History/kanter/dt1st/mark2nd

20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK: Quarterly profits at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. soared 217 percent from the licensing of “Gone With the Wind” TV rights to CBS Unions representing the nation’s 60,000 oil workers rejected contract offers from 21 companies Mattel Inc. announced it was purchasing Western Publishing Co. for $120.8 million.

THE NEWSMAKER

Jules Stein, an executive with film distributor American International Pictures Inc., announced the first U.S. movie to receive general theatrical release in China “Futureworld,” a science-fiction epic starring Peter Fonda. The selection came following President Jimmy Carter’s recognition of mainland China.

THE NUMBERS

January 4, 1979

Dow Jones Industrial Average 817.39

London gold $221/oz.

Magnavox 19″ color TV $569.95

Fisher 8-track stereo $259.95