‘Spectre’ takes top spot

‘Spectre’ takes top spot

LOS ANGELES

It took the combination of James Bond and Charlie Brown to save the box office after a disastrous few weekends of flops. Both “Spectre” and “The Peanuts Movie” reinvigorated moviegoers who turned out in droves to check out the new fare, including buzzy limited-release titles such as “Spotlight.”

“Spectre” took an easy first-place spot with an estimated $73 million, according to Rentrak estimates Sunday, to become the second-biggest Bond opening of all time.

“The Peanuts Movie” provided a family-friendly alternative to James Bond’s guns and martinis and took second place with a strong $45 million.

Rounding out the top five were: “The Martian,” $9.3 million, third place; “Goosebumps,” $7 million, fourth place; and “Bridge of Spies,” $6.1 million, fifth place.

Gunnar Hansen of ‘Texas Chain Saw’ dies

Gunnar Hansen, who played the iconic villain Leatherface in the original “Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” died Saturday of pancreatic cancer at his home in Maine, his agent said. He was 68.

Hansen starred in the 1974 film that has become a classic among horror-movie aficionados and spawned a series of sequels. In the movie, friends visiting their grandfather’s house are hunted by Leatherface, a chain-saw wielding maniac.

Hansen lived in Maine for about 40 years, where he worked as an actor and writer, said his agent, Mike Eisenstadt.

Lennon’s guitar sells for $2.4M at auction

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.

An acoustic guitar that John Lennon used to record and write “Love Me Do,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and other hit songs sold for $2.4 million at auction.

Julien’s Auctions said the Gibson J-160E guitar was sold Saturday to an undisclosed buyer.

The auction house said the guitar was one of only two of its type flown from America to England in 1962 for Lennon and George Harrison. Lennon used the guitar for about a year before swapping it with Harrison; it later went missing during a Christmas concert in 1963.

The guitar’s whereabouts was unknown for over 50 years until a California man discovered last year that a guitar in his possession may have historical value.

The drum head that The Beatles used in their landmark performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” was auctioned Saturday for $2.1 million, the auction house said.

Associated Press