The Iroquois Theatre fire was a catastrophic building fire in Chicago, Illinois, that broke out on December 30, 1903, during a performance attended by 1,700 people.

This website is devoted to the 1903 Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago. It delves into the circumstances and people that were impacted by America's worst theater disaster.

Sep 13, 2025 · On Dec. 30, 1903, almost 2,000 people crammed into the Iroquois Theater in Chicago to watch a matinee performance of “Mr. Bluebeard.” But shortly after the second act …

At least 602 people were killed; many were children. The theater, which had only been open one month, was considered to be architecturally excellent, and advertisements had declared it …

19 hours ago · A fire that killed more than 600 people inside the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 30, 1903, started when an arc light set part of a curtain above the stage ablaze.

Mostly women and children were killed in the Iroquois Theatre Fire, in a situation that should have been filled with joy and celebration. The tragedy killed the victims within minutes, many from …

It was Wednesday, December 30, 1903, and Chicago ’s sparkling Iroquois Theater on Randolph Street in the Loop was packed for an afternoon showing of Mr. Bluebeard, a comedic …

Nearly 125 years ago on Dec. 30, 1903, a fire broke out in Chicago’s Iroquois Theater, claiming the lives of hundreds of people.

In the brand-new, dazzling Iroquois Theater, as a packed crowd of mostly women and children watched the matinee performance of a musical, an arc light ignited a curtain backstage. …

A fire rages through Chicago’s Iroquois Theatre with over 1,300 patrons inside. The asbestos curtain malfunctions and several doors are barred while others that open inward are quickly …