December 30, 1903: The Iroquois Theatre Fire

December 30, 1903: The Iroquois Theatre, which had only opened on November 23, catches fire in Chicago's Loop. A total of 602 deaths are attributed to the disaster.

The 1,602-seat theater was hosting a production of the British musical Mr. Blue Beard, starring Eddie Foy, then second only to George M. Cohan among American musical stars. At about 3:15 PM shortly after the beginning of the 2nd act, 8 men and 8 women were performing the song "In the Pale Moonlight,", with the stage illuminated by blue-tinted spotlights to suggest a night scene. Sparks from an arc light ignited a muslin curtain, possibly as a result of an electrical short circuit, although the lamp operator, William McMullen, testified that the lamp was placed too close to the curtain but stage managers failed to offer a solution when he reported the problem.

The main entrance, at 24 West Randolph Street, was the only way into and out of the theater for patrons, a tremendous fire hazard in a city whose "Great Fire" was only 32 years earlier. It was later alleged that fire inspectors were bribed into looking the other way, with free tickets. There were doors for crew, but they were locked. Frank Houseman and Charlie Dexter, both of whom had played for the baseball team recently renamed the Chicago Cubs, forced the doors open, and probably saved some lives.

The building was saved, and reopened 9 months later, as Hyde & Behman's Music Hall. The building later reopened as the Colonial Theater, which was demolished in 1925 to make way for the Oriental Theatre, which was later renamed the James M. Nederlander Theatre, and still carries that name today.

The Iroquois Theatre Fire remained the deadliest single-building fire in American history, until the terrorist destruction of the original World Trade Center in 2001.

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December 30, 1903 was a Wednesday. Baseball was out of season. No college football games were played. And basketball and hockey did not yet exist on a professional level. So there were no scores on this historic day.