The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-13
MAY RECONSTRUCT CASINO
WITH THE AUDITORIUM DROPPED
TO THE GROUND FLOOR.
In Any Case, the Repairs WIN Necessarily
BE Made With Fireproof Material TO
Replace the Burned Timbers season
Ended II Auditorium Is 20 BE Dropped.


Replace the Burned Timbers season
Ended n Auditorium Is 20 BE Dropped.
It Is more than likely that the whole in
terror Of the Casino will be torn out ai-d
that the auditorium and stage will be
dropped to the ground floor. They VIII be
IL George Freifeld, trustee Of the BiIby
estate, the owners OF the property, mas nus
way. 1t would take at least four months
to do the work and the theatre would not
be reopened this season.
The amount OF damage done by Satur-
days fire will not be estimated until TO-
morrow. when the fire adjusters make their
examination. Tho insurance loss won't be
heavy. The cost of repairs will be borne
by the Bixby estate and not by the
Shuberts, the essees.
Deputy Fire Commissioner Churchill.
who Is head Of the Fire Department In the
absence OF Commissioner Hayes, visited
the theatre yesterday 90 see the condition
OF the interior. Accompanying him WAS
DR.. Walter Bensel OF the Health Board.
Chief william T. Begin OF the Fire De-
partment Bureau OF Violations and Battalion
Chief Devanney. Dr. Bensel and Chief
Begin are members OF the committee OF
NHlCn mayor -hSNiCiAoi SSANDNN- -
be appointed last year after the lroquois
Theatre fire in Chicago. The Building
Department has representative on this
safety committee. but he didn't appear at
the theatre yesterday with the others.
Battalion Chief Devsnney having been
first on the ground the day before and
having engineered the fighting OF flame
from the inside Of the theatre. had accom-
panied Commissioner Churchill and the
two members OF the safety committee at
Mr.. Churohill's request He explained
where the fire started and showed its prog
ress across the balconies. The damage
was confined largely to the flooring oil the
second balcony and to the ceiling OF the
first balcony. The woodwork had burned
fiercely.
II was the opinion of the Investigators
that the fire had started where the frernen
thought il had. in the muck room, where
the scrub women keep their mops and
brushes. That it was extinguished so
quickly was a surprise to Commissioner
Churchill.
You did good work he said to Devan-
ney. L don't see how you kept the flames
from spreading and eating out all the wood
work In the front part of the house
All the while the visitors we're looking
over the rear Of the house there was re-
hearsal Of -Florodora" in progress on the
stage. After looking over the damage
Commissioner Churchill said;
THE Fire Department hasn't any author
ity over theatre except to see that proper
fire appliances are installed and that sufi-
Gent exits are provided. The Casino was
built before the present code went into effect
and it's construction is bad. Everything Is
woodwork and plaster IN the interior ana
none OF the woodwork is fireproof. Look at
the ceiling of the first balcony, ana tho
floor OF the second balcony which was
damaged most yesterday-all woodworK
where II should be iron or steel II n
damage is repaired II Will nave 20 De done
with freproof material. far better way
would be to reconstruct the entire Interior
of the house and drop the auditorium and
stage TO the ground moor;
We cannot be compelled to rem odcl the
house. said Trustee Freifeld later, be
canse this building was erected before the
present regulations went INTO eHect'
Twenty-three years ago It WINS a modern
structure and considered the safest theatrein
the city. II the heirs OF the Bixhy estate con.
Guide TO repair only the damage done OF
course the repairs will have TO be made with
f,reproof material. We would be COM
PEELED to substitute 1reproof material FOR the
damaged parts even II we didn't want to do
So But we may 60 further and tear out the
whole interior and drop the auditorium and
stage 10 the street level The final deci-
sion will, az course, rest With those VINO
will have 10 foot the bills. Several OF the
interested persons are out OF town and II
will be several DAYS before can get in touch
with them II the stage and auditorium
are lowered it will cost not less than
$50 90
Fully that amount Of money has been
spent on the building in the last two years
and a half. since the Shuberts have been
the lesseee. We really began TO make
changes in the building as far back at 1895.
when dispossessed the Aronsons. Then
we freproofed the dressing rooms. ana
put fire escapes on the outside oil the oulld-
ing Last year we made many improve
nlents particularly on the stage where we
put in a metal gridiron 20 replace the wooden
one We have gone far beyond the re-
oyirerneuts OF the law in making things
safe and there never has been an acton
for violation begun against us. Ii the
damage done Yesterday Is simply repaired.
whv. think the theatre will be open again
inside Of a month. Dropping the auditorium
floor will take a great deal longer time.
The Lady Teazle~ company was 20 end
its enRa cement at the Casino next saturday
night The next attraction boolled there
Is a revival OF -Forodora. Fisher and
Rvley. the owners OF -Florodora will
have TO find another theatre II it ia decided
to reconstruct the whole interior OF the
| Casino.
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