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Tinder Box: The Iroquois Theatre Disaster 1903
This the 100th anniversary of one of worst man-made disasters of the 20th century. When the Iroquois Theatre opened in Chicago on November 23, 1903, it was considered one of the grandest structures of its day, a monument to modern design and technology, as well as "absolutely fireproof." This was a theatre that would rival any in New York or Paris. Instead it became the funeral pyre for hundreds of victims. Tony Hatch, former CBS reporter and Emmy Award winner, tells the grisly story in meticulous, riveting detail, based on more than forty years of research, including many exclusive interviews with eyewitnesses. In Tinder Box, he tells the Iroquois story as it has never been told before. In a rush to open the theatre on time, corners were cut, and the Iroquois lacked the most basic fire-fighting equipment: sprinklers, fire alarm boxes, backstage telephone, exit signs and functioning asbestos curtain. Some exists, for aesthetic reasons, were hidden behind heavy draperies, doors opened inward and exterior fire escapes were unfinished. But Chicago officials, the theatre owners and managers, the contractor, stagehands—all looked the other way. Then, on December 30, 1903, disaster struck. The theatre was packed, overcrowded with a standing-room-only audience, mostly women and children who had come to see the popular comedian Eddie Foy perform in the musical fantasy Mr. Bluebeard. A short circuit in a single backstage spotlight touched off a small fire that, in minutes, erupted into an uncontrollable blaze. More than 600 people died. Because of the magnitude of the catastrophe and the obvious corruption that allowed it to happen, building and fire laws were changed to prevent it everhappening again. Tinder Box is a riveting history of a traumatic and costly calamity.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
118 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
February 10, 2020
Overall a good read. Kind of a matter of fact writing style. Doesn't really jump off the pages but keeps you interested. Not super detailed but enough to give you a pretty good understanding. One things for sure, this book pissed me off!! The scumbags responsible(politicians and wealthy business men) skated off Scott-free. Yup, NO ONE was held accountable. Some things never change.
July 23, 2017
Six hundred people died when Chicago's Iroquois Theater caught fire. The theater was advertised to be fireproof and state of the art, and its owners were working feverishly to make money.
During a holiday matinee, a faulty spotlight set a curtain ablaze, and the terrible truths about the Iroquois were revealed: unfinished fire escapes, locked exit doors, missing exit signs, no fire alarm or firefighting equipment. By the time help arrived, it was too late.
In the wake of the tragedy, public condemnation was swift, especially when it became painfully clear that preventable failures has been detected but ignored by the theater owners, employees, the fire department, and numerous city officials. Yet despite the clear dereliction and neglect, no one was ever punished. No one went to jail, paid a fine, or paid damages.
The book uses contemporary newspaper accounts and eyewitness testimony to bring a forgotten tragedy to life. As the author points out, many of today's theaters have similar issues and risks. Anyone who remembers the Rhode Island nightclub fire knows this is sadly true. The victims of this tragedy deserve to be remembered, and this book tells that story.
During a holiday matinee, a faulty spotlight set a curtain ablaze, and the terrible truths about the Iroquois were revealed: unfinished fire escapes, locked exit doors, missing exit signs, no fire alarm or firefighting equipment. By the time help arrived, it was too late.
In the wake of the tragedy, public condemnation was swift, especially when it became painfully clear that preventable failures has been detected but ignored by the theater owners, employees, the fire department, and numerous city officials. Yet despite the clear dereliction and neglect, no one was ever punished. No one went to jail, paid a fine, or paid damages.
The book uses contemporary newspaper accounts and eyewitness testimony to bring a forgotten tragedy to life. As the author points out, many of today's theaters have similar issues and risks. Anyone who remembers the Rhode Island nightclub fire knows this is sadly true. The victims of this tragedy deserve to be remembered, and this book tells that story.
March 7, 2020
I can’t believe I had never heard of this story until now. So tragic. Review to come.
January 2, 2024
The Iroquois Theatre opened on November 23, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois. The capacity of the theatre was 1,602 people, sitting at three different viewing levels. There were 700 seats on the floor, over 400 seats on the first balcony, and 500 seats on the second balcony. The theatre was widely applauded as being one of the most beautiful and sophisticated theatres in the country, though it had some major design flaws that would become glaringly obvious in the wake of the disaster. One major issue was the one entrance, with doors that opened to the inside. Flammable construction materials and decor were also a great concern, even before the disaster. There were also no sprinklers, telephones, or fire alarms, all of which we take for granted now. On December 30, 1903, a fire broke out in the theatre. It is widely accepted that a light malfunction caught the muslin curtains, which then spread rapidly due to the construction and materials used for the set and other decor. Panic ensued, causing a stampede toward the exit, and many people were trampled or injured in their attempt to escape. Ultimately, 602 people died and 250 more were injured.
This book is currently available on Audible Plus, which is where I got my copy. I have a massive backlog of books on Audible that I am trying to get through for this year's reading challenge, and I am so grateful that I can listen while I am at work. This book was around six hours long, which I was able to complete in one shift at work. If you are interested in the physical book, it is less than 300 pages. The narrator was pleasant to listen to. The author did a great job of researching all of the facts, and providing detailed descriptions of the theatre. One thing that struck me in particular was the fact that this expensive, beautiful building did not even survive a full month before catastrophe struck. The investigation in the aftermath of the fire was absolutely infuriating to me, and I caught myself making faces in my computer screen multiple times. Whenever I read books like this, it really makes me realize how far fire safety has come and how much we take for granted in that regard. This was a really good book if you are into this type of topic.
