NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Spirits move ‘Ouija’ to No. 1 at the box office

NEW YORK

The spirits moved “Ouija” to No. 1 at the box office, with the board-game adaption leading the weekend with a $20 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The horror movie release, timed to Halloween, attracted more moviegoers at the North America box office than the violent Keanu Reeves thriller “John Wick.” The R-rated hit-man revenge tale from Lionsgate opened with $14.2 million in second place.

Last week’s top film, the Brad Pitt World War II action film “Fury,” slid to third with $13 million. In two weeks, the Sony Pictures release has made $46.1 million.

Two Fox releases rounded out the domestic top five. David Fincher’s marital noir “Gone Girl,” starring Ben Affleck, made $11.1 million in its fourth week, bringing its cumulative total to $124 million.

In its second week of release, the animated fantasy “The Book of Life” earned $9.8 million for fifth place.

Ed O’Neill aids Traficant movie

YOUNGSTOWN

Ed O’Neill is supporting an effort to raise funds to complete a documentary about the colorful congressman in his native Mahoning Valley.

Filmmaker Eric Murphy says he has a crowdfunding campaign to raise $17,500 to finish production and add a new ending to “Traficant: Congressman of Crimetown.” Former Congressman James A. Traficant Jr. died last month at age 73 after a tractor accident on his family’s farm near Youngstown.

O’Neill was interviewed for the documentary and added a narrative voice. Backers who pledge at least $2,500 get lunch with O’Neill, the veteran actor who stars in the TV comedy series “Modern Family.” The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reports they also will get co-producer credit.

O’Neill has signed books, artwork and other items for $1,000 pledges.

Milsap, Wiseman, Cochran join hall

NASHVILLE, TENN.

Ronnie Milsap, the blind country-soul singer and pianist, joined bluegrass vocalist Mac Wiseman and the late songwriter Hank Cochran as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

During the ceremony in Nashville, 71-year-old Milsap, 89-year-old Wiseman and Suzi Cochran, Hank’s widow, were honored by country artists Vince Gill, Martina McBride and Hunter Hayes with tribute performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Steeped in Appalachian music since childhood, Milsap first started playing with Elvis Presley before becoming a country singer with 40 No. 1 country hits and six Grammy Awards. One of country’s most successful songwriters, Cochran’s standards include “I Fall To Pieces” and “Make The World Go Away,” while Wiseman is considered an elder statesman of bluegrass.

Associated Press