New-York tribune., 1921-01-05
New Traffic
Law i'm Theater
Zones Tonight
Vehicles and Pedestrians
OH Broadway Expected
TO Make Greater Speed
y nd der the System
crossings Are Restricted
Street Signs Will Point Way
TO Showaouses; Public
Is Asked TO Be Patient

Special Deputy Police Commissioner
Harriss described to theater managers
yesterday the course in theatergoing'
he would institute tonight for tho
2oO,Oo0 individuals daily attending the
slXty-two amusement houses in the
Times Square district. The managers
called on him at his Office a. 51l Fifth
Avenue, fearing that his purposed on.-
way traffic regulation might irrtate
the public and reduce audiences They
departed, it was seid, confident that the
Lew system would get their patrons to
the theatcrs promptly and in a good
mood
DIR. Harriss. though, expressed con-
Germ as to how rhe public would take
TO what he called the traffic night
school, and announced that one hun
dred traffic police would be on the
FACULTY" at the start, to open school IN
good order: AS head professor" 1e
would receive complaints in front OF
the Hotel Astor, while watching signal
lights at the center of Broadway con-
troll traffic as on Fifth Avenue.
Traffic to Move Faster
With all vehicles moving north On
broadway between Thirty eighth and
Avenue between Forty-second and
Fifty second streets, and all moving
south on Sixth and Ninth avenues, and
with special rules applying to cross
streets and to theater lines, Dr.. Harriss
anticipated that within a few days
vehicular traffic would be moving
about fifteen miles an hour faster. This
would give the White Light area
'iovel aspect, because in the conges-
tlon of the last year it has taken
t,xlcab twenty minutes to travel four
blocks, from a central hotel to a
tfeater.
DR. Harriss said he expected much Of
a new restriction making Forty-third,
forty-seventh and Fifty streets
the only Broadway crossings. The
greater speed made possible through
this system would easily compensate.
ne thought for the necessity for going
around three blocks to make the cross
ing.
He also asked the public to withhold
criticism of strict rules as to lines of
vehicles at particular theaters until
they were given proper trial. These
rules require the distribution of num-
bered cards bearing the name Of the
theater. The driver of the vehicle has
a card corresponding TO one held by the
person he conveys to the theater. Un-
less by previous agreement he is TO
return for his passenger before the
performance ends he must wait in his
vehicle in the general theater line
until the theater flashes an electric
signal indicating that the curtain is
being rung down.
Signs to Aid Unacquainted
At that signal the drivers must draw
up IN front Of the theater, according
to their numbers Thus, the first ar
rivals have the first chance to depart
and it is the opinion of DR.. Harriss
that when they understand the scheme
the people coming out of theater will
make way for those holding cards that
give them the preference through the
numbers they bear.
I'VE are also putting up sings at
street corners,' DR.. 1arriss said,
"pointing the way to particular thea
ters for those unacquainted with them.
In fact, the entire system is not for
the sake of business at all, but merely
to make things easier for pleasure
seekers. Therefore, 1t will be. in ef-
feet only between and IL o'clock al
night, except on Sunday, and from |
to o'clock on Saturday afternoons.
CAS- or pedestrians, they will be
protected by the signal lights, as on
1 liIH fANSilut, tilu VIII w dOlC "
move in orderly fashion"
The new rules announce cross-s street
traffic as follows: Thirt ninth. Broad
way to Seventh Avenue, westbound;
Fortieth and Forty second Streets Sew
enth Avenue to Broadway, eastbound;
Forty third. Sixth Avenue to Eighth
Avenue, westbound Fftieth. Sixth
Avenue TO Broadway, westbound;
Thirty eighth, Thirty ninth. Fortieth,
Forty-tirst and Forty-fourth streets,
Eighth Avenue to Seventh Avenue, east
bound; Forty-fifth, Forty sixth, Forty
eighth, Fortyninth and Fifty-frst
streets, Sixth Avenue to Seventh Ave
nuc, wcstoound: Fort fifth, Forty
sixth, Forty eighth, Forty ninth, Fif-
tleth and flfty-frst streets, Eighth Ave-
nue. to Broadway, eastbound; Forty-sev-
enth and Fifty second streets, Broad
way to Eighth Avenue, westbound;
Forty-seventh and Fifty second streets.
Seventh 4lue to Sixth Avenue, east
bound
Parking will not be permitted within
the district affected In the eastern
0heater zone. east of Broadway, vehi-
cies may park on the street where the
theater Is situated, but east of Sixth
Avenue. In the western theater zone.
west of broadway, they must be west Of
Elghth Avenue: Sightseeing vehicles
must not stand for more than fifteen
minutes in either zone or cruise on anv
thoroughfares there.