Page "Animal Crackers (film)" Paragraph 49

Groucho's UCLA appearance generated national press coverage.

An appearance on the nationally-syndicated Merv Griffin Show soon followed.

In April, 1974, Groucho and Stoliar " received an answer from Universal.

According to Vice President Arnold Shane, they were ' delighted with the response of the students.

'" On May 23, 1974, attempting to gauge public interest, Universal screened a sharp new print of the film at the UA Theater in Westwood, just south of the UCLA campus.

Encouraged by the response there — the lines stretched around the block for months — on June 23 the studio screened the film at the Sutton Theater in New York.

Groucho attended the New York premiere.

A near-riot broke out and a police escort was summoned.

From there Animal Crackers went into national release.