During a performance of the the risque "Demon Dance," at Robert Fox's New American Theater on Walnut Street in Philadelphia fire broke out. Despite the blaze moving quickly, all those attending were able to scramble to safety through doors and windows. Tragedy struck, though, when a section of the weakened front wall collapsed and killed ten men standing on Walnut Street around the still burning building. The four year old theater was rebuilt in a remarkable swift interval and was hosting performances again in September 1867. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
J.Thomas Scharf and Thompson Wescott, History of Philadelphia 1609-1884, in three volumes (Philadelphia, PA: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884), II:834.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Crime/Disasters
