Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-01-09
MANY rnEArtRs CONDEMNED.
Chicago Officials Trying 20 Avoid
Future Disasters.


Chicaro Special.-Mayor Carter IL
Harrison Friday took steps To pro
vidc as far as possible against repe-
elton Of Wednesdays horror at tho
T-oouois Theatre. As result OF nm
Investigation made at his orders ana
lasting hut a few hours, 10 theatres /
and museums were closed. some OF |
them being among the leading anu
most popular play-houses OF the CITY
The act OF the mayor was based on a
single violation Of the ordinances
which are intended 20 protect the pa
irons OF the theatres from Just suSn
an occurrence as that which cost 50
many lives on Wednesday. This was
that every one OF these places had
omitted TO supply an asbestos curtain.
The theatres ordered closed are;
Towards. Alhambra. Avenue. B1ou'
Chicago Opera House. Columbus
Stock. Thirty-hrst Street. Criterion.
Fiegenbaums. Milwaukee Avenue.
| Garrick & Giickmans. In addition
to these the London Globe Museum
and the Clark street Museum were
also compelled TO close their doors.
The Chicago Opera House and the
OLYMPIC Theatre are vaudeville
houses OF the highest class and prob
ably do as much as business In point
OF numbers rs any one OF the theatres
/ in the city at single performances.
I They give. however. n matinee every
dav in the week. and IL is seldom that
seats can be obtained for any per
Torrance after the time OF opening
In addition 10 this they have been
accustomed TO selling large numbers
OF tickets for standing room. and as
general thing more people are Wlthln
these places OF amusement AT an aN
erage performance than can be FOUND
nj anv other playhouse in the city.
Tho Garrick Theatre which was or
dered closed. is a small play house ON
the northwest side OF the city and
should not be c0niOunded with the
larger theatre OF the same name sltu-
ated on Randolph street. one block
west OF the IroQuois.
The inspection ordered by the may
or was carried out by Building Com
missioner Williams and Chief OF 70
lice O'Nein The scope OF the inves
tigation included no other feature
than asbestos curtains. The mayor
. instructed COMMISSIONS Williams &C
, report 10 him promptly at the con
, clusicn OF his Investigation. declarine
that IL was his intention that no thea
ire should he allowed 10 open rs
doors in Chicago hereafter unless Il
was provided with an asbestos cur
{ tain Of standard quality that would
work at all times and under all con
ditions.
1t may not be possible said May
or HARRISON. Ito prevent loss OF li
when audiences rush for the door
o WAYS. but I have determined to Sc
T. that every precaution is taken 20 pre-
+ vent such occurrences as will alarr
n the people and start them on rus
for the exits. Il is all very well I
saw that the loss Of life in the lrS
y ouois was due 10 the fact that IN
el people lost their heads and crowde
l- into the dOOrways and aislos. Tx
y. maniacs. but the fact remains. an
20 IN cannot be denied. that there woui
: have been no panic II the apparatu
. in this theatre. which. judged uy a
ordinary standards, was the be'
So equipped playhouse In the city, ma
pF bccn I'm proper working con dl.lo
"a There IS no getting beyond that fac
In From an the evidence now in han
- IL rs clear that II the asbestos ca
tain in this theatre had been in Il
-e condition il should .iave been the
OF would have been no loss OF life. col
All parauvely speaking"
The report OF Building Commissio
or Williams showed that the Acadcu
OF Music. with a seating capacity
"a 1000. had a curtain OF burlap, the
hambra. with a seating capacity
$500. the Avenue COO. the BiJou l.S'
al Clark Street Museum go. Criteri
TX 400. Fiegenbaum's 400. Howar'
in 600. Marlowe 1900. New American
~. 400. all had curtains OF linen. T
curtain in the Chicago Opera Hou
tie was OF burlap covered with fire pro
Us. paint. In the Columbus Stock Tn
ON tire. and IN Sam T. Jacks II was
raj canvas. The Olympic. with seati
-, capacity OF 500. has a curtain
canvas
There were other glaring defect
lto said Commissioner Williams, WI
-as were noticed in some OF the hous
his but We were not paying particu
attention 10 them, although l mo-
thtan and the theatrical managers '
len be compelled 70 remedy them as &C
ar. as possible"
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