The complete story told by the survivors presenting a vivid picture, both by the pen and the camera, of one of the greatest fire horrors of modern times by marshall everett jan 1, 1904 4. The memorial is the new iroquois memorial emergency hospital at 87 market street, which was dedicated yesterday and which was erected with funds raised by the iroquois memorial association. Butfor those who were there, it was a horror they could never forget. December 30th falls on a friday this year but it was a wednesday on the afternoon of december 30th in 1903 that an audience consisting mostly of women and children filled seats of the iroquois theater. Aug 03, 2006 on the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee performance, a fire broke out in chicago s iroquois theatre. Fire an arc light on the left side of the stage sputtered and ignited a strip of paintsaturated muslin on a drape. It seems like i should have a summary of the disaster to share on the anniversary of the iroquois theater fire. See more ideas about chicago ill, iroquois, theater chicago. Absolutely fireproof a human tragedy chicago and cook.
Eddie foys account of the iroquois fire chicagology. Five hundred and seventyone lives were destroyed by fire in the iroquois theater in the fifteen minutes between 3. Iroquois theatre was only 5weeksold when destroyed they believed that the building was fireproof what caused the disaster. Great chicago theater disaster this book, published in 1904, is a contemporary perspective of the fire and its aftermath. Title iroquois theatre fire contributor names ehrhart, s. With eerie parallels to the titanic disaster, the iroquois programs boasted that the theater was absolutely fireproof but everyone involved seemed to think somebody else had done whatever was necessary to make that claim a reality. Iroquois theater fire centennial books by anthony hatchs tinderbox and nat brandt chicago death trap. An asbestos fire curtain was dropped on the stage, but was snagged on the way down and.
Iroquois theater fire almost forgotten, but continues to. The theatre was touted as one of the finest in the country and absolutely fireproof. On the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee. Iroquois theater fire significant illinois fires libguides at. The iroquois theatre fire alerted the country to the need for improved fire safety regulations in theaters. The iroquois theatre fire occurred on december 30, 1903, at the iroquois theatre in chicago, illinois, united states.
The theater, which had only been open one month, was considered to be architecturally excellent, and advertisements had declared it fireproof. Seven years after the iroquois theater fire, in which 600 persons lost their lives, chicagos long planned memorial of the catastrophe was dedicated. Digitized copy of a 1904 publication documenting the iroquois theatre fire from the digitized books from the university of illinois at urbanachampaign and the open content alliance. Haunting iroquois theatre photo details mysterious.
The wellwritten and wellresearched tinder box by anthony hatch describes what happened that tragic afternoon when a spotlight shortcircuited starting a fire that eventually killed over 600 people. Many chicagoans did not think a fire of such magnitude could ever happen again since many had lived through the great chicago fire. Heres one mans account of that fateful day in 1903. Iroquois theater fire major american fires libguides. The iroquois theater disaster killed hundreds and changed fire safety forever. The iroquois theatre was designed by noted architect benjamin marshall, and was hastily dedicated on november 23 1903 with the play mr. The iroquois theatre fire happened on december 30, 1903,1 in chicago, illinois. It was the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest singlebuilding fire in u. Video from wttw chicago tonight tells the story of the iroquois theatre fire disaster on december 30, 1903. One of the local stagehands gave me this book which kept me up all night reading it. Dec 30, 2019 horrific iroquois theater fire killed hundreds in the loop 117 years ago today. The iroquois theater fire in chicago december 30th 1903 was one of the worst building fires ever in the u.
Haunting iroquois theatre photo details mysterious chicago. Jun 30, 2017 in fact, in 19 someone falsely shouted fire in an italian hall and caused a mass panic that killed 73 people. Foundation for the development of international law in asia dila. In the short span of twenty minutes, more than six hundred people, two thirds of whom were women and children, were asphyxiated, burned, or trampled to death in a panicked mobs failed. The iroquois theater disaster killed hundreds and changed. The book is an outstanding account of the iroquois fire the author goes into the background of the theater, the cast of the play the origins of the fire and how the fire spread throughout the theater. S, with a terrible loss of life of 602 people, most.
