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such a manner that they will automatically close at the outbreak of fire. * All shelving and fittings shall be of incombustible material and all films not in use shall be kept in tight-covered metal cans. There shall be a ventilator at least 12 inches in diameter leading from the top of the room to the outside air.
Conclusion
If these requirements are carefully followed out in the planning of a theatre, it would appear that the building should be safe. The fallacy of this was proved by the Iroquois disaster in Chicago. This theatre was the last word in fireproof construction and careful planning. In his paper on *'The Safeguard of Life in Theatres," by President John R. Freeman, presented to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, he states: "At the time of the fire in the Iroquois, that fire pails and soda water fire extinguishers were absent and that ventilating skylights over the stage were blocked so that they could not slide open, and that exits were poorly marked, and that there was a delay in providing the fire hose on the stage."
Therefore, combined with these standard requirements, must' be the careful attention by the management as well as frequent and efficient inspection by the authorities. On account of the many places on a theatre stage and adjoining property rooms where rubbish and junk may accumulate without being noticed because of the lack of light, it is very necessary that the management exercise constant vigilance to prevent the danger of fire.
In defense of some of the old non-fireproof theatres one might say that as far as safety to the audience is concerned, it is far better to have very clear and intelligent planning, such that the patrons can easily find their way out, than absolute fireproof construction, as the great loss of life has usually happened within five minutes of the first flame. So, if a theatre can be emptied in two to three minutes, the audience will hardly suffer even if the building is of ordinary construction. In the Iroquois, the underwriter loss was practically nothing while the human toll was enormous. Mr. E. O. Sachs, the London architect, in his account of some one thousand theatre fires, states that the requirements of safety to the audience should be placed in the following order : "Good planning first, efficient and constant watching by the management, careful and frequent inspection, and fire-resisting construction last."
At present untold sums are being spent for theatres. Each new building being larger or more lavishly decorated than any other. Picture presentation has developed into one of the highest arts, requiring wonderful stage settings, orchestration and lighting effects. The management is constantly on the alert to invent something new to provide amusement and enjoyment for their patrons.
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