The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-07
INSPECTED
KEITH'S
THEATRE
Police Commissioners Well
Pleased With Its Equipment
for Dealing With Fire.

| The board OF police commissioners.
comprising Chairman william II. Luther,
Gardner p. Sims and Sam II. Bullock.
together with Spencer b. Hopkins. in
spector OF public buildings. and his as
sistant. Henry c. Con- continued their
inspection OF the local theatres by a com
plete tour OF Kelth's yesterday fore
noon. They spent fully two houts In the
work. and no detail was overlooked
| They were accompanied in the tour by
| Manager Lovenberg OF the theatre, and
| Chief Electrician owen Reddy. who were
most anxious TO assist them I'm every
! possible way and who explained 10 them
In detail the equipment and construction
| or the theatre. They were very en-
! thusfastfc over the fire equipment. which.
10 quote their own words is Admirable
| and OF the very best"
They inspected the hose used In the
house. and Chairman Luther. whose past
experience az fire commissioner
qualities him TO be "a Judge expressed his
complete satisfaction with the material
used, saying that most OF the hose used
In theatres IL OF cloth only and he
strongly recommended the rubber lined
hose used at Keith's. They were shown
the fire wall which separates the stage
from the auditorium. and at this point
made the suggestion 10 have the doors
In the wall close automatically. to which
plan Manager Lovenberg most heartily
agreed and the plan has already been put
Into action. They were highly pleased
with the fire-proof room for storing
paint as well with the vaults in the
cellar in one OF which is enclosed the
electrical rehostats. and the other OF
which Is intended to store whatever
Kerosene or other combustible matter
that might be In the house, but which
vault is never used because Manager
I.ovenberg permits these things 10 be
purchased I'm only the very smallest
quantities.
The asbestos fire curtain was tested
both as 70 the matter Of speed and as to
combustibiiity The curtain WAS lowered
perfectly I'm exactly three seconds, and
they approved most heartily OF the plan
OF having this curtain lowered auto
maucally By means OF lever In the first
entrance. instead Of being operated from
the fys by a windlass as Is done In most
theatres. A fragment was cut from the
curtain and exposed TO the lignt OF
candle by Commissioner Luther for about
three minutes. but refused 10 ignite
proving conclusively that the curtain is
absolutely nre-proof.
The committee also approved OF the
fact that the boiler and engine room OF
the theatre IL In an entirely separate
building. and they expressed themselves
as being highly gratihed and surprised
at the exceeding cleanliness OF the
theatre. especially in the cellar and flies,
parts Of theatre that are oftentimes
neglected. There is absolutely no rub
bish waste paper. or the like. ever per-
mitted 10 remain in any part OF the
theatre. and this. the committee said was
element.
Taking up the matter Of exits. the com
mittee expressed themselves more than
pleased, and suggested that the furniture
be removed from the green foyer at the
rear OF the orchestra floor. and although
this was but a suggestion from the com
mittee, Manager Iovenberg complied so
readily that within 10 minutes every piece
OF furniture had been removed from the
formerly beautiful little reception room.
Another suggestion Immediately fol-
lowed by Manager Lovenbery was To
take out two seats In the orchestra floor !
In rows q. where the commissioners
thought there might be a possibility OF |
Aside from the two or three |
minor suggestions made by the com |
missioners and inspectors. Manager
Lovenberg will adopt some measure
ments which he suggested himself One |
the various exits at the close OF every
performance, so that the regular patrons
will become familiar with all the means
OF egress and will know just what 10 do
In case OF an emergency. Manager Loven-
berg will also. AT The earliest possible
have a door cut where the win
dow at the left Of the orchestra floor is
now. adding another exit 20 the theatre.
which will lead to an alley and thence
n ct hA ,tcat to- |
and inspectors left after their thorough
search, thanking the management cor
daily for using every effort to make
that theatre perfectly safe. and accepted
Manager Lovenbergs invitation to at
tend the weekly FIRE drill on rriday
at that theatre. to which the /.
Are commissioners and several members
of the fire department have also been I'm
yted.
The building inspectors and the men,
oers of the police commission also visited
The Empire theatre yesterday afternoon
and made n thorough examination or the
premises. In speaking of the rrse~re
Mr.. Luther. chairman OF the board said:
Mr. Spitz. who accompanied us on
,ur tour about the theatre. was quick 10
all in with every suggestion that was
'ffered by Mr.. Hopkins. Mr.. Goff or the
BOARD. and agreed TO make the suggested
'hanges at once. never demurrlng at
heir cost While the improvements sug-
rested are being Installed he will AFFORD
PATRONS OF the house every possible pro-
ection. In the main the conditions were
ound to he very satisfactory"
Mr.. Spitz. the manager of the Empire.
las promised TO install sprinkler sys-
EN- I'm the theatre at once as we'll as an
Lsbestoc fire curtain, which will AFFORD
Lmple protection I'm case OF n Are start
ng on the stage. All OF the exit doors /
re to be arranged so as TO open out .
yard automatically. and number OF
lew fire extinguishers have already been
Installed. Fire drills by the employees
4 the house are held every Monday
morning, and Mr., Spitz assured the in
pectors that everything possible would
e done for the protection OF the public
'oday. the other theatres In the city will
e inspected