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In major cities with large numbers of first and second-run theaters like Detroit, the film companies leased office spaces and facilities in buildings called “film exchanges”. The film exchange is where exhibitors (theater owners) returned their old film and exchanged them for new releases. The area where the exchanges were located was most often call the film row.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael V.|title=Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, IN|isbn=978-1434344632|pages=11|coauthors=Ritzenhaler, photo access by Gary}}</ref>
In major cities with large numbers of first and second-run theaters like Detroit, the film companies leased office spaces and facilities in buildings called “film exchanges”. The film exchange is where exhibitors (theater owners) returned their old film and exchanged them for new releases. The area where the exchanges were located was most often call the film row.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael V.|title=Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, IN|isbn=978-1434344632|pages=11|coauthors=Ritzenhaler, photo access by Gary}}</ref>


The Detroit Film Exchange Building, also known as the FEB, is seven stories high and was completed in 1926. It is located on the corner of Cass Avenue and W. Montcalm Street and it had stores along Cass Avenue and Montcalm Street with offices and lofts above. Some of the tenants included MGM, Warner Brothers, and Universal who each leased whole floors in the building. It was the first building of its kind and many other cities built film exchange buildings in its style.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael V.|title=Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, IN|isbn=978-1434344632|pages=9|coauthors=Ritzenhaler, photo access by Gary}}</ref>
The Detroit Film Exchange Building, also known as the FEB, is seven stories high and was completed in 1926. It is located on the corner of Cass Avenue and W. Montcalm Street and it had stores along Cass Avenue and Montcalm Street with offices and lofts above. Some of the tenants included MGM, Warner Brothers, and Universal who each leased whole floors in the building. It was the first building of its kind and many other cities built film exchange buildings in a similar fashion.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael V.|title=Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, IN|isbn=978-1434344632|pages=9|coauthors=Ritzenhaler, photo access by Gary}}</ref>


The Film Exchange Building employed a large office staff that included salespeople, book keepers, secretaries, clerks and typist in addition to those in the shipping and receiving departments. Also, because of the fragile nature of film stock, (thin reels of celluloid played on a [[Movie projector|movie projector]]) there was a large staff of inspectors employed. Before being shipped to another theater, the staff of inspectors diligently inspected the entire reel for any damages. Damages consisted of tears, scratches, damaged patches, and ripped sprocket holes. Most often the damages were entirely repaired onsite with the cost being billed to theater returning the movie reel. Film stock is also very flammable, so those employees working with the film operated in fireproof rooms that had self-closing fireproof doors.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael V.|title=Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, IN|isbn=978-1434344632|pages=13|coauthors=Ritzenhaler, photo access by Gary}}</ref>
The Film Exchange Building employed a large office staff that included salespeople, book keepers, secretaries, clerks and typist in addition to those in the shipping and receiving departments. Also, because of the fragile nature of film stock, (thin reels of celluloid played on a [[Movie projector|movie projector]]) there was a large staff of inspectors employed. Before being shipped to another theater, the staff of inspectors diligently inspected the entire reel for any damages. Damages consisted of tears, scratches, damaged patches, and ripped sprocket holes. Most often the damages were entirely repaired onsite with the cost being billed to theater returning the movie reel. Film stock is also very flammable, so those employees working with the film operated in fireproof rooms that had self-closing fireproof doors.<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Michael V.|title=Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, IN|isbn=978-1434344632|pages=13|coauthors=Ritzenhaler, photo access by Gary}}</ref>

Revision as of 16:52, 17 September 2012

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Film Exchange Building
The Film Exchange Building (2012)
Map
Alternative namesFEB
General information
TypeLow-rise building[1]
Architectural styleArt deco
Art Moderne[1]
LocationDetroit, Michigan 48201
 United States
Address2310 Cass Ave
Completed1926
Cost≈ $1.5 million
Height103.28 ft approximately
Technical details
Floor count7
Design and construction
Architect(s)C. Howard Crane

The Film Exchange Building (FEB) is located in Detroit, Michigan and was built in 1926 for the distribution and booking of movies for the Detroit area. This seven-story building was built near the city’s theater district and is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Cass Avenue and W. Montcalm Street at the edge of the Cass Corridor. It is three blocks west of Comerica Park and less than a block away from the Fisher Freeway (I-75). [2]

History

Photograph of the building in its original state.

