Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1940)

Page 42 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW February 3, 1940 Midwinter Theatre Hazards By HENRY ANDERSON Paramount Insurance Dept. IN THE Spring we somewhat naturally turn to housekeeping and improvement of our properties. In the Fall, we generally make general preparations for winter. The next thing we know we are busy with the holiday season and many of the conditions which we checked carefully in our theatres in the beginning of the winter require c a r e f u 1 rechecking. It has been established that accidents to persons and also that n • „ ~„ •„ fUc. Henry Anderson fires mcrease in the ' winter time. Not only should we continue our daily routine checking of the theatre but we should in mid-winter have a careful inspection similar to that given in the Spring and Fall. The best way to be certain that you have given your theatre a check-up is to start at the roof. This may not be tlie most pleasant task in midwinter but it may be the most important. Check over the tanks on roof; be sure that the tanks used for fire protection are not frozen and that the tank heating system is in proper operation. See that the tank cover or roof is in good condition and will not blow off during some of the wintry blasts. While you are on the roof, examine the sign and the sign supports and be sure that they are in good condition. Remember that signs may be overloaded with sleet and this with high winds may put them to a severe test. Examine the cornice to be sure that frost has not loosened up any bricks or tile and that there are no icicles hanging or forming on the cornice or walls. Examine the condition of the roof. A leak avoided may save you a substantial amount of money. If there has been a heavy snow, it is necessary to shovel it off the roof, for with the long roof spans found in theatres, great care must be taken to avoid overloading. Examine the fire escapes to be sure that they are clear of ice and snow and that they can actually be used — Now!! If the fire escape is of the counterbalanced or other Guard Against Burglaries THOUSANDS of dollars are lost every year in theatres through burglary. Managers and cashiers are held up at the point of a gun, and receipts are stolen from the theatre at night. No matter what the size of the house, larceny of its receipts is a serious matter. A day's receipts in the Dream Theatre in Squeedunk bears the same relation to the overhead as a day's receipts in the Radio City Music Hall. Neither can afford to be robbed. One of the first and most elementary precautions is to lock all money, records, etc. in a safe. Furthermore, any room in which the safe is located should have a strong lock on the door besides. One cardinal rule to prevent holdups is never to leave the box office with too much money in it. The cashier should never have more than a limited amount of change on hand. Small forms should be prepared which are receipts for money handed by the cashier to the manager, treasurer or assistant for safe keeping until the close-ofthe-day accounting. These can be filled in with the hour, the time of day, the amount of the money and a space for the signatures of both the cashier and the recipient of the funds. When the cashier enters or leaves the box office someone should accompany her. If a policeman is on duty around the theatre, no doubt the officer will do this, but if there is no policeman, the doorman or manager or his assistant should walk from the box office to wherever the safe is located and not leave until the door is locked. The cashier should have some sort of alarm system in the box office and should be carefully instructed on how to use it. A test should be arranged at some hour convenient to the police department in order that it may cooperate in the test. This alarm can be of various types. Among these is a footrest bar which when lifted by slight pressure of the foot sets off an alarm signal. This movement would be imperceptible to the hold up man. A button on the floor in a corner within easy reach of the cashier is another method. This could ring an alarm signal in police headquarters and in the manager's office, or it could set off a siren outside, attracting immediate attention. When making deposits at the bank, an officer should always accompany whoever makes the deposit. Many banks will arrange to have their own guards do this and police departments in most towns will insist on having a policeman accompany anyone making a large cash deposit. Whoever makes the deposit should under no circumstances ride in any public conveyance or loose his hold on the money for a moment. In the case of night depositories, it is comparatively easy for holdup men to make away with the receipts unless the depositor is properly guarded. Another new device to thwart holdups has been brought out recently by the Royal Metal Manufacturing Co. It is a metal cashier's cliair with a heavy steel triple locked safety deposit box located under the seat in such a manner that the cashier may slip in money through a slot. Two keys are required to open the box — one of which is held by the manager, and the other by the cashier. Special channels are provided for anchoring the chair to the floor so that it cannot be removed. The chair itself slides into these channels to permit adjustment to the comfort of the occupant. Tlie surest way to prevent holdups and burglaries is to follow closely any instruction given by your local police department. In many instances the police have told theatremen who have been robbed, "If you had done what we told you in the first place, this would never have happened." automatic type, test it to be sure that it has not rusted or frozen solid. Look at the marquee for snow loads and general conditions. Check up on the marquee supports. If there are any roof structures, such as fan housings, be sure that they are in good condition and will not be blown down or overloaded with snow. When you have left the roof, on your way down, check up on the exit doors, being certain that they are not obstructed or blocked by snow or ice. We now come to the sidewalk. The law of the sidewalk may be complicated but in general it seems to be the duty of the theatre owner to see that the sidewalk is kept clear of ice and snow. There was a recent decision which may be interesting to the theatre owner. It was to the effect that while the city was responsible for the condition of the sidewalk, the city had an ordinance requiring the property owner to keep the sidewalk clear of ice and snow. The property owner did actually clear off the sidewalk but made a poor job of it leaving a certain amount of ice behind. If he had not attempted to clear the sidewalk, he would not have been held liable in the accident that ensued, although he might have been arrested for violating the city ordinance, but inasmuch as he attempted to clear the sidewalk and did it in a negligent manner, he, the property owner, was found liable. The marquee and the remainder of the front of tiie building should be carefully examined for icicles, or leaks or drippings which might cause icicles, or the formation of ice on the sidewalk. Time and again theatre owners have been held liable as a result of accidents from these causes. While you are at the sidewalk level, examine all of the areaways and the exterior fire escapes. Be sure they are all free of snow, clear to the street. Constant Vigilance Pays The heating system should next be examined. In severe weather you may be forcing j'our boiler or heating beyond its capacity. You should, therefore, be sure that it has been checked up recently by some competent person, such as an engineer of one of the boiler insurance companies. Make whatever tests may be necessary of the various automatic devices on your oil burner. If you are burning coal, be sure that ashes are handled in metal receptacles only and that there is no accumulation of rubbish or kindling near the fire. Examine the furnace flue and be sure that it is well supported and not in a rusty or dangerous condition. Be sure that all steam pipes are clear of combustible material. Rubber, leather or other mats used at time of snow or rain present another accident hazard. While they are often primarily installed to prevent accidents, sometimes they are laid so carelessly that they cause accidents. You may be certain that you will be held liable if anyone trips over them. The heavier type of mat with a deeply corrugated surface is best. A thin mat with a smooth surface is likely to cause accidents due to becoming slippery and edges curling. It is not at all unlikely that the midwinter inspection is by far the most important one. It certainly may avoid your becoming involved in claims or suits.