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Author Topic: The Center Aisle Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2005 11:56 AM                     I have been looking for the citation in Pennsylvania law but I couldn't find it within a reasonable time. However I know the general idea of it. In PA, at least, you must have: * No more than X seats (or so many feet) from an aisle. * IF there is Y distance from the back of the seat in the row ahead to the front of the seat behind, then X may be doubled. * Retractable seats MAY be used to ensure Y's distance. * There must be 1 exit door for every Z seats in the house. * 50% or more of those doors must lead directly outside. * Balconies must have two or more exit doors, each leading to a different place. PLUS, they must comply with all of the rules above, except the 50% rule. If memory serves: X = 6 (or 18 feet.) Y = 36" Z = 100 people. When I first started my current job the Fire Chief came in for one of his regular inspections. He explained a whole bunch of those rules to me. It's been a while since he told me so I forget a lot of them. The funniest rule I remember is that firefighters must treat all red cans as if they contained inflammable liquids whether or not they actually do. We had a red gasoline can sitting on the shelf. The Fire Chief asked my why it was there. I told him that it was a prop. (It really was a prop.) To my knowledge that can had never contained anything, not even water. He told me that, even if it DID contain water, a firefighter must assume that it contains gasoline because it's red. I picked up the can, took it outside and put it in the trunk of my car. I came back inside and told the Fire Chief, "Problem solved."  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2005 12:13 PM                        This is totally off topic but Randy's gas can incident reminded me of a funny event that happened here. For the movie "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," the studio created a standee of Steve Martin in gangster costume, life size, pointing a gun. You could press a button on his lapel and hear him talk. After the movie ended, I hated to throw Steve away, so I took him up to the booth and stood him next to the projector. A few months later, I accidentally left the front door unlocked when I left for the night. The cops happened to find it unlocked and went in and checked the place out, then the dispatcher called me to come and lock up. When I got there the cop chewed me out: "You're pretty damn lucky I didn't blow a hole in the side of your projector when I went upstairs and saw that guy pointing a gun at me!" I think what saved the day was, Steve was in black-and-white.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-25-2005 03:28 PM                     Louis (or anyone), do you have a list of which states require what the maximum number of seats is before an aisle?  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 11-25-2005 09:22 PM                        Brad, I have always followed the conventional rule of 7 - 14 - 7 in just about all of the theatres I have installed since the mid-sixties. The only exceptions have been specialty multi-media theatres which have had a center section only, leading to wide aisles and/or continental seating. States where I have put theatres include: Massachuetts Connecticut New York New Jersey Maryland Washington D.C. Virginia North Carolina Florida Michigan Louisiana Missouri Oklahoma Indiana Pennsylvania Alabama Ohio Niagara Falls, Ontario  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-25-2005 09:26 PM                     The Uptown Theatre in Chicago has at least 6 center aisles among its ACRE SIZE main floor of seating...... So who's worried about a little single center aisle???? If only architects and theatre owners would think big again...... This is just over 50% of the main floor seating area..... Mark  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-25-2005 10:39 PM                        The Garrick Twin had a D150 house. These pictures are of the theatre after it was bought by the hotel across the backlane. They constructed that stage and put up that motorized screen. I think the D150 screen was about 50' wide or so. Cinema 1 sat 607, and Cinema 2 sat 778. Both auditoriums had a cross-aisle that you entered on, either from the sides of from under the stadium/balcony seats. Running from the back of the auditorium to the screen were three aisles in Cinema 1 and four aisles in Cinema 2. Cinema 1 (the D150 house) Balcony: approx. 12 rows with 6 seats / 11 seats / 6 seats *cross aisle* Slope: approx. 14 rows with 6 seats / 11 seats / 6 seats Cinema 2 Balcony: approx. 14 rows with / 8 seats / 14 seats / 8 seats / *cross aisle* Slope: approx. 16 rows with / 8 seats / 14 seats / 8 seats / I think this theatre was perfect, as it was my favourite, although many might disagree. Gordon MacLoed knows more. This theatre is in the warehouse.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 11-26-2005 09:46 AM                        Mark, as you know, in those days one theatre had one title and shared it with no one. That, and no TV, meant there was a need for giant theatres. Louisville had "exclusive run" until the 1980's; the largest city still doing so at that time. Alas, it is a shame. I, too, serviced those giants in their last days. Louis  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 12-02-2005 02:38 PM                     How do IMAX theatres get away with their seating arrangement? The IMAX theatres I've been in have rows of more than 20 seats, sometimes 30 or so. How is this legal?  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-02-2005 02:43 PM                        Distance between rows is usually much greater, so there's room to safely walk in front of seated people.  |  IP: Logged David Kilderry Master Film Handler Posts: 355 From: Melbourne Australia Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-02-2005 10:26 PM                        We also had the 7 seat from an aisle rule, and that meant rows of 15 seats i.e. you were never more than 7 seats from an aisle assuming side aisles. I understand that these rules still apply in most states of Australia, however as stated above, IMAX have rows of up to 30 seats. Aisle lights were required if the fall of an auditorium was more than 1 in 16.  |  IP: Logged

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