Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 99 A PROGRESSIVE FILM EXCHANGE The Laemmle Film Exchange, of Omaha, Neb., is One of the Best Illustrations of this Type that Can Be Offered — Under its Manager, Frank Van Husan, it Makes 130 Shipments a Day A SIGNIFICANT commentary on the rapid strides of the motion picture industry in the Middle West is exemplified in the extension of the business of the Laemmle Film Exchange, in Omaha, Nebraska. In the course of five years, the Omaha concern has grown from an establishment requiring only 500 square feet, where seven employees looked after the wants of forty customers, to a place containing 10,000 feet floor space, where twenty-nine employees make one hundred and thirty shipments every twenty-four hours. For the last eighteen months a day and night shift have been necessary to handle the business. The exchange is completely equipped. It has its own poster department, where the paper, some of the most attractive offered to exhibitors, is prepared for distribution The film cleaning machine is of the latest manufacture. The facilities of the delivery department insure prompt service to all the customers AFTER a varied career, the present manager, Frank A. Van Husan, Jr.. became associated with the Laemmle company, while Maurice Fleckles was the general manager. FRANK A. VAN HUSAN months. Being suddenly called to Chicago by wire, he was sent to Omaha, where he arrived the 15th of March, five years ago. When Mr. Van Husan went to PRESENT HOME OF THE UNIVERSAL IN OMAHA, NEB. At one time Mr. Van Husan was employed as operator at Carl Laemmle's Vaudeville House, from there being taken to the exchange as booker. At the expiration of a few months he became manager, which position he occupied one year and six Omaha from the Chicago office, the business was very much scattered, and in order to maintain an average rental, the concern was forced to supply theatres in several other states, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska. Now conditions affecting the trade are different, and the Omaha branch confines itself to allotted territory. Four exchanges have withdrawn from the local field after a futile effort to meet the progressive methods of the new firm, and the Laemmle people feel able to cope with any rush of business that might come its way. "tT seems as though everybody is A rushing to this field," said Mr. Van Husan in a recent interview, "and it keeps us on the jump. However, our system is just as f)erfect as anywhere else, and we are capable of handling the situation. "The business has certainly shown a wonderful growth since I first got into it," he added, "and some of my experiences in the early days make me smile. For instance, after I left the medical college, having decided not to practice, I joined forces with my father, who had been attracted to the possibilities of the motion picture business. "We purchased a Lubin Passion Play and a Lubin machine. It was our intention to travel from town to town, making different churches. "Well, while the scheme seemed all right, we found that there was not the money in it we had supposed. After trying it out unsuccessfully we went back home to Detroit. This experience, however, did not discourage us. "We thought we saw great possibilities in the coming industry. In looking around for some kind of an opening in the business which promised better results, we found a five-cent electric theatre profitably operating. "We opened a second theatre, renting service from Geo. Kleine, of Chicago. Opposition sprung up. We sold and I left for Chicago, where I secured a position with Jack Hardin, formerly with the Edison Company. "From there I went to Fred C. Aiken, of the Theatre Film Service, by whom I was sent to Evansville, Ind., where I was employed for about a year by J. R. Branan, of the Colonial Theatre." NEW THEATRE IN CHICAGO The Crawford Theatre, representing an investment of $150,000 and with a seating capacity of 700, has been opened in Chicago by the West End Amusement Company and Merle Heaney, the managers and owners. The house meets all the requirements of the law and is located at Crawford and Madison streets, the West Side.