Today in History: Fire ravaged Chicago theatre, killing hundreds
Blocked fire exits and the lack of a fire-safety plan caused most of the deaths.
A fire in the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, Illinois, killed more than 600 people on this day in 1903. It was the deadliest theatre fire in US history.
The Iroquois Theater, designed by Benjamin Marshall in a Renaissance style, was highly luxurious and had been deemed fireproof upon its opening in 1903. In fact, George Williams, Chicago’s building commissioner, and fire inspector Ed Laughlin looked over the theatre in November 1903 and declared that it was “fireproof beyond all doubt”.
They also noted its 30 exits, 27 of which were double doors. However, at the same time, William Clendenin, the editor of Fireproof magazine, also inspected the Iroquois and wrote a scathing editorial about its fire dangers, pointing out that there was a great deal of wood trim, no fire alarm and no sprinkler system over the stage.
During the matinee performance of 30 December, 27 of the theatre’s 30 exits were locked. In addition, stage manager Bill Carlton went out front to watch the show with the 2 000 patrons while the other stage hands left the theatre and went out for a drink. It was a spotlight operator who first noticed that one of the calcium lights seemed to have sparked a fire backstage.
The cluttered area was full of fire fuel – wooden stage props and oily rags. When the actors became aware of the fire, they scattered backstage. Foy later returned and tried to calm the audience, telling them to stay seated.
An asbestos curtain was to be lowered that would confine the fire but when it wouldn’t come fully down, a panic began. It later turned out to be made of paper so it wouldn’t have helped in any case.
Soon, all the lights inside the theatre went out and there were stampedes near the open exits. When the back door was opened, the shift of air caused a fireball to roar through the backstage area.
The teenage ushers working the theatre fled immediately, forgetting to open the locked emergency exit doors. The few doors that were able to be forced open, opened onto the sidewalk, which slowed down the exiting process.
Most of the 591 people who died were seated in the balconies. There were no fire escapes or ladders to assist them and some took their chances and jumped.
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