Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 16, 1946)

Canadian FILM WEEKLY Ri UY gos See At the Recent United Artists Party in Toronto " , | gh rgARRE™-FLLIS Page 10 branch manager, UA; Stan Gosnell, manager, Loew’s Uptown, Toronto. Third phote—Bill Summerville and Sam Sternberg, B & F Theatres, seem to be blowing out birthday candles. From left to right, first photo—Norman Allen, Odeon Theatres; George Law, Associated Theatres; Herb Allen, Premier Operating. Second photo—Jeff Sullivan, Loew’s, Boston; Doug Resen, Toronto Ontario Theatre Inspection (Continued from Page 1) what is a hall. A theatre, as we understand it, is any place a film is shown commercially. But there are dozens of places in Ontario operated as theatres which are regarded as halls only by the Provincial government. These are 16 mm. situations. True, 16 mm. film won't explode. But what about panic? Certain regulations were drafted for the avoidance of panic. Fire can break out for other reasons than inflammable film. Of course, to try to impose theatre regulations on 16 mm. places of exhibition would put them out of business right now—oand people in towns too small to support 35 mm. situations want entertainment. The trouble is that, following the Hamilton public hall fire, authority over halls was removed from the theatre inspection branch of the Ontario government and placed in local hands. Dozens of such halls are now semipermanent theatres. These should be handed back to the theatre inspection branch for regulation. The present situation is chaotic. A central authority which specializes in show safety should be allowed to regulate them—the same central authority that rules over 35 mm. houses. The theatre inspection is not only a funny situation. It is ridiculous. The readers of the Toronto Globe and Mail’s “At City Hall” column, one of the brightest pieces of printing in the town, got some good laughs out of conditions when Frank Tumpane, its author, wrote about them. To one side, we wish to say we are one of Mr. Tumpane’s most devoted fans and suggest that he ought to be let loose to write about the people and the place we live in— in any way he pleases. Mr. Tumpane called his conclusions “Inspection Mob Scene.” It is likely that the silly situation is the same in other provinces. But this is how the Globe and Mail columnist saw things: A kind client has forwarded a commentary on the strange and wonderful methods employed in checking fire precaution measures in this city. This customer, the manager of a theatre, says that if all people concerned with safety measures in theatres were grouped they could substitute for the mob scene in Ben Hur. First there is O. J. Silverthorne and his men who work for the Provincial Government and are responsible for the enforcement of the Theatre and Cinematograph Act. Next there is Fire Chief George Sinclair whose duties are hazy but widespread and then there is Building Commissioner Kenneth Gillies who ensures that fire escapes will not bend or buckle and that filing cabinets are not placed against emergency fire doors. The Ontario Hydro, probably unable to pass a crowd without getting in on the fun, enters the picture by examining the lighting. HIGHLY CONFUSING The theatre manager says all this is highly confusing and that he has became afflicted with sudden dizziness, palpitations and inability to describe his productions in words more extravagant than, “Greatest of its kind since Hamlet.” Mr. Gillies, when approached last night, confided that some of the inspections were what he described as “dual.” And by that he means that he goes over the ground and Fire Chief Sinclair gees over the same ground. Whether this improves efficiency or not is contentious, but there is no doubt that it has deleterious effect on a theatre manager, who, with all those people coming in and out, never ae when he may remove his shoes and place his feet on the esk. FLAMEPROOF CURTAINS This particular theatre manager (the one who was the kind client) had all the curtains in his theatre flameproofed because the Theatre and Cinematograph Act said this must bo done. He informed’ both city and Provincial officials that the curtains were indeed flame-proofed, but all they did was flash him one of those ae voy smiles and say that he had indeed done a very fine ng. “How did they know that the curtains are flameproof?” asked the theatre manager. There may be some sort of test to determine whether curtains are flameproof, but the manager says they didn’t even give him a stern look. It would appear that much time and trouble could be saved Sees co-ordination of the four inspecting agencies for theatres. And remember: Walk, don’t run, to the nearest exit, and if women and children are in the way, push them to one side or, in the alternative, simply trample them underfoot. Toronto and Ontario ought to get together and work out smooth inspection and wise regulation. Ontario ought to start at home—home being Queen’s Park. If ever there was a fire trap it is the ridiculous collection of cubicles that make up the offices of the Moti i : Theatre Inspection branch. ion Picture Censorship and bares a liv an in't let a theatre or film exchange ess ive minutes if th z half as unsafe as its own. ey operated’ on premises Ontario can’t even get its own house in order, a ee Eee —— eS