Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-01-27
ENAcTs NEW THEATER LAW.
Drastic Ordinance Is Passed by tn
Chlcnyn City CnnnciI.

Chicago City Council.
After working on it nearly all nighl
the Chicago Council passed the new the
alter ordinance early Tuesday morning by
a vote of Al to s. Numerous amendments
have rendered it so stringent that its en-
forcement should make the amusement
places of the city reasonably safe for
their audiences. The new ordinance APP
plies TO existing theaters as well as those
which are yet 10 be constructed.
The provisions in reference to seats,
aisles, and exits. il is believed by many
of the Aldermen, will reduce the seating
capacity on the main floor of every thea
ter in Chicago 20 per cent and prohibit
the use of galleries entirely. Balconies
are made impossible of construction, in
the opinion of some of the theater man
ayers.
The provision that is fatal 10 galleries
requires that L. rise between banks of
seats shall not exceed eighteen inches
In the Iroquois il was twenty-five inches
and in other theaters the rise is more
than twenty inches. The ordinance re-
quires balcony seats to be provided with
an aisle leading direct to an exit behind
each i've rows of seats 1t also provides
that no theater shall he allowed to exist
whose lowest baI. It's is more than
twelve feet above the street level.
Features of the New Law.
Important features which are embod-
led in the new ordinance and for which
the majority of the Aldermen were
united throughout are:
Curtain-Steel curtains are specified
(which shall be in constant use as the
regular curtain and act drop" Ashes
tos drop was defeated.
Floor levels-Lowest bank Of seats in
non-frcproof building cannot be higher
than the street level In fireproof build
! ings they must not be higher than twelve
feet shove the street level,
! Gallery pitch--Seats in galleries can
| not have rise Of more than eighteer
| inches between the rows of seats.
Open spaees-Theaters hereafter built
shall adjoin two public thoroughfares,
but the audience room and stage must
be surrounded on four sides by either
| open spaces or freproof passageways at
least eight feet wide In the clear.
Cross aisles-Cross aisles must be pro-
| vided for every nine rows or seats IN
balconies and galleries and must run
directly to exits.
Automatic s;rinklers Automatic
sprinklers must be installed not only over
| grid-iron as required by old ordinances,
but arouId all parts of stage, dressing
rooms and under stage.
Firu alarms-Fire alarm boxes shall
be installed on all floors on the stage and
in ticket Office Of every theater. Fire
drills must be held twice week and two
or more fremen detailed to each theater,
while one police officer shall prevent
overcrowdng at each performance All
fire apparatus shall be under control of
the FIRE department. Fire marshal, build
ing commissioner and chief Of police are
to have power to close buildings at any
time for violations Of this ordinance.
Williams on the Rack.
Building Commissioner Williams I'M
dertook TO make an explanation before
the coroner's jury at the troquois inquest
Tuesday, ard for an hour the city build
ing department was under a fire OF
scathing inquiry For the first time
during the investigation the language
"vuiItv know ed pe" went into the rec