The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-07
MAYOR ORDERS
SOME CHANGES
Official Inspection Of Amusement
Houses Is Still in Prog
ress.
Asbestos Curtain at Park Variety
Theater Blocked by Electric
!! Wires.
One Museum Is Found to Have Some
Exits Impossible to
Use.

Mayor James c. Haynes and his
party of theater inspectors, includ-
ing A. B. Chamberlin and George E.
Higgins, of the Commercial club,
Chief j. r. Canterbury and Fire Mar
Rhal G. w. Ringer Of the fire depart
ment, Building Inspector James G..
Houghton. Superintendent of Police
e. j. Conroy and reporters, finished
their work to-day. The party visited
the International Auditorium, the
Park and Columbia variety theaters,
the Palace dime museum and Kelley
museum, or Penny arcade, adjoining.
Very little was said at the Interna-
tlona1 auditorium, but It was not
found to compare favorably with the
regular theaters in regard to emergen-
cy exits and general protective de-
vices. The action Of Building inspect
or Houghton in ordering it closed was
generally approved. The big hall can
be easily remodeled, however, to meet
all requirements.
Curtain Wouldn't Work.
At the Park theater, a small variety
house on Bridge Square, everything
was of wood, but the building was
plentifully supplied with exits. In ad-
dition to two regular exits, there are
two emergency exits, one on each side.
opening directly on alleys, and two
exits from the stage. The stage has
an asbestos curtain which once saved
the place from destruction. At pres
ent however, like the curtain in the
Inflated Iroquois theiater, this curtain
could not be lowered on account Of an
electric light arrangement. The lights
were ordered away. AS the average
attendance Is rarely more than fifty,
the arrangements for letting out the
crowd were deemed ample.
The conditions were not as good at
the Columbia. There are front and
rear entrances, but they were deemed
too narrow for a place which at times
contained probably 200 persons. A
narrow passage on one side Of the
stage leads to the rear entrance thru
the bar room. The front entrance is
very narrow. but some of the audience
could escape thru a confectionery
$ store which opens directly into the
theater proper.
Museum Not Satisfactory.
The Palace Museum was literally
supplied with exit signs. but one pas
sage led to a door opening twenty
feet above the ground on an alley.
There was no stairway. The other
exit was intended to reach a fire
escape, which was reached by win
dow. The exit. signs were deemed
misleading, and the proprietors We're
Tilffe: Were front and rear stairWays.
The house was not satisfactory and
Mayor fIIaynes informed, the propri-
etpr that it was the worst place that
h1d been seen. -, - -. 81 - -. d.
The, Penny Arcade is a. diminutive
place with, never more than handful
of persons within. The front entrance
seemed amply large and there Is also
q rear door. On the WHOLE the place
did,,not give a very favorable impress.
sion.S .-,f: IT,, '..
Mayor Haynes announced that the
afternoon would be spent in Jookins
over Century. hall, Masonic Temple
and other public halls, after which
the investigators would meet in ex
ecutive session to formulate a report
The mayor said that he would sub.
NIT a detailed report to the council
tomorrow evening. He declined tt
say whether he would exercise his
prerogative and close any of the thea.
ters until certain improvements haC
been made. He will be largely gov
erned in this matter by the findings
Of the commission.
Sees Need OF Reform.
r. w. Munzer Of the special com
mittee of the Commercial club spen
yesterday in Chicago. He said tod
4 Il have investigated the Chicago the
aters, their exits, fire escapes and pre-
4 cautions against fire; we are in no
as good shape in Minneapolis, and thu
f Chicago theaters are closed" ."'
Mr.. Munzer did not wish to appear
as an alarmist, but it was evident tina
4 he believed conditions in Minneapoli!
4 were such as to demand immediate re
4 form. He said that yesterday the
4 mayor, building inspector and com
/ mon council of Chicago inspected
/ store buildings, and various othel
much frequented structures in which
/ public life was in danger from posi-
bic fire. He believed that similar in
vestigation of the stores. dance halls
churches and other buildings SHOULD
be made. In Chicago he found man,
of these places were being CLOSED
! pending changes which would b,
ordered.