This book is currently available on Audible Plus, which is where I got my copy. I have a massive backlog of books on Audible that I am trying to get through for this year's reading challenge, and I am so grateful that I can listen while I am at work. This book was around six hours long, which I was able to complete in one shift at work. If you are interested in the physical book, it is less than 300 pages. The narrator was pleasant to listen to. The author did a great job of researching all of the facts, and providing detailed descriptions of the theatre. One thing that struck me in particular was the fact that this expensive, beautiful building did not even survive a full month before catastrophe struck. The investigation in the aftermath of the fire was absolutely infuriating to me, and I caught myself making faces in my computer screen multiple times. Whenever I read books like this, it really makes me realize how far fire safety has come and how much we take for granted in that regard. This was a really good book if you are into this type of topic.
November 2, 2022
Not a bad book at all, but I found myself skimming a bit. There were things I just wasn't interested in about Chicago's mayor, theater syndicates, and the like. I've found myself reading books about catastrophic fires ever since I first read about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory when I was about eight years old and my older brother, who had taken it out of the library for school, handed me the Leon Stein's book and said, "I think you'll be interested in this." Yeah, it turned out I was. I came to believe I must have "lived before" and died in the Triangle Fire. I still do, but after more than 50 years, the connection has weakened somewhat (I still can't so much as light a match, I'm that afraid of fire). Anyway, this story is heartbreaking, and Hatch has his moments of compassion and strong writing. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in Chicago, as well as great fires.
September 11, 2024
This is the worst fire in Chicago history. More people died in this fire than the Great Chicago fire in 1871. It was Christmas time and theater was packed with a lot of women and children. It was filled to over capacity. Numerous things happened that contributed to the number fatalities. Doors to the outside were locked; the fire escape was 12 feet from the ground; they had no equipment to put out a fire save for Kilfyre at the theater, which by the time it was used did no good. This is a look at a historic fire, that helped to change the fire laws in the country.
March 17, 2022
Woe comes to anyone who claims their ..... is unsinkable, unbreakable, completely fireproof...
This is the story of the Iroquois Theatre fire (I have probably passed by the site in my walking to various theatres in Chicago, and never knew the location.) and how over 600 people died in the 1093 fire It was touted as completely fireproof when it opened, but when it opened there were several things that were never finished: the stairs leading down from the fire escapes, for one. The chapter, The Inferno, is chilling to read. The fire starts when a light fixture becomes close to a flammable curtain. The description of the events that followed will keep you awake at night, and I guarantee you, will make you look for the Exit Signs the next time you are in a theatre, movie or otherwise. So many things were wrong in this theatre, which was built to amaze. Curtain covered escape doors, mirrors that confused those seeking safety, gates to prevent purchasers of cheap seats from going to premier seating, and exit doors that open inward, and those incomplete fire escapes.
Sadly, legal issues prevented the owners and others from being held accountable for the disaster. However, lessons were learned in the implementation of safety measures, although those were years in the future.
"it would be cold consolation to the dead and their families, but it could be said that the Iroquois victims did not die in vain. Out of the public outcry over the tragedy came stringent reforms in building and fire safety codes throughout the US and in some European countries, not only in theatres but in other public structures including schools, churches and office buildings.
Floor plans clearly showing the locations of exits began to be included in playbills--some theatres had begun this practice before the fire--and for years an announcement on playbill covers read: "look around now, and choose the nearest exit. In case of fire, walk, do not run. Do not try to beat your neighbor to the street.
The use of fireproof materials for scenery became mandatory, as did illuminated exit signs and exit doors that open out, rather than in. These injunctions remain in force today."
"If there were any lessons to be learned from the Chicago tragedy, perhaps it was that the wonders of modern technology , with all their acknowledged benefits, could lull the public into a false sense of security in the mistaken belief that modern science has the answer to virtually every problem.
Despite all the technological improvements and contemporary safety standards of the 21st century, the Iroquois example and the current geopolitical situation raise questions about today's modern multiplex movie hoses, legitimate playhouses, giant screen theatres and nightclubs, and about what would happen in a panic situation., Are the exits unlocked? Are ushers properly trained? Are ushers even present? In most movie houses today, these young employees seem to be assigned to taking tickets, working concession stands, and cleaning theatres, rather than remaining in the darkened auditoriums themselves."
Fires like this, and others must not be dismissed to history so that we can learn the hard lessons.
This is the story of the Iroquois Theatre fire (I have probably passed by the site in my walking to various theatres in Chicago, and never knew the location.) and how over 600 people died in the 1093 fire It was touted as completely fireproof when it opened, but when it opened there were several things that were never finished: the stairs leading down from the fire escapes, for one. The chapter, The Inferno, is chilling to read. The fire starts when a light fixture becomes close to a flammable curtain. The description of the events that followed will keep you awake at night, and I guarantee you, will make you look for the Exit Signs the next time you are in a theatre, movie or otherwise. So many things were wrong in this theatre, which was built to amaze. Curtain covered escape doors, mirrors that confused those seeking safety, gates to prevent purchasers of cheap seats from going to premier seating, and exit doors that open inward, and those incomplete fire escapes.
