The New York herald., 1876-12-15
GUARDING THE FIRE DEMON.


THE OLYMPIC, UNION SQUARE, FIFTH AVENUE
AND EAGLE THRArREs EXAMINED yEsTER-
DAY
The Inspectors from the Department Of Buildings
resumed thor labors yesterday. Those Inspected were
the olympic, the Fifth Aycpuc, the Eagle and the
Union square theatres. The first visited was the
olympic Theatre, situated on Broadway, between
Houston and Blcecker streets. The gallery is large,
and will bold about 700 people. From tho gallery
there IS only means of egrcss, and though tho
stairway leading from there Is vide, 1t has several
bends and The inspectors do not CONSIDER that
this is sufficient. In case OF Q crush the passage
way might become blocked, and, there being no
other way Of getting out tho danger 10 those remaining
behind would be serious. From this gallery, family
CIRCLE tho inspectors win recommend that another
stairway be made. The location OF it win be deter
mined after consultation with the architects plans.
From the balcony, dress circle also, hero is only
ono way OF getting out This part OF the house IS
empiicd by short and brond flight OF stairs leading
to the main entrance broadway. The inspectors
Will recommend also that from this tier another pas
sage be cut for additional security. The parouct is
reached by about half dozen wdo steps down from
tho vestibue This was deemed amply sufficient for
tho rapid dismissal OF the audience. visit to the
stage made alter inspecting tho front Of tho house.
Here reforms improvements will be necessary. One
entrance conducts from Crosby street through short
passage way down few steps to the stage. This is
not considered sufficient A private door, however,
leads into tho auditorium through short, narrow
passage, which could oe used. a separate way for
those in the dressing and employed in the flies
win be recommended by the inspectors, Tho theatre
is we'll provided with apparatus TO cxtnguish fire both
before and behind tho curtain, and 10 is thought that
With The Improvements referred 10 the theatre will be
ycrfcctly satc.
UsIoS SQUARE THEATRE.
A visit was made TO tho Union square Theatre again
yesterday 10 see how the work progressing the
improvements volunteered by MessrR Shook Il Pal
mer, suggested by the inspectors. In addition TO
the TWO means Of exit already in existence from the
gallery, third ono Is now being completed This
leads from ,he fnm,iy circle on the west SIDE
an iron platform into building on Broadway,
fourth lncs Of escape will also be had 10 the roof of
the hn,ding the hotel and through the hotel to
the street, while nh VIII lead from the gallery,
the onst side, 10 the roof OF Connors billiard room,
into which passage will bc made leading TO the street.
When these completed there will bc five separate
OF getting to the sidewalks An additional pas
sage is beng cut through from the balcony into
the leased building This passage will be five feet wide
and will open on Broadway, Masking three separate
OF leaving the theatre from this Within the
East few days new passage, four feet wide from the
parquct, on the eastery side of the box olIce was
opened, yesterday Mr. Shook explained that in
tended to cut stl another opening on the west sde
making altogether three from the lower part the
house With these additional improvements the CAL
cua,ion Is that they can get iu audience into the
street Ia two aud haf minutes. The Stage tho
procenium arch be completely separated from the
THE FIrTu AVENUE rHxATRE.
The Fifth Avenue Theatre next inspected The
gallery will seat about GOO people. Five aiscs lead
from the seats and those aiscs lead doors at the
head OF Two wi0o flights OF stairs cmptying into the
main entrance On tho balcony tho situation Is nearly
lead by three wide doors TO the corridors and stairs
window the east sidc looks on to the root OF
adjoining building which could be used II necessary.
