Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-10-29

then over the thcaters and see what a
difference there II.
Stripped Of its verbiage and To-
gal details. the new ordinance, in its
twcnty-six sections. provides: That
all thcntdrs must be equipped with an
automatic water sprinkling system
over the stage, supplied from tank
not less than twenty feet higher than
the building: the sprinklers to be in.
stalled over the stage. under the stage.
in the paint and property rooms, and
other locations back Of the curtain.
stand pipes. for hose connection, sup.
piled with water from the tank above
the building, pumps. extinguishers, fire
hoops and axes. and other fire fight
Ing appliances shall be installed upon
the stage. subject to approval of the
fire marshal. There shall he a solid
brick proscenium wall separating the
stage from the auditorium. and all
prosccnium openings shall be covered
by II steel curtain. which shall be In
use during the performances as act
shall be used for all passages from
the auditorium TO the stage. All stage
framing. fly lofts, stage galleries. etc.
shall be of iron. All woodwork and
scenery must be conted with some Are
proof solution. Outer doors lending
to the stage must be vcstibuled to pre-
vent direct draughts. Adequate vents,
~ carry Off smoke or fire, shall he con.
structcd In the roof above the stage.
to In operated by electrical cOnnec.
tons which shall lead to the box Of
flee ana to the stage switchboard Di-
agrams Of all exits shall be printed In
programs. All exits shall have sep.
arate lighting system. showing red
lights over the doors. inside. ana bright
electrical lights to illuminate the exit
stair outside. Automatic fire alarm
systems shall communicate with the
fire department. and the automatic
sprlnklers, behind the curtain line
shall also communicate automatically
with the department. Each theatcr
shall employ two or more firemen. de-
tailed by the department, who shall be
on duty during all performances. The
iiremen shall require fire drill of the
house attaches at least twice n week.
ana no one fireman shall be detailed
at any theatcr for more than two
weeks Each thcater license shall
state the exact seating capacity. and
no one shall be admitted to the theater
after these seats have been sold. All
theater lights shall be controlled by n
shutotf in the lobby. The building com.
missioner, fire commissioner and chief
of police shall be In absolute control
OF all theaters, with inspections al
lowed at any time. ana upon their rec
concentration the mayor shall revoke
any license and close any theater.
Aisles shall all lead directly to an
exit, without any turns or angles.
Cross alsles, also leading to exits. shall
he opened for every fifteen banks of
seats on the ground floor. and be-
tween every nine banks OF seats In
balcony or gallery. There shall be no
rise greater than eighteen inches be.
tween rows of seats, and each row Of
seats shall have Il space of two feet
ten inches from back to back. There
shall be no more than ten seats In
each row between alsles. No aisle
shall be less than two feet eight inches
wide at the stage end and three feet ut
the other, ana there shall he no steps,
sudden rises or other distractions In
any aisle. All doors must swing out
ward, all stairways must he always
lighted during performances. and the
floors shall be designated as main
Floor" First Gallery" and Second
Gallery" All exit stairs shall lead
directly to open spaces or inclosed pas
sageways, protected by fireproof walls
six inches thick. Existing buildings
may have these tireproof passageways
constructed within the walls Of the
audience rooms, but in future cOnstruc.
ton of theaters all audience rooms
must adjOin at least two public thor
oughfares, shall be surrounded on four
sides by open passages or inclOsed fire.
proof passageways leading direct to
the streets, No audience room now en-
listing shall have its lowest bank of
seats more than twelve feet above the
street level, unless the building shall be
frcproof, and in all future construction
the lower floor shall he on the street
level Furthermore, all theaters to be
constructed in future shall be absolute
ly fireproof in every particular Of its