Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-01

scenery and company. The reason We
do not get the finest attractions is owing
solely to the fact that the capacity OF
our theatres will not admit Of their be-
ing produced.
Give us the facilities i'm such thea
tire as it is now proposed TO erect and
the lovers Of fine theatricals in this city
will cease going TO Pittshurg TO see
them.
The Wheeling public will support a
first class theatre here when they have
it to support Such theatre would be
a benefit to the city in more ways than
one.
The plans Of the proposed new struc-
ture are fine and promise truly mod
eru theatre. Apropos of this subject
probably the gentlemen concerned can
get hint OF two upon the subject OF
the construction of theatres from re-
cent volume ON the subject of Theatre
Construction and Maintenance. Every
recommendation can bee carried out
upon the site of the proposed new thea
ire. The author, NJ. J. G.. BUcKLE, APP
pears to have studied the question very
inteuigenuy and thoroughly; at all
events me- discusses 1t i'm an cmmently
sensible and practical manner Even
where agreement with all his sug-
gcsiious is impossible. his opinion is 50
obviously well considered that 10 carries
uo little weight The two features, of
course. which 10 is most necessary to
consult I'm building a theatre are safety
and comfort; and it is To the problem of
securing both these requirements that
Mr.. BUCKLE has devoted himself. The
grand priucle" which should govern
the disposition of the plans. i'm his opin-
ion. is "thc provision for frc-resiSting
structural divisions between the audi
forum entrances and staircaScS, public
rooms. managerial Offices. stage. work
shops. property stores and dressing
rooms" And hc adds:
Where practicable these division walls
should bc carried mp though the roof. In
the case of the proceuium wall TINS IS I'M
perative All the roofs should, without
exception. bee constructed as flats and con-
nectod with iron ladders 10 enable the fire
men to get quickly from one point 90 an
other The auditorium should bc cosy and
not too large AT least TWO means
of e,-ress from each section of the auditor
ium leading direct into the street should be
provided and indicated, not by placards or
framed notices. but by permanent uscrlp-
tons ON the doors on walls. All exits
should be used nightly. not merely when
there is "a fire or panic, aud am attendant
wearing a distinctive badge or dress should
be- placed iu charge of each exit door All
external doors ought 90 be mad0 90 open
both outwards and nwards
These suggestions, it is true. are mere
commonplace 20 those who have paid
amy degree of attention TO thcsubject of
theatre construction: but they are none
the less Co Doe commended as suifi-
cicutly broad and judicious statement
of tine grand principle" which is i'm
volycd. When Mr.. BUCKLE comes to
discuss the question of safety more in
detail, Dee finds am opportunity to make
many more original and equally yalu-
able propositions HcfayorS an Isolated
site at least ten feet from other build
ingS. or failing this "a location ON cor
ncr. There should be ample means of
exit ON AN sides. as well as windows i'm
every part of the house, both for venti-
lation and for safety lie believes that
am sinner veStibulc"-by which We may
suppose he means lobby-Should all
ways Doe provided, ''IS, In the event OF
panic. constituting meeting point
for large numbers of the audience; and
hc further observes, what no one will
Doe disposed TO dispute that the safety
of ana audience depends more upon jul
diciou,ly arranged means of cgrcSs than
the presence ofrcal danger" StaircaSeS
should Doe as near thccNitS as poS>iblcand
there should Doc mountaineering passages.
Portland cement concrete is recon-
mcndcd for the steps being more rclia-
ble as frc-rcsiSting material and
cheaper than stone. Mr. BUCKLE
further advocates external escape stair
cases. one point which hc makes is an
cmmenty sensible one. appliances
provided for use at remote intervals,
hc saws. '.arc invariably found TO be out
of order. and fail To act when most
needed" In the matter of lighting,
Mr.. BUCKLE seems To prefer the use OF
electricity as safer than that of gas.
though hc points out the dangers OF de-
fcctivc insulation. OF the prevention Of
fire i'm general he has much To say. As
Summg that theatre is built Sub>tan-
TALLY and of frc-proof materials 81 far
as possible. hc recommends that all
scenery. properties and wardrobcS should
Doe coated with am anti-ignition solution,
and that there should Doe not only
plenty of fire appliances and an
abundance of water. but SySte-
NAUTICAL inspection and regular
fire drills ON the part of employees. Mr..
BUCKLE believes that the safest theatre
in the event of a panic would be one in
which the audience had to rush mp stair
cases rather than down; and he erects
his model safety theatre within AN cN-
cayation or moat leaving an open area
am around the theatre twenty-five feet
wide from the external walls of the
building 90 the boundary walls of the
SITE" The gallery iScuterod from the
D..I lN.' ~