Of the dead, less than 100 were identified last night. Iroquois theatre fire despite occurring 110 years ago, chicagos iroquois theatre fire is still a gutwrenching story of loss, tragedy, and missed opportunities. The burning of the iroquois theater claimed the lives of over 600 patrons, a tragic number that even exceeds the estimated 250 lives lost in the chicago fire of 1871. All theatres in chicago and across the country were. Dubbed a virtual temple of beauty by the chicago tribune, the iroquois was reportedly fireproof.
However, there were no fire sprinklers or fire alarm boxes. 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. Ruined stage of the iroquois theater after the fire, looking down from. Hero of the iroquois theater fire william mclaughlin and was the nephew of frank gunsaulus, also buried at forest home cemetery. There were no fire escapes, alarms, sprinklers, telephones, or water connections. The iroquois theater disaster killed hundreds and changed fire safety forever. This work examines the fire, its causes, and its impact on american theatre construction and operation. I am obligated to both for providing the outline that helped point the way. After fiftyfive hours had passed since the iroquois fire, only twentyone bodies. Shouting fire at the iroquois theater had the same effect. The theater, which had only been open one month, was considered to be architectually excellent, and advertisements had declared it fireproof. Headlines carried news of the disaster throughout the world. The iroquois theatre fire is the worst theatre and single building fire in american history. Iroquois theatre fire chicago iroquois theater fire history.
This catalog record contains preliminary or unverified data from a project done in brs software, ca. In the early 1900s, a horrific fire at the supposedly fireproof iroquois theatre killed over 600 people, which led to further changes in chicago. The worst and most deadly single building fire in american history and one of the worst single building fires in world history was that of the iroquois theatre fire. On december 30, 1903, 602 people died in one of the worst fire disasters in american history, at the iroquois theatre in downtown chicago. Bluebeard starring eddie foy was enjoying its sixth week of a successful run as the iroquois theatres first production. More than 600 people lost their lives in this fire, making it the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest singlebuilding fire in united states history. Iroquois theater national fire protection association. Fire alarm box for iroquois theater fire museum collection. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Iroquois theatre fire contributor names ehrhart, s. This definition is mild when placed in the context of the chicagos iroquois theater fire of 1903. The fire that happens in the year 1903 on dec, 30 in chicago.
It was the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest singlebuilding fire in united states history. Chicago tonight iroquois theatre fire season 2010 pbs. How did iroquois theater fire impact the change in fire. Stage set for disaster the audience expected a treat. Like the disaster of the titanic nine years later, which was considered unsinkable, the iroquois theater was advertised on its playbills as absolutely fireproof. Within a few minutes the fire had grown so big only a fire hose or fire sprinklers could extinguish it. Fire in paradise is a netflix documentary that recalls the catastrophic 2018 camp fire, which devastated the town of paradise, california. Historic fires fire prevention services the university.
Horrific iroquois theater fire killed hundreds in the loop 116. Iroquois theater fire almost forgotten, but continues to. Dec 29, 2016 on december 30,1903, the deadliest theater fire and singlestructure fires in united states history occurred at chicagos new iroquois theater, at 2428 west randolph street, between state and dearborn streets, during a standingroomonly matinee performance starring the popular comedian eddie foy. The iroquois theatre fire alerted the country to the need for improved fire safety regulations in theaters. The subsequent investigations into the fire uncovered numerous troubling facts, including the lack of sprinklers and fire alarms and the locked.
An asbestos fire curtain was dropped on the stage, but was snagged on the way down and stopped about 10 feet above the stage, which allowed toxic smoke and flames to flow into the auditorium. On the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee performance, a fire broke out in chicago s iroquois theatre. Iroquois theater fire of 1903 was the deadliest theater and. The iroquois theater in chicago was dubbed absolutely fireproof by the owners of the theater since it was a concrete structure, but it would become the tragic site of a deadly fire, just 37 days after it opened for business, during the busy thanksgiving and christmas holiday season of 1903.
