The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-20
COMMISSIONERS
 SHOW REALTORS CITY AUDITORIUM
Board Is We'll Pleased
 With Structure Sec retary Says

Last Thursday the Birmingham real estate board" according to the execu- tive secretary, adjourned its meeting promptly on order to give the mem- bers chance to look over Birming- hams new auditorium that is nearing completion. Commissioner Dickson had been requested to tell the board at this meeting all about the auditorium and then pilot the members on an in- spection trip. Being unavOidably de- tained, Commissioner Dickson had Com missioner Cloe serve in his stead, and the board had the pleasure of hearing both President McLendon and Commis- sioner Cloe. Speaking quite conserva- lively, it is safe to say that the real estate board was well pleased with the appearance and commodious size of this building that is a real credit to the progressiveness of Birmingham"
 ''The approximate cost of the com pleted and furnished building" con tinued Secretary Starke. will be about $575.0O0, inclusive of approximately $35, 900 for seating. The seating capac- ity is 5000, which is about 2,500 more than that of any other building in the city. It is understood that the stage equipment, the lighting, and other ap- pointments are all to be up-to-date, so that almost any sort of convention or exhibition could be accommodated in this structure, the only limit being the seating capacity which is ample for the needs of Birmingham for number of years. Fortunately the construction of the building is such that it lends itself to such expansion as will afford considerable increase in it's seating capacity when that becomes necessary in the lapse of years"
 Erickson At Work
 It is understood that Mir. O. G. Erickson has been giving considerable time to the matter of advertising in a large way Birmingham's auditorium. According to Mir. Erickson, the formal opening and the dedicatory services connected herewith are scheduled to take place on. Sunday, October 19. This will begin week of receptions and con- certs which will afford the citizens of Birmingham ample opportunity to become familiar with this great and completed civic enterprise that has been Birmingham's dream for possibly the last quarter of a century. Tt is a great thing for Birmingham" continued Secretary Starke, ito have this great convention and exhibition hall, provided our citizenship appreciates and will measure up to the responsibility it en- tails. It is not sufficient merely to have place where conventions may be held, it is necessary that the cit izens should go after with right good heart all the conventions that they can take care of. It is then up to the Birmingham real estate board, the Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, every luncheon club in the city, all the women's clubs, and all other similar organiza tions to put their shoulders to the wheel and see to it that Birmingham will get its share of conventions and exposi- tions. Otherwise it will be the same old story-everybody business, no body's business, and another civic enterprise, the dream of decades, allowed to languish and become a disappointment It is not sufficient for a city to be equipped merely with railroads, hotels, and an ample auditorium in order to entertain conventions and expositions 1: Loyal, hard, and enthusiastic work is needed to convert Birmingham into a nationally-known convention city"
 Extent Invitations
 In this convention it is urged that every Birmingham citizen, who attends a convention in another city, will carry with him Birmingham's invitation for national organizations to bring their conventions to our city. In this way it is readily seen that Birmingham s equipment in the way of railroads, hotel, and auditorium facilities can be rapidly heralded to the whole country and backed up by the enthusiastic sup port of Birmingham's own citizenship. It is understood that this good work has already begun and that our audi torium is aleardy being advertised far and wide.
 Every convention or exposition, ' concluded Secretary Starks, properly handled by Birmingham means an ad- vertisement of this city broadcast by the attendants in that gathering who carry abroad the story of Birmingham S hospitality, of Birmingham beauty, and of Birmingham's enterprise. Not only so, but every convention held here means much to our hotels, restaurants, and merchants, bringing with it that transient trade that has so long been a need of this city. It should be repeated then with all the emphasis possible that 1t is up to every organization in Birmingham to do it's part in making this new auditorium one of the citys greatest assets, not only for the enjoy ment of our citizens. but also for the upbuilding of this city in a business way and for the constant advertising of it as a center of entertainment, thrift, enterprise, and loyalty. The cit izens themselves must do this: It is not the job of city commission alone We begged for an auditorium. Now we have it. It's up to us to use it"
 EI1A1EPAT Tc uETn