On Oct. 3, 1918, state Health Commissioner Dr. Franklin B. Royer, witnessing the growing epidemic across Pennsylvania, issued a mandatory state-wide closure order effective at midnight for all places of public amusement, including theaters, poolrooms, dance halls, and salons.

Reactions to the closure orders were mixed. The Philadelphia Inquirer believed that Royer’s and Krusen’s orders went too far, and that the sudden shut-down of schools, churches, and places of public amusement only served to promote unreasonable fear and panic. Editors instead advised residents maintain a normal lifestyle and their health by getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising.