Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1946)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, June 22, 1946 E-21 SAFETY IN CONNECTICUT Continued from Page E-A) ranged to drop automatically in case of fire but the mechanism must automatically turn on the house lights. This minimizes the glare of fire that might be seen on the screen in the event a shutter should fail to close. Additionally, the same mechanism must stop the air conditioning equipment — so that smoke will not be drawn into the auditorium — and it must start the projection room vent fan which exhausts smoke, gases and all poisonous fumes to the outer air. Still further, closing of the port shutters automatically opens another, lightproof shutter so that air is drawn out of the auditorium into the projection room, and then is vented to outside by means of the projection room vent fan. This is an additional device for securing the auditorium against smoke, fumes and gas coming from the projection room. The location of the projection room exhaust vent is specifically prescribed; it must be midway between the projectors at a point on the ceiling approximately seven feet back from the front wall of the projection room; it must rise to at least 3 feet above the roof and be capped with an inverted cone to offset backdraft. A 16-inch bucket blade fan with enclosed motor must be installed in this vent. Regulations An entirely separate system of ventilation must be installed for the lamphouses. This also is equipped with a blower, and must be capable of moving not more than 160 and not less than 60 cubic feet of air per minute. The air conditioning system may feed air into the projection room but there must be no return; no re-circulation of air from the projection room back into the conditioning system. The projection room must be approached by stairs, ladders are not permissible. The door must open outward, but not directly into the auditorium. It may have an ordinary door knob, but no latch or snaplock. A padlock can be used at night, but the door must never be locked during theatre hours. No fire extinguisher is permitted inside the projection room. In case of fire the projectionist is expected to drop the emergency shutters (which lights the house lights) and GET OUT. A fire extinguisher must be mounted just outside the projection room door, however, for the use of the projectionist in case he should emerge from the burning room with his clothes on fire. To assure that projectionist will not be obliged to leave his post while the show is running, installation of a toilet room associated with the projection room is compulsory. No reading matter except technical information that may be needed to enable the projectionist to perform his duties can be taken into a projection room. The mere presence of other reading matter is a violation. The projection room and its equipment must be kept spotlessly clean. Rewinding must be done by hand. Oil drippings must be wiped away, not permitted to run down the machinery or to accumulate. The in specting policeman tries to appear unexpectedly. Enforcement in Connecticut is utterly "clean" but in case of a violation the license of the projectionist — like the licenses of the manager and of the theatre — lies wholly at the mercy of the police. Future Developments Although veteran police inspectors can hardly remember a serious theatre tragedy in their state they are not satisfied; they try to look ahead to things that may happen and to take necessary precautions in advance. Currently, they are worried about fire escapes and the high heels on women's shoes. They fear a narrow heel may catch in the slats of the fire escape, and if only one person tripped others might fall over her and a tragedy pile up. They are worried about the existing regulations whereby doors open outward onto fire escapes. The outward-opening door may block a rush of people who have already entered the fire escape through another door. Or the people already outside may push the door closed in order to get past it, trapping those still in the theatre who are trying to use it for exit. Still, as inspector Earl R. Morin explains in his worried, conscientious way, no one can guard against everything. Recently in a Connecticut theatre balcony patrons quarreled: someone shouted "Fight!" and the audience down in the orchestra thought the word was "Fire!" and rushed for the doors. No one, fortunately, was hurt, but Morin asks: "Now what precaution can be taken against that?" Don't be a (S Worry-Wart! There's no reason in the world to sit around worrying about the condition of your projection room equipment. Not for a minute — when an RCA Service and Parts Replacement Contract will take these cares off yoxn mind so inexpensively. What's more — with RCA preventive service you know exactly how "much (how little, reaUy) it is going to cost you for the entire year. Yes, peace of mind, at a cost of only a few admissions a day is something you really can't afford to be without, and RCA's "Seven Benefits That Spell Service" wiU lift that heavy load off your mind. Get in touch with your RCA Theatre Supply Dealer, or write direct to RCA Service Company, Inc., Dept. 78-F, Camden, N. J. Seven benefits thai spell Service Scheduled Checkups Emergency Service Regular Maintenance Valuable Technical Data Insures Peak Performance Complete Parts Replacements Emergency Sound Systems RCA SERViCE COMPANY, KMC. A SERVICE OF RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA