Bond was set Monday for five members of a movie projectionists union charged with trying to settle labor disputes by setting fires and smoke bombs and carrying out beatings at theaters in 10 states — including a theater in Ames.

Federal prosecutors said the crimes were intended to scare officials of three major theater chains to give in during contract negotiations. In two cases, theater managers were physically beaten, with a pipe in one case and a bat in another.

The Ames Police Department and federal prosecutors believe an incident that happened on July 10, 1999, was part of the labor dispute.

According to Ames fire records, on July 10, 1999, eight firefighters from Fire Station No. 1, 1300 Burnett Ave., responded to an incident at Movies 12, 1317 Buckeye Ave., where someone had set off one or more smoke bombs.

Upon firefighters’ arrival, there was smoke in the main corridor and in several of the auditoriums of the 12-plex. Firefighters ventilated the building by using fans and positive pressure ventilation. There were no reported injuries.

At the time of the incident, it was not clear who was responsible, said Ames Deputy Fire Chief Russ Scott.

Scott said he was unaware of what was going on between union members and theater officials at the time of the incident in Ames.

“If I had known about what was going on, we could have secured some evidence,” Scott said.

Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson said at the time of the incident, officials suspected the incident was committed as a prank.

U.S. District Judge Sidney Schenkier set bond at $100,000 for Albin C. Brenkus, 60, and Carl A. Covelli, Jr., 48. Brenkus is the business manager of Chicago-based Local 110 of the movie projectionists union.

Schenkier set bond at $50,000 for three other members of Local 110. They are Keith J. Dutton, 48, of Chicago; Peter C. Lipa, 48, of Wonder Lake, Ill.; and Gregory J. Tortorello of Fort Stewart, Ga.

Tortorello appeared in court for the first time Monday. He was charged with arson conspiracy and interstate travel conspiracy. The others had appeared for the first time Friday, shortly after they were arrested.

The fires and assaults occurred at theaters owned by AMC Entertainment, Cinemark USA and Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp.

The attacks occurred in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.

Fifteen fires were set using bags or cups filled with chlorine and brake fluid, prosecutors said. In five other attempts, the combination caused smoke but no fire.

The covers of CDs by the pop group Chicago were left at the scene of some out-of-town fires as a calling card, prosecutors said.

— The Associated Press contributed to this article.