New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-02
SAFETY OF THE THEATRES.

Immediately after tho burning Of the Park Thea
tre Inspector EsterbroOk, of the Bureau of Build
ings ordered the examiners of the bureau to begin
an examination Of all the theatres in the city. lie
told them to visit tho theatres in their districts as
soon possible without negecting their regular
routine work, and to make careful written reports
There were three points which he desired them to
cover fully in each repOrt-the construction of the
wall dividing the stage from the auditorium, the ar
rangcments for extnguishng fires the stage, and
description Of the skylights in the roof over the
stage. The reports Of the examiners have
come in slowly because there are only a few exam
iners who have theatres in their districts and their
time Is so much occupied with other work that they
have not been able to inspect many theatres.
Eighteen reports on theatres had been received by
Inspector EsterbroOk yesterday. In some cases the
Inspector had directed the examiner to make sec
ond inspection in order to clear up a doubtful
point.
OF the reports which Mr.. Esterbrook had In his
possession yesterday there were only two which he
said showed that the theatres were beyond dispute
in safe condition. These were the reports on
Wallacks new theatre at Broadway and
Thirtieth-st and the new theatre of
Harrigan & Hart at No. 73O Broadway. Mr.
Esterbrook pointed out TO a reporter of THE TRIB-
UNE three conditions, which, the rep orts showed,
cASIth III tdCu VI lueSc TWO IucdlIb5, all VI WhANh
he considered necessary to safety in of
fire. First, and most important, was fre-proof
wall between the stage and the auditorium, extend
ing above the roof of the theatre. The stage open
ing in the brick wall was provided with relieving
arch above the fiat proscenium arch,
and the other openings had wrOught-iron self
closing doors second condition was a system of
waicr-pipes the stage, arranged that the seem
ery could be drenched at short notice. Lastly,
there were skyligbts in the roof OF the
stage, constructed that they would open instantly
upon the cutting burning of hempen cord.
The skyights were so large that when they were
open all smoke from fire on the stage would escape
through the roof and not enter the auditorium.
With such conditions existing, Mr. Esterbrook SAID,
there would be occasion for panic on account
of fire on the stage, because the audience could
remain in the auditorium and witness the conia-
grafton.
Several reports sent in by the examiners showed
that the theatres visited had been provided with
some of the above arrangements for safety, while
one or more conditions were lacking in each. John
Hughes. the examiner who inspected Booths Thea
ire at Sxth-ave. and Twenty-third-st., wrote i'll
his report:
There are brick walls sixteen inches thick, built on
each side between the stage and the auditorium Ihoy
have several openings in them for doors ana they 40
The opening between them prorceuim Is forty ieet
wide. tends 90 the full height OF the bn ding In
reference skyghtR there three hprcd turret5-
one six wide twenty feet louE, and two six
wide and twelve feet long. The tops are rooted any
covered with tin. They have sashes on the sides about
three set wide and Our feet high, pYotng ON centres
managed from the top lott OF tho D1iinnng ir oy
would he perfectly useless at present constructed,
the cord becoming burned they would Immediately
close on their centres.
The exars.ner found the arrangements for ex-
tinqusrnug nres on tho stage satisfactory. N.Y.
Esterbfook said that the brick prOscenum wall OF
the theatre ought to be carried across tho stage
oncuinc and the whole wall should be continued up
to four .eet above the roof. The skylghts ought
to be fixed so that they would open Automatically
U9yerly's Theatre at No. 1O7 West Fourteenth
ST. was inspected by two examiners, Thomas LIME
and f. Schaaf, who united i'll sending the ioiloW-
ing report:
We lind wall between the auditorium and stage, con-
ria iug of piers projecting eight feet nom tue INTERIOR
face Of Inc side walls. Tney are twenty Inches tlck
They extend up and above the roof and are covered Win
c0piurs They are abOu 10 feet hgl from tho stage
foGr and about forty feet above the Tool over %
torinm There s no wall the proscenum arch;
over said arch between the piers II IS filed with wOOd
framework. Above the ru0t OF the auui.otiut IL -
with sheet iron There is skyight over inc
stage. Jhere three wiud0@3 In thc ede wal! on ,ach
side the roof. There are les OF Wa'Ti PHI & @ on
low the floor. No perforated pipe over tde stage
The only changes which Mr.. Esterbrook said ne
should suggest, would be the building OF IRE
proof wall over the stage opening and the cohsruc'
ton of'sef-acting skylights in the stage roof. The
same examiners visited tho Standard Theatre, IN
Sixth-avc., between Thrty-second aud Thirty
third-sts They found brick walls between the
stage and the auditorium, which, however were
not carried over the stage openlng' me HKyllghIs g
above the stage were amp enough. but thry were
stationary Ihc ARRANGEMENTS TOR cXtlnGulsnlug
fires Oh the stage were all that conld De- desired.
ith very ltte expense the ms! ector tHouEu'' tIc
theatre could be made TO nave All tue requisite OVn
diiiOus of safety. . :.
Examiners John Hughes and B. Ryan, who in
spected the Academy of Music, reported as Io'lo"S
Tbcra are brick walls sixteen inches thick built On each
aide bc eeu ne stage and the auditorium ana running
up abouJ nfty feet or TO the sprln OF me io5 l"eo'
The examiners also stated that there were three
stationary skyl ghts and one water pipe on the
stage, with 100 feet of connecting hose Inspector
Esterbrook said that the proscenium wall should
be built up through the roof and across the stage
opening There should be four skyllghtS for so
large n buiidIEg he thought. each having an area
eanal 10 sixty square feet, and the sasheS must 10
made to open AUTOMATICALLY ~ a.,
John Hughes and Thomas Little examined inc
Union square Theatre. and the report wnic9 tney
sent in WAS not regarded by Inspector LsterOIooR
a. satisfactory. They wroe:
We have examine the premises kn 1w9 as me UHloa
su4re Theatre. The building We rc-atd 5 sIlohe uu
the wal is in good sound condition. IN c"rlanter
shop r. In building separate from tue t]neatV ] d
above the STAGE ana extending across tue Dulluhg'
over the prosccnium arch is wall eN ending up 70 tne
roof. composed OF cement or terIacOi p'GAb .ioI ,
aic four ,kygnts the stage, bat the sash On 'he
i3 stationary.
Examiner Little was sent back to make tuItMAer M
;rsncction and me- handed in the following add-
tional report:
have examined the kitchen Of the Morton House,
with refcrcucc TO it's connection with tue Choh 5lato
Theatre. / find said kitchen under par vi luy wv
bv of the theatre. Between the kitchen ana some .5
ing rooms OF the theatre Is Drlc wal! l1tch r
ltt4 a. tsl ma
epueea between theu | am iniJrhel' are uHo,t, "!1u
.ter OF Paris and br'l which Is lA!d ma o,v ; t,
That the premises are safe fur as the llaOIy VI Co
muulcating lire Is concerned.
Mr. Esterorooll probably will make personal III
sucction of the theatre. r
Tho Liffl Aypuup hrlirp was inspector Dl TX