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The Tragic Iroquois Theater Fire of 1903

On December 30th, 1903, a fire broke out during a packed matinee performance at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, leading to the deadliest single-building fire in American history, with over 600 casualties. Claimed to be 'nearly fireproof,' the theater's inadequate safety measures and locked exits contributed to the high death toll. The disaster prompted nationwide reforms in fire safety regulations. Despite widespread investigations and lawsuits, no one was held accountable for the tragedy. This episode explores the events leading up to the fire, the chaos that ensued, and its aftermath.

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Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaudio.com/