Dec 30, 1903 - Chicago, IL
Advertised as "Absolutely Fireproof" on its playbills, within twenty minutes, claimed 602 lives in a performance attended by 1,700 people. By the National Fire Protection Association records, it is still, as of 2024, the worst single-building fire in U.S. history with the most fatalities.
The theater opened on November 23 and burned 37 days later. Construction and opening of the theater had been rushed to take advantage of the holiday crowds with much being incomplete. An arc light shorted and ignited a curtain which then spread to the backdrops, high above the stage, where thousands of square feet of painted canvas scenery flats were hung. The backstage glow of the fire was mistaken by some in the audience as special effects.
Many of the fire exit doors in the auditorium were hidden behind curtains and were not marked. As was the custom at the time, all of the doorways opened inwards, but more importantly, the metal doors of the fire exits were equipped with bascule locks. Bascule locks were used in European theaters but were virtually unknown to Americans and required the operation of a small lever. Patrons who found the doors were unable to open the locks.
Most of the lobby doors were locked and the balcony stairs were blocked by locked gates. There were over 200 patrons left standing in the aisles and behind the last row, the gates were still locked by custom during the show to prevent the balcony patrons from sneaking down to the more expensive seats.
Unfinished fire escapes of this six-story tall building prevented many people from escaping alive or without injury. Over 100 bodies lay in the alleys afterwards, but cushioned many of those who were pushed or had jumped. Because of the flames and heavy smoke the attending firefighters and many of the jumpers were unable to make good use of the safety nets.
Corpses were piled 10 bodies high around the doors and windows, having climbed over each other only to succumb to the flames, smoke and gasses, 575 people died that day, and hundreds were hurt. Another 30 would die from their injuries in the following weeks. After the fire, it was revealed that fire inspectors had been bribed with free tickets to overlook code violations.
As a result of public outrage, many were charged with crimes, including Mayor Carter Harrison, Jr., some with involuntary manslaughter, but most charges were dismissed three years later because of the delaying tactics of the owners lawyers and their use of loopholes and inadequacies in the city's building and safety ordinances. The only person convicted was a tavern keeper charged with robbing the dead.
Iroquois Theatre - 26 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL
Dr. Alfred J. Oakey (40)
Lucile Oakey (13)
Marion Oakey (11)
Ruth Moulton Robbins (16/17)
Cylde S. Thompson (21) - Student at UW
Harriet Emily Andrew (38)
iroquoistheater.com --
Oakey Family
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Ruth Robbins
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Clyde Thompson
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Harriet Andrew
Iroquois Theatre fire - Wikipedia
