THE BURNING OF THE BROOKLYN THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4684, 21 February 1877, Page 3

THE BURNING OF THE BROOKLYN THEATRE.

On this topic the American correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald has the following observations : —No one seems to have been specially in fault; the blame must be awarded to the generally dangerous architecture of American theatres. This pariieu. lar theatre was considered to be rather better supplied with means of exit than is customary. But, as is frequently the case in this country, it was built in the middle of a bock, and the upper gallery was very high. Nearly all the persons in the orchestra chairs and the dress circle gallery escaped withoui any injuries other thau a bad bruising or a broken arm, received in the con--1 fusion of the stampede. The obvious rule for theatres should be that they must be built either at a corner, or in an open space, so that in event of fire or pinb, people cau escape by the sides, as well as by the front and rear entrances. Mauy other improvements are suggested, but they are only doubtful shifts, not a radical remedy. One, however, devised by Mr Dion Boucicault, deserves mention. This is the painting of the scenery with a chemical solution which has the property of making a fire _at least harmless, for in place of breaking into flame, the saturated wood merely burns with a dull glow into ashes. Dresses soaked in the same fluid simply crumble into tinder when exposed to fire. A trial has been had at Wallaeh's Theatre, and there seems no doubt of the solution being effective, at least when freshly applied. In any case, something will have to be done by the theatre manage! s to restore confidence, for since the fire the New York theatres have suffered a sad falling off in t.heir receipts, and Booth's Theatre has had to shut up altogether for a week, although its salaries and rent still ran on, because the seats sold were not sufficient to pay even the advertising and the gas. Evtrywhero the houses are poor, and until the tragedy of the Brooklyn Theatre is effased from the minds of the New York playgoers there is not likely to be much improvement.