The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-01-01
500 Perislled
To Make
TIleaters Safe
By PAUL DITzEL

BY PAUL DtTzEL
ctiicAGO-Few of today's the
ater.goers realize their safety re
suited from the deaths Of 596 per
sons who persisted when Chicago
old Iroquois Theater burned Dec
30, 1908.
The dead. mostly women ant
children who were attending I
matinee performance of MIR
Bluebird," later played roles In {
less spectacular drama which re
suited in more strict fire regula
tons for United States and Euro
pesn theaters.
Chicago school children hat
eagerly anticipated their trip e
The newly-opened Iroquois Theatei
on that fateful day. II was exciting
for them just TO visit this palatial
theater with its awesome archi
lecture. The Glowing of leading
comedian Eddy Foy made it q
double treat.
The clown OF the play was to be
one of the heroes of a macabre
performance in the middle OF the
second act. A spark from stage
light. "a glow then flames
skipped along the flimsy scenery.
EoYss HEROIC EFFORT
Foy bravely stood on the stage
and entreated the alarmed audi
eflce to remain calm. He thought,
as most Of those in the theatef
thought, that the building was fire
proof. Besides. the asbestos stage
curtain certainly would hold a fire
In check. What followed exploded
the myth Of the fireproof building,
AS the flames spread, the audi
ence ignored Foy's pleadings and
rushed for the exit. Behind Foy,
panicky actors and actresses open
cd a rear stage door as the as.
bestos curtain lowered. But the
curtain stuck and the draft from
the open door converted the stage
into an inferno.
Firemen. who came in response
10 delayed alarm because there
was no firebox in front OF the the.
ater, strung their hose lines over
layers of bodies which we're II
deep in some places.
BODIES TANNED EXITS
Newspaper reporters joined fire
men in prying bodies from the
twisted mass in front Of the exits
A few of those jammed under
meath the top layer we're still alive
The top layer was charred. AL
though there we're 80 exits the
death toll climbed to 500.
The public was shocked wheT
Il was shown photos picturinf
stage flues which had been GOV
cred with heavy timbers and theI
nailed down. Added to the picture,
was evidence showing the thea
ter's lighting system failed whei
the fire burst through wires which
SHOULD have been enclosed in fire
resistant coverings. There we're M
lights over exits nor conspiciou.
exit signs.
TRAMPLED IN PANIC
N the two balconies, where ais
les and exits were narrow, people
were thrown down stairways ant
trampled by the on rush Of the pan
icky. Heated gasses rose to these
balconies and snuffed out Other
lives.
Mayor Carter H. Harrison Jr.
was held to the grand jury alonl
with the theater managers and !
long list OF city officials. Harrison
through his attorney. Clarence
barrow. who was to become "a
nous later as a criminal lawyer
went free under o habeas corpu.
writ. Most of the others indicted
were later freed.
But the calamity resulted in 1
new set Of fire regulations for the
aters, adopted by cities and state:
throughout the United States. To
day. In every large city, there ar.
steel fire curtains. broad aisles
better oor-pitch and workin,
exits. s u,
In Germany. the Kasier ordefe,
his Royal Opera House closed 10,
Inspection. Actors and actresse,
went without work there and il
England, Holland. Sweden. an,
Ireland as theater fire regulation,
often required rebuilding OF thea
tiers.
Next time you see
fireman in a thaeter, don't sus
peci him Of enjoying a free show
on taxpayers time. He's maxim,
sure that you come out alive /,
enjoy future shows .