He also goes into the aftermath and all of the shortcuts that were taken which resulted in the tragedy. Williams, who died in the infamous chicago iroquois theater fire of 1903. A fire at the iroquois theater in chicago on december 30, 1903, killed 602 people and injured 250 others. Lavishly illustrated and featuring an introduction by chicago historians perry r. The iroquois, of course, remains the worst theater fire in american history.
Instantly, 1 knew there was something deadly wrong. Chicago is a city marked by fire, but today the iroquois fire has been all but forgotten, even though it remains the worst theater fire and the worst singlebuilding fire in u. Dec 30, 20 the loop hidden away in a corner of the city hall lobby is a bronze basrelief tablet dedicated to the victims of the iroquois theater fire, which took place 1 years ago today. For a more complete story of the iroquois theater fire, try louis guenzels retrospects. Bluebeard on december 30, 1903, they were handed playbills with the words absolutely fireproof in capital letters at the top righthand corner of the cover.
It was the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest singlebuilding fire in. Ghosts in the alley iroquois theater fire 1903 chicago. I am obligated to both for providing the outline that helped point the way. It was the dead liest theater fire and the deadliest single build ing fire in u.
On the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee performance, a fire broke out in chicago s iroquois theatre. Ruined stage of the iroquois theater after the fire, looking down from the. Dec 28, 2019 icy fire escapes, not yet finished on the north wall led to at over 100 deaths. Over 100 people died at the shiloh baptist church when someone misheard the word fight for fire and a mass panic caused a stampede. B this article has been rated as bclass on the projects quality scale. Mar 17, 2003 a 1910 programme from the colonial theatre, which the iroquois was renamed a year after the fire. One hundred years after fire in chicagos iroquois theatre killed 602 people in a matter of minutes, we have seen massive loss of life at nightspots in chicago and west warwick, rhode island. One of the nations most influential fires occurred on december 30, 1903, in chicago, when 602 people, mostly women, and children, died shortly after the stateoftheart iroquois theater opened. Iroquois theater tragedy on december 20, 1903 iroquois theater was the scene of a deadly fire that killed over 500 people and changed the way fire codes were maintained in theaters around the world. A nearly identical book was published under a different title, chicagos awful theater horror. Unless theres vigilance and diligence, even things on the book.
The theater claimed to be absolutely fireproof, however, there was no fire extinguishers or fire hoses. Mar 17, 2003 back to iroquois theatre fire these are the words of eddie foy, an actor who was preparing to go on stage on december 30, 1903, ai chicagos iroquois theater. Mar 20, 2020 the iroquois theater fire occurred in chicago on december 30, 1903. Horrific iroquois theater fire killed hundreds in the loop. The iroquois theatre fire of 1903 is rich with vivid details about this horrific disaster, captivatingly presented in human terms without losing. Jan 01, 2003 iroquois theater fire centennial books by anthony hatchs tinderbox and nat brandt chicago death trap.
The iroquois theater fire occurred in chicago on december 30, 1903. About the book on the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee performance, a fire broke out in chicago s iroquois theatre. Apr 16, 2014 haunting iroquois theatre photo details posted on april 16, 2014 november 16, 2015 by adam ive been examining the big, big panorama of the iroquois theatre after the fire that you can download from the library of congress the one taken just days after dec 30, 1903, when a fire there killed somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 people. Nineteen theaters, opera houses, and museums across chicago are closed because of fire code violations.
The theater, which had only been open one month, was considered to be architectually excellent, and advertisements had declared it fireproof. Jul 12, 2011 the book contains not only the story of the the general slocum steamboat fire, but the history of four other horrific fire disasters, the iroquois theater fire, the rhoads opera house fire, the triangle shirtwaist factory fire and the the collinwood school fire, thus making it a valuable reference work. The investigation showed that the fire was sparked by an arc light which ignited scenery curtains. Oct 09, 2017 the most devastating theatre fire in history happened on december 30th 1903.
