The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-09
STRAND THEATRET OPEN ITS DOORS ID THE PUBLIC TODAY Birmingham's Largest MOv- ing Picture Theatre Is
 Ready for Its Patrons IMPERVIOUS TO FIRE;
 SEATS NEARLY 1000 Triangle Film Corporation Releases to Be Presented Before Birming-
 ham Audience-Music Also
 to Be a Feature

Birmingham's newest and largest photo play house will be thrown open to the public this morning, when the Strand theatre on Second avenue will present "The Incorrigible Dukane' one of the latest and best of the Paramount releases. At an expenditure of upwards of s35.O the new Strand theatre has been made into veritable palace of delight. The Italian renaissance style of architecture has been followed throughout and the closest attention has been given to the seating arrangements, with a view of giving the patrons all the comfort pos sible to obtain.
 T. s. Abernathy. president and gen. was busy inspecting the work that has been done. All last night artisans were engaged in putting the finishing touches to the theatre, in order to prevent dis appointing anyone of the thousands who will attend the opening of the playhouse today. MT. Abernathy remained at the Strand practically all night in order to see that nothing was overlooked.
 Seats Nearly 1000
 The seating capacity of the Strand Is close to 1000. The arrangement of the opera chairs is such as to give everyone who visits the theatre an uninterrupted view of the screen. No columns were employed for the support of the roof, great steel beams being used for this purpose.
 The Strand Is absolutely fireproof, be- ing built as nearly as possible of con- crete. Where wood is used 1t Is covered with tin, and 1t is impossible to fire the place. The operating room is walled with tin. and the projection light is equipped with steel slide, which would prevent smoke and flames escaping the room should film happen to blaze.
 T. S. Abernathy, president of the com pany Is one of the pioneers in the mo- ton picture business in Birmingham. He has operated motion picture theatres here for years, and had much to do with mak- ing the movies so popular in Birming- ham. In accepting the presidency of the Strand company. MT. Abernathy stipu- lated that the theatre should be better than any other photoplay house south of New York His wishes were accedei to, and the Strand is the realization of his dreams.
 John Caiman. who is treasurer of the Strand company, has been engaged many years in the motion picture business and since the founding of the Odeon Two the stre has been associated with Mr>Aoer- nathy In addition to his being one of the best-known opponents of the silent drama hereabouts, MT. Calman also Is well krown as a musician of more than ordinary ability.
 Judge H. B. Abernathy. vice president of the firm, is a brother of the president, and is better known as the dispenser Of f,tv. pf of ir mingham Louis Schulhoefer. secretary oe the Strand company, is a well known local business man and has hundreds of friends here.
 Music to Be Feature
 One of the greatest features of the Strand will be the music. An immense pipe organ is now being installed and when complete will be played by Prof. Rienzi Thomas who has not only at- tsined fame locally, but is known through out the ration as an artist. For the present an eight-piece orchestra will fur nish music and the orchestra may be re- tained even after the organ is in place.
 The Triangle Film corporation releases will be the principal source of feature productions for the Strand. The Para mount company also will send the cream of It's productions to the Strand. The Triangle people have secured the servic IS of three of the greatest moving picture directors in the world. and the Strand will show all their productions. D. w. Griffith, producer of "The Birth of a Ma tjon," said to be the greatest motion pie ture ever produced, will produce plays for the Strand. Mack Sonnet, the direc- tor who issues comedies that are famed in every country in the world, will pro- duce for the Strand. Thomas H. Incc, the movie director who built city in the midst of desert and peopled it with moving picture actors and actresses, will uroduce for the Strand.
 The opening of the Strand today is an ac hievement of which T. s. Abernathy is proud His words last night were: ..The best is none too good for our pat rons I hope they'll like it.