Year: 1877

I Making Life Safe I'm the Theatres


Some commendable steps have been taken
with view to increase the facilities fol
egress from theatres in the city. From the
nature Of the case improvements thus made
are subject to SO many conditions of con-
venience and possibility that they do not
| give the desired remedy in its most CON-
plete form but they make very ample adj
ditions to the chance for life in cases in
which it is seriously imperilled.


| There are two sorts of remedies for such
calamities as that which recently occurred
in Brooklyn-the one involving radical and
absolute measures which should be made
part of the law with regard to theatres
that may be constructed in the future,
the other involving architectural expe-
dients aimed to secure the best re-
suit possible with what we have.
Doubtless this second species Of remedy,
SO far as relates to architectural changes,
has already been applied as fully as possible
by the directions given under the authority
of the Department of Buildings and carried
out by the proprietors of the theatres.
There are old houses to which additions
have been made from generation to genera
ton, without any regard to the original
plan, and in which the original architecture
becomes as it were, completely overgrown
by new series and sets Of chambers and pas
sages, where one comes against blank wall
when he expected door, and tumbles into
the trap OF some surprising door where he
70 fsv,1 To cho fhantreS
by the addition of stairways and passages,
where such were not involved in the original
plan, tends obviously to the production OF
similar labyrinthine edifice; but in case Of
fire it is clear that the public cannot fall
into too many traps if every trap opens out
of doors.


But it is evident that architectural ex-
pedients are not the only needs OF the
occasion. There are the extensive chapters
of provisions for the prevention OF the
occurrence of fire, provisions for effec-
lively and rapidly extinguishing it If 1t
occurs, and provisions for the removal
of those lesser impediments to the move
ment of the audience that ore not in
volved in the architecture Of the theatre.
In Wallacks Theatre the plan proposed
by Mr. Boucicault for making scenery in
combustible has, we believe, been adopted.
This is the addition of tungstate of soda to
the paint-an expedient SO ready and SO
inexpensive that the refusal to employ it
would be utterly inexcusable and would
Justly expose the establishment mt to the charge
of Indifference to the safety of its patrons.
All the theatres have, we believe, signified
their purpose to act on this excellent sug-
gestion, but whether they have really done
SO the public is not yet informed. Another
measure, as to the universal application of
which there should be no doubt whatever,
is the supply Of water and hose. These are
found everywhere but what is specially
requisite in this case is that they shall be
put in condition for use every night as a reg
ular part fthe preparation for performance.
They should be in such state that it 10
only necessary to turn on the water in order
to have the means of extinguishing fire in
it's first stage. This provision alone would
render it impossible for any fire to originate
on the stage. The provision in regard to
Va
additional seats is one that has been lately
violated, and it should be part of the duty
of the police to prevent this.


How can the obligation of the proprietors
of theatres to organize q system of precau-
tionary measures for the prevention of fire
be constantly kept before them? Some of
these precautionary measures are merely
moral, as between the managers and their
patrons, without the force of law therefore !;
and even public inspection, If it were not
an ineffective process for other reasons,
would fail for this reason. Perhaps the
severe scrutiny that the insurance COM
panies maintain in their own interest might
be made publicly useful in this regard.
Theatres are, we suppose, not regarded with
high favor as insurabie property, but thor
ough system would doubtless secure this
favor; and the statement in a conspicuous
place in tho lobby of the theatre of the rate
Mt which it is insured would give the public
the opinion of experts as to the relative
safety of the place. TO secure n favorable
statement of this nature would be great
advantage.


But it should never be forgotten that all
measures of the sort indicated are in the ma
ture of expedients. There is no radical
safety against calamity save in the applica-
ton in the construction of the theatre of
the theory that provision against the COM
mon consequences of fire is q primary ne
cessity. With n people possessing the sort
of reckless temerity and disregard for pre-
cautions that are constitutional with MS it
may be taken for certainty that, despite all
conceivable care, fire will occur some day in
every theatre; and what is absolutely de-
manded, therefore, is that theatres shall be
so constructed that when the fire occurs il
shall be possible to pass the audience