The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-01
FIRE PRECAUTIONS
IN LOCAL THEATERS
Managers Assert That Such Catastrophe as That
in Chicago Could Not Occur Here

Managers of Washington theaters. in
view of the Chicago horror. give out the
following expressions regarding the
safety of their respective houses in case
of fire
w. H. Rapley said to a Times re-
porter:
AT the New National Theater the
rigid and frequent inspections by the eff
ficient officers of the District govern
ment and the constant care given by the
employees make this theater as free
from possible accident as can be or
da;ned by man.
Two years ago both the National
and Academy of Music were rewired,
at great expense. and modern cleo
trical equipment installed. All electrical
apparatus carried by travelling COM
panies is, at my request. examined each
Monday morning by w. T. Bleo, an ex-
pert from the District Electrical De-
partment. and passed upon before it's
use is permitted
Il think the remarks of Fire Marshal
Sidney Bieber in yesterdays newspa-
pers, cover Complementary the situa-
ton in Washington. At the recent in
spection by the Commissioners and
Chief Belt, referred to by Mr.. Bieber.
the management of the New National
was complimented for the thoroughly
satisfactory conditions which were
found to exist at this theater."
Lafayette Opera House.
Ira ]. LaMotte. manager of the La
fayette Opera House, explained the pre-
cautions against fire in that building as
follows:
THE Lafayette was especially con-
structed by Mr.. Painter to prove that
theater could be made absolutely fire.
proof. No pert of our building could
possibly. burn, excepting the wooden
chairs and the few draperies hung about
the mezzanine boxes. All the fire which
could occur in front of the proscenium
arch could not injure anyone, and need
not brighten a soul. Behind the curtain
the same conditions exist. except for
the scenery set up in the wings. There,
however. we are guarded against fire
with every precaution Mr.. Painter could
provide-an asbestos curtain. many sets
Of hose, a sprinkling apparatus, fire ex-
tinguishers. and an abundant water sup
ply. But even behind the arch the
building is so constructed that If every
hamable thing were to catch fire the
building would not burn. and it is al
most impossible anyone could be in
jured."
Columbia Theater.
The Columbia Theater, the main aud
itorium of which is in Twelfth Street is
located on the ground floor and is alb
soluteiy hreproof The only wood that
is used in the construction of the thea
ter is in the floors. which are laid on
solid concrete. The boilers, engines. and
dynamos are not situated under the the
alter proper but afe under the Metzerott
Building. in f Street. and at no time is
there any fire Under the Columbia.
The back walls OF the stage are
not broken by any doors, and it is
impossible for any flames or smoke
to be blown into the auditorium caused
by draft which would surely occur
when such doors are open. The en-
tire stage roof of the Columbia The
alter is of glass, and in the event OF
any fire in the draperies of the stage
would Immediately break from the heat
allowing the flames and smoke 70 &c
through the roof, thus absolutely pro-
tecting an audience from suffocation by
smoke. The dressing rooms of the Co.
n mbia Theater are. with the exception
Of the star room and one or two other
small rooms, located in the Metzerott
I
protection, not only to the actor, but tC
the audience as well. The stage of tbs
Columbia Theater is provided with the
most modern and up-to-date fire appli-
ances Besides the fire hose, which Gov
ers the entire stage, il is provided witt
buckets which are kept at hand filled
with water and with are extinguishers
At each performance a fireman is de
| tailed by the District authorities wh'
is practically il control of the stage
and who is amply provided with extin
| guishers which are used by the Distric
Fire Departments. There is no wood
work on the stage Of the Columbia Thea
ter at all All the staircases back Of TIT
curtain are either iron or stone. ard tn
actors have no less than eight distinc
escapes. There is no opening betweei
the auditorium and the theater proper
The proscenium walls are of solid ma
sorry. The stage of the Columbia &
provided with two curtains. both o
which are used at every performance
the asbestos working as easily and Will
as much rapidly as the regular ac
drop curtain.
There is probably no theater in tn
country that has as fine exits as tn
Columbia Theater. Being on the groun'