The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

November 14, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 111 Many Attend Cornerstone Laying of Fox Exchange and Buxbaum Luncheon New York Exhibitors Turn Out in Force Despite Raw Weather — Borough President Wields Trowel — Old Film and New Sealed MARKING a great forward stride in Fox Films' distributing organization, the cornerstone of the Fox New York Exchange at 343-45 West 44th Street, New York, was laid on October 28 by Julius Miller, president of the Borough of Manhattan, in the presence of more than 150 exhibitors of the metropolitan area. The large turnout of exhibitors in spite of the cold, raw weather gave ample evidence of the warm regard they have for Harry H. Buxbaum, manager of the exchange. The street in front of the flag-bedecked pavilion was choked with the crowd witnessing the cornerstone ceremonies. A captain of police, a dozen patrolmen and a mounted policeman were present to keep order and lend color to the occasion. Into a niche in the stone, Borough President Miller sealed two cans of film that illustrate in a striking manner the remarkable development of motion picture production in the thirty-one years that have intervened since the first picture was screened on February 5, 1894, by J. A. Le Roy with the first projection machine, which he invented and made with his own hands. One can contained a reel of selected scenes from "The Iron Horse," the Fox photodrama based on the building of the first transcontinental railroad, which is typical of the modern superproductions. The other can contained bits of film clipped from pictures shown by Mr. Le Roy in 1894, 1895 and 1896. Among the subjects in the samples of early film were the coronation of King Edward VII. of England, a pickaninny being bathed, fire and flood scenes and a locomotive in motion. As Mr. Le Roy said in the accompanying note, "These were considered wonderful pictures in those days." To a visitor from Mars excavating in the ruins of New York a million years from now, the two cans of film will give significant evidence of the changes wrought by thirty-one years. Certified accounts showing the financial condition of Fox Film Corporation as of June 27, 1925. and the New York Stock Exchange listing were also placed within the cornerstone. Mr. Le Roy, whose shop is a couple of doors from the new exchange, was present at the ceremony. Following the laying of the cornerstone. Mr. Buxbaum was host to the exhibitors at a luncheon at the Hotel Astor. In his speech at the luncheon. Borough President Miller lauded the motion picture industry for the progress it has made. John C. Riscle. treasurer of Fox Film Corporation, i)rediL-ted increasing prosperity for botli exhibitor and producer. In a brief speech James R. Grainger, general sales manager of the Fox organization, paid tribute to Mr. Buxbaum for the efficient manner in which he has been handling the distribution of Fox pictures to exhibitors of the New York district. The luncheon itself was served "in five appetizing reels with a sumptuous prologue." The prologue was nothing less than "Iron Hors d'Oevres." Then came "dotted line olives au Grainger," "trowel" soup and "darne of halibut a la cornerstone." The "third sequence" consisted of "Tom Mix" broiled chicken from the wide open spaces." Of course there were plenty of other appetizing dishes along with these, and the (Continued on following page) FOX FILM EXCHANGE MADE HISTORY ivlicn tlic cornerstone of the nnv Fox Film Corporation Exchange, at No. 345 West 44/ /? Street, zvas laid, on October 28. The Hon. Julius Miller, President of the Borough of Manhattan, ' laid the cornerstone, and after repairing to the Hotel Astor, FI. H. Buxbaum, head of the Nczv York Fox Exchange,' presided at a most appetizing luncheon. In upper right hand inset, Mr. Miller laying the cornerstone.