private entrance from the private box this
leads the Gilscy building Tho root Of the large
balcony In front OF the theatre could also madc
available for escape and passage from the ladies'
toilet room leads 10 broadway. The inspectors found
fault with tho narrowncss OF tho aisles on either side
and will recommend that they be widened They will
also advise that printed notices be plainly displayed,
informing tho audience how tho private passages, IN
OF danger, may bc rcachcd. The parquet seats
$50 persons, ana opens through three wide doors
into the vcstbule. There is also a private
passage from me The. boxes oss,, on The % east side side
inspectors say that the side aiscs in the parauet
too narrow and intend 10 recommend that they be
madc widcr. The bousc found 10 he we'll supplied
with lire cxtinguishcrs both behind and before the
the fooiights The stage fortytwo feet deep, and
all the scenery used in the play night is stored
away in a separate BRICK building adjoining A BRICK
wall running 10 The roof separates the stage from the
auditorium. EXT from the stage may be made under
tho stage to the front, by the passage the back
OF inc private boxes on the parquct tier The main
exit from tho stage leads to Twenty street. The
inspectors will recommend additional precautions
gardlng cgrcss IRON the dressing rooms. On the top,
wardrobe room floor. there is fire escape the
roof OF an adjoining building On the mex, floor the
inspectors intond TO advise tho cutting oil separate
passage, that those occupying the rooms thereon
may be able TO got out without going up down the
stairs
THE EAGLw rnrArRE
The next visit was to the Eagle Theatre situated
Sixth avenue. between Thirty second and Thirty third
streets The means OF getting from the gallery
by two stairs leading down TO tho street Three win
dows the south side could be made available II
qulrcd for escape 10 the roof OF tho next building Tho
circle Ia cmptisd through Two wide doors
ing on stairs leading almost TO the door. Advantage
could also be taken Of tie stars IRON the upper tier
Tho managers Office rs, mo;cuvcr this ioor and
the windows in II look out on tho Sixth avenue. Tho
para ct has two wide doors opening into tho vcstibuc
and only few steps from The Sidewalk. Tho stage is
separated from Tho auditorium by brick wall running
clear TO the root OF the building The Gas arrange
mcnts for the TOP lights IN tho ncs pronounced
excellent Instead OF tho rubber tube almost invarl-
ably used, through which to feed the burners there
an IRON pre wich can be moved IN any way required.
Tho main exit from the stage s through building TO
Thirtyhrd street, and another, under tho stage, 10
sixth avenue. Regarding this theatre the inspectors
say they have nothing to recommend to render II facr
IN nrooKLry
Tho Brooklyn Aldermanic committee for the invcs-
gation ofthc means oi cgrcss from public buildings
continued IT'S labors yesterday. Although the COM
mlitcc had agreed 10 begin work nt ten o'clock WINS
halipast eleven before u started out aud three hours
were spent in tho New Park THEATRE the first place
visited.
rug Syw THEATRE.
Tho manager was very courteous and appeared to be
acquainted with the members OF The committee. A
number OF new buckets anu shining axes were cx-
fpt'cu ns evdcnccaol careful preparation lorhre lhc
stairway lending from Fulton street the FIRST floor
OF The theatre found to DO nine wide and
stairs LEADING from thence TO the gallery found
be very long and ioriuous and only four and one-hnf
feet WIDE The manager Is about 10 cut door from
tho gallery through the end wall Of the building. so
that persons OF emergency step out upor
tho roots of tho adjoining houses ON Fulton street
The establishment was found well provided with ire
pumps and hose
HooLEy's
Hooey's opora House was visited Yesterday BY tho
committee. Many changes and improvements we're
suggested, and tho management promised TO make
them at once whcro possible
TAXING PRECAUTIONS IN JERSEY.
Tho Jersey City Board Of Fire Commissioners
adopted resolution Yesterday that the Board, acting
Committee OF the Whole, shall visit tho different
places amusement in the city aud whether
any provisions have been made against irc. pcti.
tion TO be sent the Legislator for tho passage OF
general Inv In relation to theatres churches and
other buildings TO the cni that the proprctors Iessccs
trustees thereof may be compelled adopt
sary precautions for the safety OF the public.