New-York tribune., 1905-02-14
MUST ALTER CASINO PLAN.
so CITY OFFICIALS SAY.
No Theatre Safe scith Stores Under
1t, Chief Croker Declares.

Strong opposition TO permitting the Casino to
be repaired without a complete change Of inte-
rior plan was expressed by city officials and
others yesterday. There was general agree
ment that if the fire that damaged the interior
OF the theatre had started when audience
filled its seats there would have been terrible
loss of human life. and there disposition
TO regard the fire as a providential warning
against allowing TIE theatre 10 remain in its
present position in the building The plan sug-
gested By George Freifeld. a representative of
the Bixby estate owning the building. of recon-
structing the auditorium and lowering it to the
ground floor. met the hearty approval of all the
city officials who talked with a Tribune reporter
on The subject yesterday
Richard Deeves. who built the Casino twenty
three years ago. said it would be possible TO
3 lower the auditorium to the ground floor, make
the interior Of the theatre non-infammable. and
provide ample means Of exit from every part
OF the auditorium without expenditure OF
money that would be regarded as prohibitive
OF course" Mr Deeves said. the owners Of
the building would lose the rentals of the stores
now on the ground floor but it must be con-
sidered that the present arrangement would not
9be permitted in a new theatre under the present
building laws. II would be pity TO have the
entire building taken down, because externally
St presents the finest example of Moorish achi-
but q great deal OF wood was used in the in
terror construction. If the auditorium were low
cred to the ground floor and the interior made
freproof the Casino would be one of the finest
places Of arrusemen: to be found anywhere and
1T would be all the more popular because OF Its
safety for the public"
The Casino would be infinitely safer for the
public If the auditorium were lowered TO the
ground floor" said DR.. Walter Bensel Of the
Health Department. who s one of the Mayors
committee on the safety of public places of
amusement 'No theatre over stores can be
built in this city under the existing laws, and
1t would be within the power Of the Board Of
Health to close any such theatre already built
on the declaration that It was dangerous 10 the
public. There may be no decision as to the
Casino until the report of the adjusters regard
ing the extent Of damage by the fire is re-
cei1ed but II would be a wise move for the
owners Of the building TO remodel the theatre
so as TO make it conform TO the requirements
OF the present building laws"
The Casino will not be prepared on its pres
ent lines with my consent" said Fire Chief
Croker. No theatre is safe that has stores un-
: der il. The stores add greatly TO the danger Of
fire, and no audience Is safe that has to walk up
q fight Of stairs TO get 10 the orchestra floor.
There are several other theatres in the city
which are just as unsafe now as the Casino was
before the fire started in it. 1 don't care TO
name them. but the theatregoing public can
easily guess. Suppose an audience had been in
the Casino when the fire started there. Does
anybody suppose the audience could have
escaped? 1t has been one Of the theories that
ali theatre fires start on the stage. and that as
bestos curtains ran he trusted TO protect the
audiences. The Casino fire started al the front
Of the house, swept across the promenade back
Of the first balcony and shut off access TO the
winding stairway leading from the lobby TO the
auditorium floor 1 hate 10 think what would
have happened if an audience had been there
then.
Let them lower the auditorium Of the Casino
10 the ground floor and replace the wood and
plaster of the interior with ireproof materials
and il would be a safe theatre. I will fight any
other plan for repairs there"
Superintendent Hopper, in a letter published
IN the February number Of The Public Inspec-
tor" says:
At the time OF this writing January 14) all of
the theatres and hotels in Manhattan are safe,
IN so far as the building laws are concerned.