Two books recall Chicago's Iroquois Theater fire

"Instantly, I knew there was something deadly wrong. It could be nothing else but fire!"

As reported in the July/August 1995 issue of NFPA Journal®, those were the words of Eddie Foy, an actor who was preparing to go on stage on December 30, 1903, at Chicago's Iroquois Theatre, when flames swept through the building, killing 602 people and injuring 250 others in minutes. The blaze, the fifth deadliest fire in U.S. history, is believed to have been started by an open arc spotlight touching a border drop.

Joanne Durham, NFPA's Manager of Conferences and Meetings, recently read two books about this tragedy, and provided the following commentary:

A few years ago I had the opportunity to work in a Boston movie theater that had been converted to a conference center, so I love beautiful theaters. I was fascinated by two books that I borrowed from NFPA's Charles S. Morgan Library about the Iroquois Theatre fire. 

“Tinder Box,” by Anthony P. Hatch provides a mystery-like tale of the horrific fire that destroyed the theater just 37 days after it opened in 1903. Despite its pre-opening reputation for safety, there was a rush to open for the holiday season, and corners were cut on safety measures including sprinklers, fire alarm boxes, backstage telephones, exit signs, and a functioning asbestos curtain. Mr. Hatch shares his thoughts based on decades of research, including interviews with eyewitnesses and provides more than 30 pages of photographs and illustrations. The author writes a human tale of greed and hubris which is hard to put down.  

I would also recommend “Chicago Death Trap” by Nat Brandt, published by Southern Illinois University Press. Although this book reveals some of the same information in the “Tinder Box”, it encompasses more intimate knowledge of Chicago’s political, insurance, and legal infrastructure and environment during that era.

You can also download the entire NFPA Journal article on the Iroquois Theatre fire.