On Dec. 12, 1918, following an increase in influenza cases, Cincinnati Health Officer Dr. William H. Peters recommended regulating businesses’ hours to avoid a second closure order.

He suggested a plan whereby stores in the downtown district would close by 4:30 pm, offices by 5:00 pm, wholesale establishments by 5:15 pm, and factories by 6:00 pm. Saloons would close by 7:00 pm, undoubtedly to the chagrin of after-work tipplers. Movie houses, Peters, suggested, should close between 4:15 pm and 6:00 pm to allow for full and proper ventilation. In the end, these protests became moot points when the Board of Health suddenly revoked its order only two days later.

Meeting in special session on the afternoon of December 14, Board of Health members quickly decided that the influenza situation in Cincinnati had improved enough over the course of the previous few days to warrant removal of the restrictions on business hours.