The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-28
EXCEPTIONS
ARE NUMEROUS
NEW ORDINANCE AFFECTS PRES
ENT THEATERS BUT SLIGHTLY.
Persons Interested in New Theater
Projects Contend that All Play
houses Should Be Under the Same
Restrictions as to Safety-Yester-
days Hearing.

the new theater and auditorium or
dinance were considered by the joint
council committees on fire department
and ordinances yesterday afternoon.
The time Of meeting was taken up
largely with the discussion as to what
should apply to theaters constructed
in the future and those already In
operation in this city. Matt Gallagher,
an attorney, who appeared as the chief
spokesman, argued that all regulations
for the protection of human life, i'm
posed on new theaters, should apply
ty was as great in one class OF build
1ngs as in the other.
Mr.. Gallagher stated his belief that
the ordinance was drawn to prohibit
the construction of any new theater.
In opposition to this statement 1t was
argued that building science pro-
crossed every year, and while 1t was
the duty Of the authorities to impose
all possible safeguards, the city could
amount to a confiscation Of property;
what might be reasonable, in view OF
advanced knowledge, for new theaters
might not be reasonable for present
theaterS.
The committee took no action, but
deferred the whole matter to later
meeting.
Not Required of Present Theaters.
Among the regulations imposed or
theaters hereafter constructed or ole
buildings converted into theaters bu
which do not appear to be required
of the theaters now open In this city
are the following:
Strict compliance with ordinance regu
lations.
Not to open until approved by building
inspector and fire chief.
Emergency exits to be provided on boil
sides of the auditorium to alleys or spe
cially provided corridors. Front OF build
| ing to be used only for stairways, CORR
doris and necessary business offices.
Exterior walls to be fireproof
Interior and partition walls to be fire
proof. .r-
Proscenium wall separating stage an
auditorium to be Of brick 16 inches il
thickness, to extend four feet above stag
and auditorium roof and all openings t
be protected by fireproof doors. Only fou
such openings permitted-two under stag
and two on level with stage
No wood or infammable material per
mitted in the construction Of frame G
proscenium arch.
! Wooden floor of stage to be at leas
three and one-half inches thick and tina
portion not Immediately back Of stage to b
of freproof construction but finish foo
of wood permitted. g. @-... .-..-.....
Structural work Of fly galleries an
rigging-loft and floors of said galleries t
be Of iron Or STEEL
Stairways to fly galleries and stage base
ment to be Of iron Or other freproof ma
terial.
Walls, floors and partitions Of dressing
rooms of fireprOOf construction and en-
trance to stage therefrom thru freproc
! doors.
Ground floor of auditorium at junctio
with lobby shall not be higher or lowe
than street than a gradient of one foot i
| ten. H-
Materials for floors, galleries, roofs. cell
ings and partitions to be fEeprOof, bu
wooden floor boards and sleepers may b
used. .
Seats to be 80 inches from back to bac
i and no seat to have more than SIX seat
Intervening between adjacent aisle (onl
fourteen seats between aisles).
Aisles to be three feet wide and increas
IL inches every five feet toward exit.
! Gradients to be employed in all passage
instead Of stairs.
At least one exit from each side of tn
stage.
Two emergency exits from each side {
auditorium. one emergency exit from eac
side Of balcony and gallery with separat
stairways to the ground.
Stairways to be fireproof and five fee
Stair landings to be full width Of bot
flights, no flight over eleven feet high an
all stairways to balcony and gallery
be inclosed in masonry.
Stairways to have hand rails and a
stairways over eight feet wide to hay
central handrail.
Corridors, aisles and passageways nj
to be reduced in width from beginning
exit
No workshop or property-room under
over the stage, but may be at rear or sic
with fireproof wall between.
No room in building to be used for ar
other purpose than is required for conduc
ing performances.
Heating plant must be outside of ma
building openings to be Of fire proof m:
terial. No coils Or radiators in aisle
steam pipes to be protected near wood.
Those interested in other theat,
projects are making pointed inquil
as to the reasons underlying the Sc
ton providing that no rooms on tt
street frontage of a theater buildi1
shall be used for store purposes
any purpose except those connects
with the theatrical business. The o
dinance does not prohibit the setti1
off Of such rooms, and hence is n
designed to make more space f
exits. If manager wished to sto
inf1ammable scenery in his rooms.
= the street front, the ordinance wotl
o permit him to do it, while should
y wish to lease the same space to
C confectioner it would be illegal.
g the same time, the present theate
" could continue to operate cigar al
e candy stores in their buildings.
- MOTHER ASKS AN INQUEST