Evening star., 1922-02-19
Managers Protest,
But Will Abide
by the Order.
MEETING TOMORROW
TO REVEAL DEFECTS
Suddenness of Decision
Causes Surprise-No
Previous Hint Given.

Owners and managers of the seven
theaters ordered closed last evening
by the Commissioners. following
meeting in the office of Harry Gran
dali. announced that they would take
no legal action to contest the closing
order.
They protested generally at the sud
denness of the order. and at the fail
ure of the Commissioners to, give
them hint as to defects of their
theaters before issuance Of the order.
declaring they would have been will
ing to comply with any request.
Will Meet COmmissioners.
The owners will confer with the
Commissioners at the District build
ing tomorrow to obtain details of tho
reasons for the closing.
Following the meeting. Mr.. Gran
dali. owner of the Metropolitan. said:
.'The Metropolitan Theater was built
at cost of sso4.0O0. and I had no
way of knowing the safety of the
building but by the o. n which has
been annually given us by the fire
marshal. the electric department and
the building department. Had 1 any
doubt of the safety Of the Metropoli-
tan 1 would have Immediately closed
it: 1 have employed the services of
two engineers. Mr.. Tom Marshall and
Col. Strickler. who for the last ten
days have been going over the plans.
construction and every matter con-
nected with the theater's construc-
tion IN the most minute detail. In
fact, at o'clock this evening they
phoned me that they were within
two hours of completing their report
and that they had found everything
in perfect order and would be able
to give a favorable statement on the
building to issue to the public.
Safety First Concern.
why and where the rePort of the
men who came to examine the theater
on Monday at the behest Of the Com
missioners differed from the report
of the engineers employed by me do
not know. l certainly would have i'm
mediately closed the ,stheater il they
had informed me of any defects at
that time. The safety of the patrons
of my theaters is my first concern"
Mr.. Crandall recalled that the
Metropolitan was closed for five days
in respect for the Knickerbocker
Theater victims and pointed out that
there would have been ample time for
examination then.
A1avandor Wolf offnrnov fnr Tho
Motion Picture Theater Owners As
sociation of the District of Columbia,
which is composed of thirty motion
picture houses, the Cosmos, Colum-
bia and Metropolitan being members,
said:
I'VE have no intention of resorting
to any legal proceedings in this mat
ter. We only wish to do that which is
in the best interests of the public"
Mr.. Wolf added that had any sug-
gestion as to defects in any of the
ers that he represents would have
been only too willing to comply with
such requests voluntarily.
No Hint as to Defects.
I'VE object to any suspension order
when the same purpose could have
been accomplished by suggestions
that would have been promptly met,
but as it was there was no hint as
to any defects before the issuance OF
the closing ORDERS" he said. THE
theater owners wish to adopt every
safeguard for their patrons, but they
do object to being injured by such an
issuance Of suspension orders when
other means could have been used"
A. Julian Brylawski. manager of
the Cosmos. said:
"I was astounded to receive the or
der in regard to the Cosmos, as there
was never any suggestion as to the
safety of the theater when I was in
conference with the experts who
went through the building. If, how
ever. the Commissioners point out
the defects they shall be remedied
Immediately"
License Only Two Weeks Old.
Lawrence Beatus, manager director
of Loew's Columbia, expressed his
surprise at the order.
THE license for the Columbia was
issued only two weeks ago and all
must have certainly been o. X at
that time or the license would not
have been issued. do not even know
what is wrong with the building, and
1 am sure If Mr.. Loew had known of
any defects it would not have been
necessary for officials to have or
dered the closing"
All at the meeting expressed their
intention of cooperating with the
officials and endeavoring in every way
to assist in complying with all the re-
lquirements necessary.
At the Polls and National thea
| ters last night it was said that the
shows scheduled there for this week
would arrive as usual. The scenery
will be stored until it is definitely de-
termined just what the detailed faults
are in the theater structures.
Several Hundred Lose Work.
Manager Crearin Of Polls said that
| he hoped that the matter would be
cleared up carly in the week and that
the show scheduled there would be
allowed to proceed. He said that he
had not yet received the details from
Continued on Page 2. Column Is