Chicago Tribune
AROUSED BY THEATER FIRE;
LICENSES MAY BE SEIZED
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Board Not Only to Investigate Milwaukee Avenue Blaze, but Will Start General
Inquiry of Operators
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As the result of the panic in the nickel theater at 434 Milwaukee avenue Saturday night, in which an old man was injured, a number of moving picture machine operators in Chicago may lose their licenses.
William H. Havill, president of the board of examiners of moving picture machine operators, yesterday declared he would start an investigation of the film fire and would take the operator’s license away from him if it was discovered he had been negligent.
Not stopping with the inquiry into the Milwaukee avenue theater panic, Mr. Havill said he would being immediately a thorough investigation of all the nickel theaters in the city with a view of putting every picture machine operator out of business who is not found to be observing the provisions of the city ordinances.
"I understand," said Mr. Havill, "that the film which was being used in the Milwaukee avenue house was an old and damaged one. I also have heard the tank which was attached to the machine was not of the kind required by the city ordinance. If I find this is so, the operator will lose his license.
The operator of the machine was Carl Price, who was regularly licensed by Mr. Havill and his board of examiners.
The 5 cent theater has an educational value in the opinion of the Juvenile court committee, and it will be municipalized, if possible. Mrs. W. I. Thomas outlined this plan and other of the hopes and accomplishments of this organization last evening in a speech at the Hyde Park Baptist church. The subject was "Juvenile Protective Work."
