Remembering the Iroquois Theater Fire
I love the theater. I particularly love attending performances in Chicago. But, I must admit that every time I have visited The Oriental Theater I recall the horror of December 30, 1903 when the newly opened Iroquois Theater (which stood where The Oriental is today) burned, taking over 600 innocent souls. The new year saw a city in mourning. There are many great sites dedicated to the disaster and I have updated the link page. Also, the souvenir program from the Iroquois’ opening, just a few weeks earlier, is featured in the Online Library. The John T. McCutcheon editorial cartoon shown above, depicting the locked door of the theater, is from January 1, 1904
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