Sadly, legal issues prevented the owners and others from being held accountable for the disaster. However, lessons were learned in the implementation of safety measures, although those were years in the future.
"it would be cold consolation to the dead and their families, but it could be said that the Iroquois victims did not die in vain. Out of the public outcry over the tragedy came stringent reforms in building and fire safety codes throughout the US and in some European countries, not only in theatres but in other public structures including schools, churches and office buildings.
Floor plans clearly showing the locations of exits began to be included in playbills--some theatres had begun this practice before the fire--and for years an announcement on playbill covers read: "look around now, and choose the nearest exit. In case of fire, walk, do not run. Do not try to beat your neighbor to the street.
The use of fireproof materials for scenery became mandatory, as did illuminated exit signs and exit doors that open out, rather than in. These injunctions remain in force today."
"If there were any lessons to be learned from the Chicago tragedy, perhaps it was that the wonders of modern technology , with all their acknowledged benefits, could lull the public into a false sense of security in the mistaken belief that modern science has the answer to virtually every problem.
Despite all the technological improvements and contemporary safety standards of the 21st century, the Iroquois example and the current geopolitical situation raise questions about today's modern multiplex movie hoses, legitimate playhouses, giant screen theatres and nightclubs, and about what would happen in a panic situation., Are the exits unlocked? Are ushers properly trained? Are ushers even present? In most movie houses today, these young employees seem to be assigned to taking tickets, working concession stands, and cleaning theatres, rather than remaining in the darkened auditoriums themselves."
Fires like this, and others must not be dismissed to history so that we can learn the hard lessons.
October 23, 2022
Why do I do this to myself? I am pyrophobic.
December 24, 2024
In 1903, the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago was a state-of-the-art, premier venue. One of it's claims to fame was it's billing as "completely fireproof." Unfortunately, that claim proved to be baseless as during a performance of Mr. Bluebeard, a fire broke out and quickly spread. When all was said and done, more then 600 lives had been lost, many of them children.
Hatch is both thorough and compassionate in telling the story. Even though it was the worst theatre disaster in history, it has mostly been forgotten. Hatch goes into detail on the building of the Iroquois, corners that were cut and the fallout from the tragedy. Most importantly for me, was the voice he gave to the people who were impacted, the victims, the heroes and the ones who were held accountable.
Hatch is both thorough and compassionate in telling the story. Even though it was the worst theatre disaster in history, it has mostly been forgotten. Hatch goes into detail on the building of the Iroquois, corners that were cut and the fallout from the tragedy. Most importantly for me, was the voice he gave to the people who were impacted, the victims, the heroes and the ones who were held accountable.
October 28, 2019
Wow that was depressing...
"Tinder Box" is about the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire that happened in Chicago, IL. As I live not even 40 minutes from Chicago I always find it interesting to know that this city has always been corrupt (The only good thing the city has produced in my memory is their hockey team; Obama belongs to Illinois as a whole so Chicago doesn't get the credit) and that there are numerous examples of how this affects the citizens of the city. The basic history is "greedy owners pay greedy/scared city officials off to build a theater on the cheap, a massive amount of people die in a fire caused by said cheap construction, and because the rich owners hire the right scumbag lawyer they all get off scot-free". Oh! And none of the families get more than (I believe) $750 for each dead family member, some families lost everyone so who gets that money I wonder?
It's an interesting yet melancholy read; the guilty aren't punished and the innocent die. Yes now we have "standards" (that aren't as great as we want them to be) in large gathering areas and some inventions came out of this tragedy that we still use to this day (doors that open out instead of in at theaters? Here you go!). However, we still have very little legislation that can go against large corporations when innocent people die and very rarely do the men who cut corners actually go to jail (consider how many people embezzle and actually go to prison more than a year). So it's a sad commentary on how nothing really changes and going to the movies is still a gamble.
The thing that stuck in my head the most was *spoiler* when the firefighter carried the small child out and wouldn't give the child to others because "this one looked like his child at home and he had to carry this one out himself". I literally teared up at my office because not only is that hopelessly sad, but the visual the author created through that was great writing. So while it's a depressing book with a depressing moment in history, I recommend this book to anyone who thinks capitalism/democracy are two things that go together well. (Hint they don't always).
"Tinder Box" is about the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire that happened in Chicago, IL. As I live not even 40 minutes from Chicago I always find it interesting to know that this city has always been corrupt (The only good thing the city has produced in my memory is their hockey team; Obama belongs to Illinois as a whole so Chicago doesn't get the credit) and that there are numerous examples of how this affects the citizens of the city. The basic history is "greedy owners pay greedy/scared city officials off to build a theater on the cheap, a massive amount of people die in a fire caused by said cheap construction, and because the rich owners hire the right scumbag lawyer they all get off scot-free". Oh! And none of the families get more than (I believe) $750 for each dead family member, some families lost everyone so who gets that money I wonder?
It's an interesting yet melancholy read; the guilty aren't punished and the innocent die. Yes now we have "standards" (that aren't as great as we want them to be) in large gathering areas and some inventions came out of this tragedy that we still use to this day (doors that open out instead of in at theaters? Here you go!). However, we still have very little legislation that can go against large corporations when innocent people die and very rarely do the men who cut corners actually go to jail (consider how many people embezzle and actually go to prison more than a year). So it's a sad commentary on how nothing really changes and going to the movies is still a gamble.
