The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-09-18
COMPLETES TASK
OF INSPECTION
Deputy State Fire Warden Visits
Local Picture Houses

Thomas q. Schaefer. deputy state
fire warden. will leave for the eastern
end Of the upper peninsula today af-
ter a visit To the copper country Mr..
Schaefer has been here on an Off
cial visit of inspection Of moving pie
ture theaters as well as other thcaters
in which moving pictures are shown.
Included in the latter are the Kerredge
and Calumet opera houses i'm which
the Howe pictures are shown. In COM
pliance with orders from the deputy
marshal the management of the Ker-
redge theater has arranged To install
an up-to-date asbestos portable booth.
The visit of the deputy marshal,
however. is not To inspect these play
houses entirely but also To get i'm touch
with school authorities i'm regard To
the monthly fire drills. The press Of
the state, the deputy said yesterday,
has done considerable toward working
for the enforcement Of the new fire
law in that it has educated the public
To the legislation providing for the
public safety of the thousands of peo-
pie who patronize moving picture the
alters.
Under the law enacted in 1911
said Deputy Schaefer, the chief of
every fire department i'm cities or Wiz
lagos where Il department is estab-
lished must report 10 the state fire
marshal all fires and fire chiefs are
made part of the state fire mar
shars department. Two inspections at
least must be- made annually of all
motion picture houses and if found
necessary additional inspections may
be made. The cost Of each inspection
is $40 and fire chiefs must report TO
the state fire marshal any irregular
!ties that may exist, also where thea
ter managers refuse 10 comply with
the law. Copies of the law were sent
10 managers of theaters shortly after
the law was passed. since which time
many other houses have been built
and in some instances these places
nav nv i'N'AN'h Aii' vi ~ Asil iipAiT
fication.
The act TO regulate the construc-
ton and operation of moving picture
shows and theaters showing moving
pictures, and placing the supervision
of such shows and theaters under the
department of the state fire marshal
was passed i'm 1911 The law requires
that no motion picture machine usine
celluloid films shall be installed i'm any
building except when in fun com
piance with the requirements of the
act.
The entire equipment must he en-
closed i'm room or booth large enough
for Tn" operator To move freely on
either side ana back of the machine,
and not less than seven feet in height
and must he Of brick, tile or concrete
material There are various other
phases of the law looking toward the
protection of lives"
Age Of Operators.
There is a phase of the law with
which very few are familiar No per
son is lawfully permitted to operate
a motion picture machine i'm this state
unless he is at least Is years of age.
Five days is the time given for
the making of improvements when or
dercd by the fire marshal's depart
ment, but i'm some cases. especially in
the upper peninsula, the time has been
extended To 10 days. This is due to
the fact that it requires several days
to procure material
While in the copper country NJ.
Schaefer inspected theaters in Han
cock. Calumet. IIubbell, Houghton,
Lake Linden, Dollar Bay, Ahmcck and
OntOnagon.