The same was true 100 years ago, when nearly 2,000 people mostly women and children out for christmas break packed the iroquois theater in chicago for a matinee performance of the musical mr. Historic fires fire prevention services the university of. Dec 30, 2012 the iroquois theater fire was one of the defining events in hardware history. Instantly, 1 knew there was something deadly wrong.
It was the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest singlebuilding fire in united. On december 30, 1903, the iroquois theatre in chicago, illinois, caught fire and burned. Iroquois theater fire of 1903 was the deadliest theater. Iroquois theater fire major american fires libguides. Iroquois theater fire significant illinois fires libguides at. Although the production starred comedian eddie foy, the dec. Historic fires that shaped building codes, fire codes. In fact, he said he and his tour groups get more incidents of activity there. Immediately following the incident, theaters across the country and globe were shut down for immediate inspection of their fire safety. 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 fire in the iroquois theater in chicago, illinois, kills more than 600 people on december 30, 1903. A fire in the iroquois theater in chicago, illinois, kills more than 600 people on. Iroquois theater fire today is the 107th anniversary of a tragedy at the iroquois theater in chicago, which shaped the early codes and led to the invention of the panic device. In the aftermath only one person had jail time after the fire fire some weird reason. He rushed into the theater to help rescue people by putting a plank to a neighboring building. The burning of the iroquois theater claimed the lives of over 600 patrons, a tragic number that even exceeds the estimated 250 lives lost in the chicago fire of 1871 beautiful, lavishly designed and deemed absolutely. The iroquois theatre fire disaster created huge public outcry and demands for improved fire inspection, enforcement and prevention policies. Iroquois theater fire abstract on december 30, 1903 hundreds of adults and children were packed chicagos brand new iroquois theater to see a holiday showing of the popular comedy mr. What they got was a disaster arising from failed systems, shoddy workmanship, and negligence. Exterior of the iroquois theatre, chicago, illinois, 1903 chicago. 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 owners anticipated opening the new theater in time to cash in on the holiday season in 1903, but the work, already scheduled at a breakneck pace, was behind and the theater still. Mar 20, 2020 the iroquois theater fire occurred in chicago on december 30, 1903.
The iroquois theatre fire occurred on december 30, 1903, in chicago, illinois. The beatles at the ed sullivan theater presented by motown the musical duration. Iroquois theatre fire documentary h 264 for apple tv youtube. Historic programs digital collection, special collections. Feb 18, 2015 video from wttw chicago tonight tells the story of the iroquois theatre fire disaster on december 30, 1903. In fact, george williams, chicagos building commissioner, and fire inspector. The victims were mostly women and children who were attending a matinee. Victims of the iroquois theatre fire on december 30, 1903, 602 people died in one of the worst fire disasters in american history, at the iroquois theatre in downtown chicago. Iroquois theatre fire december 30, 1903 chicago, il, usa. Jun 30, 2017 shouting fire at the iroquois theater had the same effect. The iroquois theatre fire occurred during a musical matinee in chicago, illinois, in 1903.
Jun 12, 2018 the lamp spot light that caused the notorious iroquois theater fire that killed 602 spectators on december 30, 1903 chicago history museum the iroquois fire also inspired the development of. Top 15 mustsee firefighting documentaries firerescue1. Five hundred and seventyone lives were destroyed by fire in the iroquois theater in the fifteen minutes between 3. 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. 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. The iroquois theater had just opened on november 23, 1903, and was. Home museum collection fire alarm box for iroquois theater fire reference url share. The iroquois theater disaster killed hundreds and changed fire. Iroquois theater fire 1903 chicago, il famous fires on. The fire occurred during a soldout performance of the musical mr. The day was monday, november 27, 1903, when the brand new iroquois theater, an absolutely fireproof theatre, opened in chicago at 2428 randolph between state and dearborn streets. In fact, when you get right down to it, the windy citys history and legend just may. It was the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest singlebuilding fire in united states history, resulting in at least 602 deaths. The iroquois theatre was at 2428 west randolph street.
