The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-03
THEATRES MUST CLOSE.
Sweeping Reforms Demanded by
Chioaso Ordinance.
City Council Passes Such q Stringent
Measure That Some Plsyhouses
May Never Reopen.

Chicago. Ill.-After an all night sess
sion Chicago's City Council passed
probably the most stringent measure
ever adopted by city council govern.
ing playhouses.
The ordinance legislates out Of busi-
ness two and probably three theatres
in the downtown district, and there
are several others which will find
it difficult to comply with the new
provisions If they can reopen at all.
Here are some If the provisions in
the ordinance as sent to the Mayor for
approval or amendment: Steel fire
curtains. In the rear of all banks Of
seats on all floors must be cross ais!es
leading directly to fire escapes or
emergency, exits. Fireproof scenery
and equipment behind the stage.
Smoke vents controlled by electric and
mechanical, hampers. Automatic
sprinklers above and below the stage
and in adjoining rooms. Stand pipes,
hose reels and portable fire 'extin-
guishere. Fire alarms on all floors, on
stage and in ticket Office. Two or
more firemen detailed to each thea
tre and fire drills twice a week. The
main floor and also each and every
balcony and gallery shall have sepa-
rate entrance stairways from the
street level. Every aisle shall lead di-
richly to an exit. -
All aisles, passageways and corri-
dors shall be Kept free from obstruc-
tions and no person shall be allowed to
stand in or occupy any Of said aisles
passageways or corridors during any
performance. 0
No corridor shall be anywhere less
than four feet in width and no door
less than three feet wide.
Emergency exits and stairways shall
be provided separately for each floor.
balcony and gallery. They shall be OF
the same size as that provided for by
the main exit. All doors in all open
ings shall be so constructed that when
opened they shall not obstruct any por-
ton of any other doorway, opening or
passageway. ,'.'.a : - ~ -
F., All doors shall open outward.
Exit doors shall not be obscured by
'draperies, and shall not be locked or
fastened in any manner during the en-
tire, time said theatre is open to- the
public. :, ~ p. .-...:a ,Et,.E
All theatres hereafter erected shall
be so located that they adjoin at
least two public thoroughfares. t., !,
Index signs reading '""This way out"
shall be placed conspicuously in such
open spaces and passageways. =
In all cases where the floors OF the
auditorium of theatres are banked or
stepped up the floor level of the low
est banks shall not be above the side.
walk level. 49,.
The audience room, or auditorium,
in any theatre now existing, or which
shall hereafter be constructed, con,
tanning fewer than FIVE hundred seats,
in a fireproof building, may be loca.,
ted in any story thereof, but in such
case there shall be at least two flights
of stairs from the floor in which such
audience room or auditorium is To-
Gated to the ground, each Of which
stairs shall not be less than four feet
In width in the clear. .>.-....a
Some of the theatres will be able
to reopen for business within thirty
days by virtue of action taken at. a
special meeting of the City Council.
It was voted that the houses should
bc allowed to reopen after they, shall
have installed steel curtains, fireproof
stage and fire apparatus, provided the
management in each case gives bond
Of $25, 1000 to make such changes in its
houses by August as will make the
structure conform to the new law just
passed. ......- o.. -. -. -.
y, Powers. the Grand, McVicker's, the
Chicago Opera House. the Olympic,
the Haymarket and every other prom
inent house in the city is doomed by
the action, Of the Aldermen, say the
proprietors. -.
Some of the houses. if they desire
to take advantage OF this action: may
be able to fulfil the temporary condi-
tions within month. al g., .I...