Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-04-02

Sale. told how the ordinance WIS !
evadcd.
AS we understand II. scenery inv
the ordinance means framework as |
well as canvas" he said. I'm The
having two canvascs on ON" frame |
work. When we wish to change the |
scenery we draw one canvas up with
Il pulley"
lv this device. which has received
the sanction uf the city law depart.
m,nt. the LII Sale has obtained i'm.
nuuity FROM provision uf tie thcatcr
ordinance to the exclusion of its fell
low playhouScs. like the Stouway
hall. in "claSs T."
The thcatcr likewise has escaped
the steel curtain requirement ana eN.
cccicd the prescribed limit uf height
Cor thcator audituriums above the
street level.
Both these exceptions are based on
the contention that IT is II building
without movable scenery"
How many theaters in Chicago are
living mp to the law
Just look over the ordinance and
difference there is.
Stripped of its vorbagc and 10.
| gal details. the new ordinance. in its
twenty.siX sections, provides: That
all theaters must be equipped with an
automatic water sprinkling system
| La, toll "A fnp
not less than twenty feet higher than
the building; the sprnklers To be in
| stalled over the stage. under the stage.
in the paint and property rooms. and
| other locations back of the curtain.
stand pipes. for hose connection. sup
the building: pumps. rxtnguishcrs, fire
hoops and axes. and other fire fight
ing appliances shall he installed upon
the stage subject to approval of the
fire marshal. There shall he n solid
brick pros"enium wall separating the
stage from the auditorium. and all
prosccnium openings shall he covered
10y a steel curtain. which shall be in
use during the performances rs act
drops or scene curtains. Iron doors
shall he used for all passages from
the auditorium TO the stage. All stage
framing. fly lofts. stage galleries. etc.
shall he Of iron. All woodwork AMI
scenery must he coated with some fire.
proof solution. Outer doors leading
to the stage must be vcstibulcd to pre-.
vent direct draughts. Adequate vents
20 carry of smoke or fire. shall In con
| structcd in the roof above the stage.
to he operated by electrical conncc
tOns which shall lead to the box Of
flee and to the stage switchboard. Iii
|, agrams Of all exits shall he printed IN
programs. All exits shall have u sep
aratc lighting system. showing red
lights over the doors. inside. and bright
electrical lights to illuminate the ext
stair outside. Automatic fire alarm
systems shall communicate with tn,
fire department. AMI the automati,
sprinklcrs. behind the curtain line
shall also communicate autOmaticall!
with the department. Each theatcl
shall employ two or more tircmcn. dc
tailed by the department. who shall b'
on duty during all performances. tn,
tiremen shall require a fire drill Of tn
house attaches ut least twice week
and no one fireman shall be detaile,
lat any theater for more than Nv,
weeks. Each theater license shaI
state the exact seating capacity. an,
no one shall be admitted to the theate
after these seats have been sold. Al
theater lights shall be controlled by ,
shutofY in the lobby. The building com
missioner, fire commissioner and chic
OF police shall be In absolute cOntrO
of all theaters, with inspections al
lowed ut any time. and upon their rec
concentration the mayor shall rvOk
any license and close any theatci
Aisles shall all lead directly to nj
exit, without any turns or angles
Cross aisles. also leading to exits. shal
be opened for every fifteen banks o
seats on the ground floor. and be
tween every nine banks Of seats Il
balcony or gallery. There shall be n
rise greater than eighteen inches be
tween rows Of seats. and each row O
seats shall have u space Of two fee
ten inches from back To back. Their
shall be no more than ten seats Il
each row between aisles. No aisl
shall be less than two feet eight inche
wide ut the stage end and three feet a
| the other. and there shall be no steps
sudden rises or other distractions Il
any aisle. All doors must swing out
ward, all stairways must be Away
lighted during performances, and tn
fioors shall be designated as "Mail
Floor" First Gallery" and "SecOn
Gallery" All exit stairs shall lea,
directly 10 Open spaces or Enclosed pas
sngewdys, protected by freproof wall
six inches thick. Existing building
= may have these tircproof passageway
4 constructed within the walls Of tn
audience rooms, but in future constru'
ton of thcatcrs all audience room
must adioin at least two public thol
= oughfares, shall be surrounded on fou
sides by open passages or incosed fire
proof passageways leading direct
the streets. No audience room now cN
| listing shall have its lowest bank O
seats more than twelve feet above IN
street level. unless the building shall b
| frcproof, and in all future constructio
! the lower floor shall be on the stree