mr. Anderson assumed the title of President of Company Operations in 1983 and immediately focused on a program of construction and refurbishment that helped expand the regional theatre circuit into one of the 30 largest chains in North America. He became President and CEO in 1996 and in 2005 he assumed the role of Chairman of R/C, overseeing 86 screens after selling part of the circuit to Regal.

J. Wayne Anderson is a long acknowledged leader in the technological arena; known for building technically correct cinemas. In addition to his efforts at R/C Theatres, he has served as Chairman of NATO’s Technical Advancement and Codes Committees, and created a Blue Ribbon Committee of experts from both Distribution and Exhibition to address technical issues. He has been instrumental in organizing demonstrations of digital cinema capabilities for both NATO and ShoWest. In the fall of 2005, he accepted the voluntary position of Managing Director of the Cinema Buying Group to assist independent theatre operators in securing group purchase rates for digital equipment. Anderson also serves on the Executive Committee and the National Board of Directors for the National Association of Theatre Owners, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for NATO of Maryland and Virginia. He also served as the President and Chairman of the Inter-Society.

In addition, Mr. Anderson has been awarded the Ken Mason Award (Intersociety 2003), the B.V. Sturdivant Award (1997) and NATO Medal of Honor (1996) and the Distinguished Service Award (NATO of Ohio (2006).

When Mary Ann Grasso (now Anderson) was hired by the National Association of Theatre Owners in 1988, she became the organization’s first new Executive Director in more than three decades. In 1996, she was promoted to Vice President.

Born in New York and raised in California, Mary Ann Anderson graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of California Riverside in 1973 and earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Oregon in 1974.

Her career in the entertainment industry began with an 11-year stint as Director of the Warner Research Collection, a specialized production research service designed to assist writers, directors, producers, scenic artists and designers with background research. In 1985, she joined the CBS television network as the Manager of its docudrama department, a post she maintained until joining NATO as Executive Director in 1988.

As Vice-President and Executive Director of NATO Mary Ann has been responsible for the administration and management of the national trade association which included establishing both an LA and DC office of operation. Among her accomplishments includes the publication of the centennial tribute to exhibition, “America Goes to the Movies”; coordination of the NATO benefit day at the movies in memory of the victims of 9/11; and assisting in the development of the “Spirit of America” trailer directed by Chuck Workman which played nationwide.

In addition to her duties with NATO, Mrs. Anderson is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and on the Executive Committee of Intersociety. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneers and has served as lecturer for the American Film Institute and the UCLA and USC Theatre Arts Extension programs.

In 2002, she was awarded the Dolby Laboratories STACE Award and honored in 1999 by Tripod Captioned Films for her work in promoting access to deaf and hard of hearing audiences. She was awarded the Ken Mason Inter-Society Award in 2004.

ShoWest 2007 will take place from March 12-15, 2006 at Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas. It will feature numerous screenings of upcoming major releases, sponsored events, timely and informative seminars and the ShoWest Trade Show. An estimated 3,500 members of the Motion Picture Industry are expected to attend. ShoWest, now in its 33rd year, is produced by the VNU Expositions Film Group.