The thing that stuck in my head the most was *spoiler* when the firefighter carried the small child out and wouldn't give the child to others because "this one looked like his child at home and he had to carry this one out himself". I literally teared up at my office because not only is that hopelessly sad, but the visual the author created through that was great writing. So while it's a depressing book with a depressing moment in history, I recommend this book to anyone who thinks capitalism/democracy are two things that go together well. (Hint they don't always).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2019
The author did an incredible amount of research, starting in the 1950's/1960's when he was able to interview several first-hand witnesses. The book details a sadly forgotten part of history, the largest theater fire disaster in the US (indeed of any fire in the US, until 9/11.) Around 600 people died in the span of 15 minutes. The author gives individual stories on several of the people who were in the theater at the time of the fire (some who survived, some who didn't.) He gives a history on firefighting in 1903 and the firefighter's response to the fire. He talks about the societal happenings that caused the opening of the theater to be delayed, which led to the owners opening it before it was actually finished. He gives information on how the theater claimed to be "absolutely fireproof", even though many of the fire-proofing mechanisms which had been planned were never actually implemented or finished. Sadly, he talks about the several people who realized the danger of the Iroquois Theatre before it was opened, but it was opened anyway. The book is very well written, especially for a first time book author. Anyone interested in history, firefighting, government corruption, safety, architecture or theatre should find this tragic story both fascinating and a cautionary tale. Most sadly, the author has an Epilogue at the end of the book written in November 2002, detailing the reasons why he doesn't believe theater's today are any safer than the Iroquois Theatre was, and that such a tragedy could happen again (which it did in February 2003.)
August 2, 2020
I received an Advanced Listening Copy of this book from Libro.fm. It reminded me a bit of the Devil in White City with the details of Chicago. Labor issues, politics and corruption led to such an unnecessary tragedy. The author’s research was excellent. Doors that opened in instead of out, hidden and locked exits, fire escapes that led nowhere and the asbestos curtain that wasn’t turned a spark from a theater light into a horrific death for 600 people. After reading this you will never look at any large venue the same. Highly recommended and very well-narrated. Details of deaths of victims including young children may be too much for some readers.
December 28, 2023
Ever since I stumbled onto a Wikipedia article about the Hartford Circus Fire (covered extensively in Stewart O'Nan's The Circus Fire), I've been obsessed with famous building fires. The Station Nightclub Fire (Trial By Fire, Killer Show), the Cocoanut Grove Fire (Fire in the Grove), the Our Lady of the Angels school fire (To Sleep With the Angels), the Oakland Ghost Ship fire (no book yet)... these are tragic stories that are nonetheless both fascinating and horrifying. Tinder Box covers a tragedy that predates all of the above -- the Iroquois Theatre Fire in Chicago in 1903, a tragedy that's largely forgotten today. And it's a thoroughly researched and revealing look at what went wrong that fateful day.
The Iroquois Theatre in Chicago was built to rival the great theatre houses in New York City and even Europe... and as Chicagoans still remembered the Great Chicago Fire of four decades past, the creators of the theatre toted it as "absolutely fireproof." But a mere five weeks after the theatre's opening, a matinee show went disastrously awry when a spotlight started a fire that would ultimately claim the lives of over five hundred people (the exact death toll is debated to this day). And as fingers were pointed, charges filed, and investigations launched, the truth about the dangers of the Iroquois would be made known... and a city would be shaken to its foundations.
Hatch performed research for nearly forty years to write this book, even finding the valuable opportunity to interview survivors before their passing. And his dedication shows -- the level of detail in this book is incredible, especially given that the fire was a century ago and has been largely forgotten today. He covers the day of the fire in gripping detail without sensationalizing the tragedy, and shows the events leading up to it as well as the devastating fallout that affected both those in power and the citizens who lost loved ones to said fire. And while there are few photographs of the fire and its aftermath, he incorporates what he can alongside newspaper sketches, political cartoons, playbills, and fliers relating to the Iroquois and its disaster.
Hatch also makes it clear that no one person was responsible for the fire, despite the finger-pointing and victim blaming that ensued in the wake of the disaster. This book covers the many lapses that led to such a tragedy -- the lack of fire safety laws, the inability or neglect to enforce the laws that were in place, the theatre's lack of fire safety features and equipment (no sprinklers, unfinished fire escapes, locked fire exits, etc.), the inspection officials willing to be bribed with free tickets to overlook problems, etc. And Hatch points out that a disaster similar to the Iroquois was not only possible, but inevitable, as theaters and other venues are still lacking in safety features. (His warning would turn out to be prophetic -- the Station Nightclub fire, which occurred in a venue that did not meet fire safety regulations, happened the year this book came out... almost exactly a hundred years after the Iroquois fire.)
This is a painstakingly researched and revealing, if heartbreaking, look at one of the deadliest building fires in US history. It's a tragedy that deserves to be remembered, if only as a stark reminder that safety regulations are all too often written in blood.
The Iroquois Theatre in Chicago was built to rival the great theatre houses in New York City and even Europe... and as Chicagoans still remembered the Great Chicago Fire of four decades past, the creators of the theatre toted it as "absolutely fireproof." But a mere five weeks after the theatre's opening, a matinee show went disastrously awry when a spotlight started a fire that would ultimately claim the lives of over five hundred people (the exact death toll is debated to this day). And as fingers were pointed, charges filed, and investigations launched, the truth about the dangers of the Iroquois would be made known... and a city would be shaken to its foundations.
