Volume I: Narrative History

Chapter 9: 1916 Mutual Day

On May 6th in Madison Square Garden the Motion Picture Board of Trade of America Exposition opened its doors. On hand to give the key address was J. Stuart Blackton, the motion picture pioneer who had helped found Vitagraph nearly 20 years earlier. Among the many film industry officials in attendance was Edwin Thanhouser. Note Wednesday, May 10th, was Mutual Day at the show. Reel Life reported:

Thousands who thronged the Garden gathered in and about the Mutual booth during the afternoon and evening, eager to catch a glimpse, receive a handshake or extend their congratulation to the galaxy of Mutual stars who were in attendance.

Mary Miles Minter, the newest of the Mutual stars, was the center of attraction.... Among the other Mutual stars in attendance at the Mutual booth during Mutual Day were Florence LaBadie, Mlle. Valkyrien (Baroness DeWitz), Gladys Hulette, Louise Emerald Bates, Barbara Gilroy, Gertrude McCoy, Iva Shepard, Gertrude Robinson, Marion and Madeline Fairbanks (the Fairbanks twins), Kathryn Adams, Frances Keyes, George Marlo, Sydney Mason, Alexander Gaden, Isolde Illian, Harris Gordon, Riley Chamberlin, Wayne Arey, Frederick Warde and numerous others of equal prominence.

In preparation for the celebration of Mutual Day, those in charge of the exhibit had arranged a lengthy program, including many pleasant surprises. Charles Chaplin, unable to appear in person because of his presence in Los Angeles, where he is at work on his new Mutual comedies, was not forgotten by the crowd. Thousands of inquiries concerning the comedian and his work were made at the booth by his admirers, and his photographs everywhere on exhibition were always surrounded by crowds of admiring friends.

One of the many features of Mutual Day was the photographing of the Mutual exhibit, one of the most pretentious at the Exposition, by a Mutual Weekly cameraman, as well as numerous interesting scenes in and about the great enclosure. These were then developed and printed and flashed on the big screen at the Garden all within the space of four hours, a record accomplishment.

President John R. Freuler, of the Mutual Film Corporation; Edwin Thanhouser, head of the Thanhouser studios; David Horsley, owner of the Horsley studios; F.G. Bradford, general manager of the Gaumont studios, and numerous other personages of prominence in the film industry, dropped in at the booth during Mutual Day....