City's Inspector Of Buildings Calls Majestic Unsafe

City’s Inspector Of Buildings Calls Majestic Unsafe

Maulbetsch Says He Would Oppose Reopening Of Former Theater

Current rumors regarding the possibility of the Majestic theater re-opening for legitimate stage or motion picture productions, or for other public gathering place uses, were silenced this morning with a report from William C. Maulbetsch, city building inspector, stating that the building would provide hazardous housing for such projects.

The building, a former motion picture house, was closed when Butterfield Theaters, Inc., which holds the building lease, opened its new theater, the State.

Stating that because of its construction, "fire In the present building would create an inferno so fast that loss of lives might result before the theater could be vacated,” Mr. Maulbetsch said, "as building inspector I would be derelict in my duties if I did not oppose the reopening of this theater under present conditions.”

Doesn't Meet Code

He pointed out that the Majestic does not conform with the city building code in several instances, and said in his report that the board of fire commissioners has, the authority to refuse permission to allow the theater to operate after Jan. 1 unless its owners or leasers prove that it has been changed to meet the requirements.

Inspector Maulbetsch staled in the report that the Majestic does not meet constructioin requirements in that it is of frame construction with brick veneer rather than of the required fireproof or incombustible type. According to the report, the exit foyer lacks 538 feet of meeting the regulation calling for one square foot of area for each seat using the foyer for an exit.  The  building also fails to meet exit space and seat and aisle space qualifications called for by the city code theater purposes.

Cites Other Objections

Wood flooring and wooden joists in the Majestic stage do not meet with the city code which requires steel beams and supports as well as fireproof flooring. The city also requires that no part of the heating room or carpentry room shall be located under the stage of such buildings. The furnace and fuel room is below the Majestic stage, the report states.

The motion picture machine booth also fails to meet requirements.

Mr. Maulbetsch completed his report by noting that the Majestic building in its present position "should never be permitted to re-open as a class D or E building for a theater or other public gathering place. He also pointed out that because the outside walls, roofs, floors and interior partitions are of wood construction it would be impossible to remodel the theater so that it would be safe in every respect.