Evening star., 1945-01-16
Ihedters Here
May Challenge
|Din1out Edict
Expected to Appeal
WPB Order Limiting
Marquee Lighting

Motion picture theaters probably
will appeal the War Production
Board order limiting marquee illu-
mination to go watts. A. Julian Bry-
lawski, president of the Moving Pic
ture Theater Owners Association,
said today.
The order affecting marques is
part OF the far-reaching WPB edict
virtually eliminating use OF elec-
tricity for outdoor advertising, orna-
mental or display lighting. The
order is effective February /, and
is designed to save about 1000 900
tons of coal year. Failure to COM
ply would be penalized by denial
of electric power.
Doubt was expressed In many
quarters that the 60-watt light for
marques feature of the order was
accurately reported, since this would
mean the brilliant light now flaring
in front Of theaters would be re-
duced to the Illumination of one
bulb reading lamp. However, that's
what the order says, and a WPB
spokesman remarked it is not
"brownout," but amounts to black
out so far as the theaters are con-
cerned.
Public Safety Involved.
Mr.. Brylawski said the WPB was
anxious to get the order out, to
see how 1t works and then, If neces-
sary. to correct it.
That was the point they made
when We saw them SATURDAY. and
impressed on them the public
safety problem involved" Mr.. Bry-
lawski said. They treated us
courteously. The theaters will go
right along. We are proud of our
work in connection with the war
and we are not going to let a little
lightning spoil it. But we probably
will appeal the order"
The WPB spokesman said also it
was understood the theaters, to
meet the problem of identifying
themselves, probably would install
rextra lighting in their box offices.
This light, shining through the
box office windows, would provide
additional illumination outside. and
since it would be interior illumina-
ton 1t would not be affected by
the order.
We Always Survive
Such a development also was for
seen by E. c. Reid, president of the
Capitol Sign Co. Every time some
thing like this happens, it's going
to put us out of business" he said.
but somehow We always survive. Z"
He referred particularly to the ban
on outdoor display lighting, except
where necessary for the conduct of
the business of outdoor establish
ments, and the bans on outdoor
decorative and ornamental lighting.
The changes he foresaw would
place lights nearer windows so that
indoor illumination also would be
reflected outside.
The denial of electric service as
the penalty for noncompliance with
the order made James H. Ferry, vice
president and general manager of
the Potomac Electric Power Co. fear
"a court full of damage suits"
I'VE want to cooperate" he said.
But we want to make sure that
when the WPB serves an order on
us to deny power to a customer
that WPB has the authority to do
so. However, haven't seen the
order and I'll wait until I get it."
Power Chiefs Consulted.
WPB said the compliance di-
vision would bring the complaints
and that the authority is provided
under the War Emergency Act.
Representatives of the big power
companies were called in for dis
cussion of the order before it was
issued and the WPB spokesman said
the group must have included a
representative of the North Amer
lean Co., parent concern of Pepco.
The WPB order also prohibits
show-window lighting except where
necessary for interior illuminations
and white-way lighting more than
necessary for public safety. Traffic
control and similar lights for es-
sential public service are excepted
from tho nrdnr