The city of Detroit was known for being a very vibrant, culturally diverse and progressive city in its heyday. It was known as the birthplace of Motown culture and of the Big Three American auto companies. At over 100 movie houses, Detroit also had a very rich movie theater history from the 1920s through the 1950s. Some of the most luxurious halls in Detroit, such as the Fox, Alger, and State Theater (The Fillmore), rivaled those in New York and Chicago.

In major cities with large numbers of first and second-run theaters like Detroit, the film companies leased office spaces and facilities in buildings called “film exchanges”. The film exchange is where exhibitors (theater owners) returned their old film and exchanged them for new releases. The area where the exchanges were located was most often call the film row.[3]

The Detroit Film Exchange Building, also known as the FEB, is seven stories high and was completed in 1926. It is located on the corner of Cass Avenue and W. Montcalm Street and it had stores along Cass Avenue and Montcalm Street with offices and lofts above. Some of the tenants included MGM, Warner Brothers, and Universal who each leased whole floors in the building. It was the first building of its kind and many other cities built film exchange buildings in a similar fashion.[4]

The Film Exchange Building employed a large office staff that included salespeople, book keepers, secretaries, clerks and typist in addition to those in the shipping and receiving departments. Also, because of the fragile nature of film stock, (thin reels of celluloid played on a movie projector) there was a large staff of inspectors employed. Before being shipped to another theater, the staff of inspectors diligently inspected the entire reel for any damages. Damages consisted of tears, scratches, damaged patches, and ripped sprocket holes. Most often the damages were entirely repaired onsite with the cost being billed to theater returning the movie reel. Film stock is also very flammable, so those employees working with the film operated in fireproof rooms that had self-closing fireproof doors.[5]

The major movie studios released up to 60 feature films annually plus many weekly shorts and news reels. Detroit’s Film Exchange Building distributed these to over 600 theaters in its territory of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Milwaukee offices covered the Upper Peninsula of Michigan territory.[6]

Construction

Two figures laced in film; the one on the right holding a film projector. The crest showing "FEB" is also surrounded by film stock.

The Film Exchange Building was revolutionary for its time for many cities built their own film exchange buildings in its style. Many notable movie houses such as The Alger, The Eastown, The National and others only exist because of the Film Exchange Building.


As for the structure of the building the seven floors contain a system of vents, film vaults, sprinkler system, lobbies with travertine marble and a screening room. It has a frontage of 91 feet on Cass avenue and 118 feet on Montcalm. On the exterior of the building there is a granite base that is four feet high with the rest of the building covered in Indiana limestone and light-faced brick.[7] Inside the structure are fireproof vaults made for nitrate films which contains vents that lead to the roof. The vaults are identical except for vent placement in the vaults. The vents lead to the roof top where they are covered by wooden sheds. The sheds were placed for climate control which is important in order to keep the nitrate film from igniting, since the low temperatures prevented the film from reacting.



Due to technological development, the Film Exchange Building became obsolete in the 1950s.[8] Ending in 1964 the building's main occupants were union members, but after that the number of tenants began to decline. By the 1970s, the building was closed. Since then, changes have been made to the building. Around 2000, the roof was replaced and a few years later in 2005 the building’s broken windows were boarded up by black plywood and the building securely sealed. Finally, during the summer of 2009 the owners painted the façade bright white.[9]

The structure was built for Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Stebbins. The architects hired were C. Howard Crane, Elmer George Kiehler and Ben A. Dore associates. The construction contract was awarded to the H. G. Christman company and completed on November 15,1926 costing $1.5 million.[10]

See Also

Planning and development in Detroit
Theatre_in_Detroit

References

  1. ^ a b "FEB". emporis.com. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  2. ^ Austin, Dan. "Film Exchange Building". http://historicdetroit.org. Retrieved 16 September 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ Doyle, Michael V. (2007). Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 11. ISBN 978-1434344632. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Doyle, Michael V. (2007). Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 9. ISBN 978-1434344632. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Doyle, Michael V. (2007). Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 13. ISBN 978-1434344632. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Doyle, Michael V. (2007). Boxoffice open : Michigan's small town movie theatres. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 14. ISBN 978-1434344632. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Detroit's Cinema Headquarters". The Detroit Free Press. 03/28/1926. p. Part Five. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Anonymous. "Film Exchange Building Cass at Macomb near downtown Detroit". http://detroit1701.org/. Retrieved 17 September 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Austin, Dan. "Film Exchange Building". HISTORIC DETROIT. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Detroit's Cinema Headquarters". The Detroit Free Press. 03/28/1926. p. Part Five. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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