The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-01-21
Fire Chief Isermann 10 Send Out
Regulations tor Housing Nov.
ing Picture Machines
A SAFE.GUARD FOR PATRONS
Best Regulations of Many Cities Have
been Made a Part of the Code for
Regulation of Kenosha
Amusement Places

Chief of the Fire Department Henry
Isermann has taken up the question of
making the theatres in Kenosha as safe
as possible and to this end he has
drawn up new code of rules for the
housing of moving picture machines in
the various play houses in the city and
will insist that every theatre in which
these machines are to be, used live up
to the code of regulations to the very
letter. The new regulations will be
sent to the managers Of the theatres
within the next few days and they
will probably be given ten days to
make any changes that may be neces
sary to bring the theatres under the
safety rules of the chief.
In making this code of regulations
the chief has taken the best regulations
of the leading cities of the country and
when they are promulgated he is of
the opinion that there will be no city
which has taken better steps to safe
guard the lives of people attending
these theatres than Kenosha. Kenosha
has had but one fire as a result of the
use of moving picture machines and this
one was a very fortunate one as no
one was injured although the theatre
company sustained a heavy property
loss. If the regulations to be sent out
are followed it is thought that it would
be practically impossible for fire to
start in Kenosha theatre as a result
Of the use Of a moving picture machine.
AS these machines are used in every
theatre of the city at one time or an
other the ruling of the chief will ap-
ply to all amusement houses.
The rules provide that the apartment
in which the moving picture machine is
to be housed shall be constructed with
supports of angle iron and shall not be
smaller in size than five feet square
with a six foot ceiling. The walls
must all be built Of sheet iron or steel
and the door which is to be of the
same material must be fitted with a
spring so that it may be closed in case
of fire. The openings in the apartment
they may be closed by gravity doors
operated by the foot Of the man who
| is operating the machine. All the in
terror work of the booths to be used
for the picture machines must be Of
steel or iron and the operators will not
be permitted to take any portable fix
lures into the apartment. The films
for the machines must be kept in fire
proof boxes and reels for the films when
in use must be enclosed in steel cases
All ventilating flues are to be connect
ed directly with the chimney of the
theatre so that all gases will be car
ried off in this manner. It is thought
that the observance Of these regulations
will make it impossible for fire start
ed by moving picture machine tc
spread beyond the compartment il
which the machine is being operated
1 Nearly all Of the theatre managers in
the city have notified the chief thai
they will comply with any reasonable
regulations and most of them have al
ready made the apartments which are
used for the machines fire proof. Som>
of them, however are not in keeping
with these rigid regulations.
The state factory inspectors depu
ties have recently visited the Kenoshs
amusement houses and all of them are
said to be properly equipped with ex
its in case of fire.