CHAPTER 19.
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.
Article I. In General.
§ 19-1. Compliance with article.
§ 19-2. License– Issuance.
§ 19-3. Same Fees.
§ 19-4. Same– Revocation.
§ 19-5. Notice to chief of police in advance of performance required.
§ 19-6. Police officers to be employed.
Article II. Dances and Dance Halls.
§ 19-7. Definitions.
§ 19-8. License– Required for hall: application, term and fee.
§ 19-9. Same– Investigation of applications.
§ 19-10. Same– Conditions for issuance; posting.
§ 19-11. Same– Revocation and suspension.
§ 19-12. Permit required to hold dance.
§ 19-13. Police officers– Required.
§ 19-14. Same– Powers and duties.
§ 19-15. Closing hour.
§ 19-16. Serving, drinking, etc., intoxicating liquor prohibited.
ARTICLE I. Sec. 19-1. Compliance with article.
No licenses shall be granted for theatrical exhibitions or other entertainments of any kind when required by statute unless subject to this article, and failure to comply with this article shall render the license void.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 2, § 7.)
Sec. 19-2. License– Issuance.
All licenses of the nature referred to in this article shall be issued by the city clerk, acting under the direction of the mayor.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 2, § 6.)
As to licenses generally, see ch. 12 of this Revision.
Sec. 19-3. Same– Fees.
The following schedule of fees for licenses for places of public amusement to which admission is obtained by the payment of money or any other valuable thing is hereby adopted:
(a) For a license covering one performance or exhibition only, the fee shall be one dollar; except, that in case of exhibitions or performances in the municipal building, the license fees shall be deemed to be included in the rent of the hall; provided, however, that theatres or similar places of amusement may be licensed for one year for a fee of thirty dollars.
(b) For a license for exhibitions of amusements similar in character to vaudeville and moving picture shows, the fee shall be one dollar per week.
(c) For a license fee for traveling shows or circuses where the price of admission is fifty cents or more, the fee shall be fifty dollars.
(d) For a license for traveling shows or circuses where the price of admission is less than fifty cents, the fee shall be thirty-five dollars.
All license fees shall be paid to the city clerk in advance.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 2, §§ 4, 5.)
Sec. 19-4. Same– Revocation.
Any infraction of the statutes of the commonwealth or the laws of decency, chastity and morality will be deemed a sufficient cause for revocation of the license.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 2, § 3.)
Sec. 19-5. Notice to chief of police in advance of performance required.
All licensees shall notify the chief of police at least two days before any performance of the nature of an entertainment.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 2, § 1.)
As to police generally, see ch. 18 of this Revision.
Sec. 19-6. Police officers to be employed.
No other officers shall be employed for the preservation of order in any licensed place of amusement than members of the police force or constables duly appointed by the mayor and council.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 2, § 2.)
ARTICLE II. Sec. 19-7. Definitions.
For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Immoral person. Any person who has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of being a prostitute, male or female procurer or bawd or who has such a reputation or character.
Public dance or public ball. Any dance or ball to which the public may gain admission with or without the payment of a fee.
Public dance hall. Any room or place in which a public dance or public ball shall be held.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 10.)
Sec. 19-8. License– Required for hall; application, term and fee.
It shall be unlawful to hold or conduct any public dance or public ball in any hall or room until such hall or room has been duly licensed for such purpose. Application for such license shall be made by the owner of such hall or room to the mayor. Each license granted hereunder shall expire on the thirty-first day of May of each year. The fee for such license shall be ten dollars.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 1; 7-13-81.)
As to licenses generally, see ch. 12 of this Revision.
Sec. 19-9. Same– Investigation of applications.
The chief of police shall examine all applications for dance hall licenses and shall investigate or cause to be investigated each application to determine whether or not the dance hall seeking to be licensed conforms with the regulations, ordinances and laws applicable thereto and shall furnish the mayor in writing the information derived from such investigation, accompanied by a recommendation as to whether or not a license shall be granted or refused. He shall have access to all public dance halls and public dances at all times. He shall investigate complaints and shall inspect at least once in every month the dance halls within the city and shall report all violations in writing to the mayor.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 9.)
Sec. 19-10. Same– Conditions for issuance; posting.
No license shall be issued until it shall be found that the place for which it is issued complies with and conforms to all laws, ordinances, health and fire regulations applicable thereto, is properly ventilated and supplied with sufficient toilet convenience and is a safe and proper place for a public dance. In every licensed hall or room this license shall be posted in a conspicuous place.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 2.)
Sec. 19-11. Same– Revocation and suspension.
Such license may be revoked or suspended by the mayor for violation of any provision of this article. If such license be revoked, at least three months shall elapse before another such license shall be granted.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 3.)
Sec. 19-12. Permit required to hold dance.
It shall be unlawful for any person, society, club, association or corporation to hold a public dance or public ball without having first obtained a permit therefor from the chief of police which shall be issued at least forty-eight hours before the dance authorized thereunder is to be held.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 4.)
Sec. 19-13. Police officers– Required.
Any person having a permit to conduct a dance in public or a public ball shall be required to employ as many police officers as the chief of police may designate. One or more of such police officers may be allowed to act as ticket sellers or as ticket takers, but there must be at least one police officer who shall have no other duties than to preserve order and see that the provisions of this article and other laws relating to morality and good order are enforced. All police officers at public dances, public balls or public dance halls must be selected and detailed by the chief of police.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 11.)
As to police generally, see ch. 18 of this Revision.
Sec. 19-14. Same– Powers and duties.
The chief of police or any police officer designated by him to be in attendance at any public dance or ball shall have the power and it shall be his duty to cause the hall or room where a public dance or ball is given to be vacated when any ordinance, regulation or law concerning dancehalls has been or is being violated, when any disorder of a gross, violent or vulgar character shall take place or when the person in charge of such dance permits any immoral person as defined in this article to remain in the hall or room after such person has been requested by the officer in attendance to leave the hall or room.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 5.)
Sec. 19-15. Closing hour.
All public dances shall be discontinued and all public dancehalls shall be closed on or before the hour of 12:00 Midnight; provided, however, that upon the application of any organization or society, the chief of police may grant such organization or society a permit to continue a dance until 1:00 A.M., in which event the hall may remain open until 1:00 A.M.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 7.)
Sec. 19-16. Serving, drinking, etc., intoxicating liquor prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any one to serve, have, deliver or drink any intoxicating liquor in any public dancehall or its anterooms, hallways or stairways during a public dance.
(R. O. 1960, ch. 37, pt. 1, § 8.)
IN GENERAL.
DANCES AND DANCE HALLS.