EMERGENCY EXITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1943, Page 4

EMERGENCY EXITS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—While commending your article on the lessons to be drawn from the tragic Boston fire, I cannot endorse your statement that an adequate system has been put under way by theatre interests to acquaint theatre-goers with and to practice them in the use of emergency exits and generally how to act when there appears to be some sudden danger or fear of danger. I am a fairly regular patron of pictures, and have time and again remarked that the dispersal of the crowds has been the reverse of satisfactory, and that a sudden alarm would cause a catastrophe as people blocked the main exits. Some theatres call for special in this respect, as the converging streams meet and block each other's progress to the one doorway, causing exasperating and unnecessary delay. So far I have not seen any direction or action by the management to relieve the situation. It may be that a plan is in existence, but the public generally, is unaware of it. I would suggest <1) That there be compulsory use of emergency exits until the public are thoroughly conversant with them; and (2) that a plan of these exits, with instructions to the audience, be put upon the screen nightly at the commencement of each performahce.—l am, etc., SAFETY FIRST. .