New Haven, CT Rialto Theatre House Fire, Nov 1921 - Flames Spread Quickly, part 2

Officials Are at Odds.

Aside from lack of enforcement of the State laws for moving picture houses uncertainty over the proper official to carry out the investigation has apparently resulted in laxity. Evidently the City Building Inspector has expected the State police to carry out the State regulations and safeguards, but Colonel Arnon Alling, State Attorney, pointed out today that the Legislature two years ago repealed all supervision by the State police over moving picture houses, with the exception of the proper protection for the film machine. Joseph Austin, City Building Inspector, declared that the State had authority over such matters as the width of aisled, exits and fire escapes. He insisted that he had examined the Rialto and found that it complied with the city building laws.

Some of the alleged shortcomings of the Rialto Theatre were: Lack of sprinklers and an asbestos curtain; small winding staircases upon which not more than two persons could stand abreast; balcony windows too heavy to be opened by the women ushers and therefore kept closed; thick opaque curtains and tiny panes for the windows resulting in their being close instead of opened; loose chairs instead of fixed seats; a balcony which extended around the entire side of the theatre after the manager of churches of the past century; inadequate fire escapes, while the building itself, a rambling, frame structure, was a veritable tinderbox; aisles and entrances filled with persons packed tightly in the rear of the theatre, and of the four front doors three were bolted and only one open to allow the exit of the crowd that surged out of the theatre to escape being burned alive, although the cashier had stopped selling tickets half an hour before the fire occurred.

Three Investigations Started.

Three investigators were started today. The most searching was the original investigation set under way by Coroner Eli Mix. Lawrence Carroll, manager of the theatre, appeared as a witness and testified that last night’s fire was caused by incense burned in the prologue to a film igniting filmy drapery used in the scene. Royal Marion, the organist, discovered the flames first and together they pulled down the flaming drapery and tried to throw it outside. It burned like tissue paper and, although the chemical extinguisher was used, the flames covered the entire top of the theatre instantly:

Coroner Mix’s investigation will continue for several days.

Captain Robert Hurley, chief of the State police, arrived today to investigate whether incense was used on the moving picture stage as alleged. While he would not comment on the Rialto situation he said that the use of any inflammable substance like incense is a violation of the regulations governing al playhouses. Municipal officials, including the Fire, Police and Building Inspector Departments, have united in a thorough review of last night’s tragedy.

Yale University asked today for an investigation, demanding that blame for the fire be fixed. Dean Frederick Jones said that the lives of numerous Yale undergraduates were imperiled and that many were injured and badly burned. He declared that he could not understand how theatres are permitted to operate in New Haven if they are not adequately equipped and their occupants safeguarded.

The Rialto is owned by former State Senator Harry A. Leonard, who was a member of the Legislature in 1919, which passed the present laws governing supervision of moving picture theatres. The theatre was leased about a year ago by the Connecticut Theatre Corporation, a subsidiary of the Black Corporation. The theatre carried no liability insurance for patrons.

No more bodies were found in the theatre ruins today and Fire Chief Fancher said tonight that he was confident no more remain in the debris.

Several of Yale’s football men took part in the rescue of spectators in the Rialto Theatre fire last night, it developed today, as personal experiences were told my many who were in the audience. John Locke of Roland Park, Md., and C. P. Esselstyn of New York went back into the theatre and found a child which a woman said she had lost in her struggle to get out. The men had to grope about in the smoke but by keeping in touch both got out safely.

R. C. Batty of Utica, N. Y., dragged a man out with one hand a woman with the other and pushed a third out at the same time, and dashing back pulled a woman out by the legs and another by her coat collar.

T. F. M. and A. H. Doolittle of Spokane, Wash., are twins, and both got hurt and found themselves in different hospitals. George Heffelfihger, 24, of Waysata, Minn., nephew of “Pudge” Heffelfihger, one-time famous football player, stood inside and divided the crowd so that it used two doors. He towered over the people he was ordering. H. F. Cullom of Nashville, Tenn., and Walter Crafts of Montreal Que., were burned helping people out. Other Yale men were highly praised for their coolheadedness and efforts to quiet the crowd.

College men estimate that fully 200 of their number were in the theatre. Dr. J. C. Greenway, head of the University Health Department; President Angell and the deans of the departments spent much of the night visiting the injured and in checking up the student list. Today there was a flood of telegrams of inquiry from relatives as to their safety.
The New York Times, New York, NY 28 Nov 1921