Tinder Box: The Iroquois Theatre Disaster 1903 Hatch Anthony P.

The Iroquois Theater in Chicago, boasting every modern convenience, advertised itself proudly as absolutely fireproof when it opened in November, 1903. "Mr. And leading the troupe of nearly 400 was one of the most popular comedians of the time, Eddie Foy.None of the many socialites and journalists who flocked to the shows were aware that city building inspectors and others had been bribed to certify that the theater was in good shape. Bluebeard, " a fairy tale musical imported from the Drury Lane Theatre in London was the opening production.

In fact, the building was without a sprinkler system or even basic fire fighting equipment; there was no backstage telephone, fire alarm box, exit signs, a real asbestos curtain or ushers trained for emergencies.A month later, at a Christmas week matinee, the theater was illegally overcrowded with a standing room only crowd of mostly women