'Theatres safer than offices during flu pandemic' – From The Stage Archive 93 years ago

Writing to our editor (February 10, 1927), theatre manager Oswald Stoll extolled the cleanliness of his theatres in the face of public fears during a flu epidemic:

He wrote: “There is a prevalent notion, unwarranted by the facts, that theatres are haunts of infection during epidemics like the influenza. The truth is that the risk of infection in a modern theatre is actually less than in almost any other public place.

“Risk is less because precautions are greater. Constant inspections by municipal officials, often unknown to the management, ensure the continued maintenance of all forms of cleanliness, including safe guards against atmospheric impurity. The result is that the really modern theatre has become well-nigh invulnerable to germs. The extent of these precautions is remarkable. Take a typical variety theatre under my control. Here there are thirty-seven men and women regularly engaged every day in cleaning work alone.

“The public should be assured that no danger may be apprehended from attending places of amusement, which are known to be as perfect as incessant attention to sanitation can make them. It can surely be contended that it is far better for the public to attend such places of entertainment than it is to remain in dingy, ill-ventilated rooms or offices, where the likelihood of infection is greater.”

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