Most notably, the theater had no fire alarm or sprinklers and the emergency smoke vents above the stage were nailed shut. Butfor those who were there, it was a horror they could never forget. On the afternoon of december 30, 1903, during a soldout matinee performance, a fire broke out in chicagos iroquois theatre. Mar 18, 2011 iroquois theatre fire documentary h 264 for apple tv igcme1. This the 100th anniversary of one of worst manmade disasters of the 20th century.
Bluebeard, a musical comedy, to a standingroomonly crowd of over 1,900 people on december 30, 1903. The driver would head for the fire with hose dropping off of the rear of the. The afternoon exercises were at the hospital and the evening program was held in the. Of the 30 exits, 27 had been locked and few of them were marked. Heres one mans account of that fateful day in 1903.
The theater was the best in town, and was advertised to be completely fireproof by the owners and the architect who designed it. The plays scenery consisted of many canvas backdrops decorated in highly flammable oil paints, and when a hot stage light ignited a velvet curtain the backdrops soon went up in flames. Chapter one contains an examination of theatre fires in america, demonstrating that theatre fires were not. The library of congress does not own rights to material in its collections. The iroquois theatre was at 2428 west randolph street, between state street and dearborn street, in. Six weeks later, the iroquois theater was home to the deadliest fire in chicago history. Imagine where life safety egress would be today without panic hardware and outswinging doors. He was a college student visiting chicago and passed by the theater. Enclosed fireproof stairwells and mandated unlocked fire exitdoors that opened outward came out of this. In the times before tv, radio, and the internet, the most popular form of entertainment for young and old, rich and poor, was the live stage act. Iroquois theater fire, 1903 10 worst things ever to. Iroquois theatre fire forest home cemetery overview.
Prinzler was astounded at the enormous and senseless loss of life that night. A fire at the iroquois theater in chicago on december 30, 1903, killed 602 people and injured 250 others. At least 602 people died as a result of the fire, but not all the deaths were reported, as some of the bodies were removed from the scene. Chicago is a city marked by fire, but today the iroquois fire has been all. The automatic ventilators were never completed, so smoke was filling the auditorium. It is the deadliest theater fire in united states history. The investigation showed that the fire was sparked by an arc light which ignited scenery curtains. Of the unidentified nearly all were so badly burned that recognition was impossible.
The great chicago fire changed building code forever. The strangest thing about their exit was the fact that it was silent. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. The iroquois theatre fire happened on december 30, 1903, in chicago, illinois. The iroquois theatre fire leads on the records for the national fire protection association nfpa as the deadliest singlebuilding disaster in u. The iroquois theatre fire of 1903, published by southern illinois university press. Photo, print, drawing iroquois theatre fire digital file from intermediary roll film full online access to this resource is only available at the library of congress. When the iroquois theater burned with an overcapacity house. More than 600 people lost their lives in this fire, making it the deadliest theater fire and the. How did iroquois theater fire impact the change in fire safety laws. The iroquois theatre, located on randolph street between state street and dearborn avenue in downtown chicago, was one of the most opulent and modern theatres in the world. As the iroquois theater, then thle last word in playhouse construction, its doors were first opened to the public on nov. Another 400 performers and stagehands were crowded into the basement dressing rooms and backstage areas.
Dec 27, 2019 a fire in the iroquois theater in chicago, illinois, kills more than 600 people on december 30, 1903. Dec 29, 2016 the post fire investigation of the iroquois thearre revealed that the building, on which construction had not yet been completed, was far from fireproof, as the builder claimed. The newest theater in chicago, the playhouse declared to be fireproof from dressing. Over 600 people died as a result of the fire, and it is believed that not all the deaths were reported.