Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02

theaters this week was largely overshad-
owed by the gloom caused by the Chicago
disaster. The question Of getting into the
theaters. which is paramount in the minds
of so many people. was forbodingly sup
plemented by the inquiry-"once in. how
shall we get out in an emergency" While
theater disasters are comparatively few
they are so shocking when they occur that
no safeguard is too great; and despite the
mechanical devices and the vigilance OF
managers and the presence of a represen-
tative of the fire department at every place
where conflagration would mean danger to
a large assemblage of people, SO much
rests on the GOODNESS and self-possesson of
audiences themselves, that a little closer
acquaintance with the interior arrange
ments of the local theater and their facili-
ties for escape in case Of fire would not
come amiss.
A tour of inspection under the guidance
of Fire Marshal Sidney Bieber, whose
duties include the inspection of theaters
from the fire experts point of view, re-
vealed the fact that Washington theaters
are in almost every instance safeguarded
as completely the nature of their orig
inal structure will permit. The New Ma
tional Theater was many years ago equip
ped with a complete system of fire resist
Ing devices. The proscenium wall, which
separates the auditorium from the stage
and which surrounds the arch over which
the curtain drops, is of solid masonry,
which fire could not penetrate. This brick
wall. together with the asbestos curtain;
forms a solid protection which makes the
stage and the auditorium almost two dis
tinct buildings. The dressing rooms are
off the stage and the entrance to the stage
from the auditorium are closed by metal
doors. Metal doors also separate the stage
from the portion of the building in which
the dressing rooms are placed, and these
are automatically adjusted by the means of
fusibe metal, SO that at certain degree
of temperature they will close by their
own weight. A fusble device also controls
a sprinkling apparatus which covers the
entire top of the stage. A fire ak is al
ways at hand near the rope which controls
the asbestos curtain, and in case of great
emergency the rope could be cut instead of
unwound
In addition to this there fire plugs
in the alley on the right of the theater to
which hose could be adjusted, discharging
thousands of gallons of water. The boiler
room and carpenter shop are outside of the
building.
But 1t Is with the system of exits that
the auditor is most concerned in consid-
ering proposition of this sort. Few thea
er-goers observe their surroundings when.
| they attend play. Most people put them
selves into the hands of an usher, giving
no thought to anything except being COM
fortably and promptly seated. Yet every
play patron should give a passing glance
which will locate the exits. 1t may be
something Of the same discipline which led
our barbaric ancestors to have a skeleton
at the feast, but this modern precaution Is
even wiser In the physical way than was
| the ancient custom in a moral sense.
| On the first floor of the National six red
| lights will be noted; three over doors lead
| ing into the front lobby and two on each
| side of the house leading into the alley
| The side doors secured by light bars
placed horizontally across the doors, and
| which turn on pivots and release the doors
| at touch. The pull Of a chain which con-
| trolls light spring lock at the front doors
| throws almost the entire front of the thea
| ter open. In the balcony this same device
| releases the doors which lead down the
front stairs into the lobby and two doors
on the right lead to fire escape The gal
| lery arrangement Is practically the same
| as that of the floor below.
| The Columbia Theater Is regarded by ex-
perts as being able to dismiss an audience
| as rapidly as Is possible in any theater in
| the country. The doors opening on 18th
street are secured by a wooden bar which
a child could lift. and when thrown open
convert almost the entire side of the thea
| ter into a means of egress. In addition to
| this is the liberal allotment Of doors on the
| F street or main entrance of the theater.
| From the balcony, in addition to the stairs
| Of ordinary approach, there are metal stair
| ways leading down past the boxes as we'll
| as fire escape descending into an alley on
the left-hand or F street side Of the thea
ter. These metal interior stairways are
prolonged to the gallery. which has also a
fire escape Independent Of that leading
| from the balcony.
1t was a favorite boast of the late
| Uriah H. Painter that the Lafayette Thea
ter was absolutely f1reproof, and it would
seem that 1t is as nearly secure against
fire as concrete and metal can make a
building. Like the National and Column
bia. the Lafayette has the proscenium
walls of solid masonry and metal stair
ways The doors leading to exits at the
Lafayette are SO arranged that they re-
spond to a light push outward, and are
|
| house to insure the egress of the audience
| barring a condition of absolute panic
At Chase's Theatsr the red lights mark
eight exits. which can be released by q
touch Of the hand. These open into the
main entrance on Pennsylvania avenue
and upon the iron structure on 18th street
which has been jocosely compared to q
bird cage. as well as to fire escape on 4
street. Fire escapes lead from the bal.
cony and from the gallery. A fire drill
has been perfected among the ushers OF
the theater, each Of whom has q door as.
signed to him, and who takes his post i'm.
mediately at a given signal made by the
lights. and at a second signal throws his
door open
| Precautions against fire on the stage OF
the Academy are very similar to those
observed at the National Theater The
front Of the house can be thrown wide
open, and a light hand bolt secures the
side door This house has the brick and
MORTAR prosoenium wall. and the metal
doors, and is equipped with the usual fire
extinguishing devices.
Ksrnan's Theater IL also provided with
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