New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
SIX THEATRES UNSAFE.
LITTLETON'S REPORT.
That Number of Brooklyn Play
houses Must Close Galleries.


There are six theatres in Brooklyn that re
quire prompt and radical measures to insure
safety 10 the public" according to a statement
given out by Borough President I4ittleton yes
terday. as the result Of the reports made to him
by Superintendent Collins of the Building De-
partment. The latter with the chief clerk and
several of the most experienced inspectors IN
the department. spent four days in making a
careful investigation of every playhouse in the
borough The six theatres which President Lit
ueton speaks Of will be allowed to remain open
during the time intervening before the neces-
sary alterations and improvements are made
only by promising to close their galleries. In
some cases the capacity Of the balconies also
must be temporarily reduced. The theatres are
the Unique, Amphion. Blaneys, Payton's Lee
Avenue. Star and Phillips's Lyceuu.
a seventh theatre-the Park-is mentioned
by name. but 1t has not been ordered to close
any part OF the house It has been ordered.
however that additional flights OF stairs, not
less than seven feet wide be constructed from
the gallery and anterooms to the sidewalk.
OF the other playhouses the statement says:
The remaining theatres in Brooklyn. except Pay
toms Fulton Street Theatre. which is still under
additional inspection. have been notified of the
various defects which have been found from in
Spectlon but these, in the opinion Of the building
defects as require the closing of galleries and bal
COMES. That course-that is the dsconttnuance
of the galleries and the practical discOntinuauce Of
the halCOnies''-haS been determined upon for the
reason that it makes The theatres safe for public
use ara az the same time does not iniiicr need
less hardship on the owners.
the orders OF the Building Department. order Of
theatres entirely. All theatres built prior to 1885
even though OF dangerous construction. are more
building law, ana the Buiidins Benartnientp is 70
some extent. embarrassed by this fact
Concerning the defects of the six theatres
already spoken of. President LittIeton's state
ment says in part:
The Tniqqe Theatre IN Grand-st is brick and
ity of about one thousand From the report OF
the inspector it appears that the cellar has I'M
necesSaty amount or woodwork board partition.
traps. furniture and other stage material 1t
HShi an additional door on the 'irandst side, the
marking OF exits, the placing Of lights them.
stage, the covering of the woodwork with reproof-
ms On account Of these detects a violation order
has been placed upon the building II the use OF
the gallery be discontinued and tho remaining seat
theatre to continue until the requirements OF the
B Tiag DepaTtment specified in the violation
The AmPhion Theatre, in Bedford ave. has been
oareIniy inspected and IT has been found that the
means OF escape from the gallery and balcony are
nadequate ana dangerous. that there is unneces-
doors in the prosceniurn wall should be- made fire.
P+foIHI, LheIe are numerous other minor defects
in the violation order are complied with
Third ana South Fourth SITS is a brick non-fire-
proof building originally built for meeting places
eh6&Sy OF over sixteen hundred The inspection
from the rear end OF the gallery and the roor
lowered so as TO provide Lowell passageway by the
~ tHIt width OF the gallery; a freescape should be
IN front extending from the gallery to the ground.
ieadt to W his Nov ye sssTy plaoTIn eleyel and
mined by the Building Department. after a care
ful examination, that in its present condition this
is an unsafe theatre. and that the use Of the gal
Iety must De discontinued and the balance q he
seating capacity reduced until the requirements
specified in ne violation order served have been
seating capacity Of & fhe IN Sf . has
inadequate and insufficient The side door exits
There no side exits on the wsontst gide 9f
fa9 cd main IGOR The front stairs leading from the
ana street are very narrow and steep. and are so
Teachne the baoon oor lsve w Sg haT afs s
the same stairs as the balcony patrons This would
6 6a The building itself is old frame ana
trar5 6dit Tor church purposes and az
fected wooden partitions. floor beams. ceiling. gal
been served specifying these and other defects,
ana II has been determined that the OF the
gallery must be Immediately discontinued and
the balcony limited to one-half until all the re
quiremerts o. the Building Department have been
The Star Theatre, in Jay-st. is insufncently pro-
served ana the gallery viii be closed until the
With '''o"' OF 'nat 0roer nave been complied
,Phillips's Lyceum Theatre. in Moutrose-ave.. is
means or escape IN case Of fire inadequate.
A violation order has been served and the gal
lery closed until the orders the Superintendent
OF Buildings have been complied with
President Littleton goes on to say that Super
intendent Collins's men have tested the nineteen
asbestos curtains in all the Brooklyn theatres
and that none OF them seriously affected
by flames. The test consisted of applying a
plumbers gasolene torch directly to the curtain
FOR three minutes without changing the position
Of the torch, the approximate temperature OF
the flame being LOCO degrees Fahrenheit
All the six theatres affected complied with
the instructions OF the Building Department
last night and closed their galleries and in
some cases a part of the balcony. The gallery
gods lined up for tickets usual and were in
dignant when they learned that the galleries
were closed. In many cases. however those
who had been accustomed to going in the gal
Iery paid their extra money and enioved The
sensation Of sitting in the balcony The man
ayers all declared their willingness to make tho
improvements suggested by the borough author
tiles
GATES HELD AUDIENCE