The Great Chicago Theater Disaster (1904)

The Great Chicago Theater Disaster (1904) is a historical account of one of the deadliest theater fires in American history. Written by Marshall Everett, the book provides a detailed description of the events that unfolded on December 30, 1903, at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, Illinois. The book begins by setting the stage for the disaster, describing the construction of the theater and the various safety hazards that were present. It then delves into the events of the day of the fire, starting with the matinee performance of the popular musical ""Mr. Bluebeard."" As the show began, a spark from a faulty electrical fixture ignited a piece of scenery, and within minutes, the entire stage was engulfed in flames. Panic quickly spread throughout the theater as audience members rushed for the exits, only to find that many of them were locked or blocked by debris. The book details the heroic efforts of firefighters and other emergency responders who worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped inside the burning building. It also explores the aftermath of the disaster, including the investigations and legal proceedings that followed. Throughout the book, Everett provides a vivid and gripping account of the tragedy, drawing on eyewitness testimony and other primary sources to bring the events to life. The Great Chicago Theater Disaster (1904) is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of theater safety and disaster response, as well as those interested in the social and cultural history of turn-of-the-century America.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.