The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-22
PERSONAL SECURITY.

Our Places of Anus ement In Case Of Fire.
US. The Academy of Music has been in full
operation for three weeks; the st. Charles
Theatre opened last night, and balls and festi-
walls already occur frequently in one or the other
of our public halls. In fortnight the Varie-
ties Theatre will begin it's season. and it is prob
able that during the coming winter the Opera
House will be the scene Of some theatrical enter.
tainments.
We have since last year kept in view the terri
bic catastrophe that occurred at the Brooklyn
Theatre, by which SO many valuable lives were
lost, and the main cause Of which WAS unmstak-
ably The want or necessary avenues OF escape to
the large audience which had congregated there
on that eventful and memorable night.
With this sad recollection in our mind we have
recently visited the various theatres and public
halls of this city, in order to ascertain whether
there existed any danger Of the occurrence of
calamity as similar to that which last year put in
mourning the entire community of Brooklyn, and,
with the determination Of calling the attention of
the city authorities TO any fragrant cases of dere-
LECTION on the part Of the proprietors and
managers Of our places Of amusement. We are
most happy to say that our investigation has
proved that, with few exceptions, they all afford
ample means of sgress in case Of an alarm or of
the actual breaking out of fire. Thus far New
Orleans, Of the Oldest cities Of the continent,
has been preserved from that shocking disaster
fire in theatre during q performance which
has stricken 80 many communities and thrown
over them q pail and gloom and the impressions
of which are never effaoed from the memory of
those who witness them. And he eaven be pleased
that we shall ever be spared the horrible expe-
rience.
THE ST. CHARLES THEATRE
was the first visited. Here we find that the
two doors, each about five feet wide, whilst the
righthand side of this floor is separated from
the corridor leading from the street to
the stage by thin board partition, which
learn, besides. that employees are especially ap.
pointed in of DANGER to tear it down. in order
that the spectators shall find q road to safety
through the adjoining alleyway. The dress circle
above can be as easily emptied through the front
doors, at least twenty feet wide, leading to the
main staircase, and by means also of the windows
on the right, which are only few feet above the
ground and give access, besides, to the low sheds
OF adjoining buildings The family circle, on both
sides, is provided with windows, from which the
another means OF escape is afforded through
the spacious saloon in rear of this story
OF the theatre, while pair OF stairs each side
leading to the street give two more avenues OF
escape. These staircases also serve for the pit,
access to the roof being also provided for. The
stage pc ople have the alley way through which to
escape, while those employed in the shambles
have but to step out on the roofs Of the Camp
street houses in order to be out Of all possible
danger,
THE OPERA HOUSE.
The situation Of this theatre is Of itself great
guarantee against danger, being isolated as it 10
from any other building. and on all sides
provided with broad windows, through which es-
cape can be made easy. The main entrance, like
that OF the st. Charles Theatre, when entirely
thrown open, will easily permit Of the egress OF
twenty people front. The parquette underneath
has its own broad entrance, and at each side
there are several windows opening on wide
courts. A stairway besides leads from the right
to Toulouse street. The stage is provided with
nnmberless openings on Toulouse street and in
the courts.
The upper tiers, however, are not 30 well IA
v0red, and in case OF fire they, like the upper
tiers Of nearly ail of our theatres, are not sufd-
cientiy provided with means of escape.
THE VARIETIES THEATRE.
This th6atre Ii also admirably sitratAd the