Hatch performed research for nearly forty years to write this book, even finding the valuable opportunity to interview survivors before their passing. And his dedication shows -- the level of detail in this book is incredible, especially given that the fire was a century ago and has been largely forgotten today. He covers the day of the fire in gripping detail without sensationalizing the tragedy, and shows the events leading up to it as well as the devastating fallout that affected both those in power and the citizens who lost loved ones to said fire. And while there are few photographs of the fire and its aftermath, he incorporates what he can alongside newspaper sketches, political cartoons, playbills, and fliers relating to the Iroquois and its disaster.
Hatch also makes it clear that no one person was responsible for the fire, despite the finger-pointing and victim blaming that ensued in the wake of the disaster. This book covers the many lapses that led to such a tragedy -- the lack of fire safety laws, the inability or neglect to enforce the laws that were in place, the theatre's lack of fire safety features and equipment (no sprinklers, unfinished fire escapes, locked fire exits, etc.), the inspection officials willing to be bribed with free tickets to overlook problems, etc. And Hatch points out that a disaster similar to the Iroquois was not only possible, but inevitable, as theaters and other venues are still lacking in safety features. (His warning would turn out to be prophetic -- the Station Nightclub fire, which occurred in a venue that did not meet fire safety regulations, happened the year this book came out... almost exactly a hundred years after the Iroquois fire.)
This is a painstakingly researched and revealing, if heartbreaking, look at one of the deadliest building fires in US history. It's a tragedy that deserves to be remembered, if only as a stark reminder that safety regulations are all too often written in blood.
December 8, 2024
🖍️ Nicely written historical fiction that was pretty 🌵 dry. Don't light a match.
જ⁀🟡 Kindle Unlimited.
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✧⋆˚₊˚⋆✧Excerpts of note:
༒ General background:
༒ More background:
જ⁀🟡 Kindle Unlimited.
▬▬▬▬
✧⋆˚₊˚⋆✧Excerpts of note:
༒ General background:
🔺 My research began in 1961 in Chicago when I interviewed former Fire Commissioner William Corrigan, who had fought the fire and who gave me a detailed description of everything from piles of snow in the street that day to the rescue attempts inside the burning theatre.
༒ More background:
🔻 ON FEBRUARY 13, 1875, the Chicago Times stunned its readers by predicting a terrible theatre disaster waiting to happen. In a city that only four years earlier had been devastated by what was called “The Great Chicago Fire,” the Times, in lurid detail, described a tragedy in an “absolutely fireproof” theatre filled to overcapacity one winter’s day with women and children who were watching a musical comedy. In this fictionalized account, audience members jammed the exits in a mad rush to escape while the show’s leading comedian rushed on stage just as the fire safety curtain burst into flames. Hundreds were horribly burned, crushed to death or asphyxiated and the Times warned that safety provisions were generally so lax that the make-believe story could “at any time become a reality.” Twenty-eight years later, on one winter day, the nightmare prediction came true in almost every ghastly detail.
August 14, 2020
I listened to the audiobook, but I can’t find that in the editions shown here in Goodreads, so that’s what I’m reviewing.
I have a degree in Theatre and I love history, so I was aware of the Iroquois Theatre fire. We were taught a little bit about it in some of my theatre classes, mostly so we would always know where the fire equipment and fire curtain were located, but it was always just a cursory overview.
This book makes it personal, telling the stories of many victims and survivors before, during, and after the tragedy of December 30, 1903. A tragedy which was, unfortunately and frustratingly, almost entirely avoidable, but for human greed and incompetence.
I learned so much more than I had ever known about the disaster than I had ever known and I highly recommend this to anyone involved in Theatre.
The narrator’s voice took me a few chapters to get into because of mispronunciations and odd phrasing but, ultimately, I was able to look past those small annoyances and enjoy the book.
I have a degree in Theatre and I love history, so I was aware of the Iroquois Theatre fire. We were taught a little bit about it in some of my theatre classes, mostly so we would always know where the fire equipment and fire curtain were located, but it was always just a cursory overview.
This book makes it personal, telling the stories of many victims and survivors before, during, and after the tragedy of December 30, 1903. A tragedy which was, unfortunately and frustratingly, almost entirely avoidable, but for human greed and incompetence.
I learned so much more than I had ever known about the disaster than I had ever known and I highly recommend this to anyone involved in Theatre.
The narrator’s voice took me a few chapters to get into because of mispronunciations and odd phrasing but, ultimately, I was able to look past those small annoyances and enjoy the book.
February 16, 2025
There is a saying in the building code profession that is morbid but factual.
"Code is written in blood"
"Tinder box" is a very appropriate title. Well written, concise, emotional and researched. Highly recommended if you are a Chicago history buff, involved in theater and or in the construction industry.
Be forewarned. It is a retelling of one of the greatest single building fires in the United States second only to the world trade centers on 9/11. It therefore is tragic.
As a Building Inspector and Plan Examiner. This book is my professional nightmare. Locked and unlabeled emergency exits, Arc Lights with temps up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, a theater stuffed well beyond capacity with children and enough flammable drapery to cover a couple football fields.
This fire changed building code for public spaces forever. If you have ever pushed a panic bar on an egress door that leads outside then you have unknowingly touched something that was invented directly because of this Iroquois Theater fire.
