The Washington herald., 1922-03-09
THEATERS ORDERED
TO INSTALL STEEL
CURTAINS ON STAGE
Nine Show Houses AT
fected in Enforcement
Of Fire Regulations.

s~& 80 AASA SAAA>AhS
Of Fire Regulations.
Washington theaters felt another
attack in the safety campaign Of
the District Commissioners yester-
day. when orders were issued to
nine show houses to install steel
curtains within thirty days.
The installation means the ex-
pendlture of thousands OF dollars
by the order and extensive altera-
tions in many instances to accom-
modate construction of the heavy
steel curtains.
The latest move Of the District
IN its efforts to make Washington
theaters safe and in conformity
with the building regulations as
relating to fire protection caused
surprised comments among theater
owners and managers affected. A
meeting Of the owners was held
yesterday afternoon in the Offices
Of Alexander Wolf, attorney, at
which it is understood the Com
missioners' edict was discussed.
No Penalty Clause.
The order to the owners from
the building inspector carried no
clause providing penalty in case of
failure of the owners to comply
with the order.
The order followed a report issued
to Engineer Commissioner Keller
from the building department, in
which a list of theater buildings
not having steel curtains as re-
quired by the building regulations
was shown. Commissioner Keller
advised that the buildings be Or
dered to install the steel curtains
Immediately.
Building Inspector Healy on
Tuesday issued the orders which
were received by the theater own
ers yesterday. Thirty days are
granted in the order. IN which
time the owners will be expected
TO install the steel curtain. Com
missioner Kelley admitted last night
this time was rather brief, in view
of the extensive alterations which
will probably be Necessary to put
the curtains in place.
Law Passed 1917.
SOl. hellcT SdlQ ytSScTudy INT
theaters affected by the order did
| not have the steel curtains as re-
quired by the building regulations
because they were constructed prior
to the enactment of this clause Of
the building regulations. The steel
curtain clause is in the building
regulations as adopted in 1917.
The action is provoked by the
recent inspection of theaters insti-
tuted by the building department,
following the Knickerbccker Tnea-
ter disaster on January IS. One
theater. the Revere, 35OS Georgia
avenue, was closed last week by
the building department. Seven
theaters had already been closed by
the Commissioners, acting on a re-
port received from the special VOL
antary committee OF FIVE experts
who inspected the buildings. -Four
of the eight theaters have been re-
opened. following repairing.
Steel curtains will also be de-
manded in the National and Polls
thcaters. it is understood, but they
will be permitted to make the !n-
stallations following April 80 when
their licenses will again be revoked
by the Commissioners for compile
ton Of repairs ordered when they
were closed February Is.
Steel Curtain Costs $25.0O0.
Installation OF a steel curtain of
the average size will cost approx
mately $4,000. theater owners esti-
mated yesterday. They are so de-
signed that in case fire breaks out
on the stage the curtain will auto
matically drop. A curtain weighs
approximately five tons. and special
machinery for operating one is
necessary.
Steel curtains are demanded in
theaters of most of the larger cities
of the country. officials say.
Inspection of high school audi
toriums was completed yesterday by
the FIRE department. Inspection of
public school auditoriums Is ex-
pected to be finished in the next
few days. Upon completion of the
surveys by members of the fire de-
partment. reports, including sugges-
tions for alterations In the build
ings to make them conform to the
fire regulations required of theaters,
will be submitted to the school au-
thorities.
Central High Declared Safe.
Engineer Commissioner Keller in
sT.ected the Central High School au-
ditorium in company with Fire
Chief Watson and Municipal Archi-
tect Harris yesterday afternoon. Col.
Keller declared the auditorium to
be In very good condition. and said
he saw no reason, other than the
lack OF fireproof equipment for the
stage. why the hall should not be
used by students and for public
assembly purposes.
Col Keller visited the building
inspectors department yesterday
morning and inspected conditions.
He reported complete satisfaction
with the work of the department.
and the manner in. which they are
relieving the congestion resulting
from the recent increased activities
in the department following the
Knickerbocker Theater crash. Three
new men are now working in the
field inspection bureau Of the de-