New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07
NETWORK THEATRE DANGERS,

Fire Commissioner Hayes has undertaken the
investigation of the theatres Of New-York with
commendable zeal If he finds any OF them
violating the law it may he expected that they
will be ut once closed until they conform to it.
Moreover, even though the building regulations
have been complied with, It must still be within
the power Of the Health Department TO forbid
the use OF any gallery or staircase which Is so
situated TO be a menace to life, just as 1t may
forbid other things which under particular cir
cumstances become public nuisance and dan
ger, though the things themselves may not be
forbidden by law. Assistant Foreman Lenihan
IS reported to have found the Circle, the Or
pheum and Huber's theatres unprovided with
asbestos curtains. II this is true these places
OF amusement should be closed at once, not
merely ordered to put in the curtains at their
earliest convenience. The example Of Chicago
and Philadelphia IS a good one TO follow
It will probably be found on investigation
that the majority OF the New-Yorl theatres CON
form to the law, or at least that with few
minor appliances and some attention TO keeping
neglected exits open they can conform 10 1t.
But that by no means gives assurance against
danger Many Of the theatres are old. and the
law has not compelled them to make altera-
tons needed for public safety. The detailed ac-
count Of theatre conditions hitherto published
in The Tribune shows this. Entrance 10 the
gallery Of Days Theatre. for instance, IS eff
fectei by two steep flights OF wooden stairs
The orchestra Of the Princess Theatre, like that
of the Casino, is up q fight Of stairs, and its
balcony entrance turns of at angle from
those steps In case of q rush TO get out, two
streams Of humanity would be thrown together
at the top of n flight Of steps. The stairs TO the
second balcony Of the Belasco Theatre are
narrow and have three turns From the Savoy
balcony people must meet at right angles within
the building crowds from the orchestra or the
balcony and it is not we'll situated for the cree
ton OF really adequate fire escapes. as. indeed,
are few Of the theatres erected in blocks before
the law required detached buildings with side al
legs. The Bijou has brass railing TO turn the
throng ar tho foot OF the gallery stairs, which
does no harm ordinarily, but in a panic might
be as fatal were the fences at the Cars
coronation fete,
These are merely samples Of conditions exist
Ing IN many theatres which may not be at all
in violation or law. The managers may have
done all that IS legally required. But these
things point to the necessity Of new laws. We
have been prescribing more stringent rules for
new theatres while taking an easygoIng course
with old ones, just as We used to do with re
gard to tenement houses. We were more care
full OF vested rights than OF public safety. 1t IS
now time 10 take a leaf out Of the tenement
house law 1t Compels owners TO make such al
teratlons modern sanitary science calls for
and modern building methods make possible,
though their houses when erected may have
been as good as anybody thought necessary or
knew how 10 build. Such requirements excite
opposition as an Interference with vested rights,
but the courts have upheld them a proper
exercise Of tho police power, and would doubt
less take the same view Of laws for the aItera-
ton Of old theatres.
The Mayor and his subordinates should take
up this problem OF devsing needed new IegisIa-
ton. Pending such legislation, they should 90
to the extreme Of their present powers as speci-
fed by the building code or implied by the gen
eral law for the protection Of life and health.
Special precautions are needed now. 1t may be
thought that the Chicago horror has made man.
ayers and theatregOers so careful as TO have
lessened danger, but it has rather increased
It Everybody who studies railway accidents
knows that there is something back of the old
superstition about several happening together.
Whether operatives are made nervous and
laundering by one disaster or the same general
conditions of traffic widely existent, or there
is some other cause for it, one disaster is likely
to be followed Immediately by others, as if there
were Platonic idea OF railway disaster in the
air to influence operations. So with the theatre
Crowds now peculiarly susceptible TO panic.
Stage hands are peculiarly nervous and likely
at q critical moment TO make mistake. They
are likely, too, to overhaul their premises, think
they have guarded against danger and with
their patrons rest more firmly than ever con-
tent IN q false security. After the furry the
fire demon is likely to come back and find the
playhouses swept and garnished and enter in
with seven devils worse than himself, unless
the most thoroughgoing measures are taken to
guard against fire and panic for all time.