"Code is written in blood"
"Tinder box" is a very appropriate title. Well written, concise, emotional and researched. Highly recommended if you are a Chicago history buff, involved in theater and or in the construction industry.
Be forewarned. It is a retelling of one of the greatest single building fires in the United States second only to the world trade centers on 9/11. It therefore is tragic.
As a Building Inspector and Plan Examiner. This book is my professional nightmare. Locked and unlabeled emergency exits, Arc Lights with temps up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, a theater stuffed well beyond capacity with children and enough flammable drapery to cover a couple football fields.
This fire changed building code for public spaces forever. If you have ever pushed a panic bar on an egress door that leads outside then you have unknowingly touched something that was invented directly because of this Iroquois Theater fire.
January 19, 2020
A Jolting Dose of Reality
Another nail biter,as far as horrendous fires are concerned,This was a theatre fire from 1903.
Eddie Foy was the main.attraction and the theatre was the most extravagant ever built at this time with all the main things people of that city,thought they needed to see and not a one thought of what a fire could do especially the owners,partners and crooked bankers who took many short cuts on safety ,as they just wanted to get the theatre open to start making money.
Over 500 people lost their lives and nothing much more than a slap on the wrist happened to any of the higher ups involved.
With all of the bldgs.of today being redone and
Many of them still under the grandfather clause,as far as remodeling goes and still many crooked businessmen,looking out for #1,the same thing could happen today.
Read this true thriller and see if you don't agree?
Another nail biter,as far as horrendous fires are concerned,This was a theatre fire from 1903.
Eddie Foy was the main.attraction and the theatre was the most extravagant ever built at this time with all the main things people of that city,thought they needed to see and not a one thought of what a fire could do especially the owners,partners and crooked bankers who took many short cuts on safety ,as they just wanted to get the theatre open to start making money.
Over 500 people lost their lives and nothing much more than a slap on the wrist happened to any of the higher ups involved.
With all of the bldgs.of today being redone and
Many of them still under the grandfather clause,as far as remodeling goes and still many crooked businessmen,looking out for #1,the same thing could happen today.
Read this true thriller and see if you don't agree?
September 9, 2019
It's amazing how unprepared they were for this all the way through. They never were sure of the number of dead - anywhere from 565 to 602. The theater had been open for 5 weeks but there were no stairs on the fire escapes. Pretty much everyone screwed up - from the owners to the inspectors and even to the ushers who wouldn't let people out of a burning theater. Amazing. Per the book, this is the fire that gave us the illuminated exit signs and helped spawn the invention of the panic bar on fire escape doors. The event itself was not anticlimactic but our response was. This was a good read, though not necessarily gripping.
November 27, 2022
Tinder Box by Anthony P. Hatch is the second book I’ve read about the horrible 1903 fire at Chicago’s Iroquois Theater. Although many primary sources seemed to be discarded prior to his inquiries, possibly to protect reputations as much as to conserve space, the author’s research was exhaustive and showed in his inclusion of details. In fact, his narrative drowns in details at times.
I read the book for my ongoing studies of fire and human behavior in crises as well as preparation for an upcoming episode of Disasters in History. The story is engaging and benefitted from his inclusion of illustrations.
I read the book for my ongoing studies of fire and human behavior in crises as well as preparation for an upcoming episode of Disasters in History. The story is engaging and benefitted from his inclusion of illustrations.
December 9, 2023
This book recounts the haunting incident of the Iroquois Theatre Fire. I became interested in this incident by chance. I am a current stagehand and college instructor and one of the classes I teach is Health and Safety.
The echo of this disaster lives on backstage. The name Iroquois might be forgotten by the stage hands but what happened is not. To read through this account feels like a puzzle piece being put into place at long last.
The book is horrifying at times but it is so beautifully written that I found myself hanging off every one of Hatch’s words and having to remind myself numerous times that this was no work of fiction.
The echo of this disaster lives on backstage. The name Iroquois might be forgotten by the stage hands but what happened is not. To read through this account feels like a puzzle piece being put into place at long last.
The book is horrifying at times but it is so beautifully written that I found myself hanging off every one of Hatch’s words and having to remind myself numerous times that this was no work of fiction.
August 8, 2017
"when all is done, the fact remains that no one has invented a patent for stopping panic"
- Beerbohm Tree
In 1903 over 601 people perished in what has become known as one of the greatest tragedies in the history of building fires. Bodies stacked on one another, police men stealing from those they were suppose to protect and perverts laying eyes on naked victims and a long list of other moral fallacies not one person was ever help responsible for this atrocious event in the last days of 1903.
- Beerbohm Tree
In 1903 over 601 people perished in what has become known as one of the greatest tragedies in the history of building fires. Bodies stacked on one another, police men stealing from those they were suppose to protect and perverts laying eyes on naked victims and a long list of other moral fallacies not one person was ever help responsible for this atrocious event in the last days of 1903.
December 9, 2016
This is an excellent overview of Chicago's infamous 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire. Unlike many books about tragedies, which usually peter out quickly after the tale of the tragedy, I actually found the chapters detailing the legal aftermath every bit as interesting the fire itself. Reading about this tragedy, which resulted in the death of over 600 people, made me think about large-scale fatal fires and how rare they are in America in this day and age. So many tragic 20th century fires - the Iroquois, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the Cocoanut Grove, the Circus Fire, Our Lady of the Angels - resulted in improved safety regulations and inspections which have significantly reduced the number of such tragedies in modern life. The Station nightclub disaster is one of the few in recent history I could recall.
