Pennsylvania Act 1919-120 — BALLROOMS AND PUBLIC DANCE HALLS, LICENSED AND REGULATED

Act text

BALLROOMS AND PUBLIC DANCE HALLS, LICENSED AND REGULATED
                  Act of May 16, 1919, P.L. 193, No. 120              Cl. 11
                                  AN ACT

     To provide for the licensing and regulation of public dance
        halls and ball rooms, and for the regulation, supervision of
        public dances and balls in cities of the first, second, and
        third classes.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 4701 of Act 317 of 1931 provided
            that Act 120 is repealed insofar as it relates to third
            class cities.
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That this act shall apply to
     all cities of the first, second, and third classes, within this
     Commonwealth.
        Section 2.  The term "public dance" or "public ball," as used
     in this act, shall be taken to include any dance or ball
     conducted in connection with instruction in dancing for hire,
     and any dance or ball to which admission may be had by the
     payment of a fee or by the purchase, possession, or presentation
     of a ticket or token, or in connection with which a charge is
     made for caring for clothing or other property, and any dance or
     ball to which the public generally may gain admission with or
     without the payment of a fee.
        The term "dance hall" or "ball room," as used in this act,
     shall be taken to include any room, place, or space, in which a
     public dance or public ball, as herein defined, shall be held,
     and any room, hall, or academy, in which classes in dancing are
     held and instruction in dancing is given for hire.
        Section 3.  From and after the first day of June, one
     thousand nine hundred and nineteen, no person, persons, society,
     club, or corporation shall hold a public dance or public ball
     within the limits of any city of the first, second, or third
     class, within this Commonwealth, without having first obtained a
     permit therefor from the mayor thereof: Provided, however, Such
     permit shall not be required for dances held and conducted by
     regularly established instructors in dancing in connection with
     such instruction.
        The fee for such permit, which shall be paid at the time of
     the issuing thereof, shall be one dollar for each public dance
     or ball.
        Section 4.  From and after the first day of June, one
     thousand nine hundred and nineteen, it shall be unlawful to hold
     or conduct any public dance or public ball, or to hold or
     conduct classes in dancing, or to give instructions in dancing
     for hire, in any hall, ball room, or academy, within the limits
     of any city of the first, second, and third class, within this
     Commonwealth, unless the dance hall or ball room or academy, in
     which the same may be held, shall have been duly licensed for
     such purpose.
        Application for such license shall be made by the proprietor
     of such dance hall or ball room or academy to the mayor, who is
     hereby authorized to issue the same.
        The fee payable for each such license granted hereunder shall
     be as follows:
        In the case of dance halls maintained and conducted in
     connection with regularly established instruction in dancing,
     and exclusively used in such connection, the annual license fee
     shall be thirty-five dollars in cities of the first and second
     classes and ten dollars in all other cities.
        In the case of all other dance halls and ball rooms, the
     annual license fee shall be forty dollars in cities of the first
     and second classes and fifteen dollars in all other cities.
        Each license granted hereunder shall expire on the first day
     of June of each year.
        The fee payable for each license granted hereunder shall be
     for the whole or any portion of a calendar year, and all moneys
     received by way of license fees hereunder shall be paid into the
     general fund of the city.
        Every licensed public dance hall or ball room or academy
     shall post its license in a conspicuous place within the hall
     where the dance is held.
        (4 amended June 15, 1961, P.L.441, No.218; Aug. 22, 1961,
     P.L.1024, No.461)
        Section 5.  It shall be the duty of the mayor to cause an
     investigation of all applications for public dance hall or ball
     room licenses to determine whether or not the dance hall, ball
     room, or academy, sought to be licensed, complies with the
     rules, regulations, ordinances, and laws applicable thereto,
     and, in making such investigation, he shall, when desired, have
     the assistance of any department of the government of the city.
        Section 6.  No license for a public dance hall or ball room
     or academy shall be issued until it shall be ascertained that
     the place for which it is issued complies with and conforms to
     all laws, ordinances, health and fire regulations, applicable
     thereto, and is a safe and proper place for the purpose for
     which it shall be used, properly ventilated, and supplied with
     sufficient toilet conveniences.
        Section 7.  The license of any public dance hall or ball room
     or academy may be forfeited or revoked by the mayor for
     disorderly or immoral conduct on the premises, or upon proof
     that the dance hall, ball room or academy was frequented by
     disorderly or immoral persons, or for the violation of any of
     the rules, regulations, ordinances, and laws, governing or
     applying to public dance hall, ball rooms, or academies, or
     public dances.  If at any time the license of a public dance
     hall, ball room, or academy shall be forfeited or revoked, at
     least three months shall elapse before another license or permit
     shall be granted for dancing on the same premises.
        Section 8.  All public dance halls, or ball rooms or
     academies shall be kept at all times in a clean, healthful, and
     sanitary condition, and all stairways and other passages and all
     rooms connected with public dance hall, ball room, or academy
     shall be kept open and well lighted.
        Section 9.  All public dance halls, ball rooms, and academies
     shall be subject to inspection by the police department of the
     city at all reasonable times and whenever they are open for
     dancing, instruction in dancing, or for any other purpose.
        Any police officer shall have the power to cause the place,
     hall or room where any public dance or ball is given, to be
     vacated whenever any provision of any law or ordinance with
     regard to public dances and public balls is being violated, or
     whenever any indecent act shall be committed, or when any
     disorder of a gross, violent or vulgar character shall take
     place therein.
        Section 10.  It shall be unlawful, after nine o'clock post
     meridian, to permit any person to attend or take part in any
     public dance who has not reached the age of sixteen years.
        Section 11.  All public dances shall be discontinued, and all
     public dance halls shall be closed, on or before the hour of one
     o'clock ante meridian: Provided, however, That upon the
     application of a bona fide organization or society, and upon an
     investigation by the proper authority, the mayor may grant such
     organization or society a permit to continue a dance until two
     o'clock ante meridian.
        Section 12.  Any person, persons, society, club, or
     corporation who shall violate the provisions of this act shall,
     upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding, be sentenced to
     pay a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300) and
     costs of prosecution, and, in default of the payment thereof,
     shall undergo imprisonment for not more than thirty days.
        (12 amended Aug. 22, 1961, P.L.1024, No.461)