Central Chicago

On December 30, 1903, a performance of the musical comedy Mr. Bluebeard in the newly built Iroquois Theater ended in tragedy that galvanized support for safety reforms across the country. 

In the nineteenth century, fires in Chicago theaters were common and new theaters were regularly built to replace the old. New fire ordinances aimed at increasing safety were often ignored. Built at the corner of Dearborn and Randolph Street in the heart of Chicago’s Theater District, the Iroquois Theater was touted as being “absolutely fireproof” and was a spectacle of beauty and modernity. When a stage spotlight caught fire in the middle of the matinee performance on December 30, the sold-out audience struggled to descend the one grand staircase, find the exits, and open the locked doors to escape the flames and smoke filling the theater. It was the deadliest theater fire in history, with 602 people losing their lives. 

As the city and nation mourned the devastating event, officials in Chicago and other cities were pressured to take action. Chicago’s theaters were ordered to close until each could be inspected for violations. New ordinances were put in place within weeks requiring clearly marked and lit exits, automatic fire alarms, occupancy limits, and more. These safety measures are still familiar sites in our theaters and venues. 

The spotlight that sparked the Iroquois Theater fire and policy changes is now part of the collections of the Chicago History Museum, serving as a reminder to strive to make a safer future for our communities.