In late December of 1903, the beautiful new Iroquois Theater in Chicago performed a matinee of the family-friendly musical Mr. Bluebeard to a sold-out audience. Midway through the performance, an overloaded stage light caughtfire, and what happened is stranger than fiction. Listen carefully because it’s tricky to know what’s Fact or Fiction!
Today’s guest is Suzie Cue! Suzie Cue is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter from south St. Louis, MO. Folk, indie, blues, country…but more vulgar. Not a family band. You can listen to her music here and follow her on Facebook here.
https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/varstg:@field(NUMBER(0480))
https://www.city-journal.org/html/vaudeville%E2%80%99s-brief-shining-moment-12869.html
https://chicagology.com/notorious-chicago/iroquoistheatre/eddiefoy/
http://www.iroquoistheater.com/page-11-thirty-stories-about-iroquois-theater-victims.php
https://www.lib.niu.edu/2004/ih031004.html
“Chicago’s New Playhouse.” Pittsburgh Daily Post, 23 November 1903, p. 16.
“Eddie Foy as ‘The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe’ in ‘Mr. Bluebeard.’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3 November 1903, p. 7.
“Eddie Foy at Hyde and Behman’s.” The Brooklyn Citizen, 1 March 1904, p. 7.
“Eddie Foy’s ‘Kidderinos,’” The Kansas City Star, 23 December 1905, p. 5.
“Foy Wisdom.” The Inter Ocean, 20 December 1903, p. 42.
Hamill, Sean D. “’Tinder Box’ author notes tragic parallels to club deaths.” Chicago Tribune, 4 March 2003, p. 2-1.
“Many Chicago Theaters Liable to be Rebuilt.” Star Tribune, 6 January 1904, p. 3.
“’Mr. Bluebeard’ the Metropolitan Sensation of the Week.” Detroit Free Press, 3 January 1903, p. 4.
“Pity for the Dead; Aid for the Living.” The Inter Ocean, 1 January 1904, p. 3.
“Review of ‘Mr. Bluebeard’ in St. Louis.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2 November 1903, p. 6.
“Show in Iroquois Theater.” The Saint Paul Globe, 12 July 1903, p. 20.
“The Iroquois Theater Fire.” Democrat and Chronicle, 31 December 1903, p. 6.