While listening to WBBM-AM in Chicago this morning, I heard them mention that today is the 105th anniversary of the Iroquois Theater Fire on Dec. 30, 1903, which claimed the lives of 603 mostly women and children who were there for a holiday showing of the musical "Mr. Bluebird."
I've heard of it before, but very few people really remember it. At this point, I doubt that any of the survivors are still alive, and very sadly, most of the victims should gave been able to escape, but for doors that opened inward, as was the custom, and different door locks that people were unfamiliar with. Some doors were even chained shut in this building at 24-28 Randolph that boasted of being "absolutely fire proof." Well, nine years later, the Titanic was "unsinkable."
It still ranks as the single deadliest building fire in US history.
There was seating for 1,724, but almost 2000 squeezed in to see the movie. The fire started during the second act at 3:15, and at first, patrons thought it was special effects. Corpses were piled ten deep at the exits and 575 died that day with 30 more dying later.
It reopened a year later as the Colonial Theater and then in 1926, was torn down to make way for the Oriental Theater which still stands at the site.
Information from Wikipedia.
People remeber the Chicago Fire, which was devastating, but not this tragedy or the sinking of the Eastland in the Chicago River. Both killed many more people.
I Guess You'd Best Not Boast. --Old Coot
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