Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-01-08
CHICAGO THEATRES CLOSED
MAYOR HARRISON SAYS OWNERS
MUST OBEY LAW.
Had No Asbestos Curtains, According
to City Ordinances Regulating The.
aters-Manager Protest, But of No
AvaiI-Will Lose Big Money-Pre.
vent Repetition of the Horror.

Chicago, Jan. 3.-Saturday night ev-
cry theatre in the city of Chicago was
dark and its doors locked. Not one
Of them will be open to the public un-
til their managers have complied. in
the fullest manner with every section
of the ordinances regulating play
houses.
The order compelling the theaters
to close was issued by Mayor Harri-
son after a conference with City At
torney Tolman, who assured the may
or that ample legal ground existed for
his action.
Seventeen theaters and museums
closed the night before, and the sweep
ing order of the mayor shut the doors
of seven more. These last are the
leading theaters in the business Sec
ton, and are the Studebaker, Grand
Opera house, McVickers, La Sale,
Garrick, Illinois and Powers. The last
two are owned and controlled by the
Messrs. Powers and Davis. the man
ayers of the i'll fated Iroquois.
The seventeen places of amusement
were closed for the one reason that
they were not provided with an as
bestos curtain. The further action is
in consequence of violations Of other
sections of the ordinances regulating
| theaters.
There was hasty rush Of theatri-
cal managers to the office of Mayor
Harrison in the effort to secure the
withdrawal or at least postponment
of the order, but their reception was
of an exceedingly frosty nature. They
were informed by the mayor that the
| inspectors had reported that every
one of the theater companies had vio-
lated the law, and he was determined
that it should not be said hereafter
that the city had neglected anything
which could prevent repetition OF the
horror of last Wednesday afternoon.
The fact that the asbustos curtain in
the Iroquois was SO badly wrecked
by the fire that charred portions of 1t
have been carried away by the inves-
tigation committee caused the COM
mittee to decide that asbestos cur
tains could not be relied upon to af-
ford the most complete protection. 1t
was announced that every theater in
the city must hereafter comply with
the following provisions before they
will be allowed to open:
Steel roll curtains, wide exits, no
combustibles of any kind in the house
furnishings, freproof scenery, no cal
cium of '"spot" lights to be used on
the stage, skylights above the stage
provided with automatic lids to per-
nit the egress of smoke, fire and gas;
separate stairways, each exit having
its own stairs leading to the. street.
issuing his sweeping order,
Mayor Harrison said Il do not wish
to assume responsibility for these the
aters. The order was issued to make
1t certain that no precaution to in
sure the safety of audiences has been
neglected.
at is quite probable that the own
ers of the theaters may sustain seri-
GUS financial losses. but in view Of the
condition of the playhouses we can not
take any risk, and if the law had been
fully complied with in the first place
there would have been no question OF
closing them now. The Auditorium,
which is the only theater left open in
Chicago, has steel roll curtain, and
as this seems to be the only curtain
that affords certain protection against
fire, in view of the fact that the Iro-
auois curtain was destroyed, I am
determined to see that as far as pos
sible the other playhouses are simil-
arly provided"
The name of the Auditorium is not
included in the theaters closed. This
hall is open occasionally and not reg
ularly as are the other theaters. There
is no engagement there at present and
none in the immediate future. While
technically a theater, it is generally
considered hall for great and special
gatherings.