Abstract: A new and improved wide area air removal apparatus includes at least one air duct that traverses a portion of the wide area and includes a plurality of apertures arrayed along the length of the air duct. An electric fan assembly is connected to the plural-aperture-including air duct for creating a vacuum in the plural-aperture-including air duct and for moving air from the wide area through the apertures and through the air duct to outside the air duct. The air that is removed from the wide area can be filtered and returned to the wide area; or it can be moved outside the wide area. The air that is removed from the wide area can be laden with smoke or other odor-bearing substances. The wide area can be a room in a building. The plural-aperture-including air duct may include a plurality of air duct branches. In addition, ash tray collars may be provided for placement circumferentially around ash trays. The ash tray collars include apertures for drawing in air adjacent to the ash trays.