Primary document
False exits in Iroquois Theater plunge audience into death trap
Library of Congress Chronicling America
Where this source supports the record
Each entry separates the article’s editorial relevance note from its exact, section-level claims. A bibliography link without a direct claim is labeled plainly.
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Fires · 30 December 1903Open article references →
The Iroquois Theatre Fire
Former Iroquois Theatre at 24–28 West Randolph Street · United States
Why editors use it hereContemporary illustrated reporting on exit conditions, victims, investigation, and public understanding.
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Quick read
On 30 December 1903, stage scenery caught fire during a packed holiday matinee at Chicago's new Iroquois Theatre.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Trigger and conditions
An arc light ignited a muslin scenery flat during the second act of Mr.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Uncertainty
The final death total is commonly given as 602, with small variations based on later deaths and records.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Why it matters
Iroquois was marketed as safe while multiple incomplete protections depended on one another.
Reviewed 26 July 2026
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Quick read