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Title: Chicago Death Trap: The Iroquois Theatre Fire of 1903 by Nat Brandt, R. Perry Duis, Cathlyn Schallhorn , Perry R. Duis ISBN: 0-8093-2490-3 Publisher: Southern Illinois Univ Pr (Trd) Pub. Date: February, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.62 (8 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: When Government Fails to Act.
Comment: An excellent reporting of a little known tragedy. The intimacies provided by the narrative style of the book draws the reader into a moment by moment experience of thirty minutes of horror. The chilling aspect of so many of our fellow-citizens lost in such a flash is equaled by the cover-up that commenced almost before the last ember was extinguished. As with so much of American history the meaning of the Iroquois Theater Fire is defined by the value of property over life. This book is worthy of reading for the historical counterpoint to the current drive in which the civic rights to safety in the market place is being aggressively replaced with denial of access to justice.
Rating: 5
Summary: Heartbreaking account of the worst fire in U.S. history
Comment: Since I work only about five minutes away from the site of the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I. where 100 people lost their lives in February 2003, I felt compelled to read this book. Relying heavily on newspaper accounts of the disaster, Nat Brandt does a masterful job of recreating the awful events of that frigid December afternoon in 1903 when 602 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in the Iroquois Theatre fire in downtown Chicago. This was a brand new venue that had been opened for a bit more than a month. The parallels between this fire and what happened recently here in Rhode Island appear to be numerous. Brandt discusses all of the shortcomings at the theatre that resulted in such a heavy death toll. For example, many of the emergency exits were camouflaged in an attempt to improve the appearance of the theater. In addition, most of these exits were locked during the performance and there were no "EXIT" signs posted anywhere. Skylights were installed that would have allowed the fumes and flames to escape above the stage but because the opening of the theater was rushed to take advantage of the holiday season, the skylights were stuck shut. Other deficiencies, too numerous too mention here, also contributed to making this theater a death trap. Brandt also discusses the potential culpabilty of the owners of the building, the architect, the construction company, municipal inspectors and of course, the politicians. Finally, we learn about the ultimate result of years of litigation by family members of the victims. Hint: It is not a happy ending. My conclusion from reading this book is a simple one: "Laxity spells disaster." We never seem to learn, do we? This a well written book that deserves your time and attention.
Rating: 5
Summary: Outstanding read
Comment: This book is a page turner. A tragic and cautionary tale of a Titanic-like disaster in which hubris and corruption resulted in a huge loss of life. What with the Rhode Island and Chicago fires this year, the book is particularly timely. I know that it has made me look for exit signs before I settle down in my theater seat.
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Title: Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle ISBN: 0871138743 Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: To Sleep With the Angels: The Story of a Fire by David Cowan, John Kuenster ISBN: 156663217X Publisher: Ivan R Dee, Inc. Pub. Date: October, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Ship Ablaze : The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum by Edward T. O'Donnell ISBN: 0767909054 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 10 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Tinder Box: The Iroquois Theatre Disaster 1903 (Iroquois Theater) by Anthony P. Hatch ISBN: 0897335147 Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: The Triangle Fire by Leon Stein, William Greider ISBN: 0801487145 Publisher: Ilr Pr Pub. Date: April, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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