Exhibitors Herald (1925)

18 BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF August 15, 1925 Smokeproof Stair Towers By NORMAN M. ST1NEMAN Associate Member, American Society of Civil Engineers A Smokeproof stair tower is nothing more nor less than an ordinary stairway that serves also as a fire escape. The security from fire is far greater than is obtained from either stairways or fire escapes of ordinary types. The smokeproof stair tower is especially desirable in theatre buildings, because of the very nature of the occupancy. In the event of a fire in the theatre during a performance there can be no recourse to evacuation by fire drill methods, as in school buildings. The occupants are all strangers to each other. There is no one to look to for leadership. Panicky conditions easily develop from such a situation. * * * Our illustrations show two general types of smokeproof stair towers that differ principally in the channel of approach. In Figure 1 the stairway is reached through an interior vestibule open to the outside air. The opening is protected by iron railings. Figure II shows the general arrangement of a stair tower where the stairway is reached by way of a balcony. There is little choice between the two so far as safety is concerned. The one shown in Figure I occupies a greater interior space, but it has more of the attribute? of an ordinary stairway and people will use it more willingly as a regular means of exit. The one shown in Figure II, because of the balcony approach, retains that one element of an outside fire escape which makes it objectionable as a regular means of egress. The arrangement shown in Figure I is therefore recommended. In the plan of Figure I the building it should be located, if possible, so that it will be used as one of the principal exits. Regular patrons of the theatre will in that case be accustomed to using it and will not be afraid of it. So far as they are concerned it is an ordinary stairway. Constant use will also be an assurance against obstructions being carelessly placed on the stairway by the janitor or by workmen. * * * A study of these two plans will make clear the purpose of the smokeproof stair tower. All doors are self-closing firedoors that swing in the direction of exit. In Figure I the purpose of the opening between the vestibule and the open air is to prevent accumulation of smoke in the vestibule. Aside from the fire door opening from the corridor, there is no direct com munication between the stair tower and other parts of the building. It is highly improbable that either smoke or fire from the interior of the building could penetrate to the stairway proper. The arrangement shown in Figure II leaves no connection whatever between the stair tower and the interior of the building. It has, therefore, the greater security in that respect ; but as before stated, the balcony approach lessens the likelihood that it will be used as a regular exit. In either case the security obtained is so far superior to the ordinary outside fire escape that there is in reality no basis of comparison. New Companies CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — University Theatres, Inc. Capital $100,000. Incorporators : Charles E. Hatfield, Henry L. Whittlesey, Alice L. Frost. ST. JOSEPH, MO. — Sun Amusement & Realty Company. Capital $30,000. Incorporators: Fred Greensburg, 401 Illinois street, and others. NEWARK, N. J. — Irvington Theatres, Inc., 207 Market street. Capital $125,000. PATERSON, N. J.— Tower Film Productions, 132 Market street. Capital $100,000. Incorporators : Joseph Bolcato, Mario Gunstti, Richard L. Raymond. <0ualttp .SliScemc^tidios TIFFIN. OHIO Everything for the Stage S. R. O. 'T'HE S. R. O. sign is up in front of the house again. He hasn’t got a first-run picture, either. Nor a big star, nor a box-office hit. But he seems to get the crowd — every night. He knows that people like to look at clear, life-like pictures, where brilliant illumination and strong contrasts of black and white define the characters and the scenes and give them a sense of reality. He knows that audiences do know the difference between good and poor projection. So he uses a Bausch & Lomb Cinephor Projection Lens. The difference shows in the box-office count. BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. 652 St. Paul St., Rochester, N. Y. Types of Smokeproof stair Towers