Evening star., 1922-02-20
THEATER DEFECTS
Being KEPT FROM
Nil BUT OWNERS
Whether Facts Will Be Re-
vealed Up to Proprietors,
Says Keller.
COMMISSIONERS MEETING
WITH MANAGERS TODAY
Regulation Requiring Steel Cur.
tains Declared Neglected in
All But One House.

The reasons which prompted the
Commissioners to close seven theaters
Saturday night will not be made pub
lio until the wishes of the owners
have been considered. Engineer Com
missioner Keller announced at noon
today.
Col. Keller said the Commissioners
would meet with the proprietors OF
those places of amusement at the
District building this afternoon.
Whether the facts on which the city
heads acted are to be given TO the
public after the conference will de-
pend upon the feeling of the owners,
he said. "=
"Protected the Public"
I'VE have protected the public by
closing these theaters SO that they
cannot 60 there do not believe
hardship upon the owners" he stated.
The colonel said that If. after the
conditions laid down by the Commits
sioners are complied with, these
theaters are given an Q: K. and per
mitted to reopen, the public will have
been amply protected.
Col. Keller was asked il fire risk
was the only reason which led to the
closing of Polls and the New Ma
tional theaters.
Structural Changes Involved.
He replied that there were struc-
tural conditions involved in those
places as well as fire hazard
The CPmmissioner was asked about
report that the Metropolitan was
closed because of uncertainty about
the strength of the marQuise in front
of that movie house.
10 &1oH HAx-
was closed because the committee
which inspected all theaters for the
Commissioners felt that the roof of
that structure should be examined.
The colonel said. the committee was
unwilling to say that the roofsof. the
metropolitan was unsafe. but felt
that 1t should be- thoroughly examined
at once. s.l'A
Only One steel C~Ftain.-
that the inspections committee found
minor defects at other theaters which
would be called to the attention of
the owners. II these conditions! can
be corrected without closing the
theaters they will not be required to
close, he said. =
The colonel further stated that it
has been found that only one legiti-
mate theater in the city, Keith's
Theater. is equipped with q steel fire
curtain, as required by the regula-
tions.
"Does that mean that all other
legitimate theaters will be required
to install steel fire curtains?' the
colonel was asked.
He answered that all theaters IN
which the spoken drama is presented
would be required to get such cur
tains.
Forced to Act Quickly.
Col. Keller said the Commissioners
would much have preferred to call in
the owners of the seven theaters in
question for a conference before act
ing. but that time did not permit Sat-
urday evening.
IF we had received the report Of
our committee Saturday morning." he
continued, I'VE would have called in
the owners. AS it happened, the COM
mittee was not ready to report until
afternoon
The colonel pointed out that there
was no time for conferences at s
O'Clock Saturday evening if the thea
ters were to be closed before the
night crowds entered them.
Feel Justiaed In Action.
The Commissioners feel that they
were fully justified in acting without
a moments delay In closing the seven
theaters after they had decided that
such action was, in their opinion,
necessary.
It was pointed out at the District
building today that the Commission
ers would have felt responsible II
anything had happened Saturday
night in any Of the theaters that they
had decided. at s o'clock should be
closed for reconditioning.
The Commissioners received this
morning letter from Harry Crandal1
asking that he be informed as
quickly as possible what. conditions
resulted in the closing Of that the
ater that we may promptly conform
thereto and minimize both inconven-
fence to the public and our already
heavy financial loss.
In another part of the letter Mr..
Crandal1 said that aside. from any
question of unfairness in the taking
of the drastic course. we are primar-
Ny concerned in that which will give
the public the greatest protection"
Discussing the view voiced by some
persons that the owners Of the thea
ters should have -been told of the
findings of the investigating commit
tee and given an opportunity to close
voluntarily, Commfssi0ner Rudolph
pointed out that only an hour re-
manned In which to act before the
night theater crowds would arrive.
Arranged to Meet Board. .,.-,
Alexander Wolf. attorney for the
Motion Picture Theater Owners AS
sociation, and representing the Metro
poiitan, Columbia and Cosmos, had a
conference with Commissioner Ru-
dolph this morning. When he
emerged. he said:
Il had very satisfactory confer
ence with the Commissioner. We ar
ranged to meet with the full board
later in the day"
Owners and managers OF the seven
theaters closed Saturday evening on
order of the District Commissioners
today are anxiously awaiting an of.
fetal report from the authorities
carrying the specific reasons for the
closing of their houses, together with
the recommendations deemed neces-
sary to make them safe. Oniciais Of
all the closed theaters have indicated
a willingness to do anything possible
to safeguard the public and cooper
ate with the Commissioners but are
at loss to understand why the play
houses were not closed sooner II they
were unsafe.
Several Of the owners Of the moving
picture theaters which have been
darkened have received, through un.
AofYicial channels. intimations as to
why their houses were closed. One
of them h now making preparations
to make the adjustmenes. he belIeYegi
I. fCcnttnned On Rnee 8 sCpluzans "a 81