Shaping biz through B.O.

By VARIETY STAFF

Entertainment Data Inc. has helped shape the way industry executives conduct business. Founded in 1976 by Marcy Polier, EDI is the motion picture industry's sole source for instant box office data throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

EDI's overnight box office reports define the negotiating positions for distribution and exhibition each Monday as well as inform marketing and publicity decisions on a daily basis. From daily gross sales reports to highly specialized analytical research on any motion picture topic, EDI provides the numbers this business lives on.

A longtime source of box office data for Daily Variety, EDI and Variety recently began collaborating on the EDI/Daily Variety Box Office News, a weekly page of box office charts, statistics and other unique information.

EDI salutes the films with box office grosses that top $ 100 million by presenting Gold Reel awards. For a rundown of this year's eight honorees, see pages 48 and 52.