Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1280 A further study of the lobby display in the Central theatre, Jersey City, N. J ., presenting a neat attractive design laid out by Libman-Spanjer Corp. ( Continued from page 1278) since he cannot afford to carry in his organization expert engineers. He is not in the engineering business and charges only a small amount, if indeed he charges at all, for the services rendered. He is a contractor and derives his profits from sales of materials. “The contractor may be permitted to redesign, if he can save the owner an appreciable amount of money by doing so. As very often happens, the contractor may even be able to produce better steel designs than the architect has. In this case the owner should engage a thoroughly competent engineer to check up the contractor’s work. If the owner does not do this, he takes all the risk, should a collapse occur. “ Owners should awaken to the fact that they must have competent engineering design and supervision in connection with the architectural work. The foundation of theatre construction is engineering. This is of vital importance and must stand out above everything else. Safety first 1 If the theatre is made structurally sound there can be no failure, and this must be given first consideration. ‘A chain is only as strong as the weakest link, so in a theatre one weak point is enough to cause a total collapse. Of what value is the most architecturally beautiful theatre if it be structurally weak?’ “ The question then arises how to eliminate this element of danger and provide absolute safety to the public, to which they are entitled. Visual Inspections Useless “Numerous investigations have been started by governors, mayors, and others to reinspect those theatres that are now open. Undoubtedly the move is a good one if properly reinforced and carried through in the right direction. It is reported that building departments are organizing additional squads to make visual inspection of theatres for the purpose of determining their degree of safety. Such inspections can have very little value of any kind, and certainly none so far as the structural strength of a theatre is concerned. “The safety of a theatre against collapse, except from fire, is contingent entirely on the structural features, the strength of which cannot be determined by visual inspection. Indeed, in most cases the structural members are not visible or even accessible. “All theatres that have been built or are now under construction without thoroughly competent engineering direction should now be investigated by competent engineers. All engineering plans should be thoroughly reviewed and checked, inspection of the premises with regard to masonry, foundations, etc., so far as practicable, should be made, and if there is developed a reasonable ground for suspicion, the house should be closed, if necessary, until the defective parts have been reinforced. Needed Legislation “Competent engineering is the key to the situation. Some States now require that engineer; be licensed, which means comparatively little as the requirement for a license is relatively low. However, it would improve condition; materially if it was legally required that al plans must be designed and executed by a li censed engineer, but this would not give al the desired security. Professional engineers like lawyers ^nd doctors, must be judged by their special experience and reputation and com pensated accordingly. Consequently it is very well to place a limit by a license ; still the owner must select his engineer in the sam< careful manner that he selects his lawyer — ac cording to his specific qualifications for tin work to be done. “Legislation should make it mandatory, S( far as possible, that all owners do this — a least, to the extent that all engineering worl must be designed and executed by a licenset engineer. And the standard of requirements fc: a license should be made equal to that fo: admission to full membership in the Americai Society of Civil Engineering. “If this is done both the public and the owners will be protected against failure due to incompetence or negligence, or both.” The comfort of your patrons should always be of first consideration.