Of course, before I could finish the book, news came in of the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, killing 36 vibrant young artists who found themselves trapped upstairs with a blaze raging through their only escape route below them. Naturally, in the wake of this disaster, there has been a lot of finger pointing, both at the city of Oakland for not performing inspections on the makeshift warehouse residence and on the Ghost Ship owner for not providing a safe environment for his artist community. (Of course, this overlooks the real culprit - unchecked Capitalism that has resulted in a lack of affordable housing options in the Bay Area. Sometimes you take unnecessary risks because... they actually ARE necessary!)
In any event, the blame game reminds me of the Iroquois Theatre disaster, when a battle of public opinion was waged between the theater owners (for not ensuring the building was complete and safe before opening for business), contractors (for not completing the ventilation system and fire escapes), management (for locking exit routes and not providing adequate fire extinguishers), architect (for designing a grand promenade that resulted in a log-jam of patrons trying to exit and for disguising emergency exits so they looked prettier) and the City of Chicago (for an inadequate safety inspection).
Ultimately, as with so many American atrocities, there were so many to blame for the fire that NO ONE was legally held to blame for it. It was a perfect storm of incompetence, greed, and poor decisions that doomed the audience of mostly women and children who attended a matinee performance of the musical Mr. Bluebeard on December 30, 1903. Much like the Titanic disaster which would follow nearly a decade later, the fate of the crowd in the "absolutely fireproof" theatre was largely dependent on social class, with a majority of victims residing in the balcony and gallery "cheap seats". As if it wasn't bad enough that the panicked balcony patrons found their exit corridor had been blocked by an accordion gate (which had been locked by theater employees to prevent the peasants from trying to sneak down to the more expensive floor seats during the show), they were also doomed by the construction company, struggling to meet an oft-delayed deadline, neglecting to finish installing the ventilation system in the roof. And they were doomed by the installation of an "asbestos curtain" designed to protect the crowd that turned out to neither be made of asbestos nor lowered properly. It caught on some equipment about 20 feet from the stage floor, and when the backstage doors were flung open to allow crew to escape, the suddenly influx of oxygen turned the inferno into a fireball that shot beneath the curtain, straight up into the balcony, incinerating those in its path.
Some of the balcony patrons were able to make it to the upper level fire escapes... only to discover that they had never been finished; there were no stairs. The rush of people behind them pushed many to their deaths. Students in Northwestern University across the alley saved some people by putting long boards and ladders across the chasm, but many people fell to their deaths trying to cross the slippery, rickety escape route. The area became known as "Death Alley" as at least 125 died on the cold cobblestones.
Those who shelled out the extra money for floor seats had much improved odds of escape, since the fireball blew over their heads and they didn't have to contend with the unfinished fire escapes, but the confusing layout of the dark, smoke-filled theater lead to many tragedies there as well. There were emergency exits with confusing locks that could not be opened, mirrored ornamental "doors" that were not actually exits, dead-ends, bottlenecks where multiple corridors converged into one, and inward-opening doors that could not be opened due to the pressure of the panicked crowd crushing behind them.
A lot was learned about fire safety in the aftermath of the Iroquois Fire disaster, but as The Station nightclub and Ghost Ship warehouse fires prove, despite all our safeguards, we're all still just a stray spark away from disaster. As I sit here typing, I look around at my studio apartment with both exit doors placed right next to each other. Were a fire to start in that section of the building, I'd have nowhere to go except out a third story window, just like those who jumped into Death Alley. How many of us can say the same? Ultimately, for all the safety measures we take, we're all just delicate fleshy creatures at the mercy of the elements. And sometimes we end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Of course, before I could finish the book, news came in of the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, killing 36 vibrant young artists who found themselves trapped upstairs with a blaze raging through their only escape route below them. Naturally, in the wake of this disaster, there has been a lot of finger pointing, both at the city of Oakland for not performing inspections on the makeshift warehouse residence and on the Ghost Ship owner for not providing a safe environment for his artist community. (Of course, this overlooks the real culprit - unchecked Capitalism that has resulted in a lack of affordable housing options in the Bay Area. Sometimes you take unnecessary risks because... they actually ARE necessary!)
In any event, the blame game reminds me of the Iroquois Theatre disaster, when a battle of public opinion was waged between the theater owners (for not ensuring the building was complete and safe before opening for business), contractors (for not completing the ventilation system and fire escapes), management (for locking exit routes and not providing adequate fire extinguishers), architect (for designing a grand promenade that resulted in a log-jam of patrons trying to exit and for disguising emergency exits so they looked prettier) and the City of Chicago (for an inadequate safety inspection).
Ultimately, as with so many American atrocities, there were so many to blame for the fire that NO ONE was legally held to blame for it. It was a perfect storm of incompetence, greed, and poor decisions that doomed the audience of mostly women and children who attended a matinee performance of the musical Mr. Bluebeard on December 30, 1903. Much like the Titanic disaster which would follow nearly a decade later, the fate of the crowd in the "absolutely fireproof" theatre was largely dependent on social class, with a majority of victims residing in the balcony and gallery "cheap seats". As if it wasn't bad enough that the panicked balcony patrons found their exit corridor had been blocked by an accordion gate (which had been locked by theater employees to prevent the peasants from trying to sneak down to the more expensive floor seats during the show), they were also doomed by the construction company, struggling to meet an oft-delayed deadline, neglecting to finish installing the ventilation system in the roof. And they were doomed by the installation of an "asbestos curtain" designed to protect the crowd that turned out to neither be made of asbestos nor lowered properly. It caught on some equipment about 20 feet from the stage floor, and when the backstage doors were flung open to allow crew to escape, the suddenly influx of oxygen turned the inferno into a fireball that shot beneath the curtain, straight up into the balcony, incinerating those in its path.
