The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-07
LITTLE TO DO
AT The BIJOU.
OFFICIALS FIND COMPLETE
EQUIPMENT AGAINST FIRE. /.
Manager Theodore Hays Says He Will
Gladly Adopt Any Practical Sug-
gestiOns-He SHES ut Automatic
Devices Unless They Are of Ex-
treme Simplicity.

lICu1C 0AIllIuClVys
In their inspection yesterday, Mayor
Haynes and the city officials with
him were greeted with particular cor
diality by Manager Theodore Hays Of
the Bijou theater, who told them that
he would be only too glad to adopt
any devices or methods for fire pro-
lection which they wished to recon-
mend. Mr.. Hays undeniably meant
what he said, but his offer will in
volve little trouble, for the inspecting
party was surprised at the complete
ness of the theaters equipment in
this respect.
Il was more than pleased to have
Mayor Haynes, his various officials
and the committee from the CONNER
cial club inspect the Bijou opera
house." said Mr.. Hays to-day, for I
do not believe that the public has
understood or appreciated the COM
pleteness Of our exits and fire fighting
appliances and the general safety of
our building. Within the last five
years this theater has been practic-
ally rewired complete, and every bit
of exposed woodwork on the stage
has been fireproofed with asbestos and
iron. With a private four-inch main
and its auxiliary branches, we have
perfect stand pipe system of fire
hose protection. Nearly every point
of the theater has not one, but two
or: three hose connections, so that in
the event of one being disabled in
an emergency the others will be all
right. This hose system is augmented
by water pals and barrels placed at
many convenient points, and further
supplemented by portable fire ex-
tinguishers, which are of great prac-
teal use in an emergency blaze.
The fly gallery on both sides Of
the stage is equipped with. axes, poles
and other appliances of practical use
in an emergency. In point of COM
pleteness of fire fighting equipment,
do not believe that there is a theater
in the west that excels the Bijou
The Chicago catastrophe has en-
phasized the Importance of asbestos
curtains, and the Girard Avenue the
alter fire in Philadelphia, where an
asbestos curtain was lowered in prop
er time, demonstrated their worth by
keeping the fire from the auditorium
proper fully fifteen minutes, ample
time for any audience to dismiss even
in panic. Our asbestos curtain is
of good quality and extends two feet
on each side of the proscenium, MAX
ing a complete protection. 1t is the
first curtain rung up at night and the
last down, thus always in practical
use. Approaching the necessity of it's
quick operation in an emergency, W.
K. Brown, our stage carpenter, has
already perfected and put in prac-
teal operation an arrangement which
permits the lowering or raising of the
asbestos curtain from either side OF
the main stage floor, as we'll as from
the fly gallery.
1--WE have always had a practical
arrangement for the control of the
skylight over the stage, but the i'm
portance Of this part of the stage
as far as it applies to a fire, being sc
greatly emphasized in connection with
the Iroquois event, we have planned
to make it even more complete and
will make it possible of easy and
quick operation from the stage floor
proper.
"A serious condition which otter
arises in connection with a theatel
fire is the failure of the lights. Tc
avoid this contingency we have in.
stalled an independent lighting sys
tenn comprising sufficient lights fo,
each floor and light for all stairway:
and exits for the audience to dismiss
by. These lights are entirely indie
pendent of the balance of the house
electric system, receiving curren
from special feed wires so that il
the. event of any trouble occurring
with the regular house electric sys
tenn, or in the event of fire destroying
the electric apparatus Of the stage
| there should always be sufficient ligh
for the people to get out by.
eve are well supplied with exits
and will have more. With our broat
main lobby and wide gallery stair
we are able to dismiss an audience o
large size in a few minutes, and, if tn
special exits are used, it can be don
in quick time.
with the adoption of the pla1
submitted by Chief Canterbury an
Fire Marshal Ringer of the fire de
partment, we are practically assure
| of the presence of a number Of fire
! men at each performance, in add
ton to the regular detail, and thi
! will emphasize the protection bot
! against fire and possible panic. Wit
/ the assistance Of the chief and fir
| marshal, we propose to drill our EN-
ployes, both back and front so tina
in the event of an emergency the
! will understand their several dutie
and not become confused, as is usual
| ly the case. Some valuable sugges
tons were made by the mayor an
the gentlemen who accompanied hir
yesterday, which we propose t
adopt and intend to leave no ston
unturned to put everything in a
complete a state as possible to pro
tect our many patrons, whose patron
age we respect and whose safety w
wish to protect in every way posi-
BILE. Many suggestions are bein
made in a general way in connec
ton with the safeguarding of thea
tiers, which are not practical. Per
sonally, I do not believe in arrange
ments where intricate mechanisms ar
| required. I thoroly indorse the con