Iroquois theater fire major american fires libguides at. Chicago death trap the iroquois theatre fire of 1903 book. Exterior of the iroquois theatre, chicago, illinois, 1903 chicago. With eerie parallels to the titanic disaster, the iroquois programs boasted that the theater was absolutely fireproof but everyone involved seemed to think somebody else had done whatever was. Unless theres vigilance and diligence, even things on the books can be. Mar 8, 2016 in 1990, a friend of mine purchased a scrapbook at a flea market in florida. Couch place the alley of death chicago, illinois atlas. Of the dead, less than 100 were identified last night. This book, published in 1904, is a contemporary perspective of the fire and its aftermath. Iroquois theatre fire is part of wikiproject fire service, which collaborates on fire servicerelated subjects on wikipedia. This alley in downtown chicago held the bodies of over 600 people after the fateful iroquois theatre fire. A slim book about the single worst fire in american history, when over six hundred people died in a 1903 show at chicagos extravagant, newlyopened iroquois theatre the show was a holiday matinee, ensuring that most of the dead were women and children the book includes a section of portrait photographs of some of the children who died in the fire, a touch thats both ghoulish and gutting.
The tragic fire in the stateoftheart iroquois theater. This account of the disastrous fire in 1903 chicago just reiterates how businesses and politicians lookout for each other with little regard for the very people that. Iroquois theater fire 1903 major american fires massasoit. Shouting fire at the iroquois theater had the same effect. Dec 27, 2019 a fire in the iroquois theater in chicago, illinois, kills more than 600 people on december 30, 1903. May 20, 2003 as ticket holders entered chicagos iroquois theatre for a matinee performance of mr. The iroquois theatre fire of 1903 is rich with vivid details about. On the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee performance, a fire broke out in chicagos iroquois theatre. Local newspaper coverage of the event may be studied at the chicago history museum or at the harold washington library centers periodicals division. The iroquois theater disaster killed hundreds and changed fire. In the short span of twenty minutes, more than six hundred people, two thirds of whom were women and children, were asphyxiated, burned, or trampled to death in a panicked mobs failed attempt. I was again reminded of the critical nature of fire protection planning, prevention, and response when reading nat brandts 2003 book chicago.
Chicago iroquois theater fire 1903 added a new photo to the album. In the short span of twenty minutes, more than six hundred people were asphyxiated, burned, or trampled to death in a panicked mob s failed attempt to escape. A century after the fire the deadliest in american history. The theater was one of the finest that had yet been built in this countrya palace of marble and plate glass, plush and mahogany and gilding. Bluebeard and the advertisement for the production dur. When the iroquois theatre opened in 1903, it was advertised as. I took as many photos as i could as we continue research on this young mans life. Jun 12, 2018 group standing inside the iroquois theater after the fire, viewing ruins, chicago, illinois, circa january 1904 chicago history museum the loss of life struck at the heart of chicagos upper.
The iroquois theatre fir e occurred on december 30, 1903, at th e iroquois thea tre in chicago, illinois, united states. Discover couch place the alley of death in chicago, illinois. The fire occurred during a soldout performance of the musical mr. With extraordinary thoroughness and an obvious love of his subject, anthony hatch makes vivid the story of chicagos iroquois theatre fire of 1903. Of the unidentified nearly all were so badly burned that recognition was impossible. The iroquois theatre fire of 1903, published by southern illinois university press. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project andor contribute to the discussion. On december 30, 1903, the iroquois theatre in chicago was crowded beyond capacity with theatergoers eager to see eddie foy in mr. Over 600 people died which were mostly woman and children during a matinee performance of mr.
In the short span of twenty minutes, more than six hundred people, two thirds of whom were women and children, were asphyxiated, burned, or trampled to death in a panicked mobs failed attempt to escape. Sep 27, 2017 i was again reminded of the critical nature of fire protection planning, prevention, and response when reading nat brandts 2003 book chicago death trap. It became obvious the book was created by howards mother after her sons death. The final death toll will exceed 600 in the second deadliest fire in american history.
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