Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

38 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS Chicago Exhibitors and Aldermen Discuss Ventilation THE exhibitors of Chicago gathered in the council chambers of the City Hall on Friday afternoon to discuss with the aldermen on the ventilation committee the ordinance which is being enforced by the health and building commission of Chicago. This ordinance, which was made in June, 1910, and passed in December of that year, but not put into force until July, 1913, affects the theatres in its following parts: "The air in any room used as an auditorium in buildings of Classes IV and V, hereafter erected, shall be changed so as to provide each person for whom seating accommodation is provided in such auditorium, classroom or assembly hall with at least 1,500 cubic feet of air per hour." "The air in any room used as an auditorium in buildings of Classes IV and V constructed prior to the passage of this ordinance shall be changed so as to provide each person for whom seating accommodation is provided in such auditorium, classroom or assembly hall with at least 1,200 cubic feet of air per hour." "The amount of carbon dioxide in the air of any such auditorium frequented by the public shall not be permitted to rise above 12 parts of carbon dioxide per 10,000 parts of air, measurements being taken at levels from two and one-half feet to eight feet above the floor, generally distributed; and the temperature in such spaces when artificially heated shall not exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The relative humidity shall not be less than 40 degrees, nor more than 85 degrees." Dr, Young, head of the health commission, is championing the ordinance and putting forth every effort to put it into force. It is his claim that there ■ are 605 theatres in Chicago which have an approximate seating capacity of 254,388 and an attendance of from four to five hundred thousand daily. One hundred and nine of these theatres, he states, have no ventilation whatever, while 177 have complied with the ordinance, or are installing equipment as required by the ordinance. This leaves 319 which have febeir theatres ventilated, but not according to the existing ordinance. These 319 are awaiting the outcome •f the discussion which was held on Friday and one which will be held by a committee of motion picture theatre ©wners and the aldermen some day next week. By these conferences the exhibitors hope to effect a change in the ordinance which will not make it quite so drastic as it now stands. It is the claim of many exhibitors that if this ordinance is put into force to the letter, it will mean that they will have to close their theatres, as the changes required would cost them anywhere from one to three thousand dollars, which is way beyond their means. Victor Shafer, one of the aldermen, has cast his lot with the exhibitors, and in his argument pointed out the fact that the New York City ordinance required only 500 cubic feet of air per hour per person, and that statistics show that the death rate in New York City is less than it is in Chicago. It was the contention of Dr. Young, however, that the figures quoted were not arrived at by scientific methods, while those in the Chicago ordinance were. A few weeks ago, on the recommendation of Dr. Young, Mr. Whelan's theatre, of Chicago, was closed because he failed to comply with the requirements of the ordinance as if related to ventilation. In referring to this, Dr. Young stated that the reason of this was that at the time Mr. Whelan applied for a license he agreed to install the proper ventilation system as set forth by the ordinance. He, however, failed to do so, as he considered that he was answering all requirements when he supplied 1,000 cubic feet per hour per person. Mr. Whelan opened his theatre again after obtaining an injunction. Attorney Horner, in his talk as representative of the exhibitors, brought out the points at issue in Mr. Whelan's case and also other good arguments. He maintained that if the ordinance was good and was within its proper jurisdiction, and was the minimum figure for the welfare of the health of those who visited motion p'icture theatres, it would not be right to make concessions in any case regardless of the circumstances, as Dr. Young volunteered to do, and that all theatres should be compelled to live up to the ordinance or be closed. While his argument was well taken, it ruffled the dignity of Dr. Young, and he said that if the injunction which was now pending was not upheld, he would close every theatre in Chicago not complying with the ordinance within twenty-four hours. Mr. Nielson, owner of the Parkway and Stevens theatres, went into detail, explaining the construction of his theatres, telling of all the methods he used to gain fresh air for his patrons, and stating that still it did not come within the requirements of the ordinance. Dr. Young, in answer to this, said that he had visited the Stevens Theatre some time ago and found the air decidedly bad. Mr. Choynski, Mr. Cressy, Mr. Shepard, a reformer, and Miss Harriett Vittum, another reformer, also spoke; however, no definite steps were taken to amend the ordinance. Those PHOTOGRAPHING WILD LIFE Artist's conception of work of camera man who made Midgar Features 'How Wild Animals Live."