Some of the balcony patrons were able to make it to the upper level fire escapes... only to discover that they had never been finished; there were no stairs. The rush of people behind them pushed many to their deaths. Students in Northwestern University across the alley saved some people by putting long boards and ladders across the chasm, but many people fell to their deaths trying to cross the slippery, rickety escape route. The area became known as "Death Alley" as at least 125 died on the cold cobblestones.
Those who shelled out the extra money for floor seats had much improved odds of escape, since the fireball blew over their heads and they didn't have to contend with the unfinished fire escapes, but the confusing layout of the dark, smoke-filled theater lead to many tragedies there as well. There were emergency exits with confusing locks that could not be opened, mirrored ornamental "doors" that were not actually exits, dead-ends, bottlenecks where multiple corridors converged into one, and inward-opening doors that could not be opened due to the pressure of the panicked crowd crushing behind them.
A lot was learned about fire safety in the aftermath of the Iroquois Fire disaster, but as The Station nightclub and Ghost Ship warehouse fires prove, despite all our safeguards, we're all still just a stray spark away from disaster. As I sit here typing, I look around at my studio apartment with both exit doors placed right next to each other. Were a fire to start in that section of the building, I'd have nowhere to go except out a third story window, just like those who jumped into Death Alley. How many of us can say the same? Ultimately, for all the safety measures we take, we're all just delicate fleshy creatures at the mercy of the elements. And sometimes we end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
June 5, 2018
Iroquois Theater fire centennial books by Anthony Hatch's (Tinderbox) and Nat Brandt (Chicago Death Trap: the Iroquois Theater Fire of 1903) each offer a helpful overview of the fire that is a good starting point for learning about the disaster. I am obligated to both for providing the outline that helped point the way. Those interested in delving further are invited to join me at http://www.iroquoistheater.com
July 8, 2020
In this book, Anthony Hatch explores one of the most notorious fires in American History, The Iroqouis Theatre Fire, that killed 602 people and injured hundreds more. Hatch does an excellent job of explaining not just the tragedy, but the factors that lead up to it and the reforms that came from it. Drawing parallels with the story of the Titanic, TINDER BOX is a striking reminder that all safety laws are bought in blood. The book closes with a chilling reminder that despite the safety reforms that came from this disaster, there is very little stopping something similar from happening again.
December 27, 2020
Not enough personal stories.
I was not impressed with the lack of structure in this book. It seemed as though there was very little to base the book on amd the author made it seem as though it was a huge conspiracy, not simply time and a willingness to put it behind.
Very negative afterword about how theaters cannot handle a panic situation. As though they could-it is panic. Many good changes came from the fire-eventually, but the author focused on what did not.
I was not impressed with the lack of structure in this book. It seemed as though there was very little to base the book on amd the author made it seem as though it was a huge conspiracy, not simply time and a willingness to put it behind.
Very negative afterword about how theaters cannot handle a panic situation. As though they could-it is panic. Many good changes came from the fire-eventually, but the author focused on what did not.
August 12, 2025
The transgressions of greed
“The result was a huge deadly blowtorch which one fire official later described as a “back draft.””
The author did a very thorough job utilizing historical documents, interviews and research. It can happen anywhere, at any time and it is not just a 1903 tragedy. Some things never change, such as the love of profit and humans being only aware of themselves. Important to know the exits and spatial awareness everywhere we go.
“The result was a huge deadly blowtorch which one fire official later described as a “back draft.””
The author did a very thorough job utilizing historical documents, interviews and research. It can happen anywhere, at any time and it is not just a 1903 tragedy. Some things never change, such as the love of profit and humans being only aware of themselves. Important to know the exits and spatial awareness everywhere we go.
May 28, 2018
Very telling book with horrible details of 600 innocent lives lost. Many lives could have been saved if building contractors had finished their construction of fire escapes, if alarms would have been in place, and if the "fire curtain" would have really been fireproof and able to come down and protect the audience. Exit doors were not labeled and some exits were locked. Sad moment in history.
May 2, 2025
Good Research Historical Novel
This was a good retelling of a tragic tale of greed, complacency, and negligence. The fact that so many people had to die and even now it hasn’t helped correct issues with safety standards, is a the true tragedy. This is a story for firemen in training to learn from.
This was a good retelling of a tragic tale of greed, complacency, and negligence. The fact that so many people had to die and even now it hasn’t helped correct issues with safety standards, is a the true tragedy. This is a story for firemen in training to learn from.
December 28, 2018
Excellent read. History of one of the greatest theatre fires known to American history, it was responsible for so many of the modern safety provisions for public places because of the incredible loss of life.
January 6, 2019
Sad but extremely interesting story to read and think about.
Always seems like a number of small things goes wrong, and the little things all add together to cause overwhelming disaster.
Always seems like a number of small things goes wrong, and the little things all add together to cause overwhelming disaster.
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