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Determining the Best Seating Plan Allowed by the Codes
• The second article of a applying the basic visual the conditions imposed
group on seating plans, and traffic factors to by the 14-seat limit
By BEN SCHLANGER
IN a previous article, aisle and chair arrangements for the motion picture theatre were considered as they would be affected by applying the "Continental Plan" of seating, a plan (appeared in May 2d issue) whereby the number of seats across the width of any one row is, to a reasonable extent, unlimited because of greater back to back measurements permitting access to side aisles only, instead of the intermediate aisles to which we are accustomed.
The difficulties in applying the "Continental Plan" were cited as:
1. Passing in front of too many seated patrons in circulating to any one seat, which would prove annoying in any continuous performance ; and
2. Most existing building codes in this country do not permit more than 14 seats in a row from aisle to aisle or seven seats in a row from a wall to an aisle.
A modified adaptation of the "Continental Plan" was proposed, limiting the rows to an 18-seat width, using a 3-foot back-to-back dimension. This system would have the tendency to decrease the depth of the theatre in relation to its width, a result which would bring the spectators farthest from the screen within a more desirable viewing distance.
Since most motion picture theatres are of the continuous performance type, and building codes can be revised, if at all, only with great difficulty due to lack of concerted action, the 14 seat aisle to aisle and seven-seat aisle to wall chair arrangements must be made the best of. Therefore it is necessary to investigate if current practices in motion picture theatre planning are using the limits now set to the greatest advantage.
PLAN FACTORS
Proper aisle and chair arrangements can be determined only after considering all of the following factors:
1 . Economy of space and structure.
2. Maximum use of desirable seating areas.
3. Sight lines — (a) distortion lines, (b) obstruction lines.
4. Proper screen size.
5. Accessibility to seats and exits with least annoyance to seated patrons and factor of safety.
6. Building code requirements.
The first factor, that of economy of space and structure, should be approached from two different angles — to obtain a
maximum number of seats per cubic foot of structure, and at the same time to obtain a maximum number of desirable seats per cubic foot of structure. Construction costs must be kept to a minimum, but not at the sacrifice of proper screen exhibition.
The following diagrams of aisle arrangement schemes are all based on having 14 seats in a row from aisle to aisle and seven seats from a wall to an aisle. To have a lesser number of seats per row would result in producing a higher ratio of aisle area in relation to seat area, which, of course, becomes an apparent waste of structure. Figures 1, 2 and 3 may be analyzed from a standpoint of space efficiency and other factors involved.
Figure 1 shows the 14-seat in a row type having, in Diagram la, one center aisle and seven seats from this aisle to either
PIAGRAM 3-A
83 -O"
DIAGRAM 3-E,
Figure 3
July 25, 1936
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