, 1873-01-04

xn ,a each having titty foot Of hose.
that It would DO simply Impossible Tor
iiro to break out during performance hut,
II anything Of the kind Should occur, llo has
provided such faoltios for c1it that 10 ono
need cntortain tho sliglteBt fenr.
nooLEyB orEnA HOUSE.
IN addition to ha grand entrance, 90 feet wido
md 20 fcot 1T 1ongth, with doors IL foot wide
opening outward from tho auditorium, A!r.
ey yy to Ie e s1os os Nos tSat GI ho eoyss Ie
this to be necessary, for tho house cnn DO
cmptled in four n,inutos but ho docs II to rcas-
suro his patrons. Tho balcony and second cir
oe eas have independent oxs ct
seats on tho lower floor can gain tho BlaBo
by meang Of sitlo doors back Of tho proHconum
boxes, and thoy could also mount upon tho atngo
at Tho fooiighta and then reach tho nlley through
large double door Mt tho rear Of tho BtnBo.
The tl,oatro is leatod by nvo furnaces, all en-
cuscd in galvanized iron coverings. whio tho
woodwork noar which tho hot alr fncs pnas ia
protected l'y Lin III oyory case. Mr: Hooloy gavo
tre WAS in conrao Of construction. There would
aocm to DO absolutely no ground for nlnrm Mt
lIooley's, eyon If u tiro should break ont which
It III not ukely to do, aa largo number Of ex-
tho interior.
Next to hfcVieker's, Aiken'a Thentro would
seem to be tho aafost in tho city, as It stands
street. and has the bonoilt Of these two points,
heaidos III alloy in tho rcnr. Ihore arc throe
front entrances on Wabash avenue, with a total
breadth OF "a fcot and two extra exits On Con-
grosB Btreot, each foot III width. Eaoh Of
tho upper circles are supplied with extra modos
of egross by two staircasoB for eacll, feet wide
thug giving total breadth Of over 10 foot. Tho
stage has q wido door opening upon an nfley, aud
supplied by furnaces, all of which nro encasod
in brick, and all arc perfectly safo so far as may
he judged.
-. atYEn8' opERA HOUSE,
Bituatod on Monroe street, between Dcarborn
and State atroets, has main entrance 10 feot
wido, with which Is connected q separate exit
from tho gallery. AZ precaution against fire,
boon constructed from tho private box at the
right down to the alloy. Bangs improved fur
run through partitions or cum1 near tho wood
work. hIr. Myers hal in Wow tho possibility Of
fro when he built tho p1ace, and exercised the
utmost caro- III deyising precautions aud means
Of prevention.
WEST eide THEATRES.
Tho theatres generally tn the WeRt Division,
throo IN number, woro hurricdly built, and arc
ropularly regarded aB less safo than tic moro
ahoNy BtrlloturoB on tho South Side Their
Typographical position naturally procutled tho
and Whatever ffhoro ID about any Of thom 51l must
assuredly bc for uso, not for ornament. Thi1
ton, and to great oxtont reduces tho risls Of
obstruction by fro. That thoy will all eventually
burn down cannot be doubted for moment.
Tho only question Of interest to tho public liz
whether there will bo holocaust when that un-
desirable oyent occur, or whether IN opportunity
can DO found for tho audience to mike their
exit before tho confagration bocamo perilouH.
There arc two dangers to bo apprehonded in
this caso,-one from fire. and tie other from
trodden to death BIZ oagor hurrying hoels. Let
lib SEQ how wo arc treating tho 1ifo insurance
companies, and how tho managers arc troating
la.
TIE GLOBE THEATnE
is tho oldest OF tho tlroo places OF amusement
in the Wost Division, and Is, ap everybody knows,
constructed entirely Of wood. Its history, like
that Of many of our institutionu, is that Of inn
pudenco and recklcssncss,-a desire to make
Of coureo, refers only to the construction Of
tho building, and not to its management,
which has always been liberal and undoserYing
Of cens1,ro: Tho auditorium IL capable OF seat
movable seats forbidden BY tho city ordinances
under penalties but which are too frequently
used il the West Division. Tho seats, it will DO
remembered, are movable wooden CHAIRS with
on ont any protension to upholstery or ornament
crole Ut comfortable intoryals, with broad islo
from tho orchestra to tue door, sufficiently Wide
to admit Of tho speedy emptying Of TINT portion
OF the theatre, provided no camp stools were
thrown in tho way, and no ohairH hoodlossly
thrown out in hurried rush for tho door.
But thero can be 1ittlc doubt that, m
alarm OF fire onco given. the occupants OF tho
seats would mako simultaneous run, oyert11rn-
fusion, injury to 1ifo and limb from tho pcll-
nell exit would follow as surely and a3 cor
tanly Us tho subsequent reduction of tie theatre
to ashes. With the villanous camp-Btools in tho
way, the confualon would be terrific, and half |
u minute would suffice to kill or main for life |
at leaBt twenty or thirty 'personB Tho dress |
circle is divided into number Of sections, and,
we're the chairs stationary, would DO convenient |
sa ets Sseeo eo % danger dogs yod nd
theatre leayo little to be desired. Tho |
nlain entrance to tho auditorium comprises !
q square porch, with three swinging doors, |
which would amply ALLOW the exit Of tho au-
nlan entrance to tho street fully capable OF let
ting out the three streams. Desidca tlis triple |
doorway, there orc three doors OIL tho stage lcad-
.ng ,,, 2; cut to the alley, and oight windows from
Jump to tho alloy being but three or four feet.
The occupants Of tho "family CIRCLE" should |
thoy escape annihilation by falling ovor tho
chairs lying scattered round, could make IN exit |
Doaplainca street. They would 10 men and
boys, rough fellows, who would ruBh heedlona
upon ono another, but manage to keep their bal
nnce.
. oA tue "uo6, tHo ulope. tAouen unsA1o to-
lay, could 10 readily nlude aafe by fixing tho
chairs to tho floor. Tho means of exit arc au11i-
ciont. But tho faults wo hayo pointed out
ahould DO Immediately attended to, and strict
tion Of tito aisleu by tho caup-Btooa. Tho build
lng is heated by four furnaces, and las little on
tho stage that could endanger tho building, or
cause it's rapid consumption.
THE ACADEMY OF Mus10
on Halsted street, iH stoutly built. It is small
structure, aud capable Of seating only limited
number. Tie seats i'll the parquotto and dress-
circlo, as we'll as in. the 'sfamy circle" arc
arranged at easy intervals, and arc divided
into sections. The centre aisle down tle pnr-
]uette is wide, and will empty that part Of tho
'heatro In loss than O. minute, II thoro is no
3ecauao Of it's shape, and the aootions are ittle
90 close. Tho distance botwoon the seats and
he wall Is too marrow, but this Inconvenience
would only bo felt near the stage. means Of
Hu k,y< <,1sr I