The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-25

adds, "and a very great deal has been
done to minimize the possibility OF
panic. There is constant and pains
taking supervision OF the theatres by
Of icials who are responsible for en-
forcing the laws and regulations
which were enacted as a measure of
fire prevention"
The average theatregoer in this big
town has very little knowledge of the
many precautions taken by the Fire
Department to look after his safety
and 10 for any emergency.
whether Of actual fire or the far
greater danger OF panic in case fire
breaks out. Here and there may he a
nervous woman or a ervou man who
cannot sit through an evenings per-
Torrance without an underlying dread
OF fire. These nervous n Q may be
picked out sometimes by their facial
expressions. They do not seem thor
oughly TO enjoy themselves no matter
how good the performance IL. and
every ICE in a while they will be
found TO he %glancing here and there
at the exits. To them come ~reassuring
words from Commissioner Adamson.
Back Of the scenes OF every theatre
in New York city he says. rs In
stalled owe the stage and dressing
rooms a spr.nkler, the equipment OF
which Is adequate for its purpose.
Should a fire break o u anywhere back
OF the footlights the sprinkler's head
would open automatically, thus throw
ing down streams OF water fully suf-
fcsant to ~eXtinguish a fire except
under very unusual circumstances.
Not only are all ot the theatres
equipped with automatic sprinklers.
but in addition they have nan APP
planes. such az lines OF hose. eX-
tinguishers. fire buckets, &C, while In
the basement OF each OF these amuse-
ment buildings is n pumping device
which begins to work the instant the
standard pipe connections which run
through the theatre are open.
AS a matter of fact this automatic
pump is really a stationary fire engine.
and it il capable Of throwing not less
than 250 gallons OF water a minute.
AS long as the hose valve is open It
continues throwing this water at great
pressure. This pump is operated by
electrical control and responds In
stantly as well as u~nfailingly when
ever the ~standpipe connections are
open.
Nor is this by any means all OF
the equipment present in every theatre
in New York city. Entirely inde-
pendent of the powerful pump in the
basement there Is on the roof Of the
theatre n great tank holding not less
than $500 gallons of water, and in
case this water should fall below a
] aYtn,, ta,rnt "a mach. ,fanl .o-
rings. The pump. as q usual thing.
begins to work automatically, and the
tank is filled NJ again to the proper
level. The average theatregoer does
MT know tina as he looks at the stage
opening there Is on each side Of it a
solid brick wall running from the
basement Of the tlieat.e far up to the
roof. and our feet above IL. these
walls entirely cutting OF the stage
from the audience, excepting, Of curse,
the open space between the walls
which is occupied by the curtain. But
should a fire occur an asbestos cur
t'in drops down, closing this opening.
and with the hrickwork on either side
II forms a complete wall 20 prevent
fire from reaching the audience. The
asbestos curtain may he dropped in
stantly by cutting thin cords at either
side. and knives for cutting these
CORDS are always in place.
still further 10 precautions go for
the safety and comfort of audiences in
New York theatres. As one detail 7
may mention that through the solid
brick wall extending from basement
To roof q number ~ passages must
he cut in different places SO that per-
sons can pass hack and forth, But
every door In these apertures is a
fire door and they are kept in posi-
ton by counterbalanced weights.
Then far above and I'VE the stage OF
each theatre a skylight is so arranged
that 1t will open automatically when
opened also by cutting a sin gle cord.
and when opened 1t would let out the
heat and smoke and draw the fire up
from, and out of, the theatre and away
from the audience,
at Is well known, of coure. that
every theatre has its special fire alarm
box connected directly with Fire
Headquarters, but the average person
may not know that the exit doors in
theatres are equipped with ingenious
devices called a panic bolt, which
opens the door instantly should any
one on the inside fall against II. As
a matter Of fact the panic bolt yields
10 the least pressure from within.
"ln the entire city OF Greater New
York there are 200 theatres and GAL
motion picture houses, with a seating
capacity Of more than 700 900 people.
In addition to these places Of amuse-
ment there are in all horoushs COM
bined nearly 500 dance halls, with a
capacity Of l65, 900, Everything pos
sible Is being done to safeguard New