Escalator No Like Baggy Pants

More details on yesterday's incident where 50 children and adults tumbled down an escalator at the Loews Lincoln Square theater (photo from Newsday). They were travelling up an escalator to see The Polar Express on IMAX, and someone, possibly a teacher, accidentally pressed an emergency button, which then caused the escalator to start moving down. Fire officials think a child's clothing became ensnared ("baggy-pants leg became ensnared by a protruding screw"), causing everyone to fall like dominoes, and as a Department of Buildings spokesperson said to the NY Times, "You can imagine the pandemonium when one child gets stuck on the escalator, others in front of him turn around to look, and the thing is still moving."

About 30 kids, ranging from wee kindergarteners to eighth graders, were piled up at the bottom of the stairs, 14 went to the hospital (none were admitted; most of the injuries were just scrapes and bruises, not including a new fear of escalators and movie theaters) and Loews was issued a summons. This reminds Gothamist of our fears of riding escalators; for many years, we refused to go on escalators, leaving us stranded momentarily when our relatives would think we were following right behind (it usually took a nice lady to convince us it wasn't scary). What's more, the escalator it happened on was the one that goes to the IMAX theaters from the second floor - the really steep and scary one. Poor kids, it's no fun for your face to be smushed against the angry metal grooves of the stairs; Gothamist is sorry for thinking it was funny (even though it does seem like a bad but funny movie).

The first escalator was invented in 1897 for a Coney Island ride by Jesse Reno. Learn how escalators work from How Stuff Works. Two films that use escalators well: Elf, with the escalator pushing Will Ferrell's physical comedy skills, and Chungking Express, which features the Mid Levels escalators that commuters take everyday (it's the longest outdoor escalator system in the world).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 14, 2005 9:09 AM

Comments [rss]

oobla doobla

Uh, Brad, I think you mean that niggers and escalators don't mix, especially when they're wearing those ridiculous ghetto clothes.

Normal self-respecting black people have no problem with such things.

brad

This story is funny,it could have been worse,in laymans terms baggy clothes and machines dont mix,get rid of the baggy pants and this will not happen,dam these kids and their parents are so dumb that its actually pathetic,no wonder most of the schools took out the wood and metal shops,i guess wearing baggy ass pants is more important.

S.D.

Stuyvesant? The New Building has Escalators? Me, I went to Brooklyn Tech. 3 Student elevators 1 teacher elevator.

MT

I'm suffering high school jealousy now. 9 floors?!?!? Elevators?!?!? Escalators?!?!?!? My HS had a gymatorium. I think I'll go cry a little now.

tien

SD - yeah, some high schools have escalators. i went to stuyvesant and the new building has escalators. and lots of them. of course, half the time, they weren't working, but still.

S.D.

Sounds like a job for Detectives Goren & Eames!

On a more serious Note: The escalator could have just malfunctioned at that given moment. IMO, Loews wouldn't be forthcoming if it was due to their faulty equipment. Granted were not talking cutting edge tech, but if it isn't properly maintained, it may break down at odd moments. I bet the police are considering it...

Jen

I hope they dusted the button for prints!

S.D.

Tien, Highshool's have escalators?

Mine had an Express Elevator to the 9th floor, but that was about it...

Dirk

Jeez. Something's a little bit angry today....

kid

"Accidentally pushed the button"?!?! Most often the buttons are also positioned LOW to the ground. Youhave to make a concerted effort to hit it. And yes, by state law they are covdred, to prevent mishaps such as this. What crap. It was some little nigger who wanted to have a laugh. Animals.

kid

"Accidentally pushed the button"?!?! What crap. It was some little shit who wanted to have a laugh. Animals.

tien

i love escalators. something i learned in high school is that if you prop your foot under the step and move the step ahead of you up, the escalator would stop. obviously a safety measure, but something that can sometimes be done accidentally.

also, i loved sliding down the escalators in high school that was fun.

and what were they doing going to watch polar express?

Jen

I am laughing on the inside, of course.

S.D.

Hmf. If a Teacher hit it, I hope He/She had a good reason.

Maybe it was a Kid. At the risk of finding out the Statute of Limitations (Kidding!), At 13, I *Loved* to push Buttons...

Really Tempting Sign for some kids: "When pressed alarm sounds"

MT

They totally all still have that cover. I know because I look at it every time I get on an escalator and wonder briefly what sort of chaos would ensue if I hit it. I guess now I know.

S.D.

...

"Quentin Tarantino's"?!?!

Un-F___ing-Believable!!!! I hit the Amazon Link to "Chungking Express" and discover: If I Buy the DVD that Nit's Name and Picture is the Most Prominent Logo on the Box?!?!?

Arrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!

I Swear, you'd think that Guy actually had something to do with the Picture!! I Hate this Marketing!!!

On a Calmer Note: As a kid, Escalators were the coolest thing. I'm certainly sorry these kids were hurt, and I hope they won't get scared of them like "Gothamist" did (Jen, Is that like Her Majesty the Queen speaking? Perchance we should refer to you as Her Royal Princess Jen? Just Kidding! )

"accidentally pressed an emergency button"?

Last time I was there, the only buttons I saw on the escalator had clear plastic switch covers. You'd have to Move the spring loaded cover and then hit the button. Anyone know if they still have switch covers?

katie

Jen cmon, it WAS kinda funny.....

MT

I know just how you felt. I lived in mortal fear of getting my pants caught in an escalator when I was a kid. I always had gruesome pictures of getting sucked into it at the top like I was going through a wood chipper.