Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

X H I B I R H R D MUTUAL OPENS NEW YORK EXCHANGE WHICH IS MODEL OF COMPLETENESS Occupies Portion of Tenth Floor of Mecca Building — Handsome Offices Present Every Convenience — Projection Room Well Equipped Shurtleff Visits Hodkinson Branches The New York Exchange of Mutual Film Corporation is now established in its new quarters in the Mecca building, 1600 Broadway. The exchange occupies about two-thirds of the entire tenth floor, or approximately 6,500 square feet. The plans for the new exchange were drawn by G. B. Svenson, Mutual's construction engineer, who personally suervised the work. Mr. Svenson, who has made an exhaustive study of film-exchange problems, has incorporated in the arrangement and structure of the exchange some novel ideas which make for convenience and safety. M. J. Sullivan, the newly appointed New York Manager, assumed charge February 18, and has inaugurated some advanced methods of film display and exploitations. The general arrangement of the offices is such that he can keep in close touch with all his employees and can give his personal attention to exhibitors. As you enter the office you find a spacious reception room, the walls hung with oil paintings of Mutual stars. On one side is the executive office, the manager's office, the assistant manager's office, bookkeeping department and the billing department. On the other side of the room is the feature booker's office, a private sales office and the cashier's office. The walls are lined with quartersawed oak, wainscoating the height or the partitions and very handsomely furnished. Convenient Arrangement In the rear of the office are two doors, ane leading directly to the film departaent and the other to the waiting room, sed by the film messengers. The cashier's office has direct connection with le film messenger's waiting room. In the film department every precau:>n has been taken to prevent accidents id eliminate fire hazards. In this dertment are three film vaults equipped ith the latest improvements, one examition room and one large shipping room. The doors to the film vaults are luipped with thermostat closing deces. When the temperature in the film id shipping room reaches two hundred legrees, the doors of the vaults autonatically close. Each vault is equipped ith four sprinkler heads, pressure relief vents and other requirements recommended by the Fire Underwriters and the Bureau of Fire Prevention. The exhibition room is equipped with two machines, which guarantees uninterrupted screening of pictures, and has i seating capacity of twenty. It is easily accessible from the sales room. Probably the most radical difference to the ordinary exchange is in the location of the film and poster departments. They are located in the rear and away Tom the elevator and entrance hall, but ngress and egress are afforded through i long corridor leading from the main C. E. Shurtleff, general sales manager for the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, left New York on March 22 for an extended trip covering Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Chicago. Mr. Shurtleff plans to be away until after the first of April in a campaign to speed up the sales of Hodkinson Service throughout the central and middle West. Before leaving, Mr. Shurtleff stated he was very optimistic concerning the business being signed up by the branches of Hodkinson Service. "My trip," he said, "will be one not only of inspection, but also to do some real intensive sales work in each territory, bolster up any of our weak spots, which, fortunately, are not many, and also outline to many of our most representative exhibitors the After being out of the Marine Corps Hodkinson Co-partnership plan, which for over ten years, S. L. Rothapfel of\ fc now developing in first-class shape." the Rivoli and tne Rialto theatres, New y York, has enrolled again with the tern-,' Taylor Holmes GetS entrance hall to the rear of the building. Safety first was the principal object in the arrangements of the new quarters. Easily accessible exits are provided, and the quarters in general are so constructed as to guarantee the very best service to the exhibitor. Rothapfel Enrolls With Marine Corps porary rank of sergeant and will be given a commissioned officership in a few days. He will be attached to the Publicity Bureau of the Marine Corps and will make trips to Cuba, Quantico, Va., and elsewhere, for the purpose of taking pictures of the marines to be used for propaganda throughout the country. His new duties will not require him to give up the managing directorship of the two theatres identified with his name. Mr. Rothapfel saw service as a marine during the Boxer uprising, in the Canal Zone, and on the Caribbean Sea, rising from a private to a first lieutenancy before he returned to civil life. Gold Cigarette Case At the conclusion of his week of personal appearances at the Rialto theatre, New York, during the presentation of "Ruggles of Red Gap," Taylor Holmes was presented with a handsome gold cigarette case on which was engraved a few words expressing the appreciation of the Rialto Corporation for his kindness in delivering his monologue every afternoon and evening throughout the week. The presentation was made on the stage on the occasion of the recipient's final appearance and took him completely by surprise. \ SCENE FROM REX BEACH'S POWERFUL AMERICAN DRAMA ON'E OF THE TENSE MOMENTS FROM "HEART OF THE SUNSET," JUST COMPLETED IN TEXAS BY DIRECTOR FRANK POWELL. (Goldwyn.) 23