Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Health Protection Comes First in Quenching the Public Thirst By Mildred Brennan AN ADEQUATE supply of cool, safe drinking water should be easily accessible in every theatre. Cool and easily accessible it often is, but frequently it is far from safe. Many theatre owners invest money in new drinking fountains in the belief that they are giving their patrons the very best that can be obtained, when in reality they might as well be offering a tin cup on a chain beside a bucket. Some drinking fountains are no freer from contaminating germs than the old tin cup. Epidemics of streptococcus and trench mouth in several midwestern universities and in the Chicago school system, caused research laboratories to make bacteriological tests on the existing drinking fountains in these places. The fountains were of the vertical type, in which water flows out of an upright jet. It was originally thought that when the water flowed back upon the fountain it washed away all sputa deposited on the fountain by one drinker before the next one drank from it. Tests showed, however, that the streptococci germs remained in the water from 2 to 135 minutes, depending on the height of the “bubble.” Most of the organisms Young America yields to a special type of safety jet now available which guards against mischievous water squirting. were flushed away but some remained, dancing in the column of water, much as a ball dances on the garden fountain, even though the bubble was increased to the impractical height of 4 inches. The next person drinking from the fountain innocently received the germs. When this type of drinking fountain was removed, the epidemics died away. Must Not Be Ignored What then, should the theatre owner do about the problem of drinking water in the theatre? With such health menaces on the market, he may feel tempted to ignore the question altogether. But without drinking water in the theatre, the management could not hope to satisfy the patrons for “ . . . the worst Of human pangs, the most accursed Of Want’s fell scorpions, is Thirst.”* There is only one solution — the installation of approved and sanitary drinking fountains. These promote the integrity and good standing of a theatre, and guarantee safe drinking for the patrons. In planning the new type of drinking fountain, reputable and nationally-known manufacturers have availed themselves of the results of research by scientists and have complied with the requirements of the American Public Health Association. Fountains that follow these specifications are absolutely “fool proof.” In the first place, the jets from which the water flows are set at an angle from the vertical, and the water forms an arc away from the nozzle, thereby preventing it from flowing back on the clean jet. Safeguards Provided The Health Department of the District of Columbia observed persons using both vertical and angle jet drinking fountains and found that many would not or could not use the devices unless they grasped the nozzle with their lips and sucked the water. As a result of this observation, drinking fountains are now made with “guards,” which are composed of impervious nonoxidizing material, and prevent the mouth or nose of the drinker from coming in contact with the nozzle. The inclined jet of water issuing from the nozzle does not touch the guard, and there is no splattering of water. Sanitary drinking fountains of today *Eliza Cook, — “Melaia.” Obviously such provision promotes the integrity and good standing of a theatre. This drinking fountain is of the protective type. are usually constructed of vitreous china, porcelain, enameled cast iron or glass. There are other materials which are nonoxidizing and impervious and which may be used, but these are the most common. The modern drinking fountain is equipped with an automatic pressure control on the water supply which provides a uniform stream, unaffected by low pressure of the water supply to the building or the flushing of other fixtures in the building. Underfeeding or overshooting fountain streams are annoying to the user and cause damage to floors and walls. In the new type drinking fountains, equipped with automatic pressure control, the pressure can vary from 5 to 50 pounds, but the stream of water remains constant. The waste openings and pipes are of sufficient size to carry off the water promptly and all water drains away from the projector or nozzle when the fountain is not in use so that fresh water does not bubble up through stagnant water. The bowls are proportioned to prevent unnecessary splashing at the point where the jet falls into the bowl, and the outlets of the jets are above the bowl or receptor rim. This fact prevents contamination of the pure water system by back siphonage, even if the outlet should clog and the receptor overflow. Fountains are protected against clogging by a strainer or trap in the receptor. Adapted to Decorations Many styles of drinking fountains are manufactured today. While all of them have these basic requirements, they differ widely in appearance and construction. The gracefully designed vitreous china pedestal fountain is a popular model in theatres, and may be obtained in the color that will best harmonize with the decorations in the theatre. It is free standing, 28 to 34 inches in height, and the bowl or receptor is around 12 inches square. It is, of course, equipped with an angle jet, automatic stream regulator, and a ball-bearing control valve which can be adjusted for continuous flow or self-closing. The self-closing spring is of high The MODERN THEATRE SECTION