The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-19
DISTRICT CLOSES
SEVEN THEATERS
I HERE AS UNSAFE
c Commissioners Act on
slReport of Board of
& Engineers.


lanons as to the structural safety
Of such building and every part
thsreof. The Commissioners may.
atsany time. revoke the license for
ana such building, or part of build
ing. and prohibit the use thereof
for such purpose. which falls to
conform to the foregoing require
mss1ts: and may summarily and i'm
mediately close any such buildings
ou5 part thereof. when, in their
judgment. such building or part
thereof becomes dangerous for such
ne; provided. that the owner. or
other person entitled to the bene-
fic4al use and control oS such build
ing. OF part thereof. shall be given
a Nearing by the Commissioners. or
sueh person or persons as they
shall appoint for that purpose. who
shall report in writing to the Com
mfssioners the result OF such hear
ing. and provided. further, that the
commissioners may temporarily
suspend the LICENSE and close such
place OF assembly prior to such
hearing when the exigencies of the
particular case justify such action"
Expect Injunction Battle.
Fhe amendment was drawn by Cor
poration Counsel Stephens Friday
following inquiries by the. Commits
sioners as to their rights to act in
closing theaters.
Col. Keller said last night the
Commissioners expected to face in
junction proceedings from some Of
the managers who might attempt to
fight the closing edict. Both he and
Corporation Counsel Stephens de-
clared the District was prepared to
fight its case in the courts.
Two theater managers indicated
last night when notified by Inspec-
tor Grant Of, the action, that they
would get in touch Immediately
with their counsels and attempt to
combat the order Injunction pro-
ceedings may be instituted at any
time and action before courts open
Monday Is not considered unlik ely.
The, voluntary board of five ex-
perts who recommended the action
10 the Commissioners yesterday in
cludes Mai. John Gottwalls. U. s.
A., Engineer Corps. chairman: Les
ter Wilson, engineer; Edward w.
Dom. jr.. architect: Charles II.
Smith. builder.
Neiler taiis conference.
The committee concluded its in
vestigation of the seventy-five the
alter buildings in the District Fri
day. Its report was submitted to
Engineer Commissioner Keller yes
terday morning. Col. Keller imme-
diAtely asked the Board of Commits
soners to confer with the commit
tee at ; o'clock in the afternoon.
Besides the Commissioners. Cuno
Rudolph. president: Col. Charles
Keller and James F. Oyster. and
the members Of the investigating
committee. Assistant Engineer Com
missioner Carey n. Brown. Fire
Cbief George s. Watson and Cor
poration Counsel Francis Stephens
were in the conference in the En-
Efffeer Commissioners offlce.
The committee started its inves-
legation three days after the
Knickerbocker disaster. They Of
Tered their services to the District
upon the plea or Commissioner
Keller and served without pay.
Inspection 1. Close.
The committee in the course of
ITS ffteen-day survey closely in
Of, the seventy-five theaters and
protection of the buildings from
fire. Each theater was Investigated
from the basement to the roof.
particular attention was paid by
the committee to the roofs of the
various theaters in view of the
Hnickerbocker Theater tragedy.
Mortar was scratched away and
-. nj
insure rigid inspection of the va
rious buildings, the committee re-
ported. The detailed report in
cIpded sixty-seven theaters. About
eirht other theaters were observed
from the outside. all one-story and
small structures.
. Question Metropolitan Roof.
The Metropolitan Theater is owned
bS Harry NJ. Crandsll. owner Of the
ruined Knickerbocker Theater, and
Was designed by Reginald w.
Gsare, architect for the Knicker-
booker. Frank l.. Wagner. con-
tractor, and Richard Fletcher, sub
tractor, who also worked on the
Khickerbocker Theater, constructed
the Metropolitan, it was brought
oft in the coroner's inquest into
the Knickerbocker tragedy last
week. All three men were ordered
held by the jury.
Speaking of the Metropolitan
Theater. one of the officials close to
the Investigation of the theater
buildings last night intimated that
rdbf designing of the Metropolitan
was not considered absolutely safe.
no intimation Of their action was
given by the Commissioners prior
to the closing of their conference
yesterday afternoon at o'clock.
Np theater manager was consulted
add the first intimatioi Of the Com
nlissioners' action to the affected
theater owners was received with
in an hour when the order to close
the buildings was read by Inspector
clifford L. Grant.
Thousands Turned Away.
Coming within two hours of
onening time. of the Legitimate
stage theaters, and just before the
rush" hour of the moving picture
and vaudeville houses. the decree
OF the Commissioners turned thou
sands of Saturday night theater
patrons from the doors.
Inspector Grant permitted the
managers of moving picture houses
to allow the show to continue until
the performance had been COM
pleted. This was done to prevent
any panic within the shows which
81 DEATH NOTICES.
~~-@<~~~~ -~-~~-~--~-~ ~~-~~~->~--->~~~~-~>I-S~~
HoRowfTZ0n Wednesday, February Is,
1872, at his residence. e16 Eighth street
soufheast at $50 n m HARRY ARE